More Questions Than Answers Left Behind After the Finals

Photoshop by Payton Wales

This NBA season was brilliant, seriously, just brilliant. It couldn't have played out better, and not because the Whore of Akron lost in the Finals. Honestly, I would have preferred he lose to the Sixers but that's just me.

This season was about more than LeBron James and the disgusting amount of media coverage that followed him. It was a great coming-of-age story for players such as Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

For others, the year was a taste of bitter sweet reality. Tracy McGrady, Richard Hamilton, Derek Fisher, Yao Ming and Vince Carter are drawing near the end of their careers, seemingly making way for a new generation of talent to take their rightful place.

But that didn't happen. See I, like most of the world, thought three things were going to happen.

1. The Lakers or the Celtics, the old guard for discussion sake, would win the title and maintain their hold on the league for another year.
2. If not the old guard, then definitely someone from the new. (I'm referring to Miami, Oklahoma City, Chicago or Portland. All very capable of winning it and ushering in a new era.)
3. Ke$ha would, hopefully, fade into oblivion.

I, like the rest of the word, obviously struck out on those assumptions.

None of that happened. Instead, a new champion from the old guard was crowned. And that champion left with more questions than answers when it comes to the future of the NBA.

It was thought this would be the year James solidified his position as the best player in the NBA. Instead, he shied away from the title, disappearing in the Finals. Maybe he cracked under the pressure, maybe he isn't the player everyone thought he could be, maybe this just wasn't his year, maybe, to hear LeBron tell it, God just didn't want him to win this year.

Without James, Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose managing to place an imprint on the league during the Finals, fans are left wondering who will be the dominant team and players of the future. It's not that the Mavericks can't repeat as champions, but somehow I don't see a dynasty coming out of a team who's two or three years away from pudding time, at least by NBA standards.

Compile that with the looming lockout, and the wonder begins on where the league is headed in the near future.

It's obvious the generation of James, Durant and Rose will be the future. But when will they pry it from the dying grip of Kobe Bryant (Lakers), Kevin Garnett (Celtics), Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas) and Tim Duncan's (Spurs) dying hands.

Or maybe the better question is who will pry it from their hands?

The Miami Heat would seem most likely to become the team of the future, even with this year's failure. Although it could be said this year wasn't a failure at all. Many pundits did not pick them to reach the Finals, let alone get past the Celtics. But the Heat overcame lofty expectations, overcame the large amount of scrutiny and pulled it together by the end of the season to make a rather superb run to the Finals.

Doing it again is a whole separate affair. Teams in the East have gotten a taste of what the Heat are serving and they now have some idea of what it will take to stop them. That's not to say Miami can't get better as well, but their cap space is minimal and they still have a few holes to plug.

Miami will have to make sure they stay ahead of the pack. The Bulls, Knicks and even the aging Celtics are only one player or two away from giving the Heat massive problems next year. Top that off with the upcoming CBA and what limitations it may put on maxed-out teams like the Heat, and you will be sure to find some financially smart teams keeping pace with Miami's super team.

While on the subject of the Heat, Lebron James' name is inevitable to come up. The subject may be worn out, but the questions are still there. Who will James become?  He hasn't shown to be the player everyone labeled him: the next MJ, the next Big O, half Magic-half Michael. Maybe everyone had it wrong. Maybe he is more like Dominique Wilkins. Maybe we shouldn't label him at all until he establishes himself in some way.

The Heat will not win a title. At least not in the next two years, if at all. It's going to take a lot of work and there is just too much that can happen while they are trying to put it together. Dwyane Wade has a lot of miles on his body, the team has limited cap space and Chris Bosh seems lost, even when he is putting in work. The league and its players are just as pissed about the super union as the rest of America. If the Heat can embrace that bad guy role and Riley makes some magic happen with their salary cap, they may have a chance.

With all that said, who is next to step up to the proverbial challenge?

