Kobe Bryant: Remembering a Legend

Sunday, January 26, a day that was supposed to be like any other Sunday, minus the week off from football as the NFL prepares for Super Bowl Sunday just one week away. With no Sunday football to wake up to for the first time in 20 weeks, there was simply no alarm clock needed as I managed to get some rest and sleep in. Unbeknownst to the shocking news that I would wake up to just moments later, the text messages began pouring in from family members and friends alike, followed by an alert from my ESPN app: "12:04pm - NBA legend Kobe Bryant among five people killed in helicopter crash in Calabasas, California."

At first glance upon opening the texts and reading the alert while still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I thought, "that can't be right." Less than 24 hours earlier while taking on the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James passed Kobe for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list, which James honored Kobe in his hometown of Philadelphia with a pair of customized sneakers that included a handwritten message that read, "Mamba 4 Life". In the visiting team's locker room, LeBron would give a post-game interview and answered a number of Kobe-related questions after being asked what it meant to move up the list of the game's all-time scorers while passing an NBA great and Laker legend like Kobe Bryant. James would share a number of stories, including the first time he met Kobe while attending a basketball camp as a teenager where he was gifted a pair of sneakers from the Mamba himself. And despite them being a full shoe size smaller, LeBron wore them anyway. Kobe took to Twitter to congratulate LeBron on his achievement with a short message that read, "Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother #33644." Little did we know it would be the last interaction between the two and the last time we'd hear from Kobe.

For me, a kid born in the year 1990 that grew up a Lakers fan and was fortunate enough to watch Kobe straight out of High School from the beginning of his career to the end, the man was not only an icon, but a global ambassador for the game of basketball. Serving as the transitional piece alongside his former teammate and good friend Shaquille O'Neal that helped bridge the gap following the Michael Jordan era, Kobe Bryant who entered the league at the tender age of 18, was the quintessential rock star from a basketball sense. Unlike Jordan who I only remember during his second stint with the Bulls and towards the twilight of his career, Kobe was the Jordan of my childhood and my hero. From having his own video game that I would play as a child for hours on end to his own sneakers and fashion line that I would beg my parents to buy me, Kobe Bryant was larger than life and is perhaps even more recognizable overseas than he is here in the States. Possessing a work ethic unlike any other, Kobe Bryant was the ultimate competitor, even greater than that of Jordan. And like Jordan who Kobe drew so many comparisons to and admits he molded his game around, Kobe was a player that brought the best out of everyone he faced on a basketball court. Whether you were a fan of his or you hated his guts for the sole reason that he likely ripped the heart out of your team on multiple occasions on the scoreboard and in the box score, chances are he had you glued to the TV in one way or another.

Having been a sports fan for my entire life, I can truly say that I've never followed someone who was so obsessed with something the way Kobe was with basketball. But as much as Kobe needed basketball, basketball needed Kobe just as much if not more. Having inspired an entire generation of athletes, not one player in the NBA today would admit that Kobe didn't inspire them or their game in some way, shape, or form. Whether it was a move they saw Kobe make in a game, or the way he handled himself on the court with a focus and a hunger for success unlike any before him which coined such phrases as "Mamba Mentality" and "Kobe System," chances are Kobe made an impact on each and every basketball fan and player out there over the last two decades. Kobe is a household name that is as synonymous with the game of basketball as well as any we've ever seen, so much so that his jersey numbers: 8 and 24, both of which retired by the Lakers, line up with two of basketball's most basic rules in the 8 Second Violation and the 24 Second Shot-Clock Violation. This allowed for the many NBA teams that were in action on Sunday to pay tribute to Bryant just hours after the tragic news broke as teams began purposely committing these violations, simply as a salute and a thank you to one of their very own. Dallas Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban, whom Kobe never played for in his entire career, had his own way of honoring Bryant and released a statement Sunday evening praising Kobe's legacy and saying that the number 24 will never be worn again by a member of the Mavs.

Sadly, the 41-year old Kobe who was beloved by fans and meant so much to the Los Angeles community, was not alone on that helicopter that came crashing down and killed more passengers than initially reported. Among the eight others that were on board and killed in the accident was Bryant's 13-year old daughter, Gianna. A prodigy under her dad's tutelage, Gigi was expected to be the next big thing in women's basketball. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to see when her time on the hardwood came calling, almost as an extension of Kobe who basketball fans, myself included, dearly miss seeing on a basketball court. Sadly, she was taken from us before her basketball legacy could even begin and before she was able to continue that of the family's. Among the game's all-time greatest players, Kobe in the public eye was even greater at being a father. I could sit here and talk about the many accolades and accomplishments that Kobe achieved on the court, but that would likely take all night and considering I have to be up for work in a few hours, that's probably not a great idea.

This photo was taken exactly three years ago to the day, the last Laker game I had attended prior to this season and of course donning the jersey of my all-time favorite basketball player and one of my favorite athletes ever. When you follow ones career and become as big a fan of someone like I was with Kobe, you begin to feel as if you knew that person on a personal level. And though that's not the case as I was merely a fan, I still feel like I've lost a close friend.

Rest in Peace.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Mamba Out After Historic Final Game

With the Los Angeles Lakers in the tank machine for another season, I told myself one thing -- I wouldn't watch Laker basketball this season. But with it being Kobe Bryant's final season, the player I grew up idolizing, it's been just as hard not to watch my favorite player in his final year as it's been hard to watch them suffer another disappointing season.

With the Lakers playing terribly to the sound of their worst record in franchise history (17-65) and Kobe in his farewell tour, this season was supposed to be about the young guys -- rookie DeAngelo Russell who was selected second overall in this year's Draft and last year's first round pick Julius Randle who is basically a rookie himself, having missed all of last season with a broken leg aside from playing just 14 minutes in the season-opener. And with both players getting their much needed playing time to get their feet wet and help their development in the league, everything was going as planned. And then the news broke of Russell secretly videotaping a discussion with Laker teammate Nick Young. The conversation which touched on the subject of Young hooking up with numerous women and cheating on his fiance Iggy Azalea soon made its way onto social media. What was meant to be a joke on Young evolved into a prank gone wrong, making matters worse and adding salt to the wound that's been the Lakers' season.

So when it came time for L.A.'s final game of the season on Wednesday, Laker fans were more than relieved that the nightmare season was finally coming to an end. And then we were forced to accept that it was the ending of an era and that the career of one of basketball's all-time greats was coming to a close. The last time we would see Kobe Bean Bryant take the court in a Laker uniform. What was being referred to as "Mamba Day" began bright and early in downtown L.A. as Laker fans flocked outside of Staples Center to show their respects to "the greatest Laker in franchise history" as Magic Johnson proclaimed. With tributes being made for Kobe all season long and gifts given from opposing teams since he announced his decision to hang 'em up back in November, nothing came close to what the home team did for their beloved superstar as video messages were played on the big screen all night long. And then came the game that needed to be played. With enough celebrities in attendance for it to be an award show, the pressure on Bryant coming into the game was insurmountable. And with an 0-for-5 start from the field for Kobe, the jitters showed early on. It would soon wear off, however, as Kobe put on a show and treated us all to a spectacle in a way that only he could.

