Rebuilding Lakers Means Fire Sale Now

Broken! Soft! Tempestuous! Beaten! Strangely atrocious! This pretty much sums how bad the playoffs were for the Los Angeles Lakers, who are now on their way home early for the second straight season following an exasperating and embarrassing 106-90 Game 5 loss Monday night to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, dispatching Los Angeles in the second round.

This is the second straight season of disappointments and woes, another somber moment after the Lakers were eliminated in the NBA postseason, pointing to signs of drastic changes needed. If the Lakers want to stay in contention each season, it's now time for an overhaul, extensive rebuilding to surround a discontented Kobe Bryant with fresher and younger legs. It's now time to move into another direction, to please the superstar guard before we might hear him request a trade out of Los Angeles.

Threats of Kobe leaving the Lakers can come at any moment now. The state of the Lakers franchise remains uncertain, another riddle to figure out in what should be an interesting offseason for a regal franchise, known for winning championships and raising banners into the rafters at Staples Center.

As for Pau Gasol, the Lakers tall, lanky forward from Spain, he is likely to be traded this summer after the brief postseason run, so the team will listen to offers. Gasol, a soft, spongy ballplayer when he can't hustle, grab rebounds and dictate the flow of the game under the basket with a post presence that no one has seen from him much in the playoffs, wasn't a dependable player and Bryant couldn't rely on him to be a second-scoring option.

The Lakers have a pair of largely gifted seven-footers the tallest front court in the NBA, but nonetheless failed to control the boards and close off the lane. The two were bullied by the Thunder, and so were the rest of the team other than Bryant, who refused to quit, despite trailing in the second half of Monday's elimination game. In some ways the Lakers have the best-worst team in the NBA, simply because they have the greatest superstar of this generation but have the most underachieving core of players alongside the Black Mamba, a team captain who hate to lose, hate to come up short of winning an NBA championship.

Kobe was not pleased with his teammates, nor the Lakers executives -- once again devoid of what he plays for, an honorable trophy each season. Bynum was supposed to be a reliable center, and more importantly, all grown up since he was given a five-game suspension for his dirty, thug-like hit on J.J. Barea in the Lakers' Game 4 loss to Dallas of the semifinals a year ago -- he's immature and apathetic after all -- but can become the most dominant center since Shaquille O'Neal. It's the darkest moment, equivalent to an episode of the Twilight Zone. After a wonderful dynasty early in the 21st century, now with a weakened and withered bench, an older core of players incapable of keeping up with the youth and emergence of faster players fitted to run a long marathon, the Lakers have to retool again.

If the Lakers take account of a rebuilding project, they could then again win more titles. But until then, the Lakers won't deliver the goods with their current roster. And now, with an abrupt ending to the Lakers' erratic season, Mike Brown's job status is mired in jeopardy. There's not much happiness in Lakersland. The storyline, after a miserable loss that extended this Lakers demise, is that Bryant is unhappy with the state of the franchise and the personnel decisions of Lakers vice executive Jim Buss. It is almost staggering that Gasol and Bynum went for a combined 2-for-11 and poured in seven points in the second half of an elimination game.

The newly minted executive, who is the son of owner Jerry Buss, finally had a wake up call, and now it's his responsible to make dramatic changes to make certain the Lakers return to usual form. All this season, the Lakers won based on finesse and experience, not youth, speed or hungriness. All this season, the Lakers won because of Kobe Bryant, and with the exception of Gasol and Bynum, it cut their season short. It's well-documented Bryant is here for the long term, obviously, but the rest of the team is called into question.

With all due respect, Magic Johnson, who had a contentious opinion regarding Brown, is not alone. There's already been much conversation on whether Brown will salvage his job for another season, all because he brought in a blue-collar defensive system and deserve credit for his acumen to emphasize a strong effort defensively. But, of late, the Lakers never committed to defense, and Russell Westbrook single-handedly dismantled the Lakers. It wouldn't be surprising if Buss fires Brown, especially when he and general manager Mitch Kupchak can now phone Stan Van Gundy about the coaching job here in Los Angeles.

The worst is, it has been painful to watch the Lakers in the midst of a crisis, one that requires an extreme Hollywood makeover. Sending off Bynum to New Jersey for Deron Williams and Brook Lopez would be a good way to rebuild in the City of Angels -- or even sending the seven-foot center who selfishly is apathetic and doesn't care where he plays next season -- he may wind up in Orlando for Dwight Howard. Bynum, a pouty brat who was benched, sarcastically shot well out of his range, cried, played selfishly and laughed after a disgraceful loss, can be dealt over the summer for good value.

There's no doubt he needs to grow up on a team where his act of petulance and immaturity are problems for a franchise on a mission to amass championships, which traditionally the Lakers have done so well. If no one else knows, Bryant can admittedly tell us how incompetent and useless his current roster is collectively. At this point of Bryant's career, he's tired, mentally and physically burned out when all of this is on him. If they lose, he's the scapegoat. If they lose, he's the one to blame, for either being too selfish or too unselfish, for either being a facilitator or ball hog. Damned if he does. Damned if he doesn't. The hope is that the Lakers can eventually rebuild the current roster with blockbuster trades and signings to put them into championship mode.

Then, once it's all said and done, the Lakers can redefine themselves. There are a number of things -- if they can go back in time -- that the Lakers as a whole would handle differently, like choosing to hire Brian Shaw, which was Bryant's preferred favorite. The realization of the Lamar Odom trade spelled absolute doom, sending him to Dallas, a team that wiped the Lakers out of the postseason. And certainly, they slowly diminished without his services, trading him essentially for nothing in return, for which Bryant was furious and puzzled on what the future held following the deal that was unorthodox. A year ago, Dallas swept these Lakers in the semifinals.

This year, nothing changed, except they managed to win at least one game versus Oklahoma City but went home in five games. The Lakers, I fear, are in a world of trouble until they figure it out. It's not about the lost of the greatest coach of all time, Phil Jackson. It's not about Metta World Peace as the most reliable player Kobe can trust or even his state of mind. It's not about the Odom trade. It's about the Lakers reverting to winners. There were no real surprises, ever since a near-successful trade that would have sent Gasol and Odom to New Orleans for Chris Paul was vetoed.

While there were Rajon Rondo rumors across L.A. with speculations of Howard coming to the Lakers following their early season struggles in the first couple of months, they had to play with what they had, they were so erratic and then traded Derek Fisher, the veteran point guard who led them to five NBA championships. It is clear the Lakers are basketball royalty, and anything less than a championship is a failure. But after the game, after suffering a beatdown for the second straight season that created a soap opera, it was an eye-opener for one of the big-time sports franchises -- among them -- the New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Cubs, Green Bay Packers, Duke and Notre Dame.

We didn't know it was going to be like this, when the Lakers traded for Ramon Sessions hoping to reduce their weakest area, trying to get faster, younger and more athletic but Westbrook was still too quick and lethal. It's telling, though, that the Lakers need more than just Sessions.

