(Best Friends)

First of all, did anyone else notice that the stat for percentage of teams that win the first game that end up winning the series changed from the Phoenix-San Antonio game to the Mavs-Hornets game? It was 83 for the first one, and became 79 for the second one I believe.

LeBrick James hits some lucky shots...

In a game that was far more interesting than I expected it to be, the Cavs pulled a close one out in the fourth behind another great performance by King James and solid performances from Big Z and Boobie. Some no doubt will point to those two missed free throws at the end by LeBron as points to be worried about, but I thought this game indicated that the Cavs have a little more heart than folks tend to give them credit for.

When the Spurs pull out a toughy it's because of their playoff experience, but for some reason when a team like the Cavs pull it out it's described as being not that big of a deal because "...game 2 is the one where the road team generally puts it all together". The announcers seemed a bit overly pro-Wizards with the way they kept building Agent Zero and Co. up.

Anyone else really looking forward to the fight that will break out between the two teams? I'm hoping for something a little like Knicks-Heat back in the day with LeBron taking down Arenas and Stevenson by incorporating that backwards flip into the pool he had in the LeBrons commercial, Ben Wallace suffocating Caron Butler with his 'fro, and Delonte West blinding Jamison with all those tats. Seriously Delonte, draw on a piece of paper like the rest of us.

Shaq discovers they key to not picking up a sixth foul is not playing defense...

I know these are two championship caliber teams and all, but wow if the defense down the stretch wasn't awful by both teams. Well I don't know, maybe the offense was just really good. Either way, it seemed like both squads were inviting one another to drop big shots on each other.

The only satisfying ending to that match up will be Shaq dropping a three ball at the buzzer in game seven right in the Big Fundamental's eye. Poor Diesel looked confused when Duncan got the ball at the three point line.

Ginobli and Parker were off in the first half when the Suns seemed to be cruising, but in true Spurs fashion the squad rallied and hit two straight clutch threes at the end of regulation and at the end of the first OT. Apparently Finley is still alive, and Duncan can hit the long ball as those are the things that made the series 1-0 Spurs instead of 0-1 Spurs.

I wonder how much Phoenix misses Kurt Thomas. Who was it that said it was a mistake letting him go? Ah yes, I believe it was Dizzle and myself.

Amare is REALLY good offensively, much better than I gave the guy credit for. He keeps fouling out like that though, and the Suns are going to be done quick in this series.

Great TV.

I look for Manu and TP's production in the the rest of the series, and Amare's ability to stay in the game, as indicators to how the series will go.

Mavs prove the importance of playoff choking experience...

Apparently that Chris Paul guy is kinda sorta good. After a really solid first half, the Mavs prove that they're not above choking away a game that really matters on the road just because they've been here before.

I know Dirk will get flack for the loss because that's just the way the world works, but the truth of the matter is that you can really credit Josh Howard's inability to score, Jason Kidd's inability to show he has a pulse, and the talent of CP3 with the Maverick's dropping the first game of a series I predict they'll lose in six or less.

Behind an amazing effort by Chris Paul where he scored most of his points in the second half, David West came alive, Tyson Chandler cleaned up on the glass, and Peja hit the shots he was supposed to hit, the Hornets rallied in half numero dos to take game one.

The Jazz have a five point lead with 1 minute gone in the second...

As I'm writing this there is eleven minutes left in the second quarter and the Jazz lead the Rockets by five. I'm not going to watch this game because both teams are boring and I saw this match up already last season. I'll probably periodically check the score, turn the game back on in the fourth, and hope that my Rockets pick doesn't end up being wrong.

7:19 PM, time to study for the test that'll decide 30% of my grade in my Management class. Thank you David Stern. The NBA, where robbing folks of crucial studying time happens. And of course rather than studying, I'm writing a blog complaining about a lack of study time in true idiot fashion.

Oh yeah, and anyone who wants a great little pre-game warmup to the Lakers-Nuggets game should check out TimMoore's blog which as usual absolutely kills it as far as Lakers coverage:

http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/timmoore2/2008/04/18/Lakers_vs_Nuggets_Series_Preview#comments

I've never been one to predict how many games it would take for certain teams to win a series, and I don't plan on starting now. I still don't really get how people do that, it seems completely random to me.

Anyway, I'm only offering first round picks right now and as you can see I'm not one that believes that there will be a lot of upsets.

With no further delay. 

