The Los Angeles Lakers are out for revenge, regardless of what they say. After being picked to win the 2008 Finals, the Lakers were shocked in a 7 game series that showcased the Celtics ability to dominate the floor. Now that the teams will be meeting again in the 2010 Finals, the Lakers will look to shut down the Big 3 while playing their style of basketball. I would be surprised if the Lakers did not win the NBA Finals this year and I expect Kobe Bryant to be named the Finals MVP. Both teams are what I would call "championship teams" but one thing sets the apart. Kobe Bryant. Bryant's desire to win is the greatest thing the sports world has seen since a man by the name of Michael Jordan played. The thing that sets Kobe and Jordan apart is failure. Jordan is still known as the best basketball player to ever play the game but the reason people love him is because of failure (along with CLUTCH shots). Jordan had a remarkable ability to fail and then overcome the failure and succeed. One of the main things he is known for is being cut from his high school basketball team. He has a commercial out about all of the shots he has missed and all the games he has lost. Humans love to be entertained. There is nothing more entertaining than watching a man fail numerous times, only to see him overcome his failures to succeed. That IS Michael Jordan's legacy (along with his 6 championships, of course). Kobe is different. Kobe isn't known for his failures. They are not the reason he is a basketball icon. Kobe is known for being many things (some of them are not good). He is known as the best closer in the game. He is known for his desire to win. He is known for winning championships with Shaq and without Shaq. He will be known for winning when he retires, which is something that Jordan and Bryant will share. Kobe has had an incredible playoff run this year, averaging nearly 30 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds per game. Those are some of the best playoff stats of his career. History has shown that as basketball stars get older, they begin to lose that winning desire that has driven them for years. Kobe's seems to grow each year as he gets older. The Lakers WILL win the 2010 NBA Finals and Bryant's legacy will grow.
