Lakers Look to Rule This New NBA Universe

By Bethlehem Shoals
This whole second half will feel like the playoffs, or at least necessary research for the playoffs in a thoroughly transformed NBA universe.
The first proof of that: Suns/Lakers, a game so awesome it reduced Mike Tirico to squeaking and cooing like a mere spectator. Shaq was slow, and limited. But his passing fit right into the Suns’ system, he threw his weight around, and he ended up with respectable numbers: 15 points, 9 boards, and a pair of blocks. He also obviously gave a damn, diving for a loose ball and trying to take a charge at one point.
I’ll miss the small-ball revolution as much as the next fan, but seeing how D’Antoni uses O’Neal will be no less fascinating. I’m hoping for the most grotesque kind of hybrid, fusing old and new, big and small, suspense and shock.
Now that we’ve covered that, let’s get down to what matters:

The Lakers are scary, Bynum will push that through the roof, Kobe is even more deadly when he’s at peace. And then there’s this play, which was both hilarious and prophetic. Gasol absolutely murked Amare, who intently spent the next few possessions trying to get revenge (he eventually did). Then the jersey pop, followed by the highly emotional embrace from Sasha Vujacic. My friend thought this was about European pride, or at least smashing stereotypes. Which, if anyone ever watched Memphis, might have happened a long time ago.
I know that Phoenix is still the running capital of the NBA, but I dare you to name a faster, more fluid frontcourt than Gasol, Bynum and Odom. Maybe that’s the real place where change is happening.↵