As much as I want to say the Lakers will regain their dominance, I really think it's Oklahoma City. They have the nucleus in place and are a bench player or two away from cementing their place in history. The Thunder have the cap space and and trade pieces to make some moves, and on top of that, they are versatile. They are getting stronger year by year and noticeably learning on the fly.

What could knock them out of contention? Injuries would be a major cause and the possible bad apple in the famously family-oriented locker room. There are already rumors Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have some co-existence issues. But, on a team like this, that can be easily fixed.

If the Thunder have a good draft/offseason, a championship could be on the horizon for the Oklahoma Skyline in the near future.

The Lakers will have something to say about this though. LA is not young, but they are not old, despite the stories. Derek Fisher may look old, but that's because he is a bench player in a starting role. It has been time for him to take a backseat for awhile and this upcoming year may be that time.

This middle-aged -- at least by NBA standards -- group of misfits will need to get younger at the point guard position rather quickly. They have done a good job of drafting some size at the power forward and small forward positions for the future and, baring injury, Andrew Bynum should be a dominate center for the next decade.

Drafting a point guard with athleticism and good defensive ability will be important. (This actually happened as this column was being written.) The second part of returning to form will either be getting Shannon Brown to become a consistent producer or trading him for someone who will produce.

The third factor that could help the Lakers is a lockout. A lockout will help the Lakers as well as the Spurs and Celtics. An extra month or two to rest, get treatment on ailing injuries and rehab will help the aging and injured stars on these teams. The Lakers, who are younger than the Celtics and Spurs, would stand to reap the most benifit from this time off.

But why will the lockout serve the older teams more than younger teams. Young teams need offseason mini camps, instruction and guidance. Whether it's learning new plays, a new defense or just adding more weapons to the team's general arsenal, a young team needs extra time to implement this things. Older teams with veteran players find it easier to implement these changes, if they need any changes at all.

The Lakers don't have many holes, and they are very capable of returning to the throne. The question is will they make the right moves to do so? With a new coach in tow and more rest this summer than any of these players has seen in the last two years combined, the Lakers should make a solid run at it. Add in a small lockout and that road will become a little bit easier.

The questions for the Celtics this offseason are many. They are obviously old. KG and Paul Pierce seemingly ran out of steam in the playoffs, and whether Celtics fans want to admit it or not, something happened to the team's chemistry when they traded Kendrick Perkins. Can they get it back? Sure. It's a new season on the horizon, but they will have plenty of holes to fill.

Jeff Green was not the answer they thought he might be, and Troy Murphy is, well, he is stiff when it comes to production. Add the free agency of Glenn Davis, who virtually disappeared (virtually because physically you can't hide a man that size) and you will have some serious gaps to close.

Getting rid of Davis may be an option, and they will surely need to find someone better than Troy Murphy to help out in the paint. But make no mistake, the Celtics will be competitive, and in a title hunt, so long as the Fabulous Four are playing together, and after what the Miami Heat did to them, this year they will have plenty to play for.

The rest of the league still has questions, too. How will the lockout play out? Will the CBA force teams like the Heat to get rid of a player like Chris Bosh? Will the Heat ever sell out a game and stop pumping in crowd noise? Can the Grizzlies find a way to keep Marc Gasol and keep their team on its meteoric rise? Will James become the player we expected him to? Will we see another dynasty in the upcoming decade? And, of course, who will be the next player to step up to the challenge of being considered the greatest ever?

One thing is for sure, there will be plenty to argue about and look forward to this upcoming year. Lockout pending, of course. If any questions were answered this year about the direction the league is headed, it's this one: The NBA has once again risen to must-see TV, a league where almost anything is possible and the days of claiming things are watered down are long gone.

All of the Lights

Photoshop by Payton Wales

MIAMI -- This was not where the Miami Heat thought they would be when this series started. Flying back home to Miami not for a parade, rather for Game 6 in a series they are down 3-2.

If you ask the Heat, they would say they should be up in the series 3-2. If you ask the Mavericks, they would tell you they should have won this already 4-1.  The Mavericks may have a case though.

