20 Years Later, 1992 Dream Team Still Gold Standard

CLEVELAND - During the past several months, much has been made about the 1992 U.S. Olympic Men's basketball team and the historic confluence of talent which it was comprised of. Since today marks the 20th anniversary of their gold medal victory over Croatia, I will simply add to the discussion.

That group remains the greatest team ever assembled.

When I make that statement, I am not necessarily suggesting that the iconic team could "mop the floor" with any hypothetical opponent it could face. However, I'm not exactly saying they couldn't, either. Since this year's Olympic Men's basketball team is populated by the likes of such present day megastars as Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, the current debate has centered heavily on whether or not the '92 team could maintain its legendary reputation against the new guys, or if the '12 team could outdo them.

The opinions are divided, predictably, along generational lines. Bryant, the new millennium's version of Michael Jordan in both competitiveness and hoops skill, stirred the pot a few weeks ago when he opined that he and his mates could "beat [the Dream Team] one time." Newly crowned NBA champion James echoed those sentiments days later. Naturally, Jordan scoffed at the very concept of such a thing when he was asked his opinion. Fellow Dream Teamers Charles Barkley and Earvin "Magic" Johnson also articulated their support for their 1992 selves in a fictional match-up with this year's squad.

Far as I'm concerned, the 1992 team was one of absolute royalty; it doesn't matter that both Johnson and Bird were beyond their prime. What matters is that Jordan was 29 and clearly the most dominant and devastating player on the planet. Pippen was 25 and was at his best as an all-around defensive stopper/versatile athlete and triple-double threat. Barkley was 29 and in full "beast mode" in the low-post. Clyde Drexler was coming off the best season of his career and was a 30-year old "poor man's version" of MJ. David Robinson was a 25-year old, 7'1 center who was quick, athletic and highly skilled on both offense and defense. Patrick Ewing was still in the midst of his best NBA years as was the incomparable scoring/rebounding/passing/defending duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Chris Mullin was about as good as it gets as a sharpshooter and the team's curious choice, Christian Laettner, had just come off one of the most celebrated college careers in recent memory.

I bring all that up to extol the awesomeness of those players and their then-current resumes. A collection of stars as accomplished and highly skilled as those men hasn't been seen since, not even with this current team. Bryant, as outstanding as his 16 years and counting NBA career has been, still isn't as historically significant as Jordan was in half as long (MJ had just completed his 8th NBA season prior to the '92 Olympics), nor has his game ever been as dynamic and brazen. Johnson and Bird, though past their prime still possessed an aura and reputation that trumps anything any other later team possessed. In other words, it was about more than just great skill and talent on that '92 team. It was also about the privilege of watching these indelible, mythical hardwood heroes join forces and witness their transcendence and artistry take over.

I know I sound a little too magnanimous in my praise of those guys, but they left an impression on me, one of reality and fantasy, that I won't soon forget.

And they remain the "gold standard" in the history of team basketball.

The Complicated Legacies Of Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson

CLEVELAND - After the supposedly mighty L.A. Lakers went down in embarrassing fashion yesterday to the suddenly amazing Dallas Mavericks, a pressing but unspoken question begged to be answered. What now are the legacies of Kobe Bryant and retiring coach Phil Jackson?

The short answer: they're both quite complicated.

Yes, the Mavs swept away the 2-time defending NBA champions, 4-0 in the Western Conference Semifinals. It goes without saying that no one expected a sweep and most people expected the boys from Hollywood to at least advance to the championship series. Instead, the uber successful Jackson ends a 20 season coaching career in the most unexpected of ways; indeed, his teams have never before been swept. For a man coaching since 1989 (except for two seasons), that is an astonishing accomplishment. In Bryant's case, he ends his 15th NBA season in the worst of ways; a humiliating and uninspired end to a chase for the sixth league title of his career while scoring just 34 points combined in the final two games of the Dallas series. Given his historical stature in the game, those are damning realities that need to be considered when the inevitable (and annual) comparisons to Michael Jordan are made.

But, this is not an epitaph or condemnation. Instead, it is an appraisal of both men.

For Jackson, he has often been accused of being the beneficiary of superior talent on the teams he has coached to numerous championships. From 1991 to 1998, he coached Jordan and Scottie Pippen to six NBA titles. Then, he took a year off and returned to coach Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant to a trifecta of titles from 2000 to 2002. A long drought followed before Jackson again coached Bryant (as the team's top star) to two more titles in 2009 and 2010. Each of those superstars were either the best player in the league at the time or in the top 5. In Jordan's case, he was (and still is) considered to be the best in history. So Jackson's unbelievable 11 coaching championship rings have been said to be the result of a sizable talent advantage on his teams. There's a lot of truth to that, but he also deserves extensive credit for his esoteric coaching philosophies and knack for turning clashing and sometimes difficult stars into a cohesive, flourishing unit.

Everyone knows about the complex "triangle offense" that he used with the Bulls and then Lakers. But it was also his insistence on elite and dedicated defense that produced such endless amounts of success. As much as the 1995-96 Bulls dominated because of Jordan's killer ability and drive, Pippen's stunning versatility and Dennis Rodman's mammoth rebounding, they also marched to a league record 72-10 mark because of Jackson's intricate system and guiding hand.

For Bryant, he has long been regarded as the heir to Jordan's status as the most gifted, competitive megastar in the game. With eerily similar skill sets and demeanor, he has come closer than anyone ever has of embodying MJ in both style and substance. What has dogged him in the comparisons is the fact that he played as the second star to a still-in-his-prime O'Neal for eight NBA seasons and won three of his five titles with the 7'1 giant leading the way. The story has always been that Jordan may have had Pippen, but never a low post force of nature like Shaq to rely on like Kobe had.

It's a fair caveat.

Even still, Kobe's legacy is impressive and sizable without being equal to MJ's. He's been a great offensive and defensive player for a decade and is, at least since his game matured after the '05-'06 season, a dependable leader. He also has a long standing reputation as a crunch time master, though in the Mavs series that proved not to be the case. Now at an advanced pro sports age, Bryant isn't the same high-flying, boundless energy player he was even three seasons ago, let alone seven. But, much like Jordan, he has a lot of details in his game and is intelligent and savvy as a player. Those attributes continue to make him a still-elite player in spite of his obvious fade.

Let's acknowledge Jackson's good fortune of having the best players in the league to coach while also crediting him with simply being a brilliant and legendary coach as well. After all, the man managed to make talented misfits Rodman and Ron Artest submerge their menacing ways in favor of delivering their special talents to title winning teams. Also, let's acknowledge Bryant's deficiencies when evaluated against the epic career of Jordan while also commending him on evolving tremendously from a talented high school project to become one of the top 10 players in basketball history.

Even as the Lakers lost, Jackson and Bryant reign forever victorious.

Debating Kobe Bryant's Legacy

CLEVELAND - I am a Kobe Bryant fan. He is a truly amazing basketball player with an unbelievable will to succeed and his enormous cache of skills make him nearly impossible to defend on the court. Where he started at the beginning of his career and where he is now is one of the biggest phenomenons in sports history.

But his place in NBA history remains complicated.

Yes, even after Bryant led his L.A. Lakers to their second straight (16th overall) NBA championship Thursday night, discussing his legacy is far from simple. In fact, it's nearly impossible. The 14-year superstar is now a member of five NBA title teams of the past 11 seasons and his Lakers seem poised to challenge for more during the next year or two.

But, let's not get too far ahead.

Comparisons in sports are inevitable. The most difficult ones to make are the ones that compare players across different eras and with different circumstances. For years, Bryant has been compared very favorably to the great Michael Jordan (my all-time hoops hero). And now that Bryant is just one championship behind MJ, the comparisons are as heated as ever. Many have even placed Kobe above Earvin "Magic" Johnson as the greatest Laker in history. It's entirely possible that Bryant is Johnson's superior, but he is still miles behind Jordan.

