NOT YET

Pietrus Brothers

Let's all hold our horses. The Orlando Magic are not yet ready for their demise. Many of us had started to get the broom ready, but thanks to Mickeal Pietrus the Magic are going to be hanging around for a little while longer. The Magic had five guys in double figures with Pietrus scoring 18 points (10 in the 4th quarter). Even more important, the follow up tap dunk and the ability to steal the ball from Kobe Bryant in the 4th quarter down the stretch. I have always liked Pietrus' game since I played against him back in France in 2002. Rumor has it, his brother, Florent Pietrus has arrived in town from Valencia, Spain to watch the rest of the Finals. The other Pietrus plays professionally in Europe and is a splitting image of his brother. Maybe they can do a little switch job when Mickael gets tired, because he's going to need all the energy he can come Game 4. When they play on Thursday the only other person in the arena that can guard Kobe besides Pietrus may be the other Pietrus sitting in the stands. And that's a fact Jack. Don't get it twisted, Florent Pietrus can fly too!

SKIP TO MY LOOOOUUUU!!!

You see that when this guy is confident he can be a force. He has to be Skip To My Lou, the guy that would shake guys to the floor. Sometimes I think Skip is trying so hard to leave his street ball days behind that he overcompensates and becomes too much of a "run your offense" type of guy. Alston is not super quick but he is very crafty off the dribble, something he learned at the Rucker and growing up in Queens. This guy needs to get loose a little bit. Forget what Van Gundy was saying about staying under control and all that nonsense. We want some shake a bake, a no look pass and that spin move you put on Fisher last night. I jumped out of my bed last night after that move. I yelled "Rafer Alston has left the building! This guy is Skip to My Loooouuuuuu!!!"

WHAT MORE CAN THEY DO?

How good are the Los Angeles Lakers? I noticed this even in a loss. The Orlando Magic were on fire yesterday. They set an NBA Finals record shooting 62.5% for the game. They have five guys who score 18 or more points and they barely squeak away with a win over the Lakeshow by four points. Not sure if that is a good sign for the Orlando Magic. The Magic couldn't play much better than they did yesterday. The Lakers have too many pieces. All of the Lakers seem to be playing well. Odom is alive, Fisher has found his shot, Farmar played well yesterday. What if Andrew Bynum decides to awaken from his slumber? Even more scary for the Magic.

I HAVE SINNED

What was I thinking? I was questioning a true playoff performer. I was questioning a guy who has three rings. Because I am a man, I can admit I was wrong. A few blogs ago I questioned why Coach Jackson was playing Fish so many minutes. But I must have forgot how much of a warrior this dude is. I must have forgot that the 34 year old veteran has been around the block and back. I must have forgot his fire, intensity and internal fortitude. One game back in 1999, I remember Fisher was struggling from the field. He had been in a slump for a few weeks. After the game, Phil finishes talking to us. I get dressed and go out to the arena and there Fish is shooting jumpers in his jersey, on the court in front of fans who hadn't left the arena yet. Some were mocking him, shouting negative things. Fish, had a few tears in his eye, but shot jumper after jumper after jumper. This was after a NBA game, right on the court!! The next game he came out and he was on fire. What a jerk I am for thinking he wouldn't produce in these Finals. Forgive me D-Fish for I have sinned.

UNKOBELIKE

It was weird not seeing Kobe get it done down the stretch last night. We have come so accustomed to seeing him perform in those closing moments. What was even more alarming is the fact that he went 4-9 from the free throw line. Kobe hates when he misses free throws. I remember him going 22-23 from the line in an AAU game when I played against him way back in 1995. I remember him cursing out loud when he missed that one free throw. He let Pietrus get the best of him down the stretch last night and even seemed to be letting Courtney Lee get under his skin a little bit. With all that said, you know what's going to happen next game. He will be back. There aren't too many times he just walks off into the sunset and accepts defeat. And usually the comeback is nasty.

GUYS I'M MISSING RIGHT NOW IN THE NBA FINALS

Do I really have to explain this one? The puppet commercials would be so much better right now. Why did you have to mess it up Lebron? Rumor has it David Stern checked into a hospital for clinical depression.

There is nobody else outside of Lebron and Kobe that can score at will. This guy is a problem. Straight Baltimore Bully. He will win a ring before it's all said and done.

Has always been my favorite player in the league. More than his defense, I miss his antics. The energy, the scowl is what makes him exciting. If the Big Ticket is here right now Kobe has more problems getting inside, and Pao Gasol would be getting punked again. And I don't mean "Punked" the show. I mean punked in real life.

It would be nice if he decided to join the party now wouldn't it?

I'm not going to lie. These two make me laugh. I stay up no matter how tired and exhausted I am. They make it worth it. They are real. So real almost to a fault. You are always on the edge of your seat wondering what they may say or do next. They say things that borderline should get you fired, but are great for TV. I love Magic, Mike Wilbon and the guys but they have a long way to go to catch up to the TNT act. After I watched Kobe jump over a car, a few days later watching TNT I almost died laughing. The funniest thing I ever saw on TNT was this clip here. Please watch the whole thing for a great laugh.