Facing the Utah Jazz who were eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the day with a victory by the Houston Rockets who claimed the eighth and final seed, Utah didn't have a whole lot to play for aside from having the chance to sweep the season series versus the Lakers for their first time ever. Utah jumped out to an early lead and maintained control of the score for nearly the entire game until the Black Mamba rose to the occasion and took over late in the fourth quarter like he's done so often in his memorable 20 year career. During a timeout discussion with former teammate Shaquille O'Neal, Shaq challenged Bryant to go out by scoring 50-points. Kobe would do him one better by scoring 60. Trailing by as many as 10 points with just over 2 minutes remaining, Kobe outscored the Jazz 23-21 in the fourth quarter including 13 unanswered while making a series of tough shots both in and outside of the three-point arch. While it was Kobe who stole the show and went on to score the most points in NBA history by a player in his final regular season game, the most important part of all for Bryant is that he did it in a winning effort as the Lakers prevailed, 101-96. As we've learned over the years, Bryant isn't one who takes losing lightly and that hasn't changed one bit over the course of his 20 year career.

Kobe shot 22 for 50 from the floor and became just the fourth player to ever attempt 50 field goals in a game. Say what you want about him taking the amount of shots he took, but understand that this one was for the fans who were forced to pay for tickets three and four times more than face value to sit in the nosebleeds if they wanted to see the iconic player in person one last time. Not to mention his teammates fed him the ball on just about every possession and encouraged him to shoot the ball. And even then, Kobe didn't disappoint, giving his supporters one last performance worth celebrating and putting an exclamation point on the storybook ending to the career of one of the game's all-time greats. A performance that had to have made the late Dr. Jerry Buss smile from the heavens above. Just to put his remarkable night into perspective, no Hall of Fame player had even scored 30-points in their final regular season game. Kobe who will undoubtedly join them and is a future Hall of Famer himself, scored twice that mark. It would be the sixth 60-point performance in his illustrious career and his first in over seven years.

With the future of the franchise unsure at this point moving forward, it's worth noting that a new era of Lakers basketball is on the horizon with Kobe out the door. With a chance to better their squad and help make the recovery from this rebuilding mode a bit easier heading into June's Draft, the Lakers will be in on just about every major free-agent on the market. But nailing the Draft is what's most important of all as Los Angeles will enter June's Draft with a top-three protected pick which will likely be used to select one of either LSU's Ben Simmons, Duke's Brandon Engram or Oklahoma's Buddy Heild. That's if they don't fall out of the top 3 spots or trade the pick. While Kobe's playing career comes to a close, his legacy will live on forever and his impact as a basketball icon and a global ambassador for the game will never fade. Bryant, a 5-time NBA Champion and former league MVP, is the Michael Jordan of his era and is the reason many players in the league today play the game of basketball. No one player made the game an international phenomenon quite like Bryant has and his name and number will be seen adorned L.A.'s Staples Center for many years to come as they sold a reported $1.2 Million worth of Kobe Bryant merchandise on Wednesday, a single-day record for any arena.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Kobe's Last Hurrah

The Mamba's still venomous - While we all knew this was the end of the Kobe Bryant era entering the 2015-16 season but refused to believe it, the Los Angeles Lakers guard finally put the rumors to rest three weeks ago when he held a live press conference regarding his decision to finally hang 'em up at the end of the season after 20 years in the league. Along with Kobe explaining his decision in front of a live television audience, was a poem he had written explaining that he was ready to let go of the game of basketball. After appearing to have shot himself to an early retirement with many pleading for the Mamba to call it quits in midseason, Bryant has instead responded to his critics by playing his best ball in years as of late. That's right, Kobe is finally beginning to resemble the iconic basketball player we all know and love.

In his last four games, Kobe has put up the following:

31 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists.
22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists.
22 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists.
25 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists.

Even if it is just a small sample size of the Kobe Bryant we all grew accustomed to seeing on a nightly basis, the fact remains -- it's refreshing to see one of the most celebrated players the game has ever known playing good basketball once again. Though I can truly say I didn't go as far as saying Kobe needed to reconsider his decision and retire now during his slump, I can admit that I thought Kobe had begun to resemble a man who was forcing himself thru something he can no longer do and that's taking on a rigorous 82-game season for a 20th time. But over the last four games he's proven otherwise. He's also ditched the poor shot selection that was eating away at his shooting percentage at the start of the season and has been a lot more productive in every facet while also getting others involved. As hard as it was to watch one of the game's all-time greats struggling the way he was, I wasn't ready for my all-time favorite player to walk away from the game for good. Bryant, a 17-time All-Star and 5-time NBA Champion, had this to say about his recent play, "I just feel good. my legs feel fine. I feel like me."

With the Lakers currently owning a record of 5-23, worst in the Western Conference and above only the 1-29 Philadelphia 76ers who's lone win on the season came at the hands of L.A., the last three seasons which saw Kobe plagued by different injuries, has somewhat helped us all accept this whole rebuilding stage that the Lakers and their fans aren't necessarily used to and has helped prepare us to move on towards a Kobe-less Laker team. With a good crop of young talent picked in the last two NBA Drafts in guards Jordan Clarkson, DeAngelo Russell and forward Julius Randle, L.A. is once again in good position to acquire some top talent in next year's Draft while preparing for life after Bryant. And as the season wears on and the games dwindle down, the only advice I can say to you as not only a Laker fan but an all around fan of basketball is this -- soak in as much of Kobe's final season as you can as we may never seen a talent quite like his again. Not to mention one who's played a record all 20 seasons with the same franchise. We may see another turnaround jumper and another intense first pump after a made basket, but we'll never see another hunger on the court like the one we saw when Kobe Bean Bryant was on the hardwood. 


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Tough luck Lakers lose Rookie Randle to Injury

Tuesday night marked the season-opener for the NBA as a handful of teams took the floor for the first time with one of the match-ups being the visiting Houston Rockets taking on the Los Angeles Lakers. And though the Rockets would spoil the Lakers' home-opener and the return of Kobe Bryant by handing L.A. a 108-90 loss which tied for the worst loss in a season-opener since the team moved to L.A. in 1960, it was who they lost that would be of the most concern. Before the career of the Lakers' promising young star Julius Randle could even begin, the 19-year old rookie had to be carted off the court in the fourth quarter of L.A.'s season-opener at Staples Center. Randle, the seventh overall pick out of Kentucky in June's NBA Draft, suffered a broken leg while driving to the basket and buckling at the feet on an awkward shot attempt.

Randle was rushed to a nearby hospital and underwent surgery the following day to repair a fractured tibia which will most likely cost him the rest of his rookie season. Already expected to be in rebuilding mode and predicted by very few to have a shot at making the Playoffs this season, the Lakers' road just got that much harder. After an injury plagued 2013-14 season just a year ago which caused the Lakers to witness their players combine to miss a league-high 319 games, the start to this season has not been a kind one either. Nick Young who re-signed with the Lakers during the off-season, suffered a torn ligament in his thumb during training camp and is expected to be out for at least the first 4 weeks of the season. Meanwhile, the 40-year old Steve Nash has also been ruled out for the entire 2014-15 season with reoccurring back problems which will most likely end the career of the 2-time league MVP who has been a shadow of his former self since signing with the Lakers in 2012. 