Here's why:

To be fair to both men, I'm only going to consider Bryant's last 11 seasons, since his first three were spent learning the NBA after jumping straight from high school. His productivity was far below what it came to be. For Jordan, I won't consider his two year stint with Washington, when he was a very advanced-in-age 39 and 40 and it's also pointless to consider his 18-game second season and his 17-game comeback season in 1995. In other words, I'm comparing Kobe's best 11 years with Michael's best 11 years.

In Kobe's 11 seasons, the Lakers have won the title 5 times. In each of those seasons, he not only didn't win a league MVP award, but the consensus opinion was that he was no higher than the second best player in the NBA. Not the best. His role on the Lakers' 2000-02 title teams was as the killer wing player. Shaquille O'Neal was the best, most dominant player on the floor and the league and his ability to virtually guarantee a Lakers basket every time down the court was their strongest asset. He was more physically imposing than anyone and had a litany of post skills that made him the focal point of opposing defenses. Bryant, with his myriad skills was the beneficiary of Shaq's paint presence. Though Kobe seemed to resent having to share the ball with O'Neal at the time, he still prospered from being the best one-on-one player in the game who was hardly ever required to go one-on-one.

So even though Kobe played a very pivotal role in those first three titles, he played with a very unfair advantage. Let's also not forget about the rest of the talent that L.A. had during those years. When Kobe became the team's leading scorer for the first time in his career during the 2002-03 season (30.0 ppg), the Lakers lost in Round 2 of the playoffs. It was the first time Bryant's thirst for glory impeded the team's goal; he had a 13 game stretch at midseason where he averaged more than 42 points per game. That type of monopoly on the ball is inexcusable when a guy like O'Neal (just 31 at the time) is around.

In the 2004 season, the Lakers lost again, this time in the NBA Finals to upstart Detroit. By then, O'Neal and Bryant's rift was at an all-time high in the animosity category. It was the last time they played together as O'Neal wound up in Miami the following season. With Bryant as the team's Number 1 star for the 2004-05 season, the Lakers were a mess and stunningly missed the playoffs. In '06, Bryant unleashed the full capacity of his brilliant offense and averaged a career high 35.4 ppg. He even dropped 81 points in a game v.s. Toronto, but come playoff time, his Lakers got bounced by Phoenix, an occurrence that repeated itself in 2007. It was during that off-season that Kobe fumed in the media and disparaged his teammates while mentioning that he wanted a trade. Of course, the ensuing 2007-08 season saw the shocking trade (steal) for all-star Pau Gasol. This move, along with the great improvement of the Lakers' Andrew Bynum put L.A. in the NBA Finals for the first time in four seasons.

Even though Bryant won the 2008 MVP, his Lakers lost the title to Boston. The following season, L.A. steamrolled Orlando en route to capturing the 2009 NBA title, Bryant's 4th overall, but first as the team's best player. They repeated the feat two days ago when they won in a delayed rematch with the Celtics. Bryant won Finals MVP for the 2nd straight season, but he never had a standout game.

For Michael Jordan, his path was very different. After six seasons of awesome accolades, breathtaking highlights and endless praise, his Chicago Bulls still possessed no championships. When they finally broke through in 1991, Jordan loomed very large. He averaged 31.2 ppg, 11.4 apg and 6.6 rpg! He dominated in the '92 Finals as well as he outshone his supposed equal Clyde Drexler with a 35.8 scoring average. For the Finals in 1993, he set a record with a 41 ppg series average against Phoenix. He stunningly retired nearly four months later, then returned two years after that. He led Chicago to another trilogy of championships in 1996, '97 and '98 before riding off into the sunset. The major difference between Jordan's showings in the championship series v.s. Bryant's is simple. Jordan had games so great that they remain some of the most transcendent moments in league history.

Bryant, in seven different Finals, never had a masterpiece game like that.

In the regular season, MJ won 10 NBA scoring titles, 9 NBA 1st team all-defense, 6 Finals MVP's, 6 NBA titles, 5 league MVP's and a Defensive Player of the Year award. He was always the best player on his team and though he had an awesome sidekick in Scottie Pippen, he always played with one-dimensional role players and had lousy centers and point guards on his team. His regular season resume is filled with 60, 50 and 40 point games but his playoff resume is filled with series winning performances that impact basketball history greatly. In his final two Finals series alone, MJ authored two of the greatest single game performances the championship series has ever seen. He was always the focal point of his team's offense as well as the other team's defense.

Kobe meanwhile, has had awesome regular season games but almost no playoff games that jump out at you. Even when he went on a one-quarter scoring explosion in Game 4 of this year's Finals, the Celtics still won. He has one MVP, which he earned during the same season his team lost in the Finals. Jordan won 4 of his 5 in seasons that ended in championships.

I agree that Kobe has skills that are virtually equal to Michael's which is amazing in and of itself. But this nonsense about Bryant being a better shooter than MJ is ridiculous. Yes, Bryant became a good shooter earlier than Jordan did, but once Michael perfected his mid-range jumper, he was automatic. MJ, even by Phil Jackson's admission was a better finisher at the rim than Kobe (since Jackson coached both men, I give added weight to his evaluations of them) Michael was also a superior post-up player even though Kobe is excellent in that category. Kobe has been an outstanding defender, Jordan was better. On the ball, he was more ferocious. Off the ball, he played the passing lanes with better anticipation. Both players have shown reluctance to pass the ball, but they are very effective when they do. Michael saw the floor better mostly because he was trained in college by Dean Smith to play as a team before playing as the hero. Even though Jordan was known as a ball hog, he still displayed that fundamental skill to look for the open man.

Bryant shoots the 3-pointer better than MJ, but takes far too many shots from that distance. Jordan was an inconsistent 3-point shooter, but he was a very good "situational" 3-point shooter. He also had the sense and discipline to take higher percentage shots instead of "the home run ball" which has a tendency to take a team out of their game. Both men were brilliant in crunch time, Jordan made a habit out of drilling last second shots and breaking the hearts of many teams. Bryant nailed several game winners this season alone.

All in all, Kobe Bryant is awesome. Granted, I can't be as big a fan of his as I'd like to be because my allegiance to Jordan won't allow it. With that being said, I make these arguments in MJ's favor with complete objectivity. I presented facts and opinions based on facts and I gave each man the benefit of the doubt. Kobe is not as great as Michael, and that is just fine.

He's a legend already. That ain't too shabby.

The Importance of Kobe v.s. LeBron

CLEVELAND -  Forget for a moment what last night's 93-87 Cleveland Cavaliers victory over the L.A. Lakers means for the rest of this season. Instead, consider what it means to have Kobe Bryant and LeBron James on the same court facing off as the iconic leaders of their contending teams.

In other words, be awestruck.

I was mesmerized watching these two basketball giants inflict their massive talents upon the game, which took place here in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs built on their Christmas Day victory, in which they trounced the Hollywood boys on their homecourt. Last night, Cleveland was without their number two star Mo Williams, whose injury will keep him sidelined for over a month. In spite of all that, the game never became a rout in either direction.

As Kobe came out firing -- and hitting, I shook my head because it's what the man has been doing for many years. His footwork was impeccable, and his focus was clearly evident. In contrast, LeBron seemed detached from the game and stayed essentially on the perimeter as he failed to capture a shooting rhythm early. By halftime, both Bryant and James had risen to the challenge and tallied 20 and 18 points, respectively.

Bryant, who became the youngest person in league history to score 25,000 points after hitting a foul shot in the 2nd quarter, has been heavily compared to NBA legend Michael Jordan his entire career. James has been compared to both Jordan and Magic Johnson ever since he joined the NBA in the fall of 2003. In both cases, the comparisons are actually spot on, which is astonishing but also pays tribute to the level of brilliance these young men possess.

