Hans Deryk / Reuters

Shaquille O'Neal is still playing, and Kobe Bryant isn't, which must bother the Lakers star, writes columnist Michael Ventre.

Shaq’s Heat, however, are further along in the process than Kobe’s Lakers. That should remain so for at least the next two or three seasons.

The tandem of Shaq and Dwyane Wade should remain formidable no matter which players form their supporting cast. The idea that Shaq is fading is both true and false; yes, he’s not the player he once was, but no, he’s not going anywhere soon. As long as a team is willing to throw gobs of money at him — and there always will be a market for an experienced and mighty big man — Shaq will play until he’s 40, and maybe beyond. Of course he won’t be as effective, but he’ll still be valuable in the postseason when it counts.

Kobe and the Lakers had a fine season, given the dreck on their roster, but the credit for that goes to Phil Jackson. Yes, Kobe had an MVP-caliber year. But if you remove Jackson from the equation, the Lakers don’t make the playoffs.

Jackson just finished the first year of a three-year deal. There’s no guarantee he’ll even finish out this contract, let alone re-up for another hitch after it. That means the Lakers will have to seriously upgrade their roster if they want to at least maintain the level of success they’re experiencing under Jackson, and they have no cap room until 2008. Even with some offseason tweaking, the Lakers in the next two to three years have “first-round exit” written all over them.

And a championship for these current Kobe-led Lakers? Because of the resurgence of the Clippers, right now the Lakers would be hard-pressed to win the championship of their own city.

If the Miami Heat does go on to win the 2006 NBA championship, expect Shaq to proclaim that it represents his most satisfying of the four. He’ll say that over and over again, to anyone who asks, in case word is slow reaching the West Coast.

And expect Kobe to look for new distractions to keep his mind off it. He’ll need them.

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Scrappy 76ers force Game 7

A balanced offensive and defensive attack combined with some dreadful shooting by the Boston Celtics helped the Philadelphia 76ers avoid elimination and force a deciding Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 82-75 victory Wednesday night.

Jesse D. Garrabrant / Getty Images Contributor

CSN: 76ers show 'no fear' in win  |  Highlights

CSN: The young and inexperienced 76ers showed no fear with their backs against the wall in Game 6 and earned a final shot against the Celtics on Saturday for a berth into the Eastern Conference finals.

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