SBNation.com User Blog: 99bc99

Magic/Bird

99bc99 — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 06:06:00 -0000

Magic/Bird

A Broadway play about Magic and Bird? Is this for real? I'd actually go see this. Maybe.

Long before there was LBJ, there was another physically talented power forward prowling the...

99bc99 — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:25:08 -0000

Long before there was LBJ, there was another physically talented power forward prowling the hardwood.

This is a great video of one of my favorite players, Chuck, King Charles, Turrible, however you know him, meet him again here. He loved the game, and was AWESOME!

Disclaimer:
Hip-hop background songs contain curse words and other words that may offend.
David Stern contains mustache that may offend.

I love you Lakers... BTW, check out Ammo's war face!

99bc99 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:55:06 -0000

I love you Lakers... BTW, check out Ammo's war face!

This is an awesome video that shows all of Blake Griffin's Dunks for the season. This is awesome,...

99bc99 — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:59:01 -0000

This is an awesome video that shows all of Blake Griffin's Dunks for the season. This is awesome, and when I say awesome, I mean totally sweet.

Kobe Bryant: never a wizard, forever a Laker...

99bc99 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:27:01 -0000

A response, of sorts, to a recent fanshot that addresses Kobe Bryant, perceptions about his greatness, big-man requirements for a dominant team, and the duty of fandom.

So he may end up with a top-10 career of all-time, but he will never be a top-10 player.

That just smacks of hate and bias. It actually reflects the pompous and vitriolic commentary leveled at Kobe from self-righteous stats heads a la wages of wins, etc.

Shaq was dominant because he was an athletic 7'2" center that allowed him to physically destroy less active and athletic big men. Does this make him a better player? My little cousin is 12 and can dribble, shoot, and generally play basketball better than me. Guess what, I kick his ass because I’m a foot taller and 150 pounds bigger. Shaq-attack son!

Shaq, Duncan, hell, LBJ, play a game that is skewed statistically to valuing the contributions of a big man over a guard; less ball handling = fewer turnovers, more assisted shots, more chances to get a block or rebound, and closer shots = better efficiency. In a game which requires you to score in order to win (duh), Kobe has been maligned because he tries to do just that; win by scoring.

Let’s look at Championships over the last ten years or so, shall we?

1999-2002, the Lakers reign supreme. Shaq is dominant, but plays with all star guard Kobe Bryant. You think the Lakes would have done as well playing, say, Bimbo Coles as a guard?

Spurs, 03, 05, 06, Duncan plays with All Stars Ginobli and Parker. Oh yeah, Parker actually picks up the finals MVP in 2007. I know that the Admiral was there as well, and the fact that having TWO all star big-men played a huge part in their victories. Again, how would this have gone with scrubs as guards? Not as well, I’m thinking.

Detroit 04. Dominant big man where are you? A pair of Wallaces (Walli?) helped, but absent Billups (finals MVP), this team would not have beaten the Lakers. Also, Richard Hamilton goes on to become, yes, an all star.

Miami 06. Wade and Shaq. They beat the Mavericks in a season I admit that I mostly didn't pay attention to outside of the Lakers. However, Wade is the finals MVP, not Mr. Diesel.

Boston, 2008. Yuck, typing that actually hurt. Physically. Garnett the big man. MVP of the NBA. Perennial loser for years in Minnesota finally pairs with all stars Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, and wins a championship. He does not win finals MVP.

Lakers 2009-20infinity. The Lakers, with a multitude of talent, including all stars Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant, better all comers. Was it the shoes, Kobe? Ask MJ, I don't know. All I do know is that Kobe takes both finals MVPs.

Actually, let’s consider something else. Since 1980, guards have won the finals MVP 15 times, centers 10 times, and forwards 5 times. It appears that the true key to a winning season in the "modern era" is a star back court, not the opposite.

Kobe’s hands are smaller than MJs? He can’t finish around the rim like Dwight? He is getting older? Okay, how exactly does this detract from what Kobe is accomplishing in his 15th NBA campaign? Not much, really. In fact, Kobe’s PER is the highest it’s been since 2007, and it’s his second best year out of the last five in shooting at the rim and under 10 feet, where, according to your opinion, his lack of MJ sized hands and Dwight height should hinder him. What’s really scary, though, is that Kobe is hitting at over 50% from the mid-range area of the court. That’s the best he’s shot in the last 5 years!

What’s important to remember is that there’s a huge difference between ranking a player’s career and ranking his talent. If the Lakers win another championship, Kobe will have two more rings than Tim Duncan. But are we really going to act like he was a better player or he had more of an impact on a game?

Really, you’re going to say that Duncan is a more talented player than Kobe? That his play has had more of an impact? I think you’ve got it backwards, my friend. Nobody is as talented a player as Kobe. Nobody. Show me one player that has the same jumper, the same footwork. You’re going to rank the plodding game of a Tim Duncan against the amazingly skilled Kobe Bryant? Check please!

I think instead of jumping on the "Kobe is flawed" train, we should take a moment to enjoy the ride while it lasts. As fans, it's okay defending our favorite team, and our favorite players. It's what makes watching our favorite sports teams so enjoyable, and painful. We've invested. So take that Kobe-hatin' somewhere else.

As far as we're concerned, case Klosed...

Some nice swag for your upcoming Laker game, Bingo match, or night on the town with the...

99bc99 — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 05:09:45 -0000

Some nice swag for your upcoming Laker game, Bingo match, or night on the town with the Kardashians...

Gotta love Chick...

http://www.lakersnation.com/store/lakers-nation-shirts/remembering-chick/

Since we're on a Blake Griffin intro, this is one of the funniest interviews I've ever seen....

99bc99 — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 16:03:51 -0000

Since we're on a Blake Griffin intro, this is one of the funniest interviews I've ever seen. Chiggidy check yourself...

I was inspired, Sick Adam Morrison bling

99bc99 — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 04:00:36 -0000

I was inspired by this post when I saw how inspirational the Kobe Bryant bling was. I mean, dedication to our Lakers team is what makes being a fan so damn awesome. Unfortunately, I lack the money to invest in the hardcore bedazzler-style that my co-fan has for his Kobe jewelery. It's all good though, because I've learned one thing about fandom; it doesn't matter what anybody says, my opinion is RIGHT.

I've been pondering lately what would have happened had Adam Morrison not come over to the Lakers in that lopside trade that made the Pau/Catman Scruthers thing old news. I mean, even the Bosh/Wade/Delonte West trade for Miami didn't shift as much awesomeness to one city. Ammo is that kind of hero.

For instance, did you know that before the Adam Morrison trade the Lakers were 0-2 in championships since 2002?

