Kobe Can Still Take Over Stretches of Games When Healthy
Particularly after his previous impressive stretch of play left him with a sore shoulder and with how poorly he performed at the start of the 2015-16 season, there were warranted questions about whether a 37-year-old Kobe could still have a positive effect on this Lakers team as a scorer and as a leader on the floor. The first half on Friday night more than proved that the Mamba could still get it done.
There were numerous moments throughout the second quarter that saw Bryant turn back the clock in a big way. He was creating separation (from Kevin Durant, no less) to get off fadeaway jumpers. He was knocking down big threes on the wings. And he was even helping to facilitate the offense as the defense started to collapse on him once his shot started to fall.
While the nights when an aging Kobe essentially shoots the Lakers out of games are still going to happen because he can’t turn that switch in his brain that says “MAMBA MODE, ENGAGE!” off, Kobe showed that he still has it in the tank to go off on high quality opponents and make his mark felt on a game in a variety of ways. Though there will be times when fans will forget it yet again, it’s nice to be reminded for one night that the potential is still there in his 20th season.
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