On This Day in Sports History....

[dada]

With the one year anniversary of Kobe's huge night against Toronto I decided to make a thread where we can post and discuss memorable events in sports that happened on specific dates.

On January 22, Bryant scored 81 points in a 122-104 victory against the Toronto Raptors. In addition to breaking the previous franchise record of 71 set by Elgin Baylor, his point total in that game was second in NBA history only to Wilt Chamberlain's legendary 100-point game in 1962.

[3P]

Wait next year you will post

On January 22, Bryant scored 101 points in a 142-104 victory against the Golden State Warriors. In addition to breaking the previous franchise record of 81 set by himself, his point total in that game was first in NBA history, passing Wilt Chamberlain's legendary 100-point game in 1962.

It could happen.

[hammertime23]

No one will ever score 100 again. It's so weird though because I've never seen highlights of the actual game when Wilt scored the 100, it could be a conspiracy. All I've seen is the picture of him holding the sign that says '100'.

[Anthony15]

No one will ever score 100 again. It's so weird though because I've never seen highlights of the actual game when Wilt scored the 100, it could be a conspiracy. All I've seen is the picture of him holding the sign that says '100'.

Could be, someone said there was a video of him posted for VIP Members at Google Video to prove it, but my bet is its BS, no1 recorded an actual game on video, but there were radio broadcasts.

[Buckley]

it will never happen. other then russell, wilt had no competition. plus wilt had no pressure around him in a small town like hershey, pa which is where he did the 100. kobe has to face talented competition every game and toronto was not a good team when he scored 81

[Matthew]

Kobe scored 55 in the second half against the raptors, so 100 isnt untouchable.

[BigKaboom2]

There's no footage of that 100-point game that's publicly available. Otherwise you would have seen clips of it, believe me.

I wouldn't say 100 is untouchable either. It would probably happen under some crazy circumstances, like when David Robinson scored 71 against the Clippers in the last game of the 93-94 season to steal the scoring title from Shaq.

[Matthew]

If someone does break the 100 point barrier, watch all the Wilt apologists defend him though. I remember when Kobe scored 81 points, they said it was becuase he had the advantage of the3 point line...

[---]

If someone does break the 100 point barrier, watch all the Wilt apologists defend him though. I remember when Kobe scored 81 points, they said it was becuase he had the advantage of the3 point line...

Wow, that's a pathetic excuse. Even if there was a three point line Wilt wouldn't have made any.

Not to take away from Wilt being a great player and in my opinion the most dominant player of all time, but he was a man amongst boys in that day in age. He had almost no one to contend with, his sheer size, length and athleticism set him apart from the rest of the league. Who did that 100 come against anyway? Whoever was guarding him would of had no chance, how hard is it to score 100 points in the paint when the guy is much weaker and has no chance of blocking you?

The way Kobe got his 81 was incredible. He was making tough shots at an extremely high percentage, making 60% of his shots (as a guard!) despite double and triple teams. I can guarantee Kobe's 81 was alot tougher to get than Wilts 100. Again, not to take away from Wilt, one of the best there ever was, but I think his 100 is over blown. It would have been a different story had he gone against say, Bill Russell.

[Matthew]

Also don't forget Wilts own teamates were fouling the Knicks early in the shot clock just to give Wilt more opportunities to score. Remember the last "brawl" between the Knicks and Nuggets, how George Karl was criticised for leaving his starters in when the game was already won?

Now just imagine, not only was the game won. Not only was Wilt obviously stat padding. Forget that. His own teamates were purposely fouling just to help with that stat padding.

Where is Herm Edwards so I can ask him why do we play the game...

[---]

I never knew that, no wonder he managed to reach 100.

The one thing I find most amazing when comparing the two games is that Kobe, as a guard, being double and triple teamed (I don't care how bad the Raptors were defensively, whenever you are on your own, outnumbered, its tough to score) still shot a higher percentage than Wilt, while taking tougher shots (an assumption, but it's highly likely) and scoring all over the court.

When you take the same shot over and over again, you develop a rhythm. As soon as you move, it effects that rhythm because your body got used to shooting that same shot. I can confidently say Wilt probably scored off easy dunks and hook shots very close to the basket. Because he was so tall and strong, he could do that, and the defender couldn't do anything about it.

Kobe on the other hand is the average height for a guard, and while being very quick and having good lift on his jumpshot, he didn't have the choice to shoot the same shot everytime. He had to change it up to get his shot off, meaning it would of been tougher to get into a rhythm offensively.