2008 NBA Finals --- Is the Next Jordan Amongst Us?!?!

The 2008 NBA Finals begin tonight and it marks the rekindling of one of the most storied rivalries in NBA and NBA Finals history. The Los Angeles Lakers vs. The Boston Celtics.

This series promises to be exciting to watch for fans and is perhaps one of the best matchups the Finals have had in a long time. Despite all the storylines and selling points for this Finals series, the most important story in this Finals is Kobe Bryant's return to the NBA Finals alone. Well without Shaq.

I have heard a lot of people choosing the Celtics to win this series due to the Lakers inability to matchup well with the Celtics and not having an exact answer for the Celtic's Big Three, mainly Kevin Garnett. These are all rational predictions especially since the Celtics have beat the Lakers in their two regular season meetings. However, this Lakers team has changed since then and those games were not the NBA Finals.

Kobe Bryant is the best player in the NBA at this moment. He is the reigning MVP. He cannot be guarded. Kobe for the majority of his career has been hailed as the next Jordan and recently he has made a strong case that he is indeed ready to carry the torch. This NBA Finals marks the perfect stage for Kobe to validate this Jordan argument and begin his journey to surpass His Airness as the greatest basketball player to ever play the game. No one knows this better than Kobe Bryant and that is why I pick the Lakers to win this series in six games.

Everyone asks how will the Lakers defend the Celtics. I wonder, Who will guard Kobe Bryant? Kobe knows this is his show and all eyes are on him. Kobe is a prime time player and never fails to deliver. This playoffs Kobe has not yet needed to raise his game to its highest level. This NBA Finals, I believe we will see a performance from Kobe that we have not seen since....well, Michael Jordan.

The mindset Kobe will have entering this NBA Finals cannot be guarded by the Celtics. Kobe will elevate his game and the game of his teammates, which he has proved he is able to do this season, much of the reason why the Lakers are in the Finals. This NBA Finals we will see the emergence of the next great NBA superstar and the official passing of the torch from Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant....I am a believer.