A little over 26 minutes of play, 15 pts, and 9 boards is what the newest member of the Phoenix Suns, Shaquille O'Neal, contributed according to the statline this Wednesday night in Phoenix.

However, what he brought to the floor was much greater than his individual numbers indicate.

Upon returning to the Western Conference to join the Pacific Division leading Suns, Shaq vowed he would elevate the game of those around him, most specifically, Amare Stoudamire. That promise was evident on the floor as the Suns met their Pacific Division rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night at the U.S. Airways Arena.

Early double teams against the Suns new Center freed up Stoudamire on possession after possession, and when the Lakers resorted to regular coverage, Shaquille made his presence felt in the paint.

Unfortuately for Phoenix, the Lakers turned out to have more offensive firepower on hand and played Phoenix's style game much better than it could itself on its own home court.

All-World guard, Kobe Bryant contributed 41 pts, his 90th such performance of his career, and both Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom each scored over 20 pts, making the high scoring affair an all-around team effort.

As a result, the Lakers took a share of the Pacific Division lead, and own the tie-breaker against Phoenix since they now lead the season series 3-1.

The Lakers have proven thus far to have the Suns number.  All of the remaining skeptics better come to their senses soon and realize that this Lakers team is for real.

The pending return of Andrew Bynum will only make matters harder for opposing defenses, not to mention the opposing offenses.

As a sports fan who doubted the merit of the Shaquille O'Neal for Shawn Marion trade when it was first reported, I can now honestly state that I should recant my previous position, for the deal may in fact make sense for Phoenix.

Even though you can not tell from the final score of tonight's game, O'Neal's presence on the floor helps Phoenix defensively and does in fact elevate the game of Amare Stoudamire, making for a better team game than perhaps would have otherwise existed with the malcontent Shawn Marion having to share the spotlight (and touches) with Stoudamire and Suns point guard Steve Nash.

Shaquille realizes he is a role player on this team, is secure with that role, and played that role well Wednesday night.

In the end however, It just may still prove itself to be not quite enough for Phoenix to get the better of the Lakers this season.

It certainly wasn't enough this Wednesday night.

The professional basketball world is officially on notice. The stage has been set, the contestants proven to be worthy, and the next generation of NBA Superstars stand poised to usher in the next great chapter in NBA history. Get your head right, get into the zone, and most importantly, don’t ever back down. For the annual rite of passage into basketball lore, otherwise known as the NBA Finals, is upon us at last. Your standing in the ranks of basketball immortality is on the line. When it all comes down to the wire can you stick it out and be crowned with the title of World Champion?  Or will you cave and swiftly fade away into the void of basketball obscurity?

Having survived the long and grueling road through the NBA playoffs, only four more wins now separate you and your team from the privilege of hoisting Mr. O’Brien’s cherished hardware high above your head in celebration. But it will be anything but easy. All eyes of the basketball world are focused squarely on you. Handling the pressure of being under such an enormous spotlight would be tough enough for just one game, but you may have to play seven. These strenuous conditions present during the yearly hunt for the game’s ultimate prize have repeatedly borne witness to unheralded greatness on the hardwood, and on several occasions, exhibited the kind of stuff that legends are made of.   Will you measure up?

Who could ever possibly forget the eras of Chamberlain vs. Russell, Magic vs. Bird, and Jordan vs., ...well, nearly all the game’s elite members. The Finals have taught us that remarkable things can and do follow holiday "Massacres", that "flu-like symptoms" don’t always result in a bad day at the office, and that "Bad Boys" can sometimes do no wrong. We have been afforded the opportunity to admire the entertaining ingenuity of "Showtime", marvel the feats of the "Untoucha-Bulls", and enhance our vocabulary with priceless phrases such as, "Three-peat."

However, as unfortunate it may be, for every admired dynasty, storied rivalry, and epic comeback; there are plenty who have emerged victorious yet never had the chance to bask in the limelight for any extended period of time. How many people remember that the Seattle SuperSonics, the Washington Bullets (Wizards), the Portland Trailblazers, and the Golden State Warriors were all championship winning teams during the mid to late 70's? Who remembers a time when the Milwaukee Bucks were the greatest threat to a Lakers appearance in the Finals?

The cruel fact is that in order to capture the attention of many "basketball" fans, a team must be a large market team with a history of success. Basketball clubs without any major stand-outs and who choose to incorporate a subdued attack that champions defensive play and equal ball distribution, tend to result in more people feeling compelled to change the channel than to become glued to their TV sets. Many who ultimately decide to tune in, do so in hope of seeing what they deem "stellar basketball play".  Such individuals demand fast paced action, inflated points totals, and flashy play from the league's most noted superstars. It is a tragic reality that this basketball fan heartedly refuses to go along with, but must admit is causing people to become less energized when the NBA Finals roll around each year.

Fortunately this year, there is plenty for even the casual basketball fan to appreciate when it comes to this season’s Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks finale. Neither basketball club has ever been to the Finals before, so there is plenty of energy in each of those two cities as their respective home teams take to the floor. It also helps that both cities are large market teams. Both teams are blessed with having one of the premier young talents in the league. Dallas, with two-time MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki, and Miami with a player who is arguably, "The Best Damn Guard" in all the league, Dwyane Wade. Dallas is the first Western Conference team that is not from Los Angeles or San Antonio to make it to the Finals since 1998. Meanwhile, Miami is trying to become the first Eastern Conference team not from Detroit, Boston, or Chicago to win a NBA championship since 1983.

Even for those who don’t take kindly to the winds of change, there is the familiar Finals presence of legendary center Shaquille O’Neal, who presently seeks a fourth championship minus the tutelage of Phil Jackson and more notably, without the presence of Kobe Bryant. A successful hunt for O’Neal would prove to be the final accomplishment needed to further solidify his spot in history alongside the likes of Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain as the greatest big-men ever to play the game. Then there also is Miami’s coach who is none other than the former championship winning coach from Lakers lore, Pat Riley.

The opportunity to see Wade continue his ascension this post-season past other notable guards, like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, should provide plenty of incentive for those who can appreciate some stellar guard play. Not to mention, those who would love for nothing more than to see what can happen when such talent is coupled with a nearly unstoppable and unrivaled presence in the post. On the other side fans can witness what happens when a seven footer with a killer outside shot, quick speed, and an immense rebounding capacity is surrounded with a team of extremely talented role players. It is the best of both worlds.

