The Obvious Conclusion

There was only one thing I could think watching the NBA All-Star Game last night. Shaquille O'Neal is angling to head back to the Lakers. And the Lakers are angling to get Shaq back in the City of Angels.

There's no other explanation for this warm reunion between two men who couldn't co-exist after three championship runs in L.A.

Phil Jackson coached the West all-stars by putting both Kobe Bryant and Shaq on the floor together. They won the co-MVP award of the game. There was lots of reminiscent commentary from players and coaches about what could have been if Kobe and Shaq stayed together. More than three titles? Maybe five or six?

It seems to me it was all part of the newest conspiracy to get the Kobe and Shaq relationship all warm and fuzzy again so that they can reunite to take the Lakers back to the promised land.

Think about it. As Scott mentioned already today, the Suns are in disarray. Terry Porter was fired, the team is underachieving, and Amar'e could be traded by the deadline. The Lakers lost Andrew Bynum until at least the playoffs, and they could use another center to compliment Pau Gasol.

What could be better than adding back one of the most popular Lakers of the last twenty years, and make the Suns worse in the process?

Don't be surprised to see Shaq and Kobe together again soon.

And The NBA's Best Team Is...

The Los Angeles Lakers. Might not seem like much of a shocking, dangerous piece of news to many, given the Lakers just handed the Cavs their first home loss of the season, and completed a season series sweep of the Celtics earlier this week.

But, the Celtics still have more wins, still are the defending champions, and still, in the minds of some, are the best team in the league.

Not in my mind. There's the obvious stuff, mentioned above. Clearly, beating a team like the Celtics twice (the second one coming on the back end of a back-to-back situation) is impressive. Then, ending a 23 game home winning streak for the season, in convincing fashion also is impressive.

But, what makes this team impressive is its depth. Adding Adam Morrison aside (check here to see why Vlad Rad got dealt, first sentence says it all), the Lakers have weapons for days. Andrew Bynum goes down again, no problem. Lamar Odom, the lost and forgotten player on this Lakers team, is averaging nearly 17 points and 11 rebounds in the four games since Andy Goes Down Pt. 2. Who would the Celtics have to step in if KG went down? Or, say, when he even goes out for a breather? How about if Mo Williams got hurt?

The answer is, no one. And that's no crime. Most teams in the league can't lose a guy averaging a near double-double and not miss much of a beat. Usually, only a few of the best teams in the league can. The Lakers, with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, have more than enough firepower to survive an injury.

And that is dangerous news.