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.

Continue reading "Kobe or LeBron: Was Jerry West right?"

Yes, yes, Andrew Bynum's defense in these NBA playoffs has been lethargic at best. But will no one else stand in defense of Andrew Bynum?

From the moment the NBA playoffs started, everyone has put the young Laker center under the microscope and proclaimed him mentally and physically unprepared.

He's not playing defense. He's out of sync offensively. He's not focused.

To that, I respond: Why is Bynum being singled out?

At least he has an excuse. He missed three months with the knee injury, for Jiminy Cricket's sake.

After watching the Nuggets outhustle, outsmart and outplay L.A. in their 120-101 win in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Memorial Day (a Memorial Day Massacre mini-me?), what Laker is focused, in sync and playing great defense?

Lamar Odom's play has been non-existent for a 7-foot (or 6-foot-10 or whatever he is on that given night) player on the interior. He's not rebounding or playing much defense, either. He's provided zero inside presence (where at least Bynum has been a threat).

Continue reading "Bynum Is NOT The Problem"