M5: Kobe cannot win without Shaq....and, I think it works the other way round too...Shaq has not won anything without Kobe either.....And, this year does not look any better either....I think Nets has a legitimate chance to beat Miami in 6......Kristic will create a havoc for Shaq...since he is a better perimeter shooter, and still can work inside....Defensively, Nets have 12-18 fould ready to spare on Shaq..... Now, back to Kobe, point well taken regarding Lakers had chance to do some damage in the OT in game 6, but they kinda unravelled.....since they are such a young team, they could not keep pace with the Suns, and Suns found a new life in OT..and carried over to Game 6. << Kobe is one pompus, selfish player >> Like Aakash said, you complain when he takes 30+ shots, and people are complaining that he didn't take enough shots in the 2nd half of Game 7....If you look at his average this season, 35 points, 5+ rebounds, and 4.7 assists....I don't see anything selfish about that.....You are entitled to your opinion, but noone has to agree to it...Kobe had most assists to Shaq than anyone else..I don't see anything selfish about that...He is better than the rest, and you guys can't live with it...Sorry, too bad....keep praying for others to step up....Ask Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen...Jordan was Selfish too.....great players know when to be selfish and when not to....Scottie was suspended once with the Bulls for feuding with Phil about Jordan...you don't hear that coz' its done with.....I like what Mark Jackson of ESPN/ABC said.......After 15-20 years...we will remember Kobe as a better than Jordan in comparison (I am not including Magic, or Larry Bird in this discussion) Bottom line, all you Kobe Haters....you hate him Coz' just you want to......granted you have a reason or not....Raja Bell needed a 2 minutes fame on media, and he got it....Ruben Patterson used to known as Kobe stopper...and he vanished....Bruce Bowen...you name it....Truth is, he is unguardable....like M5 said, he made all the tough shots yesterday....that's what great players do....make tough shots look easy....If Kobe wanted to, he could have easily dropped 50 yesterday.....he did drop 42+ in regular season...and I think Raja Bell was guarding him there too right??? So, there is nothing special about Raja Bell's defense....As Kobe said yesterday in the post game interview...he doesnot consider Raja Bell as a premiere defender as Bruce Bowen or Ron Artest...and I agree with him 100%..... Next season....Lakers will kick some @ss in the Western Conference....They need to bring in Kevin garnett....kick out Lamar Odom, and get a better point gruad...Smush Parker needs to go back to NBDL.....Vuacic will improve...and Oh, Chris Mihm....had he been there, this series would have been a whole lot easier on Lakers....