The Best and Worst

When Minnesota appears on the Lakers schedule nobody gets excited. Fans and television viewers don't take notice. What last night's game represented was seeing the opposite ends of the spectrum in the NBA. Best vs. Worst. Title contender vs. 10-win contender. Defending champs vs. some guys and Rambis. Without League Pass or tickets you'll never see this game. It provides a unique dynamic and illustrates how different two teams can be in the this league.

Not much laughing now for Rambis. 

Last night proved to be no different. Minnesota shocked most people by keeping it close until the end and only losing 99-94. But nobody in the building or at home watching ever felt like the T-Wolves ever had a chance. The Lakers napped through the game and still won without breaking a sweat. They exerted only enough energy to control the game and win.

After two-plus weeks into the season, it's clear the Lakers are once again on a mission. Title or bust. Bumping along with a few new players, who seem to have picked up the offense and mentality seamlessly. Steve Blake and Matt Barnes have both been very productive in limited roles. Barnes at 9.1 ppg and 6.1 reb in just over 20 minutes. Blake is shooting 50 percent in threes (14-28). Compare that to Jordan Farmar, who Blake replaced as back-up point guard. Farmar is shooting 28 percent (7-28) with the Nets so far this year.

The T'Wolves, on the other hand, don't even have enough quality guys to fill out a starting line-up. If Rambis isn't careful, this year's Wolves could let the '72-'73 Sixers off the hook for worst record of all-time (9-73). Darko Milicic starts for them. He's 7'0" and is shooting 28 percent from the field. There's a reason he is known as the worst #2 pick of all time. Speaking of #2 picks, Michael Beasley is also a starter. I'm in Beasley's corner, like parts of his game, but the production hasn't equaled the potential. In another year or two I hope he's put it all together. He's still very young, where as Darko is in his 8th season.

Bottom line: The Lakers are clearly the best team in the league right now. 8-0 is the best start for LA since the 1997-98 season. All the focus and reaction to every Heat game has allowed the Lakers to slide under the radar and dominate with little fuss. Flip side: The Timberwolves are god awful. They're contraction bad. I have no idea how they've got one win already (Bucks.) Good luck, Rambis and team. On the bright side, the season's already a tenth over.