Bryant v.s. James is destined to be a historical fascination. With such superlative reputations on the court, the matchup demands sky high ticket prices, hordes of media attention and transfixed eyes. Imagine an early 1980's era Michael Jackson on stage with a mid-1950's era Elvis Presley facing off. Imagine Muhammad Ali in the ring with Mike Tyson with both men in top form. Bryant is 31. James is 25. Their proficiency and relentlessness are powered by their surreal drive and focus, so watching them do battle should be treated as a magical occurrence. No other superstar in the game has that level of magnetism and talent. So when Bryant took the challenge of defending the much bigger James last night, it was a moment filled with drama. When LeBron revved his engines into fifth gear in the 4th quarter, it became must-see TV.

Bryant has four NBA championships. James has none, but will almost certainly win at least one in the next year or two. LeBron finished with 37 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds last night. Kobe ended with 31 points. Let's pray that this matchup isn't finished for the year.

Kobe v.s. LeBron in the 2010 NBA Finals? Have mercy!

Bryant v.s. James: The Ultimate Christmas Gift

CLEVELAND - With today being Christmas, I felt it fitting to remind the world to be grateful for the gifts we've been given all year. Loved ones. Health. Strength. But there's another gift that today will bring; Kobe Bryant and LeBron James will go head-to-head in Hollywood.

Merry Christmas.

Most pro hoops fans are keenly aware of the famous rivalry between these two brilliant athletes. Bryant is in his 14th NBA season and has amassed an awesome career highlighted by 4 NBA titles. James has only been around for half as long, but has possessed the best combination of size, speed and skill of anyone in the game for years. So today might be a Cleveland Cavaliers-L.A Lakers matchup, but the delicious star quality of Bryant and James is what's actually gift wrapped inside of it. LeBron is the reigning league MVP. Kobe is the reigning Finals MVP. Both men possess the ethereal powers to bend a game, series or season in their favor.

And we get to see the awesome performance front and center on television without the hassle of trillion dollar tickets and endless lines of people. Forget the Cavs' record. Forget the Lakers' record. This is sure to be a treat and should only be appreciated for what it is.

The greatest show on Earth.

Bryant's Great Decade Pales Next To Jordan's

CLEVELAND - Kobe Bryant will report to training camp this coming week for what will be his 14th NBA season. This past week, the Sporting News voted him the NBA player of the decade.

Interesting choice.

Bryant, 31 is a legendary hoopster. What he has done in the NBA for the L.A. Lakers has been stunning, especially since he came directly from high school in 1996 without the benefit of college and averaged just 7 points per game in his rookie season. Now, he is arguably the best in the game and has compiled a glittering resume that has included 4 NBA championships.

But I'm not so sure he was the preeminent player of the 2000's.

First off, Kobe bested former teammate Shaquille O'Neal and San Antonio's Tim Duncan for the honor and initially, I felt that his selection was well merited. However, upon closer inspection, I realized that the choice of Bryant was anything but a forgone conclusion once his entire decade is taken into consideration. First off, in the five seasons from 2000 to 2004, no one regarded him as being the best in the league. That's because O'Neal and Duncan were the big-time leaders of the NBA; Shaq had dominated the three NBA titles that the Lakers won from '00 to '02 and Duncan led the Spurs to the dethroning of L.A. in '03 en route to another San Antonio championship (they won their first in the abbreviated 1999 season).

During that first half of the decade, the Lakers won three titles, with Bryant as the secondary star and O'Neal in his prime of imposing, physical dominance. True, Kobe was always the harder, more tenacious worker, but O'Neal was still the biggest reason L.A. won. The two seasons that the Lakers didn't win, 2003 and 2004 were seen as evidence of Bryant's defiance and notoriously selfish style of play. Indeed, he grew more petulant and insolent as his prodigious offensive talents blossomed further. For the first time in his career, he averaged more shot attempts and points than Shaq; 30.0 ppg in '03, thanks largely to a 13-game tear in mid-season in which he routinely dropped 40 or more points several times. At the time, O'Neal was still a prime force and should have still been the focal point of the offense.

In 2004, his frequent ill-advised shots and go-it-alone mentality cost the revamped Lakers in the Finals and though heavily favored, they lost to the Pistons. Trust me, if anyone had asked who the top player of the first five years of the 2000's was, Bryant would have been on few, if any lists as the number one. It's not that he wasn't awesome, because he was brilliant. But O'Neal and Duncan were the cornerstones and impact players of these years. Kobe was simply the best of the rest; better than Iverson, McGrady, Carter, Pierce and the like.

The second half of the decade was even less impressive for Kobe. During the five seasons since the '04-'05 season, the Lakers lost in the 1st round of the playoffs twice to Phoenix ('06 and '07), lost to the Celtics in the Finals once ('08) and missed the postseason altogether in '05. It was only during the final season of the decade (last season) that they finally won an NBA title, the first one minus O'Neal, who'd left L.A. after the '04 Finals loss. One thing did increase for Kobe during the last half of the decade; his scoring exploits. The '05-'06 season was his playground. In December 2005, he scored an unreal 62 points in just three quarters in a game vs Dallas. In January 2006, he knocked in an historic 81 points against Toronto. By season's end, he'd amassed a career high 35.4 ppg average, the highest in the NBA in nearly 20 years.

But again, the Lakers lost in round one of the playoffs.

Bryant returned the following season and dominated on offense again, posting numerous 50 and 60 point games but in spite of it all, L.A. got bounced in round one of the '07 playoffs. The past two seasons have seen a different, more sedate Bryant on offense. He has become a far more willing facilitator and thus, a better teammate. As a result, the Lakers have made the Finals both years, getting trounced in '08 and winning in '09.

In 10 seasons of the 2000's, Kobe Bryant averaged 28.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists. He won one MVP award, 2 scoring titles and 4 NBA titles with one Finals MVP. He shot 46% from the floor, 84% from the foul line and 34% from the 3-point line. His teams made the Finals six times, and their record was 4-2. What's troubling is this: there were four seasons that his teams didn't make the Finals and there was an unreal seven years between NBA titles. O'Neal's teams made the Finals 5 times, Duncan's team made it three. So even if we accept Kobe's choice as player of the decade, there are so many holes in his "great" decade. He's only been considered the consensus best player in the league for maybe half of the ten years.

Which brings me to the next point in this topic; Michael Jordan.

Jordan, the recently Hall of Fame inducted icon of basketball is the man that Bryant has been repeatedly compared to since his rookie season. Though Jordan joined the NBA's Chicago Bulls in the mid-1980's, his decade of dominance was unquestionably the 1990's and trust me, no one will debate whether he was the NBA player of that decade. Jordan's decade comes with an asterisk, though. He played just seven of the ten seasons, due to two retirements and still far out shined Bryant.

Jordan's teams, in the seasons he played, went 6-0 in the NBA Finals. Jordan himself won 7 scoring titles, 4 MVP's and all 6 Finals MVP's. He also won 2 steals titles and authored several of the most historic moments in NBA playoff history. Bryant had the highest single regular season average in nearly 20 years in '06. Jordan's 41.0 ppg in the '93 Finals was the highest scoring average in Finals history.

Gigantic difference.

The only season in the '90's that the Bulls didn't win the title with MJ was the first season; 1990. That was when Jordan's postseason performance was nothing short of genius, yet the upstart team came within one victory of making the championship series. After that, Jordan steered the Bulls to a trifecta of titles in '91, '92 and '93, then retired at the apex of his career less than four months later. During the 1994 season, Chicago performed above expectations without MJ, but lost in the playoffs to New York, who went on to lose in the Finals to the eventual champion Houston Rockets. The following season was far more tempestuous for the Bulls and was wrought with dissension, especially from secondary star Scottie Pippen. Shockingly, Jordan returned to the team with just a month left, but never regained his legendary form. The Bulls lost in round 2 to Orlando, mostly because of a lack of the in shape edition of MJ for the entire season.

