The NBA Finals begin tonight in Tinseltown, as the two most revered franchises in the history of professional basketball begin their best of seven series, with the L.A. Lakers holding the home court advantage, and thus, perhaps the edge in this closely contested match-up.
Much has been made of this classic 80's rivalry, but more importantly, the Celtics 4-2 series win in 2008, a championship that was notable for two things – the Lakers choking in Game Four, blowing a 24 point lead, and the climactic Game Six, in which the Celts humiliated the Lakers, 131-92.
So what's going to happen? Beats me, I'm just glad they're lacing their sneakers and will be ready to tip off at 9:05 EDT.
The popular theory is that the injured pride of Kobe Bryant will insure that the Lakers overcome those two humiliating losses, and will win the series. And it's a good theory. Because Bryant has convinced many NBA fans in the past few weeks, especially in the Lakers deciding Game Six victory over Phoenix last Saturday night, that he is as close to the wizardry that was Michael Jordan as we have seen since the Great One's late 1990's performances for the Chicago Bulls.
The one man who might be considered an impartial observer, Laker Coach Phil Jackson, says he'll hold back making any comparisons, telling the Washington Post , "I will hold back observation until that time." Presumably "that time" being when he no longer is coaching.
As the Post's Mike Wise wrote on Monday, Bryant will never win the Michael vs. Kobe argument.
The unfortunate truth for Kobe is he can never be Michael because he isn't thought of as likable as Jordan, also the greatest commercial pitchman ever for an athlete. Even if he tied or surpassed Jordan in championships and postseason magical moments, Bryant's public missteps — the prideful ego war with Shaquille O'Neal early in his career, the sexual assault charge eventually dropped in Colorado and his desire to leave the Lakers only a few years ago — will always be held against him.
This article appears in Jun 3-9, 2010.
