Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant figures the 2011 NBA Championship is his to lose -- and he doesn’t intend on losing it.
That’s why he went back on the court in Miami after the Heat beat the Lakers 94-88. While his teammates dispersed for dinner and assorted extracurricular activities in South Florida, Bryant went back to work on his jump shot.
Losing to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and company didn’t sit well with him. So he had ball boys feed him the rock for an hour while he launched shot after shot into the mostly empty American Airlines Arena.
“There were a couple of my shots, my pet shots, that I didn't feel comfortable with, so I had to get back out and work on them,” Bryant told reporters afterward. “It's my job. I got to work at it. This is what you're supposed to do. If you're uncomfortable about something and feel like you can tweak some things, you got to work on them. It doesn't matter when you work on them. You got to get it done. You got to figure it out.”
Later, he sent Yahoo! Sports this text message: “I want what all men want. I just want it more.”
But other NBA players want it, too. Here are the top 10 players aiming for Kobe’s crown.
No.10 Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat
While teammate LeBron James gets more attention in Miami these days, Wade seems more than comfortable taking the last shot. His ability to attack the rim and earn free-throw opportunities makes him one of the league’s most dangerous scorers in playoff scenarios.
Bryant regards him as one of the top “closers” in the game -- one of those select players who thrive on the last-minute pressure of close games.
“I’ve played against him, and I’ve played with him on the Olympic team, and I know this: He’s really good at it,” Bryant told Yahoo! Sports. “He’s not afraid of those moments. I think the world of him. His game, his competitive spirit… He’s great.”
Bryant regards him as one of the top “closers” in the game -- one of those select players who thrive on the last-minute pressure of close games.
“I’ve played against him, and I’ve played with him on the Olympic team, and I know this: He’s really good at it,” Bryant told Yahoo! Sports. “He’s not afraid of those moments. I think the world of him. His game, his competitive spirit… He’s great.”
No.9 Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
How do you defend “Superman” in the paint? You beat him up and take your chances at the free-throw line, where he lacks superhero power.
This tactic tends to frustrate and/or anger Howard. If he can learn to channel his emotions and attack back, he could become an insurmountable match-up for most teams in the league. LeBron saw that first hand when Howard scored 40 to finish off the Cavaliers in their 2009 playoff series.
The challenge for Howard is to lock in every night and fight through the adversity. “The biggest thing for me is that I have to learn how to play hard on a consistent basis,” he once told Sports Illustrated. “I do it for five or six games, and then I might take one game off. Not that I take a game off, but I might take some possessions off, and I'm not as aggressive as I can be.”
No.8 Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder has come of age this season. This team has learned how to finish off victories, making it a dangerous playoff team in the Western Conference bracket. “One thing we’ve gotten better at is closing games out,” Durant told reporters earlier this season.
Key to that is Durant’s rapid development. His ability to take over games has earned him the “Next Kobe” label from a lot of experts.
The Los Angeles Times asked Bryant what he thought of that. “It depends how he develops and if the coaching staff he has around him will tell him what he's doing right and what he's doing wrong,” Bryant said. "A lot of coaches get scared to tell players what they're doing wrong. I didn’t grow up like that.
“I grew up with Tex [Winter], and Tex would tell you that you stink, you know what I mean? If you had to work on something, he would tell you, and I think that helped me.”
Key to that is Durant’s rapid development. His ability to take over games has earned him the “Next Kobe” label from a lot of experts.
The Los Angeles Times asked Bryant what he thought of that. “It depends how he develops and if the coaching staff he has around him will tell him what he's doing right and what he's doing wrong,” Bryant said. "A lot of coaches get scared to tell players what they're doing wrong. I didn’t grow up like that.
“I grew up with Tex [Winter], and Tex would tell you that you stink, you know what I mean? If you had to work on something, he would tell you, and I think that helped me.”
No.7 Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs
This well-seasoned team knows how to win NBA Championships. And the Spurs have operated at peak efficiency this season with Ginobili, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan still playing at a high level.
“They're tough,” Lakers forward Lamar Odom told the Los Angeles Times. “They know what to expect out of each other. They know how to play with each other. They play well off each other. They're disciplined offensively and defensively. They stick to their guns. They do the same thing over and over again. They make it work.”