The Rockets repeated as champs in the '95 Finals.

The 1996 season saw the return of Jordan from Day one. As a result, he dominated the league as did his team and they rolled to an unreal 72-10 record. The Bulls won their 4th championship and MJ reclaimed his status as the league's top player.

Jordan wowed the league yet again during the 1997 season as he amassed another iconic campaign. As his age escalated, so too did his drive. Chicago was virtually unbeatable again and that resulted in NBA crown number 5, led of course by the excellence of Michael.

There was an air of finality to the 1998 season for the Bulls and Jordan, and the entire campaign was dubbed "The Last Dance." Jordan, an increasingly mythical figure by that time was revered in arenas all over the country. It was rather surreal that his basketball artistry had persisted for as long as it had, he was a ripe 35 years of age at the time and still managed to loom largest over an entire league of young stars.

It was indescribable how giant his impact had become.

After a very adversity-filled season, the Bulls traipsed through the playoffs and onto the Finals against Utah. For the second straight season, the reality of facing off against Jordan in the championship series proved to be too much for the Jazz and they lost the series as Chicago celebrated the 6th NBA title of the decade. Jordan's final jumpshot sent his ethereal legacy into an unreachable universe.

Jordan retired prior to the 10th season of the decade, and a number of the other key players went their separate ways. All in all, Jordan stamped the '90's as his personal proving ground for his stupefying greatness. His raw numbers; 30.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists nearly reflect Bryant's, except for the nearly three points per game scoring difference. Jordan shot better too. He hit 50% of his shots, 83% of his free throws and 36% of his 3-pointers.

The things that stick out to me most in the comparisons are as follows. Jordan was the top player steering his teams to championships the entire decade. When he was in the lineup all season, the Bulls were practically invincible. His dominance spanned the entire decade, without huge gaps of futility. There also was no other player even remotely close to being as accomplished as MJ during the decade. For Bryant, he starred behind the gigantic dominance of O'Neal early in his decade, then endured several long years of mediocrity and losing. When his team finally won with him as the head honcho, it came after a string of other teams winning the title.

In the end, I say this: congratulations to Kobe Bryant for being voted the top player of the 2000's, but there is no way that he's anywhere close to Michael Jordan is the history of the NBA.

But then again, no one is.

Bryant's 4th NBA Title A Product of His Evolution

CLEVELAND - In team sports, the greatness of a superstar is a very funny thing. They have to integrate their brilliance into the framework of the team in order to truly prosper. Kobe Bryant now knows this quite well, and that's why the L.A. Lakers are the 2008-09 NBA champions.

Congratulations Mr. Bryant and company.

Bryant, 30 earned his first ever NBA Finals MVP trophy moments after the Lakers dismantled the suddenly mis-firing Orlando Magic, 99-86 in capturing the series, 4-1 in central Florida. It was the 15th NBA title for the Lakers franchise and the 4th of Bryant's 13 season tenure, but it is the one championship that will define his scintillating career. The first three championships were won during Shaquille O'Neal's reign of NBA dominance; 2000 to 2002.

O'Neal was the impossible-to-guard-in-the-paint behemoth that co-starred with a young and petulant Bryant on those Lakers title teams. Because of the incredible edge (and his starring role on the team) that O'Neal's presence gave those L.A. teams, Kobe never received true credit for having already earned three championships coming into this series.

That is no longer the case.

It is true that Bryant came into the league in 1996 as the mega-cocky, ultra talented star of a high school team. He had delusions of becoming the greatest player in NBA history and shamelessly emulated the great Michael Jordan in nearly every aspect upon his entrance into the pros. He even sought out Jordan for advice during a Bulls-Lakers matchup in December 1997, a game in which 19-year old Kobe scored 33 points to 34-year old Jordan's 36 points.

Bryant seemed to have it all too easy. He joined an NBA team that was stacked with major talent, had the luxury of sitting the bench and learning from his polished and experienced teammates, got voted as a starter on the 1998 NBA All-Star team even though he didn't even start for his own team. He also had the great fortune of getting to play against single coverage because the opposing teams would be so focused on corralling Shaq in the paint.

His talents flourished rapidly, but his game remained immature and his palpable arrogance and defiance began to compromise his extensive talents. True, he was a dominant athlete and scorer, but as an overall leader and teammate, he was not at all impressive.

So, the Lakers won their trifecta of championships with O'Neal soaking up loads of glory for the accomplishments. That didn't sit well with the hyper competitive Bryant, who went into the '02-'03 season with a focus on dominating on offense. His midseason scoring burst earned major headlines as he averaged over 40 points for a 13-game stretch that evoked memories of MJ's early years in Chicago.

As proof of Kobe's mentality back then, he turned his final meeting with Jordan (in MJ's stint as a Washington Wizard) into a personal showcase in a transparent attempt to show he had become what Michael used to be -- the ultimate offensive weapon. That March 28, 2003 game saw Bryant fire in 42 points in the first half, then finish with 55 to Jordan's pedestrian 23. What Kobe seemed to ignore was the fact that he was a spry 24 years old while Jordan was a decade past his prime at age 40. Not to mention the fact that MJ had long before that proven to be a true winner and the quintessential leader.

Bryant's 30 points per game scoring average that season was the first thirty-plus of his career. It seemed to be a slap in the face to Shaq's importance, who put up 27.5 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. He also shot 57% from the floor, which was proof that he was the smartest choice for volume shooting on the team. The Lakers lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the conference playoffs that season which caused tears from Bryant, and prevented the rare "4-peat" for L.A.

That summer, Kobe got tangled up in a stunning rape case in Colorado and his image took a giant hit. Already he was known as the selfish and defiant superstar that wouldn't defer more to O'Neal as he should have, but now he was being labeled a criminal and rapist. One thing he admitted to being was an adulterer, which didn't exactly win him any brownie points.

The Lakers drastically made themselves over in the 2003-04 season, adding former all-stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton to the team which proved disastrous. The team never clicked together and though heavily favored to win the 2004 NBA title, they lost to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. The Shaq and Kobe soap opera reached a fever pitch during this time and their disdain for each other became more and more apparent. By the following season, three of the four stars had gone elsewhere.

Bryant remained.

It seemed as if Kobe had finally gotten his wish; now in his 9th season, he was in sole control of his own team. O'Neal was in Miami and Phil Jackson retired in the offseason. Now he could prove that he was the man all along and show off! As it turned out, the 2004-05 season was easily the weakest of Kobe's career. The Lakers won a paltry 34 games, they missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade and Bryant missed 16 games to injury. Meanwhile, O'Neal's impact in Miami was immediate as he had an MVP-style season and led the Heat to 59 victories.

The next two seasons saw more frustration for Bryant. In the 2005-06 season, he dominated on offense like few others ever have in NBA history. In December, he scored a gargantuan 62 points in just three quarters against Dallas (who had just 61 as a team after 3) then registered the 2nd highest single-game point total in history with an 81-point explosion on January 22, 2006 v.s. Toronto. He averaged a career high 35.4 points on the season, the highest average since Jordan's 37.1 ppg in 1986-87. Awesome as it may have seemed, his stratospheric scoring was counter-productive to team success. It also made the Lakers a non-contender and with a mediocre 45-37 record, they scared no one.

The Lakers got bounced in the first round by the Phoenix Suns forcing them to look to the following season for hope. Kobe once again averaged over 30 (and authored several more 50 and 60 point games), but the 2006-07 season ended with yet another first round exit to the Suns.

