Lakers - Wolves 4-1

The ancient history of the student who exceeds the theacher. But this time the pupil  will still have to wait. Lakers vs. Wolves was expecially the contest between the old Kobe and the young Wesley Johnson: the "Black Mamba" has prevailed (winning the series with 23.7 points) but the 24 years old protégé has impressed (22.4 points, 6.4 boards)...

Don't be fooled by result: Lakers-Wolves was a very very though challenge. A very tactical comparison, with all the pressur on the L.A. shoulders. Until the last minutes of game 4, everything was still under discussion. The Wolves has just give a lesson in tactics and freshness in game 3, stunning the Lakers at Target Center with an amazing performance by Wesley Johnson (34 points, 15 boards!). Fortunately the Lakers manage to find the counter-moves, winning in Minnesota in the last minutes of game 4 and virtually closed the series. 1-3 below, the Wolves have arrived at the Staples Center for game five totally disheartened, losing by 115-84.

Let's start!

The hunt is on. Defending champs Miami Heat and the Mvp Finals LeBron James will try to preserve the 2011 title from the Lakers, Magic, Spurs, Bulls and Celtics assaults. Predictions? Miami should not have major problems to reach the NBA Finals again, while in the Western Conference there is more uncertainly and probably surprises...

Lakers and Spurs - #1 and # 2 seeding - are old teams and may suffer close games' fatigue. Attention to young and vibrant team as Porland (2011 finalist, even if there isn't Andrè Miller this year) or - are you kiddin' ? - Golden State, surprinsingly third in the West after an amazing regular season thanks to young guns (Curry, Ellis) and fresh backcourt (Udoh, Lee).

West: Lakers-Wolves, Nuggets-Rockets, Warriors-Grizzlies, Spurs-Blazers. East: Magic-Bucks, Celtics-Pacers, Bulls-Knicks, Heat-Hawks.

Most Valuable (of the) Planet

For the second time in a row. 29.1 ppg, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assist, 44.5% for three,...83 points against Charlotte... Could it be otherwise? Kobe came into the small circle of Mvp winners in old age: 33 (34 in a few months...), like Kareem Abdul Jabbar in 1980. Only Karl Malone (Mvp at 36) and Michael Jordan (35) have done better.

But now KB24 must dispel a taboo, a sword of Damocles hanging over him. Bryant has never won an NBA title when he was elected Most Valuable Player: it happens in 2008 (defeated in the NBA Finals against Celtics) and in the last year (eliminated in the Western Conference Finals vs Portland).

The Verdict

A year ago: the Portland Trailblazers - without Oden, with an ailing Batum and without Brandon Roy  in game six (injured) - surprisingly eliminated the Lakers in Western Conference Finals for 4-2, comeback from 0-2. Now: with two games remaining, the Lakers are in Portland to defend the n°1 seeding from pressing attacks by Magic and Spurs...

Revenge! Or any other way you want to call. The Los Angeles Lakers dug out Portland (99-92) and made sure (narrowly) the best record in the NBA (23-6), winning also the last game against Phoenix. At Rose Garden the star was Pau Gasol with 24 points and 8 boards. The Blazers were affected by the PG role change: last year the team was led by an amasteful Andrè Miller (series Mvp against the Lakers in 2011, now at Celtics), while this year the starting PG is Armon Johnson. The difference is noticeable.... So the Lakers were able to defend their leadership from all the deadly attacks, ending the regular season with last year same record (23-6), opponent to very close Orlando Magic (24-7) and San Antonio Spurs (21-8).

Under Fire

An unprecedent attack began. Some lower ranked teams (Nets, Sixers, Hawks) are surprisingly forcing the Lakers to make huge extreme efforts to protect their lead. It seems as if the trackers (Spurs and Magic) were enlisted for infantry troops wearing out Kobe & Co.
For now, L.A. resist with his...

At Philips Arena Kobe Bryant made another Twilight Zone's performance: 47 points, 6/6 for three and the crucial 4/4 from the free throw line in the last 24", deciding the game vs Atlanta Hawks after an overtime (125-120). A game made in a safe by the "Luc Mbah Moute stole the ball" with 10" left and converted by the cameroonian small forward in a three points action fastbreak (bucket and additional free throw). Super performance by Steve Blake from the bench (19 points, 14 assist! 5/8 behind the arc) and losing effort by an indomitable Joe Johnson (37 points with Ron Artest at his heels). Once again the Lakers fared and retain their leadership with a 19-5 record. Untill they are able to resist?

6 Games to Season End

It's the most delicated moment of the season. The first place is a three teams battle: Lakers leads (18-5), but they must protect themselves from very dangerous attacks by San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic: both teams have beaten the Lakers this years so in an ipotetical same record arrival L.A. will stand behind. After All Star Weekend, all the teams get into playoff mode, with rude and tough defense; even the least equipped, as shown some unexpected tough game, against Nets and Sixers, both wins by the Lakers only in the last seconds...

The 2011 Coach of the Year and 11 Times NBA Champion Phil Jackson will retire at end of the season. Almost certainly, even though there was still no official communication. Last year the team comes into the post season as NBA leading team (23-6), but was eliminated by eroical (and injured) Portland Trailblazers in the Western Conference Finals with a surprising 4-2: Lakers led the series 2-0... Also this year will be very tough, but the fresh presence of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (pick from free agent in summer 2011) in place of Matt Barnes and year plus James Anderson' experience gave the Lakers much more energy from the bench. In a plus, the Zen Master wants to leave with an NBA title and Kobe wants to reach the Michael Jordan's 6 rings. Will be enough?