Every time the Los Angeles Lakers
loses in an NBA Finals in June, it hurts big time. Yup, it would also hurt every time they are
defeated earlier in the playoffs. But
not so much. Because it happens on an April or a May, and when June comes, by
then, I would have recovered from the disappointment of the Lakers getting
eliminated. Since my birthday is in the
month of June, if the Lakers fell in the Finals, it is heartbreaking and it
kind of ruins the mood a bit for the upcoming birthday. And if they win, I always consider a Lakers championship as a birthday gift for myself.
This latest Laker championship they
won is the ugliest and toughest one I had ever seen. However, it is also the sweetest since it
came against the Boston Celtics. The
championship won against the Magic the previous year was great, but ever since
the Celtics beat the Lakers on 2008 and ruined my birthday for that year, I really wanted a rematch to get back at them.
Thus, I was excited when the Celtics upset the Cavaliers and the Magic
and prepared the stage for another Laker-Celtics NBA Finals. I knew it was going to be tough, but I was
not expecting it to be that ugly. The
Lakers barely got the championship, though they won blowout games in Games 1
and 6. The Celtics were playing tough
and grinding basketball against the Lakers finesse, even getting a 3-2
advantage on them. But the Lakers
outplayed the Celtics in their own grinding game and out-willed them in the end
to win the championship.
This NBA season was never an easy
season for the Laker’s path to a repeat championship. But it was still fun, and the ending made
that tough journey worthwhile. Let me
review:
KOBE BRYANT
Kobe was awesome early this season,
a shooting guard who played like a power forward most of the time. Kobe played the part of the injured and out
Pau Gasol earlier in the season as he transforms into Hakeem Olajuwon. His post-up plays awed us all, adding another
variety to his already dangerous arsenal.
He was shooting 49%! In that
pace, he was already on his way for a second MVP.
Unfortunately, the injuries came
and limited Kobe. Fingers, back, knee,
ankle… such bad luck to suffer such package of injuries. I think fortune gave him the injuries because
if not, he will greatly dominate the NBA and would make it impossible for the
younger superstars to have a chance to catch up to his greatness. But, still, he played through the injuries
because he has a warrior’s heart. However,
his numbers suffered, allowing LeBron James to overtake him for MVP. I’ll admit it now, LeBron is the better
player. Yes, he is… when Kobe is
friggin’ and seriously injured! LeBron
still has the potential, the odds, and the prowess to overtake Kobe some day, but
for now, he’s still below Kobe. No way
he can take the title as the planet’s best player from that healthy Hakeem Olajuwon-style
Kobe Bryant we saw at the start of the season.
You may say I’m biased since Kobe
Bryant is my most favorite NBA player.
As a Laker fan, I should be “biased.” But this observation that Kobe is better than LeBron is not all through personal bias at all. Sure, LeBron still
statistically dominates Kobe. But I had
always argued that statistics is not the whole story. Kobe has things that cannot be measured by
stats. I already admitted that LeBron
was the better player this season, but only because Kobe was greatly limited by
his many injuries. And yes, LeBron got
his second straight regular season MVP.
But Kobe Bryant still ended up on top this season. Kobe got the Finals MVP, which I always point
out, an honor that comes with a championship ring. LeBron James might be the King, but Kobe
Bryant is the King of Kings. Bow down to
the Black Mamba, Bron.
I read an essay of Daniel Buerger this year that
analogized the Kobe-LeBron debate with the Batman-Superman debate. Here are some of the good parts in his
excellent written essay:
· “LeBron James is a physical anomaly, a
combination of brute strength and pure bodily dominance that is unlike anything
we have seen before. Kobe Bryant has a regular sized physique and was not given
outrageous physical gifts, but has propelled himself to legendary status using
his wit, mind, and willingness to adapt to his surroundings. In this situation
Bryant is the clear Batman representation while James will send Dwight Howard
to the bench and don the Superman cape.”
