The pressure on Kobe Bryant now is being exerted in two cities: Denver and Cleveland.
LeBron James added to the enormous weight already on the sturdy shoulders of the Black Mamba on Friday night with his oh-no-he-didn't 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat the Orlando Magic 96-95 to even their Eastern Conference Finals series at one game apiece.
Not only did LeBron save his team's season with his heroics, he also took a huge step in confirming what the NBA decided -- at least for the 2008-09 season -- and what Jerry West reiterated last week.
James is the best player in the NBA.
Jerry West said it! The Logo! Laker royalty! The man who brought Kobe to Los Angeles!
Now, we await Kobe's response.
Kobe takes a jittery Laker team into Denver tonight for Game 3 of their Western Conference Finals series with the Nuggets.
Derek Fisher's airball on a 3-point attempt in the waning seconds Thursday night preserved Denver's 106-103 victory at Staples Center and evened the series at 1-1.
Don't misconstrue my sentiment. Kobe has been the most consistent Laker in the playoffs. His teammates' unwillingness so far to join Bryant in the fight for a championship on a nightly basis has underscored a postseason journey far tougher than anyone imagined. Bryant willed L.A. to the 105-103 win in Game 1 over Denver with his 40 points and all-around play.
Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Sasha Vujacic, Derek Fisher. Anytime you want to show your championship mettle, Laker fans would appreciate it. The sooner, the better, por favor.
And coach Phil Jackson's loyalty to Fisher is admirable ... and completely insane.
To be fair, Fish did hit a key 3-pointer late in the Lakers' Game 1 win. But who's to say that Jordan Farmar or Shannon Brown wouldn't have made the same shot? Both have been far more consistent shooters in the playoffs and aren't afraid of the moment.
Fisher's defense was porous against Houston's Aaron Brooks in the Western Conference semis, and he's made some critical turnovers against the Nuggets -- turnovers that helped change the momentum in Game 2 against Denver. Yet, there he was, taking the final shot with the Lakers down 3 in the closing seconds Thursday night.
And shooting an airball.
I would've given my full support to the 2004 version of Fisher taking that last shot.
The 2009 Fisher, not so much.
Which brings me back to Kobe. He should've let everyone know that the ball had to be in his hands during that final possession. It only makes sense that Bryant, whom West did concede that he'd want No. 24 (not No. 23) to take the last shot of a game, get the ball. Especially with Fisher struggling.
The Cavs found a way to get the ball to their best player with the game in the balance and one second left Friday. Why couldn't the Lakers do that one night earlier?
I know, I know. Kobe has been criticized forever for not trusting his teammates. But this was not a Michael Jordan-to-John Paxson playoff moment. Kobe had no time to be a playmaker and find an open teammate. He should've demanded the ball Thursday and taken the shot.
It's time for Kobe to get out from under the shadows -- of Jordan, of Shaq, and now of King James.
It's time for him to instill confidence in his teammates -- by getting them easy baskets as a playmaker, or by carrying the team with his scoring. Whatever will result in seven more Laker wins.
Kobe, it's time to show everyone else what Laker fans already believe: You are the best player in the NBA.
I never wavered in that belief -- until Friday night. Then, LeBron went and hit the biggest shot of the playoffs. Now, doubt has crept in my mind.
Erase it, Kobe. No pressure.
Keywords: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
