It's Friday night, you were just bickering and squabbling with your girlfriend, her presence is completely annoying you, and you've had enough. So you head towards the fridge to grab a beer.

Once you open the refrigerator, you think to yourself, "What the hell am I doing? I'm gonna sit here, start drinking this brewski, and hear more of her jibberish which, in turn, will ruin my night of watching SportsCenter, when all I expected getting home from work was to have a night of peace and tranquility. Instead, we're gonna have make-up sex in a couple of hours and act like nothing happened tomorrow morning. F-this." And so you slam the refrigerator door without grabbing a single thing.

You then walk back to the living room, see her watching a rerun of I Love Lucy and within seconds you pick up your cell phone and call Steve. "Yo dude, I need to vent."

Steve responds, "Let's vent. Come through."

You grab your keys, walk out the front door, and tell your woman, "Babe, there's a big game on and I see you're watching your favorite show so instead of pissing you off some more I'm gonna head over to Steve's. I'll be back in a few."

Her attitude comes out once again and she says, "I'll be up so you better not come home late."

Within minutes, you and two of your buddies drive over to the local sports bar already knowing what beer you're going to drink and how many you're going to pound within the first 30 minutes.

Upon entering the scene, you can't help but notice the jam-packed crowd. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, is talkin' sports while 25 52" LCDs are gracing the walls with sports coverage so comprehensive you'd think you were inside the ESPN headquarters in Bristol. There's even a bouncer who looks like Stu Scott on 'roids.

From boxing to football to equestrian, discussions can be heard from every angle. Debates are heated. Dudes are drunk. A couple guys are already passed out. Someone to your right is throwing a football across the room to someone who's holding a Newcastle. Women are looking sexy, wearing their favorite football team's jersies. Other women are showing cleavage. Hotties everywhere. The smell of buffalo wings and alcohol fills the air.

All three of you then look at each other and say, "Beer Heaven, baby."

As Melissa walks you to your table, you can't help but overhear the numerous debating and discussing that is going on. Your guys feel like eavesdropping on every single one of them just so you can give your two cents. You wait patiently, as all three of you order your first round of drinks.

The theme of the night will be, what sports discussion do you want to partake in? How many arguments will you get into? What kind of debating will you be doing? This is live blogging folks. The only difference is there's a chance you may wind up in a hospital before the night is through.

To your right are the POOL TABLES. Everyone here is talkin' Brett Favre. One guys says he thinks Brett's going to a city with a cold climate. The other guys responds by saying Brett has no choice and that the Packers will trade him to whatever team gives the best deal. While a third guy wearing a Favre jersey chimes in and stubbornly keeps saying that Brett ain't goin' nowhere. What do you think fellas? Grab a beer. Let's talk about it.

Up ahead past the billiards section is the MAIN BAR. Men and women all over the place. Nobody here is sober. Not even the bartenders. It seems like everyone wants to talk about the Beijing Olympics since they're showing highlights of Team USA's 55-point laugher over Canada in their tuneup for the Games. Will the Dream Team capture gold? It seems like everyone has the U.S. as the solid favorites so the conversation moves forward to whom the Americans will play in the gold medal game. Spain? Defending champs Argentina? Russia? Host city China? Germany? You make the call.

What's up with all the cheating swimmers? Who'll be the most likely cheater in the Olympics? How many records and gold medals will Michael Phelps achieve? Is Phelps a cheater? What about those new suits the swimmers are wearing? Is that considered cheating? A former Stanford swimmer happens to be sitting at the bar and seems to be the focus of everyone's attention. He tells them what he thinks and the only thing you can hear is, "Gimme another one," as he clumsily hands his empty glass over to the bartender. Nevertheless, the guy's a stud. Four women are draped all over him while eight haters gaze intently with their mouths wide open.

Across to the left near the WALL-OF-FAME, there's a huge group of about 20 people having a party within the party. Empty shot glasses everywhere. All over the table, including a hottie laying on her back with some drunk taking a shot at the expense of her belly. Nice.

As the waitress approaches the table with another full round of 20 shots, you can't help but hear one dude who kept saying how the New York Yankees will eventually overtake the Boston Red Sox and capture the AL Pennant. "Yeah right, " one guy says.

