Yeah they are cool, but these two are the fiercest of competitors when going up against one another

This is a dream match up for anyone whose hip with ‘96 (one of the best years in Hip Hop)
because this was one of the best NBA drafts ever.

Iverson was first and Kobe was 13th–straight out of Lower Merion High School out side of Philly (for the rights to Vlade Divac by Charlotte). Since then Iverson has had to carry teams alone and hasn’t seen June shine while Kobe has won thrice and played with Shaq. Still doesn’t seem right, but The Answer playing anywhere but Philly will always have me shaking my head. Time moves on and he’s had a full season to get used to everything Denver.

The question has to be asked…is he still the league wide impact player he was in Philly?

Don’t get it twisted he wants to win this series more than anything. It will show on the floor, in his mannerisms when he’s on the bench, in the locker room and in practice–yeah I said practice.

Along side of him is Carmelo Anthony–who has become a dynamic player in his own right. What happened last week is a distraction he can’t afford because his mind has to be on the game and nothing else. He has to commit to becoming a great player and this is as better time as any. I’ll go out on a limb and say that if Iverson and Melo put up 30 apiece the entire series, the Nuggets will win. This series showcases 3 of the top four scorers in the entire league so you will see a whole lot swiccups. Kenyon Martin is presumably healthy for the first time in a while and should provide toughness and tenacity on the block on both ends. Marcus Canby is one of the most underrated players in the league on the defensive end but he has his hands full with the versatility of the Lake’s front line.

I don’t understand with all this talent the Nuggets are an inferior defensive team. What is that?

Kobe Bryant.

I caught hell for labeling him the most talented player in history but stick to my statement because there’s nothing on the floor he can’t do. In the clutch he’s maddening. I guess when it’s all said and done would be a better time to have that particular discussion, but trust that Kobe is on his way. What if the Lakers win it all this year? How will he be viewed then? Yeah Pau Gasol has given him an edge from a team strength standpoint, but Kobe was well on his way to solidifying his place in the game way before that. Don’t hate on his game because all the unnecessary BS that has nothing to do with the GAME. He’s a monster and if my offspring emulated his talent I’d be damn proud.

This is Kobe’s shot to prove to the world–and himself–he is the best and regardless of what he may say publicly, I truly feel he challenges himself to be such. He takes this shit seriously–not that anyone else doesn’t–but it’s extra special when he gets to line up against a player picked number one in his draft in Allen Iverson.

Pau Gasol is one of the best at what he does. He brings a certain fire the Lakers lost when Shaq was jettisoned to Miami. He’s long and mean and will bang it on whoever is in front of him. You gotta love his competitiveness because he will rebound with any beef down low.

This is a big series for Lamar Odom. Is he going to step up and announce (again) his true versatility or is he comfortable just being a role player. Some cats are but he’s too damn talented just to be average–he’s sicker than that. We should expect a triple double–or two–from a player that has to give more of himself if this team is to be crowned champions.

The rest of the Laker team are basically the sum of their parts. Derek Fisher has been here. He know what the hell is goin’ on. He will scrap and claw and fight and dive if his team needs him too.

This season is one of the most incredible in recent years. I asked George Karl if the players and coaches see the season for what it is:

“I was going to say as you asked the question that this could end up a historical year. You really have ten teams that have ability to win in the first round in the Eastern Conference (is that a dig or what?). But it’s all speculation. The hand we had at winning 50 games and fighting for a playoff spot is unfair. It’s unhistorical but historical as you view it, but it will make us a stronger team. We will grow up for the process. We played 20 games under pressure so how can we not be better.”

The man standing in the way of how the Nuggets respond is Phil Jackson. He’s going for his 10th ring and has slowly but surely done his job to bring the Lakers back to respectability. You all know what he brings to the game as a coach and it’ll be very interesting if the Lakers can actually get this done.

I wonder if he sees Mike when Kobe shoots the fall away j?

The Lakers have to step up on defense or the Nuggets will run all over them. I see the Lakers doing just enough to keep Denver from running out and finishing with a J.R. Smith or Kenyon Martin oop squeezed around two jumpers each from Melo and A.I.

Kobe might have a 40 point game or two in the series but I wouldn’t ask for more than that even considering how sorry Denver is defensively.

Lakers in 6.

There just too professional and dwarf the Nuggets in terms of playing with discipline.

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This entry was posted on Monday, April 21st, 2008 at 4:19 am and is filed under Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, George Karl, J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Marcus Camby, Pau Gasol, Phil Jackson. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.