Halftime Hype

Days after the Los Angeles Lakers were reported to have signed Mike D'Antoni as their next head coach, skeptical pundits and fans like myself are still struggling to find the words that accurately encompass the Lakers' recklessness. Whether or not Phil Jackson's alleged demands - greater authority in personnel decisions, skipping some road games, etc. - will always be a contentious debate. At the end of the day, though, we will never know what happened behind closed doors.

According to Jackson's agent, Todd Musburger, and a statement released by Jackson himself, the 11-time champion made no such demands in his hour-and-a-half long meeting with Jim Buss and general manager Mitch Kuptchak on Saturday. Apparently, Jackson was given until Monday to make a decision and he was about to accept the job. In one of the most sly negotiations in sports history, though, Kuptchak awakened Jackson with a phone call right after midnight on Sunday night - technically, Monday morning - to inform Jackson that they had hired D'Antoni instead.

In an article by Mike Bresnahan in today's Los Angeles Times, Kuptchak is quoted as saying: "There was no agreement to wait for [Jackson's] response on Monday. He told us that's when he would get back to us. I could see where he might interpret that as 'I thought you guys would wait for me.' But I thought when I said I had to go on and interview other candidates that it was clear I had a job to do."
The entire situation appears, as Jackson described the midnight call, "slimy."

According to Kuptchak, if Jackson had immediately confirmed his interest in returning to coach the Lakers at Saturday's meeting, the job was his. Instead, Jackson's request for two days to think the matter over completely changed the trajectory of the Lakers' future.

My frustration extends beyond the Lakers' disrespectful, or at least slimy, negotiations. The Lakers claim that Jackson's "Triangle offense" was the deal-breaker; the offense resembled the "Princeton offense" that Mike Brown failed to instill. With Dwight Howard as the team's cornerstone going forward, D'Antoni's up-tempo offense would have a better chance of convincing Howard to resign with the Lakers at the end of the season as opposed to Jackson's methodical triangle. Jackson was also rumored to have wanted $10 milion or more annually in addition to other ludicrous demands.

No matter how many excuses the front office come up with, the organization knew what it was getting into when it pursued Jackson. Yes, the Princeton offense and Triangle offense do require practice in order to execute well, perhaps more practice than other offenses. But prior to the Lakers' Tuesday night loss againt the Spurs, the Purple and Gold had only played 6 games. There were still months of practice remaining and 76 games left to master the offense before the playoffs. And, unlike Jackson's second return in 2005, the Lakers have a core group of players already familiar with this offense - leaders in Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and, dare I say, Metta World Peace - who could help in the instructional phase.

Much has been reported of Jackson's alleged demands. For the most part, all of them have been false. According to Bresnahan's article, "Jackson told Jim Buss and Kuptchak that he wanted the same communication between them on personnel decisions that he held in his second tenure from 2005 to 2011."  All the crazy talk of Jackson wanting to skip road games and seek an ownership stake in the franchise was absolute nonsense.

Even if Jackson actually made some extra demands, other than skipping road games, he has every right to ask for a little more. The Lakers are the one in the desperate situation seeking his services, not the other way around. Plus, Jackson, a mastermind who has played and coaches in the Association for decades, certainly knows more about the game than Jim Buss. The illustrious coach seems to have a rocky relationship with the younger Buss, but respects Kuptchak, and with good reason. When Kuptchak has taken the lead in decision-making the results have been much better than when Jim Buss stepped up (i.e. hiring Mike Brown). Any personnel decisions would likely have been made in conjunction with the expertise of Kuptchak. Yes, Jackson would have likely commanded $10-12 million in annual salary. But what happened the last time the Lakers were stingy about hiring a head coach? Oh, right.

With regard to retaining Howard, the center could have either learned under an 11-time champion coach who took Shaquille O'Neal to the Promised Land three consecutive times or from a coach whose own post player of several years, Amar'e Stoudemire, says that D'Antoni did little to foster his post skills. However, we should not be too worried about the post skills because, at its prime, the Nash-Stoudemire pick n'roll tandem was nearly flawless. What it comes down to is whether Howard will be more content with winning championships, albeit with less flare, or flashy wins without the silverware to back them up.

There were no surprises with Jackson. If the front office claims that they did not sign Jackson for basketball reasons, then they should not have even interviewed Jackson in the first place. They already knew Jackson's fundamental philosophy, the Triangle offense, so if they did not think the 11-time champion would be a good fit, it was inappropriate to even meet with Jackson and offer the job to him.

There's the problem, though: The Lakers front office passed on an 11-time champion, much less for a coach who has never been to the NBA Finals. The messianic Jackson, arguably the greatest coach in pro sports history, by far had the most credibility of any possible coaching candidate. No one believes D'Antoni is a bad coach or unfit for the job. In fact, Bryant himself told Jim Buss that his top preference was D'Antoni, until he found out Jackson was an option. Criticism of D'Antoni's lackluster defensive teams is not necessarily valid with a Lakers team that has two former defensive players of the year in Howard and World Peace alongside a 12-time All-Defensive team selection in Bryant. My argument is not one against D'Antoni, but for Jackson. Heck, I'm even willing to admit that D'Antoni was a better long-term solution for the Lakers. But for an organization that claims to be driven to win now, Jackson would have been the best man for the job.

Current Phoenix Suns head coach Alvin Gentry captured my sentiment best when he commented on the Lakers' shocking decision: "The one thing I don't understand is that guy [Jackson] has been to [13] out of 20 NBA Finals and won 11 of them. I don't know how you can pass on a guy that can pretty much guarentee you a championship every other year."