How about the fact that Adam Morrison's awesome lazer-eyes mended Kobe's finger after he injured it last season? Did you also know that Adam drained Kobe's knee with a straw?

During the finals Adam Morrison wasn't sitting on the bench. He was actually working for the Secret Service, and guarding the president from afar.

In some towns east of the Caucus mountains Adam Morrison effigies are worshiped as living saints and prayed to daily.

Adam Morrison's power could be used for evil, lol, just kidding. Adam Morrison defeats evil with frequently. Anybody seen Kim Il Jung lately? Didn't think so.

Adam Morrison was once challenged to a "beard-off". Raul Castro is now the leader of Cuba.

I could go on, but I won't. Enjoy the bling, you won't be disappointed. Okay, you might be disappointed. Sorry.

Sick ICEY Ammo style bling (via The99bc99)

8-13-10 Smooth Cut...

99bc99 — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 00:30:42 -0000

Someone will probably roll out the rough cut any minute now, so I thought I'd bring the smooth cut.

I was thinking about Delonte West the other day (weird I know), when it donned on me. He is the ultimate enigma, a veritable walking monument to the non-existent lovechild of Kid n' Play, Redhead Kingpin, and Lucile Ball. Pump it hottie! He has such an original look (Gloria liked it, no?) you have to wonder, anybody else look like him? What about other players? Any doppelgangers out there?

Seriously though, how great is Delonte West? Well, let's make a game. Posts should be about players who look alike, look like famous people, not so famous people, etc. Here's some to start out with.

Someone will probably roll out the rough cut any minute now, so I thought I'd bring the smooth cut.

Seriously though, how great is Delonte West? Well, let's make a game. Posts should be about players who look alike, look like famous people, not so famous people, etc. Here's some to start out with.

This guy played basketball, and is not Delonte West. Well you could fool me!

You go Randy Denton of the Tams!

Pre-game antics with... Delonte West?

McCrazy!

How about somebody else?

Snoop Doggy Dog? Dog Boshy Bosh?

I think you get the idea!

Lebron James vs... Abraham Lincoln

99bc99 — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 06:49:12 -0000

Hello all,

It's been slow the past few days, so I thought I would make another "Lebron James vs. _____" post. Sure, I know we've done this ad infinitum, but hey, aren't we tired of the usual LBJ vs. Kobe/MJ, etc threads? I know I am.

I did some research, and I was able to come up with something rather interesting. Lebron James and the 16th President of the Untied States, Abraham Lincoln, have a lot in common. In fact, a run down of their similarities is quite eerie (<--- that's a hard word to spell, btw, if you can't remember it...).

Abraham Lincoln and Lebron James similarities:

They were both tall. Abraham Lincoln was between 6'4" to 6'5" in height, with his air max 1861s, he probably stood about 6'7". Lebron James is 7' tall. Or something.
They were both from Ohio. Okay, not really, but the Midwest can claim both Abraham Lincoln (by way of Illinois, via Indiana, via Kentucy), and Lebron "Akron's Son" James. As a side note, this guy is also from Akron. I guess the D-bag tree grows tall in that part of the country.
Both of these men are considered "Great Americans". Lincoln is hailed as one of the best Presidents EVER for his handling of the Civil War, abolishing slavery, and other gnarley stuff like his invention (Patent No. 6469) for a device to lift boats over shoals. A shoal is a fancy word for sandbar. Lebron James is hailed as a "Great American" formerly by Clevelandonians, currently by South Beaches. Also some guy named "John Hollinger".

Due to the many and sundry similarities, I thought it would be good to continue this post in a Lebron vs. Lincoln fandango of fun. At the end of this post, I feel confident I will be able to honestly say who is better. More after the jump (no really, it says "THE JUMP" when you make one of these posts).

Hello all,

Abraham Lincoln and Lebron James similarities:

They were both tall. Abraham Lincoln was between 6'4" to 6'5" in height, with his air max 1861s, he probably stood about 6'7". Lebron James is 7' tall. Or something.
They were both from Ohio. Okay, not really, but the Midwest can claim both Abraham Lincoln (by way of Illinois, via Indiana, via Kentucy), and Lebron "Akron's Son" James. As a side note, this guy is also from Akron. I guess the D-bag tree grows tall in that part of the country.
Both of these men are considered "Great Americans". Lincoln is hailed as one of the best Presidents EVER for his handling of the Civil War, abolishing slavery, and other gnarley stuff like his invention (Patent No. 6469) for a device to lift boats over shoals. A shoal is a fancy word for sandbar. Lebron James is hailed as a "Great American" formerly by Clevelandonians, currently by South Beaches. Also some guy named "John Hollinger".

BEARD

Lebron James: Creepy look accentuates gargantuan chin, Jay Leno concedes chin-off to Lebron after watching "The Decision".

Abraham Lincoln: Rocks the mullet of the 1860s with his stylishly original choice of beard sans mustache. Amish people rejoice.

Winner: Lincoln. The win goes to the originator of the style. Maybe Lebrons pre-game ceremony will bring him luck. Oh wait, he didn't start that? It was KG? Really, oh my bad.

TEAM

Abraham Lincoln:

Lincoln was surrounded by a passel of fools at the onset of the Civil War. Tactical geniuses such as George McLellan, Ambrose Burside, William Rosecrans and Don Buell got the Union off to a resounding 0-9 record while shooting (literally) horribly from the field. Losses at First and Second Manassas, Chancellorsville, Fredricksburg, Chickamauga, Gaines Mill, Malvern Hill, the Valley Campaign, and the Peninsula Campaign did not bode well for Mr. Tall Hat. As the years progress, however, Lincoln knew how to surround himself with winners, and after giving commands to U.S. Grant and William Tecumseh (not a bad word) Sherman, Lincoln took home the prize and championship of a secure Union.

Lebron James:

The Cleveland franchise surrounded Lebron James with a veritable army of roll players and sidekicks in an attempt to bring a championship home to the denizens of Celveland. Lebron et al accumulated an astounding 127 and 37 record over the last two years in the regular season. Unfortunately, when the games counted most, the Cavaliers were dispatched easily in the post season by underdogs. Professionally, the "King" has surrounded himself with high quality business associates, most of whom graduated from high school. Together they've engineered such successes as "the Decision" and a new series on the Oxygen Channel: "Michael Vick: Dog Whisperer".

Winner: Lincoln. It's not about who finishes fastest or bestest, but who wins in the end. Ask your mom.

