There are a lot of questions to be answered after the Lakers gave up a 16 point lead in the second half of game 1 and lost.  Despite the loss, I believe the Lakers are still the better team and will still win the series.  So why did they lose?

The Kobe haters have come on strong with the criticisms (for the millionth time) of Kobe shooting too much, Kobe not involving his teammates, and Kobe not making his team better.  I agree with statistics that say Kobe taking a lot of shots and going on an offensive tear isn't the key to success for this championship team.  Much like game one of the last series against the Hornets, Kobe scored over thirty points on over 25 shots and 50% shooting.  And though Kobe was efficient, the Lakers lost.  

Another common theme in both game 1's though, was the lack of production from key players, namely, Pau Gasol.  His stat line (15 pts, 11 rbs, 7 asts.) says he contributed, but most of that was early on in the first half.  The second half is where the Lakers lost and where Pau disappeared.  Kobe haters will say that Kobe (0 assists) didn't get Pau and his teammates involved and shot the Lakers out of the game.  

What I know about Kobe is that he has the desire, toughness, and heart of a champion and that he'll do anything it takes to win.  In the second half, the Lakers showed no aggression or urgency to win the game.  When Kobe sees this, he takes it upon himself to win the game.  Kobe's teammates chose to defer to him and watch as he took 29 shots. If that's what his teammates give him, he has no choice but to take it. 

A big knock on Kobe was that he didn't elevate the play of his team.  Now, to me, there's no way that you can say such a thing.  The reason why the Lakers have won consecutive championships is because they adopted Kobe's personality and his contagious desire to win.  Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol can give testament to this.  We once complained that Odom was lazy and lethargic and wasted his talent and potential because of poor work ethic.  Now he is the 6th man of the year and is praised for his all around game and effort.  Pau's biggest knock was that he was soft.  After joining Kobe and the Lakers, Pau is considered, by some, the top power forward in the league, and has come up clutch in some the most physical games these past two NBA playoffs.  Just look at game 7 of last years NBA finals.  

But where is the Pau, now, that we have grown to love?  He's gone back to being old softie and doesn't show any aggression on offense or defense.  The desire isn't there and his body language looks like he's going over a bad break up.  Here's the problem: if you're not a natural born assassin, fighter, competitor like Kobe, then you're gonna need some kind of motivation from time to time.  If you think about it, Kobe is the only superstar/champion who had to worry if his co-superstar was going to bring his A game; give 100 percent.  Jordan never had to worry if Pippen was going to D up and be physical.  Magic didn't have to yell at Worthy to finish stronger at the rim.  These co-superstars had the natural born desire to win and you knew they were always gonna give 100 percent; their games elevated in the post-season.  And don't even bring up Shaq.  The reason the Lakers had no chance against the Pistons in the 2004 Finals was because Shaq was fat and lazy.  

You always know what you're gonna get from Kobe but you never know what you're gonna get from the rest of the team.  I like to think that Kobe always knows what he's doing.  He knew that he was taking all those shots, and that it's not the best formula for winning.  I think he was sending a message to his team that they need to step up their intensity and aggressiveness.  They have to want it and go get it. 

The Lakers are still the better team if they want to be.  I expect Pau and the Lakers to come out tonight with their A game and to win big.