For the newly hired Byron Scott who took over the head coaching reigns in late July, the transition for him will be a difficult one now that one of his standout players that the team has such high hopes for in developing will have to watch from the sidelines. Randle's teammates rallied beside him while he waited to have an air cast put on his leg and helped lift him onto the stretcher, a scene no player or fan wants to see, much less in their first career game. Randle finished the game with 2-points (1-for-3 field goals) and was the Lakers' first 1st round pick in seven years and the earliest pick since the team drafted Hall of Famer James Worthy first overall in 1982. Coincidentally, his rookie season woul also be cut short due to a broken leg.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Lakers' Bryant shutdown 'til 2014-15 Season

Earlier today, Laker fans were given the news nobody wants to hear regarding their team's star player when news broke that Kobe Bryant's 2013-14 campaign would come to a premature end. The 16-time All-Star who missed all but six games this season for the injury-rattled Lakers while batting ailments of his own, was officially shutdown for the remainder of the season on Wednesday, a joint decision made by Bryant and team doctors. Kobe, the franchises' all-time scoring-leader who signed a 2-year, $48.5 Million extension back in November,  has been out since December 17 while nursing a fractured left knee that has healed much slower than anticipated. 

Eight months after going under the knife to repair a torn Achilles tendon suffered last April, Bryant was forced to miss the first 19 games of the season which led to the highly anticipated return that would last only six games before the Black Mamba was once again bit by the injury bug and forced back on the shelf. In the small sample size we got to see Kobe on the court, each game saw him get better than the last. After being given very little time to shake off the cobwebs, Bryant averaged 13.8 points, 6.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and a 42.5 shooing percentage, statistically the worst season of his career despite still being voted by fans into the NBA All-Star Game. Whether or not Kobe would've been game ready before the end of the regular season, a return this late in the year with the Lakers this far behind in the standings would make virtually no sense and would do more harm than good. Though it's never positive news when your star player is ruled out for the year, it could be in L.A.'s case.

With the Lakers unofficially in full on tank mode, Bryant's return at this point in the season would not only jeopardize his career in what's been a lost season but it would also hurt his team's draft stock. In what's been a historically bad season for the purple and gold who sit tied for the worst record in the Western Conference at 22-42 and will miss the playoffs for only the sixth time since 1948, the team's best bet at this point is to continue losing in hopes of improving their chances in the NBA Draft lottery. With this year's draft class regarded as the best in quite some time and expected to showcase the talent of many future star players, rebuilding from the ground up might be general manager Mitch Kupchak's best way to construct a winning team for the long haul as father time has seem to have caught up to the team's franchise player who has 18 years under his belt and will celebrate his 36th Birthday in August. 

With all eyes now on the start of the 2014-15 season as the expected timetable for Kobe's return, the questions of whether or not he can return to the All-Star caliber player he once was will begin to form. But regardless of his critics, nobodies expectations of Kobe will be as lofty as his own. 


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Tough luck for Lakers, Kobe out with injured knee

Just six games into his return from a torn Achilles tendon in his left foot suffered back in April, Kobe Bryant will once again be watching games from the sideline rather than playing in them. Basketball fans and Laker fans alike were given just a small sample size of the Kobe Bryant post-Achilles injury as his highly anticipated return which was eight months in the making, was once again put on hold due to the injury bug. On the road facing the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, Bryant went down on the count after appearing to have tweaked something in the third quarter. Though he lied there clutching his knee for a good minute or so, there didn't appear to be any major damage as Kobe was able to walk off the court under his own power and continued to play the remainder of the game as the Lakers eventually went on to win by a final of 96-92. But after experiencing soreness the following day, an MRI on Thursday revealed Kobe had in fact fractured the lateral tibia plateau in his left knee. 

The injury comes just three weeks after the Lakers signed their superstar player and all-time franchise scoring-leader to a two-year, $48.5 Million extension. A deal that might end up hurting the team more than it helps. In the limited time Kobe played on the court before once again having to trade his Lakers uniform for a pair of crutches, he managed to score at least 20-points in three of the six games he starred in and logged a 13-assist performance in another. Though Kobe's presence will be missed, his injury is just the latest name added to the laundry list of players the Lakers have seen miss time this season. At the moment, coach Mike D'Antoni will have to make due with a depleted lineup as Bryant joins Steve Blake, Steve Nash and Jordan Farmar on the sideline. Upon his return, Kobe was being looked at as the saving grace, being able to move from shooting-guard to point-guard but his absence forced general manager Mitch Kupchak to seek an alternative as the team signed free-agent Kendall Marshall. The former first round pick out of North Carolina in last year's NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Marshall was most recently waived by the Washington Wizards and has yet to produce anywhere near the numbers he put up while with the Tar Heels.

In the handful of minutes we got to see Bryant play this season, he showed flashes of his old self as he got his feet back more and more after each game. But in no way did we see the explosiveness as to be expected given the repercussions of his Achilles injury. One department Kobe's absence will benefit the team in, however, is in the Draft lottery. With the Lakers franchise in desperate need of rebuilding from the ground up, the 6 to 8 weeks Kobe is out for should help the team further solidify themselves in the lottery sweepstakes.

I'm one of the biggest Kobe supporters you'll meet but what he did on November 25 by signing his two-year contract-extension for $48.5 Million set me back a bit. In no way am I hating on the man for taking money, but I am a bit surprised given how much Bryant says he wants that sixth ring to add to his legacy. Taking up $24 Million a year in payroll at the age of 35 does little to help his team's case in pursuit of NBA Championship no. 17. Compare Kobe's deal to that of the aging Tim Duncan who in 2012 went from making $23 Million the year before to $9.7 Million a year, a deal which helped the franchise sign pieces to surround Duncan with and helped them get to the NBA Finals this past June. It appears Kobe's latest contract is more of a 'thank you' from Lakers owner Jim Buss for what he's done in the past rather than what Kobe can accomplish in the next two seasons. Maybe it was just wishful thinking when I thought Kobe would take a page out of Tom Brady's book by taking a pay-cut to help his team.

As for any doubt we had in the past on whether or not Kobe's last seasons would be in the purple and gold, the contract-extension means Kobe will be a Laker for life. After it's all said and done, Kobe will have been with the team for 20 years, one year longer than John Stockton was with the Utah Jazz, the longest tenured player in NBA history with one franchise. The fact of the matter is Kobe's hunger for greatness is unparalleled and nothing will prevent him from playing these final two plus seasons unless he's got to be carried away from the game for good. With all that said, get well, Mamba, and take your time recovering.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest 

Howard Ditches Hollywood for H-Town

No more sleeping with the lights on and hiding under your covers, the "Dwightmare" is over. After days of weighing his options, NBA All-Star center Dwight Howard has made his decision on where he'll be taking his talents for the upcoming 2013-2014 NBA season and beyond -- Houston, as the signing was made official on Wednesday. Hoping to make basketball in Houston as synonymous with the city as codeine syrup and screwed and chopped music, Howard plans to bring the franchise its first championship since the team won back-to-back titles in 1994-95 with another dominant big man in Hakeem Olajuwon. And though he didn't make his decision on national television like LeBron James did a few season's back which rubbed people the wrong way, he still made a lot of people unhappy. However, there won't be any need for lighter fluid and matches to burn jersey's like we saw when LeBron made his often criticized decision to leave his home state of Ohio for the sandy beaches of Miami, mainly because Howard's departure didn't take everyone by surprise quite like LeBron's.

