The dazed, confused, and overweight spectacle that is Shaquille O'Neal was hoping to revive his sordid and rundown rapping career by mocking Kobe Bryant, the Lakers, Patrick Ewing, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during his freestyle performance at a NYC nightclub this past weekend, adding another chapter to the ultra-famous Kobe-Shaq feud of yesteryear.

For Shaquille, this was great for entertainment. It was even more impressive for attention. For bloggers, this is grand.

Strikingly reminiscent of Tupac Shakur's Hit 'Em Up, wherein the late poetical lyricist trashed his ultimate rival Biggie Smallz, Diddy, and the rest of his east coast counterparts, O'Neal is becoming more g-h-e-t-t-o fabulous by the minute. Some will call it gangsta. I call it a desperation act.

So today, after having lunch with Mamba, I asked him if he was going to let this slip by the wayside. I asked him if he was going to allow O'Neal to mock him and Kareem just like that. Kobe was hesitant, reiterating how much this is being blown out of proportion. 

Plus, "I'm not a rapper," he said. "I do real music. I play instruments. All Shaq does is recite poems."  

So I told Kobe, "Here brother, have another drink."

Thirty minutes later, we arrived at my music studio. An hour after that, we drank "20 shots" just as Kobe had wanted. And 15 minutes after that, I put on an instrumental version of Hit 'Em Up.

"Remember when 2Pac did this?" I asked Mamba.

"Yeah," he replied. "This was the s-h-!-t back in the day "

"It's your turn now," I said resoundingly. "You're the MVP. Don't ever let a chump talk to you like you're his b-!-t-c-h."

At that point, it seemed as if I had ignited a fire under Kobe. He had this look of ferocity I had never seen before. Not even in the NBA Finals did Kobe look this vicious and intense.

"Okay, one more shot," Kobe demanded.

Here are the unedited lyrics that Bryant fired off. While he was on the mic, I was busy throwing elbows and roundhouses at the life-size picture of Shaq in a Suns uniform which I pinned on the punching bag inside my garage.

Enjoy, and tell 'em all what it tastes like.

I get off when I want

so I tell you how it be

you can't even stay wit a woman

let alone be like me

you're all about the cash

can't win without Flash

callin' me a clown and a joke

ha ha ha

wannabe Tone Loc

Big Bustin' wit Steel

never get anotha movie deal

Big Floppin' wit Kazaam

took the money like thank you ma'am

Blue Chips was weak

yo' future is bleak

hopeless and miserable

better go fix yo' knee

you ain't even top ten

yet you mock Pat and Cap

talk smack, spit c-r-a-p

20 kids on yo' lap

divorced wit no woman

and u still can't rap

Your badge just got copped

like Shaunie got popped

Train her with a trainer

She'd leave you for Desagana Diop

so if it sounds like s-h-!-t

then you know he ain't legit

like against the Spurs

when Fatburger quit

Get outrebounded by Oberto

got stats like Mihm

get outhustled by Kurt Thomas

No longer grabbin' rim

HOOK

so I tell you how it be

Shaq got exiled from Miami

so I tell you how it be

you got dumped by Pat Riley

let me tell you how it be

Shaq gotta hate on me

to get on tv

and rap fo' free

End HOOK

Spit at me

I spit at you

Pretendin' to be cool

Yet you the fool

can't jump

can't move

can't shoot a lick

better inbound tha rock

before you put up anotha brick

I'll give you a mil

to pay off the rest

cuz you need it dawg

your broke with no bulletproof vest

yo' time is up

you tastin' last place

I get off whenever I want

now tell me how my nut tastes!

Repeat HOOK 2x to fade

Afterwards as Kobe got in his Aston Martin, he talked about how he couldn't wait to face the Suns next year.

In fact, he promised to dunk over O'Neal as well as give Andrew Bynum plenty of opportunities and shot attempts to humiliate the Big Hater. And once Bryant gets that one perfect opening in the middle of the lane to throw one down on the sumo wrestler, he's literally going to make him taste his ####. It'll be the hottest selling poster ever made.

Oh, it's on now.

