It's not stupid for Artest to make those comments. If he can goad Kobe into making it a him vs Artest matchup, instead of a Lakers-ROckets matchup, it increases Houston's chances.

Now, he may not have thought it out like that, but it's not stupid.

BRING IT ON!!!

I hope Tex Winters is okay!

This series should not be as close as the Boston Chicago series.

Just a fun bump in the road on the way to Denver or Dallas!!!

SWEEP!!! SWEEP!!! SWEEP!!! SWEEP!!! SWEEP!!! SWEEP!!! SWEEP!!! SWEEP!!! SWEEP!!!

GOOOooooOOOO LAKERS!!!!!

For what it was, that play by Noah was one of the best single basketball plays I've ever seen live. I was jumping around my living room, and my wife was just laughing at me. That was pure basketball.

I loved it.

Bring on the Rockets.

Lakers in 6.

BK - At what point did you have this article prepared? I'm guessing you didn't wait until the game was over to put this together. Just like TNT having the "Boston-Chicago-hard fouls-pushing and shoving video package" ready. It wasn't a matter of "if" as much as "when" it would get used.

I think this series can come down to the Lakers D v the Houston O. The Rockets have a hard time putting the ball in the hole for long stretches. Artest's outside shot is either off or on and Wafer is their only real multiple scoring threat. Everyone else either isn't much of a scorer or has one or two predictable go-to shots.

I wonder if they'll come out as intense as they did in game 1 in Portland, trying to land a quick KO thinking the Lakers will be rusty.

I'm guessing they'll try a number of different ways to defend Yao. I've already advocated fronting him. That would cut down on the cheap fouls pushing him in the back and trying to deny position. Trying to bother the entry pass would hopefully be effective as well.

And a parting note for Portland. They certainly have a bright future but those talking about Roy as the next coming need to remember that the kid is 25. At 25 Kobe was on his way to his fourth NBA Finals. Pryzbilla, the Portland announcers and their jumbotron guy can suck it and go fishing.

GAME 1 IS ON MONDAY SO FROM NOW ON THIER GOING TO BE LOTS OF ANALYZING ,TALKING ,CHATTING,INTERVIEWS,PRESS CONFERENCES.... BUT TO MAKE THINGS SHORT LAKERS IN 5 !

Man i hope kobe is not watching this i dont want him to make this a one on one game, kobe just play to win not to prove something. You cand drop 50 on him during a regular season game. You might end up doing it now too but the point is win, win, and get better. GO LAKERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it's going to be a tougher series than anyone on this list thinks. Houston is a tough defensive team who is playing with a lot more poise and confidence than earlier in the season. Yao Ming is emerging as a leader along with Artest and Battier. Their bench is deep, and much more consistent than the Lakers bench. The Lakers will probably still win, but it could go to six or seven games. Kobe will be the difference.

Ex,

I agree 100% with you in regards to Artest's statements about Kobe Bryant. He's simply trying to bait Kobe into getting out of playing a team game and focus on a one on one matchup with Artest which I think Kobe is much too smart for at this point in his career. I'm really not concerned at all about Artest because I think that we'll shut him down and that he'll shoot himself in the foot during our series.

The Lakers will be fine as long as they continue to play team ball and everyone does their part. No series is easy, but I expect the Lakers to win this series in 5 games. I can't wait for the series to start on Monday. Go Lakers!!!

lakers sth-

I had a feeling this sort of post might come in handy, but most of the work was done during the game. :)

BK

Whenever we've played the Rockets, Yao has had difficulty guarding the pick and roll, especially when Kobe runs it. I expect the Lakers to exploit that a lot in this series.

While Yao didn't have to defend much against the offensively challenged tandem of Pryzbilla and Olden, that will not be the case against Bynum and Pau, unless Bynum gets into foul trouble and plays tentative. I expect Bynum to assert himself in this series and make a huge difference moving forward.

Lakers can't let Rockets role or bench players have career games.

The matchup I look forward to is Trevor "The Doberman" Ariza versus Ron "Pitbull" Artest. I think that Trevor will prove in this series who the better perimeter defender is right now.

Go Lakers!!!

My mind says Lakers in 6, my heart says Lakers in six. So my official prediction is Lakers in 5, same as my Jazz series prediction. Ron is in for quite a series.

