T-Minus 48 hours and counting

Good Morning Guys,

Feeling real Sick today. But 2 more days! Have a great one!

*=========================================*
Friday April 18TH The Force is hanging Banner # 15.
Laker Nation is starting to put on it’s game faces.
Good Morning Charles.! Good Morning Laker Nation!
WHAT TIME IS IT? PLAYOFF TIME!!!!
*=========================================*
SHOW ME WHATCHA GOT
That’s right we’re back, like we said we’d be
Not just for 1 title, But for a dynasty.
Fake MVP’s, give back what you didn’t earn
If No MVP for Kobe, Then it’s Jail for David Stern
You laughed & partied when you thought we were down
Now we’re back and your @ss we gonna clown
Revenge they say, is best served cold
So suckers start trembling here come’s Purple & Gold
If you want the title through the Lakers you must go
And that aint happening, Didn’t yo mama tell you so
Smush is gone, We got rid of Kwame to
Oh yeah, NBA we got something for you.
We got all kinds of depth, we got blazing speed
We got everything NBA, you better take heed
And if our bandwagon begins to stall
What we got for the tank is some Gasol
And if our starters are not doing the job
We got a fresh new crew called the Bench mob.
We got 3 rings with Kobe and 3 rings with Fish
We got 9Rings as Coach, You got nothing but a wish
Let’s see what’s that, 15 rings to zero is the score
Oh yeah assistant coach Cleamons got 6 rings more.
We got 14 championship Banners that are hung up high
You got some bandaids for the @ss kicking we gonna apply
We got a man who outscored an entire team without trying
Then later dropped 81, that’s right we got Kobe Bryant
What ever you can think of, this team has got it.
So whatcha team got, That’s right they aint got sh?t
So Laker nation that’s what we got, That's all ya
The last thing I got to say is ….Rollllllllllll Callllllll!
*
ROLL CALL
(1) Faith, Bob, Keifo, Vman. Jay Jay, Charles, Edwin Gueco, Tsiry, FATTY, AngryLaker
Tha Show, Tim-4-Show, TheLakeShow, Generic_One, Pig Miller, Toad, Taliq, LakerTruth
WesJoeNixon, Zakee, Cleon, SBPimp, The_D, Bozz, #4, Nemia Faletogo, Elle, HmrHed
ComptonsFinest, FlagrantFowl LakerLegacy, Exhelodrvr, Laker Tom, Rick Friedman ,
RDLEE, Purple Heart, Allan-Brazil, J.D.Hastings, Moko, Puddle, Andrew Z. Hugo Boss
The Outlaw, Tsphere, Jon Kavulic, WeaveMan, SixOneZero, FearlessWhackJob, CBuck
utzworld THE BANNER HOLDER, DICE8UP, Never, JANAYA, EastCoastJessie, Jman
BackMamba24, BrownMamba24, WhiteMamba24, Mamba24Fan4Life, FanOfMamba,
JustAnotherMAMBAFAN, Mamba#5, JustALakerFan, VI LakerFan, LALFan, Kobe24
Greek Dude, Afro Joe, KB8THWONDER, Original Ken, Original J J, LakerMan420
LakerGurl, SFLakerGirl, PsychedLakerGirl, SimiLakerGirl, LakerGirl1980, LakerLass
HoustonLakerGirl, SheKobe, LakersRydeOrDie, SloGal, TWoody, LakerFaze, Wow
DrewPauKobe, GoKobeGo, KobesBad, KobeRocks, Laker/KobeFan, NIK KANNAN
MrBarneryDangles, Todd, JesterGuru, SmoothD, JCool, Jeff, David Whang, WWKBD
KIWI, Machiavelly, DOC4daLakeShow, LakersMR, LakersSTH, HobbitMage, Korey
Allan-BRAZIL, Herb Stempel, DarkAngelSK, TROY, T_Sensei, BerkleyLaker, Dave M.
Stars_R_Aligned, Cscoot, The_Dude_Abides, Johnny Laker, The HEAD-MBENGA
Complex Brotha, WondahBap, Derek, Benjamin, The HAMMER, Cyrus(Ventrilquist),