NORTH VS. SOUTH

Lebron James:

A gifted young basketball player and the pride of Akron, Lebron James played something like 7 seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a delightful show of solidarity Lebron decided to take his skills to South Beach, Florida, and play for Pat Railly and Dwayne Wade. Along for the ride came Dr. Hype, Chris Bosh, and a whole load of other bandwagoners. Basically, a blue-blooded Yankee decided to leave the promise land of unemployment and snow for the Rebel debauchery that is known as Kardasian, Florida. Or Miami. Whatever.

Abraham Lincoln:

Tall and gangly Mr. Lincoln decided to mobilize the Federal Army and crush the secessionist Rebels in only 4ish short years of brutal, bloody combat. The culmination of his masterpiece was the torching of Atlanta that would immortalize forever some movie that women like. As a follow up, Lincoln was not around for Reconstruction, but that wasn't his fault.

Winner: Lincoln. Preservation of the Union vs. preservation of Ego? I'll take Union for $1000 Mr. Trebek!

FAMILIAL TRAGEDY

Abraham Lincoln. Lost his mother to Milk Sickness (crazy shit! google it now!), and had to suffer through numerous other personal tragedies including loss of loved ones and the slow spiral into insanity of his wife (funny, my wife seemed to go insane right after saying "I do").

Lebron James. Lost his mother to Delonte West.

Winner: James. This was a toss up, really, as the thought of having little Lebronte Wests running around the house is recipe for ugly jokes for decades to come. At least Gloria is happy? Right?

PUBLIC APPEARANCES

Abraham Lincoln. Decides to catch a showing of "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater. Gets shot. Dies.

Lebron James. Decides to air a showing of "The Decision" on ESPN. Career is shot. Dies.

Winner: James. Another close one, James' character assassination is a little different than actual assassination, especially because it was more like character suicide. But I digress...

STATS

Abraham Lincoln: Hundreds of thousands of soldiers killed, millions of families displaced, billions of dollars cost. One country saved.

Lebron James: Special fanclub designs PERsonal stat to track James' greatness; defense statistic of "chase down blocks" enters into common discussion about defensive greatness. Michael Cooper curses his timing. Stats like "championship wins" still lacking.

Winner: Lincoln. Lots of numbers with no end result isn't worth much. Check my retirement portfolio if you need to confirm.

FINANCES

Lebron James: Has his sights set at billionairehood, and has opened his own marketing company "LBRMR" or something. Schmoozes with rich people, famous people, and makes sure to groom his public image so there will be no crazy debacle like Tiger went through.

Abraham Lincoln: Probably made like $17 dollars a year as president.

Winner: Lincoln. Inflation or not, billionaire or not, Lincoln's face is all over the cash, for reals. Now, we can readdress this some year if the Commonwealth of Micronesia ever decides to release a gold-clad Lebron James coin.

OFFICIAL WINNER

Abraham Lincoln took this one in a landslide, folks. He doesn't quite have the stats of Lebron, but he does have what it takes to get things done down the line. Hats off to Lebron for an exciting match, I'm sure he'll do fine playing on D-Wades team. They'll probably chill with the Kardashians, and play Xbox and stuff, hell, they might even let Bosh tag along. But when it comes to winners, true playas know how to finish. Lincoln? Klosed.

Somewhere, Ammo is polishing his rings...

Miami Triumvirate skews stats, opens MVP race

99bc99 — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:55:57 -0000

Hello all,

I had to sit through not only Dirk effing Nowitzki and Steve Nash winning the MVP a few years ago, I then had to stomach LBJ and all his lackeys proclaiming him the greatest.

Now what? Seriously, with the recently hatched Threesome in Miami, LBJ's stats will take a massive dive. You've got three offensively minded players who will need to share the ball. All of them like to play out from the post to drive or work the screen-and-roll.

Although the three may be able to get their 20+ a night, rebounds and assists will most likely fall as the ball is shared between the three. The dominance that Lebron showed stat-wise is going to be impacted by two more scorers, one who will get his share of rebounds (bosh), and another who will have his share of assists (wade). LBJ's stats will therefore go down, as the other superstars get theirs.

Here's a look at the year, 2010:

LBJ: Rebounds 7.3 Assists: 8.6 Pts: 29.7

Bosh: Rebounds: 10.8 Assists: 2.4 Pts: 24

Wade: Rebounds: 4.8 Assists: 6.5 Pts: 26.6

These players have had the lion's share of stats for their respective teams, and will have to share the ball accordingly. All of the Stars stats will dip next year, especially as they attempt to learn how to play as a team, share the ball, and take on different rolls.

Enter new contenders.

I really see the possibility that Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, or even Kobe (longshot), will be legit contenders for the MVP crown.

Time will tell, but the LBJ lock on the MVP over the next few seasons appears much less likely. Until the new Heat team can figure out who's going to do what job, I feel they'll look a lot like this next year. You know, with the blind leading the ... well you get the picture.

Hello all,

I had to sit through not only Dirk effing Nowitzki and Steve Nash winning the MVP a few years ago, I then had to stomach LBJ and all his lackeys proclaiming him the greatest.

Here's a look at the year, 2010:

LBJ: Rebounds 7.3 Assists: 8.6 Pts: 29.7

Bosh: Rebounds: 10.8 Assists: 2.4 Pts: 24

Wade: Rebounds: 4.8 Assists: 6.5 Pts: 26.6

Enter new contenders.

I really see the possibility that Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, or even Kobe (longshot), will be legit contenders for the MVP crown.

Amare Stoudemire set to make $100 million dollars

99bc99 — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:26:09 -0000

So Amare Stoudemire just signed with the Knicks for $100 million dollars (around that). This is for a guy that can't play defense, can't win, has no heart, and wears glasses that are no where near as cool as these guys.

AND...

To put that in perspective, this dude makes (pro-rated over the next 5 years, without consideration taken for the 1-2 leap years we'll experience in that time) $2283 dollars and change per HOUR. Yeah, he makes that much per fucking HOUR. So, when this bitch sleeps, he'll get paid around $18,624 dollars. Take a crap for 15 minutes? Sweet, he just made a cool $570 bucks.

Wow, wtf New York?

Seriously, he could probably buy my city. And for what? A guy that might score 30 points in a game? He also might get 2 rebounds, and land in foul-trouble.

Oh well, what the hell.

$100 million dollars? Can you believe that shit? Wow.

That is all.

And to think they could have spent that on Ammo...

AND...

Wow, wtf New York?

Seriously, he could probably buy my city. And for what? A guy that might score 30 points in a game? He also might get 2 rebounds, and land in foul-trouble.

Oh well, what the hell.

$100 million dollars? Can you believe that shit? Wow.

That is all.

And to think they could have spent that on Ammo...

