Who knew? According to two seperate reports, NBA Hall of Famer and five time champ Dennis Rodman likes to drink until the following morning, and still enjoys playing basketball.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: DUH.

Scottie Pippen celebrates his 15 year wedding anniversary. 

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Best NBA Husband EVER!! 

Can you believe it’s been 20 years since the original Dream Team dominated the 1992 Summer Olympics? It must've been that long if Kobe thinks this year's incarnation would have ANY SHOT against them.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: There will never be another Dream Team, in any sport.

Thanks to comments by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, we've heard a lot of comparisions between the 2012 USA Olympic basketball team and the 1992 "Dream Team" that featured 11 hall of fame players. But how does the 2012 version stack up against versions II and III? 

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: The two following incarnations of the "Dream Team" were also stacked, but everyone seems to forget about them.

President Obama relaxes on Election Tuesday shooting hoops with Scottie Pippen.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Now that's cool under pressure.

17 years ago today, the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls suffered their second loss in the season's first 12 games, before eventually winning an NBA record 72 games.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: They would go on to win 13 in a row and an amazing 31 of 32.

On November 26th 1995, the Bulls lost 97-92 to their eventual opponent in that year's NBA Finals, the Seattle Supersonics, in Seattle's Key Arena. The loss ran the Bulls mark to 10-2 after 12 games and put them on pace to lose a total of 14 games. It was a great start, one of the best to that point in NBA history, but surpassing the 1971-72 Lakers all-time best 69-13 record seemed improbable.

The Bulls finished the month of November with a 12-2 record but improved in each of the next two months, going 13-1 in December and 14-0 in January, running their record to 39-3 after three months. In February, the Bulls ran their record to 41-3 and became the fastest NBA team to 41 wins, again besting the '71-72 Lakers previous record.

In February, March and April the Bulls stayed just as hot going 11-3, 12-2 and 10-2 respectively, before ending the season with a combined 72-10 record.

Against Seattle on this day, the Bulls were without Dennis Rodman, while Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen combined to go just 13 of 35 from the floor and scored 40 points. By comparison, Gary "The Glove" Payton and Shawn "Reign Man" Kemp went 20 of 29 from the field for a total of 51 points as Seattle out-shot the Bulls .602% to .453%. Even with the loss, the Bulls would set an NBA record that season for road wins going 33-8.

After the incredible regular season, the Bulls didn't cool off, going 15-3 in the playoffs for a combined total record of 87-13. The Supersonics won three of those 13 games, while the Indiana Pacers were the only other team to beat them more than once that season winning two games in the regular season by a total of five points.

Prior to the start of the current NBA season, Metta World Peace proclaimed that this season the Lakers would beat the Bulls single season win record by going 73-9. Currently the Lakers are sporting a 7-7 record. To put that into perspective, the Bulls didn't lose their seventh game until March 10th; isn't that insane?

The 1995-96 NBA season was a great one for the Bulls, but also for the Supersonics; they just picked the wrong year to be good.

The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls were arguably the best team in NBA history, led by arguably the greatest player in NBA history.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: The accomplishments of the 1995-96 Bulls only get more amazing as time passes.

17 years ago tonight, the Bulls defeated the Bullets 103-93 to finish the season with a 72-10 record and .878 winning percentage, which eclipsed the NBA record set by 1972 Lakers, who went 69-13 for an .841 percentage. The victory over Washington earned Chicago their 33rd road victory, the most ever in a season by an NBA team.

Chicago was ridiculously hot all year and consistent throughout. The Bulls finished the month of November with a 12-2 record but improved in each of the next two months, going 13-1 in December and 14-0 in January, running their record to 39-3 after three months. In February, the Bulls ran their record to 41-3 and became the fastest NBA team to 41 wins, again besting the '71-72 Lakers previous record.

After the incredible regular season, CHI didn't cool off, going 15-3 in the playoffs for a combined total record of 87-13. The Supersonics won three of those 13 games, while the Indiana Pacers were the only other team to beat them more than once that season, winning two games in the regular season by a total of five points.

