Lakers star Kobe Bryant is surrounded by reporters at the team's practice facility in El Segundo. (US PRESSWIRE)

You can’t blame Kobe Bryant for looking and feeling a little surly these days.

On the eve of training camp and the start of the 2011 free agency period, the Lakers thought they had All-Star point guard Chris Paul in a three-team deal. Just hours after the CP3 trade began circulating, commissioner David Stern nixed the trade citing the NBA-owned New Orleans Hornets were not getting enough in return.

Days after the Paul trade fell apart, the Lakers moved popular teammate Lamar Odom, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, to the defending champion Dallas Mavericks. How did Bryant react to the news? He said “I hope management knows what they’re doing!” Not exactly a ringing endorsement for general manager Mitch Kupchak and team executive Jim Buss.

Then, on Wednesday, the Clippers – the junior varsity team of Staples Center – landed the coveted Paul, and the Twitterverse started blowing up with plenty of chatter on how the Clippers have now surpassed the Lakers as the No. 1 in Los Angeles.

Two days later, on a very windy Friday afternoon in Southern California, TMZ reported that Kobe’s wife, Vanessa, filed for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences” and asked for joint custody of the couple’s two daughters. TMZ said Vanessa is ending the 10-year marriage because Kobe has been unfaithful.

Talk about a rough last 48 hours for the Black Mamba! No wonder he left Friday’s practice without speaking to the media and was extra terse with reporters on Thursday when he was asked about the CP3 deal to the crosstown rival Clippers.

Despite all the trouble in Lakerland, Kobe Bryant remains focused on the task at hand, which is to chase his sixth NBA championship ring and a 17th title to the Lakers franchise.

Bryant reportedly looks great in practice and his troublesome knee seems to be healing well. Bryant still has 7-footers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum to lean on offensively and defensively, and he still has good friend Derek Fisher by his side when things get crazy in the locker room. Newly acquired forward Josh McRoberts is a terrific athlete who will add energy and punch off the bench, and could start on occasion should Bynum or Gasol gets hurt. And don’t think for one second that the Lakers are done wheeling and dealing. They are still in play to obtain All-Star center Dwight Howard and they are still in the market for a point guard.

There are lots of questions left to be answered for the Lakers, including how the team will function without Phil Jackson’s trusty triangle offense and how long it will take them to trust first-year head coach Mike Brown. But one thing is for certain, Kobe Bryant is still one of the best players in the league and he will never allow the Lakers to play second-fiddle to anyone, especially the Clippers.

Kobe will file all the negativity surrounding his life and use them as motivation. Don’t ever count out Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (third from left) joins an already loaded Spanish national team. (FIBA EUROPE)

The final game of the 2011 European Championship turned into a huge block party for Serge Ibaka.

In his first major international competition wearing the colors of the Spanish national team, the 21-year-old Oklahoma City Thunder forward had half of Spain’s 10 blocked shots against France and helped Espana capture the EuroBasket title in Lithuania. Spain and France earned automatic berths for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Ibaka scored just four points in 21 minutes off the bench, but it was his stellar defense that keyed an impressive 98-85 victory for Spain, the second-best team in the world and the biggest threat to the United States next summer. Ibaka completely altered the game with three early monster blocks in the first half that powered Spain to a 36-26 lead.

Barcelona’s Juan Carlos Navarro led the Spaniards with a game-high 27 points. Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol added 17 points and 10 rebounds, while San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker paced France with 26 points.

The addition of the 6-foot-10 Ibaka gives Spain, which already boasts 7-footers Pau and Marc Gasol, the most formidable frontline in the world – even better than whatever the U.S. will put together next year. Ibaka prefers to face-up on offense, and he doesn’t mind giving way to the post to the Gasol brothers.

Ibaka calls Pau Gasol possibly the most talented center with the best fundamentals in the NBA. “It will be a dream to play with him,” Ibaka told the Associated Press back in July.

Flashback to the gold medal game against the U.S. in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in which Spain struggled to keep up with the Americans athletically, especially when LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony played power forward. With Ibaka on the roster, Spain will no longer have that issue.

Ibaka was granted Spanish nationality in July, clearing the way for him to help Spain defend its European championship. “Spain is a country that has given me a lot,” Ibaka told the Associated Press. “It will be an honor to give Spain back all that it has given me on the court.”

Ibaka was born in the Republic of Congo but played for Spanish clubs for three years before moving to the NBA in 2009. He maintains a residence in Barcelona.

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Pau Gasol is the emotional leader of the Spanish national team. (FIBA EUROBASKET)

Pau Gasol took the brunt of the criticism during the 2011 NBA playoffs when the Lakers were swept out of the second round by eventual champion Dallas.

Gasol didn’t play his best during the series, and at one point he appeared so out of it that Lakers coach Phil Jackson was seen chastising his star forward basically telling the Spaniard to snap out of his funk.

