For Kobe Bryant

Dear Kobe Bryant,

I am a huge fan. You're the most powerful scoring force in the NBA, no doubt. You've got the skills and determination and the willpower to win. When you put your heart into it.

Lately, I've been very very disappointed. You're playing your own game. That's great when you're going up against the opposing team, but not for your teammates. They want to feel involved. You've got to get started on the defensive end. You've got to start sharing the ball. You've got to shut down these Denver Nuggets. Great job on Carmelo Anthony, but no way should you be letting Nene and Kenyon Martin get the better of Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. You're the leader of the Los Angeles Lakers. You've got to act like it. Don't forget that you've got a whole team looking to help you win these games.

See, if you start letting them help you on offense, it'll be a lot tougher for the opposing team. More baskets for everyone, more energy for everyone. They don't want to sit around watching the Kobe show. They want to see the Lake Show! So go show it to them!

Basketball Genius in San Antonio

The basketball world was rocked a couple of days back when the San Antonio Spurs acquired Richard Jefferson from the Milwaukee Bucks. And who did the Spurs have to give up? Kurt Thomas, Oberto, and Bruce Bowen. Wonderful deal for the Spurs, and for the Bucks as well, although for very different reasons.

For the Bucks, it's a business deal. Money talks in the NBA, and the Bucks need a lot of it. Cutting Richard Jefferson off the payroll is bound to save them a lot of cash, especially with Oberto's and Bowen's salaries being unguaranteed.

The Spurs are getting that young, athletic forward they need to complement Tim Duncan. Duncan's getting pretty old and the Spurs need to win now. Richard Jefferson fits the bill perfectly. He's athletic, he can hit the three.. exactly what the Spurs needed. Never underestimate the basketball minds in San Antonio. Good deal for everyone.

Quick Basketball Update

Super sucks that I can't play basketball right now because of my ankle injury. I can actually jump and run now, it's just that changing direction is painful like anything. Just when the game was really opening up to me.

I'm seeing things I never saw before, like how to pivot to the post a la Kobe Bryant, or cross over a la Allen Iverson. Still can't jump like Lebron James, but I'm currently on a work-out program designed to make me harder, better, faster, stronger (that's what she said).

Been able to shoot baskets a few nights a week, though. Just recently started shooting jumpers, as opposed to last week, when I could only shoot set shots. The ankle's definitely getting better, but I'd rather not risk it. I'm taking it one day at a time, but I don't think I'm going to be playing full-court, full-contact til July.

Doesn't help that the NBA Finals are over. I'm itching to get my basketball fix.

Kobe - Lebron Puppets : Celebration

Because Kobe Bryant's got number four! You've got to love Nike's basketball ad campaigns. This is the best I've seen in a long time. I know some people don't like these ads, but I love them. Give me Kobe and Lebron puppets any day!

Lebron James vs Kobe Bryant

In the basketball world today, this is the question that everybody has an opinion on. You're either wearing purple and gold, or you're wearing wine and gold.

Okay, so maybe not everybody has an opinion. Take myself for example. I've always loved Kobe Bryant. I loved him when he scored 63 against my Dallas Mavericks. When Shaq and Kobe feuded, I always took Kobe's side. Greatest of all time? Larry, Magic, Kobe, MJ.

Then came Lebron James. The guy is built like a linebacker. Best showtime dunker of all time? Julius Erving. Best in-game dunker of all time? Lebron James.

Most athletic player of all time? Lebron James. Most powerful player of all time, pound for pound? Well, that's a toss-up between Dwight Howard and Lebron James. Lebron James is going to average a triple-double one season, you guys just wait.

The point is, it all comes down to what you need. They're both cocky, so they'll both make that clutch shot. They're both driven and motivated, so stamina wise it's pretty much a lock. Lebron can post just about anybody up in this league, but Kobe can shoot on anybody in this league. Kobe will score 81 points on you, but Lebron will get his entire team involved and kick your ass by himself, too.

It's really a coin-flip. These guys are too good.

Derek Fisher is the new Robert Horry: Lakers win game 4!

