Life is about moments. Basketball life is too. So it was no surprise to see Kobe Bryant sit out for most of the second half only to step in at the end of the fourth quarter to sink a few threes and come within one of sending the Miami Heat into overtime.
And although it all came under the guise of 3-for-19 shooting, it was still a moment. And it was one that Dwyane Wade seemed like he would be a part of when he was penetrating and leaving the ball at the rim for center Hassan Whiteside. However, once Wade’s tight hamstring knocked him out of the game, you began to realize that the end of a rivalry was near.
With Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers career likely coming to an end after next season, NBA matchups like him facing Wade are down to only three games — with even those three in jeopardy as they both battle age, injuries, nicks and bruises. This is why last night was so disappointing.
It felt like we were being robbed of seeing the No. 2 and No. 3 shooting guards of all time go for each other’s jugulars during their 19th one-on-one.
It just was not special with both guys hobbled, particularly when we are used to both guys seeing red when they are across the court from each other. In fact, that was so much the case that they would give fouls hard enough to leave Bryant with a broken nose during an All-Star game. The competition between them was that strong.
Maybe it was because of a fuel Shaquille O’Neal sparked in both when he spurned his partner of three rings in Los Angeles to join a, then, second-year two-guard on his quest for his first. Or maybe it was just the hunger of a new era star chasing a future Hall of Famer that was as close as it gets to his idol — and that star trying his hardest to fend off a young buck attempting to take his seat at the throne.
Whatever it was was, it was good enough for the two to average 27 (Bryant) and 24 (Wade) points per game against each other, with the Heat star holding an 11-8 advantage over his California counterpart. Their sparks were also powerful enough to help them validate themselves with two post-Shaq championships apiece.
For now fans have to hope that the next three matchups aren’t hindered by physical breakdowns, but until then we are left with stories of Wade seeking out Bryant after the game to “pick the brain of the game’s greats.” But it sure would have been fun to see him on the court reacting to Bryant’s attempt at a late-game barrage.
Richard Nurse is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @blackirishpr or add him to your network on Google.
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