NBA Finals: For Kobe Bryant, Everything Is on the Line

As a die-hard Kobe and Laker fan, I am in still in shock and depressed over last night's pathetic meltdown in the second half against the Celtics.

First off, I will like to give the Celtics a lot of credit, as they showed a lot of toughness in coming back.

They played a great second half, with stifling defense and efficient offense. Their stars all played well. Paul Pierce was great offensively and defensively on Kobe, Ray Allen hit several big shots, and KG was his usual self—the anchor of the best defense in the league.

The role players of the Celtics also played tremendously. James Posey was the difference maker in the game. He scored 18 points and hit two pivotal threes in the last six minutes of the game. He was also solid defensively—like he usually is.

In my opinion, the biggest play of the game was when Posey hit the three from the corner when the Lakers had a four-point lead. Ray Allen had stumbled in the course of the play, but the Lakers weren't sharp and allowed him to get up and continue. Eventually, with the shot clock running down, Posey hit a three from the corner to cut the lead to only one—and devastated the Lakers.

Eddie House also was huge. House provided much-needed space for Pierce and Garnett to operate in the middle. He was hit huge outside shots, including the one that finally gave the Celtics their first lead, with a little over four minutes left in the game—a jumper over Jordan Farmar from the wing.

However, despite Boston's great play, the fact is the Lakers choked. They completely dominated the Celtics in the first half. Lamar Odom was huge, scoring 15 points and grabbing eight rebounds. The Lakers were not only great offensively—they were very solid defensively, holding the Celtics to only 40 points in the first half.

Once the second half started, the Laker role players just stood around and expected Kobe to finish the game for them. The Celtics defense is too good for one player to beat them—and Kobe couldn't do anything about it.

Coming into this series, everyone—myself included—expected Kobe to enter the echelon of Jordan, Magic, Bird, and Kareem. He had a legendary season leading a young inexperienced team to the Finals after dominating the greatest conference the league has ever seen. He was supposed to lead the Lakers over the Celtics and finally win his fourth title.

However, the way his Lakers and himself have so far performed, it is going to be difficult for him to get on that legendary pantheon. But if he could somehow lead the Lakers to coming back from an impossible 1-3 deficit and win the championship, he will be right up there with the other legends. He needs to show everyone why several people were comparing him to Jordan before the series and why some people think he is even better.

Even though I am a die-hard Lakers fan, I can't see them coming back and winning the series. I think they will win Game Five as they have too much pride to lose in their home, and I even think they will have a decent chance to win Game Six.

But I don't think they are good enough to beat the Celtics three straight times, and win two straight games in Boston to end their magical season.

I hope I am wrong, but I don't see the supporting cast of the Lakers being mentally tough enough to come back from such a crushing and devastating loss. I think we just have to give the Celtics a lot of credit, and congratulate them on an amazing series.