Free-agent guard Eddie House signed this summer to join the Miami Heat and their three big stars: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

House, 32, knows something about playing with a Big 3, because he won a title playing for the 2007-08 Boston Celtics in their first season with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The Celtics beat the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals in six games.

"I compare [this Heat team] to the year I went to Boston when the Big 3 got together," House told the Arizona Republic. "But this is going to be even bigger. This is going to be Boston on steroids."

This will be House's 11th NBA season and he's played for nine different teams. Despite jumping around, he's made a living off his three-pointers, shooting 39% for his career.

But that title year with the Celtics was memorable. "In Boston, everybody was after us.... We were playing hard-fought games every night. This is going to be even crazier. We're anointed champs [in Miami] from the beginning, and we're not the champions."

House didn't play in the 2010 Lakers-Celtics finals because Boston traded him in February to the Knicks as part of a deal for Nate Robinson. "That stung a little bit," House said, "to get ... sent to a team that has no shot.... That kind of hurt."

-- Barry Stavro

Photo: Eddie House celebrates the Celtics' NBA title after beating the Lakers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals in June, 2008. Credit: Los Angeles Times / Wally Skalij.

The U.S. easily defeated Greece, 87-59, in Athens on Wednesday in the team's last tuneup before the FIBA World Championship starts on Saturday in Turkey.

Lamar Odom, the only Laker on the USA squad, started and was active enough on the defensive end of the floor. In 18 minutes he got four steals and three boards. But on offensive Odom basically vanished; he didn't score and took only one shot.

Clippers guard Eric Gordon, who came off the bench, led the U.S. with 18 points.

The U.S. opens against Croatia on Saturday.

After the game, the USA team released a Q&A with Odom on how the squad looks heading into the start of the tournament:

Question: Are you using the “B Team” talk as motivation?

Odom: Always. We love to compete. We’re professionals. One of the best things about playing sports is being competitive. When someone says you can’t, it makes you more motivated.

Q: Do you think you can get better?

Odom: You can always get better individually and as a team. As a basketball player, basketball is a complete game, whether you’re shooting, passing, ball handling, free throws, shooting, you can always get better. You can get better as a team as well. What we want to do is be the best team in this upcoming tournament.

Q: Have you gotten better as a team?

Odom: Just the exhibition games made us better. This is a great way to practice, especially against someone else. We’re really pushing each other and we’re looking forward to playing in Turkey.

-- Barry Stavro

Photo: Lamar Odom in the USA's exhibition win over Spain last Sunday. Credit: AP Photo / Daniel Ochoa de Olza.

Now that Kobe Bryant’s turned 32, how much of a decline can we expect in his game over the next few seasons?

The only player to compare Bryant’s 30-something performance with, of course, is Michael Jordan. But it’s not a simple comparison because by the age of 32 MJ had been retired for almost two seasons while he tried, and failed, to make it as a pro baseball player.

So, when Jordan returned to the Chicago Bulls late in the 94-95 season—at 32—he’d played only 778 NBA regular season and playoff games. By comparison, Kobe Bryant has already played a whopping 1,219 games, 57% more than Jordan at the same age. Kobe is clearly the NBA version of a Ferrari with high mileage.

What happened after Jordan’s 32nd birthday? MJ led the league in scoring in the next three seasons before another retirement attempt.

Still, age forced some adjustments in MJ’s game—and we might see the same from Kobe.

After Jordan turned 27, he began a long, steady decline in field goal percentage (we’ll skip his abbreviated ’94-95 season): from 53.9% in the ’90-91 season, to 51.9% next season, then 49.5%, 49.5%, 48.6% and 46.5% when he turned 35.

Jordan’s playing time also dipped slightly; averaging 39.1 minutes a game in the three full seasons before his 32nd birthday, then 38.1 in the next three.

After turning 32, MJ’s three-point shooting also declined (42.7%, 37.4%, 23.8%), as did his rebounding (6.6,  5.9, 5.8) and assists (4.3, 4.3, 3.5; versus 5.3 in his career).

Bryant’s stats have also dipped in several categories in the last five seasons:
--Scoring per game: 35.4, 31.6, 28.3, 26.8, to 27.0 last season.
--Free throw attempts per game: 10.2, 10.0, 9.0, 6.9, 7.4.
--Minutes per game: 41.0, 40.8, 38.9, 36.1, 38.8.

Late in Jordan’s career, he’d often pace himself to save something for the fourth quarter. Even then, MJ was great, he just wasn’t the airborne legend of his youth.

As Kobe—a hoops historian—readies for his 15th Lakers season, he’s probably got this MJ stat memorized: After Jordan turned 32, he won three more NBA titles.

--Barry Stavro

Photo: Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan in a a Lakers-Wizards game in 2002. Credit: Reuters / Joe Giza.

Call me naive. Call me a rookie. Or call me a clueless.

But I frankly thought fans on the L.A. Times' Lakers blog would be much different this offseason. I thought they'd soak in the championship as passionately and for as prolonged a period as Ron Artest. I thought they'd go through a transformation bubble similar to Kobe Bryant, changing from über competitive to relaxed and care-free. And I thought some would just get away from it all like Phil Jackson has done in Montana, refueling and recharging for next season.

