Thundering chants of, "M.V.P., M.V.P.," boomed down from the crowd at the Staples Center as the incredible rollar coaster of emotion that was Game 4 of the Western Conference Playoff Series between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns came to an electric end when the incredible year being enjoyed by Laker guard and top MVP candidate, Kobe Bryant, experienced yet another memorable moment in the long string of notable achievements the talented guard has compiled during one of the greatest seasons ever witnessed on the basketball court, as he hit a last second game winning shot at the buzzer in overtime to give the Lakers a 99-98 victory and a 3-1 lead in the series against Phoenix.

Mere words could never fully do justice to describe the degree of excitement that erupted as soon as Kobe's shot fell, completing Los Angeles's stunning last second comeback.  You simply had to see it to fully appreciate the moment.  However It was not the first big shot of the game by Kobe, nor the first instance when the MVP calls for #8 could be heard echoing throughout the rafters at Staples on Sunday.  Bryant also converted on a last second shot at the end of regulation with 0.7 seconds left on the clock to tie the score at 90 and send the game into overtime, as the phenomenal Laker guard helped carry the Lakers to victory in crunch time in typical Kobe fashion.

However, as instrumental as Bryant was to a Laker victory in Game 4, and in like every other game during this series, Los Angeles received key contributions from several other Laker starters.  Additional praise and consideration needs to be paid to Lakers forward Lamar Odom, whose play during this series should earn him some chants of MVP as well, especially today in Game 4.  Kobe's play today was impressive, 24 pts and 8 assists with two big buzzer beating conversions, but the Lakers would not have been anywhere close to pulling off the remarkable comeback that they mounted late in the game if not by for the continued dominance of Odom. 

Due to early foul trouble, Bryant had to remain on the bench for extended periods of time in both halfs of the game and it was during that time that Odom adopted Bryant's role as team leader and as the catalyst of the Laker offense.  One of the aspects of the series that has favored the Lakers has been a strong inside presence by players like Odom and the rejuvinated Kwame Brown. 

Time and time again throughout the game and in the waning moments of both regulation and overtime, Odom would come through in the paint, nailing heavily contested shots, and forcing a hefty accumulation of fouls to be registered against whomever happened to have the mighty task of guarding Odom. 

Lamar not only would continually hit the shots he was fouled on, but did an excellent job from the free throw line as well, hitting 11 of his 14 shots from the line.  He was so hard to stop down low in today's game that Phoenix All-Star forward Shawn Marion fouled out with 2:37 remaining in regulation, leaving the Suns without the player who is perhaps the most important on the team behind point guard and reigning MVP, Steve Nash, giving an obvious advantage to the Lakers as the game approached crunch time.

Despite Odom's strong performance and late game heroics by Bryant, it still was almost not nearly enough to hand Phoenix its third defeat in a row.  Nash, rumored to be on his way to becoming the consecutive MVP of the league, did indeed play in a manner just as one would expect of a winner of the award to in today's game.  Nash got off to a hot start and scored 22 pts while compiling 11 assists in a losing effort.  His three pointer late in overtime was a near fatal dagger through the hearts of the Lakers and the fans filling the Staples Center.

Also stepping up big for Phoenix before fouling out was Marion who had perhaps his first true Shawn Marion type performance with 20 pts and 12 rebounds, it was a good thing too considering that Phoenix's X-factor, forward Tim Thomas would be limited in today's game as he recovers from his injury late in Game 3 on Friday, though Thomas did manage 12 pts and 2 of 3 shooting from beyond the arc.  Phoenix foward, Boris Diaw, who also doubles as a center for Phoenix had perhaps the most impressive contributions in the stats column with 21 pts, 8 Rebounds, and 7 assists.

Unfortuantely for Phoenix it just wasn't enough, as it apparently seems so long as the Lakers continue to dictate the tempo, dominate the boards, are a force inside, and emphasize unselfish ball movement to generate open looks, the Suns just are not going to win another game in the series.  Especially daunting for Phoenix is the fact that there does not seem to be one Laker who is struggling to contribute in this series, and perhaps the only one who was, small forward Devean George, came alive in Sunday afternoon's game as well, hitting 3 of his 5 attempted three point shots and scoring 11 pts of the bench.  With George joining bench stars, Sasha Vujacic and Brian Cook, as being able to contribute timely three point shots, the Lakers have themselves a team that can match up well with Phoenix, while giving the Suns fits they are not used to having to deal with.

The Suns must now head back to Phoenix to play for their very survival in the playoffs and still without an answer for the physical Lakers attack.  In all honesty, it appears this series is now over.  Even if the Suns manage a victory in Game 5 in Phoenix they will still trail Los Angeles in the series by a game and have to come back to the Staples Center where much to the satisfaction of Jack Nicholson, the Lakers have now won 12 out of their last 13 games played there dating back to the end of the regular season. 

It appears obvious that it is now well past time for the Phoenix area media to put their foots in their mouths.  First they celebrated upon learning that they had drawn Los Angeles in the first round instead of Sacramento, insisting all the while that the Kings presented a much greater threat than the Lakers because of the matchups.  Then the Arizona Republic made the fatal mistake of giving extra motivation to Kobe Bryant by leaking news prior to Game 2 that Steve Nash, not Kobe would be winning the MVP award this year.  Perhaps their strategy in doing so was to frustrate Kobe into resorting to a selfish style of play, that while scoring 35 pts plus a game he would force a lot of poor shots while ignoring wide-open team mates, hopefully leading the Lakers to loses.  If so, it was a strategy that has back fired on them miserably. 

Since the premature annoncement, the Lakers have not lost a game, nor has Kobe done what perhaps the Phoenix area media and Laker haters had hoped, abandon the team game and wipe away the Lakers new found chemistry.  During the post game interviews Kobe said the team really matured today by about ten seasons during what he called the most exhilirating playoff game in which he has ever played.  Lamar spoke about playing his heart out today and leaving it all on the floor.  Yes, Kobe did hit the two most important shots of the day, but the battle hardened Lakers did indeed develop a deepened sense of team chemistry and trust with one another and won a lot more than just a vital playoff game, they have won everyone's respect. 

Now that once heavily criticized and underestimated team with all its new found chemistry, passion, and maturation shall travel to the desert, looking to put the Suns season to set for good.