It wouldn't be surprising for the Lakers to pursue a local player in Brandon Jennings, a big-name free agent this summer. It wouldn't be surprising for them to release Brown and replace him with Jerry Sloan, Van Gundy or Shaw. This summer will be interesting, for sure, as the Lakers need to do whatever it takes to reestablish a lost personality.

Lakers Can’t Find True Identity From LBJ-Kobe Duel

The audience erupted in roars, primal screams that rattled the arena in South Beach and, when all the folks were seen in seas of black cheering on LeBron James, it was obvious he suddenly was the rising star on this night. It’s a glaring notion that we are witnesses of two megastars that occupy our own consciousness as we are brainwashed by those Nike advertisements.


If he wants to settle an overexposed debate, in the meantime, Kobe Bryant must outscore James in a star-studded duel, but he’s not focused on outshining his nemesis and too busy promoting the Kobesystem, another illuminati commercial to endorse his product. Unfortunately, nothing ever comes easy for Bryant, who finds himself in a debate even though he owns five rings – more than the average player in this generation. He’s not, however, the most likable player as some disbelievers prefer to applaud James when he give up his claim to all-time greatness, crowning him prematurely as if he wears a ring.

So now what? It was a hideous shooting night for Bryant, and then the Kobe Lakeshow wasn’t on its regularly scheduled program or never aired in Miami, where James grabbed all the attention and showboated as usual, settling for 31 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, four steals and three blocks to dominate the Lakers single-handedly. Maybe he doesn’t show it by his facial expressions – but he still, in his heart, hates losing to James.

The Lakers and Heat meeting in the NBA Finals?

It’s a possibility, a large possibility.

As much as the Lakers often lose to the Heat, Bryant normally becomes frustrated or petulant following a disappointing letdown on the national stage that centers two megastars, maybe even the greatest NBA entertainers in such a captivating show business – and cannot ever beat James to mute an endless Kobe vs. LeBron discussion. This 98-87 anticlimax on Thursday was a sign that the Lakers are still a work in progress, not equipped to strive for another title, seeking for an identity with new head coach Mike Brown and younger role players.

The evolution of this team couldn’t have been more than dire straits when the Lakers had no ferocity, no mental toughness, no heart or fight to slow down James. The night revolved around James, and there he was, flying past everyone in gold uniforms, while fighting flu-like symptoms. It means we’re seeing a sudden rise in James’ performance, putting on a show for fans in Miami and outplaying his childhood idol in every meeting to cap an NBA masterpiece almost like no other. It also means, on the flip side of things, that the Lakers are NOT competent or moxie to battle for the gleaming hardware, with many flaws to still fix within a fluctuant offense.

This promises to be an excruciating marathon of the Lakers’ erratic season, when the front office can relieve a tremendous amount of pressure off Bryant by trading Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace in exchange for Dwight Howard as the team can use another star player hungry enough and willing to team up with the Black Mamba and meet the challenge for the run at a title. It took an embarrassing loss to the Heat for the Lakers to determine certainly that their offense is inconsistent, weakened and soft.

It’s one thing to assume the Lakers are vehement, potent and built with the most talent in the NBA, which we began to discover weak spots as now would be a good time for resurrecting the frailty within a languid offense. But it’s another to witness them relapse already in such a young season because of injuries or either softness, to see a noteworthy pro basketball team in shambles that has become the hottest storyline.

The ending to this horror night in South Beach, where life for the Lakers turned pitch black as the weather forecast near the shores of Biscayne Bay called for strong winds from a wicked tropical storm, was frightful and painful as Kobe and his ineffective troops descended. That dreaded storm was James and the Heat. It’s usually a tough pill to swallow for Bryant, even more so when he loses to James over and over, unable to survive in a one-on-one duel as both players clash at center court, only to present an entertaining display on the NBA floor.

It hasn’t taken much to understand that Kobe and LeBron are the social fabric of basketball, an integral part of the economic and popularity in a growing enterprise, given that the NBA market is selling jerseys and tickets at most venues. It’s now easy to take in that James, in retrospect, doesn’t want to just fit in as an NBA star but also has the ambition to be a world-class athlete globally and market himself as an entrepreneur. Everyone knows when James and Bryant squares off — two of the NBA’s greatest — James always has the edge as his nemesis rashly backs down from the challenge, and so he continuously beats Bryant.

The Heat, for example, intimidated and terrified the Lakers to give us a clue on what they’ll be like the next few months, plainly not built for a championship run, suffering to make baskets and tighten up on defense, a number of troubles that has defaced L.A. for a long time. It’s almost foreshadowing to think that the Lakers are in a heap of trouble with this current roster, and refuse to entertain trade offers for Howard or another star player.

This was the moment for the Lakers to walk away with a victory against a championship-built team that was missing top guard Dwyane Wade because of an ankle injury. This was the moment for the Lakers to win without a healthy Miami Thrice unit on the floor that would have definitely presented more problems. It’s never good to see Chris Bosh, the tall, lanky inconsistent forward, cobbler the softest giant Andrew Bynum, who was blocked by James late in the game.

It’s never good to see James stealing a pass from Fisher, and running off in transition for a slam dunk that capped a 31-point performance. At the end of the game, Gasol rendered his emotions, covering his eyes and leaving the floor speechless. It’s apparent that a disconcerted Derek Fisher, sitting with two bags of ice on each knee while soaking his feet in a bucket after the game, is aging and closing in on his retirement to call it an accomplished career.

It’s apparent that Bryant is alone in acting as the aggressor and facilitator that provides not even enough energy or firmness to dominate at a high. The temptation to increasingly step up the intensity hasn’t been seen from the Lakers, a disengaged team with apathy and lethargy, struggling to find ways to win on the road where they are 1-5. If they have every desire to play for a championship, the Lakers must win in other territories and defeat decisive contenders, without losing to teams such as Chicago, Miami or the L.A. Clippers.

And so, as of now, the struggles continue.

Wake Up Busses: Harsh Reality Is, Lakers’ Era No More

Much as I try to respect the Buss family, for assembling star power and consistent winners in the past to own the well-known, beloved pro sports franchise in town, Jim Buss – the son of self-serving owner Jerry Buss – recently perceived as one of the inept co-chairmen in the NBA, is destroying the personality of his franchise.

It seems as if the Los Angeles Lakers, once a smart-minded organization primarily because the Busses opened their wallets to spend wisely and lavished star players, are turning into egomaniacs and dummies who are foolish enough to withdraw the effects of ascendancy for the foreseeable future.

From now on, it’s about revamping and hopes in returning to prominence, and even if the Lakers era unquestionably has come to an end, the storied franchise won’t ever win another championship with the current roster. If you expect the Lakers to win it all, shimmer under the bright lights on center stage in Hollywood, please realize that the team needs to acquire another skilled player or invest in supplementary pieces to dismiss the misfortunes and restore an engaged roster by surrounding Kobe Bryant with a dimensional supporting cast.

