I usually don't come right a game and say anything, but, man, what a game! Who was wearing no. 7 in gold? That was some playoff Lamar there, for sure. If I can, I usually have the volume off while I watch games...that's how much I can't stand announcers...the ONLY ones that I have love for right now are Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson...they are great...in one NCAA tournament game, I actually heard Billy Packer say, "He's only 6 assists away from a triple-double." He was serious, and it was only about five minutes left in the game. Plus, when you grow up on Chick, the others pale in comparison. I bring this up to say that I knew that the Lakers would win this one. Dallas shot almost 60% in the first half, while the Lakers shot 52%. So their shots were falling, and the averages had to catch up with Mavs....out of three fighting for the 8th spot, I have to say that I am root more for Denver and Golden State more than Dallas....ask me that two or three years ago, i would have been rooting more for Dallas...why? I have love for players...I love B. Diddy. Watched from hight school to UCLA to now. I love A.I. I love Marcus Camby. Started to love 'Melo last year (after he addressed his shot selection). I have a love/hate thing with Stephen Jackson. I have to go find you guys this article I read about a month ago that would explain a lot about Stephen Jackson. I hate to say it Dallas fans, but you know that's it over for Avery Johnson. I know I am using the word "love" a lot, but that's because I'm two-and-a-half Belvedere and Red Bulls into my night. Hurry up and come home, baby!! I always appreciated Avery, the classic underachiever while playing while playing. I remember going to a Warrior game while Avery was there, and he was the backup to somebody, I can't remember. I may have been Hardaway on the decline, can't remember. Anyway, Avery came off the bench, made some pivotal plays, and the Warriors won. I was able to shake his hand as he was about to hit the tunnel (floor seats!) and I told him, "YOU CAN TAKE HIS JOB!! IT'S YOURS!!" Then I think he was traded to the Spurs, and the rest is history. And while I am reminiscing (and probably mispelling), to my boy Kelly from Santa Cruz, our $1 million bet from 1992 still is good. THE JAZZ WILL NEVER WIN AN NBA TITLE!!!!!! I, unlike most professional journalists, will return to the scene of the crime if I am wrong. The truth is, I am not wrong too much (or at least I am good at picking my spots). I think the last time I was wrong was when I told anyone who would listen that Ryan Leaf would be a better pro than Peyton Manning. Hey, when I am wrong, I can pick-em!!! For my fantasy heads, tonight obviously was good or bad for you. I am heated...Ricky D drains 9 threes....nine!..I love Ricky D...he always looks like he's just told a joke, or he's played a practical joke on somebody.....why did I pick up Earl Watson?...because Gilbert didn't come back and Drew got hurt...Marvin Williams is doing fine for me this week, though... I had eight of my ten guys going, and I could only manage 11 threes on the night....I am second in 3s, but I am about 20 back, so I am officially giving up on that category as I will settle for 2nd there....man, since J'Oneal has come back, he has stifled my Granger/Murphy two-headed monster. Either tomorrow or Sunday, I will put together a list of last ditch-waiver wire scraps for you all...I have a pretty good handle on the minutes and rotations right now.....Another great show...Two and a Half Men....I have a lot of Charlie-like tendencies...gotta go...the hotness is here...