During the same victory over Washington 17 years ago, Michael Jordan set an NBA record by winning his eighth NBA scoring title (breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s record of seven) after accumulating 2,491 points in 82 games for a 30.4 ppg average. The 30+ ppg average was the last time Jordan would score 30+ points per game. And of the eight seasons he did score 30+, 30.4 was the second lowest- how many guys would KILL for a season like that? 

Another interesting piece of statistical information for you about MJ. Entering '95-'96, Jordan had made 303 of 987 attempts from beyond the arc in 10 seasons, hitting them .306% of the time.

In his 11th season, MJ hit 111 of 260, hitting treys at a clip of .427%, tied with Hubert Davis for 10th best percentage in the league.

It goes to show you why Jordan was great- even though he was the best ever, even already at that point, he worked on his weak areas until they were strengths.

With that kind of leadership and talent, it's no wonder why that Bulls had the success they did.

When players claim that they’re pondering about retirement, usually that means that they are quitting the game. Once the word “retirement” enters their mind, they will choose that option. It’s the end. The only way to get out of that thought is youth. The youth will usually say that when they cannot handle defeat well. That’s it. However, after these disrespecting moments, these guys should have quit shortly thereafter. This stuff is embarrassing and makes grown men cry.

Hey. Who is tired of this? People want us to feel sorry for a guy who is making $90+ million, Nike cash, and other endorsement money? Say what? Why do they have to resort writing pieces basically implying “Hey he is not that bad.” Wow. Now people are defending him – the same people who were bashing him prior to the 2010-2011 season.  It’s too bad. So we’re just going to sweep the one hour Decision extravaganza complete with jersey photo shops under the rug?

I hate people who hate on Scottie Pippen. The douche bags who believe that they are the alpha males will view the “Scottie Pippen” tag as the kiss of death. His name has become English’s replacement of “sidekick,” “Robin,” and “assistant.” Try to look up the words and you’ll see Pippen’s face. That kind of legacy is kick ass. Ask Patrick Ewing if being Pippen is bad. He’ll probably dunk and stand over you.

"They will break the single-season win record [of 72],'' Jeff Van Gundy said. "And I think they have a legit shot at the Lakers' 33-game [winning] streak [in 1971-72], as well. And only the Lakers have even a remote shot at beating them in a playoff series. They will never lose two games in a row this year.” A long time friend brought to my attention regarding this comment about Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat. I’ve caught this awhile back and needed time to ponder about such a notion. You guys do realize that in order to break the record, the team can only lose nine games, right? Count that again – 9 games. Seriously.

America is awesome. We get to blow up illegal fireworks to celebrate the freedom of life and independence of this great country and get paid handsomely for playing a game. NFL football is where it’s at! F#$K yeah! What’s this World Cup stuff? Excuse me. I meant NBA basketball is the awesomeness. You do not have to be on Kobe – Wade – LeBron tier to get a max deal. Sweet.

Kobe stands up and goes face-to-face with me and says, “You always said you’re my big brother, you’d do anything for me, and then this Colorado thing happens and you never even called me.” I did call him. … So here we are now, and we find out he really was hurt that we didn’t stand behind him. That was something new. I didn’t think he gave a rat’s ass about us either way. “Well, I thought you’d publicly support me, at least,” Kobe said. “You’re supposed to be my friend.”

Brian Shaw chimed in with “Kobe, why would you think that? Shaq had all these parties and you never showed up for any of them. We invited you to dinner on the road and you didn’t come. Shaq invited you to his wedding and you weren’t there. Then you got married and didn’t invite any of us. And now you are in the middle of this problem, this sensitive situation, and now you want all of us to step up for you. We don’t even know you.” …

Everyone was starting to calm down when I told Kobe, “If you ever say anything like what you said to Jim Gray ever again, I will kill you.”

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The shocking part is that their World Wars didn’t erupt sooner and destroy the Los Angeles Lakers.

Pundits often debate how many championships Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal could’ve won if they worked together and pushed their egos to the side.

