So the Lakers just came within two wins of an NBA title and they’re supposed to blow this thing up? Gimme a break. Even though it was more like a 6 game sweep in terms of Boston’s domination, the Lakers still MADE the Finals. Isnt’t that something? Umm…yes…it is. Especially considering the expectations heading into the season so spare me and everyone else the absurd over-reaction please.

Of course all of their flaws were made painstakingly clear as a result of Boston’s once a decade type defense, but if they want to get back to the Finals and fare better it will take some minor tweaks. Lets not forget Andrew Bynum will be back, though it is unclear just how far along he’ll be coming off his injury. Question marks aside, the Lakers could certainly stand to upgrade at a few positions. Most glaring would have to be in the middle, where the more physical Celtics manhandled them. Pau can shoulder some of that blame, but it was also his talent that allowed for them to be the Westtern Conference champs. The Lakers need some more muscle and should use the lame Radmanovic as bait. You might wonder, “Who would take that soft non factor of a Euro?” I would wonder the same thing except that teams are always looking for shooters and half the GM’s appear to be clueless. Too bad Isiah isn’t in New York anymore.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

So the Lakers are trying to make history and overcome a 3-1 deficit. After struggling to win a Game 5 home game they are now two wins away from an NBA title as they head to Boston. If you’re a Lakers fan you like what you’re hearing from the players. Translation, the Lakers are a 12 man cliché spewing machine right now.

Derek Fisher asserts that they must take it one game at a time. True, but hardly a revelation. Even the P.A. announcer got into the banality act after Game 5. “This is not over yet!” Phil Jackson’s advice to his team? “keep forcing the games and making plays, keep making one play at a time, one quarter at a time. Don’t think anything past this next opportunity on Tuesday to play this team again.”

Kobe Bryant put his own spin on the situation by explaining if someone had said the Lakers have to win two road games to win an NBA Championship at the outset of the season they would’ve taken that in a heartbeat. Was he talking about the beginning of the season when the Lakers were in total disarray and Kobe was wholly unhappy with management AND the personnel on the team? So again, no surprises there.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

By now you’ve heard that no team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in NBA Finals history. The Lakers now find themselves on the wrong end of that 3-1. It doesn’t look good for Kobe and crew. It would be a monumental task for any team to come back from 3-1, but it would be damn near miraculous for the Lakers to bounce back from the greatest comeback in Finals history. The Celtics have controlled this series from Game 1 with their workhorse defense. The Lakers vaunted offense has been no match for the physicality displayed by Boston throughout this series. Want proof? How about arguably the games best offensive player since MJ going 6 for 19 against the relentless Paul Pierce. Who ever though that would happen? The answer is no one…except the Celtics.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

The Lakers are in the finals again and we all know what that means: Lakers car flags are once again out in full flutter.

It’s a very curious thing these car flags. Despite a first-place season and an easy run through the playoffs, I’d never seen them before in my life. Granted, I only moved to L.A. about nine months ago, but this was well before the start of basketball season. Since then, the Lakers managed win more games than anyone in their conference, hold on to Kobe Bryant and basically steal All-Star Pau Gasol away from the Grizzlies. All these bouts of good fortune and nary a car flag on display.

So what is it with these flags? Are they some sort of automotive botanical curiosity that only bloom at the end of May? No, the answer is quite simple. These car flags are the embodiment of a city’s collective bandwagon spirit. Nobody feels a need to support the home team until they’ve proven themselves worthy with a spot in the finals.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

While in Los Angeles all there is nowadays are the Lakers and their NBA Finals match-up with Boston, in Europe they couldn’t care less. Actually the rest of the world right now is focused in Austria and Switzerland, the co-hosts of the 2008 edition of the Eurocup.

The Eurocup consists of 16 European soccer teams that have made it to this tournament through some arduous qualifying. Such star-filled teams like Italy, France, Portugal and Germany will battle it out to get to the final and eventually be crowned as the champions of Europe. It is basically a “mini” World Cup as some experts call it.

The best soccer in the world is being played right now. With incredible games such as France vs Italy, which is a rematch from the final in the World Cup in 2006, is hard to even blink an eye.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

Black Mamba is tough to figure. Has there ever been a more gifted yet enigmatic player than Kobe Bryant? Game 1 of these NBA Finals proved that Kobe Bryant, despite his colossal talent, still hasn’t completely figured it out. How does the MVP come up with a 9 for 26 performance that included a 1 for 6 fourth quarter effort? That’s excusable if he’s taking good shots, but he wasn’t. He’s shown the ability to make just about any shot at any spot on the floor, but that’s not the point. Not in the NBA Finals where every possession matters and a bad shot can turn into momentum for the Celtics. It’s something Lakers fans have probably come to expect. Still, after the strides made this season you probably didn’t think you would see it in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. You did.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

Not long ago the commish, David Stern, was asked what the best possible NBA Finals match-up would be. His answer? Lakers vs. Lakers. Turns out he got the next best thing. Stern was speaking tongue in cheek, but his comment was rooted in a somewhat desperate truth. Since Michael Jordan ended his playing days the NBA simply hasn’t been as compelling. Many would argue this kind of Finals is what the NBA needed. Certainly this is something the NBA wanted. Now they have their wish.

