#PoetsCorner THE SWEETEST SIXTEEN

(Look! The Poet himself Dan Stocker of 'Showtime Life' returns. He's been "wrestling" with some new great work that you can check out on ProWrestlingPost.com, but the pro had to make it back on court for Pau. Congratulations number 16 and welcome back Stock).

Look! I know it's been awhile since I spoke about my beloved Lakers. As like most things, life happens, but I never stopped writing. In fact I use that Mamba Mentality to this day and I always will. Sorry...OK so let me to get back to what this is all about. 

I remember the first championship I saw my Lakers win. I had been a Laker since 2003 and then 6 years later we did it! We won and Kobe got his fourth ring and then a year after that he got his fifth ring. But during this time he couldn't do it on his own. He had the help of the whole team yes, but his partner in crime was the big Spanish man number 16. 

Has the ball dropped yet on what this is about? 

Swish! 

Pau Gasol. 

It has just been announced that the Los Angeles Lakers will retire the number 16 and honestly this is a debate me and my brother (Tim) discussed and we both came to the same conclusion. Yes it should be. Why you ask? Well other than the late and trust me when I say great (if not greatest of all time) Kobe said he couldn't have got the TWO-PEAT without Gasol what reason do you need? 

However, the season before the win against the Magic, Gasol was criticised for not being a force in the paint. Why do I know this? Because at the time I was the one saying it! But he didn't let that stop him and by the second championship win he was a completely different player.

It's funny actually how the Lakers bring back these guys destined for redemption (see this offseason). Although they should have done so with Marc's brother for a Hollywood reunion. But they've got his number now. So lets keep this short and sweet. I just want to say, Pau Gasol you will forever be a legend for our franchise...king of the two-peat. Gracias mi hermano. DAN STOCKER. 

#BleedPurpleLiveGold KING SURVIVES WARRIORS IN THE PLAY-IN

King's Ransom.

Let's be clear.

The skin of their behinds.

That's what the Lakers escaped the play-in in LA by.

From now on they just have to do better if the defending champions want to at least look like they could go back-to-back like Magic delivering on a Pat Riley promise ("yeah...YEAH!").

The seventh seed in the 2021 Playoffs faced off like Cage did Travolta against the eighth, Golden State in this classic California clash of champs. There was no chumps in this contest which really does make for a perfect Playoff precursor. Hate the play-in, or love it. But down 13, the Lakers first-half statistics for one of many of their big-three combinations (James, Davis and Dennis Schröder) looked like the percentage of a jock who didn't swot for his test.

14.3%

Meanwhile everyone's favorite for MVP not playing in Philly, New York or Colorado was putting on a clinic.

Forget "Steph Curry with the shot" boy. It was almost more like the forthcoming free agent the Lakers would love with the upset.

Splashing everything like he was back on his side of the Pacific across the Golden Gate, number 30 had everyone believing again in this former dynasty. Rocking those Oakland jerseys like his rookie year and the time Baron Davis dunked on Dirk and gave Oak Town a Playoff preview of the hope to come in contention.

This team knows all about upsets. You could see it on Anthony Davis' enraged face as Draymond Green had the clamps on him. Putting one of Hollywood's Supermen in the phone booth.

If the Warriors had Klay today they would have dubbed this "over". In a Chick Hearn refrigerator. They didn't even need Durant, but when (more like if) this Hollywood team meets a super one of KD, Kyrie, James Harden and more it could all be a closed door.

With 37 points the leagues scoring champion Curry was scorching hot with the shot, but it was Canadian Andrew Wiggins who really stepped up on this big stage with 21 points off many hard fought plays. Even though the Warriors are now going home after Ja Morant and Memphis said "thank you very much" , Stephen is still your MVP and Wig is no one to write off anymore.

This Warriors team is still nice. Even this Laker fan is thinking Steph stays this Summer. Despite hoping for the opposite.

No matter. The King did his best Chef impression in the waning seconds for those who say he isn't clutch. Hitting a rainbow beautiful, 34 foot three over the greatest of all-time from downtown himself to ice the game with 58.2 to go. Squeezing past as 103 to 100 was all she wrote, following a botched inbounds pass from former Laker Kent Bazemore which Bradley Beal we're sure loved to see.

LB with the clutch 3 J from the 'e' of the STAPLES Center logo may have started colder than the ice around Montrezl Harrell's neck (so much hustle and energy. The heart of this team), but he ended up with a triple-double like Westbrook with, 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his sixth of the season.

