47 Shots? That’s Rare Air

Bemused in Boston after Kobe Bryant had jacked 47 shots in a loss to the Celtics on Thursday night, Phil Jackson had said he’d never seen such a thing, which goes to show how forgettable another man’s arm weariness can be.

Not quite 10 years ago, Michael Jordan shot 49 times in an overtime loss to the Orlando Magic, and the man on the sideline egging him on could only have been Jackson.

Bryant’s 47 shots did not touch the Laker record, 55. But Elgin Baylor required three overtimes on Dec. 8, 1961, in a 151-147 victory over Philadelphia. Bryant needed one overtime.

Only five players in NBA history have taken more than 47 shots in a game -- Wilt Chamberlain 22 times, Baylor and Rick Barry twice each, Jordan and George Gervin once apiece. Chamberlain’s record is 63, on March 2, 1962, the night in Hershey, Pa., he scored 100 points against the New York Knicks. Forty-seven had been reached 10 other times, most recently by Sacramento King Chris Webber in an overtime game almost two years ago.

A sampling of the most attempts by the game’s greatest players showed what an unusual night Bryant had. Bill Russell’s high was 28. Jerry West took 40. Allen Iverson’s high is 42. Karl Malone has never taken more than 34. And Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the greatest scorer in history, once took 39 shots, and never more.

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Jackson joked that Bryant had three ice bags strapped to his body in the aftermath of Thursday’s game, one on each knee and the third on his shooting elbow.

Bryant laughed.

“That’s nothing,” he said. “You guys forget, I was a scorer when I came into the league.”

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Rick Fox watched Thursday’s game in Boston from a barstool, amid Celtic fans who rode him, but not too hard.

“I think people are a little more cautious now,” he said, smiling, “knowing I’ll run you down.”

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The most difficult part of his six-game suspension, Fox said, would be found in the statistics and in the training room.

Devean George, who has twisted both ankles, his left one again Thursday night, has averaged 35.2 minutes. Robert Horry, who has a swollen right hand and a sore heel, has averaged 35.5.

On Friday night, the Lakers played the last of five games in eight nights in four cities. They play twice in the next eight days, both at home.

“Robert and Devean keep looking at me,” Fox said. “But I know they’ll forgive me.”