Last night's game seven between the Lakers and Celtics is quite possibly the ugliest thing of beauty I've ever seen.

Statistically, that was L.A.'s worst game in two years, as it won, 83-79, despite shooting 32.5 percent from the floor.

Surprisingly, the one Laker who played well is the one who should be on a steady supply of meds: Ron Artest, who chipped in with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals, along with several great quotes after the game.

The win leaves the Lakers just one title behind Boston, 17-16, for most in league history.

The game has also left a lot of questions to be answered.

Which is the greatest franchise in NBA history?
Although the Lakers trail the Celtics in number of titles, a strong case can be made that L.A. is home to the best franchise in the history of the league.

The Lakers have appeared in the Finals 31 times to Boston's 21. While Boston has a far superior record in those Finals series - 17-4 vs. 16-15 for the Lakers, Los Angeles has been more of a consistent winner. Eleven of the Celtics 17 titles came before 1970, while the Lakers have won titles in 5 different decades and dominated three of those - the 1950s, 80s and 2000s.

Boston also endured a 22-year title drought from 1986 to 2008. Los Angeles' worst stretch lasted 17 years from 1955-72. The Celtics made the final round once during that dry spell (1987), while the Lakers appeared in eight championship series during theirs (1959, 62, 63, 65, 66, 68-70).

L.A. has also missed the postseason just five times in 62 seasons, while Boston has failed to make the playoffs 16 times in 64 seasons. The Lakers also have the most wins in league history (2,970) and the highest winning percentage (.617).

Is Phil Jackson the greatest coach of all time?
Here's Phil's resume: 11 titles (more than any other coach); a .700 win percentage in the regular season and the playoffs; thirteen Finals appearance in 19 years as a head coach.

Compare that with legendary UCLA coach John Wooden, who didn't win his first title until his 16th season in Westwood; or revered Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who didn't hoist his first trophy until his seventh season in Boston. Scotty Bowman, of NHL coaching fame and nine Stanley Cup titles, lost in the championship round three times before winning his first title. Jackson has only lost twice in 13 appearances in the NBA Finals.

Even greater than that has been Jackson's ability to manage egos. His two greatest players, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, are two of the most egomaniacal, bull-headed people on the planet. At points in both of their careers, Jordan and Bryant were known as players who only cared about themselves, yet Jackson has been able to get them to focus on the greater goal (most of the time), allowing the two to reach great heights. He's also been able to corral two of the stranger people in the history of sports: Dennis Rodman and Ron Artest, who passed Rodman on the "crazy-o-meter" last night.

Is Pau Gasol destined for the Hall of Fame?
Prior to joining the Lakers in February 2008, Gasol led the Memphis Grizzlies to the playoffs three straight seasons in the middle part of the decade. That should be enough to answer that question right there.

Since joining L.A., Gasol has been the second best player on two title teams, adding toughness and grit to his game in the process. Gasol has made two all-NBA third teams the last two seasons, averaging about 18 points, 10 board and 1.5 blocks in 2008-09 and 2009-10. His career averages of 18 and 9 are better than Hall of Famers Kevin McHale and Dave DeBusschere. He's tied with DeBusschere in the championship department and one behind McHale.

His offensive skillset, coupled with his awesome passing ability and that newfound grit make Gasol the best big man in the league today; and, unless Dwight Howard starts watching old VHS tapes of David Robinson, Gasol will keep that title for the foreseeable future.

What happens to the Celtics now?
Three of Boston's top four players (Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce) have a combined 40 years of playing experience. The team's best post defender (Rasheed Wallace, who has 15 years in the league under his belt) may retire. Allen and Pierce are free agents this summer. Kendrick Perkins, the Celtic's starting center, tore two ligaments in his right knee early in game 6 of the Finals. And head coach Doc Rivers may not return to the sidelines next season.

