Real Deal

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121201_IND@GS

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121201_SAC@LAC

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121201_DET@DAL

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121201_BOS@MIL

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121201_UTA@HOU

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121201_OKC@NO

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121201_PHI@CHI

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121204_PHO@MEM

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121205_ORL@UTA

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121205_MIL@SA

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121205_CHI@CLE

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121205_DEN@ATL

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121205_MIN@BOS

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121205_POR@IND

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20121205_DAL@LAC

http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/Kobe_Points2012.png He's 34 years old, averaging 28 PPG. He should pass Wilt this season (if he stays at 28 PPG), Jordan early next season. Needs around 8,300+ to get Kareem (probably won't happen, he'd need four more seasons of 21+ PPG, and I doubt he'll be playing that much longer).

He was, but again, what's the difference between the two players when opposing teams are intentionally fouling them? What's the difference between this: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rRAcpR5Whck/TefbeMGzcbI/AAAAAAAAAvI/JO9K9yUa8Ik/s1600/6a00d8341c630a53ef0105368e1f7c970c-800wi.jpg And this: http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/c0.0.320.320/p403x403/319068_285130294939248_2042200613_n.jpg When teams intentionally fouled Shaq, he wasn't able to be that dominant player. He spent his time, on offense, at the free throw line...just like Howard is doing. So, while Shaq was the better player (not debatable), the dominance he possessed on the low block meant nothing late in the 4th during a Hack-a-Shaq because, simply put, teams wouldn't let him use it. We won three championships with a horrible FT shooting team. All three of those rings, we were in the bottom five in FT shooting. We can do it with Howard.

Hack-a-Shaq, and Hack-a-Howard...not much of a difference at all. Sure, Shaq scored more, same percentage, basically unstoppable...but when you're getting fouled constantly, intentionally, and you're standing at the line for the final minutes of the game...your free throw percentage, and your defense, is all that matters. Shaq isn't SHAQ during the Hack-a-Shaq. So, is Shaq significantly better shooting free throws + playing defense than Dwight is...during those last few minutes? Again, it's much different if the Hack-a-Howard (or Shaq) didn't exist, or was illegal...because at that point, we'd know who would be the more dominant player near the end of the game (and throughout the game). However, both end up standing at the charity stripe, then playing defense at the other end. Both are horrible free throw shooters, and Dwight is the better defender. It's no excuse. We blew the lead against Houston. During the Hack-a-Howard vs. the Rockets, we gave up just two more points than we scored. Our lead was lost before that. Turnovers are killing us. We're also switching on screens, and not getting back (due to age + no communication). Those are the two biggest problems. It doesn't help that we're trying to run an offense with Darius Morris as our starting PG, and Duhon also landing minutes as our backup...with the fact that Gasol is shooting around 42% and playing zero defense. With Bernie Bickerstaff, Kobe and Howard went out to win with sheer talent alone...and it was working. We lost just one game, nearly beat the Spurs. We enroll in an offense suited for younger, faster players, and a PG that can actually facilitate and run...but is injured and not playing? Well, we're going to struggle again. It's not hard to figure out...you can see it when you watch them play. Their issues stick out like sore thumbs.

I'm sure very few could. That wasn't the point. We look to win. We didn't bring Nash in for him to be injured for two months, so we're making the best of what we have right now. Unfortunately, Gasol has been a bad defensive player, and an inconsistent offensive player who refuses to be a second or third option when we need him most, for a few years now. This is his worst season to date... by FAR. He was three times the player during his rookie season, and at least he was making his wide-open shots last year. If Nash has a problem with us dealing Gasol, tough shit. Kobe didn't want us to trade Caron Butler or Derek Fisher, either, but we did. Artest didn't want to see Odom traded, but it happened. I doubt Gasol is going to be significantly better on the defensive end with Nash on the floor...and, quite frankly, as great as Nash can be in regards to turning low-percentage shooting into higher percentages from his teammates, Gasol is shooting worse from the low post than he is from his "sweet spot" this season...and even then, that mid-range jumper he always takes isn't falling as well, either, despite him getting open far too many times already. Ryan Anderson is on the radar. Seems like a stretch, but as we all know, nothing is when it comes to this team. If Buss finds a way to get him, or any productive player(s) that helps us deal with a Gasol loss...then he's history, regardless of what Nash wants. At the end of the day, if any two players have a say in who stays or goes, it's Kobe (because it's basically his franchise) and Dwight (who is the future of our franchise, and who we need to cater to up until he signs his extension).

Nash should get his little ass back on the court, then, if he wanted to play alongside Gasol. Honestly, this isn't Phoenix, and Nash is nearly 40. We look to win a championship every year.

Incredible slap to the face, lol... http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151336796180119

Maybe they'll have a rivalry with this team: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Spurs_cowboy_crockett.jpg/225px-Spurs_cowboy_crockett.jpg And go nose-to-nose with this team in the playoffs sometime: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Gold-49956.jpg/200px-Gold-49956.jpg

To me, decent is scoring 17 points a night on 47% FG and 37% 3PT. Again, just the scoring...not pointing out defense, facilitating, or rebounding (all of which Bargs is either poor at, or below average). Maybe I should have said "scoring option" in that post. And, well, a team is definitely not a contender with a decent second scoring option, unless he's paired with 2-3 of the game's superstars (Bargnani in Cleveland, with LeBron, would have been in the Finals...just an example). But, Mullens would be less relevant on a team like that. Much less relevant on a contender, or even a solid 4-8th seeded playoff team out West. That's really what stands out between the two.

I talked to the rep tonight, and he told me it was post-game, so that could be even better. I'm not so sure we'll get to take pictures with all of the players, though. Not sure what other teams do it...I'm sure others allow it for select sections, though. I met Kobe back in 2004, in San Francisco, when the Lakers played Golden State. My girlfriend's uncle was a cop (even though he looked like a security officer to me), and he got us into the tunnel. Eventually, I got to talk to Kobe, shake his hand. He asked me if I play ball, how long I've been a fan, etc...and we kind of had a convo for a little less than five minutes. Then, he signed a picture for me (of him and Shaq, lol) and that was it. Yeah, they are originally $150 for OKC (unless it's a team like the Lakers, and then I'm basically mugged and left with an empty bank account). I couldn't pass that up. Kobe? No, he was cool to me. I'm sure winning the game helped. He had 35/6/8 on 69% FG that night. It kind of shocked me that he took time to say a few things, lol.

But Spo is just an awful coach who should have been fired multiple times throughout the 2010-11 season, remember?