The Sound of the Suburbs

"Wow, all I can say is WOW!" says Steve Martin's character when he walks into the French Rivieria palace of fellow DRS Michael Caine in one of the funniest comedies ever filmed, especially due to the "switch" scene.

If you haven't seen it, get it immediately: It is right up there with Pink Panther/Marx Bros/Laurel and Hardy for comedic genius.

Anyway, the reason this occurs to me is I just finished watching Game 4 of Lakers-Thunder, and WOW, All I Can Say is Wow!

This reminds me of Micheal Ray Richardson and the Nets beating Dr. J and the reigning champ Sixers in the best of five in 1984. Now, of course, we're looking at a best of seven. But after Saturday

night, Laker Nation is petrified.

Kobe, the best baller on the planet, took, what, three shots in the first half? Bynum and Gasol got the ball inside but the presence of Serge Ibaka shadowed them. Lamar made a couple of shots but he is a loser fair and square. Fish knocked down a few but he is aging, and neither Farmar nor Brown can fill the void (calling Michael Redd, Mitch K), and blondie freak Artest is just a bust, a clear downgrade from Trevor Ariza, although I doubt he would have made much a diff against this exciting, electric, youthful OKC Squad.

This is why we watch sports.

This is why the NBA is one of the best games in town.

It's down to a two-outta-three, and LA will be heavily favored, but the planets are aligning in Thunder favor.

They are athletic, healthy young and fearless. LA is dinged up, weathered and needs to reach deep down to dispatch this new gang who are like The Clash taking London by storm. And even if the Lakers prevail, they are looking at SAS in the next round, with a healthy triumvirate of Duncan/Parker/Manu (does this guy care about a broken nose? NO) and Dice, Jefferson, Hill, Blair to boot.

LA will not repeat.

I am rooting for OKC to go all the way and shock the world. Such an event would remind us why sports is physical genius; unpredictable, exotic, exciting.

Serge Ibaka is God in the new paradigm. Take it to the rock and slam LA out of business.

And woe is Kobe. He is the ultimate warrior, but he is dinged up. I could feel more compassion for him if he wasn't such a ... dick.

Last add: ESPN hoop analyst Doris Burke is not only the best female analyst ever but is as good as any man calling NBA ball on TV. She makes Jeff Van Gundy look like, uh, Jeff Van Gundy. She is a rock star: cogent, dispassionate, opinionated, provocative, loose. You go, Doris, GO!