It's obvious FATBURGER hasn't gotten over it. No matter how much he says it was all in fun, it's clear that BURGER KING continues to harbor ill feelings towards Kobe and the Lakers organization.

He never liked PATRICK EWING so he trashed him. He was never fond of KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR so he put him down too. Jabbar, who was trained by BRUCE LEE, told me THE BIG YOSHINOYA wouldn't dare say it to his face unless he wanted to get a beatdown.

No matter how sarcastic HOMETOWN BUFFET sounded when he rapped the night away in New York the other night, best believe he meant most of what he said. I don't believe it when SHACK-IN-THE-BOX mentions that he and Kobe are all good. NACHO BELL GRANDE  is a hater by nature. Just like a lot of bloggers who can't stand it that the LAKERS are back on top. Get off our nuts.

So it's on once again. The KOBE HATERS are out in full force. So THE LAKERS EMPIRE must strike back.

For your enjoyment I will re-release a blog called A Xmas Poem for Shaq which I wrote in December 2006, when we all knew PANDA EXPRESS was all but done.

Tell me what it tastes like. Enjoy.

'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,

Isiah 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."

 

- The Boston Celtics did what they were supposed to do at home, which is dominate an eighth seeded team. The Atlanta Hawks did what they were supposed to do in Game 7 on the road, which is play like an eighth seeded team...

- How will Gang Green gang up on Lebron James? Or do they even need to? Early prediction is Celtics in six, with James averaging close to 40 in the series...

- But I won't be surprised if Boston suffers an early exit if Cleveland's role players play their role to perfection. In the Name of the King, the Knights of the Brown Table will be expected to battle for their lives. Ok, maybe it's not life and death. But it's the NBA Playoffs, where there is only one...

- Just like I thought, the Detroit Pistons' big backcourt of Chauncey Billips and Richard Hamilton manhandled tiny Jameer Nelson and inadequate but game Maurice Evans in their 91-72 blowout of the Orlando Magic. This will set the tone for the series...

- If Orlando can't pick up the pace and force a running game, Detroit will control the tempo, keep the scores low, keep it physical, and will keep on frustrating center Dwight Howard. At this point, the young and inexperienced Howard will not have the moxie to will his team to recover. Superman is looking more like Superboy and thus the Pistons should close it out in five... 

- I keep saying to the skeptics, don't sleep on the Pistons...

- Byron Scott is one hell of a coach. His team came prepared for battle and took it to future Hall-of-Famer Tim Duncan like no other opponent has done to him before. Props to the former L.A. Lakers shooting guard, who came up with a genius strategy to hold Duncan to five points and three boards, Brian Skinner numbers...

- Duncan looked like Shaquille O'Neal out there on Saturday night. Slow and tired with no lift and contstantly getting burned on defense. With Duncan also missing his free throws a la Shaq, the only thing missing was the Hack-a-Tim. But I'm sure Scott won't employ that tactic anytime soon...

- We did see the Hack-a-Chandler for a quick second, which came to everybody's surprise. Since Popovich loves doing it so much, I'm beginning to think we should start calling the Hack-a-Shaq, Pop's Special Recipe...

- And be sure to check out the latest hit on television. It's called...

  YOUNG GUNS: The Assault Continues

Starring Kobe Bryant as William H. Bonney aka Mamba the Kid

Pau Gasol as Doc Scurlock

Lamar Odom as Chavez

Andrew Bynum as Richard "D!CK" Brewer

Sasha "Vidal Sasoon" Vujacic as Dirty Steve Stephens

and introducing Luke Walton as Charley Bowdre

with Phil Jackson as John Tunstall, Mamba the Kid's teacher and mentor 

This is how the West will be won - the old fashioned way, with all the gunslingers taking over your town.

If Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs want to make a series out of this, he obviously has some adjustments to make.

 

The Spurs were slow in defensive rotations in the second half of their 101-82 loss to the Hornets, causing David West to pick them apart at the seams. The All-Star power forward scored in all ways imaginable. Mid range jump shots. Left handed hook shots. Dribble Drives. Turnaround 17-footers with a hand in his face. And-ones. West, and not Chris Paul, was the key to the whole game.

