NBA

No love for the Zen Master

Had a pretty good laugh at the above video. Phil Jackson trying to give Kobe a fist-bump but having to cover it up and not look like an idiot left hanging.

The season has officially started and the Lakers received their championship rings and above is a picture of it. Holy crap, that is bling. Every time I see a championship ring from any professional sport, I always have the same reaction...DAM.

This Week in Basketball

Things are moving pretty quickly now that the Laker's have been crowned the 2009 champs.

Hedo to the Raptors

If the Raptors sign Hedo to the reported 5yr $53million deal, I will be forced to find a new team to cheer for. This deal makes no sense! Dude is 30 years old. If he was named Kobe Bryant than being 30 at this point would be fine but he's not, he's Hedo Turkoglu. As expected his stats peaked when he was 28 years old. This season, his stats dropped just a little. He is not worth $53million over 5yrs. I know this move is all about making Bosh happy so he will stay in Toronto (in my mind he's already gone but I'll leave that for another day) but this move doesn't help Toronto keep Bosh. The only way this move helps Bosh is if the Raptors take the championship away from the Laker's next season which is not going to happen. Hedo is not the solution for the Raptors. If this rumour does come true, the Raptors will be screwing themselves for years to come.

Artest to the Laker's

I love this move! Having a guy like Artest on the team adds that physical, gives no mercy, I'll kill you, get the hell out of my way, mentality that the Laker's will need when they defend their championship next season. Artest can play lockdown defence which allows Bryant, and his 30 year old body, some down time on the court instead of him shutting down the opposing superstar on defence. Just looking at the Laker's team it seems more and more like the Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Jackson combo. Absolutely dirty!

The Rockets are Cursed

This is an off-season that the Rockets wish never happened. McGrady is most likely out for next season and if he does return he's a shell of what he used to be. Artest is off to the Laker's and rumoured in return is Trevor Ariza. Ariza is a role player and nothing more. His great play in the playoffs will bring some cash but the GM who signs him (thinking he'll be a true leader instead of being a role player) for big bucks is going to look stupid when the season unfolds. Now to the big news. Yao Ming, their superstar centre, seems to on the side of not returning next season due to injury. I feel for the Rockets. Losing their "big 3" is something no GM could anticipate. I always thought that the combo of Ming and McGrady would do damage in the NBA and bring them to the Finals but it never happened.

Champions

The Lakers are again on top of the basketball world. I don't really have too much to say but congratulations. I am a Lake Show fan and I have been one for some time now.

Just a few thoughts.

Phil "Zen Master" Jackson is absolutely ridiculous. Just think about it, the guy has 12 championship rings!!! He has 2 as a player and 10 as a coach. The funny part is everyone talks about his 10 coaching rings but barely does anyone talk about the 2 he has as a player. Come on, 12?!?!

Kobe is a champion again but this time he did it without Shaq. But I was always thinking isn't Gasol the equivalent to Shaq? Back in the 3-peat days of Shaq and Kobe, Shaq was absolutely more dominant than Gasol has ever and will most likely ever be but he is still a big man that has skills. Everyone talks about how Kobe needs this ring without Shaq to solidify his greatness but he still needed a big man in the middle to do it. Just asking, did Jordan need that big man down low to win his 6 rings? Hmmm...just something to think about.

No denying Kobe is a legend at this point but I still don't think he can compare to Jordan. The NBA is and will always be a league where the big man down low will get you championships and this is why Jordan, in my eyes, is still the greatest.

Derek Fisher is the man. If you went back a few years when the Lakers had Malone and Payton in the lineup when the Pistons were the opponents I specifically said, "Fisher should be starting because if he does, they will win. Bench Payton!!!" Well, I was right back then and I am right now. Fish is the man. He is the prime example of a guy who doesn't have any flash or skills that will dominate others but he has the savvy experience that any and every playoff team needs.

Kobe and the Lakers are at a point where rings are in reach and yes I meant rings with the "s". Now that Kobe has tasted the life sans Shaq on the podium and is within reach of Jordan's 6 titles, the Lakers are most likely in contention for at least 2-3 more rings in the next 3-5 years.

This is the start of a new Lakers dynasty.

Lakers

The Lakers walked into the US Airways Center and beat the Suns by 13 points, 105-92. It seemed like another game and just another win for the potential NBA Champions but on this night they were playing against their old teammate and at times friend, Mr. Shaquille O'Neal.

After Shaq threw Kobe under the bus with his apparently funny free-style at a New York club during the summer, this was a contest that most highlighted on their calendars. Note, I found the rap to be a sad reminder of how far Shaq has fallen into his post dominating years in the NBA while seeing how far Kobe has come after losing a big man, overcoming the Colorado rape thing, and of course a Gold Medal draped around his neck.

As the Lakers just walked into the home of the Suns and walked out with yet another victory the story of former teammates, friends, and the face of a dynasty just seemed to bore me. Shaq is maturing, a little, by accepting his new role as a second scoring option behind Amare and realizing that his skills are not what they use to be. While Kobe seems to finally realize that his teammates are the ones that he needs to rely on to bring him a championship post Shaq. Kobe seems content with just leaving his selfish ways by taking fewer shots, passing out of double teams, and even taking the 30-35 minutes of court time with a smile.

The times have changed. Kobe, Shaq, and if you really want to add in the Zen Master himself, Phil Jackson, are finally on diverging paths with what I am completely happy with. The stories about the feuding trio was interesting but with all story lines they get old and worn out.

Looking back on the departure of Shaq to the Heat and how Shaq brought the Heat a championship, a partner in crime for Dywane Wade, and don't forget a last place finish I have always wondered what if. What if Shaq stayed in LA and found a way to mend the fences between the trio. What if Shaq stayed and dominated the paint in the Staples Center. Would the Lakers have one, two, or maybe even three more banners in the rafters. Well, we will never know but there is one thing I am 100% sure about now. There is only one person who has the chance to bring in one, two, three, four, and maybe even five banners.

Look no further than the cornerstone of the Lakers, Mr. Kobe Bryant.

The Lakers have the core of players that can potentially bring another dynasty to LA. Bryant has the opportunity to be apart of two different dynasty's in his NBA career. Bynum, Gasol, Odom, Ariza, Fisher, and of course Kobe (as a team) are the future of the NBA. With their tools and skills to absolutely dominate the West and the entire NBA for years to come other teams should be rightfully scared.

Kobe is only 30 and we all know that with health and medical advances Kobe could easily be raising the Larry O'Brien Trophy five times before he walks away from the NBA.

I am looking forward to watching the Lake Show in the near future.


Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com