Despite the soon to be coinciding play of World Cup Soccer, plenty of additional folks in the Old Country are sure to tune in to see how the greatest European player in the history of the NBA fares against the likes of Flash and the Diesel. If those crazy soccer nuts in Europe can make the time to be sure they are tuned in to witness basketball’s annual rite of passage into immortality, even casual basketball fans had better make sure to tune in.  This Finals has it all.  There are simply no more excuses. This is undeniably can’t miss entertainment, even for fans who had previously grown tired of the game of basketball for the past couple of years.  Do not wait to be the one who has to read about this sure to be epic series in history books years down the road.  Witness the sheer brilliance of the NBA Finals as it transpires live before your eyes in all its splendor and glory, just as it should be.

Shown The Way To The Door

Both before and after Game 6 got underway in Cleveland, I was fearful that if the young Cleveland Cavalier team led by the sensational LeBron James were to fail in their attempt to end the series at home, they would in all likelihood share the same fate that awaited another young team earlier this post season, The Los Angeles Lakers.

Little did I know that the circumstances would so closely resemble one another.  After a tremendous first half by James, and a lackluster performance from his supporting cast (31% from the field shooting), James and his team collapsed in the second half under the overbearing pressure of a team with more experience, moxy, and swagger than themselves.  James would score 21 pts in the first half, but only 6 points in the entire 2nd half.  Until he converted a three-point play late in the half, James had only 1 point off of a free throw.  Does this sound vaguely familar to anyone else reading this?

James would try to get his teammates involved for as long as he could in this game, but ultimately had to take matters into his own hands after poor shooting and missed opportunies surmounted.  James by himself, even as talented as the young 21 year old superstar is, would prove to be not nearly enough for a rejuvinated and hungry Detroit Pistons team who shut him down in the second half.

To James and the Cav's credit, the first half of the game turned out to be much closer than the Suns vs. Lakers Game 7 was at the half, and James did take more shots and scored five more points than Bryant.  But the 27 point effort, with only two assists, seems so much like a stat line Bryant would put up in his Game 7 performance.  Perhaps Kobe wasn't as deserving as many would have made it seem for his reluctance to shoot more in the second half of his final post season game.  When your teammates can not hit their shots and are reluctant to shoot, there is only so much even a superstar can do all by himself. 

James will be back for certain next season with a vegence and a thirst for further success in the playoffs, as will Bryant.  Now they both just need some more help to get to that next level they both so desperately want to reach.  One superstar can only take you so far.

He's Done It.  Add Another HR To The Books!

No not Barry Bonds, who tied Babe Ruth with 714 homeruns yesterday afternoon. While a noteworthy achievement for certain, steriods or not, Barry's mark will never be completely be accepted by many fans due to the shroud of uncertainty surrounding the Giants outfielder in regards to the questionable means he may have utilized to achieve those remarkable statistics. 

Rather, I am talking about homerun numbers 20, 21, and 22 hit by Cardinals first baseman, Albert Pujols.  The three homeruns came in three consecutive games against Kansas City in interleague play this weekend.  The Cardinals slugger is now on pace for an 80 HR, 200 RBI season, and many could not be more enthused, nor could they ask for a more upstanding individual and player as Pujols.

He is already the first player in MLB history to hit 30 HR or more in each of his first 5 seasons.  The first since Ted Williams to register 100 RBI or more in each of his first 5 seasons.  He has tied Todd Helton as the fastest player to reach 1,000 hits, and surpassed Willie Mays as the fastest to 1,000 hits and 200 HR on that same day.  The guy only gets better each and every year, gets along with his teammates, and isn't afraid to admit mistakes like when he got into that little bat tossing episode with Pirates pitcher, Oliver Perez, earlier this year after he hit a homerun off of him, but then later admitted he was wrong for doing so. Pujols acknowledged Scott Rolen as the player who helped him realize that, "Players like him should be above such behavior," and Pujols agreed wholeheartedly.  The next time he homered off Perez, he just ran his bases with no antics.

Really, when is the last time you heard Bonds acknowledge another teammate for helping him realize that he did something wrong and needed to admit it?  When was the last time you heard Bonds acknowledge a teammate at all, or even talk to one?

Pujols isn't just a class act on the baseball field, but off it as well.  When asked about Bonds, he defended the player he twice finished second to in N.L. MVP voting before winning his first last season.  He mentioned that he honors and respects what Bonds has done, and that he gets far more #### than he deserves.  "Until it is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he used steriods, he has nothing to be ashamed of and the record should be respected," was the basis of Pujol's statement to the media earlier this weekend.  He also threw in that MLB could test him everyday of his career just so there would be no similar doubt ever cast on him. 

Then there is the whole adopting a daughter with Down Syndrome, and setting up a charitable organization to assist with the genetic disorder and also provide relief to the poor in his native country of the Dominican Republic to take into account as well.  He is also a highly religious Christian who tries to help others accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and provides links to Christian ministers on his family charity website.  But maybe one day people will find a way to chastise him for that.  Regardless, he is my favorite candidate to one day surpass Hank Aaron's home run mark, and I agree that one couldn't ask for a more classy individual than Pujols to accomplish the feat.

NFL Dreams Fading Fast?

The league will meet in Denver this Tuesday to further discuss the prospect of a NFL team in Los Angeles, if not two.

This has gone on long enough.  How much longer will the second largest market in the country go without an NFL team?  When one combines the professional teams in Los Angeles/Orange County you get two MLB teams, two NBA teams, two NHL teams, and not one NFL team, the nation's most popular sport.

