If the Denver Nuggets were competing in the World Series of Poker, they would probably go “all in” on every other hand. It’s the mentality of a supremely confident player with a touch of a cocksure attitude, comparable to a slugger who prefers to swing for the fences with each cut.

The Nuggets are also an eclectic group, a roster that is loaded with guys who put the “swag” in swagger and has about as many nicknames as tattoos.

Melo came into this season in the best shape of his life and was a starter in the All-Star Game; K-Mart appears to have rediscovered the spring in his legs; The Birdman is again among the league leaders in blocks; Mr. Big Shot continues to point this team in the right direction and is enjoying the best season of his 13-year career; and J.R. Swish has never seen a 3-point shot he didn’t like.

Add them all up and you have an extremely explosive and dangerous team capable of beating anyone in the Association.

Denver is 7-2 against the Lakers (2-1), Cavs (2-0), Magic (1-0), Celtics (1-0) and Mavericks (1-1). The Nuggets also own a NBA-best 12-6 mark against teams with a .600 record or better.

Based on those inspiring numbers, you can certainly make a case for Denver as the best team in the NBA. If anything, the Nuggets are clearly THE team out West who can challenge the Lakers in a seven-game series.

The Lakers were very fortunate to win on Sunday (Feb. 28) as Chauncey Billups (4 for 12) and J.R. Smith (3 for 12) went uncharacteristically cold in the second half and Ron Artest locked up Carmelo Anthony with some old-fashioned bully defense. But don’t let L.A.’s recent victory be the measuring stick for the Lakers-Nuggets simmering rivalry. The Nuggets still lead the season series 2-1 and it took a monumental defensive effort by L.A. to swing the momentum in their favor at home.

The Las Vegas Hilton currently has the Nuggets at 12-1 to win it all, which is very enticing odds considering the reward is higher than the risk.

Despite head-scratching losses to sub-.500 teams such as the Wizards, Clippers, Timberwolves, Sixers and Kings (twice), the Nuggets remain undaunted and have brushed off those minor slip-ups with some really impressive wins.

Last week the Nuggets outlasted the Cavaliers, 118-116, in overtime on Feb. 18, then got drilled by the Wizards the following night, but redeemed themselves two days later by outgunning the Celtics, 114-105.

Though the Nuggets trail the Lakers by 5 ½ games for the best record in the Western Conference, they firmly believe they can compete with the world champs and are convinced they can knock them out without the benefit of homecourt. It’s a belief the Nuggets built up from last season’s six-game war with L.A. that has carried over into this season, evidenced by their two resounding victories over Kobe and Co.

In a 126-113 win at Staples Center on Feb. 5, the Nuggets found a way to overcome the absence of Anthony thanks to Billups, who made nine of 13 3-pointers en route to a career-high 39 points.

“He runs the show, and guys who run the show are really important. Forget the scoring part. He’s got so much more going on. He makes threes and he makes free throws,” Wynn Las Vegas oddsmaker John Avello said of Billups, the Colorado native and veteran point guard who is averaging a career-best 19.8 points per game this season.

Billups’ free-throw shooting (90 percent) is the hidden gem of his all-around game, making him a tough cover late in the game because you don’t want him on the line.

The Nuggets remind me of the 2000 Portland Trail Blazers and the 2002 Sacramento Kings. The Blazers and Kings were deep and talented teams, and each endured a heated rivalry with the Lakers.

The 2000 Blazers – led by Scottie Pippen, Rasheed Wallace, Steve Smith, Bonzi Wells, Arvydas Sabonis and Damon Stoudamire – pushed the Lakers to seven games in the conference finals, but squandered a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and lost.

The 2002 Kings – led by Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, Mike Bibby, Peja Stojakovic and Doug Christie – thought they were good enough to win the title, but Robby Horry’s buzzer-beater in Game 4 and a few bad calls allowed the Lakers to win the series.

Denver and L.A. are bound to meet in the West Finals this season, and the Nuggets (107.4 PPG) are one of the few teams in the league that can match the Lakers’ firepower (102.7 PPG) and have two guys in the lineup – Anthony and Billups – who are capable of making clutch shots.

It will take the Lakers’ “A” game to defeat the Nuggets in a playoff series. Anything less simply won’t cut it.

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LeBron James won Round 2 of his showdown with Kobe Bryant, and I have a funny feeling it won’t be the last time we’ll see those two dueling on the basketball court this season.

LeBron James scored 12 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter as the game turned into a playoff-style, possession-by-possession struggle. Bryant tried to match James shot for shot, but his impatience and single-minded approach ultimately led to the Lakers’ downfall. The Cavs won, 93-87, despite not having point guard Mo Williams (who is out a month with an injured shoulder) in part because Bryant tried to beat James instead of beating the Cavs.

Bryant led the Lakers with 31 points but it took 31 shots for him to reach that total. He made just 12 field goals for the game and was 1-for-6 in the fourth quarter for four points.

LeBron James not only won his individual battle with Kobe Bryant (James scored 37 points, Bryant had 31), but he also led his Cavaliers to second victory over the defending world champs. (NBAE/GETTY IMAGES)

Cleveland’s physical defense forced the Lakers out of their comfort zone and the Cavs big men scored a surprising draw with the more talented Lakers frontline.

