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Sometimes with a night's rest, the dawn of a new morning, and the opportunity for some fresh perspective, in the rear view mirror a game can look a little different.

Sometimes.





Game 2 Wednesday in Oklahoma City doesn't qualify. As we stepped into the studio about 17 hours after those fateful two minutes in the fourth quarter in which the Lakers blew a seven point lead, the sense of what they gave away was just as strong. I'm not going to lie, those hoping to be uplifted by the newest edition of the Land O'Lakers PodKast aren't going to like what you hear. After noting another critical example of poor execution -- Andy and I unwittingly showed up at the office in nearly identical outfits, among the more mockable things a brother writing/radio tandem can do -- we dive into the the big issues ...

• After briefly touching on L.A.'s final play, we get into why the loss in Game 2 was so significant. Yeah, it's nice the Lakers played OKC tight after the Game 1 blowout, but in a playoff series the lesser team can't afford to lose games they ought to win. In the process, we shoot down just about every moral-victory-encouraging-going-forward argument out there. Again, it's fairly depressing, which is why we make sure to drop a little Double Rainbow Guy in there.
• Is there any hope going forward for the Lakers to pull the upset?
• Ramon Sessions. He hasn't played well in the postseason. Why? What can change, and how does his poor playoff run impact his decision whether to become a free agent, and whether the Lakers should re-sign him?
• A quick look at the Clippers vs. San Antonio. We're no more optimistic about the chances of the red, white, and blue.

We're normally pretty chipper folk, but not today. Listen, but be prepared to shed a tear.

Fun stuff on the newest edition of the show.

We entered the studio determined to avoid harping on this week's edition of the Kobe Bryant Shooting Controversy, but it's a tough thing to avoid. Want to talk about Andrew Bynum, where he's going, and whether he deserves a bigger role? Impossible without getting into Kobe. Pau Gasol's place in the pecking order? Certainly related to Kobe. How has Mike Brown done as Lakers head coach? Gonna have to talk Kobe.

So if you can't talk about the Lakers, what about non-basketball related topics? We test it by playing Six Degrees of Kobe's Shot Selection, i.e. The Kevin Bacon Game. (8:30)

After that bit of silliness, and a little actual analysis (13:30), we welcome ESPN.com's J.A. Adande (17:45). This week, he wrote a great feature addressing an issue fans have been talking about since the first time this year's Lakers squad took the floor-- namely the high number of American born white players on the roster. Five in all, as many as the team has had in over three decades.

With that starting point, we discuss not only what it means regarding the Lakers, but the interesting role of race and stereotypes in basketball, and how it compares to other sports.

Click here for the full show.

**CLICK HERE TO LISTEN**

There are few personalities in sports more enigmatic than Jerry West. He's a man of incredible achievement who views his life largely through a lens of loss and failure. For legions of basketball fans (and, frankly, many basketball players and executives I suspect), it's an outlook difficult to comprehend. It also makes him a fascinating subject for feature writing, and with that in mind if you haven't yet had a chance to do so, be sure to carve out some time for this feature on West, written by Grantland's Jonathan Abrams.

It's a great piece, detailing among other things West's struggles with self-esteem, his relationship -- or more specifically, the lack of one -- with the Lakers, and how he views his new job in Golden State, likely West's last high profile position in the NBA. Abrams, who spent time with West in his native West Virginia, paints a picture throughout of how West's personality developed and how it influenced his professional life, both as a player and executive:

"... At its core, basketball always supplied West with a nondebatable ledger, only it never solved his anguish or his anxiety or his frustration and pain. The game served as an outlet and record-keeper for him. That's it. There are no ties, no middle ground, no confusion about the outcome. One side always wins -- that's good. One side always loses -- that's bad. Cut-and-dry. That's what drove West to become the player and executive he once was, that's what haunted him then and haunts him now, and that's what pulled him back to the NBA one last time."

So read the story, then click on the link above for the interview (or listen first, then read, or do both at once -- I'm not here to tell you how to live your life) for more detail.

