Throwback: Allen Iverson 48 vs Kobe Bryant 15 Duel Highlights (NBA Finals 2001 Game 1), Classic!

the battle is about to begin the consummate David is ready to ch

allen

ge the ultimate Goliath Allan Iverson what he lacks in size he more than makes up for and MVP sees him as proof of that just ask him, he will tell you Shaquille O' Neal, the warrior power personified fighting to lead the Lakers to another NBA title, believes they can stop this imposing Force for five seasons. Iverson has answered the ch

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ge on numerous occasions, but will this test be too daunting? Only his spirit can elevate him to ultimate glory, but Sha is not willing to give up basketball's biggest prize B David Goliath only one will be NBA champion on a beautiful 81° day in Southern California are ready for the start of the NBA Finals for the defending NBA champions, the Lakers, the long layoff is over As they make their 26th trip to the

finals

, the most appearances in NBA history.

Very good, thank you very much Marv. Kobe Bryant is with me. Kobe, are you worried that the rust will show especially here in the first half? being able to match the intensity level of the Sixers, we're a little worried, but what we're going to do is go out there and try to execute and be really solid and the things that we like to do offensively and defensively. and just take this from there Kobe, you grew up in Philadelphia, your dad played for the 76ers, you practiced with the Sixers when you were young but you said your favorite player was Magic Johnson, is it that difficult or exciting for you to play against the Sixers?

It's exciting, you know, it's nice to be in the NBA Finals and you get a chance to play against a team like Philadelphia, it's kind of a part of history, you know, it was a great tradition with the Lakers and the Sixers back in the day. and we. You're just a part of this, okay Kobe, good luck to you tonight, okay, let's go to Lewis Johnson with the 76ers and here's Bill Jackson saying he likes to see Shaq open with a 50th first here in the

game

number one. Good look. by ion and Aon mcke knocks down the three it's seven and two when he doesn't it's four and five he must shoot the ball kobby Bryant lost it here it is honey, it's a sloppy start by the Lakers Sixers with a 5-2 lead those are the type of baskets for your Lakers that you don't want to give Iverson layups very well Fake Kobe returns them to Fox for three while they go to the bench and bring in Eric Snow and go to a smaller lineup Ste Fox in front of the Lakers in the mix of a first have jumped it by 16 and the six over 141 of Los Angeles have made six of nine turnovers the Lakers averaging almost 10 steals and when they steal the ball they are going to run that brings KY Bryant to fer even for attempting a shot looking to set up his teammates and then hitting the rebounds how good was that, I mean Kobe Bryant right at him, drives it and makes Kobe come back on his heels steps back with the great jump shot that was beautiful far from that and should continue to throw the basketball ion.

I have the shot to FL short by BR ion claiming he was fouled. Wed. I had a shot clock reset of two of an ion. Oh, what a spectacular ending! The Sixers use a full 24 now, how many guys do you know when they have a hard time shooting the ball? They wouldn't make a shot like that against the clock. He never looks at his shot attempt. He will take the shot for his team's travel violation. That was caused by Allen Iverson's hustle, Kobe Bryant's length, he just goes out there and gets a piece of that shooting

game

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A unique style that is not seen, they are often starting to defend much better at this time, Mar, right? here it is iers yes and Alan iers has picked it up that is his fourth field goal he has the basket you can't play him and Matumbo can't take the foul he already has one again Bryant lost it mck took it away for Kobe Bry's arm you can see to Alex Slow down trying to foul Fox. See the Lakers haven't faced this kind of pressure on the perimeter defensively and if the Sixers are going to win, this is exactly what they have to do: press the point of the ball in the final seconds of the quarter.