· “To begin this debate we will start with my personal favorite, Batman.
Batman is a super hero that isn’t, as he possesses no abnormal powers or
abilities. He is in every sense of the word, a man. However, his mental quest
for what he deems is right in unmistakable, and his brain ticks differently
than anybody else’s. His quest for vengeance comes from within, and this drives
him to make an impact on the world. His determination allowed him to turn his otherwise normal body
into a weapon. His relentless drive forces him to work harder than his
opposition, so when his enemies are at the end of their rope he is just getting
started. In his enemies mind, he is much more than a man, and this edge is
created purely by the Dark Knight’s mind.
“Superman is a completely different animal, almost literally. He is from
a different planet and is immune to the perils that all humans face. He is
untouchable in every aspect of the word, and other than small fragments of his
home planet known as kryptonite, he is invincible. Superman possesses physical
attributes that no other human comes close to, and is able to defeat his
enemies with brute strength and overwhelming power. While I am not calling him a dumb brute, the
fact is that Superman doesn’t have to use knowledge or excessive mental
activity to defeat his enemies due to his overwhelming physical presence. This
is not to say that he is unable of such a feat, it is just unnecessary.
· “So,
both players are great in different regards, and they represent each super hero
quite admirably. James has been gifted with the physical dominance that allows
him to not just go around his opponents, but over them. He can do things with
his body that many of us deem other-worldly, and it is truly amazing to watch.
Bryant on the other hand is a crafty veteran that uses his mind to motivate his
body. He adapts to his surroundings, therefore forcing his surroundings to
favor his game. James doesn’t need to outsmart his opponents because he is such
a superior athletic being, just like Superman. Bryant is continuously adding
new tricks and gadgets to his utility belt, always trying to stay a step ahead
of the opposition.
“Another strong similarity between each player and their respective
super hero is the frame of mind that each features. Superman knows he is going
to defeat his enemies using the gifts he was given, and James is the same way.
You don’t see LeBron James working on things like midrange jumpers or his post-up skills, because
he doesn’t need to use them most of the time. The Man of Steel clichés we are
all familiar with, the one involving him jumping over buildings and flying
through the air like a speeding bullet, all ring true when you see James step
on the floor.
“The same rings true for Bryant, and his alter-ego Batman. Without the
supernatural powers, Batman uses determination and constant vigilance to create
his legend. He seeks experts from around the world to help improve his
hand-to-hand combat, always trying to learn the latest tricks. Sound familiar?
Remember this, last summer, fresh off his NBA Finals MVP award, Bryant called
up Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon to help him work on his post-up game. While
most people in that position would be polishing their trophy and celebrating
being the best basketball player on the planet, Bryant was already working to
stay ahead of the opposition.”
As a comic book fan, Batman is
one of my favorite characters and I am a fan of him. I prefer him over Superman, whom I found as
“too powerful”, thus lacking depth and charisma as a character (many would even
go the extent of claiming that Superman is boring). I am not a fan of Superman but it does not
mean I hate Superman either; I am actually a Superman “fan” in a sense that I
appreciate his mythos and character and what he brings to comics. Thus, as an NBA fan, Kobe is my favorite
because he’s a versatile all-around player who might not be as athletic and
naturally and physically gifted as LeBron, but is deadly because of his
intelligence, hard work, and “utility belt” or arsenal of weapons. I am not a LeBron fan but it doesn’t mean I
hate him either; I am actually a LeBron “fan” in a sense I appreciate LeBron as
a player and his talents and what he brings to the NBA. I just find the Kobe-Batman type of character
more interesting and if compared or pitted against the LeBron-Superman
character, I would pick Kobe-Batman. So,
even if LeBron James have the natural, physical and given Superman
invincibility to beat Kobe Bryant, Kobe has the Batman wits and cunning of furnishing
a kryptonite bullet, held ready for the purpose of destroying LeBron.
