#32 Magic Johnson, 6-9, 225, greatest Laker of all time... Member Basketball Hall of Fame... dominated 1980s with 5 championships and 9 NBA Finals appearances... 3-time regular season MVP... 3-time Finals MVP... 2-time All-Star Game MVP... 12-time NBA All-Star... 10-time All-NBA... #1 all-time career assist per game average...  led NBA in assists per game 4 times... led league in steals 2 times... career averages of 20 ppg, 11 apg, 7 rpg, 2 spg, 52% FGs and 85% FTs... one of a handful of players to win a NCAA championship, NBA championship, and Olympic Gold Medal... triple-double machine who can play all five positions... played with arguably the greatest center of all-time... only Lakers player with a statue outside Staples Center.

#23 Michael Jordan, 6-6, 210, greatest Bull of all time... Hall-of Famer... dominated 1990s with 6 NBA titles in 6 Finals appearances... 5-time regular season MVP... 6-time Finals MVP... 3-time All-Star Game MVP... 14-time NBA All-Star... 11-time All-NBA... #1 all-time career points per game average... led NBA in scoring avg 10 times... led league in steals 3 times... career averages of 30 ppg, 5 apg, 6 rpg, 2 spg, 50% FGs, 83% FTs... one of a handful of players to win a NCAA championship, NBA championship, and Olympic Gold Medal... scoring and dunking machine deluxe who can play three positions... played with arguably the greatest lockdown defender of all time... only Bulls player with a statue outside United Center.

Forget Kobe vs. Michael guys. If you want to compare another legend to Jordan, the great Earvin Johnson is the player we need to be talking about.

Although their primary positions were different, both made other teams adjust their strategies in order to counter the impact they made on the game which was tremendous.

Both players could score and get to the foul line at will. Both were as clutch as they get. Both were great defenders (Magic was a tremendous defender early on in his career, leading the NBA in steals at 3.4 per game and 2.7 per game in '81 and '82). Both were leaders who made their teammates better players. Both were marketing icons - Magic with Converse and Jordan with Nike. And above all, both players defeated the best teams and the best players in their respective eras convincingly and resoundingly.

But I'll tell you why Magic Johnson, as an overall player and team leader, makes a bigger impact on the game and on his team than His Airness.

Jordan accounted for 30 points per game and 5 assists per game during his entire career, which amounts to roughly 40 points of production for his team (for these purposes we will only equate his 5 apg as two-point field goals, giving him ten points of production for his team). His career average in steals was a little over two per game, so if we were to say one of those two steals led to a bucket, we can stretch it a little bit and say Jordan's overall impact on each game accounted for 42 Bulls points.

Magic, on the other hand, accounted for 20 points per game and 11 assists per game over his career, amounting to 42 points of production for the Lakers. He also averaged two steals a game, so if we were to take one steal that led to a bucket we're looking at 44 points that Magic was accountable for. In addition, Magic's career FG% was 52% to Jordan's 50% and his FT% was 85% to Jordan's 83%.

It's not much of a difference by the numbers, but Magic's overall career averages are still better when it comes to overall influence on a game. If we were to compare career playoff averages, it's about a tie (Jordan's 46 to Magic's 45).

Of course, many will undoubtedly say Michael Jordan is greater because many grew up in the Jordan era and witnessed the legend that was Air Jordan. And many will say Magic had Kareem and Worthy without taking into account that Jordan had Pippen and Rodman. But for those who were around to enjoy the Lakers-Celtics and Lakers-76ers rivalries of the eighties, you may be apt in siding with Johnson because he actually made us believe in magic. 

I witnessed both dynasties up close and personal and I watched thousands of Bulls and Lakers games - preseason, regular season, and playoffs.  I've seen both players play in their primes, live. Jordan was an amazing and unbelievable offensive weapon who didn't come around to be an all-out team player until his fifth year in the league, while Magic led his team to a title his rookie year. And throughout his career, Magic won five championships and went to the Finals a ridiculous 9 times in a 10-year span with three drastically different Laker teams with two different coaches. Not even the ringmaster Bill Russell could have done that.

Magic Johnson is the ultimate NBA legend because he dominated all categories and was the ultimate winner at the same time. His triple-doubles are living proof of this. The artistic and graceful Air Jordan is close behind, but not even His Airness could play all five positions in the grandest stage and win a championship doing so. Magic was so great and influential that Michael wanted to be like him - he took Magic's number 32, reversed it, and decided to go with 23.

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.

- 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...

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?

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.

'Twas the night before Christmas and all thru the house,

Shaq begins to wonder how this all came about;

The championship banner hanging high up in the air,

Another ring for the Diesel, but who really cares?

'Cause the Heat keeps losing all but left for dead,

While visions of Kobe winning continue to haunt O'Neal's head;

And the Lakers are ready to be put on the map,

While Shaq plays Santa with his 20 kids on his lap;

When out in the East there arose such a chatter,

Shaq is out of shape again he's getting fatter;

So away he went to leave it all up to Flash,

You're on your own kid while I collect my cash.

The Suns are shining in the West and there's a new Jazz show,

but we all know that there's still San Antonio;

Then all of a sudden in Denver, the Answer appears

Just in time for Garnett to say the end is near;

And just like that Buss calls McHale quick,

He thought for a moment it must be a trick.

Buss asks if he liked last night's game

"I don't know" McHale replied. "Ask what's-his-name."

"Now, Blount! now, Davis! now, Hudson and Griffin!

On, Jaric! on, Foye! on, James and Madsen!

To the bottom of the Northwest! to one last call!

Now go away Garnett! I'll take the fall!

As the speculation continues and the rumors fly,

Isaiah Thomas insists he's a nice guy;

So up to Stern's office Thomas flew

to request more players 'cause he was down to two;

I'll cut this short so I can shop at the mall,

Maybe it's on sale... that is, the new ball;

Shaq don't like it so he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to O'Neal's career - good night."