HappyCamper, HappyDaze, HappyGilmore, CriticalBeatDown, RealityBites, Bzar,
Amazing Happens, TELLitLIKEitIS PSLakerLover, Lakers4Lyfe, Lakers4Real, Che,
CooLHAIR, The_COOL BOBIE, SpokanLakerFan, Duma, Shum, ManSlayer, FatSam
AKR68, GiantSquid, BotSoy, LakerFan, LA_Mental, CaliPhilosopher, JLuv, CDub0512
Bruzer, Peanut_Butter_Spread, Laker_Kev, Lakers_Sparks_Fan, Trio, Reality_Check
: DAVE ROSENZWEIG, WhiteShadow22, DANCAT, LakerBandit, TwoForOne7
You Ever Notice? MarkyTheArky, Justin Leonard, FIishEye, Linda Pineda, Kidwell, Mel
BronxLakerFan ChitTownLaker, HoustonLaker, TexasLaker, BrazillianLaker, USCLaker
LakerNorth, LakerinBC, ROMY R, NIK KANNAN, Earth_Wind_&_Fire, FKIllah, TEEJ
AA Los, Wizo, Caeser, Maxximo, Wolf, Chuck23, 10MillionDollarZen, Man, Jeff Grotke
Lakers4Realz, Gino, Gabe, Darick, Floyd, Vincent, ROBYN, Khang, Old Scholol, TP,
Eddie Brock, Jandro, Paul Lee, Ajax, Mitchell, David In Spain, J_Doubter, Guy, Xtro,
Playa, Butler, Franky_J., Daryl, LakerDawg, DK,JC, The Dropper, Afro Joe, ZEN, Jeff
Mob_Wagoneer, PK-IN-THE-MESA , Jandro, GreenPaz, Andy B, Lent, TIKI, Brylle
SwanWorld, , Benny Blanca, MEL, AdamKiley, JUSTIN, CHRIS H, LADIESMAN
Linda Pineda, CaliKing, Thirty2, Aime Williams, Chucky .L.Ohno, Look Lonely, Kyle
LakerHolic, GDChild, Dion Centralk, ,GreekDude, Staples24, Robyn, Lakers08, Mel
Laker_Fan, True Laker Fan, Passionate Laker Fan, LT Laker_Fan, Grail, DaxMDD
40YearFan, KillerEight, Johnny P. LOTEC9, LakerLarry, Todd Battles, ASM, MikeAz
LakaLover, Bynumite, CS, Baywood, LakerHopeful, Bobie, Gilly, MARCO64, Drew
Purple&Gold_4Eva, B4Hoops, HeWhoHoops, Jorema, Xtro, MCGarnagle, Ando
Gugy, Laker4Life, ASM, SAMLL, Pince Akrasian, EagleBoy, JR., BLKTHGHT06,
SighBrandon C. Tully Moxness, LakerBake, Sean74, Sead94, LongLiveChick
Marty, Kinglakernidas, Hubbit, RespectMyAuthorith, Hariyahu, Alexinh017, bigMO
Kikos Dad, LiveLakers, Blaze1Bx, Simone, Phred, Swettual, Tajluck, Violater,
Craig, RicoTico, Lauria, NestrosBistro, Sean P. Jamie Sweet, SocalSpider
Sambosola Corner J., BigGameJames, Dascilla, JoninJAPAN(INCANADA),
*
THE PLAYOFF LINEUP FOR THE 14 TIME WORLD CHAMPION LA LAKERS:
At Coach 9 time title winner PHIL 9RINGS JACKSONNNN
At center number 17 ANDREW BYNUMMMMMMMMMMM
At forward number 16 PAU GASOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
At forward number 7 LAMAR ODOMMMMMMMMMMMMM
At guard number 2 DEREK FISHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
At guard number 24 & the MVP KOBEE BRYANTTTTTTT
*
ALL TOGETHER NOW:
WE ARE THE FREAKIN LA LAKERS THE WINNERS OF 14 NBA TITLES.
THE TEAM WITH THE BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE IN NBA HISTORY.
THE ONLY TEAM WITH 2 HOF COACHES. THE TEAM WITH THE MOST
PLAYERS ON THE 50 GREATEST PLAYERS OF ALL TIME LIST(6). THE
HOME OF WILT KAREEM, GEORGE MIKAN, SHAQ, MAGIC, KOBE,
ELGIN BAYLOR, THE LOGO(JERRY WEST), PAT RILEY, JAMES WORTHY,
BOB MCADOO, "BIG SHOT ROB HORRY" GAIL GOODRICH
THE LEGENDARY SPORTSCASTER CHICK HEARN
COACHED BY 9 TIME TITLE WINNER PHIL (9RINGS) JACKSON
& OWNED BY THE BEST D@MN OWNER IN SPORTS DR. JERRY BUSS
AND THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN EVER DEFEAT OR DIVIDE US IS US
LAKERS TODAY LAKERS TOMORROW LAKERS FOREVER!!