The Ear Candy Express chugs along. With the draft approaching, we tracked down David Thorpe (ESPN.com Scouts Inc.) for insight. Among the talking points:

PODCAST
Andy and Brian talk with David Thorpe (ESPN.com's Scout's Inc.) about what the Lakers can do in the second round of the draft. Plus, a look at the hot rumor (Pau for Kevin Love/#2 pick) and the vocal stylings of Dirk Nowitzki Podcast

- Is this year's draft as weak as it's overwhelming reputation? As Thorpe explains, that depends on a team's shopping list. If you're seeking multiple future All-Stars, then the 2011 class leaves much to be desired. However, there is legitimate value to players capable of solid NBA careers. Along those lines, this class contains many prospects. And as with four second-round picks, Thorpe feels the Lakers could, at the very least, pluck youngsters who'll provide the energy and athleticism the 2010-2011 team lacked.

- I asked about players who could potentially help the Lakers from the second round, whether as a specialist (namely a shooter) or just a mature rookie. Thorpe offers two names: Duke's Nolan Smith and UCLA's Malcolm Lee. Jeremy Tyler, a Cali kid whose journey from high school to Israel was littered with issues, could also be a potential sleeper.

Thorpe also shares thoughts on balancing the common second round approach (take the best player available) vs. the attempt to fill a more pressing need.

- Despite mentioning the possibility packaging picks in an effort to move up, Thorpe explains why it may not necessarily be wise. He feels there's rarely a tangible talent discrepancy between players taken late in the first round vs. the second round. For that matter, he thinks prospects are often easily lumped together past the first six or eight picks.

- Is it worth trading an established player like Pau Gasol (more on this later) for a top five pick? Thorpe doesn't see a Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose or even a Russell Westbrook among this year's top picks, but does think a player like Derek Williams or Brandon Knight could play significant minutes on a contending team right now, and at a considerably cheaper price tag. There are pros and cons on both sides.

- Finally, Thorpe weighs in on the Lakers' unexpectedly early exit from the playoffs:

"I think that what we saw there likely was the culmination of many, many, many games and many games together. And much of the b.s. that I think is going on with that team, at some point, people have to swallow that Kobe's not the best teammate we all think that he should be. I think there are times when he is and I have personal experiences with players that I trained that just love him to death because he was so generous with them, but none of them are named 'Pau Gasol' and none of them are named 'Andrew Bynum.' I think for different reasons there was a lot of (an) 'I've had enough of this' attitude.

"And Kobe may have had some of it. There's no question Pau pulled a 'LeBron James' before LeBron James pulled a 'LeBron James.' He went back to three seasons ago in that series. That happens. The dynamic of team chemistry is something that you can never underestimate. I thought that team got beat in Game 1, Corey Brewer had a big early part of the game for Dallas that kind of got them going, and the wheels just kind of came off. Guys were just saying, 'I'd rather just be on vacation than playing with these guys anymore.'

"That absolutely can be changed (at the) beginning of next year. It also could be the beginning of a real problem there. Not just with Kobe but just in general with that roster where they've just had enough of each other. I think that was very evident. If you're not willing to do everything you can to help your teammates, you're not gonna win against a team like Dallas."

- With Thorpe gone, we discuss the latest trade rumor involving a Laker: Gasol to the Timberwolves for (at best) Kevin Love and the #2 pick... or straight up for Love.. or (at worst) the #2 pick, Michael Beasley and role players. We'd both do the first scenario and consider the third an insult, but the one-for-one deal divided us. I'd pull the trigger. Brian wouldn't. Either way, neither of us gets why David Kahn would flip a young All-Star for an older player (albeit a very good one) when the Wolves are nowhere near contention. If the appeal is Pau providing a Spanish-speaking comfort zone for Ricky Rubio , it's an even stupider idea.

- Finally, Freddie Mercury rolls over in his grave as Dirk Nowitzki belts out a classic at the Dallas Mavericks championship parade.