"Only in your wet dreams," replies a hot blonde wearing a Red Sox halter top.

All three of you approach the group, and they're so drunk they offer to not only buy each of you a shot but a sampler tray as well. "This is the year of the Angels," your buddy says. The crowd starts cheering. Of course, you're an A's fan so you order another beer and start flirting with the waitress instead.

Meanwhile, Dodgers fans at the pool table across from you are running their mouths about how the Dodgers will win the NL West without realizing that division leaders with a record below .500 probably won't get out of the first round. Your Angels buddy says, "Andruw Jones. That's all I gotta say."

It's a half-an-hour past midnight and suddenly you receive a text. "I'm going to bed... come home early... love u." You look over to your buddies and tell them it's on and crackin.' Curfew's been released. You order another round before you even get the other one you  previously ordered, thinking that the night is still young. After three seconds, you realize that you were the one who drove and both of your friends were already drunk and stoned when you picked them up. Damn.

At 1:15 you make your final stop of the night and you're holding a Guinness on tap in one hand and a Sam Adams on the other. On to THE PATIO you knuckleheads go.

First thing you notice is a 15-foot dust cloud as soon as you walk outside. Then you realize it's cigarette smoke coming from about 30 addicts who've probably been outside chainsmoking since eight o'clock. A wise man once told you that if you're going to inhale second hand, you might as well smoke them yourself. All three of you decide to walk over to a dude standing by himself and ask him if you could bum a smoke.

As you look at him and  wonder why he seems all sad and lonely puffing on a Camel Ultra Light all by himself, you notice that he's patio security. He's there til 2:00am, been there since 2:00pm. $9 an hour. Part time. Probably doesn't know sports. But more importantly, the dude's only a flashlight cop. You gratefully say thanks and head over to the crowd.

Varied conversations fill the patio as quickly as the smoke emanating through the air with no regard for human life.

"Who's the best pound-for-pound boxer today?" someone asks.

You hear all sorts of names being thrown out. Floyd Mayweather. Manny Pacquiao. Miguel Cotto. Kelly Pavlik. Joe Calzaghe. The Russian dude. The Mexican dude.

"Forrest Griffin!" one guy shouted.

"Dude, he ain't a boxer he's MMA," you say.

"Oh yeah, you're right dude," responded the white guy as he took another sip of his Jack and Coke. "I was going to say Rocky but he's not even real, like D-Wade said in that commercial."

Then from nowhere, like a UFO suddenly appearing out of the night sky, a scuffle broke out. A big 6-4, 250 lb black dude wearing a Philadelphia Eagles jersey began duking it out with a 5-11, 300 lb Samoan dude wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey. What the heck is going on, you thought to yourself. The 5-foot-5 flashlight cop runs to the scene as if he were about to do something to stop the fight and then he immediately stops and calls for backup. Bouncers #1 and #2 arrive at the scene quickly, and after breaking it up they tell everyone to clear out. The party is over, so you order one more beer and smoke one more cigarette.

You think to yourself, "Man, there's no better feeling than this." A dude passes by and you hear him ask his girlfriend, "So what fight did you like better, that one or the one between the Sparks and Shock?"

"This one," she answers. It figures. There's no hope for the WNBA. Even mediocre bar squabbles have more entertainment value.

Your buddy then walks over to the Samoan dude and asks him what that was all about. He said the guy was talking smack about Troy Polamalu, who happened to be the Samoan guy's cousin. So you asked him if he thinks the Steelers are going to win the Super Bowl this year. He says, "Hell mutha-f'n yeah! What you think?"

You say, "No way. Niners. And by the way, Polamalu's aight. Let's see if he recovers from his injury and becomes the player he used to be." Samoan dude laughs and tells me to take a hike like Todd Donohoe. 

Since the shop was closin' down, it was time to take the traditional trip to the can. You just paid the tab, your single buddy hooked up and got a number, you guys talked about different sports all night at different spots in the bar, and you got to enjoy plenty of eye candy. You even got a high from smoking cigarettes. Not bad for a Friday night that started out so badly you'd think the Lakers were about to lose Kobe Bryant to the Phoenix Suns.

And the best thing about it is... when you get home, it'll be perfect timing for a little make-up sex.