The Celtics-Bulls series is one of the most exciting I've ever witnessed. These teams are really leaving it all out on the floor. I mean, Ray had 51 points (51!!!!), Rose had a huge block and the game went into triple OT.

But one thing NO ONE is talking about is the fact that Rondo (and I HATE rondo) had 19 freaking assists. 19. Assists. That a lot of assists, and the fact that he is averaging a triple-dub is pretty spectacular.

Game 7 is going to be a classic for sure. I want to say the Bulls win because the Celtics are the older team and their guys played a LOT of minutes, but the Celts are the defending champs and qare playing at home.

That Noah and one was another great play by the way. I'm glad I have something to entertain me when the Lakers aren't playing!

Bring on the Rockets!

LG

If Hinrich would've went to the floor after hitting the table the way Steve Nash went down when Horry hip checked him into the table, maybe the league would take a look at it. Hinrich isn't the actor that Nash is though, so it resulted only in a flagrant 1 foul on Rondo. Regardless of all that, it was a great game between the Bull and Celtics and their series has been the best in these playoffs.

Houston, you have a problem.

You play great individual and team D, but your back up for McGrady, Von Wafer McGrady doesn't have enough to carry the team when the Lakers shut down your team.

Can Cook off the bench spread the Lakers defense on the floor? No.

Can a rookie like guard lead your team in tough playoff spots? No.

Can Ron Artest take over late in the game if you are lucky enough to be close? No.

Can Battier make a clutch 3 to win a game? Yes and No. Yes he can, but no the situation will never come up

Fatty's prediction: If you base the outcome on the Lakers sweep of the season 4-0, you would guess in 4 games. And you would guess right. Lakers will out D and out score the Rockets and out win them in all 4 games.

Von Wafer up close and personal. Lakers in 5. Bynum wakes up and this series is over.

I hope my paranoia is just paranoia.

YOU WILL BE CALLING BYNUM YOUNG CHAMBERLAIN

So I was watching Pros v. Joes on SpikeTV. For people not familiar with this series, it is a show that places self-acclaimed athletic individuals who never made the professional ranks against mostly retired professional athletes. Hence the name "Joes" and "Pros".

Usually, the "Pros" comprise of individuals who have been long off their game. In this episode, The "Joes" were young former division 2 college basketball players while the "Pros" were Shawn Kemp, Ron Harper, and Eddie Jones. The Joes performed well and actually ended up winning the competition.

Anyway, I thought it was a little surreal watching my favorite Laker of all time, Eddie Jones, competing. I still remember when he was drafted out of Temple and all the exicting games he played with Nick, Shaq, Elden, and Kobe. So many years have passed since those times and I always felt a little sad that he never won a championship, let alone been in the Finals. Hell, I didn't even mind that Shaq would get a ring in Miami as long as Eddie would get one too.

I remember his last game as a Laker was against the Clippers when he scored 20 points. I remember tears running down my eyes when I heard he was traded the next day. I remember abandoning my efforts to get Laker tickets after his departure. I remember all the chants of Edd-ie, Edd-ie! I only wished he would have been signed by the Laker last year so I could hear those chants one last time. Man, I'm getting old.

Here's to memories folks...

it's too bad for Ron Ron that people never understand him. he was trying to be diplomatic. he was also expressing his focus. he said "the best guy i ever guarded TODAY is Roy". the comment had nothing to do with Kobe, Lebron or mental machinations.

Kobe isn't concerned with these media headgames and neither are any other Laker. all this crazy conjecture is just for the audience.

why does nobody get the fact that, while there IS actual competition, the NBA is still show business?

i'm reminded of the South Park episode where they get Tweek and Craig to fight.....
http://tinyurl.com/dzyhsq

Lakers fans and especially haters.

Kobe and Lakers: best merchandise sellers for the NBA

http://tinyurl.com/cxd8kz

4-0 over Rockets. If Houston wins one its because Lakers sometimes beat themselves. They seem to just check out of certain games because they are so sure of winning the series. Just like Game 4 of the Utah series.
But PJ might be the best coach at making a team peak at the right time. Cleveland and even Denver looked more impressive than the Lakers in the 1st round. (Certainly, Detroit and SA were also much weaker opponents than the Jazz.) But Crabs and Nuggest might be peaking too early while Lakers peak in June at Finals time. Thats what the Celtics did last year. Did not look very impressive in rounds 1 and 2.
PJ has Rick Adelman's number. Lakers much more balanced than Rockets. Yao is too slow. Bynum will have better matchups. LO will eat up Scola. Pau will also do very well. Laker perimeter players just have to play better O than the Rockets perimeter D. Brooks has been a surprise. More Shannon Brown defense?