Surely there have been fans like this. But there have also been many that have dreaded the summer, feeling as if the 2010-2011 season can't possibly start soon enough. For those fans, I'm wondering if you can provide us details on how you're getting through the summer.

Do you constantly rewatch portions of last year's playoffs on your DVR? Do you relive your day at the Lakers parade? Do you frequently have dreams of the Lakers three-peating or do you wake up from nightmares that the Super Team will dethrone the two-time defending champs? Or do you just simply twiddle your thumbs hoping that time somehow speeds up?

I'd love to hear your best stories. I'll feature the top ones in a post after Labor Day, which is when I'll resume duties with the Lakers blog.

-- Mark Medina

Follow the L.A. Times Lakers blog on Twitter: twitter.com/latmedina. E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: There are plenty of Laker fans wishing that the 2010-2011 season would start already. Credit: Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times

Let the revisionist history begin.

The Lakers didn't win the 2010 NBA Championship because of Ron Artest's Game 7 heroics. They didn't win the 2010 title after becoming much tougher than in the 2008 campaign. And they didn't win after Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, Artest and Sasha Vujacic made key shots late in the game. No, the Lakers are back-to-back champions simply because Boston center Kendrick Perkins tore the medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee, causing him to miss the final three quarters of Game 6 and all of  Game 7. Or so that's what Celtics Coach Doc Rivers would like you to think.

"They still have not beaten our starting five," Rivers recently told ESPN 980's John Thompson, as provided by Sports Radio Interviews. "Our starting five against the Lakers starting five has a ring. Tell him [a Lakers fan] don't forget that. We will be back strong and Perk will be there next year if there's a Game 7."

I'm not the only one who's scratching his head and wondering if I saw the same game Doc saw. Silver Screen and Roll's DexterFishmore wrote, "Doc. If you're going to say something stupid, did it also have to be so inflammatory and grotesquely ill informed? One needn't be a Laker fan to be enraged by this. One need only possess a respect for historical accuracy and a memory that stretches back three whole years." Ball Don't Lie's Trey Kerby mused, "That's a very specific set of circumstances, but it's valid. That's a good team and the Lakers haven't beat them. But the thing is, that's not necessarily going to be the team that faces the Lakers, and even when they don't, the games still count. On the other hand, if Boston can petition the league to only count games in which the expected Celtics starting five takes the court, we might be looking at the first undefeated team in NBA history. It might only be for six games, but still."

Unfortunately for the Celtics, games aren't played under perfect scenarios. Every team, particularly ones that play further into the postseason, have to deal with less-than-ideal circumstances regarding injury, fatigue, etc.  That's essentially what sports are, playing the best you can with the cards you're dealt. In no way am I downplaying Perkins' absence, but for Rivers to suggest he was the primary reason the Lakers won the title, as former NBA great Julius Erving also suggested to me at the ESPY's, proves absurd for various reasons.

Let's first deal with the logic that the Celtics still have not defended their title from 2008. That title defense stopped once Boston was eliminated in the 2009 East semifinals by Orlando. And the Celtics won in 2008 against the Lakers, which featured an absent Andrew Bynum and a limited Trevor Ariza. Leading up to the 2010 Finals, many members of the media, including myself, asked various Lakers how much different the 2008 campaign would have gone had they been fully healthy. With not wanting to appear as if they were downgrading Bynum's and Ariza's potential contributions, the Lakers made it clear they would've helped, but in the end, the players on the floor didn't execute properly. Likewise, Boston failed to do the same thing in Game 7, allowing the Lakers to dominate the offensive glass, 23-8, and holding the Celtics' perimeter players in Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce to 14 of 42 shooting (33%).

So much for Rivers' pregame contention that the Celtics would respond to Perkins' injury with a rallying cry. But he was right about one thing before the game: "The game is going to dictate everything."

"We're here, and we'll be ready," he said before the game. "It is a little emotional losing Perk. He's so important to our team. But he's still in the locker room, he just will not be in uniform. And I think our guys in some ways, they want to do it for him. Listen, the game is going to dictate everything, and I don't know, but as far as our emotions, I think we're pretty much in check."

After the game, when he was asked how much Perkins' absence affected the Celtics, Rivers brought up "the starting lineup hasn't lost" argument while making it clear it didn't make or break the team.

"I can't say," Rivers said after Boston's Game 7 loss. "I know, and I told our guys this, the starting lineup still hasn't lost. It was a shame we didn't have that starting lineup tonight. But I told them, you're still yet to have a true chance to defend your title because Perk wasn't there. But listen, give the Lakers credit. They were terrific."

That much was true. Even with Bryant having an uncharacteristically poor Game 7, the Lakers came through. Despite Lamar Odom's NBA Finals disappearing act, the Lakers came through. And despite Bynum's significant limitations because of the torn cartilage in his right knee, the Lakers came through. The Lakers, frankly, went through similar adversities as did the Celtics and it revealed two things. The Lakers made adjustments, while the Celtics just provided excuses.

-- Mark Medina

Follow the L.A. Times Lakers blog on Twitter: twitter.com/latmedina. E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Celtics Coach Doc Rivers recently suggested that the Lakers wouldn't have won the 2010 NBA Finals if Boston center Kendrick Perkins hadn't gotten injured. Credit: Elsa / Getty Images.