This is when Bryant had had enough. During the Lakers' 2007 offseason, he criticized team management, repeatedly requested a trade and publicly disparaged teenaged teammate Andrew Bynum. Going into the 2007-08 season, Bryant's departure seemed guaranteed.

Then, a funny thing happened.

The Lakers began to play very well, Bynum greatly improved and Kobe seemed very pleased. Approaching midseason, Bynum went down with an injury, but Lady Luck took up residence in the Lakers front office in the form of an unbelievable trade with Memphis for all-star Pau Gasol. The Lakers gave up absolutely nothing but a perpetual bust (Kwame Brown) to acquire a man that had been outstanding his entire career. He had averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds for the Grizzlies prior to being shipped to L.A. This was seen league-wide as a major heist and all but paved the way to a Lakers NBA title.

As L.A. ran through the Western Conference playoffs, Bryant's rebirth was evident. In just a matter of months, his firm trade demands had vanished and were replaced by obvious joy and satisfaction. That joy turned into vengeful focus after the made over Boston Celtics trounced them in the 2008 NBA Finals. After a 39-point shellacking in Game 6, Bryant vowed that 2009 would be very different.

And it was.

In spite of the grandiose hoopla surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers and their megastar LeBron James, the Lakers stayed consistently efficient. They marched to a 65-17 record, second to the Cavs and went into the playoffs as the clear favorite to emerge from the West. All season, hoops fans seemed to anticipate a Finals showdown between Bryant and James, the top two stars in the game. As it were, the team that the Lakers faced in the Finals was the same team that shockingly manhandled the Cavs out of the playoffs.

LeBron had been named league MVP, and in many circles many felt that he had eclipsed Bryant as the game's pre-eminent talent. In any event, the Lakers mowed down every opponent out west, then shut down Orlando's vaunted 3-point attack with ease. The Magic's brick house star, Dwight Howard was rendered ineffective for much of the series and was exposed as having a very limited offensive arsenal. Through it all, Bryant was magnificent as he averaged 32.4 points and 7.4 assists in the series, a five-game triumph that saw the 13-year icon wear a perpetual scowl on his face. His focus was so singular, it was hard not to root for the man even if you hated him as a player or person.

Of course, Phil Jackson made history as he became the first coach in NBA history to win 10 NBA championships. Forget the talk of his job being a breeze since he coached Jordan, Scottie Pippen, O'Neal and Bryant. This guy can truly coach. But as amazing as Jackson's accomplishments have been, this game, this series and this season belongs to Bryant. It had been seven long years since he last won a title, and the aforementioned trials and tribulations he has endured has matured him. Yes, he still knocked in 32 plus per game, but he plays the game in a very selfless way these days. He doesn't mind being a decoy or facilitator now. He relishes moments when his teammates make major plays and earn the glory such as Derek Fisher's dagger 3-pointers in Game 4 or Trevor Ariza's consistent excellence all series long.

It is this understanding of the marvelous benefits of the system that has allowed for Bryant's evolution. He has ascended closer to the top of the NBA Mt. Rushmore by being less of an individual and more of a cog in a machine.

Let's give Kobe Bryant his due. He is officially a legend.

Nightmare in Orlando: Bryant '09, Jordan '95

CLEVELAND - While the Orlando Magic were in the process of defeating the L.A. Lakers, 108-104 last night in Florida to trim their deficit in the NBA Finals to 2-1, I was busy watching on television while having flashbacks of 1995.

That was the last time the Magic were in the NBA Finals.

My flashbacks however, were not of that Shaquille O'Neal/Penny Hardaway-led team that got swept 4-0 by the eventual champion Houston Rockets. The memories I was having were about that Orlando team's performance in the Eastern Conference Semifinals versus the Chicago Bulls.

Yes, it's always about Michael Jordan with me.

What brought on these memories? How about this: Kobe Bryant, the basketball great who has starred for Hollywood's team for the past 13 years endured a very uncharacteristic conclusion to last night's game. After a sizzling 1st quarter during which he scored 17 huge points, he went into a tailspin and struggled to score a mere 14 during the final three quarters. The most shocking part, however was his five missed free throws in the game, including a critical one down the stretch and a costly turnover when Bryant tried to split Orlando's defense and was stripped of the ball with less than a half minute to go.

Wow.

Though Kobe finished with 31 points, his second half showing was plain awful. His usual crunch time brilliance was AWOL in this game, a contest that could have resulted in a stranglehold 3-0 series lead for the Lakers but instead has given the Magic renewed hope after dropping a heartbreaking Game 2 in L.A.

Which brings us to Jordan.

The Bulls legend had returned from an early retirement in March 1995 at age 32. After playing in the final 17 games of the regular season, he led Chicago to a 4-1 victory in Round 1 over the Charlotte Hornets which earned them the right to face the upstart Magic.

In Game 1 on Orlando's homecourt, Chicago seemed poised for a stunning upset when they led 91-90 with the ball in the closing seconds. Jordan, who by then possessed a huge catalog of 4th quarter heroics dribbled the ball into the frontcourt while hounded defensively by sharpshooting guard Nick Anderson. All-star Hardaway came with a trap on MJ and Anderson caught him off guard by knocking the ball from Jordan. Hardaway recovered the ball and tossed it downcourt to a cutting Horace Grant (former Bull) who dunked emphatically for a 1-point Magic lead.

After Chicago came out of a timeout, Jordan had the ball again to redeem himself with a clutch play, but he dribbled to the foul line, rose up for an apparent jumper, then tossed a pass towards the baseline to Scottie Pippen who, anticipating a Jordan shot attempt, cut to the basket to gain position for a potential rebound. The miscommunication between star players caused the ball to sail out of bounds.

Orlando won the game, 94-91 while Jordan had to endure the utter disappointment of costing his team a critical victory. He had arguably his worst playoff game ever; 19 points on 8-of-22 shooting and a whopping 8 turnovers! The Magic wound up beating the Bulls, 4-2 in the series and move on to the East Finals v.s. Indiana. Jordan had been woefully inconsistent and out of sync during the entire series, due mostly to his 21 months of pro hoops inactivity. This crushing defeat led many to believe that Jordan had become a has-been and that Chicago's time had passed. For Michael himself, he used the series defeat as the matrix to power his return for his 11th season the following autumn.

That led to the Bulls' historic 72-10 season and 4th NBA title as well as MJ's 4th MVP award.

Back to Bryant. It is very safe to say that he isn't "losing it" or past his prime. The man is two months from his 31st birthday, which isn't exactly young by NBA standards, but with his prime level of fitness, skill, savvy and flat-out drive, he may as well be five years younger.

Bryant will be just fine. Just look at how Jordan came out of his nightmare in Orlando.

Bryant Spanks Orlando; L.A. Rolls In A Rout

CLEVELAND - Kobe Bryant, in the immortal words of Sean "Diddy" Combs, was absolutely "locked in" last night at the Staples Center as he piloted his L.A. Lakers to a super 100-75 victory and a 1-0 lead over the Orlando Magic in Game One of the NBA Finals.

He scored 40 points for the first time ever in his Finals career.

The Magic, who looked so super against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals were a shell of themselves as they shot a miserable 29% from the field and made just 23 baskets. They were completely unable to defend Bryant, but did force him to fire up a whopping 34 shots. No matter. He had 18 of his 40 in the 3rd period when the Lakers outscored the Magic 29-15 for a 24-point lead heading into the final period.

