Kobe Bryant is happy for the help from teammates like Lamar Odom

Image details: Los Angeles Lakers v San Antonio Spurs, Game 4 served by picapp.com

For years Kobe Bryant wanted to leave. When the only big contract out there was with the Clippers, it was an easy decision to stay with the Lakers.

Still he talked of leaving and teams like the Chicago Bulls were mentioned prominently. All of those deals fell through as Mitch Kupchack began building the team, gaining Odom for Shaq, drafting Bynum, trading for Gasol, resigning Fisher, and so on.

Now with what looks like a motley collection of players, Phil Jackson has them on the verge of taking out San Antonio and heading to the NBA finals.

Kobe Bryant looked back and found himself all alone. All but guaranteed the basket, he went up and slammed the ball with a little extra oomph, just for good measure.

One more win, and Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers will be all alone in the Western Conference and on their way to the NBA finals.

The Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs 93-91 on Tuesday night—surviving a last-second 3-point attempt that would have given the Spurs the win—for a 3-1 lead in the conference finals.

“It is a big step for us,” said Bryant, who led the Lakers with 28 points and 10 rebounds. “Tonight we came out and did a much, much better job to win in this building in this particular game. It’s big for us.”

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The important thing is that Kobe does not have to do it alone.

Lamar Odom, who was upset with his Game 3 performance, scored 16 points, eight in the fourth quarter, for Los Angeles, while Pau Gasol had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Vladimir Radmanovic added 11 points.

“I just stayed composed. I kept my poise,” Odom said. “I just stayed tough, told myself it was a long game.”

San Antonio was lead by a strong game by Tim Duncan.

Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 29 points and 17 rebounds, while reserve Brent Barry had 23 points and his last-second 3-point attempt could have given the Spurs the win.

Getting past San Antonio is no small feat. They are one of the most successful franchises in modern history. Now a days, you think NBA finals and you think, San Antonio.

LA has the Spurs down 3 games to 1 and looks to close it out Thursday night.

As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome.

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Post from: NBA Obsessed

Fisher was a key member of the Lakers’ three championships that starred Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. After the Lakers lost to the Pistons in 2004, Fisher signed with the Golden State Warriors and was eventually traded to the Utah Jazz last season. He played a key role in the Jazz’s successful playoff run especially in the Conference Finals. He asked to be released by the team to allow him to care for his daughter in another city where she can get proper treatment for her eye cancer.

Fisher is the kind of player every team would love to have so the Lakers are lucky to have him back. He’s talented, hard working and he brings veteran presence. The thing about Fisher is that he’s more than willing to take a back seat to the younger guys while still making an impact when asked just like he did in Utah. He will be a very good mentor second year guard Jordan Farmar and rookie Javaris Crittenton. He can also play both guard spots like he did in Utah so that gives the team a lot of versatility in using him.

I love Derek Fisher’s game a lot but more so I like him as a person. That’s why I wish him luck in hi Lakers comeback and more importantly for his daughter’s treatment.

Post from: NBA Obsessed

The Utah Jazz let go of veteran guard Derek Fisher to care for his daughter Tatum who has cancer in her left eye. We’ve seen Fisher miss some action during the recently concluded playoffs for this reason so I’m sure he wanted to be there for his daughter full time without the distractions of having to play and travel with an NBA team.

“Life for me outweighs the game of basketball,” Fisher told reporters after flying from New York to meet with Jazz owner Larry H. Miller and other team executives.

“When it comes to decisions related to them,” he said of his family, “I do what’s best.”

SI 7/02/07

Derek Fisher is an NBA veteran and a proven winner having won championships with the LA Lakers. His veteran presence and experience helped the young Utah Jazz team in their surprising success story last season and I’m sure he will be missed. Their rookie Morris Almond would have benefited a lot from learning from Fisher since he’s a good scorer and defender. While Almond may be a good scorer, scouting reports say his defense will have to be worked on.

This situation situation reminds me of how I lost some playing buddies in World of Warcraft since they needed to take care of business in real life. It was sad to see them go but real life is more important than some game or anything else especially when it means having to take care of your family and being there for them when they need you. If Fisher never puts on an NBA jersey again, it’s totally understandable but a comeback would definitely be awesome in the future!

Post from: NBA Obsessed