Photo: Celtics Coach Doc Rivers receives a Gatorade bath from Paul Pierce moments before winning the 2008 Finals, when the Lakers were missing Andrew Bynum. Credit: Winslow Townson / Associated Press

-- The Orange County Register's Janis Carr put together a photo slideshow in honor of Kobe Bryant's 32nd birthday.

-- ESPN.com unanimously picks the Lakers as the best team in the Western Conference.

-- Ball Don't Lie's Kelly Dwyer ranks Ron Artest 15th at small forward.

-- ESPN Los Angeles' Andy Kamenetzky analyzes what Steve Blake might provide for the Lakers next season.

-- Ball Don't Lie's Trey Kerby has a photo that shows Lamar Odom and Chauncey Billups taking a stroll through Spain.

-- Lakers.com's Mike Trudell talks with Sports Illustrated's Lee Jenkins about various Laker profiles he has written.

-- Forum Blue and Gold's Darius Soriano gives some analysis on a few topics involving the Lakers.

-- AOL Fanhouse's Tim Povtak details how Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic and girlfriend/tennis star Maria Sharapova are training together.

-- NBA Playbook.com's Sebastian Pruiti breaks down one of Team USA's key plays, which partly involved a Lamar Odom screen.

-- Silver Screen and Roll's DexterFishmore comes up with an imaginary conversation between Pau Gasol and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Tweet of the Day: "3000 kids die a day from a mosquito. Join the fight to end malaria & celebrate LIFE! Buy a Bracelet Save a LIFE; http://MalaikaForLife.org" -- RONARTESTCOM (Lakers forward Ron Artest)

Reader Comment of the Day: " I would get kobe a video tape that i personally recorded of "THE DECISION" so he can eat popcorn and laugh all day with his fam over princess james" -- LakerLass on what present fans should give Bryant for his 32nd birthday.

--Mark Medina

Photo: Plenty of Laker fans predicted Kobe Bryant spent his 32nd birthday Monday with his family, including his daughter, Gianna. Credit: Don Bartletti/Los Angeles Times

--Mark Medina

Follow the L.A. Times Lakers blog on Twitter: twitter.com/latmedina. E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

It's a good thing Kobe Bryant's birthday is Monday instead of at some point during the NBA regular season. Everyone knows that if that were the case the Black Mamba would either a) forget when his birthday is, b) force himself to forget it so he's completely focused on basketball, c) get angry with birthday well-wishers and gifts because it's taking time away from the hardwood or d) all the above. With his 32nd birthday happening in the offseason, it's much more likely he's willing to celebrate. But given how Bryant is, you never know.

Below is a list of birthday scenarios for Bryant. Side note: I'd be interested in hearing what Lakers fans would get him for his birthday, how they think the player might celebrate and any birthday wishes for Bryant.

1. Uses birthday as motivation:  Every time a family member, friend or fan wishes Bryant a happy birthday, he immediately lets out a scowl. With his assorted injuries last season, there were plenty of stories that suggested he was past his prime and that this was the latest sign that all that basketball mileage was catching up to him. With the report from Ball Don't Lie's Kelly Dwyer that argues Dwyane Wade is the league's best shooting guard still fresh in Bryant's mind, each birthday card and gift serves as a tangible reminder that he'll continue to hear questions about his age in the 2010-11 season. Instead of reading the cards, he watches a replay of Team USA's win over Spain to remind himself that injuries forced him to sit out. Instead of opening gifts, he heads to the gym to work on his game.

2. Spends birthday like any other day:  Bryant spends Monday playing basketball and poring over game film not because he's angry about his age. He's just doing what he normally does -- hooping it up. As much as Bryant delighted in exacting revenge on his opponents, it was particularly revealing when he shared in his exit interview that he was mainly thrilled with the joy of winning. Bryant isn't in the gym today with something to prove. He's just doing what he loves best.

3. Rests: It's been what Bryant has been doing all of this offseason, so why should anything change? After playing in three consecutive NBA Finals and in the 2008 Olympics, Bryant finally conceded that it'd be much better to rest and repair the wear and tear on his body than to play in the 2010 FIBA World Championships. As indicated by his recent decision to sit out President Obama's recent pickup game, Bryant has abstained from basketball after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Now all that's left is healing that right index finger.

4. Spends birthday with family and friends: Ever since Bryant won his fifth championship ring, he's gotten back to what he calls "civilization." Fans are so used to seeing his laser-beam focus and obsession with basketball that it's sometimes surprising to see how much he enjoys his hobbies during the offseason. He attended the 2010 World Cup, ran his basketball camp in Santa Barbara, took a trip to China and attended the World Basketball Festival in New York (let's not forget he fit in a few discussions with potential free agents). Bryant isn't building himself into a cocoon just yet. Instead, he's taking his wife, Vanessa, to one of his favorite restaurants,  Philippe Chow, and his two daughters, Gianna and Natalia, to Disneyland.

-- Mark Medina

Follow the L.A. Times Lakers blog on Twitter: twitter.com/latmedina. E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant with his father, Joe Bryant, turned 32 today. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Check out highlights in the video below of Team USA's 86-85 victory Sunday over Spain.