Rumors swirled all over the Internet that Gasol was having issues with his girlfriend Silvia Lopez Castro, then it was compounded when teammate Shannon Brown tweeted that he was not having an affair with Pau’s girl (memo to
Shannon Brown: if nothing was going on then why tweet about it?)

L.A. Lakers star Pau Gasol with his girlfriend Silvia Lopez Castro. (GETTY IMAGES)

Gasol is one of the nicest NBA players you will ever meet, and something was clearly bothering him last season. More often than not, Pau wears his emotions on his sleeve and he needs to be highly engaged in order to be effective. So, it is important for Pau to regain his confidence and it starts with European Championships in Lithuanian.

Laker fans are hoping that playing for his country and being with familiar faces should help Gasol’s mental state. Sorta like going back home to your mom’s house for some good old-fashioned home cooking to clear your mind. As a bonus, Pau gets to play with his brother, Marc.

So far, the Gasols are rolling through the competition at the European Championships. With the Gasols in the post and international stars Juan Carlos Navarro and Ricky Rubio in the perimeter, Spain may have the most complete team at EuroBasket 2011.

In Spain’s 77-68 victory over Germany in the second round, the Gasol brothers combined for 43 points (Marc had 24 and Pau had 19) to down Dirk Nowitzki’s squad. Spain’s lone loss in the tournament came against Turkey, which is led by Hedo Turkoglu and Omer Asik.

As long as the Gasol brothers are firing on all cylinders, Spain should capture the gold medal at EuroBasket 2011 (although France and host nation Lithuanian are capable of derailing that plan). The top two teams in the tournament earn automatic berths to the 2012 London Olympics.

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Lakers forward-center Pau Gasol is defended by his brother, Marc Gasol, during a Lakers-Grizzlies game at Staples Center in Los Angeles. (GETTY IMAGES)

The Grizzlies came into Staples Center and embarrassed the defending NBA champions 104-85. The Lakers have now lost three of their last four home games, and the one win was a four-point struggle against the lowly 76ers. Is there trouble in L.A.?

“We didn’t execute well, and defensively we were poor,” Kobe Bryant told reporters on Sunday night after the loss, the Lakers’ 11th of the season. “We’ve just got to come out focused and ready to play. It’s tough when you have to try to regenerate that energy every single night. It starts individually. You have to look at yourself and try to find things to get you going. Right now we can’t beat anybody, but we’ll be fine.”

Phil Jackson agreed with Kobe about the lack of focus, but the Lakers head man also got very specific during his postgame press conference regarding the team’s struggles offensively.

“It’s a matter of focus. We didn’t use our strengths, which is our inside players,” Jackson said. “Pau gets nine shots during the course of a game, some of it is his own responsibility, but we didn’t use that focus that we have in the ballgame.”

Jackson continued, “We started off the game with Pau scoring six out of our eight points, but he didn’t score again in the half.  He’s too good of a player for a game like that.”

Translation, Jackson wants Kobe and Co. to FOCUS on getting the ball inside to Pau Gasol and, to an extent, Andrew Bynum. The Lakers have the best low-post players in the league the Zen Master wants his team to initiate their triangle offense through their big men and play the game inside-out, something Kobe and Co. failed to do against the Grizzlies.

“As a result, we get behind early in the third quarter on some stupid plays. You know, poor passing, poor transition defense,” Jackson explained, “and Kobe has to screw up the game and start energizing the team by going one-on-one and takes the rest of the guys out. As a consequence, that did bring us back in and it did gives us a little run and we did get the game back a little bit, but we couldn’t sustain it. And we just went right back and made the same mistakes again.”

Gasol is not really an in-your-face-demand-the-ball kind of guy, so Jackson is basically acting as his mouth piece in this case. Remember the old Shaquille O’Neal line of “feeding the big dog.” Well, the Lakers need to feed their Spaniard if they want him to remain hungry for a third consecutive NBA title.

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LeBron James told reporters on Friday that he wouldn’t mind seeing less teams in the NBA, a stance that goes against the players’ union. Union president Derek Fisher just so happens to be on the other side of the court today when the Los Angeles Lakers host LeBron and his BFF Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat at Staples Center in the marquee game of the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule.

Fisher told ESPN News’ Sara Walsh on Friday, “I’m going to be real. Other than just going out and playing against a good team, it’s not necessarily personal. Of course, I want a win against the Heat on Christmas Day. That’s the best gift I can give myself.”

Things just got more interesting in the budding rivalry between the Lakers and the Heat.