Kobe commits the foul with three and one second left and this first quarter I'm not going to give you a little statistic here with a 175 run to end the first quarter. The Lakers have led by as many as 13. Allan Iverson on fire has given it to the 76ers. a one point lead, Iverson sets it up for mck, yes you will rebound the ball and that's what Philadelphia has done here in this first half, which is dger won by 15 when Iverson lit up the Lakers by 40 and Kobe came back to his hometown in Philadelphia. playing with shoulder pain, how is Iverson? 19 points Kobby Bryant had a tough night defending Iverson scored only 18 points just under three minutes left in the half M for H that wasn't pretty of Aaron McKee but somehow he found that he doesn't turn it over very often he makes plays simple Hy Bryan, oh beautiful, Kobe spent a minute 45 remaining in the half, eluding Bryant and then rejected and had a medical vacation, then team president Pat Cochi backed his coach, told Iverson Lowry he wasn't going nowhere for Steven. iers again the defensive pressure is really bothering the Lakers Sixers now lead 51 to 45 there was even talk of trading Iverson almost happened in both halves then they folded and the playoff games and here in the first half only two of nine from the field Iverson for three yes Allan iers destroying the Lakers in this first half spent a minute and a half in the third is Alli forain Jones Allan Iverson collecting the assist fighting did not have a field goal in the first half here is Bryant, look , he changed the shot that was anticipating the contact here it's the same play again this time they do a good job defensively and Iverson steps back and takes the jump shot to his left a Mar, the way he's doing those shots right now tonight here comes another one, he's not afraid, this young man is incredibly easy the NBA Finals record for most points and a half Michael Jordan had 35 games and a half fall Kil O'Neal with 20 points most points in a game of the Finals 61 that record was and fox Rost here he is iers with or Chon iers takes all the way he did the job on Sunday in the seventh game against the Bucks Iverson yes Allan Iverson 38 points and the Sixers lead by 12 and they get stronger as the game progresses Bryan's work was kept alive with the SMI and the loer doing some signs Larry Brown wants to talk about it during the timeout called by the six, the Lakers are down by up to four, they are down for only seven.

Iverson after the hesitation dribble sets him up for Tyrone Hill to get the Lakers closer to a downtown Allan Iverson. Iverson with 41 points I said they were wearing him down he was getting tired so he shouldn't be able to make that type of shot played by Bell he's done a good job best clock at three here's KOB BR now the game is TI at 92. Who's going to score for Philadelphia now if Alan Iverson can't get the ball? Who can put it in the basket? Bryant trying to shake off the snow. Here's Bryant getting it ready for this crowd and Staples. five snow the ball and lead 96 to 94 kobby Bryant out of the turn did not get C but Kobe will take it only six out of 20 at that time of the game 76 is with the ball down by an Iverson for three yes Allan Iverson has hit the Sixers a lead of 10199 Sixers Iverson upset by Lion yes, how about that step towards Ron L seven points in a row from Iverson looked like he was dead in the water in overtime Bryant played well by Bell very low R but able to convert three in the 24th oh Eric Snow's runner gives the Sixers a lead of 105 101 as you mentioned before Doug Eric Snow, a player who on several occasions has made decisive shots in the final stretch Allan Iverson, the courage of this young man who he had been completely closed out he comes out at halftime he hits a three-pointer to give his team a two-point lead here is Lou with time running out on the Lakers who will count the Philadelphia 76ers have defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the first game Allan Iverson with some big buckets down the stretch after going silent you ended the Lakers' 19-game winning streak no one expected that to happen you were hot early you went cold because of Tyrone Lou's defense how did you get it back?

I was stopping. all the time and uh, one time he attacked me, you know, but um, I mean, that's just how we are, we know we play hard, we came here, you know, expecting to win, you know, everyone already told us and you know we're not We're going to act like we've won it all now because we still have more business ahead of us. You know we're going to keep playing hard and no matter what, since you've surprised everyone here, what are you getting out of this game? In the second game we know we can win, you know, and we knew we could win before we came here, you know, everyone you know told us like I said, but you know they thought we were going to get swept, you know, and that's like a slap in the face.

I faced everything we worked for all year and I'm happy my teammates stuck it out and we got this win.