[California Injun]

Unlike certain canines that post on this board while comfortably residing on the fence, I'm able to offer congratulations to the Spurs for doing the Lakers a GREAT service by beating our asses in Game #6. They actually whipped us in 3 of their 4 wins and it was plain to see they wanted the Ring more than the Lake Show.

Now comes the re-tooling that was badly needed after the 2nd Championship. In 2002, the Lakers added more hardware based upon the other teams FEAR of the Champs. Hence the Spurs and Kings crumbled like the graham cracker crust on your cream cheese pies last season when they porbably had the better overall talent.

This year, the Lakers got to be comedians and slept through the first 30 games going 11-19. They "flipped the switch" and felt that everything was back to normal. The T-Cubs still had that wolf in the headlights look and choked away the series in round One.

Now the Spurs had a score to settle and just about blew chunks in Game #5. Had Horry nailed that 3 it would have been emotionally OVER for them. Their "maturity" came when Duncan decided to honor his MVP status and put the team on his back for Game #6.

No way the Spurs win this clincher unless Duncan goes off. He wanted it and the Lakers did not. Plain and simple. So what happens next to the 3 time Champs? Your greatest fears are about to unfold.

1. Jerry Buss sits down with the Zenmaster and convinces him to stick around for his 10th ring. No way does Jackson walk away after a Game #6 like that. His ego won't tolerate it. Had the Lake Show prevailed, Phil would have retired.

2. Kobe and Shaq get to spend a Summer fielding questions about why they have to carry the Lakers EVERY season. Next thing you know, the Lakers pick up a bonafide power forward (not Karl Malone.....PULLLEEEZZEE!!) along with a legitimate back-up center to spell The Daddy for 10 minutes a game.

3. Say good-bye to; Samaki Walker, Brian Shaw, and possibly Rick Fox. I would say Tracy Murray but we never got to see him shoot the ball for 2003.

4. Robert Horry has too much basketball smarts to get waived. Madsen (despite others opinions) brings energy and hustle onto the court along with frustrating the star forwards by being this lame white guy trying to guard them. Ever watch how pissed the Garnetts and Duncan's get if they miss even ONE shot when he guards them?

5. Derek Fisher and Pargo(rookie) are keepers. Medvedenko just needs to get into the rotation. This guy can spin the twine with his shooting. Problem is, he gets out of position too much in the Triangle.

6. And finally, Cal Injun will continue to post, boast and eventually toast the return of the Lakers to the top in 2004. Boldly predicting Championships (36 straight months of smack) versus a 4 month off-season to eat crow is still a 90% propostion.

The Spurs will no doubt win the Championship as Duncan just elelvated himself to SUPERstar status with that clutch performance in Game #6.

The NEW rivalry for the next 3-4 years will be the Spurs(and their role players) versus the Lakers (and their role players).

The Kings will once again be bridesmaids until they trade off that China doll Webber for someone that resembles a SUPERstar in the clutch.