Kobe Bryant is still the best basketball player in the world.
"Can anyone stop the Lakers?" This is the question that teams around the NBA have been asking themselves ever since the lakers laid claim to the Larry O'Brien trophy last June. So far, with the surprise elimination of LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the second round, LA looks destined to repeat as world champions.
Besides boasting the most talented front-court in the league in Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, the lakers are led by the deadliest cut-throat competitor in the game today. Kobe Bryant, AKA: the Black Mamba. At 31, Kobe Bryant is still hungering for greatness... i.e. the title of "Greatest Ever."
Both Kobe and LeBron led their teams to the top of their repspective confererences during the regular season. For the second consecutive year, LeBron has won the MVP award and led his team to the best regular season record, only to have his season end in utter disappointment and embarrassment. Kobe is still standing, chasing his 5th title, closing in on Michael.
As I type this, I just watched Kobe pour in 21 points in 3rd quarter in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against my favorite team the Phoenix Suns. It seems as if Kobe just said to himself, "Why wait to close this game out in the fourth quarter when I can do it in the third?" That type of reasoning is what makes Kobe Bryant the awesome player that he is. And until he honestly cannot ask himself questions like that anymore, he will likely remain regarded as the best player in the world, and possibly ever.
I'm going to say Lakers in 5 over the Suns.
Over in the Easter Conference we have the Star-studded Boston Celtics. With Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, and Rasheed Wallace, they legitimately have 5 all-stars on their roster. This is a team that won the title in 2008 and feel they could have won it again last year had KG been healthy. This is a team seeking vindication for last year's injury riddled season. With their age, expiring contracts for both players and coaches, and other longevity issues, Boston knows it was team constructed to win now and is fully aware of the fact that the championship window is closing fast. I think it will officially be closed after this season.
With the best record in the East, the Orlando Magic also have their eyes on a championship, but it is going to be hard for them to get past Boston. Despite the media love fest with center Dwight Howard, his offensive game remains rather one-dimensional. Getting most of his points from dunks and wide open layups or at the free-throw line. He has not shown the ability to creat for himself in the paint, has no back-to-the-basket game to speak of, and has failed to show he can hit the 10-15 footer with any type of consistency. Additionally, Vince Carter is not used to post-season success despite being a perrenial all-star for the last decade and probably the best dunk champ the league has ever seen.
Ultimately, Orlando is a jumpshooting team who live and die by the three ball. So far in the playoffs, the threes have been falling, but they have not faced a team that prides itself in defense the way Boston does. In the end, I have to say that the hall-of-fame caliber experience found in Boston's Big 3 will win out.
I'm going to say Boston in 6.
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