Kobe: The Lone Sea Monster of the Lakers

Kobe Bryant screamed and cursed after that frustrating Game 5 loss. Inside, he continues to do that, and will continue for the rest of his life if his teammates don't pick up the slack. Inside, it's more than frustration. It's the result of his obsessive desire to be the best player in history, to rival MJ, with not only hard work, but greatness. Greatness is defined not only by your play, but what any basketball player desires the most: to hold up the Larry O'Brien trophy, to be remembered for something great, to have something great to remember. Greatness. MJ had it. Russell had it. Chamberlain had it. Bird had it. Magic had it. Kareem had it. Kobe has it. But Kobe doesn't just want to be one of the greats. He wants to be better than MJ: "Who is the best player in basketball history?" "MJ". "MJ". "MJ". "MJ": The two syllables that define his obsession. Kobe desires so greatly for his name to be those syllables. Problem: Kobe's greatness itself -- I mean Kobe's teammates wait for him to be Jordanesque all the time. They struggle, they pout, they try to act tough as a cohesive single unit--a wall of victory. But Kobe is the only one who pays-- for his teammates and to put all his determination to reach his obsession. The others ask for refunds.

Fisher--too old and slow
Artest--dominated by Pierce
Gasol--dominated by Garnett
Bynum--injured

Kobe needs his support from the sea, not these no-show lakes. One great player changes a team, a team changes a series. A series makes greatness.

And this what Kobe desires, yearns for. For two syllables to be responded when kids around America ask each other who the greatest of all-time. Not "MJ". Not "Russell", not "The Stilt", not "Bird", not "Magic", not "Kareem", but "Kobe".

But he needs a team to change this series, and create his legacy.