Calm and collected can go out the window

99bc99 — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:39:27 -0000

In the last three years I can't recall seeing the Lakers play with any sort of... urgency. Sure we could look back to the Houston series, or maybe games 6 versus Denver/Orlando. Okay, well maybe not. I can't say those games were played with urgency either.

Something the Celtics have proven is that the team that plays with fire, urgency, and hustle, is going to win the game. The 50-50 plays, the rebounds, steals, and defense, are all generated with hustle and activity. These things lead to second chance points, fast breaks, and stops. All things we've been missing since game 3. We can feel robbed about game 2, but the truth is after game 3 we haven't played with any sort of "urgency".

Well, here we are, down 3-2, in our house. I think we'll see some playoff basketball tonight from the Lakers that will leave the recent flood of immigrants from the CelticsBlog stunned and concerned. This series is not over. I don't care if the Celtics "play better on the road", they will not play like they did in Boston. They will be outplayed. They will lose.

Now, I fully expect a bunch of long-winded rebuttals to this piece. So what. Let's chat after tonight, because only then will we really know.

The importance of Game 5, a knee, some rest, and a doctor from NY.

99bc99 — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:52:26 -0000

Hey ya'll. Well this series has gone exactly two games longer than I wanted it to. I can't stand the Celtics, and I'm sooo tired with the bully-then-victim attitude of their team, coach, and fans. Someone will win two out of the next three, and take the championship home. I'd like to point out some important factors going into what looks like another "must win (cliche much?)" game for both teams.

1) Drew. Andrew Bynum's slow deterioration and worsening condition in the last 3 games is extremely concerning. In Game 1 he came out and had a HUGE came, and the Lakers coasted to an easy victory. We dominated the glass, we dominated the paint, and we dominated defensively. In Game 2, we defended the paint nicely, forcing the celtics into a poor 36.8% efg at point blank shots. Unfortunately, I've seen a concerning trend from Games 2, 3, 4.

The Celtics have taken 100 shots at the rim in those three games, and are converting at a nice clip. The Lakers, conversely, have only taken 55 shots at the rim in those three games. Where is this vaunted "inside dominance" we hear so much about? If you factor in "close range shots", less than 10', the Lakers are being dominated down low with shots on goal: Celtics have 126 total shots at close range, while Lakers have only taken 88.

A slight caveat as at least we're shooting at a slightly higher percentage, but the volume of scoring in low is extremely concerning. We saw it last night as we were dominated by two undersized bench players.

Drew's block, his size, height, rebounding ability, shot-altering ability, and scoring are sorely missed. Yes he is that important to our team.

2) Speaking of "sore", what about the man's knee? As indicated in this apocalyptic article, Drew-gate is looking worse and worse by the minute. I do want to pull your attention to one specific paragraph.

Bynum said he expects to have his knee re-examined Friday in Boston by a specialist from New York City. Game 5 is set for Sunday, giving him two days of treatment.

If anybody hates Boston more than we, it's got to be New York City. I mean, it's like being that super-cool kid on the block, and unfortunately that rowdy, a-hole lives right up the street from you, and he's always trying to crash your party. Yankees/Sox anybody? I could go on.

Right now the Garden has experience a few years of, well, lackluster Knicks Basketball. Even their fans chant "MVP" when Kobe steps up to the line. I mean, Spike-fricking-Lee loves Kobe, and we know how he feels about the Celtics.

I expect this super-doctor from NYC to do anything and everything to get our boy Drew back and ready; 21st Century medicine? check. Voodoo? sure! Healing herbs from the Orient? Why not!?

3) Rest. Game 2, Sunday, LA. Game 3, Tuesday, MA. Game 4, Thursday, MA. That's a lot of traveling (not you Lebron, Manu, sit down), playing, and exertion with little rest. We've had little time for practice and adjustments. Our players are tired and we need this. Hell, our guys might even get a chance to visit the sights of Boston they've got so much free time. Lobster juggling anybody? Res will benefit our team, and prepare us to address some glaring issues with our offense, defense, and 4th quarter play. Did I mention Drew's knee?

4) What's up in the 3rd and 4th quarters, Lakers? In Games 2-4 we've scored in the 3rd quarter: 18, 15, 17. Uhm, that's shit. In the 4th quarter, of Games 2-4 we've given up 31, 23, and 36. Okay, so the 23 isn't that bad in Game 3, because we scored 24. But our crap-tastic 3rd quarters over the last three games, coupled with a total lack of defense in the 4th quarter has spelled disaster in the last 2 out of 3 games.

We need to pull our heads out, and match intensity with intensity. We did it in game 3, we failed miserably in games 2 and 4. It's been a combination of fatigue, fouls, and lack of activity that has swamped us. With some rest maybe we can address these issues.

5) Stat stuff. Just some quotes, which we know. This is just to make us feel better in Lakerland.

PJ, winning first game of series = 47-0. That's a testament to his abilities as a coach to motivate, adjust, and conquer.

From WhoWins.com (edited out the baseball stuff)

After Game 4: When tied 2-games-all in a best-of-7 NBA playoff series, the Los Angeles Lakers have a 21-7 series record with an active six-series winning streak and a 22-6 Game 5 record with an active six-Game 5 winning streak, while the Boston Celtics have a 28-9 series record and a 26-11 Game 5 record with an active six-Game 5 winning streak. One of these lengthy Game 5 winning streaks will thus come to an end in the next series 1118 game.

In the history of best-of-7 NBA Finals-round playoff series, teams (such as Los Angeles) which win Game 1 and lose Game 2 at home and win Game 3 and lose Game 4 on the road have a 10-0 series record and a 9-1 Game 5 record.

WLWL = 10-0 series record, 9-1 Game 5 record. Even teams that lost Game 5 have gone on to win Games 6 and 7 (a la 1988 Lakers beating Detroit).

This means jack shit, really, but it makes me feel a little better. History is on the Laker's side, as they have a great chance to take Game 5. No, not because of the aforementioned stats, Mr. Celtics Fan who happens to be posting on our website. We have a great (probable) chance to take Game 5 because we're getting our rest, and making our adjustments.

6) Kobe doing work. I mentioned Spike earlier. Kobe's been doing work all season long, be it injured or angered he brings his game. The Celtics defense has bee spectacular on Mr. Bryant, forcing him off his strong hand and into turnovers and jump shots. He's looked aggravated, and tired. We keep waiting for his game to break out (a la Game 1), and I think he'll put his mark on Game 5.

In Game 5 against the Thunder, Kobe scored 13 points in fairly limited minutes. He came back for Game 6 with an impressive 32-7-3 game (okay the TO's were ugly).

