Kobe Bryant 40 points 7 rebounds vs Vince Carter TOR 2000-01

December 17th, 2000
Air Canada Centre
Toronto, CA

Boxscore: http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/TOR20001217.html

Statline: 40 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 14-29 FG, 1-5 3 pt


Already in his young career, Kobe Bryant at the age of 22 was leading the league in scoring at 28.8 points per game. He already had the total package and during the season showed why at the same age, he was better than Lebron James. Along with it, he was the youngest defensive player to make it onto the all defensive team couple years ago and it clearly showed in this game.

The Raptors led early and they lured Shaquille O'neal, the Lakers star center, into early foul trouble in both the 1st and 2nd quarters. For Kobe Bryant, it was his chance to showcase his skills without Shaq in the game. He did just that. Bryant had the crowd buzzing with his tantalizing 1st half performance. He scored 21 1st half points on mostly jumpshots on 8-13 shooting. Although his scoring was the highlight of the 1st half, his tenacious defense on Mark Jackson of the Raptors was also a factor in giving LA the lead despite Shaquille O'neal not playing in most of the 1st half. He hounded Jackson to the point he could not even cross the halfcourt line. However the Los Angeles Lakers could not stop Vince Carter who scored 22 1st half points of his own on 7-13 shooting which helped the Raptors hang with the Lakers.

In the 2nd half, the Lakers put Bryant on the red hot Vince Carter. Although Kobe played a more passive and quiet 2nd half, his pressure defense on Vince Carter was very apparent throughout the half. Carter, who put up 22 on 7-13 shooting in the 1st half was held to 3-19 in the 2nd half on 8 points due to the lockdown defense of Bryant. The Los Angeles Lakers pulled away from the Toronto Raptors and led by 15 at one point with 4 minutes to go in the 4th. However a furious run by the Raptors late in the 4th energized the crowd and the entire team when they went on a 20-4 run to end regulation. Despite the defense of Bryant on Carter, his teammates came through for him and the Raptors came tied the game on 2 free throws at 91 apiece. On the final possession, the Lakers went to Kobe who was ambushed by the Raptor defense. He was doubled off the ball and was forced into a wild three that was rejected by Vince Carter leading to overtime. In overtime, the Los Angeles Lakers ran away from the Raptors although they made another furious run at the end that nearly went through for them. The Lakers ultimately won the game 104-101 mostly due to the tenacious lockdown defense of Bryant on Mark Jackson in the 1st half and Vince Carter in the 2nd half.

Kobe Bryant finished the game with 40 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks on 14-29 shooting.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Kobe
• Bryant
• Shaq
• O'neal
• dunk
• Vinsanity
• defense
• assist
• clutch
• 4th
• lockdown
• Toronto
• Raptors
• Lakers
• championship
• 2001
• 2002

[erik24MVP]

lol at the people complaining about the video. get VC's balls out your mouth. it's done by a LAKER fan. what the hell did you expect? toronto highlights? every person on youtube who uploads highlight clips of their fave teams does this. you want fair highlights that show both teams making shots? watch some ESPN.

[VinceKrat]

I miss old Raptors and Kobe´s afro :-(

[gottgaame]

@bumtumlum dont compare vince carter to kobe bryant, vince carter is not one of the top 10 shooting guards to play the game let alone best all round player

[bumtumlum]

kobe is the best. Vince could have been the best if he wasnt soo lazy

[amunrahII]

@sauce556 yea Maybe they win 3 only maybe what ppl fail to realize is early on Kobe was the point guard and 2 guard also he was maybe the best perimeter defender at the time. Vince has never been a solid defender. also Kobe in TO averages at least 35 per after his second yr until his 11th if he reasures TMac to stay be his 3 they win a few ring up there

[sauce556]

@amunrahII somehow-when i make a bunch of vaid points--respondents tend to not respond to half of em lol i say if vince was drafted to LA and kobe drafted to TO--vince would have won the 3 rings with shaq and would be the talk of the league--but ofcourse that scenario has nothing at all to do with luck and the players your surrounded by as opposed to work ethic lol

[sauce556]

@amunrahII once again--vince was not with that team from his 1rst and 2nd year through to his 11th lol--kobe is established--and as an avid vince carter fan--and an avid NBA fan--I know X's and O's of basketball--& the worst thing to happen to the orlando magic organization is a coach that crumbles under pressure--and the worst thing to happen to vince carter in his NBA career is jameer nelson--in the same way t-mac didnt want to be in vcs shadow in TO, jameer wanted the spotlight-and didnt pass

[amunrahII]

@sauce556 Pau Gasoft isn't great he's very good lol greatness is really over used. but a player should be considerably better in their 11th yr then their first, what he did in Orlando was choke put Kobe in that role and Orlando sweeps through out.

[sauce556]

@amunrahII if u cant do the math--kobe played with a great big man for 11 years of his NBA career--and vince has played with a great big man for 1 & 1/2 years--also considerign that period was in his 11th-12th season and not 1rst-2nd LOL

[sauce556]

@amunrahII lol...smh...kobe had shaq from 1996-2004 (8 years) and then gasol from 2008-2011 thus far (3 years)--altogether in his career having played with a top 50 greatest player for 8 years and another future hof big man for 3 years so far---vince carter played with dwight howard -(less of an offensive scoring machine than both shaq ((in his prime with kobe--comparing is a joke LOL)) and gasol now)--from 2010-midway through the 2011 season--for a total of 1 and 1/2 seasons--now compare that.

[amunrahII]

@sauce556 Vince had Dwight Howard who's way better than Gasoft and still sucked

[BigButterybeefslinga]

oh thats kobe noy shaq my fault