People are no longer shocked at what Manny Pacquiao is doing to opponents. After annihilating the well-respected Miguel Cotto on November 14, Bob Arum, who has been in boxing for over 43 years, said Pacquiao was the best fighter he had ever seen... even better than Ali, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Marvin Hagler.

For five plus years now, boxing fans have been awestruck by Pacquiao's uncanny combination of speed, power, defense, and smarts that have made many consider him to be the most balanced boxer the sport has ever seen.

What makes Pacquiao special is his ability to confuse an opponent because he can hit you at so many angles with such unrelenting speed that you won't even have the chance to counterpunch. What makes it even harder for opponents is that Manny has a chin of steel. He'll take your punch but the punch he hit you with is usually more deadly.

Without a doubt, Manny Pacquiao is the Bruce Lee of boxing. The late martial arts legend did the exact same thing to his opponents - speed, power, balance, smarts, and the killer instinct to finish you off.

Pacquiao's killer instinct is also reminiscent of a young Mike Tyson, but with more agility and balance in his feet.

Pacquiao will have very little trouble dispatching Floyd "Pretty Boy" Mayweather when they fight possibly in 2010.

Mayweather, although still undefeated, is on the decline in my opinion. Four of his last five fights since 2006 have been decisions, clearly suggesting that he can't finish off opponents of high caliber.  

He wins by points with his quickness, jabs, and one-two combinations and that's why he has a ton of unanimous decision wins. Though elusive, Mayweather has never faced a fighter that's stronger and just as elusive and fast.

Manny, meanwhile, has convincingly knocked out four of his last five opponents. This suggest that he is only getting better because at the same time Manny is moving up in weight. And it can be argued that Manny's last five opponents are just as good, if not better, than Mayweather's last five opponents.

Bottom line: Manny is stronger and tougher than the Pretty Boy. Manny KO over Mayweather in the fifth round.

The NBA season is only a week and a half young yet some things are already quite noticeable and permanent trends are starting to take shape...

The Boston Celtics are not playing down to their competition and are out to prove that they are the best team in the league. Their 14.7 average win margin is evidence of this. Rajon Rondo is second in the league in assists, first in steals, and is easily among the top five PGs in the league. The additions of Shelden Williams, Marquis Daniels, and Rasheed Wallace make the C's a better and more athletic team than their 2008 championship squad that had James Posey, P.J. Brown, and Sam Cassell. They will easily have the best record in the East this year...

The Cleveland Cavaliers are mediocre and I'm not sold, making last year even more of a fluke. Their coaching is horrendous. Mike Brown should be fired. TNT's Charles Barkley has called him out albeit indirectly, saying "I don't know why they don't listen to me," referring to the Cavs' lack of an offensive system suited to their players' talents. They're extremely boring to watch, Lebron James goes 1-on-5 every time, and they acquire talented players like Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker but don't know how to incorporate them...

Meanwhile, Shaquille O'Neal is proving that he is no longer relevant in this league. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Phoenix Suns are all of a sudden 10 times better without Shaq. As I've always maintained, O'Neal slows down an offense and his poor defense on the pick-and-roll is a total liability. He will not average 10 rebounds. He will never shoot well from the line. He doesn't have a go-to move in the low post. And if Mike Brown knew anything at all, he'd have O'Neal come off the bench whether The Big Freeze liked it or not. But of course, Brown doesn't have the balls to do something like that...

Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat are impressing me thus far. They have five players averaging double figures, and Quentin Richardson is proving to be a great fit for their style of play. The maturing Marion Chalmers is averaging over 2 steals per game, Michael Beasley seems to be more comfortable on the court this year, and Udonis Haslem is a double-double machine. Who needs Shaq?...

The battle for the Southeast Division between Orlando, Miami, and Atlanta is going to be something to watch...

Although the Denver Nuggets have started strong, I still expect the Portland Trailblazers to win the Northwest Division because Greg Oden looks really good and Denver has no one to contend with him once he becomes a beast. Plus Portland's depth will bode well for them as the season prolongs, whereas Denver's lack of bench play will ultimately wear on their ability to keep pace.

Are the Phoenix Suns for real? Don't get too excited Suns fans because all it takes is for Steve Nash's back to flare up again before Phoenix is back to mediocrity. Nash had plenty of rest this summer as did the rest of the team, which explains why the Suns are fresh and seemingly runnin' and gunnin' just like the old days. But I have a strong hunch they won't be able to keep this up...

