It seems that I cannot really say anymore on this until the 2-0 lead has eventuated.. So I will agree to disagree for now. However, when the 2-0 DOES become a reality, I will be in full flight. You’re on notice.

I decided to find something else to keep me occupied while I waited for the Lakers to happen. So what did I do? I took a peek into my 75+ VCR tape stash to find something fun to write about. After inserting the first of the un-labelled tapes, I was disappointed to see that I’d recorded the movie “The Wash”. Dr Dre is a genius and all, but my God that was an average film.

My eyes then spotted an old Video Store copy of “Big Momma’s House” starring Martin Lawrence. The anti-dubbing slot had been covered with adhesive tape. What would I have been so desperate to tape that I would declare myself so open to a video store fine? Well, it was a Minnesota @ Cleveland game from what looked like about 2004. I saw KG hit a turn around jump shot over LeBron, smiled to myself and mentally noted the fun it will be to watch that at a later date.

Finally, I decided that three is a charm and inserted my final choice. I press PLAY and am wonderfully excited to find the 1998 ECF Game 7 between Indiana and Chicago. “I don’t guarantee anything, not even to my wife… but we’re going to win this game” says MJ…

Ah MJ.. good to have you back. Where’s the keys to my Delorian? *sigh*

With the starting lineups being displayed, I quickly had super terrific double joy as I realised that this was the series where Scottie Pippen tore Mark Jackson a new church seat and that I could just yell “Momma there goes that MAN!” on every play. Some things, (not many) are better than Basketball. This is one of those things.

I was also quickly reminded of how many ridiculous fouls Luc Longley had called on him towards the end of his Bulls career. The NBA was lucky Luc didn’t have a Ron Artest-like devil on his left shoulder or Auburn Hills in 2004 would’ve looked like Ron Burgundy and Veronica Corningstone’s “pleasure town”. The big Aussie just stood there with his arms straight up and was somehow at fault! It happened against Shawn Kemp in the ‘96 Finals too. Kemp had about 12-15 free throws in that series that were completely unwarranted. Oh, the memories…

Quarter time: Pacers lead 27-19. I now open a beer, (knowing the Bulls win) and decide to take a new look at this game… I want to see in this Bulls team, where I want the improvement in the 2009 Lakers to come from. So now, the new mission begins…

Firstly, I’m not comparing Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant. Let’s just get that out the way from the start. I never have and never will. Different players, different time, blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda… But, one thing is certain, the architecture of the teams is the same. So there will be similarities and I should be able to solve the Lakers Playoff woes in the next two hours. By the way, that beer was my first and only.

Kukoc wanders around the court like the robot guy from the Chappelle Show. I cannot put into words how lost he looks in all aspects of the game so far other than when he shoots the ball. Even Scottie high fives “at” him when they.. Err.. rejoice. Toni even has the audacity to complain for fouls on nearly every shot attempt inside the arc. You just don’t command any respect from the referees when you argue on EVERY call. Here’s my first point;

Pau and Odom especially need to “man up” and play tougher. No more whining on every inside play. No more yelling on EVERY shot attempt from inside the paint. This must stop immediately unless they dunk on someone with the foul.

Steve Kerr hits a big three and then plays hard on defense to secure a steal for the Bulls. It’s physical defense and doesn’t allow any easy post entry passes. In the space of 3 minutes, Kerr has not only secured two contested defensive boards, but he has hit one open three and importantly been open for two others. After approximately six minutes of game time under his belt, Kerr has now got eight points on 2 for 2 from the arc. Second point;

This is where the Vujacic’s, the Brown’s and most importantly the Fisher’s can flourish. We always say defense creates offense but this is just poetry in motion. Momentum is arguably the most important weapon in a team’s arsenal, and especially for the Lakers at Staples Center. If the currently anemic Laker guards commit themselves to tough physical defense and hustle, everyone who’s ever followed this sport will know what comes next. Open looks, big shots and crowd frenzies/silences depending on the location of the game.

Interesting point: Travis Best is just killing the Bulls off the dribble. Phil hasn’t made a change and Kerr is now hoping for help defense like freshman nerd in a school cafeteria.

Half time: Bulls lead 48-45. Why the turnaround? Hustle. I’ve just seen offensive put-backs, offensive tips, kicked ball violations and no complaining to the refs. Jordan waits until the half-time buzzer sounds to give referee Hugh Evans a spray but he makes his heated point and moves on. Good leadership.

The third quarter is just a great advertisment for hustle, strong rebounding and just great screening and shooting. Kukoc has nailed 14 points in the third and has complained for a foul on all but two made shots. Reggie Miller and Rik Smits have more chemistry on baseline screens than Arnold Jackson and Mr Drummond. Just a great quarter of Basketball. Jordan has picked up 4 defensive boards in this quarter including two contested against Dale Davis. Wow.

Miller and Smits had great chemistry. A car would've come in handy to run down Michael Jordan though.

Three quarter time: Bulls lead 69-65

The real players stand up in the 4th. It’s as simple as that. The Pacers start out strong and Michael is cooking an 0 for 8 field goal stew. The drought is ended with a driving dunk on Rik Smits. I guess the world does move to the beat of just one drum. Mike’s drum. Mike has shot 9 of 24 from the field and 8 for 11 from the line for his 26 points. These are the same Kobe numbers that people ridicule Bryant for. Funny how that happens, although it’s the intangibles that sets Mike apart here. The rebounding, the intensity, the drive and dish, the unwavering demonstration of excellence. Kerr takes a charge on Travis Best. Is Phil Jackson a motivational genius here? Or just lucky?

The game is won in the final two minutes, and whose fingerprints are all over the win? Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, and some guys named rebounding, defensive pressure and aggresive drives to the basket. The Bulls finish with 22 offensive rebounds to Indiana’s 7. It all comes down to hustle, determination and the belief that beating your opponent isn’t necessarily about scoring more than your opposition.. it’s about stopping your opponent from scoring more than you.

Memo to the Lakers, watch this game. It is exactly what you have to do to win the 2009 NBA Championship. And not for one game… but for 8 of them.

There’s the challenge… I love the Playoffs.