Big games like Thursday's in Miami mandate a big guest in studio for reflection. Bomani Jones (The Morning Jones, ESPN) qualifies on both counts. But the discussion wasn't limited to just the battle in South Beach. So much is happening these days in the NBA, we found ourselves recording two shows, both remain free of charge for the Land O' Lakers community! That's how much we care about y'all.

Here are the talking points.

PART I

PODCAST
Andy and Brian talk with Bomani Jones (The Morning Jones, ESPN) about Lakers-Heat, the Lakers' late-game execution, and Kobe's shoot-a-thon after the loss." Podcast

- Our thoughts on the game itself. Chris Bosh's redemptive performance. The Lakers' fourth-quarter execution. Miami's supporting cast finally showing up. And Kobe Bryant's shot selection in the last few minutes.

- Bomani wonders if Kobe and Derek Fisher are too old as a starting backcourt. We also celebrate the concept of "Joe Smith" and what life would like at 6-feet-10 or taller.

- We dissect the bizarre dichotomy of how Pau Gasol regularly beasts the glass, yet still periodically feels "soft."

- Was Kobe's hour-long shooting practice after the Miami loss a reflection of his work ethic, a reflection of his desire to make sure you never forget his work ethic, or both? And why Kobe's personality always keeps people speculating.

PART II

PODCAST
Andy and Brian talk with Bomani Jones (The Morining Jones, ESPN) about the war of words between Stan Van Gundy and David Stern, the CBA, and whether the Dallas Mavericks remain a soft team." Podcast

- The war of words between Stan Van Gundy and David Stern, the latter of whom sounded ready to leave a horse's head in the Magic coach's bed. The Commish loves heavy-handed reminders that he's in charge.

- Thoughts on the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the lunacy that is the Mid-Level Exception and why the players will never win the P.R. battle if there's a work stoppage. Or, for that matter, their personal financial battles.

- Bomani has tickets for an upcoming Prince concert. In related news, the K Bros are extremely jealous, and Carlos Boozer will not likely be in attendance.

- With Dallas next on the docket, we examine whether the Mavericks' "soft" reputation is earned or people refusing to let go of the past. Plus, how much different would the 2011 NBA landscape be if the 2006 Mavericks hadn't lost in the Finals?

As Brian wrote earlier this season, Lakers-Spurs is a fantastic rivalry for several reasons, not the least of which is that it simply refuses to fade into irrelevance. Since 1999, these teams have been swapping titles back and forth, with just one postseason-free campaign between them. More often than not, these teams are assumed to be in the mix for the O'Brien, and this season doesn't buck that trend.

PODCAST
Andy and Brian welcome Tim Varner and Andrew McNeill of TrueHoop's 48 Minutes of Hell to preview Sunday's game vs. the Spurs, and more. Podcast

For the first time in a while, however, the Lakers are actually looking up in standings at their respected rival. Their previous meetings feature a 19-point loss in San Antonio and another by a bucket at Staples Center. A third loss to the Spurs wouldn't crush the confidence of two-time defending champion -- both teams are too experienced for getting caught up in results one way or the other -- but it would certainly raise eyebrows.

In the meantime, the Lakers are trying to catch Dallas in the standings, so they can't afford a loss even if psychology isn't an issue.

For more perspective on this always intriguing matchup, we recorded a PodKast with Tim Varner and Andrew McNeill from the 48 Minutes of Hell blog. The show (recorded before Tony Parker's surprisingly quick return) can be heard in its entirety by clicking on the module to the right, but below are a few excerpts.

McNeill, on what Sunday's game means to the Spurs (a topic discussed from the Laker perspective in the latest edition of The Triangle):
"Not much. Mainly just a matter of pride and making sure things work the way they should as far your system goes. (With) Pop, no matter who they're playing and who's coming to town, it's the same thing every time. It's our system vs. them. We're not changing anything to account for this guy and we're not changing anything to account for this style of play. We're gonna do our thing and try to do it better than they do their thing. They don't make adjustments that much until the playoffs. For them, it's just a matter of making sure everything is fine tuned.