Two possible venues have been proposed.  A renovation of the L.A. colliseum is one possiblity, as is a new stadium to be constructed adjacent to Angel Stadium in Anaheim.  The league hasn't made up its mind which it will persue, that is if it doesn't elect to persue them both.  However they risk losing one, and the most inviting of the two, the proposed stadium in Anaheim that is to be newly constructed, unless the league settles on that site by Tuesday, something many doubt the league to do.  Reason being, despite the support of the Orange County Business Council, many in the city feel the land is worth far more than the amount it has been offered up to NFL for, all in the name of simply bringing an NFL franchise to the city.  The city has threatened that if the league can not commit soon, they will begin to entertain other proposals for the site.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles is not completely safe either.  The political climate is right at the moment, something the city did not have in its favor in 1999,  when the city lost in expansion bidding to Houston. But many fear that could change if a decision isn't reached soon.  California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger is up for re-election in November, and folks, it ain't going too well in the Golden State right now.  Then there is the problem of NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's retirement come September if the league has found his replacement.  Thus the two largest proponents of a team coming to L.A. would be gone.

So it appears that unless something is decided quickly, L.A. could miss out on a NFL club once again.

Proper Sports Etiquette

So tommorrow evening I travel to Petco Park to witness two great pitchers square off as John Smoltz and the Atlanta Braves face Jake Peavy and the San Diego Padres, and get to see the Braves play live for the first time since 1999.

My question to the blogging arena is this.  Do I dare wear my Braves home uniform to the park?

I ask this realizing it is not a Chargers vs. Raiders game, nor a Yankees vs. Red Sox showdown, or even a mildly heated divisional rivalry.  But still, is wearing the away team's home threads amongst the home crowd acceptable?

There is simply no hiding from the truth, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers just let control of this series slip away from them.  A dozen different adjectives could have easily been used to describe the once highly improbable prospect of a second round upset Cavaliers victory over the defending Eastern Conference Champs.  But after the waning moments of Game 6 in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, only one comes to mind now,  reckless.

Heading into Game 6, the accolades for James and the Cleveland team could not have been any more admirable.  Countless NBA fans who had previously not taken serious notice, suddenly found themselves lining up around the country to become "witnesses", as LeBron and the Cavaliers instantly captured the interest and praises of a basketball world desperately seeking an author to usher in the next great chapter of NBA history.  After beating Detroit on their own court, accomplishing something that had not been done previously this post season, many were convinced that LeBron James would prove to be that author.  This NBA writer who had previously awarded Los Angeles Laker, Kobe Bryant, the title of best player in the league, was singing a new tune.  Even former Chicago Bull and Michael Jordan teammate, Scottie Pippen, one of the 50 recognized greatest players in NBA history, recently staked his claim that at this early point in his career, James was not only more talented, but a more desirable teammate than, "His Airness." 

One would have been extremely hardpressed to find anyone outside of Detroit who wanted to see this series extend beyond Game 6.  But at this point, one would be extremely hardpressed to find anyone outside of Cleveland who still thinks that James will usher in that next great chapter this year, and do what Jordan himself could not accomplish, knock off the Detroit Pistons in the first go-around.  Even there you may still have problems finding somebody.

Though the stat line may not reflect it at first glance; 32 points, 11 boards, and 5 dimes, LeBron James really cost Cleveland in its Game 6 defeat.  His 7 turnovers were costly and unforgivable.  Amidst the last few vital Cavalier possessions, James better resembled Los Angeles Laker Center, Kwame Brown, than the all-world guard/forward we have "witnessed" this NBA season.  On more than just one occassion James would carelessly fumble the ball away or have it stripped from him inside the paint, killing Cleveland's opportunity of registering some badly needed points in crunch time. However, that would not prove to be his greatest mistake by any stretch.  Rather it was his hesitation and lack of a desire to take the game into his hands during the final seconds with his team down by three, and thus needing a three, in order to extend the game into overtime with a chance of victory still well in place. 

Instead of taking things into his own hands, James elected to cower from the role of team leader as well as from the responsibilty of taking the game deciding shot, erroneously driving beyond the three point arch and then trying to desperately get the ball to a teammate back outside the arch before time expired in hopes of winning the game. 

As fate would have it, James would be fouled on the pass attempt and put on the foul line, practically ending any hope of winning the game due to the extremely difficult task of having to convert the first free throw attempt, deliberately miss the second, but still have it touch the rim, and then be fortunate enough to have a teammate get the rebound and get a successful shot off with less than 2 seconds remaining on the clock.  

A two point shot does nothing for you, so the Pistons had nothing to lose by fouling James, or even if they simply let him drive to the basket and slam one down.  Even if Cleveland brought it within one and immediately fouled whichever Piston brought in the ball before time expired and then that player missed the first shot, and then converted the second one, Cleveland still would have lacked the time to get a shot off.  

James undeniably made a grave mistake by not taking the shot himself or passing the ball off much sooner to a teammate while still beyond the three point arch if he had no intention of taking the shot himself.  It was quite plainly careless of James, who clearly lacked the time and wherewithal for anyone to be able to possibly justify what he did with the basketball at the end of Game 6.  

The truth is it seems that James still lacks the killer instinct that all the great champions and legends of this game have.  In any sport, whether it be on the gridiron or on the hardwood, the leaders of champions always wants the ball in their hands at crunch time.  Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or even Steve Nash would have taken that shot in the final seconds if the ball were in their hands.  James does a great job of getting his teammates involved, but at a certain point, you have to take the game squarely into your own hands if you truly want to lead.  James had that opportunity and balked at it, possibly ending his team's hopes of knocking off the defending Eastern Conference Champs. 

It is not my intent to take away from all the great things LeBron has accomplished this season and postseason, and I will most definitely not rule out a quick turnaround by LeBron, if not this season, then next year to be certain.  But at this present moment, LeBron robbed his teammates and adoring "witnesses" everywhere of what could have been, and that is a bitter and crying shame, because it was shaping up to be such a beautiful and well crafted piece of NBA literature.  It appears that next chapter might have to wait just a little bit longer before it is ready to be authored into NBA history, as it now seems that Pistons vs. Spurs showdown still possibly awaits us once again afterall.

Side notes and random thoughts

- If Dallas comes from ahead to lose this series against San Antonio, becoming just the 9th team in league history to surrender a 3-1 lead in a best of seven series and lose, but the second this postseason after the Los Angeles Lakers did the same thing, which team is the bigger disgrace?

