NBA Fans May Never See the Kobe-LeBron Finals the League So Desperately Wants

In each of the last two seasons, fans and analysts alike have placed LeBron James in the NBA Finals long before the playoffs even started.  Nike even released an ad campaign featuring puppets of LeBron and Kobe talking trash back and forth in anticipation of the showdown in 2009.

Then came the shocking (for some) fall of LeBron and his Cavalier crew to the Orlando Magic in the Easter Conference Finals.  James infamously stormed off the floor after the game six loss, and the world let go of the Kobe/LeBron debate for a few weeks.

In 2010, after winning his second MVP award, James was once again crowned in the court of public opinion as the leader of the Eastern Conference Champions before the playoffs began.  During those playoffs, the Cavs were eliminated even earlier than they were the year before.

After the Boston Celtics ousted Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, LeBron once again stormed off the floor (he did learn his lesson and shake a few hands this time). He took off his jersey halfway down the tunnel, and many wondered if he'd ever don those colors again.

Obviously, we now know that LeBron's career in Cleveland is indeed over.  He is now a member of the Miami Heat, and with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on either side, he'll likely dominate the regular season once again.

The Heat will likely win upward of 60, maybe 65 games.  LeBron will be on the top-seeded team in the East for the third year in a row.  People will pencil them into the championship round before the playoffs begin.  In fact, this year that started prior to the opening of training camps. 

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers were also prematurely inserted into the finals in each of the last few years.  The difference though, is that the Lakers fulfilled those expectations.

Kobe has lived up to his billing, LeBron has not.

This season represents the best, and possibly last great hope for a LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant NBA Finals.

But even this season isn't a given.

I expect the Lakers to do their part once again.  No team in the west looks to have what it takes to beat LA in four out of seven games.

The east will not be so easy.  Miami's conference is significantly better at the top than the Lakers'.  There are two teams that have a legitimate shot at once again denying Lebron a trip to the finals.  People that are already discounting Orlando and Boston clearly have short memories.

If either of those teams knocks off Miami, or if the big Los Angeles-Miami showdown doesn't happen for whatever reason, it may never go down.

Kobe's body is breaking down, and the heir to Western Conference dominance, Kevin Durant, may succeed Bryant very soon.

Don't be surprised if the dream matchup in a couple years is Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James.

Obviously, we put too much stock into individuals in a team game like basketball, but superstars like these drive the story lines every year.

Will we finally get to see Lebron vs. Kobe this year?  Is it even Lebron vs. Kobe, or is it Kobe vs. Dwyane Wade now?