OAKLAND – There is no rivalry between the Warriors and Lakers and, despite the geographical proximity, there never has been. The Lakers have been too good, for too long, too often treating the Warriors like the tiniest of speed bumps.
Thankfully, though, a window of hope has opened.
That’s the power and presence of one man, LeBron James, wearing a Lakers jersey.
LeBron’s status double trumps the post-Kobe versions of the Lakers, who barely belonged on the floor with the New Warriors. The teammates that will follow LeBron into Oracle Arena for a Christmas Day matchup with the Warriors surely know he is bigger than they, the biggest star in the game, perhaps in American sport.