Thanks to Nique's All-NBA All-Blog Team idea and Bleed's suggestions of other bloggers who are worthy of being NBA All-Blogger, I came up with my own version based on the seasonal awards given to NBA players and coaches.

MVP: Hoffman. Not only does Hoffy represent the Lakers well on these blogs, he's also one of the best objective thinkers of the game when it comes to intelligent debate. He started ballerblogger.com and has had a tremendous following, mostly due to his fantastic reputation. He knows his stuff, his blogs are among the best, and he's on almost everybody's "favorites" list. He scores when he needs to (his blogs always get a ton of hits and his blogs are always among the most popular), passes the rock when appropriate (thanks for making me moderator of the Lakers Fan Group), and is always clutch (rarely, if at all, does he ever gets his facts wrong).

Defensive Player of the Year: Nique.  No brainer here folks. This one's a unanimous winner for one simple reason - No blogger in FoxSports is on the defensive as much as Nique is. Attacked from all angles by haters, criticized at every opportunity by LeBronists, and scrutinized even by Lakers fans for not appreciating Lamar Odom, Nique will defend her turf to the fullest extent and call you a "creepazoid" while you're at it. She'll block your shot, er blog (delete, delete, delete) and most importantly, she'll play lockdown defense, get up in your face, and let you know about it even if she has to send you a separate comment on your personal inbox.

Sixth Man Award: JoshQ.Public.  A sixth man provides a spark for his team. A sixth man brings the intangibles to the table. A sixth man can do it all - score, assist, and rebound. A sixth man can have flair yet can be fundamentally sound at the same time. Without the guy off the bench to bring the energy and enthusiasm, the game becomes boring and predictable. With his unique ability to mix entertaining prose with rap lyrics, symbols, pictures, humor, knowledge, and Boston homerism all into one article, JoshQ. is your Sixth Man of the Year for he brings his all around game every time he steps on the court. If he were putting up blogs every week, he'd be a starter on any team in the league.

Most Improved Player: Underage. The young one went from barely learning how to put up a graphic to being a regular contributor to these blogs. Underage comes to play every single day and is always appreciative of everyone's support. When it comes to class, underage has got it locked down pat. Never one to get into a skirmish, Underage is 100% positive about sports and life, and is getting better and better by the nanosecond. By the time Underage is all grown up, he'll probably be MVP.

Rookie of the Year: Orman1006. Just like that, in 1006 words, the Portland resident seized the trophy in convincing fashion. Despite his endearing devotion and homerism to the Jailblazers, I mean Trailblazers, Orman has proven in just a short time that the man knows his basketball. Seemingly out of nowhere, he entered the dungeon that is FoxSports and took the blogosphere by storm with an array of creative and insightful blogs. He'll respect you if  you talk intelligently. He'll entertain you if you talk common sense. And above all, he'll blast you if you talk nonsense. Just think of it as being Ormanized.

Coach of the Year: Tom7. He speaks like a coach. He talks like a coach. He analyzes like a coach. He teaches like a coach. And I'm sure he coaches like a coach. That's because he is a coach. And a winning one at that. This guy knows his stuff like the back of his hand. I'm not kidding, he's like the ZenMaster of the blogs. Right when you think you know it all, he'll pull something out of the bag to make you realize you've got to do more homework. Just check out his blogs and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Executive of the Year: Ubershorty. Uber, as we like to call him, thinks of so many trade scenarios he probably spends his weekends adjusting rosters on his XBOX 360. Move over ESPN, this guy is the real deal Trade Machine. Whether it's a one-player deal or a Mega blockbuster, Uber will have a scenario specifically tailored to your team. The only problem is getting some of these moves to go down. Because at the end of the day, we all know the best moves are the moves you don' t make. Nonetheless if you have questions about your roster, this is the man you want to consult with because he's got the latest scoop (still waiting on that Lamar Odom trade on Tuesday).

First Team All-NBA (Offense)

G: BleedPRPL&GLD. A guy that bleeds his team's colors deserves to run the point on my team any day 24-7-365. Including Christmas Day. Quick as a cat, strong as a T-Rex, and better looking than a Cro-Magnon, Bleed can do it all, from superior knowledge of the game to witty and clever humor.

G: TcbDog. The way he fires back with precision, tcbdog definitely brings it. He's a big-time Kobe loyalist and he'll back him up full throttle the way Kobe sinks daggers with three defenders draped all over him. The thing about it is, this dawg doesn't back down. Kinda like Kobe.

G: Reverend Rhythm (late addition). Simply put, when the Reverend speaks, everyone listens. I've always like his blog. His unique perspective is often punctuated by his matter-of-fact, straight-to-the-point take on sports. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Guys like the Reverend, who are aggressive on offense and aren't afraid to take the big shot, are legitimate first-teamers in my mind.

C: Alaskanballa: Anytime a guy will write a blog simply to try and stump me on some sports trivia, I have no choice but to annoint him the center on my team. And anytime a guy "just loves a good debate with an intelligent fan", it tells me the guy knows what he's talking about. And at the center position, you need a player who knows what he's doing. Plus, the guy is a baller in real life.

F: Ricko. The veteran FoxSports blogger receives this award because of his consistency. Don't get me wrong, this is not a Lifetime Achievement Award, but from time to time Ricko still makes an appearance and continues to prove he hasn't lost his wit. He's the most knowledgeable Suns fan out there, and his ability to provide us with a tremendous amount of insight and combine it with entertaining sarcasm has truly earned my utmost respect despite our heated battles from the past. For those of you who don't know our history, let's just say it was like Magic vs. Bird.

F: Lisa Horne. Indeed, her talk is "straight talk from the left coast" to the nth degree. Lisa knows her s-h-!-t blindfolded. Whether it's college football, major league baseball, pro hoops, politics, or other stuff,  Lisa H is a contributing writer for FoxSports by no mistake. I thought I couldn't be beat when we did our "He Said, She Said" blogs during this year's NBA Finals, and lo and behold, I was humbly defeated by this die-hard Celtic.

First Team All-NBA (Defense)

G: The Sizzel. Always defending LeBron. Always stealing the spotlight away from KOBE!!. Always all over these blogs with his unrelenting sarcasm, wit, and humor. Always getting into it with Nique. Always sizzling with hot topics. Always reminding us of Donaghe. My point is, the guy is all over the place. He's relentless, especially with those damn archives. You've got to respect that and that's why he's on my all-defensive squad. Fo' Shizzle Sizzel.

G: Gambitxxx. Aside from the fact he's another one of those bloggers who really know what they're talking about and have proven it, there's only one other reason why Gambit makes the all-defense team. He hails from Louisiana and roots for his hometown Hornets, yet he occasionally defends his first love Lakers when the situation calls for it. That's what I call a true defender right there.