The Sports Bar. Where the life happens. Grab a brewski and let's talk the talk.

Since THE BIG DREWSKI, Andrew Bynum, hurt his knee on Sunday everyone west of the Atlantic Ocean has begun to talk about "it" once again and the Lakers' chances of success.

What in the heck is KOBE BRYANT going to do now? Many believe he will complain and start hogging his way to 35 points and 40 shot attempts a game if The YOUNG GUNS go on a mini-slump.

Many more believe that BRYANT won't trust center KWAME BROWN enough that he'll go away from the one part of the triangle that makes the KILLER B's tandem of Bynum and Bryant so dangerous - the pick-n-roll- and revert back to jacking up three-pointers all day.

Many, including 24-year veteran sportswriter MIKE KAHN, believe that KOBE still possesses a high level of egotistical selfishness that he'll continue to place himself above the team despite the Lakers' quiet yet convincing rise to the top of the Western Conference standings.

It seems to me that the more KOBE does, the more KOBE is hardpressed in earning the respect of the many so-called NBA fans out there, simply because of his past transgressions on and off the court.

Perhaps those same fans who hesitate in giving KOBE the much-deserved reverence are also the same fans who once questioned Michael Jordan's leadership but are now calling MJ the greatest who's ever played on that "94 x 50 hunk of wood" (to quote the legendary Chick Hearn).

Whatever Bryant does or does not do, he will never get the admiration he deserves until he wins a title as the leader of the Lakers. That's a fact.

A wise man once told me, "THE THINGS YOU DO and THE THINGS YOU DON'T DO, THEY ALL SEND A MESSAGE." Never has this statement ever applied to any NBA player as much as it has with Bryant. You either love him or hate him, there's no middle ground. 

But what irks me the most is when KOBE makes great strides to show improvement in his game, personality, vocal leadership, and maturity level, yet so-called NBA experts continue to doubt him and say, "Not to worry, he'll be the same old ball-hog KOBE once his team loses a game or two in a row."

Notice I didn't say "hate." But it sure is close.

Everyone in the world respects his ability and his game. But why not respect the man?

Every year since Phil Jackson took over from Rudy Tomjanovich the Lakers have improved. Those who have watched every single Lakers game (preseason, regular season, and playoffs) can attest to this. Those who have analyzed the roster from the top down and assessed the moves Kupchak made and didn't make will all know where I'm coming from.

Like Mr. Kahn, I, too, have been a proponent of keeping this nucleus together and not parting with KOBE or BYNUM.

But unlike Kahn, I don't have reason to believe Kobe will revert back to his old ways. In fact I'm glad Kobe was what he was. Simply because when it's all said and done, his legend will tell an even greater story. 

Don't get me wrong, I have doubted Kobe's leadership abilities in the past because I always believed he wasn't being vocal enough with his teammates in the same way Magic, Larry, Isiah and Michael were with theirs. But beginning last year, I started to see a change in the man. An evolution wherein I knew it would lead to greater heights for the Lakers and their young team.

And we're beginning to see them blossom right before our eyes, much to the chagrin of the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and the rest of the Western Conference including Tim Duncan and the aging San Antonio Spurs.

Despite the overall progress of the Lakers the last couple of seasons (most notably this year), "experts" like Kahn nonetheless repeat what has constantly been repeated in the past without giving it much thought. He questions the Lakers resolve, mental toughness, and will to win.

He says about THE BIG DREWSKI, "the concern is how [the knee injury] will affect the growth and confidence he has developed this season as he has begun to dominate the interior at both ends of the floor", obviously questioning whether or not Bynum has the mental strength  and work ethic to overcome adversity and indirectly implies that Bynum may wilt under pressure when it's time to return to the floor because he may be tentative with his left knee.  

What I've got to say is this: Andrew Bynum is no chump. First of all, he's no Shaq because he's hungry enough to want to be in shape and physically capable enough to want to dominate. Secondly, take a look at his statistics and one will see that he has vastly improved every year he's been in the league and that speaks volumes. Thirdly, he is being taught, mentored, tutored, coached, guided, and led by the greatest big man ever to play the game in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 'Nuff said.