I am looking forward to seeing Ron Ron change his opinion about the best player he has played against.......The Lakers will win this series in 5 games but 3 of the games will be really close.......I expect Kobe to have a career playoff high in one of the home games (50+ pts)......Bynum will have better reaction time and more of a rhythm......game 4 will probably go to Houston and the Lake show will finish them off in 5 at staples........This resting period has been really good for the guys now its time to refocus and play Laker basketball.....

Lakers 2009 NBA CHAMPS

PL

This won't be as easy as we think. Lakers in 7.

Is Ron Artest stupid? First of all, Kobe can light him and Shane Battier up any game he wanted to. Secondly, I don't think Kobe is dumb enough to fall for that bait Ron Artest threw at him. I think there's another way to prove Artest wrong, and that's by destroying Artest in EVERY category, not just points. I think Kobe will do that. Some people are giving the Rockets too much credit. Yao is a great player, but he can't carry a team. Neither can Artest. This is when they need T-Mac. Too bad they don't have him. Haha.

Yao is too slow to keep up with Gasol and Bynum, and will rack up fouls quickly. Ron Artest will rack up fouls trying to prove he can guard Kobe. Our bench is WAY deeper, especially with Odom coming off the bench. And I think their second most consistent scoring option Scola (yes, Scola) will have trouble with Pau's length, and Odom's quickness. I want to say Lakers in 4, but to be safe I'll say Lakers in 5.

Ahhhh crap. I hadn't figured on Clutch the Bear! Who's gonna box him out on the side lines? Maybe we could lure Dancin' Barry out of retirement...just for the Playoffs.

AK/BK - What are the league rules cocerning mascots eligibility for the playoffs?

This could be the clincher, OH! if ONLY we had gotten Portland and their mascot, which is sedentary pine tree named Willow, we could have used Jack Nicholson because he just sort of lays there like a slug.

Yes that was a slight Christmas Story reference.

Think Shane Battier wants to kick 'Bill' in the head for his recent ramblings?

The Bill Wiki page is like life giving you a high five. He attended a Pacer practice in a bath robe. Think Larry "waitaminute, no one told me this mustache makes me look gay!" Bird called him up on the carpet and gave Ron the ol', "In my day..." speech? If so, that went over like a lead zeppelin.

This is going to be entertaining.

Lakers in 6. As I said with Utah, this is the playoffs y'all! This team'll fight it out and leave it on the floor.

Gil,
"YOU WILL BE CALLING BYNUM YOUNG CHAMBERLAIN"

In 19,999?

I'm sure by now everybody except stu jackson has figured out the celtics will do dirty or whatever to win knowing it won't be penalized. I never thought of anyone besides perkins, powe, garnett and posey from last year as over the edge players. Now I see rivers installing the old knicks/ bad boys game plan of thug ball. The only problem I have is that nobody else is allowed to do it. Let's see what happens when somebody from boston goes after labron....that's what I wanna see!!

Just a quick recap of Bahsten's mid season acquisitons:

Mikey Moore? Did he even play last night?

Stephon Marbury? Anybody?

And some people were actually worried about it.

AK,

So, exactly "who" said B Roy was better than Kobe? Was it Ron Ron, or Bill Bill? Which one is going to guard Kobe when they play?

This must be giving Kobe a splitting headache.

I think this matchup will turn out better than most will predict. Hard to believe that these two teams have never met in the conference semis.

As a Rockets fan, I kinda figured that if they wanted to go to the NBA Finals, they'd have to make this Interstate 10 trek out west. If they want to be the best, they have to beat the best. Anything can happen.

Sure, the Lakers won all four of the regular season games they played against the Rockets, but that was the regular season. I remember last year how many Laker fans (of the arrogant, egotistical type; not the classy ones) never missed an opportunity to tell us Rockets fans, in the midst of our team's 22-game winning streak, that what teams do in the regular season doesn't matter. The same goes for this year too, yes?

