Facing the possibility of allowing the Pacers to draw even in the series, Phil Jackson allowed the 21-year-old Bryant to run isolation plays on three consecutive offensive possessions. However, with 2:33 remaining in the game, Shaq fouled out. Kobe had scored 14 points in the second half, but O’Neal was still the Lakers’ first option, and continued to score early in the extra period. The Pacers would eventually pull even on a Sam Perkins three-pointer, and the game would go to overtime. He responded by making three consecutive baskets, and pulling the Lakers ahead. However, worrying that his ankle would tighten with rest, Phil Jackson left Bryant in the game. It did not appear to improve for Kobe early in the second half, as he collected his fifth foul in the third quarter. He would score only 6 points in the opening half, and picked up 4 fouls in his attempts to guard Mark Jackson and Reggie Miller. In the first half, Bryant appeared rusty and his ankle seemed to be a major problem. Playing on an ankle that required heavy taping and ice throughout the game, Bryant pushed the Pacers to the brink of elimination. In one of the greatest clutch performances in NBA Finals history, Kobe Bryant introduced himself to basketball’s biggest stage. Shaq’s 33 points and 13 rebounds did not prove to be enough without Bryant’s ability to create offense for the Lakers’ role players and his defense of Miller.Ĥ7 MIN, 14-27 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 4 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 3 TO, 28 PTS This game marked the beginning of Bryant’s indispensability as a player, as it became clear that O’Neal alone could not lead the Lakers to a title. His loss was obvious early, as Reggie Miller, who had been held to only 28 total points in the first two games, would score 33 in the first Finals game at Conseco Fieldhouse. Game 3 of the 2000 NBA Finals marked the only time that Kobe Bryant would miss a Finals game. Following his early departure, Los Angeles would ride Shaquille O’Neal to a close victory, as he provided 40 points and 24 rebounds. After distributing 4 assists in the first quarter, Bryant landed awkwardly on his ankle and was forced to miss the rest of Game 2. Miller would shoot only 1-16 in the game, for a career playoff-low 7 points.ĩ MIN, 1-3 FG, 0-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PTSįollowing a strong start to his Finals career, Kobe would suffer a major blow, injuring his ankle early in the second quarter. Guarding Miller almost exclusively, Bryant would force the Pacer guard in to one of the worst shooting performances in NBA Finals history. Aside from his fast offensive start, Bryant’s most valuable contribution was his defense of Indiana’s leading scorer, Reggie Miller. From that point on, it would be O’Neal’s game, as he dominated the Pacers in his first Finals game since being swept by the Houston Rockets as a member of the Orlando Magic. Bryant provided the fast start in the game, going 4-6 in the first quarter for 8 quick points. However, despite his many accomplishments in his breakout season, Bryant’s finest performances were to come in his first NBA Finals.ģ8 MIN, 6-13 FG, 0-2 3FG, 2-2 FT, 3 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 2 TO, 14 PTSīryant’s first NBA Finals game would be a rout, with Shaquille O’Neal proving to be too much for the Indiana with 43 points and 19 rebounds. His selection as the top defensive player at his position made him the youngest player in NBA history to make the First Team All-Defense.Īfter struggling to traverse the postseason, the Lakers would eventually reach the championship round, largely due to a dominant Game 7 effort by Bryant in the Western Conference Finals. However, overshadowed by O’Neal’s brilliance, Kobe Bryant was breaking out, and making the transition from a premier talent to a premier player.īryant’s regular season would end with the collection of many accolades, including a spot on the Second Team All-NBA, as well as a selection to the First Team All-Defense team. This dominating run was fueled by Shaquille O’Neal, who would have one of the greatest seasons by a player in NBA history, and the greatest of his career. With Jackson at the helm, the Lakers would soar to a 67-15 regular season record. Jackson, as the winner of six of the previous nine NBA championships, brought the postseason credibility L.A. Phil Jackson’s arrival for the 1999-2000 season, along with the move into the Staples Center, would change the Lakers’ fortunes. However, this success failed to carry over to the postseason, as Los Angeles could only muster a 14-16 playoff record during these three seasons. This gaudy three-year span was among the most successful regular season runs in NBA history. Indiana Pacers)įrom 1996, when Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant arrived, to 1999, the Los Angeles Lakers amassed a record of 148-46.
0 kommentar(er)