Actually, that Kobe-Lebron
Batman-Superman analogy made me appreciate Kobe more. Just one factor why I think Kobe is still
the best. Another factor? His six gamewinners this season. Let's review it, shall we?
First he hit a tough buzzer-beater bunk-shot
three against the Miami Heat…
Then, a few days later, he hit
another buzzer beater gamewinner against the Milwaukee Bucks…
This is my favorite gamewinner
this season, when he hit a buzzerbeater three-pointer against the Sacramento
Kings. As C.A. Clark, a Laker blog
writer, pointed out “…Kobe Bryant set his own screen for the game winner. Next time, he
will inbound the ball to himself, while setting himself a screen, and then hit
himself on the dive for a dunk to win the game.”
Then, though no longer a
buzzerbeater, it was still great. The
Boston Celtics actually gave Kobe a hard time shooting (a preview of what the
Celtics can do in the Finals), but he hit the most important shot. The gamewinner against Ray Allen…
A clutch three-pointer against
the Memphis Grizzlies when he returned to the line-up after a brief hiatus due to injury.
Kobe was not yet finished.
His sixth gamewinner came against the second meeting with the Toronto Raptors…
He’s just amazing. Sure, he missed another gamewinner attempt at
Orlando (and the first game against the Raptors). But these six were just awesome.
In the playoffs, he carried his
team against tough opponents. His
offense was mediocre in the first round against Oklahoma Thunder, but when he
got the swelling in his knee drained, we finally got the old explosive Kobe
back. And when he started guarding
Russell Westbrook and neutralized him, the Lakers took control of the
series. Kobe would play his usual good
defense throughout the playoffs, justifying another selection in the
All-Defensive First Team. In the second
round, he led the Lakers to sweep the Utah Jazz. Then in probably Kobe’s best individual
statics playoff series ever, the Lakers took out a rejuvenated Phoenix Suns in
six games.
In the Finals, the Kobe went against the toughest defense he encountered in the playoffs, that though he would score, the Celtics made sure it was not easy baskets. Especially in Game 7, which probably his worst playoff offensive game
ever. Let us remember, though, that almost all players, not only Kobe, in that Game 7 shot badly considering the tough, grinding and awesome defense of both Lakers and Celtics. But though the Celtics defense made it hard for him to score in the series, however, most of the
time, he encouraged the Laker ball movement, energized offense and defense, and his
mere presence disrupted Celtics defensive strategy that made it possible for
Laker plays to happen. And he just did
everything he can. Even in that terrible
Game 7, when his offensive game was not working, he did what he had to do as he crashed the boards and got 15 rebounds, played his usual awesome defense, and hit the crucial free throws in the last quarter. He would win Finals MVP in the end, not
because of monster statistics but because of his usual heart. Not because he carried the Lakers in Game 7 but because
he is the most prominent Laker – being a presence and motivation for his
teammates, thus they instead carried him.
Kobe acknowledges this. He
admitted he owes his teammates. Though
he probably has the best and consistent averages in the Lakers throughout the
series, he is not the Laker who made the most impact in their wins (though, of course he contributed major impact, but just not the most impact), that would be Pau
Gasol. And he also acknowledges this. He
gives credit to whom credit is due.
During the presentation of the Finals MVP to him, he complemented and
acknowledged that everything would not had been possible if not for Pau Gasol,
thus as if implying that Pau is more than worthy to be an alternative for
Finals MVP (or even the real Finals MVP as to some people’s book), and at least
in that way, he “shares” the Finals MVP with Pau.
Let’s consider Kobe’s performance
in Game 7, if the Lakers lost, his legacy would take a sharp dive. Maybe Laker fans would hate him and blame him
for the loss, or branding him a “choker”, suffering the same treatment of Magic
Johnson (when he was called “Tragic” Johnson) during his Laker team’s loss in
his first Finals match-up with Larry Bird’ Celtics. Pau and the others saved him from this fate
in Game 7 and instead earned him another ring and Finals MVP for his
legend. Kobe Bryant knows how close
he was from this and deeply appreciates Pau and the rest of his teammates more
than ever. Nonetheless, Kobe deserves the Finals MVP award since he's still the best player of the Finals and he made most of the Laker's plays happen throughout the series. But he had lots of help to get it.