Even after Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak finalized the deal that was several years in the making to finally land the best big man in the league last offseason, we were all aware of the possibility of Howard being a one-year rent-a-player. What we didn't know, however, was just how mightily a Lakers squad which featured Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Howard would struggle. While injuries were partially to blame for their early elimination in the playoffs, falling to the eventual Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs in a four-game sweep, the Lakers' star-studded cast had a hard time gelling even when healthy which had to have made Dwight's decision to walk a bit easier. Not to mention Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni's system which Dwight felt he was unfit for, whom he asked the Lakers to fire in November in favor of Phil Jackson. Having suffered from a torn labrum and coming off of back surgery in his lone season with the purple and gold, Howard received plenty of criticism from Los Angeles' media circus while getting little support from teammates Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant who he told during negotiations before making his decision, he was upset with after they failed to come to his aid and stick up for him.

Further spoiling the relationship between Howard and the Lakers organization was when Howard publicly said he, "never really felt embraced in L.A." But all things considered, even that would make it difficult to walk away from the extra $30 Million dollars that only the Lakers could offer him. Though it's become a rarity in sports these days, Howard's decision to ditch Tinseltown to play for a much younger Rockets franchise in a small market is proof that money isn't everything. Also left on the table along with $30 Million dollars is the torch to the Laker team that Kobe planned to hand down once he retires in the next few years. With big men being the foundation that paved the way to a number of NBA titles from Laker greats George Mikan to Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaquille O'Neal and so on, Howard walked away from the thought of becoming the latest big man to write his own chapter in Laker lore. If there's one thing Laker fans did learn about the failed experiment that brought the 27-year old Howard to L.A., it was that playing under the brightest of lights in Hollywood were just too much for him to handle and that the real Superman was indeed Shaq.

Where the Lakers go from here is anyone's guess. Though not signing Howard adds to the money Mitch Kupchak and company will save from an already hefty fee from the league's luxury-tax, it also opens the door even wider for the Lakers to go after not one, but two superstar talents via free-agency next off-season in a free-agent class that will most likely feature such star-studded names as LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony among others. As for the Rockets who landed arguably the most coveted free-agent player of the off-season alongside All-Star point-guard Chris Paul who announced earlier this week that he'll be re-signing with the Los Angeles Clippers, Howard joins a young squad led by the rising Chandler Parsons and the bearded James Harden who reached super stardom after leaving Oklahoma City last season. And with head coach Kevin McHale at the helm who knows a thing or two about playing inside the post and figures to utilize Howard to his full potential. Something Howard felt coach Mike D'Antoni failed to do in L.A.

Before making his decision and choosing Houston as his destination, Howard's list of suitors included the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors, all of whom he eliminated before eventually choosing between the Lakers and the Rockets. A choice he described as, "tough" before saying he made his decision solely on winning a title and not the money. And though Kobe Bryant took to his Twitter account to wish Dwight Howard the best with his new team after un-following him from the social networking site, we all know deep down that he doesn't mean it. Similar to when a man says he wishes his ex the best when she's in a relationship, it's all a lie. Even with Howard in the mix, I still have a hard time placing the Rockets ahead of the Spurs, Thunder, Warriors and Clippers in the Western Conference power rankings.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

A Not so Hollywood Ending

While the NBA season is still in full swing for those teams still battling it out in the playoffs, the biggest storyline coming into the year has already reached an early climax. Entering the 2012-2013 NBA season, expectations were at an all-time high for the Los Angeles Lakers who added future Hall of Fame players Steve Nash and Dwight Howard to a roster that already included All-Stars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. On paper the team seemed virtually unstoppable and had the potential to be one of the greatest squads ever put together in Laker land. Little did they know that everything that could go wrong would. With injuries plaguing the team all season long, it was their defense that was often criticized. 

Entering the final month of the NBA schedule, the Lakers found themselves in and out of the playoff picture leading to a playoff promise by their team captain Kobe Bryant. And though the Lakers would deliver on Kobe's guarantee on the final day of the regular season by defeating the Houston Rockets in an overtime thriller to lock up the No. 7 seed, the man himself was unable to help his team reach their ultimate goal in the NBA Finals as L.A. was swept in the first round for only the second time in franchise history by the San Antonio Spurs. But to say the Lakers were short-handed would be an understatement. Nash, Gasol and Howard all missed games due to injury and were joined by teammates Jordan Hill, Metta World Peace, Jodie Meeks, Antawn Jamison and Steve Blake as those who fell victim to the injury bug. But what happened to Kobe Bryant seemed almost unreal. 

For many fans of the Lakers and basketball alike, Kobe has virtually evolved into this superhero-like character that nobody thought was capable of falling to an injury of this magnitude. The moment Kobe went down with a torn Achilles tendon, it seemed as their championship hopes were destined to soon follow. And while many were quick to point the finger at Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni as the reason Kobe had played more than 40+ minutes for seven consecutive games, D'Antoni deserves as much blame as I do. Kobe and his teammates know that had they played more consistently all season long and not just won games down the stretch with their backs against the wall, Bryant wouldn't have needed to play so many minutes that late in the season in hopes of securing a playoff position. Besides, Kobe's been around long enough to demand some time on the bench to catch his breath if need be. 

Now that the nightmare that was the Lakers' 2012-2013 season is over as Dwight Howard described it, the three biggest questions and concerns entering next year are as followed:

1. Is Dwight Howard the future of the Lakers franchise and will they re-sign him? 

The Lakers made it no surprise that they've wanted to add Dwight Howard to their team for years and last offseason they finally got their wish. And though his first campaign with the purple & gold didn't end the way Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak had in mind, it's unlikely Howard was at full strength at any time this year while recovering from back surgery during the offseason. It's also important to look at what's available at center and what other options the Lakers can go with. When at 100% Dwight Howard is the best center in all of basketball. When limited as he was this year, he's still in the top 3. And though Howard's first impression in L.A. wasn't a very good one, the Lakers can offer him a max contract of $118 Million over 5 years where as he can make a max of just $87.6 Million if he were to sign elsewhere. While Dallas, Houston and Atlanta are all rumored to be interested in his services, who in their right mind would leave $30 Million on the table to play for another team? Neither of the mentioned teams have a brighter future with their current roster than the Lakers do with Houston maybe being the only exception. 

2. Is Mike D'Antoni the man for the job? 

With every Laker fan in the world including me going to say no in favor of bringing back Phil Jackson, it appears as if that ship has sailed for good. The Lakers had their chance to bring in Phil for a third stint as head coach before the hiring of D'Antoni and decided to move on. After signing D'Antoni to a 3-year, $12 Million deal in November, it's unlikely the team will cut ties with him a year into his contract. Then again, that's exactly what they did with the man D'Antoni replaced in Mike Brown who was relieved of his duties just a year and 5 games into his 4-year deal signed in 2011. And considering he took over a team trying to find its identity as well as plug in two All-Star players in Dwight Howard and Steve Nash who struggled to get on the same page offensively as Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, he deserves a full year at the helm to try and right this ship. 

