Laker Linkage – 6/4/09

• Is the Shaq-Kobe Cold War subsiding? Shaq recently tweeted “What kobe said to magic is true, I wouldn’t of won it without him fish and robert horry, and b shaw and fox and everybody dynasty baby.”  As well as, “Thats right i am saying it today and today only, i want kobe bryant to get number 4, spread da word.”
• Stan Van Gundy isn’t concerning himself with the fact that he must match wits with Phil Jackson this series, claiming it isn’t really an individual match-up.  Sure, Stan, whatever helps you sleep at night.
• Even the Magic coaches are saying that Jameer Nelson looks ready to play now, making it a virtual certainty that he goes tonight, but just how effective will he be?
• As if we won’t hear enough about it this entire series, Jeff Van Gundy, brother of Stan Van Gundy, will be the lead TV analyst for the series.  While Jeff is sure to show at least a little bit of favortism to his older brother, he is one of the best analysts in the game today, so I think the Laker fans are just going to have to suck it up.
• Here is a very, nice but strangely timed look at Kobe Bryant and his ability to perform despite having so much mileage on his body.  Kobe’s definitely getting up there in terms of games played which is a real concern for his performance over the next few years, but I highly doubt it is going to suddenly catch up with him over the next two weeks.
• Bill Plaschke thinks this series is less Lakers vs. Magic and more Kobe vs. Kobe.
• There is going to be a TwitOff (TweetOff?) between Laker fans and Magic fans during each game of the series.  Lakers fans just need to include the #GoLakers hash tag in their tweets during the game to get counted (the Magic fans are going with #BeatLA).  We’ll be getting in on the action ourselves, so follow us at @LakersOfFire.
• Mickael Pietrus, who will likely be guarding Kobe Bryant much of the series, considers Kobe his idol, but will be putting his Kobe-endorsed Nikes in the closet this series and breaking out some Jordan’s in order to avoid any show of impropriety.
• Pau Gasol admits to feeling run down at the end of the Lakers’ 2008 post-season run but states that he is doing just fine in the energy department this year.  We’ll see if he is singing the same tune after alternating between chasing Rashard Lewis around and getting pounded on by Dwight Howard for the next two weeks.

Tags: Daily Links, Jameer Nelson, Kobe Bryant, Mickael Pietrus, NBA Finals, Orlando Magic, Pau Gasol, Phil Jackson, Shaquille O'Neal, Stan Van Gundy, Twitter