Until then, while sitting around waiting for the Lakers to conduct business by their considerable diplomacy in maybe pulling off a blockbuster deal for Dwight Howard –Orlando’s kryptonite center — they won’t have a profound foundation of winners. For one dreary afternoon at Staples Center, another Christmas Day that wasn’t so merry or cheerful in Los Angeles, a dispirited crowd seated in the building suddenly worried about the flaws seen after the Lakers had blown an 11-point lead in a loss to the Chicago Bulls.


The wasted opportunity, frighteningly enough, besieged what almost capped the nicest moment and the finest victory. And maybe now the Lakers became conscious of the missing pieces to reform an optimal team. There’s no joy in the City of Angels, a fear of failures and long-suffering droughts with expectations and pressure because of bloated egos, because the team arguably has the best closer in the game and, well, because the Lakers are widely considered one of the world-famous franchises in NBA history. The demise of the Lakers, suppressed by the mediocrity and infirmity, is oddly sweeping over purple and gold, and then evokes plenty of horror.

Bryant, playing with a torn ligament in his right wrist, is unhappy that his bosses traded Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks for a 2012 first-round draft pick. The loss of Odom, probably the best sixth man in the NBA, sends off a bad vibe as the Lakers are weaker and not favorites to win another championship, falling behind the Clippers in a town where they’ve rained on their neighbor’s parade – the in-town rivals in purple and gold.

Given that he’s a clutch performer of this generation, it’s bad not to surround, maybe the best entertainer in basketball, with a reliable supporter, such as those tough ballplayers on the streets – which would be physically built men with bruises and scratches to their faces and maybe even a Band-Aid seen on their forehead. This isn’t a team that plays aggressive like the rough boys from And1 mixtapes — but suddenly soft and passive, so the Lakers are not even close to being destined to winning a championship.

His challenge just became harder, and the circumstances of uncertainty have visited L.A.’s beloved sports team, as the burdens of mental toughness and urgency lies on the shoulders of Kobe, not yet requesting for a trade to play elsewhere when he is maligned by the front office boneheaded moves. Last time this happened, Bryant, unsatisfied and livid with the direction the team was headed, demanded a trade because the Lakers weren’t seeking to hire Jerry West as general manager, the former team executive who traded for Kobe in 1996.

It’s not surprising that he reportedly requested a trade out of Los Angeles and whined bitterly, after the front office’s aggressive pursuit of Chris Paul was a failed attempt to halt much promise in a deal that would have sent Pau Gasol to Houston and Odom to New Orleans. Having seen this episode before, I know the fluctuations of his mind: Satisfy Kobe “Bean” Bryant as much as possible. The Lakers, the most enigmatic, culture-riddled NBA team this season, barely seem like they are positioned to dominate in a condensed season, much less a franchise that can bring in a star player to share the ball with Bryant.

But now, as we often see the Kobe Lakeshow, an extravaganza on center stage that absorbs the spotlight in Hollywood, Bryant is worried about what direction the team is headed. What’s fascinating about a well-known L.A. spectacle, which happens at a lively venue, is that his show on the court entertains and entices the audience enough to awe true fans sitting courtside, including Lakers’ mascot Jack Nicholson. Seems he and his team, with sudden mortality, watches an era come to an end as common L.A. folks regularly scheduled program has been canceled for the time being.

Sure NBA commissioner David Stern, acting as the powerful owner of the Hornets, if not the mighty god of the NBA, blocked a megatrade for the all-star point guard. But what I dislike about Jim, the witless and dumbfounded co-owner of the Lakers, is that he’s dismantled the franchise to the point where it has become the least polished and interesting team in pro basketball. The first sign that the Lakers’ woes are far from over was a bit startling in recent weeks. It would be appropriate to realize that the Lakers had set their sights on acquiring Howard from Orlando and were in prime position to trade for him, but the Magic abruptly pulled the marketable sensation off the trade market.

There’s a feeling as of now, in contrary to the Buss family sending Odom to Dallas when he pouted and asked for a trade, that they are proposing a deal to trade both Andrew Bynum and Gasol. Mad with the world, turning an overblown situation into a soap opera, Odom boycotted the Lakers’ practice facility where he was a no-show on the first day of practice and asked for a trade. It isn’t the most satisfying moment for a high-market franchise with much tradition, wins and championships. Nor is life glamorous in Lakerland.

It’s always nice to have the best player in the game if this generation, if not on the planet in the midst of a foreign period for the Lakers. The distractions, in a town commonly badgered by the Hollywood drama and celebrity gossip, are swirling around Bryant in the aftermath of his wife Vanessa Bryant filing for divorce from the Lakers star player. The world was as shock as they are now, seeing the Lakers take a 0-2 skid to begin the season.

Is it time to panic in L.A.? Is this the time when Dr. Jerry Buss takes a few shots of Whiskey? Is this the time Kobe will request a trade out of town? Is this the time Kobe pisses off Jim and is foolishly granted his wish?

One has to wonder, not too sure what direction the Lakers are headed, as the front office made a few head-scratching moves. Not much in life, unless the Buss family conducts business by making poor alterations as the franchise become worse, upsets the minds of Lakers’ supporters. He prayed that he’d still lead the Lakers, knowing that he has enough in him, even if he’s getting old. Each time, Bryant is exhausted by a grueling shooting spectacle, hogging the ball to save his team from itself, to rescue the Lakers from hell. Such was his ability, finesse to score at will one night, when he compiled 81 points in a historic performance at Staples Center, or when he promoted the “Where Amazing Happens” NBA theme and wore the most intimidating expression. This was Bryant nearly three years ago, when he startled the world with his scowl game face.

While his eyes were possessed and focused heavily on his prey, as if he was a vampire ready to devour anyone’s blood, Kobe scored 40 points and single-handedly pummeled Orlando 100-75 in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. But the Lakers right now are nearing the end of an era, and indelible moments are not logical in duplicating at this point. If you care about the Lakers, a share of your soul is gone begging for the franchise to end a turbulent relationship and dump Gasol, even when he contributed to the team’s two recent titles, even when he was an x-factor in playoff games in the past.


And now, after two seasons with the Lakers where he’s been a four-time All-Star and entrenched as one of the star players, his reign in a purple and gold uniform has come to an end, washed up, useless, like an old dishrag. When it comes time to play, Gasol is a fearless, harmless tall lanky guy with a reputation of being lazy and soft, and has taken much criticism. Sorry, if he doesn’t have “Toughness” anywhere in his name, because in reality he’s softer than a marshmallow and will probably be on the trading block real soon.

His softness shows on the court, and opposing players have called him soft in the past, maybe the softest player in the NBA. At 37-years-old – or 37-years-young – for some who believe he’s still ageless, Derek Fisher is far from ageless but the oldest player on the court, certainly in the starting lineup – mind you. It sounds like he should be close to signing his retirement documents, too slow to keep his feet in front of younger point guards in the game and losing his lateral quickness for which he can’t defend.

The car flags’ are probably lowered at half-mast on many vehicles, and as much as life is dreary from Orange County to Santa Monica, it feels almost like the Lakers perished.