Game 3 was riddled with bad calls in favor of the Heat, including a buzzer beater at halftime that, upon further review, was a backcourt violation. The shot covered the margin of victory for the Heat and gave them a 2-1 series lead.

Truth is this series has been one of the closest in years. Both teams fought for every second of every game, giving viewers the feeling of an epic tug-of-war. The Mavericks, who started the series heavily depending on superstar Dirk Nowitzki, have come together as a team, playing better defense and increasing their scoring in every game.

The Heat, who looked to be unstoppable after Game 1, sputtered in the last two games, finding it hard to keep up with the Mavericks' late-game charges. LeBron James has seemingly lost confidence in the last two games, proving ineffective and almost nonexistent in fourth quarters, a far cry from his dominance in the Eaastern Conference Finals.

To add injury to insult, Heat guard and team leader Dwyane Wade severely injured his hip in Game 5, limiting his minutes and effectiveness as a scorer. Miami's role players have done a good job keeping them in the last two games, but their efforts have not been enough.

Tonight, there is an air of finality to the game for the first time in this series. Tonight, the Dallas Mavericks can close out the Heat, ending the hype and making waste of all the pomp and circumstance that started almost a year ago with "The Decision."

Tonight, all of the lights will be shining and these two teams will finally feel the full-on pressure of the Finals.

The Mavericks will know the pressure of closing out the Finals against a team fighting desperately to stay alive, a team trying to prove there is more to them than rumors of collusion and bad decisions, that they are more than two superstars and Chris Bosh, but rather a collection of like-minded individuals with good chemistry and a respect for team.

For the Heat, they battle not only the Mavericks, but also the American public. A public that wants them to lose, a public that has been disgusted with the hype, the media coverage and arrogance the Heat have garnered. Tonight, the Heat have one game to keep their dream alive and earn the right to play one last time, to prove the critics, the media, the Mavericks and America wrong.

Tonight, there is no place left for either team to hide. Tonight, it's now or never, and tonight we will see it, right before our eyes, under all of the lights.

The Once Future King

Photoshop by Payton Wales

DALLAS -- LeBron James was a no-show June 7 in Dallas, turning only 8 points and 11 rebounds. Looking as if he were running on fumes drew comparisons to last year's playoffs, where it was widely agreed upon he quit on his Cavaliers teammates.

Tonight might be his last chance to prove these incidents were just a fluke. A chance for the Once Future King to prove he isn't just a spoiled prince but the leader everyone wants him to be, the one everyone thinks he can be.

For years, it's been about LeBron's greatness, his potential, his God-given abilities. Yet in the same breath, fans heard everything wrong about him -- his lack of maturity, his inability to be clutch, his unwillingness to step up in the moment, his selfishness off the court, coach killer, the Decision. It's been talked about to the point that the mere mention of his name invokes nausea.

Tonight is a chance to end all of it. A chance to put all the haters in their place, prove them wrong. He needs to. He has to. His legacy is at stake, and if he doesn't do something now, if he doesn't show up tonight, he may never be able to shake the monkey off his back, even if he wins a title in the future.

Tonight may not be an elimination night, but it's significance is still significant. Tonight can reveal a pattern with the King. Tonight can give fans some insight into the psychosis of the man that is LeBron James. It has the potential to reveal to them what he cares about in his life, how he views his own legacy. It all hinges on him, and how he plays tonight.

No one is saying he has to drop 55 points on the Mavericks or even 30. But he has to show up, he has to produce, he has to leave an imprint on this game. The talk of tonight's game cannot be about how Dirk Nowitzki played through fever and injury. It must be about the redemption of James.

If it's not, his legacy will take a hit, one it may never recover from. Though fans may say he was great when his career is done, if he fails tonight, if he fails this year, he will never have the chance to be considered "The Greatest."

Tonight is a chance for him to start giving answers, to stop leaving questions. Tonight, LeBron James can take a step toward what he claimed was his seven years ago when he arrived in the NBA. Tonight, he has a chance to take control of his kingdom and he must. If he doesn't, he may never get a chance again.