Celtics-Hawks

I pity the fool who has to televise this series. Forget an analyis, there is no need. Celtics by a landslide. I said I wasn't one for picking in how many games a series would go, but I'll pick it here anyway - Celtics in 4.

Winner: Celtics

Pistons-Sixers

I can't believe that people actually think the Sixers will do damage in this match up. Yes they have some young guys with SOME talent, yes they match up kind of well with the Pistons, but their in-experience and youth will get them knocked out of the first round quick by the hands of the most consistent Eastern Conference team in the last five years.

Winner: Pistons

Magic-Raptors

This is one of my few upsets. I know everyone has the Magic pegged to go into the second round, but I think a player I've been down on ever since I've first watched him play and saw how overrated his potential was in Jameer Nelson will be the guy that loses it for Orlando. Sure Superman is going to be a tough guard, and no doubt he'll see plenty a double teams and get his points+boards regardless, but I still believe he won't have enough and at the end it will be the Raptors emerging for a chance to get embarrassed in the second round.

Winner: Raptors

Cavaliers-Wizards

Some are saying this is the year that the Wizards finally get theirs. I disagree. And much to everyone's surprise, I don't believe it will be Lebron taking the team on his back and leading them to the second round. I expect that the rest of the Cavs will step up in a way that nobody sees coming, and I already have the Cavs penciled in for yet another Pistons-Cavs match up.

Winner: Cavs

Lakers-Nuggets

The Nuggets won't win a damn thing. Forget that whole "they pose bad match ups" nonsense, the Nuggets are nothing. I knew they'd be nothing when they said AI would become a Nugget, I knew they'd be nothing when after last season everyone was picking them as a West sleeper, and I know they're nothing now. I'd be surprised if it took the Lakers more than six games to dispatch these clowns.

Winner: Lakers

Hornets-Mavs

I know everyone has the Mavs in this one calling it one of their upset specials, but I'm calling my shot right now - the Hornets over the Mavs in a very interesting series. I know the Mavs are picking it up right now, but again you can't just disrespect what the Hornets have done all season long simply because the Mavs are experienced in choking when it matters most.

Winner: Hornets

Spurs-Suns

I don't know. Honestly, I have no idea. This is the one series that has me stumped. Shaq has proven to be the difference maker we all know him to be yet again after doubters like myself said that he wouldn't be able to handle the Suns offense, and now Phoenix look like legit contenders. That said, picking against the Spurs just FEELS wrong. I'll take Phoenix because I don't think picking against the Big Diesel is smart, but I wouldn't be shocked if San Antonio proved me wrong.

Winners: Suns

Rockets-Jazz 

Everyone seems to have Utah taking the Rockets apart in this series and it not taking seven like last season, but I'm going the other way. I don't think Utah is the real deal, and I think that their so-called playoff experience is the product of a very favorable match up against an undeserved Warriors team last season. Rafer Alson not being there hurts the Rockets, but at the end of the day my gut is still telling me Houston.

Winners: Rockets

(As close as Kobe's gotten to an MVP. )

I wrote a blog a little while ago claiming that to hate on Lebron was irrational and I still believe that. The same logic doesn't apply to Kobe Bryant. I think Kobe Bryant has done things that justify the hate he receives from various basketball fans - but there is no justification in robbing him of the MVP vote.

There is no Laker fan on this site who has been as loud a critic of Kobe Bryant as I have. Most know my feelings on how he went about carrying himself this past summer, and how even though he was having his best season in my opinion since Shaq left, I still refused to give him due credit. For a while I was actually rooting for Kobe not to get the MVP as some sort of justice for comments of this summer.As late as the Lakers-Hornets match up, I refused to say that Kobe was considerably ahead of Chris Paul in the MVP race. Watching the Spurs game, I realized the truth.

Kobe Bryant is considerably ahead of Chris Paul in the MVP race.

I'm not yet ready to buy into the idea that CP3 chokes under pressure, but I do know that in the games the Lakers have had to win - they've won. Now for all we know the Lakers will come in and lay an egg tonight against them cowbell ringing mofos that got us first place, but for now the Lakers have done everything they needed to do to secure first in the West and I credit Kobe with that.

The thing about a player like Kobe, and this is something King James will soon experience as well from his smarter fans as well, I don't care about his statistics. He can score 30 points. 40 points. 60 points. 80 points. 100 points. I don't care anymore. Kobe Bryant is past being defined by a stat line in my book. I now define Kobe Bryant by the number of wins he gets the team when it matters most.

