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The NBA capped off it's regular season last night in grand fashion as two historic games tipped off at 10:30 PM.
Kobe Bryant played his final game as a Las Angelas Laker and capped off a 20-year career in a 101-96 win over the Utah Jazz, scoring 60 points in the process. Love him or loathe him, Bryant is an all-time top ten player with accolades a mile long, including five World Championships and third on the all-time scoring list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabar and Karl Malone.
Kobe scored 15 of the team's last 17 points including the shot to put the Lakers up with 31 seconds left.
In his final game @kobebryant wins the @NBA Play of the Day with the shot that gives the @Lakers the lead! #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/NWwnbAKXIS
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) April 14, 2016
I don't even like Kobe, but that was pretty amazing. He turned back the clock and went retro-Mamba on the Jazz for his final act. Props.
And down the California coastline, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors set the all-time record for NBA regular season wins by going 73-9 in a win over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies. The Warriors broke the mark set by the Chicago Bulls at 72 wins in their historic season. Michael Jordan's team ended the season with a championship, can the Warriors do the same?
Not be be overshadowed, Steph Curry hit 400 3's this season. 400. Think about that.
The NBA is now primed for the playoffs.
The Warriors also broke the Bulls' win record. Crying Jordan memes all round. pic.twitter.com/zUSPnxU5so
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) April 14, 2016
Thanks to @hornets The boys got 2 see one of their favorite @KentuckyMBB @UKCoachCalipari @AaronICE2 #twins pic.twitter.com/WlXocT9pg6
— Shannon Spake (@SSpakeESPN) April 13, 2016
7 years ago I said we'd recruit the best & the brightest that would excel on the court, in class & in the community. https://t.co/Yql46vIrxE
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) April 13, 2016
Karl-Anthony Towns steals the ball and goes coast to coast with style https://t.co/R0ZWet12hc
— The Cauldron (ICYMI) (@CauldronICYMI) April 14, 2016
Kentucky Football Quickies
Drake Jackson is welcoming the competition on the offensive line as he is working harder than ever. Right now Jackson is third string as an incoming freshman, but I don't expect that to be the case all season. He won't unseat Johnathan Toth as the starter, but Jackson will see the field in some capacity this season.
Going to the Spring Game? Here is your ticket information.
Kentucky Basketball Quickies
Men’s basketball wins NCAA academic award for second consecutive year - CoachCal.com. Coach Cal has often called UK’s achievements on the court and in the classroom its "success rate." If a student-athlete plays basketball at Kentucky, Calipari explains, he is heading to the pros, getting his diploma or doing both.
Breaking down Briscoe's NBA stock as decision looms - Courier-Journal. Three Cats have already left early for the NBA. Might Isaiah Briscoe join them?
How Many of Cal’s Guys Will Become Top 10 UK Pros? - Kentucky Sports Radio. Even with UK's storied history, it's impact in the pro game hasn't always been great. How many of Cal's guys are going to be a Top 10 All-time UK pro?
Way-Too-Early Bracket Projection for 2017 NCAA Tournament - Bleacher Report. The Kentucky Wildcats join the Duke Blue Devils, Kansas Jayhawks and Villanova Wildcats on B/R's list of projected No. 1 seeds for the 2017 NCAA tournament.
Brad Calipari is living out his dream of playing for his dad and playing for the Kentucky Wildcats. But he wants everyone to know that his dad is as hard on him as anyone and that he has earned the right to be on the team.
Mr.s Tyler Thompson over at KSR wants Marques Bolden to know that Kentucky is better at getting players in the NBA than Duke. 42% of Kentucky's Burger Boys make it to the lottery of the draft and 63% to the first round compared to 38% and 53% by Duke. Easy decision, Marques.
Other Kentucky Athletics Quickies
After fighting back from being down, the #9 Kentucky Wildcats baseball team lost to the #6 Louisville Cardinals, 9-6.Gary Henderson's club put themselves in a hole early thanks to some shoddy defense but made a late rally to make the game 7-6. But it wasn't meant to be. The 'Cats will travel to Louisville next Tuesday for a rematch at Jim Patterson Stadium. But more importantly, Kentucky will go for another SEC series win when the take on Vanderbilt this weekend.
But all was not bad on the diamond last night. Freshman Abbey Cheeks hit a two-run bomb in the sixth as the #12 Kentucky softball team defeated EKU, 2-1. They will welcome the Missouri Tigers for a three-game series this weekend.
Other Sports Quickies
Duke's split with Derryck Thornton isn't pretty, but don't assume it's petty - Sporting News. We don’t know exactly what might have developed between Derryck and Krzyzewski, but whatever it was, it was enough for Thornton to leave and make room for Marques Bolden to join the Blue Devils.
Alabama hoops announces addition of John Pelphrey - Cats Pause. Avery Johnson has officially added John Pelphrey to his bench in Tuscaloosa.
The 15 Best Pieces of UK Memorabilia on eBay - Kentucky Sports Radio. "Big Blue Barbecue" and "Cat-aritaville" are nice bargains.
After a disappointing season, the Washington Wizards dismissed head coach Randy Witman and have strong interest in former Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks.
The Sacramento Kings plan to announce that head coach George Karl will be fired. His tenure in Sac-Town was a bumpy one. But so has been the tenure of just about every coach in Sac-Town.
While Karl- Anthony Towns and Devin Booker are having historic NBA rookie seasons, Willie Cauley-Stein has been pretty good as well. But he has been passed to the least amount of any player in the NBA.Hat-tip to Bradley Martinez for the link. He's still out there folks. And he sends his regards.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GAME OF THRONES TRAILER?????? THERE ARE WHITE WALKERS AND DRAGONS AND JON SNOW AND GHOST!!!!! OMG!!!!!!
Seriously, I am pretty damn excited about the season premier.
Hilary Clinton's campaign chair John Podesta wants us to know that if Hilary is elected president, she will tell us all the truth behind aliens, UFOs, and the cover-ups. If she wants my vote, she knows how to get it. I know, no politics, boo-hoo. But lighten up, this is funny.
What are the 10 greatest punk albums of all time? If your list doesn't include the top three in this order then your list is wrong.