-- TrueHoop's Kevin Arnovitz observes that the "Lakers have assumed a posture of professional incumbency."

-- The Orange County Register's Kevin Ding reports that Ron Artest has switched numbers from 37 to 15.

-- Ball Don't Lie's Kelly Dwyer argues that Dwyane Wade is a better shooting guard than Kobe Bryant.

-- ESPN Los Angeles' Andy Kamenetzky wonders how the Lakers would do without Kobe Bryant for the whole season.

-- ESPN.com's Chris Sheridan credits Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone for Team USA's win.

-- NBA.com's John Schuhmann has news and notes on USA's victory.

In the video below, Lakers forward Pau Gasol shares what his offseason has entailed.

-- Fox Sports West's Matt Smith looks at Lamar Odom's role with Team USA.

-- The New York Times' Pete Thamel looks more at Boeheim's zone.

-- But the Game Is On's Mark Travis breaks down what makes Gasol an effective passer.

-- Forum Blue & Gold's Darius Soriano breaks down Bryant's fundamentals.

Tweet of the Day: "Not much Lakers news going on these days, but here's a reminder that Monday, Aug. 23, is Kobe Bryant's 32nd birthday." -- mcten (ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin)

Reader Comment of the Day: "The big discussion today in the off season is whether or not Shaq's jersey should be retired by the Lakers. I believe that it will be, eventually but i say that grudgingly. From a professional point of view, actual performance on the court, Shaq's deserves to have his number retired and probably will. but from an emotional standpoint and as a die-hard Lakers fan, I have my reservations. getting your jersey retired at the Staples Center is more difficult than getting into the Hall of Fame. That is a minimum requirement. First of all, Shaq only played 7 years with the Lakers, so by the time he finishes his career, he would have played more seasons with other teams than the Lakers including 5 with Orlando alone. Also, i might be wrong, but i believe that every laker up on the rafters, retired as a Laker even if some of them started at another team. In either case, every single one of those players are totally identified as a Laker legend and many of them stayed with the laker organisation after retirement. Jerry West (long time legendary laker GM), Worthy (K-Cal 9), Magic (part owner), Kareem (coach to bynum). all of them with the exception of Wilt Chamberlain played at least a decade with the Lakers. Wilt the exception is still totally identified as a Laker player and he is responsible for the Lakers' first championship in Los Angeles. Kareem (14 seasons), Magic, West, Worthy, their whole careers. Shaq's 7 years is kind of weak in comparison. now, my emotional reasons. Shaq has disrepected the laker organization during his time here and after he left. His departure was nasty. not only his feud with kobe, but also his feud with Jerry Buss." -- crystal

-- Mark Medina

Follow the L.A. Times Lakers blog on Twitter: twitter.com/latmedina. E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

This is the second post in a weekly series that helps you get to know members of the L.A. Times Lakers blog community. Feel free to send submissions to mgmedin@gmail.com

Screen name: ZairaAmaterasu

Real name: Zaira Scotti

Occupation: Biologist and Pharmacon researcher

Age: 25

Gender: Female

Hometown: Lodi, Italy

Story behind your screen name: People consider me a goddess (how modest... I know... LOL) and I love Japan to pieces. So one of my former friends with benefits one day a few years ago just started to call me "Amaterasu" (Japanese goddess of Sun) and everybody in my crew simply followed in his footsteps. Being an ego-filled person, and totally vain, I happily accepted the trend.

How I became a Lakers fan: I have always been tall, and naturally since a very early age I got trapped following -- and practicing -- every sport related to height. I loved basketball since I was 3. Great Armani jeans fan. But being part of a traveling-the-world family, I got in contact with NBA pretty soon. Never fell under MJ's charm, and started to look out for a better jersey color. At age 6, I discovered the Purple & Gold jersey in one of my elder cousins' suitcase. He was coming back from an L.A. residency. It was love at first sight. It was a Magic Johnson jersey, and just around those days, Magic had revealed his tragic truth to the world. My cousin could barely hold his tears so I wanted to know the story of this man able to make him (a very strong man in my mind) cry. Don't think a girl of age 6 could be shocked about death and AIDS because I come from a family of doctors, and I started to read books about diseases and death and tragedies by 5. ... So the question wasn't out of the blue to any of my relatives (I have always been this over-curious baby anyway. ...). From his poetic rendition of Magic and the history of the Lakers blossomed my own love, like a wildfire touching golden dried bushes on a sunny hill, I became pretty much a lover to a town as well, because through the Lakers love, I learned also how to love Los Angeles and the whole state of California. By age 10, I was this strange, tall stick girl knowing every single thing about L.A. and the Staples Center even though, hilariously, my first touch-in with the town was due to the football (your "soccer" ) World Cup in 1994. My Lakers love grew year after year, through everything I could grasp onto. One of my most blessed meetings of passion. Ever.

