Hope everyone’s enjoying their weekend. I know I am, after sitting around watching the LA Lakers complete a 6-game road trip undefeated and unblemished, ending things by holding LeBron James to 16 points, getting 28 points and 17 rebounds from Lamar Odom and ending the Cavs’ quest for a perfect home-record by handing them a 101-91 loss – their first in Cleveland this season.
After beating the Celtics on Thursday night, Kobe Bryant told me he was going to make me out to be a liar – knowing I said LA has absolutely no shot of winning the title unless Andrew Bynum returns to the lineup. And I’ve got to admit, he’s got me scratching my head a little bit.
The Lakers held the Cavs to 39 percent shooting the field, making LeBron look human in the process. When Odom is on his game, the Lakers can beat anybody. The thing is, Kobe will have to forgive me because I consider Odom’s performance a pure aberration. I know Pau Gasol is good for a double-double every night, but that’s all I know. And the bottom line is I have no faith in a consistent tenacious defensive effort on LA’s part. Sure, they can get the job done. But it’s the guys who do it night-after-night (i.e. Boston and San Antonio) that I place my faith in when it comes to defense. Not the Lakers.
Not yet, anyway.
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20 A-Rod:
Throw him to the Wolves. I honestly could not give a damn.
It’s not so much because of the Sports Illustrated report that revealed he
tested positive for Steroids’ use back in 2003 as much as this reason: A-Rod
knew he tested positive and never expected the results to be revealed. So
instead of just denying it to reporters who showed up at his place of business
and leaving it at that, his sorry backside sat down with CBS and not only categorically
denied ever using steroids – he denied ever being tempted to use steroids.
It’s one thing for image to be so important to a player that it provokes him to
protect himself, folks! It’s another thing entirely for that player to extend
himself for the sole, express purpose of manipulating the masses.
This is what liars are made of. It doesn’t take away from
A-Rod being a great player or a prolific hitter. But it should absolutely shred
any benefit of the doubt once extended to him without a second thought.
A-Rod, widely known as a man who cares very much about his
image, should’ve sullied it permanently now. I know he has with me.
And while I’m at it, I find myself feeling regret over one
other thing:
Too bad he was never forced to give testimony under oath.
Judging by how well he apparently lies, who’s to say he wouldn’t be the while
on trial next month instead of Barry Bonds.
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Some more NBA notes:
1.) As I reported months ago, Amare Stoudamire wants out – and he’d love to
come to New York.
And guess who’d love to come with him?
Shaq!
2.) For those wondering what the hell is going on in Detroit, listen to Pistons’ President Joe Dumars: “We’ve got a rookie coach, a second-year point guard starting for the first time, a scorer who’s adjusting to an entirely different system and we’re still in play,” Dumars told me more than a week ago. “All I know is when the playoffs arrive, we’ll still be there. And this is after we saved a boatload of money for the future by making all these changes. We will be in the mix. What more can you ask?”
I can’t argue with that, folks!
3.) The Orlando Magic were beginning to convince me
they could throw a monkey wrench into any plans that Cleveland and Boston in
the Eastern
Conference Finals. That is….until Jameer
Nelson went down. Then I stopped thinking such things.
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Talk to ya’ll again soon.
Stephen A..absolutely have to agree that Lakers are suspect as Odom is an aberation....tremendous or horrible it seems of equal portions....A-Rod? Whatever! I guess the bigger question is who was not taking PHD (perform enhance) during the "so-called" steroid era of baseball. And to SI...if you are going to name A-Rod, then you have a responsibility to also name the other 102 players who failed the tests in 2003. It is tough to judge since the window is short-lived in pro sports and the players are all doing what they can to get the one big contract that sets them, their kids, and their kid's families up for life financially. Don't try to tell me, even with the nice coin you have to be making, that you wouldn't shoot yourself in the ass for a few years to make $20 mil per/year. Amare...not worth commenting on since he is quitting on the Suns....but living in Orlando where he attended three differnet high schools in three years we all know Amare is not the sharpest tool in the shed....and finally I wouldn't quit on the Magic just yet. They are the best 3-point shooting team in the league and while it is a "live by die by" gamble if they get hot at the right time they can make a run at the title. Thanks for the opp. Take care.....MP
Posted by: mikeymp | February 10, 2009 at 08:36 AM
BOZO... U r still trying to claim that you "report" .. what a joke Bozo.. YOUR THE BIGGEST JOKE IN SPORTS
Don't push me!
Posted by: Tim I. | February 12, 2009 at 04:06 PM
It's been a while since I let you know how much your stephen erkle looking face makes me sick bozo.. don't push me
Posted by: Tim I. | February 14, 2009 at 04:29 AM
Stephen, do you ever find that the weight of Terrell Owens' fecal matter on your nose slows you down?
Just curious
Posted by: robmo35 | March 15, 2009 at 01:48 PM
Over two months and no updates? Can't think of anything to make up or is it you simply can't take the heat so you quit. You suck.
Posted by: SAS | April 14, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Stephen A. Smith has been slowly losing responsibility over the last year at ESPN, and many have questioned whether his time with the "Leader" was up. Well according to The Big Lead, that time is upon us, and Smith's contract won't be renewed this May....
Stephen A. Smith-going-bye-bye/
While this is obviously still a rumor, it seems to make sense. SAS has been phased out of NBA work for the most part, and really only appears on First Take from time to time. So where does he go next? My first thought is that he will expand on his CNN appearances, but SI and Fanhouse are still out there. It's not like he doesn't have options.
Posted by: Account Deleted | April 17, 2009 at 11:40 AM