C: Tsunami. Any blogger who has a name that could wreak havoc on Planet Blog is automatically on the first team. No questions asked. My recent debate with him on his Manu-Kobe blog gave me a newfound sense of respect for the guy. Although I already knew he knew his basketball, he defended his position with knowledge and class as opposed to spitting out nonsense like a lot of other bloggers do. If he weren't a tsunami, he'd probably be called Apocalypto.

F: DownsA529. He's a Detroit fan but stresses that he's not a homer. He will vent on topics that irritate him yet he shows his respect for people who debate intelligently even if they don't share his same views. He ain't no pushover despite the looks of his jolly smile. And anytime someone calls himself a "sports nut", you know he'd go into battle with you any day. He gives you "random sports thoughts" and lists his All-Time NBA teams with striking  accuracy. He'll even give you his sports trivia quiz on occasion just to make sure your offensive game is in check.

F: NBA is the Worst. With him in the frontcourt and Sizz in the backcourt, no blogger is going to get by with a clean pass. You will be scrutinized, you will be searched, you will be drug tested, you will be criticized, and you may have to sample a hair follicle. Don't let that picture of David Stern fool you. Worst is no softie. One moment you think he's all sarcasm, next time around he spits knowledge to your dome that will paralyze you like a set of Stern's rules and regulations. Worst can be accommodating and cool, but don't get on his bad side because he'll d you up like Rodman. NBA is the Worm.

Thanks, bloggers, for making my time here on FoxSports totally worthwhile. I know I get into it with some of you, but know that despite my occasional temper flares, I have a tremendous amount of respect for everyone here. 

The combined knowledge that is being circulated among everyone here makes this forum the best in the business and because of you I am able to learn more about the world of sports. With basketball being my favorite sports subject, this is my way of paying tribute to some of my favorite writers here.

The exchange of opinions and information that goes on totally beats reading the sports page every morning while sitting on the s-h-!-t-t-e-r.

And oh, before I forget. The Lakers' Assault Continues...

Alright ladies and gentlemen, it's time to play some basketball! In less than a week, the NBA suddenly became a lot more interesting, providing sportsfans a seamless transition from football.

So I start to wonder...

- Now that new Suns center Shaquille O'Neal has decided he wants to be the one responsible for keeping the great Kobe Bryant from having another shot at a title, where does this put Phoenix in the grand scheme of things? And what is Shaq's real weight these days?

- Which team would win in a seven-game playoff series? The Young Guns with the best closer in the game, who has a supporting cast consisting of two All-Star caliber seven-footers and lengthy multi-position players who hustle and play defense? Or the runnin'-n-stunnin' veteran bunch with a former champion past his prime, who'll screen-and-roll alongside arguably the best PG in the league and who will join a high-fly act and an assortment of long range gunners?

- Now that the NBA is beginning to really shape into form and the stars are properly being aligned, who becomes the favorite to capture the O'Brien Trophy?

- As we undergo the makings of a fairy tale season, what team now possesses the most potent core unit?

In the east, you've got "The Boston Three Party." Cleveland has King James and the Knights of the (Mike) Brown Table. Detroit has a bad boy and a bunch of princes in a palace, while a magical kingdom called Orlando has something "big" to brag about. But let's not forget about The Flash and The Matrix, coming soon to a theater near you.

Out west, the Young Guns of Hollywood continue to be the story of the year and the blazin' Suns look to get even hotter by switching to diesel. The defending champion Spurs have the luxury of knowing how to win at the highest level while their Dallas neighbor is keeping a close watch nearby. Byron Scott has the Hornets buzzin', and it's the same ol' jazz tune being sung in Utah.

- Since blockbuster trades seem to be the theme for 2008, are we going to see Yao and T-Mac team up with Jason Kidd? Or will Kidd wind up in Portland, so he can lob passes to Greg Oden, Travis Outlaw, Brandon Roy, and Martell Webster? Either way, Kidd wouldn't mind having a center who could actually play like a center.

- The disgusted Dwyane Wade and Miami Heat continue to experience a long and disappointing campaign, as losses keep mounting. In his new reality commercial, Dwyane Wade similarly grows frustrated as Charles Barkley's annoying calls to him begin to mount. Funny how life works sometimes.

Whatever happens in the next few months, one thing is certain: the next five years are promising to be the greatest period of competition the NBA will have ever experienced. It is so competitive in the Western Conference that a two game losing streak could drop you from second to seventh in a matter of hours. Just ask the Los Angeles Lakers. They were atop the conference standings for two days, then quickly dropped from first to sixth after one loss!

And there is balance between youth and veterans around the league, there is parity between teams, and above all there is a significant amount of All-Stars, SuperStars, and SuperDuperStars that are on contending teams.

The National Ballers Association is primed and ready for topnotch action. It's where amazing things happen, so let's get ready to rumble!

A follow-up to the 2007 NBA Pre-Camp Power Rankings, here is the current power list as we approach the halfway point...

**In parentheses (pre-season rank, overall record, home record, road record, and record against teams in their respective conference)**

POISED FOR THE POSTSEASON...

1. Boston (#2, 30-5, 16-2, 14-3, 20-5 vs East):  Why are the Celtics the best right now? They are tops in the NBA in points allowed per game, opponent FG%, and are beating opponents by a 12-point margin. And they recently went 4-0 on a West Coast road trip, temporarily silencing all critics.

2. Dallas (#6, 26-11, 17-3, 9-8, 17-5 vs West): The Mavs' recent 102-86 shellacking of Detroit and current seven-game win streak puts defensive minded Dallas ahead of the Pistons in the power rankings, for now. And Detroit has already lost twice to Chicago, whom Dallas defeated last month.  

3. Detroit (#7, 28-9, 13-3, 15-6, 19-3 vs East):  Still contending, the Pistons now feature a younger and deeper bench than in years' past. They're second in the league in points allowed per game, opponent FG%, and they lead the league with fewest turnovers per game. The key to their success thus far has been their overall balance and efficiency. Detroit wins on the road just as much as they do at home.

4. L.A. Lakers (#8, 24-11, 14-5, 10-6, 15-5 vs West): The Young Guns' ascent in the rankings is due to their ability to consistently beat the top teams in the West. The Killer B's (Bryant and Bynum) lead the way for the Lakers, considered by many as the deepest and most dangerous team in the NBA. L.A.'s well-balanced machine can score and play defense with the best of them. Case in point: #3 in the NBA in PPG and FG%, #4 in the NBA in opponent FG% and steals per game. And their average 7-point margin of victory is third in the league and tops in the mighty Western Conference.