Boston brass has a lot of decisions to make this offseason. The team has - if Pierce decides to exercise his more than $21.5 million player option - more than $63 million tied into six players. The Celtics could use the mid-level exception, slated to be around $6 million for 2010-11, to sign a player, but it looks like Boston's roster will look the same as it did last night. Pierce will be a priority, as could Allen, but Allen would likely be offered a deal of no more than two years and $10-$12 million.

Rivers is the wild card here. He has said he'd like to spend more time with his family and be able to watch his sons, Austin and Jeremiah, play college basketball. Rivers, however, has one year and $5.5 million left on his contract. If the team believes it can make another deep playoff run, why wouldn't he come back? But some things are more important than money.

Where does Kobe Bryant rank among the all-time greats
Baseball measures it's greats by stats. Football determines legends by Super Bowl titles. Basketball seems to be the only one of the major American sports that takes both of those things into consideration when choosing who belongs among the best ever.

Despite Kobe Bryant's horrid shooting performance in Game 7, Bryant belongs in the discussion of greatest players of all time. It'll be tough for him to crack the top spot - Michael Jordan's butt is super glued to that seat - but Bryant can make a case for the top 5.

He has as many titles (5) as Magic Johnson, who I rank at No. 2. He has more titles than Larry Bird (3), Wilt Chamberlain (2) and Tim Duncan (4), who I had at Nos. 4, 6, and 7, respectively, prior to the start of the Finals. The win brought Bryant's record in the Finals to 5-2, while Magic finished 5-4 and Bird went 3-2. His offensive numbers are better than Magic's, Duncan's and Bill Russell's (No. 3 on my list).

Bryant's 12 all-NBA selections (8 first-team honors) trail only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6th on my list), who was tabbed 15 times; Karl Malone and Shaquille O'Neal (14 selections) and Tim Duncan (13). And, defensively, he's light years ahead of Magic and Bird, reflected by his 10 all-defensive team selections.

Yes, I know he took Game seven against Phoenix off in the first round of the 2006 Finals. But people act like he's the first star to do something of the sort. Chamberlain asked out of Game 7 of the 1969 Finals, with 5 minutes left, because of an injury. You can bet that, so close to the ultimate goal, Bryant would play on one leg.

Many people (still) contend Bryant ran Shaq out of L.A. in 2004. Kobe doesn't sign any checks or make any personnel decisions. And I think it's safe to say the team's decision to stick with Bryant has paid off.

While Bryant at times frustrated Jackson to no end, he's no coach killer. It's been said that Magic Johnson wanted his first pro coach, Paul Westhead fired. It's also been speculated that Johnson wanted out of L.A. at some point in the first five years of his career. It's been said that Jordan played a key role in getting Doug Collins ousted after the 1989 season.

Several people have said "Kobe never won a thing without Shaq." Well, Abdul-Jabbar never won without Magic or Oscar Robertson. Jordan never won without Pippen. Bird never won without McHale and Robert Parish. It's a proven fact you need more than one top-flight player to win a title, so this is a moot point.

When you put personal feelings aside - and I know that's hard for people to do with Kobe - you realize just how great he is. His work ethic is only second to Jordan's. He's added new moves to his arsenal nearly every season he's been in the league. Last summer, he worked out with Hakeem Olajuwon (No. 13 on my list of all-time greats) to improve his post game. Doesn't that sound like something Dwight Howard or LeBron James should do?

Former Blazer and Celtics great Bill Walton in a book I finished reading a few months ago made a great point about Bryant. He said that while Kobe may not win the way people want him to, he still wins. Winning is the most important thing to Bryant, Walton added, so why does it matter how he wins as long as he gets it done?

So how would I rank the 10 best players of all time, one day after one of them eclipsed another career milestone?

1. Michael Jordan
2. Magic Johnson
3. Bill Russell
4. Larry Bird
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
7. Wilt Chamberlain
8. Tim Duncan
9. Oscar Robertson
10.Jerry West

At 31 years old, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, in 14 seasons, has blossomed into one of the eight best players in the history of the NBA.