Never underestimate the heart of a champion.

Even AD was on the way in the end. The big-man scoring 13 of his 24 in the fourth and final quarter.

Unlucky for Dray and the Dubs.

Against the Warriors the Lake Show was the walking wounded. Especially 'Bron with a bum ankle and a poked eye. But he out all that to the sky with his dagger that even plunged the clouds for rain.

The bear was poked in the eye and a regal lion roared in return.

This will be in the highlight package of one of the GOAT's greatest moments.

“After the finger to the eye, I was seeing three rims and shot at the middle one. By grace, I was able to knock it down,” the Chosen One told all the Zoomed press microphones post game. That sounds like some Larry Bird stuff. Look it up. This long sword from the King like Arthur was his longest make of the season and any go ahead shot in the final 3 minutes of any game he's ever played.

Not bad for a man that along with his dynamic duo partner Davis went 3 for 19 in the first half.

Three lead changes and five ties marked a thriller of a fourth as Alex Caruso had 14 and Schröder stepped up in the end with 12. With the Lakers now booked into the Western Conference Playoffs they must ensure they are firing on all cylinders in The Valley. They face a scorching hot Phoenix Suns led by Devin Booker, who's Florida Bubble still hasn't burst, big Deandre Ayton and James' old friend Chris Paul.

If the Lakers want to stand this heat they better throw the kitchen sink at them. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

#PoetsCorner PURPLE & GREEN

(As the Poet himself puts it, "Poet is nice to the Celtics. The world has frozen over. All aboard 'Snowpiercer'. CHOO-CHOO!). 

Long live your rivals. They can never be your idols. Kobe was the God and LeBron is writing the new Basketball Bible. 

Look it’s that time of the year that only happens twice in a regular season, the Lakers vs the dir… (no not this time) Celtics. Going in to this game we are the current champions sitting 3rd in the West vs the Boston Celtics who hold the 4th spot in the East. 

 The historic rivalry has seen Bill Russell vs Wilt Chamberlin, Magic vs Larry and Kobe and Gasol vs the Celtic Big Three over the years. Now the Lakers have tied the Celtics with the most championships of all time, both teams are on 17 each. They are the Joker to our Batman (Tim Quote), the Lex to our Superman, the Thanos to our Avengers the...ok I think you get the point. 

 We go in to this match-up with the better run so far this season, 14-6 over the Celtics 10-7. Closing up one hell of a road trip. But falling short to a hungry Detroit team in our last game showed us that even without AD, a stepped-up Kuzma (who stepped in to score a season high of 22 points to match LeBron's 22) wasn't enough to stop Derrick Rose and the Pistons. 

 Going in tonight's game it's uncertain whether we will have a fully fit Lakers team to face off against Kemba and Tatum. This is the time for the bench to step up and the 6th man and the runner up 6th man of the year from last season, Montrezl and Schroder are more than ready to showcase just like they have been doing all season. They rep that purple and gold so well and let me remind you when Lakers play Celtics the rivalry brings a Game 7 feel. With Frank Vogel looking to make his Laker record 2-1 over the Celtics this is a must watch game for any NBA fan and rest assured every Lakers fan will be wanting nothing less than a W. DAN STOCKER

#PoetsCorner LAKERS 2020/2021 SEASON PREVIEW

So look last night’s game showed us many things. The biggest one of all is apparently you can lead the way and still have time to cut your toenails while on the bench!? Just playing AD, you know we love you. It's safe to say as Lakers fans we are ready for this new season and there is no doubt that a two-peat is on the cards.

The standout from the preseason has to be the THT man himself. I mean the kid has got to get some serious minutes this season. When I say "Sixth Man" you all say "of the year". I can honestly see that in his future. I just pray we as a franchise look after this young talent because the future's bright, the future's Horton-Tucker. 

All the new additions have shown us they have come to win. Could a new era be on the cards? Can we go for a historic three-peat with this team? I think its definitely possible, though some people will say, "well we did it for Kobe so it's done now". Well in the words of King James the attitude will still be "jobs not done”. The greatest to ever play (Kobe) wouldn’t stop for one and all Laker fans, in fact basketball fans know Kobe championships were back to back in either a three or a two-peat. With that in mind I think it still means more to us as a team and as the Laker family.

