NBA Playoffs: Kobe Needin’ To Do Work

The Spike Lee doc Kobe Doin’ Work covering a single Kobe performance against the San Antonio Spurs last year debuts on Saturday, but all eyes will be on him again come Sunday night (May 17).

The Lakers didn’t expect to reach a Game 7 against the Rockets—not with Yao and T-Mac dressed in suits. But Houston, led by Ron Artest and the unheralded Luis Scola have pushed L.A. to the brink of elimination through hard work, simple enough.

It’s the perfect opportunity for Kobe to cement his legend— or fall considerably. Last year’s loss to the Celtics in the Finals made visible the chinks in his armor, but more importantly, substantiated the school of thought—a philosophy founded by Shaq himself—that Kobe simply can’t win a championship on his own. And a loss to the Rockets in only the Conference Semifinals will provide further evidence.

Kobe’s fully aware of the criticisms, but does he realize that a loss here could very well mark the end of his run at the top? LeBron already took home the MVP. Dwight Howard could have the Magic at the Cavs’ heels soon enough. And ‘Melo has the Nuggets looking like the real “best in the West.”

At 30, Kobe may have peaked. Then again, MJ came back at 32 to win three championships. If Kobe is to fill those Air Jordans, now’s the time.

-Devin Chanda