Had the Spurs doubled West early in each of the Hornets' possessions, it would have forced Paul, who had an off night shooting, to make other decisions. Decisions that may not have panned out for New Orleans. Keep in mind that San Antonio was up by 11 early on. So how come they could not maintain the lead?

Because while West was warming up, they did nothing to make sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic take tough shots. Stojakovic had open looks all night. The defending champions need to stick Bruce Bowen on Peja because it's the threat of Peja that opens up the entire game for CP3 and the rest of the team.

Popovich erred by putting Bowen on CP3. You can't treat New Orleans like the Suns. The tactic worked on Steve Nash because Nash is not as great as everyone thinks. Nash is soft and he gets rattled easily in the playoffs. So it's a tremendous advantage to put a physical player like Bowen on him. But on a player like Paul, it won't matter because Paul is too quick and too good a player to let Bowen frustrate him.

Pop should stick with the basics. Let your best counter weapon Tony Parker guard CP3. Parker is quick enough on his feet to keep up with him. Plus Parker makes CP3 work on the defensive end. He scored 23 on him so that should tell you something. You keep Bruce on Peja so he can be physical with him and wear him down. That's how the Lakers kept beating Sacramento between 2000-2003 when Peja was in his prime. L.A. used Rick Fox to outmuscle him, frustrate him, and take him out of his comfort zone. San Antonio should do the same.

Then you take the same tactic that NO is using on Tim Duncan and use it on West. Double him with Kurt Thomas/Fabricio Oberto and Manu Ginobili, who is good at stripping the ball. You can afford to use Manu to sag off of Morris Peterson or Bonzi Wells because I don't think either of those guys can be consistent enough to be a threat all series. This allows Duncan to stay on Tyson Chandler, thus preventing any CP3-to-Tyson alleyoops.

 

And once Duncan starts to find his groove, Chandler will be neutralized and will probably be in foul trouble. At the same time, Chandler won't be putting up numbers like he did on Saturday. Because West was basically going nuts, Tyson pulled down a quiet 15 boards.

Let Chris Paul score 35 because he won't beat you by himself unlike the great Kobe Bryant can. Paul scored 32 against the Lakers in January at New Orleans and the Lakers blew them out by 29! West shot 7-17, Peja shot 4-11 and they combined to score only 28 points. This is how you beat the Hornets. You have to wear down the Hornets physically. You have to make West and Peja work for tough shots. You have to make the Hornets defend, and you have to get them in the penalty early in the quarter. 

If the defending champions want to have the right to play the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, they have to take a page out of the Lakers' scouting report in order to make their series against New Orleans a competitive one.

 

Otherwise, Coach Byron Scott is going to make a trip back to his hometown in a couple of weeks.

A quick pre-season look at the postseason, with predicted conference ranking and predicted record in parentheses.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Lakers (#1, 57-25):  Best conference record against the West (37-15) says something, so let the dynasty begin.

New Orleans (#2, 56-26):  Surprising Hornets could be prime candidate for postseason letdown, but they're led by former Lakers champion Byron Scott, which says something.

San Antonio (#3, 56-26):  Many believe Spurs are old, but Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker aren't, so don't be surprised if defending champions reach conference finals.

Utah (#4, 54-28):  Jazz horrendous on the road all season long, but they won Game 7 in Houston a year ago with Derek Fisher on the roster, so we'll see what they're all about in the rematch.

Houston (#5, 55-27):  The value of the big man - if it weren't for Luis Scola and the ageless Dikembe Mutombo, the Rockets would be out and the Warriors would be in.

Phoenix (#6, 55-27):  Suns' poor head-to-head record against West playoff teams says a lot about their ability, or lack thereof, to compete with the best of 'em, but the arrival of Shaq and the re-emergence of Amare Stoudemire have made the Suns legitimate contenders once again.

Dallas (#7, 51-31):  Not that it's possible, but the Mavs could do to the Hornets this year what the Warriors did to the Mavs last year.

