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Kobe vs. LeBron. LeBron vs. Kobe. Black Mamba vs. The Chosen One. Lakers fans vs. LeBron's witnesses.

It's painfully obvious based on VitaminWater's marketing that the NBA wants the 2009 Finals to have Kobe Bryant's Los Angles Lakers face off against LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers. And there is nothing wrong with that.

The NBA is not just a sports league: it is a business. Los Angeles is a huge market. LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are not only the most popular players in the league, but the best in the game. Kobe vs. LeBron would be huge for the league. It is a series that could reignite interest the NBA has not seen since the Jordan era.

Let's face it. With more games than ever on cable and less on basic television (unlike the most popular league in the country, the NFL), the NBA is not as visible as it once was.

Sure, it might not be hard to find a basketball game if you love the sport, but a casual fan may not put as much effort into doing so, unless they have a real compelling reason and rooting interest.

Much like casual fans of over a decade ago, those that fall into that category watch when the stars are showcased. In the 1990s, Michael Jordan had such universal appeal and could make the whole world take notice of his uncanny ability and what the league had to offer.

When he left the game, many casual fans did as well. I can't tell you how many times I've had people around my age say they stopped watching basketball when MJ retired because he or she felt the game wasn't as exciting anymore.

Very few players have that effect on viewers. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson did in their heyday, as I'm sure Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain did too.

In today's NBA, there aren't that many that can make the casual fan care. That's no disrespect to the Garnetts, Duncans, and Nowitzkis. Those are great players, yet casual fans tend to latch onto larger-than-life personalities.

LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and even Shaquille O'Neal (although he is towards the end of his career) are the few remaining that can make even a non-basketball fan take notice.

The best thing that could happen to the NBA in terms of marketing, revenue, ratings, and popularity would be LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant in the Finals. Only one, actually, make it two, problems stand in the way of that dream matchup: the Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic.

Just last night, the Cleveland Cavaliers fell down in their series three games to one—favoring Orlando. On the flip side, the Lakers are tied two games a piece with the Denver Nuggets as this column is being published, but that can very well change in the Colorado team's favor, based on the inconsistent play of Kobe and Co. all postseason.

Even Lakers legend Magic Johnson has gone on record stating Phil Jackson's team is “soft.” That says something when it's one of your franchise's greatest players ever.

Perhaps, between all the hype, glitz, glamor, and sexiness that a Kobe vs. LeBron presents, fans, analysts, and maybe even Cavs and Lakers players overlooked one important thing: Denver and Orlando are that damn good.

Based on what this columnist has seen, the Magic and Nuggets might be BETTER teams than the Lakers and Cavs. Key words: might be. The Nuggets seem to be a a tougher and more physical team than the Lakers who have trouble matching their opponents' energy on a consistent basis.

The Magic seem to cause a ridiculous amount of matchup problems for Team LeBron, in addition to the fact that the King hasn't received much help from his teammates throughout the conference finals.

Boy, Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James would be such a great spectacle. Two of the best players in the game, former Team USA teammates, battling for the NBA's ultimate prize. Too bad for the NBA, the Nuggets and Magic could care less.

Sorry David Stern, but the NBA's dream series may, in the end, be just that—a dream.

Fred "The F-Bomb" Richani is a writer for BleacherReport.com and 411Mania.com, and has been featured on ProWrestlingTorch.com, LayUpDrill.com, 1Wrestling.com, GOOGLE News, and CBSSportsline.com. He is also the host of his own web series FRIDAY NIGHT F-Bomb (Youtube.com/CaddyCads). He currently resides in Freehold, NJ with his family and cat Bella.

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