The argument is that Bryant and O’Neal, while capturing three consecutive Larry O’Brien trophies, should‘ve been far more successful.

They should've been Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen (six championships). Or, they should've been Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson (five championships).

Instead they have just three. I, however, have a different view: it‘s a miracle they won anything.

Sure, they were talented. At the time, O’Neal was as dominating a player to ever suit up in the NBA, while Bryant was coming into his own as a superstar. 

The excerpts from O’Neal’s upcoming book show just how dysfunctional those Lakers were, especially the highly toxic dynamic between Shaq and Kobe.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Wells, who spent some time in China before last playing professionally in Puerto Rico, was one of a few reclamation projects the Knicks had at the MSG Training Center late last week for a minicamp to get a look at some possible training camp invitees. With little to no money to spend this offseason (depending on the system in the next collective bargaining agreement), the Knicks have to be creative in finding talent to upgrade the roster.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Are the New York Knicks so desperate they’re considering a player who has been out of the NBA for three years? Or, are the Knicks being thorough by looking at a talented but troubled swing?

The player is Bonzi Wells. He had a cup of coffee with the Detroit Pistons; spent his formative years with the Jail Blazers; got suspended and banned from the arena by the Memphis Grizzlies; turned down $35 million from the Sacramento Kings; then somehow ended up plying his trade in China 

Along the way, Wells, fair or not, earned a reputation for being a bad seed. His off-the-court issues and fluctuating weight overshadowed his considerable skill and scoring ability.

Of course, Wells could play.

Former teammate Scottie Pippen once compared his ability to score, especially on the low block, to former star Mark Aguirre.

Word is Wells can still play. Even if he’s in his mid thirties. The former Ball State star has been scrimmaging and doing a little coaching on the side.

Perhaps Wells could help. Perhaps not. But the Knicks have nothing to lose and everything to gain with a workout.

--Oly Sandor.

Agree or disagree? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Scottie Pippen, what have you done?

The greatest wing-man in NBA history has started drama with his ‘LeBron may be the greatest player' ever comment.

This, of course, is great for the media. Today, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the greatest total scorer in NBA history, wrote an open letter taking issue with Pippen's comments.

While this isn’t a caps-locked tirade ala Dan Gilbert post The Decision, Kareem’s open-letter reminds Pippen to consider what he says before saying it and to pay greater (there's that word again) homage to the league's elders.

Mr. Skyhook also has a not-so subtle reminder for Pippen at the end of the letter. Gee, think Kareem feels his great career has been underappreciated?

Read Kareem's letter and tell us if you agree or disagree in the comment box below.

Dear Scottie,

I have nothing but respect for you my friend as an athlete and knowledgeable basketball mind. But you are way off in your assessment of who is the greatest player of all time and the greatest scorer of all time. Your comments are off because of your limited perspective. You obviously never saw Wilt Chamberlain play who undoubtedly was the greatest scorer this game has ever known. When did MJ ever average 50.4 points per game plus 25.7 rebounds? (Wilt in the 1962 season when blocked shot statistics were not kept). We will never accurately know how many shots Wilt blocked. Oh, by the way in 1967 and 68, Wilt was a league leader in assists. Did MJ ever score 100 points in a game? How many times did MJ score more than 60 points in a game? MJ led the league in scoring in consecutive seasons for 10 years but he did this in an NBA that eventually expanded into 30 teams vs. when Wilt played and there were only 8 teams.

Every team had the opportunity to amass a solid nucleus. Only the cream of the basketball world got to play then. So MJ has to be appraised in perspective. His incredible athletic ability, charisma and leadership on the court helped to make basketball popular around the world -- no question about that. But in terms of greatness, MJ has to take a backseat to The Stilt.

In terms of winning, Michael excelled as both an emotional and scoring leader but Bill Russell’s Celtics won eight consecutive NBA Championships. Bill's rebounding average per game is over 22.5 lifetime, MJs best rebounding years was eight per game (1989). But we will never know exactly how many shots Bill Russell blocked because again, they never kept that statistic while he played. However, if you ask anybody that played against Russell, they will just roll their eyes and say he blocked all the shots he wanted to block in the crucial moments of a game.

