Rule #8: It's not over until the fat lady sings

The fat lady sang for the Bulls and Heat yesterday.


And she might be warming up for another performance for the Oklahoma City Thunder after last night's demolishing at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers.


The game ended 111-87, but if we're being honest the Thunder could have just cut their losses and hit the locker room when the Lakers took a 10-0 lead.


I mean, why even bother dealing with the embarrassment of missing your first 13 shots when it was clear the game was over with Andrew Bynum's first dunk.


If that wasn't indication enough that a beat down was coming then maybe the inclusion of Pau Gasol in the game plan should have sent Kevin Durant and company into the fetal position.


Even more than that, if Scott Brooks, the OKC coach, had any sense of mercy for his young players he would have forfeited the moment it became clear that Kobe Bryant was going to spend more time including his teammates than throwing up ill-advised shots for no other reason than - well he's Kobe and he can.


I may not be a fan of Los Lakers, but I know this: If Gasol gets involved OR Bynum plays like the dominant big man people keep telling me he is OR Kobe remembers that he plays for the Lakers and not the one-man-show Kobes...then the Purple and Gold are dominant.


AND if all three of those things happen all together they way they did in Game 5 then the Lakers are unbeatable.


The good news for any team that might face the Lakers going forward:


The Lakers are nothing if not inconsistent.


So Laker fans, enjoy this moment while it lasts. Because this is still the same team that lost two straight to a team that has as much playoff experience as a troupe of girl scouts. It's not a matter of IF they will revert back to that team, but WHEN.


But at least then you all can go back to blaming the refs. I know how much you all love that.