Empty the Bench

The education of Seattle SuperSonics rookie Kevin Durant continued Monday evening with a guest lecture by one Kobe Bryant, who graciously allowed the lanky 6-9 star-in-the-making a fleeting moment in the spotlight before donning his tweed jacket of seniority and teaching him a lesson in how to win a close ballgame.

On one of the most thrilling all-around Monday nights in recent NBA memory, the Lakers’ 123-121 overtime win was arguably the crown jewel. Faced with news that his young, talented center, Andrew Bynum, would miss about 8 weeks with an injured left knee, Bryant elevated his game accordingly, dropping a season-high 48 points on the Sonics and responding to nearly every one of Seattle’s made baskets down the stretch with one of his own.

On the other side, Seattle left it all on the floor with a fabulous effort from just about every rotation player, including Nick Collison (24 points, 18 rebounds) and Luke Ridnour (10 points, 11 steals). Durant staked his star power by nailing an improbable three-pointer from the top of the key to tie it up at 115 with 46 seconds left, but Bryant’s unflappable crunchtime savvy eventually won out, in part thanks to two free lessons he imparted upon the Sonics’ new franchise player…

Kobe Bryant Photo Credit: Jeff Lewis/Icon SMI

Lesson #1: Don’t Give Your Opponent a Chance to Beat You

With the game tied, the Sonics could have held the ball and played for the last shot, worst-case scenario being a tie and overtime. But with Kobe staying in Durant’s face and perhaps flustering the rook, Durant dribbled left and pulled up for an ill-advised jumper with 6 seconds still remaining on the clock, not only forcing a rushed shot but giving his adversary, a guy with ice-cold water running through his veins, a chance to end it. Fortunately for the Sonics, Earl Watson stripped the ball away from Bryant as he drove to the hole, sending it to an extra stanza, but he never should have had the opportunity, period, to hoist a potential game-winner. Bryant later nailed a fall-away jumper, at the end of the shot clock, with 4.3 seconds left to seal the win in OT.

Lesson #2: Flail, Flail, Flail If One Impedes Your Progress

On the Sonics’ last-gasp possession in OT, Kobe again drew Durant and pulled one of those veteran moves that you absolutely loathe if it happens to your team, but admire if it’s in your favor. With his team attempting to get him the ball from the side, Durant flashed across the key but found himself covertly impeded by Bryant, who had cleverly locked his arms within Durant’s as he made his cut. It’s a tactic that’s technically illegal, but perhaps difficult for officials to see at such a big moment. What Durant should have done–what Kobe, or Lebron, or A.I. would have done–is ensure the ref saw this by flailing his body and making a scene. I don’t necessarily advocate exaggerated flailing, but you gotta do what you gotta do in situations like that, as the aforementioned stars have learned over the years. In time, Mr. Kevin Durant will master this subtle veteran edge as well.

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