The challenge, meanwhile, is larger and more compelling. It’s time that the Buss family wake up and surround Bryant with a reliable supporting cast. And, just show you know, the Lakers have been to 32 NBA Finals and won 16 championships, but triumph has sadly culminated in a dying era. And a long the way, the Lakers are about to embark on a sizable rebuilding project -- at least that’s what is needed if they want to stay on top in the west and return to championship form. We now know for certain that the Lakers era ended, and it’s time to declare that triumph is over for Team Hollywood, one franchise that leaves us guessing and wondering strongly about any future plans.

When NBA legend Phil Jackson retired, the winningest coach in NBA history, it was a new tale for Jim and the Busses and at level of understanding the significance of replacing a legend – he brought in new Lakers head coach Mike Brown to begin a new coaching regime. When the front office failed to trade for two prime targets -- such as Howard -- general manager Mitch Kupchak, who is suffering from headaches amid potentially a lengthy transition period, the team couldn't rebuild talent, aura and reliance with all the agonizing pitfalls to become a below-average franchise.

But mainly, the pedigree and aspirations are lost, and the result is that the Lakers are a long ways from being a consistent winner, as vulnerable to losing against any team. The franchise has failed to retool, missing on big-name players once available on the trade market. That’s what happens with bad personnel decisions, the Lakers never had an opportunity to revamp. Ask Magic Johnson. Even he knows this current team doesn’t have enough to win a championship.

Are the Lakers the Colts of the NBA? You often wonder.

Kobe can’t do it alone. And Buss doesn’t realize it.

Lakers Fail to Give Fans Holiday Cheer

As a flurry of games were on the slate to begin the NBA season on Christmas Day, ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the city, die-hard, cheery fans were excited and the streets were quite festive near Staples Center – the house that Kobe built.

The lights were bright in the building for the city’s regularly scheduled program, and the Kobe Lakeshow absorbed much publicity from a torn ligament in Kobe Bryant’s right wrist that would require the star guard to undergo surgery, but he opted to play through the injury. The fans awaited the season opener, though the Los Angeles Lakers were hit by misfortunes.

The truth is, however, the Lakers need an instrumental piece. Primarily because the Lakers are on a mission to contend for another title, and yet again raise another championship banner to the rafters at Staples Center.

Considering that the Lakers are a long ways from returning to prominence without a reliable star that could fittingly play alongside Bryant, only validates what direction the franchise is headed.

But here’s hoping the Lakers aren’t in ruins, especially when dumbfounded Jim Buss, the man responsible for dismantling a championship-caliber team, says the Lakers have the pieces to be crowned world champions – without trading for Dwight Howard or after sending Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for nothing and a trade exception from a dizzying turning point of recent events.

Known as the Slam Dunk King early in his career, one of the most decorated players of his generation, Bryant is definitely the star of the Lakers as the burdens lie heavily on his shoulders.

The fact is, it seems he and his team are getting older, slower and more sluggish, incapable of playing a full 48 minutes without showing signs of tiredness in the first game of a shortened 66-game season.

So what we have is a pro basketball franchise harder to understand than a jigsaw puzzle, equivalent to the mystic of connecting dots on dot-to-dot puzzles, the team of all riddles that have the Lakers in much uncertainty.

If I were the Buss Family about now, I’d be propounding a deal that sends Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum to Orlando in exchange for Howard. The expiration date on the Lakers' triumphant days are on the verge of a gloomy ending to what was a glamorous Hollywood script. But now the Lakers are a melting mess, all while they are close to returning to playoff form if they acquire a fixture and get rid of soft and feeble-minded players.

As he settled for 28 points, despite his eight turnovers from his poor ball-handling -- in a grueling, nail-biting, tight, heartbreaking 88-87 loss to the Chicago Bulls – Bryant’s scoring masterpiece wasn’t enough. The game never had a dull moment, and Bryant never slowed down.

Not once in the game did he grimace in pain, not once was he weary. As seen so often, watching the Kobe Lakeshow under the bright lights in Hollywood, the Lakers heard swish after the swish, and Bryant was the hottest shooter on the floor.

For Bryant, a five-time world champion, a future Hall of Famer, he drove right, drew three defenders and had his shot blocked by Luol Deng. The ending was so heart-shattering, so gut-wrenching that the game’s best closer boldly attacked the rim and tried to finish on a game-winning layup.

But while he was double teamed near mid-court after an inbounds pass and after trying to distribute the ball, generally a play the Lakers execute brilliantly, Deng was pesky and stepped in the way of an errant pass.

It was a pass intended for Gasol, a play created to score easily in the paint, but Deng stole the ball and delivered it to Derrick Rose that set up the game-winner.

The moment finally arrived that Rose drove the lane and heaved a floating shot, scoring 22 points and helping the Bulls rally from an 11-point deficit late in the fourth quarter.

You can say the Lakers gave this one away. You can say they blew it. You can say, yet they lost it in the final minutes, that the Lakers are a team to be reckoned with, but only a fool would believe they are dominant.

The reality is, after losing in the closing minutes and blowing a lead, the Lakers have no fighting chance, committing costly mistakes and missing half of their jump shots. The fact that Kobe is surrounded by players with many personalities plays a critical role as well.

Looking more like a confused nut -- especially if you change your birth name to some peculiar name – Metta World Peace has a few marbles missing in his brain cells, he can’t shoot the ball effectively and is expendable for the $22 million price tag remaining on his deal over the next three years. It’s time, it really is, that we come to our senses and understand that Gasol is soft, maybe even the softest player in the league.

For the presence of Steve Blake, he has bricked more threes than he has made them. Matt Barnes doesn’t have that firepower or mental toughness he once had when he played in Orlando. Where it stands with Derek Fisher is that he’s not quick enough to keep pace with the younger and speedy legs as an aging point guard. Without Odom, the Lakers are weaker, missing arguably the best sixth man in the NBA.

At the age 33, Bryant is still the Lakers superstar, as painful as it is to perform efficiently with an injured right wrist. But the Lakers gave away a game they could have won, losing to the vintage Bulls. The Lakers, wearing their Sunday white jerseys and playing in front of a national audience, squandered an opportunity to prevail on center stage and appease L.A. sports fans.

The dreaded lockout is over, at last, and folks in town witnessed the No. 1 pro franchise in Los Angeles. This was supposed to be the prefect Christmas gift, but more than anything it was a heartbreaker. It was as if Mr. Grinch had stolen Christmas from the Lakers, as if Old St. Nick had marked them on his naughty list, as if you were reading a Charles Dickens tale.

It’s quite easy to figure out where the Lakers stand at this point, blowing an 11-point lead that eclipsed new head coach Mike Brown's debut and crushed the team's momentum. Among all things, the Lakers would miss free throws, commit clumsy turnovers and fouls with a few blown defensive assignments.

After all, it was never pretty. The Lakers never played well. They played much like no one expected, because of all their disadvantages on a Sunday afternoon at home.

