What started slow and uneventful has turned into a basketball game. By game, I mean USA is now taking a shit on the russians. It’s the end of the third quarter and the redeem team just closed out the quarter with a 10 - 0 run.

I’ve got the laptop (Kubunu 8.04 w/ KDE 4.1) sitting right here as I am watching the game. Here are my current thoughts:

• Michael Redd is the sickest shooter. He comes off the bench for Kobe.
• The Chinese are having a hard time keeping score.
• 12am is a perfect time for games to start
• Kirilenko blocked Melo in the 1st quarter (sucks for Melo; still a sick block)
• Kobe has 16pts leading all scorers.
• Kobe just missed a finger-roll. I hope someone screamed MOTED!
• 10min quarters are weird.
• DWade is the 6th man…so crazy
• We just played zone D for the first time all game (6:17 4th).
• We haven’t called a single time out in 4 games.
• Chuck Daly didn’t call one the entire 92 Olympics
• Kobe just missed a dunk! MOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTED
• LeBron just fouled out. 10pts.
• Jason Kidd hasn’t played in the second half
• Kobe just banked a 3pter (from the left side) from at least 35 feet back.
• 85 - 65 2:58 4th
• Kobe finished with 19
• This game is over. I love HD

Aug 10 USA Vs China but first there is one more prelim game against Australia on Tuesday. Oh Tuesday…You very special day.

Nike and ESPN have a documentary that I can’t get enough of. After falling from grace in 2004, the USA Mens Basketball Team has spent the last 3 years rebuilding.

Starting in 2006, this 5 part documentary follows Team USA through the player selection process, the 06 loss to Greece, 2007’s America Games and current practices leading up to this summer’s Beijing Olympics.

There is no question that this is the best team since 1992. Dream Team 2 in 96 was pretty damn solid. But this isn’t Dream Team 2. This is Dream Team 2.0.

MEN’S SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM
Carmelo Anthony F 6-8 Denver Nuggets	Carlos Boozer F 6-9 Utah Jazz	Chris Bosh F 6-10 Toronto Raptors	Kobe Bryant G 6-6 LA Lakers	Dwight Howard F-C 6-11 Orlando Magic	LeBron James F 6-8 Cleveland Cavaliers
Jason Kidd G 6-4 Dallas Mavericks	Chris Paul G 6-0 NO Hornets	Tayshaun Prince F 6-9 Detroit Pistons	Michael Redd G 6-6 Milwaukee Bucks	Dwyane Wade G 6-4 Miami Heat	Deron Williams G 6-3 Utah Jazz

July 26-Aug. 1: Macao, China

USA vs. Turkey: July 31 (8 a.m. ET) USA vs. Lithuania: Aug. 1 (8 a.m. ET)

Aug. 2-6: Shangai, China USA Basketball International Challenge

USA vs. Russia: Aug. 3 (3 a.m. ET) USA vs. Australia: Aug. 5 (8 a.m. ET)

Aug. 8-24: Beijing, China 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES

vs. China: Aug. 10, 10:15 a.m. ET vs. Angola: Aug. 12, 8 a.m. ET vs. Greece: Aug. 14, 8 a.m. ET vs. Spain: Aug. 16, 10:15 a.m. ET vs. Germany: Aug. 18, 8 a.m. ET Quarterfinals: Aug. 20 Semifinals: Aug. 22 Finals: Aug. 24

Is this really a deal on the table? Is Kupchak talking to Ron Ron, who has fired his agent and is representing himself? Is this really who we are giving up Odom for?

I don’t think it’s fair to break up the team this drastically. The Lakes are getting Bynum (and Ariza) back. While Artest might provide a defensive toughness the Lakers lacked in the finals, I would like to see this Lakers team take another shot at it.

Odom is a walking double double and is usually a stat short of a triple doub. Our beef with Odom is consistancy of big plays. Is this the guy who can fill in for Odom’s lack of consistancy?