His career has been the epitome of "roller coaster ride:" winning the Slam Dunk Contest his rookie season; throwing up airballs in the playoffs against Utah in '98; his relationship with Shaquille O'Neal; winning three titles in a row from 2002-02; facing rape allegations in 2003 and watching his "Q" rating fall faster than Lindsay Lohan's after coach Phil Jackson took a sabbatical and Bryant "ushered" O'Neal out of L.A. supposedly.

But the shine has returned to Bryant's star the last three seasons, as he earned his first regular-season MVP award in 2008. He's also led the Lakers to three straight NBA Finals, something that hasn't been done since Bryant's Lakers accomplished it in 2000-02.

Bryant also won his fourth NBA title in 2009, answering a number of questions in the process: Could he win without Shaq? Could he lead a team to a ring?

But questions still remain for Bryant. Those could be answered in the next two weeks, as Bryant and his squad tangle for the 12th time in the Finals with the Boston Celtics, which hold a 9-2 advantage in the series.

What if the Lakers win their 16th title?
-Bryant will have earned his fifth ring, tying him with greats such as Magic Johnson and George Mikan. He would be just one behind Scottie Pippen, Bob Cousy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and some dude named Jordan.
-He will have brought L.A. within one title of Boston (17 to 16) for most all time. The Lakers would be in good position to pass the Celtics sooner than later, too.
-Phil Jackson, without a contract for next season, would return to Los Angeles.
-Bryant's record in the Finals will go to 5-2. Johnson's was 5-4.
-Bryant's next 30-point playoff game would give him 76, placing him second all time ahead of Abdul-Jabbar and behind Jordan.
-Bryant will supplant Tim Duncan as the seventh best player in League history.
-The "is he as good as Jordan" talk will (foolishly) continue.

What if Bryant isn't able to best the Celtics?
-Bryant will be 5-4 in the Finals, 1-2 as The Man. Comparisons with Peyton Manning will start.
-Bryant turns 32 in August. He won't have many more shots at championship glory - or at moving up the Greatest of All Time ladder.
-Jackson may retire if he thinks the door is closed on L.A.'s title chances.
-He will have never beaten his franchises greatest rival for anything substantial.
-The "is he as good as Jordan" talk will (finally) cease.

Has there ever been so much on the line for one athlete? You'd think that, at 14 years in, Bryant's place in history would be secure. But when you become apart of any "greatest ever" argument, questions are always abound.

From what I know about Kobe, all of things are on his mind and will remain on his mind until this series is over. Anybody would fold under that type of pressure. But Bryant isn't just anybody. He's playing the best playoff basketball of his career.

It's almost like a revenge tour. By sweeping Utah, and knocking the Jazz out of the postseason for the third season in a row, Bryant exorcised the demons left by those airballs he put up in the Delta Center in 1998.

By vanquishing Phoenix, Bryant finally bested the squad that knocked his Lakers out of the playoffs in 2006 and 2007 - the only two seasons a Jackson-led team failed to get passed the first round.

And by beating Boston, Kobe and his teammates will be able to (somewhat) erase the memory of a 39-point beatdown in the clincher in 2008.

I say it happens.

Lakers in 6.

I realized something during the Basketball Hall of Fame inductions last Friday night - other than the fact that Michael Jordan had a Mike Tyson/Rickey Henderson moment during his entire speech.

The NBA, the league I have loved since I knew what it meant to dribble, needs to establish its own Hall of Fame.

The NFL has its own, in Canton, Ohio. The National Baseball Hall of Fame inducts only individuals who played professionally (There's a College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, TX). The College Basketball Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 2006.

So why on the night where the Greatest Player of All Time and one of the hardest working coaches of all time (Jerry Sloan), along with David Robinson and John Stockton, are being enshrined, do they have to share that moment with a women's basketball coach?