If Kobe gets 57 points and the Lakers lose, I don't accept the argument that it was his teammates that failed. If Kobe gets 57 and the team loses, I blame Kobe for that because Kobe has evolved past the point of being defined by the number of points he scores, or the number of assists he hands out, or the number of boards he grabs. I'm surprised more fans don't think that way, particularly Laker fans who are used to winning and winning on a consistent basis.

But just as I blame Kobe for the losses that the team experiences when Kobe has great stats, I will give him all the credit in the world for Laker wins when they matter most. I've read quite a few pieces discussing how Kobe shouldn't get all the credit for this season's turnaround because his stats have decreased and his teammates stats have increased, thus THEY MUST be good teammates and Kobe MUST not deserve the MVP on that basis.

What kind of ridiculous logic is that? It's reminiscent of the stupid "But Lebron has Larry Hughes so why isn't he winning?" remarks in seasons past.

Kobe Bryant has been chastised for not making the people around him better for three seasons now, and when the teammates around him finally get better and he tones down the scoring title chase, we're not going to give him the credit he deserves for that? OF COURSE Derek Fisher is a calming force in the locker room, the man is a veteran who brings a level of respectability to any franchise he comes a part of. OF COURSE Pau Gasol is a great talent, obviously his skill level is one that will push the Lakers ahead. OF COURSE Lamar Odom is underrated (particularly after the all star break of the past few seasons) and is one of my favorite Lakers if not my favorite Lakers. Which part of all that diminishes Kobe's MVP worthiness?

Forget the statistics battle and the teammates battle, both of which can be argued either way.

http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/JtbataHK/2008/04/12/Why_Kobe_is_the_MVPand_CP3_Is_Not

The guy above did the stats/teammates argument in a much better fashion than I ever could have.

Let's just remember what we were saying in regards to why Chris Paul is the MVP this year - he led his team to the top of a Western Conference that's the most competitive we've seen in a while now. Does the same logic not apply to Kobe? He's led his team to the top of the Western Conference standings just like Chris Paul had a week ago, so why change the formula?

As far as the last Lakers-Hornets game, you can argue whether or not the man to man match up between Kobe and CP3 went one way or the other, but there is no denying that it was the most important match up between the two of the season. To hell with the MVP race, it played a huge role in the Western Conference race. It showed how the two teams matched up against elite competition. It showed how the two teams handled adversity. It was the most important match up between the two teams of the entire season.

Then as if that wasn't enough, the Lakers came out and pounded the Spurs. Sure GINOBLI! wasn't in the lineup and sure Pop seemed to give up towards the end, but the Lakers won yet another game they had to win and again I credit Kobe with that based on the criteria I mentioned above.

What this does to my credibility I'm not sure, for the sake of fairness Kobe had my MVP vote even before the Lakers-Hornets match up, and even before the Lakers took control of the West. I felt Mamba WOULD get the MVP despite the fact that Paul deserved it more, and I didn't see a problem with making the award a lifetime achievement award. As has been pointed out by NBA is the Worst and JDizzle and many other people on this little nifty site of ours, the MVP vote has no set criteria and no set definition for what valuable is.

For two seasons now it's been said that Kobe doesn't deserve the MVP despite his great individual seasons because his team have been bad. I disagreed the first year, but completely agreed about last year. I thought it was crazy that anyone would argue he was the MVP last year when it was quite obviously Steve Nash. But this season, Kobe has met the necessary requirements. His defense has far improved from the awful D he's played since Shaq left, he's looking for his teammates more, he's still a killer scorer, and he finally has a team that is at the top of the Western Conference.

Charles Barkley recently said that we shouldn't change the formula around for MVP voting and thus give it to CP3, but it seems like all we're doing is changing the formula when we say that Kobe shouldn't get it. Everything that Kobe Bryant has lost the MVP for in seasons past, he's fixed this season.

I still don't have the type of respect for Kobe as I had prior to this summer as a person, and I doubt that will come back any time soon. I don't believe that winning fixes that, and I'm surprised that the team's play this year has made folks forget so quick. That said, my opinion on Kobe as a player HAS changed drastically as the season has progressed, and I have a newfound respect for him because he's finally played a season in the way I've envisioned him playing ever since Shaq left.

