It would be great to start an argument here about the NBA Team of the Decade, bringing out all that Tim Duncan/Gregg Popovich ammunition (then we could even use one of those Tony/Eva bathing suit pictures), about the wonderful consistency and championship model that was built and sustained in San Antonio.
The Spurs have, after all, won more games than anyone else since 2000. They also have been the picture of class.
Bloggers knee-jerking on the phone + roundtable style = RoundCast.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the World Champions, finishing off the Orlando Magic in five games on Sunday night to put a glorious end to the 2008-09 season.
FanHouse's Matt Moore and old friend Craig Kwasniewski joined me to break down Game 5, as well as look back at how the NBA Finals unfolded. Will Stan Van Gundy ultimately be held responsible, or were the Lakers simply the more talented team this time around?
We also look ahead to next season, as both of these teams face questions about whether some of their key players will return after hitting the free agent market. The season is over but the celebration continues, after the jump.
Will the Lakers have a victory parade? In ordinary times, the question would seem silly. The Lakers are a source of great civic pride, why wouldn't they honor the team after winning their fourth NBA title of the decade?
But in times of economic crisis, it's a legitimate question, especially when the city is already scheduled to begin laying off dozens of city employees.
"We can't afford to cover the costs," city Councilwoman Jan Perry told the Los Angeles Times on Friday. "How could we make a decision about people's jobs and then sponsor the parade?"
Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.
The Los Angeles Lakers won their 15th title in franchise history, so how did their fans celebrate? Many of them went down to Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, and some threw bottles at the LAPD. In this exclusive FanHouse video, we hang out with the fans, at least 25 of whom were arrested, while all of the other media outlets were too scared to get that close to the action.
ORLANDO -- That lucky Phil Jackson did it again. He just sat there on his makeshift throne, smirked and watched his superior players beat up on another sorry team and gift-wrap him another title.
That's what a lot of Boston fans are saying today. For all we know, that's what Red Auerbach is saying.
ORLANDO -- There is much to dislike about Kobe Bean Bryant, from the bursts of conceit that verge on megalomania to the 57-page transcript detailing the sex, lies and disgrace of his one-night stand with a 19-year-old in Colorado. But never, ever deny him this: He is a basketball savant who, in one definitive swoop Sunday evening, quieted those who said: a) he'd never win an NBA title without Shaquille O'Neal, and b) he has been trumped by LeBron James as the sport's most dominant force.
ORLANDO -- Trevor Ariza never wanted to be traded by the Orlando Magic, but it was the best thing that ever happened to him.
He won an NBA Championship. He blossomed as a player. He will become very rich this summer as a free agent.
Life has turned out for the better.
Ariza was part of the celebration inside the locker room of the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday night, soaking up the victory as much or more than anyone. And with good reason.
ORLANDO -- Jameer Nelson was headed into the locker room after the crushing, Game 5 defeat in the NBA Finals, not interested in watching the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate on his home court, not after he felt so helpless to stop them.
Yet teammate Dwight Howard pulled him back out, asked him to watch alongside him, so they could share the pain of defeat, so that maybe they could turn it into incentive this summer.
It's something he'll remember.
"It hurts. It's tough, but Dwight wanted me to be there with him to see it,'' he said. "I don't want this feeling again. Dwight wanted it to soak in. I wish I could have done more.''
Kobe Bryant was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, and being the best player on the team that just won the championship, it's tough to disagree. It was Kobe's first time winning the award, because it went to Shaquille O'Neal the first three times that the Lakers won the title with Bryant on the roster.
Bryant averaged better than 32 points, five rebounds, and seven assists for the series, so again, his numbers validate the fact that he's taking home the award. But this was truly a team effort, and there are others that are arguably just as deserving.
Game 5 was another quiet one for Magic center Dwight Howard. Eleven points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three turnovers in 39-plus minutes in his team's 99-86 elimination game defeat against L.A. on Sunday.
Rather than point their fingers at Howard, there are sure to be plenty who will instead criticize Magic coach Stan Van Gundy. They will argue that Van Gundy didn't do enough to get Howard involved in the offense.
After all, Howard took only nine shots in Game 5, which is the number of shots per game he averaged during the Finals.
Let that sink in for a minute, particularly if Howard is supposed to be the best center in the NBA. Biggest and strongest player on the court and he can only get you nine shots per game?
It would be great to start an argument here about the NBA Team of the Decade, bringing out all that Tim Duncan/Gregg Popovich ammunition (then we could even use one of those Tony/Eva bathing suit pictures), about the wonderful consistency and championship model that was built and sustained in San Antonio.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the World Champions, finishing off the Orlando Magic in five games on Sunday night to put a glorious end to the 2008-09 season.
Will the Lakers have a victory parade? In ordinary times, the question would seem silly. The Lakers are a source of great civic pride, why wouldn't they honor the team after winning their fourth NBA title of the decade? 
The Los Angeles Lakers won their 15th title in franchise history, so how did their fans celebrate? Many of them went down to Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, and some threw bottles at the LAPD. In this exclusive FanHouse video, we hang out with the fans, at least 25 of whom were arrested, while all of the other media outlets were too scared to get that close to the action. 
ORLANDO -- There is much to dislike about Kobe Bean Bryant, from the bursts of conceit that verge on megalomania to the 57-page transcript detailing the sex, lies and disgrace of his one-night stand with a 19-year-old in Colorado. But never, ever deny him this: He is a basketball savant who, in one definitive swoop Sunday evening, quieted those who said: a) he'd never win an NBA title without Shaquille O'Neal, and b) he has been trumped by LeBron James as the sport's most dominant force.
ORLANDO -- Trevor Ariza never wanted to be traded by the Orlando Magic, but it was the best thing that ever happened to him.
ORLANDO -- Jameer Nelson was headed into the locker room after the crushing, Game 5 defeat in the NBA Finals, not interested in watching the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate on his home court, not after he felt so helpless to stop them.
Kobe Bryant was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, and being the best player on the team that just won the championship, it's tough to disagree. It was Kobe's first time winning the award, because it went to Shaquille O'Neal the first three times that the Lakers won the title with Bryant on the roster.
Game 5 was another quiet one for Magic center Dwight Howard. Eleven points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three turnovers in 39-plus minutes in his team's 99-86 elimination game defeat against L.A. on Sunday.