Ginobili hits clutch shots, helps on the boards at critical game moments and makes timely steals. Best of all for San Antonio’s playoff hopes, he can aggravate Bryant to no end. The annoying Ginobili has prodded Kobe into committing flagrant and technical fouls. That could become a major X-factor should these teams meet in the playoffs.
“They're tough,” Lakers forward Lamar Odom told the Los Angeles Times. “They know what to expect out of each other. They know how to play with each other. They play well off each other. They're disciplined offensively and defensively. They stick to their guns. They do the same thing over and over again. They make it work.”
Ginobili hits clutch shots, helps on the boards at critical game moments and makes timely steals. Best of all for San Antonio’s playoff hopes, he can aggravate Bryant to no end. The annoying Ginobili has prodded Kobe into committing flagrant and technical fouls. That could become a major X-factor should these teams meet in the playoffs.
No.6 Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
Once again, Mark Cuban’s team is headed toward postseason play. But will the Mavericks ever have a group tough enough to finish off playoff victories?
Will their star, the multi-talented Nowitzki, ever learn to be a Kobe-caliber closer? “Dirk wants to and he should be,” Cuban told The Dallas Morning News. "It's more a question of 'Could he?' 'Could we allow him to?' The second unit has to not lose leads. They [the backups] have to increase leads, have to get stops. And we didn't do that last year. You've got to be able to hold onto a lead. You can't be giving up leads.”
Jason Kidd believes Nowitzki could be a clutch player at the end of games if his supporting cast gives him that opportunity. “He's always had the ability to be a closer,” Kidd said. “But it's up to the rest of us to help him out.”
Will their star, the multi-talented Nowitzki, ever learn to be a Kobe-caliber closer? “Dirk wants to and he should be,” Cuban told The Dallas Morning News. "It's more a question of 'Could he?' 'Could we allow him to?' The second unit has to not lose leads. They [the backups] have to increase leads, have to get stops. And we didn't do that last year. You've got to be able to hold onto a lead. You can't be giving up leads.”
Jason Kidd believes Nowitzki could be a clutch player at the end of games if his supporting cast gives him that opportunity. “He's always had the ability to be a closer,” Kidd said. “But it's up to the rest of us to help him out.”
No.5 Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
While James, Wade and the rest of the “Heatles” grabbed most of the headlines in the Eastern Conference, Rose moved the Bulls into contending position. Experts believe he is emerging as a Bryant-like force -- and Kobe agreed.
“I can tell when a player truly wants to be better and does what it takes to improve,” Bryant told ESPN. “It was a quality I had when I was growing up… I admire that about him. I could really see it from last year to this year.”
By improving his shooting range (as Kobe did), Rose gained the ability to take over games. He can score every which way, which is why he may be the league’s MVP this season.
“He's got a long-range ball now,” Bryant said. “He can pop behind the pick and shoot the jumper. He can pull up off the dribble and shoot it, and him getting to the rim goes unquestioned. He's putting the time in the gym, and I certainly respect that.”
“I can tell when a player truly wants to be better and does what it takes to improve,” Bryant told ESPN. “It was a quality I had when I was growing up… I admire that about him. I could really see it from last year to this year.”
By improving his shooting range (as Kobe did), Rose gained the ability to take over games. He can score every which way, which is why he may be the league’s MVP this season.
“He's got a long-range ball now,” Bryant said. “He can pop behind the pick and shoot the jumper. He can pull up off the dribble and shoot it, and him getting to the rim goes unquestioned. He's putting the time in the gym, and I certainly respect that.”
No.4 Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers
He is getting his wheels back. After undergoing arthroscopic surgery on both knees, Roy is working back into top shape. His ability to play full-tilt again could make Portland a dangerous playoff team.
“That team played as well against us as any team has played in a long time,” 76ers coach Doug Collins said after a late-season loss to the Blazers.
How good is a healthy Roy? Bryant went on The John Thompson Show and told the radio audience that Roy is the hardest player to guard in the NBA -- tougher than Durant. “Roy, 365 days, seven days a week,” Bryant said. “Roy has no weaknesses in his game.”
