The Lakers Nation

I thought this is VERY interesting. Recently, during the finals, there were the reports that the “assumed” 2002 Western Conference Finals were “fixed.” While I’m happy the basketball world for the most part doesn’t believe in this “fixing,” this also obviously struck up a very controversial debate.

Recently, 82games.com wrote up an insane article on how they believe it was NOT fixed at all. They analyze many angles of the games, calls and consistency through the refs. If you’re interested, definitely check it out. Very cool and intellectual stuff! Click on the link below to check it out:

Reviewing the calls: Lakers-Kings Game 6

You go Kobe! I’m glad to hear a nice namedrop with Zambezi Ink as well - they are absolutely phenomenal over there!!!

JonesOnTheNBA: People talk about Kobe Bryant being dead in the marketing world, but he’s still number four in total marketing dollars pulled in this year. As I’ve said before, you can’t say that a guy who is first or second in jersey sales every season, whose team is first or second in road attendance every season, and whose team is near the top in league television ratings every season is not marketable. His partnership with Zambezi Ink is also doing wonders for his images, as their viral marketing campaigns have been sensational.

Well it is the summer time, Shaq’s latest “Kobe rap” is still making its rounds in the media, and FoxSports has written up a pretty accurate article on these two history. Some moments still creep up to my memory and get me all riled up. Either way, check it out…

Fox Sports: Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant have maintained one of the most childish personal rivalries in all of sports, going back and forth like teenage girls for most of this decade.

Their relationship started out well enough, with Shaq playing the big-brother role when Bryant arrived straight from high school in 1996. But as Kobe blossomed into a superstar, a massive rift formed.

The flare-ups have been memorable — and occasional lyrical, as we saw with Shaq’s rap performance Sunday, courtesy of the ever-vigilant TMZ.

Here are the top 10 highlights of this fabulous feud.

1. Two wills, one basketball
While winning three consecutive NBA titles in Los Angeles, O’Neal and Bryant kept their differences largely under control. But when the Lakers opened the 2002-03 season in a serious funk, the tension became palpable.

Bryant questioned Shaq’s commitment to conditioning given the big fella’s excessive weight and chronic foot injuries. In turn, O’Neal regarded Kobe as a shot hog.

“I’m just going to play within the flow of the game,” Bryant said at the time. “If people want to criticize that, they’re going to criticize that.”

(At least these two agreed on one thing that year: They weren’t to blame for the team’s demise. That fell on the team’s ineffective role players. Looking at you, Samaki Walker.)

Contiune reading ‘FoxSports: The best of Shaq vs. Kobe’

This is the latest on Ron Artest from Hoopsworld. I know we’re in the finals and nearly halfway there to making history, but this is an interesting article which mentions the Lakers. Ron-Ron a Laker?

Hoopsworld: It’s a little trickier with the Lakers considering the contracts they have committed to Vladimir Radmanovic and Luke Walton. Since neither has made a particularly high impact this season, LA may be open to the idea despite the financial repercussions.

Coach Phil Jackson has always been interested in Artest. Imagine the team currently playing in the NBA Finals with the addition of Artest along with the return of Andrew Bynum. Artest also has a strong relationship with both Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom.