NBA Draft day 2008

Well it's that special time of year again - NBA draft day - and it's anyone's guess as to how this thing will play out. All that seems certain is that Derrick Rose of Memphis is set to go No.1 and join an already crowded Chicago Bulls backcourt.

Of course someone's going to squeezed out of the Windy City team huddle, as a result, and that player will likely be Kirk Heinrich. Too bad really because Heinrich has arguably been the best player in the Bulls for the last few years and definitely sports the best small guard haircut since John Stockton.

In addition, I have serious doubts about Rose.

Yeh sure, he's fast, athletic and can score but I can't recall the last time a player was so heavily backed like this at No.1 when he's really done very little to prove himself. I mean it's not like he's a dominant presence in the way Lebron James was out of high school. Or that he has terrific size like last year's No.1 Grege Oden. I even heard one Espn analyst call him the next Jason Kidd. As Dr. Evil says, "Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighhhht".

A few announcers go ballistic over a player in the tournament and suddenly everyone's raving about the guy as the point guard of the future. Hey that'd be great if Rose actually played the game like a point guard but check the highlight reel folks - not a lot of passing going on there. He's a pure scorer and nothing like Jason Kidd.

In other news looks like Michael Beasley is a lock at No. 2 for the Heat. And in a very thin draft, Kevin McHale and the T-Wolves should to go with USC's O.J. Mayo. But nothing's a certainty on draft day and more than in any other year, 2008 appears destined for a lot of trade talk.

Just don't trade up your front row seat.

Lakers should beat Spurs, they must

The Lakers used to be my team. But once Magic Johnson retired I lost interest. Showtime was gone and what did we have to look forward to? Sedale Threatt?

Hey I'm not knocking Sedale but he was no Earvin Magic, nor was he Byron Scott for that matter. The Lakers plodded along, Kobe came onto the scene, then Shaq, and basically the wheels fell off if you ask me. Yeh they won a few championships but it never inspired me the way the 1980s Lakers did.

I moved on, sometimes supporting random teams, mostly cheering for good West Coast basketball such as that played by the current Golden State Warriors or the now busted up Phoenix Suns.

To my delight, however, the Lakers are back. They're in the Western Conference Finals and dare I say it, their basketball is attractive - perhaps even inspirational at times. Kobe is finally sharing - big change. The role players are fulfilling expectations and it's almost as if Jack Nicholson's unwavering loyalty is starting to pay off. Good for you Jack.

But unfortunately, the Lakers lost to the Spurs in Game 3 today and I'm starting to wonder whether it's all a sham. It might just be a whole lot of hocus pocus - Kobe style - in which a team that looks positively brilliant could unhinge at any time. I don't know what to think anymore. I'm not back on the L.A. bandwagon by any means, but more than ever we need the purple and gold to knock off the most boring team in basketball. Don't we?

God speed to you Lakers. This is your series...for old times sake.