Sport and Cinema.com

The strain on Kobe to carry a team that was supposed to lean more on Ron Artest and Lamar Odom has been evident down the stretch. The health concerns of Andrew Bynum will likely increase the burden on Bryant. For the Thunder to have a shot, they will need to have Russell Westbrook step up as it is likely that Kevin Durant will be slowed from the attention showered on him by the Lakers D.

Lou Piniella hopes to erase the early exit from the first round of the playoffs to the Dodgers and with much the same lineup that led the national league in runs scored, walks, slugging and on-base percentage, the Cubs are poised to win a third straight central crown.