And the comment box size is a good one, I’ll add that to the list. Work is ongoing (the designer just got back from vacation, but things are going ahead).

I remember that nawlins game and i remember how great we looked. Kobe wasn’t lying when he said that we’re a championship team with him… and that was before we acquired pau. If we stay healthy, we are going to be scary.

side note – i keep reading about some of the drama stirring up with phil and odom and odom coming off the bench and what not. To put a little perspective on the situation: there’s 29 other teams that would kill to have our problem… Basically, we’ve got an abundance of talent. I’m definitely in the camp that says we should start Odom and see how well the lineup plays. That starting five of Fish, Kobes, Odom, Pau and Drew has the potential to be dominant defensively. The ceiling with this team is so high that it has to be given a chance in the regular season.

Odom on the bench or not, we are going to be an excellent team.

One more side note: GO DODGERS

with Pau Gasol
Offensive Efficiency = 119.8
Defensive Efficiency = 101.7
Differential = +18.1

It shows that the Lakers were much more effective offensively with Pau Gasol as the starting center, which I expected. Surprisingly it also says that the Lakers were better defensively with Pau Gasol at Center. Perhaps this is due to strength of schedule. Looking at the schedule they mostly played weaker teams (Kings and Clippers, Spurs without Manu) against whom the Lakers piled up the stats.

The point differential with Pau Gasol as starting center imply that the team was good enough to win 90% of it’s games, which mainly makes me want to recheck my numbers.

Unrelated note: please make the comment box bigger. It’s way too small, I can only read about half of my comment.

I’d have Utah ahead of Hou(tough early sked,players recovering from surgery and running new offense for early hole) and NO(needs a backup PG desperately.)
If Suns can trade for a consistant 2/3 scorer they’d content for top record.
The rosters the teams have now will not be what they end the season w/. I don’t think there will be blockbuster trades,just a bunch of Korver-type deals,where a solid role player is brought in.
Hou,NO backup PG
Pho scoring SG/SF
Dallas backup PG,SG
Lakers,Jazz,Blazers roll w/what they have.
FO chaos may keep GS from doing anything,who can tell what the Clips will do and I doubt Denver trades AI as letting him walk gives them the most relief and flexability.

OT,but which FO had the WORST offseason?
Knicks who blew heaven-sent opportunity to unload Randolph,thus making buyout of Marbury easier to sell?(And that a team w/no PGs would seriously consider paying Marbury $20mil+ to just go away tells you all you need to know about Marbury.)
Denver who unloaded only players who tried to play D the same time their Coach says they’re going to emphasize D?
Memphis who traded away their most attractive asset for no apparent reason?
Dallas who did vitrually nothing to address a shockingly bad bench and brought in a coach who runs a system that is totally unsuited to the talent?
Golden State who looks snake-bit,and seems to have lost the first-aid kit?

Also, regarding Livingston, this from the Daily News today:

“I’ve had a chance to speak with a few more people about the Shaun Livingston situation in the last few days and get a better sense of just how serious the club is about bringing him back. The last conversation the Clippers have had with free-agent guard Shaun Livingston came in the beginning of August, when it offered him a two-year deal and Livingston passed on it. That deal was for a minimum salary and was guaranteed. Livingston would’ve had an option for the second year. While that deal isn’t officially still on the table, the door is more than open. Though I’m told that it’s Livingston and his agent who would need to re-open talks.”