So flipping the script, I never thought I would say this, but what about Kuzma? Would he be missed? Honestly he will definitely have to fight for minutes so I'm going to say no (Tim’s jaw just dropped). I will never hate on Kuz, I just think with all that has gone on with his extension talk and what he wants and what the team wants from him are on slightly different wave lengths. I think most Lakers fan would be happy to see him stay but then again if he goes, he goes (Ivan Drago voice).

Finally, the teams we should be worried about this season from the West are the Nuggets, Memphis and the Suns (what no Clippers?). The Nuggets had a solid year last year and the team remains strong, Memphis leader Ja Morant could do a D-Rose Bulls and make it to the playoffs easily and the Suns look good with the addition of Chris Paul to stand at the backcourt with the silent assassin Booker. 

I think the East speaks for itself. The Heat and yeah, I'm just going to say it, Brooklyn. Durant and Uncle Drew can storm the East, but then you got the Greek Freak hungry for a final after falling short.

All this being said it will be interesting to see who meets us in the Finals this season...and yes I did just say "us", you read that right. DAN STOCKER. 

#BleedPurpleLiveGold / #PoetsCorner HORTON HEARS A HYPE

 

THT Kid. 

It was written.

The Poet already knew it.

This is why the game needs Dan Stocker's words, like the Lakers don't need to trade another young gun. Word to the so smooth Kuz. Last year the head honcho of Showtime Life predicted THT would be a problem like people trying to smuggle THC through airports in vapes. Now Talen Horton-Tucker is in the air like your Twitter timelines in a Chris Tucker 'Rush Hour'. The fifth element. Now here's the elephant in the locker room like the cat in the hat. Horton no longer hears a "who" like Dr. Seuss, or a Snoop Dogg GIF, but a hype.

Clipping the Clippers twice over, he has now become the talk of the towns barbershops LeBron referenced on the Uninterrupted podcast with Allie Clifton, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye. Talen has us hooked after getting his talons into the team. The 6 foot 4, 46th pick in the last draft with a Shaq sized wingspan was huge last night. Big game worthy with big shots in his spectrum like the number 5 we should have retired for Horry. We may have to raise it up for him.

How's 33 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in a 131-106 win to follow 19 last time for the kid that's only just 20? How's that for a line? Becoming the fourth Laker in the last decade to pace 30 in the preseason. After the now PAID Brandon Ingram, the veins of D'Angelo Russell (twice) and the one and only, late, great Kobe. That Mamba Mentality. Enough to take Kuz's spot? His shine? His hype?

You can't knock the hustle as Spectrum Sports referenced Jay-Z beyond a 'Reasonable Doubt', when THT, a bigger king than TGT like a star possessed, chased down his own missed free throw and threw the ball off the opposition. Clipping the ball off Ky Bowman to win the out of bounds possession, no matter which way the STAPLES neighbors pointed.

Hell of a job. Hell of a young prodigy. When I look at THT and the Lakers I feel like Chandler talking to Ross about Elizabeth on 'Friends', "well, maybe you don't trade this one." Let's hope Rob is there for him, as his jobs not done.

It's not just preseason if it gives you reason.

Reason to believe.

When the GOAT Alex Caruso calls you a "killer" you know you're fresh to death.

The Poet already told you to, "look".

Now as our 'Bleed Purple, Live Gold' and his 'Poets Corner' column collaborates, here's his rhyme and reason. THT isn't the only one with a bright future. 

LOOK! So I'm not the type to say I told you so but well...33 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. The season hasn’t started yet but it’s not took us long to work out someone in the purple and gold has worked hard this off-season defensively and well offensively. He is dynamite TNT.....well close but we all know it's actually, THT. Maybe he just doesn't like the Flippers...sorry there I go again I mean Clippers. No AD. No King James. No problem. Tucker held it down. Now look yes it’s only preseason but I seen it in this guy in the G-League and well I ain’t the only one even 'bron took to Twitter to tell the world that THT is special.

From South Bay to the heart of LA (Tim...or should I say TDH: you see the South Bay before and after similar shot post? The only, 'how it started versus how's it going', I mess with). Rest assured when it comes to Tucker, he will make his name this season. He's the deadly piece we didn't even know we had. Sophomore year in the league is looking bright. From the class that brought your Zion and Ja Morant comes what could be the biggest steal from the second round since Manu Ginobili. And with the way THT can rain those threes I see a All Star weekend trophy with his name on it. The future's bright, the future's Tucker. TIM DAVID HARVEY & DAN STOCKER. 