Denver (#8, 50-32):  It's obvious to me that Carmelo Anthony's desire to be in Denver in the future is not in his plans, as poorly timed DUI charge indicates, therefore Nuggets have zero chance of winning a game against the mighty Lakers.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Boston (#1, 66-16):  Leading the league in defense and wins and 25-5 record against the Western Conference says something, so let the dynasty begin.

Detroit (#2, 58-24):  The Spurs of the East keep winning with balance and chemistry and they're deeper and younger, so don't be surprised if Pistons reach NBA Finals.

Orlando (#3, 52-30):  Magic have been better on the road than at home all season so home-court advantage in the first round could actually hurt them.

Cleveland (#4, 46-36):  Lebron of 2007-'08 looks like Kobe of 2005-'06, which means one-and-done in the postseason.

Washington (#5, 43-39):  The Nuggets of the East - all that talent and firepower but not enough in quality decision-making to win big games.

Philadelphia (#6, 41-41):  Even if overachieving Sixers get swept in the first round, young team has already made believers out of tough Philly fan base.

Toronto (#7, 41-41):  Underachieving team can't seem to solve point guard situation and Bargnani is a bust, which means Raptors will be one-and-done against the Pistons in the first round.

Atlanta (#8, 38-44):  Even if the Hawks were to pull off an upset and win game one of their series against Boston, they still don't have enough big-game experience to close out the Celtics in a seven-game series.

Conference Finals Prediction

West - Lakers over Spurs in six        East - Detroit over Boston in seven

NBA Finals Prediction

Lakers over Detroit in seven

- Believe it or not, the once left-for-dead Phoenix Suns have turned it around and it's all because of Mike D'Antoni and his coaching staff. He has finally found a way to incorporate and involve The Big Diesel into the system. That high double-post set on offense is being utilized to perfection by Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and O'Neal. Kudos...

-  While STAT's stats have gone up, Nash is still pick-n-rolling opponents to death and continues to find his three-point shooters within their new offensive set that still emphasizes ball movement, fluidity, but more importantly allows O'Neal to do his thing, whether it's attacking the offensive boards, finding the open man, or simply making his presence felt. And with Boris Diaw slowly starting to find his groove, the Suns actually have a legitimate shot of reaching the NBA FINALS...

- If Shaq doesn't get hurt and continues to average 15 and 10, the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs will have to revise their game plan...

- Although he may not win MVP, Chris Paul is the best guard in the NBA pound for pound...

- A New Orleans Hornet deserves a regular season award this year. Byron Scott for Coach of the Year, because his team has maintained its position atop the West the entire season...

- Kobe Bryant deserves to be MVP while any other year Paul would win the award. Tim Duncan should win MVP every year and we all know it, but we have to make it fun for the fans so we use statistics as indicators instead. Kevin Garnett already won an MVP but this time around he has a much better supporting cast and he's missed some games so it ends there for KG. Lebron James has to wait his turn to be crowned King of the NBA, especially if the team he plays on won't even qualify for the playoffs in the West...

- Nice to see The Birdman out of his cuckoo's nest and flying again... 

- If the Dallas Mavericks wind up playing the New Orleans Hornets in the first round, I would not be shocked if the Mavs do to the Hornets what the Warriors did to them last year...

- Everybody keeps talking about how Elton Brand would fit in perfectly with Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion in Miami. No one is talking about the possibility of Brand in a Golden State Warriors uniform. Imagine a lineup of B-Diddy, Monta Ellis, Stephen Jackson, Andres Biedrins, and Brand. Scary to think of that team running up and down the court...

- The fact that Washington was minus-19 with Gilbert Arenas on the floor during the Wizards' loss in his first game back makes me realize that the uninspired, video game playing blogger known as Agent Zero would make a perfect Los Angeles Clipper. Welcome back to L.A., Gilbert. We already know you're coming...

- If the Atlanta Hawks started the season with Mike Bibby running the point, they would be ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference playoff race right now...

- Golden State will not make the playoffs this year because they play only one style of basketball. At least Denver and Dallas can go inside if they wanted to...

- The key to the recent surge by the Denver Nuggets to propel them back in the playoff hunt hasn't been Carmelo Anthony or Allen Iverson. It's been the player who's rediscovered his talents, Kenyon Martin...

