Wellafterlastnight’seuphoricvictory by theLos AngelesLakers over theirfiercestrivalsforNBA supremacy in the Boston Celtics. There’llnowbemanyamongsttelling usthattheLakersarenowindeedthebestteamin the NBA. Record wiseandstatisticallythat’dproveto bethecase.But the argumentdoescontinueevenamongstthemostdiscerningoffansofnotjusttheNBAbutamongstbothteams’ legionsoffans.
Bryant and Garnett acknowledge each other by shaking hands prior to the game played last night at the TD Banknorth Center played in Boston , Mass,. ...............
Bryant and Garnett shake hands prior to the game played last night at the TD Banknorth Center in Boston , Mass. ………..
Butasthetitleofthispiecereadsanditcanbeattributedto theneo-soulr&bgroup Tony, Toni , Tone !One of thepremierer&b groupsof thelate 80’sandearly90s, frontedbyRaphael Saadiq.Anaccomplishedmusician andproducerinhisownright.
The gameitselfthoughnot overly suspensefuldidpittwoteamswhoasoflate have beenplayingsomeexcellentbasketball. Andifnothingelsethehierarchyof the NBAhastobepleased with the waytheseasonseemstobeturningoutthusfar.We’ve seentheconsistencyofoneofitsbrighteststarsin LeBron JamesoftheClevelandCavaliers. Who’snowleadingthemtogreatheightsthis season.He’sablyabettedby thelikesofAnderson Varejao, Mo Williamsandothers.
Celtics' Kevin Garnett looks to make a move against the Lakers' Pau Gasol ............
Kevin Garnett of the Celtics looks to make a move against the Lakers’ Pau Gasol.
Butitis theLakersandCelticswhomtheleague appearsto live anddiebywhenitcomestoequatingitssuccess.Especiallyon thebusinesssideof theequation.Anyonewho’dthink otherwiseclearlyhasn’tseenthesortproduct that thetwoteamsmoveintermsofmerchandising,notonlydomesticallybutalsointernationally.Andforasportthatnowgeneratesinexcess of$8.5bnannuallyinrevenues.One canonlythink that thisbrings asmiletothefaceofCommissionerDavidSternwhenbothteams aresuccessfulandsitatopofthe game.
OKsoKobe Bryanthasprovedonceagainwhy hemightjustbethegreatestoffensive presencethereis in the NBA today.Notonlyhashelived upto theexpectationsonebelievedhistalentsbelied.Buttheeuphoriaover the playernowbordersonaGod likestatus andadoration of theplayer.
Butthereareopponentsofthisviewwhoseeand feel thatLeBron Jamesofthe ClevelandCavaliers maywellbethebetterplayeratthisjuncturein theircareers.WelllastnightnightBryanttookituponhimselftodrop61pointson thelamentableNewYork Knicks.WhosedefenseshallwesayisaboutasnotableasthatoftheTrojans’defenseofTroywhentheycameundertheattackfrom the Greeks.Sufficetosay therewasnowoodenhorseneededheretobreakdowntheKnicks’defenseat Madison SquareGardenslastnight. BryantandtheLos AngelesLakershadtheirwaywith theteam.
Wilson Chandler of the Knicks tries to defend the Lakers' Kobe Bryant. picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Doug Watts ..........
Wilson Chandler of the Knicks tries to defend the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant. picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Doug Watts …………
Lastnight’sgamehoweverwasathrillaminuteinterms of the offensethatwasondisplay.TheresultitselfspeaksforitselfwherebytheLakerswonthegame 126-117 withPauGasolablysupportingBryantbythrowingin31 pointshimself. TheLakers’benchcombinedfor19points ,leavingthestarterstoproducethe majorityofthescoringon thenight.Througheach ofthefourquartersthescoringwassomewhateven. ButitwasBryant’sdisplay ,rangeandwidevarietyofshotmakingthathadthefansbeguiledandnodoubttheviewingaudienceand analystsalikesearchingforthe rightwordstodescribetheplayer’sfeat.
Duhon of the Knicks tries to drive the lane under the defensive and watchful eye of the Lakers' Kobe Bryant. picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images / Doug Watts .............
Duhon of the Knicks tries to drive the lane under the watchful and defensive eye of the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant. picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Doug Watts ………….
WithBynumgoingdowninjuredandtheplayof Lamar Odom bordering onbeingnauseous to say the least. It’llnow bedownto Bryantandwhoeverispreparedtostepandtake onthemantlein addingsome addedoffensiveandreboundingpresenceon thisteam .Gasolhasproventhathecando it.ButnowhereneartheconsistencythatcoachPhilJacksonrequires.Astowhooftheirbenchplayerswouldbecapableofassumingthismantle.The oneplayer whoIfeelmightbewellsuitedtothismaywellbeTrevorAriza. He’scertainlytenaciousenoughandpossessesthatdesireandwilltosucceed.Butit’dbefarfetchedtobelievethathe’llbethecure towhatailstheLakerswiththelossofAndrewBynum foranindeterminableperiodoftime. Butifnothingelseit’s better tohaveArizaonthe courtthananyoneelseontheir bench.
Wilson Chandler and David Lee look to sandwich Bryant who's in pursuit of the loose ball. picture appears courtesy of nabe/getty images/ Doug Watts ............
Wilson Chandler and David Lee look to sandwich Bryant of the Lakers who’s in pursuit of the loose ball. picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Doug Watts …………….
Ariza of the Lakers shoots against the Knicks while his teammate Lamar Odom looks on. picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Doug Watts ................
Ariza of the Lakers shoots against the Knicks with teammate Lamar Odom looking on. picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Doug Watts ……
Over thenextfewmonthsitwillhowever beinterestingtoseehowtheLakerswillfare.ThelossofBynumwhilesignificantoughtn’ttowaylaytheLakers’chancesofmakingtheplayoffs.Howeveritdoesmakethemsomewhatmorevulnerable.AndnodoubtmanyoftheirWesternConferencefoeswilllookuponthesituationtoinflictfurtherpainandsufferingupontheteamiftheycan.The SanAntonioSpursseem to havefound theirfooting. And thoughTimDuncanandhisteammatesaren’tviewedas theteamto beat.They’ve awayofappearingominouslydangerous tothosewho’llviewthemasnothingmorethanateam whose windowofopportunityhas comeandgone. It’dbefoolishto writethemoffasthey’veseenitallbeforeandhaveacquittedthemselveswellasandwhenneeded.Butafterlastyear’sbitterlossin theconferencefinalsto theLakers.Nothingwouldbesweeterfor themthantoexactrevengeon theteamdeemedeveryone’sfavorites to winitallintheWest.
Gasol of the Lakers pulls down a defensive rebound with the Knicks' David Lee looking on. picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ Doug Watts ..............
Gasol of the Lakers pulls down a defensive rebound with the Knicks’ David Lee looking on . picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/Doug Watts……..