What??
Lakers is back to The Finals. YEAH BABY!
The key advantage for the Nuggets coming into the Western Conference finals, at least in theory, never seem to played out. The combo of Melo and Chauncey didn't trump Kobe. There isn't much that does. No one out there sincerely doubts what No. 24 can do, but it's always nice to get a refresher course on the league's best player wearing an even number. Kobe has been doing it the entire series, so his performance in the sixth and final game comes as no shock. He scored 35 points and dished out 10 assists to close out Denver 119-92 at The Can, watch the Game 6 replay. REMEMBER, IS A MUST!
Well, Kobe proved that one is greater than two, especially when that one can do the job of those two. Bryant is Carmelo Anthony when the Lakers need him to be and can become Chauncey Billups when it's time to make the switch. Depending on what the Lakers need, Kobe finds a way to deliver.
Kobe called the Lakers 'bipolar' after the uneven seven-game Houston series. Schizo may be more like it. But the Black Mamba beat the Nuggets with dual personalities. With a spot back in The Finals there for the Lakers to take, Kobe scored more than Melo and assisted more than Chauncey. Kobe simply led more than each. He had that killer look in him.
Besides that, Kobe's experience is these situations can't be discounted. Kobe has been here before. A LOT. This is his sixth trip to the championship round, it's the Lakers' 30th and he's after ring No. 4.
The journey back wasn't ideal. The tougher than expected clash with the Rockets opened the Lakers up to doubts and dismissal in some circles. Kobe felt his share of frustrations along the way. Five technicals only tell part of the struggles to once again reign supreme out West. Much more physical, mentally challenging for them, but they gained valuable experience and went through the roller coaster of emotions.
This was the first rodeo for Melo and Chauncey together. They took the Nuggets as deep into the Playoffs as any team in franchise history, joining the 1985 squad as the only other to reach the West finals. The Nuggets grew and learned plenty during a season of resurrection. Going back to Denver, Kobe would take over when the moment called for it. As much as he trusts his teammates, is there anyone better equipped to take over in enemy postseason gyms? Kobe took turns directing traffic and running reds. His surge at the end of the first half turned a five-point lead into 13.Kobe did a great job a great job using his teammates and they knocked shots down and put the defense into position where could play 1-on-1 a little bit. Need examples? Standing at the top of the 3-point arc in the third, Kobe held the ball calmly and motioned with the tilt of the head for Luke Walton to pop out to the wing. Luke Walton complied and responded by drilling with an open jumper. He looked over and gave Walton a reassuring fist pump.
In the same spot two possessions later, Kobe went LeBron. He took Billups off the dribble and, with Nene coming over to help, twisted to bank it in. Foul. Sixteen-point Lakers' lead. Kobe kept his team focused in every way imaginable. When Pau Gasol was knocked to the court in the fourth, a victim of a flagrant foul, Kobe went forehead to forehead with the Spaniard. Pau was pretty upset but Kobe reminded him of what they were here for.
After another 3-point dagger in the fourth forced another Denver timeout, Kobe was met with congratulations on his way back to the bench. The kind of congratulations usually seen at the end of the game. Six minutes and 15 seconds were left. The win had long since been salted away.
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12-of-20 from the floor, 9-of-9 at the line.
One man proved just too much.
Beat Orlando Magic, will you? Go Lakers!
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