Unfortunately, he’s shaved it already and now he looks like he has tattoos on his head. Which reminds me of… someone.

Speaking of Ron, I really miss watching him defend Kobe (or try to). Their interactions were highly entertaining last season. I guess Matt Barnes is picking up the mantle though.

Now that you mention it… where is Raja Bell these days?

The Orlando Magic have made big strides
* It’s taken quite some time, but the Orlando Magic have finally earned my respect. I’m still not completely sure they would beat the Lakers in a 7 game series, but I’m absolutely convinced if they play the Cavs in the conference finals, they’ll win. This season has a very deja vu type quality to me when it comes to the top teams in the East. The Celtics are again coming off injuries, the Cavs are cleaning up in the regular season and the Magic are quietly sitting in the top 3. Come playoff time, the Cavs are going to be overconfident as they easily cut through the garbage teams on the way to the ECF, but once they get there they won’t know how to handle a team that plays defense and has more composure when the pressure is really on. That’s my prediction, but if the Cavs can get past the ECF this season, maybe they’ll earn my respect too.

NASCAR’s rules are a joke
* I can’t believe NASCAR is only giving Carl Edwards a slap on the wrist for flagrantly wrecking Brad Keselowski on purpose this past Sunday. I’m also calling bullshit on their “Have at it, boys” mantra this season. You want to know what “Have at it, boys” is really all about? They should have called it the “our sport is dying because nobody on the track (especially Dale Jr.) is good enough to beat Jimmie Johnson for a Sprint Cup championship and the fans are picking up all their marbles and going home, so go ahead and wreck each other if it will pacify them” rule. To add insult to injury, Carl drives for Roush Fenway. Boooo!

Chris (Nevada)

Best in East in order 1) Magic 2) Celts 3) Cleveland. Tell me im correct

John Hollinger  (3:07 PM)

I think it’s basically a dead heat between Orlando and Cleveland at the top; I have to pick one of them eventually but will take my sweet time. Boston to me is clearly third in the pecking order based on their age issues and the uncertainty with how Garnett can come back. The other oddity about the East is the rock-paper-scissors nature of the match-ups last season — Orlando beats Cleveland, Cleveland beats Boston, Boston beats Orlando. If that holds up this season, playoff seedings could matter even more than usual.

Oh no he didn’t! Thems fightin’ words baby!

How can Stan Van Gundy whine about not being respected when all these mainstream sports honks are ranking his team above the Celtics? My main issue with all this ranking bs is that its impossible to tell yet how these teams’ new additions are going to pan out. The Shaq & LeBron major monster ego collide could be a disaster. Vince Carter could tear an ACL or get a hangnail. Sheed could punch a ref. Come on now. It’s completely unpredictable!

I realize they get paid to make predictions, but I just don’t see how you put the Boston Celtics third. The team is stacked. Like built-for-another-championship stacked. Maybe, just maybe, I can handle being ranked behind the Cavs, for now… but the Magic? Uh uh. I’m not buying it. No wait, I’m gonna backtrack. I can’t handle being ranked behind the Cavs either.

Grrr! This season can’t start soon enough for me… Hopefully, we’ll quickly separate the chaff from the wheat! Bring. it. on.

ps. Celtics tix went on sale today, but I’m holding off. Last season, I bought 4 tix within the first 2 minutes they went on sale and they were the worst seats in the history of awful seats. I’m going to wait this season and try and grab some better seats that season ticket holders want to sell.

Bitch, please.

Danny, I served with Bill Belichick: I knew Bill Belichick; Bill Belichick was a friend of mine. Danny Ainge, you’re no Bill Belichick.

In other news, the Celtics haven’t made any big moves yet (unless you count drafting some kid last night with the 58th pick), but the Cavs and the Magic sure did. Vince Carter, huh? Answer me this Orlando, if Vince falls on the ground and clutches his hammy, whatcha gonna do? a.) run over and help him; b.) act like he’s dead to you and follow the action down the other end of the court; c) wait for him or Dwight Howard to yell, “Chuck! Aaaaargh!”?

Shaq to Cleveland will be interesting to watch. Shaq is entertaining, but I’m beginning to think he has a big screw loose. During last night’s draft, he said that he and LeBron were having “mental conversations.” What the hell? Bizarre shit. Just sayin.