- Since when did slapping boards away instead of pulling them in securely become so common on the offensive and defensive glass?  I was harsh on LeBron after his game 6 performance, but how about Flip Murray?  That board came right to him after the Wallace free throw miss, and it looked as if he tried to slap the rebound away instead of going up with two hands and safely securing it.   I was always taught to go up and grab the board, and was chastised by the coach if I tried to slap it out to a teammate, basketball fundamentals right?  Reason being, a secure ball is better than a potential loose ball that the other team recovers.  Yet I see more and more of this as I watch the NBA today. 

Baseball has its quest to eclipse Hank Aaron. Football has the endeavor of trying to one day surpass Joe Montana. For the basketball world for the better part of the past two decades, the fascination and hype has centered around one simple, yet unanswered question: “Who is the next Michael Jordan?” All are daunting tasks, that while proven to be extremely difficult to attain, have ultimately served as the gold standard by which every professional athlete is to be measured against when establishing the level of greatness they have achieved in their respective sport. Yet, the task facing today’s brightest stars in the NBA has perhaps proven to be the most difficult of the three to live up to.

Aaron’s mark is a clear set number, that once broken, unless it happens to be shattered by a player utilizing questionable means, (though I will leave it up to the reader to ascertain which particular player I could possibly be referring to), will unquestionably be all said and done without further discussion. Montana, with his four Super Bowl victories and 3 unprecedented and unmatched Super Bowl MVP awards, could still prove to be an unsettled debate once his numbers have been matched and surpassed, though some are already placing New England Patriots Quarterback, Tom Brady, on his level by dubbing the former University of Michigan QB, the “Modern Day Montana”, it is still largely a quarrel that will be settled by numbers. However when it comes down to Michael, mere numbers do not settle the discussion, though they certainly must help form the main basis for any argument that is to be brought when naming a Jordan successor.

Rather, one must also take into account the image, marketing ingenuity, global notoriety, and sheer game revolutionizing talent of the player that has become the most widely recognized athlete in all of professional sports for close to the past quarter century. That is why even suggesting that one day a current NBA star could live up to that borders on absurdity, and no easy or clear cut case can be made for any player at this time. There does exist a case however, based upon past and current performance in the sport along with a reasonable expectation of what can be achieved in the future, that can be made which allows for the possibility for a handful of players in the game today to flirt with the notion of one day being considered a player who was noticeably and unquestionably on a higher level than everyone else against whom he played, somewhat achieving a “Jordan Stature” in the history books, Two names exist that are mentioned with far more regularity than all others at this point in NBA history, Los Angeles Lakers guard, Kobe Bryant, and Cleveland Cavaliers forward/guard/boywonder, LeBron James.

Whenever Kobe Bryant’s name enters any equation, there are sure to be no shortage of cynics who will refute any claim that portrays Kobe in a positive light, or which holds him in a higher regard than another highly talented superstar in the league. This is because just like Alex Rodriguez in MLB, or Michael Vick in the NFL, Bryant is one of those players that people simply tend to either worship or admonish. Though once a golden boy of the league, Bryant’s past, yet well publicized troubles with head coach, Phil Jackson, and former Laker center Shaquille O’Neal combined with his wholesome image shattering sexual scandal in Eagle, Colorado, Kobe quickly became the polarizing force that he is today to many. There are some who would seek to dismiss Bryant’s name from the “Jordan Stature” discussion immediately for that reality alone. What these same critics fail to realize however is the league’s new golden boy and fellow lead front runner for “Jordan Stature”,. who happens to also done the #23 in honor of his childhood idol, also has some questionable behavior for which he too should have to be held accountable for in the eyes of critics who chastise Kobe’s merits due to some of his.

How quickly it seems that so many have forgotten that LeBron’s golden ascension into the NBA ranks was partly tarnished by reckless behavior, that if exhibited by a college basketball player instead of a player who jumped straight to the NBA from highschool, would have been met with a much greater degree of discord and negative repercussions than the “Chosen One” had to experience. As many are quick to point out, James had every opportunity afforded him while he played in highschool and was hyped as a “Jordan Type Talent” before he ever played a single game in the NBA, appearing on Magazine covers such as Slam, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated. A few of his high school basketball games were actually televised on ESPN 2 and regionally on pay-per-view, and his well publicized basketball talents captured national attention from casual fans to well established athletes and celebrities alike. America simply could not get enough of young LeBron, which is odd because sports fan usually demand proven performance in the clutch and consistent success of their athletes before signing off on the insane amount of publicity and endorsements like James received, all while anointing them the “Chosen One.” Obviously James was different.

However, the “Chosen One” could easily have been dubbed, the “Spoiled One”, as if all the attention he received by the time he took to the floor his senior year of high school were not enough, the questionable dealings he and his mother would partake in while he was still in high school most definitely would be. Using her son’s future earning power, LeBron’s mother, Gloria James, secured a bank loan to purchase an $80,000 Hummer H2 for her son’s 18th birthday that would lead to an investigation by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) due to guidelines which state that no amateur may accept any gift valued over $100 as reward for athletic performance. James would later lose his eligibility after accepting two throwback basketball jerseys valued at over $800 in exchange for him posing for pictures to be displayed on the store walls of an urban clothing store in Shaker Square by the name of NEXT. His eligibility would later be restored by an appellate judge after he served a two game suspension and his team forfeited a win. 

LeBron by no means got a pass from the media at the time, but no where the grief he would have received had this kind of thing happened as a college basketball player. Let’s be honest, had this occurred at Ohio State University and not St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, James would have in all liklihood developed a similar reputation as former Florida State Wide Receiver Peter Warrick and be labeled as yet another selfish and greedy young talent who pursues personal wealth and glory at the expense of his team.  Yet the misdeeds of a young LeBron seem to have faded from the memory of so many adoring fans today. About the only place you would ever hear about them now is in a biography of James, not from the media, and definitely not from the mouths of basketball fans. The reason for this of course is success. James has undoubtedly lived up to his billing thus far as a spectacular, yet still developing talent in the NBA, and in the realm of sports, nothing makes people forget negativity quicker than winning.

It is for this reason that Kobe’s critics should realize that the same will hold true for Bryant if he continues to build upon his already more established success. A year ago Bryant was seen much more widely as a pariah than he is today, thanks to a reconciled relationship and return by coach Phil Jackson, a Bill Russell initiated makeup and truce with Shaquille O’Neal, and a return by the Lakers to the playoffs. The endorsements that once fled from Bryant after the Eagle, Colorado incident like fleas from a dying animal, have now begun to return, and Kobe is well back on the road to redemption. All he must do is return to winning and showcase his immense talent as he does so.

