Ron Artest says he's the victim of "profiling" when it comes to officiating and he's right. Friday's late hard foul was in no way a Flagrant 2. But the profiling is exactly why he needed to keep his nose clean in game two and not go after Kobe. That was just tempting fate.

Kobe as (insert whatever description you want here including but not limited to chippy, dirty, edgy) as he is, still backed up Ron after game three saying it was just a hard foul on Gasol or at worst a Flagrant 1. He also said after game 2 that Ron should not have been ejected.

The Rockets offense drove off the road on Friday and the Lakers found their three point stroke making for a one game hole in the series score and the loss of home court advantage. But did anyone seriously think it was going to be easy? The Rockets actually match up very well against L.A. but the Lakers happen to have one of the best two players on the planet.

Kobe seemingly hits any shot even while being defended by elite stoppers like Battier and Artest. Does he practice with a mannequin strapped to his body?

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We gave out our One-Month-into-the-Season Astros awards this week and Wandy won my 'Cy Young' even before he beat the Padres Friday. It was an easy one to hand out. We didn't even hand out an MVP because the team is in a funk and, really, who would you pick?

Michael Bourn has improved in his OBP and average to earn MIP honors. The Rolaids reliever is Latroy Hawkins who has hardly been perfect but remains a great story after getting plucked off the scrap heap last season.