Sky

Bresnahan of the Times tweeting that Bynum had 70cc drained from his knee today. Nearly double what Kobe had done.

No Karl clearly hurt Denver, they lacked the unified sense of purpose and focus that George can instill in them. They get too undisciplined without him and start sniping at each other for playing solo ball. That said even with Karl they lose as KMart wasn't close to 100% and that compromised their defense too severely. Denver's best chance was last year. With Karl in poor health and Chauncey getting older they'll struggle to return to their 2009 level. Fish on Ray Allen is better than Fish on Rondo. Ray will do his damage off screens, what Fisher needs to do is a better job of keeping Ray off the glass. Allen's rebounding hurt LA in 2008.

Olé. Lakers are 1-3 in road playoff games off one day's rest. The tendency is to say Kobe needs the rest but the reality is they all do. Price you pay for going old and having a worthless bench from 7-12. The switch to Staples should reverse the shooting fortunes but the change that's needed is intelligent effort. Killed on the defensive glass by the Suns? No excuses for that. The Lakers were exposed tonight as a two-man team. This keeps up Bynum will switch from a playmate on his shoulders in LA to snow in Toronto, Bosh willing. Kobe did everything but sell peanuts but if the rest of the team takes the night off it doesn't matter. The danger is they have just one day between games the rest of the way. Therefore LA has to get bench input, on both ends.

2010 Boston is a more talented starting five with Rondo's big jump to the big time. 2008 Pierce is a much better and healthier player than this year's egomaniac resenting Rondo's rise to stardom. Pierce gunned shamelessly tonight and it's part of why they lost. As Doc keeps telling them, they have to win together. Pierce is only comfy winning with himself cast in the lead role. KG is getting back to '08 form but as tonight showed he can struggle to maintain his form without enough rest between games. Posey delivered on both ends when it mattered most. Allen delivers when times are already good and can be TO and foul prone. Big Baby is playing well. Sheed is playing well on D but inconsistent on O. If the Lakers maintain ball movement and hit perimeter to beat the Boston defense they'll win. If not they go down. Given that the Lakers are very inconsistent in both areas it'll be a long series. However they did figure out a tough D in OKC. Eventually. They'd also have HCA and that's huge in the finals since very few teams sweep the middle three. I like the Lakers chances, they'll be very motivated, unlike 2008 they have a second playmaker now and defensively they match up pretty well except for Fish on Ray.

Erick - Amare was in constant motion off ball tonight and was much faster in his cuts. In LA he hesitated and ended up in traffic waiting for him. The difference in game 3: his no hesitation acceleration beat LA to spots. The Laker rotation was a step slow, terrible game for Bynum and the communication/anticipation between Gasol and Odom was off tonight. Amare was playing to restore max FA status and mission accomplished. Gentry brought a zone after the first and LA didn't execute the passing and ball movement to beat it. Threw rushed passes into the guys with the worst hands and turned it over, took the conceded 3's, forced the action solo. Everything they learned in ball movement against OKC was forgotten. Bynum, Artest and Odom were no shows. Odom, Brown and Farmar played dumb basketball. Laker offensive execution was too solo, defensive execution was too late. Yugo - In comparing then and now I thimk both Boston and LA have taken an important step forward in some areas and back in others. What fans will do is just point to those aspects that favor them and bury the bad stuff under the rug. So LA says Boston is older, slower and thinner on the bench, Gasol is much improved, Artest a better d matchup on Pierce than a coming back form injury Ariza. All true but not all of the truth. Boston says yeah older, slower less depth, but the defense is still brilliant with KG's return to health and Rondo has improved even more than Gasol. Left unsaid: For LA, Kobe has lost acceleration and could be vulnerable when the series goes to every other game, Bynum is a non-factor shell, LA is still vulnerable to the Boston cut the head off the snake defensive schemes and congested lanes. LA did prove they can counter that vs. OKC but it took four games before that kicked in and they proved tonight they can forget how to do it. For Boston, Tony Allen isn't Posey. Posey hit money 3's, played lockdown D and delivered when it was needed most. Allen is more of a frontrunner and is turnover prone. Sheed's D is still there but his O is not. And the final thing, Pierce's ego won't let Rondo be the Boston star in consecutive games. If Pierce isn't hitting but still goes black hole out of ego he can cost the Celtics a half. He is not comfortable with Rondo as star. Pierce is LA's secret weapon in this series. Bizarre as that sounds. If they handed Rondo the keys every night LA would be in more trouble. Thankfully, Pierce won't allow that. I'm confident that the Lakers get it done. But I realize they will have to play disciplined and intelligent basketball to do it. The passing and off ball movement are vital and with the Lakers that can come and go.