5. Phoenix (#3, 26-11, 13-4, 13-7, 12-9 vs West) : Amid talk of discord, the Suns continue to remain competitive despite their serious lack of size, depth, rebounding, and defense. The most telling stat about Mike D'Antoni's bunch, however, is that they only feast on the east, where they are 14-2, but have lots of trouble against their western counterparts. Although they once again lead the league in scoring, they are still 28th in points allowed and 18th in opponent FG%. This is a disturbing trend for a team with serious talent, but one that also finds it difficult to keep up with opponents who possess that rare combination of size, athleticism, balance, and championship-caliber coaching. Against the top eight teams in the Western Conference, Phoenix is a paltry 2-6 while the Lakers, on the other hand, are 7-3 against the same competition.

6. San Antonio (#1, 24-11, 18-3, 6-8, 17-9 vs West): There is absolutely no reason to panic as the defending NBA champions have lost two in a row, gone 5-5 in their last 10, and are seemingly sliding. Why so? They are 20th in the league in opponent FG%, a defensive category they usually lead the NBA in. The reality is they are pacing. They go through this every year and despite talk of getting old, they remain third in the NBA in points allowed. It's the same old San Antonio Spurs come playoff time, when they'll be number one in most people's minds. For now, they are sixth because they lost to the Suns last month while playing without this year's team MVP Tony Parker.

7. New Orleans (#18, 24-12, 10-7, 14-5, 17-8 vs West): The Hornets should not be a surprise to people, only because we know that Byron Scott is their coach and Chris Paul is running the show. Coach Scott has instilled defense into this young nucleus and his players are responding much like the New Jersey Nets responded to his leadership on their way to the Finals earlier this decade. Now the key is... can they stay healthy, particularly veteran sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic?

8. Portland (#24, 22-13, 17-3, 5-10, 16-7 vs West) : It appears the Blazermaniacs have resurfaced. The red-hot Blazers have won 17 of their last 18 games and along the way defeated Utah three times, Denver twice, Golden State twice, New Orleans, Toronto, and appear headed for the playoffs without Greg Oden. And imagine if Oden comes back this season. Btw, Brandon Roy is the real deal and so is Coach Nate McMillan, who is my midseason Coach of the Year.  

9. Denver (#11, 22-13, 15-5, 7-8, 13-10 vs West) : The Nuggets' dynamic duo of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson keeps them in games offensively and their team defense isn't too shabby either (first in the league in steals per game and eighth in opponent FG%). However they are extremely thin at center, and their lack of depth at the point guard position could spell doom for the Nuggets come playoff time, where they will try to compete against the likes of Steve Nash, Tony Parker, Baron Davis, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Derek Fisher. That is not a very good sign for an inconsistent team.

10. Orlando (#19, 23-16, 7-8, 16-8, 14-6 vs East): The Magic started off strong but have tailed off lately, losing 12 out of their last 21, primarily because they are a jumpshooting team. Dwight Howard continues to be a monster, but besides him there isn't much else to be excited about. High-priced Rashard Lewis isn't even averaging 20 ppg and is shooting a disappointing 38% from three-point range. What baffles me about Orlando's management is why they picked up Lewis, who is essentially the same type of player as Hedo Tukoglu. Their stats and percentages are similar, making me wonder why they didn't go out and get a point guard like Steve Blake or Mo Williams instead.

11. Cleveland (#5, 19-18, 12-6, 7-12, 10-12 vs East): Don't let that .514 win percentage fool you. The defending Eastern Conference Champions got off to a slow start this year because of the holdouts of key players, Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao. Now both are back playing their customary roles, and the Cavs have quietly won seven of their last ten with King James putting on MVP-type performances. More importantly Cleveland is 9-6 against the mighty West, with wins against the Lakers, Dallas, Golden State, and Utah. 

12. Golden State (#14, 21-16, 10-7, 11-9, 14-10 vs West): The run-n-shoot Warriors, led by quarterback Baron Davis, continue to pile up the points and play nonexistent defense. Because of their style, they are last in the league in points allowed. However their depth keeps them in most games and the solid all-around play of Andris Biedrins has been a pleasant surprise for Nellie's rag-tag bunch.

 13. Utah (#21, 21-17, 15-3, 6-14, 11-10 vs West): Before the season began I specifically said  that Jazz fans will be wondering if Derek Fisher was really the difference maker. Three months later D-Fish has proved my point, making a huge impact on both the Lakers and the Jazz. Utah sorely misses the leadership and locker room presence that Fisher provides, not to mention his defensive savvy and toughness on the court. Ronnie Brewer has done an admirable job replacing him at shooting guard, but there is no replacement for chamionship experience and this is the main reason why the Jazz, despite their overall efficiency, have slipped in the West after making it all the way to the West Finals last year.

14. Houston (#10, 20-17, 9-6, 11-11, 10-11 vs West): The Rockets are currently on their longest winning streak of the season at five games and seem to be on a roll without their leading scorer, oft-injured Tracy McGrady. Although they are fourth in the league in points allowed and third in opponent FG%, something remains missing in the grand scheme of things for this underachieving ballclub. Some say that Yao Ming is too soft, yet others say inconsistencies in their rotation is what has caused the inconsistency in their record. Whatever it is, they need to figure it out fast or else a huge trade may be on the horizon. 

15. Toronto (#12, 19-17, 9-8, 10-9, 12-9 vs East): The absence of point guard T.J. Ford for half of the season has really hurt the Raptors thus far. Despite missing his leadership on the floor, they are sixth in the NBA in points allowed and second in steals per game. Notable wins so far have come against San Antonio and Dallas, and once Toronto gets Ford back in the lineup expect them to make a run for either the third or fourth playoff spot in the East. 

16. Washington (#16, 19-16, 11-8, 8-8, 13-10 vs East): The Wizards have been a mild surprise as they currently hold the four spot in the East despite being without top scorer Gilbert Arenas for most of the season. Former Laker Caron Butler has done a tremendous job leading the way, averaging 22 ppg while shooting 50% from the field and 40% from long distance. Antawn Jamison has also pitched in by averaging 21.6 ppg and 11 boards. Maybe they're better off without Arenas, whose commitment to winning an NBA title has been questioned of late.

POISED TO BATTLE 'TIL THE END...

17. New Jersey (#15, 18-18, 9-12, 9-6, 13-12 vs East): When Jason Kidd trade rumors seem to always persist, something is bound to happen. Kidd for Pau Gasol and Mike Conley? Kidd for Arenas? Kidd for McGrady? Kidd for Mike Bibby? If I'm Rod Thorn, I choose one because either way I won't go wrong. Unless a move is made, the Nets will continue to hover around mediocrity.

18. Atlanta (#29, 15-17, 10-8, 5-9, 9-13 vs East): The fact that the Hawks are 6-4 against the West seems promising. With the emergence of Josh Smith as a bonafide potential All-Star player and Marvin Williams as a consistent scorer, there is hope in Atlanta after all. Now to see if they can develop team chemistry and defensive consistency with Joe Johnson as their leader. A playoff spot is definitely within reach.

