I grew up as a Sixers fan witnessing the unbelievable talents of Dr. J.

He was my 'first' favorite player in the NBA.  During my childhood years I became to hate the Celtics and Lakers as they were the dominant teams while my hero could only go on to claim 1 title in his illustrious NBA career. 

Logically one would think that I would become a Jordan fan then, right?  Nothing further from the truth.  With all the Jordan hype and mayhem that ensued in his emergence, I was simply turned off.  I found myself searching for players/teams that would simply stand up to Jordan and his mighty Bulls.  Unfortunately, it was hard to find a player/team that I could truly endear myself to.  I hated Georgetown and Patrick Ewing, thus I could not like the Knicks and their brash team.  I disliked the Pistons, because...... well, they were the Pistons.  Unfortunately for the East, the days of the Pistons and Knicks of old, have brought about an 'ugly' brand of basketball that is not very fan friendly. 

That is when the league truly divided into the 'high-flying' West and the 'rough and tumble' East.  Since the early 90's the West has seen Run DMC in Golden State, Clyde Drexler and the potent Blazers, Karl Malone and John Stockton with the Jazz, Chris Webber (in his prime) and the Kings, Hakeem and the Rockets.  But in the East, there have been very few 'superstars'.  Guys who held the tag as 'the franchise'.  Sure we had Shaq in Orlando, but that was short-lived before his trade to LA, and the eventual crumble of the Magic after his departure.  Other than that, the East has had.............the Pistons?  Again? 

The very framework of the league is partial to the West right now.  It is fan appealing, and has the vast majority of elite-end superstars.  The East has the 'dreaded' Pistons and their multi-talented star-less crew, LeBron and the Cavs, and NOW the Celtics..........finally.......... again.  (I never thought I would ever type, much less say those words.)  I have always liked Ray Allen since his days at Connecticut.  I have always liked Paul Pierce since his days at Kansas.  And KG?  What is there not to like about the guy?  All three have usually been 'team' players and all about team basketball.  All-business, honest, and people that you would claim as trustworthy. 

I have openly pined for a Lakers/Celtics final this year.  I got my wish.  Unfortunately for us all, we are witnessing some of the worst basketball ever played in an NBA Finals series.  Is it the referees?  Doubtful, but many have proclaimed this Finals to be fixed by the Donaghy crapshoot and the 'horrific' referees in game 2.  Is it a dried out league due to overpaid and overhyped superstars?  Are players softer nowadays?  Can we all watch a game without a player vehemently complaining to a referee?  Is it the allowance of 'zone' defense?  

I don't know. 

But what I do know is the brand of basketball played by the Celtics and Lakers in the 80's was much more appetizing to watch.  And isn't that what the NBA is truly after? 

Now onto the Finals at hand.  I can't diss a Laker fan who felt the referees in game 2 were a bit 'easy' on the Celtics and 'hard' on the Lakers.  The 38-10 free throw discrepency is a bit alraming.  But it isn't like it hasn't happened before in the NBA playoffs this year.  In my eyes, I felt that the Lakers became relunctant throughout that game to blame the refs instead of hitching up their shorts and playing hard-nosed tough basketball.  Kobe in all his greateness nearly pulled off the 21 point deficit to claim victory in game 2.  WIthout any doubt, Kobe is one of the best 3 or 4 players in the league right now. 

The funniest thing to me is the switch and sway of fans, experts, and the like who proclaim each game as 'do or die'.  Every game in a 7 game series is crucial.  One does not trump the other.  And as it stands right now the Celtics enjoy a 3 - 1 advantage.

Will this series see a 7th and penultimate game?  Let me just say, I wouldn't bet against it.  Kobe is, and will be, a special palyer.  Just like LeBron is, and will be a special player.  Certain players have a 'knack' for the moment.  Kobe nearly brought the Lakers back from a 21 point 4th quarter deficit in game 2 against the Celtics in Boston.  Sure he needed help, but in the history of the NBA, who hasn't?

