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Imagine, people were sure that this would be the year that Kobe Bryant would take a back seat to the young guns in the NBA. Most felt that due to the construction and dynamics of the Los Angeles Lakers, that Kobe's numbers would dip accordingly. Boy were we wrong, and maybe MVP wrong, because Kobe is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down, in fact he is expanding his game. He is ...

You can count me among the numerous people who thought Trevor Ariza's move to Houston would prove to be disastrous. I felt Ariza was not the type of player who would thrive under the glow of the spotlight. If Ariza could hear me, I would offer him my most sincere apologies, because not only has he thrived, but it seems his game has taken a step forward also. Honestly, who could have ...

The first installment in this series dealt with the Denver Nuggets and the challenges they presented to the Los Angeles Lakers in their quest for a repeat.á The Nuggets are one of twoáWestern Conference teams thatápossess certain qualities that could counter the Lakers dominance. The only other team with a realistic chance is probably the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have the same advantages as the Nuggets, namely depth, and quickness at ...

We have all been guilty of it before, and in some cases our suspicions had some merit. Did that player just flash a gang sign after hitting a big shot? Well, in some instances yes, that's exactly what they did, and your eyes were not playing tricks on you. This list is purely speculative (for the most part) although there have been questions raised about the extra-curricular activities of some of the ...

Some NBA players are born leaders, while others are thrust into the role due to circumstance or chance. Due to genetics or sheer force of will there are some players who were bullt to command. They are the unquestioned authority for their team, and win or lose the credit or blame falls on their shoulders. They thrive under the pressure of the game and their ranks are comprised of intellectuals, strategists, and ...

You can't help feeling bad for the New York Knicks, because the franchise must be cursed. How else do you explain the lack of success from the team in the NBA's largest market? I'm not a Knicks fan, but I do have a soft spot in my heart for them, and it's probably because most of my family hails from the "City So Nice They Named It Twice". None of my relatives ...

In the same manner in which Kobe Bryant was unfairly compared to Michael Jordan in the late 90's, the debate continues with LeBron James being similarly compared to Kobe. Some fans and pundits have even had the temerity to go as far as saying that James has already surpassed Bryant as a player. They re-inforce their arguments with statistics and the many milestones that James has accomplished at such an early ...

Repeating as NBA champions is a long and arduous journey for the Los Angeles Lakers. The road is perilous, and filled with many potential obstacles along the way. There are a few teams that can be a nuisance to the Lakers, but they are more like bumps or detours. They can be troublesome, but ultimately are not enough of a problem to hinder the journey. These bumps are represented by teams such ...

The whispers have already begun, and it may be time to stop perpetuating the myth. If the Los Angeles Lakers are to repeat as NBA champions it will probably be on the backs of their top six players. The reserves have failed to live up to their "bench mob" moniker, and have instead been one of the weakest parts of the defending champion's team. In two out of the first three games ...

There can be no denying the overall impact that this year's rookie class has had on this young NBA season. Rookies have been thrust into the glare of the spotlight in many instances, and for the most part have performed admirably. The most surprising thing is the number of point guards that have been entrusted with running their teams. The point guard position is traditionally one of the hardest to master, but there ...