19. Chicago (#9, 14-20, 7-10, 7-10, 11-11 vs East): With all that talent, the struggling Bulls still lack a strong inside punch. Looking on the bright side, they are 5-3 under new coach Jim Boylan. Now to see if they finally structure a deal to pick up Pau Gasol or Amare Stoudemire.

20. Indiana (#20, 17-21, 8-9, 9-12, 9-11 vs East): How is it that the Pacers are ranked seventh in the league in scoring and fifth in opponent FG% yet they're only 2-8 in their last ten games and are playing terribly of late? Maybe it's because Jermaine O'Neal has lost interest. His averages of 15 points and 7 rebounds are not typical of the All-Star forward and his style of play doesn't seem to fit Coach Jim O'Brien's system. You can expect O'Neal to be dealt by the trading deadline, especially if Indiana continues to slide.

POISED FOR THE LOTTERY...

21. Milwaukee (#25, 15-22, 10-5, 5-17, 10-12 vs East): There is no question that on paper, the Bucks have talent. Then why is it they can't seem to get over the hump? Because they are 28th in the league in opponent FG%, while only 22nd in scoring.

22. Sacramento (#23, 14-21, 10-9, 4-12, 6-13 vs West): They have been without Mike Bibby, Ron Artest, and Kevin Martin for most of the season. Martin is back, with Artest and Bibby soon to follow. But the big question is still whether or not Bibby and/or Artest will be traded. Chances are they'll be shipped out, especially since young players like Francisco Garcia, Mikki Moore, and John Salmons all have done fairly well in the Kings' youth movement.

23. Philadelphia (#26, 14-23, 7-11, 7-12, 8-12 vs East): Losers of six in a row, the 76ers are insisting they won't part with either Andre Igoudala or Andre Miller. Philadelphia is acting as if they're both franchise players, and if they continue to believe that they won't be winning anytime soon. At best, Igoudala is a third option on a contending team and Miller is a starter on only a quarter of the teams in this league.

24. Charlotte (#22, 13-23, 11-11, 2-12, 9-20 vs East): The story of their season will be beating the Celtics in Boston and Michael Jordan's return (to the practice court).

25. L.A. Clippers (#30, 10-23, 5-13, 5-10, 6-14 vs West): GM Elgin Baylor says he is extremely disappointed with the Clippers' performance this year despite the injuries to Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston and the All-Star caliber play of center Chris Kaman. What else is new?

26. Memphis (#17, 10-26, 6-12, 4-14, 5-17 vs West):   The Grizzlies hired a new coach in Marc Iavaroni, who came from Phoenix, a team that doesn't have the word 'defense' in its vocabulary, and what is the result? 29th in the NBA in points allowed per game and 29th in opponent FG%. With all that talent in the lineup, there is no reason why Memphis should be this bad.

27. New York (#13, 9-26, 7-13, 2-13, 6-13 vs East): Hmm... now what to do with Isiah, Stephon, Eddy, Jamal, Quentin, David, Nate, Renaldo, Fred, Malik, Zach, Jared, Wilson and Mardy?

28. Seattle (#27, 9-27, 5-12, 4-15, 3-16 vs West): On to Oklahoma City we go...

29. Minnesota (#28, 5-31, 4-13, 1-18, 3-21 vs West): The Timberwolves recently beat Miami by 10, one of the few bright spots (along with Al Jefferson) in a year when they could possibly break the all-time record for futility. The only thing else worth looking forward to is February 8th, the homecoming of Kevin Garnett. Will the fans boo or show their appreciation? My guess is they won't respond the way Jazz fans jeered when Derek Fisher returned to Utah as an opposing player.

30. Miami (#4, 8-28, 4-11, 4-17, 3-17 vs East): 10 losses in a row and counting. When it rains, it pours. Led by The Big Everything Shaquille O'Neal, the Heat have shown that although they can fool us all by buying a championship it's just a matter of time until the true colors begin to reveal themselves. Now Little Pookie and Riles have come to find out what Kobe, Phil and Jerry have known all this time about the Big Liability - he's only there for the money.  

LAKERSFAN19 recently spoke about how boring the NBA has become then went on to write about the proliferation of haterfans in our precious blogosphere, mentioning in particular the constant perceived hate that is dumped on our once revered SHAQUILLE O'NEAL and the so-called brat of the NBA, KOBE BRYANT. As I was commenting on his blog, I began to remember and my comment turned into paragraph after paragraph. So I decided to write a little sumthin sumthin, courtesy of Lakersfan19's original idea. 

The NBA is certainly not boring. In fact, it is exciting. It's where "Amazing Happens."

Seven teams in the Western Conference are on pace for 50+ win seasons and the two teams with the best record in the league are both surprisingly from the Eastern Conference. Boston is on pace to for 70+ wins, which has caused Michael Jordan to pay more attention of late. The Minnesota T-Wolves are threatening the record for futility and the New York Knicks is in another league of their own. Scoring is up while defense continues to determine who wins, and never has there been this many international players in the NBA. The great Scottie Pippen has gone international as well, at the ripe young age of 42, and is apparently still harrassing opponents from the defensive end. I guess the only thing missing is THE RETURN OF THE WORM, Dennis Rodman. Okay, maybe not.

Nonetheless, unprecedented talent has given way to parity which, in turn, has provided fans a ton of great basketball to watch.

But nothing will ever duplicate the drama that developed from the love triangle that was Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Phil Jackson. Not even the famous Jordan-Pippen-Rodman triad from Chicago.

Here, I attempt to briefly revisit what once was and why so many of us have come to "hate" although deep down inside we "love". And more importantly a glimpse of what is to come with these two lead actors, one OSCAR worthy and the other an ESPY nominee.

As far as the "hating" is concerned, I can see why so many fans do it. If you notice, most people will intensify the hate when things are going bad for a particular player on court or off it. It's in our nature as fans and it is, believe it or not, a normal behavior for extremely passionate fans.

What I don't understand, however, is when people continually bring up the past and use this as an excuse to hate even if that particular player has changed. Case in point, KOBE.

Everyone is now beginning to see with the Lakers' drastic improvement that KOBE's immature remarks this offseason may have served a purpose. In fact, Bryant and Jackson may have tactically strategized this in order to get more from the rest of the team.

We all know that the ZENMASTER is known for his psychological ploys, so as fans do we really know for sure that KOBE was all to the bad here?

Bottom line: KOBE BRYANT is a leader and among the fiercest competitors the game has ever seen. Ever.  Always has and always will be. In due time he will get the respect from fans that he rightfully deserves (he always had the respect of his peers) because after all, like former pro sports brats ahead of him - Terrell Owens and Randy Moss - and like that old cliche, "winning solves everything."