Fisher is one of the more politically correct people in the league, so he’s not going to drag this brewing issue to the media. However, don’t be surprised if Fisher sends LeBron a little message in the form of a forearm to the chest. Remember the Luis Scola play? Things could get a little testy. Here’s a look at the matchups:

Dwyane Wade could be matched up against Kobe Bryant for much of today's highly anticipated contest. (GETTY IMAGES)

GUARDS: Other than Dwyane Wade, the Heat really don’t have much while the Lakers have a wealth of experience in the backcourt with Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Steve Blake and Shannon Brown. The only way this position matchup evens out is if Carlos Arroyo or Mario Chalmers has a career game – which is probably not going to happen. It will be interesting to see if Wade guards Kobe for the majority of the game. If he does, Wade’s offense will suffer a little bit because he’ll have to waste a lot of energy on defense. If he doesn’t, then his buddy LeBron will likely draw the assignment, but that would mean Wade would have to guard Ron Artest which is no walk in the park either. EDGE: LAKERS

FORWARDS: LeBron James will likely face Ron Artest in a head-to-head showdown worth the price of admission. Artest may be the only player in the league who can dislodge LeBron off the box, and the Lakers don’t have to send an extra defender toward LeBron because Artest can play him straight up. The Chris Bosh-Lamar Odom matchup is an interesting one. Both are lefties and both are streak shooters. Against any other team, Artest and Odom should prevail. But against a Heat squad with two All-Star forwards, the Lakers will have their hands full. EDGE: HEAT

CENTER: The Heat may have The Big Three but the Lakers have The Hollywood Hills in Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Gasol will start the game, but expect Andrew Bynum to have a major impact in the game off the bench. Outside of Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the Heat don’t have another 7-footer who can bother The Hills. Gasol and Bynum are matchup nightmares for 29 teams in the league, and the Lakers are nearly unbeatable when both are healthy. The Heat will be at a severe disadvantage. EDGE: LAKERS

COACHING: Erik Spoelstra is one of young, bright coaches in the league but, let’s get real, he’s facing a living legend in Lakers mastermind Phil Jackson. End of story. EDGE: LAKERS

PREDICTION: LeBron and D-Wade need to be extra special for the Heat to have a chance, while the Lakers just need to play their normal game to take control of the game. Lakers win, 99-93.

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Despite all the hoopla in South Beach, the road to the NBA championship still runs through the Los Angeles Lakers. Size still matters and, last time I checked, the two-time defending champions still boasts the best frontline in basketball.

As good as Kobe Bryant is – and he’s in the Michael Jordan conversation should he win another championship ring – the Lakers’ greatest weapon is their length. Seven-footers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum (when healthy) form the best twin towers since Olajuwon and Sampson. Then, you add 6-10 Lamar Odom into the mix and you have arguably one of the best and deepest frontlines in league history.

Oh, and the Lakers have a guy name Kobe on their team. I hear he’s pretty good. Bryant remains the most feared clutch player in the league and nobody closes a game better than the Black Mamba. He did it six times last season. Six times! LeBron James doesn’t have six game-winners for his career. And when Kobe is covered, the Lakers can always turn to Derek Fisher. The Lakers’ co-captain is one of the best big-game players in the Association (see Game 3 against the Celtics in the NBA Finals), but his importance stretches beyond the basketball court. Bryant, oftentimes, leans on D-Fish, who is the ONLY player on the Lakers’ roster who has Kobe’s ear – and that includes the assistant coaches.

Phil Jackson insists that this will be his last year. The Zen Master would love nothing more than to close out his Hall-of-Fame career with a 12th NBA championship and his fourth 3-peat. Can’t wait for Phil’s next book. It could titled “The Dirty Dozen,”  and “dirty” in a good way.

The Lakers are the clear-cut favorites to win the West again, and the rest of the conference will be playing for spots 2-8. The last four playoff positions probably wont’ be determined until the last day of the season. Holdovers San Antonio and Denver will be fighting off Portland, Houston, Phoenix, Sacramento and Memphis all season for the fifth and sixth seeds, but the final two berths could come down to the Blazers, Rockets, Suns, Kings and Grizzlies.

OneManFastBreak.net publisher and editor Joel Huerto predicts the eight teams that will make the Western Conference playoffs:

1. LOS ANGELES LAKERS (Projected record: 60-22)
Kobe Bryant has basically accomplished everything in his illustrious career. Should he win another title, it would be his sixth and that would tie him with his idol Michael Jordan. Kobe would have to go through, most likely, Miami or Boston to win his sixth ring and beating LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in The Finals certainly is more impressive than Jordan beating John Stockton and Karl Malone. A sixth championship definitely puts Kobe in the same conversation – dare I say – with The Great MJ, and cements Bryant as the best player of his generation. With a healthy Andrew Bynum, the Lakers boasts the best six-man rotation in the Association: Fisher, Kobe, Ron Artest, Gasol, Bynum and Odom.

Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom are all back to defend their NBA title. (REUTERS)

2. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER  (Projected record: 59-23)
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will benefit from their experience in the FIBA World Championship, and the Thunder will make that leap from pretenders to contenders. Oklahoma City gave the Lakers a run for their money during last year’s playoffs, extending the series to six games on pure youthful exuberance. Now, with another year under their belts, Durant and Co. should win the Northwest Division and challenge for homecourt in the Western Conference. Speaking of KD, the reigning NBA scoring champion showcased his clutchness during the FIBA Worlds, as he almost single-handedly carried Team USA to the gold medal. Many experts are picking Durant to win the MVP, and hard to disagree with that prediction. Here’s another bold prediction: OKC will play the Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

3. UTAH JAZZ  (Projected record: 57-25)
Am I the only one in the basketball who thinks that Al Jefferson is an upgrade over Carlos Boozer? Most observations believe that the Jazz took a step back when the All-Star power forward left town and headed for Chicago. I disagree. When healthy, Jefferson is a very underrated post player, probably one of the five best in the West. He’s a 20-10 player who is taller (6-10 vs. 6-8) than Boozer, who struggled mightily against the Lakers’ lengthy big men during the playoffs. The Jazz are also more versatile with Jefferson, who can play center on occasion, and this allows high-energy guy Paul Millsap more court time. With Boozer gone, there is no doubt that Deron Williams is now the face of the franchise. D-Will is up to the challenge and he should be good enough to lead his team to 55 wins.

4. DALLAS MAVERICKS  (Projected record: 55-27)
The new-look Mavs gave a very weak performance in the first round and got bounced by their nemesis, the San Antonio Spurs. Head coach Rick Carlisle pressed the panic button a little bit during that series and he probably cost his team the series when he failed to insert Roddy Beaubois earlier than he did. Owner/president/head coach/general manager Mark Cuban has publicly pushed for Carlisle to use the lightning-quick Frenchman, who could turn into a major player and make the Mavs more dynamic on offense. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but injuries have derailed his progress. Dirk Nowitzki is a year older, but he continues to play at a very high level. He has more help now with Caron Butler and Shawn Marion, and the addition of center Tyson Chandler will bolster the frontcourt but not enough to overcome the Lakers and the Thunder in the West.

5. DENVER NUGGETS  (Projected record: 53-29)
Having George Karl back is huge for the Nuggets. The players like him and he knows this team better than anyone. All the trade talk that surrounds Carmelo Anthony will disappear should the Nuggets start winning. The addition of Al Harrington provides more firepower to an already potent offense. The health of Nene is key because he gives the Nuggets a legitimate low-post scorer. Chauncey Billups may be a year older, but he remains one of the best point guards in the league. Karl will try to minimize Billups’ minutes by expanding the role of Ty Lawson. The wild card here is J.R. Smith. When Smith is hot, the Nuggets become a special team. When he’s  cold,  the Nuggets become ordinary.

6. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (Projected record: 52-30)
Gregg Popovich is one of the best coaches in the league, and he’ll need all his managerial skills to keep his aging team from falling completely off the playoff chart. Tim Duncan came into training camp in good shape, but it is hard to ignore all the mileage TD has on his odometer. Manu Ginobili signed an extension last year and he rewarded the Spurs with one of his best seasons as a pro. Ginobili remains the X Factor for the Spurs because no one on the roster can duplicate what he can do on the court. This is a contract year for Tony Parker so he’ll be motivated to play well. If the Spurs struggle, don’t be surprised if they trade Tony P. before the deadline. George Hill and DeJuan Blair emerged as big-time contributors last season, and their roles should expand this season. The addition of Tiago Splitter allows Duncan to move to his preferred power forward slot and gives San Antonio a better option at center.

7. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS  (Projected record: 51-31)
At times, the Trail Blazers seem a little dysfunctional. Brandon Roy wants more touches, Andre Miller is not happy with his role, Rudy Fernandez is homesick and wants to return to Europe, and head coach Nate McMillan can’t seem to find the right combination on the court. But somehow, Portland always manages to get in the playoffs and it’ll be the same story this season. The X factor is Greg Oden. If he can stay upright, which is a big IF, the Blazers could move up in the standings. The odds are stacked against  him, though. The Curse of Sam Bowie is very much alive.

8. HOUSTON ROCKETS  (Projected record: 50-32)
Doctors have told the Rockets to limit Yao Ming’s court time to 24 minutes so, as an insurance policy, Houston picked up Brad Miller. This may be one of the best acquisitions during the offseason. Miller is very familiar with Rick Adelman’s Princeton offense and one of the best passing big men in the league. Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks gives the Rockets a very explosive backcourt. Both can create their own shot and are fearless. With Trevor Ariza gone, Shane Battier moves back into  the starting lineup. Luis Scola recently signed a long-term deal to stay in Houston and his presence should not be underestimated.

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The Lakers' formidable duo of Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant aim for a three-peat this season.

