After watching the second game of TNT's opener (had b-ball practice during the 1st game), 7 thoughts about those two teams come to mind:

1) The Lakers will scare very few people this year. The feeling around that team was \"Kobe\" and \"us.\" There was not that jubilant, beginning of the year hand slapping, smiling, etc. between the players. They don't like Kobe. Something has got to give there.

2) Luke Walton looked like Andrei Kirelinko...3 years ago. He looked good.

3) Kwame Brown is still in the league...that is all. Say hi to Kandi a$$ when you see him in the bust hall of fame.

4) F*** Mike James. Rocket fans are in for a surprise when he doesn't play like he did last night very often. I hope he does though. I'm bitter about his play here, but he is a genuinely nice guy. Hope he beats out Stevie Franchise.

5) Yao Ming is still very tall and T-Mac is still very lazy eye-ish. THat is one of the best tandems in the league. If they stay healthy they are a sleeper with these two.

6) Battier - sucks most of the game (decent D tho). Comes through in the clutch. What a dweeb. Way to show Hassell how he was supposed to play for us.

7) Rafer Alston sucked. 8 assists though. They seemed to be \"right place, right time\" sort of assists.

The Daddy is ready for Houston to elevate and knock on the door of Texas and enter the powerhouse club.....sigh

At least we have Randy Wittman.

I watched the game last night too.

I agree with pretty much all your points.

I've been high on Houston all off-season. I had them in my \"Top 5\" power rankings going into the season. I think they are gonna be awesome with their additions and Adelman at the helm. Good for them, I like TMac and YAO. I hope they go far.

The Lakers suck. They might not even make the playoffs. My bet is Kobe is traded before the deadline this season. They have no chemistry. I'd hate playing with Kobe too. And Kwame Brown... starts? Wow. Seriously?

Bynum and Mihm are much better than Kwame. He has the ability, he just is dumb as a box of Kandimans.

And where is Chris Childs when you need him? I'd pay him any realistic sum of money to give Kobe a swift chop in the throat. Not only would I get to see him cry again, but he could no longer whine to the refs with his throat taken out by the Kobe Puncher aka Childs.