"That's how the entire season is. It's one long fine tuning session before the playoffs begin."

(Read full post)

It was just a few weeks ago Laker fans were worrying about a spiral into the abyss, but a six-game winning streak coupled with Sunday's win over the Thunder has allowed folks to breathe easier. And with the two-defending champs currently trending northward, another Western Conference elite has taken their places as the worrisome squad du jour.

PODCAST
Andy Kamenetzky talks with ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon about the Dallas Mavericks' recent tailspin and what to expect in Wednesday's game against the Lakers. Podcast

The Dallas Mavericks, at one time second best team in the West, is in free fall mode, entering Wednesday's contest against the Lakers on a six-game losing streak. True, there were extenuating circumstances to the bad run. Dirk Nowitzki missed nine games with a sprained knee (and was ejected in his return against Memphis). Tyson Chandler a pair with an illness. And Caron Butler is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery. But as the losses pile up, so do the reports of hustle lacking and a fragile mentality permeating throughout a franchise with an established pattern of melting in adversity.

To get an idea of what's ailing Mark Cuban's team and the game, I caught up with Tim McMahon, who covers the team for ESPNDallas. You can hear the entire interview by clicking the module in the box to the right, but below are some choice excerpts from our conversation. As you'll see, MacMahon doesn't pull many punches.

"It's one thing to play poorly," says the scribe about the Motown loss. "It's another thing to absolutely play with no heart or no effort. The stench of quit, we could smell it from Dallas when they were all the way up in Detroit."

MacMahon, on what's gone wrong during the bad stretch:
"They've had some medical woes, without a doubt, but I think what's really happening is this team is starting to feel sorry for itself. They're bad without Dirk. They're worse without Caron Butler. And you add the Chandler thing into the mix and I think you've got a team that right now feels helpless, like they aren't good enough to win. And that's pathetic for a team that started out 24-5. But you know what? Forget the 24-5 start. This team has lost six straight games.

"It's disturbing. There's no question about the fact that this is disturbing."

MacMahon, on whether someone can step up in Butler's absence:
"It's not a position fit, (but the injured) Roddy Beaubois is the one guy who can really at least fill the scoring void that Butler had. But again, we're talking about a guy that hasn't even been through a practice this season. Just started shooting jump shots. Just starting to run a little bit. Still, And oh, by the way, as Dirk Nowitzki pointed out (Tuesday), this isn't a kid who averaged 18 or 20 points a game last year. This is a guy who had a handful of flashes of brilliance. He was a fringe rotation player last year. He's still only 22 years old. What he really is is an undersized shooting guard. But there is a ton of pressure on this kid to come in and really perform at a high level, because they've got (only) two proven scorers on this team.

"But honestly, their biggest problem right now is the deterioration of their defense. They were a very good defensive team at the beginning of the season and that's completely gone away lately."

MacMahon, on the cause of the bad defense:
"Tyson Chandler is clearly the key to this team from a defensive perspective, but even going back last year, for the first month and a half of the season, they were a pretty good defensive team. They had some injuries, specifically Erick Dampier. People can laugh at this, but Erick Dampier's knee starting acting up and suddenly the Mavericks morphed into a horrendous defensive team. A Nellie-ball kind of defensive team.

(Read full post)

Nothing completes a weekend better than a batch of ear candy. Trust me. I'm a ear candy-ologist. Among the talking points:

PODCAST
Andy and Brian grade the Lakers at the halfway point, discuss LeBron's backpedaled Tweet and recall their glory days as a high school rock band legends.Podcast

- With the halfway point in the books, it's time to give out report cards. Phil Jackson gave the team a B. Shannon Brown was less charitable, offering a C or C+. Brian took things a step further and put everyone under the microscope, so he talked about everyone's marks.

