ON THE MARK.

KOBE AND DWIGHT.  TEAMMATES WHO HATE EACH OTHER.
Whenever I hear of the ongoing rift between Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard on the L.A. Lakers, I can't help but think of the battling Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam, from the British band "Oasis".    Seriously.
When Kobe complains that Howard doesn't work hard enough and should "get his ass in the game", it reminds me of what likely went on backstage just as Oasis was about to play.  
NOEL:  We're going to start with "Wonderwall" and then we'll play "Champagne Supernova"
LIAM:  Screw you!  I say we should go with "Lyla" to start, and then segue into "Don't look back in anger".
NOEL:  I'm the eldest, I know better.  We do it my way.
LIAM:  Mom always liked you best! (trashes dressing room, shotguns a bottle of Jack Daniels, refuses to go on stage)
Now, consider the scenario in the Lakers dressing room these days.
KOBE:  We're going to start with the fast-break.  Dwight, make sure you get your sorry ass downcourt.
DWIGHT:  Why should I listen to you, old man?  Coach wants to go with the pick n roll, so just get me the ball and then head to the basket.
KOBE:  Look, you're just a rental player for one year. I've been a Laker for life.
DWIGHT: (angrily) Oh yeah, well they don't call me "Superman" for nothing. (Steve Nash steps in between the two as Howards storms out of the dressing room in search of his cape)
      Now, I admit it.   I honestly thought the Los Angeles Lakers were going to make a serious run at a title this year.  They went out and signed Howard.  They signed Nash.  Kobe might be the greatest of all time, or at least on par with Michael Jordan.   Too bad they didn't have the right coach.   And now that Mike D'Antoni has replaced Mike Brown, they still don't have the right coach.  Last night they were blown out in Boston, and something's gotta give in La La land or it's all going to blow up real good.  For a team that was supposed to contend for a title, the Lakers will be lucky to make the playoffs.  Let's face it, the window of opportunity is closing fast.  In two years, this team will look entirely different.
   The Kobe-Dwight relationship never had a chance, and the sooner they're separated, the better off the Lakers will be.   After yesterday's humiliation in Boston, Kobe was asked by a reporter if he and Dwight were on the same page. ""What page is there to be on? Defend. Rebound, I mean what else is on the page?"
OK, the Gallagher brothers weren't always on the same page, but they made it work.  8 number one singles in the U.K. to go with 8 number one albums.   But the sibling disputes and their petty differences tore the group apart.   In Kobe's case, this was his team before Howard came along, and if Dwight isn't willing to do what it takes, he can hit the highway.   In Howard's defense, a bulging disk in his back and a torn labrum have slowed him considerably, and he's just not the same dominant player he was in the past.   Last night he was a non-factor against Boston, and fouled out after 28 minutes. 
    On paper, the Lakers looked awfully tough when the season began, but now they just look old and slow and hurt and tired.  Pau Gasol is out 6-8 weeks, Metta World Peace has been awful, shooting 26% over his last five games, and Steve Nash is 39 years old and cannot be depended on to play a lot of high energy minutes.  It says here that the Lakers will trade Howard before the February 21st deadline.   The question is:  Who wants him, and what can you possibly get for the guy?   If you were to ask Kobe, he'd probably be happy with a second round draft pick and a bag of Kryptonite.