Ultimately, any front office is confronted with the following options in order of priority.
1) Optimal scenario: Win a championship AND be exciting.
2) Second-best scenario: Win a championship, but perhaps without an exciting offense.
3) Last resort if you do not have the resources for a championship-caliber team: Excite the fans.

The front office has made a huge gamble: either the Lakers will thrive in the optimal scenario or be victims of a general manager's last resort, where mind you, anything less than a championship will be considered a disappointment and anything other than a Finals appearance considered an utter faliure.

Is Kobe Bryant promoting guns and violence? That is what the sports world is busy debating at the moment. In case you haven't heard, the Black Mamba was in an ad promoting the recently-released video game Call of Duty: Black Ops. The fact that he was holding a gun has caused quite a controversy.

Some are infuriated by a lack of response from Commissioner David Stern. Others simply feel that the most popular player in the NBA should not be smiling with an armed weapon. Whatever the case, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

However, at the end of the day, we're talking about a video game. Think of Allen Iverson's practice rant and just substitute "practice" with "video game." Why are we obsessing over the man's role in an advertisement for a friggin' video game? Are there not more important things to worry about? I guess not.

For those that think Stern should chastise Bryant, keep dreaming. If anything, Stern will kneel and kiss Kobe's feet for all the jersey sales he has racked and his impact on the league's TV ratings. Plus, the ad doesn't concern the commissioner; it is a personal endeavor on Bryant's part.

Could the ad be misconceived? Of course, but that does not mean people are going to say, "Oh, look, Kobe is shooting a gun. Guns are cool!" Bryant's involvement is only to encourage people to buy a video game - not purchase a rifle. Plus, it's not like the superstar's involvement completely changed the potential success of the video game.

Call of Duty was benefiting from heavy word-of-mouth advertisement as well as other ads without the NBA player. Upwards of six million people have bought the game thus far. Clearly, those who wanted the game were going to get their hands on it, with or without Kobe Bryant being in an advertisement.

For Bryant's sake, his life might have been easier if he had decided not to participate in the campaign. Why take a chance with your image? Then again, #24 has never been one to care what others think about him. Exhibit A: His "Hate it or Love it" campaign with Nike.

The NBA's general managers have cast their votes. Although the current Vegas odds have the Miami Heat winning the title, 63% of the league's general managers believe the Los Angeles Lakers will follow through on a three-peat. In contrast, only a third of GMs think the Larry O'Brien trophy is headed to South Beach.

They certainly have the resources to do so. On the sidelines, the team has Phil Jackson, who was voted best coach by 39% of GMs. In the post, they have Pau Gasol, who is tied with Dirk Nowitzki after receiving 29% of the votes. Of course, there's always Kobe Bryant. 79% voted picked Bryant as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line. Furthermore, 86% of GMs say that the Black Mamba is the best shooting guard.

Bryant was also voted second-most likely to win the MVP award with 26% of the votes. Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant finished first with 67% of the executives backing him.

Other results/facts (Source: Truehoop):
* The Wizards' John Wall, this year's top overall pick, earned 68 percent of the vote as this year's likely rookie of the year. Last year's top pick, the Clippers' Blake Griffin, will also be a rookie after missing a season to injury, and received 29 percent of the vote.

* For the first time, Deron Williams (50 percent) of the Utah Jazz was voted as the top point guard in the league, overtaking the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul (36 percent).

* The Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki (29 percent) and Lakers’ Pau Gasol (29 percent) finished tied as the best power forward in the league, replacing the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, who had been selected as the best at his position for the past eight years.

* The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (96 percent) was voted as the top center.

* The Heat’s James (68 percent) was named the best small forward.

* The Lakers’ Bryant (86 percent) was voted the best shooting guard. Bryant is currently the only player to have been selected as the best at his position every year of the survey.

* Thirty-nine percent of GMs believe the Heat will be the most improved team in 2010-11 while 14 percent of general managers feel the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards would be the most improved teams.

* For the ninth consecutive season, Bryant (79 percent) was also selected by GMs as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line.

* Nowitzki (57 percent) was voted the top international player.

* Durant (56 percent) was voted as the top player GMs would sign to start an NBA franchise.

* The Boston Celtics (100 percent) were unanimously picked to win the Atlantic Division, Chicago Bulls (82 percent) in the Central Division and the Miami Heat (74 percent) in the Southeast Division. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers (96 percent) were predicted to win the Pacific Division, the Dallas Mavericks (71 percent) in the Southwest Division, and the Oklahoma City Thunder (63 percent) in the Northwest Division.

* The Magic’s Dwight Howard was voted best defensive player (78 percent).

* The Bulls’ Derrick Rose was voted fastest with the ball (21 percent).

* The Suns’ Steve Nash won the vote as best passer (75 percent).

* The Clippers' Griffin tied the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook as the most likely to have a breakout season (15 percent).

* The Oklahoma City Thunder were called the most fun team to watch (52 percent).

* The Celtics’ Ray Allen was voted the best pure shooter (54 percent).

* The Utah Jazz were voted the team with the best home court advantage (46 percent).

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and rapper Marshall Mathers, a.k.a Eminem, are two very different people, with the most glaring difference being their occupations. However, after listening to Eminem's tracks multiple times and keeping up with the Black Mamba, there are certain connections between Mathers' lyrics and Bryant's career. Above all, "Not Afraid" seems to best represent the Black Mamba's tenure in the Association.