The Los Angeles Lakers recently started training camp at their team facility in El Segundo, Calif., without little fanfare. There were no one-hour ESPN specials to announce their existence and there were no pyrotechnics to introduce Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson and Pau Gasol – the real Three Kings of the NBA.

Unlike their neighbors from South Beach who boasted that they are going to set the league on fire this season, it’s business as usual for the Lakers – and that’s how they like it in Title Town. The two-time defending NBA champions don’t need to flex their muscles or brag to everyone how great they are. Those 10 gold ball trophies sitting in their practice facility speak for themselves.

The NBA season ended with the Lakers on top and it’s only fitting to start the season talking about the Lakers first.

The Lakers return the nucleus of their 2010 championship squad. They still have arguably the best player on the planet in Bryant, arguably the best big man in the NBA in Gasol, arguably the best defender in the NBA in Ron Artest and arguably the best sixth man in the league in Lamar Odom. And, oh by the way, they have the greatest coach in NBA history in the Zen Master. No argument there.

Add free agents Matt Barnes and Steve Blake to an already formidable roster and you have easily the best and most complete team in the Association. There should be no argument there.

All the buzz during offseason was how good or great the Miami Heat will be this season with the addition of LeBron James and Chris Bosh to go with Dwyane Wade. Even some Las Vegas oddsmakers are picking the Heat as the favorite to win it all this season. Last time I checked, two of those three guys haven’t won an NBA title and Wade won his four years ago. Adam Morrison has more championship rings than the much-hyped Heat trio!

Based on past history, championships are won inside and that’s the one big advantage the Lakers have over the Heat is their size, strength and length. Teams with the best interior offense and interior defense are the ones collecting rings. It’s a proven formula. Bill Russell was the anchor of the Celtics dynasty, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the anchor of the Showtime Lakers, Hakeem Olajuwon was the anchor of the Rockets, Tim Duncan was the anchor of the Spurs, and Shaquille O’Neal was the anchor of the Lakers’ three-peat.

As good as Kobe is, he has never won a championship without a dominant big man. He had Shaq earlier in the decade and now he has Gasol and Andrew Bynum (aka The Hollywood Hills) at the end of the decade.  Add Odom to the mix and Bryant is blessed with three freakishly good low-post players who can score, rebound and defend.

“It’s defense and rebounding. That’s what wins championships,” Bryant said on Monday during NBATV’s “Real Training Camp.”

Since acquiring Gasol, the Lakers have won more than 80% of their regular-season games and have been to the NBA Finals three consecutive seasons – winning the last two. His performance in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Celtics was legendary, and he could have easily been named the Finals MVP.

Gasol is going to have to carry the load for the first couple of months because his fellow big man, Bynum, will be sidelined recovering from knee surgery due to a torn meniscus. There were reports that Bynum was too casual about getting his knee fixed during the offseason, but Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said on Monday that the Lakers were not “blindsided” by the late surgery and the Lakers were well aware that Bynum could miss the first month of the season.

“The diagnosis, which was made back in the playoffs was correct,” Kupchak told NBATV on Monday. “When the surgery rolled around in mid-July, we anticipated that [the cartilage] would be taken out and that’s normally six or seven weeks in terms of a recovery. [The doctor] chose to sew it back in place, which is better for the player in the long run because he’s not missing cartilage; it’s better for his career, better for his life down the road. The downside of doing that, it takes a real long, long time to heal. So, something that we felt would be six weeks now goes to 10 to 12 weeks.”

Bynum is not the only Laker starter sitting out training camp. Bryant had offseason knee surgery on his right knee, and as a precaution he is easing his way back into form. When Bryant was asked what the time table is for his return, he said: “When [the knee] is ready, I’ll play.” Bryant said he rested all summer and there shouldn’t be any worries regarding his health. Translation: He’ll be starting on opening night.

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Pau Gasol reacts after scoring a basket against the Celtics in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals. (NBAE/GETTY IMAGES)

While accepting the NBA Finals MVP trophy from Bill Russell, Kobe Bryant appeared almost embarrassed that he was receiving an award despite a very subpar performance in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.

Bryant may have been best player in the series against the Celtics, but it was his teammate Pau Gasol who proved to be more valuable. And deep down somewhere in his cold-blooded body, Bryant knew it.

“I can’t say enough about the Spaniard,” Bryant said, acknowledging the impact of his teammate Pau Gasol in front the 19,000 fans inside Staples Center who were celebrating the Lakers’ back-to-back NBA titles and the franchise’s 16th overall.

“The man was unbelievable. We couldn’t have won it without him,” Bryant continued.

As good as Bryant was in the series, the Celtics defense made him into a volume shooter and had a counter for his every move. However, the Celtics had no answer for the talented 7-foot Spaniard.

Kevin Garnett tried, but he ran out of gas. Rasheed Wallace tried, but he was too old and injured. Kendrick Perkins had some success, but his knee gave out. And Glen “Big Baby” Davis was stout, but he was just too short.