The light for greatness shines only briefly. When it does shine, it is up to us to step into it and give the world a glimpse of who we are, if only for a minute. We get a chance to establish a legacy, to legitimize our gifts. The light is shining for James right now and it will never be brighter than this season.

Tonight, we find out if James really wants to be king, or just a jester, content to live vicariously through the idea of what could have been.

Mavericks Find New Life in Game 4 Victory

Photoshop by Payton Wales

DALLAS -- One man had the flu, the other flew the coup Tuesday in Dallas.

For three quarters in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Dirk Nowitzki looked like something you would see in the movie Dawn of the Dead. Sick from the flu and not sleeping the night before, it looked like the Mavericks' usual hero was laboring and going through the motions.

In the fourth quarter, however, he looked like Lazarus resurrected.

Fighting through a severe sinus infection, Nowitzki found a way to deliver his usual fourth-quarter magic, scoring 10 of his 21 total points in the quarter while also sparking a 21-9 Dallas run to propel the Mavericks to an 86-83 victory and a 2-2 series tie.

"Just battle it out," Nowitzki said about playing through the illness. "This is the Finals. You have to go out there and compete and try your best for your team. So that's what I did."

Nowitzki, whose fourth-quarter heroics in these playoffs have become something of legend, found that legend growing when he hit another game-winning layup with only 14.4 seconds in the game.

The win also found Nowitzki's supporting cast jump into the scrum and help their leader. Tyson Chandler, 13 points and 16 rebounds; Shawn Marion, 16 points; Jason Terry, 17 points; and DeShawn Stevenson, 11 points, were all major contributors in the win, especially the latter, who manged to play lockdown defense on LeBron James.

James, who is considered one of the league's most unstoppable players, was held to only 8 points on 3-of-11 shooting, the lowest point total of his seven-year career. The single-digit scoring performance ended his streak of 433 straight games in double figures.

The poor performance also drew eerie parallels to last year's Conference Finals against the Celtics, where it was widely considered James quit or became disinterested in his team's outcome. James' poor performance could be also be attributed to exhaustion, considering he has averaged 44 minutes per game in these playoffs.

"I've got to do a better job of being more assertive offensively," James said. "I'm confident in my ability. It's just about going out there and knocking them down."

Despite James' poor outing, the Heat still managed to keep the lead for the majority of the game thanks to Dwyane Wade. Wade, who led all scorers with 32 points, kept the Heat competitive all game. But with 30.1 seconds left, Wade missed a crucial free throw that would have tied the game.

Seconds later, Wade fumbled an inbounds pass but managed to knock the ball to Mike Miller for a potential tying 3-pointer with 6.7 seconds left. The shot fell well short and the American Airlines Center erupted in loud cheers upon realizing their team avoided the dreaded 3-1 deficit. No NBA team down 3-1 in a Finals series has come back to win.

In a series that many critics thought the Heat would run away with, the Mavericks have shown a high level of fortitude and fight on the way to a series tie. So far, the margin of victory in all four games is the lowest it's been since 1998.

"This series is a jump ball," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "These guys live for these type of moments. It's about execution and disposition in the fourth quarter, being able to close out. We have a golden opportunity in the next game."

The Heat may have the opportunity June 9, but the Mavericks seem to have the momentum, and their bench, a renewed vigor. The only thing anyone can be sure of is this series will remain just as unpredictable in its last three games as it has been in its first four.

Bosh Last-Second Shot Secures Game 3 Win For Heat

Photoshop by Payton Wales

DALLAS -- Dwyane Wade looked like a man possessed June 5, refusing to let the Dallas Mavericks defeat his Miami Heat. But it was Chris Bosh who became the Game 3 hero.

Bosh, who had 18 points on the night, seemed timid throughout the night, passing up wide-open shots on numerous occasions and drawing the criticism of many. But all of that came to an end with 39.6 seconds left in the game when Bosh hit a 17-footer to give the Heat the win, 88-86.

