"Live" blogging Kobe's final game in Philly

NBA League Pass is great. If you are a fan of the league, there really isn't anything better to get. No, this isn't a plug or anything, just facts (opinion). Anyways, it lets you watch games otherwise unavailable to most of the country. This is how I was able to watch the Lakers at the 76ers on Wednesday, despite the game being on Tuesday. Pretty big game, if you don't care about records or quality basketball. Of course, Kobe announced his retirement recently, making this his last season. 

Kobe grew up in Philly, which makes this last game at the 76ers very meaningful. (Apparently Kobe always wanted to play for Philly) The 76ers were also going for their first win. To avoid fluff and to get the hometown take on the game, I decided to watch the 76ers TV feed.

Records: Lakers: 2-14
              76ers: 0-18

Announcers: Color Commentary: Jim Lynam and Die Lynam; Play by Play: Marc Zumoff; Sideline: Molly French
Let's begin.

1st Quarter:

Kobe immediately takes and makes a three, announcers take a shot at Kobe's shooting percentage in a backhanded compliment sort of way.

Kobe comes down and hits another three. Someone is pumped.

"We are balling already folks!" says  Jim Lynam excitedly. This is actually true, as Kobe hits three 3's in a row and the Sixers matched the first two. 

MVP chants for Kobe...on the road.

There is a 33% chance Kobe told Jahlil Okafor that the Sixers suck before the game started.

Arena is sold out for first time since Iverson played and/or his retirement ceremony (Exaggerated that a bit)

They keep saying how Lou Williams is a former Sixer. We get it, you miss having NBA players.

With 4 left in the first Kobe has 13 points. Go for 50 duh duh duh duh duh, go for 50 duh duh duh duh duh, is what I am imaging the crowd is chanting in their minds.

I envy Nerlens Noel's high top fade.

Man they love Lou Williams more than Drake did. The last two minutes has all been about Lou! We get it, he was 6th man of the year.

Metta World Peace checks in.

Stauskus shot rightly described as awkward.

After one: Lakers up 33-26

2nd Quarter

The three announcers approach is always interesting in terms of air time.

What's it like to be the announcers of a win-less team? I honestly think it would be fun. Kind of like how it's fun to be a parent of a kid on a crappy middle school team, because you don't have to put that  much effort into it, don't have to worry about playoffs, but get good experience nonetheless. 

AAAAAAND ANOTHER LOU WILLIAMS GUSH FEST! "I am a huge Lou Williams fan." says Jim Lynam. You don't say.

0 Lakers field goals in the last four minutes, yet the Sixers have only closed the gap by two. That's what kind of game this is.

Jakarr Sampson missed second free throw, somehow got his own rebound and then got fouled again. Why is that important? It isn't.

Swaggy P breaks the field goal drought and lets the crowd know he did.

French interviewing Kobe's Lower Merion head coach. You can tell he's a coach by his raspy voice. Oh, he just apologized for his voice. Beat her to it! 

Okafor fought hustled for that basket. Sorry, I do feel bad for the guy. Who wouldn't be frustrated being a top tier player on a win less team? He's young, we all make mistakes, no one is perfect. That's my quick take on that whole situation.

Kobe used to go against former Sixers draft prospects, including Jerry Stackhouse. Fun fact.

It's almost sad to watch this Lakers team. They have some nice young pieces but nothing much else. At least they don't have 10 plus undrafted guys or however many Philly has.

Playing "I Can't Feel my Face" as they advertise a Sixers-Nuggets game coming up.  I can't feel any emotions when thinking about that game.

Kobe now 5-13. A very quiet 8 misses I must say. No one can hide misses with the occasional make like Kobe can.

Sixers honoring Moses Malone.

Quick CSN tangent: I looked up who their announcers were and was led a little astray. Late in the second they show the announcers, who look cramped and a little unhappy, but that's when I realized there were two Lynams calling this game. After some research it turns out that Dei is the daughter of Jim! A father-daughter combo! That's taking your daughter to work to the extreme. I wonder if Zumoff feels like the third wheel or the distant uncle. (She looks like a cross between Amy Poehler and Hilary Clinton)

I keep having weird mental flashes of "Why the hell am I watching a game between teams with a combined 2-32 record?" Basketball. I love basketball. Yes. That's good enough reasoning for me. Basketball.

