In The Refrigerator

How it should have ended

Staples Center.  Game 7.  Western Conference Finals.  Shaquille O’Neal, super-sized in every way, lumbers to center court to jump center against Pau Gasol.  He and Kobe fist bump.  It’s the beginning of the end of the Shaq / Kobe rivalry – the story line of the decade here in Los Angeles. 

Fast forward to the end of the first overtime period.  The Suns are up by 2 points and Shaq is at the free throw line.  If he makes both free throws, the Suns are Western Conference champions.  More importantly, he’ll have the last laugh on Kobe.  If he makes at least one, the Lakers will have to hit a 3 point shot to force a second overtime.  The first shot goes through - nothing but net.  The entire arena is shocked, no one more than Shaq himself.  The second shot goes up.  It hits the back of the rim.  The crowd is so silent, you can hear a pin drop. The ball bounces off the front of the rim high in the air.  It looks like it might go in, but glances off the side of the rim and into Lamar Odom’s waiting grasp.  The Lakers call timeout. 

Everyone in the arena, actually everyone in the solar system, knows that Kobe Bryant is going to take the last shot.  They need a 3 pointer to force a second overtime.  It’s desperation time for the Lakers.  Luke Walton throws the in-bound pass unexpectedly to Pau Gasol. He fakes a shot and then manages to kick it out to Kobe behind the 3 point line.  Since this is my fantasy, Shaq runs out and fouls Kobe as he shoots.  The shot goes in (of course) and Kobe makes the free throw to win – game, set, match. 

Now that would have been a bang.  Instead, we get the whimper. 

The Suns go down in the first series to the Spurs 3 to 1.  The rumor is that Mike D’Antoni will lose his job.  Shaq has two years left on his deal, but will miss more games than he’ll play as he winds down his career in Phoenix.  The run and gun Suns will spend the next several years searching for a new identity, all in the quiet shadow of the ascendant Lakers dynasty. 

But wait.  This is the type of story that never dies.  Fast forward 20 years.  Kobe Bryant is driving a little too fast up the 405 in his drop top Impala.  He pulls over when he hears the siren.  The policeman who saunters up to his car is 7’ 1” and grinning ear to ear…

Redemption

Flash back to July 18, 2003.  Kobe Bryant, at the nadir of a controversial public life, sits at a press conference at Staples Center, with his wife Vanessa at his side, and admits that he committed adultery while she was at home taking care of their baby daughter.  He denies the sexual assault charges, but the damage is done.  The public confession of adultery is bad enough.  Bryant, who has always been poised, articulate and hyper-confident, stammers through the press conference, appearing confused, uncertain and afraid.  Certainly not the Kobe we have all come to know. 

During this unbelievably difficult era in Bryant’s public life, he endured constant ridicule at the hands of Denver Nugget fans each time he came to the Pepsi Center (the alleged sexual assault occurred in Eagle, Colorado about 120 miles from Denver).   

Last night, that all changed.  When Bryant left the floor in the final two minutes of the Lakers’ convincing victory over the hapless Nuggets, the Denver fans gave him a shockingly loud ovation. He’s been hearing “M-V-P” chants all across the country this year, but this was special.  This was Denver, Colorado. 

Kobe Bryant is back, rebuilt, better than before.  This new Kobe is more mature, more real, more human, and more appealing than ever before.  Eagle, Colorado is now just a footnote in the long saga of an American hero. 

Dynasty in the Making

All Grown Up

Lamar Odom - since Pau arrived, Lamar looks like a man who's comfortable in his own skin. Stand on the earth and proclaim who you are, Lamar - the best damn third option in the world!

Worth His Weight In Gold

Derek Fisher - When his playing days are done, keep him on as an assistant coach. Kobe becomes the One True Kobe in his presence.

EuroStar

Pau. Wow! Gasol. I'm not shaving or cutting my hair anymore. It's the closest I'll ever be to looking like a Laker!

The Kids Are Alright

Jordan, Sasha, Rony, Trevor, Luke. I woke up one morning this season and all of a sudden, the Lakers were the deepest team in the NBA. How'd that happen?

The Mike Penberthy Feel Good Story of the Year Award

Cobey Karl survives cancer, becomes an NBA player, and faces his Dad in the playoffs. Made for TV movie anyone?

The Space Cadet Comes Back to Earth

When I see Vlade Radmanovic rain down those long, long 3's, I'm glad Laker management didn't void his contract.

The Sky's The Limit

For 14 beautiful games this season, we saw the future and it was AWESOME - tall, strong, athletic, dominant. How good is Drew Bynum going to be when he's 25?

The Brain Trust

Dr. Buss. Mitch Kupchack. Phil Jackson. Jim Buss. Ronnie Lester. The Laker brain trust showed why this is an extraordinarily effective franchise. Kobe Bryant better not play strip poker with Dr. Buss. He'll end up strolling naked down Chick Hearn Walk.

Better Than Jordan

That's right. Kobe has a realistic chance of going down in NBA history as the best player of all time - better than Michael Jordan. He's only 3 championships behind and he's playing on a team with the potential to win 5 or 6 more before his career is over. He has (amazingly, shockingly, wonderfully) become a leader, a team player, a joy to watch and (apparently) to play with. He is the One True Kobe and we are all blessed to watch him.

The Most Valuable ex-Laker

There has been so much attention focused on the MVP battle between Kobe and Chris Paul that one of the truly amazing stories of the year is being lost in the chatter.  Ex-Showtime Laker Byron Scott should be the coach of the year for leading the stunning turnaround of the Hornets from last year – with basically the same team!  They will finish at least 16 games better than last year and probably as many as 18 games.  They will be one of the top 3 seeds in the Western conference.  I doubt anyone wants to play them in the playoffs.  Look at their frightening comeback from 30 behind the Lakers the other night.  No, they didn’t win.  But I’m sure glad the Lakers don’t have to face them in the first round!

Chris Paul deserves a tremendous amount of credit for New Orleans’ success.  No one knew he would be this good this soon.  David West and Tyson Chandler are nice complementary pieces.  Stojakovic can still fill it up from distance.  But overall, a team with Jannero Pargo as your sixth best player is not among the most deep or talented teams in the league. 

Scott’s coaching is the difference maker.  He’s got the Hornets playing as hard and together as a team can play.  He deserves to be recognized for his success.  In his previous stint with New Jersey, despite leading the team to two straight NBA Finals’ appearances, he was much maligned.  His assistant Eddie Jordan (now the Wizards’ coach) was given the credit, as was Jason Kidd.  Well, look how things turned out in New Jersey for Kidd without Byron Scott…

No matter what happens in the playoffs, former Laker star Byron Scott is my vote for most valuable ex-Laker and NBA coach of the year!