Now that the Finals are over and the Lakers came just 2 games short of an NBA title, once again the Kobe haters out and on the prowl. After shutting so many of them up with his MVP season, leading his team to the Western Confrence Championship and the Finals, the loss brings back all the negativity. First, let me give my congrats to the Boston Celtics, they had a great game plan. Don't let 24 beat us. The whole team focused on stopping Kobe and they did a great job. Kobe did not do his Superman rendetion, instead he stayed with the program that got them there and it back fired. Odom and Gasol needed to step up and free Kobe for some shots and that didn't happen. The Celtics didn't take Kobe out of the game, they took Gasol and Odom out of the series.

For all the Kobe Haters out there. Is it because you hate to admit that he is probably the greatest thing since Jordan. I am a Jordan fanatic, but let's face some realities here. Nearly every player in the NBA grew up wanting to do what the old Gatorade commercial said "I want to be like Mike" did you expect kids like Kobe not to take that literally? He was a basketball God and just about every kid across the globe was wagging there tounge attempting incredible shots trying to imitate Jordan, now we have a guy who has just mastered it and we hate him for it. We are such a hypocritcal society. Jordan was tough on his teammates, even B.J. Armstrong confessed that Mike slapped in practice. So Kobe gets a bad rap because he screams at his team mates. Is it because they don't share his same passion to win. When they make a mistake, do they forget every possesion is critical in the NBA Finals? Kobe is a warrior, and his desire is to win a Championship. Forget about doing it without Shaq, I am sure he wanted to win when Shaq was a Laker. Do you think that every year that Jordan suited up, he didn't want to win the Championship. Of course he did, and so does Kobe. Is it wrong to challenge Bill Russel for the most championship rings, or get more than Mike or even Shaq, hell he may be trying to catch his old buddy Robert Horry, he has something like seven right? I like Kobe chances of winning, especially when Bynum comes back. A trade or two for a defensively minded player couldn't hurt. I really think they need to get rid of Luke Walton and Chris Mihm. So for all the Laker fans (and haters), I hope that you watched the Duck Boat parade and I hope that watching the Celtics relish in thier glory, burns a hole in your side, because I know it is burning one in #24's side

One forth of the NBA season has passed and a lot has happened and a lot has not happened. I will list some of the awards and achievements and disappointents of the 2007-2008 season so far.

MVP: If anyone knows me when I blog, I am a huge Kobe Bryant fan, but he doesn't deserve this award this year. Maybe 2 years ago, but not now. Lebron James is the league MVP right now, he is the leading scorer and he puts up 8 boards and 8 assist a night. The Cavs looked like a varisty basketball team when he was out for 6 games. He will push the Cavs out of the hole they are in now and they will make the playoffs, but sad to say they will be one and done because they will meet the Celtics in the first round. Runner up: Kevin Garnett

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard: Howard is a double-double every night. We are just getting the tip of the iceberg with this guy. At 22 this guy is already the best center in the Eastern Confrence, passing yes the beloved Shaq. Runner up: Josh Smith

6th Man of the Year: Manu Ginobli: Coach Pop is a genius to bring this guy off the bench. He is instant offence and a change of pace from Timmy. He can give you 30 on any giving night, he is the X-factor for the reason why the Spurs will repeat as NBA Champions. Runner up: Leandro Barbosa

Rookie of the Year: Al Horford: I know, I know, everyone loves Kevin Durant, but that doesn't mean that he is the best rookie in the leauge. Besides scoring what else does he provide? Perimeter players take longer to develop in the leauge and big men can close the gap a little better. Horford will end the season averaging a double double. Runner up: Kevin Durant

Coach of the Year: Stan Van Gundy: The Magic are contenders in the East and not the pretenders they were last year. He has the luxuary of having a players like Howard and Lewis, but it is the role players like Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu that are making this a dangerous team. Runner up: Nate McMillian

Most Improved Player: Andrew Bynum: He is finally looking like he was worth the pick a few years ago. He worked hard on his game this summer and it is producing dividends. His maturity level as also grown, the riff between him and Kobe is a thing of the past, in fact most of his assist are to Bynum, he will also average a double-double this season, wonder why Phil signed that 2 year extention, he must see something on the horizon. Runner up: Al Jefferson

Biggest Acheivement: You would think that the Celtics big turn around would top this list, but you put Garnett with 2 other All Stars and imagine what that team would be like now. I think that the biggest achievement so far is the Portland Trailblazers, without Number 1 pick Greg Oden, the season was all but washed up, but low and behold Nate McMillian didn't allow his guys to hang thier head. Brandon Roy is a superstar on the rise and Aldridge is a beast in the post. Hopefully Oden doesn't become the 2nd coming of Sam Bowie, they can really do some damage next season. Honorable Mention: Grant Hill's resurgance, Deron Williams and Chris Paul, damn they good.

