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NBA: Ranking My Favorite Kobe Bryant Performances

By DJoumbarey A. Moreau

January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) heads down court after a basket in the second half of the game against the Miami Heat at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
January 17, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) heads down court after a basket in the second half of the game against the Miami Heat at the Staples Center. Heat won 99-90. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 12, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) during the second half at AT&T Center. The Lakers won 112-110 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) during the second half at AT&T Center. The Lakers won 112-110 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Timmy, Meet Kobe.

Date: May 11, 2004 vs. San Antonio Spurs
Stats: 42 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 block

Since the beginning of Kobe Bryant’s career there has never been another team that was his rival except for the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs were everything that Bryant and the Lakers were not. The Spurs were the perfect antithesis to the Los Angeles Lakers because they were organized, they played team basketball, they were quiet and were not flashy. The Spurs defensive minded style of basketball clashed with the Lakers fast paced offense and it made some of the most memorable moments in NBA history.

During the 2004 NBA Playoffs the Lakers were down two games to one and needed to win game four to tie up the series and not go out in a disappointing fashion. The Lakers had trailed most of the game but when they entered the fourth the Spurs were only up by five points. Bryant managed to scored 15 of the 24 Lakers fourth quarter points. He ended the game with 42 points and also the win. The Lakers went on to win the game and eliminated their rival from the playoffs.

Next: December 2004 vs. Miami Heat

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