#PoetsCorner

#BleedPurpleLiveGold

#PoetsCorner THE LOS ANGELES HISTORY MAKERS

Look it's been a minute since I last wrote something. So much has happened. We did it after ten years of hurt and falling short. The Lakers are once again the best team in the NBA. How did that happen? I think the basketball world knows it meant more to us this year. We had to do it-not just because the new staff and coach had a point to prove-but also for him (the greatest of all time! Best player to play the game). Him and his daughters tragic passing rocked not just the NBA, but the world over. So much so I couldn’t put into words the impact of the loss. But the drive for the team was clear to honour him and his daughters name. Going in to every postseason match up with the motivation to win it all. There was no other option… and so it was written and so it was done NBA Champions 19/20….for KOBE.

So going into the offseason we have not took the foot off the gas in terms of building a team that can carry the name champions. So who has stayed and who has gone? Well the first big swoop the Lakers made was parting ways with Danny Green and our 28th pick in this year’s draft for OKC’s Dennis Schröder. Reasons for this trade are clear in my eyes. Adding more depth at the point with a guy that's not even hit his prime yet and also clearing up some cap space for re-signing AD to a max deal. I mean all the best to Green. I'm sure he will lay BRICK foundations in OKC.

So to fill the gap Green left the Lakers looked to Wesley Mathews who is known for being an all-round solid role player and is reported to have agreed to a one year deal.

Now for the surprise deal which left me thinking, "I'm sorry what!?" The two year deal for Clippers big man Montrezl Harrell, who is coming of the best year of his career averaging 18.6 PPG,7.1RPG and not to mention being named 'Six Man of the Year'. It was a big shock to his former team mate Patrick Beverley who took to Twitter to express his...let’s say shock at this jump ship move. I mean I know am not the only Laker fan happy with this move and you can’t blame the guy for well ….seeing the light and coming to the gold side of Los Angeles. Plus with Howard going to Philly we needed a replacement and I think we got that and then some with Harrell.

I don’t think this is us done in the offseason yet by any means and with McGee returning and Kuzma's team option being put into play we still have business to be done. And let's not mention the AD in the room who we need to re-sign to a max deal.

Next season is anyone's year as it stands now. I mean that’s sports for you and that’s basketball for you too, but I can’t help but see another two-peat on the cards. History has a funny way or repeating itself. DAN STOCKER. 

#TheLeBronSeries KING JAMES VERSION

 

The Basketball Bible.

By TIM DAVID HARVEY 

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth". Genesis 1:1.

August 23rd, 1978. Kobe Bryant is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the rest is hallowed, hardwood, hoops history. January 26, 2020. He tragically dies along with his daughter Gianna and several other friends and their family, and the rest of this year is just misery. December 30th, 1984. LeBron James is born in The Land. Monday the 5th October. Today. Tonight. Right now as we speak. Up 2-1 in the NBA Finals. Now let's see if they can be all about the 4-1 like Glen Rice, or every other series in their Western Conference reign. The kid from Akron has the chance to win the Lakers 17th championship in his 17th year all for Kobe. 23 for 24.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." Peter 5:8.

"Lakers sweep Heat". The headlines of the Los Angeles Times won't read that no more, but that doesn't mean it's over. "You're in trouble", LeBron told Jimmy Butler in the first quarter. Buckets told the King the same thing in the fourth once the Heat cooled off the talents of a man who used to take it to South Beach. Just like when playground GOAT, Earl Manigualt responded to Wilt Chamberlain's, "welcome to the big leagues schoolboy" dunk taunt at the Rucker (as played by NBA legend and 'Uncut Gems' star Kevin Garnett in 'Rebound' starring Don Cheadle as 'Gault) by saying after hitting the big shot that iced the game in New York, "welcome to Harlem...motherf#####!" Now we have a series! Now we have a Finals. But still, I wouldn't bet against the LeBron James, like I said I wouldn't bet against Kobe Bryant. Especially when the King is doing it for the Black Mamba in the snakeskin he designed for the city with GiGi's number 2. All in for L.A. Doing it for what the graffiti reads on the highway like all those magnificent murals. 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