- The Utah Jazz have the best home record in the NBA but is only 16-22 on the road. They will be the featured topic on the next episode of Unsolved Mysteries...

- The fact that the Los Angeles Lakers did not sign Chris Webber and chose to bring in D.J. Mbenga instead solidifies Mitch Kupchak for Executive of the Year. Many will say Danny Ainge, but the entire universe knows Kevin McHale was the one responsible for the revival in Boston. And guys like James Posey, Eddie House, and Sam Cassell decided to go green not because of Ainge but because of Garnett. Kupchak built his team from the ground up with his best player threatening to go elsewhere. Ainge used a former MVP to entice free agent veterans to come join the fray...

- For the first time since the 1980's, fans will hear "Beat L.A." chants more than ever in every city the Lakers will play in during the playoffs...

- I love how every contending playoff team's fans will chant "MVP! MVP! MVP!" for their star player even though they know he won't win the award. It goes to show how fans are once again loving this game...

- The regular season MVP Award is the most overrated award in all of professional sports. On paper, the Phoenix Suns should win it all because they have three MVP-type players in O'Neal, Stoudemire, and Nash. The Celtics have two in Paul Pierce and KG, the Rockets have Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, and the Nuggets have Melo and A.I. The funny thing is that neither of these teams will make it to the NBA Finals...

- The biggest mistake anyone can make in the postseason is to sleep on the Detroit Pistons. Like in 2004, they are at their best when flying under the radar. That was the same way in which the great Joe Dumars approached the game and it was what made him a legend in Motown...

- Fans are always looking for storylines when it comes to the NBA Finals. We all want to revive the battles between the Lakers and the Celtics. We all want to see Kobe vs. Lebron in the Finals, which would be the new version of Bird vs. Magic. We all wish that Phoenix played in the East so we'd have a chance to see Kobe vs. Shaq in the Finals. But it almost always seems to never work out as we expect it to be. Who would have thought that Cleveland would make it to the big dance last year? That's why in 2008, it will be... 

- Lakers over the Pistons in the 2008 NBA Finals. Just like Mike versus the Bad Boys in the late eighties, Kobe finally gets past Detroit when it counts most. 

- And finally: If you don't love this game, check yourself. 'Til next time...

 

Payback sure is a b!*#* When spoiler Sacramento was up 71-60 over the Lakers at halftime, I turned off the television. I knew right away the purple-and-gold did not come ready to play.

The Lakers were scoreboard watching. They saw that San Antonio had lost  to Phoenix earlier in the day and they relaxed.  Above all, they thought the Kings would fold flat like a lawnchair and instead it was Los Angeles who folded. Just like a lost poker hand.

The symptoms of the old Los Angeles Lakers began to show up in the third quarter. The old tentative Kobe was on display tonight and it was not pretty.

And believe me, I know exactly what Kobe Bryant was thinking and his play tonight sure wasn't indicative of how an MVP player should perform and lead his team to victory.

He scored 20 points in the first half as he attacked aggresively through the Kings defense yet his team was down big. So what did Pinkie Bryant do? He deferred to his teammates in the second half and it hurt the team immensely. I'm pretty darn sure that's what was going through his mind in the locker room at halftime. He felt he needed to stop shooting so much and get his teammates involved and he paid a huge price. He let his team down.

His serious lack of aggressiveness on both sides of the ball led him to become cold in the fourth quarter and because he stopped shooting he didn't have that same killer instinct that we have grown to become accustomed to all season. In the last three minutes of the game Bryant missed an easy driving layup and missed a critical free throw, which consequently decided the outcome of the game.

And the last shot of the game in which he was falling away 22 feet from the basket? That was a result of Bryant's poor judgment and court vision. With 4.6 seconds left, he got the ball at the top of the key, drove to the right, directly into a double-team with Mikki Moore waiting on the wing. Bryant chucked it with the 6-11 Moore flying right at him causing him to fade away from the target and his shot fell short.

Wanna know what Lebron James would have done? The King would have driven left away from the double team and James would have either dunked the ball or gotten to the foul line. James said it himself recently that when time is running out, it almost seems as if everything is in slow motion and he takes his time and looks for the best way to score or find an easier shot for his teammates. That's the mentality of an MVP-type player.