"This series is turning out to be an absolute series of endurance, mental and physical," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We didn't expect anything less than the competitive physicality of this game tonight. Our guys really competed. At times it was a little uneven, but we found ways to make plays on both ends of the court, to grind this game out in a very enduring win."

The Heat were up 81-74 with 6:32 left in the game and seemed poised to close it out. But Dallas, much like in Game 2, had other intentions, sparking a fourth-quarter rally behind Dirk Nowitzki's heroics. Nowitzki, who had 34 points and 11 rebounds on the night, put up 12 straight points in the fourth quarter, including one if his patented off-balance fadeaways.
 
The rally wouldn't be enough this time though as Wade just wouldn't let the Heat resign. Wade, who scored 7 points in the fourth quarter and 29 on the evening, relentlessly attacked the Mavericks defense, hitting big shot after big shot to keep Miami ahead every time the Mavericks threatened to take the lead.

Wade also had 11 rebounds on the night. When asked about the win, Wade said, "We felt this was a must-win, and we put it upon ourselves to get the home-court (advantage) back."

The final seconds saw Shawn Marion play lock-down defense on LeBron James, forcing a 24-second violation, leaving the Heat pounding their heads with frustration. Jason Terry then missed a jumper from the elbow, which opened the opportunity for Bosh to hit his game-winner.

"I don't know the number of times we climbed out of holes," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said about the loss. "But it's just always going to make the game harder."

Dallas, who was without center Brendan Haywood, found it hard to aggressively protect the paint, worrying about foul trouble for most of the game while also stumbling on offense. While Nowitzki has been consistent, the rest of his starting five has not, struggling to produce points to help the 7-foot power forward.

Jason Kidd had 9 points in the loss and Marion only added 10 to close out the night. It goes without saying if the Mavericks are going to win Game 4, they will need to receive bigger contributions from their starters in what Nowitzki said is "basically a must-win situation."

The Game 3 victory bodes well for the Heat historically. Since the NBA Finals went to the 2-3-2 format in 1985, the winner of Game 3 in a tied series has won all 11 times.

The Heat will look to extend their lead against Dallas June 6 at the American Airlines Center.

Mavs v. Heat: Game 2 Recap

Photoshop by  Payton Wales

MIAMI -- It was one of the biggest comebacks in NBA Finals history, and the Miami Heat were on the losing end of it.

Dirk Nowitzki walked away the hero, scoring 24 points, including the game-winning layup with 3.6 seconds left to help the Mavericks seal the Game 2 victory, 95-93, against the Heat. Nowitzki's layup capped off a monstrous 15-point comeback by the Mavericks late in the fourth quarter. The win evened the series with the Heat at one game a piece.

Dwyane Wade, who had 36 points, had a chance to win the game for Miami, but his desperation 3-pointer was off the mark as time expired.

With 7:15 left in the fourth quarter and the score, 88-73 in Miami's favor, Dallas looked more like boiled lobster than a contender. Then, Wade hit a 3-pointer in the corner. His celebration that followed, including 15 seconds worth of posing with his follow-through in the air, was just enough to irritate and motivate the Mavericks, proving to be the turning point of the game. 

From that point on, the Mavericks would play lockdown defense, only allowing the Heat to score a three by Mario Chalmers to tie the game with 24.5 seconds left, a shot that would tie the game 93-93. Jason Terry, who had been ineffective in Game 1 and the first half of Game 2, was the catalyst for the comeback, hitting a couple big jumpers to get the Mavericks off and running. Terry finished the game with 16 points.

Shawn Marion also added 20 points and eight rebounds to round out the box score for the Mavericks.

"I thought defensively we really got into them," Nowitzki said postgame about the rally. "We pressured them full court and we scrambled defensively. We even gave up some offensive rebounds, but we kept scrambling."

Miami's collapse was one of historic proportions and it also dealt them their first playoff loss in 10 games at home. The next three games will be in Dallas, starting with Game 3 on June 5. If Miami wants to get back down to South Beach, they must win at least one game.