I was around to digest everything MICHAEL JORDAN had to endure throughout his early years in the NBA and I see a similar pattern here with the two players, especially since JACKSON is the coach of the two stars.

KOBE is only 29 and for those who have paid attention to all the nuances of his entire career, one can only have utmost respect for his dedication to the purity of the game of basketball. Never mind the off-court antics and stuff because that is really irrelevant.

We as working class people  have issues outside of work that tend to affect our professional careers at times. It's normal folks.

Haters fail to look at what KOBE has brought to his team and to the game. Instead, they find someone to blame and something to blame that someone for. And in a place like Los Angeles, everything becomes all the more magnified.

Why the heck would Jerry Buss pay KOBE all that money in the first place and let SHAQ go for less-than-equal value? Because BUSS not only is a smart businessman but he also recognizes hard work and discipline. Game recognizes game.

And isn't Lamar Odom's 15 and 9 panning out much better than Shaq's 14 and 7 right about now? As far as O'Neal is concerned, he got what he wanted. The cash, the quick championship, and the short-lived glory. Shaq knew in 2004-2005 that guys like 'Zo, Antoine Walker, Gary Payton, White Chocolate, James Posey, D-Wade, and Coach Riley were all hungry to win so he squeezed in at the opportune moment, fit in perfectly, and took advantage.

It was good enough for him to do it for one year, just like it was always good enough for him to treat his conditioning half-heartedly once he earned his contract and delivered three titles to Los Angeles. His contentment is the nature of his personality, unlike Kobe who always believes he can get better. This is the difference between a superstar and a legend. This is what sets apart the Michaels, the Magics, the Kobes, and the Larrys from every other Hall-of-Famer.

Shaq had always been The BIG QUOTATION, so he told Miami fans that he would bring two more titles although he probably knew deep down inside that he was probably done. He will try to mask his inadequacies by simply taking time off here and there in order to play out his contract and honor his fans. But we all know what's best for the team. The Heat should buy him out if they want to be competitive. 

Simply put, The BIG ARISTOTLE is running out of excuses and things to say. His best one came recently when he mentioned that he at least has a Master's Degree to fall back on. A sign that he has reached the end? Definitely so.

I actually believed he had one more solid year in him in 2007-'08. Guess I was wrong. The BIG DIESEL is now The BIG INACTIVE, while KOBE continues to lead the LAKERS' ASSAULT to everlasting greatness and basketball immortality along with THE BIG BYNO-MITE, Andrew Bynum. 

When it's all said and done, KOBE will have more rings than SHAQ and his LAKER legacy will undoubtedly leave a more lasting effect on all of our hearts.

I am sure of this only because KOBE puts more work into his craft than O'Neal ever did.

In any profession, the ones who demonstrate unrelenting work ethic and desire to be the best at what they do regardless of innate ability or talent usually move higher up the ladder (look at the careers of MJ, OLAJUWON, BIRD, MAGIC, who all improved different parts of their games as they got older). Since 2002, tell me one thing SHAQ has improved in his game? Free throws? A go-to move? Rebounding? Defense? Absolutely nothing. Shaq will continue to (and always has) rely on his sheer size and strength in order to intimidate, be physical, and get easy buckets (which helps to explain his high career FG%).

His huge miscalculation about the nature of the game has led him to be ineffective because injuries have now taken their toll on his body and he can no longer rely on what was once his only major strength.

A dedicated center like DWIGHT HOWARD, who continues to work hard on his craft, may wind up becoming a better basketball player than SHAQ (even if he winds up with less rings or no rings at all) because we can see that HOWARD is starting to develop a wide array of post moves, is a force on the boards, and blocks shots like Olajuwon once did. Shaq, with his size, should have led the NBA in rebounding and blocks EVERY year since '99 but he never did so except for maybe one year.

Upon making these points, one would see that no matter SHAQ's dominance between '99-04, he still would not have won those rings without KEY ROLE PLAYERS like Kobe, D-Wade, Rick Fox, Glen Rice, Ron Harper, Brian Shaw, Robert Horry, Derek Fisher, Horace Grant, A.C. Green, Alonzo Mourning, Jason Williams, Gary Payton and Antoine Walker. Think about it. This was SOLID talent built around Shaq.  

After all, when was the last time we saw SHAQ make a game clinching bucket to decide the outcome o####ame?

Way back in 1997-'98 during the last Lakers' home game of the regular season against UTAH. Turn around 12-foot jumper from the left baseline to seal the deal. Del Harris was the coach and L.A. was swept by the same Jazz squad in the playoffs that year.That's probably the only time he ever made a basket at the end of the game when it counted most.

Don't get me wrong, I will not discount Shaq's greatness in his era. However, if you compare his basketball abilites against some of the greatest of all time, in my opinion he is not even top five.

From SHOWTIME to the LAKE SHOW, it's a new era in LAKERLAND. As we look ahead, it might not be long until THE YOUNG GUNS conquer the WILD WILD WEST and the rest of the 'boring' NBA.

With another new year on the horizon and just about a third of the NBA regular season in completion, bloggers will continue to blog, haters will continue to hate, fans will continue to watch, trades will continue to be rumored, and NBA players will continue to play.

What we will all be saying to ourselves in 2008, a year that promises to shell out a ton of surprises:

"It's about time Isiah Thomas did something."

"All the Miami Heat did was buy the most expensive championship in pro sports history because it was worth it even though they knew all along that they would get nothing from Shaq in the long run. No surprise that he is strongly hinting at retirement."

"Shaquille O'Neal is not as great as I once thought he was because guys like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Patrick Ewing, and Moses Malone were still averaging well over 17 points and 10 boards a game when they were over 35 years of age."

"Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchak are geniuses."

"Kobe Bryant is GOD dressed up as a basketball player."

"I knew all along that the Los Angeles Lakers were more of a championship contender than the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets."

"Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash are the next Karl Malone and John Stockton. All that talent with nothing to show for"

"See, I told you Jason Kidd would end up playing in Dallas again."

"Utah's Western Conference Finals appearance last year was a fluke. I really can't believe the Jazz missed Derek Fisher and his leadership that much. "

"How is it that Smush Parker is still playing in this league?"

"David Lee needs way more playing time."

"Dwight Howard is going to need a point guard to get him the ball."

"Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer are solid All-Star caliber players but don't possess the killer instinct that can make an impact to take their team over the top."

"The teams that everyone loves to watch - Utah, Phoenix, Golden State - have finally made me realize that it takes defense and bigs to win games of importance in this league."

" I sure hope Greg Oden doesn't turn out like Sam Bowie (cringe)."