As for notable achievements and consistent success on the basketball court, Kobe has had much greater success, and the difference is not even close. Before dismissing this statement of fact by calling me a “Kobe guy” or a “LeBron Player Hater”, realize that I awarded James the MVP this season over Bryant as you can tell by previously written MVP article a few weeks back. While James is simply remarkable when he has the basketball in his hand, his defensive skills pale in comparison to Kobe Bryant, let alone Michael Jordan. Kobe has made the NBA All-Defensive team six times, four as a First team selection, to LeBron’s zero. Bryant has also succeeded in making the All-NBA team 7 times, 3 as a first teamer, to LeBron’s 1 second team selection. LeBron is obviously at a much earlier point in his career than Bryant, and is still developing as a player.  Nor does James have nearly as much time in the league. However when mentioning a player’s name even anywhere near the level of Michael Jordan, you need more to your credit than simply being the youngest to do this and the youngest to do that. Consistency over many seasons are needed, not a matching of lesser accomplishments, that while still impressive, do not add up to the stature that comes with numerous NBA Championships, scoring titles, and MVP awards.

Immense talent, youth, and upside are all notable assets, but do not assure you the right of being compared to the game’s greatest, no matter how on par you are with that player’s achievements early in your career. With the past troubles of so many other bright stars who have enjoyed fame and fortune at a very early age in the NBA, a major setback and tarnished image for LeBron isn’t completely out of the question by any stretch. Afterall, Kobe was once the squeaky clean golden boy of the NBA who shocked the world one day with his foolish sexual escapade. Who knows what may one day crop up and rear its ugly head for James?  Even if LeBron’s image is secure for the remainder of his career, there is still the task of elevating his game further and maintaining it for a great number of years to come, winning some of those NBA titles, scoring titles, and MVP awards that I previously mentioned along the way, by no means an easy task.

In reality, the only reason LeBron’s name even comes up in this discussion is because it is exactly what everyone has been pre-programmed to believe since the day we first heard James’s name. He has shown great promise, uncanny natural talent, and perhaps even a glimpse of what further greatness there is still yet to come, but it could also be mere speculation, hype, and wishful thinking on the part of a nation’s unrelenting quest to find the, “Next Michael Jordan.” When it all comes down to it, love or hate him, Kobe Bryant is just flat out closer to approaching Jordan stature than LeBron. Kobe is chasing Jordan, but LeBron is still chasing Kobe at this point, and the statistical evidence and multiple NBA Championships are undeniably there to back up that claim.

This is a rebuttal to the opposing argument, and is the second of a two-part duel posting between Belle and I, as we debate who is most worthy of being dubbed "heir apparent" to Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant or LeBron James?

32,292 career points. 5,633 career assists. 2,514 career steals. 6,672 career rebounds. 6 NBA Championships accompanied by 6 NBA Finals MVP awards.  5 time MVP of the league.  10 league scoring titles, seven of which came consecutively, stretching from the 86/87 season through the 92/93 season.  11 time All-Star.  All-NBA 10 times.  All-Defensive First Team 9 times.  All for the right for "His Airness", Michael Jordan, to go down in history as the greatest ever. 

As remarkable as the statistics Jordan accumulated were, his legacy would be cemented not merely by his impressive statistics, but also by the way he revolutionized the game and the manner in which not only basketball, but all sports merchandise in general, would be marketed in future generations.  The name "Jordan" quickly became synonymous with the name "Nike".  His name would become associated more closely with "Gatorade" than the University of Florida Football team for which the product got its namesake.  He would become the first athlete to unleash his own shoe and clothing line, with prodigious resuts, raking in far more money from his numerous endorsements and successful business enterprise than he could ever of hoped to receive from the Chicago Bulls.  Jordan would be chosen to endorse everything from the "Wheaties" cereal we would eat in the morning, to the "Fruit of the Loom" underwear we sported underneath our clothes throughout the day.  Everybody simply wanted to "Be Like Mike!"

As the legend's great career unfortunately had to draw to a close, a gaping void would encompass the NBA as the league and its fans ached for a comparable superstar, or "Air Apparent" to replace our mighty, "Air Jordan", and buttress the continuance of the thrilling and awe inspiring spectacle the league had become thanks to #23.  Soon, the first of many mini-stars and Jordan wannabes who wanted to, "Be Like Mike" would emerge and receive countless endorsements from both fans and the media to assume Jordan's now vacated title of, "King of the league".  First we had Miami Heat guard, and two time Slam-Dunk Champion, Harold Miner, one time better known as, "Baby Jordan", but who bore little resemblence to the legend other than the two meaningless Slam Dunk Titles, a competition that became largely overrated and meaningless after Jordan and the "Human Highlight Reel", aka Dominique Wilkins would end their epic annual battles for the trophy.  Players like Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady would soon follow, and at one time or another would all be touted as the "Next Jordan." But alas, the chatter would prove warrantless and shortlived, as all those aforementioned players would fall from the cherished spotlight of annointment, not to mention all still happen to be seeking their first championship ring to slide up their fingers, nowhere even close to tieing Jordan's six blinged-out digits. 

To be fair to those players, and to Jordan's legacy for that matter, it would be a major error in judgment to proclaim any current player as being on Jordan's level, and down right ludicrous to declare one of today's current NBA stars to be better than or destined to dethrone Jordan as the most impactful and talented basketball player ever.  However, that is not to rule out the possibility that one of today's current stars could be likened to having acheived "Jordan stature" by the end of his career as the best best player of this generation for more than a decade, while coming close to Jordan's statistical achievements in the process.  There is one player who is above all others in that regard.  One who already has more in his favor to be confidently dubbed as such an heir.  That player is unequivocally Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard, Kobe Bryant.

