Los Angeles: the biggest, baddest most powerful basketbal empire of them all.

[Tradition]

Kurt Streeter:



The Lakers might on occasion have lean and fallow seasons. But always they return.

QFT!

What is amazing is even the first season after the Summer 04 implosion, the Lakers were a serious playoff contender. They were very unstable with coaching and did not have much of a system. Injuries, chemistry, Rudy T leaving and all, they were right there in the playoff race until late in the year. Kobe had trust issues with his teamates etc etc. That is was the worst part on rebuilding this team. Phil Jackson returns the next season with a year to recharge and they make it back to the playoffs. 2 and a half years and Phil comes back to a rebuilding team....BOOM they make it back as the most hated team in basketball. The Lakers dont suck for long. Best franchise in NBA History.

[Purple & Gold]

Best franchise in NBA History.

Easily

[Extra Stout]

Ohhh Ron you so funny.

Face it you hate everything Cali related because it s all over Arizona in every way. That's why it's so sweet to see the suns and their whiny fans lose the last game of the season year in and year out. And the built in excuses that you guys use every single year always give me a good laugh.

I've noticed in Phoenix the enormous penis envy they have for all things California. They love everything California has and want to be Californians, and also hate California because they don't have those things and aren't Californians.

I swear, it's like the collective psychology of Phoenix is to be somebody's in each aspect of life.

[Purple & Gold]

I swear, it's like the collective psychology of Phoenix is to be somebody's in each aspect of life.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[LakeShow]

I've noticed in Phoenix the enormous penis envy they have for all things California. They love everything California has and want to be Californians, and also hate California because they don't have those things and aren't Californians.

I swear, it's like the collective psychology of Phoenix is to be somebody's in each aspect of life.

Ouch!

[Gino]

I've noticed in Phoenix the enormous penis envy they have for all things California. They love everything California has and want to be Californians, and also hate California because they don't have those things and aren't Californians.

I swear, it's like the collective psychology of Phoenix is to be somebody's in each aspect of life.

Actually L.A. has been Phoenix's the last few years. The Suns have eliminated the Lakers twice and the Clippers in the last two seasons.

[LocosPorJuana]

the bigger the empire, the bigger the fall.

[Indazone]

Kurt Streeter:
Bruins reinforce L.A.'s dominance
Be it the Bruins or the Lakers, no major city can match what we have.
February 24, 2008

Los Angeles is an empire. The biggest, baddest, most powerful basketball empire of them all.

We tend to forget this. We have grown accustomed to thinking the last several decades we've experienced here -- stuffed with genius players, master coaches and scores of les -- is somehow normal, somehow automatic. As automatic as a Kareem sky hook or a Kevin Love dunk or a Kobe Bryant three-pointer with time ticking off the clock.

In a place where big egos are as common an accessory as hip-hugging jeans and implants, we gloss over our greatness. Maybe it is human nature; the way winning big brings on complacency.

There are moments when we need to catch ourselves. Moments when we need to remember that when it comes to basketball prowess, we are the lucky ones. The Bruins' tight 75-65 victory on Saturday over Oregon -- a game played in the backdrop of the sudden resurgence of the Lakers -- was a beautiful reminder of this.

You feel it -- luck -- sitting there in Pauley Pavilion for an important conference game against a worthy rival. The fans rise and chant and their energy hits the hardwood, rises to the ceiling and then boomerangs back, settling somewhere in your gut.

You see it -- good fortune -- watching the Bruins with their gifts of talent and youth -- Russell Westbrook's slam, Josh Shipp's steal and drive -- all of this on a court shadowed by blue and gold NCAA le banners hanging from the rafters. There's 1964 and 1965. There's 1973 and 1975 and 1995 . . . banner next to banner next to banner.

How many Saturdays have been like this, games with an elite, highly ranked home team tested against a tough challenger?

Too many Saturdays to count. So many that we sometimes forget that in other cities -- in places such as Chicago and San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia -- college games with this kind of magnitude and talent rarely take place.

And Pauley is just the start. You look at what's happening with the Lakers now -- a team on the rise -- and you think, again?

Yes, again. Of course.

You grow up, as I did, in a city such as Seattle and you've got one NBA le and two heroes: Gus Williams and Downtown Freddie Brown.

You grow up in this sun-kissed place and where do you start? 1972 or 1985? 1987 or 2002? Who hangs in your memories? Kareem or Wilt or Shaq? Jerry West or Worthy? Magic or Kobe?

The Lakers might on occasion have lean and fallow seasons. But always they return. Same goes for the Bruins.

They proved on Saturday that they will be a serious force in the NCAA tournament. Not that they are without flaw. When they have the ball they too often play with all the speed and dexterity of a Humvee trapped during rush hour on the San Diego Freeway.

But that defense? Ben Howland's boys know how to lay the hammer down. This is a defense that, when it kicks into high gear as it did late in Saturday's game, makes the hair on the back of your neck stand straight.

While the overall approach might not be aesthetically pleasing it certainly works well enough, and there's a good chance Howland will bring at least another le to LA.

In Boston, how can they match this? The Celtics are fantastic and fun once more. But where do you go when you are done with them, what college team do you watch on Saturdays? Boston College? Harvard?

