| 10 March 2011
The Lakers' foray into the American Airlines Arena to face the Miami Heat is one of the most interesting story-lines we've seen for a while in the NBA's regular season.
Two very good teams...
A team with an 8 game winning streak vs one with a 5 game losing streak.
The reigning champions vs the self-proclaimed champions.
The champion team vs the team reliant on three.
Kobe vs LeBron.
Phil vs Riley Spoelstra...
The Heat are desperate to win a game, to put the bogeyman down. It's a feeling that LA know only too well, with the string of losses they had going into the All Star break.
Now, fortunes have reversed, and the Lakers are playing the kind of basketball that championship contenders do, and the Heat throwing up mischance after mischance.
There was a huge difference in the way each team handled the inevitable lows tho'. When LA were losing, mostly we saw calm resolve and belief in themselves. Sure, there was anger... but it served to fortify rather than dissemble.
Miami? It's definitely no stretch to say that they look frayed... uncertain.
Miami will look to end this with a win against LA. And what better way could the doubts be quelled? Beat the in-form team, the reigning champions.
From LA's perspective, Phil/Kobe will have the purple 'n' gold prepared - there'll be no forgetting the Christmas Day Massacre. The Lakers will feel like they owe Miami for that.
Kobe's time to shine. Do you really think #24 is ready to pass the torch to any uncrowned king?
Gasol/Odom - Bosh's said he wants the ball down low, time to ready the welcome wagon.
Bynum: continue to display the growth and power of a true force at the anchor.
Ron-ron: no bigger challenge for any defensive guy.
Lakers: give the Heat an example of why depth's important, over having a few stars and bits 'n' pieces.
It's time to show what champions are made of. Add to the misery. Pile it on.
Step on some throats, go for the jugular.
Crush. Maim. Destroy.