Aside from sharing the same position and identical height as Jordan, Kobe also shares Jordan's renowned and remarkably strong work ethic as well as a stunning capacity to improve upon his already solid game each and every season he has been in the league because of it, a virtue that led to Bryant being hand picked by Jerry West to help return the Lakers to their championship winning ways.  Jordan was widely recognized as the league's best clutch shooter during his tenure in the NBA, and Kobe is recognized hands down as being that player in today's NBA.  In 2005, a poll among the league's General Managers overwhelmingly voted Bryant as the player you want taking the last shot for your team at crucial moments in a basketball game. This was before Bryant would embark on one of the greatest seasons ever witnessed on the NBA hardwood, surpassing even Jordan with some of his statistical achievements.  

After becoming the first guard ever to bypass college and jump straight from highschool to the NBA,  Bryant was secured by the Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac from the Charlotte Hornets.  He started slow, coming in off the bench while playing behind Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel, but his strong competitive spirit and uncanny natural talent would earn him a starting role before long.  Bryant would play an intregal part, as he teamed up with Laker center Shaquille O'Neal, and helped lead Los Angeles to three consecutive NBA Championships from 2000 to 2002.  At age 23 he had already accomplished what it took Jordan until age 30 to accomplish.

Many will contend that it was Shaq's Lakers, not Kobe's who won those rings, and that Kobe would not have won those three rings without the big guy there to help carry the team, a claim which anyone in their right mind has to agree with.  They also point out the kind of success, or lack thereof, that Kobe's Lakers have had in the two years minus Shaq.  However those critics need to pay attention to the kind of success that Michael Jordan's Bulls had minus Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant.  Jordan's Bulls went three and out in the first round two years in a row before those two players emerged and the Bulls won their first ever playoff series against Cleveland in 1989. 

Critics insist that Kobe is "too selfish" and doesn't make those around him better, greedingly hogging the ball in pursuit of his own personal glory and not his team's.  Yet Jordan drew the same criticism early in his career.  Even in that Game 5 against the Cavs, it was still all about how far just Jordan could carry them.  Doug Collins, coach of the Bulls at that time would famously remark when asked to elaborate on how the Bulls won the game in clutch time responded, "That play was, 'Give the ball to Michael and everyone else get the @#%@ out of the way!'", much like Kobe in the final moments of Game 4 in the opening round of the playoff series with Phoenix this year.  It is worth noting that had there still been a best of 5 opening series in place in today's league, like there was in Jordan's day, it would have been a game winning shot which would have propelled the Lakers into the next round. 

It wasn't until after the 89-90 season under the tutelage of coaching great Phil Jackson when the Bulls nearly beat the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, but the infamous "Jordan Rules" ultimately prevailed, that Jordan was finally willing to buy into the Triangle offense that he had resisted for many years.  Bryant has been criticized in the past for viewing that same system as being too boring and instead resorting to engineering his own style of offense that would run counter to what the sceme seeks to accomplish.  But Bryant did greatly buy into it during the playoff series against Phoenix.  Perhaps a similar turnaround is in store for Bryant.  

This past 05/06 season was a spectacular breakout in the career of Kobe Bryant, and is greatly responsible for adding even more fuel to the fire that was already raging in regards to Bryant/Jordan comparisons.  Having already averaged over 40 points per game for an entire month once in his career in January of 2003, Bryant would do so a second time in February this year, averaging 43.4, the eighth highest mark all-time for an entire month and thus becoming the only player other than Wilt Chamberlain to ever average 40 for a month more than once in their career.  Also joining Wilt exclusively was Bryant in becoming just the second player to ever score 80 points or more in a single game.  He dropped 62 points in just 33 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks, single handedly outscoring the entire Mavericks team during that time 62-61.  It was the first time such a feat had been accomplished after playing three quarters since the advent of the 24 second shot clock. 

Bryant was in Jordan's company as he joined MJ and Wilt as only the third player in NBA history to score 40 points or more for 9 consecutive games.  He would ascend above Jordan's company and join only Wilt and Elgin Baylor as the only players to score 45 points or more in four consecutive games.  The last time that happened was all the way back in 1964.  Bryant then had to one up even Elgin Baylor, registering 27 games in which Kobe scored 40 points or more, breaking Baylor's mark of 23.  He also broke Baylor's franchise record for most points in a season, which had stood at 2,719, with his own mark of 2,832.  Bryant's season points total happens to be the 7th highest all-time and the most since Jordan scored 2,868 in 1988, easily earning him the league's scoring title this year. 

Bryant's numbers speak for themselves. There simply isn't anyone close to him in the league today who can take over and dominate a game offensively like Kobe can on a regular basis at the level that he does.  Bryant isn't purely a scorer either, but plays very solid defense, much like Jordan, and unlike some of the game's other great shooters who received more MVP consideration than Bryant this season.  Can we all say LeBron James and Steve Nash?  Kobe has already been All-Defensive First Team 4 times in his career, and seems to be improving his already solid defensive skills each season as his career progresses. 

As an 8 time All-Star at just 27 years old, and already sporting a repertoire hosting some of the games most notable statistical accomplishments to go along with his three championship rings, Bryant has a clear head start on any competition he might have to battle for the legacy of being this generation's greatest likeness to MJ.  He does have a ways to go in terms of the number of scoring titles and MVP awards he must win, not to mention another three piece set of NBA Championships he must win to approach what Jordan accomplished as a player.  However, much to his favor, Bryant is just now entering his prime, and come this time next year, will only be as old as Jordan was when the legend first began his run of championships.  Bryant only needs himself a strong supporting star like Jordan had with Pippen, possibly a third like Horace Grant, to continue to lay his strong claim to one day assume Jordan's vacant throne atop of the NBA world as the undisputed heir of greatness. 

The pieces may still be accumulating for Los Angeles, but with Kobe as the centerpiece, the Lakers could have a dynasty in their destiny yet again.  It is as simple as getting Kobe a talented counterpart who is up to the task of brilliantly complimenting the best player in the game today, and cement their history together as the most accomplished and talented duo since Scottie and Jordan.

* This article is published as a dual-posting with Belle and her opinion that LeBron James is better suited as the next heir to the throne.  Check back later this week for my rebuttal of Belle's position.

It had been over 30 years since the last time a NBA team came back to win a playoff series after suffering three consecutive losses in a best of seven series, but it  proved to be a streak destined to meet a fiery doom come this Saturday night, as the Phoenix Suns torched the Los Angeles Lakers in a lackluster Game 7, scorching their way to a 121-90 win.  It would not be the only long standing streak to be set ablaze this evening in the desert however.