Bill played on a total of 11 championship teams and as you very well know, Scottie, the ring is the thing, and everything else is just statistics. So I would advise you to do a little homework before crowning Michael or LeBron with the title of best ever. As dominant as he is, LeBron has yet to win a championship. I must say that it looks like Miami has finally put the team together that will change that circumstance. Its my hope that today’s players get a better perspective on exactly what has been done in this league in the days of yore.

Affectionately,
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,
NBA’s All-Time Leading Scorer

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

"You can't have two of your top high-paid players sitting on the bench in the fourth quarter," Pippen said. "And that isn't just last night's game. We have seen this the whole season. So for us to think the Bulls are going to go farther when your high-priced players are not going to carry you and finish games for you ... you're not talking about a championship team.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: One day after comparing LeBron James to Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen went at Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah.

The Hall of Fame three-man blamed this duo for the Bulls loss to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, saying that no team wins a championship with their second and third best players on the bench during the fourth quarter.

Pippen is right. However, Noah is still young and gets a partial mulligan on his uneven play.

The real issue is Boozer. Last summer, he signed a $75 million extension to be Derrick Rose’s running mate. The four-man was expected to be a second-in-command, a co-capo if you will.

Boozer has been a disappointment. Sure, he was injured for much of the season, but the real problem is that the Bulls offense revolves around Rose.

And for the Bulls to get past Miami in 2012, they need more from Boozer. Or they’ll have to find a new second star.

Scottie Pippen suggested, on ESPN Radio’s Mike And Mike In the Morning, that LeBron James, and not his former teammate, Michael Jordan, could end up being the greatest all-around player the league has ever seen.

“Michael Jordan is probably the greatest scorer to ever play in the game, but I may go as far to say LeBron James is probably the greatest player to ever play the game,” Pippen said.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Take a deep breath. Now exhale. Repeat.

While you’re meditating please remember Scottie Pippen didn’t totally go there. He didn’t say LeBron James was better than Michael Jordan.

Pippen sure came close, though.

He said James may be a greater all-around player because of athleticism and size. And he said James can a dominate game in more ways than Jordan.

Purists will be offended. After all, Jordan has six championship rings. James has none. Jordan transcended basketball. James gave basketball a bad name with The Decision.

Still, Pippen, in theory, may have a point. James’ rare combination of size, speed, skill, and power gives him a unique advantage over any player to ever grace an NBA floor.   

When it’s all said and done, James may eventually be in the same sentence as Jordan. Not now, though.

Here’s the reality: James lacks Jordan’s will and competitiveness. Remember, Jordan overcame the Detroit Pistons’ harsh tactics; upset Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals; handled Clyde the Glyde and Rip City; twice withstood the best John Stockton and Karl Malone, two Hall of Famers, could offer; and defeated Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, and the Seattle Sonics.

James has done nothing of the sort. Yet.

Let’s be fair: Jordan had help. It’s interesting his ‘help’ (Pippen) is so quick to deflect praise away from his former teammate and supposed friend towards others.

Maybe Pippen’s statement says more about the rivalry between him and Jordan, and less about James’ place in the game.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Former Detroit Pistons Dennis Rodman has been elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The official announcement will be made Monday at the Final Four in Houston.

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I hate to see two great, great players -- in my mind, two of the top three in the league with he and Wade -- join up. I like seeing them go against each other. We're not going to see the greatness of each player on a nightly basis like we're accustomed to seeing. That's disappointing. But I can't blame LeBron because you're ultimately judged by the number of NBA rings on your finger, and that team is going to be one of the favorites.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade’s stature won’t decrease because they’re together with the Miami Heat.

If anything, it’s the opposite. Their greatness will increase.

Instead of being a one-man show, instead of making-do with sub-par co-stars, instead of bowing out prematurely in the playoffs year-after-year, James and Wade will play relevant basketball in May and June.

Great players need each other. And great players should bring out the best in each other.