I have every bit of confidence in the world that Andrew will come back stronger than ever and the Lakers will be even better. But I don't blame people for doubting them because when you're a great franchise, it all comes with the territory just like the New York Yankees and now the New England Patriots. And also because in years' past the Lakers have given critics and skeptics every reason to doubt. Go ahead and favor the Phoenixs and Dallases of the world, teams who don't win titles. It's all good, because after all The Young Guns will need a little competition.

The bottom line is this: No other franchise in the history of the NBA gets to the FINALS as consistently as the Lakers do EVERY DECADE.

The reason? Because Jerry Buss and the Lakers front office know exactly what it takes to reach and triumph at that level.

Besides San Antonio and maybe Detroit, the rest of the NBA are just a bunch of pretenders who make the sport a fun game to watch.

Now getting back to KOBE...

The fact of the matter is... KOBE has begun to mature and that alone is lifting himself to the next level. Obviously, it has already rubbed off on the rest of the team (Bynum for one) and we are seeing the evolution of THE YOUNG GUNS, much like we saw in Chicago during the late eighties with Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright and co. after they got sick of losing to the Bostons and Detroits of the world.

Bryant is such a winner that two years ago, he HAD TO average 35 because he did it for the team in order for them to stay competitive. He realized (and so did Phil) that he had to take on that role because no one else could step up. No one else was ready so KOBE took over in Jordan-like fashion. If Kobe doesn't score that much then the team doesn't even make the playoffs, and how bad would that look for the city of L.A.?

And between 2000-2004, KOBE could have averaged 30+ if he wanted to, but SHAQ was the number one option so he understood that and kept the peace for the betterment of the team. It was Shaq who couldn't deal with KOBE's ascension to legendary status.

Why else did the INSECURE O'Neal keep saying, "The offense needs to go through me" or "I need touches" if it wasn't for his jealousy of Bryant's impending stardom?

Shaq basically knew that KOBE would potentially threaten his position as the leader of the Lakers. Shaq couldn't deal with it. Period. It wasn't Kobe because if it was, Shaq would still be here. And when O'Neal screamed at Buss to pay him, the final string was drawn. It is my hunch that Shaq took his final year with the Lakers for granted and that's why he didn't get in shape.

All the while, Kobe played within the confines of the system and held back in order for the team to be ultra successful while still being able to take over games when the situation called for it.

Yes, Kobe had his share of moments when he tried to do too much by himself during certain stretches of games. But he was also in his early twenties and he still had a lot to learn about the nuances of the game.

Nevertheless, he played his cards right. If he didn't, I guarantee the Lakers don't win three titles.

Fast forward to the present day...

Kobe bashes Bynum and since then the team has responded and is now first place in the WESTERN CONFERENCE.

The Lakers have defeated Phoenix twice, Utah twice, Denver twice, Detroit, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, and Golden State.

The team is responding to Bryant's leadership and tonight's OT win against Seattle was another perfect display of how far Bryant has come along.

Did you see all his teammates give him a hug after the game? Did you see how his teammates supported Bryant by playing hard the entire game, after seeing the total effort Bryant gave to his team the previous two games while being sick?

Like many people say, only time will tell. But I'll bet my BMW that Kobe has indeed evolved and does trust his troops. He'll go to battle with them and die for them, because he's already done so.

And Mr. Kahn... if Kobe, who has three rings, is not a championship caliber leader, then why don't you tell me who is.

Last week, I posted a blog explaining why the Los Angeles Lakers were on the rise and the Phoenix Suns were in for a big surprise this year.

Numerous Suns supporters and Laker bashers, namely NBA preview guru XPHOENIX87 and my favorite of them all RICKO the Cynical one, continued their assault on me while suggesting that my perceived lack of unbiased opinion continues to fuel my homerism.

Although it is true that my undying support for the Lakers franchise is never more evident with these blogs, one thing these two don't realize is that I make sense when I point out the obvious between these two teams. Why else would DIME rank the Lakers #4 in their power rankings if I was so homeristic and biased? Get a clue, Phoenix fans. Your team was just outrebounded and spanked by the lowly Hawks last night. And don't even say Amare wasn't there, because the last time you were without Stoudemire for an extended period you were still feasting on the East. Last night should be an indication that your team is in serious trouble.

