Kobe has an off-night, scores 43

Let me first say that this guy is incredible. It is a complete and awful shame that his name is not brought up more often in MVP discussions.

So while the NBA has shown that it is very much into promoting its favorite neophytes (LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwayne Wade), I really don’t think any of them can hold a candle to Kobe Bryant right now.

This guy has been the best player in the league for years now and it’s about time that we all started saying it.

We’ve expected the world from Kobe Bryant. We expect him to be everything positive about Michael Jordan and we expect him to be completely blameless (as Michael Jordan was).

But Kobe isn’t the media darling that MJ was and whereas the media was inclined to look the other way when MJ was less than superhuman, they have pounced on Kobe Bryant in similar situations.

So in keeping with the media roller coaster that so many famous people ride, it’s time for us all to bask in Kobe Bryant’s second upswing. That’s right. It’s okay to love him again.

Kobe's maturation is clearly evident if you have paid any attention to this man in the last two years. Kobe’s team leadership gets better every day and he can still wow us with his individual abilities.

Let’s take this opportunity to thank our lucky stars that we’ve had the privilege of watching one of the best do his best.

Ron Artest Needs Help. NOW!

I understood when he threw that TV at MSG. I tried to understand when he punched that fan in Detroit. I couldn’t understand his fiasco with his dogs and I won’t understand his latest fiasco with his family.

And I certainly don’t understand what’s (apparently) coming out of his mouth lately. A few days ago the rumor was that Artest will retire. This morning I read that the rumor is that he will play overseas for a while. Tomorrow the rumor will be that he plans on joining the circus.

Sure, sometimes it’s funny to watch the crazy guy do crazy stuff, but after a certain point it’s cruel and irresponsible. Our society loves watching a train wreck in action (right, Brittney?) but at what point is the carnage all of our faults?

When does it become our duty to step in and stop the insanity? I say, “right now.” Let’s not let Ron Artest be our next Mike Tyson.

Ron Artest needs to take time off right now and he should not come back until his life is more in order. Forget basketball for 5 minutes. This is a person and this person’s life is spiraling ever downward on a second by second basis.

Sixers Suffer Worst Home Loss Ever

So to follow up winning 8 of their last 10 games (they did, in fact, lose to the Hawks) and being a hot team in the NBA for the last couple of weeks- the Sixers registered their worst home loss ever in their 58 year history. The Houston Rockets came into Philly and stomped on the Sixers- beating them by 50 POINTS! Yao Ming, who had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Tracy MacGrady, who had 21 points and 8 assists, sat out for the whole fourth quarter. Andre Iguodala was benched for the entire fourth quarter, finishing with a pitiful 6 points and 4 turnovers. Kyle Korver led the team in scoring with 17 points. I don't know if I have much to say about this ball club other than the fact that they are a young club that desparately needs some type of go-to superstar.

Sixers Get Hot, Win 7th Straight Game!

In a remarkable second half turnaround, Maurice Cheeks has the Sixers looking like a competitive young ball club. The Sixers had a 6 game home stand that they managed to run the table on. And this homestand hosted 5 west coast competitors including the Lakers and Suns. The Sixers rebounded the ball and played good defense. Sammy Dalembert pulled down double digit rebounds in all but one game of the win streak.
Andre Iguodala has been playing the role of superstar on the team averaging 25 points a game and grabbing his third triple double of the season against Seattle. He is complimented very well by the experience and passing skills of Andre Miller. Miller has been averaging 7.8 Assists and 13 Points per game during the winning streak.
Their latest win comes on the second night of a back to back, where they played Kobe and the Lakers in Philadelphia last night, and then had to play the Pacers in Indianapolis on tonight. Neither of those teams are piece of shit teams, either one can be dangerous on any given night. The Sixers outplayed both ball clubs and came out on top (although the Pacers were playing without Jermaine O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley, which I'm sure improved the Sixers chances of keeping the streak alive). I'm also impressed that the Sixers managed to maintain the streak as the went on the road, until tonight in Indiana- all their games were at home.
Their next game is Tuesday in Atlanta. I think with a couple days rest, this red-hot Sixers team can really pull one out against the Hawks. But there is always a chance that the old ghosts of the inexperienced Sixers will come back to haunt them and break their beautiful streak against such a lameduck opponent as the Atlanta Hawks. I say go Sixers! Keep the streak Alive! 8 in a row baby!