Shaquille O’Neal outscored his younger counterpart Andrew Bynum 13 to 7, J.J. Hickson (11 points, 14 rebounds) had a stalemate with Pau Gasol (13 points, 8 rebounds), and Anderson Varejao (11 points, 8 rebounds) nearly matched Lamar Odom’s output (10 points, 10 rebounds).

“Their big [players] were very active, very physical and wore us down,” said Bryant told the Los Angeles Times. “I think last year we were probably a little hungrier and played a little harder,” he said. “This year, when we played them two times, they were the hungrier team. They sense that they want to win a championship, they want to go after it, so they’re playing with a sense of urgency that we played with last year.”

Bryant was quick to blame his bigs for a poor effort, but what he should be doing is blaming himself for not trusting his supporting cast. The Lakers are a good team when Bryant takes over, but they are a championship team when Bryant gets his teammates involved.

Sure, Gasol needs to be tougher, Bynum needs to be more active and Odom needs to be more aggressive. But Bryant holds the key to the Lakers’ success. He can’t get into one-on-one battles like in previous years. He is now surrounded with great talent.

The Lakers got off to a great start but then stalled in the second quarter and the rest of the game was played at Cleveland’s pace. The Lakers came into the game thinking they can exact revenge for what the Cavs did to them on Christmas Day, but now it seems the task of taking down the Cavs will be a lot tougher than expected.

“[The Cavs] are physical, tough-minded and hard-nosed-type team,” Bryant told reporters after the game.  “We have to step up and match that — that’s not part of our DNA.”

Can’t wait for Round 3 of Lakers vs. Cavs.

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Dear Santa:

Last June, I was deprived of a Kobe Bryant-LeBron James matchup in the NBA Finals when LeBron and the Cleveland Cavaliers were unceremoniously dumped by the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference finals. I know I’ve already asked a ton of gifts this Christmas but I would like one more present. I would like to watch Kobe and LeBron play on Christmas Day.

Sincerely, OneManFastBreak

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Dear OneManFastBreak:

You’ve got your wish.

The main course on the Christmas Day menu that has everyone salivating is the matchup between the Lakers and the Cavaliers at Staples Center (5 p.m. ET, ABC), featuring arguably the two best players in the Association in reigning NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant and reigning regular-season MVP LeBron James.

LeBron James will try to uncrown the real king, Kobe Bryant, on Christmas Day.

And, oh by the way, Shaquille O’Neal returns to the city he helped produce three NBA championships – as well as two very bad movies: “Kazaam” and “Steel.”

Ho!…Ho!….Ho!….

L.A. enters the marquee event with a league-best 23-4 record while the Cavaliers carry a 22-8 mark. The Cavs are on the tail end of a four-game trip while the Lakers have barely left the West Coast for two months.

The Lakers – playing in their 36th Dec. 25 game which is second only to the Knicks, who have been scheduled on Christmas 45 times – are 12-6 at home on Christmas and 20-15 overall. The Cavaliers are relative newcomers to the NBA’s long-standing tradition, making only their third appearance on Christmas in the LeBron James era and ninth overall. Cleveland is 5-0 when they play at home and 0-4 on the road.

As much as the general public and the suits at ABC would like this game to be competitive, the reality of it is the Lakers are far more superior than the Cavaliers, and the only thing Cleveland can hang its hat on is the fact that James could have a huge day and single-handedly influence the action.

However, one ace can’t trump a full house.

Ho!…Ho!….Ho!….

With the exception of guard Derek Fisher, who is barely 6 feet tall with shoes on, the Lakers boasts five studs 6-6 or taller: Bryant (6-6), Artest (6-7), Odom (6-10), Gasol (7-0) and Bynum (7-0).

The Lakers’ talent and length have been overwhelming the opposition since stealing Gasol from Memphis in February of 2008, winning a remarkable 109 of 121 regular-season games.

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak is probably not going to get any Christmas cards any time soon from Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley. In fact, Heisley just told me to send over a bunch of coal to put in Kupchak’s stockings.

Needless to say, the Lakers have benefited greatly from the presence of the 7-foot Spaniard, whose high basketball IQ and low-maintenance personality has been the perfect complement to the hard-driven, super-confident Bryant.

In two meetings against the Cavaliers last season, Gasol averaged 20 points and 12.5 rebounds. He made 11 of 13 shots from the field in the Jan. 19 game at Staples, and three weeks later Gasol and Odom combined for 46 points and 29 rebounds in a 101-91 Laker win on Feb. 8.

The Lakers’ frontline thoroughly dominated the Cavs, 104-52, in points in the paint in the two games. Add Artest in the mix and the Lakers will have an even bigger advantage.

Cleveland tried to fix its frontcourt issues this offseason by trading for O’Neal. The problem is, O’Neal’s best days are behind him and his level of play is more in line with DJ Mbenga than Bynum.

Ho!…Ho!….Ho!….

With Shaq no longer Shaq, the Cavs have been leaning Mo Williams to help LeBron on offense. Unfortunately, Williams is more like a starting pitcher than a starting point guard, finding his groove on every fifth day.

So, unless Williams and O’Neal have an out-of-body experience and play out of their minds, expect two things to happen on Christmas Day: the Lakers should dominate the Cavs…again…and Nike will blitz the audience with an endless stream of Kobe and LeBron puppet commercials.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Ho!…Ho!….Ho!….

Sincerely, Santa

Popularity: 3% [?]

The atmosphere at Staples Center on Thursday, Nov. 19, was different. There was a sense of completeness.

