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Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant’s top 5 playoff games wearing No. 8

By Zain Danani

USA - JUNE 16: Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers naps with the NBA Championship trophy on board the Lakers' team flight back to Los Angeles the day after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers to win the 2001 NBA Championship, June 16, 2001. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2001 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
USA - JUNE 16: Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers naps with the NBA Championship trophy on board the Lakers' team flight back to Los Angeles the day after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers to win the 2001 NBA Championship, June 16, 2001. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2001 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant's top 5 playoff games wearing No. 8
SAN ANTONIO, UNITED STATES: Kobe Bryant (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball between Sean Elliott (L) and David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs during game 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals 19 May 2001, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Lakers won the game 104-90 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. AFP PHOTO James NIELSEN (Photo credit should read JAMES NIELSEN/AFP/Getty Images) /

May 19, 2001 – Kobe beats Pop for the First Time

When the Lakers played the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 Western Conference Semifinals, they lost four straight while the Spurs went on to win the championship. Kobe Bryant was a budding star at the time, but that was not enough to overcome the top defensive team in the league.

Bryant’s best game came in Game 2 where he put up 28 points and eight rebounds on 48 percent shooting. Two years and two days later, Kobe had his best playoff game against the Spurs ever. After sweeping the Kings in the 2001 Western Conference Semifinals, the Lakers took on the Spurs in the Conference Finals.

In the first game of the series, Kobe made a statement. Not only were the Lakers unstoppable, but so was Bryant. Against the top defensive team in the league (again), he scored 45 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and had three assists. Additionally, Kobe shot 54.3 percent from the field – four percent better than the league leader in field goal percentage and teammate, Shaquille O’Neal.

The Lakers went on to win the game and the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs and Gregg Popovich. They followed that series up by winning the NBA Finals. Shaq won Finals MVP yet again, but Kobe made sure to be known as an equally lethal threat.

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