No more joke time. No more fooling around. No more stupid, unnecessary fouls. No more whining. No more complaining.

It’s time to walk the talk.

It’s time for Kobe Bryant to show who is the best player in the world today and not be outperformed by a Celtic bench commoner.

It’s time for Sasha Vujacic, Ronny Turiaf, Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, and Trevor Ariza to show the world who is the best bench in the league today.

It’s time for Phil Jackson to toughen up a bit, reprimand them, and tell them what exactly they need to do. It’s time for The Zen Master to show who’s the best coach today.

It’s time for The Space Cadet to be more passionate about the way he plays and always put a hand up when Pierce shoots.

It’s time for Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom to be more physical, crash the boards, and be aggressive both offensively and defensively.

It’s time for this Los Angeles Lakers squad to show those Boston Celtics who is the best team today.

3 straight games in LA, 3 straight chances to deliver a statement to their longtime rivals. 3 straight home games that are “must-wins”.

Forget Game 1. Forget Game 2.

This is LA, and we get what we want, when we want it.

• Whether you like Paul Pierce’s supposedly “fake injury” or not, deal with it. Paul Pierce played the best role in Game 1, as an injured basketball player, who suddenly comes back after his 105-second injury. Did he fake it? I think so. Was that the reason we lost, I don’t think so. To be honest, the Los Angeles Lakers we’ve seen all season long only played the first 24 minutes of the game. And for a team that desperately needs the world’s approval and applause, they failed. They didn’t play the whole game, so definitely, it was no surprise that they will lose.
• Whether you like Kobe Bryant’s 9-of-26 shooting or not, deal with it. Yes, he missed a lot of shots that he normally makes or in his term, “bunnies”. But the fact is that he was not listening to Phil Jackson telling him to find the open guys and pass the ball. Of course, sometimes The Black Mamba knows best, and sometimes, it’s just not that way.
• Whether you like Kevin Garnett’s dunk over Pau Gasol or not, deal with it. When we needed the rebound most, we choked. When all Pau or Sasha must do is to box out The Big Ticket, they didn’t. When we needed a miracle, all the guys on the floor wearing purple and gold were just watching, waiting as if the ball would come to them and God will rescue them from this WWE-like arena. I don’t care if these acts can be referred to as “jitters”, but they’ve got to stick to the game plan.

It’s such a pain to see my team fold in such circumstances as in Game 1, but there are a couple of things we need to know :

• Spurs beat us by 17 points. We got beat by the Celtics by 10 points, so it doesn’t really much pierce our hearts since we’ve beaten like that before.
• We just missed some “easy shots”, shots that the team normally makes, shots that went in and out, shots that we know will fall in Game 2.
• The Celtics bench ate us. Whether you like it or not, those meddling veteran bench guys, namely Sam Cassell and PJ Brown totally ate us. They played more desperately than the whole Laker bench. But we also need to know, that Sam I Am and PJ Brown had already played their best game, and from Game 2 onwards, it’s over for them.
• Derek Fisher needs to be aggressive. Yes, D-Fish had 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting, but that doesn’t mean he was as good as the guy in the WCF Series. We need his leadership, and it starts with showing the other guys how to shoot in that damn ring.
• Stop those unnecessary fouls, there came a time in the third quarter that every Celtic possession there was a whistle called on the purple shirts. What was the reason of fouling? They showed fear on their opponents, and the Celtics saw that as an opening to stay aggressive on the floor. The four bench guys plus The Space Cadet combined for 16 fouls. Most of those were committed when the Celtics were making a run, the point where Paul Pierce entered into the arena like most of the WWE wrestlers would normally do.

I’m still sticking with my bet : Celtics in Game 1, Lakers in Games 2-5.

And if the Celtics just happen to lose tomorrow, then I will say goodbye to the “fairweather” fans.

By the way, I won’t be live-blogging in Game 2 of the Finals because I have to attend church. For those of you who are wondering, I’m not a Mormon, it’s Sunday morning here in the Philippines while it’s Saturday night there. Have a nice day! LA in Game 2!

