Kobe the Scorer Transforms into Facilitator in Game 2

Filed under: Lakers, Suns, NBA Playoffs

LOS ANGELES -- Amar'e Stoudemire had finally stopped talking, or at least talking in the kind of way that riled these NBA lions known as the Lakers.



His Phoenix squad was unlucky once again, 124-112 losers on Wednesday night at the Staples Center to fall behind 0-2 in this Western Conference finals matchup that hasn't had any of the parity so many expected. In the other locker room, one of the most vocal Lakers of them all found himself at a loss for words.



But Derek Fisher's momentary muteness wasn't a reaction to Stoudemire's ridiculous claim, the one about Lamar Odom finding a four-leaf clover while landing on Park Place during his Game 1 outburst. Fisher, who has been along for most of the incredible Kobe Bryant ride ever since its 1996 beginning, was marveling at the Lakers star who set a career playoff high with 13 assists while adding 21 points.



"He, um ... I don't know man," Fisher began. "I know people have questioned his health and what he can or can't do anymore based on his age. But I'm speechless, and that's very rare that I'm speechless."



So, Fisher was asked, is Bryant still the best player in the game in this LeBron James-folding, Dwight Howard-shrinking, John Wall's-coming era?



"In my opinion, yes," he said. "No question."

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/20/kobe-the-scorer-transforms-into-facilitator-in-game-2/