It’s difficult for this Lakers fan to root for them against the Cavaliers, especially today. The first NBA team I ever rooted for was the Cavs. So, I always like them at least a little bit, and at this writing Cleveland’s old-school unis are killin’ me.

It goes without saying that the big story in this match-up of conference leaders is the match-up between Kobe Bryant versus LeBron James. I’m kinda obsessing on how these players arrived at such exalted states.

The routes are very disimilar. LeBron is a guy who was in the national spotlight from the middle of his high school years — his team’s games were televised on ESPN. Meanwhile, Kobe was looked at as a long-shot. Lower Merion High School didn’t regularly face the same level of competition on Cleveland’s star. So, when Bryant entered the NBA in 1996 he was selected 10th, with such unimpressive players as Kerry Kittles, Samaki Walker and Lorenzen Wright getting picked before him.

Starting last year, the two have been simultaneously at the top of their games. This season both seem improved. The Beijing Olympics clearly impacted both. Kobe’s much much better teammate. LeBron’s just better, overall.

Today’s game showed neither player at their best. L.O. turned out to be the star of it all. Regardless, the whole of basketball fandom tuned in to ABC this afternoon, and they did it for the two superstars — not for Cleveland’s old-school clothing.

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