Kobe Bryant’s latest “Musecage” project, “Cavalier Kingdom” is about the rivalry between the Warriors and Cavaliers, the consensus nos. 1 and 2 teams in the NBA – in that order.
?? Canvas: Cavalier Kingdom, watch it here. @ESPNNBA pic.twitter.com/PPjigmGvpa
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) June 10, 2017
The video starts out with a childlike voice singing – almost eerily – “One and two. One and two. What is the difference between the two?”
The “one and two” singing could be referring to the Warriors and Cavaliers, or to LeBron James and Kevin Durant, the players who are nearly unanimously considered the first- and second-best players in the world. Indeed, as the video alternates between showing James and Durant dunking, it’s hard to imagine that Bryant isn’t trying to compare the two; especially in light of Bryant’s former rival Paul Pierce recently calling Durant the best player in the world.
The video then abandons the song, instead using a narrator (Bryant)’s voice over the highlights, discussing the “two crowns” of the Cavaliers – LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. This section of the video focuses on how all of the Cavs’ offense is created by either James or Irving.
It’s possible that Bryant was alluding back to his own former team here. After all, he says that the first crown, James, who “rules by power and force,” while Irving rules with “clever and cunningness.” The same words could be used to describe Shaquille O’Neal and Bryant. “Power and force” undersells James, who is a player of the highest intelligence. It’s a perfect description for Shaq, though. Plus we know that Bryant consider’s Irving to be a player made from the “Mamba Mentality” mold:
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) June 10, 2017
Bryant contrasts this two crown “dual monarchy” system with the Warriors’ “democratic” structure.
The Cavs won last year, but as Bryant notes at the end of his video, the Warriors’ addition of Durant makes Cleveland’s margin for error practically zero; Irving and James have to play a nearly perfect series just to have a chance to compete.
Overall, this was a great video by Bryant; it broke down the series in a fun and unique way and was accurate in its analysis.
