Kobe Bryant is passing

As we mentioned in a comment below, we blew off the Lakers-Kings game (which Barkley was doing color on) in favor of a viewing of Rocky V.

What we missed was apparently a terrific game, full of lots of scoring, buzzer beaters, an overtime period, and other basketball game playing types of things.

Oh, and somehow the injury-plagued Lakers, playing with only like 6 players or something, managed to win, raising their record to an amazing 21-10.

That’s only good for 5th in the West (1st in the East!), but we challenge you to find anyone who would’ve predicted this record for the Lakers. (Maybe Jones – we haven’t checked.)

Kobe put up 42, and did the New Kobe thing again by passing up the shot to take it to OT in favor of one Smush Parker.

“As soon as I crossed [the line on the basketball court that indicates the halfway point of the playing surface] they started doubling,” Bryant said. “It was something we talked about [earlier, when we were in the huddle discussing the play as a team, and the various scenarios that could unfold during it [for the team]].

“I caught the ball at the top [and moved it around in my hands so that I could get the best grip on the ball and attempt to make a successful play to end the game], squared up and saw Bibby was [making gang signs with his gang hands]. Smush [is usually not very good, but somehow did the right thing and] cut right behind [Mike Bibby, who plays point guard for the other team and was guarding Smuch on the play].”

Clear and concise as always, that’s exactly how it went down.

As interesting as the Lakers semi-ascension is, we actually find the Kings to be a little more interesting, at least as we write this.

Like, why aren’t they better? Mike Bibbitty is good, or at least is supposed to be. Kevin Martin is (now) really good, so they’ve got a scorer. Shareef should be a good interior scorer. Ron Artest? Great defender, and an efficient offensive player when he stays within himself. Brad Miller has been out, so you’re missing something inside, but still.

We’ve just now shot off an email to SacTown Royalty asking “Why aren’t the Kings good (in one sentence)?” As soon as we receive the answer, we’ll throw it up here, finishing the post. If this works out, we may just do this from now on – like email other people and ask them to sum it all up in one sentence.

Then we can change the name of this thing to “YAYwhatotherpeoplethinkabouttheNBAinonesentence DOT COM”, which was actually the original concept way back when.

UPDATE: We just now heard back from Tom over at the Royalty. He says:

The Kings are not good because they cannot defend the paint and because Mike Bibby and Ron Artest shoot horribly.

Ah…see, that’s not a big deal, because those things are correctable – they just need to get new players and coaches. Now that the problems have been identified, a championship is imminent.

Here’s the LA Times write-up on the Barkley highlights. Wethinks you had to be there.