For now, we'd both name Lamar Odom valedictorian in light of his elevated play and consistency whether starting or off the bench. It's becoming increasingly difficult to picture LO not making his first All-Star team. Similar to Martin Scorsese's Academy Award for The Departed, this just feels like the year Odom finally breaks through by virtue of current and past achievement. As for the Laker dragging down the class average most, it would be a toss up between Ron Artest (although he's been very good of late) and Steve Blake (still struggling to make shots).

- We regale listeners (and by "listeners," I mean, "ourselves") with tales of high school rock band past. Not that such an illustrious, high-profile backstory really needs spelling out, but I was the drummer for The Forks. Brian was the keyboardist for Flying Monkey. But again, you knew all that.

- Brian and I engage in our never-ending debate: How big a deal is it for the Lakers to potentially start a series, maybe even a pair, as the road team?

- After his latest episode of brash-then-backpedaled words and/or Tweets, it has become evident LeBron James is completely uncomfortable with the "villain" role he claims to relish. As I think he's coming to realize, being seen as a real life heel is much different than being a WWE heel. Instead of being the charismatic figure you love to hate, he's simply coming off like an insincere jerk, and subsequent attempts to justify himself only dig a deeper hole.

Happy 2011, Land O' Lakers community! 2010 treated the K Bros kindly on several counts, not the least of which was the Larry O'Brien remaining in L.A. What lies ahead in the new year? We take a look ahead, along with an eye on the recent past. Among the talking points:

PODCAST
Andy and Brian talk about Kobe Bryant's tirade after the Christmas loss, the Lakers' quest to get back on track and the competition in the Western Conference. Podcast

- We discuss Kobe Bryant's icy press conference after the disastrous showing against Miami. His concerns may have been justified -- the lack of urgency has been blatantly obvious -- but we weren't wild about teammates called out with such a "they're the problem, not me" vibe. The approach risks alienating teammates, and as you can see, Ron Artest and Lamar Odom didn't appear thrilled. (Frankly, it didn't spark the best out of Bryant himself against San Antonio.)

It's not a huge deal, but we were a little surprised, as we've been generally impressed by Kobe's evolution as a leader.

- There was a team meeting, however, before the game in New Orleans universally credited as a positive experience. This meeting of the minds, combined with Andrew Bynum's return to the starting lineup, coincided with a whupping of the Hornets. Along with Friday's win, a nice trend is in the works, but how long do we think it'll realistically take for the Lakers to get back on track?

- The Lakers are now looking up at teams in the Western Conference for the first time in a few years. How big a threat are the upper echelon teams honing in on the defending champs' turf? We offer our takes on the Spurs, Mavericks, Jazz, and Thunder.

Brian and I spend the majority of PodKasts breaking down the Lakers, it being our beat and all. But every once in a while, it's nice to dig into the entire Association. With that in mind, we enjoyed a conversation with Ryen "Eyebrows" Russillo, host of the ESPN: NBA Today podcast. Obviously, there is talk about So Cal's two-time defending champs, but the net is cast wide enough to touch regions in the southwest, southeast and northeast.

The talking points:

PODCAST
Andy and Brian welcome Ryen Russillo, host of ESPN.com's NBA Today podcast, to discuss the present and future of the Lakers, competition in the Western Conference, inconsistent officiating, and more. Podcast

• Rusillo's take on the Lakers, from the outside looking in. Despite an inconsistent December and legitimate complaints about a soft early schedule, he doesn't get the hand-wringing. The Lake Show's track record earns a benefit of the doubt and there are "no question marks" about their roster, beyond the health issues threatening any team. Assuming Kobe, Pau, LO and Drew are ready to roll come playoff time, Ryen will pencil them in as Western Conference champs using a Sharpie. "There's not a lot to dislike with this team and I think it'd be a shock if they weren't in the NBA Finals again."
• Would he make this same prediction if the Lakers don't have home-court advantage throughout the conference playoffs, as could be the case? Yep. Brian and I have often debated the importance of this variable. He thinks it's fairly important. I don't. Ryen is with me.
• An examination of final possessions involving Manu Ginobli -- whether on offense or defense -- and the dynamics of how NBA games are called.
• Which NBA team has surprised Ryen the most, good and bad?
• LeBron, Wade, and Bosh will be in town on Christmas, and who better to discuss the team than three guys on an ESPN email chain stuffed with every bit of Miami Heat statistical data imaginable? (Seriously, our eggheads are good!) Ryen is looking forward to next Saturday's extravaganza, but even if the Heat win, he still can't imagine them emerging victorious in a seven-game series.
• A discussion about the Jon Favreau-Vince Vaughn film "Made," and the careers of Sam Rockwell and Russell Crowe. This is what happens when guests call from the Soho Grand in New York.

