Kobe stops the losing streak with another basket in the closing seconds

10/03/2010 3:03:00

And they are seven. These are the times in which Kobe has made a winning basket for his team this season. Against the Raptors at Staples, after three straight losses away, Lakers still did not show their best side and were most of the time behind in the scoreboard until Bryant made another miracle (109-107).

It wasn't a great win. But it was a win. Necessary because they had lost three games in a row and a home defeat would have meant not only match the longest losing streak since April 2007 but planting many more doubts about their present and future.

It didn't cleared any of them, but they won. Again suffering again at the end,with Kobe once again doing a miracle. Even if he started assisting Pau and Bynum, who made the first team's points in a first quarter in which they won by 5. Everything changed in the second, where the Raptors won by 13 and went to the halftime with 8-point lead. The Lakers did not defense, as usual, and the attack did not work.

Sounded the alarm, even if they are used to leave everything to the end. Another defeat would be too much. And Kobe got his gun, again, to slowly come back and help get to the fourth quarter with just 3 points behind. A last quarter in which Pau, strange and perhaps another sign of concern, did not play the first 10 minutes. And Gasol is not in his best shape, but Phil Jackson's movements are always difficult to interpret. In the final seconds it was a show. Calderon could have recovered the ball but FIAT's heir, seated in the first row, touched it before and the possession was for the Lakers. Lossing by 3, the Raptors played it with a 3-point by Bosh that went inside.

9 seconds to go. No doubt, Kobe was going to try it again, as in a dozen times this season in the dying seconds. He had failed in Orlando, but this time he scored, with a basket as hard as necessary in a situation as repeated as unnecessary in a season as irregular as rare. It was the point 32 of a Kobe who had made 11 of his 20 shots and 10 of their 11 free throws, in addition to 6 assists. A day in which he saved the team, a day the team must wonder why Kobe have to save them. A day everyone should think about how to avoid suffering or depend on him.

Pau had another of those games this season in which he iis not as fine as the last one. The injuries would not let him get into the rhythm and dynamics of the team, suffering and always needing Kobe, do not help him to have the prominence he deserves and can have. In a dull match, 17 points after 4 of 11 shots, again worse than usual, and a very good 9 of-11 free throws. Also added 9 rebounds, only 1 assist because the team does not play as a team, 1 block and 1 turnover in 30 minutes. And saw from the bench the first 10 of the last quarter. Phil's things.

Bynum was good, so Pau had to wait because the coach does not like in the important moments to have in court the two towers. 22 points after 8 of 12 shots, 6 of 8 free throws, but only 6 rebounds, again the Lakers were lower on the boards. Odom, from the bench, made 10 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Artest, with 9 points and 5 assists, and Fisher, with 7 points, completed the starters' performance. Vujacic was back, but at the moment he can't help.

Bosh was the top scorer for Toronto with 22 points, poor percentages, excepte 2 of 2 three pointers, and 6 of 6 free throws, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. He's coming back from injury but he showed his quality. Bargnani had 21 and grabbed 8 rebounds, while Jack directed well with 18 points and 7 assists. Turkoglu went gray, with 6 points. From the bench Johnson had 9 points and 7 rebounds, and Calderon, despite failing many shots, scored 10 points and 5 assists.

Lakers did not improve in the shot -20% in 3-point, allowed many points -107- showing no defense, but at least added a victory that takes them to 47-18. Rather than trying to catch Cleveland that they should be worried by Dallas to reach the struggle to have the best record in the West. Kobe saved them again, but the game can't be saved. And the schedule is still hard in the final stretch of the regular season. Of the 17 remaining, 11 are out of the Staples. The first three start on a trip in the West, on Friday in Phoenix, on Monday at the home of the Warriors on Tuesday visiting the Kings.