LOS ANGELES – LeBron James isn't one for quiet entrances, and he emerged from the training room Thursday and stepped toward his locker-room stall at Staples Center to prepare for his final contest against Kobe Bryant in especially loud fashion, with the music of Snoop Dogg blaring and providing the appropriate soundtrack for a West Coast clash. Do-rag atop his dome, head bobbing as he recited the lyrics of "Pump Pump," James got pumped up as he set out to close the chapter on a rivalry that never was and participate in a nationally televised contest that would provide a couple hours of entertainment but will be long forgotten by the time his season comes to a conclusion – as most expect, in June.

"Close your eyes 'cause you can't see me," James shouted as reporters with cameras and cellphones documented his movements, "I quit school 'cause of recess ..."

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James has generated a considerable share of attention in recent weeks through a confusing and cryptic social-media blitz that featured workout videos, cartoons and passive-aggressive subtweets to guessing-game targets that either signaled extreme frustration or extreme boredom with what seems like an unimpeded sixth straight trip to the NBA Finals.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have had their struggles – inconsistent focus, complacency and sometimes non-existent chemistry – but they have the talent and experience to win the Eastern Conference for the second year in row despite rumblings in Toronto or Boston. James realizes that isn’t enough. He has just two rings and the window to claim more – and fulfill his pledge to Northeast Ohio – has been threatened to close early by the unexpected arrival and dominance of Stephen Curry and the defending champion Golden State Warriors. The Warriors remain the bar that must be hurdled and remain the source of James’ angst as Cleveland has lost five straight to Golden State, dating to last season. And while James’ last game against Bryant on Thursday night was a pleasant duel between two all-time greats, it also provided a reminder of the urgency that James must feel each time he steps on the floor this season.

“If I was him, the thing I’d be obsessing over is dealing with those boys up in Golden State,” Bryant said after his Los Angeles Lakers lost 120-108 to the Cavs. “So, from a leadership perspective, how you can construct the team and the personality of the team? You have to make sure that you’re ready to do battle for that if you’re fortunate enough to get there and Golden State is fortunate enough to get there. That’s the problem. From that standpoint you have to figure that out. You can’t leave it to chance … you have to really study. Hopefully his mind is focused on that and not focused on where he is in his career and how far he is. You have to focus on the problem.”

At 31, James is the same age as Bryant when Bryant won his fifth and final championship in 2010. Bryant seemed destined to at least make one more serious push to catch Michael Jordan’s ring total after a seven-game NBA Finals slugfest with Boston. Instead, Bryant has mustered only two more playoff series victories as the deterioration of his body and eventually the Lakers team around him has left him with a farewell season in which the championship chase has been replaced by video tributes, standing ovations, serenades and parting gifts from opposing teams.

This end isn’t what Bryant intended, and James, a staunch student of the game, no doubt recognizes that he needs to collect a few more championships before his time on top of the East eventually expires. James has been relatively durable throughout his career, but Bryant was, too – until he ruptured his Achilles’ tendon, suffered a left knee fracture and sustained a torn labrum in his right shoulder in successive seasons. And, with 18 games remaining in his 13th regular season, James has already clocked more minutes than Bryant had through his first 13 seasons – and that doesn’t include the time spent participating in five international tournaments for Team USA from 2004-12.

After the Lakers upset the Warriors last Sunday, Bryant implored All-Star Draymond Green to make his teammates uncomfortable and provide the tension necessary to repeat as champions. Bryant didn’t know who could play that role for the Cavaliers. “It all depends on the personality, you have to be true to who you are and authentic, and I think every team should have that lightning rod because the happy-go-lucky stuff doesn’t work, I don’t care what anybody says. People’s perception is of the team, and you have to have that inner conflict, you have to have that person that’s really driving these things,” Bryant said. “From the Cavs’ perspective, it’s hard for me to tell from afar who should be that person. LeBron’s not that person. He brings people together, that’s what he does naturally and he’s phenomenal at it, but you have to have somebody else that’s going to create that tension. Maybe it’s Kyrie Irving.”

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