Favorite Lakers memory of all time and of the 2009-2010 season: I tend to change favorite memories depending on my mood. To me it's often about the intensity of a single action, and of a single mattering sport gesture. I tend to believe my favorite Lakers memory of all time has yet to come. And it must. Even though I have to admit the first time I stepped into Staples Center for a game must have a special place in my heart. ... Favorite memory of this past season, beside the parade, sure has to be the moment when I bought the tickets for the parade. I mean ... the tickets for the airplane that would have brought me in L.A. for a due parade. We were about to get trashed by the Celtics, behind them in games, and we were forced to win the remaining two face-offs, and I sure remember that the mood around wasn't the brightest or the most optimistic. And I was sure we would have won, so totally, instead. Never had a doubt (anybody who has been in the chats this season knows how much I was always saying we would have won the ring ...). Never ever feared a thing. So I paid thousands of dollars for airplane tickets, because I knew in the end I would have been witnessing a parade. It was like I could feel the destiny and like I could live into our players' heads and hearts for a moment. There I got assurances, and then I just had to be faithful. No big deal. Really. ;)

Most heartbreaking Lakers experience: Easy, Kobe's humiliation and that press conference. I still cry watching him in the dust every single day anybody recalls that to me. But I also learned, thanks to him (my total hero and inspiration) how from ashes a true phoenix revives stronger. And better. And more powerful. Experiences are what define a human, because in the way you deal with and through them, you show who you really are. Choices are what make you grow, both good and bad ones. Responsibility is what builds your ethic, when you accept all the consequences of what your actions imply. And your mistakes are a step you gotta take into your own perfectibility, if you have the force and the brain and the heart for riding even the wildest of rides, fearlessly. This did Kobe. This is what I try to do every day too. Sport is a school of life, and he's my best example to follow. Forever.

Favorite Lakers player: Need to ask? I rarely feel bonds and inspirations around like those Kobe inspires in me. Really ... when I say he's my hero I do say it because I find somebody to confront my own approach to life with in the way he manages to practice this sport. I have learned if you want to, there's no impossible you can't make possible. Everything is reachable through work, will, will, will, and an unbound, unescapable, inextinguible inner fire that tells you "get better every day." It's not pride, it's not arrogance, it's not pretentiousness. It's a way to make your life full and fulfill the gift you've been gifted along with. Do Your Best. Every Day More. This is the greatest lesson in life, and Kobe just [does] it so incredibly well. That's why he's my fav player and forever will be.

Greatest all-time Laker: So far, it still Magic. But everyone knows I do believe Kobe can take that crown.

Last time you went to a game at Staples Center and at the Forum: Sigh ... last year Finals game with the Magic. It has passed way too much time. :) At the Forum, well, as soon as we won, and I jumped on that famous plane to celebrate our Duplets, of course.

Opposing team, player you dislike the most: I really don't dislike teams. I mean, of course, Celtics to me are "the Green Enemies" and I feel the rivalry. I don't bend to hate. To me, it would be simply not be elegant. I don't say this because I am kind: I'm so proud of my Lakers faith, and I feel so much our greatness and glory that to "hate" other teams would somehow show me not reckoning how much splendid being a Lakers fan is. To put it simply, I'm so into the Lakers that I don't care about other teams.  As for players, I really don't like air balloons. I don't like overrated PR machines. I don't like traitors. So in a nutshell, I can't stand Princess Jimmy and I deeply disrespect FatShaq. But I don't hate any of them. Again, just because they don't deserve such a huge feeling or sentiment. In the first place ;).

Interactions with Lakers players: Well, I have got the immense pleasure of meeting Kobe in Italy and England. ... Never really had the courage to try to ask him a thing in L.A. But just because it would feel like stalking, and I generally avoid bothering people I like and admire. I have always faith things will happen in my life that will bring me near to my idols, and so far it has happened so many times, I can only be grateful to a fair destiny. Anyway, my admiration for Kobe would make me say only stupid things in front of him in fan meetings or similar occasions, and I so totally hate to look stupid, I avoid that kind of stuff on principle, and fiercely. Those two chances were organized by friends involved in PR stuff, so both times I just briefly cheered him in Italian and got the memory of his answer and smile back like a treasure (surely he thought: "Another brainless blond doll"). It's enough for me to remember his smile and his calm, deep, awesome voice speaking in Italian back at me. It's like a treasure that I carry inside. But everyone knows I totally admire Kobe's head and intelligence so I would adore to get a chance to hear him speak about anything, knowing I could learn a lot from him. Of course that could never happen (also because, after all, the "stupid-me version of me" couldn't even attempt to verbalize a decent question at his stance ... *sigh* ...).

I met Pau Gasol when he was still a European player and saw from a 2-inch distance Magic. ... And I met Rick Fox.

My dream would be to speak with Kareem at least once ... well ... and Jerry West. And Phil Jackson. And I would love to talk to Derek Fisher. ... I am sure I would also adore to talk to Ron Ron. Oh, darn... I would love to talk to them all.