For more of my thoughts on the Shaq trade, visit The No-Look Pass blog. The blog’s head honcho, Rey-Rey, interviewed me and three other “chicks who love hoops.” Check it out… (For the record, I only throw remote controls at Tarheel fans… and my mom sometimes… because she’s a Tarheel fan. Go Blue Devils.)

Related news:

• Red’s Army: “We value Rondo more than anyone else in the league”
• Third Quarter Collapse: The Morning After: Air Canada Lands In Orlando
• Fear the Sword: Ok, so, Shaquille O’Neal needs a nickname!!!
• The No-Look Pass: Talking To Chicks Who Love Hoops: The Big Trade Piece

I was afraid, but not surprised, that this would be a short series. Kobe and Co. wanted this bad and the Magic just weren’t ready. A few thoughts, bullet-style:

• It amazes me how pundits continue to put words in Kobe’s mouth. This morning, I heard a morning show honk say that, “Kobe said he was so relieved to finally prove that he could win without Shaq!” Um no. That’s not what he said. He said, and I’m paraphrasing here, that he’s relieved that idiots would finally have to stop asking him about winning a title without Shaq. That’s two different things.
• As brilliant as Kobe was during the finals, I’m surprised more wasn’t made about Trevor Ariza’s contribution. He was major.
• I heard Magic championship gear was not even produced. That’s cold. Usually gear from the losing team gets produced and then shipped to a third world country. I do believe there are some poor children on the other side of the world wearing 2008 New England Patriots gear. Ouch.
• I feel bad for Adam Morrison. He was horribly overrated coming out of college, but that’s not his fault. Blame a weak ass draft class. Everybody’s making a big deal about him getting a ring while sitting on the bench in a suit, but what’s he supposed to do? He’s not the first guy to get a ring without making much of a contribution *cough Scot Pollard cough*. It happens all the time.
• What was up with Shaq tweeting his head off last night after the game? Sample: “Congratualtions [sic] kobe, u deserve it. You played great . Enjoy it my man enjoy it. And I know what yur sayin rt now “Shaq how my ass taste”You know. Somehow, I really don’t think Kobe was saying that. I think Kobe wants to win the championship every year and it has nothing to do with Shaq. In fact, he probably has a hard time playing checkers with his daughters without yelling, “In your face!” at them. He’s that competitive.
• Dwight Howard tweeted, “[...]kobe congrats. u inspired me.” I hope Kobe did inspire Dwight. I think Dwight needs to develop the one thing Patrick Ewing probably can’t help him with, his head. He needs a healthy dose of killer instinct.
• I’m really REALLY really going to miss the NBA season. Even though this season didn’t end the way I wanted it to, it was a lot of fun. I’m going to try to find something to keep blogging about so my site doesn’t turn into a rotting cadaver of stale posts… maybe I’ll have to start caring about the draft now.

If I start talking about this game, I’m going to end up swimming way out deep into hater lake without a life raft and I really don’t want to do that. I’ll let these pictures speak for me.

Don’t like that? How about this?

Come on Magic, don’t let me do you like this…

Dear Orlando,

You know there’s only one way to stop me, right? Win the next 3 games. For the love of Leon Powe and all that is holy and right with the world, do not go out like this. As much as I want to be right when I make a prediction (Lakers in 5), I really want to be wrong this time. I’m already going into hardcore NBA separation anxiety, so it would really help if you could stretch it to 7.

Love,
me

ps. Fix your point guard problems between tonight and tomorrow, ok? Ok, then.

I’ll keep this short and sweet. The Magic shot an UNGODLY percentage and only won by 4. Kobe was gassed. Like Paul Pierce game 7 gassed. I expect the Lakers to win the next two and head home for the parade they’ve been planning since this time last year. Props to the Magic for winning their very first finals game ever though. Wow. First finals game ever. They have a lot of catching up to do. I have no doubt when and if Dwight becomes the player he could be, that they’ll start raising banners in O-town — I just don’t think it’ll be this year. Or next. Not much else to say about that. If the Magic win tonight, I guess I’ll have to issue a mea culpa in the morning. The Magic are fun to watch though and Courtney Lee has certainly made a name for himself this post-season. Please to enjoy…

“Courtney Lee, the rookie out of Western Kentucky”

Drafted by the Orlando Magic (1st round, pick 22).

Welcome to summer league, rook.

