President Barack Obama was asked straight out on Thursday: Kobe or Michael?

LOS ANGELES The metal sign said “Laker Country” and for the better part of yesterday, downtown Los Angeles belonged solely to the 2009 NBA World Champion Lakers. How could you tell? Maybe it was the way construction workers suddenly stopped pounding nails to wave to the players as they rolled by atop double-decker buses. Or perhaps it was how the car salesmen at Felix Chevrolet suddenly forgot about deals and bargains as the Lakers entered the intersection of Figueroa and Jefferson.

The coach stood to the side and watched as his team executed its final play of the NBA season to perfection. It’s the one that had worked nine previous times. This wasn’t his famed triangle offense, this was the celebration circle. Phil Jackson, the architect, smiled as his Los Angeles Lakers, each of them armed with a champagne bottle, popped corks and doused each other with bubbly late Sunday night after winning their 15th title—and first since 2002—with a 99-86 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 5.

As great as Kobe Bryant is, one player wasn’t going to beat the Orlando Magic. LeBron James learned that lesson last round. Bryant didn’t have to. He had loads of help in the NBA Finals, with four teammates scoring in double figures in the 99-86 Game 5 victory last night that gave the Lakers a 15th championship. Bryant scored 30 points and was the finals MVP, but he wouldn’t be lofting any trophies without the help he got from a solid group that turned out to be the perfect complement to him.

LOS ANGELES—Lucky to have a second chance, the Los Angeles Lakers grabbed it. Kobe Bryant and Co. held on and are in control of the NBA Finals—just barely. Orlando rookie Courtney Lee missed a potential winning layup as regulation ended, giving Los Angeles another shot. Pau Gasol scored seven points in overtime as the Lakers, so dominant in the series opener, survived with a 101-96 win over the Magic in Game 2 last night.

In a perfect world, even the most talented basketball performers would spend four years in college. They would grow as players and people, read the classics, study economics and perhaps learn another language before pursing a professional career. But the world of college and professional basketball is imperfect, made more so by the rule that says players must be 19 years old—American players also must be out of high school for a year—before they are eligible to play in the NBA. The NBA instituted this rule in 2005.

His smile has vanished, replaced by something closer to a scowl. His days of joking around are seemingly on hold. Kobe Bryant has gotten very serious. He has that look. It’s the cold-blooded, get-out-of-my-way-or-pay glare he’ll shoot at a teammate who messes up or an opponent who dares to try and stop him. Bryant is poised to strike. The NBA Finals are in his sights.

LOS ANGELES Kobe Bryant is staring down the prospect of sharing the court with Superman again. Only this time, it’s Dwight Howard and not Shaquille O’Neal who’s wearing the cape that Bryant wants to tug on. Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers will be trying to win their first NBA title without O’Neal when the finals open Thursday against Howard and the Orlando Magic.

Kobe Bryant and his wife are suing their former housekeeper, accusing her of violating her contract by talking to the media about the family’s private affairs.