Exhibit A: "Not Afraid"

• "Yeah, it's been a ride/I guess I had to go to that place to get to this one"

• "I don't give a damn/What you think, I'm doing this for me"

• "For better or worse/He's married to the game"

• "His gift is a curse"

• "You said you was king, you lied through your teeth/For that [expletive] your feelings, instead of getting crowned you're getting capped"

• "This...black cloud still follows me around"

• "Haters can make like bees with no stingers, and drop dead"

• "It's a little too late to say that you're sorry now/You kicked me when I was down/[Screw] what you say/You ran me into the ground"
  

• "These fools can't drool or dribble a drop anymore/And you can never break my stride/You never slow the momentum at any moment I'm about to blow/You'll never take my pride/Killing the flow, slow venom and the opponent/Is getting no mercy, mark my words/Ain't letting up, relentless"
  

• "Nobody knows me, I’m cold, walk down this road all alone/It’s no one’s fault but my own. It’s the path I’ve chosen to go"

• "It disgusts me to see the game the way that it looks/It's a must, I redeem my name and haters get mushed"

You might not know it, but they're both focused on the same thing: winning

"About time," said Matt Barnes, as he held up his new Los Angeles Lakers jersey. After seven seasons with seven different teams, Barnes has always dreamed of returning to L.A.

"It’s a lifelong dream to be a Laker. Growing up in California in the 1980’s, you had no choice but to love Laker basketball. I grew up a huge Showtime fan … Magic, Worthy, Kareem, Byron Scott. It’s come full circle now. I’ve had a hell of a road to get here, but I’m very happy to be a Laker."

Once he actually steps on the hardwood, Barnes will become the first NBA player to play for all four of California's NBA teams. Although the Lakers have had more important moves this off-season - getting Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher back were definitely more significant - Barnes is the most meaningful addition to an already talented championship roster.

With Luke Walton's injury possibly sidelining him for the upcoming season, the Lakers desperately needed a formidable backup small forward. They found the right piece in Barnes. Barnes, who also attended UCLA, is an intimidating perimeter defender with commendable offensive abilities.

His defense can be so intimidating, however, and often gets under the skin of opponents. The Lakers were no exception. In a regular season game between the Orlando Magic and Lakers last season, Barnes got caught up in a spat with Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom. After the game, Odom proceeded to call Barnes "a monkey," and Barnes rebutted with a tweet, likening Odom to a baby. Despite past tension, though, all is forgiven now that Barnes is wearing purple and gold.

"He's a teammate now," Odom said while in Las Vegas for USA Basketball training camp on Saturday. "That was an on-the-court issue and he has a Lakers jersey on now, so it will be no big thing."

At his press conference, Barnes acknowledged that "Me and Kobe are cool. We've been cool. I think, you know, the media kind of made it more than it was. We were just two competitors competing...neither of us backed down...Now I'm fighting with him and I couldn't ask to fight with a better competitor."

It's no secret that Bryant has been trying to court his former enemies this off-season. Although an initial push to sign Raja Bell was unsuccessful, the Lakers managed to sign Barnes. There's no doubt that general manager Mitch Kupchak deserves praise for making the deal go through, but Bryant should get some credit for his part in making the signing happen, too.

In a radio interview last week, Barnes revealed, "Kobe's been the driving force behind this and I've been talking to Kobe back and forth like we were boyfriend and girlfriend for the last two weeks...He sent me a crazy text message today saying something like, 'Anyone crazy enough to mess with me is crazy enough to play with me.'"

If Lakers fans still can't find themselves rooting for Barnes, one must consider several things. First of all, the Lakers are the defending champions. Barnes was able to tussle with the Lakers and give the team a hard time last season, but in the end it was the Lakers, not Barnes, who came out on top. By the same token, he has given up millions of dollars to come to L.A. in search of his first ring and "be a small piece to win [championship] number three." It might sound cliche, but he really does want to win.

What's more, with Barnes on the Lakers, Bryant will have to match-up with one less reputable perimeter defender. Although Bryant is still lauded by many as the best player in the game - most recently by Michael Jordan - research has proven that he has his share of difficulties against good defenses. Statistical analysis indicates that Bryant is the 16th-best producer against "above-average defenses," between Danny Granger and Corey Maggette, respectively.

Heading into the season, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking pretty good. Although the Vegas odds currently have the Heat as the favorites, Barnes offered his own opinion. “To find three perimeter defenders like myself, Ron and Kobe in the league on the same team … I’d say Miami has a lot of firepower offensively … we have the same offensively, but we’re tough on D as well. So I can’t wait.”

As predicted at Halftime Hype, the Lakers won in 7.

After all the hype, one of the most-storied series in NBA history, an epic duel between a mix of star-studded individuals known as the Los Angeles Lakers against a seasoned and unified cast referred to as the Boston Celtics, finally concluded. When the smoke cleared and the confetti dropped, it was official: the 2010 championship caps and t-shirts were being handed to the Lakers. Kobe Bryant had "one more than Shaq." Ron Artest somewhat successfully filled Ariza's void. Derek Fisher may be aging by the minute, but he proved that his leadership continues to make a dramatic impact. Lamar Odom, whose versatility is the basketball equivalent to a Swiss Army knife, didn't let a marriage to a reality TV star get in the way of on-court ambitions. Pau Gasol was anything but a "softy." However, this championship was special equally as much for its statistics (#16, Kobe's fifth, etc.) as for its journey.

