Kobe conjures up Magic

If you are in Los Angeles and you are put up in Hollywood, you think it can’t get better than this. Step out of the hotel, and you are in Hollywood Boulevard, gazing at the Walk of Fame stars on the sidewalk. Turn left, and there’s the Kodak Theatre, home of the Oscars. Everyone’s a movie star here, even the chauffeur who drives you to the hotel.

In between all the ‘wide-eyed star gazing’, there’s the trip to the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers to cover NBA finals (between LA Lakers and Orlando Magic).

You feel almost Gulliver-like, for in a short trip of 20 you are transported from the world of beautiful faces to the world of giants. Enter the arena and there’s Dwight Howard, 6’ 11”, Orlando Magic’s main man. You almost sprain the neck trying to look at Lakers’ star Pau Gasol, who stands an impressive 7 feet tall.

Then there’s Kobe. At 6’ 6”, Bryant isn’t one of the tallest, but he sure is the giant of the giants. Mobbed and adored by fans, chased by photographers and reporters, they love Kobe here. He showed why on Thursday. In the first of the seven finals against the Magics, Kobe was unstoppable as he led the Lakers to a 100-75 win, to lead the series 1-0. He scored an NBA Finals career-high 40 points — with eight rebounds and eight assists to leave the sold-out crowd at the Staples ecstatic.

Kobe has been intent on making these finals his own. Local media reports say that in the week leading up to the first game, Kobe had been detached, rude in his interactions, had forgotten to smile and worn frown as his makeup. Kobe says he was just focused, and there was absolutely nothing else on his mind.

“My kids call me Grumpy from the Seven Dwarfs. That’s how I’ve been at home, just a grouch,” Kobe said after the game. “I just want it so bad, that’s all. I just want it really bad.”

This motivation to lead the Lakers to their 15th Championships also comes from the fact that in Lakers’ last three title wins (2000, 2001, 2002), Kobe was overshadowed by Shaquille O’Neal. Could Kobe do it without the big Shaq around, was the big question.
Plus, there was the hurt of last year to deal with. Lakers lost to Boston Celtics 4-2 in the finals.

Kobe came into his own only in the second quarter and was almost nondescript for the first 18 minutes of the game. But in the following 16, he scored 30 points, as Staples Center roared with screams of ‘MVP’.

The NBA final has been built as the clash between Kobe and Magic’s center Dwight Howard. On Thursday though the match-up looked unjust. Howard scored only 12 points, and didn’t look like the ‘Superman’ who got the Magics this far.

Kobe, on the other hand, was not only gathering points for himself but setting up teammates Gasol (16 points, eight rebounds) and Lamar Odom (11 points, 14 rebounds) for shots. He was almost possessed. “He had the smell,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
US president Barrack Obama predicted a Lakers win in six games. But if Kobe is in the mood, a win in four is possible too.

Magics, however, are hoping to make a comeback in the second game on Sunday. ‘Dream on’, you say. But hey, this is LA, city of Hollywood, city of dreams.