Instead, Kobe will be facing a squad that consists of cutthroat veterans who want to win the way Tiger Woods wants to win. The Spurs have Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, but they also have shrewd role players in Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry, Brent Barry, Michael Finley and Kurt Thomas.

They have demonstrated an unwavering collective confidence. Kobe has the same titanium will to win, but because these Lakers have not won a title behind him yet, it’s still unclear whether he can imbue his teammates with the same level of belief.

This series will also be a test for Kobe because this season’s series against San Antonio hasn’t exactly been a mashing. True, the teams split, 2-2. But in the first game on Nov. 13 at San Antonio — a 107-92 Spurs victory — Bowen outscored Bryant, 23-18. In the second game, on Dec. 13 in Los Angeles, the Lakers prevailed, 102-97, and Bryant scored 30. But the Spurs were without both Duncan and Parker in that one.

The Spurs rolled in the third game on Jan. 23 at San Antonio, 103-91, despite 29 points and 12 rebounds from Bryant. And in the final game of the season series on April 13 in Staples Center, the only one in which Gasol performed in purple-and-gold finery, Bryant scored 20 and sat out the fourth quarter as the Lakers waltzed, 106-85. But in that one, Ginobili didn’t play because of a sore groin.

In the two Lakers victories this season, the Spurs were without two superstars in one game and one in another. Now both teams are at full strength, if you don’t count Los Angeles' Andrew Bynum, who has been out since Jan. 13 because of a knee injury. But the Lakers have gone much of the way without him and have shown they’re not dependent on his contributions.

These are the real Spurs, the ones who rise up at this time of year like a mob of tall vampires in search of blood. It’s extremely difficult to slay them. Kobe is no Buffy, but he’s the closest NBA equivalent.

This is the moment Kobe has been waiting for. This is the kind of stage he likes, the type of opponent that gets his mojo working.

But most of all, this is the kind of team he has longed to have around him. When the Lakers acquired Gasol, Bryant said this: "Now it’s time to walk the walk." That goes double for him.

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