Speaking Up

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant looks worn out as he walks off the Pepsi Center Court in Denver, Colo. after Game 6 of the first round Western Conference against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets forced a deciding game Saturday in Los Angeles, Calif.

He wasn’t 100 percent. He was angry. He was alone. And most importantly, he was beat.

Kobe Bryant is without a doubt the most competitive basketball player in the National Basketball Association.

But when the Denver Nuggets forced a Game 7 at 10:30 p.m. Saturday inside the Staples Center with a 113-96 thrashing of the Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant was fed up – and rightfully so.

Overall, the Nuggets aren’t as skilled as the Lakers. They aren’t taller than them. But, when you’re two 7-foot-centers appear to have their mindsets elsewhere, Ty Lawson, JaVale McGee and Co. look more like a No. 1 seed rather than a No. 6. And the No. 3 Lakers appear destined for the NBA Draft Lottery in 2013 or whenever Bryant retires.

Most people didn’t see the Nuggets making it past Game 5. Bryant seemed to take this series lightly with nonchalant, generic comments throughout the series, but that changed after Game 6.

He subliminally pleaded for the return of Metta World Peace, who will be available after serving a seven-game suspension for elbowing Oklahoma City Thunder point guard James Harden April 22.

“He’s the one guy that I can rely on night in and night out to compete and play hard and play with that sense of urgency and no fear,” Bryant said. “I’m looking forward to having that by my side again.”

If that wasn’t a wake-up call to Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, then their alarms are on snooze until the offseason.

This was supposed to be Bryant’s “Flu game” that Michael Jordan orchestrated in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz.

Instead, it was a Nuggets victory in which nobody helped Bryant on either side of the ball.

The highlight of that 1997 game was Jordan hitting a 3-pointer with 25 seconds remaining, putting the Chicago Bulls up 3-2 and they went on to close the series one game later.

Most people remember Jordan’s heroics, but don’t forget about his teammates. Scottie Pippen put up a double-double, scoring 17 points and scooping up 10 rebounds. Luc Longley scored 12 points and Toni Kukoc scored nine points. Dennis Rodman grabbed rebounds to help the team effort, led by Jordan.

In Bryant’s “Flu game,” Bynum contributed a modest 11 points and 16 rebounds, but was beat down the court by Denver forward Kenneth Faried frequently and Gasol scored a whopping three points. Point guard Ramon Sessions did contribute 14 points and small forward Devin Ebanks scored 10 points, but the size was supposed to be the Lakers strength.

The much-smaller Nuggets scored 18 more points in the paint – a place Bynum and Gasol should call home.

Bryant’s comments didn’t just plead for World Peace (And yes, we’re talking basketball, not world peace).

Bryant was asked if his teammates matched his heart in Game 6. “No,” he said. “Of course they didn’t.”

Those comments are the perfect formula to get the Lakers into the second round against the Thunder.

Gasol, more than Bynum, know that he has to get his production up or he’ll find himself on the Dallas Mavericks. And we all know what happens to former Lakers who play for the Mavericks.

Those nonchalant comments in Games 1-5 were an unworried Bryant. Well, the Nuggets have his attention. Does that mean I think Bryant’s worried?

Obviously.

He can’t do it by himself. We’ve seen that formula fail the past two games. He needs his teammates and making them realize their faults will benefit them in Game 7.

Jordan was the real “King” of the NBA, LeBron James keeps it cool regardless of the situation, but Bryant uses words to get into the head of his teammates.

His former head coach, Phil Jackson, AKA the Zen Master, is known for his post-game antics. He called out referees and verbally attacked the opponent.

Bryant, he keeps the bulletin board material within.

In a series where all the material was provided to the Nuggets from Bynum, the Lakers finally have theirs.

And it couldn’t have come at a more crucial time.