While You Were Watching Soccer

While you were watching these guys (--->), I was eating Baja Fresh and watching the Dodgers' bullpen nearly blow another win for Kershaw. Big Baby Broxton needed 38 pitches to close the door and finish the sweep, but after a few walks, he got it done. James "Jar Jar Binks" Loney hit a key bases clearing double in the 7th, and Juan-for-5 went 3-for-5 with 2 RBIS.

But on to bigger things. The Lake Show finally played like, well, the Lake Show. I'm watching George Karl complain about the refs, but the fact of the matter is Lamar Odom stepped up, Sasha Fierce didn't play, and Shannon Brown is awesome. Without a doubt, the turning point in the game was SBs break away dunk over the nestling Birdman. It got the crowed into it, and fired up the rest of the squad. A couple minutes later LO regurgitated some kick ass all over our avian friend. It was great to see LO step up on the offensive and defensive end--he ended the game with 19 points and 14 rebounds. It's clear that Odom plays harder when he's gets off to a good start. When he's struggling on offense he begins to sulk, so here's to hoping that he hits his first couple shots on friday and we close out these pesky pyrites.

Notes on last night's Laker win

1) Trevor Ariza will be the difference if the Lakers win an NBA Championship....Phil is finally comfortable playing Ariza in crunch time and had him in the starting lineup last night. Ariza can match up with the likes of Lebron, Paul Pierce, Artest, and Josh Howard keeping Kobe out of foul trouble and Luke Walton on the bench. His athleticism and length make him an incredibly effective defender, not to mention the dude can score.

2) Shannon Brown is pretty decent. Last night was the first time I've really been exposed to his game and the dude can ball. He's an athletic point guard who can shoot the three and jump through the roof. DFish is older and slower so who knows, maybe SB will be the guy to match up against the young PGs in the West if Fish gets in foul trouble or breaks a hip.

3) Bynum looks really good. Putting up 17 and 6 in his first night back and dunking effortlessly on his bum knee; very, very good signs.

4) I feel bad for Josh Powell. This dude is gonna have a place in the league for a long time. He's got a solid mid range jumper and he can rebound. With Bynum coming back his minutes are gonna go down, but I think of him as Ronny Turiaf without the silliness. Give the dude more than 2 minutes Phil, we've already got the 1 seed.

5) Chauncy Billups is the man. Love his game.