Oh, Kobe Bryant can act all
impervious to hype and excitement of the Boston-Laker rivalry, or the “revenge on
the Celtics” arch, or winning without Shaq. He acts and talks like it was just a regular
Finals series to him. Nothing more. Of course, we know he is lying (long before
he admitted it after the series). But we
forgive him because he had to lie. It is
part of not getting it all to his head and having and maintaining great
focus. That awesome Kobe focus and
mental strength was greatly epitomized by this epic scene during Game One of
the Finals:
Chris Rock doing a private show
for Kobe and the latter just ignoring the former’s jokes. Rock probably had been giving one of his
funniest stand-up comedies to Kobe but he remained undistracted. It was like Kobe was unconscious of
everything but the game. Such mental
focus is awesome. But when it is all
over, he finally let his defense down.
The trademark cold and focused scowl broke and turned into a smile
overflowing with joy. He admitted that
he lied and does appreciate the Lakers-Celtics rivalry since he was a student
of the game and just shunned about it during the series to maintain his focus. He was bursting with delight that he let it
slipped that he “…got one more than Shaq… take that to the bank.” But what I like most about this Kobe Bryant
is although he is a proud man – because he needed to show no weaknesses in the
journey – he is ready to show humility and honesty when he finally lets his
defense down after getting the goal. He
showed great relief and appreciation, as he admitted that his teammates carried
him and saved his legend from taking a dive in that Game 7.
There you go, why he’s my
favorite (and why I think he’s better than LeBron James, at least, for the
present). He’s an all-around
player. He led the Lakers to another
title, and a championship is a greater achievement than any individual
award. He has the heart and
determination to continually push himself to improve and furnish his
skills. He has a high basketball IQ, and
not only smart but Batman-smart. He has
great mental focus and does not shun away at the pressure of taking big shots,
whether he’ll be considered a hero if he makes them or the scapegoat if they
lose (at least, during a game), though we saw him at the brink of losing this mental
toughness in the Final’s Game 7. Moreover, he gives credit to whom credit is
due and shows appreciation to those who help him get his goals.
What’s left for Kobe? He’s still not finished. I know he still hungers for more
championships. As, a fan, I do, too. I want the Lakers to get more championships,
ultimately surpassing the Boston Celtics’ banners. And I think he can lead the Lakers to not
only one more championship but two or three more before he retires. He still has time. During his sit-down interview with Rick,
Brent, and Steve after Game 7 of the Finals, one of those three said, “Get on
with the party. Enjoy number 5… You’re
only 31 years old, Kobe. You and these guys are coming back for three more
years.” And Kobe replied, “I love
hearing that. As the season… as the
playoff started, it was ‘Oh, my God.
He’s 31 years old. He’s done!’ Now, ‘He’s only 31.’ I’m loving it.”
PAU GASOL
It seems blasphemous now that
years ago, I once considered Kevin Garnett, which by then was still playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the perfect player to join Kobe Bryant in the Lakers. Pau Gasol was
just my second choice by then (and Dirk Nowitzki as third). Of course, by then Garnett was still a great
player and Gasol still lacking the spotlight at him. But when Garnett went to the Celtics, and
Gasol was obtained by the Lakers, I saw the error of my opinion. When Pau finally got to the Lakers, people
start to give him attention and saw how great he is. In the Lakers’ complicated triangle system,
an intellectual and finesse player like Pau thrived. Pau is definitely a better – maybe even the
best available – complement to Kobe.