Dallas Looks to Even The Score With Game 2 Win

Photoshop by Payton Wales

MIAMI --  Game 1 was anything but an offensive exhibition for either team and Game 2 doesn't look to get any better if for no other reason than Dirk Nowitzki's injured left hand.

Nowitzki, who tore a tendon in the middle finger of his left hand in the middle of Game 1, was 7-for-18 from the field May 31, a shooting performance well under par for the 12-year veteran. Things only look to get worse. The Mavericks look to overcome a poor shooting performance as well as improve their rebounding numbers to try and seal a Game 2 victory.

The mood seemed light at the Mavericks shoot around June 2 with players cracking jokes about Nowitzki's injured finger and imploring him to go the Ronnie Lott route and cut the digit off to ensure a championship. When asked about how they felt Nowitzki's injury would affect him and the team, his teammates tossed the jokes aside and showered the forward with praise.

Long-time teammate Jason Terry said, "I think Dirk can shoot the ball with his eyes closed, with no hands, if he had to, especially in a game of this magnitude." Terry went on to say a shooter can actually benefit from a hand injury because "it helps you lock in even more."

One thing is for sure, Terry and the rest of the Mavericks are confident in the abilities of their leader for Game 2 the question is: are they confident enough to help out this time? The Mavericks shot a playoff-low last game and are hoping to find some way to break out of that slump, including breaking through the Heat's impeccable perimeter defense and learning to play a little of their own.

Miami became comfortable behind the 3-point arc on 11-of-24 shooting, a total no other Maverick opponent has accomplished this year. While Dallas put on one of the worst shooting performances of their 2011 season, there is obvious room for improvement with both teams. The true question is who will have the will to make them?

One thing is for sure, whether the scoring is low or high, America is watching. Tuesday night's telecast was the highest overnight figures for an NBA Finals opener since the 2004 series between the Pistons and Lakers. If those numbers are any indication of what this series could turn out to be, then we should be in for a great one.

Revenge, Superstition, and Atonment Are On The Line For The Mavericks

MIAMI -- There is a lot on the line starting tonight, and the Dallas Mavericks know it.

Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry are still feeling the sting from 2006. It was a title run with the Mavericks in the driver's seat, until the Miami Heat came back from a 2-0 deficit to win the title. But the true sting of it was the controversy that followed it. There were enough one-sided bad calls on behalf of the Heat to make even diehard anti-conspiracy theorists, such as Mike Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser, question the validity of the title.

Then add all the hopes and dreams of the basketball purist that ride on the shoulders of the Mavericks, a burden they inherited from the Chicago Bulls and their collapse against the Heat. Knowing the majority of America is in your corner is a great thing, but its also pressure -- a lot of pressure -- either to crack under or to motivate you.

Dallas seems ready for that pressure and so does Miami. Both have overcome pretty big teams to get to the championship and done it in grand fashion. Dallas finished off the Lakers in a four-game sweep, denying the champs a shot at a three-peat. The Heat made quick work of the Boston Celtics, winning the series in five games and denying them a shot at a second-straight Finals appearance.

Dallas seems to have the advantage on paper. They are two deep at every position and have been shooting lights out since the playoffs started. The Mavericks have also directed their focus on defense and managed to ratchet up the defensive intensity with every team they played. And, of course, let's not forget the German, quite possibly the most unguardable player in the NBA today. His numbers have been Hall of Fame-worthy in the 2011 playoffs.

Miami, on the other hand, has deficiencies on their bench. But what they lack in depth, they make up for with their stars: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. It's a three-headed monster that at times can be absolutely devastating, accumulating massive amounts of points in quick periods of time. Miami is also sporting one of the best defenses in the league and has overcome all odds to make it to the Finals.

Regardless of the turnout of this series, one thing is for sure, you will be tuned in to witness, you will watch intently to see if LeBron can overcome all his haters, self-inflicted of course. You will watch to see if Dirk can solidify his legacy and his place among the all-time greats. You will watch just because you know, no matter the outcome, you will have witnessed something great.

