A Royal Re-Emergence: Kobe's Return To The Throne.

With Kobe back all eyes were glued on the Lakers. How will they respond? Will they continue playing at a high level? Will Kobe be rusty? The answers are No, No, and definitely no! With a stat line of 32 points 6 assist 7 rebounds 3 steal and 2 blocks its safe to say he was no where near rusty.

He was a marksman tonight also as far as field goal percentage is concerned shooting 13-19 and 3-4 from the 3 point strike. As far as the rest of the Lakers with Kobe back in the line up they relaxed as usual.

Though Gasol had a solid 22 points 5 assist and 13 rebound in the games waning moments he faded missing 3 clutch free throws and 4 turnovers off of Kobe entry passes  down low in the paint.

Bynum fouled out with 15 points and a low 4 rebounds with 3 turnovers in the games final minutes. Ron Artest played solid defense on Rudy Gay all night but he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn going 1-9 and 0-4 from the 3 point strike, many of those shots he was wide open off of penetration from Kobe.

 I think Odom has the biggest split personality on the history of the NBA, with 5 points only 3 rebounds and 3 turnovers he might as well stayed home with the Kardashian's.

So we are all in agreement when I say the Lakers aren't remotely close to being better without Kobe. What a triumphant way for Kobe to return scoring the teams final 9 points of the quarter with two clutch threes one to tie the other to go up for good.

Though I will never bet against getting it done, I would rather see the rest of the Lakers play with the same  intensity they were playing with when Kobe was injured.

It is disturbing to know what they are capable of and not see them perform, because Kobe can hit these shots on a consistent basis does make it fair to depend on this type of performance  nightly.

I predict the Lakers finally waking up after their first loss in the playoffs, until then I guess becoming a nervous wreck while Kobe bails out the Lakers on a nightly basis will suffice. Shaq, Dwight, stand aside the real Super-Man is back.