LOS ANGELES — When Kobe plays as he did in Game 1 of the NBA Finals he may as well be in a vacant gym at midnight with the lights off throwing uncontrollable moves on operatic phantoms. Every other possession was so perversely pure he had the Magic wandering aimlessly around Bryant Park.
Cradling the Lakers in his impregnable cocoon, Kobe put on a puppet show only a fairy godmother could dream up.
While Orlando's offense consisted of mixed-up jigsaw pieces from various puzzles (its starters shot 11-46, the frontline 6-27), The Predator practiced making perfect jumpers.