Interview with Doctor J! Talking about the late-great Moses Malone.

The Chairman of the Boards is a top five nickname in sports, that being Moses' nickname of course.

Stauskus fixing his hair before walking out. Yes, the hair will help you, fix the hair.

Kobe nails a 3! What is he, 8-8 from 3? Oh, he's 4-10, still not bad. Unless you question 10....make that 11 3 point attempts before halftime. 

At the half: Lakers up 58-50

3rd Quarter

Kobe leads all scorers at the half. 

Just showed that someone left Philly cheese-steaks in Kobe's locker. How I wish someone would leave cheese-steaks in my locker

For those of you who haven't seen the Sixers yet this year, which I am guessing is all of you, I really like what I see from both Okafor and Noel. Just don't trade them Hinkie! Don't do it!

Vitaly Potapenko was drafted before Kobe.

Philly just tied it up at 58. As Covington drains the 3, Sam Hinkie pulls out his phone and sends a mass text to the 29 other GM's reading "Covington is available, looking for 3-6 second rounders."

Pushing through this one. It's the most unexciting one point game ever. 

Covington hits another three, Hinkie checks inbox, which is disappointingly empty. 

Hibbert and Sampson fight!!! Here we go.

Announcers: Hibbert is known for throwing elbows. 

Okafor was trying to hold people back, see, he can be nice!

The look on Hibbert's face as he was slowly forcing his elbow towards Grant is priceless. No emotion, mouth agape. Does Hibbert have any other emotion other than sullen? He's the Jay Cutler of the NBA.

Decided to skip most of the official review, the beauty of league pass.

Hibbert was awarded a tech. Weird phrase, not really an award. 

Kobe just took a contested fall away deep two from the baseline and missed, but I'll just pretend he made it.

Larry Nance Jr sighting as Kobe misses again to fall to 6-20 and 4-14 from three.

Wait, Lou Williams is a former Sixer? Thanks for that fun fact Marc!

Sixers new uniforms are pretty nice. 

Despite for this game being pretty dull, at least its a close game and the Sixers look so motivated because they know this is pretty much their best chance to get a win for a while.

Score after 3: Sixers up 80-75.

4th Quarter

Its sad that undrafted, former walk on, TJ McConnell is outplaying number 3 overall D'Angelo Russel. As I typed that Russel threw down a nice dunk. Only has 7 points though.

Kobe comes out shooting 7-23 with 19 points. 

I went to sixers.com just to succumb to the sideline URL. Not a bad site.

Sixers on a nice run to get up 94-80 with seven to go.

Isaih Canaan is number 0. I love when players are 0 but I love when they are 00 even more. That's what kind of game this is.

Showing all of the Sixers blown 4th quarter leads over the past few games. That's a depressing hometown view on this lead.

Jordan Clarkson doesn't get nearly enough credit.

Sell out crowd doesn't seem that enthused about the Sixers being up and possibly winning a game. A Russel three actually drew some cheers.

Kobe back in, crowd goes wild.

Yeah, this crowd may lean Lakers.

Sixers vs Nuggets tickets start at $10 for kids. That seems high considering the match up. The Sixers should take a dollar off tickets for every second rounder they trade for.

Kobe missed a three that would have put them within 5.

Hollis Thompson with a dagger 3.

McConnell can really dish it, set up Okafor with a nice driving layup.

Sixers coach Brett Brown has grin on his face, its the "man this will make me look good" grin.

I love how the announcers start every Kobe dig with "I love Kobe but..."

With a minute left and the Sixers up ten, Hinkie is coming up with all the convoluted ways his team could blow this one. Sadly for Hinkie, it's unlikely.

Wow the Sixers players look relieved. 

It happened, it actually happened, the Sixers won a game. 

Final Score: Sixers 103- Lakers 91.

"The Sixers my friends, have won a basketball game." Says Zumoff. That sounds weird out of context.

Sixers finally win yet crowd chants Kobe. That's just how great of a player he was. Definitely a crowd pleaser.

So, the game got a little slow at time, but overall it was nice to see Kobe's career honored. It was also nice to see Moses Malone honored. Oh, and the Sixers finally won.

I put the highlights here so you couldn't just watch them and skip my ramblings! HAHAHA