Lakers Can Only Two-Step

Hopes that the Lakers could manage their first three-game win streak of the season were derailed last night as the Seattle SuperSonics had little difficulty beating LA.

The Kobe-haters of LA were desperately hoping Bryant's recent absence coupled with a 3-game win streak would in some convoluted world make the Lakers trade him.

Fat chance.

The Lakers should be able to defeat Golden State without half their players. And a win over the Timberwolves isn't as impressive anymore as Minnesota languishes in turmoil while Latrell Sprewell can't feed his family on $14 million a year.

Still, the Lakers recent quality play proves there is enough talent around Kobe for them to be much higher than 6 or 7 in the West. But there's not a enough talent to beat Seattle.

In the meantime, Ray Allen is considering playing in LA for the Lakers or Clippers. Despite calling Kobe Bryant a selfish player who won't win championships (something Ray Allen knows nothing about), the lure of LA is clearly too strong.

"I have a [talent] agent down here, he's been griping and yearning for me to get down here and play on one of these teams for a long time," said Allen, the star of "He Got Game."

Of course, Allen with the Lakers is a lousy fit, and he doesn't fit under the cap unless the Sonics want to trade for Brian Grant. Allen with the Clippers could be great for the Red and Blue. A team with Shaun Livingston, Ray Allen, Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, and Bobby Simmons off the bench sounds somewhat scary--assuming there are enough basketballs to go around.