Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky – LA Times

After Sunday’s win against the Heat, Isreal Gutierrez of the Miami Herald put together a column centered on where D-Wade needs to go in a post-Shaq world, using Kobe as the measuring stick. There were a few parts I think Fans o’ the Mamba will enjoy:

“Wade faced the player who has elevated himself and his teammates to the point where O’Neal is merely a pleasant Laker memory instead of a haunting reminder of a ghastly trade.

In 42 minutes of the Lakers’ 104-94 defeat of the Heat on Sunday, Kobe Bryant guided in a handful of those demoralizing fade-away jumpers that reminded you of Michael Jordan. He played relentless, suffocating defense reminiscent of Scottie Pippen, practically handcuffing Wade at times. He even threw in a graceful running hook shot from 15 feet that made you swear that was Magic Johnson in a Lakers uniform again (Magic was actually in the stands watching the display for himself.)”

Later in the column, Gutierrez hits on a theme that, at least as far as Kobe’s chase for his first MVP goes, could be more important:

“For as much as people mock Bryant for being so obsessive about the game, and how he so obviously attempts to mimic Jordan, he has come the closest to perfecting the game.

Since O’Neal left his painted area, Bryant has not only sharpened his offensive game but finally acquired the team mentality that was missing while he was so desperately trying to prove himself as the league’s best talent.”

Complete story