Sorry Laker Fans...although I am a NY Knicks fan and haven't sniffed the playoffs in the last decade, I don't think its in the cards for the Lakers this year. The irony is that Kobe finally has won the Most Valuable Player this year, after being largely seen as a selfish player-he's finally rallied his teammates around him. Who could see this coming, after Kobe demanded that the Lakers trade him to a contender. Although he is as physically gifted a player as there has ever been, he will never be Michael Jordan. I'm not sure if it is Kobe himself that chases those shadows, or the NBA brass who needed to play torch bearer s few years ago(Lebron is now that marketing vehicle). No one can claim Michael's crown-its is truly unfair to ask any of our current players to assume the role of 'the greatest player ever'. There are many talented players, and Kobe is certainly recognized is the best player in the league, but the missing attribute for many great players lies between the ears. Michael had a mental edge that few possess in sports...the only equivalent current sports figure with that same killer acumen is Tiger Woods. Kobe isn't mentally strong enough to bear the weight of what it truly means to be great...its an intangible that separates the great ones from the legends. Am I a Laker hater...no? I actually hate the Boston Celtics, the Patriots, well, any sports team in the Boston vicinity. But I do genuinely like Kevin Garnett as an althlete who seems to get it...works hard, leads by example, and is truly passionate and loyal to the institution. If one looks at Kobe's life the last 5 years, its been mired in controversy with rape charges, lack of team/player loyalty...just seems like he is not a very likable guy. Doesn't mean that Jordan was either-Michael has a lot of skeletons that have been made public over the last 5 years. But karma has a way of leveling those occurences that comprise our living. Kobe...great player, but the Lakers will not win, because he seeks to win another ring on his own(without Shaq, ala Michael). Kobe, in those dark corners of his mind, probably would like to be Jordan, but bad karma won't allow this to occur...that would mess up the earth's equilibrium. Celtics in 6 games.