Consider the past. Magic Johnson had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Larry Bird had Dennis Johnson, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish. Isiah Thomas had Joe Dumars. Or vice-versa. And Tim Duncan had David Robinson.

There’s a misconception a great player is only great if he’s leading ‘His Team’. One superstar is the general with eleven other players following.

What a crock.

Even the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan, had considerable help. During their championship run, Scottie Pippen was arguably the second best player in the NBA.

Pippen is a top fifty player of all-time. He’s in the Hall of Fame. He could pass, score, rebound, and finish in the open-court. His athleticism and ability to defend all five positions made him invaluable.

Expect James and Wade to excel together. They’re friends. They engineered this situation. And they’ll bring out the greatness in each other.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below. 

"I'm not changing anything," McGrady said at his introductory news conference on Aug. 16. "I'm only 31 years old. I'm not 44 or 41. ... I might not be dunking on anybody like I used to, but I'm going to put the ball in the hole. Who was that, (Mehmet) Okur, I dunked on in '03? I might not be doing stuff like that ... but I still can put it in the hole."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: I appreciate his confidence.

After being written off by fans, journalists, and franchises, Tracy McGrady has an axe to grind. He’s desperate to prove he’s T-Mac, the high-flying scorer of years past.

And this could present problems. At times, McGrady can still embarrass opposing defenses and fill up the hoop. To salvage his career he must change. He must do other things.

For instance, in Toronto, McGrady was a stat-stuffer. His length, athleticism, and desire allowed him to block shots, rebound, and post multiple steals per game. He was also a decent passer.

Today, McGrady is much older and less athletic. While he can’t be that Scottie Pippen type of player, he must do more than score. He must try to be a well-rounded player.

If he just worries about scoring, he’ll post numbers on a bad Detroit team, but no contender will sign him next summer when he hits free agency.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

``If Lebron is taking mental notes of everyone who is taking shots at him this summer, put me on top of your list!  I thought the one hour decision was a punk move.   I thought the dance in Miami was a punk move and I was very disappointed that he left Cleveland to join D.Wade's team."  (quote from Mike Greenberg`s ESPN morning show)

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Charles Barkley, how do you really feel?

The TNT broadcaster and Hall of Fame power forward has been rather outspoken in his criticism of LeBron James. Barkley didn’t like that James left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat. He also didn’t like how he left.

The Round Mound of Rebound’s latest comments came in response to James tweeting that he’s taking ‘mental notes’ on all his enemies, and wants revenge.

Two points are worth noting.

First, Barkley, a former regular season MVP, is wrong to knock James for joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South beach.

James is at his best when facilitating instead of averaging 30 points per night. He’s more Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen, and Oscar Robertson than, say, Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan. As a facilitator, he needs great players like Wade and Bosh.

At least, James will sacrifice to win. Years ago, a certain four-man’s ego forced Pippen off Hakeem Olajuwon’s Houston squad, and compromised the Rockets’ chances of winning another NBA Title.

Sound familiar Chuck?

That said, there’s no excuse for how James left Cleveland. There’s no justification for him treating the folks who raised, loved, and supported him so badly.

Second, this again proves that The Decision created The Backlash. The ‘heat’ James is taking is self-induced. His tweet about ‘taking mental notes’ forced Barkley to comment.

Just like The Decision - his hour long ESPN special where he broke up with Cleveland for Miami - prompted the state of Ohio to burn his jerseys, while the rest of America named him public enemy number one.

If The Decision doesn’t happen, The Backlash doesn’t happen.

Perhaps James should take his mental notes silently. Perhaps Barkley should just be silent. Unfortunately, there’s zero chance of either happening.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

Michael Jordan will present Scottie Pippen for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday.

Each inductee is presented by a current Hall of Famer.

"I can't think of a better person to do it," Pippen said.

"Michael is someone I shared my career with, accomplishing most of what I have accomplished thus far. He was a great teammate, teacher and admirer. I'm excited to have an opportunity to be the first person that he has presented into the Hall of Fame. I figure if anyone deserves to be on the stage with me, it's him."

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Ah Scottie, do you really want Michael Jordan presenting you for induction?