The purpose of this blog is to address the stupidity  and sardonic nature of Phoenix fans and how they love to bring up the past to justify their perceived notions about the two rivals. They love bringing up Kobe's off-court failures, they love to bring up the Suns regular season excellence, they love to bring up how Laker fans keep hanging onto their legacy as a franchise, and they love to reiterate how last year Phoenix started off 1-5 and ended the season with a b@ng. It was a b@ng alright... b@nged right out of the playoffs.

I am going to call out XP87 and RICKO right here right now for BLOGWORLD to see and show how ridiculous they are with their sarcasm because no one wants to give the LAKERS any credit whatsoever, which is the reason they are arguably the biggest LAKER HATERS of all-time. You will hate me for this.

At least last year after Phoenix ended L.A.'s season, I commended the SUNS with a blog wherein I displayed the utmost respect to the rivals. I give respect where respect is due because I know what I see and I tell it how it is. Haters talk the way they talk because they have nothing better to do and their parents never taught them any better.

So Laker supporters, I am going to spearhead the attack against the state of Arizona right here right now. This is going to be a battle all year so if you guys are with me get your ammunition ready. And for you Phoenix fans, bring it 'cause I'm adding fuel to the fire. So here we go, DING! DING! DING!... ROUND #1.

This from RICKO, on November 7, 2007 at 2:41pm:  "So you're saying the Suns are not a championship contender? And YOU saying we Suns fans have "blind arrogance"?? You, sir, are a piece of work indeed.

So I reply, "Yes, RICKO, the Suns are not championship contender for reasons I pointed out. They are an excellent regular season team who will win 60 games every year with Nash but until you guys get some real centers and power forwards, you'll keep losing to the San Antonio's and Dallas's in the postseason.

And YES, Suns fans have blind arrogance just like you guys claim Lakers are arrogant because you keep hanging onto championship hopes that are not legitimately there. At least in LAKERLAND, we know that it takes a great center, a great guard, a great coach, a balanced lineup, and above all DEFENSE to win a title because we've done it 14 times before. And don't even try to come back and say AMARE is a great center because he's not. He's 6-8, jumps high, and only plays center because he's playing in Phoenix. Anywhere else, he's a power forward. Your window of opportunity was in '05 and '06 and your team blew it....

So XPHOENIX87, on 11/7/07 at 3:02pm, mockingly writes:  "See, Ricko, you have to understand that the Suns need to get some real centers and power forwards like Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm, Andrew Bynum and Ronny Turiaf. Your pathetic rotation of Amare, Marion, and Diaw just can't hold a candle to that group, especiall not with Amare aging so quickly at the ripe old age of 24.

I come back with a little taste of their own sarcasm: "Your statement was just about as accurate as your previews, XP. Glad to know you're starting to take notice. Kudos." I'll add that XP probably doesn't know who Antonio McDyess is or is most likely avoiding the fact that Stoudemire might possibly end up like McDyess and could be in another uniform in one or two years, leaving Nash with (gasp) Skinner and Diaw.

XPHOENIX87, at 9:17pm last night while researching his next team preview, provides a little witty candor in response to my straightforwardness:  " What a stunning rebuttal where you didn't actually address any of the many factual inaccuracies in your article. Your logic and debating skills are, as always, impeccable.

Added RICKO, who at 9:34pm last night was probably sharing the computer in his basement with his buddy XP while watching LEBRON's triple-double on ESPN:  "xphoenix- Sigh. I'm afraid you're right. Looking up and down the Suns roster, I see no one the caliber of Mihm and Bynum. Thanks for setting me straight. And the fact that your sarcasm went right over J-Dizz's head is priceless.

So at this point, they probably think I'm fuming and flaming hot like an El Pollo Loco. But actually I'm sitting in my office laughing at how stupid these two really are. They probably get an erection just by saying  that I have no logic or debating skills, but frankly I did not appreciate it. Think before you talk XPhoenix. You're ego is getting way too big because of those previews and the generous comments people give you. Frankly, anybody can do a preview when you've got copies of THE SPORTING NEWS, ESPN MAGAZINE, the INTERNET, and a subscription to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED at your disposal.

You attack my intellect and I will call you out.

