Kobe’s Bid to Win Without Shaq Foiled by the Celtics

Critics can now safely say that Kobe Bryant can’t win a championship ring without my man Shaquille O’Neal at his side. I couldn’t agree more; for the meantime, at least. I know Kobe is still young and will get more cracks to prove detractors wrong.

I admit that I am a Kobe hater before because of his selfish me-first, trigger-happy, too cocky and conceited attitude. Shaq is always boastful but he delivers his pronouncements in a witty and amusing way. He is always a crowd and media favorite. The titles he gives himself are also entertaining and comical like “The Big Aristotle”, “The Big Baryshnikov”, “Most Dominant Ever”, “Dr. Shaq” and most recently, “Big Cactus”. On the other hand, Kobe when bragging does it in a serious and grim manner. He is so full of confidence that it sounds like he is telling us that no other can do what he can. So rude and arrogant!

So what made me change heart? It was his attitude during his MVP season that made me take a 180 degrees turn. He learned to trust his teammates and became a team player. But in the end, his bid to win a ring without Shaq was foiled by Finals MVP Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics.

I give credit to the Celtics. They simply would not go away. They have survived two game sevens with the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers and two game sixes with the Detroit Pistons and the LA Lakers. They played 26 games in the postseason which is an NBA record! You might think they are fatigued but they saved their best for last as they butchered the Lakers with a score of 131 – 92 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The 39-point margin is an NBA record for the largest margin of victory in a Finals clinching game.
Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen’s arrival from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Seattle Supersonics respectively immediately gave championship credibility to the Boston Celtics. It has been a long 22 years before their last championship when they have the super-trio of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. The Pierce-Garnett-Allen super-trio of the present staked the 17^th crown of their storied franchise which is an NBA record. The three are future Hall of Fame members and fortunately, they will not qualify to the no-ring club anymore who has members like John Stockton, Karl Malone and Charles Barkley. It’s also good that Paul Pierce, after staying 11 years with the Celtics has been finally rewarded. I read that he is due for a big bonus.

LA Lakers coach Phil Jackson has his own quest also foiled by this Celtics team. That is to break a tie with the legendary Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach for the most career titles with nine. Maybe Red is saying from behind his grave, “Not in my house Phil!”.

 
Well Kobe and Phil, there’s always next season to try again.

 
But I am hoping that Shaq can help Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire of the Phoenix Suns get their first championship rings.

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