The most disappointing team in the league is New Orleans. Not too long ago, people were talking about the Hornets as championship contenders. At the pace they're going, they're lottery bound. I've always maintained that the no-defense playing three-point shooting one-dimensional Peja Stojakovic has killed this team night in and night out the last two years. His inability to do other things on the court besides shoot threes hurts them tremendously. I can understand if he's making long range shots like he did in Sactown but those days are long gone just as Vladimir Radmanovic's Seattle days. L.A. traded Radmanovic to Charlotte and instantly improved. Coach Byron Scott needs to ship Peja out of town and do the same...

Really scary thought: The Lakers are 5-1 without Pau Gasol, their second best player and arguably the most complete big man in the world. Which is allowing the emerging Andrew Bynum to develop into an All-Star, which he will be this year. Ron Artest is beginning to show why the Lakers wanted him instead of Trevor Ariza. He is averaging 13 ppg, 5.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 steals. His all-around play, physicality, and ability to post up smaller defenders are all things Ariza has yet to develop and it is already evident after 6 games...

Meanwhile, Lamar Odom is leading the team in three offensive categories (rebounds, assists, blocks), and you can see his championship swagger all over his body and face. He's as confident and tough as ever, and I will never call him Odumb ever again. Odom is arguably the most valuable player on this Lakers team. With the Kardashian's now in attendance at Lakers home games, Odom is playing with emotion every game and is as consistent as ever...

Most disappointing Laker and candidate to be traded away by the deadline: Sasha Vujacic. It's obvious that this machine has a tag that says "Batteries not included". Unfortunately, we've already seen the best of Sasha and his days are numbered.

The REAL MVP Kobe Bryant: Leading the league in scoring at 34.7 ppg, second in the NBA in steals at just under 3 per game, and still unstoppable from anywhere on the court. Lebron who? The beat goes on...

There is a strong possibility the Lakers can send four players to the All-Star Game in February. Bryant,Gasol, and Bynum are pretty much locks to play. Artest has an excellent chance considering 'Melo, Kevin Durant, and Rudy Gay are the only other legitimate All-Stars at the small forward position in the west. Odom has an outside chance to make it as well. The last time the Lakers sent four players to the All-Star game was in '98 when Kobe, Shaq, Nick Van Exel, and Eddie Jones all played in MSG... 

My early season prediction on how the East and West will be seeded come playoff time: EAST - 1. Boston 2. Orlando 3. Miami 4. Cleveland 5. Atlanta 6. Chicago 7. Toronto 8. Charlotte, WEST - 1. Lakers 2. Portland 3. San Antonio 4. Denver 5. Dallas 6. Phoenix 7. Utah 8. Houston

East Finals - Boston over Orlando, West Finals - Lakers over San Antonio

NBA Finals - Lakers over Boston in six.

 

It is often said that sports is a microcosm of society. Even in a depressed economy the rich continue to get richer, and the poor... well... stay exactly the same.

With NBA powerhouses stockpiling their rosters with more beef, talent, and experience, one has to wonder... who will come out of this mess to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy come June 2010?

Here's an early assessment of what the top teams in each conference did this offseason in order to have a decent shot at dethroning the 15-time world champs.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. L.A. Lakers

What they did last year:  The best franchise in pro sports made their sixth Finals appearance this decade and captured its fourth title. They were the deepest and most balanced roster in the league and their youth, athleticism, exuberance, and overall length allowed them to create matchup hell for every team they faced en route to an 81-24 record (.770 win pctg)

What they did to improve:  What they sacrificed in losing the youth and athleticism of Trevor Ariza became offset with what they gained from the addition of defensive standout Ron Artest - bravado, beef, and a boiling hunger to win a title. The purple-n-gold machine also re-signed do-it-all forward Lamar Odom, keeping the nucleus intact for years to come. Title experience and undertaking the journey also count immensely, especially for players like Andrew Bynum, Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, and Sasha Vujacic. It's an intangible that cannot be measured or overlooked.

2010 outlook:  Once again the Lakers are the favorites to win it all. Once again they have the greatest weapon in Kobe Bryant. Once again they have the best coach in Phil Jackson. The assault keeps on happening.