All-star center Dwight Howard was rendered useless in this game as he managed to make just one basket in six attempts. His 12 points paled in comparison to his Game 6 performance against the Cavs when he scored 40. Howard, 23 did grab 15 rebounds but was in foul trouble most of the first half, when Orlando (buoyed by the return of Jameer Nelson) actually kept the game close. Overall, neither Rashard Lewis or Hedo Turkoglu did anything to help Orlando and the team was actually led by Mickael Pietrus with 14 points.

That will never cut it.

Bryant was supported by Pau Gasol's 16 points and Lamar Odom's 11 points, 14 rebounds, but at the end of the day, it was Kobe's razor sharp focus and uncompromising will that gave L.A. the edge. Game 2 will be Sunday at the Staples Center.

Expect more of the same.

True Story: Bryant's Legacy Hangs On These Finals

CLEVELAND - Kobe Bryant was a basketball prodigy long before he joined the NBA, but his pro career, though outstanding can also be described in a not-so-endearing word.

Incomplete.

Bryant leads the Los Angeles Lakers into the NBA Finals tonight against man-child Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. After a sterling career that has still somehow fallen short of expectations and potential, and a crushing defeat in last season's championship series to the Boston Celtics, Bryant looks more focused than ever to capture his long awaited 4th title and silence those who believe he needs to win one without Shaquille O'Neal as the leading man. Bottom line: Kobe's basketball legacy rests on this series.

I know I know. Bryant has won scoring titles, league MVP honors and been a perennial member of the All-NBA Defensive team. Heck, he was even a major player on the L.A. Lakers when they won 3 straight NBA championships from 2000 to 2002. The problem with Kobe is twofold; while it is true that Shaquille O'Neal needed guys like Bryant, Robert Horry, Brian Shaw and Derek Fisher to win those titles, it is also true that Bryant back then was more expendable than was O'Neal -- in spite of his [Kobe's] great talent. Shaq was the unique force of nature that no other team possessed while Bryant was a mega talented wing player and many teams had one of those. O'Neal by the way, captured another championship, albeit as a secondary player with the Miami Heat in 2006 with Dwyane Wade leading the way. Kobe hasn't won with any of the top players he's played with since O'Neal's departure following the Lakers' shocking loss to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals.

Bryant's other problem is that most of his greatest moments on the court have come in the regular season. His signature game is clearly his astounding 81 points versus the Raptors in 2006, but it was a meaningless game against a far inferior opponent in the ho-hum NBA days of January. Though the feat was awesome, it hardly ranks with iconic playoff moments from legends like Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.

During that high-scoring 2005-06 season, Bryant averaged 35.4 points per game. In addition to the amazing 81 point game, he scored 62 points in just three quarters against the Mavericks and a season later had a 65- point explosion and another 60 point game. This season, Bryant set a Madison Square Garden record with a 61 point showcase. Each of these games won him major praise, but in the grand scheme of things, they are irrelevant flourishes of offensive excellence that amount to nothing but oohs and ahs.

Not championships.

Jordan, the player that Bryant has been compared to for his entire 13 NBA seasons, scored at will just like Kobe. MJ won 10 NBA scoring titles and owns the highest career scoring average in league history. But Jordan's most iconic moments came in the postseason, first in the early rounds (an NBA record 63 points versus Boston in 1986, a buzzer-beating series clinching jumper over the Cavs in 1989), then in both the conference Finals and NBA Finals. Regular season moments like MJ's 69 points in 1990 or his 64 points in a 1993 loss to Orlando register far down the scale on his brilliance chart because of his myriad playoff feats.

He also led the Chicago Bulls to six championships in one decade as the leading man.

Kobe was wondrously talented in his early years in the league. He was also a pretentious, arrogant and unpolished brat that seemed to believe he would be better off without O'Neal's low-post dominance. What evolved into a fierce juggernaut of a team deteriorated into a messy divorce and a lackluster Lakers team. From 2005 to 2007, they were largely an afterthought in the Western Conference while Bryant, finally the driver of the ship grew more and more frustrated and disenchanted with the organization.

It was the unreal trade of the super trash Kwame Brown for all-star Pau Gasol that turned the Lakers into a force. Young Andrew Bynum greatly improved and Bryant suddenly was happy and encouraged. When they ran into the Celtics' buzz saw in the 2008 NBA Finals, it could've been said that Gasol's mid-season arrival wasn't enough time for the team to find its true identity.

Whatever.

This season, Gasol has been around since training camp and erstwhile star Lamar Odom has exhibited flashes of excellence. The whole time, Kobe has been his usual transcendent self. Now, his powerhouse team faces an underrated but highly skilled Magic team that are riding a wave of exuberance after their unexpected dispatching of the favored Cleveland Cavaliers in the East Finals. It won't be easy for L.A. if they are to win this series and claim their 15th NBA title. They don't seem to feel the pressure, but it is there.

Especially on Kobe Bryant.

Bryant v.s. Anthony: A Delicious Hoops Battle

CLEVELAND - While the sports world eagerly awaits (and humbly prays for) a possible LeBron James/Kobe Bryant NBA Finals matchup, another tantalizing star battle is taking place on the west coast.

Kobe Bryant versus Carmelo Anthony.

A generation ago, Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins staged a years-long battle complete with high-octane offense and high-wire flourishes to the basket. Nowadays, the 30-year old Bryant is the biggest gunslinger in the game, but Anthony, 25 next week is right there with him.

The NBA Western Conference Finals between the Denver Nuggets and L.A. Lakers have showcased these two scoring machines at their point-gobbling best -- and we're only two games in. No matter, in the Lakers' slim 105-103 Game 1 victory, L.A.'s Bryant went on a scoring rampage down the stretch, scoring 15 in the final 6:48 of the game to finish with a gargantuan 40 points. Denver superstar Anthony had been equally unstoppable all night, and eventually wound up nailing 4-of-5 3-pointers en route to 39 points of his own.

A classic Western shootout won by 13-year star Bryant.

In last night's Game 2, the storyline ended up being a sequel to the first offering -- except the ending had a twist; the Nuggets won, 106-103 behind Anthony's 34 points. Of course, Bryant nailed 32 points himself which put their two-game averages at 36.5 ppg for Anthony and 36.0 ppg for Bryant.

Sheeesh!

The high degree of offensive brilliance has been evidenced in the way both men score the ball. They both have enormous offensive repertoires and consistently make tough baskets under great duress. Often, both score against double and triple teams and Bryant has made a career out of making impossible shots in crunch time with defenders draped all over him.

The series now shifts from Hollywood to Denver for the next two games. The Nuggets have a great chance to dominate at home, but then again, L.A. has the mettle to rise to a road victory (or two) if they need to. With Bryant at the controls, anything can happen.

And nowadays, the same can be said for Anthony as well.

Blast From the Past: Bryant, O'Neal Dominate Victory

CLEVELAND - It's always a treat when people mature and bury the hatchet of past feuds. It's even more gratifying when those same folks do so after a ton of success together.

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, this means you!

The two superstars played nice long enough to lead the West to a blow-out victory over the East, 146-119 in the 58th annual NBA All-Star game last night in Phoenix. When all was said and done, the former L.A. Lakers co-stars had earned co-MVP honors, Bryant scored 27 points while O'Neal was amazingly dominant and unstoppable with 17 points in just 11 minutes.

Shaq called he and Kobe "The Big Legendaries."

Cleveland's LeBron James led the East with 20 points, but the evening truly belonged to Bryant and O'Neal, two of the greatest NBA stars in history. They played together for eight seasons which produced three NBA titles from 2000 to 2002, but had an acrimonious and highly publicized feud for much of those championship years. Last night was their first game as teammates since the 2004 NBA Finals.

With 17-year veteran O'Neal in the sunset of a sterling career (he turns 37 next month), last night nearly felt like a last hurrah for him on the grandiose stage that is the NBA All-Star game. The entire evening was vintage Shaq though. During player introductions, he donned a mask and performed a dance routine with a rap group, then joked and played all game long whether on the bench or court. At one point, he tried to guard 6'1" Mo Williams, a hilarious sight given O'Neal's hulking, 7'1" 350 pound presence.

