EPISODE 8

Does it really matter?
So everyone is talking about who's better, Kobe or Lebron, the Black Mamba or King James. Even I spoke on this in some of my previous blogs. But you know what? Who cares. Whoever you believe is better, the gap between them, is slimmer than one of Reggie Miller's biceps. Both guys were unbelievable over the past few days. If you haven't seen the Lebron James shot I wonder what planet you've been on and you should be ashamed to call yourself a basketball fan. What Kobe Brant did last night was simply sheer will. Not ashamed to say that I've seen this all before from Kobe for 82 games as I was parked on the end of the Lakers bench for most of the 1999-2000 championship season. I had a front row seat of #8 turned #24 back then. But I still marveled at how he was able to hit big shots last night even though he was completely out of gas. James is just as good if not better but who cares on the debate. If I was in a club and someone said "Who you want to dance with Beyonce or J-Lo?" I'd look at the fool, call him an idiot and then say, "Does it really matter?"

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
I respect Coach George Karl and the job he has done with the Nuggets this year. But the guy has to be sick and it isn't the swine flu. It's the "can't get the ball inbounds" flu. It seems to have infected him and his team over this series. The Nuggets have basically given away two games to the Lakers on just inexcusable turnovers. The Lakers are too talented to be given things. It's like giving a fat kid an extra cookie. I wonder what George Karl is working on in practice today? Hmmm. Maybe I should send him this video. You've heard of alternative medicine? Maybe he should look at some alternative options. Anything, but just get the damn ball in bounds!



NOT AGAIN
If you're Stan Van Gundy you just have to hate the last few seconds of any game in this year's playoff. Van Gundy and the Orlando Magic have been beaten by a last second shot by Andre Iquodala, a last second shot by Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Lebron James. The last few seconds every game has to be nerve racking. And the problem is as a coach you're so helpless on the sideline. Do you ever get over losing at the buzzer? It's terrible when you just look at the ball in slow motion and the whole time you're just yelling noooooo! This can't be happening again!

AMAZING!

This has to be one of the best NBA playoffs I remember. There have been last second shots and some great matchups. The NBA has its stars in place, with Kobe, Lebron, Carmelo and Dwight Howard all still fighting for the ring. There have been off the court spats which, like it or not adds to the spice of it all. Players blaming coaches, we've had owners going off on players and their families. We've had fiancees, wives and mothers being insulted. We've had flagrant fouls, suspensions, people getting slapped in the head, shot clocks falling. But am I watching for the basketball or am I watching for the drama? How sick am I?

CLOSE CALLS

When Lebron James hit the game winner the other night, he and everyone in Cleveland were jubilant. But the happiest guy in America was not from Cleveland. That relieved person was NBA Commisioner David Stern. I can see him now wanting to jump out of his seat and go over and high five Lebron James, maybe even throw a big wet sloppy kiss on him. But of course, he would keep his composure while inside crying tears of joy. And best believe if he could he'd get out there on the court in the final moments and put a hand up to contest a Carmelo Anthony game winning shot he'd do that too! He may even block it! The man would need CPR if Orlando and the Nuggets advance to the Finals. He wants what everyone else wants, a King James vs. Kobe matchup. If it doesn't happen I can hear him now.  So close. So, so close.  I was almost there. Ratings paradise.

MISSING