The Los Angeles Lakers are starting their matchups with these : Derek Fisher on Rajon Rondo, Kobe Bryant on Ray Allen, Vladimir Radmanovic on Paul Pierce, Lamar Odom on Kendrick Perkins, and Pau Gasol on Kevin Garnett. But wait, these are just temporary matchups, and this won’t stay too long, maybe after Game 1 is over.

I’m saying this because I know who’s guarding who before Game 2 starts. And you probably know that, too.

I’m gonna give you the following matchups for the rest of the series:

Derek Fisher on Rajon Rondo : This will be a fight between two different directions, north and south, experience versus speed. We all know what happened with Tony Parker in the Lakers-Spurs series, they tried to trap him by putting a big man on him. But that’s not the case for the young Celtic point guard. I think Phil Jackson would give him the Kenyon Martin treatment. He would make Rondo be a scorer, not a playmaker. Rondo would see more open shots than any other starting five in the Boston Celtics. So, whatever happens, made or missed, we will live with it.

Kobe Bryant on Paul Pierce : This would be a very exciting matchup, showcasing two of the best wing defenders in the league today. I do know that Doc Rivers would try to double-team Mr. MVP, but he’s not gonna use it too often. Putting Kobe Bryant on “The Truth” is a good idea. These two are close friends, but not when playing on the court. Now is the time we will see how The Black Mamba plays lockdown D. One thing we all know is that, Paul Pierce is a jump-shooter, not that much of a “straight-to-the-rim” superstar. Another thing is that, Paul Pierce, is the tone-setter of the Boston Celtics offense. If Kobe makes him as quiet as a mouse in the first quarter, then the Lakers have a good chance of winning the rest.

Vladimir Radmanovic on Ray Allen : The Space Cadet wouldn’t have as much problem as he had on Ginobili than Allen. Ray Allen isn’t as quick as he used to be, but he still carries that deadly dagger on his hand. Leaving him open isn’t a good idea, so try to stay up on him and put a hand when he shoots. That’s the best way VladRad can do (as much as I would want to stress physicality, but err…).
Lamar Odom on Kendrick Perkins : This is a good battle between two underrated, hardworking players today. Kendrick Perkins had one of his finest game in the regular season versus the Lakers, and Lamar Odom remembers that. Perkins is an aggressive guy, and we don’t want to see Odom getting into foul trouble early in the game. I would want Lamar to be as physical as he can because we know that Perkins is an emotional guy, but not to the point where he would foul him every time he touches the ball. Anyways, as long as LO keeps Perkins off the board , where he does much of his damage, then LO gets the advantage here.

Pau Gasol/Lamar Odom/VladRad on Kevin Garnett : No, this is not triple-teaming The Big Ticket, this is putting different faces on him, as the Lakers did to the Spurs’ Tim Duncan. Putting different defenders on Kevin Garnett will make him stay out of his rhythm and not be too comfortable in the post.
What the Lakers need to do though is applying the double-team without committing on the defender. This is what I’ve been angry on dating back to Game 5 of the Lakers-Spurs WCF Series. LA was double-teaming Tim Duncan and most of the times the second defender committed too much on Duncan, therefore leaving a 3-pt shooter open. This must not be the case in this series, because Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are way, way better 3-pt shooters than Michael Finley, Brent Barry, Robert Horry, and Manu Ginobili.

The Bench Factor :

Sasha Vujacic on Ray Allen : The Machine and The Space Cadet have been taking turns on guarding Ginobili, and this time, they will be taking turns on guarding Ray Allen. So far, Ray Allen has been struggling in the whole playoffs. But take note, Ray Allen has found his shooting touch the last 2 games (maybe it’s because he wore the long arm band that Kobe wears), so resting on him is not a good idea.

Trevor Ariza on Paul Pierce : We will see more playing time from him in this series than he did in the WCF Series. Trevor Ariza will be guarding Paul Pierce when Kobe is on the bench. We all know that Ariza is a great defender, but we also need to know that he just came from a serious injury, so Pierce may be exploiting Ariza’s speed. But, if Trevor plays like he did before he injured his foot, then we have no problem with this matchup.