I hope the Lakers understand that the first 2 games with Denver will set the tone of the playoff. If they can demolish Denver in these 2 games, it will strike fear around the league. If Lakers lose one of the first 2 games, they will make their lives miserable because they just give away their home court advantage. I cannot conceive that Denver can win 4 games over Lakers but they can force into 7 games series which please don't let it happen. I also hope that Utah will eliminate Houston. We lost to Houston in the regular season because we could not break down their defense. Let Utah does that for us. Because most of us do not like the Suns, so I hope Suns can go to the Conference final so we can whip them. It will be a sweet revenge for the past 2 matches. The rating will probably go off the roof, first Kobe-vs-Shaq, then Lakers-vs-Celtics. If we have to play with the Suns, I hope Bynum will be ready at that time. Let Bynum manhandle Grandpa Shaq. Here are my keys to watch.
(1) Don't play swarm defense. It will leave shooters opened.
(2) Attack the zone if they see one.
(3) Don't gamble on passes. It will lead to turnovers.
(4) Don't be trigger-happy. It will also lead to turnovers.
(5) Take the time in the offensive because with patience, Lakers can always find a way to score.
(6) Phil Jackson, get busy! You can't sit on your a$$! Watch the old Bulls playoff tapes. See how active you were! Only use Luke as the last resource! He may step up for 5 minutes and tank for 15.

Mornin fam-bam!
just one game but not bad for the old Lakers....

The last time we played the Nuggets on Jan. 21. Bynum was not available due to injury. PJ started a line-up of Fish, Kobe, Walton ,LO & Kwame. Most would think here comes Kobe to the rescue but, not on this night. It was D. Fish that lit it up and lead all scores with 28. Believe it or not Kobe only had 18 but lead the team with 11 assists . Farmar was second in scoring with 19. The Lakers took this game 116 - 99. They held Mello to 13 before he got tossed and A.I. hit for 24. This big Laker win came after a loss to the Suns a few nights earlier.
A quick look into this game and you begin to fell Denver will not be a problem if you consider this was a win with Kobe under 20 pts., Bynum not available and pre-Gasol. Our backcourt played big along with solid minutes from Ronny.

I think the first round will be done in 5, Lakers of course. I'm more concerned that with all the power in the West there could be longer series per teams compared to the East where the power teams could go 4 and done, allowing them to be well rested and waiting for whomever can navigate the might , might West. I guarantee Doc is counting on this as well as Fip out in Motown, just as people speculate that Coach Pop held back a bit to get easier/lower seeding while letting his team heal. Its what the greats do, PJ on the other hand knew it was best for this young squad to push as high as possible. Confidence will help win games!

Good Morning Mamba24, Good Morning Charles, Good Morning all of LAKER NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!

48 painfully slow passing hours to playoff tip off!

PJ doubter..........I'm with you on your keys but I'm sure Phil will be in fine form...........as Faith would simply put the mantra for the series...............
DEEEEEEEEEEEEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ex.............George Karl says he's going to take the Muggets home between games...........that may affect the travel aspect, but then again, he could be wanting to keep his team on the thin air to have them prepped for their home games. We can't discount the altitude factor.

Tom, nice set of facts, as always. Nobody wants the Lakers in the playoffs!

Charles, sorry to hear you're under the weather..........take care bro!

Mamba, once again you have come out with a roll call with verse that will bring all of the LAKER NATION to their feet in agreement! Well done and thank you!

LET'S GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEW BANNER TIME.............16 FOR 15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

anyone got any updates on bynum? is he a possibility for round two?

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING LAKER NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great post Mamba24! I don't have much today just wanted to say hey...HEY I CAN...no wait its gone, anyway...have a good 1 all.

