227: Shaq's blood has become the fuel for Roger's raging fire (Seeking monthly passes!)

Today might be the first time Lakers fans truly felt Kobe had the potential to become the team's leading star.

He delivered a superstar-level performance on the offensive end,

and on the defensive end, he made Paul Pierce, the highly anticipated rookie, lose face.

A true powerhouse on both ends of the court.

Although many of Kobe's shots were unreasonable, and he scored many of his points facing Pierce's defense, his style of play wouldn't get him into the CBA. After all, the CBA doesn't need players like Curry or Kobe who take unreasonable shots.

But in the lower-level NBA, Jerry West was relieved by Kobe's performance today.

He felt glad that he hadn't misjudged him after all.

Kobe became the darling of the Staples Center tonight, but O'Neal's performance on offense was actually not bad, although his basket was invaded by Roger time after time, diminishing his image in the eyes of the fans.

The more beautiful Roger executed a play, the more incompetent Shaq seemed.