In Game 5 against Phoenix, Kobe scored 30 and played an exemplary game. In Game 6, he went off for 37.

So to wrap this post up I feel very confident going into Game 5. The Celtics have proven to be an awesome defensive team, with the intensity and activity at all levels, starters and bench, that has proven troublesome to the Lakers. We have been turrible in the 3rd quarter, and have seen leads evaporate and losses accumulate in the 4th. As PJ said, "two more wins". And with 2 of the next 3 back in the land of milk and honey (or smog and silicone if you prefer), a precedent of game 5 victories, and an angry Mamba, I stand by my prediction of Lakers in 6.

Buggin' Out says...

Go Lakers!

Kobe's professional demons...

99bc99 — Sat, 29 May 2010 18:52:26 -0000

Exorcizo te, omnis spiritus immunde...

Kobe Bryant is starring in a new roll, folks. He's taking the lead part in his own personal version of The Exorcist.

Exorcizo te, omnis spiritus immunde...

Kobe Bryant is starring in a new roll, folks. He's taking the lead part in his own personal version of The Exorcist.

In 2008 Lakerdom was set to experience the best tri-fecta in Laker history. Not only had Kobe finally won the MVP, he was poised to bring his first Larry O'Brien Trophy home to Los Angeles as the Lakers' top gun. To add the proverbial "cherry-on-top" to the list of accomplishments, Kobe was going to China to grab the gold for the USA. A monumental amount of bling for one man, enough to make even BA Baracus sniffle in envy.

Alas, it was not to be. In a series of Job-like travesties, Beantown waltzed away with their 45th (or whatever) title and sent our hero packing. Chinese Gold and Maurice's trophy were not nearly enough to erase the pain of losing to our rivals in green and white.

Flash forward, 2010, the Smoke Monster, wait no, sorry. Flash forward 2010, and time's have really changed. No longer is Kobe Bryant considered the top player in the NBA, a stat-gobbling monstrosity named Lebron has taken the MVP two years running. But we see something different emerging. Kobe is poised to redeem himself personally, showing the media, haters, doubters, stat-guys, and two specific teams that he's still the King of the Court.

1. LBJ. Lebron. Forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Two time MVP. Self-proclaimed "Chosen 1". Post-season failure. I did some analysis using "game score' in this thread. Needless to say, Lebron played some insane games this post-season. His GmSc in some rivaled the greatness of Mr. Jordan. What Kobe's doing, however, is insane. His GmSc, and therefore production and efficiency, has gone up as he's advanced in the playoffs. Where Lebron was inconsistent and faltered during the important matches, Kobe has increased his GmSc per series. Against Phoenix he's posting an impressive GmSc of 29. I know the shortcomings in making an analysis this way, some things aren't taken into consideration (like defense/pace). Regardless, Kobe is showing he's still the true MVP, as he continues to win and lead his team forward.

2. The Suns. 2006, 2007. 4-3 heartbreaking series lost, coupled with an embarrassing 4-1 the next year. Now it's 2010, the dawn of a new decade, and Kobe is drooling at the prospect of whipping clean the nasty reek those losses left in his pshyce. Look to see Kobe show Phoenix tonight what true resiliency means. In a season plagued with injuries and some let-downs, Kobe is poised to strike a blow against the evil that lurks in Phoenix! Go Lakers!

Tu autem effugare, diabole

3. Boston. Beantown. Rivals. Pierce, KG, Allen. Redemption. Let's not look too far in advance, friends. We're traveling to Phoenix tonight, and have a chance to slam the door. But there is something on the horizon, lingering, resting. The final statement in Kobe's redemption will be walking away from Boston with trophy in hand.

Do you doubt him? I don't.

Will the real MVP please stand up?

99bc99 — Sun, 23 May 2010 08:24:45 -0000

Hello all,

If you're like me, you were drawn to this website because you are a Laker fan, and have found a home with the funny writing, insightful commentary, and active game-posts. Ammo shows up from time to time, as well as a wrathful Brian Shaw.

Since joining, however, I've been nudged in a different direction. After posting a comment defending Derek Fisher and his arsenal of intangibles I drew the ire of a certain Mr. Fishmore. Needless to say, I was put off about the constant "hate" for one of my favorite players. I believe Dex or CA had used "stats" to point out how Derek was hurting the Laker's offense. Stats? This isn't baseball, with it's easy-to-assess stop/start analysis pitch per pitch. This was Basketball, where a game is in constant motion. How can one really use stats? I think Dex said something like, "stats are here to stay, get over it or leave" (paraphrased). Jerk! How could he be so cold? Well, he was right, and it's changed my outlook on basketball (thanks!).

Hello all,

The last time I even bothered with stats was in College, where I pulled Cs in Stats and Statistical Analysis, so I had a lot of work to do. Part of the problem with basketball stats is they're all so wrong! I mean, how come one of my favorite players, a veritable god of basketball (sorry Brian Shaw) has such low rankings in PER and such? Yeah, I'm talking about Kobe. Well, that debate and article is for another time.

Right now we're going to utilize the data we have available to make some observations about post-season play and the "real" MVP as I was inspired by a previous fan post.

Stat to use: Game Score (GmSc)

Game Score was developed by Hollinger (creator of the Player Efficiency Rating- or PER) to give a snap-shot view of an individual player's performance in a game. The formula is such and uses the box-score of completed game:

(Points x 1.0) + (FGM x 0.4) + (FGA x -0.7) + ((FTA-FTM) x -0.4) + (OREB x 0.7) + (DREB x 0.3) + (STL x 1.0) + (AST x 0.7) + (BLK x 0.7) + (PF x -0.4) + (TO x -1.0)

Basically we can see a player is awarded for scoring points, getting rebounds, blocking shots, etc. Players are penalized for shots taken, free-throws missed, turnovers, and fouls. An average game would score about 10 GmSc, an outstanding game, around 40 GmSc. What does the actual "score" represent? Well, nothing. It's just a number that allows you to quickly gauge a player's performance in a game. Again, we are using this stat because the DATA is readily available at basketballreference.com. On to the analysis.

1. Lebron James- regular season MVP, post-season putz.

Lebron posted some of the most impressive GmSc's of the post season. In the first round he had three scores of 30+, with a 39.9 in a Game 4 win against Chicago. To put that into perspective, that 39.9 is higher than any GmSc Kobe posted all season. To put this even more into perspective, Michael Jordan has only scored higher than 39.9 GmSc in three playoff games; each a blistering 50+ point performance. Sick stuff. Lebron's other first round scores were in the high teens, still very respectable if we go with "10" being an average game.