The Suns astounding comeback in the series, culminated with tonight's win, also put an abrupt end to a couple other notable streaks that have become a celebrated tradition in both Lakers circles and in the history of the league.  Lakers coach, Phil Jackson, winner of a remarkable 10 Championship Rings (one as a player and nine as a coach), had never lost an opening round playoff series in his NBA career.  It was a streak dating back to his first season as an NBA coach in 1989 with the Chicago Bulls.  After tonight's Laker loss, and early exit from the playoffs, that run is now history.  Also coming to an end was Laker guard, Kobe Bryant's perfect Game 7 record, not to mention the fizzled hopes of an all-L.A. second round matchup at Staples Center.

The most glaring contributing factor that led to these developments in this series was the lack of a champion's heart on the part of Los Angeles.  The Lakers were only seconds away this past Thursday night from becoming just the eighth #7 seeded team in league history to hand a #2 an opening round elimination from the playoffs, that is until a clutch Tim Thomas three point shot would cinder those hopes and force an unwelcomed return to the desert for the Lakers.  Prior to that Game 6 loss in L.A., team leader Kobe Bryant had stated that his greatest fear that could come back to haunt them in regards to the series was, "youth and inexperience." It was an ill-fated omen that would indeed come to fruition, as immaturity, lack of focus, and an inability to effectively exucute on the part of every Laker, save for Kobe, would plague Los Angeles throughout Game 7.  The Thomas three pointer proved to be a fatal dagger from which the Lakers could not recover, as it pierced straight through the team's heart and killed their will to compete.

Heading into Saturday's game there were extremely high expectations o####lorious and dramatic finish to an already gripping series that has hands down been the best of the opening round, with the Washington vs. Cleveland matchup, featuring the LeBron James vs. Gilbert Arenas showdown, as the only other series that even comes close to measuring up.  Yet it seemed as if only Kobe Bryant bothered to show up and participate in the contest, leading to an embarrassing and pathetic last-ditch effort on part of Los Angeles to close out the series on the road, as the Lakers' season would flameout under the heat of the Suns attack.

Unlike in earlier Laker defeats, early foul trouble and costly turnovers would not prove to be L.A.'s undoing however.  In this disappointing loss it would be a lack of execution in the paint that was to blame, and a surprisingly dominating presence countered by Phoenix at the other end of the floor, an aspect of the matchup that had previously favored the Lakers up to this point. Two Laker players whose past effectiveness down in low had been instrumental in L.A.'s success during the series were especially quiet in Game 7, Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown.  Brown would finish an uninspiring 2 of 10 from the field, while Odom would tally his lowest scoring and rebounding totals of the series, finishing with only 5 boards and 12 points.  Unfortunately for Los Angeles, their struggles would not be the only ones the Lakers would have to suffer through.  Laker guard, Smush Parker would extend his slump yet another game, shooting only 4 of 13 from the field, putting his shooting at 7 of 37 over the past three games, two of which ended in Laker losses. 

The Lakers' play tonight has to raise serious doubt with the notion that Kobe's remarkable scoring average this season was rooted only in selfish motives, and not out of team necessity.  Bryant unquestionably proved that he had to carry this team offensively, just as he did in the regular season, over the last two games.  The other Laker players simply were not talented or experienced enough to exhibit strong play consistently for the duration of a seven game series, providing further validation to those who support Kobe for MVP this year.  Bryant would finish the first half with 23 points on 8 of 13 shooting, compared to 9 of 30 shooting for the rest of the Laker team.  He would finish with only 24 points in the game on 8 of 16 shooting while the Lakers would fail to improve upon their production much, shooting 17 of 50.  The Lakers demonstrated this series that though they have some promising players around Kobe right now, capable of playing key roles in winning games for brief stints, the suporting cast is also lacking in many regards.  It has clearly been demonstrated that the Lakers have a ways to go before they can realistically hope for a return to the NBA finals, let alone another championship, not at least until more talent is placed around Kobe.  It is an undertaking they now have all off-season to think about it. 

Meanwhile Staples Center remains host to another playoff series this postseason, just not one that will feature the Lakers.  A job very well done by Phoenix, whose reward is getting to face that other team from Los Angeles.  A team who have finally been given the opportunity to emerge out from behind the Lakers shadow, even if its not the way everyone in Southern California would have hoped to see it happen.

There was an unusual vibe in the desert night air, one that just seemed to suggest the winds of change were stirring somewhere in the distance as the Los Angeles Lakers, high off their stunning last second victory on Sunday night at The Staples Center, stood poised to take to the hardwood in hopes of securing their advancement into the next round of the NBA Playoffs to face that other team that hails from the City of Angels, the Los Angeles Clippers. 

Despite losing game one, this series had been owned by the Lakers up to this point, and for whom everything seemed to be on their side.  The team's captain and brightest shining star, Laker guard Kobe Bryant, who had rescued them from the clutches of defeat and delivered them straight into victory's warm embrace in dramatic fashion in the final seconds of Game 4 just two days ago, has been playing selfless ball and generating numerous opportunities for his teammates to capitalize on, which they have been.  The usually high scoring and fast paced Phoenix Suns offensive attack that averaged 108.4 points a game during the regular season, best in the league, had been contained to a sulky 94.3 points per game average during the post season by the Lakers. 

Yes, the Laker's recipe for success, which had been wisely orchestrated by coach Phil Jackson, and brilliantly executed thus far by Kobe and company was doing the trick.  What's on the menu you say?  Out rebound the Suns on both ends of the court, dictate a slower tempo and utilize the advantage inside the post with Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown, play strong and disciplined defense, and take care of the ball while emphasizing movement to generate uncontested looks for teammates.  It was an entree that had been prepared and cooked to perfection on multiple occassions during this series heading into Tuesday night's showdown at the U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix , but this time something went horribly wrong in the Laker's kitchen as they failed to brew up another delightful treat for their fans, falling to the Suns 114-97. 

