11-22-2007, 05:22 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 5,458
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JS: Redd outduels Bryant
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Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant did not forget the 45-point explosion that Michael Redd produced last November at the Staples Center.
But the Milwaukee Bucks guard also had an edge of his own for Wednesday night's marquee matchup against Bryant and the Lakers.
Redd had worked out diligently with Bryant while both players were members of Team USA during the summer, and the confidence he gained was put to good use in the Bucks' 110-103 victory over the Lakers at the Bradley Center.
Redd finished with 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a stirring duel with Bryant, who wound up with 27 points, three rebounds and four assists.
"That's back-to-back nights," Redd said with a laugh, referring to his matchup against Cleveland's LeBron James on Tuesday night. In that game, both James and Redd scored 34 points as the Bucks took a four-point victory.
"I don't know who scheduled our schedule," Redd said. "But obviously it's never mano-a-mano. It's the Lakers vs. Milwaukee, and that's how we approached it.
"He's a terrific player, and you've just got to bring your best against him. Playing with USA Basketball helped me out a little bit, just getting more comfortable playing with him and working out with him. Just going at each other every day in practice, and we didn't do anything different tonight."
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Quote:
He (Bryant) respects me," Redd said. "When you get the best out of somebody, that says a lot about yourself. He played hard tonight. I wanted to go at him as well, play my best against him.
"I tried to do what he does against me, pressure me, hold me, whatever you've got to do. I learned a lot from him this summer. In order to be one of the premier guards in this league, you've got to be able to defend. He's done it for many years, and I'm trying to do the same thing now."
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Bucks guard gets the last laugh
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