Kobe Bryant Brings Los Angeles One Step From Greatness: WCF Spurs-Lakers Game 5

One of the thrills of being a basketball fan is watching a new and talented NBA team rise up and compete for their chance to be mentioned among the immortals.

After their hard-earned 100-92 victory to close out the Spurs in five games, this new incarnation of the Lakers—despite enigmatic play from a key player, despite a lack of overwhelming physicality among their front line, and despite many key players being wet behind the ears to the overwhelming pressures playoff basketball can produce—will get its well-deserved chance to be penned into the history books.

And like the last Lakers championship teams, Kobe Bryant was an integral proponent in making it happen.

Once again, all things considered, Bruce Bowen (with timely help defense from Tim Duncan) was extremely effective defending Kobe. Many of Kobe’s (16-30 FG, 2-6 3FG, 3 AST, 2 TO, 39 PTS) jumpers were contested jumpers, some of them moving away from the basket.

Plus Kobe only got to the line five times for the duration, mainly on the chance his elbow was nicked on a handful of jump shots.

But where Kobe absolutely dazzled hoop heads everywhere was in the fourth quarter. To dispose of Bowen’s pesky defense, Kobe would receive the ball while cutting toward a screen/roll on the right side of the court.

From there on, Kobe was at his pinnacle. Step-back jumpers over Bowen, blow-by’s of Duncan, pull-up and hang forever jumpers over anybody, catch-and-shoot threes, all done with the graceful majesty of a timeless work of art rather than a mere athlete.

For the fourth quarter, Kobe was 6-11 shooting, for 17 crippling points that the Spurs couldn’t answer. Anyone and everyone can debate MVP’s, but is there any doubt that Kobe is the best player on the planet?

The fact that Kobe has been able to have such an impact with such a young, and truthfully, soft team is equally impressive. There is no low-post threat. Lamar Odom turns off and on. The most important role players are all wet behind the ears.

Ultimate props to Kobe and Phil Jackson for keeping the confidence soaring and for game planning to the Lakers strengths of passing, cutting, shooting, and outrunning, and outjumping any opponent.

Many other Lakers deserve major props.

While he put Kobe on blast for not coming back to the ball on an outlet and while he was a dud in the post (Maybe Kobe should put you on blast for missing all four of your low post attempts over Tim Duncan?), Pau Gasol was heroic on the offensive glass—nine offensive rebounds, 19 overall.

Gasol’s quickness to the hoop after San Antonio was compromised in help situations was the prime reason for many of Gasol’s offensive boards and stick backs around the hoop.

Also, Gasol’s wingspan put serious defensive pressure on Tim Duncan (4 BLK) and allowed him to tap out numerous loose balls, the majority of which came with Duncan in perfect rebounding position.

He wasn’t Shaq, but he was everything the Lakers needed to beat the Spurs in Five.

Lamar Odom’s (4-8 FG, 8 REB, 10 PTS) performance ran hot and cold, but he hit a key putback in the fourth to keep the pressure on the Spurs.

Vladimir Radmanovic, Luke Walton, and Sasha Vujaic kept the pressure on the Spurs with their sniper fire from the outlands (5-10 3FG).

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