3. Have we seen the end of the Kobe Bryant era in L.A.?

The answer to this question relies more so on the decision of the Lakers' front-office than it does on Kobe. We all know Kobe is as hard headed and stubborn as they come and no player in the league wants to win another title more than Bryant does. The question is, what is he willing to sacrifice in order to get that sixth ring? While the possibility of the Lakers amnestying Kobe has been a popular topic of discussion this season, the smartest thing to do would be for Kobe to take a pay-cut. Maybe I'm reaching when I say this but what better way to help your team add talent in hopes of winning a title than to show you're a team player by taking less money. But say there is no pay-cut, Bryant who will be 35 years old at the start of next season and most likely won't be cleared to play until mid-season, is scheduled to make $30.5 Million in salary next year. That total could climb to $80 Million for the Lakers franchise after factoring in the luxury tax. But as smart of a move as that sounds, it's hard to think a premiere franchise with such class as the Lakers would let a 17-year run which saw 5 championship banners get raised go down the drain with arguably the greatest player to ever don a Laker uniform. Not to mention how big a blow the franchise would endure in the PR department. So if you asked me, I'd say no. The Kobe era in Tinseltown is not over and the Black Mamba will be that much hungrier to prove the critics wrong and add another title to his resume.



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Will Lakers deliver on Kobe's big promise?

With less than two months remaining on the NBA's regular season schedule, the Los Angeles Lakers who entered the 2012-13 season as the consensus favorites to win it all this year or at the very least compete for a 17th NBA title are on the brink of failing to make the playoffs. Currently sitting at 28-30, coach Mike D'Antoni's Lakers trail the 8th seeded Houston Rockets by 2.5 games in the Western Conference standings. Having played inconsistent ball all season long, it wasn't until just recently that the Lakers who's roster consists of two former MVP's in Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant and the best center in the league in Dwight Howard began playing like it. And not to be forgotten is All-Star Pau Gasol who's on the shelf with a foot injury.

In need of some inspiration, the Lakers got plenty of just that on Monday after learning that longtime owner Jerry Buss had passed away at the age of 80. In their first game following the All-Star break, the Lakers played host to the hated Boston Celtics. With emotions running high, Kobe Bryant and company payed homage to their late owner of 30+ years by defeating the rival Celtics who Dr. Buss said he bought the Lakers some 34 years ago to beat, 113-99. Following the win, Kobe would go on to make a guarantee that the Lakers would in fact make the playoffs and will fear no team in their way. Though over time we've learned to believe anything and everything the Black Mamba tells us, his most recent promise is one that won't be a cake walk to fulfill as half of the Lakers' remaining schedule will be games on the road (12-of-24) as well as games versus teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today.

Their emotional win in honor of Jerry Buss versus the Celtics appeared to be the shot in the arm that Dwight Howard and company desperately needed as the Lakers went on to win their next two games against the Portland Trailblazers and on the road versus the Dallas Mavericks before witnessing their three game winning-streak hit a skid at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. While they've played better ball as of late winning 11 of 15 games since January 25 entering Monday's meeting at Denver, a streak bested by only the Heat and Spurs during that stretch, the Lakers will need to treat every game from here on out with a win or go home mentality and play with that same hunger that they played with against the Celtics. And with their final game of the season at home against the Houston Rockets we could be in store for some late-season drama down the stretch.


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USA Men's Basketball & The Great Debate

Earlier this month while practicing in anticipation of this year's Summer Olympics in London, England, USA Men's Basketball team captain Kobe Bryant opened up a can of worms by saying the 2012 squad could take the 1992 Dream Team. "It would be a tough one but I think we could pull it off," Kobe told reporters in Las Vegas just days before the team took the court against the Dominican Republic. Those comments came much to the dismay of Michael Jordan and his former teammates who didn't hesitate to fire back with comments of their own.

While Jordan questioned Kobe's intelligence by saying, "For Bryant to compare those two teams is not one of the smarter things he ever could have done," it was Charles Bakley who really put the stake in the heart of Team USA by stating other than Kobe, LeBron, and Durant, the rest of the team wouldn't even make the '92 squad. And while I would make a case for Chris Paul who's already been touted as one of the greatest point-guards of all-time, I'd agree with Sir Charles. Regardless of whether or not Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were already past their prime when the two joined forces to bring home a gold medal in the summer of '92, the depth and size of the Dream Team would eat this 2012 team alive in the paint. The trio of Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and David Robinson would out-rebound this current squad and punk Tyson Chandler for his lunch money while Patrick Ewing filmed it. Insert a healthy Dwight Howard into the lineup, however, and this team might stand a chance in the rebound department.

With the Olympics yet to begin, Kobe's comments may have come a bit prematurely as it would take only two games for them to prove this 2012 team is no Dream Team. After winning easily against a John Calipari coached Dominican club by a final of 113-59, they'd have a close call against the Brazilians who almost made it a single-digit loss before eventually falling 80-69. After getting back on track with a 118-78 romp of an inexperienced Great Britain team, the Americans would have another scare, this time against Argentina with the U.S. escaping with only a six-point victory (86-80). Finishing their exhibition schedule against Spain who's ranked #2 in the world only behind the United States and is expected to be the toughest opponent coach K's squad will be up against this summer, Kobe Bryant and co. would have little trouble against his Laker teammate Pau Gasol who witnessed the Americans finish a perfect 5-0 after their 100-78 victory over the Spaniards despite playing on Spain's home turf.

It's no secret that the Dream Team which consisted of 11 Hall of Famers routed their opponents by an unheard of average of 44-points, but the competition back then wasn't as talented as it is now with the exception of a few countries. To the defense of Kobe, since 1992, the rest of the world has only improved on the game of basketball. Not to say the Dream Team wouldn't have won gold with ease in his day and age, but teams would have been a little bit more competitive. Something the Dream Team can't argue as the sport was basically looked upon as extraterrestrial outside of the U.S., as much of the world was still new to the game of basketball. Even Kobe said of team USA's competition, "Look, they are just as competitive as we are, they want to win, they believe that they can win - which is different from '92."

Having earned the distinction of arguably the greatest team ever assembled in the history of sports, MJ and the boys of the '92 squad in Barcelona have reason to be upset. But unless someone hires the dude who put the Tupac hologram together which performed during April's Coachella Music Festival, we'll never hear the end of it and will never truly see how a game played between the two teams would play out. One thing that's certain, however, is that all eyes will be on the Americans. Never has the pressure for a U.S. Men's Basketball team to bring home the gold been this high after Kobe's asinine comments. Hey Kobe, you're my boy and all, but lets see how this team fares during Olympic play before we begin comparing teams to the greatest of all-time, shall we?

Kobe, LeBron, Durant and the rest of the 2012 U.S. Men' Basketball squad will begin their quest for the gold medal on Sunday July 29 against San Antonio's Tony Parker and team France which can be seen on NBC.