As much as I wanna take my hometown team to win this series, I just can't. But I don't think they will make it easy for the Lakers either. Now that the first round monkey (more like gorilla) is off their backs, the Rockets will play much more loosely and better. Though in the end, I'm afraid it won't be enough.

I'll say Los Angeles in 7 with each team grabbing one road win.

I think fans of both teams can agree that it sounds nice to say that the road to the NBA Finals will go through Interstate 10. And San Antonio is just a place for a pit stop. Am I right? :)

{Lakers Secret Agent Reporting From DEEP Behind Enemy Lines In The Crumbling Gray Zombified Wastes Of Northeast Ohio. Today's Mission--Release The Bio-Chrono Weapon}

[TARGET: Ron Artest]

(Might as well go for the low-hanging fruit first, right?)

Ah, Ron Ron Bill d'Artest, the myriad ways in which we know you.

Physical: Bill Artest is mentally orientated. This means the crux of his physical life is based on the tension between confidence and fear.

Emotion: Bill Artest is emotionally orientated. This means the crux of his emotional life is based on the tension between appreciation and resentment/anger.

Mental: Bill Artest is mentally orientated. This means the crux of Bill's mental/social life is based on the tension between respect and disrespect.

Creative/Spiritual: Bill Artest is mentally orientated (are we seeing a trend here?) This means Bill's creative/spiritual life is based on the tension between faith/hope and a lack of faith/doubt.

The mind is a curious thing. It can be used as a tool of remarkable discernment. However, if not properly focused it becomes something like a chimpanzee in a small cage in 110 degree weather being attacked by a swarm of bees: Frenzied.

To utilize the Bio-Chrono Weapon, external forces (Lakers, Lakers fans) need to communicate in ways that bring out processes/emotions that undermine Ron Ron Bill d'Artest's ability to remain focused and to express himself effectively. If this is done, Bill Artest will become frenzied and begin to make mistakes and then will begin to engage in self-sabotoging decisions.

Physical: Bill's type is competitive and beating their opponent is more important than winning. A subtle difference, but an important one. It's why Bill excels on defense. He wants to beat his opponent. Anyhow, Bill's strength is based on his level of confidence. Undermine his confidence and he literally will not be able to neurologically process physical decisions in an effecient manner. This is done by making Bill feel insecure, even fearful.

This can be done simply by talking about intimidating things.

When Bill gets the ball, get behind him and shout in a rapid, hurried fashion, "HE'S PANICKING! HE'S PANICKING! HE'S PANICKING!" And he will cease up a bit and it will break his rhythm.

Other things would be to make threats and then carry them out ala Larry Bird: "I'm going to shoot the ball RIGHT HERE and there's nothing you can do about it!' And then a few seconds later carry out that threat. Do that a few times and Bill's confidence will begin to evaporate and he'll begin making risky, self-sabotoging decisions... and this will further evaporate his confidence.

The goal is to make Bill feel insecure and to undermine his confidence.

Emotional: Bill is HIGHLY emotional with a hair-trigger temper. (Who knew?) He functions best when he feels appreciated by other people. He functions worst when he feels unappreciated by other people. When he feels unappreciated by other people, he becomes resentful, angry, and even possibly enraged. (Yes. I know you find this difficult to believe, but it's true.)

Bill's type gets angry quickly and they actually may show improved response AT FIRST when they're angry. However, it is very painful for them internally to experience sustained anger. It burns them out. They also don't like to be around people who are perpetually angry. It's a caustic feeling for them and they kind of shut down.

So, if you're going to make Bill angry, keep him angry and he will eventually lose total control. (Watch out Lakers fans!) You'll make him angry by denying that he is anything special. He's just like everyone else except that he is exceptionally unexceptional in that he is damaged goods. Rub that in and he will become really resentful.

Also, play him angry and succeed. If you play him angry, only do that if you personally play well when angry. It is important that the player is able to sustain their success while angry because Bill cannot. Eventually he will shut down and feel intimidated.

Remember, anger both internally and externally is Bill's enemy. He does not function well in the SUSTAINED presence on anger.

Mental: (This one is important.) Respect-orientated people (like Kobe) care a lot about whether or not other people respect them and they generally look at things in life as either RIGHT or WRONG. They're kind of black and white in that sense.