"The Houston Rockets are softies and Rick Adelman is not as great a coach and innovator as I thought. He's like Mike D'Antoni and Mike Dunleavy."

"It was just a matter of time before Pau Gasol ended up where he is now."

"I can't believe I once thought that Lebron James and Dwyane Wade had better supporting casts than Kobe Bryant."

"Nothing ever changes with Don Nelson and how he loves to tease all of us only for us to be disappointed in the end."

"It's the same old Los Angeles Clippers."

"It's the same old San Antonio Spurs."

"Somehow I'm getting the feeling that David Stern really wants the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals instead of the Detroit Pistons."

"It's the same old Pistons."

"What ever happened to Mike Conley? Oh I know... Juan Carlos Navarro."

"Why isn't Damon Stoudamire representing the Miami Heat, where old,  washed up PG's love to congregate?"

"That Carmelo Anthony-Allen Iverson tandem is getting old."

"Air Jordans are just not what they used to be."

"Michael Jordan's been practicing a lot with the team lately. I wonder if he's..."

"Kobe is the next MJ. Period."

"Bryant-Bynum-Odom is the next Magic-Kareem-Worthy in Lakerland, and it's not called the Lake Show either. It's the Young Guns, like Estevez-Sheen-Sutherland."

"I shouldn't have underestimated the Lakers and overestimated the Suns."

Happy Christmas and Merry New Year.

 

 

 

Charlotte 98, Utah 92. Detroit 87, Boston 85. New York 108, Cleveland 90. Memphis 88, San Antonio 85. Portland 101, Toronto 96.  Atlanta 117, Miami 111. Dallas 108, Phoenix 105.

Seven games. Seven unlikely winners.

What does this mean? A lot.

Although the season is young and only about 25 games old, this time of year is the time that coaches and GM's really begin to re-evaluate their rosters in hopes of possibly making changes and improvements considering the trading deadline is only two months away. And by now, teams have gotten to play several games to get accustomed to each other and coaches are starting to see what kind of personality, if you will, each team has. It's certainly a key moment in the season.

And although it's early, this time of year is the time that we start to see trends in certain teams that may linger for the rest of the year. We start to see the identities, or lack thereof, between certain contenders and pretenders.

Let's take a look at some of these candidates...

UTAH JAZZ (14-13, ninth in the West): I said in October that they were #21 in my NBA Preseason Power Rankings because not only does their bright young star Deron Williams lack the experience and veteran savvy needed to make it big in the postseason, but the absence of Derek Fisher would prove vital in their overall team growth and defensive cohesion. You simply cannot replace the intangibles that D-Fish provides. In addition injured Mehmet Okur is soft inside for a seven-footer, Andrei Kirilenko lacks the motivation to perform at his best every night, Ronnie Brewer is good but just not seasoned enough, and All-Star Carlos Boozer is undersized at PF in a very big Western Conference. Above all, they don't play the type of defense that Coach Jerry Sloan is accustomed to seeing from his teams. Utah is slipping fast in a highly competitive conference, and they better figure it out or else they'll be done before they know what hit 'em.

BOSTON CELTICS (20-3, first in the East): Tonight's last tenth of a second home loss to Chauncey Billups and the Pistons showed that the Celtics still have a lot of work to do before they consider themselves NBA FINALS bound. Although they are among the cream of the crop right now, the reality is this group has not  yet played enough important games together to develop a solid identity. A team like Detroit relishes on capitalizing on mistakes, like the one Tony Allen made when Billups put him in the popcorn machine for the decisive game-winning free throws. Imagine if this was Game 7 of the Eastern Finals. Detroit won with Tayshaun Prince going 1-10 for two points. How could that be? Because the Pistons are savvy, experienced winners, and above all they are a solid team that's been together many years and knows how to minimize impact players, like Paul Pierce, who shot 5-16 and had a subpar 11-point night. 

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (11-15, eighth in the East): Last year's East Champion better make a move and make one quick. Despite the greatness of Lebron James, the cohesion that allowed the Cavs to march to the NBA FINALS last year has been nonexistent all year. Perhaps this is due to the holdouts of Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao. Both have played a few games now yet Cleveland continues to look sluggish, getting blown out by the hapless New York Knicks. Oft-injured guard Larry Hughes gets 30+ one night then gets eight points the next. Drew Gooden is terribly inconsistent and could be the first one traded. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is big and slow and is nowhere near the All-Star form he displayed a couple of years ago. There is only so much that a coach can do. It's not his fault and right now his players are neither performing nor executing. This is where we will really see how great of a leader King James really is. If things don't change quickly, the Cavs might miss the playoffs because teams like Atlanta and Indiana are rising fast. Panic button? Not just yet because at least they have a couple of months to figure it out.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS (18-7, first in the West): The defending NBA Champions are 5-5 their last 10 games, making it all the more obvious that Tony Parker is slowly becoming the MVP of the team. The added dimension that he brings on offense is similar to what Fisher provides to the L.A. Lakers on defense. Although the Spurs didn't have Paker's services available against Memphis, this loss is still considered an upset because the Grizzlies didn't have their best player Pau Gasol. The Spurs are battle-tested and tough but lately there have been some kinks in their armor. Other teams have exposed their weaknesses, primarily their lack of young and athletic depth to counter fast teams like the Warriors, Suns, Lakers, Denver, and the Hornets. And what happens if you can get Tim Duncan in foul trouble thereby minimizing his impact on the game? I guess we'll find out come playoff time, because in May chances are the Spurs will still be number one in the West.

TORONTO RAPTORS (15-12, fourth in the East): Last year's surprise playoff team just lost to the surging Portland Trailblazers in a tightly contested matchup so this game was not really an upset so to speak. All-Star Chris Bosh continues to search for his groove while the young role players continue their search for an identity. They are deep. They play European style ball. They play run-n-gun fast break ball. They are well coached. And they could be dangerous come playoff time. However, their main issue remains the center position. When a playoff game comes down to whoever can grind it out and win the inside battle, to whom do the Raptors turn to? Toronto will probably lock up the four-seed (if Cleveland doesn't catch them), but more than likely they won't get past the second round because they are still one solid big man away from contending in the East. 

MIAMI HEAT (7-18, last in the East): Now here's a team that ready to push the panic button. Whether or not it's a motivation issue, it is obvious that the Heat have problems. This is what you get when you sign a cancer called Smush Parker. It becomes contagious. I really feel for Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem because these are the only players on the team that have been there and continue to work hard and play with 100% effort every night. The same can't be said for Law Officer Shaquille O'Neal, who fouls out just about every game and maintains that he still has "it." Yeah right. If he did, he would prove to us that he could make free throws and develop a post move so that at least he could fool us into believing that he still works on his craft. But we already know about Shaq's work ethic. It's nonexistent. He gets kicked out of the game against the rising Hawks, more proof that he is getting closer to retirement by the hour. Truth be told. Someone already shot the sheriff , and trade or no trade Miami is done. Completely.

