“The Wire”, the former HBO crime drama, was the greatest program in the history of television in this author’s humble opinion. It explored sociopolitical themes with greater depth than any series before or since as it developed characters more haunting and complex than anywhere else.

Just what does David Simon’s brilliant series have to do with the NBA Finals you ask?

As I have watched and listened to Kobe Bryant over the last week in his preparation for a series that will come to define his NBA legacy for better or worse, I couldn’t help but think back to what was arguably the series’ greatest single scene, as it perfectly captures the present state of mind of the Laker legend.

In the show’s fifth season, during the series’ second to last episode, the character Marlo Stanfield is in a jail cell, explaining his sense of honor, his personal code for virility.

After delivering a character-defining, utterly remarkable address, Stanfield snaps on his crew with the fury of a caged beast. “My name is my name!” he declares.

The impatient and impetuous Stanfield knew what was at stake when his name was being questioned. To him, that name and that legacy were more important than anything.

This scene encapsulates where Kobe Bryant’s mind has been. It captures how focused he is at present, how driven he is to define this moment as opposed to being defined by it.

Bryant’s name is on the line over these next two weeks, and his resolve showed a sense of urgency to make sure it’s value is upheld.

In the first quarter of Game 1, that drive was almost too much to contain for the former MVP, and it initially hurt the Lakers: he was too fired up and fierce, too fanatical to attack the task at hand. For the second year in a row, the Lakers were facing an opponent in the NBA Finals that they were swept by in the regular season. Would a similar outcome follow?

At times, it looked as much. But in the second quarter Bryant and the Lakers collectively settled down. Bryant tired somewhat, which brought his movements and his legs back in line with the ferocity of his mental approach. By half he had 19 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds.

Like Stanfield before him, Bryant was a picture of ruthlessness.

He too would take on anyone to defend his name. The most competitive player in the league (and according to Magic Johnson Larry Bird’s favourite current player) would not be denied.

His tenacity was contagious. In the first half Derek Fisher, the most maligned Laker this postseason based on his lackluster play, had 9 points on four of five shooting. Luke Walton, no more than a bit player for much of the year, contributed with a three of four shooting night. Even Andrew Bynum, the Laker center whose value has been on trail since his return from injury this spring, contributed well with 8 points and 6 rebounds in the first half (which was better than Dwight Howard’s 8 and 4).

A 40-17 run for Los Angeles starting with 8:30 to go in the second quarter more or less sealed Orlando’s fate on Thursday. At one point in the third, Kobe has 15 made field goals to Orlando’s 17 as a team. That is not a recipe for success.

The game wore on and the Lakers put Orlando to bed without much of an issue. Game 2 will surely be a different animal. The Lakers must approach it with the same level of intensity and commitment as they did this contest or face losing home court advantage.

It is safe to say though that after this performance, Los Angeles should feel confident in its ability to rise to the occasion.

As always, Bryant will lead them, but he does not have to walk alone. His name is his name alright, and the same can be said of the rest of the Lakers.

Three more performances such as this and that name will be “champions.”

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