When we are immersed in the moment, we don't usually understand the historic significance of certain events. We appreciate history when we are removed from it better than when we are actually part of it. Game 4 on Thursday of the finals was a historic game. I am not referring to one of the biggest Finals comeback on the road" story. I am more interested in the significance of this game from Kobe Bryant's perspective. The next MJ conversation is officially dead - at-least for a game or 2. As a Lakers and Kobe-hater, I am obviously happy about it. I am sure Kobe is pissed beyond what meets the eye. He is way too smart to miss the significance of this game on the big picture.
MJ doesn't lose that game 4 - not in a million years. You spot a 24 point lead to a 50 year old Jordan and he probably will find a way to seal the deal and win by 2! He is just a cold-blooded killa! So is Kobe by all indications, but he just lacks something. And that something is a better basketball head. Kobe is so self-absorbed at times that he is prone to more bad decisions at the clutch than MJ. Jordan just had the will and the smarts to do the right thing when it mattered the most. He also bought the best out of his teammates. Both were/are ruthless with their teammates, but Kobe just seems a lot more disconnected with them than MJ ever was. All of this adds to a MJ knockout of Kobe in this head-to-head comparison.
Now what happens to Kobe? Like I said, he is probably seething inside that he took such a career-altering blow on Thursday. He will probably come out smoking on Sunday in game 5 and try to show he is still in the running for MDE - Most Dominant Ever (to steal a Shaq phrase). But the damage is done. The only way he even restores some equilibrium is if he wins this series in 7. Lakers can definitely do it, though this Boston team looks awesome and have got 2 more games at home. I expect Kobe and the Lakers to take game 5, but 2 more on the road? Not sure if thats gonna happen. Plus Boston has been so effective, would anybody be really surprised if they wrap it up today and start planning their parade?
Kobe is in a tough personal spot right now. If he loses this series, thats officially 2 finals losses against MJ's zero. One featuring this ugly game 4 and the other even with Shaq on his team against the Pistons. So where does he turn now? He can smoke Phillip's peace-pipe like he suggested yesterday and hope (and pray) Sasha and Jordan Farmar help him out. Or he can try and go superman and face more criticism if the Lakers lose this series. I mean Kobe going superman is no guarantee for success anyways. We have seen that act before and I am not sure if the Laker-fan wants to see it against this maniacal Boston D. So Kobe is caught between a rock and a hard-place - between Lamar and Pau Gasol, between Sasha and Radmanovic. Not a good place to be if you had been watching this series so far.
Speaking of Kobe's teammates, what's the deal with Pau and Lamar? I can't remember 2 guys who have consistently gotten less results out of more talent than these two dudes. These 2 are the exact opposite of Leon Powe and Eddie House and that might singularly explain why the series is 3-1 in favor of Boston. And how much of his teammates' issues are Kobe-induced? There are reports that Kobe is just mean and relentless in his criticisms of his teammates on the court and on the bench. Even Curt Schilling had to write about it in his blog about Kobe's behavior having seen it up-close at the Boston Garden. I hate to quote Schilling of all people and loved Kobe's "Go Yankees" retort, but still Kobe has to clean-up his act. The only people who probably hate him more than the Laker-haters should be his teammates.
Take it easy Kobe - unless you want to be remembered as the next PJ now that the next MJ thing is done. I am speaking of P.J.Carlesmo, the guy known for berating his team constantly like they were some high-school kids until Latrell Sprewell almost choked him to death. Pau and Vlad-Rad would choke Kobe too if they were not busy choking themselves. In any case, Boston is beating the Lakers on every aspect of the game right now. Much to the chagrin of Suns fans like me, they are once again proving defense wins championships. I couldn't believe how they almost won game 4 with Pierce and KG doing nothing on offense. They better keep the defensive intensity going because I have a feeling Kobe is going to come out firing in the next game or 2 or 3.
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