Pau Gasol is back and the rest of the league better beware because the Los Angeles Lakers now have all their stars aligned and they are scary good with Gasol in the lineup.

The All-Star forward-center, who missed all of training camp, the preseason and the first 11 games because of a strained hamstring, scored 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting and grabbed 13 rebounds in his season debut and powered the Lakers to a 108-93 blowout victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Gasol didn’t miss a beat, starting the game and playing 35 minutes. He looked sharp and he was in sync with his teammates, including first-year Laker Ron Artest. Who needs the preseason? Gasol is a cerebral player and he knows how to play within the system. And he was also smart enough to stay in shape while he was recovering from his injury. Imagine if Shaquille O’Neal missed all of preseason and the first 11 games of the season? Shaq would be so grossly out of shape for his season debut he probably wouldn’t last past the first quarter.

Pau Gasol netted 24 points against Joakim Noah and the Chicago Bulls in his season debut. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

“It’s so much fun to play with our guys in front of our crowd,” Gasol told reporters. “I really wasn’t expecting to be as effective as I was tonight, but my teammates found me a couple of times and made it easy.”

With Gasol at power forward, Andrew Bynum at center, Artest at small forward, Derek Fisher at point guard, Kobe Bryant at shooting guard and forward Lamar Odom and Shannon Brown both coming off the bench, the Lakers now have a solid seven-man rotation that coach Phil Jackson can trust.

The Gasol-Bynum tandem – both 7-footers – makes is extremely difficult for other teams to score in the paint because of their size and length. Then, you bring in the 6-10 Odom off the bench and you have the tallest and deepest frontcourt talent pool in the Association.

The Lakers were 8-3 with Gasol sidelined. I can’t see this team losing more than 12 games this season.

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It was a Thursday afternoon in El Segundo, Calif. The Southern California weather was very accommodating and the players practicing at the Toyota Center had a certain bounce to their step.

The Los Angeles Lakers opened training camp this week and based on the sounds and images during a practice session, everything suggests that the defending NBA champions are primed and ready for another run a title – the 15th in the storied franchise’s history.

“The way this team is built, they are going to challenge the Bulls’ ‘96 record of 72 wins in a season,” TNT analyst Reggie Miller said during “Real Training Camp” on NBA TV.

Miller’s sentiments are shared by many basketball experts who all feel that the Lakers have the best team in the world and have the talent and depth not only to repeat but to challenge the benchmark of 72-10 set by the 1996 Chicago Bulls. Those Bulls boasted a star-studded roster that included the best player in the game, the most versatile player, a European stud, a defensive dynamo with a flare for the dramatics and head coach Phil Jackson.

Sound familiar.

Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom are the HD version of Jordan and Pippen.

It is almost freakishly too good to be true. Kobe Bryant can play the role of Michael Jordan, Lamar Odom as Scottie Pippen, Pau Gasol as Toni Kukoc, Ron Artest as Dennis Rodman and Phil Jackson as … Phil Jackson. In supporting roles, Derek Fisher can be B.J. Armstrong, Sasha Vujacic can play Steve Kerr, Shannon Brown can simulate Randy Brown, Luke Walton is Jud Buechler and Andrew Bynum can easily be the next Dickey Simpkins.

The schedule also suggests that the Lakers should get off to a phenomenal start as 17 of their first 21 games are at Staples Center. “The way their season is built, their first 21 games, four of those are on the road,” Miller explained. “Oklahoma City…young team, a win. Houston…no Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady we don’t know, a win. Denver…OK, Denver plays great at the Pepsi Center so let’s say that’s a loss. And then they have Golden State, a young team in disarray. The Lakers can go 20-1 in their first 21 games.”

Miller added: “So yes, I think they’re going to challenge the Bulls’ 72-win season. But are they gonna win it all? If everyone is healthy, I kinda like the Boston Celtics. But it’s gonna be a fabulous matchup between the Lakers and Boston.”

Before we put Miller in a straight jacket for his bold prediction, it may not be that far-fetched considering that the Lakers won 65 games last season, has the reigning NBA Finals MVP in Kobe, the reigning European MVP in Gasol and arguably the greatest coach in the sport in Jackson.

Miller reasoned that the acquisition of Artest upgraded the small forward position and the former defensive player of the year should add toughness on defense and flexibility on offense.

“The West has gotten better, but so have the Lakers,” Miller said. “The rich get richer.”

Popularity: 1% [?]

Earvin "Magic" Johnson was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., in 2002.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson recently celebrated his 50th birthday, a minor miracle considering the man told the whole world 18 years ago that he was HIV positive.

Though he’s been out of professional basketball for more than a decade, Magic has found a way to stay relevant. He stays visible as part owner of the his beloved Los Angeles Lakers, has several business ventures that remains a focal point in his life, worked as a studio analyst on TNT and this year joined the ESPN family of networks.

Though we have develop an affinity for his insightful and colorful takes on TV, Magic Johnson’s best moments have come on the basketball court. As a tribute to Magic, who wore No. 32 throughout his NBA career (all with the Lakers), here is a list of Magic’s 32 greatest athletic achievements.

32. That smile. Whenever he flashes that million-dollar smile, he lights up an entire arena. He played with great passion and joy. He will be remembered as the face of Showtime.

