Kobe's Unfortunate 2012-'13 Season

Kobe Bryant will triumphantly led the struggling Lakers to the playoffs, but unfortunately no further. (Credits: AP Photo)

Kobe Bryant caught the ball yesterday with a little bit less than a minute remaining with his team up two in a hotly contested game. Kobe had already scored 35 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and added seven assists, a situation that he was all too familiar with. Holding the ball on the left wing as the clock was expiring, Bryant dribbled to his left, stopped, pump faked and watched Vince Carter float in the air for what seemed like an eternity. Then he pulled up and nailed a 20-foot jumper, ice water in his veins. For most players that would've been an emphatic moment, sealing the game on a masterful pump fake. But for Kobe? For Kobe, it's just another game, another dagger and another win. Unfortunately it might be just another season as well.

When the Lakers acquired Dwight Howard and Steve Nash this offseason, some thought this team could contend for 70 wins, a feat only attained by Michael Jordan and his greatest cast of characters in '96-'97. Of course, how could you blame Jeff Van Gundy for saying that. They had just acquired one of the best point guards of all-time as well as the best big man in the game. Add these characters to the immortal Kobe Bryant and the sizzling Pau Gasol and you have greatness. Not to mention the Lakers still having Ron Artest's defensive presence and a solid Antawn Jamison as a sixth man. On paper this super team was going to stomp the Heat, mangle the Thunder and run the Spurs ragged. But the paper hit the hardwood and things didn't work out as planned. Nash got injured, Howard's back kept him grounded and everyone realized Mike Brown has no business coaching in the NBA. Making matters worse the Lakers passed on Phil Jackson for an exciting, but highly overrated style of player under Mike D'Antoni. Kobe was placed between a rock and a hard place.

Bryant is 34 years old and he's not getting any younger, but he also seemingly not aging. Yesterday's 38/12/7 game was vintage Kobe, but it's not like he's been playing elite ball all season. He's averaging 27.1 points on a highly efficient 47%, 5.4 assists and 5.6 rebounds. At his age these numbers should wow us. But really? Does anything Kobe does these days wow us? Nope. Kobe's scored 78 points in his last two games on a ridiculous 28-for-44 shooting. Earlier this season he posted back-to-back 14-assist games, just because he wanted to. Kobe Bryant is still one of the most valuable players in the game and it's unfortunate to see him in this ugly situation.

We all know Kobe isn't the most likeable guy and that for most of his career he's been either absolutely loved or absolutely hated. For a while I even bought into the hate, saying that he was selfish and that he was more interested in individual goals than team ones. But, boy was I wrong. In this season Bryant has done everything possible to win. He's got this team saddled square on his shoulders and he hasn't once fretted about it. Unfortunately Steve Nash is a shell of his former self, Dwight Howard's the newest employee at Charmin and Earl Clark has Bryant's best sidekick. I'm quite confident that Kobe will rally the troops and get this team to the playoffs, but even the ultra-competitor gets run down every once and a while.

There will be no Kobe Bryant in the semis, Western Conference Finals nor in the NBA Finals and that's something we'll take for granted. When the season began, everyone thought the Lakers would be a contender. I had them losing in the Semis, but I wouldn't have been surprised if we saw a LeBron-Kobe Finals. Come to think of it, wouldn't that be amazing for the NBA? LeBron is right there, he's one captivating NBA Finals away from zipping his haters' lips shut. Imagine the way Kobe would either break him down or ignite him? KG set LeBron off in Game 5 of the ECFs last year, prompting King James to cold-heartedly embarrass the Celtics in TD Garden in Game 6. I couldn't even fathom the shots Kobe would swish in his face before LeBron either folded or flourished. LeBron doesn't need to play KD, he needs to play Kobe. He needs to end Kobe's career and Kobe's reign. And the fact we won't watch that season, or possibly ever is an absolute travesty.

Kobe will probably extend his career as far as Jordan did and spoil his last days just as MJ did when he came back for a second time. As for what was wasted this year, well, we'll just have to savor in this regular season as Kobe single-handedly leads the Lakers to the playoffs. Mark my words, the Lakers won't miss the playoffs. Kobe won't let them. And when Kobe turns it on, it's hard for the rest of the league to turn it off.