The re-made Chicago Bulls have won four of their last five games after a sluggish start, led by high level play from Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. For a Lakers team in need of a challenge, the Bulls are just that- strong defensively on the offensive glass, and featuring a red hot, top flight point guard able to both score and distribute.

PODCAST
ESPN Chicago's Nick Friedell breaks down this year's Chicago Bulls ahead of Tuesday's game" Podcast

Add in the natural ties between the two teams (Phil Jackson's history, the unavoidable Jordan/Kobe comparisons) and it should be a fun game. To get you ready, we spoke at length with Bulls beat writer Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago.

PART I: Previewing the Bulls

We pepper Friedell with questions about Tuesday's opponent for the Lakers. Highlights include...

-An overview of the Bulls as they come in, fresh off a road win in Dallas Friday night. "The Bulls are feeling great right now. A lot of people weren't sure how they were going to perform without Carlos Boozer... but the Bulls are playing great, led by Rose."
-Luol Deng: "So many people can't separate the [big] contract from his [performance], but right now, he's playing fairly well. I can't underscore what a difference it has made being in Tom Thibodeau's system for Luol Deng... He's running the floor and cutting across screens more than I've ever seen him. A little like Rip Hamilton."
-Keys to Rose's high performance. Health is a major factor, as is natural improvement. Another factor- he has faith in Thibodeau, as do the rest of his teammates.
-Turns out we weren't the last people to know how to say Thibodeau. It's not "Tib-o-dow," but "Thib-o-dow." Even the Bulls staff had it wrong, months after they hired him.
-How Chicagoans view Jackson, now that he's achieved so much in L.A., as well. "He's the Bulls coach."
-Worries the return of Boozer, out all season with a bum hand, may not help all that much. Some even wonder if it'll hurt. Friedell notes, though, how Boozer's interior scoring is something the Bulls haven't seen in eons, and need.

PODCAST
Andy and Brian answer questions about the Lakers from ESPN Chicago's Nick Friedell" Podcast

Part II: Breaking down the Lakers

Friedell hits us with questions of his own...

-How big a threat is boredom, really? Not much, in our minds, thanks in large part to the arrival of Matt Barnes and Steve Blake, helping energize the team early in the season.
-Aside from injuries, what might allow a Western Conference team to beat them? Obviously no team is unbeatable, but because of the team's versatility there's no team in a seven game series with clear advantages over them.
-The impact of Barnes, and how Lamar Odom is getting himself into the post far more this year than last, a key to his strong play.

PODCAST
ESPN Chicago's Nick Friedell breaks down this year's Chicago Bulls ahead of Tuesday's game" Podcast

-Nick's impression of the Lakers, having seen them live for the first time this season on Sunday night. "They look different than anyone else, as far as I'm concerned." Plus, Thibodeau's contention Odom is the most underrated player in the league. High praise, for sure.

Part III: How does Chicago view Kobe Bryant?

-A pretty simple question: With Kobe holding a legitimate chance to not only equal, but pass Jordan in the championship ring count before it's all over, how do Chicagoans view him?

The latest batch of ear candy, featuring a smorgasbord of topics. Your breakdown ...