It remains to be seen if this Finals will reflect what Stern and the rest of the suits think, that this will draw the casual fan back and bolster ratings. No matter who watches or who doesn’t, one thing is certain. The Celtics and Lakers are the two of the most storied franchises in league history and one of these teams will add another championship to their already crowded trophy case.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

The Lakers are back in the Finals against their old rivals, but we have to wait until Thursday so that the TV schedule is optimum for the NBA. The Angels and Dodgers are heading in opposite directions, but both face teams that have fallen flat on their faces this season.

NBA

Lakers

• at Boston, Thursday, 6:00, ABC
• at Boston, Sunday, 6:00, ABC

The Lakers have made it back to the Finals for another edition of their traditional rivalry with the Celtics after a Western Conference Finals that was way easier than many people thought it would be. Unfortunately for the Lakers, the Celtics are a much better team than the Spurs this season. Longtime stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are still looking for their first championships, meaning the Celtics will be just as hungry as the Lakers, and more talented. I expect the Lakers to lose a hard-fought series.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

The Lakers finished the first half of last night’s game 2 against the Spurs with a 9-0 flurry that proved to be the crucial tipping point. Los Angeles went on to dominate the second half putting a virtual stranglehold on this series if history is any indicator. When Phil Jackson led teams win the first game of a playoff series they simply don’t lose. Phil is hovering around 40-0 in that scenario making game 1 a veritable closeout situation. It’s the equivalent of Phil Jackson putting on an afro and quoting Ezekiel 25:17 to the opposition. You can’t get much better than 40-0 which makes game 2 seem kind of moot. It would be moot except that these are the defending champion Spurs. These are the same Spurs many so called experts wrote off after two blowout losses to the Hornets…exactly one series ago. So have we learned our lesson about never counting out the champs? Let’s hope so. The precedent set by Phil Jackson coached teams makes this series even more compelling when you consider the opponent, a proud San Antonio team that has won 4 championships in the last 9 years.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

If the Lakers are going to win an NBA title this season, how appropriate it is that they will have to take out the champs to do it. The Spurs forced their championship will on the youthful Hornets of New Orleans on Monday night winning a road game for the first time in that series. Luckily for them it happened to be the game 7 clincher.

So now the Lakers must battle their toughest foe yet, a bend but don’t break San Antonio team with as much moxie as ever. These Spurs are older, but certainly wiser and its going to take the Lakers’ best shot to take them out. Los Angeles was the better team all season long and look to be the stronger team in the post-season thus far. However, to steal the words right out of Jalen Rose’s mouth, you can’t bet against the Spurs until you actually see them lose.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

Apparently belittling the non Kobe’s through the media did wonders for their confidence. Lamar Odom continued his strong play. Pau was the Pau everyone knows and hearts. Sasha at least shot the ball with confidence even though nothing went in. D Fish was stoic and solid. No one can ever second-guess Phil’s psych 101 acumen, no matter how obvious it may seem. He knows his players and he consistently pushes the right buttons.

In a very rough and tumble game 5, the Lakers continued the trend of home teams absolutely dominating the second round of these here playoffs. The story of the game was Utah’s playoff high 19 turnovers. Another storyline that wasn’t touched upon by either Harlan or Collins was the inconsistent officiating, which benefited the Lakers on just about every pivotal call. There was a missed goal-tending call, a phantom foul on a Lamar Odom dunk, another phantom foul on Kirilenko as the ball bounced off of Vujacic’s leg out of bounds, and a litany of missed over the back fouls. The refs blew calls on both ends, but clearly this was a Lakers home game. That’s not to say they didn’t deserve to win. They did. However, something must be done about the quality of officiating in the league. No matter, Kobe and his pals are ready to close out this pesky Jazz team in Utah…no small task. Good thing they have home court in their back pocket.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

The Lakers are now facing their first adversity of the 2008 playoffs. It will be interesting to see how the team responds to losing twice in Utah. The Angels and Dodgers meet in Anaheim for the first of their two yearly series. Both teams are coming off rough weeks.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]