Kobe Bryant Leads Lakers to Playoffs
Written by John Mbugua
Kobe Bryant Biography & Pictures
Kobe Bryant has led the Los Angeles Lakers back to the NBA playoffs.
Bryant scored 27 points in the first half and 15 in the second to finish with 43 points and a win against the Phoenix Suns, clinching a playoff berth.
Lamar Odom added 14 points and 11 rebounds and Smush Parker 12 and eight assists for Los Angeles (44-37), which has won four straight and is 1 1/2 games ahead of eighth-place Sacramento (42-38). The seventh-place team would face Phoenix in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
"Everyone is not jumping for joy with finally making the playoffs but it is a big accomplishment for us being that we didn't make it last year and nobody expected us to make it this year and here we are," Bryant said.
"It is good to be back in the playoffs again," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who left the franchise after the club lost the 2004 NBA Finals to Detroit. "It's an important step for this club because of the number of young players we have that haven't been there in the playoffs and experienced them."
In his 27th 40-point game of the season, Bryant made 11-of-28 shots and 20-of-23 free throws in 37 minutes.
"We are a much better team right now," Bryant said. "We are playing really well and executing very well. We are moving the ball and defensively we are working hard, hustling and closing out the shots."
"We knew we had to go out there and win this game today with Nash and Raja Bell not playing," Odom said. "We have to just keep playing the way we are playing and if we face them in the playoffs it should be an interesting series."
Shawn Marion scored 29 points, Leandro Barbosa 16 and Boris Diaw 11 and 12 dimes for Phoenix, which is just 5-7 in its last 12 games.
"There eight teams and they will all be difficult," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.
"We will see who gets there. Right now it is the Lakers, but it could be Sacramento. We will have to play well to beat anyone. We are looking forward to whoever it is."
Written by John Mbugua
Kobe Bryant Biography & Pictures
Kobe Bryant Biography & Pictures
Kobe Bryant has led the Los Angeles Lakers back to the NBA playoffs.
Bryant scored 27 points in the first half and 15 in the second to finish with 43 points and a win against the Phoenix Suns, clinching a playoff berth.
Lamar Odom added 14 points and 11 rebounds and Smush Parker 12 and eight assists for Los Angeles (44-37), which has won four straight and is 1 1/2 games ahead of eighth-place Sacramento (42-38). The seventh-place team would face Phoenix in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
"Everyone is not jumping for joy with finally making the playoffs but it is a big accomplishment for us being that we didn't make it last year and nobody expected us to make it this year and here we are," Bryant said.
"It is good to be back in the playoffs again," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who left the franchise after the club lost the 2004 NBA Finals to Detroit. "It's an important step for this club because of the number of young players we have that haven't been there in the playoffs and experienced them."
In his 27th 40-point game of the season, Bryant made 11-of-28 shots and 20-of-23 free throws in 37 minutes.
"We are a much better team right now," Bryant said. "We are playing really well and executing very well. We are moving the ball and defensively we are working hard, hustling and closing out the shots."
"We knew we had to go out there and win this game today with Nash and Raja Bell not playing," Odom said. "We have to just keep playing the way we are playing and if we face them in the playoffs it should be an interesting series."
Shawn Marion scored 29 points, Leandro Barbosa 16 and Boris Diaw 11 and 12 dimes for Phoenix, which is just 5-7 in its last 12 games.
"There eight teams and they will all be difficult," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.
"We will see who gets there. Right now it is the Lakers, but it could be Sacramento. We will have to play well to beat anyone. We are looking forward to whoever it is."
Written by John Mbugua
Kobe Bryant Biography & Pictures
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