I remember attending a Lakers game the year right after Shaq had been traded. It was April 17, 2005, the last home game for the Lakers. The Mavericks were in town to play Kobe & Co., who didn't make the playoffs for the first time since the 1993-94 season. The Lakers were down by quite a bit, rallied, but still ended up losing by two, 114-112. It was after that game, and several times throughout the course of that season that I wondered what Charlotte Bobcats fans have been pondering for years, "Why should I continue supporting this team?" There was no particular indication that things would get better. Phil Jackson was on hiatus, calling Kobe "uncoachable" in a book he published about the '04 season, The Last Season. With Rudy Tomjanovich's resignation and assistant Frank Hamblen's miserable tenure as interim head coach, things couldn't have gone worse. But unlike Charlotte Bobcats fans, I had an answer to my question: These are the Los Angeles Lakers. They are practically the identity of the NBA. Kobe Bryant, one of the most talented basketball players ever, is on our team. A super-rich owner is pulling the strings. The legacy and significance of this team is just too great. Things will turn around."

And they did. Nevertheless, it's almost funny to think about how things, indeed, could have gone much worse. The organization was on the verge of collapse when Kobe demanded "bring new players in, or I'm out." During his rampage, he also declared that he was open to the idea of playing on Pluto, which would subsequently lose its status as a planet. With tensions flaring, it would have been so easy for General Manager Mitch Kuptchak to abide by Kobe's demands and indeed "ship Bynum's a-- out" or outright trade Kobe. At the time, Kuptchak was one of the most despised - and misunderstood - men in Los Angeles. In fact, at a season-ticket holder event, one fan asked the GM to resign. I don't know how he kept going, but he did - and God bless him for it.

Mitch Kuptchak slowly and secretly repaired the roster. Phil Jackson was back on the sidelines. Kwame Brown and Smush Parker were gone. Derek Fisher was back. Trevor Ariza was acquired. Andrew Bynum developed - making Kuptchak look like a genius for drafting him. Kobe eventually won an MVP award. The Lakers would advance to the NBA Finals, and #24 found yet another source of motivation: Shaq's amateur rap taunting the Black Mamba ("Kobe, tell me how my a-- taste"). Two Lakers championships and a couple NBA Finals MVP trophies later, the stakes have reversed. Two years it ago, as Kobe has admitted, Boston was clearly the better team. This year, as the record shows, the Lakers held the upper hand.



Although the end result of this season and last season were the same, the unique paths to the title were quite different. In '09, the Lakers actually seemed to care about the regular season. This year the Lakers played like high school seniors: as long as your results/grades aren't too poor, you could still get to your destination (the college you want to go to, in the case of a high school senior; the NBA Finals in the case of the Lakers). Last year, the Lakers were also under more pressure to win a ring. Frustration was mounting and Kobe could not let another year go by without adding jewelry; that ring belonged to the Lakers. This season, it was "been there, done that. Don't stress about this loss; focus on the title." Still, in both circumstances the Lake Show finished as the best in the West.

Despite winning a championship in '09 and '10, the two Finals' series differed immensely. The Orlando Magic didn't pose a threat at all to the Los Angeles Lakers. All-Star and starting point guard Jameer Nelson was injured for part of the series and Dwight Howard just couldn't do it all by himself. All the talk of Kobe not being able to win without Shaq was all gone. After seven long years, L.A. could finally raise another banner. On the other hand, this year was all about defending the title and proving that the previous championship wasn't a fluke. There were whispers about how far Boston could have gone if Garnett wasn't sidelined for part of the playoffs. Kobe and the Lakers proved they would have none of it, though. They sealed the deal by earning another ring after Game 7. Now, Kobe has surpassed the man who, to him, was nothing but a Big Bully.

The main difference, however, was Ron Artest. Plenty of folks doubted how effective he could be when he first came to Los Angeles. Even Kobe wasn't sure if Ron could replace Trevor's role. Regardless, word on the street was that Phil Jackson had lobbied for the acquisition. In hindsight, Ron didn't have a particularly memorable season. He was lost on the offensive end and had a big defensive game seemingly once every blue moon (do people still use that expression?). He was an "enigma" as Andy Garcia narrated in the documentary of the Lakers 2009-2010 season, The Association.



There was no question about his desire to win, though. During the ring ceremony at the season opener, Artest stayed in the locker room, "sick to his stomach", according to his agent. As written in Lee Jenkins' article for Sports Illustrated, "It's not that he didn't want to see the rings (he downloaded photos of them onto his phone)...It's that he didn't feel he deserved the privilege. Even in the days leading up to the Finals, when ABC asked the players to pose with the Larry O'Brien Trophy, Artest refused to touch it." What's more, Artest, in a way, had predicted this championship long ago. After the Lakers lost to the Celtics two years ago, Ron met up with Kobe in the locker room - or more specifically, when Kobe was in the midst of a shower - and ensured that #24 wouldn't be let down again. Ron would come to the rescue. Indeed, he did. He stepped up in the playoffs, forced Durant and Paul Pierce into tough shots, and even had some notable offensive games of his own (Game 3 against Utah; Games 1 & 6 vs. Phoenix; Games, 1, 6, and 7 in the NBA Finals). Without him, who knows how Game 7 would have ended.

At the end of the day, the Lakers have won their sixteenth championship and fifth in the last ten years. Everybody made key contributions. Whether it was the dominant post presence of Pau & Bynum or the leadership and clutch shots by Fisher, Kobe's brilliance or Artest's stellar defense, General Manager Mitch Kuptchak's organization of the roster or Dr. Jerry Buss' willingness to open his check book, Phil Jackson's genius or Lamar Odom's acceptance of coming off the bench, there were many pieces to the puzzle. The quest to defend the title was a formidable trek and, as history will forever show, the Lakers were successful.

After months upon months of preparation, plenty of playoff games of enhancement, alas all the blood, sweat, and tears will be defined by a single game. The greatest rivalry in the NBA will conclude another chapter in its storied history in a mere 48 minutes of play. After four quarters, "there can only be one." Whoever wins tomorrow at Staples Center in Los Angeles is the 2010 NBA champion, simple as that.