To call this series as being officially over is a bit misleading.  The Lakers were very competitive in Boston in both games.  As were the Celtics in the 1st two games in LA.  I called the series as a toss up from the start, and I fully expect it to get to a 6th game.......at the least. 

Are the Lakers done?  No. 

Are they close.  Sure. 

Will they roll over and die like many are predicting?  I very much doubt it.  They may lose game 5 in LA, but it won't be without a fight.  They may lose any of the remaining 3 potential games to Boston, but I fully expect a solid effort from Kobe and crew throughout. 

Question is:  Will they whine if the calls don't go their way, or will they hitch up their shorts and defend their Western Confernce Championship like many of us expected them to?  They have been hit in the mouth at home.  Giving up an NBA Finals record lead of 24 points should fuel anybody's fire.  

Step up, or chump out and whine.  It is time to see what Kobe, Phil and the Lakers really have.  And if I'm right, I think they have a lot of fight left in them. 

Like they say, it isn't over 'til its over.  

Celtics in 7.

1 - 2 -3 CHAMPIONSHIP!

That has been the huddle talk all year for LeBron and company in Cleveland.  LeBron has raised the spirits of his team to believe.  Not in him.  But in themselves.

Kobe, on the other hand is in another off-season crying for better players and crying to be traded........not traded........... I love this team..........I need to go.  I don't know, I'm 5 years old mentally.   What do you expect of me?

The difference between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James is more than you can see in their individual play.  It is more about the love of the game, and most importantly the love for their teeammates. 

LeBron LOVES his teammates, regardless of their plusses or minuses.  He LOVES playing basketball at its highest level with 11 other players.  He has made it his passion to take Daniel Gibson under his wing and make him believe.  Make him believe that he is better than DANIEL thinks he is.  THAT is why Mr. Gibson scored 31 points in the decisive victory over Detroit.

Would a teammate of Kobe's ever step up in a game that mattered?  DOUBTFUL.  Kobe does not stand behind his teammates.  He doesn't go to war for them, he doesn't back them up.  Most likely they are scared of him and the repercussions of when they do something wrong.  They are simply on board to do whatever Kobe does.  Win or Lose.

And in those situations, it usually means lose unless 'Joe Superstar' can perform unbelievable unhuman events.  Kobe didn't do that this year.  Probably never will again.  The 81 points was nice.  During a regular season game against nobody that mattered.  Gee Kobe, that was great.

After Game 2 of the Detroit series, LeBron said, "No Excuses".  He made a statement to his team that they don't have excuses for losing, regardless of what hand they have been delivered.

LeBron made a statement that whoever makes the mistake, it is a TEAM effort that lost the game.  He made "No Excuses". 

What happened next?  Four straight, and a decisive game 6 victory in Cleveland before all the Witnesses.

So if you really want to know the difference between Kobe and LeBron.  Well, it is pretty simple.  One guy has a TRUE desire to win.  A TRUE love to win, regardless of who gets the hype.  The other guy just wants the headlines.  One guy loves his teammates with a true passion, the other guy still just wants headlines. 

One guy wants to win, period.  The other guy just wants to be better than Jordan. 

I've played a lot of sports in my lifetime.  Jr. High, High School, and College.  The guys, the leaders that made me play the hardest were the ones that believed in me.  When I became a senior I instilled that belief in my fellow players.  We were a unit.  We would play our guts out for each other regardless of who was the star that night.  It was about winning.  It was about the TEAM. 

LeBron is that guy.  He is about the TEAM.  Kobe.  He is about Kobe.  I've seen a lot of those guys in my lifetime as well.  All they do is complain.  All they do is lose to better TEAMS with better leaders.

LeBron is a leader.  Teams follow a TRUE leader.  Kobe and Wilt?  They just fade away.

Hmmmmm..... Kind of sounds like Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, doesn't it?

Sorry I cut this one short all.  I could go on and on.  But there is a reason why people IDOLIZE Kobe, and there is a reason why people LOVE LeBron.  To me, it is that plain and simple.