Kobe's Lakers have what it takes (Chris Carlson -- AP)

I do remember the 2004 ALCS, (The Red Sox won the series four games to three having been down three games to none in the best-of-seven series.) but with the Lakers up 3-1 in the 2009 best-of-seven NBA Finals, it appears a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ Kobe wins his fourth ring, but his coveted first without that famous guy with all those Twitter followers.

Yes, he’ll finally win without Shaq, but it’s not like he’s leading the Cavs to the title.

Don’t get me wrong, Kobe is a great player—in everyone’s top two—but he’s also on the best team. It’s not pure vindication. His team is superior.

This shouldn’t be about Kobe. It’s about an amazing organization that pulled all the right strings and had some luck along the way. The stars are aligned for the Lakers—nearly lost Kobe, Pau Gasol fell into their laps, Derek Fisher comes back—in winning their first without Shaq.

Kobe has been the best player on the floor, but the supporting cast has been every bit as championship-caliber.

So skilled in the post and not intimidated by anyone, Gasol is the most Tim Duncan-like player since Tim Duncan, maybe better than Duncan at this point.

Derk Fisher is Steve Kerr and John Paxson rolled into one, plus he’s a good ball-handler, great defender, and leader on the floor.

Trevor Ariza plays in control, hits shots when it matters, and is a physical, yet quick-footed defender.

These three players have all been instrumental in L.A.’s playoff success.

Put LeBron on the Lakers and they don’t lose. Put Gasol on the Cavs and they don’t lose.

Kobe got his first without Shaq, but he had almost as much help this go around as he did winning three to start the decade.

Proves it takes more than one great player to win. Then again, LeBron could tell you all about that.

Players win games, but Lakers management put those players on the court. General Manager Mitch Kupchak deserves recognition.

So you’ll no longer be able to say Kobe can’t win without Shaq. Now we’ll say he can’t win without Derek Fisher.

Now maybe next year we’ll get that Kobe versus LeBron battle we all crave.