What a great time to be a sports fan. The NBA Finals, now tied at 2-2, feature the greatest rivalry in the league. Simultaneously, the FIFA World Cup, arguably the largest sports stage in the world, is underway in historically significant South Africa. Among the more hyped match-ups is Team USA vs. England. From one perspective, there are plenty of differences between the Lakers facing off against the Celtics and the Yanks vs. the Brits. However, from another point of view, there are certain similarities.

First of all, there is a historical significance to each rivalry. With the United States and England, obviously you have the colonial period and the revolt from British rule. In that sense, USA vs. England is a clash between enemies. On the other hand, in modern times, the United States and England have been allies. Look no further than World War II, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill united to defeat the Nazis. In a way, it's kind of like competing against your best friend; it's a great feeling to hold the upper hand against a buddy, not to mention bragging rights.

With Boston and Los Angeles, the history lies in the actual competition between the teams. Jerry West once said that the Celtics-Lakers rivalry really wasn't a rivalry until the 80's, because the Lakers lost the first 7 match-ups between the two teams. Ironically, the Finals match-up in 2008 is what makes 2010 better; the rivalry now has a modern touch. In '08, fans and the media had to rewind two decades to justify the hype. Now, you just have to scroll back a couple years. In the words of Eminem, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers "chewed up and spit out and booed off stage"; the Lake Show had some ugly episodes.

In my opinion, Landon Donovan of Team USA also identifies with the Celtics' Rajon Rondo. Both are rising stars that have recently earned a lot of attention. Ever since Landon Donovan went on loan to Everton in the past year, he has caught the eyes of soccer pundits around the world. Similarly, in the last season and throughout the playoffs, Rondo has proven to be Boston's best player, when only a couple of years ago he was arguably the worst player in the starting lineup. In terms of skill, both are also exceptionally skilled at creating scoring opportunities for their teammates, as well as for themselves.

By the same token, I would compare England's Wayne Rooney to the Lakers' Kobe Bryant. Both are leaders and arguably the best players on their respective teams. If their teams aren't successful, as in they don't meet expectations, they will suffer the most. They are also both talented scorers, and though they have a vast repertoire, scoring is what they're renowned for.

Overall, England vs. USA and the Celtics vs. the Lakers are two very unique and historic match-ups that share some - not many, but some - similarities. Oh, and Game 5 of the NBA Finals and England vs. USA are both in the same weekend! What a great time to be a sports fan.

The NBA Playoffs are a long and intricate odyssey, with a fair share of superb play and clutch shots. At the heart of it, though, it's a competition searching for the best of the best, ultimately crowning a champion. That's where the NBA Finals come in. The Los Angeles Lakers are officially the best of the West, while the Boston Celtics have emerged as the Eastern Conference champions. Despite the fact that both teams faced off against each only two seasons ago - with the C's winning championship #17 - it would be foolish to compare this year's match-up to the 2008 Finals.

Significance
For one, each team has at least one significant addition since '08. The Lakers signed one of the best defenders in the NBA, Ron Artest, and the Celtics acquired a 6'11" power forward with championship experience and a jumpshot in Rasheed Wallace. Plus, Bynum was barely around in the '08 playoffs, mostly recovering from an injury. Not to be forgotten is the Celtics' Nate Robinson, who put on a show in Game 6 versus Orlando. In the process, each team also lost an influential player. Los Angeles gave up the chance to re-sign Trevor Ariza, who made game-changing plays for the Lake Show during their '09 title run, and Boston no longer has Eddie House, a streaky three point ace who greatly contributed to momentum.

This series also has a different significance than it had two years ago. Back then, Kobe had just received the MVP award and was still trying to prove he could win a title without Shaq. Meanwhile, the Celtics were attempting to fulfill their championship prophecy, formulated the previous offseason after the acquisition of Garnett and Ray Allen. This season, Kobe & Co., who acquired championship experience, are motivated by revenge. On the other hand, the Celtics want to prove the naysayers wrong, specifically those who doubted them during the regular season.

For certain players, the Finals - or rather winning - hold a different significance. If the Celtics win it all, Rondo will be credited with leading his squad to a title. He's been a champion before, but never a leader. If the Celtics come up short, Rondo's performance in the playoffs won't be remembered outside of Beantown (and Orlando, Cleveland, and Milwaukee). Thinking about it from the other side, this may be Derek Fisher's last championship. Considering that he may retire after this season, the 2010 NBA Finals are pretty special.



Then there's the superstar, Kobe Bryant. What does this mean for him? Instead of Shaq, Kobe has Lebron in mind. The pundits and most fans have dismissed Kobe Bryant as the best player in favor of "King James." As Fanhouse's Bethlehem Shoals blogged, if Kobe wins, people will have to rethink their opinions. Is Lebron really the best? He still hasn't won a ring, and Kobe just led his squad to a championship. Imagine how Kobe, who performs at such a high rate without any motivation, will play with the "best player" debate secretly fueling him.

Analysis
Contrary to what some may say, this series - and thus, the NBA championship - could go either way. Boston boasts a unique physicality that has challenged L.A. and a productive bench, while the Lakers have Twin Towers and a former Defensive Player of the Year, as well as the best closer in the game.

