Earlier today, the Spurs got the best of the Lakers in Game 1 as they cruised to a 91-79 victory. Those of you who watched the game while checking your timeline on Twitter probably caught wind of Coach Vino – née Kobe Bryant – giving advice to coach Mike D'Antoni as he watched at home. D'Antoni was asked after the game about his thoughts on Bryant's e-coaching and he rolled his eyes back far enough to see the front of his brain. "He's a fan. Just a fan right now," the actual Lakers coach quipped.
Bravo to D'Antoni for treating Kobe's tweets exactly how they should be treated: more unsolicited commentary from armchair observers. Bryant's basketball IQ is legendary, but he isn't the man charged with moving the Lakers' chess pieces at this time. If No. 24 wants to make a run at coaching after his playing days are through, then you can bet there will be more than one team interested in his services. However, we're (thankfully) at least a couple of years away from seeing Bryant retire. We all look forward to seeing Black Mamba on the court again, but we can do without Coach Vino on the keyboard.
Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors? Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here's this week's look around the web..
- Dime Magazine looked at the most clutch players in the playoffs, including J.R. Smith.
- The Basketball Post says Nuggets-Warriors is the most fun of any first round series.
- The Brooklyn Game gets you up to speed on the Nets' season.
- Pounding The Rock isn't optimistic about the Spurs' chances.
- Hardwood Paroxysm reflects on the season that was.
- Blog A Bull reflected on Chicago's rough Game 1.
- Red94 explores what is as stake for the Rockets.
- 3SOB works the numbers.
- SLC Dunk previewed the best one guards in the draft.
- Rufus On Fire looks back at the highs and lows of the Bobcats' year.
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I had that Nuggets-Warriors series going 7 games until David Lee got hurt