"Chosen One" carried on his back in everlasting ink. "What we do in life" and "echoes in eternity" bared on each arm where he carries the word he throws up to the heavens like chalk. Chosen like the Sports Illustrated cover (the first of libraries worth) back in high school where he was given the biblical nickname by royal appointment. 17 years and change ago. When this 35 year old like me was just a kid. When he had a 'fro like Kobe, before he started to lose it all like yours truly. But look at what he's kept. The will and skill of the greatest of all-time. Not even M.J. had it like this at 35. His 'Last Dance' was already swan sung years ago. And as we read his and Kobe's former coach Phil Jackson's 'Sacred Hoops' memoir for the NBA Finals like 'The Last Season' autobiography from the man who won 'Eleven Rings' searching for a soul. During the finals, LeBron (who constantly reads 'The Godfather' to stay motivated as The Don) continues to "chop wood and carry water" like an ancient Indian proverb as he dances with wolves (or former ones) like Kevin Costner in his hardwood field of dreams. Its all about the work. If you build it they will come. And if you work it will be done. 

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5. 

Bulldozer bullying his way to the rim like a sledgehammer. He won't be denied like a wrecking ball or someone taking your lunch money. Running through defenders like it was open season on the floor of a fast break. Twisting the night away like Sam Cooke. Bobbing, weaving and duking it out before dunking like an Ali pugilist in turning out the light and getting in bed before the bulb goes off. All before pumping and flexing under the basket like an Air Canada chopper. Goodnight! Now how's that for a flashbulb moment? Appreciate it whilst the divine light is still upon you. It won't be here forever as we are caught up in his hoops rapture, as basketball beautiful as a halo he enters like heaven. Spin cycle rinsing you and repeating until the uniforms are washed in the blood. Jesus is King and he walks with LeBron like Kanye. The red hat just reads different on the players entrance in Florida's Bubble like the tunnel. Make America...arrest the cops that killed Breonna Taylor. Say her name. Say her name. SAY HER NAME! 

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22.

So why all the God damned hate?! No wonder he treats his press conferences with the Mamba Mentality mood Kobe did. Like Kevin Durant once said, "Erykah Badu is thicker than a Kindergarten Cray..." ah wait, wrong quote. "I don't trust none of y'all." What's with all these Twitter takes from sofa athletes who only share a hairline with LeBron...and not like the real GOAT, Alex Caruso? We are witnessing like it was all written in scripture one of the greatest this game or world has ever seen and we're throwing stones at something so divine? Is that really are intervention or intention? Is that really inspiration? What about his influence? Building schools and hopefully learning from his Hong Kong error. But we want to throw rocks at the throne like a Witness billboard because after losing one game we say he's done and coming down even after all he's won? You seen the amount of Finals he's been in since the last decade? And now you want to talk about the number he's won? This man has been making milestones every night like a Miles Davis album in this game that went from jazz to the boom bap of hip-hop in all its free flow. Just like this young King went from the Statue of Liberty dunks he held like the book of Basketball, to the castle building downtown shots he puts up like a quarterback. Throwing the big pass to his big man as LeBron James and Anthony Davis become the next Wilt and West, Magic and Kareem, Shaq and Kobe. The new Big Game James worthy of a cigar and clap. Banner and retired jersey. Put 'em up! 

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Matthew 7:7. 

The time is now. To do what's right and to do what under the light seems like destiny. It's been a truly terrible calendar like LeBron tells us when we lose the Black Mamba and the Black Panther in the same year. And it aint over yet. COVID-19 is still infecting 2020 when we were supposed to roar back like a DiCaprio Gatsby, once upon a time in Hollywood. But still we shout Black Lives Matter through the streets through masks, because there's something that matters more than our lives...the lives of others being persecuted by police brutality with the only finality being there mortality. No sentence for the ones who pulled the trigger or dug a knee. Just death for their victims. And they had a problem with Kap taking a knee?! Well this captain linking arms with his team is about to take it all back and win it all for his friend. Like a Hollywood ending, but one down south against his former Miami Heat in the Florida he took his talents to. Homecourt advantage to South Beach? Nah this is Kings court now. And Disney couldn't come up with a better avenger, star wars story in their world (word to the Warner Brothers 'Space Jam' too like Mike. That's all folks like an AD tee), even if they hold all the superheroes and iconic characters to marvel at. Not this one. Not 23. All for 24, infinite like 8. Wrapped around the ball and Spalding spinning world watching like a coiled snake. It's all meant to be and you're all about to see. Witness. Chapter and verse. Because right now we can't get closer to God than this. 

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13.