After last June’s victory over the hated Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers become the two time NBA champions. The summer belonged the Lakers, but not so fast my friend as Lee Corso would say, a decision would be made that would change the scope of basketball for a good while. Lebron James made his hour long “decision” and joined Dwyane Wade & Chris Bosh in Miami to become apart of the Heat. Naturally the Lakers were overshadowed and basically put on the back burner to be almost forgotten. All the talk over the entire off season was how would Wade, Bosh & King James have rhythm, share the ball, wins they would accumulate, and would they have enough to even compete for a title. Who would be the pieces to fit around the Heat, it was a nightly reality show it seemed, and again, Kobe and company were left out of the national sports talk discussion.
Even with their great off season additions of Steve Blake, fiery & defensive muscle Matt Barnes, and veteran center Theo Ratliff, the Lakers seemed to barely make it on the national radar. It was almost as if the national media had crowned the Heat champs already, I mean Las Vegas has the Heat as the favorites to win it all this season, which is a huge slap in the face to the Lakers. Its amazing how the 3 MI-EGOS (Bosh, Wade, & James) combined, have only one championship total. And yes Kobe strengthened his legacy by beating a Celtics team that just two years ago, destroyed & embarrassed them in the 2008 Finals. Kobe, Gasol, and the Lakers redeemed themselves, and the ultimate competitor that Kobe is knew if they had any shot in winning a third straight title, had to retool, and stay sharp.
Of course you know Kobe wasn’t pleased with all the Miami hype when indeed the hype should’ve been placed on the World Champions. Kobe Bryant is a 5 time champion, 2 time Finals MVP, and still no love from national media?
Have we forgotten that one of the greatest players in the NBA is going for his sixth ring (to tie Michael Jordan) and his second three peat. This is the same person, who has 14 time All-Star, Slam Dunk champion, league MVP, 81 points scored in a game. Congratulations national media, you’ve added fuel to the fire, remember Kobe has a long memory and doesn't forget anything. Remind you, this is still Kobe’s league, and he is the front runner, because world wide, people like winners, and that is exactly what Kobe Bryant is. To take it a step further the world loves champions and that is exactly what the Los Angeles Lakers are!
After the great Ring Night Ceremony the Lakers continued to show that championship prestige by defeating the Rockets, Suns & Warriors, proving thus far that they are still the team to recognize & beat with the help of Steve Blake, Matt Barnes & the emergence of Shannon Brown off the bench. The Lakers have the best and the deepest bench in the NBA. Another note, Andrew Bynum hasn't played at all yet, (due to recovering from off-season knee surgery) is scheduled to return around Thanksgiving. When Bynum returns to the lineup, that sends Lamar Odom (who’s had an outstanding off-season playing w/ Team USA), and currently starting so far this season, goes back to that bench with the 2nd unit. Lakers will be almost unstoppable, only one thing they will face bigger than opponents like the Heat, Celtics, Magic, Mavs, or the Thunder,....... and that's health.
If the Lakers are successful and win the championship again in June, the media will have no choice but to give Kobe & the Lakers their deserving respect & attention. As Ice Cube stated in one of his lyrics “number 6 is cool, but 24 is the champ, even D. Wade & Chris Bosh know that”. So that tells me real followers and fans still recognize who the champs are, and not just what the media outlets try to stuff down our throats and force us to believe.
New season, new goals, new destiny, and the Lake Show is tooled, focused, and the Black Mamba is ready to strike and come for what is his.
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