For Bill, self-respect is most important. So, for him you not only want to be continuously disrespectful to him, but you want to get him to question his correctness in EVER having respect for himself. Bring up stupid decisions he's made in the past. Bring up past humiliations. Ask questions in the form of "How could someone who did something SO STUPID EVER think he was anything more than an IDIOT!?!?!"

I know this is cruel, but basketball is warfare and psychological warfare is part of the game. Get inside Bill's head (a scary place to be) and it will undermine him on multiple levels. It will also probably honestly hurt his feelings because if you get enough inside his head, he'll actually begin to agree with you and he will lose respect for himself. When he does, his energy will shut down. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if he just walked off the court, if you got deep enough in there.

So, to mentally break Bill down, be disrespectful, but most important get him to question the righteousness of him having any sense of self-respect.

Creative/Spiritual: This level is important because it is out of this level than most problem-solving takes place. Bill, again, is mentally orientated. Faith-orientated people really need something to believe in and thrive off of sustained, progressive momentum.

There are a couple ways to undermine Bill in this way: Sow seeds of doubt in his mind and specifically play him in a way in which he does not develop momentum.

For example, let's say the Lakers get up 2-0 over the Rockets, push the fact that this is almost an insurmountable lead in the playoffs. Quote statistics. Point out players that the Rockets have not and WILL NOT had an answer to. At first Bill will just shrug these comments off, but if you just keep pushing these points over and over and over again, it will sow seeds of doubt in Bill's mind and he will become hesitant and slow to act. Eventually he will begin to dread even playing against the Lakers because his belief will turn away from victory and towards defeat. He will begin to believe in his own defeat and then will subconsciously begin making decisons that support his own defeat because whatever he believes in (positively or negatively) he will reinforce through his decision-making process.

In addition, sustained positive momentum reinforces Bill's belief system. So, if Bill gets hot, go out of your way as a team to shut him down. DO NOT ALLOW HIM TO DEVELOP MOMENTUM. That is when he is most dangerous. If you break up his game and go out of your way to make sure that each success he experiences is immediately followed by a failure, then it will also sow doubt in his mind and in his emotions, and it will take him out of his game.

So, in summary, to break down Bill Artest, make him feel insecure, keep him angry, get him to questions the righteousness of him respecting himself, sow seeds of doubt in himself and his team's ability to succeed, and do not allow him to develop momentum in his game. If these are done together, it will thoroughly disable Bill Artest as a player and he will actually begin making mistakes that support the Lakers' quest for victory.

{Lakers Secret Agent Jon K. Signing Out.}

What do we play for? RINGS!!!!!!

Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.

GO LAKERS!

Where is blazer4life? I thought Portland is for life but it only lasted the first round. They will be victorious against the Lakers in the playoffs, those were the season cries - in your dreams. haha! Now we face the Rockets, the Battiers, Scola, Artest, Brooks, Van Winkle oops I mean, Von Wafer and lastly Yao Ming. This is another journey Lakers will take on the way to Figueroa, they have to dig deep against the Rockets, they are not pushovers but real competitors and big & ugly. If Boozer was ugly, I think Artest is uglier and a silent assasin and not scared of his own DNA scattered over the court.

I heard the great Walton is going to play in the 1st game, oh, oh, here we go again, I now hear the moaning and war chants between the high BBIQ nerds vs. the playground bums and while the fair weather count the petals, reciting the famous Shakespearean quotes "to be or not to be, that is the question" only Luke can answer. Many are begging please don't heal, we prefer Ariza, Kobe and Sasha on 3, let LW be the KG of the Lakers on the bench, we need a high IQ cheerleader. Farmar was overheard: "not me, I'm a Bruin bum did not graduate at UCLA."LOL!

Jon K,

You mentioned on the Bio-Chrono on Ron Artest Mental: Bill Artest is mentally orientated.

~~ Can we appeal to make it mentally unstable?

ClutchCity = NOT a troll. That's just a fan fired up about his team. Kudos to you and your articulate post.

The other guy, though? Man, that's TrollAmerican. Yeah, we're gonna "role" you for certain. No need to blow kisses, my friend, we'll just wave at you in the rear view mirror as we're heading home.

Go Lake Show!