Pau Gasol is the best big man in
the NBA today. And that comes from Kobe
Bryant’s own mouth, as Kobe complements and acknowledges Pau as much as he
can. Pau is sort of a big-man version of
Kobe. Many people say that Pau has the
best pivot in the league and there is a reason for that. He moves with grace. His arsenal almost rivals Kobe’s. He is versatile and has high basketball
IQ. No wonder Kobe easily connects with
him. Of course, a player of Gasol’s
caliber – graceful and classy – was labeled soft after the ’08 Finals. He plays
with intellect and finesse, and that does not work against Garnett’s toughness and
bullying. After that defeat, Gasol
worked out in the gym and toughened himself.
He learned how he can be both smart and cunning and both graceful and
tough, like Kobe. By next season, he now
knows how to play tough, which he combined with his usual game. The Lakers swept the
season series against the Celtics and won against the Orlando Magic in the ’09
NBA Finals, in which Pau’s tough defense on Dwight Howard was a huge factor. And this season, Pau got his revenge on Kevin
Garnett and the Celtics.
Kobe Bryant might be the best
Laker player in the NBA Finals – taking all 7 games into account – in the sense
he has the highest scoring average.
However, in the four games the Lakers won, Pau Gasol has the most
impact. Thus, he is as deserving as, or
even more so, than Kobe Bryant as the Finals MVP. And Kobe knows this. In 2008, in an interview with Kobe after he
won the regular-season MVP award, he was asked what might be the difference
between the previous seasons (where he was an offensive juggernaut) and that
present season that made it possible for him to finally win the MVP. Kobe’s reply was simple. “We now have Pau
Gasol,” he replied with an appreciative laugh.
It is the same thing when Kobe received his second Finals MVP, he
complemented and acknowledged Gasol.
Kobe was as if saying that, in a way, Pau Gasol made it possible not
only for the Lakers to win the championship, but making it possible for Kobe to
be the Finals MVP, that though Gasol is worthy to be Finals MVP, Pau indirectly
gave it to Kobe.
I believe that Kobe wants to
return the favor to Pau. Probably, when
Kobe is ready to take the back seat in the Laker scheme, he would do what he
can do to help Pau get individual honors for himself and to help cement Pau’s
own legacy. Maybe Kobe would start next
season in the All-Star game in Staples Center.
He might orchestrate the game to make it possible for Pau to get the
All-Star MVP. And he might, this time,
make sure that the next Finals MVP next season would now go to Pau (if the
Lakers successfully win their third straight).
But I think Kobe is still not yet ready to yield the regular-season MVP
award to Pau, though. Much as it is true
that if Kobe is given a choice between a championship and an MVP award, he
would choose the championship, it doesn’t mean he does not want another MVP (or
two or three). He definitely likes
getting it, but compared to a championship, it is irrelevant to him. But, as I’ve said, when Kobe is ready to step
back, he would concentrate on building Gasol’s own legend.
I start to appreciate this
Kobe-Pau tandem more than the Kobe-Shaq tandem, though the latter is still
greater. It is because Kobe has a better
relationship with Pau than what he had with Shaq. Hopefully, their partnership would become
more legendary. Hopefully, their tandem
would continue hoisting banners at Staples Center.
THE REST OF THE LAKERS
By playing great games in the
playoffs and Finals, Derek Fisher justified remaining in the starter lineup
even though he was considered the weak point of the Laker first five and was
not making an impact throughout most of the season. Truly, he is the master of intangibles. Though, I don’t think he’ll remain in the
starting line-up next season, I know he’ll still remain relevant from the
bench, contributing his “intangibles” and experience. The question is who would fill Fish’s point
guard spot in the first five?
Lamar Odom will never be an
all-star. But I hope he’ll get some sort
of honor, too. Maybe a sixth-man
award. But for that to happen, he should
play consistently. This season (as were
the previous seasons), there are times he is an awesome X-factor. But there are also times he is frustrating to
watch, not playing to his full potential and just playing passively. Hopefully, he’ll play like an excellent
“sixth-man of the year” next season so he can win that award.