Most cherished piece of Lakers memorabilia I have: Don't laugh please. I have a towel from that last game I attended at Staples, the one against Orlando. I have been [assured] Kobe rolled in it at halftime. And I trust the person who landed that guarantee on me. I know ... it's creepy, but of course that towel has been framed. It's in my house private Spa space. It hangs on a wall, and below I have a motto that reads, "Every major victory comes from a full effort taken." And now go call the police ... because as I said, I know it's a creepy thing ... *sigh.*

Memorable stories about being a Lakers fan: Everything about being a Lakers fan is memorable. From enjoying the thrill of a team that can be equally lazy and mind-blowing, from the memories of years of pain, turning into glorious shining dominance, then getting shadowed and then gaining back brilliance and glitter again. ... Everything about the Lakers is like fireworks that make nights clear and colorful. It's a bliss, an emotion, and an honor to be a Purple & Gold fan. To me, it's also a sort of duty. I want that style, elegance; the fantasy and the power of this extraordinary franchise gets reflected in the class of their fans. It's us, me and you, and everyone else who jumps up on chairs at every layup by our guys that make LakerNation so lively, flamboyant and special. We are special, and we make a special team just perfect. What is memorable about being Lakers fans is that we can spill the beans for ages about the smallest detail of any player's play, but then we all know our major joy comes through them all. They give us magic and we give them passion. To repeat ... to repeat ... to repeat. Ad libitum. Everything about the Lakers is memorable. EVERY DARN THING. ;) Just watch out: Next missing heartbeat is around any corner. ;) And I can't wait to catch it all along with you, Laker Fam. Live to win, and trust Purple & Gold Knights!

-- Mark Medina

Follow the L.A. Times Lakers blog on Twitter: twitter.com/latmedina. E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photos, from top: ZairaAmaterasu first became a Lakers fan after her cousin showed her a Magic Johnson jersey. Credit: Zaira Scotti. Kobe Bryant, triumphant. Zaira says she admires Bryant's work ethic. Credit: Christina House / For The Times. Bryant on the court. Zaira says she met Bryant in Italy and England. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

--Mark Medina

Follow the L.A. Times Lakers blog on Twitter: twitter.com/latmedina. E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

This is the first post in a weekly series that helps you get to know members of the L.A. Times Lakers blog community. Feel free to send submissions to mgmedin@gmail.com

Screen name: LRob

Occupation: Radio account executive

Age: 49

Gender: Male

Hometown: Detroit

Story behind your screen name: Short for my birth name

How I became a Lakers fan: It started when Kareem was traded to L.A., but really cemented when Magic was drafted by the Lakers. I attended MSU at the same time as Magic

Favorite all-time Lakers memory: NBA Finals 1985 Game 6, when the Lakers won the title in Boston. It was the first time the Lakers beat Boston in the finals and it was sweet payback from the '84 finals. In '84, the Celtics not only beat the Lakers but they also bullied and mocked them. Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell made choking gestures, Bird goaded McHale into clotheslining Rambis and all of Bean Town took to calling Magic “Tragic” Johnson. So 1985 was sweet revenge. No opposing team had ever won the championship on Boston’s home court. Kareem won the finals MVP at the age of 38. A feat that may never be duplicated.

2009-2010 memory: “The Pat.” Kobe’s Game 6 performance against Phoenix when he hit all those incredible jump shots and gave Gentry a "nice try" pat after icing the game. Steve Nash could only marvel, saying, “Those are best-player-in-the-game-type shots."

Most heartbreaking Lakers experience: Easily the 1984 Finals. Nothing hurts like losing to Boston. The Lakers were the better team, but Boston was the tougher team. This was not like 2008, when Boston was the better team and the tougher team.

Favorite Lakers player: Magic

Greatest all-time Laker: Kobe

Last time you went to a game at Staples Center and at the Forum: Haven’t attended a game at Staples. 1987 at the Forum.

Opposing team, player you dislike the most: Boston's Paul Pierce and Ray Allen

Interactions with Lakers players: None recently. Once helped Magic promote an all-star game in Detroit during the off-season.

Most cherished piece of Lakers memorabilia I have: Old game tapes on DVD.

Memorable stories about being a Lakers fan:

1) Deciding the night of the final game of the 2000 championship that I would fly down to L.A. the next morning. I wanted to be in L.A. to read all the papers and soak up the celebration because it was a long drought since the '88 title. I got my brother to hang out with me and we were L.A.-bound the next morning. I got all of my championship gear, hung out for a few days and went to the parade. It was an expensive getaway but one I thoroughly enjoyed.

2) During the 1980 Finals, my best college buddy, who was a 76ers fan, and I decided at the last minute we’d ride to Memphis [Tenn.] with another friend. He was going home to attend his brother’s wedding. (I should’ve staying at school and studied for finals coming up the following week, but hey, it was college and kids do dumb stuff.) We arrived the night of Game 6. Back then, the game wasn’t televised live. My boy was confident that Philly would win because Kareem wasn’t playing due to a severely sprained ankle. I was skeptical of the Lakers' chances also, but I put up a brave front.

So while everybody was making plans to go to the bachelor party, we were trying to figure out where we could watch the game on tape delay without any distractions. (I also had to make sure nobody that knew the outcome told me the score.) The guy I rode with had no choice but to attend his brother’s bachelor party. He gave me and the Philly fan two options. We could go to the bachelor party and “maybe” see some of the game. Or he could drop us off where they were having the bridal shower and we could ask to watch the game there.

Of course, I chose to take my talents to the bridal shower. In one room was a bunch of women, some fine ones, too, I might add, doing their thing. We were in the next room with strict orders not to make any noise or interrupt their gathering. We watched the game, but couldn’t get animated or really taunt each other. The Lakers shocked the world that night, led by Magic’s historic performance of 42 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. Silk chipped in with 37 point.

