Down 0-2 in the Western Conference semifinals against the Dallas Mavericks, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers need to find a magic elixir to rally back. Losing two games at home is difficult to come back from, but even moreso against a veteran, savvy squad such as Dallas.
Ron Artest has been rightfully suspended for his hard foul on J.J. Barea in the waning moments of the Lakers' Game 2 loss. With the loss of their starting small forward, Lamar Odom will have to move into the position and spread an already thin Los Angeles bench to new lengths.
Really, though, this has always been about Kobe. Bryant is the key to everything the Lakers set out to accomplish, and this is a very serious time for the superstar guard. At less than 100% due to various injuries, the reality of the situation must be setting in.
Kobe is always capable of delivering a legendary performance, and the Lakers will need several of them in this series to come back from such a big deficit. As long as Kobe and Gasol can get going, Los Angeles can win tonight and get the train back on the tracks.