PODCAST
Andy and Brian welcome ESPN.com Page 2 columnist Bomani Jones to the show, discussing L.A.'s hot start, Kobe's Call of Duty commercial, and Prince's discography. Plus, Miami's embarrassing call to "Fan up!"" Podcast

• We kick off the show with our Bomani Jones ("The Morning Jones,"ESPN.com Page 2). Living on the other side of the country makes Pacific time zone games tough to catch, which annually prevents Jones from realizing the Lakers' talent. Hence, the recurrent cycle: Bomani underestimates the purple and gold during the regular season, then the playoffs quickly make him a believer.
• The notion of Pau Gasol as an elite player wasn't for Jones to accept, particularly after the 2008 Finals, when he looked "scared to death of Kevin Garnett." But enough time has now passed and Bomani sees a completely different player.
• We discuss the controversy surrounding Kobe Bryant's Black Opps commercial. Many pundits have debated the "appropriateness" of Kobe appearing in a commercial for a violent video game, but Jones was more intrigued by the league's non-reaction. After all, David Stern was once bent out of shape about Allen Iverson's potentially offensive rap CD. But despite the media making a big issue of Kobe's participation, the general public hasn't raised a fuss, so Stern doesn't appear outwardly bothered. To Jones, this entire issue reflects how the NBA controls its image and how society perceives war violence vs. street violence.
• Kanye West is compared to LeBron James, since both have been painted as talented guys with too much ego. We also debate the backlash over "The Decision."
• The three of us are ginormous Prince fans, so a discussion about the iconic musician was mandatory.
• After Bomani departed, Brian and I discuss whether Theo Ratliff's knee surgery, combined with Andrew Bynum's uncertain return date, should prompt the Lakers to add a big man. We wouldn't mind a new body on hand, if for no other reason than to enhance practices. But anybody signed isn't likely to play much with Drew and Theo out, much less when they're back. Thus, someone like Erick Dampier could be more trouble than he's worth. Just get a guy who can be landed with a non-guaranteed contract and call it a day.
• If you're trying to find a promotion more insulting than the Miami Heat's "Fan Up!" campaign, just stop, because it doesn't exist.

PODCAST
Andy and Brian discuss Miami's new big three, how they match up against the Lakers, and the callous fiasco that was LeBron's goodbye to Cleveland. PODCAST

It's taken- literally- years to get here, but we finally have answers to the major questions surrounding the Summer of 2010. And at least in one blogger's opinion, the hype may have been a little suffocating at times, but when it's all said and done the impact on the league will be profound.

Of course, most of it centers around LeBron James heading to Miami, news you missed only if you happened not to be living. But in L.A., what it means for the NBA is less important than the impact on a certain local squad's quest for a third straight title. Is the Miami Super Team (skeletal as they may be at the moment) the favorite to win it all in '10-'11? Vegas says so. It's a question we address at the top of the show... right after wondering how many ways the term "free agent swingman" can be misconstrued.

From there, we take a look at the process surrounding Thursday's festivities. The buildup, the media coverage, the television show, and so on.

Like many of you, we had a few, um, issues.

I got the following response from Ron Artest's camp when asked for a reaction to the news of Phil Jackson returning for one more season:

"THANK YOU PHIL"

PODCAST
Andy and Brian celebrate the good news of Phil Jackson's return and discuss what it means for the Lakers. Podcast

The message, by the way, was specifically requested to be presented in all caps.

I don't think it's a stretch saying fans second Ron-Ron's sentiments. If anything, they'd request a bigger font.

With Jackson's return comes increased odds of a third consecutive title. PJ's track record speaks for itself, and even if this weren't the case, his players have offered plenty of testimony on his behalf. But there's another tangible effect beyond the hardwood, a byproduct of this coach confirming he's down for one "last stand."

Jackson in the fold means a sense of normalcy, being able to distance yourself from the uncertainty currently swirling around the NBA landscape.