Gasol took on the entire Celtics’ frontcourt and won.

“Think about what we’ve accomplished since he’s come to this team. I don’t know if you can think of another player in the last five, six years that changed teams and had that kind of impact,” Lakers co-captain Derek Fisher said of Gasol. “His skill set and his ability to play the game all the way around: shooting, passing, ball-handling, length, size.”

Since acquiring (ahem! stealing) Gasol from Memphis in 2008, the Lakers have been to three consecutive NBA Finals and won nearly 80% of their games. Gasol immediately clicked with Bryant and the two have become the best 1-2 punch in the Association.

“There is a God,” Bryant said two years ago when the Spaniard first arrived.

Former TNT analyst and current Philadelphia 76ers coach Doug Collins calls Gasol “the most skilled big man in the game.”

I’ll take it one step farther. Pau Gasol is the BEST big man in the game.

His performance in the seven-game series against Boston was Hall-of-Fame stuff, and that alone should elevate him to first-team All-NBA status. In my book, he has surpassed Orlando’s Dwight Howard as the best low-post player in the NBA.

Howard (aka Blankman) relies solely on his athletic talents to dominate games. Gasol may not possess Howard’s brute strength and explosive legs, but his skill level is far greater than Howard’s. It’s not even close.

Gasol is so much more polished as a low-post player. He can score with either hand, passes well out of double teams, has an above-average mid-range jump shot, makes free throws, is a very underrated l0w-post defender and knows how to stay out of foul trouble.

Gasol also has a very high basketball IQ, which allows the Lakers to run their high-post sets through him. His ability to read defenses and make the correct play is about as good as any big man who has ever played the game. Just ask Steve Nash.

“He’s extremely long,” said the Suns All-Star point guard, whose team struggled to contain Gasol in the 2010 Western Conference Finals. “He’s a good shooter and passer for a big guy. He can look over the defense, look over double teams. He’s extremely versatile. He can put the ball on the floor and make plays. He’s a terrific player.”

Gasol was an absolute beast in the deciding game against Boston, scoring 19 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. When the Lakers, including Bryant, were launching brick, after brick, after brick, it was Gasol who kept giving his teammates extra possessions with his game-high nine offensive rebounds. His determined effort afforded the Lakers a 53-40 rebounding advantage – 23-8 on the offensive boards.

“If you don’t make shots you have to make sure you get your second-chance opportunities, and that’s pretty much what I figured early on in the game,” Gasol said. “So we had to work extremely hard to get those boards, pursue them to get our opportunities because we weren’t shooting the ball well. We were rushing a little bit. It’s Game 7. There’s a lot of pressure, there’s a lot going on. So we just continue to hustle, continue to work.”

In the last two games at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Gasol scored 36 points, grabbed 31 rebounds and had 13 assists. For the series, he averaged 18.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks.

“What I see from him is just a little actions that represent not backing down, getting hit, taking the blow, absorbing it, not reacting to it one way or the other with the mentality of looking at the referee or wonder about the blow or the legitimacy of it. Those are the things that he has learned in the last year and half or two,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of Gasol, who was heavily criticized for playing “soft” against the Celtics in the 2008 Finals.

He obviously learned his lesson and has gotten physically stronger.

The perception is that Gasol tends to shy away from contact. On the exterior, he appears to be this whimpy guy who easily gets bullied. But in reality, he’s about as tough as they come and he proved it Game 7.

Two plays late in the fourth quarter against Boston captured Gasol’s evolution as a clutch performer.

The first was his block on Paul Pierce that allowed the Lakers to maintain their four-point lead. Then, after a Bryant miss, Gasol gobbled up a rebound over Rajon Rondo and passed to a cutting Bryant, who then drew a foul that resulted in two free throws. Bryant’s free throws gave the Lakes a 76-70 lead.

“I was able to box him out, hold him with one arm and get it with the other one and kick it out,” Gasol recalled. “I’m pretty proud of that play. Those little plays, those little things make a huge difference, especially at that point of the game. I’m glad that things turned out the way they did and we’re enjoying this incredible victory.”

Gasol has come a long way in his basketball journey. He has supplanted Dirk Nowitzki as the best European player in the NBA, but he’s got bigger goals than just being a flag-bearer for European or international players. He continues to work because he wants to be considered the best.

And I think he’s there now.

“For me, it’s incredible. It’s like I’m living in a different dimension,” Gasol said of winning a second NBA championship ring. “If I could get a Genie and asked for a wish, this would be my wish as far as my basketball life and career. I’m so thankful for having this opportunity. I continued to work hard and it has really paid off.”

Though the Lakers didn’t play their best in the finale, the fact that they were able to grind out a come-from-behind victory against the supposedly more grittier team in the Celtics was quite an achievement, and Gasol was right in the middle of it.