31. Led Everett High School (Lansing, Mich.) to victory in the State A championship in 1977.

30. Named to the 1977 McDonald’s High School All-American team, a squad that also featured Al Wood, Gene Banks, Albert King, Jeff Ruland, Ray Tolbert and Darnell Valentine.

29. After just two seasons at Michigan State, the Los Angeles Lakers made Earvin “Magic” Johnson the No. 1 overall selection in the 1979 NBA draft.

28. Before the start of the 1981-82 season, Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss signed Magic to an astronomical 25-year, $25 million contract. No wonder all those fabulous females at the Forum couldn’t wait to see Magic.

27. Made 19 free throws in one half during a playoff game against Golden State in 1991.

26. In 1990, he was selected the MVP of the All-Star Game. He made nine of 15 shots from the field, sank four of six 3-pointers, and finished with 22 points.

25. Though he’s never noted for his one-on-one defense, Johnson is an underrated team defender. He led the league in steals in 1980-81 (3.4) and and 1981-82 (2.6).

24. On June 3, 1984, his 21 assists against Boston set the NBA Finals record for most assists in a game.

23. Finished his NBA career, which spanned 13 years, with the highest assist-per-game average at 11.2. He still holds the all-time playoff record with 2,346 assists.

22. Posted 138 triple-doubles during his career, which is second only to Oscar Robertson’s 181.

21. Established the record for most assists in an All-Star Game when he dished out 22 in 1984.

20. With time winding down in the first half of a playoff game against the Denver Nuggets in 1987, Magic rebounds an errant shot and flings the ball almost 90 feet and rattles it home.

19. Led the league in assists with 13.1 average during the 1983-84 season.

18. His pinpoint passing. He basically invented the 5o-foot bounce pass and the no-look, wrap-around pass. Whether it’s James Worthy, Kurt Rambis, A.C. Green, Jamaal Wilkes, Michael Cooper or Byron Scott on the receiving end, nobody could do a one-handed bounce pass from halfcourt better than Magic. His best no-look, wrap-around pass on a 3-on-2 fast break came at Phoenix when Johnson  looked left, wrapped the ball around his waist and flipped a left-handed pass to Scott for a slam dunk.

17. Captured his second regular-season MVP award in 1989, leading the Lakers in points (22.5), assists (12.8) and minutes played (37). He also posted an NBA-best 91.1% free throw percentage. The Lakers won 11 consecutive playoffs game before injuries to Johnson and Byron Scott derailed their championship hopes as the Detroit Pistons swept L.A. in the Finals.

16. During a regular season game in December of 1987 at Boston Garden, Magic fielded a pass from Michael Cooper and swished a 22-foot, game-winning bank shot from the left side of the court, fading away and jumping off his right foot. Johnson’s shot gave the Lakers a 115-114 victory over the Celtics.

15. The birth of “Showtime” basketball coincided with Pat Riley taking over as head coach during the 1981-82 season. With Magic leading the up-tempo attack, the Lakers ran teams off the court and ended up as NBA champs. Magic was named Finals MVP, averaging nearly a triple double during the playoffs (17.4 points, 11.3 rebounds and 9.3 assists).

14. Four months after announcing his retirement, Johnson was selected to play in the 1992 NBA All-Star game in Orlando. In 29 minutes, Magic made nine of 12 shots from the field, including three 3-pointers in a row. He finished with 25 points and nine assists, and was named the game’s MVP.

13. After absorbing heavy criticism the previous season, Magic came back and helped the Lakers exorcise the ghosts that has haunted the Lakers in the Boston Garden in the 1985 Finals. Magic assisted Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in getting the series MVP. Magic averaged 18.3 points 6.8 rebounds and 14 assists in the six-game series.

12. Collected his third MVP trophy in the 1989-90 season. One of just seven players to be named regular season MVP at least three times. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell are the others.

11. In April of 1991, Magic surpassed Oscar Robertson’s all-time assist record. He tied the Big O’s record of 9,887 when he found James Worthy for a short jump shot. Then, less than six minutes left in the second quarter, he broke the record with an assist to Terry Teagle.

10. Led Michigan State to the 1979 Final Four and was named the most outstanding player after his Spartans defeated Indiana State, led by Larry Bird, in the championship game. The 1979 NCAA final is still the highest rated televised game in men’s basketball tournament history.

9. Led the L.A. Lakers to back-to-back NBA titles in 1988, defeating the Detroit Pistons – led by his good friend Isiah Thomas – in seven games. In 24 playoff games, Magic averaged 19.9 points and 12. 6 assists.

8. Named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players in 1996, which was selected by a blue-ribbon panel of media, former players and coaches, current and former general managers and team executives.

7. Selected to the United States men’s Olympic basketball team in 1992, forming the greatest collection of superstars on one squad. The Dream Team went undefeated during the Barcelona Olympics and its average margin of victory was 45 points. Christian Laettner, the 12th man on the Dream Team, was asked who was the most impressive player in practice. He said, “Magic Johnson.” Why? Laettner reasoned that Magic always made the right play.

6. Elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. Magic said: “The Olympics was probably my biggest thrill to date, but (the Hall of Fame) is bigger than that. This closes everything as far as basketball.” Magic was enshrined along with the late Drazen Petrovic, coaches Larry Brown, Lute Olson and Kay Yow, and the Harlem Globetrotters.