Overall Grade:  A-

2. San Antonio Spurs

What they did last year:  It seemed like a decade ago the last time the Spurs were ousted in the first round of the playoffs and then this year happened. Despite the coaching excellence of Greg Popovich, the once formidable Spurs couldn't weather the storm that was Manu Ginobili's ankle injury. As a result, they had a season to forget which culminated in an embarrassing opening round effort against the Dallas Mavericks.

What they did to improve:  The only team in the offseason to address all of their needs. They picked up career 20-point scorer Richard Jefferson to provide insurance at the two and three in case Ginobili can't pull through. They signed dependable veteran forward Antonio McDyess to provide much needed help inside for the aging yet still game Tim Duncan. And they managed to steal Dejuan Blair in the second round, who's arguably the most polished low post player in the draft not named Blake Griffin. If that wasn't enough, they added shot blocker deluxe Theo Ratliff to shore up the center position. The Spurs mean business in 2009-'10.

2010 outlook:  Coach Popovich stated recently, "If we don't win it all next year, you might as well fire me." It's championship or bust in San Antonio since we all know this may be their last hurrah.

Overall Grade:  A+

3. Dallas Mavericks

What they did last year:  A late season surge proved that Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, and co. were still among the top teams in the west until the upstart Denver Nuggets thwarted their run in the postseason. The Mavs' lack of size and strength inside eventually caught up with them.

What they did to improve:  Get smaller, which means they're catering to Kidd's style of play. Owner Mark Cuban is hoping the additions of Shawn Marion, Tim Thomas, Drew Gooden, and Antoine Wright can make them more athletic and allow them to outscore opponents a la the Phoenix Suns of '05-'07.

2010 outlook:  Dallas will be fun to watch, they will score a ton of points, and they'll run like there's no tomorrow. But that's about all we're going to get from them because in this league we all know that teams have to play defense and outrebound opponents if they want to become legitimate title contenders.

Overall Grade:  B+

 

4. Portland Trailblazers

What they did last year:  Gain much needed playoff experience. Losing to the battle tested Houston Rockets made men out of Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and the rest of the young Blazers. Much-hyped center Greg Oden didn't have the opportunity to develop his game to the max and showcase his stuff because of nagging nick-nack injuries. International sensation Rudy Fernandez was a bright spot, as was the Blazers' continued success at home against the Lakers.

What they did to improve:  It's difficult to say whether or not the signing of veteran PG Andre Miller benefits this young team. Roy needs the ball in his hands most of the time to be an impact and so does Miller. It's up to Andre to adjust his game and fit in  if this experiment has any chance of working. Nevertheless, the deep and talented Blazers got better just by participating in the playoffs for the first time since Scottie Pippen was around.

2010 outlook:  If Oden can stay healthy and turn into a 15-10-3 type of player on a nightly basis, Portland immediately becomes major contenders in the west. They are the one team that gives the Lakers the most matchup problems. Barring injury to any of their top three players, the future is bright for this group.

Overall Grade:  B

5. Denver Nuggets

What they did last year:  Surprised everyone by coming within two wins of reaching the NBA Finals. Of course, this was all due to the acquisition of Chauncey Billups and the maturation of Carmelo Anthony.

What they did to improve:  Not much. Losing sharpshooter Linas Kleiza overseas will affect bench production as the season wears on. Re-signing Birdman was huge, but the Nuggets did to nothing to address their biggest weakness - their lack of size and strength at the power forward and center positions.

2010 outlook:  Although 'Melo seems to be on the verge of taking it to the next level as a player, Billups is also aging and may perhaps be losing a step. Denver's bench is thin, and they will be hardpressed to duplicate last season's success.

Overall Grade:  C- 

Other Notables

New Orleans Hornets:  Adding Emeka Okafor gives them just as solid a defender as Tyson Chandler but an even better low post scorer. Overall Grade:  B

L.A. Clippers:  My hunch is they'll stay healthy, Baron Davis will find himself again, Eric Gordon will emerge, and Blake Griffin will be even better than advertised. Overall Grade:  A

Utah Jazz:  A team coached by Jerry Sloan will never underachieve. They did nothing to add to their roster, which means I expect them to deal either Carlos Boozer or Andrei Kirilenko soon, perhaps to Miami for Michael Beasley + a player or two. Overall Grade:  D

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Boston Celtics

What they did last year:  Took east champs Orlando to seven games without their best player, Kevin Garnett. If not for his season ending injury, the Celtics could have just as easily repeated as NBA champions. Do-it-all PG Rajon Rondo blossomed all season long, catapulting himself into one of the game's best point guards. For the first time in his career, Sugar Ray Allen showed signs of slowing down.