This was my reply to XP, which I posted on my blog at 12:48pm, after I came back from having lunch with a client:  " XP: you should have already figured out my rebuttals to your comments before you even made them because your silly comments are aimed at nothing more than to repeat what the rest of the Phoenix fan base has already said in this blog. And you should know better considering you're supposed expertise with all your previews.

I like how you guys keep trying to base things on last year. You're just like everyone else out there. Your stuff is nothin' new my friend. You talk about how Phoenix started 1-5 last year and how they ended up. Well, how do you like it that this year will be Phoenix's turn to suffer injuries? Again I shall repeat... Amare knee's won't last, Nash is having to carry too much of the load at his age, and once again after five games Phoenix has been OUTREBOUNDED and OUTMUSCLED.

Like all Phoenix fans who nitpick at every little thing just to find something wrong with the Lakers, you keep bringing up the past - "Yeah, it's a good thing that in LA they build for dynasties and don't 'rent aging superstars' like Karl Malone and Gary Payton. I mean, that would just be stupid" -  but didn't we make it to the FINALS that year even with an INJURED Malone? And what have the SUNS done? NADA my friend. Who's stupid now?

One of XP's other comments to me was "Shouldn't LA be a little bit more worried that THEY have no onewho can guard Carlos Boozer?"

See how you guys love to nitpick at the most absurd things? So I come back with, "Didn't we just spank the JAZZ, who had no answer for Bynum's double-double. Like I said since you don't pay attention, Boozer is tough but he is UNDERSIZED for a power forward. He ain't no Mailman" And let me also add that he ain't no BARKLEY either.

XP says that I can't give him a rebuttal, basically challenging me. Here's another one of his acerbic statements:  "LA still has no post defense; they had no answer to Yao"

And like the Suns do (ha ha ha)? Since you are the preview expert, tell me something... What did Yao say about Kwame's post defense? Didn't Ming happen to mention that among NBA centers, Kwame plays him the toughest? I do believe he said that last year. Go on and do some research so you'll know your facts, instead of relying on silly stats all the time. And by the way, HOUSTON has NO ANSWER for KOBE.

XP adds, "You know, it's too bad that Phoenix doesn't have a First Team All-NBA post player to exploit those defensive weaknesses. Oh... wait..."

So I reply, "You obviously don't know that Phoenix has no TEAM defense, getting outrebounded every game and nobody taller than 6-9 who can hold the paint. Nothing but outside shots and if they were so consistent, they why have they shot an average of 39% against the Lakers and the lowly Atlanta Hawks? Figure that one out. You won't because you don't know about the old adage, "You live and die by the three".  Remember that DALLAS team in the nineties with George McCloud who put up three after three after three? That's your Phoenix Suns.

I keep going as if on a rampage... "And oh yeah, forgot to mention that the Lakers have a 7-time All-Defense MVP candidate and three big men who can give Amare fits and put him in foul trouble. Nice try on that one. I shall add that we also have three-time champion and defensive tough guy Derek Fisher, whom Nash is probably intimidated by.

Finally, I cap it off with a little something for Mr. RICKO: "Sarcasm is just about ALL that Phoenix fans have to go by."

Why is it that we cannot go under the previous pages of a particular blog section and view blogs that were posted two days ago when we click under page 3 of 440, for example, on the NBA, MLB, or NFL blog sites?

Every time I click on previous pages, it reverts back to the most recent blogs posted so if you click on page 5 for example, you end up getting the same blogs that are viewable on page one.

Can someone please explain what in the world is going on?

Everyone likes to talk about how important statistics are in determining which players and teams are the best in the league.

Now let's talk intangibles, the reason why guys like Dave Cowens, Bobby Jones, Rick Mahorn, Bill Laimbeer, Rick Fox, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, Steve Kerr, Ron Harper, Horace Grant, and Brian Shaw have all these rings. Aside from stats, other factors like size, experience, preparation, game plan, defensive awareness, health, mindset, clutch play, luck, and coaching have to be strongly considered.

You can put up a hundred points with ease, but when it counts in the playoffs, how will the Suns compensate for their lack of size on the boards with the Lakers fast-improving bigs of...

Ronny Turiaf (who fared really well against Amare this year), Bynum (7-1, 285), Brown (6-11, 275), Cook (who with his shooting range will pull Amare or Thomas away from the lane), and maybe even the shot-blocking Mihm (7-1, 265).