Bulls Withstand Heat, Still Running Around in Miami's China Shop.

CHICAGO -- The rumors of the Bulls' demise may have been premature.

Going into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, many critics gave the Chicago Bulls little chance to win the series. Most said they would be swept or only win one game, if only by some type of luck. But the Bulls had other plans Sunday, serving notice to the Miami Heat with a 103-82 drubbing. The message in the notice was simple: You've won nothing and this will not be easy.

The Bulls dismantled the Heat in Game 1 behind 28 points from Derrick Rose and a superb defensive effort by Luol Deng on LeBron James. The win gives the Bulls a 1-0 series lead with Game 2 coming up May 18. The Bulls, who swept the Heat in the regular season, will look to maintain their home court advantage in the playoffs with a win Wednesday.

How will they do it? With the same formula as Game 1: attack the offensive glass, plenty of man-to-man switching and a gritty, hard-nosed defense that has been the staple of any defense Tom Thibodeau is part of. In Game 1, Johkim Noah and Carlos Boozer wreaked havoc in the paint on the offenisive glass, providing the Bulls with plenty of second-chance opportunities. The two also provided great help defensively, while also providing some much-needed scoring.

The Bulls "Bench Mob," as they like to be called, also provided a spark by extending the lead and playing lock-down defense. But the plays that may have blown the lid off the game were two monster dunks by Taj Gibson late in the game. The Bulls, behind the energy of Gibson's two-handed slam and put-back tomahawk, gained a momentum the Heat would never overcome to finish out the game.

Miami's Chris Bosh had 30 points in the game, but it was not indicative of the defense being played on him or the rest of his team. Bosh was the option Chicago wanted Miami to use, and use it they did. As much as they feed Bosh, he was only capable of carrying the Heat so far without the help of Miami's two true stars in James and Dwyane Wade.

It may only be one game and one win for the Bulls, but in the scheme of things, it's really four games for the entire season. Four games that displayed a defense Miami cannot elude. Four games where the idea of a true team won over the idea of three self-entitled superstars. Four games where we saw the defense we expected from the Boston Celtics in the playoffs come shining through in the form of the Chicago Bulls. It's four games where the insecurities and self-doubt the Heat displayed early in the season has a chance to surface again. This time when it matters most.

One game can make a difference. One game can create doubt. One game can remind players there were three others they couldn't win as well. In that case, one game can really be four.

And that's just how these Bulls like it.

Lakers v. Hornets Game 5 Recap & Preview

LOS ANGELES -- Asset or Liability. It was the question of the hour when Kobe Bryant took the court with a bad ankle Tuesday night in LA.

For about 15 minutes it looked as if he were a liability  and then it happened, early in the second quarter Bryant received a pass from Gasol at the top of the key and as Trevor Ariza closed the distance Bryant took two quick steps to the lane and then exploded through the air just as Emeka Okafor did the same. When the dust had settled Kobe was giving that same cocky look he had 12 years ago when he wore the No. 8 and Emeka Okafor had become another poster, victimized by the Mamba.

Bryants' dunk incited the crowd at the Staples Center and sent the Lakers players on a wave of mutilation that the Hornets would never recover from. Bryant scored 19 points including another highlight reel dunk in the third quarter as the Lakers beat the hornets 106 - 90 to take a 3-2 series lead and put the Hornets on the brink of elimination.

Game 6 is Thursday in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS --

Andrew Bynum, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds in Game 5, will look to continue his emergence as the anchor of the Lakers front court and Pau Gasol, 16 points in Games 5, will look to continue his improvement in play as the Lakers try to eliminate the Hornets from the playoffs.

There will still be question about Bryants' ankle and whether or not he can give the Lakers the same boost he did in Game 5 but one thing is for sure, the Lakers seem to have that sense of urgency back. There isnt much to say about tonight other than what we know, we are in for a hell of a game and it's win or go home for the Hornets.

Can Chris Paul provide one more sting on the Lakers or will his great postseason play end tonight.