The Diesel is on Empty

So Suns fans, how's that Shaq trade working out for you?

In the past two games, you've averaged 85.5 points. You scored 85 against the Celtics, and 86 against the Pistons in a blowout loss. Maybe you'll get to 87 one of these days. The rest of the season you've scored less than 87 just twice, and one of those games, when you had 86 in a loss to Utah, Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, and Grant Hill didn't play.

Still think Shaq isn't slowing you down?

He had 7 points, 11 rebounds, was 1-8 from the free throw line, had 1 assist, and 3 turnovers against Detroit.

"I'm very upset," said O'Neal upon joining the Suns. "You just don't really want to get me upset. When I'm upset, I'm known to do certain things - like win championships."

I guess he wasn't too upset Sunday afternoon.

Despite having Shaq, the Suns are still soft defensively. They gave up 130 to the Lakers and 116 to the Pistons, who shot 52 percent. They could use a good defensive assistant. How about Kevin O'Neill? I hear he might be available next season.

The only thing that made the Pistons/Suns game worth watching was the announcing. Wow, I haven't said that in a long time about any announcing team save for games on TNT.

Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson make the best analyst tandem since Bill Walton and Steve Snapper Jones. They combined knowledge and insight with comedy.

Plus, I'm with Jeff Van Gundy. McLovin for best actor in Superbad.

"When they were looking at McLovin's license and he was explaining how he could be 25 years old and from Hawaii, that was acting at it's best," Van Gundy said.

I watched some of the OScars last night during commercials of the Lakers/Sonics game and I am confused to report to you that I did not watch any of the movies that won anything. Seems like that is always the case. I never even heard of half the movies. Apparently they don't advertise good movies these days.

Lakers in first place, will it last? The last time the Lakers were in first place, it lasted all of two days.
Now, on an 8 game winning streak and with two games against Portland (probably without Brandon Roy who suffered an ankle injury Sunday) enveloping a game against Miami, the Lakers hope to have an extended stay at the top of the West.

Like my buddy Hoosh said Sunday night, the Lakers are blowing out teams they should beat. The Sonics stood no chance. Kobe even gave himself the gate by arguing calls late in the third quarter. He knew he wasn't going to play in the fourth quarter anyway with the Lakers up by so much, so he thought he'd prove a point. He complained to the media after the game, but Kobe gets all the calls and this game was no different. There was certainly not enough bad officiating for Kobe to react the way he did. But with the Lakers taking care of business, he had the luxury to do whatever he wanted. He wanted to send a message to Brian Forte and he did because he could. Had the game been close, there's no way Kobe does that.

Dodgers top pitching prospect looking good in spring training: Clayton Kershaw, a 19 year old southpaw throws a ball, "that jumps out of his hand," according to manager Joe Torre.

Chase responds: Chase Budinger apparently had a heated exchange with Kevin O'Neill prior to Saturday's game against Washington State, and the sophomore responded with a 22 point effort in an upset win.

Biggest news from the NFL combine:
"Florida State receiver De'Cody Fagg was the combine's biggest loser today, suffering an apparently serious knee injury while running routes."

That statement isn't quite true though.
Actually, his last name was named the bigger loser.

As always, an updated Lakers +/- (through 56 games) Lakers: 39-17 1st in West

Fisher +263
Kobe +454
Turiaf +59
Odom +298
Gasol +151
Mihm -16
Walton +160
Bynum +236
Farmar +153
Radmanovic +225
Brown -44
Vujacic +74
Crittenton -40
Karl -3
Ariza +5
Mbenga +1

Up next: vs. Portland Tuesday 7:30 p.m. PST FSN