Lakers-2008 NBA Finals

Finally after three years of not being able to reach the NBA finals after the Shaq-Kobe championship era, the Los Angeles Lakers are four games away from holding the 2008 Championship trophy.

I'm not a rabid fan. I'm not one of those fans who fight with others in defense of my favorite team. Sure I watch a game now and then, only if I'm not busy and yes, only if the Lakers are playing. Since I live in the Philippines, the object of my basketball interest is relative too. Depending on the featured personality/ties in that given season. There was Larry Bird toward the end of his career. The 1993 Charles Barkley-led Phoenix Suns The Chicago Bulls of Michael Jordan. And the Shaq-Kobe three-peat team early this century. And now the Kobe-led team of post Kwame Brown, post-trade me, trade-me-not.

The story of Kobe Bryant fascinates me. He is generally acknowledged as the best basketball player in NBA today. Yet, as a result of media scrutiny, internet blogs, and to some observers, “his downfall is generally of his own doing”, he is that one sports icon that generates polarizing opinion like no other.

On the other hand,he makes up for it during his fourth quarter heroics. He is beautiful to watch on the basketball court. He seems to be dancing when he makes those traffic-busting moves, those fadeaways, those turn around jumpers, when he make those impossible shots way beyond the three-point line.

But, basketball truly is a team sport. Although it doesn't hurt to have a superstar or two, for this 2008 Lakers team, by resolving their “chemical imbalance” they are able to achieve the impossible, getting to the NBA finals in the toughest conference in NBA history.

There were instances these past playoff games that i want to shout at them through the TV for falling behind 17-20 points, those were frustrating, heart-attack inducing times. But, somehow, at the back of my mind and those of the millions of Lakers fans all over, we believe they can hurdle a 20 point deficit and win a game.

If they lose against Boston, I'm not gonna be sad because I have seen how this Lakers team slowly mature into Championship contenders.

Now, on to the Championships.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for game 5

Okay so, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers lost the last two games in Utah (series tied 2-2). It's not a cause for alarm this stage (i think). But considering the next game will be played still in Utah which has the toughest home crowd in the league as opposed to the "latte-sipping laid back crowd at Staples", they could be in trouble of losing the next game which is scheduled on May 14.

They should just relax and not let the crowd get involved. Plus do the things they have been doing for the first two games (which they won), settle down and move the ball.

C'mon Lakers win this!