Pass it to Will...I mean Kobe

23rd January 2006 | permanent link
comments (2)

Kobe Bryant has proved once again that he is a one man wrecking crew. Last night he scored 81 points (yeap, eightyone, just in case you didn't belive your eyes the first time) against the seemingly defenseless Torotno Raptors. His outburst ranks as the second largest since the great late Wilt Chamberlain back in 1962, when he scored 100 points.

TOP SINGLE-GAME SCORERS
1.	Wilt Chamberlain, Phi.	March 2, 1962	vs. N.Y.	100
2.	Kobe Bryant, L.A.L.	Jan. 22, 2006	vs. TOR	81
3.	Wilt Chamberlain, Phi.	Dec. 8, 1961 (3OT)	vs. L.A.L.	78
4.	Wilt Chamberlain, Phi.	Jan. 13, 1962	vs. Chi.	73
	Wilt Chamberlain, S.F.	Nov. 16, 1962	vs. N.Y.	73
	David Thompson, Den.	April 9, 1978	vs. Det.	73
7.	Wilt Chamberlain, S.F.	Nov. 3, 1962	vs. L.A.L.	72
8.	Elgin Baylor, L.A.L.	Nov. 15, 1960	vs. N.Y.	71
9.	David Robinson, S.A.	April 24, 1994	vs. L.A.C.	71
10.	Wilt Chamberlain, S.F.	March 10, 1963	vs. Syr.	70

Hitting nearly everything he threw up, Bryant scored 55 points after intermission, only 4 shy of Chamberlains recod. Often compared to Michael Jordan, Bryant did what Michael could not accomplish (Jordans highest scoring game was 69).

"Through my career I've been compared to him so many times, and I just wish it would stop," Bryant said. "He's Michael Jordan and I'm Kobe Bryant; we're two different players. I just wish people would let it go because it really annoys me."

"You can't compare what I'm doing to what he's done. He's probably one of the greatest if not the greatest player of all time; there's no comparison. I really wish people would stop measuring up what I do to in comparison to what he's done."

"It's not fair for us, the younger generation to be constantly compared to such greatness - from myself to LeBron James to other young players. You're talking about Magic Johnson, you're talking about Michael Jordan, we can't measure up to them."

Excerpt from Eighty-One! Bryant Erupts as Lakers Roll by NBA.com

Lakers coach Phil Jackson has said many times, that this is not the way the game of basketball is supposed to be played, but all he can do is stare in awe as Bryant hit shot after shot.

According to conventional wisdom, no one can win a basketball game single-handedly, and indeed, Bryant does need someone to inbound the ball and help guard the other team. A screen here and there comes in handy, and it's nice if someone can hit a shot now and then when he's triple-teamed."

Excerpt from article 81! by Los angeles times

If this game was just a taste of things to come, 100 is not as far off as one might think.