**Absolutely no copyright infringement is intended. All images, audio, and video clips are the sole property of their respective owners. This is for entertainment purposes only**

2001 Western Conference Finals Game 1, May 19, 2001 | In the middle of arguably his best playoff run, Kobe absolutely dismantles the #1 ranked defense in the NBA on their home court. In the two games prior against the Sacramento Kings, Kobe recorded stat lines of 36-7-4 followed by 48-16-3 to complete the sweep of the Kings. With the Spurs having home court advantage in the conference finals, Kobe would need a third straight dominant road outing to get a big win and steal HCA. Attacking a rim being guarded by the twin rowers of Duncan and Robinson all night, the bulk of Kobe's scoring came inside the paint. As the game went along, Kobe became more and more aggressive. He had 5 dunks in the second half alone, many of them contested. On 19 made field goals, KB finished the evening with a second consecutive 45+ point/10+ rebound game. I consider this period of Kobe's career the beginning of his status as an elite player and the best two-way perimeter player in the game. For the opposition, a nightmare became a reality as Kobe had become a road warrior while Shaq remained dominant in the games at Staples. This kind of supremacy is what leads to a 15-1 playoff run.

BOX SCORE -
http://www.basketball-reference.com/b...