You have been licking cane toads.

I wonder if Bynum can step up to play Howard.

Not a chance. Kid's way too soft. I don't even know why the Lakers have invested so much time and faith in the kid. Reminds me of a bunch of seven footers I used to play with that had soft hands and decent footwork, but just had no aggressive drive. Trying to develop them is just frustrating. You can't teach aggression. Nothing more annoying than inconsistency.

I guess I can take a dip in Magic Lake and watch these finals. I need a Leon Powe sort to root for though.

Magic over Lakers in 6

Which just makes the case for Lebron's greatness. They've made the Finals or the Conference Finals the last 3 years with the "most overrated supporting cast in the league".

That said, Lebron will take some lessons from this and be even better next year. He's only, what, 24?

Guess I'm an Orlando fan for now.

michael pietrus.

dudes a step up from powe

shannon brown

more like it

They were a 2nd-round out last year - 7 games to Boston, who played Detroit in the East Finals.

As to your premise; possibly, but I think this makes his jump to the Knicks much more likely. No one's taking less money to come to Cleveland to win a title with LeBron, but they damn sure would come to NY for it.

tony battie, former celtic.

D. Howard is from Atlanta, that's about the most rooting interest I can muster up.

if Kobe had done what Lebron did after losing the last game, you'd never hear the end of it and EVERYONE would be calling him a crybaby and sore loser.

I was a witness to that.

how about being a witness in his rape trial?

Yep, that was my thought. I think Kobe has been pretty good this whole playoff season not complaining, taking responsibilty... Talking about the mugging by the Rockets he said "no prob, just playoff basketball.". He has continued to complain about no calls on fouls during play. In one sense that is annoying but sometimes when you see replays it's amazing the contact that isn't called. Just like traveling has become an ancient myth, I no longer know what a charge is and what a foul is on a shot.

I'm truly intrigued by the finals. Both teams are former Shaq teams, and despite what might be publicly said I think Stan Van Gundy, Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant would like to flaunt a ring in his face.
I'll most likely root for the Magic, since the Lakers have had more than their fill of titles, but I'd also sort of like to see Jackson break the tie with Auerbach and both Gasol and Odom get a ring.

This is really silly. Shaq last played for the Magic 14 years ago. Do you think if the Cubs ever win a world series they'll be flaunting the ring in Ernie Bank's face?

Shaq hasn't played for the lakers in 5 years either. He's won a title since he left and Kobe has made the finals. They want to win because that's why you play. It has nothing to do with Shaq.

Shaq's beef isn't with the Magic, it is with Van Gundy and Howard. The whole Superman debate/flopping controversy earlier this year. Shaq supposedly being instrumental in getting Van Gundy out at Miami.
Then you had the anti-Kobe rap a.k.a Tell me how my ass taste rap, and then is supposed interest in returning to LA.
I agree it is silly, but a lot of feuds and rivalries are silly.

I think the Orlando ownership is still a little pissed that Shaq left for LA.

ESPN has a pull on who America thinks Shaq should root for. Even if that is absolutely ridiculous, there are members of the sports media who are interested in that angle.
Overall, I'm really just happy the NBA/Media dream match up was ruined. I got tired of watching Lebron draw ticky tack fouls, one as he even tripped himself up and felt like David Stern was asking for a bit of comeuppance after his recent smugness during tv interviews.

topped for easy reference... getting really excited for tip off

yeah, I'm eager to watch it too. aside from all the personal stories, I think that this series will come down to the fact that teams in their first finals appearance don't usually do too well against seasoned playoff teams. of course, I'm rooting like hell for the magic.

No, but that would kick so much ass.

I expect everyone outside of LA and even a quarter of the people in LA to be rooting for the Magic.

I on the other hand, am dawning my purple and gold attire today

of course, this is the magic's second finals appearance, but the first one was so long ago it's largely irrelevant