Now the Lakers must return to the Staples Center to face the rejuvinated Suns attack this Thursday night.  The Lakers return home still in control of the series, and need only utilize their homecourt advantage where they have emerged victorious in twelve out of the team's last thirteen played there, but the Lakers will arrived shaken by defeat and frustrated for the team's lack of execution.  It is far from time to panic, but now past time to be concerned.

It may have seemed as if nothing could go wrong for Kobe and the Lakers following Sunday's emotional victory, capped off by the birth of Bryant's new baby girl and second child during the wee hours of Monday morning at an Orange County hospital.  On Tuesday the Lakers were dealt a harsh new reality, and it seemed this evening that nothing could go right. 

The evening would begin with troubling news regarding Laker center Kwame Brown, who has been an intregal part in the Lakers' post season success, but who now is being investigated by the Los Angeles police department in regards to sexual assault allegations, stemming from an alleged incident that occured early Saturday morning after the Lakers Game 3 victory.  Charges are yet to be filed and Kwame maintains his innocence, but this is not a positive development to say the least for the young center with a checkered past NBA career that has been littered with lapses in judgment and suffered from fits of immaturity and inconsistentcy, to be in.  Nor is it beneficial for his team for that matter given the critical point of the season. Unfortunately things would only get progressively worse for Brown and the Lakers on Tuesday night.

The Suns' situation in the series, win or stay home for the remainder of the playoffs, dictated desperation.  Nevertheless, the Suns shown through with remarkable resolve and appeared in control of the game throughout the majority of the contest.  The Phoenix Suns indeed came to play their style of game in front of the home crowd tonight, and the team's intensity and drive were easy to notice right from the get go.  Within the bat of an eye the Lakers found quickly found themselves down 7-0 in the opening minutes of the game, and had contributed three costly turnovers to Phoenix's cause. 

However, just about the time that the Suns' faithful began thinking of a thousand different ways to scream, "I told you so! We are going to embarrass you tonight!", the Lakers began to turn things around.  Phoenix may have started hot, but allowed many of the Laker's early errors to go unpunished.  Los Angeles began to follow its proven recipe for success, and before you knew it the score was 18-14, and Kobe, who received a plethora of boos throughout the contest, had yet to even score.  The Lakers would go on to hit 8 out of their next 9 shots after starting a hidious 2 for 9, and had pulled within a single basket of Phoenix by the end of the first quarter. 

The Lakers however did suffer one major causality during that first quarter.  Brown would register is third foul with just under two minutes left to play and have to sit out the remainder of the first half.  At first it appeared that the Lakers would emerge unphased by the absence of Kwame.  Kobe suddenly came alive and put the Lakers ahead with an eye-popping tomahawk jam in the early moments of the second quarter, a quarter in which Phoenix has greatly struggled during this series.  Then, just as Phoenix fans were thinking to themselves, "Great, here we go again.  I can't stand this guy!" the Lakers other key contributer in the post, forward Lamar Odom, found himself with 3 fouls and had to sit alongside Kwame.  With both Odom and Brown on the bench and in foul trouble, It was sure not going to be long before Phoenix would go on run, as the team's deadly chosen style of offense would be able to function with far less impedement.  It was an assumption that would prove correct as the Suns would close out the half up by 9.

The second half would turn out to be an absolute nightmare for Los Angeles.  Continued foul trouble, an inability to contain Phoenix's attack as a result, and to make matters even worse, the Suns perimeter game had suddenly taken off, and the Lakers were in big time trouble.  Having to play more gingerly  while in the game to avoid fouling out, Kwame and Odom did not seem to be in their element as in previous games and the Suns would capitalize on that weakness.  Phoenix center, Boris Diaw, named today as the NBA's Most Improved Player, had another phenominal game as he nearly registered a triple double with 25 pts, 10 reb. and 9 assts.  Meanwhile Shawn Marion who started as bad as the Lakers did, going 2-9 to open the game while having to deal with heavy defensive pressure from Odom and even Laker rookie Ronny Turiaf at one point, who combined to block the All-Star forward twice on one possession, was able to break out of his funk and finish with 21.

Things quickly tumbled out of control for Los Angeles, and found themselves down during the third quarter by an astounding 22 points before long.  It was a deficit from which they would never recover.  The Suns flat out had their way with the Lakers in the second half, momentarily validating what many who had doubted the Lakers' playoff chances from the onset believed heading into the series, "Phoenix has itself an apparently unstoppable transitional offense featuring deadly shooters and the league's reigning MVP, Steve Nash, to head the attack.  The Lakers can't begin to hope to match up to it. "

Before these Laker critics pat themselves on the back too much however, and then declare the Suns are coming back to win this series, they should consider two things:

1.  Fortunately for Los Angeles, we all know those assumptions to be untrue.  This game has been the exception and not the norm during this series.  It was not entirely the Suns attack, but careless turnovers and early foul problems to Odom and Brown that largely aided the Suns success in Game 5.

2.  Meanwhile, and unfortunately for Phoenix, one Sun would create a grave mistake during the game's final minutes as guard Raja Bell would blatantly and maliciously clothesline tackle Bryant as he drove to the basket, drawing an immediate flagrent foul from the referees, as well as an early trip to the locker room as he was instantly ejected.  The move nearly cost the Suns the game, as the newly motivated Lakers rallied to come within 10 before things would once again prove too overburdening for L.A. to overcome and Kobe drew a weak technical foul call from the ref to be set down the tunnel early as well.  Bell's reckless and classless decision however will linger much longer than Kobe's. 

There is a very good chance that Bell also earned himself a suspension for the next game in the series, and as the venues switch once more on Thursday, he only provided extra ammunition for the Lakers and their fans to stir over before coming in full force at Staples on Thursday.  If you thought Staples was loud and rowdy on Sunday, or U.S. Airways Center was this evening, you ain't heard nothing yet!  The Suns will be walking into an extremely hostile environment come Thursday, you better believe it.

In quick conclusion, beware giving extra motivation to a team who already has the advantage over you, they just might exploit it.  The Suns may have survived from seeing their season set in the desert, but when they suit up to take to the hardwood on Thursday, they will still be playing for their playoff lives once again, and in a far less favorable environment this time.  Do not be surprised to see Bell's poor judgment and lack of sportsmanship become one of the things that come back to haunt Phoenix in Game 6, along with that Phil Jackson recipe for success.