Round 1 Average GmSc: 29.5

Round 2 sees regicide and the fall of the self-stylized King. Lebron still racks up impressive GmSc performances with two 30+ games, but most notable is the fail-cake Game 5 score of 9.1. For a stat-whore like Lebron, and "MVP" of the league, this is surprising. Oh yeah, it was also a must win game that the Cavs lost at home. LBJ bounced back a little bit in Game 6, but his lackluster play and low shooting % makes the 22.6 GmSc fairly mundane given previous performances.

Round 2 Average GmSc: 22

Analysis: Lebron's average score actually decreased as he progressed in the playoffs. In games where Lebron should have been exerting his will and taking control, he failed miserably , posting GmScs of 13.8, 9.1, and 22.1 as the Cavs deflated against the Celtics.

2. Kobe Bryant

Stats and the Mamba don't mix. The disdain the "stat" community has for Kobe is fairly evident once you start snooping around. That being said, we will utilize GmSc to track KB's trek through the post season.

Round 1- Kobe's GmSc against the Thunder was, well, pretty horrible for a "superstar". Given the Thunder's defense, Kobe's nagging injuries, and his refusal to shoot in Game 4 we see some ugly scores through the series: 9.9, 22.4 (Game 2 best of the series), 11.9, 6.5 (nobody loves me), 10.1, 16.5. The scores are nastier than a Greg Oden self-portrait, but the end result is the Lakers advance.

Round 1 Average GmSc: 12.8 (very pedestrian and non-mamba)

Round 2- And then along comes Utah. The Mamba starts to hit his stride, and we see four games of 20+ GmSC with a high of 26.5. Utah makes Kobe feel good again, and it looks like he's finally got his shot back, scoring over 30 points in each game.

Round 2 Average GmSc: 21.9 (tres bien!)

Round 3 and the Mamba is rolling! He comes out on fire, with a 40 point performance and his best GmSc of the playoffs at 32.3. The Mamba follows up with a healthy score of 20.9 after he goes all crazy and starts handing out assists.

Round 3 Average GmSc (so far): 26.6 (juicy!)

Analysis: So the Mamba struggles and pouts against a young Thunder crew, with only one respectable performance, albeit a perfectly timed break-out in game 2. Not surprisngly, however, is that as the Lakers advance deeper, the Mamba has increased his efficiency. The reigning non-MVP has shown a focus and will to win that is supported by Game Score, which continues to increase as the Lakers advance.

3. Other players- Those in Green and Blue

We've heard about some other guys playing this game, perhaps heir to the post-season MVP title? Let's take a look at some of the front runners.

Rajon Rondo- The Cleveland Closer, the King Killer, the Magic Mangler. Rajon has been basketballs deep in both Cleveland and Orlando's mortification this year. He had a triple double with 18 rebounds (queue Amare Stoudameir) against Cleveland, and has six games over 20+ GmSc. His average GmSc has increased from 15.9 to 20.4 through rounds 1 and 2, when he dismantled Cleveland. His average has dropped in Round 3, where he posted an ugly 6.6 GmSc in game 1. This is offset some as Pierce and KG have taken up some of the slack and Rajon isn't forced to do so much offensively. He's a very good candidate at this time, and showed up the "King" in his own Castle.

Other Celtics? How about Allen. Pierce, and KG? Without going into too much detail, here's some comment.

Allen has been horrible, actually posting a -.04 game against Orlando. He also has multiple GmSc under 10, with 2.4, 6.9, 6.8, 4.2, etc, etc throughout the playoffs. He's out.

Pierce? Ditto Allen, numerous games with GmSc under 10, including 4.0, 4.3, 4.4. Non-factor against Cleveland but looking up against Orlando.

KG? More consistent than the previous two, but with three games under 10 the Alien isn't looking that formidable. What can be said is that he averaged a GmSc of 14.2 in Round 1, and 13.8 in Round 2. He produced consistently. His average in Round 3 is only 9.1, which means he may be bothered by Dwight.

Superman? Dwight Howard? How is he looking? Fairly un-super to be straight. He's got multiple games under 10 GmSc, and has played with no consistency. He's really wilted against the Celtics, after having a good series vs. Atlanta. He needs to get another move or two besides the drop-step and spin, and we'll see this cat doing much more in years to come. Right now, he's way out of the running.

4. The Spaniard, Pau Gasol, Dame más Gausolina...

Oh boy, Pau's been on a roll!

In Round 1 Mr. Madrid averaged a passable GmSc of 17, lowered by a poor performance in game 4 (like all Lakers, actually, game 4 was horrid).

He's followd up Round 1 with an average GmSc of 24.1 against Utah. He also posted the best Laker GmSc of the post-season with a score of 33.2 in game 4 against Utah.

Finally, against Phoenix the Conquistador has averaged a GmSc of 22.8. He's taking apart Phoenix, and has had little trouble finding his spot against Amare Stoudemier.

Analysis: Can Pau continue this, or will he revert to "softy"? I have a feeling that over the next few games people are going to find out the hard way. Pau is for real. Smaller lineups and less physical front-court players will allow Pau to continue his dominance.

5. I'm just saying

This guy would probably average around a GmSc of like, 50, if PJ played him. I mean, Kobe's 81 points netted something like 65 GmSc, so an average of 50 for Ammo is feasible.

Final analysis: My call for "real MVP" is going to be close. Rajon Rondo's play has been awesome. He dominated Cleveland, showed up Lebron, and has posted some very impressive games, with a triple-double against the Cavs. His play has fallen off a bit over the last couple games, but I think this is more in part to Pierce getting freed up than to him going away. I look to Rondo to be a huge factor in the finals, where he may make his mark. As far as current post-season MVP? Not yet.

Kobe's drive and determination is well documented, but now we've actually seen his production and efficiency increase through the post-season. The man's on a mission, and has been dominating games, whether through efficient scoring, or handing out the assist. Kobe's the only player I've rated that has shown an increasing GmSc over the first three rounds of action.

Pau has been a consistent force down low, and is dominating other players. His average GmSc over the first three rounds is the highest of the players I've rated. I believe that after the next couple of games against Phoenix his dominance will become even more pronounced, and he should be the likely candidate for MVP of any finals match-up.

MVP so far? I'm going with Kobe just slightly over Pau. His GmSc has increased, and he looks posed to continue his dominance. That being said, I truly believe Pau will be the pivotal factor in the finals. He just needs to exercise some past play-off perceptions of softness. We know Kobe has the drive, will Pau continue to perform?

Has anybody besides Fisher taken a charge this year?

