Kobe Bean Bryant is...Underappreciated

Shut Up and Listen
by Deon Carson

I have some news for you are you ready? Kobe Bryant is underappreciated. Yes I said it he's underappreciated. I used hear people all of the time say Kobe can't win without Shaq, or Robert Horry made the big shots or Kobe is a ball hog. Well we all know that Shaq was an animal and Horry was super clutch, but let's take a look at Kobe.

Against Portland (2000 playoffs) game 7 Kobe (21yrs old) ended that game with 25pt, 11reb 7ast, and 4 blk (Shaq 18pts, 9 reb). LA was down 71 to 58 going into the 4th Kobe made the shots and the passes to close the game. Let's go to the NBA finals against Indiana in 2000. With an ankle injury and Shaq fouled out of the game Kobe carried the Lakers to an overtime victory. Dec 6th 2002 vs. Dallas L.A. down 27 going into the 4th Kobe closed the game with 21 in the 4th including the game winner he also had 9 reb and 7ast. No Kobe no wins no ring.

2002 Western Conference semi-finals vs. the Spurs Kobe dismantled that team hell in the close out game Kobe scored 10 pts in the 4th with the Lakers losing to close and win. Jan 7th 2003 Kobe hit twelve 3 pointers vs. Seattle including a stretch of 9 in a row without a miss. Feb 18th 2003 with Shaq out and Yao healthy Kobe gives Houston 52-7-8 including 17 in OT. Game 4 vs. Spurs 2004 Kobe flies in from court and gives the Spurs 42-6-5-3 and 0 turnovers including 15 in the 4th.It would take me forever to go through all of the games that Kobe had to pull out for the Lakers even when Shaq was there. Bottom line he was the closer; Horry, and Fisher shots would not matter if Kobe doesn't do what he does and puts his team into position to win.

Let's look at post Shaq, yeah the awesome squad of Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, Chris Mimm, Luke Walton, as starters and regular players. March 15th 2004 Kobe ends the T-Mac debate by not only scoring 37second half points but also shutting T-Mac down in the 2nd half. Kobe scored 62 damn points vs. Dallas in three quarters and when he sat down Dallas only had 61 as a team. JAN 22, 2006 81 POINTS ENOUGH SAID!!!!!!!! March 16th 2007 LA losers of 7 straight Kobe coming off suspension scores 65pts vs. Portland.

Listen this could go on all day stretches of triple doubles, 50 points in 4 straight before they finally held him to 43. I just chose some moments that I felt people look past. I challenge you to find anyone not named Michael Jeffery Jordan that has a better clip of clutch and game winning shots than Kobe Bean Bryant. There always seem to be a "yeah but" when people speak of Kobe. Seven finals appearances 5 rings 2 finals MVP consistently all NBA Defense. Bottom line is Kobe Bryant is underappreciated I'd bet that a 25yr old Kobe Bryant would not have lost to Dallas had he been on this Heat team in either Lebron or Wade's spot. Just think about it.