What a stunning turn of events at Staples Center, where a disillusioned sellout crowd left early. If the Lakers had handled business by reconfiguring a deal for Chris Paul, after the deal was hopeful two weeks ago that they had agreed to send Gasol to Houston and Odom to New Orleans in exchange for Paul until NBA commissioner David Stern vetoed the deal, Paul would have joined forces with Kobe and maybe even Howard to keep the franchise on top in the future.

The flirtation with Paul was the talk of the town, and now everyone is chatting about the final seconds of the first game that the Lakers gave away, after solely relying on Bryant and turning complacent and lackadaisical in critical moments.

The best player of this generation, if not on the planet – held the ball to take the final shot and clinch the game-winner, but he was shut down, trapped and smothered tightly.

The growth of the kids Devin Ebanks and Andrew Goudelock was impressive, a pair of young players shooting a combined six for eight. The inside presence of Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy was astonishing, two new players combining for 16 rebounds and three blocked shots.

But late in the game, as they were weary and lazy, the Lakers unraveled and lost touch. And then, Gasol and McRoberts each missed two free throws as the Bulls scored to cut the deficit to one.

If the Christmas Day opener told us something, it told us that the Lakers need to address any team flaws. It all starts by making one more move, which would be a trade for a quality star.

I hope it’s a New Year’s resolution.

The Latest Reality Show: Terrell Owens Drama Airing in Cincinnati

The latest reality show called T.O. Drama hijacks the airwaves in Cincinnati. Under these circumstances, Terrell Owens is known for dividing a team, as a bonding core plunges mightily at the earliest of September and becomes the epicenter of arguably the biggest tragicomedy in sports.

It’s risky and the most perilous experiment in football, assembling together diva-like receivers with cancerous symptoms that could dismantle a franchise’s morale and chemistry. As the most despised NFL star, Owens is the most controversial receiver with an egomaniacal behavior, demanding the football and crying when he doesn't get enough touches.

It’s baffling that the Cincinnati Bengals are getting the popcorn ready, to witness the most dangerous reality show, to witness a temperamental receiver cause confrontation and isolate a franchise with his self-centered attitude. In the meantime, Owens and Chad Ochocinco’s relationship is unconditional love, of course, as neither have played their first game together, but evidently are close friends and have an amiable bond.

At some point, realizing that Terrible Owens is a curiosity in football whether he’s unemployed or emerging as the famous nuisance on reality shows, we can revisit the previous teams that corroded because of Owens’ dysfunction and development as a saboteur. It’s a marriage of controversy, a relationship expected to weaken early in the regular season as mood swings and infighting chaos loom ever so quickly.

For all the abuse San Francisco, Philadelphia, Dallas, and somewhat Buffalo took, fans in any other town than Cincinnati are laughing at the clowns of the league for gambling on a dangerous and worthless S.O.B. Once, he was allowed numerous chances to enrich his psyche and polish as the most talented wideout, gifted at running routes and physically bringing in an astonishing catch. But he’s a declining receiver with a knack to launch reality shows on VH1 and be represented as a celebrity bust, rather than a football bust.

So now, it’s simple to discern that bringing in Terrible Owens are signs of trouble, and it was the most horrific blunder by reaching an agreement with a mischief-maker. If you don’t think Owens agreeing to a one-year, $2 million contract with a potential $2 million more in incentives is crazy, well, you obviously haven’t seen him yelling at teammates, or throwing hissy fits with coaches on the sideline, or haven’t seen him generating tirades and blaming all his foolish stunts on the media.

When it comes to Terrible Owens, the arrival of an uncivilized star spells trouble. When it comes to Terrible Owens, reaching a deal is a warning sign of a hazard and the demise of one troubled superstar, engulfed by madness, drama and baggage to reduce a team’s assurance. By now, we are burnt out on Owens’ me-myself-and-I practices, irritating our consciousness and the way we perceive a petulant veteran who usually at times conduct himself as an inexperienced rookie, as if he’s still finding his way in the league.

As usual, Owens will drain the executives, coaching staff, and teammates in the Bengals organization, particularly if the team doesn’t compromise with his stingy and greedy demands. Why is he worth the hassle? By entering his 15th NFL season, he has accomplished unforeseen feats, an explosive receiver with inconceivable agility and crafty footwork, ranking third in career receiving yards and touchdowns and sixth in receptions.

The best-case scenario is that he provides veteran leadership and performs at the highest level alongside teammate Ochocinco to form a receiver tandem in limbo. But the worst-case scenario is that he tears down chemistry and spirit by initiating rampages and havoc inside the locker room because of jealousy and insecurity of his peers and teammates for accumulating more touches and regards.

“It’s really, really interesting we can be on the same team and work together,” Ochocinco said Tuesday on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

To refresh everyone’s memory, he lasted two seasons in Philadelphia and always had heated feuds with quarterback Donovan McNabb by verbally attacking his teammates and throwing tantrums on the sidelines. Remember, he cried and created a ruckus in Dallas, initiating tiring feuds that were advertised publicly when he feuded with quarterback Tony Romo, irritated because he wasn’t getting enough touches or participating in a high-powered offense.

Remember, his disturbing antics forced loyal owner Jerry Jones to release a problematic Owens, whose disruptions were very ravaging and babyish for a franchise. Remember, he spent eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, and exploded when he attacked Jeff Garcia and insulted his quarterback by calling him gay.


As a well-known diva, it was a risky move for the Bengals, who advanced to the playoffs last season and had enough talent and problems. It’s bad enough that owner Mike Brown is a dauntless businessman willing to take gambles and lobby for rebellious players. If anything, he’s not concerned on building a depleted franchise with unlawful players, but prefers to win a significant amount of games and advance to the playoffs, having a troubled Larry Johnson and Matt Jones, including a mobile running back Cedric Benson, who benefited on the field while running into unlawful troubles off the field.

Without carefully considering, Brown accepts a mystic Terrible Owens and welcomes the wideout to the Bengals family, based on talent and not a poor reputation. All of which quarterback Carson Palmer, who has worked with Owens and has been “highly impressed,” is the victim of T.O. attacks if Owens loses his mind and self-control.

It figures that Cincinnati is Owens' last franchise before he announces his retirement, with the aging receiver’s style suddenly declining and approaching the late stages of his disillusioned career. It’s a tremendous opportunity for Terrible Owens to mellow as the innocent sports figure and prove to all populace that he’s not such a villain of franchise suicide, garnering a sense that the world doesn't revolve around him.

He must discard all the diva acts, an annoying trend needless for a franchise on a mission, so maybe it’s his last resort for avoiding unemployment and salvaging his job security. And maybe it’s his last resort at thriving with a championship-caliber team in effort to win a title.

Then again, maybe he’ll be the crybaby that will mope over the amount of touches and receptions. Then again, maybe at the end of the season Marvin Lewis, who is responsible for babysitting Terrible Owens, will have to stroll to the nearest Babies “R” Us and stick a pacifier in Owens’ mouth for weeping and bickering.