The point guard match-up is definitely an advantage for the Celtics, since Rondo will always be several steps ahead of Fisher. It is imperative that Rondo use his quickness to create plays and drive, rather than utilizing his newfound jumpshot. Fisher can't keep up on a run to the basket, but he has no problem sliding his feet and contesting jumpers. The question is how often Doc Rivers will turn to Nate Robinson, who recently showcased his repertoire, and whether Phil Jackson will resort to Jordan Farmar or Sasha Vujacic as Fisher's backup. Both are quick, but neither Farmar or Vujacic have a high basketball IQ. Unfortunately for Lakers fans, Derek Fisher ought to be pretty fatigued by now. He's had to chase Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams, and Steve Nash. Phil Jackson must sub in Vujacic and Farmar for the well-being and stamina of Fisher. In spite of this disaster, Rondo should get the best of the Lakers' PGs.

Nevertheless, Kobe Bryant may end up guarding Rondo, too, with Fisher switching to Allen. In that case, Rondo will have to exploit his other options. Ultimately, if Rondo - the key to the Celtics offense - isn't effective, the Celtics don't stand a chance. Of course, that's easier said than done.

The game's greatest closer, L.A.'s Kobe, and the catalyst, Boston's Ray Allen, occupy the shooting guard positions. The only way Ray Allen can score while matched up against Kobe is with the assistance of screens. If Allen's teammates can provide a good pick, and Ray can run at the right angles, then he'll get his shots. But don't expect him to perform too well, which should really concern the Celtics. On the opposite end of the floor, Ray will have to guard Kobe, one of the most difficult defensive assignments ever. However, Ray doesn't get enough credit as a defensive player as he should. Even though Kobe sank the shot, you couldn't ask for better defense from Ray Allen on Kobe's game winner in Boston earlier this season. Kobe wins this match-up hands down.

At the 3, the Lakers' Ron Artest will defend the Celtics' Paul Pierce. Artest is undoubtedly the main difference between the unsuccessful '08 Lakers squad and this year's team. Sometimes, Ron Artest's defense can turn the game into a 5-on-4, simply by taking the opposing small forward out of the game. That said, Paul Pierce is a talented offensive player who shouldn't be underestimated (neither should his acting abilities). When he gets hot, his jumpshot is hard to stop. The disadvantage is that because of Artest's defense, Paul Pierce wouldn't be a reliable clutch player, causing the Celtics to look elsewhere during crunch time. Typically, I would say Pierce gets the advantage over Artest, because of his offense, but Artest has recently showed he can put up points too. This match-up is a tie.



What a great power forward match-up. Pau Gasol, and at times, Lamar Odom, against Kevin Garnett. Pau has beefed up and KG has aged, but is still effective. This is the time for Pau to prove people wrong. Two years ago, he heard it all. The Olympian was said to be "weak" and a "softy". In case you didn't catch him during the Lakers-Utah series, this is not the same Pau Gasol. Although Pau has gotten stronger, Kevin Garnett is still an intimidating and effective player. He, just like Pau, is capable of making mid-range jumpers. And at the heart of it, they're both excellent power forwards, which implies that they are good rebounders and have a dominant post presence. Two years ago, I would have given the edge to Boston. But a clash between Garnett and the new Pau Gasol is a tie, at least on paper.

The center position is really what won Boston the championship in '08. Pau was playing out of position and Perkins gave him hell. Everybody saw Perkins' excellent defense against Dwight Howard, and I wouldn't expect anything less of him against Bynum. The injury-plagued Bynum has only scored more than 13 points twice during the playoffs and that's against the likes of Nenad Kristic, Kyrlo Fesenko, and Jarron Collins. Perkins has come a long way, but still doesn't exactly stuff the stat sheet. What he does do is frustrate his opponent and hustle, which outdoes Bynum. But he also outdoes Bynum in technicals; one more T and Perkins is suspended. Regardless, Big Baby is also a good defender and is, in many ways, similar to Perkins. Nonetheless, I don't think Big Baby is as effective as Perkins. The only reason the Lakers can be optimistic is because of the height advantage. If Bynum can exploit that, expect some big games. I don't. The Celtics' centers have the advantage in this matchup.

Lastly, there's the bench. Almost any bench is better than the Lakers'. It's more than just a matter of talent. The Celtics' reserves are smart players. The Lakers' bench sometimes makes decisions that cause one to question their competence. Oh, and their defense needs a lot of work. If you're the Celtics, don't be discouraged if you're facing a double-digit defecit; the Lakers' reserves are very forgiving. In fact, they'll let you right back into a game - just to make things interesting, of course.

The Verdict
In 2008, the Celtics had home court advantage and an overwhelming advantage at the 1,3,4, and 5. Now, they barely have advantages, and slim ones at that (except for the bench). Home-court advantage is ultimately a deal breaker. According to John Schuhmann of NBA.com, "The team with the first two games at home has won 19 of the 25 Finals since the NBA switched to the 2-3-2 format in 1985. The Celtics have already won five road games in these playoffs, but the Lakers are 8-0 at home thus far at Staples Center." Plus, the Lakers have the best clutch player in the game, Kobe Bryant. My prediction: Lakers in 7.

Decades from now, records will show that Lebron James was the Most Valuable Player two years in a row. They will also show that those awards were won during his tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, the records will also show that Lebron James did not win any championships in Cleveland. Whether you were in the Cavs' front office, Head Coach Mike Brown, a fan, or one of LBJ's teammates, you not only expected better, but deserved more. As the records in the media will prove, somewhere in the mix, Lebron lacked proper prioritization between basketball and business. In the process of contemplating his future, Lebron lost track of the immediate present.

One can imagine the collective disappoint in Cleveland right now, which Lebron may not be sensitive to because of his surroundings. Don't get me wrong, I just mentioned that the people around him must be frustrated. At the same time, they enlarged Lebron's ego to a point of no return. The media are people around him too, and he must understandably feel good about himself whenever he watches his array of highlights on ESPN, now known as LebronTV, according to rapper Wale.

