In what would have proven to be a game for all ages had Kobe been able to tie the game with a 3, it might have at least proven to be the first sign that Lebron is ready to challenge Kobe for the title of the NBA's best player.  On a side note, the fact that Kobe has not won an MVP award is simply ludicrous.  He has been the NBA's best player for the last 10 years and might be the only player in the next few decades to have a rightful place in the Jordan debate.

But on this night it was LeBron James who showed everyone how special this young phenom really is.  He demanded to cover Kobe Bryant in the 4th quarter and had him blanketed step for step as Kobe took fallaway after fallaway.  The bottom line is that Kobe couldn't turn the corner on LeBron and he couldn't elevate over him.  In Kobe's defense he was seen hobbled from time to time apparently at the hip, however, it seemed this pain came only after missed shots.  When it counted most LeBron held Kobe in check, while on the other end Kobe couldn't stop LeBron from hitting big shot after big shot.

So what does this mean?  Is Kobe done as the NBA's best player?  Of course not.  He's a one-man wrecking crew that takes a specimen like LeBron James to one (1) night get the best of him.  Give Kobe 10 games with LeBron covering him and I don't think LeBron gets the best of him more than a couple of times.  But throw in the fact that this was a nationally televised game and that he was actually able to stop Kobe and you have to give him the victory of LeBron v. Kobe Part I.