Same goes for New York, Chicago, Philly and all of the others. They've all had moments of greatness. They've had Michael Jordan and Dr. J. They've had Loyola in 1963 and Villanova 23 years back. Greatness, in drips and drabs.

If anything, L.A.'s true challengers are smaller cities of the south and Midwest. I'm thinking of Durham and Lexington and Memphis and Knoxville. A team from one of those towns may well win an NCAA le this season. Kudos to them, at least they provide the Bruins worthy compe ion. None of these towns will lift an NBA banner in our lifetime.

We can always ship them the Clippers.

But maybe the Clippers are good for us. Same goes for Trojans' basketball. The Clippers and Trojans are reminders that winning big -- year after year, decade after decade, college and pro -- is neither normal nor automatic.

And maybe, on occasion, we need to count our blessings and find ways to remind ourselves what the Lakers and Bruins have made Los Angeles: the biggest, baddest basketball empire around.

Pauley Pavilion on a Saturday should do the trick.

Kurt Streeter can be reached at [email protected]. To read previous columns by Streeter, go to latimes.com/streeter.

Don't even have to read this. Laker Homer and Hata of all not wearing Purple and Gold.

[RonMexico]

Ohhh Ron you so funny.

Face it you hate everything Cali related because it s all over Arizona in every way. That's why it's so sweet to see the suns and their whiny fans lose the last game of the season year in and year out. And the built in excuses that you guys use every single year always give me a good laugh.

It's ironic, too that so many people flee the high-priced, smog-infested air of California (3 of the top 4 worst metro areas according to this week's EPA report) and come to Arizona.

So ironic that we try to get rid of them as best we can, but their terrible drivers continue to litter our streets.

[DazedAndConfused]

California > Arizona.

[RonMexico]

I've noticed in Phoenix the enormous penis envy they have for all things California. They love everything California has and want to be Californians, and also hate California because they don't have those things and aren't Californians.

I swear, it's like the collective psychology of Phoenix is to be somebody's in each aspect of life.

Actually, that's completely untrue. Our hatred of LA and California has a lot less to do with envy and a lot more to do with disgust.

Do you hate Dallas and their fans out of envy? I don't think so. It's a similar view in Phoenix - we hate the "fans" in Staples who go to games to be noticed much like the bandwagoners in Cuban-land.

Arizona has also traditionally been a Republican state which leads to battles with California's leftist tendencies. We also hold a decent claim on the water in the Colorado River (since it runs through our greatest natural wonder), but those in CA think they're a little more en led to it. For reasons why they think so, I think the solipsistic tone of this article is evidence enough.

[LakeShow]

the bigger the empire, the bigger the fall.

That's the point the author is making, LA empire never falls! We've been the biggest empire for decades and are still going strong!

I LOVE THIS ARTICLE! Makes you appreciate what you have and to not take it for granted.

[LakeShow]

Don't even have to read this. Laker Homer and Hata of all not wearing Purple and Gold.

You talking about me? Is that who you're talking about?

[LakeShow]

It's ironic, too that so many people flee the high-priced, smog-infested air of California (3 of the top 4 worst metro areas according to this week's EPA report) and come to Arizona.

So ironic that we try to get rid of them as best we can, but their terrible drivers continue to litter our streets.

Bull ! They flee California because of the high property value. Why else would anyone move out into the desert? Arizona is ok, but extremely hot and humid. It is why you have so many take the drive to California just to breathe the smog infested air! I visited Phoenix one summer, didn't do anything but stay in the house under the air conditioning. It was unbearable even to some of your long time residents.

[word]

This is like OU in college football writing about hey great all those championships in the 50's are. There should be a cutoff date that banners have to be stored in a box in the basement. Otherwise, go YALE !!!

[RonMexico]

Bull ! They flee California because of the high property value. Why else would anyone move out into the desert? Arizona is ok, but extremely hot and humid. It is why you have so many take the drive to California just to breathe the smog infested air! I visited Phoenix one summer, didn't do anything but stay in the house under the air conditioning. It was unbearable even to some of your long time residents.

You're right... the incredible humidity of the desert.

And this is why we don't like ignorant people from California....

[Brutalis]

I've noticed in Phoenix the enormous penis envy they have for all things California. They love everything California has and want to be Californians, and also hate California because they don't have those things and aren't Californians.

I swear, it's like the collective psychology of Phoenix is to be somebody's in each aspect of life.

words on steroids right there

[Indazone]

See you guys on Sunday!

[SpursDynasty]

What's sad is no one can name a Rocket outside of McGrady, Yao, and Scola (for Spurs fans)

[freemeat]

The L.A. Raiders are going to win the Super Bowl, too!

[freemeat]

Overall, I like California...

But Los Angeles is disgusting.

[RonMexico]

But freemeat... they're so progressive in their environmentalism. How could they let this happen in their city?

[genomefreak13]

This guy probably haven't heard of the Boston Celtics , Bill Russel, Bob Cousy, Larry Bird and Kevin Garnett

[TampaDude]

Dunno about the Fakers, but UCLA is my pick to win it all in the NCAA Tournament...

[Indazone]

I like the Clippers..but the Lakers...nah!