These are the Key Matchups that will play a BIG role in the whole series for the Lakers. I expect a great fight, and I expect to see the Lakers win it in either 5 or 6 games. Let’s just hope that I’m right.

Tim Duncan had 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. Tony Parker had 23 points on 11-of-22 shooting. Michael Finley’s corpse resurrected and scored 13 points. Kurt Thomas, Brent Barry, and Bruce Bowen combined for 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting. The San Antonio Spurs led by as much as 17 points at one point in the second quarter. Yet, the Los Angeles Lakers won 100-92, beating the defending Champs in 5 games. How can this be? The answer is simple and clear : They are the living image of a perfect NBA team.

Through the years, we’ve searched for an answer on what exactly is the perfect NBA team? Was it Magic Johnson’s Showtime Lakers? Michael Jordan’s 6-ringed Bulls? Tim Duncan’s Millennial Dynasty? Or this year’s Kobe Bryant’s Ultra-Lakers?

The truth is, every decade, a perfect NBA team occurs, one that dominates a vast group of young talents and time-tested veteran players.

Every decade, the perfect NBA team showcases a different face of unparalleled skill set. One that boasts its versatility and balance. And in this case, it’s not Tim Duncan’s Spurs, it’s Kobe Bryant’s Lakers, and it was depicted majestically in the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers did what no other NBA team can do : beat San Antonio Spurs. In 5 games. LA made a statement by beating the Spurs the Spurs’ way : De-Fense.

So why exactly are the Lakers the perfect NBA team of the decade, and how do you determine who’s who?

Ladies and gentlemen, the ingredients of the perfect NBA team:

• The Best Player in the World - This is not your typical “face-of-the-franchise” player. He’s the heart of your team, a fierce warrior who lives and breathes basketball, a guy who trusts his teammates and makes them better. A cold-blooded assassin who pulls the plug on the opposing team’s life-support. He’s not your ordinary superstar, he’s your dream player. A player above all, whom no one can outdo, and who’s skill is far more superior than anyone playing in the world. He’s your “Captain Clutch”, the best the world has to offer. He’s in a different league of greatness, and for this era, he’s Kobe Bryant.
• The Best Coach in the World - He’s the coach that everybody looks up to. He’s the one who never fails to give the team a dozen of lengthy sermons, normally ending it in a good tone. He’s your coach who doesn’t falter under pressure, never folding in such mind-boggling circumstances. He’s the one who makes stars out of bottom 1st-rounders. He is the Zen Master, and he has 9 rings. He is Phil Jackson.
• The Best Bench in the World - They’re not just the normal “energy guys” off the bench. They’re the guys who can outdo, outplay, out hustle, and outscore your starting five. They’re the firepower of the team. They aren’t afraid to make mistakes, and most of all, they don’t fear you. They’re young but experienced, seasoned by time, and they’re the future of the NBA. They’re Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, Trevor Ariza, and Ronny Turiaf, otherwise known as the “bench mob of the Los Angeles Lakers.”
• The Best Starting Five in the World - They’re tough, and you probably don’t want to mess with them. They’re the guys who play night-in and night-out. They’ll give you great numbers on a consistent basis. They play well together, insomuch that you can’t rest your guard while playing with them. They’re the pride of Los Angeles Lakers : Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Vladimir Radmanovic, Lamar Odom, and Pau Gasol.
• The Best Supporting Cast in the World - They’re the ones who work behind-the-scenes. They are not resting on you until you are done. They are the ones who makes the superstar’s work easier. They are the ones you can expect to play all their hearts out. They are Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Vladimir Radmanovic, Lamar Odom, and the bench mob.
• The Most Versatile team in the World - They show different faces, different attitudes, and different styles. One minute they play you fast, the other minute they play you tough. They boast their offense, defense, and physicality on the floor. They beat you in your own style. They beat the Denver Nuggets through their fast-paced offense. They beat the Utah Jazz through their physicality. And they recently delivered a hard blow to the San Antonio Spurs in their own way : Defense. They are your Los Angeles Lakers.