It’s a pity Andrew Bynum is
plagued by an injury again this season.
Health is a major factor for the Lakers to win the championship again
next year. Bynum and Bryant and the
others should be 100%. Hopefully,
they’ll fully recover for next season.
Hopefully, too, we’ll finally see the “future of Lakerdom” in Bynum very
soon. If what he had already been
demonstrating in the previous seasons is already his peak, it is best to trade
him. But I think a little bit more of
patience would do to trick. Maybe a
healthy Bynum would finally bloom next season and we’ll be confident the Lakers
are in good hands after Kobe retires.
Ron Artest is definitely an
upgrade over Trevor Ariza in the defensive end, though not in the offensive
end. I was a bit of a doubter on what
Ron can bring to the Lakers as I was hoping Ariza would continue improving as a
Laker. But Artest, though sometimes not
meeting the actual expectations during the season, did proved his worth. Especially in that critical Game 7, where he
made true in his word to Kobe after the Lakers lost to the Celtics in 2008,
that he’ll make sure it’ll never happen again if he became a Laker. Ron-Ron deserves the ring he won. And has a right to thank anybody he wants to
thank (which was just everybody around him) and do or say crazy things he thinks of in any interview.
My favorite bench player would be
Sasha “The Machine” Vujacic. He used to
be a consistent three-point specialist and pesky defender during the 07-08
season. However, he kind of fell from
grace the following season, and since then remained inconsistent. But even though he has his faults, I like him
because he is proud to be a Laker and it reflects every time – when playing on
the court, when high-fiving Kobe and the others, when cheering from the bench,
or when hitting fellow Serbian Goran Dragic with an elbow. Plus, I still believe he can still return to
that “The Machine” mode he once had during 07-08. He also did great in Games 6 and 7 in the
Finals, being a “stopper” against any Celtic run in Game 6 and icing Game 7 for
the Lakers.
And it’s not only Sasha who never
recovered from that great 07-08 season for the bench, but the rest of
them. The Lakers used to have the best
bench in the league and it was christened the Bench Mob. That’s another factor for another
championship. Just imagine how
invincible the Lakers would be with the current starting five and a newly
rejuvenated Bench Mob. It is very
probable though that the bench’s lineup would change next season. I am feeling Kirk Hinrich, Michael Redd, and
Peja Stojakovic, or any of that effect as the next Laker bench line-up. If ever Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, and the
rest are let go by the Lakers, the Laker management and Laker fans are still
grateful on what they contributed and wishes them luck on their future
endeavors.
And the most important factor of
all for another title run? The return of
Phil Jackson as coach. Indeed, it would be critical that the team
next season to still have the same leadership and basketball philosophy to win
another championship. Kobe wants him back.
The Laker fans want him back. He
needs to come back. Though, the Zen
Master has nothing to prove anymore. He
already has 11 championships as a coach – two more than any other coach in NBA
history. But, still, hopefully he would
come back. He does not win championships
in twos, he wins them in threes.
THE LAKER GIRLS
Still the best NBA franchise’s
cheerleaders in history. I got nothing
more to say. Just that they are another
(major) reason to love the Lakers.
BOSTON CELTICS
Close, but no cigar.
I have to hate them since I’m a
Laker fan. But I respect them also. It’s not hard to appreciate them. They worked hard and fought a good
fight. As underdogs, they proved their
critics wrong that they were already “old news.” Even though they lost, their run was worth
applauding. Nobody was expecting the 4th
seed Celtics to get through the East playoffs.
They stunned the Cavs and the Magic.
I was actually rooting for them in the East to win. And I thank them that they succeeded in
setting the stage on what I wanted: them getting beaten by the Lakers in a
Finals rematch.
