The Memphis Grizzlies are struggling to get back to the playoff team they were three seasons ago.
Their team is made up of mostly two or three-year players. They have an assortment of rookies. The only true veterans they have are new to the team and don't get a lot of playing time.
I started to follow the Grizzly organization a year after they moved from Vancouver to Memphis. Even though they have been called 'worst in the West' and 'not NBA-worthy', I am still a proud supporter of the Grizz.
I don't get extremely mad or say the other team sucks when the Grizzlies lose, but when the games ends with an unnecessary slam dunk, that just shows how tacky you really are, I get a little upset.
The Memphis Grizzlies hosted the L.A. Lakers tonight at the FedEx Forum in Memphis. The Grizzlies came into the game with a record of 9-17. The Lakers came in with a record of 22-5.
The Lakers prepared for an easy game, but got a down to the wire game.
The Forum was filled with people to see the return of the former Grizzly Pau Gasol, and also to see him play against his brother Marc Gasol for the first time in a regular season game. The fans came to see the brothers, but saw one of the best games played by the Grizzlies this year and against one of the best teams, too.
The Grizzlies played a fantastic game that was filled with intensity on both sides. Both squads played amazing defense, and their offense wasn't too shabby either.
They unfortunately let Kobe Bryant score above 30 points. The Grizz fell apart at the very end and the Lakers just barely slipped away with a victory.
The Grizzlies started to lose focus and the Lakers took advantage of this well-known quality of the young Memphis Grizzlies. The Lakers went on a big run leading to a score of 103- 96. The Grizzlies inbounded the ball with only seconds left.
They got the ball in and set a pick. The ball was dropped after an ugly hand off. Kobe Bryant picked up the ball and ran toward the other end. There was no one in front of him so he kept on going.
The Lakers had clearly won the well-played game. Now, if he had any kind of character he would have just held the ball and let the clock run out.
But no, he had to show off in front of a disappointed crowd that had maybe thirty Lakers’ fans in the arena that did enjoy that slam-dunk.
This gives me another reason to not like Kobe Bryant.
Now, I ask you: do you think that Kobe really should have rubbed a loss in the face of a team struggling to get 10 wins? I personally don't think he should have done that.
I can't wait until they play them again so we can get some revenge on Kobe.
Kobe Bryant's Unecessary Finish
Today's Must Reads
Track this Article on My B/R
Share This Article
About the Author Daniel Stevenson (contributor)
- 2 articles written
- 12 comments posted
- 2 fans
Want to write for Bleacher Report
We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.
19 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment
WIll Maine 6 months ago
LOL...KOBE's awesome...I hope he does that to Boston...I dnt care if they are up by a hundred...I want the Lakers to cut there throats
Edit Comment Cancel
Daniel Stevenson 6 months ago
They can do that to boston it is a rivalry
Edit Comment Cancel
Drew Shears 6 months ago
Good Article,that just shows how classless Kobe is and shows the frustration that the team is in by just not being able to play defense consistently to win a championship.After subpar defensive efforts in the next 2 games against New Orleans and Boston which the Lakers will lose fans are going to want changes via trades listen to the sports talk radio stations in LA after X-MAS and you'll see.Hey Will stop dreaming the Celtica are going to smash your Lakers,watch how easy Rondo gets in the lane all night and how Pierce will eat up whoever you guys start at SF which is going to require Kobe to switch over and guard him then Ray Allen can light it up on whoever its all bad for ya Lakers watch and see.
Edit Comment Cancel
Daniel Stevenson 6 months ago
Your right that is what they do with a powerhouse like kobe and the Lakers
Edit Comment Cancel
WIll Maine 6 months ago
Buddy I'm telling you they can take Boston out...That Grizzly game somewhat bought the heart out of the Lakers...THey gonna kill the Hornets and then Boston is gonna get sent home with a blow out lost...Kobe MVP
Edit Comment Cancel
Ian b 6 months ago
you wanna know what i noticed? kobe is arguably the most criticized player in the NBA. he gets criticized for being a ball hog in the first half against phoenix in game 7 then gets blamed for not shooting in the second half. then in the finals when he was screaming at his teammates in the huddle, he got blamed by the NBA analysts on ESPN and by curt schilling (which whom i've hated ever since he started to use that dumb blog of his). then KG yells at the second team in the huddle and he gets all the praise in the world for it. if that's not a double standard, then i don't know what is. i bet if KG dunked at the end of a close game when it was essentially over, he'd get praise for "wearing his emotion on his sleeve" or "being passionate about the game". if i was getting paid 20 million dollars a year, i'd always play with heart and passion.
and to let you know, i'm not one of those kobe worshippers that will start a riot if anybody says a player might be better than him or what not. and i don't hate KG at all, i was just trying to prove a point.