5. His best statistical season came during the 1986-87 season when he posted a career high 23.9 points per game and a league-leading 12.2 assists. At 27, Magic was in the prime of his career and won the first of his three regular-season MVPs. his offensive game had never been better. Besides leading the team in scoring and assists, he was also third in rebounds (6.3), first in steals (138), shot 52% from the field and 84% from the free throw line.

4. After leading the Lakers to an NBA-best 65-17 record in 1986-87, Magic kept his foot on the gas pedal in the postseason as he led L.A. to a 15-3 playoff mark and a sixth appearance in the NBA Finals in eight seasons. He averaged 21. 8 points and 12.2 assists 18 playoff games. In the Finals, Magic’s Lakers met Larry Bird’s Boston Celtics for the third time. The Lakers won the series in six games and Magic won his third Finals MVP trophy.

3. In his NBA rookie season, he led the Lakers to the 1980 NBA Finals against Dr. J and Philadelphia 76ers. When Kareem Abdul-Jabbar could not play in Game 6 because of badly sprained ankle, Magic started at center, played guard and forward and scored 42 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and had seven assists in the series-clincher to earn the MVP of the Finals. Magic still calls it the greatest game he has ever played.

2. The great Laker announcer Chick Hearn called it. “Magic down the middle, just what I thought, a hook shot from 12….GOOD!” On what became known as the Junior Sky Hook, Magic’s game-winning basket over Kevin McHale and Robert Parish with two seconds left in Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals became the signature moment of his career. After the game, Larry Bird said “Magic is just a great basketball player.” Magic said “it was the greatest shot I ever took, and the greatest shot I ever made.”

1. Fred Stabley Jr., a sportswriter for the Lansing State Journal, told a young man out of Everett High School named Earvin Johnson Jr. that he needed a nickname for his unbelievable skills on the basketball court. Because Dr. J was already taken and Big E was Elvin Hayes, Stabley suggested “Magic” and the alias became one of the recognizable titles in sports history. Thank you, Mr. Stabley, for helping Earvin Johnson complete the single greatest act of his athletic career. It is, quite simply, magical.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Jerry Buss would like to re-sign Lamar Odom, but the Lakers owner is not willing to go all in to bring him back.

All the cards are on the table and it is now up to Dr. Jerry Buss to reveal his hand. Re-sign Lamar Odom or let him go to another team without compensation? That’s the million-dollar quandary facing the longtime owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Buss, a known poker player who is fearless when it comes to betting the future of the franchise, is playing a high-stakes game of “deal” or “no deal” with Odom and his agent Jeff Schwartz. Buss reasoned that he yanked the team’s previous offer – reportedly worth $27 to $30 million for three years – off the table was because he felt Odom and Schwartz were “too slow to respond” to what he thought was a fair contract. Odom and Schwartz originally asked for $50 million for five years, but that asking price is just too rich in today’s poor economy.

The Miami Heat are now actively pursuing Odom, and Yahoo! Sports reported that the free-agent forward is “leaning towards” the Heat unless the Lakers increase their offer.

This is familiar territory with Buss. On the heels of the Lakers getting swept by Detroit in the 2004 NBA Finals, he faced a similar dilemma when Shaquille O’Neal asked for an extension. Buss didn’t think O’Neal was worth the hassle so he placed all his chips on Kobe Bryant and traded O’Neal to Miami, banking on the fact that the three-time Finals MVP was on his last legs and does not have the power to lift a team to a championship.

Fold!

His gamble backfired as O’Neal won a championship with the Heat in 2006 and the Lakers had to deal with all the scrutiny and all the questions as to why O’Neal won a ring with another team. But Buss stood by his decision and basically stayed the course, even when his beloved franchise dropped to the second tier.

Then, in 2008, Buss found luck – or luck found him, depending on how you look at it – as the Lakers found a sucker in Memphis. The Grizzlies were looking to dump salary and gift-wrapped forward-center Pau Gasol to the Lakers for center Kwame Brown and guard Javaris Crittenton.

Royal flush!

With Gasol playing Robin to Kobe’s Batman, the Lakers vaulted back to the top and captured the NBA title this past June. It was the franchise’s 15th championship and the team’s ninth trophy with Buss at the helm.

The Lakers are optimistic that forward Lamar Odom will re-sign with the team.

Buss would love to bring Odom back, but he’s not willing to bet all his chips to make it happen. Remember, Bryant has his max deal, Bynum is on the books for $58 million and Gasol should also get an extension soon, so Buss is unwilling to go over the salary cap threshold and get hit by a steep luxury tax. Odom, who turns 30 in November, has made it known that returning to L.A. is his preference, but he’s also looking out for his financial future.

It’s the summer of 2004 revisited, a time when Lakers were still considered the dominant team in the league and re-signing O’Neal to pair with Bryant would have made L.A. title worthy. But Buss simply refused to put up with O’Neal’s and Bryant’s verbal sparring, and the old-school owner said “enough is enough” and sided with Bryant and sent O’Neal packing.

Now, it’s Odom’s turn to test Buss’ patience.

Enter the Miami Heat. Again.

Odom played one season in Miami and wouldn’t mind returning to South Beach to play alongside All-Star guard Dwyane Wade, a player close to Kobe’s skill level. Odom’s best season as a pro came in 2003-04 as a member of the Heat. Miami President Pat Riley likes what the versatile 6-10 forward brings to the table and so does Wade.

