Once again Kobe had a day in court in Colorado and a quick flight home for a game in LA, once again Kobe had a big game, and once again the Lakers won. The Lakers won their 13th consecutive Game 4, a streak that reaches all the way back to the 2000 playoffs, and in the next game they'll put another streak on the line that also dates back to the 2000 playoffs: LA has an 11 game winning streak in games in which they have a chance to close out the opponent. The last time the Lakers had a chance to win a series and lost was Game 5 of the 2000 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. This was another game tonight that the Lakers controlled almost the entire way, with the Wolves having their last lead at around 36-35 early in the 2nd quarter. Shaq really dominated the boards again, getting 19 points and 19 rebounds. Kobe was huge with 31 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists; as was Karl Malone who had 12 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists; and Derek Fisher had 15 points off the bench. Game 5 is Saturday, and the way the Lakers are playing I would fully expect them to win that game and then have a little break while they await the winner of the Detroit-Indiana series in the East. Personally I want to see the Lakers and the Pistons, because the last time the Lakers played the Pistons in the Finals, the Pistons won (back in 89, I was in 8th grade and I was pissed cause the Pistons back then were my least favorite team in the league, and still to this day are the team I've hated more than any other ever). Last time LA played Indiana in the Finals was in 2000 and LA won that series in 6. LA would also have the home court advantage against Detroit, while they would not against Indiana. Anyway, there will be more on this all later I'm sure, so I'm gonna shut up now :grin