Kobe, Shaq shine as Western All-Stars win
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 17, 2009 00:00
PHOENIX, Arizona - Onetime teammates and sometimes feuding rivals Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal teamed up again Sunday to lead the Western Conference to victory in the National Basketball Association All-Star Game.
Los Angeles Lakers superstar Bryant finished with 27 points as the West dominated the Eastern Conference 146-119 in the mid-season showcase. Phoenix Suns center O'Neal had 17 points and five rebounds as the duo were named co-Most Valuable Players.
"Those two guys together are a deadly combination," Eastern Conference coach Mike Brown said. "If they had stayed together, there is no telling how many rings they would have had for their fingers and toes."
Bryant captured his third MVP award at the event, teaming with former Lakers teammate O'Neal and coach Phil Jackson for the first time since June 2004, when they fell to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals.
"It felt like old times," O'Neal said. "I miss those old times. He was really looking for me and especially when we went to the pick-and-roll and they had Rashard Lewis on me. He was really looking for me." The Kobe-Shaq partnership was also marked by well publicized feuds, but the pair appeared to have buried the hatchet as they jokingly fought over the MVP trophy before raising it in unison.
"It was fun to interact," Kobe said. "We were having fun. In terms of being nostalgic, we are not going and watch 'Steel Magnolias' together. We had a good time that's all."
O'Neal provided a host of highlights, starting with an impromptu dance with hip-hop group JabbaWockeeZ during pre-game introductions.
"I wanted to do something a little bit different and unique," Shaq said. "They are the best dance crew out there, so I just wanted to do something different. I realize that this might be my last (All-Star Game), so I wanted to make it memorable for myself and the fans."
O'Neal made his mark on court in limited minutes. "That's the first time I have seen an MVP that played just 11 minutes in an All-Star game," Jackson said. "But he really had an impact on the game, there is no doubt about that."
Cleveland's LeBron James, a two-time All-Star MVP, scored 20 points for the East.
"Those two guys together are a deadly combination," Eastern Conference coach Mike Brown said. "If they had stayed together, there is no telling how many rings they would have had for their fingers and toes."
Bryant captured his third MVP award at the event, teaming with former Lakers teammate O'Neal and coach Phil Jackson for the first time since June 2004, when they fell to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals.
"It felt like old times," O'Neal said. "I miss those old times. He was really looking for me and especially when we went to the pick-and-roll and they had Rashard Lewis on me. He was really looking for me." The Kobe-Shaq partnership was also marked by well publicized feuds, but the pair appeared to have buried the hatchet as they jokingly fought over the MVP trophy before raising it in unison.
"It was fun to interact," Kobe said. "We were having fun. In terms of being nostalgic, we are not going and watch 'Steel Magnolias' together. We had a good time that's all."
O'Neal provided a host of highlights, starting with an impromptu dance with hip-hop group JabbaWockeeZ during pre-game introductions.
"I wanted to do something a little bit different and unique," Shaq said. "They are the best dance crew out there, so I just wanted to do something different. I realize that this might be my last (All-Star Game), so I wanted to make it memorable for myself and the fans."
O'Neal made his mark on court in limited minutes. "That's the first time I have seen an MVP that played just 11 minutes in an All-Star game," Jackson said. "But he really had an impact on the game, there is no doubt about that."
Cleveland's LeBron James, a two-time All-Star MVP, scored 20 points for the East.