Subtract a major part of the offense, add an opponent who does not play defense, and what do you get? Kobe Bryant posting 61 points at Madison Square Garden. Bryant hit 19 of 31 shots, including 3 of 6 threes, and sank 20 straight from the stripe. He did not do much else – only three assists, one block, and zero rebounds-, but he did manage to score the most points in basketball’s Mecca history.

New York Knicks fans had tickets to watch an obscenely entertaining game in which the Los Angeles Lakers won a close game by Mike D’Antoni standards (126-117) and Kobe scored with smoothness not scene since Jordan learned to hit a jump shot.

This was his fourth game that he managed to score over 60 points, his first since hitting the water mark on March 22nd in 2007 against the Memphis Grizzlies. It is more proof that though Kobe may not be the most complete player in the league he does have one of the most determined games in the league.

I often forget about him when I think of the new stars. LeBron James has turned around a struggling franchise in the Cleveland Cavaliers and now has the entire league trying to dump salaries to try and pry him away from his hometown team in the summer of 2010.

The list of great players under 30 is growing and they are starting to help overshadow Kobe’s career. He has had the misfortune of the being the bridge between the old guard led by MJ and this new collection of supremely talented players.

Kobe’s game was held up against Jordan’s after just a couple of seasons. Then he was too young and most arguments were made on pure speculation. Now Kobe is being compared LeBron for his dominance. King James is a genetic freak even by NBA standards. He is a small forward with body of an undersized power forward, the vision of a point guard, and the quickness of a wing player. Now Kobe’s game is being overshadowed by a game by an unfathomable player.

This may be a little of my own speculation, but the future for one of the most analyzed and criticized players in the game may be one giant attack on his legacy. He will be the greatest player at a time when nobody was watching the NBA. The new beginning of a golden age in basketball will be when King James suddenly became better than Kobe in many people’s eyes.

The memory of his 81-point game will be replaced by the highlights of younger players proving their potential and besting Kobe and the Lakers. It is unfortunate that such a talent will have played with a target on his back his entire career, but, if anything, this reminds me that timing is everything.

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