IT'S TIME TO WATCH THE LAKERS AND DRINK SOME BEER,
TOKE A BOWL AND SCREAM AND CHEER!!!!!!!! LAKERS 4 LIFE BABY!!!!!!
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

IT'S TIME TO WATCH THE LAKERS AND DRINK SOME BEER,
TOKE A BOWL AND SCREAM AND CHEER!!!!!!!! LAKERS 4 LIFE BABY!!!!!!
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP

LakerMan 420

LakerTom,
Check the math on the "Point Differential per game"

LAKERS PRACTICE WINNING…NUGGETS PRACTICE SCORING!

Hey, as a former short point guard, I love AI and how he always attacks and plays his heart out. He is the greatest little man to ever play the game IMO. There is no doubt that he is a true warrior who shows up every game but there still has always been that other side of AI that was perplexing and frustrating. I think that is what has kept AI from being a winner.

Unlike Kobe, who thrives on practice and relentlessly works on his game, treating his craft as a true professional, guys like AI and Carmelo seem instead to just rely on their great native ability. They do not have the work ethic or dedication to work hard in practice to become better players. While they are both superstars, they do not know how to be winners.

Here is a quote from Pau about practice, which contrasts dramatically with the infamous AI comments about practice, which although shamelessly revealing were also LMAO funny:

"Personally, it helped me a lot to give my body a little rest and heal up a little bit," he said. "It helps to get my mind off of basketball for a couple of days. Now I'm really looking forward to (today's) practice. Usually, you don't look forward to many practices, but this is a big deal. We're all excited. We're all happy."—Pau Gasol

"If I can't practice, I can't practice. It is as simple as that. It ain't about that at all. It's easy to sum it up if you're just talking about practice. We're sitting here, and I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're talking about practice. I mean listen, we're sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we're talking about practice. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game last it's my last but we're talking about practice man. How silly is that?”—Allen Iverson

Lakers will go into this game prepared to the hilt, knowing exactly what they have to do in order to win, and having rehearsed it over and over in practice. Nuggets will go into this game ready to play full tilt but without really having a solid game plan on how to stop the Lakers since their plan is just to outscore us.

Lakers in 4 in their easiest series of the 4 we are going to win.

Tom

Saturday night in Los Angeles...

Denver Nouguts are busy guzzling beer bongs at some five star hotel.

Kobe Bryant is lying, silently in the dark... waiting.

GO LAKERS!

Complex B12,
Thanks for the thoughts.

Jon K.
What a post!

sorry for all the typos on my earlier post.. Im draggin today and have no time to proof read .. now I know why my grandparents crash out before 9pm lmao geesh but hey.. ITS FRIDAY!!!!!! THE PLAYOFFS ARE HERE !!! I'm even excited about watching filler scrub eastren conference games.. Cavs/Wiz come to mind instantly lol

Good morning Jon!

I really don't expect Drew until the second round, and I think it is all important to get past the Muggets in 5 games at most to give him some time to work into the lfow in practice. We don't need Drew to beat the Muggets anyway, so let him ease his way back during this next couple of weeks.

LETS GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LakerTom-

Great post with the STATS.

Good morning all!
Just 2 more days.

I agree with Botsoy, that video on that link is entertaining.(about our Lakers young guns)

Emmos, thanks for the link!

Mamba24, nice one!!

The high altitude in Denver may typically help give the Nuggets a home court advantage, but the Lakers were 3-0 playing at high altitude this year (1-0 against Denver; 2-0 against Utah) and 2 of those games were the second game of a back to back including the Denver game.

Lakers in 4.

A lot of analysts are mentioning Golden State's upset of Dallas in the first round last year. What they seem to forget is that Golden State swept the regular season series with the Mavs 4-0. The Lakers swept the Nuggets 3-0.

Lakers in 4.

BTW.........I'm meeting the Muggets plane at the airport in a beer truck to give 'Melo a ride to the hotel.

Hi everybody, can't wait 'till Sunday but in the meantime I've confirmed something...

JOHN HOLLINGER IS A COMPLETE MORON!!!!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=playoffpredictions-080418

Tha man's picking Utah to go to the finals with Boston...are you friggin' kidding me? I thought he was seriously joking. Utah can't win on the road and he's expecting them to get past great teams in the West????

Mamba24 -- you are in rare form today and it's not even Sunday yet!

Thanks to all who have entered the First Annual "Win Nothing but Praise from Laker Nation" predictathon.

