Photo: REUTERS/Joe Tan

From ESPN’s Marc Stein:

The seemingly hard-to-picture prospect of Kobe Bryant and old nemesis Raja Bell playing for the same team remains alive.

The longtime rivals will sit down for a face-to-face chat Wednesday in Los Angeles to further discuss the feasibility of the Lakers signing Bell in free agency, sources close to the situation said.

Bell is traveling to Los Angeles this week to watch the ESPYs and has arranged to meet with Bryant to hear the Lakers’ face of the franchise make yet another recruiting pitch to the 33-year-old swingman.

For those who don’t remember the bad blood between Bell and Bryant, watch this. What’s interesting though is that Bryant is the one pursuing Bell and asking him to join the Lakers this season. Granted, the Lakers do not have a lot of money left over to sign Bell, but it could be an interesting mix for the defending champs.

No word yet if the Lakers will resign Shannon Brown; in theory Bell would replace Brown in the back court. Yes, I’m a fan of Shannon Brown’s dunks, but Bell despite his age would be a great improvement in terms of back court defense.

(Photo by Jeff Topping, Reuters)

(D.R.)

I dealt with a very serious conflict during this Finals series.

Since I was a wee little munchkin, I’ve loved the Lakers. Loved that they always won, loved Magic Johnson’s smile, loved the logo, loved that they were the glamour club of the league. I was excited to see them make the Finals. Ecstatic, even.

But, as the Finals wore on, I came to realise I was secretly rooting for the Celtics. I had succumbed to the eccentric charms of a team stacked with maniacs. Rasheed and his constant whining, comical tummy fat, and poor attitude. Rajon and his dull-eyed killer stare and ability to weave to the hoop at will. Big Baby and his ranting and saliva. And, of course, Kevin and his creepy intensity. 

I struggled throughout the Finals, my heart pulling me one way, my head the other. ‘I can’t betray my Lakers,’ I thought. ‘They’re my boys. My team.’  

But fuck it. I didn’t grow up in Los Angeles. Never even been there. I love the sport of basketball more than I like the Lake Show.

In the end, I’m happy Kobe got that 5th chip. Ron’s demented post-game interview reaffirmed just how much I like the man. Fisher crying almost got me a little teary. It’s nice that the team I’ve rooted for since the 4th grade just went back-to-back.

But my heart can’t lie. I wanted to see the Celtics win. That oddball group of wrong-headed goons, spastic whiners, and cold-hearted killers. 

(Three Bs).

If Kobe manages to break Isiah’s record for points in a quarter, he should be allowed to run the franchise of his choice… directly into the ground.

Kobe just caught a glimpse of John Kerry’s face in the crowd.

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

30 points. Seven rebounds. Six assists. But that wasn’t enough for Kobe.

With four seconds left, he delivered a free-taco-clinching three-pointer from the top of the arc. Who says NBA players don’t care about the fans?

“I know it sounds crazy, but if Ron gets that look in his eyes, it’s easier just to say ‘Queensbridge’ and move on with your life.”

Well, all the scribes were wrong; you can turn it on in the playoffs.

The Celtics did it. Flipped the switch, fired on all cylinders, got it done when it mattered. Their regular season play — particularly that abominable second half when they were a .500% team at best — was not an accurate reflection of their abilities. 

Same with the Lakers. Sometimes, as the season dragged on, they looked sloppy and confused. Frustration often got the best of them. But none of that mattered, in the end. Because, like the Celtics, they’ve been here before, and they know what it takes.

Before the playoffs, that would have sounded like a cliché. Now, it’s just true. 

(via twofortyfiveam).

This is going to be far more harmful to Kobe’s public image than that Colorado business.