After being doubted by the entire league Amare finally showed up, so props to him. Was basically a one-fingered salute game to protect his next contract and future South Beach estate. Lakers forgot what they learned against OKC. Constant off-ball cuts and ball reversals beat congestion. They kept falling for trying to pass over the Suns or taking the conceded 3. Dumb basketball so they deserved to lose. Frustrating thing was they got it in the third. Flashed to the weak side pocket, delivered the ball there and then it's find the open man or take the shot. Worked all the time. Then they just forgot that ever happened and went back to lazy ball in the 4th. This team hates to play in a congested lane and looooves space. But the finals will be played in a closet. Better get used to it again guys, fast. That may well be the finals in a nutshell. LA gets how to deal with a congested lane (as they did vs. OKC) it's over for Boston. LA plays four games like they did tonight they'll go down. Move yourself and the ball, don't lazily take what they concede. Yugo - The Lakers won't sweep the finals but they'll win it, provided they keep moving the ball and their collective a's off ball.

On the defensive end it won't matter. LA isn't counting on Bynum as a scorer because he's hurt. Anything he gives them is gravy. Taking out Bynum defensively is irrelevant.

Niner - In the past Kobe has taken Rondo, Fish takes Allen. Ray can beat Fisher but won't torch him. LA bigs were dominated in 2008, won't be this time. Gasol is playing very good basketball right now. As for devouring Bynum, Perkins won't see the ball enough to get big numbers. Haters will always hate but at least try to be accurate with the hate.

I picked Boston to beat us in '08 due to their defense and LA not being 100%. The C's are certainly capable of doing it again but I don't think they will. The Big 3 are all less than they were then, Rondo is much improved, Perk is the same, Tony Allen isn't Posey. For LA Kobe is better mentally but has lost some explosion, Gasol is vastly improved, Bynum still hurt as always, Artest is a big defensive upgrade, Odom playing well and even Fisher is playing some of his best ball in years. Boston won with Pierce as #1 and the defense cutting the head off the snake to kill the ball movement. Pierce comes and goes now and Artest is a good matchup for him, cutting off Kobe and daring Gasol to shoot and playmake will no longer work. Series come down to two things imo. LA's defense on ball and underneath against Rondo to limit penetration and give him midrange on the wings. LA being able to counter the Boston defense with smart ball movement as a team particularly through Gasol and Odom, together with off ball cuts and hitting perimeter. Lakers win those two aspects they take it, and I think for four games they will. HCA also helps. I respect Boston, they are playing very well on both ends now, but in no way do I fear them. The Lakers are smarter and more physical now than they were then, the two qualities that counteract how Boston won last time.

Fisher won't be on Rondo, he guards Ray. Kobe defends Rondo. Fisher will get some time on Rajon but it'll likely be limited. Kobe can stay in front of Rondo and direct penetration into the bigs but Rajon will cause damage in transition and early offense. Celtics are older, slower and shallower since 2008. Pierce isn't what he was then. KG is making a solid comeback but won't be as consistent. Gasol is a much better player now than 2008. I'm not scared of the Celtics at all I welcome it, I think the rematch will be powerful motivation for a Laker team that can drift mentally and play with their food when they go up to big leads. The focus will be sharp for all 48 playing Boston. The concern is what can they get from Bynum, and if they can execute the ball movement and cutting necessary to beat the Boston defense. The execution can lose an edge after playing defensively challenged teams like Utah and Phoenix back to back. Another thing about Rondo. The Big Three have even bigger egos, especially Pierce. He doesn't allow Rondo to have back to back games in the spotlight. Truth went black hole in the first half of game 5, got his numbers but inefficiently. It took Doc handing the keys to Rondo in the third quarter of game 5 to put that series away. Will Pierce allow Rondo to be the Boston MVP of the series? Not in consecutive games he won't. And with Artest on him Pirece is going to get frustrated and that means he will force things. Rondo will hurt LA, but I think Pierce will ensure that Rondo doesn't do that every night. There will be Piercefest halves. I also think the Lakers went to school in playing OKC. Long fast very athletic D and they learned to beat it with reversals, sharp ball movement and smart off ball cuts. Gasol became more accustomed to acting as a secondary passer. 2008 Boston dared Gasol and Odom to take elbow jumpers or playmake, won't work now. They doubled Kobe and kept two men between Bryant and the hoop to cut the head off the snake. As long as Gasol and Odom take an active passing role that tactic can be countered now. Final thing is HCA is big in the finals. Very few teams have swept the middle three. I like the Laker chances to get some payback and repeat.

Tanking is no myth. The lottery was implemented in response to blatant tanking. Even with the lottery in place teams tanked hard for the Duncan draft. Boston pre-KG trade tanked shamelessly. It happens even in a lottery. You're mad the Nets got 3rd? Try the Warriors. The lottery is implemented for the first year in the Ewing draft. Dubs have the worst record in the league. End up with the last pick in the lottery. Now THAT is a screw job. What needs to happen is to change the odds slightly. More weighting for the worst three.

Real - If I'm Phoenix I use the game 2 strategy again at home, banking on LA not shooting as well from 3 on the road. But with one adjustment. You have to trap Kobe with length to create turnovers and then bait LA to take jumpers instead of reversing the ball. Suns problem is two matadors on the floor make a trap strategy hard to execute. Barkley is right on going small but in vintage Chuck fashion his solution only solves the offense. One example on how over his head Gentry is. Apparently after Q&A tonight he asked the media if they had any ideas on how to stop LA. Lost in the woods.