Biggest Disappointment: The Miami Heat, Dwayne Wade's absense in the early part of the season was a good excuse, but this team sucks even with him. Shaq is showing his age. No one is no longer afraid of the Big Bad Diesel anymore. D-Wade can only do so much, they have some talent on that team, but not enough to make the playoffs. Thankfully they are located in Florida, because this is going to be a cold winter for the Heat. Isiah Thomas and the Knicks, damn they awful,

NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs: Yeah, the will repeat, they have the best system in the game. Tim Duncan is simply unstoppable, Ginobli and Parker compliment him so well and with role players like Udrich, Finley, Barry, and Oberto, they can compete with anyone at any style of play. Runner up: Detroit Pistons.

Hey, the great thing about these blogs is that they are my opinon, please post your feelings what do you think, hope you enjoyed it, Happy Holidays to all and enjoy the rest of the NBA season, see you again at the All Star Break with my mid-season report.

After watching the Lakers fall apart Sunday against the Suns, it further tells me that Lakers need a overhaul. The current team is a total waste of talent and Mitch Kupchack and Phil Jackson need to reevalute this team over the offseaoson, which should be coming up in about 3 games from now.

Kobe and Kevin Garnett are good friends, Garnett has a opt-out clause in his contract this year, they both live in Maui, they both need serious help in thier lineups. Both look tired of being thier teams only hope for winning. Oh, did you know that the Lakers have 4 draft picks in the upcoming draft.  You know where I am going with this. I have been a big advocate for KG coming to the Lakers. It is the best fit for him. If he goes to NY, they will have to surrender Curry and Crawford/Marbury for KG, where does that put him. In the same situation he is in now. KG and Kobe need the same thing, each other. They both have shown they can lead a team. KG needs someone to take the pressure off of him so he can dominate the post, Kobe needs a solid post player to finish. KG alone give you more points/rebound than Walton, Brown, Bynum, and Radmonivich combined. I can see a trade something of this effect, Odom, Brown, Cook, and 1st Round pick for Garnett and maybe Rashad McCants. The Lakers could open the 08 season with this linup.

PG - Jordan Farmar, SG - Kobe Bryant, SF - Luke Walton, PF - Kevin Garnett, C - Andrew Bynum

The Timberwolves would show

PG - Mike James, SG - Ricky Davis, SF - Lamar Odom, PF - Kwame Brown, C - Mark Blount

With the Lakers having probably the 14 pick, the T-Wolves could get someone like Josh McRoberts or maybe someone like Glen Davis.

McHale says that trading Garnett is not an option, if Garnett wants to win and not be in company of greats like Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Dominque Wilkins, he need to make an address change this year.

It has been 7 long months since my last blog. Another NBA season has come and gone. This year, I watched again how many people are still hating on Kobe. I kept my comments to myself for the most part, but I can't hold my tounge any longer. Another season, another MVP snub. Most people are saying that it is a no-brainer for Dirk or Nash, but once again these guys do it with the help of fellow All-Star player on thier team, along with the luxuary thier teams not being crippled by the injury bug like the Lakers (Mihm, Odom, Walton, Brown, Radmonivich, and McKie), but yet the Lakers are still in the playoff hunt, ahead of team like the Clippers and the Nuggets who have better supporting cast than the Lakers. Kobe is the best thing going bar-none. Better than LeBron, because he plays in the Eastern Confrence where I can get 4 of my buddies and get a playoff spot and Wade who has the luxuary of having Shaq in the post. Last year his 81 point performance matched him with the likes of Wilt, now we are "seriously" making comparisons to Jordan. Arguably the 2 most dominating players in the history of the game, but no nod for the MVP. What is is now? What can you come up with this time to hate on him? The alleged rape case? (Old news, Kobe has reestablished his image) Selfish? (Uh, have you been watching the Lakers, he is averageing 5 assits a game). Oh, I know, we can't give it to him because he is dirty. (Just like any other player in the leauge, to include Nash and Dirk.) Dirk kicks he right let out on his jumpshots to keep defenders away and give him space on his jumpshots, Nash holds because he is not a good defender. The list goes on and on about the greatest player. Bird and Jordan would extend thier free arm and wrap it around thier defender to get around them. Karl Malone used elbows to create space when he attacked the basket. So Kobe does what every great player does to gain an advantage, but he is considered dirty. The leauge is not ready and may never be ready to see Kobe as the leauge's MVP. It would be like saying Terrell Owens is the best receiver in football. (He just may be) or that Alex Rodriguez is the best baseball player. (No arguements there). When was being liked a part of being criteria for the MVP?

Here we go again. Kobe makes a comment and it is time to jump all over him again. Kobe refers to Team USA as they a lot. Now, for so many people who hate the guy. Now you want him to be a part of your team? Such hypocrites. Kobe made an assesment of the players that were on the floor and the ones that will be playing in the World Championships. He isn't going to be one of THEM. His unexpected knee surgery will hender that. As a American Soldier, I understand how proud it is to serve the flag, but some thing are before country. My faith in God, my family and my health are all before country. So does Kobe has his priorities mixed up. I don't think so. He has committed to play for the U.S. in the Olympics. I don't see anyone calling Kevin Garnett, Shaq, or Tim Duncan un-american for choosing not to play. I will always be bias when it comes to Kobe, because I think the guy is a great talent and vastly mis-understood. Let him be.