Our news report: Another Kobe-style buzzer beater! In yesterday's home game against the Kings, the Lakers won 109-108. With only 0.1 seconds left in the game, Kobe hit a jump shot from beyond the arc, delivering his third buzzer-beating shot of the season and his third within a month. The last time these two teams met, the Lakers barely edged out the Kings after two hard-fought overtimes. In their rematch, the Kings put on an impressive display throughout the match, leading by as much as 20 points in the second quarter with a staggering 62% shooting accuracy in the first half. In the second half, Lamar Odom gradually found his rhythm, helping the Lakers claw back into the lead. Kobe hit three three-pointers in the third quarter alone, scoring 16 points to keep the Lakers in contention, but they still trailed by seven at the end of the quarter. With 4.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, the Lakers tied the score at 106-108. Udoka then missed both free throws, giving the Lakers a glimmer of hope. As expected, Kobe didn't disappoint the fans, hitting another buzzer beater and electrifying the Staples Center...
On December 5, 2009, with 3.2 seconds left, the Lakers were trailing the Heat 105-107. On the Lakers' final possession, Kobe faced off against Wade, leaping sideways while avoiding the block and releasing the ball with just 0.4 seconds left. The buzzer sounded, and the ball went in off the backboard!
On December 17, 2009, with 5.4 seconds left, the Lakers trailed the Bucks 105-106. After a timeout, the Bucks inexplicably didn’t double-team Kobe, leaving him defended solely by Bell. Kobe effortlessly drove inside the three-point line and hit a fadeaway jumper with 1.4 seconds left to seal the victory.
On January 2, 2010, with 4.1 seconds left, the Lakers were down by 2 points against the Kings, who had two free throws. However, Udoka missed both, giving Kobe the final opportunity. Pau Gasol passed the ball to Kobe, who adjusted briefly before rising high from beyond the arc and releasing the shot with just 0.1 seconds left. The ball went in as the buzzer sounded for another incredible buzzer beater!
**Was it a three-pointer or did Kobe step out of bounds?**
With 4.1 seconds left, everyone knew that Kobe would take the final shot. And indeed, the little legend delivered another stunning buzzer beater. This unexpected moment set off a frenzy among the Lakers' home crowd. However, the replay of Kobe’s buzzer-beating shot showed some suspicion about whether his left foot might have stepped out of bounds. After reviewing the footage repeatedly, the referees finally ruled the shot valid amidst roaring chants of "MVP." Although there was some controversy, none of the Kings players questioned the call. Pictures later revealed that only Kings coach Westphal appeared to closely watch Kobe's feet during the shot, but he made no public comment regarding the possible violation. The American media did not focus much on this controversial aspect, with ESPN experts commenting, “This was a classic final shot. That's the charm of basketball—you never know until the very last moment who will win.”
**What were the others doing when Kobe hit the buzzer beater?**
While Kobe's buzzer beaters have become routine, we must also recognize the issues within the Lakers team. Both games against the Kings were incredibly tough. Why? Defense! The Lakers, known for their offensive prowess, seemed to forget about defense, especially evident in their last four games. Over the past four games, the Lakers have allowed an average of 110 points per game, significantly higher than their season average of 97 points. Despite this glaring issue, neither Coach Jackson nor the players seemed overly concerned. In yesterday's game against the Kings, the Lakers continued to drop the ball on defense, allowing the Kings to score 64 points in the first half with a 62% shooting percentage. Looking at the whole game, the Lakers’ perimeter defense was clearly the weakest link. The Kings shot 19 times, making 10, including several crucial three-pointers. Especially in the final stages, two consecutive threes by Cousins nearly secured a win for the Kings. Since Artest's injury, the Lakers have struggled to control their opponents' perimeter shooters. Even in the game where they beat the Bucks with a buzzer beater, the opponent hit 10 three-pointers. The Lakers themselves shot 20 times from beyond the arc, making 8, but five of those came from Kobe alone, with Lamar Odom contributing two. We must ask: Where are all the Lakers sharpshooters? Brown isn’t known for his three-point shooting, Farmar and Vujacic inexplicably lost their touch, Fisher played like a rejuvenated veteran, and Morrison has been sitting on the bench for too long. Against the Kings, the Lakers could rely on Kobe's magic to win, but what if they face a well-rounded team like the Cavaliers in the playoffs? Just look at the Christmas Day game to see what I mean! (By Li Wenwu)
Kobe's buzzer beater stunned Chris Paul, aka "Hornets King". As the final game of New Year's Day, it attracted the attention of many NBA players, and Kobe's buzzer beater caused quite a stir among them. When Udoka missed both free throws, Hornets All-Star guard Chris Paul exclaimed, "Oh oh oh… doesn’t he know Kobe is on the other side? Good luck to them!" Meanwhile, rookie Brandon Jennings, who hails from Los Angeles, was more straightforward, saying, "I'm with the Lakers fans—give Kobe a chance, and he has a 99.9% chance of making it."
After a timeout, Pau Gasol, facing a double team, passed the ball to Kobe. Kobe pushed away defender Rodriguez and effortlessly hit the buzzer beater. Seeing this, Jennings couldn't contain his laughter, shouting, "Haha!!! I told you, he has a 99.9% chance of making it, hahahahaha!!!!" Meanwhile, Paul sighed helplessly, "What can I say? That's how you close the game!" [Editor-in-Charge: Sevenwei]