99bc99 — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:19:15 -0000

One of the things I've noticed about our interior defense is the total lack of charges our team draws. Aside from Fisher, and maybe Artest and Kobe a couple times, I can't really remember our guys taking a charge. We continue to see our bigs jumping straight up with their arms above their head (so as not to draw a foul), or going for the block when they have great position down low. Why not take a charge?

Case in point, I distinctly remember a call Lebron got against Odom during the Christmas Debacle. LBJ drove in against Lamar, who had great position. Instead of taking the charge, Lamar throws his arms up and is bumped away by Lebron, resulting in a foul.

Has anybody else noticed this?

(Maybe they're tired of getting hammered by the beast that is Ammo during practice, and don't want to subject their bodies to further punishment?)

Has anybody else noticed this?

(Maybe they're tired of getting hammered by the beast that is Ammo during practice, and don't want to subject their bodies to further punishment?)

How about this lineup?

99bc99 — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:02:13 -0000

I was pondering moving or changing the starting lineup because Artest is injured when I started to think about some issues of late. Bynum hasn't been effective the last half-dozen games or so, and looks to be in some sort of funk. It also appears very hard to get touches for both Pau and Drew at the same time. In fact, I was watching when Pau and Drew were stacked on one side last night vs. the Kings. Everytime Pau would get the ball on the perimeter to feed Drew, the Kings defender would sag back, knowing that Pau didn't have the range to hurt them. This happened about... 2-3 times, but illustrated a weakness having them both in the game when Drew is being unproductive.

Why not do something like this?

Guards- Kobe and Fisher

Power Forward- Pau Gasol- Run the offense through Pau like usual instead of force feeding a slumping Bynum.

Small Forward- Artest- Can hit the three better than most of our team, he's at like 33% or 34%. Great to feed into Pau

Center- Mbenga!- Why not? He can play the scrapper, defender, rebounder and be the cleanup guy. He will guard the paint, and maybe motivate Drew to move and play hard defense off the bench. The Lakers have proven very soft defending the offensive rebound; pretty surprising considering the length they have down low.

Anyway, just thoughts...

As fans, we deserve better than that...

99bc99 — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:25:14 -0000

Hello all, chiming in after the loss to the Nugs.

Rarely have I seen the Lakers perform so poorly. Wait, check that. Rarely have I seen a team as gifted as the Lakers perform in such a piss-poor manner in any professional setting. I guess I could think back to other ugly games and seasons over the past few years; the let down loss and blow-out against Boston in the finals; losing to Detroit in 2004. Thinking out loud (threw my keyboard) in reality I don't think I've EVER had to witness such a frustrating performance over the past 20 years!

As fans, as the paying multitudes that buy the gear, purchase the tickets, watch and cheer, we deserve more than that! Calmer fans may be able to look to the next game. Not I...

Hello all, chiming in after the loss to the Nugs.

As fans, as the paying multitudes that buy the gear, purchase the tickets, watch and cheer, we deserve more than that! Calmer fans may be able to look to the next game. Not I...

I know, I know. It's one game. So let's get some stuff out of the way:

Lakers are reigning champs
There were bad calls and no calls
It was a back to back and the Lakers were playing in Denver which is like 8000 feet above sea level and our boys were suffering from a poor circadian rhythm and Kobe was sick like a couple of weeks ago.
Phil didn't call a timeout.
The starters didn't play the 4th quarter.
The Spaniard isn't playing.

Okay whew. That's out of the way. What I really want to focus on, and what drives a fan(atic) like me crazy is the lack of intensity the Lakers displayed last night. In fact, they do this all the time! While watching other dynasties over the past 20 years I don't think I've ever seen such as lack of intensity, and drive, that the Lakers are apt to bring to a game on any given night. Sure they won last year when it counts, and they're the champs, I've already gone over that. I don't care. With the level of skill our teams has, the basketball savvy, and the leadership from Kobe and Fisher there should never be a night like what we witnessed on Friday (the thirteenth). I hope this stings the Lakers into being a meaner, more intense, more focused squad. They have a chance to do be a fixture in the finals for the next few years. Time to sack up!

What I'd like to see:

Hate- It's good. It works. Controlled anger directed at your opponent burns bright and helps feed to ... intensity. After the game Bynum said, “I don’t think it’s a rivalry at all. They might feel that way, but we don’t.” WRONG youngster. It is a Rivalry because as fans we can't stand Denver, and you play for us! If that drubbing doesn't make you want to get back in there and grind them under your Nikes, then something is wrong.

Artest- Dear Mr. Arest, how grand it is that you haven't gone all "loco" and stuff and jumped into the stands. How nice of you to hold Melo's hand last night after he threw you on the ground. How restrained you were after being called for weak call after call which resulted in your sitting out the rest of the game. Screw that. I want the angry, feisty Arest back. Hey Kobe, let him off his leash already. Ron is an intimidator. He's a competitor, and every now and then we need someone to lay down the law (sorry Sasha, it aint you!). Avoid the misdemeanor, but hey, I want Artest to get PISSED. Kmart/Birdman/JR... closet thugs and toughs. I mean, last year I learned that Artest played such gnarly basketball that people used to get KILLED on the courts where he grew up. Bring some real street onto the court every now and then and get tough.

Bench Mob- Okay you guys suck. No really, you suck (except you Shannon. Thanks for the effort.). You're supposed to get in there and work your butts off. If you dont' have the skill, go Rambis and play with heart. Run the offense. Play fluid, and put some work in. You don't have the right to argue calls. You don't have the right to gripe and moan when something doesn't go your way (I'm talking to you Sasha). You need to earn that. And right now, you've earned jack.

Pride in the paint- Apparently last night a leprechaun laced up some keds, put on a Denver uniform, and dunked so hard over Mbenga (who comes from the most hard core 'hood on the planet, the freakin Congo) that he toppled over like a big tower of lame. Lawson is good. I give him that. What I don't understand is the lack of tough play inside that has been a point of contention over the past few years. Pau get's his rebounds, and does those moves. Lamar is often times a beast, and Bynum gets his. I'm not talking about this. Protect the basket, get some pride. It's your hoop. Put the hammer down. I'm not talking about cheap shots and bad fouls. I'm talking about making the other team earn their shots the hard way. I see all too often people driving in on our bigs and after the play they kind of sit around looking at one another. Remember, for all the praise Melo got about the 3rd quarter, he did score most of his points on uncontested layups.