Derek Fisher has always wanted the basketball in crunch time. It doesn't happen so often, because then you've got Kobe Bryant on the same team. But hey, two options are better than one any day.

Fisher had not been shooting the ball well at all. He'd missed his last five three-pointers that game, and he'd been struggling the entire playoffs. Aaron Brooks killed him. Deron Williams killed him. Rafer Alston killed him. But still, Phil Jackson and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers kept trusting. All season long they kept trusting.

Fisher was supposed to be washed up. He was supposed to be there as a locker room presence, a calming presence over these Lakers, and most especially Kobe Bryant. He was supposed to dive for loose balls, give up his body for charges. Certainly he wasn't expected to defend anybody, much less hit a three-pointer to send the game in overtime, and then another one to claim the lead for good.

But that's just what he did.

Now, the Orlando Magic, foiled by Dwight Howard's own free throw troubles face an almost impossible task of coming back to win the series.

And Kobe Bryant, for the first time in these playoffs, is smiling. That's on Fish, too.

Basketball Injuries SUCK!

I sprained my ankle playing basketball a few weeks ago. To be more exact, playing basketball at home with my brother. It was a serious game, but it wasn't really playoff-intense. That's what hurts.

If I'd hurt my ankle playing the game of my life, on a game-winning jumper, fine. I'll take that. But practice, pick-up basketball? I wasn't even wearing a basketball jersey, or my real game shoes! I was in sneakers and an old ratty t-shirt. It hurts when you go down like that. I didn't even make the jumper!

So there. Now I've got to wait another week or so before I can start playing basketball again. That sucks. Considering it's the NBA Finals and Kobe Bryant is putting on an inspiring offensive clinic, it's a lousy time to not be able to be playing basketball.

LA Lakers and Orlando Magic, The Finals Game 3 Live Blog

Lakers trail Magic, 64-67, 6:10 3rd

OK, Just saw bits and pieces of the first half. Kobe Bryant is tearing it up. 22 points on 16 attempts. The guy's tired, though. Either that or he's too focused that he's becoming unfocused. I mean, 3 missed free throws and it's only the 3rd quarter! He's got to get the basketball to his teammates more, particularly Pau Gasol, who's shooting 6 of 7 right now.

Too many commercials. The NBA must be making a killing.

5:33, 3rd

RAFER ALSTON!! SKIP TO MY LOU IS ON!

Pau Gasol blocks Hedo, reach in on Dwight. Does anybody else love Jeff Van Gundy on the mic? That guy is FUNNY!

4:11. 3rd

KOBE BRYANT what a ball fake on Lee! That guy's amazing.. so amazing. Cue Kanye West. He's really got to pass that basketball more, though. It's the NBA Finals. You can't do it all on your own.

SKIP TO MY LOU AGAIN! With a circus shot!

Ugh, gotta get back to work. LA Lakers trail Orlando Magic, 67-73. Kobe Bryant is not happy.

Lakers take a 2-0 Lead against the Orlando Magic! Kobe Bryant is amazing.. so amazing.

Kobe Bryant has got to be happy right now. His Los Angeles Lakers are up 2-0 in the NBA Finals. Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum have stifled, or at least countered Dwight Howard. The Orlando Magic almost had game 2, but Courtney Lee botched his potential game-winning layup. Kobe Bryant is 2 games away from a fourth NBA championship, the pinnacle of basketball. He still isn't smiling.

You've got to give the guy credit for focus and intensity. Win or lose, not a crack in his steely facial expression. He looks like he's about to go to war. And for Kobe Bryant, it IS war. He's hoping his intensity permeates the entire Lakers organization. Phil Jackson's got the easiest job of them all right now. All he has to do is let Kobe talk, and lay back.

The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Orlando for games 3, 4 and 5. Kobe Bryant is ready. There's going to be no trip to Disneyworld. All Kobe packed is his game jersey, his game, and his intensity. He left his smile at home.

Kobe, Lebron Nike Puppet Ads - Chalk

Part of Nike's dream National Basketball Association ( NBA ) finals match-up between Lebron James and Kobe Bryant campaign.

Kobe and Lebron puppets!