Therapist

"How do you think he does it? I don't know!
What makes him so good?"
--Pinball Wizard, The Who

I really had no doubt coming out of the time out that Kobe was going to hit a three-pointer. He's done it too many times in his career to date for me to really worry much about it anymore. Though I should have been shaking with nervousness, I sat calmly and watched the clock tick down, Kobe trying to shake Rip Hamilton. Of course, as soon as the shot went in, I jumped up and down and screamed my approval, essentially re-creating the D-Fish scene from a couple weeks ago. Wow.
I really don't think he's Michael Jordan, but my goodness, he keeps coming up with shots and moves and clutch plays to make a very strong case. He'll never score 35 a game like Mike, but he's obviously capable (see last year's run of 40-plus games) and is even a better outside shooter. If the Lakers do end up winning this title (seemed a foregone conclusion a week ago, but is slightly less certain at the moment), he'll have four rings before the age of 26--MJ had none at that point. He'd only have two left to catch Mike, and probably 10+ years to do so. So if winning is the ultimate measurement (and those who tout Bill Russell as the game's greatest surely think so), he's got to be right up there. It's an unwinnable argument, but a fun one nonetheless (my vote still goes with Michael, until Kobe wins one without Shaq).
A little side note on the Lakers' final possession of regulation: Shaq definitely had the ball at the top of the key with under 10 seconds to play. How they didn't foul him there is beyond me. If they foul, three wonderful things happen for Detroit: 1) Kobe never touches the ball. 2) Shaq shoots a free throw. 3) Shaq shoots another free throw. Granted, he had made his last one to complete a crucial three-point play that put the Lakers in a position to tie at the end. But putting him on the line would most likely have meant one point at the most. Even if he hit both, the Lakers would have to foul (Hamilton 87%, Billups 88%) and would have no time outs left to advance the ball and get a possible tying basket. Poorly played, Larry Brown.
Oh yeah, and they did have to play overtime, which was a Shaq showcase. It's amazing how much his game is stepped up in the Finals--I mean, never under 25 points in a Finals game? Awesome.
Can't go on without mentioning our South Bay boy, LUUUUUUUUUUKE. How sad is it that GP has six assists in 59 minutes in this series, but our curly-haired rookie comes in and drops eight DIMES in his 27 minutes tonight? Most of them were of the spectacular variety too, and the finish on Tayshaun in transition (were you taking notes, Reggie Miller?), the high-arcing trey, wow. I didn't necessarily agree with Brian Cook being on the floor at any point (though when Karl's hurt and Slava's being Slava, there aren't many options), but Phil's had a knack of getting one of these role players to step up at opportune times.
This can't be all Lakers, all the time, so I'm going to end with...nothing. I literally sat here for ten minutes trying to think about something other than the Lakers and I failed miserably. That's so sad. Oh well. Bedtime.