How serious is the Heat in acquiring Odom? Very. So serious that Wade is currently in Los Angeles to convince his former teammate to ditch the world champion Lakers, come back home to Miami and turn the Heat back into an Eastern Conference powerhouse.

Wade wrote on his Twitter page on Sunday: “I’m in LA to bring odom bac to miami with me lol lol lol. LA fans dnt get mad at me..”

So why is it taking so long for Odom to strike a deal with the Heat? Quite simply, he doesn’t want to leave L.A.

And besides, Odom going to Miami won’t necessarily guarantee the Heat an NBA title or even a trip the conference finals. The Heat has a logjam at the forward position and the team would have to trade either second-year player Michael Beasley or co-captain Udonis Haslem to make room for Odom.

But if Odom re-signs with L.A., the Lakers should be the heavy favorites to repeat as champs. Odom is insurance policy in case Andrew Bynum goes down again – which he has done the past two seasons. He complements Gasol extremely well because he doesn’t need to camp in the low block. Odom may not be a franchise player or even a secondary option but, as the third or fourth option, he is an absolute dynamite player.

Once cooler heads prevail – mainly Buss’ head – Odom and the Lakers will likely agree on a four-year deal around $36 million. For now, Buss will keep everyone guessing on his next move.

Check!

Popularity: 1% [?]

By winning his fourth NBA championship and his first Finals MVP trophy, Kobe Bryant earned his MA in being a team leader. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Winning an NBA championship is kind of like graduation. You work all year to accumulate points and, once it’s done, you get to enjoy a big celebration in June.

On June 14, 2009, Kobe Bryant graduated from all-star to uber star. He scored an A-plus on his NBA report card and finally completed this master’s degree in leadership.

Being named most valuable player of the NBA Finals signifies that you are the best player in the world. When Kobe Bryant was handed the Bill Russell MVP trophy on Sunday night after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA championship, he officially became a Jedi Master – one who can force his will on his own team as well as his opponent. If LeBron James is the MVP of the NBA, then Bryant is the MVP of a galaxy far, far away.

“He is the guy that LeBron and all those other guys are chasing. He’s Machiavelli. He’s a throwback,” former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy said of Bryant while comparing him to the great Italian philosopher. Bryant averaged 32 points per game, six rebounds and seven assists in the five-game series against the Orlando Magic en route to claiming his first Finals MVP and his fourth NBA championship ring.

“MVP. Championship. The legacy continues. This guy now, in my opinion, is in the top 10 players of all time. He’s No. 10 in my book,” TNT’s Kenny Smith said about Bryant, who is widely regarded as the best closer in the game.

Though he won three championships from 2000-02, this year’s title resonates more with Bryant, a player who balances being the most beloved player in the league and its most hated villain. He entered the league as a cocky and sometimes irritating 18-year-old know-it-all and now, at 30 years old, his unparalleled swagger is viewed as intimidating.

Bryant recently admitted he is a much better all-round player now and went as far as saying he had a better year in 2009 than 2008 – and ‘08 was his MVP season. Winning a fourth NBA championship definitely cemented Bryant’s place in NBA history. He now has his championship without Shaquille O’Neal, proving to critics he can lead a team to a championship as the main Alpha Male.

“It was just annoying. It was like Chinese water torture,” Bryant said of the chatter that he couldn’t win a title without Shaq. “I would cringe every time. I was just like, it’s a challenge I’m just going to have to accept because there’s no way I’m going to argue it. You can say it until you’re blue in the face and rationalize it until you’re blue in the face, but it’s not going anywhere until you do something about it.

“I think we as a team answered the call because they understood the challenge that I had, and we all embraced it.”

O’Neal posted a congratulatory message on his Twitter page following the game: “Congratulations kobe, u deserve it,” O’Neal wrote. “You played great. Enjoy it my man enjoy it.”

It took Bryant 13 years to finally shed the selfish moniker he’s been unceremoniously branded with. He dropped the hot dog, mustard and the relish off his game and developed a healthy diet of highlight-free moves. Although he still showcases a spectacular move once in a while, for the most part he has become more efficient on offense and defense. Because he’s a little bit older and does not jump as high, Bryant has ditched the fancy crossover dribbles and the ill-advised pull-up 3-pointers in favor of turn-around jumpers in the post and more high-percentage mid-range jump shots.

The biggest improvement in Bryant’s game is his passing. He is now willing to share the ball with his teammates, a part of his game that he really struggled with during the early part of his career. There was a time when he led a fastbreak and no one ran with him. He was the lone wolf of the pack. Now, when he leads a fastbreak, the pack is running with him.

When Kobe Bryant got his teammates involved, the Lakers became world champions.

His coach of eight years, Phil Jackson, has witnessed Bryant’s growth as a player and as a person.

“There was a point in Kobe’s first or second year [with me] when we sat together and watched tape. I wanted him to understand his impact on the game a little bit and my feeling on his impact on the game,” Jackson said.

“We had a game in Toronto and he had gotten hooked up with Vince Carter in the middle of a fourth quarter, and they kinda exchanged baskets and I thought it took our team out of our team play. The game was much harder than it should have been,” Jackson recalled. “So I talked to him a little bit about leadership and about his ability to be a leader and he said, ‘Yeah, I’m ready to be a captain right now.’ And I said, ‘But no one is ready to follow you.