THE FANS
The Laker fans watching in
Staples Center on Games 6 and 7 was the loudest and most enthusiastic I had
ever seen since the 2002 Conference Finals against the Sacramento Kings. Laker fans became sort of numbed after the
franchise’s successes, that they become almost passive and unenergetic during
games. Laker fans are only excited by
championships. Anything less is
failure. Thus, by such high standard,
they treat a game with not much excitement.
But their enthusiasm during the last two games of the Finals was a big
factor on energizing the Lakers on winning the championship. Phil Jackson is right, they couldn’t have
won without the fans. And Magic Johnson
is also right, we Laker fans are the best fans in the world. Because our hearts are exhilarated or broken
along with each Laker make or break.
Which brings me to the “fans”
emerging every time the playoffs and Finals come. I don’t like bandwagoners. Oh, it’s okay to support a team during the
Finals season. But there are those who
only become “fans” during the playoffs and Finals, and arrogantly claim that
they were fans all along, all the way from the start, pretending to know
everything about NBA and stats and history and all that jazz when actually they
know nothing and had only became fans after a team’s recent success. Such arrogance mixed with such ignorance
always annoys me.
I accept those Boston fans that hates the Lakers. They should. And the NBA fans who hates the Lakers has the right to choose to hate the Lakers. But it is because these fans are familiar with the NBA, so they are familiar with how the Lakers can be polarizing, making you either to hate them or love them. They found reasons to hate them during their existence as fans of the NBA. Like the Lakers are just full of Hollywood "glitz and glamor" and conceit. That's valid. Though this makes it hard for us Laker fans, we accept them since these fans are real NBA fans and are entitled to such opinions. Now these bandwagoners only have blind hatred. They are never familiar with how it goes in the NBA, thus they are not familiar with the Lakers, and thus not having a reason at all on hating them. These bandwagoners hate the Lakers, just because they are the Lakers. Just baseless hate. Really annoying. So they just support any team that the Lakers face in a series.
And, yes, being a Laker fan makes Taylor Swift hotter.
LEBRON JAMES
Oh, stop being a crybaby,
LeBron. You’ll get your ring soon. Hahaha.
The fan in me just can’t help it.
The last part, a sort of epilogue, on these thoughts
on the recently finished Laker 2010 season is about the second best player in
the NBA, LeBron James. As an NBA fan, I
also like and appreciate LeBron James as a player. Indeed, there is a reason why some consider
him the best (though, he’s not). His play
is almost as awesome as Kobe, and maybe more entertaining with all those
powerful dunks, blind passes, and blocks coming out of nowhere. Oh, I already said that he can be the best
someday.
But I notice that LeBron seems to
kind of always wanting the spotlight on him.
It is, of course, ego. But it is
acceptable since all stars in the NBA have ego, even Kobe. But what LeBron does to catch attention for
himself is sometimes aggravating. With
this incoming free agency buzz this offseason of a crop of great talents like
James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, and Joe Johnson, in which
LeBron is the most prominent of the bunch, he seems to be creating his own buzz
in an effort to steal the show from the NBA Finals.
Not exactly like this, but almost
of the same effect (He failed in the attempt.
The Finals earned the highest TV ratings since 1998). He seems to want the attention diverted from
the Finals to the drama of his free agency.
Oh, LeBron has been hyping about it since 2007. But what he is doing right now to draw
attention to himself is a bit too narcissistic. He appeared in Larry King Live just to talk
about it. He organized some sort of conference
among the free agents to discuss about their free agency plans. “I’m the ringleader,” he said. But as columnist Adrian Wojnarowski points
out, “only, he has no rings.”