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Lakers fill Point-Guard void with veteran Nash

With the Lakers' Ramon Sessions fleeing Los Angeles by deciding not to exercise his $4.5 Million player option for the 2012 season in hopes of signing a more lucrative contract elsewhere, the Lakers were left on the outside looking in at the point-guard position with the exception of Steve Blake. Refusing to lose sleep over the matter, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak wasted little time to work his magic as the franchise has appeared to have now found their man as long-time rivals Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant will now join forces in Tinseltown.

Having  faced one another for well over a decade now in the Western Conference since both being drafted in the first round of the 1996 NBA Draft, there's very few players currently in the league who've become as well acquainted with one another than Bryant and Nash. And until this past Wednesday, fans would have to wait until the All-Star Game to see Kobe and Nash playing alongside one another. That is no longer the case as the Lakers have agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with the Phoenix Suns which will send Steve Nash to L.A. where he'll ink a three-year deal worth an estimated $27 Million in exchange for first round picks in the 2013 and 2015 Draft as well as second round picks in 2013 and 2014. Though the addition of Nash makes the Lakers look that much older on paper and fails to fit the ideal description of head coach Mike Brown's defensive-minded ball club, he brings with him a dribbling and passing ability that hasn't been seen in L.A. in decades. He's also pretty good at shooting. Not since the Showtime Lakers which featured a backcourt ran by a guy named Ervin Magic Johnson have the Lake Show had a point-guard of this magnitude.

Many skeptics have already begun to question if Kobe and Nash can co-exist and believe the two sharing the floor on the same squad won't necessarily work. They're wrong and here's why; Not in the history of his tenure with the Lakers (16 seasons) has Kobe had a point-guard capable of distributing the ball, not to mention draw attention and run the offense quite like Nash can. With Bryant aware now more than ever that he can no longer put the team on his back and carry them to another NBA title, he'll do everything it takes to get that sixth ring. Even if that means handing over the keys to the offense to a 38-year old guy that has made 8 All-Star teams and has won 2-NBA MVP Awards. If the Lakers had acquired any other 38-year old I would've opposed, but Steve Nash has proven that he still has enough juice left in the tank to fill L.A.'s point-guard needs as he still managed to average 12.5 points and 10.7 assists per game last year which ranked second in the league despite being among the oldest active players in the game today.

With the roster the Lakers currently have, Nash will have plenty of options to dish to on offense with both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in the post. And while the deal gives Laker fans something they've been without for far too long -- a legit point-guard, what it doesn't give them, however, is the right to be dubbed the team to beat in the Western Conference. At least not until they can prove that they can go toe to toe with a much quicker and younger Oklahoma City Thunder squad that will remain the consensus favorite to represent the Western Conference in next year's NBA Finals, something they'll be even hungrier for this time around having now tasted defeat. That could all change, however, if the Lakers are able to finally land Orlando's Dwight Howard who they've flirted with on numerous occasions and are once again surfacing in the trade-o-sphere as a possible destination. 

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Lin continues to roll, Adds Lakers to his List of Victims

Heading into Friday night's match-up at Madison Square Garden between the Los Angeles Lakers who are coming off an overtime victory in Boston against the rival Celtics and the New York Knicks who've been riding a three-game winning-streak without two of their key components on offense, the headlines weren't about Kobe Bryant who lit up the Garden for 61-points a few seasons ago, but rather an unlikely hero by the name of Jeremy Lin. Throughout his career, Kobe has averaged 30.5 PPG at New York's famed Madison Square Garden, but not even that was enough to steal the spotlight from Knicks guard Jeremy Lin who since the absence of Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, has shined at his brightest in the starting lineup.

Lin, who was on the verge of being cut by the Knicks just a week ago, entered the game with 76-points during New York's three-game winning-streak by logging 25, 28 and 23 points in consecutive performances, matching his total of 76-points scored all of last season while a member of the Golden State Warriors. Prior to their duel on Friday evening, Kobe said he had barely heard of the guy when being asked by reporters what his thoughts on Lin were and said he was unaware of what he had been doing as of late. Kobe would become quite familiar with the craze better known as "Linsanity" before nights end. In his third year out of Harvard, Lin would add to that mark by logging a career-high 38-points over Kobe's 34 to lead the Knicks against the Lakers en route to a 92-85 victory.

It wasn't even a week ago when the New York Giants brought the Big Apple their second Super Bowl victory in four years, but even that appears to already be an afterthought in New York with the recent uprising of Lin. And speaking of football, I think it's safe to say Jeremy Lin is the basketball equivalent of Tim Tebow in the sense that neither were given much of a chance at the professional level or were expected to make much of a difference at first and since being promoted to the starting roster, both have become x-factors for their respective teams. The question is, will "Linsanity" continue or will the recent love craze fade into blackness and come to an early halt much like Tebow Mania did? The answer could very well live within his own team depending on whether or not Carmelo Anthony and Lin can coexist or will Melo's return decrease Lin's roll drastically?

Personally, I think Melo who's currently out with a groin injury and the Knicks would benefit a lot more if Melo allows Lin to play the roll of dictator. Another key factor which could very well play a roll in Lin's production is what coach Mike D'Antoni has planned for former All-Star Baron Davis who was signed by the team in December, but has been on the shelf with back and elbow problems up to this point. Davis is expected to return to the court in the next week or so, but it's uncertain as to what impact he'd have on Lin's roll if any.

Kobe Leaps Shaq on All-time Scoring-list

For eight seasons, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal served as one of the best tandems the NBA has ever seen, winning three consecutive rings while with the Lakers from 1996 until 2004 when Shaq was eventually dealt from Los Angeles to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster trade following a fallout between the two stars. Since then, Bryant has become the key cog of the Lakers and has led the team to three Finals appearances and two championships including back-to-back titles in 2009-2010. And though his team has taken a bit of a step back since their successful run in 2010 after being swept in the Western Conference Semifinals last season by the eventual NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks, which then led to the retirement of head coach Phil Jackson, Kobe has still shined at the age of 33 and has continued to prove why he's one of the best to ever step foot on the hardwood and that his uncanny will to win remains just as vivid now as it's ever been.

Earlier tonight, Kobe passed his teammate of eight seasons for sole possession of the no. 5 spot on the NBA's all-time scoring-list by dropping 28-points in a losing effort to the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite losing the game by a final score of 95-90 on the road where the Lakers have struggled so far this season, dropping 9 of their first 12 games away from Staples Center in L.A., it was fitting that Bryant moved up the latter of the NBA's all-time scoring-list in his hometown of Philadelphia against a 76ers franchise that his father Joe "Jellybean" Bryant once upon a time played for in the 70's. In the midst of the boo's that showered down on Kobe by the Philly faithful following his feat, the several thousand or so Laker fans in attendance gave Bryant a standing ovation while hugging longtime teammate Derek Fisher after hitting a long-range jump-shot which helped him eclipse O'Neal's mark of 28,596 career points.

