Kobe v. Superman

Kobe Bryant is a MAN.  Even with that torn ligament in his shooting pinky he showed he is still the best player in the National Basketball Association.  Still more important for Kobe, he it did on the night that his former teammate the self proclaimed Superman, Shaquille O’Neal who made his debut for the Phoenix Suns.  Kobe scored 41 points and he got some help from some of his friends in the newly acquired Pau Gasol with 29 and the unpredictable Lamar Odom with 22.

Kobe and the Lakers spoiled the Suns’ first game with Shaq by beating the Suns 130-124.  Shaq did look as if he was getting his old form back with 15 points and 9 rebounds but nowhere was Shaq like his old self as he was on the free throw line.  I know Shaq has never been Reggie Miller on the line but watching Shaq on the stripe is more pathetic than his acting career.  Also, Shaq looked winded trying to play in the Suns’ up-tempo offense and trying to get back on defense.      

However well Shaq did look for Phoenix, the bottom line is the Suns will be fading in the horizon of the Western Conference.  Last night the Lakers beat the Suns at their own game.  The Lakers had multiple fast breaks, including one from Pau Gasol who had a three point play from a long cross court pass from Kobe Bryant mid-way in the 4^th quarter after the Suns took the lead for the first time since the 1^st quarter. The Lakers were consistent from the field with a team .565 field goal percentage.  Kobe hit a deep 3- point shot late in the fourth quarter with a hand in his face to end any kind of comeback from the Suns.  And that was all she wrote for Wednesday night.

With Andrew Bynum and UCLA’s own Trevor Ariza both due back in the line-up within a month the Lakers are young and winning.  On the other hand, Phoenix who got older and slower with Shaq will still make the playoffs but I just don’t see a championship run after what as shown on Wednesday night.  Even if the Suns have a superhero.