Two Strikes and Kobes Out as the Closer
What has transpired in the last two NBA Finals games has made it clear: Kobe Bryant is not the best closer in the league.
Not right now, anyway.
For the second consecutive game, the Los Angeles Lakers put the ball in Bryant’s hands with a chance to beat the Orlando Magic and he failed to deliver.
On Sunday, Hedo Turkoglu stripped him of the ball with 0.6 seconds in regulation, and only the "Alley-Oops!" from Courtney Lee prevented the Magic from evening the series at one game apiece.
Tuesday night, it was Dwight Howard’s turn to make Kobe look mortal. Superman saved Orlando by tapping the ball away from Kobe with 30 seconds left and Orlando ahead 104-102. Pau Gasol valiantly dove on the floor to save the ball but couldn’t get the ball to Bryant as Mickael Pietrus stole the ball and preserved the Magic’s first-ever Finals win.