PHOENIX SUNS (18-8, second in the West): Are the Suns setting? You betcha. And I'll tell you why (once again). Fact number one: Clueless Coach Mike D'Antoni's insistence on wearing out his starters (especially the ageless Grant Hill) by playing them 40+ minutes every night will come back to bite them in the you-know-what come playoff time because a) his bench (or whatever's left of it) won't be ready to produce when called upon in crucial moments of the game, and b) past injuries may take its toll on players like Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire who, mind you, are not getting any younger.

Fact number two:  The Suns have already lost to the two worst teams in the league, are 27th in the NBA in team defense, points allowed per game, and the most important one, 24th in opponent FG%. As we all know over the last 30 years, the teams that win the championship always have been top five in the league in opponent FG%. By contrast, the revitalized Lakers are first in the West and fourth in the NBA in that category and are on pace to surpass the Suns in the Pacific by January.  Phoenix can believe they will be contending because they lead the league in scoring and field goal efficiency but seriously,  tell me a team besides the Showtime Lakers or Chicago Bulls (an exception to the rule because these teams were legitimate dynasties not one-year wonders) that won the championship over the last 30 years that led the league in scoring? You probably won't find one. 

Fact number three: I don't call them the Smurfs for nothing. The Suns' lack of size continues to hurt them. Despite the brilliance of Nash and Stoudemire, it's obvious that this factor is catching up with them. They're no longer as consistent in putting together dominant win streaks like in year's past and the reason is because they get outrebounded and outmuscled every single night. Rebounding the ball is crucial in the playoffs. Why? Because whoever wins the rebound battle establishes control of the paint and whoever gets offensive rebounds affords your team second chance points, which is one of the most overlooked stats in basketball. Case in point from tonight's game: Total rebounds - DAL 49, PHX 35. Offensive rebounds - DAL 20, PHX 7. Final Score: DAL by 3. You may get away with it against the pretenders, but against the contenders you had better win the rebound battle or else you're more than likely going to be disappointed. Phoenix shoots 52% from the field, 84% from the line, and 43% from the arc yet they still lose. I wonder why.

In sum, things are just heating up in the best professional sports league in the world.

Why is the NBA much better than the NFL and MLB? Because in this game, no one does steriods and no one does HGH to get an advantage over the record books. All they do here is smoke ganja, make millions of dollars, wear nice kicks, do semi-funny commercials, and show us how good they look wearing those Armani suits and of course, the bling bling.

I present NBA trends after the fall quarter. Where "I love this game" happens.

 

 

- New Jersey is 9-12 with their Big Three and slipping, as everyone awaits a major transaction...

- Four other teams besides the Nets likely to make a move of significance before the trade deadline: Bulls, Sixers, Grizzlies, and Knicks...

- Three more teams that need to be looking for trade partners: Heat, Kings, and Cavaliers...

- Multiple THUMBS DOWN to ALL Jazz fans for booing Derek Fisher, the epitomy of class, during his first game back in Utah as an opposing player...

- 29 other teams would absolutely love to have Shaquille O'Neal and his 15 point 7 rebound average, but at $1.3 million...

- Surprising to say but Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony averaging 25 apiece for the Nuggets is NOT gonna get it done...

- On the other hand, the Lakers have four players averaging in double-figures and two more right under 10 ppg with Jordan Farmar and Vlad Radmanovic at 9.8 and 9.4 respectively. Watch out, it's only the beginning...

- Lebron James, hands down, is the MVP of the NBA right now, with Hammer Howard second...

- Josh Smith is the best team defensive player in the league, while Kobe Bryant remains the best one-on-one defender in the game...

- Just imagine if  Kobe and Smith were on the same team...

- Like I said after the second week of the season, by Christmas time the Clippers would be back in their old true form...

- Most suprising team is Orlando while Miami is the most disappointing...

- San Antonio, in its quest to repeat as champions for the first time, is serious about gaining home court advantage throughout the postseason and having the best regular season record in the NBA...

- Sleeper to win the Western Conference has to be the L.A. Lakers and the sleeper in the East has to be the Cleveland Cavs...

- Most likely teams to be disappointed in the playoffs: Phoenix and Detroit...

- My TOP 10, with special mention in parentheses:

1) San Antonio (12-0 at home)

2) Boston (10-0 at home)

3) Phoenix (10-3 on the road)

4) Orlando (11-2 on the road)

5) New Orleans (only 6-5 at home, but 8-2 on the road)

6) L.A. Lakers (above .500 both home and away)

7) Detroit (above .500 both home and away)

8) Utah (only 5-7 on the road)

9) Dallas (only 4-6 on the road)

10) Denver (only 4-5 on the road)

And Finally...

A team that considers itself a title contender and then loses to the Minnesota Timberwolves (worst team in the NBA and is on the verge of threatening the all-time record for futility) is probably not going to win the championship anytime soon. Boy I can't wait for Christmas Day...

 

The on-again off-again Lakers drama continues with another episode that puts Days of Our Lives to shame. Just when you think everything's all fine and dandy in Lakerland, Jerry Buss and Kobe Bryant find another way to steal the spotlight from the rest of the league.

Let's just say that it's pure Hollywood. Let's also not forget that the Lakers have to create the stir because a storied franchise like this one, with a reputation for putting on a show every time, must keep reminding us that the attention should be on them. Not the World Champion Spurs. Not even the Boston Celtics. Just like America's teams the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees, the spotlight belongs to L.A.

The fact that Kobe's frustration ultimately led to him demanding and rescinding a trade cannot be ignored. He was serious enough that Buss and Bryant met in Barcelona to discuss the issue. Buss mentioned that he took offers during the summer but wasn't even close to moving Bryant because of a lack of value he would get in return. The reality is you'll never get equal value for Kobe. Philly didn't get equal value for Allen Iverson, and if people tell you Los Angeles got equal value for Shaquille O'Neal they're probably Miami fans.

So Bryant understood Buss' smart business decision not to move him and he went about his business, continuing to train and work hard to be ready for Team USA's FIBA tournament. Kobe then went on to impress the nation with his leadership, defense, and teamwork. It was just another display of Bryant's 100% commitment to his game and more importantly it showed how much loyalty Kobe has for the game of basketball.

This is why you love Kobe despite all of the off-court issues, primadona attitude, and criticisms of selfish play. If you've been witness to the evolution of Kobe since he became pro, you will realize why he is highly respected amongst his peers. And Buss has the utmost respect for Kobe even though Bryant called him a "liar" and an "####."