---Mark Medina

mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: LRob has a significant attachment to Magic Johnson, seen here hugging Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo, because the Detroit native followed his career with the Spartans and once helped Johnson promote an all-star game in Detroit. Credit: Jeff Roberson / Associated Press

We're nearly two months away from the Lakers' season-opener and it's been clear these last few weeks that Laker fans are wondering if they can just hit fast forward. As indicated by some of the early ticket draws, it can't come soon enough.

SeatGeek.com, which forecasts the prices of sports and concert tickets on the secondary market, indicates that the Lakers-Rockets home opener is the fourth-most costly home opener at $327 per ticket, according to spokesperson Gavin Skillman. The Suns' home opener against the Lakers is priced at $186. In yet another sign that this Heat-Lakers storyline will never die this season, Miami has the three top spots in league home openers. The Heat's home opener against Orlando marks the NBA's highest-priced event at $500 per ticket; the Celtics' home opener against Miami earns the second top draw at $460; and the 76ers' home opener against the Heat stands at third place at $376 per ticket.

--Mark Medina

mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Lakers fans show their support outside Staples Center before the start of Game 6 of the 2010NBA Finals. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times.

After this, rapper and Lakers fan Snoop Dogg may tell Bow Wow he's no longer worthy of bearing the name he gave him. Bow Wow recently appeared on "Lopez Tonight," betting comedian George Lopez $25,000 toward charity that the Miami Heat would beat the Lakers on Christmas Day.

"We just need a big man. The Lakers are the team to beat," Bow Wow said in the video below. "But we're going to get ya'll on Christmas Day, though."

Even if Bow Wow is simply following the Vegas betting lines that say the Heat will beat the Lakers for the NBA championship next season, this corner of the blogosphere obviously disagrees.

That leads to this question: How much would you be willing to bet that the Lakers will beat Miami on Christmas Day and/or in the NBA Finals?

-- Mark Medina
twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Tex Winter

Chances of getting in: It's sad to say that the chances for the innovator of the triangle offense to get into the Hall of Fame are slim. But that's the reality. Winter was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in February and received the John Bunn Award from the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1998, which recognized him as a contributor to the game. When Winter received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award prior to Game 2 of the 2010 NBA Finals, Winter's son, Chris, told reporters that Tex had received seven nominations to be inducted, though the limit is supposed to be five. When it was announced in April that Lakers owner Jerry Buss would be inducted in this year's class, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson shared that throughout his tenure with the Chicago Bulls he engaged in letter-writing campaign so that his long-time mentor would get his due. "It's like Tex says, he's outlived all his contemporaries," Jackson said of Winter, who had been an active consultant with the Lakers until suffering a stroke in April 2009. "It's a hard shot for him to get in."

Kobe Bryant

Chances of getting in: This isn't a matter of if, but when. Players must be fully retired for five years before being eligible for enshrinement, so the timing of this all depends on whenever Bryant hangs up his laces. Bryant recently signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the Lakers through the 2013-2014 season. If Bryant retires after that, that means the earliest time he'd get inducted would be in 2019.

--Dime magazine's Austin Burton highlights Kobe Bryant's belief that the rising presence of international players in the NBA will make it more important that players can handle all positions on the floor.

--The Orange County Register's Janis Carr looks at the possibility that Magic Johnson could leave the Lakers to own another team.

--NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper argues that Team USA can survive by playing small ball in the 2010 FIBA World Championships, partly because Pau Gasol isn't playing for the Spanish national team.

Photo: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant recently said that the rising presence of international players in the NBA means that players should be able to handle multiple positions. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

For those Laker fans wishing for any trickle of news to come out, you're in luck! The New York Post's Rosemary Black cited WWD.com, a website devoted to fashion news, as reporting that Lamar Odom and wife Khloe Kardashian will launch a fragrance with a unisex scent in February.

"The new scent may be named "Unbreakable," Khloe Kardashian told WWD," Black wrote, "though she added, "Baby, I dunno, we're still working on it."

The anticipation is killing us all. Upon hearing the news, Ball Don't Lie's Trey Kerby wrote: "I don't know about you, but this is the most excited I've been for an NBA fragrance since the now-defunct Gheorge Muresan Cologne. For years upon years, we've all been wanting to smell like an NBA player who isn't the best player ever while also smelling like a marginal reality television star. This is great news. The fact that there's neither or a name nor a fragrance picked out is even more exciting."

For now all we can do is play the waiting game. And if "Unbreakable," doesn't make the cutting room floor, maybe these ideas will.

1. ReaLO -- It's a take on Odom's Twitter name -- RealLamarOdom -- and it's in reference to Khloe and L.O. being reality T.V. stars.

2. Lucky -- Surely your significant other will feel lucky being close to you while wearing this scent. It's also what then-Phoenix forward Amare Stoudemire accused Odom of being after he scored a double double in Game 1 of the 2010 Western Conference Finals.

3. D-A-S-H -- It's simple marketing. Odom and Khloe and Kim Kardashian co-own D-A-S-H, so naming their fragrance line after their clothing store is a no-brainer. Plus, a simple dash of the fragrance is all you need to get your day started right.

