Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers are still title contenders – NBA Feature
All those sceptics who thought the Los Angeles Lakers are no longer strong title contenders in the Western Conference need to watch their Sunday night fixture against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After being dominated for three quarters
and trailing by as many as 18 points, the Lakers came alive in the final quarter and forced the game into not one, but two overtimes, to clinch the a clinical win.
The win was important for two reasons. One, the Lakers still have the energy as a team to compete with any of the younger teams in the league. And the second; Kobe had still got his magic touch – the clutch mojo.
The 16 year veteran of the NBA doesn’t seem to get old. He is still playing like he just entered the league although he has the composure of a seasoned and battle-hardened commander. Kobe Bryant single handedly changed the complexion
of the whole game and carried the whole team on his shoulders to lead them to victory.
With the rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers, people have stopped talking about the Los Angeles Lakers. Not many are favouring them to reach the Conference Finals and many have said that their time has
gone. Well it sure didn’t look like that on Sunday night.
The Lakers have been a phenomenal franchise in the past 12 years. They have had their NBA World Championships, then they seemed to be on the downfall but suddenly they would rise back again. It is one of those teams that adjusts
so quickly to changes in the league and in their own roster that it never really becomes insignificant, coming back from a poor season to be a title contender again.
And this season has been the same. We have seen the Lakers become a better team in front of our eyes, as the season has progressed. Andrew Bynum and Ramon Sessions have adjusted well in their roles to make the Lakers a very balanced
basketball team. And of course, Kobe refuses to go away.
In the last 10-15 years of basketball, I have not seen a better finisher than Kobe Bryant. He will very well go down as one of the greatest in history but his ability to close games is phenomenal. And the fact that after having
accomplished so much, he still finds the motivation to pursue an even bigger challenge that brings the best out of him is remarkable.
The Lakers are poised to clinch the # 3 seed in the Western Conference and will face either Dallas Mavericks or Denver Nuggets in the first round. They are still not a favourite and not many people will bet on them, but till the
time Kobe Bryant is there in the team, count on LAL to turn a few heads.
They are now heading into that part of the season which they are most comfortable in, and that is the playoffs. Kobe has made more trips to the playoffs that the combined roster of many of the teams of today. With all that experience,
I would not write them away so easily.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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