I will miss Shaq's excellent showmanship and low-post dominance when he does retire. But for one night, he and Bryant teamed up and put past disagreements aside to show the world that people are always better in tandem than as one.

Imagine that.

With Bryant and James Quiet, Lakers Make Gigantic Statement

CLEVELAND - I've been extolling the virtues of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for months now.

Maybe I was a bit overzealous.

I use the term "maybe" very loosely. The Cavs had their franchise record 23-0 home winning streak snapped yesterday at the hands of the boys from Hollywood; but this was devoid of special effects or trick photography. The L.A. Lakers chewed up and spit out Cleveland, 101-91 in front of a rabid sell-out crowd at Quicken Loans Arena.

The most stunning thing about the Lakers' convincing victory was Kobe Bryant's irrelevance. The 30-year old basketball wizard was hampered all afternoon from what was being called "flu-like symptoms." In spite of his nonchalance and seemingly visible detachment, he managed a tepid 19 points in just 35 minutes of real labor. He grimaced several times as if he was ready to purge himself of an annoying hang over.

His megastar counterpart, Cleveland's James was downright trash on offense. The 6th year phenom misfired to the tune of a 5-of-20 shooting performance for a meager 16 points. As with all transcendent facilitators though, he managed to play an excellent floor game with 8 rebounds and 12 assists in 40 minutes that had to feel like a 40 hour work week to him. James labored mightily in a futile attempt to produce his customary brilliance, but with one missed jumper after another, he began to look uncharacteristically inept.

And then there was Lamar Odom.

Odom, the Lakers' much maligned, multi-talented swingman was the unlikely catalyst in this huge L.A. victory. With key starter Andrew Bynum out for possibly the rest of the season, the 6-10" Odom put on a clinic after halftime and spearheaded a scintillating 31-16 third quarter romp that converted a 10-point halftime deficit into a momentum swinging five point edge heading into the fourth.

Odom was unstoppable both offensively and off the glass. He amassed a staggering 15 points and 10 rebounds in the pivotal third alone and finished with a yeoman's 28 points and 17 rebounds. All of this in the Lakers' final game of their six-game road trip, which saw Bryant torch the Knicks for a record 61 points earlier in the week.

I was thoroughly impressed by what L.A. accomplished at Quicken Loans Arena yesterday. It's not that I believed the Cavs to be impervious on their home floor, I just didn't expect the Lakers or any team for that matter to handle them as well without their superstar being their superstar.

Bryant did have a remarkable moment where he drilled an impossible high-arching jumper over James' outstretched arm. It was one more example of his singular specialness in spite of his sickly countenance.

The Lakers looked tough and better equipped than I expected, but when they face Cleveland in the 2009 NBA Finals, it won't be smooth sailing for them the way it was yesterday.

But it won't be for the Cavs either.

Prelude To A Showdown

CLEVELAND - Three nights ago, Kobe Bryant assaulted the New York Knicks for 61 points. Last night, it was LeBron James that went buck wild on the same court, finishing with 52 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

New York hasn't been attacked this bad in years.

Bryant's scintillating performance broke both Bernard King's building record and Michael Jordan's opponent record. It was breathtaking for sure, resulting in a 126-117 Lakers victory. With the Cleveland Cavaliers coming to town, basketball fans salivated at what James might do to top Kobe.

Of course, LeBron has never played the game chasing stats.

When the dust settled last night, MSG had been sprinkled with a healthy dose of LeBron's magical "fairy dust." His game was so on target from the opening tip, that he was actually ahead of Bryant's pace, netting 20 first quarter points. 

Sheesh.

The Cavs won the game, 107-102 in front of a star-studded crowd. Jay-Z, Chris Rock, Whoopi Goldberg, Diddy and of course, Spike Lee were among the courtside giants to witness LeBron's latest historical feat. By scoring 50 or more, he tied Jordan's mark of being the only opponent in history to score multiple 50-plus point games in this building. MJ turned the trick on opening night in 1986 and again in 1995 in just his fifth game back from his first retirement.

The bigger storyline, in my opinion is the fact that the Lakers will fly to Cleveland for a Sunday matinee. Bryant and James will duke it out on the same court on national television. These two performances this week now seem like finely-tuned warmups for their likely majestic collision.

Of course, both the Lakers and Cavs are excelling at a high level this season, both on pace to eclipse 60 victories overall. It is entirely possible that neither megastar will perform as wondrously as they did on Broadway this week, but don't count on that. This will be a classic matchup however you slice it, whether team-wise or star v.s. star.

Bryant racked up 61 in N.Y., but had zero rebounds and just three assists. James of course, had the first 50 point triple double in 34 years. Expect some version of that trend to continue which should give a really good idea as to who the victor will be.

LeBron will trump Kobe. 

Kobe Had Better Pray His Dream 61 Doesn't Turn Into A Nightmare

CLEVELAND - I'm reminded of the great Michael Jordan whenever one of today's top NBA superstars does something loaded with brilliance.

Last night, it was Kobe Bryant that did it. Again.

Bryant, 30 scored a sizzling 61 points in a 126-117 Los Angeles Lakers victory over the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden. It broke Bernard King's 24-plus year old record at the "new" Garden as well as Jordan's 14-year old opponent's mark.

While Bryant drilled 19 baskets and all 20 of his foul shots in a dizzying display of basketball prowess, the singular performance may have been a very bad sign for the outstanding Lakers. With their victory last night, L.A. improved to 38-9 but their smooth sailing could be close to crashing down. Center Andrew Bynum, an integral cog in their machine this season suffered an injury over the weekend that could sideline him for three months.

Ouch.

Bynum's great productivity and presence wasn't missed in MSG last night, thanks to Bryant's virtuoso performance as well as Pau Gasol's overshadowed excellence (31 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists). But make no mistake, the Lakers will not be the same powerhouse they've been thus far. Bryant's mega scoring sprees will actually make the Lakers far easier to defend. Coach Phil Jackson already mentioned in recent days that the team isn't very physical and Bryant himself mentioned that they need to toughen up.

Bynum's absence will further compromise both things. Even though he will most likely return for the playoffs, the remaining 35 regular season games will be a challenge. If Bryant has to ramp up his offense, it will ultimately hurt their rhythm and reorder everyone's roles. I'm not trying to predict gloom and doom, but it could happen. When Bynum had a similar situation last season, it barely affected the team due to the shocking acquisition of Gasol shortly thereafter. 

Don't count on that this time.

Everything could end up smooth sailing for the team, but it's not likely. The Western Conference is still very formidable and if Kobe becomes a one-man show in spite of Gasol's talents, it will get very difficult.

But Kobe would still be a treat to watch.

LeBron Is Without Question League MVP Right Now

CLEVELAND - LeBron James is indisputably the best basketball player of the 21st century, so far.

He's also just 24 years old.

As James has improved on an already lethal skill set, he has elevated his Cleveland Cavaliers into the stratosphere. They went 3-1 on their just completed west coast road trip minus starters Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Delonte West, but with the indefensible James as the catalyst.

The team is a jaw-dropping 34-8.

As far as talent goes, the NBA is choke full of that. Superstars like Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul are remarkable. But James is something more; power, grace, speed, desire, tough. On Friday, he deflated the Golden State Warriors with a step-back 20-foot jumper at the buzzer, dealing the home team a one-point loss. He came back the next night and delivered 33 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists to the Utah Jazz in yet another Cavs win.

And oh, that defense.