Not to say that Kobe doesn't have it because he does. In fact, Kobe is a better closer and defender than Lebron. But Bryant still has a lot of growing up to do because sometimes he gets away from what he really needs to do, much like James on occasion. The point is that we still aren't able to expect Kobe and Lebron to lead their respective teams on a nightly basis the same way Michael Jordan did for his Bulls time and time again. Michael was an immense threat every single minute on the floor, much to the dismay of his opponents and that in itself broke his adversaries down mentally before they even stepped on the court with him. The psychological advantage that Jordan had over his oppponents is what separated him from the rest of the league. Teams knew when Jordan had that 'look' in his eyes, it was all over. Magic had the same quality. So did Larry Legend and Isiah Thomas. They did whatever it took to win a game. And accomplished it with intelligence and court savvy, not just on sheer talent and will. The legends of the game knew how to mend it all together to form the most complete basketball weapon. Kobe is on his way, but he isn't there yet.

Bryant the MVP? Maybe that's the popular vote but I am not that impressed yet, especially after tonight's contest. This was one Bryant surely would want to take back 10 times out of 10.

Instead of deferring his offense, what Kobe should have done was increase his intensity on defense to set the tone for the rest of his team. Because in the second half, the Lakers defense did not improve any better than the first half. They led 113-112 with about 15 seconds left and after the Kings called a timeout to set up a play, Beno Udrih and Brad Miller broke down the Lakers mediocre defense with a simple back screen cut that got Derek Fisher lost and caused a foul by Sasha Vujacic.

Every time the Lakers made a mini run in the third and fourth quarters, the Kings would come right back and run their predictable pick-n-pop with Brad Miller, who'd easily find a cutter or two leading to layups and dunks by guys like Udrih, Moore, and Francisco Garcia. The Lakers played so poor defensively that it overshadowd another excellent effort by Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.

Now if I'm the MVP of planet earth, I would have guarded the Kings' best playmaker and Kobe was nowhere to be found near Udrih in the Lakers' final defensive stand. Where were you Mamba? Where was that leader in you we all thought you had become?

Now I'm sure this is just a temporary setback and the Lakers will once again be true to form in their upcoming games, but this loss will be tough to sw@llow for Lakers fans simply because there is absolutely no reason why L.A. should have given this game away. And it was the way they lost that is so discouraging. At least the Spurs lost to the Suns playing their style of ball. There was nothing positive whatsoever that the Lakers could have taken from this game.

But this is all part of the growing process for Bryant and I'm sure that after he watches the tape, he will realize how he was solely responsible for losing this one for the team. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird never would have let this happen. And we all know how Michael Jordan would have never allowed his teammates to relax one bit. Not at home in front of a raucous crowd. Not with first place in the west and home court advantage on the line.

Kobe has been a vocal leader all year long but throughout tonight's game his lips were as sealed as a cd case straight out of the factory.

If the Lakers want to stake their claim as the best team in the league bar none, Kobe has to play with a sense of urgency. It starts with Bryant because ultimately his teammates will follow his lead. They tried to do that tonight but unfortunately, Bryant wasn't there to lead. For once, he became a follower.

It's time for Phil Jackson to use the force and work his zen magic on his young padawan because by the looks of their recent performances, I'm beginning to think maybe Pinkie Bryant and the Young Guns haven't meditated in a while.

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!

In typical Hollywood fashion, the entire league was taken by storm when it was announced that former All-Star Pau Gasol had been traded to the rising Los Angeles Lakers. Once again the Lakers find a way to steal the spotlight at the right moment, in the midst of Super Bowl Weekend.

Around here in L.A., it was Super Brown Weekend. Thanks to Kwame, the purple and gold  might have just landed the missing ingredient it needs to become a contender for the NBA crown. Maybe the next time Kwame comes around to play against the Lakers in a Memphis uniform, the fans oughta give the guy a standing ovation.

