The Celtics won their 17th championship Tuesday against Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers.  And they did it fewer games than it took them to dust off the eastern conference eighth seed Atlanta Hawks.  Make the final 131-92 Celtics.

Vastly considered underdogs, the Green and White practiced, persevered, and prevailed, lead by head coach Doc Rivers, the Big Three, and smothering team defense.  Some are calling it the best team defense in NBA Finals history.

But the 2007-2008 season is over and it is officially the off-season.  So where does this leave Kobe Bryant? The regular season MVP was out competed and outplayed by Boston's Paul Pierce who snatched the Finals MVP award.  

Just last summer amidst the NBA with its usual off-season rumors and a couple of controversies, dealt with a frustrated Bryant who, when asked, said the his time with the Lakers had ended.

Now, some ten months later, a recommitted Kobe has to address his future once again, with an NBA club who is young and talented, but minus Kobe, not championship calibre.  

Has his frustration grown?  Is it a factor that he, like Pierce, has only played for one NBA team?  Could he see himself in, say, an Atlanta Hawk uniform???  Let the speculation begin.

Kelly Bundle