“That team played as well against us as any team has played in a long time,” 76ers coach Doug Collins said after a late-season loss to the Blazers.
How good is a healthy Roy? Bryant went on The John Thompson Show and told the radio audience that Roy is the hardest player to guard in the NBA -- tougher than Durant. “Roy, 365 days, seven days a week,” Bryant said. “Roy has no weaknesses in his game.”
No.3 Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
For much of the season, Paul looked weary from carrying this so-so team. “I put too much pressure on him to carry us every night,” Hornets coach Monty Williams told The New Orleans Times-Picayune. “The bottom line is, to play at this level for 82 games is impossible. He’s one of the great ones. I feel like I put too much pressure on him at times.”
Paul pulled out of a scoring funk in time to boost his team’s playoff profile. “It’s winning time,” he told The Times-Picayune. “You can’t wait and hope other teams lose to get in position.”
A string of mesmerizing performances reminded NBA fans that he could make the Hornets dangerous in a playoff series. And research by NBA.com shows how Paul has transformed a .500-caliber team into a squad that is difficult to beat in close games.
“In general, the Hornets have been about average offensively and a little better than average defensively over the last five and a half seasons,” NBA.com observed. “But late in one-possession games, they've been exceptional on both ends of the floor.”
Paul pulled out of a scoring funk in time to boost his team’s playoff profile. “It’s winning time,” he told The Times-Picayune. “You can’t wait and hope other teams lose to get in position.”
A string of mesmerizing performances reminded NBA fans that he could make the Hornets dangerous in a playoff series. And research by NBA.com shows how Paul has transformed a .500-caliber team into a squad that is difficult to beat in close games.
“In general, the Hornets have been about average offensively and a little better than average defensively over the last five and a half seasons,” NBA.com observed. “But late in one-possession games, they've been exceptional on both ends of the floor.”
No.2 Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
If these old warriors have one title run left, Pierce figures to lead the charge. The MVP of the 2008 NBA Finals loves to compete, particularly against Bryant. Remember when he declared that Bryant wasn’t the best player in the world?
Remember when he guaranteed the 2010 Finals wouldn’t return to LA? Pierce isn’t always right with his proclamations, but his swagger is contagious in Boston.
He re-signed with the Celtics after Boston lost to LA in seven games last summer.
“It’s been driving me crazy just knowing we could have had a second title in the last three years,” he told reporters during a conference call. “I’m using it as motivational for the next four years, next year for extra motivation knowing how close we were to winning another title. It’s difficult to go through that. I haven’t thought about one game for so long, and I know it’s not going to erase any time soon.”
Remember when he guaranteed the 2010 Finals wouldn’t return to LA? Pierce isn’t always right with his proclamations, but his swagger is contagious in Boston.
He re-signed with the Celtics after Boston lost to LA in seven games last summer.
“It’s been driving me crazy just knowing we could have had a second title in the last three years,” he told reporters during a conference call. “I’m using it as motivational for the next four years, next year for extra motivation knowing how close we were to winning another title. It’s difficult to go through that. I haven’t thought about one game for so long, and I know it’s not going to erase any time soon.”
No.1 LeBron James, Miami Heat
The "decision" really wasn’t all that difficult. James joined the Miami Heat to improve his chances of finally winning an NBA title. He wants to take a run at Kobe -- with the help of his new friends Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Kobe would love to see LeBron in the finals. “There's a deep competitive fervor going on between them, and that's natural,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said earlier this season. “That's just the way it's going to be.”
That fervor reared its head when the Heat drubbed the Lakers on Christmas. During the end-of-the-game trash talking, Bryant had a reminder for James.
“I`m a champ,” Kobe said. And LeBron, to this point, is not. That will make the 2011 NBA Playoffs so much fun to watch.
Kobe would love to see LeBron in the finals. “There's a deep competitive fervor going on between them, and that's natural,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said earlier this season. “That's just the way it's going to be.”
That fervor reared its head when the Heat drubbed the Lakers on Christmas. During the end-of-the-game trash talking, Bryant had a reminder for James.
“I`m a champ,” Kobe said. And LeBron, to this point, is not. That will make the 2011 NBA Playoffs so much fun to watch.
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