Sports

Kobe Bryant stands at 6 feet 7 inches and has been called by many the best and most talented basketball player in the entire world. NBA has even dubbed him as their MVP. Throughout this year he has averaged 6.1 rebounds, 31.9 points, and 5.8 assists and has played in 15 NBA playoff games. Many believe that he is nearly unstoppable - but others are still not quite convinced.

There are those that do not believe that he has the same talent that he had when he was playing side by side with Shaquille O’Neal. Now more than ever he is feeling the pressure and the expectation to win the championship for the whole team and he has to do it as the pilot instead of the co-pilot.

Kobe feels that he has something to prove to the nation after Shaquille split in the summer of 2005. Fans doubted that he would be able to play as hard without the 7 foot 1 inch player by his side clearing the path for him.

Starting this Thursday night Kobe will be leading the LA Lakers for their chance to win the ultimate prize in basketball. He will be calling all the shots and we will be watching the whole time in anticipation to see exactly what will happen in this year’s 2008 NBA Finals.

Head Coach Phil Jackson has somehow managed to pull win after win for the Lakers this year making them look unbeatable. While heading to the finals they have managed to score 100 points per game and they make it look easy. But what will happen when two of the biggest rivals go head to head for the NBA title?

The LA Lakers and Boston Celtics are mortal enemies and have been for over 22 years. Boston has won the title 16 times while the Lakers have only won it 14 and while they have gone head to head 11 times over the years they still manage to hate each other with a passion that not many people can speak of.

The Boston Celtics have lost some of the great legends that helped to make them a winning team back in the 1980’s - which included Kevin McHale, Larry Bird, and Robert Parish. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t new legends to look for. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen are the best 3 players that the Celtics have and they are not ones to be underestimated.

At 7 feet tall Garnett himself is a former MVP and is helping to lead his team with 21.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He is a powerful player that runs fast and seems to glide seamlessly all over the court in the blink of an eye. He is the glue that holds the Celtic’s defense with 1.15 shotblocks and 1.25 steals a contest. It is no wonder that he has earned the nickname The Big Ticket.

Pierce is known for taking advantage of the jump shots and making close to 44% of them. They are his specialty and at 6 feet 7 inches he has been able to score 19 points a game. Many believed that Allen had lost his fire and was losing touch with the game. It wasn’t until the Celtics were facing off at the East Finals that he was able to get himself back on track and managed to help win Game 5 by scoring 19 points.

Yet, even with all of this talent and experience from the Celtics will it be enough to stop the determination and fire that the LA Lakers have when it comes to winning it all. Kobe is certainly a formidable player and when you team him up with Lamar Odom, and Pau Gasol there is no knowing what will happen.

Odom stands 6 feet 11 inches who has managed to score an average 10.3 rebounds, 14.7 points, and 2.9 assists. Gasol himself has averaged 8.9 rebounds, 17.7 points, and 4.2 assists.

Head Coach Phil Jackson has won 9 championship rings and now what is need to make a great team - Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Sasha Vujacic, Derek Fisher, Vladimir Radmonovic, Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, etc. He has put the fire into his team and is confident that he will be able to add a 10th championship ring to his collection.