So the looming question remains: Is Buss running out of patience with Mr. Bryant? I really don't think he is. What we are seeing here is just two people in a relationship who respect and love each other to death just going through some growing pains. Like a young couple in year three of a relationship.

We realize that it all just makes for great entertainment and the media sensationalizes it because after all, it is L.A. And it's also natural for us fans to only look at the negatives in this drama, because some of us are just dying to "Beat L.A."

But if you look deeper into Buss' statements, his first comment is the one that should be amplified most. He said that "we don't want to trade Kobe and if we win everything will be ok." The solution is simple. Win and Kobe remains a lifelong Laker. Lose and go home.

So now it's up to Kobe Bryant to do his part and show he's a true leader and above all, a winner. I believe he's made great strides over the last two years and it will continue this season. He's already the best in the game right now. What will happen when his game matures and he becomes the complete package?

Meanwhile, the mediator Phil Jackson said that "it's probably best that it comes out now... and we can start the season the right way... that's what I believe will happen", showing signs of optimism for his ballclub. He has to react that way because he is their coach and he has to remain positive for the sake of the team. But at the same time Jackson has been a frontline observer so we cannot dismiss his point of view. He has seen this happen before in Chicago, although the circumstance were a little different. Nevertheless, Jackson is on Kobe's side and it's great to know that Kobe has Phil's support. This realization will only facilitate in Kobe's growth as a leader as he copes with learning how to be a winner.

Many great players in all of sports have been dealt away later in their careers, and many have stayed with a single team. With an organization like the Lakers, you can expect at all times a total commitment to winning and excellence. That is why just about every decade, the Lakers regularly make appearances in the NBA Finals.

And It's true that "you can't keep too many loyalties" like Buss intimated, since the business aspect of running a franchise is what dictates most decisions. But do you really expect Buss to deal away the number one draw in the league and trade the player who guarantees sell-outs everywhere you go just because that player calls you a liar? My father called me worse as an adolescent and I still never left home. It wouldn't be too intelligent of a business decision for Buss to trade his number one asset, especially if that particular employee never takes a day off from work.

But if Buss could trade Shaq, he could more easily trade Kobe right? Wrong. It was a smart business move to deal O'Neal because first of all, Shaq was no longer showing the level of commitment to his game like he did before winning his first title. Secondly, Shaq wanted big money that Buss was not willing to pay for an out-of-shape no-free-throw-making late game liability who was nearing the end of his glory years. Look at O'Neal now. 12 points and 6 boards a game. That's Chris Mihm numbers. Lastly, Shaq was also bickering with Kobe, who at that point already proved to Buss he had the work ethic worthy of a $100 million long-term deal. The key here is long-term. So ultimately Buss chose Kobe and Shaq got his cash somewhere else and O'Neal went on to win a title courtesy of Dwyane Wade.

Which brings us back to my boy KOBE, who is itching for a shot at his first title as the main dude. Bryant has much to prove not only to his critics but most importantly to himself. His summer temper tantrums were just a by-product of his maturation process as the leader of his team. He never assumed this role with O'Neal around, and now that it's his team he really isn't that sure yet as to how he's going to lead and how he's going to win. The Lakers, at this point, still do not have an identity they can call their own.

Indeed, that time will come whether or not Kobe sports the purple-and-gold. Because even if he leaves the Lakers in a couple of years, I guarantee that the organization will again find a way to build the pieces of another championship franchise in the near future.

For now, stay tuned after these messages for previews from the next episode of L.A. Divas...

After a long layoff from FOXBLOGCITY, and after drinking my share of PURA VIDAS and enjoying beautiful COSTA RICA with friends and my sizzling Stephanie... THE DIZZLE is BACK!

The 2007 edition of TEAM USA Basketball is about to play Venezuela tomorrow to kickstart the quest for gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

We certainly have some top talent on this summer's squad, but I am not convinced that this should be the team to represent our country next year against the likes of France, Argentina, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Spain. I do believe, however, that this team is better than the team that lost to Greece last summer in Japan because this time around KOBE replaces AI. Mr. Bryant is the real answer.

But there are still questions. Will TIM DUNCAN or THE MATRIX be in the red, white, and blue next year? What about the CELTIC TRIO? Will D-WADE be healthy enough? Does SHAQ give it one more go 'round or will GREG ODEN take his place? We can dream about the real DREAM TEAM, but we must use what we have at our disposal right now...

AIR KOBE, J-KIDD, BRON BRON, MELO MAN A,  buh buh buh BILLUPS, AMARE, LEFTY REDD, HOWARD THE DUNK, DERON WILL.I.AMs, T-CHANDLER, MILLER MIKE and FRESH PRINCE OF COMPTON.

My crunch time starters are: PG- Kidd Magik, SG- Kobester, SF- Fresh Prince, PF- Amare, C- Howard the Dunk

Melo Man A, Chauncey, The King, and Lefty will head the second unit. Tyson, Will.I.AmS, and Miller Mike are there in case of foul trouble, much like THE LAKERS used Slava Medvedenko, Sasha Vujacic, and Devean George.

So tip off is tomorrow on NBA TV. Who are your STARTERS? Feel free to speak your mind.

 

And on the other side... they must play on. I present the spring semster report card for the east.

THE EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Detroit - The revitalized Chris Webber arrived basically for free, and all of a sudden the Pistons are atop the conference. There is a strong possibility of another Miami-Detroit showdown in the second round. Grade: B+

2. Cleveland - Lebron James managed to lead the Cavaliers to a number-two seed and 50 wins despite not having a legitimate sidekick. But then again this is the East. Grade: B

3. Toronto - The reason the Raptors made the playoffs is because they move the ball and play the game just like an Olympic team with all of those international players on the roster. Grade B-

4. Miami - The defending champs get this seed by virtue of being division leader, but they open on the road with an aging and slower Shaq, a more tentative and less aggressive D-Wade, a disgruntled White Chocolate, an uninspired A-Walker, and a Glove that no longer fits. Good luck, Riles. Grade: B

5. Chicago - Now is the time for Ben Wallace to show us why he arrived in the first place. Because the Bulls could have played a guy named Tyson, who pulled down more boards and blocked more shots than Ben all year but now plays for the Hornets. Grade: B+

6. New Jersey - In what may be the last run together for Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson, the Nets can't help but look forward to Brooklyn. Grade: B-

7. Washington - Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler might as well go blogging full time because there won't be much to appreciate in the playoffs for the Wizards who, at this point, lack bullets to put up a fight. Antawn Jamison will put up 30 each night as the Wiz go quietly into the night in four games. Grade: C

8. Orlando - There is only so much Dwight Howard can do, when your team's second best player is Hedo Turkoglu. Therefore it'll be tragic, when Orlando runs out of magic. Grade: C

Please check out my playoff predictions in Part 3... Thanks for stopping by...