Edit Comment Cancel
Daniel Stevenson 6 months ago
I don't hate kg either but but neither one of them kobe or kg should get praise for such a show off move
Edit Comment Cancel
Steven Jarjees 6 months ago
Lan. I couldnt agree with you anymore. Kobe is BY FAR the most criticized player in the NBA. Thats because hes the best player in league and with all the things that have happened to him in the past. You are absolutely right about what you said about KG. Everybody on ESPN praised KG for screaming at big baby. Then everybody of course had to criticize Kobe for screaming at his teammates. If KG or LeBron did what Kobe did yesterday they wouldnt say anything bad about them.
Edit Comment Cancel
Kevin Markum 6 months ago
Even though I'm a Grizzlies fan, I disagree. Kobe is Kobe. He is a Top 50 Player of the NBA-All-Time.
This isn't college basketball. When you are getting paid to bring fans in the stands and get publicity for your team, you have to dunk it down their throats every time you get the chance.
Again, I am a Grizzlies fan, BUT, rather than say Kobe is classless...I would say to the Grizzlies rather than whine, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! In other words, DEFENSE!
That was a good game though up till the end there, I think we still can put a good run together and sneak in...but it could be a long-shot.
Edit Comment Cancel
Daniel Stevenson 6 months ago
I sort of agree with you but i mean come why do that to a team that probably wont even get to the playoffs
Edit Comment Cancel
David Robinson 6 months ago
Honestly, this isn't kindergarten whereby you have to be considerate of other people's feelings. This is the NBA where you're paid to win. Yes, the game was won once Kobe stole the ball, but who in their right mind is going to stop and dribble it out? That's what we call the nail in the coffin. I think that image of Kobe dunking should burn within the hearts of the young Grizzlies so that they can remember what happens when you make sloppy passes. No one is paid to be nice in this league, winning is all that matters at the end of the day.
Edit Comment Cancel
Daniel Stevenson 6 months ago
I agree they are paid to win but they had already won the score was 103 to 96 the Grizzlies were just trying to lessen the margin, but thanks for your input.
Edit Comment Cancel
Marlon Oram 6 months ago
Who gives a damn if Kobe shot a half court shot winning by seven at the buzzer.
I Don't. This is a stupid and unnecessary article.
Edit Comment Cancel
Daniel Stevenson 6 months ago
Let me tell you some things wong with your comment you ignorant idiot. It was not a half- court shot you retard it was a slam dunk. I really don't care if you care or not about the article or anything else. That is wierd because most everyone else liked this article.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ian b 6 months ago
thnx for the response, steven. by the way, just to let you know, it's Ian with an "i" as in "eye", not an L. don't worry, your not the only to have mistaken that.
Edit Comment Cancel
Benjamin Trottier 6 months ago
''This isn't college basketball. When you are getting paid to bring fans in the stands and get publicity for your team, you have to dunk it down their throats every time you get the chance.''
I agree 100% with that...
And, it's only Memphis fault if they cannot stop Kobe to only do the job he's paid for...
Edit Comment Cancel
Daniel Stevenson 6 months ago
watever
Edit Comment Cancel
Diana Allen 6 months ago
I agree 100% with you. I watched that game. I was impressed with how the Grizzlies played. I was hoping they'd pull out the win, it seems they've had the Lakers number the last couple of years.
I am a Jazz fan and I'll never forget that Kobe last year when they broke the Jazz 19 game winning streak at home took the ball slammed the ball on the Utah Logo center court and said "F.. U' Utah. Nothing was made of it if any other player did that there would be a fine or a suspension.
That slam dunk was just stupid and unnecessary. I've never liked Kobe but not a Kobe hater but these two incidences makes me like him a lot less.
Edit Comment Cancel
Daniel Stevenson 6 months ago
Thanks for your input it is nice to hear from a person with thhe same oppinion.
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.