Polls close in at Noon today. Again, you must predict all four series in the West and the game differential.

I'll be compiling predictions tonight. You will get 2 point for the correct team and 5 points for the correct game differential. Assuming you guessed the right team, you will be deducted one point from the five possible, for each game you are off.

Carry on ....

ex,

Damn, you’re sharp. I thought I could slip through a slightly higher differential to make the Lakers look better but you caught it. The point differential should have been 7.26. lol.

When are you going to come over from the dark side and join Andrew Z and the rest of us on the 2008 Lakers Championship Bandwagon? We saved you a space right over the rear wheels of the bandwagon where you can be comfortable. We know there is still a chance we might lose but let us know when you are ready. Thanks.

Tom

EastCoastJessie,

While I don't think Utah can beat us, I definitely think everyone is overlooking Utah. Everyone acts like getting to the conference finals, when we've got to play a VERY good Utah team in the second round. They had the highest point differential in the West, until they decided not to show up against the Spurs so they wouldn't have to face them in the first round.

It'll be a tough, hard fought 6 or 7 game series when we play them.

Mamba24 -
EXCELLENT ROLL-CALL MAN - I LOVE IT!!!!!

I got this from another Lakers website but the story is great...kinda brought a tear to my eye.

The Improbable Dream

Posted: 17 Apr 2008 02:30 PM CDT

Je ne sais quoi. Which is French for “I don’t know.”

Perhaps a light can be shed on “pour quoi?” on why…

October 15, 1988. Dodger Stadium. A hobbled Kirk Gibson strode to the plate to pinch hit for reliever Alejandro Peña in Game 1 of the World Series against the Oakland Athletics. And as Dennis Eckersley worked the count full to 3-2, Gibson made contact and sent the ball soaring into the Right Field Pavilion.

As Gibby limped around first base, pumping his fist in victory, longtime Dodgers Play-by-Play announcer Vin Scully made his legendary call:

“In a year that has been so improbable… the impossible has happened!”

Little did Vin know that those words would remain poignant and germane to the City’s basketball team two decades later.

The Los Angeles Lakers have posted a 57-25 record and have earned the Western Conference’s number one seed.

The very same Los Angeles Lakers that a mere seven months ago looked to be unraveling. Kobe Bryant was all but a Chicago Bull. Andrew Bynum was quickly becoming another High School bust (see Bender, Jonathan). Lamar Odom was dogged by injuries and inconsistency. To be honest, things in Lakerland looked awfully bleak.

Then the preseason happened.

Kobe appeared sullied and disinterested and Sasha like an 11 o’clock shooter.

Vlad still came off as a space cadet.

And Andrew looked like a frightened and timid 19 year-old.

Probably because Andrew was a scared and timid 19 year-old.

Young Bynum had no reason not to be defecating in his shorts. He had endured a summer in which his teammate told some dudes in a Newport Beach parking lot that the Front Office should have “shipped his ass out” long ago.

Things did not get any better on Opening Night. Kobe was openly jeered by the Staples Center faithful. Houston’s Shane Battier hit a game winning three.

The Lakers looked, and, in fact were, lamentable.

How long would this futility last? Was it to be another first round exit? Or even worse: the Lottery.

And then, suddenly, things began to change. The bench began to score in staggering numbers. Andrew Bynum began to blossom before our very eyes, posting double digits in points and rebounds, night in and night out.

Sasha learned to shoot at 7:30.

When Andrew’s knee fell victim to Lamar’s foot, Mitch Kupchak & Co. responded by sending the inefficacious Kwame Brown, the unproven Javaris Crittenton, and the retired Aaron McKie to purgatory, er, Memphis, in exchange for the All-Star Kobe had dreamed of in Pau Gasol.

With every ill wind blown their way, these Lakers found a way to respond.

A 9-game road trip? How about 7-2.

Pau sprains an ankle? How about improbable road victories in Dallas and Utah.

Kobe wants out of Los Angeles? How about an MVP season. The first season in his venerated career that he truly made all of his teammates better.

Phil Jackson called the 2003-04 incarnation of the Lakers “a team in search of its soul”; the 2007-08 Lakers are the team that found the strength and the passion within each other.

Each member of this roster, fifteen deep, has a remarkable story.

