With Malice…

Amazing what distances a year can take you, huh?
On a personal level, I’ve moved a complete two islands away from where I was a year ago.
Kobe Bryant has gone from being a complete diva to the MVP of the league.
In the past (most noticeably during the off-season), it’s gotten to the stage where I have not been a fan… but during this season, I have been won back - I’m (yet again) an enthusiast.
But given Kobe’s taken such steps into adulthood, and reaped the benefits - there can be no backsliding into childish tantrums. Fairly confident that we’re all beyond that.

In today’s games:

• Utah’s Carlos Boozer had stated prior to game 2 that he was hoping to spoil Kobe’s MVP celebrations. NEWSFLASH Booze! You have to stay on the court to do so! Carlos couldn’t do so, hitting foul-trouble early, and LA ran out 120-110 victors over the Jazzmen. Kobe had a game worthy of an MVP, with a 34 point (61% shooting), 8 rebound, 6 assists effort. Boozer’s 25 minutes of court time saw him with 10 points (3-from-10), and 5 rebounds.
  Deron Williams remained dangerous… it’ll be interesting to see how the games are called in Utah - to see if fouls are called as fouls, and the tradition of games in Salt Lake City as ‘physical encounters’ remains.
  Always thought that was a BS way to officiate.
  
• Orlando ripped Detroit, winning 111-86. Who was the monster? Well, although Howard hit his 20 points/12 rebounds, it was Rashard Lewis who won the game. 33 points on 11-from-15 shooting - Lewis picked the right time to have his coming out party. A little late, but better late than never - and what a game to do so. Huge impact for the Pistons: Chauncey Billups strains a hamstring - they’re hopeful that he’ll be back for Saturday’s game… but who knows?

Tomorrow’s games:

1. Cleveland in Boston - Hopefully, this is a much better game than #1 of the series. Some people are talking ‘defensive intensity’… to me this just looked like ’shooting ineptitude’. Ugly stuff. Still, the makings are there for it to develop into a great series. Fingers crossed.
2. New Orleans in San Antonio - Out with the old, in with the new? The Hornets are up 2-0, and head to the Alamo. Some big questions will be answered in this very game…