What they did to improve:  Acquire some KG insurance, which they lacked against Orlando. Though Glen Davis proved more than worthy in the playoffs, he still didn't provide the threat that Rasheed Wallace would have posed against Dwight Howard and the Magic. Boston has a ton of veteran leadership, and provided they all remain healthy they will improve defensively with the addition of Wallace and have more offensive punch off the bench with newcomer Marquis Daniels.

2010 Outlook:  Indeed, the Celtics are aging but they're still hungry that's for sure. Boston is the best in the league when it comes to defensive rotations and clogging up the middle of the lane, but it remains to be seen how Garnett's knee will hold up and who will emerge from the Celtics' bench to give them quality minutes as Ray Allen's production is expected to decline.

Overall Grade:  A

2. Orlando Magic

What they did last year:  Jump on Superman's shoulders and ride his coattail all the way to the NBA Finals. The big surprise was the emergence of PG Jameer Nelson, who made his first All-Star team.

What they did to improve:  Because they had no answer for Kobe Bryant in the Finals, they went ahead and added Vince Carter to solidify the shooting guard position and give Michael Peitrus much needed help. The Magic also added some beef down low in Brandon Bass and bolstered their running attack by picking up Matt Barnes. They're deeper and more formidable, and it's now up to Coach Stan Van Gundy to make all the pieces fit together.

2010 outlook:  Expect Dwight Howard to improve his low post game and increase his scoring output. A more balanced attack should bode well for Orlando, and having a go-to guy in Carter will more than suffice after losing Hedo Turkoglu to Toronto. But Carter is no savior for once again the fate of the Magic rests squarely on Dwight Howard's shoulders.

Overall Grade:  A-

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

What they did last year:  Took the league by storm, posting a franchise best 66-16 regular season record (39-2 at The Q) only to falter in the ECF with home court advantage. Lebron James earned his first MVP award, but realized he needs a quality big man on his side if he truly ever wants to be regarded as a king.

What they did to improve:  Switch from super unleaded to diesel. GM Danny Ferry brought in what's left of Shaquille O'Neal in order to contain Howard, KG, and 'Sheed, but forgetting that O'Neal is now just a fraction of what he once was. But he's still Shaq, and that's better than what most teams have playing the center position these days. The Cavs also got longer and more defensive minded with the additions of high-flyer Jamario Moon and 6-6 SG Anthony Parker. Anderson Varejao re-upping was huge, and big Zydrunas Ilgauskas instantly becomes one of the best backup centers in the league.

2010 outlook:  The pieces are there. Cleveland now has a nice combination of veterans, youth, athleticism, and long range shooters. But as we all know... when there is enough talent, the overriding factor then becomes coaching. Can Mike Brown live to expectations? My money says he'll get the ax before Lebron can even whisper the words "free agent".

Overall Grade:  B+

Other Notables

Atlanta Hawks:  They virtually have the same lineup that took Boston to seven games in 2008 only with more playoff experience. Instead of Josh Childress, they upgrade to Jamal Crawford. They'll win about 45 games but they still won't have enough strength and size to contend with the beasts of the east. Overall Grade:  C+

Miami Heat:  All-world guard Dwyane Wade is running out of patience with Miami's rebuilding project. Pat Riley wants him to stay and be patient, which means Riley will do anything it takes to improve the supporting cast. If the Heat can find a way to land Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh, look out. Overall Grade:  D

Chicago Bulls:  Derrick Rose has proven that he will be legit for many years to come. But the Bulls are stocked with twos and threes and have little to show for inside the paint. After losing Ben Gordon to Detroit, the Bulls did nothing to improve the roster. That spells doom in the east unless, of course, Stoudemire or Boozer come to town. Overall Grade:  D

Toronto Raptors:  The NBA's only team from outside the United States fittingly has the most international players on any team's roster. You know what this means, right? They're going to run, shoot, run, shoot, run, shoot, run, run, and shoot. Which also means they're going to give up more points that they score. On the bright side, Hedo can do. Overall Grade:  B-

So there it is... a preseason look at the preseason. Truncated yet informative.