A 17-year old Didier Ilunga Mbenga was stopped on a Belgian street corner by basketball guru Willy Steveniers, who offered to teach him the game of basketball, the only roadblock being Didier had never touched a basketball in his life.

Ira Newble is a crusader in the NBA community for awareness of China’s growing involvement in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Vladimir Radmanovic was born into civil war in the former Yugoslavia. He never truly had a home as a child, constantly darting around the country in fear for his life.

Luke Walton, the son of Hall of Famer Bill, grew up a green and white bleeding Celtics fan whose keen passing abilities and unrivaled basketball IQ make him an invaluable contributer.

Sasha Vujacic transformed himself from an inconsistent baby-faced gelled-up Slovenian, into a Three-Point assassin and pesky defender (think Danny Ainge gone Hollywood) who looks more like a kid in line at the Troubadour for some Indie Rock show than one of the NBA’s most improved players.

Chris Mihm, who has been hampered by injuries, finally returned to action after a tedious recovery period in which he missed all of last season and most of this one.

The lionhearted Ronny Turiaf, an islander from Martinique, who three years ago was faced with open-heart surgery and a career in doubt. He rallied and has become one of the Lakers most beloved players and ferocious defenders.

The homegrown success of Jordan Farmar and Trevor Ariza, both products of the Los Angeles Unified School District and UCLA, has allowed these Angelenos to flourish in front of their friends and family, wearing the Purple and Gold they dreamt of as children.

Coby Karl, the son of Denver Nuggets coach George Karl overcame Thyroid cancer a mere year ago. The undrafted Karl is the Lakers’ only Rookie on the roster.

Lamar Odom, who lost his infant son almost two years ago, has finally overcome his ineptitude and found himself reborn on the court, while he proudly displays the name “Jayden” lovingly scripted across his chest as a constant reminder of his heartbreak.

Pau Gasol, the goat of the City of Memphis for the last three seasons, and the face of Spanish basketball, has come to Los Angeles, the city with the number one Latino population in the United States. Not only was he instantly accepted into the Laker family, but was heralded as a hero in the City of Angels.

Derek Fisher, who’s story is that of folk legend by now, leaving the Utah Jazz last summer to return the City that embraced him as a Rookie from Arkansas in order to find better care for his ailing (now recovering!) daughter Tatum.

The tale of Andrew Bynum, the 20-year-old wunderkind who blossomed far ahead of schedule, most likely due to the gauntlet Kobe Bryant threw at him last summer.

And, oh, yeah, having Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as his Coach did not hurt his development either.

And then there is Kobe. Kobe Bean Bryant vowed to never wear a Laker uniform again. Kobe Bean Bryant was BOOED on Opening Night. Kobe Bean Bryant all but extended a giant middle finger to the City and the fans that adore and deify him. Kobe Bean Bryant who finally learned how to make his teammates better. Kobe Bean Bryant who, at last, absorbed the concept of not just being the most talented player on the team, but leading them into battle, night in and night out. Kobe Bean Bryant who is on his way to his first career Most Valuable Player award in recognition not for his career résumé, as some critics postulate, but for commendation on becoming the player not even Kobe knew he could be.

If you do not sense something special happening here, than you may be blind, caught in the throes of Ducks Playoff fever, or a jaded Clippers fan.

This group of fifteen exemplifies what it means to be a team. They have come together from all ends of the Earth (Literally. The Lakers are like a Model U.N., with players from six different countries) for a common goal: the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Although it appears that this quest begins on Sunday against Denver, it actually commenced long ago in the beginning of October. This odyssey has survived kneecap subluxations. It has endured Kwame. It saw 73 bench points against Chicago. The crusade has witnessed Kobe to Pau, Derek’s comeback, Rambis’ mustache and Phil’s Christmas bowtie.

Sunday begins the next chapter. New memories to be made, new banners to dream about.

Who knows? Maybe Spero will be inspired by his Chavez Ravine counterpart and realize that in this year that has been improbable, the impossible can happen.

Required playoff reading.

Seven Seconds or Less: My Season on the Bench with the Runnin' and Gunnin' Phoenix Suns

The book is being re-released by the publisher with a name change.

'Seven Games or Less: How the Aging Spurs Beat the Suns Again.

Next book.

Things To Do in Denver When You're Dead

How Shhh! (Kobe) finishes off the entire Denver Team one by one, while being lead by 'The Man With a Plan' PJ