These criterias were met and exceeded by only one team in the league. The same team that went on a turbulent “a la Hollywood” drama last offseason. The same team that the best player in the league didn’t want to play with. Yes, they are the Los Angeles Lakers, and they’re “The Perfect NBA Team”.

Game 5 of the Lakers-Spurs Western Conference Finals is tonight at 9:00 PM ET and we’ve got our keys for both teams. Every NBA fan right now is talking about the very controversial call in Game 4 , otherwise known as the Brent Barry no call. I’ve explained in my new blog about how the game would’ve went had it not been for the horrible officiating. But I’m not here to talk about that, I’ll leave it up to you guys.

Anyway, we’re up 3-1 against the defending Champs but we should be aware of the fact that these San Antonio Spurs don’t have 4 rings for nothing. They play with heart, and sometimes, they play better when their backs are against the wall. Look for this game to be a close one, unless, LA outplays the Spurs like they did in Game 2.

For the Lakers - They have been in this situation before (versus Suns in 2006), and they know what happens when you take off your guard. Of course, this year’s Lakers are way better than those of ‘06, as the Spurs are better than the Suns. LA should play this game as if they are the one facing elimination and take away that “It’s Over” mentality.

• Keep the perimeter shooters shooting - This has been one of the Spurs’ weakness all series long. Take away Game 3 (probably their finest 3-pt shooting in this year’s playoffs), the Spurs are shooting 26.9% (18-of-67) from behind the 3-point line. They like shooting the threes, but you have to know that’s not their game at all, so take the passing lanes to Duncan away and live with them shooting the three.
• Aggressiveness - Usually when LA plays aggressively, putting pressure on the the opposite team, they often get to a strong start. I also like the fact that they were putting a second defender on Tim Duncan but not committing too much on him. They are presenting him with different defenders and giving him different looks.
• Watch out for Tony Parker - Tony Parker yet to explode in this series as he did versus New Orleans. Gregg Popovich will likely get the ball to the French point guard and give him a chance to be aggressive by either making isolation plays for him or some pocketful pick-and-rolls. LA has done a good job on Tony Parker, but they must prepare for a Game 5 Parker barrage.

For the Spurs - Game 4 hurts, but the truth is, they didn’t deserve to win. Forget everything bad that happened in that game and try to stay focused on the positive things. These are veterans anyway, a little “washing off” will do.

• Contain Kobe - So far the Spurs are not doing a good job on Kobe Bryant, well, except for him going to the foul line only once in Games 3 & 4 combined. The problem is, this year’s MVP has not been talking with the refs about not getting a trip to the charity stripe, but is finding a way to get the points by making his J’s. Unless Pop notices that Kobe is being way too comfortable playing with Bruce Bowen, don’t expect them to win. Try double-teaming Kobe at least once in a while, it doesn’t hurt.
• Rebounding Advantage - Los Angeles has been out-rebounding San Antonio all series long, 173-154 to be exact. Tim Duncan accounts for 46.7% (72 of 154) of SA’s rebounds. San Antonio should capitalize their size advantage considering they have Fabricio Oberto, Tim Duncan, and Kurt Thomas who are all excellent rebounders, both offensively and defensively. Too bad, Kurt Thomas is getting more minutes than he should.
• More from Manu - Kobe Bryant added the Argentinian shooting guard to the list of international players whom he totally locked down (dating back to last summer’s FIBA tournament). I predicted that Manu Ginobili wouldn’t be as good as he was in Game 3, but I didn’t expect him to be as passive as Simon Cowell’s love life is. I just didn’t see an aggressive Manu in Game 4. I hope that he plays more aggressively and with more heart tonight. Well, every Spur should be, because if not, they might see themselves packing everything in their lockers for an early vacation.

That’s it for today. Stay tuned for Game 5 Lakers-Spurs Live Blog tonight!