LeBron had been notoriously awful on defense during his first three or four seasons. But within the past couple years, he's shown flashes of brilliance and now, he's a nightmare. He chases opponents down as if his life depends on it, swatting away seemingly sure-fire layups or dunks on breakaways.

His passing is near-flawless.

No other player sees the floor better than the 6'9," 274 pound James, not even point guard stars like Paul and Steve Nash. His playmaking has always been his biggest asset, he just happens to be a volume scorer as well.

With their glittering record, the Cavs are tied with Bryant's Lakers for the best mark in the league. Kobe though has Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum... not to mention coaching legend Phil Jackson. James has a steady and talented group as well, but he still does more than any other star and is more indispensable.

Just wait until the playoffs.

James At 24 is NBA's Best

CLEVELAND - LeBron James, the demigod forward of the Cleveland Cavaliers is the best player in the league. 

Amazing considering that today marks only his 24th birthday. 

That's right. James has finally eclipsed the venerable Kobe Bryant as basketball's top dog and with today being the anniversary of his birth, I felt it necessary to bring up how far he's come. The Cavs, a perennial NBA laughingstock prior to his arrival has stunned the world this season with their blistering early season success. At 26-4, they are easily having the best season in franchise history.

Birthday boy James is the catalyst.

Of course, the acquisition of Mo Williams has done wonders for the team, as well as the outstanding play of Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Delonte West. But with LeBron's stunning improvement on defense, his career best free throw shooting and his always splendid scoring and playmaking, he has given Cleveland an elite identity and killer instinct that they've never possessed.

It should be mentioned that no player, not Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan or the aforementioned Bryant is on LeBron's level of basketball superiority right now. That amazing skill set of his will only continue to seperate him from everyone else as time goes on.

Tonight, James leads his team into Miami for the completion of a home and home with the Heat. A couple days ago, he out dueled Miami superstar, Dwyane Wade to push the Cavs' home record to 16-0. Whether or not Cleveland wins their first ever NBA title in June remains to be seen. But win, lose or draw, James is still # 1 in the game.

The championship would just be icing on his cake.

James is Incredible...and Incredibly Flawed

CLEVELAND - LeBron James just might be the most amazing basketball player in the world. He's built like a power forward, brute and strong like a center and agile and quick like a guard.

He's also the most perplexing megastar in the game.

James, who turns just 24 years old next month is already in his 6th NBA season. He has been a man-child with otherworldly abilities ever since his days in high school. With his multi-faceted game, he is the de facto best player in the league but doesn't seem to fully understand that.

While Kobe Bryant is the game's resident assassin, capable of laying a smooth 50 or 60 points on anyone at anytime, James is more disciplined as a playmaker slash let-the-offense-come-to-me-type performer. He's currently averaging a sick 29 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for the surprising 10-3 Cleveland Cavs.

But why does he take so many dumb shots?

That's right, for all of his prodigious talents, James far too often shoots  three-pointers and off-balance long two's. While it is true that he can make those shots with great regularity when he's in a "zone," he has proven to be totally unstoppable off the dribble and attacking the basket. At 6'9 and 270, he is a little more daunting to stop than a runaway freight train.

But he falls in love with the long ball.

I always tell people that the worst thing to happen to LeBron when he's playing ball is for him to make a long jumper, especially his first one or two. Then, he believes he's a modern day Mark Price which is a fantasy.

This season, James is taking nearly four three pointers a game and shooting a horrific 22% from that distance. His overall FG% is a very good 48% which proves that his other variety of shots are the ones he needs to be taking. With him shooting those long shots so often, he bails out the other team because they know he can't be stopped when he drives to the hoop. If he's not going to utilize that great advantage of his more often, then it's almost as if he doesn't have that advantage at all.

But we know he does 'cause we see it.

Last season, he took an unforgivable five threes a game only to make 31.5% of them. I know he's a monster in the league and one of the most stunning in history, but his shot selection is abominable. He has posted up on the low block more often this season, and every time he does, he abuses his defender or defenders. With his dexterity and boatload of moves, plus his scintillating passing ability, he should be on that low box continuously, not sparingly like he has been thus far.

I admire LeBron for his great talent and incredible drive, but as a friendly suggestion...I say to him just one thing.

Take that damn ball to the hole!

Bryant Enters 13th NBA Season With Questionable Legacy

CLEVELAND - Kobe Bryant, a basketball prodigy when he joined the NBA straight out of high school and a highly criticized star for years, begins his 13th pro campaign when the 63rd NBA season tips off tonight.

And his place in the sport's history has never been more ambiguous.

Bryant was, like many gifted basketball players of the past 20 years or so, saddled with the moniker of "the next Michael Jordan" since very early in his evolution, but has had a rocky road towards those impossible expectations.

He joined the L.A. Lakers in 1996 and was viewed as a project with a lot of potential. At the time, Jordan himself was nearly 34 years old and coming off his 4th championship with the Chicago Bulls.

Bryant, then 18 had a huge advantage. He joined a highly talented team that featured stars Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel and a new addition; a 24-year old Shaquille O'Neal. All of this meant that Bryant could sit, watch and learn the game without being counted on to carry the entire franchise like Jordan had been expected to do a decade before.

Bryant averaged less than eight points per game as a rookie but by his third season, he was scoring about 20 a night. He had also become an all-star. Bryant's fourth season was O'Neal's best as a pro as he earned MVP honors and led the Lakers to their first NBA crown in a dozen years.

This is where Bryant's disdain for Shaq became obvious.

As Kobe's talents grew, so did his uncoachability and insolence. The Lakers won three consecutive titles but was wrought with turmoil from within. After failing for the second year in a row to claim another title in 2004, O'Neal was exiled to Miami and Kobe was left to steer the Lakers, a supposed dream come true.

The Bryant-led Lakers tanked for three consecutive seasons despite Kobe becoming a relentless offensive force. He topped out at an unreal 81 points in a January 2006 game en route to a career best 35.4 ppg on the season. The poor showing of the Lakers prompted Kobe to become disenchanted with the direction of the organization and demand a trade prior to last season.

He didn't get it.

Out of nowhere, the team did better than expected and by June '08, Bryant had earned his first ever MVP trophy and the Lakers were favored by many to beat the Boston Celtics in the Finals.

The Lakers got creamed.

Bryant's singular brilliance was nullified by Celtics star Paul Pierce's defense and the team went down in flames. This past summer, Bryant turned 30 years old and won an Olympic gold medal. When L.A. won the title in 2002, Kobe was 23 and had been a part of three championship teams. Most assumed he'd dominate for another decade, winning titles left and right and surpass Jordan's six championship trophies long before age 35, when Michael won his last one.

When Jordan was 30, he had just won his third. Bryant hasn't won one in six years. Jordan's 13th season was Kobe's 2nd. Michael had 4 titles going into year 13. The biggest difference between MJ and Kobe is their roles in their respective teams titles. Jordan was the unquestionable leader of the Bulls title teams. Bryant was second fiddle to the uber dominant O'Neal, who during the team's first title season (1999-00) averaged a sick 30 points and 14 rebounds!

It is often said that Jordan had more help around him than Bryant. I think that is revisionist history. While it is true that Chicago was well-rounded, they were far from star studded. Besides Jordan and Scottie Pippen, everyone else was little more than a specialty player with one discernible talent. Bryant has played with an assortment of markedly better players while being coached by the same guy that coached Chicago's six titles; Phil Jackson.

Bryant only started playing team basketball two season ago. Jordan was far more willing, though just as stubborn early in his career to do so (in MJ's case, he had little choice but to go it alone at times).

Without question, Bryant is a sensational basketball player. His drive augments his talents just as Jordan's did. The $64,000 question here is simple: Is Kobe Bryant capable of leading a team, as its top star to a title. So far, the answer has been "no way."

The Lakers open tonight against Portland. This is the first step towards answering that question.