It’s a long season.

Before Dwight maimed me with his wild elbows…

After. I’m still pretty under this Rip Hamilton Halloween costume, I swear.

Chillin with the fans… matchy matchy with my shirt & shades.

The ladies love me.

• Kaboom. That is the sound of the Orlando Magic’s balloon of hope deflating.
• Rotations. A word Stan Van Gundy likes to play loose and fast with. I admire rotation adjustments. They’re critical to success. But, at some point, you really can’t be playing every combination of guards on your roster. I realize Pietrus was in foul trouble, but was it really a great idea to have Redick playing point guard (when the last time he saw any serious minutes was in the Boston round)?
• Rookie. A word describing Courtney Lee’s status in the league, in case anyone forgot. Those two missed layups by Lee were heartbreaking, but should he really have been the one taking them? I don’t care how talented he is or that he’s been starting this season, he’s still green around the gills. I agree it was a great play drawn up by SVG and if the basket had fallen it would be moot, but still. A veteran should be taking those kinds of shots for obvious reasons.
• Neutralized. A word that describes Dwight Howard in the first two games of this series. It seems like just yesterday that everyone was ready to annoint D12 the new king of the world. Remember that? What happened? Superman, my ass. Personally, I think he should have had to win more than a dunk contest to get a nickname like that, but that’s just me.
• All that being said, I don’t think being down 0-2 should be the end of the world. All that really happened was that the Lakers held serve on their home court — like they were supposed to do. The Magic now have the opportunity at home to get back in this thing. Will they? I’m not putting money on it. Especially if Stan can’t decide between Jameer, Rafer, Anthony, Hedo or J.J. at point guard.
• Off-topic: Kate Hudson & A-Rod? WTF?

Recent postings from around the blogosphere:

• Talk Hoops: 2009 NBA Finals: Lakers-Magic Game 2 Recap
• Heels on Hardwood: Done with Dinneyland…. For Now
• Red’s Army: Maybe the Lakers winning is a good thing
• Ball Don’t Lie: Video: Amar’e, Hill, Dahntay and Birdman on ‘Jimmy Kimmel’
• Both Teams Played Hard: All the News Fit to Six: June 8, 2009

This game was a classic “die by the 3″ game. The Lakers defense was part of it, but the Magic also missed a ton of wide open shots. Simply put, the Magic are who we thought they were. The key to me was how the Lakers controlled Dwight. When Dwight can be controlled, the Magic are toast. I’ve read this book before. More than that though, Kobe was just a monster. He had a psycho look in his eye and as I said before this series started, there’s no way he’s not going to avenge last season’s finals. I’m sure the Magic will heat up and probably aren’t going to get swept. Past that though, I’m not sure how long this series can go.

It amused me that right before the game, David Stern announced that he was fining LeBron $25k for not speaking to the media. Strange that he had four off-days where he could’ve announced that, but instead waited until right before game 1. I’m sure LeBron won’t miss that $25k since that kind of money has to be cushion change to him. It was interesting to me when Stern said that LeBron would come and speak out about this at a later date. Why? He already spoke out about it last Sunday when he said he did nothing wrong. So now we are supposed to be sitting here waiting with bated breath for him to come BACK out and change his tune? Like, oh ok, NOW he’s sorry. NOW he realizes it was wrong. Ridiculous. I think the whole thing was overblown, but I also think LeBron’s first instincts and first comments were the truth. He’s spoiled and a bad sport. Nothing more, nothing less. I don’t want to hear another thing he has to say on the subject because spin control makes me cranky.

In other news, apparently KG is making championship guarantees for the next two seasons. Sigh. Oh KG, why do you do this to me? Not long ago, I stated that only chumps make guarantees. I would never call you a chump… but, cut it out.

Recent postings from around the blogosphere:

• Talk Hoops/Both Teams Played Hard – Cross Polination: Emails With Both Teams Played Hard, NBA Finals Preview | Talking Hoops with Talk Hoops: Vol. III (Zach & Jared are hilarious and a great team. Read volume 3 and then check the archives for 1 & 2. They are lengthy, so you’ll need a little time to read everything, but it’s worth every minute.)
• Heels on Hardwood – NBA Withdrawal: 10 Paperbacks for the Basketball Fan (Nat’s lists have been literally rocking my world. Read this post and then be sure to check all of her other great hoops-related recommendations.)
• The No-Look Pass – Chronicles Of Crotty #19: Come Clean (The latest podcast from Rey-Rey and his SoCal posse of Clips/Lakers fans. Check this one out and then be sure to backtrack through the archives. The guys have a lot of fun while sharing their insights on the game.)

