Odom Stays

The Lakers and free agent forward Lamar Odom have agreed on a four-year deal, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said Thursday afternoon. The fourth year of the contract is the team's option. ESPN.com reported that the contract is worth $33 million over four years. However the source said that figure is a bit high. Odom's agent Jeff Schwartz did not return messages left on his cell phone. Lakers officials refused to comment on the matter.

Heat: Eastern Contenders?

The Heat are still listening to Dwyane Wade demands of bringing in help as the Heat are trying to sell Odom on a five-year, $34 million contract at the mid-level exception, and a league executive with knowledge of the talks says Miami has also hatched a three-way proposal with the Jazz and Grizzs to secure Boozer. A possible deal would include Miami sending forward Hasleem and Dorell Wright to Utah. Because Memphis is under the cap, Utah could move Wright’s $2.8 million salary to the Grizzlies and save itself approximately $5.6 million with salary and luxury-tax payments. Memphis would probably get cash and picks for its trouble. The Heat would have to send one more small contract to make the math on the salary exchange work. The good thing about the Boozer deal, Miami could pay Boozer his $12.7 million salary this season and own his Bird rights to sign him to an extension next summer. Jazz are working hard to find a suitable trade for Boozer. This will be a blow to Kobe & Co. if they lose him and it would GREATLY improve the Heat chances in the East.

One Win Away

At halftime I thought for sure that the Lakers would have lost an oppurtunity to go up 3-1 but there was still another half to be played. That is when the rally started for the Lakers who won in OT 99-91. Give all the credit to Kobe Bryant, I meant the role players. Trevor Ariza scored 13 points in the third quarter to lead the spark and hit a big three to tie the game. Then you have Robert Horry, [sorry] Derek Fisher who hit the big shot to send the game into overtime. Then Fish hit another one to close the casket for the Magic who blew their chances to steal one again. The reason why the Magic are one game away from being eliminated instead of tying up the series: Free throws! [we won't even blame it on the last play]. If they learn to make those [Dwight & Turkoglu] they would have closed the game out. Now they have to win 3 straight games. OH WELL! On Sunday the Lakers will look to close them out in 5 games. 

Notes: Kobe responded from Game 3 by scoring 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists; Odom & Gasol had a big game on the defensive side; Howard had a good game [besides the FTs] scoring 16 points and 21 boards; they went to the line 17 to the Lakers 0 in the 4th; Van Gundy should really rethink his play calling too [haha..full court trap..with a 3 point lead?]; and will when he learn to put his best players on the floor [Alston played 0 min in the 4th and OT and Lee played only 7 min] ha good stuff!

Staying Alive

Instead of becoming one step closer of closing out the series, the Lakers became one step closer of giving the Magic life again. The Magic won 108-104 behind the Finals record setting 64% field goal percentage.  The biggest help they probably got was from Rafer Alston who came out focused and loose tonight. The past two games I think he was letting the whole Nelson situation get to him. Whatever Van Gundy said to him, it calmed him down and he score 20 points. I mean give the Magic TONS of credit. Rashad Lewis had 19, Turkoglu and Pietrus had 18, and Dwight Howard had 21 and 14 but the game was still not a blowout. The Lakers had a chance to win it down the strectch but Kobe's turnover [trying to do too much] and missed free throws is what cost them the game tonight. Lamar Odom did not help much tonight either. The Lakers missed a great chance to end the series tonight but could not do it. I expect Kobe to bounce back Thursday night and the Lakers to dominate. Kobe know that he is the reason why they lost so he will make sure they win game 4. 

Welcome Back!

With a 119-92 victory, the Lakers will be moving on to the NBA Finals next week[2nd straight season]. The Lakers played an almost perfect game which was surprising compared to their recent games where they had problems winning back to back games. Any other team would have celebrated tonight's victory, not the Lakers though. They knew they were suppose to return back to the Finals, they are focused on winning it this year. What may help them in the Finals is the fact that they have been tested a lot more than last year's run. I mean they are really focusing, Ariza said he will not sleep until they win that ring. Kobe played superb though scoring 35 points on 12 of 20 shooting, 6 rebounds, and 10 dimes. He played so great George Karl said that Jesus would have had trouble guarding him. Now I don't know if I wouldn't take it that far [Karl better watch himself] but Kobe played extra good. Of course you have to give his team credit because they are the reason they are advancing. He had help from Ariza [17], Gasol [20], and they key Odom [20]. You have to blame the Nuggets for not winning this series because if they would not have turnover the ball at the end of Game 1 & 3 they would have swept the Lakers. Oh well good season though Nuggets

Note: Today was Carmelo's birthday. I am sure he is "thanking" Kobe for the present. Oh yeah almost forgot have to give credit to JR Smith. He had a great night and that's why I thought they would win. Billups only had 10 which was definitely not enough. 

Lost in Denver

The key reason the Lakers lost [101-120] was because they got out rebounded 58-40. Between Kenyon Martin, NeNe, and Chris Anderson, they had 42 of them. The Lakers had no answer for the Nuggets who was even playing with a sick Carmelo Anthony [he shot 3-16]. The Nuggets got big help from JR Smith who finally showed up and scored 24 points. What hurt the Lakers were their bench play. They got no help from them unlike the Nuggets. Bench players like Birdman [Chris Anderson] and Linas Klieza came off and made a great impact. Kobe on the other hand had 34 points but just from 10-26 shooting [game like Lebron's Game 3]. Just like Lebron, Kobe did not get any help from anyone else so instead of going up 3-1, the Nuggets tied the series at 2 going back to LA. If the Nuggets play like this they may win the next 2 games because the Lakers are showing their split personalities again. I do know that Kobe needs a guard to step up beacuse Kobe and Gasol cannot be the only one playing hard. Odom or Gasol need to step it up big time.

Not a Game 7

Because the Lakers have two different identities and the Magic did not end the series when they had their chance, both will be playing a Game 7 on Sunday. 

I mean, the Lakers could have and should have ended this in Game 4 & 5 after they heard that Yao was done [EPIC FAIL]. No what do they Lakers do, come out flat and get beat. So what if you won Game 5 by 40 points, you still have to win one more in that's where tonight came in. They thought the Rockets would lay down but once again they were mistaken and took another L. The Rockets opened the game up on a 17-1 run [thanks in huge part to Scola: 24 points 12 rebounds]. They won't get to Finals playing like that I can promise you that. The Nuggets have some veteran players [Billups] and they will take advantage on the road. I mean, I expected the Lakers to play a lot more consistent than what they are playing now. Going into Game 7, I don't know what to think. I want to expect to see Kobe, Gasol, & Odom to actually show up but who knows. They probably need guard play to pick up the most though because Aaron Brooks [26] just have been out playing Farmar and Fisher

The Magic also got a W tonight to tie the series [which was not a surprise]. Another thing that was a no brainer tonight is how Dwight Howard scored 23 points and had 22 boards. This game was not like the others because the Magic were actually down in the 3rd quarter. The only difference was that win it was 75-75 with 3:46 left, they did not choke [it helped that Ray went o-7 too]. I was a bit surprised because the Magic did not have a great night shooting the 3-ball but still won [shooting 23%]. Game 7 will be at Boston where they have been quite successful. I still expect this game to go to the wire, but it maybe like the Game 7 with the Bulls that was not close.