FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Close your eyes and wonder...wait, OPEN YOUR EYES!! It's hard to read with them closed. Just wonder, then. 

It's now 2008, and all we can do is marvel at this epic run the Lakers have been on.  Thanks to the epic combination (and friendship) of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, the toast of Tinseltown has won six titles this decade.  Here's a reflection:

Back in the 1999-2000 season, Kobe was just a young mustang that Shaq helped tame.  Led by the Big Aristotle, the Lakers beat the Pacers in six games for their first title since Showtime.  It was clear at this point that a permanent bond was forged between Kobe and Shaq.  While Shaq was clearly the leader of this squad, it was just as clear that Kobe's future was bright, and the team's success would eventually rely more on his talent's than Shaq's.

 However, at the time the teams was still Shaq's, and heled the Lakers to two more titles.  By the time the three-peat concluded, Kobe was a 30 ppg scorer and he and Shaq were equals.  Shaq still took home the Finals MVP trophy, but the torch was being passed.

In 2004 the title seemed all but a formality.  With Karl Malone and Gary Payton on board, the Lakers stormed through the playoffs, but lost to a determined Pistons team.  Many say the dynasty could have come unraveled here, with Malone and Payton leaving the team and Kobe becoming a free agent.  There was also rumblings of strains in Kobe and Shaq's relationship, though both later denied those claims.  Kobe resigned with the Lakers, and the future was set in LA.

From 2005-2007 the Lakers got revenge on the Pistons in back to back seasons, then crushed a surprise Cavaliers team led by Lebron James to add titles four, five and six to the mantle.  By last year the change was obvious: this is Kobe's team.  While Shaq provides great rebounding and scoring, the offense runs through Kobe (a change Shaq accepted willingly).

This year Kobe is odds-on favorites for the MVP, just as the Lakers are odds-on favorites for their seventh title of the decade.  Shaq is still feared in the post during his 30 minutes a game, but if the Lakers are to win again it will be on Kobe's shoulders.  After this year it seems likely Shaq will play one or two more years, but will be little more than a glorified role player while Kobe is that star (similar to the transition the Showtime Lakers experience with Kareem and Magic).  Whatever happens, it's doubtless that these two rank among the greatest tandems of all time, and there is no place either player belongs.