Since I can remember, I have always rooted against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. I cringed with disgust when Kobe threw that final alley-oop to Shaq that buried the Portland Trailblazers in 2000. I thoroughly enjoyed Phil Jackson throwing Kobe’s leadership skills under the bus in his book following his initial departure from the Lakers five years ago. And I thought the boos he has received throughout the league for years in response to his selfish play and passive-aggressive behavior towards his teammates were well deserved.

But even I cannot deny, as much as I pull for Anyone But the Lakers every season come playoff time, Kobe’s competitive spirit and fire for victory. It is second to no one. No one. This is an exchange he had with a reporter following Game 3, addressing criticism he ran out of gas in the fourth quarter:

“As far as me hitting the wall, so what if I did? I didn’t, but so what if I did?”

“What does it mean if you did?”

“It means nothing.”

“Because?”

“Because I’ll run straight through it.”

In the words of Wes Mantooth, in reference to the immortal Ron Burgundy, “At the bottom of my gut, with every inch of me, I plain, straight hate you. But dammit, do I respect you!”