Kudos to Lakers management. Taking a page out of the '95 Bulls, L.A. committs highway robbery much in the same way Chicago traded for All-Star Dennis Rodman by giving up only Will Perdue. As great as Michael Jordan was, he had his share of help to win another three titles. Who knows what could have happened had the Bulls failed to land The Worm? Now to see what Kobe can do with his team, which is primed and ready for big things. Will he equate the legendary Jordan? Will he surpass him or will he fall short of expectations?

I have three very key comments to say about how The Trade elevates the Lakers and how it changes the balance of power in the Western Conference.

1) Celtics of old leave a lasting impression on LA: Just when we think we're looking for Kobe's Pippen, the Lakers shift gears and add another low post threat. With Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, the Lakers have a very formidable frontline that is reminiscent of Boston's Robert Parish and Kevin McHale. I am not saying that Bynum and Gasol are as great as Parish and McHale. It is yet to be proven. What I'm implying is that the players' styles and tendencies are quite similar.

Bynum, like Parish, has excellent low post moves, commands a double team, is a decent free-throw shooter, an adequate rebounder, and changes shots. Gasol, like McHale, has an above-average mid range shot, can play with his back to the basket, grabs rebounds, plays intelligently, passes well out of double teams, and can block a shot or two. With Kobe Bryant playing Larry Legend and Derek Fisher providing the steadiness of a point guard much like Dennis J0hns0n, I have to say this Lakers team resembles the Celtics of the eighties.

If you still don't see it, you'll remember that Danny Ainge and Jerry Sichting were outside threats who were pests on defense, much like Farmar and Vujacic are for the Lakers. Gerald Henderson, Cedric Maxwell, and Scott Wedman had length and were above average defenders who could occasionally score when needed, much like Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. Brad Lohaus, Fred Roberts, and Greg Kite? Well, they were gritty, less-skilled players who never lacked heart and did all the dirty work, the same type of contributions that guys like Ronny Turiaf, Chris Mihm, and Luke Walton provide for L.A.  All in all, it's Twin Towers plus a great clutch player and a bunch of savvy role players who can play defense, hit outside shots, and above all, hustle.

2) Matchups: LA is so versatile all the way around that playoff teams are going to have major difficulties matching up. Four starters - Bryant, Odom, Bynum, and Gasol - can command a double-team in the low post at any given moment. The team's length defensively allows the Lakers to mix it up on defense. Eight players - Bryant, Odom, Ariza, Turiaf, Gasol, Vujacic, Radmanovic, and Farmar can play at least two positions. Championship teams of the past like Chicago, Houston, Showtime, and Detroit won titles because they had extremely versatile players who played more than one position, making it harder for opponents to adjust since their players were exploited on both sides of the court.

3) Balanced Options: The days are over where you can double Kobe and leave other players open. Each player fits a specific role. Kobe is the alpha-dog. Bynum is the intimidating presence in the lane. Gasol is the consistent low post scoring threat. Odom is the best fourth option the NBA has seen in years. Fisher is steadfast, tough, resilient, and the enforcer. Ariza is your defensive lockdown player off the bench. Farmar is the leader of the second unit. Turiaf brings the energy. Radmanovic and Vujacic are three-point specialists. Walton gives you just about everything with minimal mistakes. Mihm is the best fourth string big man on the planet. And with sufficient playoff experience this team will be hard to beat, whether they finish third, fifth or eighth.

With the February 21 trade deadline fast approaching, rumors are abound. I have done some speculating and analysis, a little bit of ESPN Trade Machine, a lot of daily reading, had conversations with others who claim to be sources, but mostly introspective discussions with my left and right brains.

Feel free to critique the following trade scenarios, but I will remind you beforehand...

Back on February 2007, I wrote a piece that had this as part of the title: "Pau Gasol - Future Laker." And the day before the trade (right after the loss to the Pistons), I called in to a local sports radio show and proposed that LA should be going after Pau Gasol and Stromile Swift from the Grizzlies for either Kwame or Lamar and draft picks because I had a very strong feeling that Memphis was looking to unload salary and go in another direction considering they're season is just about done. Which is why when the trade was announced early Friday morning, I was the least bit surprised that it was indeed Gasol whom the Lakers acquired as I sat through my day long meeting with twenty of my colleagues. BTW, the talk show hosts responded to me by saying the Grizzlies would NEVER go for the deal.

