So Kobe came up a little short….so what? The guy dropped 50 in Game 6 and would be opening up a series against his cross town rival Clippers tomorrow night had Tim F’n Thomas not gone Jordan on the Lake Show.

Kobe will be back. Don’t you worry.

And next time, next time, he’ll have some real support.
Kevin Garnett?

LeBron, unlike Kobe, was able to will his band of average at best mates to the second round, in a Jordan like one man show of elegance against the Wizards in Round 1. And just like MJ in the early days, LeBron will be disposed of in a clean sweep by the Pistons in Round 2.

As for the rest of Round 2, the Mavs and Spurs are going seven. Talk to me when we get there about who will win, but I’ve got a hunch the Mavericks have it in them this time.

The Clips will dispatch of the Suns in six as Sam shows Steve a little something about being playoff battle tested. I hate no team in sports, outside of the Red Sox of course, more than this Phoenix Suns team. Between the hall of fame version of Tim Thomas and the wannabe Bill Laimbeer enforcer played by Raja Bell who weighs less than a Bada Bing dancer, I’ll be rooting for the Suns’ demise until their 2006 season concludes.

I’ll never bet or root against Shaq, but something tells me the Nets have what it takes to take care of Miami. Nets in seven.