I'm sure you can tell by now that I really can't wait 'til the season starts.

I enjoy sports. I love my teams. That's why I keep score.

 

August is, without a doubt, the most uneventful month in all of sports. The NFL hasn't started. Major League Baseball divisional races have yet to hit their stride. The NHL is nonexistent, and the best the NBA has to offer is the upcoming league schedule.

But I'm still keeping score.

First off... let's not forget Tiger Woods, who keeps on winning and building his legend like my boy Kobe Bryant. Right now, I don't know who has been more dominant over the last five years in their respective sports, Tiger or Roger Federer.

At least Federer has Rafa Nadal pushing him to be better than ever. Woods' longtime rival, lefty Phil Mickelson, hasn't been relevant for quite some time now while up-and-comer Anthony Kim needs to deflate his ego a bit so he can focus on what it takes to be consistent enough to give Tiger a run for his money. So I'll go with Federer over Woods, plus tennis has been more fun to watch as of late.

What is so great about the overall landscape of sports right now is that there are so many great individual athletes who are super-duper stars, if you know what I mean. They are legends in the making, uplifting personalities who are great for the camera and the community, not to mention their unparalleled excellence as an athlete on the court, field, track, or pool. Simply put, they are dominant.

Like Michael Phelps, the record setting Aquaman. They shouldn't even be called world records anymore because he keeps breaking his own records. Every time he bests his previous mark, they should just call it the "Phelps."

As in... "Ladies and gentlemen, a new phelps has just been set in the 100m Butterfly!!" Are they sure this guy doesn't have fins tucked under those LZRs or whatever those suits are called?

Then there's world class sprinter Usain Bolt, who seems to be getting faster and faster with every meet. Mark my words, it won't be long until he clocks in at 9.60 in the 100. Never before has an athlete's name been more fitting to his game than Bolt's.

Meanwhile, somewhere out there the great but retired Michael Jordan is thinking, "If only I were still in the league today..." Truth is, however, Jordan is still making an impact. His business enterprises are his holy grail. He still conducts basketball camps. He still plays pickup ball. And the Air Jordan sneaker is still the most sought after among all the brands (although Nike Dunk SBs have now hit the market as the latest fad generating all the hype among sneakerheads). For those of you who are not well versed in the sneakerworld, SB is the acronym for skateboard.

But really though... I don't care how great and legendary Kobe or Lebron James both become, when it's all said and done Air Jordans will forever be heads above the rest when it comes to basketball kicks. After all, they were the first $100 and $200 basketball shoes to hit the market.

Speaking of Dunk SBs... I am officially putting the stamp on a nickname for my favorite Los Angeles Laker Bench Mobster, Shannon Brown. From here on out, I am calling the high-flying ultra athletic guard, SB Dunk. BTW, there should be no licensing issues for Brown because he sports Nikes anyway. It's not like he's got a jumpman tattoo on his leg and wears Reebok or anything like that... Yo Shannon, holla at ya boy if ya like what I got for ya!!!

Slugger Manny Ramirez has been in a slump of late yet the L.A. Dodgers continue to have the best record in Major League Baseball. Slugger Vladimir Guerrero has been in a slump all year yet the L.A. Angels continue to have the second best record in Major League Baseball. Out of the top five teams in baseball (Dodgers, Angels, Red Sox, Yankees, and Cardinals), only the two California teams deferred from making any huge trades for any big time players before the trade deadline. Something tells me this means something...

A slugger of another kind, hard-hitting Filipino and the best fighter in the word pound-for-pound, Manny Pacquiao, has agreed to fight Puerto Rican sensation Miguel Cotto in November at 145 lbs. It's obvious that Pacman is really attempting to cement his status as the best boxer in the world, literally speaking. He's defeated the best that Mexico had to offer (Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Oscar De La Hoya), he's dethroned the pride of England (Ricky Hatton), and now he's looking to oust arguably the best fighter from the Caribbean Islands. And if he defeats Cotto, there's no doubt he'll be challenging the best American fighter in either Sugar Shane Mosley or Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao's making a statement here, boxing fans. He wants to prove he's the best ever. In fact, this is really reminding me of Game of Death, Bruce Lee's last film in which Lee displayed his mastery of martial arts and his ability to adapt to any fighting style as he fought and defeated a karate champion, judo champion, weapons expert, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as he was ascending the tower of death on his way to exact revenge on the people who tried to murder him.

What I love about Pacquiao is that he isn't scared to fight anyone. He'll fight the next best challenger right away. There's no posturing with Manny. And he wastes no time - he fights twice a year against the best fighters in his weight class. You see him smiling all the time and he's an extremely nice and generous person, but he's all business in the ring. Then he'll waste no time letting you know that he's going to knock you out. He's a cross between Mike Tyson and Bruce Lee, that's for sure.

And when the heck are you going to sign, Mr. Michael Crabtree? Thousands of Niner fans bought your jersey, you're threatening to sit out and get drafted all over again in 2010 by another team, and now because of the recession stores are no longer accepting returns on worn merchandise. If and when you sign, you better be as great as advertised.

I love my teams. I love sports. So I keep score.

Thanks for reading my stuff. Holla at ya boy!

 

 

 

When Phil Jackson came to the Lakers during the 1999-2000 season, Dr. Jerry Buss knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted to take the blueprint for success that Jackson had in Chicago and implant it onto the Laker fabric.

Because there was no longer Showtime and the players who orchestrated the show, it was obvious the system could never be repeated in '99 with Shaq, Kobe, Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, et al. Therefore, he had to bring in the Zenmaster to install a different machine that would eventually capture three more NBA titles.

Although Jackson has always had the best superstars on his teams, the common denominator to all of his championships has always been the triangle system. That's been the constant, and that's the main reason Jackson has the most rings of any coach in the history of pro basketball. It's easy to claim that Jackson won because he had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaq, and Kobe. But other great coaches also had Karl Malone, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Dominique Wilkins, and Bernard King and never won titles. Having great players helps but it truly is the system and the way management and coaches run it that makes dynasties possible. 

His 1996 champion Chicago Bulls were special. The team had a perfect combination of veterans who'd been there done that (MJ, Pip, Rodman with the Bad Boys, John Salley with the Bad Boys, and James "Buddha" Edwards with the Bad Boys), veterans who were hungry for a ring (Ron Harper, Steve Kerr, Bill Wennington, Luc Longley), international talent (Toni Kukoc), and young players who were fundamentally sound (Randy Brown, Jason Caffey, Dickey Simpkins). All in all the team was deep, athletic, long, and extremely defensive minded.

Thirteen years later, Dr. Buss and Coach Jackson are writing another similar story in Los Angeles. The makeup of both teams are surprisingly similar. The Lakers have veterans who've been through the wars (Kobe, D-Fish, L.O., Luke Walton, and now, Andrew Bynum). They added a veteran who is hungry for a ring (Ron Artest). There is international talent (Pau Gasol, Sasha Vujacic). And they're full of young players who are solid and coachable (Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar, Josh Powell, and DJ Mbenga).

Although we have yet to see if the Lakers of 2009-'10 can even come close to reaching 70 wins, we do know that they won 65 last year without Artest. So 70 wins is definitely reachable this year with an improved roster and a more experienced and battle-tested group.

I'm not going to go as far to say that this Lakers edition will be better than the '96 Bulls, but I will say that the make-up of both teams is extremely similar. We all know Kobe is a lot like MJ in skill, leadership, and competitive level. It's only obvious that Phil would want to build a roster very similar to the one he's had the most success with.

I dared myself to compare the top rotation players for both teams and here's what I came up with:

Michael Jordan vs. Kobe Bryant - Before the '95-'96 season began, MJ had three titles, two Olympic gold medals, and numerous other individual accolades that are too many to list. Bryant, right now, already has four titles, one Olympic gold medal, and countless individual accomplishments that are too many to list. And he's younger than Jordan was when MJ won his fourth ring. Edge: Even.

Scottie Pippen vs. Lamar Odom - Pip played lockdown defense, scored 20 on any given night, plays at least three positions comfortably, and is among the NBA's 50 Greatest Players of All Time. L.O. guards wingmen and low post players, rebounds like a beast, can score 15-20 on any given night, plays all five positions, and is a walking mismatch and double-double machine. Edge: BULLS.

Dennis Rodman vs. Ron Artest - The Worm was the best rebounder in the game several years in a row during his prime. Another one of his greatest assets was his ability to get under the opponents' skin and basically neutralize the other team's best low post player. Artest is arguably the best lockdown defender in the game today. At 6-7, 265 he can post up smaller twos and threes but is also quick enough to take you off the dribble and knock down outside shots. "Run-Run", as Lamar Odom calls him, can give you 20-25 on any given night while holding the other team's best wing player to well below his average. Edge: Even.

