Does anyone remember this quote, “If Kobe doesn’t see he needs 2 good players to be a legitimate playoff contender or win a championship in about a year or two, he’ll be calling out to (Lakers owner) Jerry Buss that, ‘We need some help in here,” or, ‘Trade me.’ And we’ll all be saying, ‘I told you so,’ when he says that.”

It was Ray Allen back in 2004, right after Shaq was traded to the Heat. Actually, some might say when Kobe traded Shaq to the Heat, but we’ll leave that for you to decide.

Could Ray have been more spot on? Before this season started didn’t Kobe say, “We need some help in here,” and “Trade me?” Indeed he did. But Kobe wants to win and despite what people think about his actions, he made it happen.

Kobe and the Lakers will be in Boston tonight for Game 1 of the NBA Finals. And you better believe that Ray wants to give it to Kobe and Kobe wants to give it to Ray. ‘Give it’ meaning in a pure basketball manner. Enjoy the game!