“Yes, people can make mistakes,” said Brown. “It doesn’t mean that they go on the rest of their lives making mistakes. They can get their ship pointed in the right direction. This is a 36-year-old man. He’s been through a lot. He’s proven as a player and as a person.”

He’s a little baby and cries out loud. It’s common that he’ll excel and blend in well at the beginning, but as time carries on, he could become the attention-seeker and create havoc, especially when the team is performing poorly and losing a critical amount of games.

Oftentimes, he has blamed ESPN for defaming his troubled reputation and exposing erroneous images. Now it’s the worldwide leader in sports fault if he acts like a foolish dimwit, unwilling to accept the truth and blinded by reality. It’s Owens' actions, not a television network or Internet source that he deeply targets and holds accountable.

“The teams I’ve been on, if you ask in that locker room how I’ve been as a teammate and as a person, it’s contradictory to what’s been displayed out there,” Owens said. “I’ve never been in any trouble. I know right from wrong. I try to make the right choices and judgments when I’m out in the public.

“It’s not like I can’t play. There is some type of influence that they’re making in the minds of teams and owners and GMs. I feel like I have enough talent to be a starter on any team. That’s what’s so frustrating.”


At anytime, he could lose his mind, throw a hissy fit, and verbally attack teammates. At anytime, Owens’, Ochocinco’s and Palmer’s egos may helplessly collide. With the poor character of Terrible Owens, anything is possible. You never know.

If you are tuning in to the latest reality show, your regularly scheduled program could be cancelled, allowing Terrible Owens to return to “The T.O. Show,” or Oprah or even Dr. Phil for some advice on how to avoid dysfunction. As we all know, Ochocinco appeared on “Dancing With the Stars” and currently stars in a dating show called “Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch." It’s easy to postulate that they are obsessed with popularity and attention, but also have mental and personal issues.

There’s a reality show in Cincinnati. It’s called the "Team of Dysfunction."

Oh, Lord…

After Dreary Letdown, LeBron James Must Relocate To a New Address

Ever seen a crowd in a petrified town nervous about the status of a gifted athlete, dignified for rejuvenating an insubstantial franchise in his hometown?

The enthusiastic fans are suddenly glancing at reality, with the possibility of LeBron James departing Ohio and signing his signature with a rebuilding team in a high-market city this summer in free agency.

A day doesn’t pass without speculation of James' future within an association of big-name superstars and traditional franchises having the upper advantage because of depth, size, heart, and experience.

The mental state of presumably a devastating ending for James’ regime in Cleveland dooms a beleaguered and embarrassed sports town after a long-lasting calamity absorbs a curse.

When an athlete brainwashes us with Nike ads and puppet commercials and is named NBA’s Most Valuable Player back-to-back, it creates an ego and elevates fame, including an uncertain legacy. Ever since he bypassed college hoops for the pros, he was pampered by his hometown and given the nickname "King”.

He has become the global icon and the worldwide figure, admired for his popularity and creativity in a game he has emerged as the biggest event. His enthralling dunks and distributions of making his teammates more effective symbolizes all things the league advertises.

All of which he’s worshipped more than the average athlete, and has even solidified fame by winning individual awards, but is still devoid of a championship, faltering in critical games and relinquishing at the worst possible time.

So now, the worried people in Cleveland are holding their collective breaths, uneasy and concerned about James’ future.


Suddenly, the global superstar of the Cleveland Cavaliers has become the biggest curiosity in sports. And to think we debated, with much conviction on his next destination, it’s unpredictable where he’ll land come July 1.

Any team can bid, but only a few seem sensible and worth negotiating with. To name a few: Maybe he’ll sign with the Knicks, Heat, Bulls, or even the hapless Nets and be a part of the rebuilding project.

That way he’ll be doing his good friend Jay-Z a favor by representing New Jersey and rejuvenating a franchise once again, even though that would be stepping backwards.

Sometimes we need a change of scenery and he definitely is ready for a change to reduce heart breakers, after falling short each year in the postseason. Once again, his facial expression revealed disappointment and disgust, but this time he hugged and congratulated the Celtics when the buzzer sounded.

He walked towards the tunnel and tossed his headband into the stands, a moment when the world pondered and admittedly were convinced that his future with the Cavs ended.

If there are believers who thinks he’ll leave, Boston fans are among many believing he’ll not return next season. Late in the fourth quarter as time dwindled, the crowd chanted “New York Knicks! New York Knicks!”

It’s only common to believe that James won’t re-sign with the Cavs this summer after an agonizing ending left him distraught in one of the biggest collapses, adding to the nightmarish droughts and deterioration in a town with downcast moments. That was The Shot, The Drive, The Fumble, and The Choke—and now the LeChoke.

Unfair as it seems to point the fingers at LeBron, the fingers must point directly at Mike Brown, whose coaching philosophy descended and failed emphasizing enough energy or urgency this postseason.

He’s definitely a name on the hot seat this offseason. But a week ago, his job security seemed unharmed when the Cavs had a commanding 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series against Boston. Aside from the temporary destruction of Boston, Cleveland dropped three consecutive games by a combined 51 points and abolished in a 94-85 elimination loss in Game Six to the Boston Celtics.

James, who scored 22 points on 36.8 percent shooting, walked out of the interview room reflecting back on a lousy, dreary performance.

From his unpleasant facial expressions, he revealed a furious stare and appeared burnt out of the meltdowns, willing to call it a career with the Cavs and try to surmount to triumph elsewhere. He exposed his own weaknesses when he attempted ill-advised jump shots and missed, but in the series he was forced to take outside and midrange jumpers as the Celtics shut down and trapped the interior with a deeper defensive mindset.

Pathetically, James' squad was horrible defensive-wise and never had an answer for a speedy Rajon Rondo, who harassed the Cavs and dictated the flow fundamentally. Forty-eight days away of becoming a free agent, his availability is valuable to numerous franchises.

He fittingly would be a good addition in Chicago, where he’ll be surrounded with a flowering supporting cast and the talent of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.

He could even unite with Dwyane Wade and build a forceful nucleus in South Beach. Or magnetize the business lifestyle and urban cities of New York, becoming the biggest attraction on Broadway and titillate Madison Square Garden.

Better, the Knicks fans have falling in love with James each time he stepped onto the hardwood in the world’s most prestigious venue. Previously, he has awed the fans with his mesmerizing spectacles, while the fans implored that James sign when he’s available. Each time, he was welcomed with warm receptions, and endeared for his spectacular display.

Wherever James ends up, he’ll have to come with urgency and determination unlike his lackluster performance of late.

He rarely commits turnovers, but turned it over nine times for his reckless and mindless muffs with the ball, at times overly dribbling or making risky passes in traffic and near white jerseys. But more staggering was that he carelessly quit on his team and his native town.

He mentally stopped playing and hustling, an uncharacteristic result and relied on his shaky supporting cast instead of demanding the ball and seizing the spotlight in a pivotal game. And it cost the Cavs. Maybe he was really injured after all, feeling the soreness in his damaged elbow.