It's entirely possible that the Hornets win out against a whatever Clippers team and a maybe resting Dallas team while the Lakers get done like that chick in Colorado and lose home court at which point I'll still believe that Kobe is the MVP but will at least buy into the fact that legitimate claim can be made for Chris Paul. However, if the Lakers finish atop the West there should be no other MVP than Kobe.

This is the last time I'm going to be talking MVP because frankly I'm tired of it, but it's a blog I've wanted to write since the Spurs game. Like I said, if the Lakers lose and Chris Paul ends up atop the West, I won't consider it a crime that he gets the MVP. If the Lakers win out though, it should be Kobe's award. End of story.

(Bunch of dudes rubbing up some random trophy)

Wait, am I supposed to be happy or scared?

Sure the Lakers won the game and thus won the division and all that jazz, but is anyone else as disturbed as I am by the complete collapse by the Lakers in the second half? It was mind boggling to watch.

When the game started I was expecting a rough and tumble game that would come down to the wire, but when the Lakers jumped ahead by like thirty I figured it was a wrap. I was already planning my blog on how I overestimated the Hornets and how Kobe is a god amongst men. How Byron Scott should decline the Coach of the Year honors and instead give them Phil's address. How Chris Paul should lay down under the car that Mamba jumped over. How CP3 for MVP supporters should go stand behind Kevin Garnett in the "Almost...but no" section.

And then the second half happened.

As quickly as I've ever seen, a twenty point lead became ten. Then it fell into single digits, and the Lakers continued to throw up clunkers. I couldn't believe my freaking eyes at the awful defense and ridiculous reliance on jumpers I was seeing. The over dribbling by the Lakers and the suddenly solid defense by the Hornets gave me flashbacks to the UCLA-Memphis game. Take a guess at which team was UCLA and which one was Memphis.

But then it seemed to go back to normal. The Lakers picked it up, Kobe made another amazing dunk, and all seemed well with the world. I was at peace, the Lakers were CLEARLY going to win that game. The Lakers had like a thirteen point lead in the fourth, and that's when I said once again: GAME OVER.

My thoughts shifted to how overrated Chris Paul has been, how the inexperienced Hornets really will go down like everyone said because of said lack of experience, and how this team can't roll with the big boys in the West. Yawning I flipped the channels a little bit checking to see what was good on ESPN News, but I quickly became annoyed with their new stupid layout and switched back to the game.

In a word: Whoops.

Peja apparently realized that he was a pretty good shooter, and started hitting the three ball. Bonzi woke up from that coma he's been in ever since his last playoff games against the Spurs when he was playing with Sacramento, and the Lakers went back to forgetting the point of the game is to put the ball into the hoop. When it became a one point game, I began to pray that the more crazy Laker fans on this site were away from any sharp objects.

But then I realized this is the NBA...where Derek Fisher happens. I love Fish, bad foot and all. Lamar and Pau came through in the clutch too, but it was that steal by Fisher that changed everything. From that point on, you may as well have marked it down as a +1 in the Laker win column.

At the end of the game, I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to be proud the Lakers won or shocked that they could blow such a lead. The Lakers truly seemed like the better team out there all night when the game was on the line, but I can't help but feel that the Spurs wouldn't roll the way the Hornets rolled. That if the Lakers played like this against them defending champ boys, the Big Fundamental and GINOBLI would've torched them.

Nice to see the Lakers are a dominant squad (at some points) against Western elite, but damn...

As far as the MVP race, last night decided nothing. The Chris Paul played well despite the foul trouble, and when you consider the comeback effort he led in an away building I can't believe anyone would say he doesn't deserve to be in MVP consideration.

I am leaning more so towards Kobe regardless of that though, despite the fact that last night's game was a wash.

http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/JtbataHK/2008/04/12/Why_Kobe_is_the_MVPand_CP3_Is_Not

The above is a very good blog as to why Kobe deserves the MVP vote over CP3, but any Laker fan deluding themselves into believing there is a giant enormous gap between the two on the worthiness meter oughta slap themselves. Kobe gets it, but by an inch rather than a mile.

Kids, forget about Bynum for this season.

Now look, don't get me wrong. I foresee many a years of success when Kobe's abilities starts to diminish where Drew and Gasol will be the big primary guys for the team, but for THIS SEASON - Bynum is borderline irrelevant. I can count you seven (eight) players MORE IMPORTANT to Laker championship aspirations for this year, and I will later on in my blog. First though, let me explain why while I wish Bynum all the best, I don't care whether or not he even returns this season (In fact, if it guarantees that he's more healthy, I'd rather he DIDN'T return this season).