Toni Kukoc vs. Pau Gasol - At the time, Kukoc was the most highly regarded international player to play in the NBA. He was the Bulls third leading scorer and was the main sparkplug off the bench, doing virtually everything from scoring and assisting to being a floor leader as a point forward. He was also clutch. Gasol, the second leading scorer for the Lakers, is arguably the most complete big man in the game today. He commands double teams, which frees up L.O. and Andrew Bynum inside. He's a lock for a double-double every night and is the most consistent Laker other than Kobe. Without him, the Lakers don't get past the second round. Edge: LAKERS.

Ron Harper vs. Derek Fisher - Both are tough, heady veterans who probably know the intricacies of the triangle better than anybody else on the team. Both are intelligent players who play consistently solid defense, especially in the playoffs. Both have the knack for making key plays at the right moments. Both are always at the right place at the right time defensively. But Harper hasn't hit as many big clutch shots as Fisher. Edge: LAKERS.

Luc Longley vs. Andrew Bynum - Surprisingly, Longely was the fourth leading scorer for the Bulls during the regular season then slipped to fifth in the playoffs. His mid range game was superb for a big man and defensively he was dependable. At 7-2, he was able to clog the lane quite adequately and give just enough support for the greatest defensive triumvirate of all-time in Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman. Bynum, meanwhile, was the third leading scorer for the team during the season but slipped to sixth in the playoffs due to the lack of trust in his injured knee. However, Bynum's length and size are invaluable to the team. His role is to primarily provide interior defense, disrupt the lane, and block shots. His length allows the Lakers to match up against the other twin tower combinations in the league. Edge: LAKERS.

Steve Kerr vs. Jordan Farmar - Although Kerr didn't hit his famous NBA Finals game-winning clutch jumper against Utah until 1998, he was perhaps the most reliable player to come off the Bulls' bench. He consistently made over 50% of his threes and always seemed to make the right play. Farmar spearheads the Lakers' "Bench Mob" attack with his speed and ability to push the ball. His outside shot is respectable but he tends to rely on the three a little too much instead of being more of a floor general on the court. Edge: BULLS.

Jud Buechler vs. Luke Walton - Buechler had a decent mid range game and was primarily a spot-up shooter who played adequate defense. Buechler averaged only 11 minutes per game and was a marginal contributor, while Walton's role was more crucial to the team's success because he was a regular starter during the season. Walton is an excellent passer and almost plays a point forward role for the team. Walton hit some big shots during the playoffs this year and is the type of player who steps up his game during the postseason. He plays just as well starting as he does off the bench. Edge: LAKERS.

Phil Jackson (full beard) vs. Phil Jackson (clean shaved w/ soul patch) - With the '96 Bulls, Jackson didn't have to do as much teaching with so many veterans that included Jordan, Pippen, Harper, Rodman, Salley, and Edwards on the team. Jackson has had to earn his money more with the Lakers considering the team's average age is only 26 and that he's had to guide them through the all the trials and tribulations. Despite all this and then some (his age, hip, and cumbersome health issues), he's managed to take them to the last two NBA Finals, winning one title. Edge: LAKERS.

OVERALL EDGE: Lakers +3

The Verdict: What I'm saying here is that this Lakers team has the potential to be better than the Bulls of '96. I believe they're deeper, more athletic and talented, and they're bigger,stronger, and younger. Many will say that no team will ever be better than the '96 Bulls but really though... how can one say that nothing can ever be better than something when the future still hasn't been revealed? I'm sure when the Lakers went 69-13 back in '72, most people were saying that they were the best of all-time, period. And then the Bulls won 72 and people said it again. Someday, there will be a team that wins 75 games and goes undefeated in the playoffs. The Lakers went 15-1 en route to the title in 2001 after winning only 56 games in the regular season.

As an owner, coach, and player, the goal is to always improve upon the past, continue to redefine greatness, and build on your legacy. Anything is possible, and I'm sure Phil and Dr. Buss are thinking the same thing.

History will always be re-created, and I'm sure my man KOBE BRYANT is thinking the same thing too.

THE LAKERS ASSAULT CONTINUES...