Few members of the media have criticized him, particularly his offseason endeavors. "While Lebron spent his summer visiting music moguls and furthering his international brand via clothing and shoe chains, Kobe spent days in Houston refining his game by learning new post moves from one of basketball's all-time big men, Hakeem Olajuwon," as eloquently written by The Bleacher Report's John Haverford. Did anyone dare mention that he's been too distracted from the game during the regular season? Did the pundits ever stop proclaiming him the best player in the NBA? No, he's only been criticized after everything has crashed and burned. For his benefit, Lebron should welcome feedback, whether it's good or bad, to help keep things in perspective. Quite simply, the media has provided "The King" with a pedestal too high for his own good.

Two conflicting enterprises: Lebron James the brand,

and Lebron James the player

As a talented 24 year old who's within reach of becoming a billion dollar athlete, the next team he signs with is obviously a big deal. It's not something that should be spoken about candidly in press conferences, especially not before your contract year. I can understand how a youngster like Lebron could get caught up in the question, "Where are you headed?" After all, it can totally change the league's dynamics. In the end, the media is always going to be pushy for answers. Part of Lebron's job as a player is to stay focused, but he was already talking about his next destination over a year in advance.

The current frustration with James should be in equal parts directed toward this season's shortcoming as well as how much more Lebron could have devoted to the game and his team, and thus, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Didn't Lebron James learn from the Cavs' fall to Orlando last year? Despite the mediocrity of the Eastern Conference, there's no cruising to the NBA Finals. It almost seems like Lebron's teammates desire a ring even more than LB himself, and that shouldn't be the case. I wonder what it's like to be a Cleveland Cavalier. Unless you're Mo Williams, you'd never get any attention and barely be given the opportunity to succeed, since so many plays are drawn up for Lebron. Think about the young players like Jamario Moon and JJ Hickson who still strive to get better. They don't receive nearly much attention, but fulfill their job description. Lebron should've done the same thing.

If you're Head Coach Mike Brown, you've received the blame when times are tough and completely disregarded when things go well. Don't you deserve some more credit when you coach a team to 61 regular season wins? Shouldn't you draw praise for keeping everybody grounded, even when Lebron is strolling around with a New York Yankees cap? The person who really deserved more, though, is the Cavs' owner, Dan Gilbert. You're not paying Lebron James millions on top of millions to drop dead after the first round. Your team's best player shouldn't openly discuss with the media that he wants to leave your squad. You shouldn't have to bare "witness" to that.



A question for Cleveland fans: Would you rather see Lebron dance, have handshakes, look like he's having tons of fun, and then only withstand the first round or would you like to see Lebron with a signature glare, a fire in his eyes, grit his teeth when it's time to step up, and win a championship? The good times you've had choreographing dance moves with your teammates, is nothing compared to the joy the entire city of Cleveland would feel if you were to win the title. Believe it or not, the Most Valuable Player award is exponentially more meaningful if your team is successful. It's apparent that Lebron is still trying to figure out the limits of individuality in the team sport that is basketball.

The fact that Cleveland didn't get far is not solely Lebron's fault and isn't the end of the world. Lebron is an intelligent person and knows his playing days will come to a conclusion. He deserves to be commended for his business-savvy just as much as for his basketball abilities. From the day he was drafted until now, he has brought pride to Cleveland and established the Cavaliers as legitimate contenders. He has undoubtedly earned his MVP awards. It's great to see that Lebron has the brains to supplement his athletic nature. Perhaps, he could've followed the footsteps other player-businessmen, such as Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, who devoted much time to their brands after their playing days.

There's no doubt Lebron James works hard. He wouldn't be where he is, considered the best basketball player in the world, if he didn't. Countless articles and commentaries have chronicled how amazing he is, especially for his height. The issue so many are starting to have with LBJ is that he should have and could have worked harder; it's mind-blowing to think he had the potential to be even better. When Kobe Bryant won MVP but went on to be embarrassed by the Celtics in the NBA Finals, what did he do? The next season he came back with a burning desire, won a ring, and silenced all his critics. As I mentioned in this post, LBJ was too caught up in expanding Lebron James the brand, instead of perfecting Lebron James the player. Instead of silencing critics, Lebron has created them.

I'll elaborate on trades (i.e. the Mavs-Wizards deal) after the trade deadline on Thursday. RealGM.com already has my head spinning with rumors.

creativity [kree-ey-tiv-i-tee] –noun: the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination

All of the above was nowhere to be found during a three-day period dubbed as "NBA All-Star Weekend." I wasn't actually in Dallas, so I can't comment on the array of parties, but there was nothing particularly flashy - or creative - about this year's events. When the venue is getting more attention than the event, something's wrong. Sure, Cowboys Stadium can fit A LOT of people. But is it neccessary to pack 108,000+ people into a dome to watch a basketball game? In one word, as my cousin described it, the whole thing was "wack."

The celebrity game may be the most boring event of all. I'd like to elaborate on my opinion, but, truth be told, I barely watched it. I will praise whoever selected the teams, as it was nice to see memorable retired players come out for another hoorah, as well as participation from a few Harlem Globetrotters. Judging from the small snippets I saw, the league may want to consider limiting the Friday game solely to former NBA players or having former NBA players face off against Globetrotters. Although, and I'm sure many will agree, it was fun(ny) to see Mark Cuban out there. On Friday night, it was nice to finally see the rooks win for a change. Although, it was equally impressive to see Russell Westbrook score 40 points. At halftime, The dunk-in between Eric Gordon and DeMar DeRozan was somewhat interesting. Personally, I thought Eric Gordon was more creative and had better dunks, but he needed multiple attempts and DeMar didn't.