Following his accomplishment and passing of O'Neal, Shaq sent Kobe a message in which he congratulated him on becoming the NBA's fifth all-time leading scorer as well the greatest Laker ever. Shaq also gave thanks to Kobe for the eight seasons they shared as teammates, calling them "the best eight years of my life," contrary to what many believed was a rocky relationship. Even in the latter part of his career now in his 30's, Kobe who has a 48-point game under his belt this season, currently leads the league in scoring with an average of 29.4 PPG and trails only Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in career points. While being asked what his thoughts were on joining the elite company of some of the game's all-time greats, Kobe said it was an understatement to call it a huge honor. But it was the comments he made later that really let us know what he had on his mind: "I'm not asking for much, man. Just give me a sixth ring, damn it."

Just another day at the Office

Back-to-back 40-point performances for any player is nuts, but for someone to achieve that at the age of 33 in his 16th season with torn ligaments in his wrist is just unheard of. That's something Kobe Bryant can now add to his resume and is something no other player at that age can say they've accomplished. Off to one of the best starts of his career production-wise this season despite an ailing wrist that requires cortisone shots before and after games, the one they call the "Black Mamba" has proven time and time again that age is just a number. Though Kobe has encountered his struggles behind the arc as well as at the free-throw line, he's managed to utilize and rely on his jump-shot that has made him among the most dominant shooters in the game today.

Coming into Tuesday's Lakers-Suns game in Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant entered the contest with the most 40-point games among active players with 107. He would add to that mark by dropping a season-high 48-points in a winning effort against Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. One night after becoming the oldest player in NBA history to log 48-points in a game, Kobe followed up his stellar performance with another 40-point outburst, this time on the road against the Utah Jazz in a 90-87 Overtime thriller in which the Lakers won. With the back-to-back 40-point performances in as many days, Kobe has now reached the 40-point mark in 109 games, ranking him third on the all-time list behind only Michael Jordan (173) and Wilt Chamberlain (271). Kobe's red hot streak as of late has also helped his stats quite a bit as he now leads the league in scoring by averaging 30.5 points per game, edging out Miami's LeBron James (29.0 PPG).

Say what you must whether you're a fan of his or not, but Kobe has continued to prove that he is still the most talented player in the league with Derrick Rose, LeBron James and Kevin Durant among others all waiting for him to pass the torch. See if Kobe can make it three 40-point performances in a row when he and the Lakers host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Opening week a hard task for Lakers

As if the Los Angeles Lakers didn't already have enough question marks heading into the 2011-12 NBA season following the retirement of long time head coach Phil Jackson, the team will get set to hit the hardwood for a Christmas showdown tomorrow afternoon against the Chicago Bulls with more concerns than ever. Following a strike shortened pre-season which saw the Lakers get beat, bullied and downright out played against their L.A. rivals -- the Los Angeles Clippers, the 16-time World Champion Los Angeles Lakers will head into the season not being dubbed favorites to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals this year for more reasons than one. Though the most obvious remains just how well the team will do without the zen master for the first time since the 2004-05 season, replacing him with the newly hired Mike Brown at the helm, there could be bigger concerns outside of the head coaching position.

One of the main reasons the Lakers have seen success the last few years, making three consecutive trips to the NBA Finals before falling short last year, is that they've caused numerous problems for the opposition due to their size. Having three 7-footers in Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, the Lakers have had one of the more formidable lineups in the entire league since 2008. That lineup was dealt a blow several weeks ago, however, when Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak traded Odom to the reigning World Champion Dallas Mavericks following a collapsed blockbuster trade that would've sent Chris Paul to the Lakers. Odom was dealt after being angered with the Lakers front-office about being included in the trade for Paul which eventually led to a trade request that Kupchak soon granted. Since Odom's departure, the Lakers have welcomed a new cast of players with the signings of Troy Murphy, Josh McRoberts, Gerald Green and Malcolm Thomas, joining Jason Kapono, Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock as the teams newest members, but none of L.A.'s latest acquisitions are expected to impact the team quite like Odom did who was named Sixth Man of the Year for the first time in his career last season.

One of the few bright spots for the Lakers during their two preseason games against Blake Griffin and the Clippers has been the stellar play by center Andrew Bynum who finished with a combined 41 points and 23 rebounds. And while the 24 year old is coming into the season looking better than ever, unfortunately for L.A. he won't be able to contribute on the court during the regular season until the team's fifth game because of a suspension issued out by the league following a flagrant foul on Dallas' J.J. Barea during game 4 of the Western Conference semi-finals. The Lakers' woes continue with the recent news of Kobe Bryant's torn ligament which was suffered in the first preseason game against the Clippers on Monday. While driving to the basket, Bryant was met by Clippers center DeAndre Jordan who blocked the shot, causing Kobe to lose his balance and land on his right wrist.

Kobe finished the game, but sat out of Wednesday's preseason finale and was seen on the Lakers bench supporting the team wearing a cast. Though most injuries of this magnitude require several weeks to heal, Kobe has expressed that he intends to tough it out and play through the injury, something the former MVP has done a lot of throughout his career. For Kobe, the most frustrating part about the injury has to be that it was sustained after an off-season in which he was injury-free which has been rare for the 33 year old veteran who's got a lot of tread on his tires. If Bryant was to sit out and let his wrist heal, his absence would be detrimental to the team granted the lockout shortened season demands less days in between games. More games with less rest could also play a factor and could be a huge test to an aging squad like L.A.'s. And although I don't believe it has the slightest bit of significance regarding the way he'll perform on the court, Kobe's wife Vanessa recently filed for divorce, adding to the already lengthy list of distractions that comes with playing in Tinseltown.

Something else that deserves mention is whether or not the Lakers should continue to pursue another marquee player once the season begins. While Dwight Howard's name has been the most popular when discussing trade possibilities, another name that's been brought up is Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks. With all of these questions surrounding the Lakers, one question that will be answered several weeks into the year will be whether or not they can run up and down the court and compete with other young squads within the conference such as the Thunder, Grizzlies and Clippers with the talent they've got right now. One thing that's certain is that the first week of the NBA schedule won't be the walk in the park Lakers fans have grown accustomed to in years passed.


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How Kobe Plans To Steal Christmas

Kobe to wear Grinch inspired sneakers on Christmas - For years now, we've grown accustomed to watching Kobe Bryant and the Lakers showcase both their talents and their special edition sneakers on live television for Christmas. Watching one of the most anticipated match-ups the NBA has to offer has become just as significant as opening presents on December 25th. However, one thing that we've been yet to see during the holiday extravaganza, is a shoe that garners as much attention as the game itself. Not only will we finally get to see one of the highest regarded regular season games in quite some years as the Lakers host the Heat, but we'll also get to see some of the more flashy footwork to step foot on the hardwood.