We can throw fast and athletic lineups at the Suns (Smush, Kobe, Evans, Odom, and Brown)

Or pound the Suns to submission inside and slow it down and control tempo (Bynum, Turiaf, Odom, Kobe, Evans)

Or we can throw our clutch lineup (Kobe, Smush, Walton, Odom, and Bynum/Brown)

Or we can go to a shooting lineup (Vujacic, Kobe, Walton, Radmanovic/Odom, Cook)

Each and every game the Lakers are improving. With Odom and Brown due back the Lakers can start to work on getting that third seed. The defense will be at full strength, and the fact that Jackson is playing a variety of lineups will make it difficult for opponents to read us once we completely gel as a team.

What gives Lakers fans confidence about this year's team is the fact that we have depth on the bench. L.A. can play physical with the big teams like the Spurs, Pistons, Heat, Rockets and Mavs. We can also run with the athletic teams like Phoenix, Denver, and Golden State.

Phil Jackson is the master at getting his players prepared for the moment much like Belichick is with the New England Patriots. While the Suns go with that same 8-man rotation every game, come playoff time they'll be so predictable people will wonder why the Lakers beat them so convincingly.

Going against all the current power rankings and regular season records, the true #1 team in the league given that all players are healthy and in that playofff mindset - Miami. The #1 team in the West is Dallas. The Lakers are the true #3 in the NBA. The legit #4 would have to be San Antonio simply because of Popovich. Finally  I've got the Phoenix Suns as #5 because you should be when you have  All-Stars in Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and Shawn Marion and another Olympian in Boris Diaw.

hyping them up like they are the next great piece of showtime just because of a 30-8 regular season record.

Let me tell you guys a little something about regular season records and why they don't matter. Look at the Miami Heat. Didn't they have like the third or fourth best record in the league last year?

Look at the Detroit Pistons when they won in 2004. How about those Bulls teams in the 90's when other teams like New York, Portland, Utah and Phoenix had better regular season records but Chicago ended up winning it all?

How about the San Diego Chargers? They had the MVP (Nash are you listening?) and still couldn't hold off the Patriots because of Tom Brady's clutch play and Belichick's Zen-like coolness.

Allow me to repeat to all the fans who think they know a lot about basketball: records only count for seedings. What matters is what the Suns do against the other elite teams. Last I checked, they're record against the Lakers, Mavs, Jazz, Spurs, Pistons, and Heat is 3-6. The Lakers, meanwhile, are 6-5 against those same teams. So Suns fans, how do you feel about your team now?

Don't get me wrong. The Suns are perhaps the most exciting team to watch. But please, Phoenix fans, don't start crowning them already or start to compare them to the Lakers Dynasty of the eighties because it ain't even close.

First of all, Mike D'Antoni is no Pat Riley because Riles preached defense.

how dare people try to even compare the Suns to the Showtime Lakers?! 

We had a defensive player of the year in Michael Cooper, a ####er in Kurt Rambis, a veteran defensive presence in Kareem, another ####er in Mychal Thompson, and another defensive gem in A.C. Green, who the Suns signed because of his defense.

And I haven't even mentioned Magic who regularly averaged 2 steals a game. Or James Worthy, who could still score 30 while locking up the Kevin McHales, Larry Birds, and Mark Aguirres of the world.

The SUNS are a regular season sensation. That's it.

Night in and night out, they play a seven or eight man rotation (Nash, Amare, Matrix, Bell, Thomas, Jones, and Barbosa) and that's it. I guarantee that by playoff time, the momentum will die down because they will be so tired that they won't have the defensive stamina to stop teams like the Lakers, Mavs or even the Spurs.

We're only 40 games in and people are already over-hyping the Suns. The way I look at it, it's 100+ games to the Finals. And nobody is more well-equipped to survive the journey than Phil Jackson or Greg Popovich

Right now Dallas is obviously the frontrunner in the West, with the Lakers a close second when Lamar and Kwame return. With Shaq at 100%, I'd have to say Miami would be the team to beat in the East., with Detroit or Indiana not that far behind.

Am I right about the Suns or what? Or am I smoking some of the best ganja that California has to offer? You tell me...