With free agency's kickoff just a day in the books, the rumor mill has entered an overdrive of mammoth proportions. But this chaotic and gossipy whirlwind doesn't merely represent what happens when 24-hour news, the Internet and Twitter join forces to blow out a situation. It underscores how many teams' fates remain connected to the settling of the dust. Consider the state of affairs for several teams banking their immediate futures (maybe even longer) on this summer:

The Cavaliers: A pins and needles wait over LeBron James' decision has officially reached epic status. It's as if the fate of Western Civilization rests on the King's final decision. Beyond just how epically far back the Cavaliers would be set back if he bolted, there's the spillover factor. Cleveland's economy. Cleveland's permanently fragile sense of self-worth. The way an LBJ-less Cleveland is being pictured, it's conceivable the entire state of Ohio may get shut down altogether. It'll be evacuated and used as a space to film Hollywood movies, like Johnnie's Coffee Shop on Fairfax Blvd. Or Canada.

Lakers fans may rightfully grouse about LeBron being shoved down their throats, but his call is ultimately pretty monumental. Whether the decision leads to his first championship, being locked into a worse situation, or simply treading water, his whereabouts change the game. If he relocates, others will follow. If he never changes jerseys. the decision will still send teams scrambling.

Resent it or not, he's got the whole NBA world in his hands for the time being.

(Read full post)

It takes a lot to overshadow the impending free agency of Adam Morrison, but Phil Jackson "leaning towards retirement" makes the cut. Without question, news of The Zen Master's possible walk into the sunset is big. Ginormous, even. I don't think it automatically spells doomsday for the Lakers' future -- the roster's talent makes them a contender with me holding the whiteboard -- but it would no doubt be a huge adjustment moving forward without Jackson. There's a lot to discuss, so we wasted no time digging in.

PODCAST
Andy and Brian discuss the surprise possibility of Phil Jackson's retirement. Will he go? If so, who should replace him? Could the Lakers win without PJ? All that, plus mockery towards nerds camping out three days to watch the red carpet event for the new Twilight flick. Seriously, who does that? Podcast

-Actually, I lied. Before breaking down PJ's situation, we took a few minutes to mock the socially awkward geeks camped at L.A. Live since last Monday to get a glimpse of the people walking the red carpet to attend the premiere of the eleventh Twilight movie released in 2010. I don't know if these people are specifically members of "Team Edward" or "Team Jacob." I am positive, however, they joined "Team Got Mocked Incessantly In High School."

-(7:04): We get to the meat of the PodKast's matter, Phil Jackson's uncertain future. This development surprised both of us, having said many times throughout the season we expected him to sign a new deal. Hearing PJ elaborate on his mindset, this didn't sound like a matter of waiting upon further medical tests before making up his mind (although that certainly plays a role). These were very introspective words from a guy who's clearly spent a lot of time looking back and projecting forward. He's at an age where soul searching naturally occurs and it's not the first time PJ has looked within during recent years.

-(12:38): I've heard some radio and TV analysts suspect this is nothing but an attempt by Phil to leverage a better contract. If so, I commend Phil for the successful lessons with famed acting coach Larry Moss, because among those I asked who were actually in the room when he talked, none doubted Jackson's sincerity. Besides, PJ won whatever money battle may have existed by repeating. At this point, Dr. Buss stands to take a bigger hit allowing his coach to walk over dollars.

-(17:20): If Phil does leave, who would take over? Neither of us have heard talk of any candidates beyond Byron Scott or Brian Shaw. Both carry potential positives and negatives, but we both lean towards Shaw. Scott obviously has more experience, but has a tendency to wear on players and would require everyone to learn a new system. Shaw's lack of head coaching experience rightfully concerned Brian, but between the continuity Shaw offers, the team's veteran roster and the three-peat stakes, I could actually see this as a fairly ideal setup, despite his green background. It's still a tough call, however, since neither are as an ideal a fit as the coach they'd replace.

-(25:30): We discuss Kobe Bryant's comments about misconceptions regarding Phil. Fans often complain about his non-demonstrative approach to coaching. We both see it as a positive trait shared by many great coaches in L.A.'s history.