I am looking forward to this series. My other half, a delusional Rockets fan is already doubting the outcome. Why? Because somehow the belief is that the league already favors the Lakers to win, so the Rockets really don't have a chance. So we should just forget that little fact that the Lakers swept the Rockets during the regular season. Looking in on their blog is really funny. In any case I give them their props for getting out of the 1st round. So let the competition began on court and in my living room. I't's going to be fun....However, I do commend them for believing that they can win it all. On the other hand, so do we, and we will.

I'm going to take a poll.

Will the next victim of the Bio-Chrono Weapon be Yao Ming, Shane Battier, or Von Wafer?

What do we play for? RINGS!!!!

Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.

GO LAKERS!

GO LAKERS!

4 down 12 to go.

Edwin Gueco,

Yes. Get him to question the righteousness of his ability to respect himself and he will lose mental focus. Once you've undermined his ability to mentally focus, stimulate his negative emotions by making him angry and he will freak out.

Jack Nicolson better bring a small baseball bat because it is not entirely outside the realm of possibilities, considering his past history, that he might lash out at spectators.

Using my previous metaphor, you take away his ability to mentally focus and then stimulate his hair-trigger temper and he'll go into a frenzy. It's just the way it works.

To protect the public, undermining his ability to have faith in his team, play with momentum, and be confident in himself... and instead of going into a frenzy, he'll just lose energy and begin making risky, self-sabotoging decisions. That would also work and in a more controlled fashion.

What do we play for? RINGS!!!!

Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.

GO LAKERS!

Laker Larry sez:

"Butler,
I have to give you credit man, You are a solid Suns fan! I would have thought you and the other 23 Suns fans would have forgotten about them by now, but you doggedly hang in there regardless of how hopeless their future looks. Here's hoping they can make it to the playoffs again in your lifetime.

The Suns are lucky to have a fan."

Laker Larry - thank you, man. I am proud to carry the purple and orange banner of championship pride!

WH Laker Fan: "What are the odds that Farmar is first off the bench at point guard against the smaller quicker Brooks, or is he going to be a non factor like in the last series."

I'm guessing PJ will use Farmar if he needs to relieve Fish against Brooks and save Brown for Lowry who isn't that tall but a lot stronger.

econprofes: "Why hasn't Mbenga played. He hussels, clogs the paint, block shots. Phil should keep Gasol at powerforward and rotate Mbenga and Bynum at center"

Because Mbenga's a gunner. If he has an open shot or is left on the strong side in the post, he shoots. I don't want to see Mbenga or Powell unless its garbage time or there's serious foul trouble.

High fives all around! Can't wait.

coachD

Is That you Bill/RonRon?

coachD,

Goodluck with the wife, I hope you guys are still friends after this series... I'm kidding, of course... anyway, this series will be a sweep for the Lakers in my own humble take. With Bynum back in the lineup, it made our bench deeper and stronger with the resurgence of SB. The Lakers pose to much problems for the Rockets in terms of matchups. The Lakers are just just more skilled, and more experienced than their previous opponent. But, as long as Lakers win this series, Im happy.

Edwin Gueco,

Hannibal is actually my favorite general of all time. The man was not only a tactical genius, but kicked the crap out of the Romans repeatedly while outnumbered AND on their field of battle.

Thanks, man. I'm actually trying to get back to Southern California, but I've got to find a job there first and in this economy that's not the easiest thing.

What do we play for? RINGS!!!!

Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.

GO LAKERS!

Hey LA Faker Fans...remember Sampson's last second shot in '86 to down your oh so wonderful lakers??? Well if you don't...don't worry 'cause you are about to see a repeat performance courtesy of Ron Artest...Black Mamba, seriously...more like Black Garter Snake!

The houston trolls are kinda funny. Reaching back to the 1986 series against them to provide a "zinger".

While that might work against franchise's that haven't won anything recently (the Suns, Kings, Blazers, etc), we've had 5 championships since then.

Reminds me of the time I stayed at a hotel in New York. On the in-hotel channel, they described the wonderful attractions in NY, including the Madison Square Garden- "the home of the 1973 World Champs!". LOL.

If Laker point guards can value every possession and play with the defensive, offensive & rebounding intensity of Celtics Rondo; Lamar, Pau & Ariza can play D, and match the intensity of Paul Pierce, Davis and Powe every minute they are on court and Bynum can approach Perkins ferocity and determination; the Lakers can beat Houston, Denver and Cleveland to win the championship. Otherwise the biggest luxury tax will be losing another one of Kobe's dwindling productive years!