“It just tells how much we wanted this, and how much will and determination we put into this,” Gasol said. “It’s very sweet. It feels amazing to win a championship. It definitely adds up when you beat Boston. Especially the rivalry, the history of the franchises and our individual and personal history in 2008. It feels that much better. We won the championship, and that’s the ultimate accomplishment.”

Gasol added: “We’ve definitely grown. We’ve definitely grown as a team, grown as individuals and obviously it shows. Back-to-back championships is a pretty tough thing to do and we’re proud of that. Now we want to enjoy it, embrace it and have a beautiful summer.”

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Game 7 is here!

Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles is jumping early, but you can feel the tension in the building. Laker fans are in full force, with a few Celtic fans sprinkled around the arena.

Tons of streaks are on the line, as well as legacies. Game 7 is where star players become legends. This is one of those career-defining moments that would be replayed over and over again. It’s the Lakers against the Celtics. Amazing does happen! A quarter-by-quarter account of Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals:

FIRST QUARTER:

Derek Fisher opens the scoring with a 3-pointer. Lakers are pounding the offensive boards early and Pau Gasol is having his way against Kevin Garnett on the glass, but can’t finish. Gasol also missed two free throws, a clear message that he’s as tight as a low-rise jeans. Lakers have a 9-0 edge on the offensive boards, but are missing a lot of easy shots.

Ron Artest appears to be lost. Phil Jackson may need to buy him a GPS so he can finally re-join the action.

Rajon Rondo gets a couple of easy baskets and Rasheed Wallace is 2-for-3 from the field early. Wallace goes out with four minutes left in the quarter in favor of Big Baby Davis, who immediately contributes with a couple of layups and two free throws.

The opening tip of Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles. (NBAE/GETTY IMAGES)

Artest’s inactivity has allowed Paul Pierce to sag on defense and is playing free safety. Lakers appear very tight, while the Celtics are in total sync defensively. The winner of the first quarter has gone on to win each game in the series. Not a good sign for L.A. CELTICS 23, LAKERS 14.

SECOND QUARTER

Despite shooting poorly from the field, Lakers continue to pound the glass and that is what’s keeping them in the game. Kobe Bryant makes a short jumper (he’s 2-for8 from the field thus far) and Artest gets a put-back off an offensive rebound to get the Lakers to within four, 23-19, with 10 minutes left in the quarter.

After Wallace missed a three, Lakers had three chances at 3-pointers but Artest, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic all missed. Bryant re-enters and immediately sets up Gasol for an easy layup. Artest takes the ball out of Ray Allen’s and scores a layup to tie the game, 23-23. Staples crowd finally has something to cheer about.

Celtics are in a serious drought, and haven’t scored in four minutes. Both teams are playing so hard that it is affecting their offense. More bricks than swishes in the first half.

Just saw Ellen Pompeo. Loved her in “Old School.”

Artest finally makes a 3-point shot and he points to the stands. I think he was giving props to his man Boogie. Lakers continue to jack up threes. Not sure why. Memo to the Lakers: If you have an open three, it doesn’t mean you have to take it. There’s a reason why you they’re leaving you open.

Bryant and Gasol are a combined 6-for-26 in the first half. Yikes!

Lamar Odom’s head is somewhere else besides Staples. LO has one more point than his wife Kloe Kardashian. LOL!

Artest and Pierce gets tangled up under the basket and both got double Ts for staring at each other. Brian Scalabrine sighting! Who gave him tickets to the arena? I guess Doc Rivers feels he can’t do any damage in 34 seconds. Lakers shoot a miserable 26% from the field and Pierce got to the free throw line late to give Boston a six-point cushion. CELTICS 40, LAKERS 34.

Halftime.

THIRD QUARTER

Celtics start the half with an alley-oop to Garnett on a feed from Rondo, who is playing a very controlled game. Celtics go up 42-34. Kobe misses a long three. He’s 3-for-15 for the game. Just as I was typing that, Kobe just missed another three. Make that 3-for-16.

Garnett’s 3-point play and Rondo’s floater in the paint gives the Celtics their biggest lead of the game, 47-36, at the 9:45 mark. After a Laker timeout, Bryant misses another jumper (3-for-17!). Rondo follow-up gives Boston a 49-36 lead. Bryant finally ends his drought with a short mid-range jumper to cut the lead to 10.

Celtics have stalled a little bit, allowing the Lakers to make a little run. Artest blows a layup, but Odom follows. His first field goal, cutting the lead to six at 51-45 five minutes remaining in the quarter.

Kobe turns the ball over and his teammates jog back on defense. Pierce hits a three to push Boston’s lead back to nine. Fisher heads to the locker room. Shannon Brown in the ballgame. Lakers had a chance to cut the lead to under five, but Bryant turns the ball over which leads to a Celtic fastbreak. Ray Allen is 1-for-9 from the field. He’s not walking on water in Game 7.