In Cleveland, the fans are mourning and moistened by the agonizing defeat to Boston.

So, does he leave?

“I’m going to approach this summer with the right mindset,” James said. “With me and my team, we’re going to figure out what’s the best possibility for me. I love the city of Cleveland of course—the city and the fans. It was a disappointing season to say the least, but at the same time we had a great time together. So we’ll see what happens.”

He missed 13 of his 21 field-goal attempts and almost made it a quadruple-double with nine turnovers. As for his legacy, James will solidify his reputation by leaving Cleveland.

There’s many with suspicion as to whether the elbow injury softened his capabilities of playing with energy and toughness in which he wasn’t nearly imposing, but instead left the world in a mystery.

The collapse may force a distraught owner Dan Gilbert to fire Brown and dismiss general manager Danny Ferry. In the offseason, the Cavs will probably upgrade its roster. But for now, the entire town is crestfallen and James may depart in an unhappy ending and leave a city in dismay.

Farewell to the King.

He’s leaving for good.

LeBron James Needs to Avoid Careless Flaws or Cleveland Doesn't Rock

So the raucous crowd was in attendance, at one of the noisiest venues to witness a prominent super star amaze them with dramatic showcases.

There were genuine moments provoking the crowd to roar wildly at the dignified King James when the Cleveland Cavaliers star stood at mid-court hoisting the MVP trophy.

In a town he calls home and adores dearly, the atmosphere at an energetic locale rocked and swung the white towels in honor of LeBron James’ second consecutive Most Valuable Player award bestowed to him.

But it’s really interesting how quick the rumbling noise suddenly went silent and the crowd went speechless, without the entertaining puppet putting on a dramatic, breathtaking show.

As the season comes to a closure, the melodrama is heard often with James' contract expiring at the end of the season.

He’ll be available to test the market, when he becomes a free-agent.

It’s too early to suggest his next destination or whether he’ll wear a Cleveland uniform for the rest of his career.

But if the Cavs fall short of winning a championship, it seems practical that he’ll depart to contend elsewhere.

For now, he’s worried about a legitimate pursuit in the postseason, getting the Cavs to return to championship form and pull it off for a town with much sporting infirmities, and plights that has left an entire city in misery.

All of their major sporting franchises are helpless, but the closer one aiming towards capturing exultation are the Cavs.

The objective is to erase sporting indignities of The Shot, The Drive, The Fumble and The Choke, an excruciating trend leaving an enthusiastic community in shambles.

After a party/reunion took place at the gym on the University of Akron campus, where he spoke humbly from a podium sending all his thanks and acknowledgment for winning the MVP award, he energized and alarmed a franchise and supporters to believe that this is the year to capture a title.

He’s a valuable forward. He’s a matured model. He’s the face of a franchise with tremendous respectability.

But the Cavs weren’t as believable or soothing to long-awaited supporters when they never played with a fierce drive. Instead, Cleveland played as if they were confounded and motionless in pummeling the Boston Celtics.

This was an indicator that the Cavs need contributions from its role players and bench, as James acts as the facilitator and involves his teammates in a fast-break possession or with sterling ball movement to make it easier to loft a mid-range jumper or drive inside for a smooth layup.

Based on the performance in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Cavs were unbeatable and unstoppable in the Eastern Conference.

As it stands now, the Cavs are unprotected if they fluctuate against the Celtics, an aging and unhealthy team with legions of downsides.

If Cleveland starts to panic, it’s normal to have a level of concern about the Cavs, who have stumbled before against the Celtics and were sent home after a devastating loss.

And if the Cavs approach a series or game careless and awkwardly, they’ll lose instantly, not necessarily to Boston, but to the upcoming opponent or even a team from the Western Conference in the NBA Finals.

Every game at this point must be played like it’s the last contest to ever be played.

It’s obvious that James is a bit unhealthy, feeling the discomfort in his right elbow. He suffered a sprained and bruised elbow in the last series and was forced to attempt a left-handed free throw, in which he was limited and had trouble shooting from the outside.

He had difficulty controlling the ball worried about aggravating his elbow and preferred to protect his health, rather than driving the lanes with his powerfully built body to draw the foul and be awarded free throw attempts.

The Celtics outshined and demoralized the Cavs in Game 2, humiliating them on their home floor.

They never had a response and the loudness of fans quieted down, becoming speechless as Boston controlled the rhythm and stole a pivotal game in a hostile environment.

Even though the Cavs nearly crawled back from a large deficit, the Celtics held on to win 104-86 and tied the series at 1-1.

With the decisive win, Boston took home-court advantage, traveling home with higher pride and certainty, and at a building where the Cavaliers have struggled mightily.

For once, the Celtics were scoring at will and obtained contributions from role players. But it doesn’t happen just offensively.

And a weakness was the defensive sketchiness that unraveled the Celtics in shutting down the middle and restrained opponents from driving to the rim, especially when Kevin Garnett was absent sitting on the sideline or serving a suspension.

It happened ironically, finding their groove at the right time and making proper adjustments to turn it into a competitive bout.

For each team, it may actually become a challenging and compelling series, lasting at least six games with a few dramatic finishes.

Realistically, the Cavs are too athletic, hungry, potent and good. And honestly, the Celtics are too old, worn down and sluggish.

In the wake of his MVP honors, LeBron scored 24 points, almost six points below his season scoring average and more than eight fewer than his average in the Cavs’ first six postseason games.

It’s not the Chicago Bulls, a franchise that was faced with turbulence of eliminating a balanced core.

In other words, this isn’t the Bulls, but it’s the Celtics, a team that has experienced a title and much triumph by smoking victory cigars, watching confetti fall from the ceilings and celebrating with the fans on Causeway Street in downtown Boston.

Matters turned uglier when Cleveland fans booed and left early, frustrated and angry with the flaky performance on a night they merely lost their third game at home in their past 18 playoff games.

This made coach Mike Brown cringe, dropping the worst home playoff home loss since 2006.

“Tonight was real simple—they kicked our behind from the beginning,” he said angrily. “And we did not fight back until late. We’ve got to decide that we’re going to take the fight to them and take these games. Nothing is going to be given to us at all.”

James struggled early and never found his rhythm.

He missed shots and stumbled on abysmal shooting, only finishing on 7 for 15 with five turnovers, while his sidekick and tandem Mo Williams didn’t drain shots through the nets, finishing an awful 1 for 9 and settled for four points.

As for the Cavs, they only shot 40 percent from the field. And once again, everyone vanished. They were absent as it was easy to forget about Delonte West, who had four points in 31 minutes.

The latest in the news is that the Cavs are mortal, unless the bench and LeBron revive in time to take command of the best-of-seven series.

That’s hard to imagine when Cleveland had one of its best seasons, convincing the world that they are the hungriest and toughest out in the postseason.

Why wasn’t LeBron infuriated?

“We know we didn’t play well, that third quarter definitely was one of the worst quarters we had this year, offensively and defensively,” James said.