“But he was 22 at the time. He was a young guy,” Jackson continued. “In those eight years that ensued from that period, he’s learned how to become a leader in a way in which people want to follow him. I think that’s really important for him to learn that. He knew that he had to give to get [something] in return. He’s become a giver rather than just a guy who’s a demanding leader. It’s been great to watch.”

Bryant’s willingness to share the ball was evident in Game 4 against the Magic. He set up Pau Gasol’s dunk with 32 seconds left with a whirling-derbish move ala Earl Monroe. With the Lakers down 87-84 with 10 seconds left, the Magic double-teamed Bryant and, without hesitation, he passed the ball to Trevor Ariza and started a mini-fastbreak, culminating in a 3-pointer by Derek Fisher to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, Kobe’s recognition of a double team resulted in a wide-open 3-pointer for Fisher at the top of the arc for what proved to be the game-winning shot of Game 4 and the defining moment of the ‘09 Finals. Those two plays were clear indications that Kobe Bryant has grown into his role as the most complete player in the world. He no longer needs to be told that. He knows it.

“This is one bad man,” former NBA guard and current ABC/ESPN analyst Mark Jackson said. “You’re talking about a complete basketball player. I don’t really think you appreciate how great this guy is. I learned as a broadcaster you don’t want to throw around the word ‘great.’ I’m gonna go out on a limb and say, ‘This guy is great.’ As good as we’ve seen at the two-guard position.”

When Bryant realized that he can’t win on his own, no matter how hard he tried, he evolved as a player. His single-mindedness and incredible drive, which is both a curse and a gift, now permeates to the rest of his team. He has become a better teammate. He still has some venom when he rips into his guys, but he has done it less and less.

The transformation began in 2007-08 when Bryant won MVP during the regular season. The arrival of Gasol gave Bryant the much-needed support he has craved for since O’Neal left town in 2004. With Gasol playing the No. 2 scoring option and Fisher as wingman, Bryant took HIS new-look Lakers to the NBA Finals in ‘08 but fell short against the Boston Celtics. Instead of having another meltdown during the offseason, Bryant went back to the lab and helped HIS teammates get stronger – physically and mentally. Bryant knew he needed to build HIS team back up – one pass and one shot at a time.

“Losing in the Finals last year brought us closer together,” Fisher said. “This team is closer because of the combination of guys in terms of their ages and where they’re at in their careers. With these guys, everybody being early to mid-20s, there was a willingness to learn and be around me, to be around Kobe, and be around people that they can learn from.”

With Bryant as their undeniable leader and captain, the Lakers knocked off every Western Conference foe in surgical fashion and slapped the exclamation point with a victory over the Magic in the Finals.

Having been to the top in Stage 1 of his career, Bryant has talked about climbing the mountain top again. With Stage 2 well underway, he is more refined and building a legacy that could land him above his idol, Michael Jordan. “I just want to be the best – simple and plain. But to be the best, you have to win. That is what drives me,” Bryant said.

Three more championships and Bryant will surpass Jordan.

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Jameer Nelson's decision to play in The Finals has hurt the Magic rather than help them.

A 3-1 deficit in The NBA Finals. It is staring the Orlando Magic in the face as it tries to figure out what went wrong in Game 4, a game that saw the Magic blow a 12-point halftime lead, turn the ball over 19 times and miss 15 free throws.

But the biggest reason why Orlando is on the brink of elimination is because of the presence of Jameer Nelson. In hindsight, the decision to activate him for the NBA Finals was probably the wrong one. Instead of providing a shot in the arm for the Magic, Nelson has become a detriment to team chemistry and his blown defensive assignment at the end of regulation will go down as one of the all-time blunders.

Nelson, the All-Star guard who has played in four games since injuring his right shoulder in February, inexplicably allowed Derek Fisher too much space to shoot a 3-pointer that tied the game at 87 with 4.6 seconds left and forced overtime, where Fisher hit another three to seal a 99-91 Lakers victory.

Mr. Nelson, meet Mr. Buckner.

“Obviously, we didn’t want to give up a three. I think I let Fisher get into rhythm and he shot a good shot. I could have pushed up a little more,” Nelson said of Fisher’s first 3-pointer of the game after missing his previous five attempts. Fisher’s second 3-pointer came in overtime, which also involved Nelson.

“I got elbowed,” Nelson said. “I went to go double Kobe and got elbowed. The explanation I got was the man had the ball so [the referee] can’t call the elbow,” Nelson said on the play where Bryant’s right elbow knocked him to the floor and allowed Fisher an open look at the top of the 3-point arc that made it 94-91 with 30 seconds left in OT.

Mickael Pietrus, one of the few Magic players who actually delivered in the clutch in Game 4 and did an admirable job of slowing down Kobe Bryant, says the game began slipping away in the third quarter when the Lakers erased a 12-point halftime deficit by outscoring Orlando, 30-14, in the third.

“I think we didn’t play well at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter. We started panicking a little bit and lost a lot on turnovers,” Pietrus said.

Did Pietrus just say the Magic panicked? Somewhere out in Phoenix, Shaquille O’Neal is laughing out loud as he Twitters.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said the end of regulation will “haunt him forever,” but his nightmare was a self-inflicted psychological scar. His decision to play Nelson in the fourth quarter and overtime will turn out to be more damaging than any missed free throw or careless turnover.

Van Gundy reasoned that he gave Nelson more minutes in the second half because Orlando was struggling on offense and Alston would have had a difficult time getting in rhythm after sitting for a long time.

