Bryant Doesn’t Quite Have Air of Champion

Now comes word that the digs on Mt. Olympus was just a rental and that greatness must be maintained, not just attained, and that, well, maybe Michael Jordan’s standing is safe for at least one more day.

Kobe Bryant, his performance 48 hours earlier put among the greats of the finals, reminded everyone Friday night that he not quite There yet, and that he’s still 21 years old, and that there’s some nights where he won’t be able to carry his own load, let alone carry an entire team. That he’s not at all fazed shows he remains the same player inside his mind, at least.

From 28 points on Wednesday in Game 4, including eight of the Lakers’ 16 points in overtime and the winning basket on a put back, to eight points in Game 5.

Including zero in overtime, because they didn’t quite make it there this time, and zero in the fourth quarter, because they barely even made it that far.

From 14 of 27 shooting Wednesday to four of 20 Friday, when he had as many fouls as combined assists (three) and steals (two).

From asking Coach Phil Jackson, the ultimate authority on such topics, to compare his new superstar to what Jordan was like in these moments to everyone being asked. . . .

What was that?!

“I think we have to talk to Kobe about that one,” teammate Robert Horry said. “I didn’t even know he had shot the ball that bad.”

Said Shaquille O’Neal, when asked if Bryant was tired: “We are not going to make excuses. He missed some shots he usually makes, they played some pretty good defense.”

They being the Indiana Pacers, still alive in because of the 120-87 rout that came as Bryant made two shots in a row late in the first quarter, indicating all was not lost from the start, but then tumbled. He made two of 15 over the final three quarters, including one of eight in the third, part of the combined seven of 38 from the field by the Lakers’ four main guards.

Of course, Derek Fisher (zero of six) and Brian Shaw (zero of four) hadn’t ascended just two nights earlier and no one was bombarding Jackson and Larry Bird, who also knows a thing or 2,000 about playoff heroics, about how close Ron Harper (three of eight) is coming to tugging on Jordan’s cape. That’s what Bryant got.

To Harper on Wednesday, after Game 4: “Does Kobe’s performance remind you of any other performance?” (Hint: You played in the backcourt with the Bulls, wink, wink). Answer: “No, it’s just that he made some key, clutch, long-range shots. He made a shot over his head at the hole. He just made shots.”

To Jackson on Thursday: “Given your extensive playoff finals history, how would you rank Kobe’s crunch-time performance last night?” Answer: “Oh, that was a good performance. I’ve seen a lot of great ones. But when you compare the fact that I probably coached, what, 100 games, 110 games, 115 games with Michael Jordan, you know I saw a lot of games that were above or beyond that level from an individual performer. But that’s not to take anything away from Kobe.”

To Jackson on Friday, before Game 5: “With all the focus and hype on Kobe Bryant right now, how do you react to the comparisons and the elevation, the coronation of Kobe Bryant?” Answer: “.... [Jordan] probably had 90 games at the level [Bryant’s] had this one. Not to take anything away from Kobe, but we got used to the way Michael played and the level he played at.”

Then came the tough part for Bryant: having to do it twice in a row.

“I didn’t have a good game tonight,” he said. “You just bounce back. You just put it behind you and we’ll go home. That’s what we played all season for, to have homecourt advantage.”

Was this a comedown?

“Not really,” he said. “I’m disappointed in the game I played. But you just put it behind you, move on and get ready for Monday.”

What it was, clearly, was a challenge for the Pacers, who began the night drawing comparisons to walking dead, down and just about out. Not so fast. Bryant was not brilliant, again, and they’re alive, still.

“We just played defense on him,” Indiana’s Jalen Rose said. “Kobe, he’s a young superstar, but the key to that is young. Any time you’re a young player, you’re going to have moments where you struggle. I’m pretty sure he’s going to chalk this up as a moment when he struggled.”

Jordan would.