--Mark Medina

mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Lakers forward Lamar Odom and his wife, Khloe Kardashian, are releasing a unisex fragrance in February. Credit: Jason Merritt / Getty Images

It's long been thought of as a possibility, but as NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper recently reported, the idea that Magic Johnson could be a majority owner of an NBA franchise is now being discussed in the open.

"I'll still be a Laker forever," Johnson recently told Howard-Cooper, who subsequently reported that the NBA icon is in talks about owning the Detroit Pistons. "If there's a chance for me to go run a team, if I felt that's what I wanted to do, would I take it? Yeah, if the right situation came. I know one day that's gonna probably happen. I love being with Dr. Buss and the Buss family and working with them, but I know one day something is going to happen. I can definitely see me not being with the Lakers, yeah."

Though Johnson owns just under 5% of the Lakers, the article noted that his hope for sole ownership wouldn't be a likely scenario with the Lakers because of the Buss family's strong involvement.

Speaking at a casino in Bell Gardens, where he was hosting a charity poker tournament for the Lakers' youth foundation, Lakers majority owner Jerry Buss told reporters Tuesday that "Earvin is a whirlwind, you know. He does so many things, and I wouldn't doubt that he could do 10 more things. Anything that Earvin says probably wouldn't surprise me, but I have not talked to him specifically about that."

If Johnson ultimately becomes a majority owner of a different franchise, how do you think he would do? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

-- Mark Medina
 twitter.com/latmedina

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Magic Johnson. Credit: Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images

--The Times' Mike Bresnahan details how Pau Gasol is taking it easy this summer.

--The Orange County Register's Janis Carr highlights Buss' career in a photo slide show.

--ESPN Los Angeles' Andy Kamenetzky breaks down what Theo Ratliff can bring to the Lakers next season.

--Sports Illustrated's Jack McCallum had a roundtable discussion with the 1992 Dream Team.

--Fox Sports' Charley Rosen ranks Phil Jackson as the NBA's best coach of all time.

--Lakers forward Devin Ebanks had fun during his Rookie Photo Shoot in Tarrytown, N.Y.

--The USA Basketball website has Q&As with the team, including Lamar Odom.

--Forum Blue and Gold's Darius Soriano analyzes Buss' recent news conference.

--Silver Screen and Roll's DexterFishmore lists the greatest Lakers of all time by jersey number.

Tweet of the Day: "Sum1 told me I have an attractive smile. What u think? Lol" -- DevinEbanks3  (Lakers forward Devin Ebanks)

Reader Comment of the Day: "I don't hate to admit it at all. We needed this. Well, we didn't really need it, but it sure helps give that extra little motivation to keep our eye on the prize. Are we going to let Shaq tie Kobe in rings while wearing a ... Celtics uniform? HELL NO!!!! Are we going to let the Miami Meat and LeCreep get a ring after the sickening narcissism of "The Decision?" HELL NO!!! No way. No how." -- Jon K.

-- Mark Medina
 twitter.com/latmedina.

E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com

Photo: Pau Gasol acknowledges the crowd during the team's NBA championship parade in Los Angeles on June 21. Credit: Noel Vasquez / Getty Images

Lakers owner Jerry Buss wasn't shy about setting the bar for the 2010-2011 season. "As of now, I feel there's a good chance this could be the best team we've ever had," he told reporters Tuesday. Fitting he made those comments at the Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, where he was hosting a charity poker tournament for the Lakers' youth foundation, because that just raises the stakes for the Lakers even more.

There are reasons why Buss feels so optimistic only days since being inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Lakers are back-to-back champions. They have their main corps in Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest locked into long-term contracts. Despite concerns over limiting spending this off-season because of luxury tax implications, Buss and the Lakers decided to spend anyway, re-signing Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher, and upgraded their roster by snagging free agents Steve Blake, Matt Barnes and Theo Ratliff and two second-round picks -- Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter -- who some consider a steal. Add the fact that many of the injured players last season (Bryant, Bynum and Gasol) are abstaining from basketball this summer and there's plenty of reason why Buss should feel optimistic.

Still, Buss' proclamation is bold, considering the impressive teams that helped him win 10 championships since purchasing the team in 1979 and because Eastern Conference teams in Miami, Chicago, Boston and Orlando all seem to be gunning for the Lakers. In order for the 2010-2011 team to be considered the best under Buss' watch, at least statistically, the Lakers would obviously need to win a title, go undefeated in the postseason to eclipse the 15-1 mark the 2001 team set, and surpass the 65-17 regular season record the 1987 and 2009 Laker championship teams compiled.

Of course, numbers don't mean everything. For example, some Laker fans would value an NBA title over the Celtics (1985, 1987, 2010) more than, say, a championship against the Philadelphia 76ers (2001) or New Jersey Nets (2002). In order for the Lakers to boost their profile as the greatest in the Buss era, would they need to beat Miami to prove the Super team isn't all that super? Or would the Lakers have to win against Boston so the two franchises would be tied for total championships (17) and so Kobe Bryant can get one of his rings against Shaq?

Then there's the case of how the team on paper meshes in reality. Below the jump are the best and worst-case scenarios