Nothing against C. Vivian Stringer, but she did not belong in that Hall Class.

I understand the impact she has had on the women's game. She's in the top 3 in all-time wins. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993. She even has an award named after her - The C. Vivian Stringer Medallion Award of Sport for Women's Coaching, handed out for the first time in 2002. But I'm not sure if 20 percent of those in attendance at last Friday's ceremonies know who Stringer is. That number would probably smaller if not for Don Imus and the events of spring 2007, where the radio host used some colorful language to describe some of the players on Stringer's Rutgers squad.

I'm not trying to downplay Stringer's accomplishments, because there are some males who don't deserve to be in the Basketball Hall, either. There are 13 referees in the Hall, along with the likes of Mirko Novosel, who coached Yugoslavia to medals in the 1976 and 84 Summer Olympics.

Sure, those people should be recognized, but to have them share busts with the likes on Jerry West and Magic Johnson seems absurd. Honor them through TV coverage during the enshrinement ceremonies. Educate people on their impact and accomplishments, but having Bob Houbregs (University of Washington star and All-American in the 50s who played a whopping FIVE YEARS and 9.7 minutes/game in the NBA) enshrined with Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird is like giving Vin Diesel a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and putting it between Marlon Brando and Sidney Poitier.

Get this right, Commissioner Stern I don't wanna see LeBron James and Dwayne Wade inducted alongside John Tesh...even though he composed the best theme music for anything EVER (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_h7Lm7C9Nk).

On Friday night in Springfield, Mass., the greatest athlete of my lifetime will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

In the last 25 years, Michael Jeffrey Jordan has done more for one sport (outside of Tiger Woods) than any other athlete.

He, along with Magic and Bird, made the NBA "mainstream." He showed that black males could be marketed effectively. He had a tireless work ethic. He was cold-blooded. He won. A lot.

My affection for Jordan began at an odd time. It was the spring of 1989. I was 8 years old and the Chicago Bulls had been pitted against the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons in one of the most physical playoff series on record. Each time Jordan would drive to the cup, somebody (Rodman, Salley, Laimbeer) would knock him to the crowd. My cousin, who I watched all the games with, would bust out laughing when Jordan would start wincing in pain (that pain is said to have spawned the "Jordan Rules" and paved the way for the "Superstar Call.").

"What's so funny about that," I'd ask.

"(Jordan) thinks he's the @#%$. He needs to be knocked on his @*&," she answered.

"Well, that's not what basketball is. And based on your, and the crowd at the stadium's reaction, he must be really, REALLY good. I don't think you'd be so excited if that was Will Perdue on the ground."

"Get outta here, boy," she ordered.

I was hooked after that.

I read up on Jordan. So much to the point that I am now a walking Michael Jordan encyclopedia.

I had my mom buy me an "I wanna be like Mike" T-shirt.

I had an aunt buy me a red, replica "Bulls 23" jersey for Christmas one year.

I drank Citrus Cooler Gatorade every day for a two-year period.

I cried like Adam Morrison the day, in October 1993, Jordan announced his first retirement.

I refuted any argument that the retirement was an 18-month suspension for gambling (I've since backed down on that stance).

I compiled a collection of at least 150 Jordan cards.

At one point, I had almost every Bulls game from 1996-98 on VHS. Had I been smart enough to keep those tapes, I would have worn the DVDs out by now.

I hated the comeback with the Wizards for one reason and one reason alone: not even Mark Twain could have written a better ending than the one in '98 in Utah.

All basketball fans, even those who despised Jordan, have more than a couple of memories of the 6'6" guard from North Carolina. So at some point this weekend, pay homage to the Greatest Of All Time. Buy "Come Fly With Me" off Amazon. com. Watch a couple of the hundred hours of programming NBATV is showing this week. Drink a Citrus Cooler Gatorade. Sing the song from that silly commercial.

"Sometimes I dream..."