My Thoughts...
On the team that has been in the news for the last month NONSTOP,
the team that IS NOT MY FAVORITE, yet I watch most of their games
the team that surprised us 4 years ago, then was repetitive a couple of years
then disappointed us last year
this team is... The Chicago Bears

no, just kidding, The Los Angeles Lakers

Here is what I think:
Basically, what I say will disappoint you, but remember, free speech...

News Story I: Gary Payton
- Notoriously known for being an excelllent scorer, passer, defender (nickname: 'the glove'), basically the whole package, he seemed to be the ideal point guard for the struggling Fisher and struggling Los Angeles Lakers. However, I think that his role being shrunk, from the LEADER of his previous young teams (Seattle/Milwaukee) to basically becoming Shaq & Kobe's BITCH, will make him struggle. Think of this: GP has averaged 18.3 points per game over his career, with 7.4 assists per game as well. I think that not being able to get those 18 points anymore, he will also lose his assists and eventually become a ball hogging three point brickster. I also predict that he gets injured during the season, because he obviously can't keep up with the GREAT guards in the West. Oh yeah, it's true. It's true.

News Story II: Karl Malone
- My prediction is that he will put an early 'stamp' on the Lakers, but the "Mailman" (what a dumb nickname, hunh?) will get publicly yelled at by either Kobe or Shaq in the media, causing him to become scared to shoot, and he will eventually hit rock bottom with 5 points a game.

News Story III: Kobe and the Assault Charges
- Here is my opinion on the issue:
Kobe did 'rape' the girl, a person is more likely to lie about their own death than lie about these kind of things (someone once said)
Kobe will rip, tear, tarnish, and cruelly injure the reputation of the young 19 year-old Colorado teen
Kobe will be seen with his family to make it seem like he is a "good guy"
Kobe will come to the Lakers training camp fatigued and will play horribly
Deaven George will admit to raping the girl to save Bryant's a$$
We all know that because Kobe is so well loved BY THE PEOPLE, and because he has millions and millions to spend on excellent lawyers, that he will come out victorious (and yea, that's what disgusts me, Kobe probably thinks of the situation as a game, or challenge)


my LA LAKERS Predictions:
First ten games: 8-2 (3 games w/o Kobe)
After twenty games: 14-6
After thirty games: 22-8 (Payton injury)
After forty games: 31-9 (Kobe declared not-guilty)
After 82 games: 66-16 (Kobe's accuser commits suicide by attempting to guard Shaq)

Playoff preDICTIONS:
They make it to the Western Conference Finals where they lose to the San Antonio Spurs. It'll be 99-97 Lakers with 7 seconds to play when Duncan misses a lay-up. Shaq will wildly smack the ball out to the three point line, where sharp-shooting Robert Henry Horry will knock down the shot to defeat the Lakers and send them home.

Predicted Player Stats

Player	Points (high)	Rebounds	Assists
Shaq	23.8 (48)	10.2	4.4
Kobe	22.2 (63)	3.9	1.7
Malone	16.4 (36)	7.3	3.0
Payton	7.2 (31)	2.6	7.7
George	7.1 (22)	3.8	4.4
Bench	24.1	6.6	6.9