Wondahbap, a Laker blog writer, wrote: “"Staying on LeBron, I'm finding him increasingly more annoying everyday to the point of dislike. I try to like him. I watch him often. I admire his game, and don't want to make this seem like a Kobe over Lebron hatefest, but he's just so corny sometimes. And arrogant. Probably insecure. At times phony. Defintely a frontrunner. Some people accuse Kobe of all of these things, and they probably have valid points. It just proves how corny LeBron can be, because he straight-up copycats everything Kobe does. Kobe takes a book from MJ's page and relishes games in Madison Square Garden? Here comes LeBron tagging along. It's so special to him all of a sudden. Kobe changes his number? LeBron wants to change his. Kobe has a penchant for sometimes taking ill advised three-point shots? LeBron takes stupid threes more and more. Kobe puts on the serious face and steely demeanor during the playoffs? Now dancing, air camera, picture taking LeBron decides it's time to play no games and get all stone faced. Now the elbow? Seriously, I don't believe his elbow hurts for a minute. He watches Kobe get this praise for being a tough-as-nails warrior, so he has to overdramatize an elbow injury enough to make Paul Pierce want to sue for infringement. So LeBron's elbow hurts so bad, he has to shoot a free throw left handed. Right. Pun intended. He sure seemed like he was having a hard time keeping a straight face filling us with his crap. Boo frickety hoo."
Wondahbap, a Laker blog writer, wrote: “"Staying on LeBron, I'm finding him increasingly more annoying everyday to the point of dislike. I try to like him. I watch him often. I admire his game, and don't want to make this seem like a Kobe over Lebron hatefest, but he's just so corny sometimes. And arrogant. Probably insecure. At times phony. Defintely a frontrunner. Some people accuse Kobe of all of these things, and they probably have valid points. It just proves how corny LeBron can be, because he straight-up copycats everything Kobe does. Kobe takes a book from MJ's page and relishes games in Madison Square Garden? Here comes LeBron tagging along. It's so special to him all of a sudden. Kobe changes his number? LeBron wants to change his. Kobe has a penchant for sometimes taking ill advised three-point shots? LeBron takes stupid threes more and more. Kobe puts on the serious face and steely demeanor during the playoffs? Now dancing, air camera, picture taking LeBron decides it's time to play no games and get all stone faced. Now the elbow? Seriously, I don't believe his elbow hurts for a minute. He watches Kobe get this praise for being a tough-as-nails warrior, so he has to overdramatize an elbow injury enough to make Paul Pierce want to sue for infringement. So LeBron's elbow hurts so bad, he has to shoot a free throw left handed. Right. Pun intended. He sure seemed like he was having a hard time keeping a straight face filling us with his crap. Boo frickety hoo."
I used to ignore (though I enjoy) those kinds of criticisms. But when he started promoting the
drama of his free agency when the playoffs was still going on, I started to believe
all those criticisms were true.
Nonetheless, he is a superstar.
And his presence in the league and the stories and hype he creates are
entertaining and fun.
The best LeBron story though is still
this “Who is better? Kobe or LeBron?” debate, which is very enjoyable to fans
of either superstar. It is probably as
exciting as the Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird debate. Maybe even more so. Did the Magic-Bird have puppets?
Yup. The Kobe and LeBron rivalry might not be the
most exciting (it’s still Magic vs. Bird), but it’s the most entertaining. After finally dismantling the Celtics, I now
want Kobe to face LeBron in the Finals.
But not with a boring franchise like the Cavaliers, no. This Finals should be special. A showdown that would be legendary. Thus, LeBron should have a perfect team. A team that is one of the most exciting
franchises in the NBA, located in a major city and having a fan base as
enthusiastic and loyal as the Laker fans.
And that team should have the Biggest Stage of Them All.
That would be the New York
Knicks. It’s time that LeBron and the
Knicks should have some success together.
Kobe vs. LeBron. Lakers vs.
Knicks. Los Angeles vs. New York. With this, the rivalry would become more
entertaining and probably become the most exciting in the history of the NBA.
It is ironic that though
Kobe is Batman, LeBron is the one I want to go to Gotham. Nonetheless, join the New York Knicks, LeBron,
and lead them to the top of the East.
Kobe and his Los Angeles Lakers would be waiting. Bring it on.
1 comment:
great writing. checked the other entries, too. mostly good.
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