“I thought we had a really, really bad third quarter,” Van Gundy explained. “It wasn’t so much one guy over the other, it was just we had a unit in the fourth that was playing real well and then you get down to the point where Rafer hasn’t played in 10 or 12 minutes. I thought it would be to bring him back. Jameer wasn’t doing a whole lot, but it also wasn’t hurting us at all.”

Alston had 11 points on 5-for-13 shooting, two assists and one turnover in 27 minutes. Nelson had two points, three turnovers and three assists in 26 minutes.

“I was shocked. I was shocked,” Alston told the Associated Press of his Van Gundy’s decision to bench him. “It’s tough. You’re thinking Coach will come back to you. The first two games I could understand, but again we were right there to win the game. As a player you would like to have your number called.”

Van Gundy dismissed the idea that Orlando’s lack of experience was not a factor in the Magic being down 3-1 in the series. Instead, he pointed out some regrettable mistakes that will stick with them all summer and maybe beyond that.

“Well, 19 turnovers to eight. Free throw shooting and poor execution down the stretch,” Van Gundy said.

Dwight Howard tried to defend his teammate and close friend, saying it was more Fisher than Nelson’s decision not to contest the shot that killed the Magic in Game 4.

“We tried to take that away, but he just made a tough shot,” Howard said. “We just rushed a little bit. But there’s nothing we can do about it right now.”

Despite Nelson’s botched assignment on defense and all the turnovers, Orlando still had a chance to secure the victory with 11 seconds left when Howard was fouled by Bryant and sent him to the line with the Magic ahead 87-84. All Howard needed to do was sink one free throw the outcome would have been different.

“I just missed them. I’ve been working my free throws, I just didn’t make them,” said Howard, who was 6-for-14 from the line and his two huge misses with 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter allowed the Lakers a chance to tie game.

“It wasn’t just me, it was all of us,” Howard said of Orlando’s 22-for-37 free throw shooting. “But there is no reason to have any doubts right now. Never stop fighting, never stop believing. We have to bounce back. There’s no need to hang our heads.”

Howard’s monster game – 16 points, 21 rebounds and a Finals record nine blocked shots – was overshadowed by his seven turnovers and his eight missed foul shots. Hedo Turkoglu led the Magic with 25 points, but he was 8-for-13 from the line. Rashard Lewis struggled all night and finished with just six points on 2-for-10 shooting.

Should the Magic somehow win Game 5, it would only prolong the inevitable. The Lakers are now in complete control of the series and the Magic players, as well as Coach Van Gundy, have no one to blame but themselves.

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Lakers star Kobe Bryant is now three victories away from winning his fourth Larry O'Brien Trophy. (GETTY IMAGES)

After driving his Los Angeles Lakers to a 100-75 bashing of the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of the NBA Finals Thursday night at Staples Center, Kobe Bryant is beginning to scare a lot of people.

Bryant is so close to winning his fourth Larry O’Brien Trophy that he’s starting to grind his teeth after each jump shot. He’s constantly urging his teammates to strive for perfection. He’s on such a roll that Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy and the Magic players are looking completely deflated. And several members of the media are feeling uncomfortable with his almost grumpy behavior.

Bryant is so close to accomplishing his ultimate goal he can almost taste the victory champagne. The scowl and the serious demeanor show his heightened focus and determination. His will to win has never been higher, which says a lot considering Kobe has been to the mountain top three times in his illustrious career.

But this time it’s different.

He is now three victories away from winning his fourth championship ring, which would cement his legacy in the sport. More importantly, he is three victories away from removing the 7-foot-1, 350-pound gorilla off his back. He is three victories away from being named the Finals most valuable player and re-establishing himself as the best player on the planet.

“I just want it so bad that’s all. I just want it really bad. It’s just putting everything you have into the game and the emotions kind of flow out of you,” Bryant said after lighting up the Magic for 40 points. He also added eight rebounds and eight assists, the fourth player to post 40-8-8 in the NBA Finals, joining Jerry West, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal.

The Lakers are only up 1-0, but it seems as though this series is over because Bryant looks like he will not allow his team to lose this series.

“My kids call me Grumpy from the Seven Dwarfs. That’s pretty much how I’ve been at home,” Bryant said. “There’s a lot of motivation. I’m using it all right now.”

The Magic stayed even with the Lakers for one quarter and even took a five-point lead almost four minutes into the second quarter. The Magic led 33-28 with 8:30 left in the first half and that is when Phil Jackson called timeout and inserted No. 24, The Black Mamba, back in the game. From that point on, the Lakers blitzed the Magic, 72-42.

“We have the best player in the game and he came out in attack mode,” said Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw, who won three championships with Bryant from 2000-2002.

Bryant made Orlando pay for not doubling him, repeatedly torching Courtney Lee and Mickael Pietrus on isolations and pick-and-rolls. He scored on mid-range jumpers, fadeaways, floaters, step-backs and dribble drives. In so many moves, he single-handedly broke Orlando’s spirit.

“When he gets it going, he’s one of the best players of all time,” Lakers forward Lamar Odom said of Bryant. “Offensively, there isn’t anything he can’t do. We understand how much he wants this. He has his game face on. He’s ready, he’s prepared.”

When Van Gundy reviews the video, he will have a hard time watching because Bryant was just scary good and there was nothing Orlando could have done to stop his Unstoppableness.

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