Game 1 Hangover: Sixteen Minutes in Heaven

Game 1 of the NBA Finals was over in 16 minutes. Most games take a least 40 to 45 minutes of game time to decide. The fourth quarter is the time when crucial decisions and strategies swing the outcome one way or the other. Kobe Bryant moved that timetable way up Thursday night. In 16 minutes (from 6:30 left in the second quarter until 2:30 left in the third) Bryant scored 28 points on 11-17 shooting from the field and 6-6 free throws. In 16 minutes Kobe made 11 field goals. In 48 minutes the Orlando Magic made 23.

Los Angeles dominated the paint against the league's best big man, Dwight Howard, who made one shot from the field. Orlando shot 29.9% from the field for the game. It wasn't like L.A. became a defensive juggernaut overnight. They did play good defense, but not great defense. Shooters were bothered not hampered or suffocated. The Magic missed a lot of shots. Open shots, defended shots, shots from outside, shots from inside, shots on the break, and shots in the offensive set. This won't happen again.

As much as the rabid Laker fans outside Stapes Center are calling for a sweep - don't believe the hype. This series is far from over and what I'm most afraid of is the laissez faire Lakers showing up Sunday and expecting Orlando is hand over Game 2.

But for 16 minutes on Thursday night we got to see the greatest player of his generation playing as great as anyone can. Kobe's steely gaze and gritted teeth told us something else. He's not done yet and maybe those 16 minutes were just the beginning.

Who Showed Up:

• Kobe Bryant. 40 points 8 reb 8 ast (16-34 FG, 8-8 FT) in 38 min. Could have been one of his all time games if he or his team needed it. He was solid from the floor and made timely passes out of the double teams. Bad news for Orlando in the next two weeks.


• Lamar Odom. 11 points 14 reb. This is the "Candyman" L.A. needs to show up day in and day out for the remainder of the series. Active on defense and on the boards.
  
• Andrew Bynum. 9 points 9 reb. His fiery start set the tone underneath early. Foul trouble might be rule instead of the exception while he guards Dwight Howard, but if rebounds and keeps him from getting dunks and layups, he will succeed.

Who Didn't Show Up:

• Orlando's starting five. 46 points (11-46 FG 24%) Yikes. If not for Michael Pietrus off the bench this would have been an all-time embarrassing defeat.