Prodigy - It's not about the Suns offense it's their defense that's killing them. Lakers are shooting 58% after two games. Olé. Amare has to hit the glass and at least pay some attention to the defensive end. Suns have to create turnovers and pack the paint to dare LA to shoot 3's, Lakers won't shoot as well behind the arc on the road. Phoenix has to create running opportunities and early offense to get Amare going and to the line. If they don't run then LA plays halfcourt ball and it's over. Lakers with just one turnover in the fourth is a killer for the Suns. I don't see this going past 5. Lakers have three days off to rest up and the Suns still haven't figured out how to defend them after two games. That's the problem with Gentry, he's overmatched.

Suns can't defend, all the talk of improved D is relative. You can look improved against San Antonio but c'mon, no D at 1 and 4 and not enough of it at 2 is a lot to overcome. If you can't deny the post to LA you lose. Collins is right they will have to zone in game 2. As long as LA adjusts by attacking the pocket and reversing the ball they'll be fine. Lakers can smell the finish line and they know the benefits of ending this series early to rest again before the Finals. I'd be surprised if it goes past 5. Jackson in a series after winning game 1: 46-0.

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They won't make that mistake twice. Once was enough. If Jackson retires the field would probably be Byron, Jeff Van Gundy, Nate McMillian, long shot Riley, longer shot B Shaw.

Jackson said earlier this year that if he continues coaching he will only coach in LA. How do the Bulls add LBJ and Wade? One yes, both no.

KG didn't take the max that he could in an extension. He left 25M on the table for them to build a team around him. And then they pocketed the money and failed to build a team around him.

The more accurate statement is that Shaq wants to get paid for 3.7 more years. Shaq is on the same road that Iverson was, convinced he's a star when his game says he's not. I think the issue will come down to this - will Shaq accept playing for less than double figure money? Shaq's ego is in for a heavy duty humbling this summer. If he gets no offers at 10 or higher how will he react? If only gets offers at the MLE how will he react? He's about to hit the reality pavement. Hard. Will he be so willing to play for four more years if it's only at 5.5 per? I doubt it. His may go into forced retirement due to lack of interest. His ego is not remotely prepared for the body blow of no offers above MLE.

Fisher will be destroyed but it's what they want. Make Nash a scorer.

Where does Bron have the best chance of winning? Not Cleveland. Shaq and Z are in decline, Jamison is a matador, Mo is a one-way player. In Chicago he'd have Rose and Noah as a young foundation that is clearly superior to the Cavs. As for born here, raised here, imo that's a reason he leaves. Time to sow the wild oats. Go to the big city. Leaving the home turf is a sign of maturity, next step in life. Brion is into Bron first, foremost, always. What's best for Bron is leaving. Better chance at a ring. More opportunity for ancillary money. More fame. His priority isn't loyalty and home it's self, gloabl icon, billionaire. Those goals are best reached elsewhere. I'd be shocked if he stays.

Why root for Boston? Revenge and the motivation that will create for LA. As a Laker fan going back to 1970 there's nothing more satisfying than beating Boston in the Finals. I could care less about Kobe vs. Bron, I care about the front of the jersey far more than the back.

Snake - LeBron's top priority is LeBron. He's not winning a ring in Denver without Melo by his side therefore there's no way he agrees to an S&T to Denver. If he's that loyal to Cleveland he just re-signs with the Cavs. Face it, you forgot that James has to agree to any S&T. That puts a crater sized hole in your boat and it sinks. Your scenario works for Cleveland and props to you for that piece of creativity, but it doesn't fly at all for James and therefore has zero chance of happening. Let it go man.

I think it'll ultimately come down to Chicago vs. New York and then it's up to who can build the best team around him. Chicago can win if they can S&T for a quality 4. You can make the argument that Bron and Rose don't mix, but the guy who has Bron's ear more than any other is Worldwide Wes, and he'll overcome any doubts James has about Rose, who Wesley recruited for his buddy Calamari. Knicks can get it done, but they'll need to work a Lee S&T for Bosh and get quality back for Curry's last year. Chicago will have more pieces in place and a young star that can create off the dribble to set James up. Knicks won't have that. So I give Chicago the edge. Miami. Only if they can convert Beasley, crap and cap room into Amare or Bosh. Otherwise no bigs.

Snake - The Cavs would do that, but where your theory falls apart is that LeBron would not. He has to agree to an S&T. He wouldn't agree to this. Chauncey is nearly done, Nene is good but not great, KMart is constantly hurt and Karl has cancer and may be forced to retire for health reasons. Cleveland agrees to your deal but Bron says oh h--- no. Chicago has very good young pieces, will hire any coach James wants, and Bron loves the city. New York has the bright lights the global icon wants, cap room, can S&T Lee for Bosh and deal Curry's last year. Miami has Wade and South Beach, but must get cooperation on Beasley, crap and cap room for Amare or Bosh. Jersey if they win tuesday's lottery can deal Harris, start Wall, and have room for Amare/Bosh and Bron. I think it's one of those four. Bron ain't going to Denver. Pipe.