Oh and ps. Found out last night that Kobe is Larry Bird’s favorite player. Why don’t you just tell me that Derek Jeter is Jim Rice’s favorite player while you’re at it.

This stretch between Sunday and Wednesday with no NBA has been brutal. I don’t know what I’m going to do during the off-season this year. It’s going to be long and painful. Sigh. Thankfully tonight, ESPN Classic is airing Game 4 of last year’s finals. I still can’t believe that game. Epic comeback. Watching it reminds me of how much I miss the love of my life, James Posey.

Is it just me or did anyone else notice a change in Charles Barkley this season after he came back to TNT from his DUI bust? To me, he just seemed to be enjoying his job a lot less. I can’t nail down exactly what he did to make me think this, but it’s just something I kept noticing the longer the season went on. He was still fun to watch though. Only Chuck could call his colleagues numbnuts and pussy over the airwaves and get away with it.

Some quick Celtics updates – KG had surgery last week to remove bone spurs and is now rehabbing his right knee, The Boston Celtics won the Professional Sports Team of the Year award by the SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily, Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau lost out to Eddie Jordan for the head coaching position with the Philadelphia 76ers — will interview with the Sacramento Kings this Saturday for their head coaching vacancy, Tony Allen had surgery today at New England Baptist hospital on his right ankle.

Prediction time. So for the finals, I’m picking the Lakers to win and my mom is picking the Magic. She took a big long drink of the kool-aid everyone else is drinking based on the last series. I’ve only been watching the NBA since 2006, but I’ve been watching long enough to know that the Magic got a very VERY very favorable matchup when they met up with the Cavs. It will not be so easy this time around. Do they have a chance? Yes, they have a good chance. But, not a great chance. The Lakers have been waiting all year to redeem themselves in this year’s finals. I have a hard time believing that they’re going to let anyone stop them this time.

For a quick NBA fix, this interview by 850 The Buzz with J.J. Redick is worth listening to. He candidly discusses a variety of topics including LeBron not shaking hands after game 6, how Dwight has a stylist who picks out the sherbert colored sweaters he wears to press conferences, which Duke alums he’s in touch with and who he thinks will win this year’s NBA Finals (gosh, I wonder). Even if you don’t like J.J., this is still a good listen for NBA fans who enjoy getting the inside scoop.

Recent postings from around the blogosphere:

• Heels on Hardwood: NBA Withdrawal: 10 Player Stocks on the Rise through the Recession (Playoff Edition)
• Red’s Army: Oh those meddling Maloofs
• The No-Look Pass: We Like Obscure NBA Players: Pig Miller
• Both Teams Played Hard: All the News Fit to Six: June 3, 2009
• Talk Hoops: Hoops Media Consumption — June 3, 2009

1. They won by 10. But… nobody blows a big lead like the Cleveland Cavaliers. I honestly feel sorry for their fans. I can’t imagine never being able to be comfortable for an entire game no matter how many points up my team is.
2. It’s strange seeing the Cavs as the underdog and the Magic as the confident frontrunner. I feel like I fell down Alice’s rabbit hole.
3. Nobody smiles more, no matter what the situation, than Dwight Howard. Jump hook – big smile, slam dunk – huge smile, foul called against him – smirky smile, fouls out of the game – bemused smile, elbows a dude in the face – who me? smile.

Lakers v. Nuggets 104-93

Lamar Odom likes candy… A lot of candy.

Source: YouTube/Lakernation024

It amuses me that Lamar has a man servant who stocks up his luxury automobile with piles of candy. It makes me wonder what he was like as a kid at Halloween. Probably had ten different costumes and hit up all the houses in his neighborhood over and over until their supply of gummy worms and reese’s cups ran out.

Oh yeah, the game. Well, it was a’ight. I vaguely remember the Nuggets keeping it close and then coughing it up sometime in the 2nd half. Both of these teams play better at home, which bodes well for Lakers winning in 7 at Staples. But, we’ll see. If the Nuggets implode maybe it’ll be in 6.