Photo. Chris Sembrot
Are the Lakers in trouble? Just a few days ago L.A. seemed unbeatable, but now after two straight losses to even up their series with the Jazz and Kobe’s back all of a sudden acting up, you have to wonder about them. Now that the honeymoon is over and the path to the […]

Carlos Boozer (photo. Jeffrey Salter)
Carlos Boozer returned to the land of the living on Friday, playing his best game in about six weeks and ruining any plans the Lakers had of pulling a “Fo, fo, fo and fo” on the ‘08 postseason. Booz slapped up 27 points and 20 boards as the Jazz handed L.A. […]

We told you so…
Everyone wanted to see what Kobe Bryant would do on the night he was presented with the MVP trophy; one notoriously loud national analyst casually predicted he’d score 50, while others talked about triple-doubles and game-winning buckets for the game’s ultimate big stage performer. After telling his adoring L.A. minions that it […]

Kobe (photo. Chris Sembrot)
What excuse could the Lakers-haters use after yesterday’s display? Even against a well-coached team that actually plays team defense and doesn’t have any — as far as we know — significant internal locker-room strife or heart/balls issues, the Lakers looked as sharp as ever: Kobe Bryant (38 pts) was unstoppable, Pau Gasol […]

Joe Johnson (photo. Zach Wolfe)
The ‘94 Nuggets. The ‘07 Warriors. The ‘08 Hawks? A monumental playoff upset can do a lot to legitimize a franchise and its star player, which is why Joe Johnson (or Josh Smith) is one game away from putting himself on the mainstream map, just like Baron Davis did last year […]

Standing Tall and Ticked (photo. Mannion)
Cue another summer of the Phoenix Suns (secretly) and their fans (very publicly) blaming the refs and whatever other straws they can grasp onto while trying to come to grips with another heartbreaking playoff exit. You could say last night’s game hinged on a few crucial calls/no-calls, most of which […]

Carmelo Anthony (photo. Mannion)
Is Carmelo Anthony destined to become the next Tracy McGrady? Same lead-the-League-in-scoring type offensive ability, same game/personality that’ll keep him a superstar as a player and endorser for the long haul, and — well, we’re in Year Five of Carmelo’s pro career, and he’s now looking at a fifth straight first-round playoff […]

Photo. Marc Morrison
Anyone who’s actually watched the Rockets/Jazz series (not just the highlights) can tell you this much: Tracy McGrady didn’t play any differently in last night’s Game 3 win than he did in the previous two losses. But because he knocked down some shots in the fourth quarter and found a way to shake […]

Gilbert Arenas (photo. David Deal)
You saw it coming. After getting out-bullied when they tried to be bullies in Game 1, then getting blown out last night and staring an 0-2 series deficit right in the face, the Wizards began falling apart. Leading the charge, naturally, was DeShawn Stevenson. With his team trailing by 19 in […]

Photo. adidas
As good as this past NBA regular season was, Day 1 of the playoffs topped everything by giving us the best single game we’ve seen all year on any level. We don’t care who you love or who you hate, Spurs/Suns was an amazing display of ball that included a virtuoso performance from one […]

Gilbert Arenas (photo. David Deal)
It’s funny how people like us — you know them as “The Media” — will find anything to do to kill time in between big events. For example, we were watching “SportsCenter” at the office yesterday and they started a debate: “Which big man’s legacy is more on the line: Shaq […]