What do you think Lakers fans? Is this the way to shred the Celtics? The Celtics done phuked up now. They let James Posey go. That guy won a ring with Miami in 2006. They let him go. He shoots 2nd in the league in 3pts, brings Boston a championship, and they let him go?!

I really wanted the Lakers to work out that deal. Posey is the next Horry. Unfortantely he is going to help CP3 and David West battle for Western Supremecy. So is this the best we got? Odom for Artest?

That’s it. Boston took it in 6. After game 4 I expected this to happen. We couldn’t put together 4 good quarters of basketball in any game this series. The lakes were out matched. Phil needs to spend the summer thinking about a series D game plan. This is his second consecutive demolishing in the finals. To work all season and post season to have your ass handed to you…

If Bynum comes back and is near the type of a player he was at the beginning of last season, he will dominate. He will be the tough and hard inside presence the lakers need. He will be the next scoring option. He could have had 40 with Perkins out…and 38 with him in.

The truth is they didn’t deserve it. They lost by 39. They clearly didn’t want it nearly as much as the Celtics. There will be next year. But first…Olympic basketball in August and then Football. w00t.

Today, Knibb High Football doesn’t rule

I feel like Travis but I didn’t shoot Yeller. The Celtics did. That was the worst Lakers game I have ever watched. I removed all of the Lakers bullshit logos I created last week.

I wasn’t comfortable in the first quarter. I didn’t like the unbalance of the game. It’s game 4 of the finals and despite that wiitawawded cheer “Boston Sucks,” they clearly don’t. They weren’t going to sit with a 24 point deficit. They played their hearts out. There wasn’t much disparity in the way this game was called. In fact, the Lakers out rebounded them. They had more assists and second chance points. They even had one more free throw. But in the end they didn’t outscore them.

The proverbial pendulum of momentum swung far too high in the first quarter. The entire series could be balanced at 2 -2. The Lakers lost their balance, and most likely lost the series. I would like to say that after this surreal season plagued by a major injury and a miraculous trade, it *could* happen. I want to believe it. I just don’t see it. They don’t seem to want it. The Celtics are already partying at LAX (club, no one parties at the airport).

Kobe? Where you @!?

I just had to “borrow” this Flash overlay from Lakers.com. I know it kinda gets in the way…but deal with it.

By the way…you can’t really vote for Kobe because it’s only for sportswriters.

And… 

The votes were due 2 weeks ago.

And…

I didn’t really “borrow” it…I hacked it, jacked it, stole it, straight took it.

You know how we role!

“Maybe I led you to believe Basketball was a God-given gift and not something I worked for every single day of my life!”

- MJ

Remember this. Take a picture. Write it down. This is it. These are my predictions. A small part of me still believes the Cavs are damn scrappy and could pull out an upset…like last year. But with KG’s D this year…and that mid-season mega trade bust…Cleveland doesn’t really stand a chance. David Stern must jizzing pooping in his pants from these match ups.

Kobe, AI, Melo. Nash, Parker, Duncan. Howard, Bosh. CP3, Diry Irk. TMac, AK47. That’s just the first round. I think I just pooped my pants thinking about the second round.

Holy shit jenkem did the NBA deliver this year!

(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Denver Nuggets:

Game 1 - Sun April 20 Denver at L.A. Lakers 3:00PM ET ABC/R
Game 2 - Wed April 23 Denver at L.A. Lakers 10:30PM ET TNT
Game 3 - Sat April 26 L.A. Lakers at Denver 5:30PM ET TNT
Game 4 - Mon April 28 L.A. Lakers at Denver 10:30PM ET TNT
Game 5 * Wed April 30 Denver at L.A. Lakers TBD TBD
Game 6 * Fri May 2 L.A. Lakers at Denver TBD TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 4 Denver at L.A. Lakers TBD TBD

Here is the rest of the NBA First Round Playoff Schedule