Kobe goes off, again

I know it's hip to consider them NBA Finals contenders, but there is a lot to not like about the Los Angeles Lakers.

And, no, it has nothing to do with the fact that they beat my Dallas Mavericks 108-104.

1. Pau Gasol is a flawed player. A good player, yes, but he can be stopped.

2. Where does Lamar Odom go for long stretches of a game? Does he leave the arena? Or just go to the locker room?

3. I hate their point guard play. Derek Fisher is nice, but he's not as affective with a bigger guy on him. Jordan Farmar sucks.

4. Without Kobe Bryant's superstar status, the Lakers do not compete in that game Sunday. His free throw attempts saved them on calls that 98 percernt of the NBA would not get. What happens when they're going up against Lebron Jameses, Tim Duncans, Tracy McGradys, Allen Iversons and Amare Stoudemires of the league who are also getting those calls?

Do not get me wrong. They're a very nice team, but I think they're still a year away from competing for the Finals in that top tier.

One team that will definitely not be competing in that tier any time soon is the Mavericks. Not that they're not trying. After their effort against San Antonio and again Sunday, they showed that the line of demarcation in the Western Conference is extremely close. A Lakers-Mavs playoff series will go seven games. The Mavs can beat anyone; unfortunately, they need to learn how to do that on the road.

1. Josh Howard still sucks. What's wrong with him? It's called "20-footeritis."

2. Erick Dampier looked so good. Nevermind the stats -- look at the tape. Look at the excitement and hustle he put forth. The way he ran down loose balls, set picks, rebounded, contested shots and slammed the ball. If he plays on that level, the Mavs are a tough out.

3. So, the "smart defender" Jason Kidd was put on Kobe a couple times during the game. And Kobe blew right by him. WHAT IS EVERYONE THINKING? Jason Kidd can not guard Kobe Bryant!

4. Avery Johnson's adjustment in doubling Kobe in the fourth quarter was way too late and poorly executed. The way the rest of the Lakers were shooting, I would've dared Sasha Vujacic to beat you.

5. The Mavs can not just keep running Dirk Nowitzki as their back-up center with Brandon Bass coming in at power forward. They play so small when that line ups out there.

6. Speaking of Nowitzki, someone on the radio said that Kidd was the best player on the Mavs' roster. I realize we're all a little bitterr that he didn't go for 45 and 17 last playoffs, but that shouldn't soil the man's name. He scores 30 while shooting like shit. That's the sign of a good player.

7. Every loss, you can pretty much look at Jerry Stackhouse's and Jason Terry's line and see a 1-9, a 2-12 or a 5-14.