On the one hand, Pippen's decision is perfect. He and Jordan were the NBA's greatest all-time duo. They were Batman and Robin, Riggs and Murtaugh, and Andre 3000 and Big Boi.

Together, they won six NBA championships in eight years with the Chicago Bulls. They set the single-season win mark with 72. And they were tremendous on both ends of the floor.

On the other hand, Jordan's previous appearance at the HOF offended some. For the record, I had no issue with MJ's controversial acceptance speech.

Sure, he took shots at foes like Isiah Thomas and his grade ten coach. However, that was Jordan. Always competing; never letting go of past slights.

Of course, it's Pippen's night. He can pick whoever he likes to present him. Let's hope Jordan remembers this, too.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Michael Jordan talked about the decision made by LeBron James to sign with the Heat, joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

"There's no way, with hindsight, I would've ever called up Larry (Bird), called up Magic (Johnson) and said, 'Hey, look, let's get together and play on one team,'" Jordan said on Sunday. "But that's ... things are different. I can't say that's a bad thing. It's an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys."

"I don't want to be mentioned as an addition to a team," Bosh said prior to the season. "I want to be mentioned as the guy that people want to center their team around."

The Lakers have the best player, but Boston's depth of big-time playmakers will prevail in a game like this. I count eight Celtics -- the four current or former All-Stars in their starting lineup, plus Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis, Nate Robinson’s and little-used Michael Finley, a three-point shooter with the potential to become this game's Steve Kerr -- who have it in them to make the big shot. The absence of Kendrick Perkins may create more offense for the Celtics, and they'll make up for his rebounding with a team effort led by Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. Anticipate nothing less than a tightly wound classic played to a tempo that suits Boston.

Click here for Ian Thomsen's official game seven prediction and more analysis from the CNNSI crew.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: The Boston Celtics are deserving of respect.

Consider their road to the NBA Finals. First, they took out Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat -despite some questionable tactics from Kevin Garnett. They made the Cleveland Cavaliers – the NBA’s best team in the regular season – implode, which, unfortunately, gave us an extra month of The LeBron Watch. They then coolly took out the Orlando Magic, the reigning Eastern Conference champions, in six games.

This was a most improbable run for a club that was supposedly dead, gone, and over at mid-season. Clearly, they saved their best for last, though.

The green-and-white have now pushed the defending champion and heavily favoured Lakers to the limit. The secret to Boston’s success: inspired team play on the defensive end.

Look at the NBA Finals: they’ve mostly contained Ron Artest and Lamar Odom; they’ve battled superstar Pau Gasol; and they’ve made the immortal Kobe Bryant look surprisingly mortal.

Doc Rivers’ crew is an all-time great defensive team. They can hang with any of Phil Jackson’s Chicago teams that had notable defenders like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Horace Grant/Dennis Rodman. And they hold their own against Detroit’s Bad Boys and any of Pat Riley’s squads in Los Angeles or New York.

Offensively, somebody different carries the load each night. For instance, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo have all had moments.

Of course, reserves Glen Davis and Nate Robinson – also known as Shrek and Donkey - won game four of the NBA Finals. And the defending Sprite Slam Dunk Champion went off in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals, too.

That said, the Lakers have the edge in the decisive game-seven. Here’s why:

1) Home-court matters: The purple-and-gold is a different team at home. They’re confident. They’re nasty. And they’re arrogant.     

2) No Perk’: The Celtics will miss Kendrick Perkins. They lack the size to win the paint, and contain Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

3) Kobe Bryant: He’s the best player on either team. He’s the best player in the NBA. And he understands tonight is a legacy game.

Bryant – if he wants to be considered an all-time great – can’t afford a loss. After all, five championships are far better than four. And two losses to the arch rival Celtics in the NBA Finals would be devastating.

Expect Bryant to drop a Jordan-like effort. And HoopsVibe News expects the Lakers to win.

Prediction for game-seven of the 2010 NBA Finals: Lakers 95, Boston 88.

Got thoughts? What is your prediction for game-seven of the NBA Finals?