Rajon Rondo's line:  35 minutes...15 points...7 assists...5 boards...and great leadership from a second year player coming into his own.  Old man Sam Cassell obviously gave the Celtics a lift by hitting four big jumpers, but Doc wisely put the kid back in at the end to propel Boston across the finish line.  Lamar Odom didn't give the Lakers much and will have to ratchet it up a few notches to prevent the Lakers from returning home down 0-2.  It's only one game and by no means should the Lakers panic.  However, those picking the Lakers in 5 (and I heard a lot of so called experts making that prediction during the past few days) received a wake-up call.  This Celtics team is hungry and if Rondo continues to put up similar numbers then Kobe isn't going to get his ring without Shaq after all.  At least this year... 


The first MSDS award was handed out in a previous Daily Dot Dot Dot and this month's recipient is the self-righteous and shrill Gloria Allred.  The omnipresent Allred is in the press so much these days that even Al Sharpton thinks she's a publicity whore.  I don't know Gloria personally and she might be warm, giving, and nurturing in private.  However, her public persona is so grating and repugnant that I can't think of a less likable person...  


Baretta and Juice sent me a message to let me know that they are looking forward to my NBA Fantasy Rankings column in four months.   Both B & J believe that this will give them a fighting chance to win in our Fantasy Basketball League on a go forward basis.  That remains to be seen, but their donations from this past season were appreciated and I want to let them know that a significant percentage of the money went to a great cause:  http://www.nothingbutnets.net/   All winnings from future seasons will be going there as well and I encourage everyone out there to send a few bucks if they possibly can...