The following day, the 2nd annual H-O-R-S-E competition was a disappointment - for the second consecutive year. I question the motives behind Omri Casspi's selection, but, what the heck, let the foreign rookie get involved in All-Star weekend. Anyway, due to time constraints, the contest turned into a three-point shootout, with Kevin Durant beating Rajon Rondo (who didn't see that coming). Saturday's festivities continued with the Shooting Stars Challenege, a respectable way to hype people up. I haven't done enough research on the WNBA participants, so I can't be too sure when I say this, but the squads seemed pretty fair. The only thing that perplexed me was seeing the bigs from Team Sacramento and Team Los Angeles, Chris Webber and Pau Gasol, starting off shooting from behind the arc (position 3), rather than a mid-range shot (position 2).

The Skills Challenge, for the first time in recent history, may have been more enjoyable than the Dunk Contest. Props to Steve Nash for winning despite his age and fatigue from participating in the Winter Olympics opening ceremony then flying to Dallas - less than 24 hours before the Skills Challenge. I'm still trying to figure out how a jetlagged 36 year old beat players more than a decade younger than him. But right when things were starting to get exciting, the three-point shootout toned down the mood. When you think about it, there's nothing stirring about watching six players take some wide-open shots from behind the arc. Of course, the league leader in three-point percentage, Paul Pierce, went on to win. A half-court shootout may have been a little more climatic, but that's just another idea for the league.



At last, fans were free to relish the highlight reel of highlight reels: the Dunk Contest. Besides Gerald Wallace, I knew all the other contests were capable of putting on a show. In the end, though, the whole thing went awry. Shannon Brown, hyped by legions of fans at LetShannonDunk.com, was the most disappointing of all. Some actually favored him to win it all, yet he probably could've produced better dunks in a game. Nate Robinson was mildly impressive, but Lebron James, had he participated, could have very well provided more showmanship, as well as more creative dunks. Charles Barkley had the best line of the night when he quipped that "maybe nobody's gonna win [the Dunk Contest]."

Then there was the game itself. Without Shaq and/or Kobe for the first time since '97, the game lacked personality and talent. During the starters' introductions, a friend watching the game with me remarked: "They should let Shaq play in the All-Star Game every year just to make it funny." Honestly, it wasn't the same without Shaq trying to imitate the Jabawokees. I don't know how much more interesting Kobe could have made it, but I'll bet he could have gotten the West a W. At least there were less "snubs." Numerous injuries allowed otherwise deserving players to participate. It was a surprise to see so many first-timers. Who else was surprised that it was Deron Williams' first All-Star game? Regardless, I, for one, appreciated the fact that it was a competitive game, though it could've used a better ending. Imagine if Carmelo had made that three for the win?

As for the performances at the All-Star Game , the acts were satisfactory. Usher undoubtedly fit the demographic and although I didn't think his songs were particularly amazing, the choreography made up for it. Although I enjoyed her performance, Shakira's discography strays away from that of the typical NBA fan's. To conclude halftime on a good note, Alicia Keys showcased her vocal abilities, despite the fact that she wasn't much of an adrenaline-pumper.



Not to be forgotten was the actual site of All-Star Weekend, Cowboys Stadium, massive enough to seat the 108,713 obersvers in attendance. The only people who may feel more disappointed than fans, are the fans that paid to see the events live at Cowboys Stadium. Ever since I saw tape of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, or Lew Alcindor as he was known then, and his UCLA teammates versus Houston University at the Astrodome way back in the day, I've never understood the motive behind playing basketball in a large dome or football stadium. It just doesn't fit. Even though the players were amazed by the scene surrounding them, basketball was meant to be played in its own facility. During the Final Four, the sight of coaches and reserves lower than the court was simply strange. During NBA All-Star weekend, it was even stranger. However, it seemed like the players and fans both enjoyed the venue, so I guess the people that mattered weren't that alienated by it.

Was this All-Star Weekend relatively memorable for the fans? Not really. Without the presence of Kobe Bryant, humor from Shaquille O'Neal, a proper venue, and an all-around lack of creativity or excitement, the NBA gave many fans forgettable performance upon forgettable performance. At most, the 2010 All-Star Weekend will be remembered historically for its attendance record and little else.

With two Lakers losses, one against the hometown rivals, the Clippers, and at the hostile Rose Garden against the Portland Trailblazers (technically, the Clippers game was a "road" game for the Lakers). The Lakers haven't loss consecutive games in quite some time and have been bailed out too many times by clutch performances from Kobe. The question on the minds of many fans is whether or not the Lakers are still the NBA's best.

According to their 28-8 record, the Lakers are still officially the most successful team in the NBA. There's no doubt the Lakers deserve credit for that. However, as analysts have been eager to point out, the squad hasn't proved itself on the road, especially in Portland, where they last won in 2005. Then again, the absences of Gasol and Artest have definitely taken a toll.

To be the best, though, you have to win against the other great teams in the league, as well as lesser opponents. The entire Lakers team came in to the Christmas Day matchup versus the Cavs with an unacceptable attitude. They downplayed the game simply because they weren't playing the Boston Celtics. Here's some news: The Cavs were third place in the Eastern Conference coming into Christmas Day - meaning they are still an elite team. On December 30, when I was on Correy Costelloe's Home Turf on December 30, merely 5 days after the horrible loss, the Cavs trailed Boston by only half a game for #1 in the East. At the moment, Cleveland is ahead of Boston by 1 game for best in the conference.

However, there's nothing that can be done to reverse what's already happened; rather, there are certain improvements that can be made to have a better future. Understand that no particular individual is at fault for the Lakers' few and rare shortcomings.