White Boy hates to say he told you so...But he told you so!

(By White Boy South Bronx)

I predicted that the Shaq trade would be a disaster for Phoenix. I argued that the Kidd trade was devoid of logic. I prognosticated that the Lakers trade for Pau Gasol would prove to be amongst the best trades in the storied history of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Yes, I totally messed up by picking the Mavs to get past the upstart Hornets in round 1. However, that incorrect playoff series prediction serves to further support my bashing of the Kidd trade. Kidd is old, slow and a shell of his former self. Though I don’t think Dallas would have fared appreciably better with Devin Harris in Kidd’s stead, the Mavs clearly were not any better WITH Kidd in the lineup.

Speaking of guys who are way past their primes, Shaq is an average player at best in his current state. His free throw woes aren’t so charming when he is struggling to score 15 points a game are they, Steve Kerr? When watching this debacle of a 1^st round performance by what appears to now be Mike D’Antoni’s former squad, it became abundantly clear to me that the Suns could have used a fast defensive stalwart who can drain a three and finish as well as any frontcourt player in the association. Gee that sounds a lot like, I don’t know, Shawn Marion. This was a horrendous move by the novice GM and former NBA sharpshooter Kerr.

Finally, Kobe and crew are loving life out in La La land thanks to a brilliant trade which landed star big man Pau Gasol. His addition allows Phil Jackson, (Chief Triangle, as Jeff Van Gundy once referred to him) to run Tex Winter’s triangle offense. Odom is an ideal 3^rd option on a title contender and Gasol is an ideal 2^nd option. Kobe is continuing his evolution as the 2^nd greatest 2-guard of all time. The Lakers are set for the next 5 years. The only question is how many titles this club will win.

-White Boy South Bronx