Like it or not, the 2008 season is all about Kobe Bryant. The 2008 Finals are all about Kobe Bryant. This is his transformation, his redemption. Craig Hodges said it best: "When [Kobe Bryant] got the MVP, that was the saga, and now we're in the legacy." Every other basketball player right now is but a role player, a secondary character, in the story of Kobe Bryant as he chases immortality.
Kobe Bryant is no Michael Jordan. I am fine with that - God is mysterious with His gifts and He is sovereign. Jordan did it for 6 seasons, won 6 rings and 5 MVP awards. But for the latter half of this season, Kobe has reached Jordan's rarefied plateau. The way he picked apart the Spurs' championship caliber defense was as Jordanesque a performance as Jordan could have done himself. He finally was able to average more than 30 per while shooting over 50 percent from the field for an extended playoff run. He chipped in 6 assists and 6 rebounds per as well.
These two games at Boston should have been the legacy defining, crowning moment. But then, a few things went horribly wrong.
First, Kobe was called for his second foul in the first quarter after waving his hand at Ray Allen. Mind you, the Boston Celtics are vaunted for their physical defense and style of play and the series in general has shifted in that direction. Yet, on the greatest stage on earth, how do you call such a minor foul, when the greatest player of this generation is attempting to define his legacy? Kobe ends up going to the bench, and by the time he returns, the Celtics have turned a one point deficit to an eight point lead.
The Lakers would make a 31-9 run at the end of the game, a signature moment for the storied franchise. Kobe Bryant would finally break free and score at will against the Celtics, and the Boston Garden was deadly silent. Two field goals through the heart of the defense, a three pointer, two free throws, and suddenly it is a 2 point game with 38 seconds left. If all those hours of dedication and sacrifice would pay off - the off-season training, the two-a-days, the video sessions, the sleepless nights - then Kobe Bryant has done enough to deliver his team a win. Up to that moment, the Lakers were a +12 when Kobe was on the floor.
Paul Pierce, the warrior, heart and soul of the franchise, would not back down. But Paul Pierce is no Kobe Bryant. He misread the defense and stumbled into a double team instead of kicking it out. He flipped up a layup from 10 feet without even looking at the rim. It had no chance of going in. He had no elevation because he was jumping off his injured right knee. The Lakers rebounded the wild shot and should have had a chance to win it. Kobe Bryant had ice in his veins. This was the defining moment.
But then, something went horribly wrong in Kobe Bryant's saga. Paul Pierce was awarded two free throws. Game, set, match. Kobe Bryant would end up shooting 11-23, with 30 points and 8 assists, and the Lakers were a +8 when he was on the floor. There is nothing more he could have done to define his legacy.
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7 months ago
buddy stop making an excuse for Kobe. Jordan never went 9-27 in an nba final game. Kobe is showing in this series why he is not jordan. No defense could ever stop Jordan in his prime. The Celtics are doing it right now to Kobe . Kobe isn't as good at driving to the rim and posting up as Jordan was. He is great at these, but not Jordanesque. the foul was called by the way so sorry stop drooling over your imaginary what if game winning shot by Kobe. By the way Lakers fans should never complain about any calls at the end of games. Cough cough game 4 (Barry against the spurs), not to mention game 1 when Ginobli got tackled while about to get a offensive rebound. Stop making excuses. All Kobe fans ever said was that Kobe didn't have that good of a team and thats why he hasn't done anything since Shaq. Well here is his chance. He has a great team, a better team than Jordan ever had and he's failing so far. Whats your excuse going to be next game?
7 months ago
fisher admitted he failed paul pierce on that last drive.
think about that, derek fisher ADMITTING he fouled someone. That call was legit.
7 months ago
I think y'all are missing the point of the article. Mayo said it himself that Kobe isn't Michael Jordan, but that isn't the point. Derek Fisher admitted he fouled Pierce, but that isn't the point.
Point is, there was a time when the players decided the games. Or as Reggie Miller would say, "let the players play!"
1 more thing, about your comment that Kobe's team is better than Jordan ever had - remember, when Jordan "retired" into baseball, the Bulls led by Scottie Pippen won 55 games and went 6 games into the conference semis. You think the Lakers without Kobe can win 55 games? WITH Kobe they won 57!
Once again, no one is saying that Kobe's legacy > Jordan's legacy. It's not even close. But its sad that these days, there are no more Hollywood endings.
7 months ago
I understand the point, i'm just saying he is missing the point. This series is about kobe's legacy, he's right. He just wrong about making excuse for why kobe's legacy is going to go to the next level. This article should be about how kobe was finally given a chance to solodify his legacy in this NBA finals but instead he showed all doubters that they were right about Kobe not being Jordan. That year when they won 55 games the bulls had three all stars that years. B.J armstrong, Horace Grant, and Scottie Pippen. When Jordan won his last three championships, two of those three were gone. I would easily rather have Gasol, Odom, Fisher, Radmonavich, Vujachich, then Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc, ron harper, and longley. Put that lakers teams in the east this year and I could see them winning 55 games. Maybe if Gasol would touch the ball more they could actually beat the celtics.
5 months ago
"You think the Lakers without Kobe can win 55 games? WITH Kobe they won 57!"
I'm sorry, but did this LAL team win the NBA title, because I'm pretty sure the team Jordan retired from did, in fact, won their third. I'm betting that a team that can win three titles in a row knows play as a team.
But for argument sake, this LAL was up by 20 against the Celts in Game 4 with Kobe scoring zilch. Not saying that translates to 55 games in the regular season, but up 20 against the NBA champs without a bucket of help from Kobe says something. That they lost once Kobe started firing away, to wit, says something else.
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