Making its debut this Christmas, is the newest installment of the Zoom Kobe sneaker that Team Nike and Bryant put together for this very occasion. While most basketball sneakers nowadays follow the color scheme of their team uniforms, Kobe's latest choice of footwear is definitely out of the ordinary, breaking all rules. Last Christmas we saw the debut of the "Chaos" Zoom Kobe V which had little to no comparison to the holiday. This year, #24 takes a much more appropriate approach to the holiday spirit. Behold, the Nike Zoom Kobe VI "Christmas" edition:

Serving as the inspiration behind these yet to be released sneakers, is one of my personal childhood favorites -- Dr. Suess' 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas'. Given the Lakers' uniform colors consist of white, purple, and gold, the vibrant color of electric green throughout will be sure to catch your eye. Unfortunately for those of you hoping to land these joints just in time for the holiday, will have to wait 'til the 26th when they're expected to hit selected Nike retailers. The good news for all you sneakerheads and basketball enthusiasts is you won't have any trouble trying to figure what to spend all that leftover Christmas money on. Look for Kobe to sport these bad boys as he and the Lakers hope to redeem themselves after the 102-87 blowout loss L.A. endured to the Cleveland Cavaliers last Christmas.

Keep Your Friends Close & Your Enemies Closer

After losing such players as PG Jordan Farmar (New Jersey Nets) and C Josh Powell (Atlanta Hawks) to free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired a few names they hope will help contribute to a third straight NBA tittle. Filling the void of the 6 foot 9 inch Josh Powell, is veteran power forward/center Theo Ratliff. Although Ratliff is 10-years older than his predecessor Powell, he adds a shot-blocking ability that hasn't been seen in L.A. since Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004. Throughout his 15-year NBA career, Ratliff has led the league in blocks per game three times and is fifth among active players in total blocks. Not as well known for his offense as he is his defense, Ratliff was an All-Star in 2001, a year he split time with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks. Among other career highlights, Ratliff has made the All-Defensive Second Team twice in his career (1999 and 2004).

The other notable signing the Lakers have made this offseason, is one that may raise a few eyebrows. Having been a thorn in the side of Kobe Bryant this past season was Matt Barnes. While with the Orlando Magic last year, Barnes and Bryant had numerous incidents and often had to be separated. One moment that sticks out more than the rest, is when Barnes faked a toss to Kobe's head trying to get him to flinch. Bryant however, didn't budge and words were exchanged. That will no longer have to be the case as Barnes and the Lakers agreed to a 2-year deal worth $3.6 Million dollars. While opting out of his final year of 2-year deal he had signed with Orlando last offseason, the 30 year old Barnes was in search of a new place to play. That was until none other than Kobe Bryant reached out to him. And believe it or not, according to Barnes, Kobe played a big part in the recruiting effort via text, phone, and face to face within management.

Kobe said about the signing, "Anyone crazy enough to mess with me is crazy enough to play with me." Upon inking his new deal, Barnes thanked Kobe via Twitter -- "Good lookin out Kobe!" The signing of Barnes comes nine days after Kobe tried recruiting another one of his on-court rivals -- Raja Bell, who instead signed a 3-year contract with the Utah Jazz. Just a year ago the Lakers did the unthinkable by signing free-agent Ron Artest to a 5-year deal. Months prior to the agreement, Kobe and Artest had a beef in the Western Conference Semifinals, similar to that of Kobe and Barnes. And if it wasn't for Kobe and Artest who proved me wrong this past season, I'd say there's no way Kobe and Barnes can coexist and play alongside one another. The lesson learned here -- keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Barnes, a UCLA product and Southern California native who was drafted in the 2nd Round, 46th overall in 2002 by the Memphis Grizzlies, grew up rooting for the then Magic Johnson led Lakers which was dubbed the moniker 'Show Time'. Barnes has averaged 7 PPG throughout his career and will serve off the bench as a threat behind the 3-point arch. For what it's worth, Barnes becomes the first player in NBA history to play for all four California based NBA teams. The Los Angeles Clippers (2004), Sacramento Kings (2004-2005), Golden State Warriors (2006-2008), and now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

We Are The Champions...Again!

Sweet Sweet Revenge - After losing to the arch rival Boston Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals, it seemed as if Kobe Bryant was never going to get over the hump of winning a tittle without former teammate Shaquille O'Neal. But just one year later, the 2008 MVP would have another chance to rise from the shadows of his 7-foot companion as the Lakers went on to defeat the Orlando Magic in 5-games. The tittle would be Kobe's 4th overall and Lakers head coach Phil Jackson's 10th, surpassing Boston's Red Auerbach who donned nine rings. However, both Bryant and Jackson would prove to be unsatisfied with their resumes as they eyed yet another tittle. After making it to the NBA Finals for the third straight season by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns, only one team stood in their way -- The Boston Celtics.

With both teams set to add another chapter to the long history of the greatest rivalry in NBA history, the Lakers had one thing on their mind -- revenge. This time around opposed to the 6-game series Boston would eventually win in '08, the Lakers were the ones with home court advantage. But after splitting the first two games at the Staples Center thanks to a record setting performance by Ray Allen who set an All-Time mark for the most three-pointers made in an NBA Finals game with 8 surpassing the previous mark (7) shared by Kenny 'The Jet' Smith and Scottie Pippen, 2010 was beginning to look a lot like 2008 with three straight games set to be played at the TD Garden. But a big contribution from veteran point-guard Derek Fisher in game 3 would help L.A. steal back home-court advantage and give the Lakers a 2-1 lead.

The results of games 4 and 5 would end similar to one another as Boston came out on top by 7-points in game 4 and 6-points in game 5, despite a 38-point clinic put on by Bryant. With a trip back to L.A., the Lakers were in a do or die situation and were in need of a win to survive and force a game 7. With their backs against the wall, L.A. played their best defense of the series by allowing only 67-points in a blowout 22-point victory. Prior to game 7, it was learned that Boston would be without their starting center - Kendrick Perkins who left game 6 due to a torn PCL & MCL after leaping for a rebound and landing awkwardly. With Perkins sidelined, Celtics coach Doc Rivers had to fill the void and decided to go with veteran Rasheed Wallace due to his more lengthy playoff experience.

Out the gates, the Lakers found themselves trailing early and were down by as many as 13 after halftime. Kobe shot poorly from the field throughout most of the game which didn't seem to help much, and the rest of the Lakers couldn't hit free-throws to save their life. But Pao Gasol and Ron Artest who knocked down the biggest 3-pointer of his life, would steal the show and come up big when needed most. With some crucial free-throws coming late from Bryant and Sasha Vujacic, the Lakers overcame the deficit and held off the Celtics by a final score of 83-79. Bryant was named Finals MVP for the second consecutive season and hoisted his fifth NBA tittle, as did teammate Derek Fisher. For the Lakers franchise, the NBA Championship was the team's 16th overall and 5th in 11 seasons.

Although the 7 game series couldn't have made for a better story book ending for us Laker fans, it couldn't have worked out any better for ABC either as T.V. ratings sky rocketed through the roof. With the help of our international friends, this year's NBA Finals generated more viewers than ever before. The series was broadcast around the world in 215 countries and territories and translated in 41 different languages. But with the celebration of the victory came more rioting amongst the troublemakers in L.A. Then again, what more can you expect from the Laker faithful? Even though I'm a die hard Lakers fan, one thing I can never do is compare myself to the rest of the pack, as most Laker fans are known for being ignorant and extremely biased. As for the parade that took place a few days after the ruckus that filled the streets of Southern California, I was in attendance and took a few photos of my own that I will post later on along with my trip to Cali.