Odom follow up makes it a four-point game with under two minutes left. Odom has provided a nice spark off the bench. Both teams looked gassed. Starters played heavy minutes in that quarter so the benches will play a pivotal role in the fourth quarter. CELTICS 57, LAKERS 53.

FOURTH QUARTER

Gasol posts up Big Baby Davis, gets fouled and hits the shot. Lead down to two. Pierce overdribbles and turns the ball over. The two best players in the series are struggling mightily. Did I say both teams are gassed? Geez. This is like a marathon with both runners stumbling across the finish line. Water break!

Kobe is playing like someone with a 500-pound weight on his shoulders. Everything is a struggle, even with his ball handling. His timing has been off the whole game and he just can’t find a rhythm on offense. Still plenty of time to correct his issues, but as the game wears on that 500-pound weight becomes heavier and heavier by the minute.

Kobe Bryant protects the ball from Paul Pierce (left) and Rasheed Wallace during Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals. (NBAE/GETTY IMAGES)

Bryant catches a break when Ray Allen got his arms locked up with Kobe’s shooting arm. Three free throws for Bryant, which could get him going. Kobe hits all three. It’s now a 59-58 ballgame! Artest scores and gets fouled. His 3-point play ties the game, 59-59 with seven minutes left.

Fisher back in the game, which is key because he’s one of the best clutch shooters in the game. Lakers need his offense and leadership down the stretch. Gasol misses two free throws. Lakers are now 13-for-21 on the line. If L.A. ends up losing this game, they can point to the missed free throws as killers.

Fisher on cue! He hits a huge 3-pointer with 6:13 left to tie the game at 64. Rondo misses a shot and Kobe grabs the rebound and gets fouled. This could be a big five-point swing for L.A. I’m exhausted typing up the action. Imagine how those players feel on the court. Lakers role players have done enough to keep the Lakers in the game. Now it’s Bryant’s turn to close the deal.

Bryant’s FTs give the Lakers their first lead since the second quarter, 66-64, then hits a jumper over Ray Allen to give the Lakers a four-point lead. Doc Rivers is sensing this game is slowly slipping away. Timeout Celtics.

Boston’s offense is on a serious gridlock. Pierce is tired. KG is running on fumes. Where are the Celtics going to get some offense? It doesn’t appear C’s have enough left in the tank to finish this game. They are just fouling the Lakers at this point, which is a sign of a very, very tired team.

Lakers are two minutes away from an NBA championship.

Gasol may have just iced the game. He blocks Pierce’s layup on one end and then drops in a shot on the other end to give L.A. a six-point lead with 90 seconds remaining in the NBA season, 76-70. The crowd is sensing a big-time celebration. Cue the riot squad because there is a party about to happen on 11th and Figueroa.

Wallace, Artest and Ray Allen exchange 3-point shots. With under 40 seconds left, Bryant jacks up a three but Gasol gets the rebound (L.A.’s 23rd offensive rebound), feeds Bryant and he gets fouled. Gasol has been huge in the fourth quarter. I think he just elevated himself to first-team All-NBA status. Kobe makes both foul shots to make it 81-76 with 25 seconds left. Artest has been huge in this game. He’s got 20 points and has locked up Pierce on defense. Queensbridge in the house!

Rondo knocks down a miracle three to cut the L.A. lead to two, 81-79. Rondo then knocks the ball out of bounds with 13 seconds left. Vujacic is fouled by Allen. Facing the two biggest FTs of his life, Sasha swishes two HUGE free throws. Somewhere in Phoenix, Goran Dragic is cursing at his TV.

Rondo misses a 3-pointer and Gasol grabs the rebound (his 18th of the game), outlets to Odom and he flings the ball down the court to Kobe, who runs out the clock. As the great Chick Hearn would say: “The game is in the refrigerator. The door is closed, the eggs are cooling, the butter is getting hard and the Jell-O’s jiggling.” Lakers win the NBA title! LAKERS 83, CELTICS 79.

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Though Pau Gasol is focused on winning an NBA championship, his heart is still in Spain.

So, when the Spanish national team suffered a stunning 1-0 loss to Switzerland in its first match in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Gasol felt the pain of his countrymen.

“Tough loss. Not the way we expected our team to start the championship,” said the Lakers forward, who plays for Spain’s national team in basketball. “It puts them in a position where they have to win probably the two games they have left against Honduras and Chile.”

Gasol said he watched the Spain-Switzerland match on TV and was just as surprised as anyone when the second-ranked team in the World Cup couldn’t score against the Swiss defense.

“I woke up this morning and I couldn’t sleep anymore,” Gasol said. “It’s 8:30 and I turn the game on and the next thing I know we’re down 1-0 and struggling and scrambling to try to score a goal. It happens. Soccer is an interesting sport and it was unfortunate that we started out that way, but we still have a long ways to go.”

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