First of all, a young inexperienced big man returning in game shape is a pipe dream. A Vic the Brick pipe dream. It will take Bynum not only time to get back into full playing shape, but adapt to one of two situations which are very hard to adjust to. Drew will either come off the bench (likely), or he'll be inserted into the starting lineup (unlikely). If the latter happens, at least Bynum will only have to worry about hustling up and down the court and playing defense. I think he'll be awful at both given how long he's been out, but perhaps Lamar-Kobe-Gasol-Fisher can mask that. If he comes with the second unit, he'll be completely exposed. If Sasha and Jordan don't hit their shots, the opposing squad will just double up on Drew and completely kill him.

Those who think you can count on him for rebounds and defense have to remember that this guy isn't even running normally yet. You expect him to keep up with Tim Duncan? With Shaq? With Tyson Chandler? No way.  He'll foul out QUICK for the simple fact that he won't be able to guard anyone yet. And yeah his length should get him some rebounds, but who knows how his lift and timing will be as he's working back into shape?

Sure with his length Drew can offer some shot blocking threats, but that won't save the Lakers. They have awful perimeter defense, all that's going to happen is that people will get around Fisher/Farmar and then get Bynum into foul trouble even quicker. Bynum is hardly the answer defensively.

And to top it all off, the Lakers don't have time or games to work him back. You can't leave him out there in the playoffs so that he gets his bearings because if you do you'll lose the game.

No, Drew is NOT the crucial piece to THIS YEAR'S puzzle.

There are seven (eight), count 'em, seven (eight), more important players to the Lakers championship hopes.

1. Kobe Bryant. This is an obvious one. If the Lakers have any shot at winning the title, Kobe has to be the MVP we all think he's going to be this year. He needs to play defense, and I mean legit defense not his "All Defensive First Team" defense of seasons past, and also be the 'clean up' guy doing whatever the Lakers need on the other end. If the others aren't on, he needs to score. If the others are scoring, he needs to find the open man. There can be no bad games from Kobe Bryant in these playoffs.
2. Pau Gasol. Pau needs to compensate for his weak defense on the offensive end. He needs to drop 20 a game and play SMART defense that somewhat covers up his issues in order to make a real difference to this Lakers unit. If Gasol comes up with dud games, the D will focus on Kobe, and if they focus on Kobe, that's when the problems will start.
3. Lamar Odom. Lamar has always stepped his game up in the playoffs, and this time around can be no different. He needs to clean up on the glass and provide CONSISTANT scoring. Rebounding, rebounding, rebounding - Lamar has to come though.
4. Derek Fisher. All season long Fish's calm demeanor and respectability has calmed down the Laker locker room. It's imperative that his leadership and ability to guide the young guys not waiver, and that he get his shot falling again to compensate for his lack of quickness on defense.
5. Vlad Rad (outta your minds if you think I'm going to write out his name). I know I may catch flack for this, but he is the X-Factor as far as I'm concerned. We all know his defensive woes and the fact that he STILL hasn't seemed to grasp the nuances of the offense, but if the Lakers want to go deep in the playoffs Vlad Rad need to provide a consistent 3 point shot and a few spare boards to justify his playing time.
6. Sasha Vujacic. Another X-factor. Sasha needs to show that the regular season is no fluke. He needs to provide consistent scoring off the bench. Some dislike his constant gunning, I'm all for it. Sasha should shoot from the second he's put into the game, and stop when Phil pulls him. He needs to average at least 10 a game for the Lakers to make it deep into the playoffs.
7. Jordan Farmar/Ronny Turiaf. These two need to step up big time. Jordan needs score and score well in the playoffs to compensate for his awful defense, and Ronny needs to clean up on the glass against teams like New Orleans, Houston, Phoenix, and San Antonio all while dropping that nifty little jumper of his.

So there you have it, seven players not a little, but FAR more important than Bynum to this season's title run. I left Luke out for a reason, and that reason is that I've completely given up on him. He's disappointed me to no end this season. I don't care if he's a "smart" player, forget him anyway.

I'm not going to describe how I think the Lakers will fair on their title chase until the season ends and I see the matchups, but I just wanted to put a blog out there expressing my feelings on Bynum Watch 2008.