Anyway, enough about the LAKERS. A number of players around the league are rumored to be dealt within the next three weeks. The prime candidates...

JASON KIDD, NJ:  Most of the talk has been centered around the Dallas Mavericks, but I would be mildly surprised if Kidd ends up with the team that drafted him. First of all, the Mavs have gained momentum of late so why fix something that isn't broken? Secondly, the nucleus of the team has developed a bond over the years so why break it up? Thirdly, Dallas would have to get rid of a majority of their valuable role players just to make the salaries match up. The only way Kidd goes to Dallas is if a third team is involved. Most likely destination: Portland, for a package that includes Steve Blake, Jarrett Jack, Raef LaFrentz, Darius Miles and/or Sergio Rodriguez. Why Portland: Kidd sees a future in teaming with Brandon Roy, Lamarus Aldridge and Greg Oden and the Nets get contracts that expire in a year or two and receive players who can help immediately.

MIKE BIBBY, SAC: Cleveland wants Jason Kidd but unfortunately the Nets won't trade him to an Eastern rival. Lebron James' consolation prize is Bibby. Because of Bibby's tendency to hit clutch shots, he is actually a good fit for the Cavaliers. Bibby, however, is the type of player who demands control of the ball in late-game situations. How this will affect Lebron is unknown. Either way, the Cavs get a scoring threat that Larry Hughes could never provide on a consistent basis. Cleveland gets: Bibby and Francisco Garcia. Sacramento gets: Larry Hughes, Daniel Gibson, and Donyell Marshall. Why Cleveland: The best place for Bibby to go is the East, where competition at the point guard position is not as tough as the West.

RON ARTEST, SAC: I don't think Ron Artest is going anywhere, especially if Bibby gets traded because Kings ownership loves Ron Ron. But Artest may force a trade especially if he can play for a contender. There is no doubt that Artest is a competitor and wants to play for a champioship. His $7.4 million contract is a bargain at this point, but next year he will certainly command top dollar. The question now becomes whether or not another team is willing to run the risk of signing him for big money with questions about his stability and all. Most likely destination: Sacramento. Second Most Likely Destination: Toronto, for Jamario Moon and Rasho Nesterovic's expiring contract. Why Toronto: The Raptors are desperate for defense, as evidenced by the undermanned Lakers' recent clobbering of Toronto in front of the Raptors' home fans.

KURT THOMAS, SEA: Thomas has an expiring contract and playoff teams are clamoring for him as we speak. In addition, what make Thomas even more attractive is his defensive toughness and playoff experience. I see Denver with George Karl (former coach of current Sonics coach Nate McMillan) making a huge push to land him. Teams such as San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Golden State, and New Orleans could all use his services but a lot of times it's who you know that can get deals done. Karl certainly knows McMillan, and will even get him to include a much needed point guard in the deal, Luke Ridnour. Denver gets: Thomas and Ridnour. Seattle gets: Kenyon Martin who, at the very least, will excite Seattle fans with highlight film material in the last bid to keep the Sonics from skipping town. Why Denver: Thomas really has no choice where he winds up, as long as its a playoff team. 

SHAWN MARION, PHX: In direct response to the Lakers-Memphis deal, Phoenix finally deals The Matrix in order to get the big man they need to stay competitive in the Western Conference.  The Suns receive center Eddy Curry from New York and they also bring back shooter Quentin Richardson  to address their long range needs. This is good deal for both teams - New York gets a proven All-Star who will bring hustle and defense to an underachieving unit, while the Suns add a legitimate center allowing Amare Stoudemire to play his natural position of power forward. Phoenix gets: Curry and Richardson. New York gets: Marion. Why New York: A trade of this caliber could be the only thing that can save Isiah Thomas and Marion's time in Phoenix has simply run its course.

I'm sure there are other lower profile players in the league that are likely to be moved before the deadline. I'd like to know your thoughts on potential trades and players whom you think may be on the move and why.

Thanks again for stopping by.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now getting back to KOBE...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fast forward to the present day...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 g