Whew! This has been one helluva season in the Western Conference, the most relentless horse race ever.

Just missed that double-overtime thriller won by the Spurs over the Suns. Our Lakers host the Nuggets tomorrow, Sunday. I predict the Lakers win that series in 5. More difficult to pick is Suns-Spurs series. Hungry Suns with Shaq addition vs. the very tough-minded, time-tested, defending champs holding the home-court advantage.

Mavs-Hornets? Also tough to call; #2 new kid on the block vs. perennial challenger and recent conference champ, Mavericks.

Hard to imagine Eastern Conference final being other than Celtics-Pistons. In the West, it's gotta be Lakers vs. probably either the Suns or the Spurs. That 1st-round matchup is definitely the most dramatic, with the strongest implications. But then, everybody finished

Continue reading "CONGRATULATIONS LAKERS ON #1 SEED!"

Would somebody with leverage tell ABC's Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy to shut the hell up? Especially Van Gundy.

Time and time again these egomaniacs conduct themselves on-air as if we tuned in to listen to their dissociated yammering instead of dialed-in comments on the game.

Case in point: During the first half of today's first-round playoff opener between the Lakers and Nuggets, Jackson made a comment that Allen Iverson was one of the best pound-for-pound players in the NBA ever. Van Gundy goes off interminably, expressing incredulity, and maddeningly ignoring Jackson's "pound-for-pound" qualification, as Iverson is around 6'1" 165 lbs.

The contrast with KCAL's smoothly professional coverage is startling. Joel Myers and Stu Nance are much more in sync.

Continue reading "ABC's GAME COVERAGE SUCKS"

Since I'm still finding a more thoroughgoing blog voice re Lakers, I thought I'd post here my reply to Kareem's informative and enjoyable post off nba.com:

Kareem, you will always be my all-time favorite Laker. The grace, dignity, and extraordinary numbers you posted over your long distinguished career remain nonpareil. And the multi-champ team with you and Magic and Worthy, et al remains my fave too.

Your ultra-expert comments on the Lakers status and playoff outlook are pure gold. Apart from Kobe's continuing leadership emergence, I love the performance and the steady basketball IQ of Pau Gasol. He's really raised the level of team chemistry, and the consistency of Lamar Odom's free-roving, all-purpose style of play.

Consistent and staunch enough defense, and this team can go all the way, even without Bynum's reinforcement of the front line (great job mentoring him, by the way).

Continue reading "KAREEM POST"