I'll leave it at that, but in parting would like to recap. The reigning champs scored 8 points in the 3rd quarter. I'm pretty sure LA City college could have scored at least 9 points. They scored 23 points in the second half, and Phil pulled the plug, not even letting the starters back in during the 4th quarter. Since when have professional teams quit with a full 25% of the game remaining? Denver are not good winners. They do not respect LA. They have lots of guys with tattoos and bad attitudes. I do not like them. We do not like them. They are good. They consider this game a statement of what is to come. Other teams were watching. What are you going to do Lakers? I'm hoping they grow to hate a little bit. Thanks Denver, I think we really needed that. Here's hoping tomorrow's pie is pumpkin, and not humble all over again.

Finals game 3 from a dude that watched the game...

99bc99 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:44:51 -0000

Hello everybody, first time fan post.

I've been watching the Lakers since the early 80s. As a young man I loved wearing an Atlanta Hawks jersey, thought Moses Malone was the greatest (named my son Moses by the way), and had a blast watching 'Nique, Spudd, and everybody else. As a native Californian though, I've always been a fan of the Lakers, and revelled in their glory through the 80s, into the 90s, and most recently at the turn of the millenium. Finding this blog makes me feel a bit normal now, in that "oh there's other people like me after all". It's hard explaining the Lakers to my wife, but it's great to hear my two year old shout "Lakers" at the top of his lungs.

I'd like to post some observations as a long time fan that will hopefully spark some comments. No stats, no popcorn machine, just comments from a dude that watched the game...

Hello everybody, first time fan post.

I'd like to post some observations as a long time fan that will hopefully spark some comments. No stats, no popcorn machine, just comments from a dude that watched the game...

Initial reaction: So I wasn't really that bummed out the Lakers lost. It sure didn't feel like the Houston or Nuggets series when I felt like strangling the starting five, couldn't stand the media adoration of the Rockets and Nugs, and was generally in a pissy mood after a loss. It also isn't like the 2003-2004 campaign, when during the finals I had horrible dreams about the Lakers, Snoop Dog, and Rasheed Wallace. Yeah, I know, pretty sick, but I did watch probably 95% of the games that season. Anyway, I liked the intensity the Lakers brought, even though there were many missed opportunities (and free throws) that let the game slip away. I guess I just feel much more "confident", and I believe the Lakers feel that way too. They didn't throw this game away, the tried, and I like that.

Kobe Bryant: If Spike Lee had shot a film about the last three quarters of this game he would have named it Kobe Bryant: Hitting the Wall. He looked spent, emotionally and physically. His desire to win is almost visible, it oozes from his body, you can tell by his body language, play... everything. Two more wins is practically written across his face.

He looked great in the first quarter, it was one of his best this year, and certainly one of the best this playoffs. Unfortunately, he started to slump. He shot poorly, and more suprising than that, he was horrid from the stripe. You could just see from his shot, something looked off. I think that sometimes people get so used to seeing KB do the amazing that it becomes almost mundane; his turn arounds, foul and 4-point play opportunity, his awesome pass to Pau, things of beauty. I believe he's tired, and it's starting to show. I expect fire from him next game, and he'll probably shoot 1000 free throws before Thursday's game.

Lama Odom: Lamar the enigma. He was a beast on the defensive end, with his blocks, his effort, and his intensity. I liked it, a lot. He does not back down from Howard the way some of our players do. He goes up for the block, goes for the finish, blocked shot be damned. That's the best way to take it to Howard. Don't back down. Lamar came alive in the fourth, and I hope to see the same fire next game.

Trevor Ariza: He continues to play hard on defense, and he is shooting the three nicely. I hope to see him drive to the basket some more. During one play he drove in and shot this sideways quick layup as Howard approached. He looked intimidated. I was happy to see him go up for the dunk on Howard a little later. He needs to continue to take it at him as a way to draw fouls and stay aggressive.

Bynum: I'm impressed with Andrew's fundamentals. Although Howard appears to be stronger and quicker than Andrew, I believe that Drew has the edge in fundamentals. I'd sure like to get Andrew some more touches, and want him make the aggressive moves. He was effective in the paint when taking it strong. He was swatted when taking the jump shot. Four points and four rebounds in 23 minutes is not enough. I understand he's trying to handle Howard, but I hope to see some more agressive takes next game.

Fish: I think he played well, but should have been sat once Rafer started to penetrate and make a big difference. I remember one play when Kobe was jawing for the ball and Fish went baseline and hit a little jumper. Derrek has always done that, he's been the guy that would go to look somewhere else for scoring (other than Kobe).

Pau: I'm so impressed by this guy. He's playing strong, taking a beating, and he's not backing down. This guy is tough, he is physical. He didn't have many rebounds this game, but then again Orlando didn't miss much. He's a key to our game, and seeing him make those dunks in the first half, coupled with some nice turn around left handed shots down the stretch is great. He brings the total game to the table. Hopefully he'll drive a bit more to the hoop, and try and get Howard into the air and into foul trouble.

Bench: Thanks for keeping us in the game Jordan. Hey was that Mbenga?! I would have liked to see Shannon, but then again I'm a fan of the underdog/overachiever. I've got this mini-fantasy playing in my head of The Girls Next Door and I... oh wait not that fantasy . Really though, I'd love to see Shannon stuff one down on Howard like when he clipped the Bird Man. That would be great. Did I mention Mbenga?

Orlando: Howard sure does get away with a lot of banging, he leads with the elbow a lot, and you could just see him slamming into Pau. Given Kobe's foul with his little elbow he shot Lee, I'm surprised Howard hasn't picked up an offensive or two a la Shaq. Oh yeah, he's also a much better free throw shooter than Kobe (at least this game, Sarcasm guys!). Hedo? Wow. The guy can play, he can shoot, and his drives looked like they were killing us. Rafer was also on fire, and it looked like we were chasing Tony Parker around or something the way he was disecting us. They shot well. Okay, they shot lights out. Okay, they were freaking awesome. Some people are posting like this is the norm. Sure they're hot, but not 63% hot. I look for them to cool down a bit next game. Hey Lewis, shave that scraggly beard thingy. I just wanted to say that. Nice shooting though.

The media/commentators: Is it just me? Am I the only one who is tired of the commentators? I don't know what it is exactly, but they're annoying the hell out of me. Sort of like the media in general. Van Gundy this, Superman that, blah blah blah. It's getting old. Why don't they do a color piece on Josh Powell's hair stylist, or Sun Yue or something.

Predictions game 4: I'm going to drink some more beer. Probably Pacifico, because it was on sale. I'm also going to take a walk at half-time, instead of listening to the half-time show. As for the Lakers, I think they come back and win by a healthy 5 points. Kobe will be back to his old self, Pau and Odom will continue to play well, and Andrew will get a dunk in on Howard. Sasha will come in for approximately 38 seconds and foul someone away from the ball.

Sorry for Rambling, I just had to let that out.