“But you look at it, at the end of day, the series is tied 1-1. These are two really good teams, and we’re looking forward to Game Three.”

The toughness was seen from the Celtics.

What we do know about the C’s is that they need outside shooting from the scorching Ray Allen, who scored 22 points.

For whatever reason, everyone is focused and turns all attention to KG, since he’s the inspirational leader and aggressor on defense. But Rajon Rondo out shined all players in a much-needed game, with 19 assists as an explosive floor general.

For now, the Cavs are still likable to hoist the glamorous prize in June.

The nightmarish blowout won’t last forever, perhaps with a win in Boston. That shifts the momentum, but more than ever, it erases the dreadful memories and restores vitality making all supporters believe it’s the Cavs year.

If Cleveland wins, it rocks. If not, it would be an absolute failure.

King James is Most Valuable, But for Cleveland Cavaliers It's Now or Never

There were times when a rambunctious crowd erupted a crazy frenzy at the Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland, and witnessed LeBron James sprinkled baby powder onto his hands and tossed it skyward to thrill a sellout capacity crowd.

So there are the Cleveland Cavaliers in their finest season, generating enough buzz to pose as the next NBA franchise to be crowned champs. If the loyal population in an avid sporting town is still inquisitive to know exactly where LeBron may end up next season when he becomes a free-agent this summer, his status of testing the market is trivial.

Expected to alleviate town indignities, the Cavs are the nearest major franchise in a cursed sports town to revoke humiliation that has dragged down soul for its dismal culture.

It’s wrongly inappropriate to dismiss the Cavs, a franchise led by more than a puppet, but a global superstar in James. He’s expected to be named the MVP for the second straight season, with leading a deep supporting cast and having a large impact on the Cavs optimistic pursuit to the NBA Finals.

Need I remind you that the town rocks, zests to taste a legitimate prize in June? At last, there’s much more to witness than rock stars performing at a nearby venue or touring the luxurious sites of the Rock and Roll museum, observing photos and memorabilia of the Beatles or Rolling Stones.

It’s the time of year when much blabbering and attention is given to a fascinating basketball franchise, with the excitement and captivation of LeBron’s intense performances. Ever since he was the overall selection in the NBA Draft years ago, he was absorbed heavily as a savior and earned praise for rejuvenating a horrid franchise.

In his domain, he has improved ticket sales and lifted the attendance level at a spacious venue, suddenly a noisy and active environment where the swinging towels and flags are a notable trademark. No disrespect to the Boston Celtics, but it’s now or never for the Cavs to prove worthy of winning a title and satisfy a long-awaited crowd.

Although this series should be exciting, Cleveland is more athletic, hungrier, earnest and younger than the battered Celtics. Although this series should be an intense battle and last seven games, they’ll prevail in a sudden death to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

What happened Saturday was an indicator that the Cavs are delivering a sense of normalcy in the postseason, translating their usual trends seen so often during the regular-season. It’s simply a great team at home, fueled on the crowd’s intensity and enthusiasm, which mostly results in a charming win.

If anything, it doesn’t take much to deliver a knock out punch against the vulnerable and beatable Boston. When the Cavs dispatched the Chicago Bulls in the first round, enough to irritate Joakim Noah, whose animosity encouraged them to pummel an unbalanced and tumultuous team, the Cavs were resilient and savvy at knocking out the Bulls.

The elements of well-coaching and intrepidity is a common philosophy to excel at the highest level in a competitive postseason. The unique possibility of the Cavs purging in the second-round is hard to imagine, fortunate to take on Boston.

It certainly is less daunting to fall to the Celtics, but fittingly, it’s more convenient to thrive and advance deeper into the postseason for a feasible meeting with the Lakers in the Finals. After all, it’s a unanimous bout the world desires witnessing, in which the man with the scowl would collide with the man with the tomahawk dunks.

More specifically, the dream matchup we are dying to see is Kobe and LeBron clash on the same court in what would be an epic classic, and even silence the obnoxious debates on which player is more prominent and worthy of MVP notability.


Right now, it’s no one other than LeBron, the noble superstar who’s hours before receiving his second straight MVP award. The delivery and leadership alone declares James as the front-runner with his versatility and energy to appease respectable fans of honoring his powerful influence.

He’s the reigning Most Valuable Player, but hails in an indigenous environment attached to ineffectual and inspiring star players. He symbolizes the heart of a beloved sports town, bowing to King James when he has a wonderful scoring night. All the people in attendance gratefully chants “MVP! MVP!"

Nearly each game this season, he was the clutch performer in the fourth quarter and pleaded for the ball to close out a wild contest on a positive note. What superstar doesn’t take over in the late minutes?

As a native growing up in Akron, Ohio, he always dreamed of playing for his hometown team, a franchise he grew up rooting for and now in good position of winning a title as an NBA star at home. He accepts the challenge, likes dazzling in the huge moments and feels comfortable with the ball in his hands.

It’s not that he distrust in his teammates, but plays the leadership role when it’s necessary, and if he intends to excel on his agenda before he test the market, he knows the consequence of controlling the tempo while aiming to win a title.

Maybe it would bribe the All-Star forward to wear a Cavs uniform until he retires, urging the organization to sign LeBron to the richest deal in NBA history before New York pursues and offers James millions.


For now, he’s strictly focused on winning a championship and celebrating with his hometown friends, teammates and family. Before the series, the masses worried about his sore elbow, but relieved tension when he reported that it felt better and had loosened. He also said that he didn’t put pressure on it during the off days since he was forced to attempt a left-handed free throw Tuesday to close out the series against the Bulls.

The worldwide icon walked off the court in Game One against Boston calmed, after pulling off a convincing comeback to salvage a 101-93 win Saturday. If the supporting cast has a brilliant and productive run without vanishing, the Cavs can win the championship. But he’ll need contributions from all the role players, while he adds the finishing touches and afloat in the Eastern Conference with the commodities of a sizable frontcourt.

More substantially, the Cavs have tremendous depth in the frontcourt with Anderson Varejao and J.J. Hickson. Now that coach Mike Brown realize he’s getting production out of Hickson, he’ll probably make some adjustments and juggle the starting lineup around, giving him more quality minutes.

A lot of fans are pleased with his toughness and work ethic underneath the rim, as well as Varejao, both attacking and creating trouble by smothering Paul Pierce.

Like the average individual, we all age. During the offseason, the Cavs acquired Shaquille O’Neal, the once-dominant center whose phrase is freestyle rapping, but also is clobbering the middle with his oversized athleticism. It seems he’s slower in running up and down the floor, but still blocks shots and throws down dunks when he’s inside the interior.

It’s conceivable to think that the Cavs are orchestrated by James’ coercion. The scoreboard read that he scored 35 points on 24 field goal attempts, with seven assists to finish the night. As always, he’s an expertise of the game, he’s a world-class athlete and he’s the Most Valuable Player, not only in the league, but as a member of the Cavs.

He’s the remarkable King James.