Why LeBron Joining The Heat Is Good For Kobe & The NBA

Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, & LeBron James. Photo: NBA.com

It was in July that Lebron James announced he was" taking his talents to South Beach" making enemieseverywhere withhis decision.  It's a decision that he needs to live with and the only way to do it is to dominate.  Easier said than done however.

"Did you hear that Lebron James is getting his own I-Phone?  The phone will only be able to vibrate though?  Why?  Just like Lebron, it has no rings."

We all heard the joke.  Now, what will Lebron do about it?

I said he made enemies and he made them everywhere.  In Cleveland, in Chicago, in New York, In Orlando, and even in Los Angeles.  The defending champions feel disrespected.  All the attention on Lebron, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade when they have not won anything yet.  However, the move is actually good for Kobe.  Why?

The Los Angeles Lakers along withthe Boston Celtics are beloved franchises..and also the most hated.  That day in July, both teams became less hated.  The Lakers were now  baby faces.  A friend of mine who hates the Lakers with a passion says he will be rooting for the Lakers when they play the Heat on Christmas day and other games.  I am not sure everyone who plays in the Lakers division feels the same way.

Kobe Bryant & The Los Angeles Lakers Celebrate. Photo: AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Kobe's arrogance is now seen as part of his game.  His love.  His determination for it.  The NBA wants to see Kobe and the Lakers knock off the Heat.  Well, aside from the South Florida area.  Last year at this time?  Lakers were hated.  Here they were bringing in thug Ron Artest and the decision did not sit well with Laker faithful.  Kobe along with Phil Jackson and GM Mitch Kupcheck said they brought Artest to handle the Celtics.  I thought it was BS but in the end, Artest was the one who put the nail in the coffin against the Suns and then stepped up in Game 7 to beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals.

Everyone was expecting a Cavs/Lakers match-up in the Finals, with the Cavs taking the 2 regular season games against the Lakers.  I knew it was not meant to be.  How?  In a regular season game against the Celtics, the Cavs had a 20+ point lead going into the 4th quarter.  They lost by 10 to an aging Celtics team that had no business winning.  They had what Lebron lacked then and that was the heart of a champion.  I got flack for that comment but guaranteed that the Cavs would not make it to the NBA Finals.  They didn't.

Lebron still has yet to show me he has heart or even a heart of a champion.  He said it flat out in Sports Illustrated that he hates the "pressure of taking the last shot" and is relieved "that Wade will be the go to guy at the end of the game."  Doesn't sound like heart to me. 

The NBA has a true team to root against right now in the Heat.  The Celtics will be their main rivals and the Lakers the pot of gold at the end of their journey if they actually can make it. 

Last season, I did not watch a single game until the NBA Finals.  I did not care.  I knew what was going to happen.  Until the Finals.  The Celtics had heart and were not going to lay down for the Lakers.  The regular season was boring to me.  This season?  Not so much.  I plan on watching the Lakers get their rings tonight.  I didn't do that last year.  Again, I did not care.

This season, I do care.  I will follow every Laker game and from time to time, check my Blackberry to see who I am rooting for against the Heat.-Dr.FB