TSN basketball analyst Jack Armstrong is back to start the week with five quick thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers incomparable Kobe Bryant, the resurgent (and healthy) Oklahoma City Thunder, the Sacramento Kings decision to fire Mike Malone, David West and the struggling Indiana Pacers and December 15, the day when this past summers free agent crop can be traded. 1. KOBE BRYANT (Lakers): Hes #3 on the all-time scoring list. Let me say it right off the bat, Id take Michael Jordan any day over him, yet I have tons of respect for what hes accomplished. Kobes an incredible competitor and scorer and, in his prime, an outstanding defender, who had the flair for the dramatic. Its a shame that his career is winding down on such a lousy team. 2. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: Here they come! The Thunder has won six in a row and are a half-game out of the final playoff spot in the brutal West. Ask yourself this: if youre a top-three seed and youre looking at the standings, arent you dreading the fact that you might have to play this team in the first round? Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are back and theyll be fun to watch these last four months. 3. MIKE MALONE (Kings): In the category of You cant make this nonsense up, he gets fired? What a strange story. This guy is one of the bright young minds in the game and has done a pretty solid job of making a dysfunctional team better. A playoff team? No way. Lots of flaws? You betcha. Fired? Yes. What a wacky business this is. I dont care what you read or hear, this is another example of why certain franchises rarely figure it out. 4. DAVID WEST (Pacers): Watching him on Friday night against the Toronto Raptors, I looked at him and said, He deserves better. Its been a rough year for Indy and hes had to battle back from injury, yet he keeps after it. Hes a no-frills guy, but I respect his game. West is a total pro. 5. DECEMBER 15: Today marks the day that guys who signed free agent contracts last summer can be start to be moved. Theres lots of speculation with Carmelo Anthony and Lance Stephenson already and Im sure other names will surface. At a boring time of year in the season, this sure keeps things interesting. People begin to realize that it isnt working out and its time for change. The reality is, its never particularly fun when youre paying a guy tons of money and hes not making a big enough difference. Authentic Jerseys For Sale . -- Billy Donovans bench came up big, bailing out top-seeded Florida in a tight game against what was supposed to be an overmatched opponent. Stitched Jerseys For Sale . The union filed a grievance late Thursday, one day after Goodell suspended four players who participated in bounties from 2009-11. The complaint says Goodell is prohibited from punishing players for any aspect of the case occurring before the new collective bargaining agreement was signed last August. https://www.jerseysforsalechina.com/. Weise left the arena with a splint on his wrist and underwent tests to determine whether the tendon is torn. Winger Travis Moen will also miss some time after suffering a concussion in Mondays contest. Discount Jerseys For Sale . The Spanish champions decision not to sign a defender during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where former Spain coach Luis Aragones -- who previously coached the Catalan side -- was honoured after his death on Saturday. Wholesale Jerseys For Sale . In an interview with La Presse this week, the five-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time NHL scoring leader specifically took aim at wingers Thomas Vanek and Max Pacioretty, saying they cant show up in a 7-4 win over the New York Rangers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final and come up empty in Game 6.BEREA, Ohio -- Johnny stretched. Johnny ran. Johnny passed. Johnny talked. With all eyes -- well, at least the ones allowed to watch him -- on quarterback Johnny Manziel, the most hyped college player to enter the NFL in years took his first steps with the Browns, who havent promised Johnny Football anything other than a chance to win a starting job. And thats cool with him. "Im a rookie," Manziel said. "I need to earn my place. I need to earn my keep. Nothing here needs to be handed to me. I dont need to be treated based off what I did in the past, because that doesnt mean a thing at this level." The former Texas A&M quarterback, who oozes swagger every moment hes on the field, is participating in Clevelands rookie minicamp this weekend along with its other draft picks and unsigned free agents. Browns first-year coach Mike Pettine restricted access to Saturdays workout, which was held inside because of rainy weather, to local media members. Sundays practice is closed. Pettine was on the Jets coaching staff when popular quarterback Tim Tebow joined the team and wants to control "Manzielmania" as best he can. "Were well aware of the persona. Were well aware of what it brings," Pettine said. "Were excited about it. Its something that were very willing to have come here, knowing that he has a chance to make us a better football team and a better franchise." Pettine added that he knows the decision to limit access will "ruffle some feathers." "Ill apologize in advance for that, but what were tasked as a staff to do is do whats best for the football team," he said. Wearing a red No. 2 jersey, Manziel stretched with his teammates as Jay-Zs "Public Service Announcement" boomed through the speakers in the field house. With Browns owner Jimmy Haslam on the sideline, Manziel made a few handoffs and threw three short passes before the session was closed after 15 minutes. Manziel later answered questions for 10 minutes before the interview was stopped by a member of the teams media relations staff. Manziel tried to clear up one story about how he wound up with the Browns, whose long-suffering fans hope his arrival can turn around their woeful franchise. Cleveland passed on him earlier in the draft before trading up to take him at No.dddddddddddd22. On Thursday, quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains revealed during a radio interview that Manziel sent him a text message during last weeks draft, urging the team to pick him. Loggains claimed the text read: "Hurry up and draft me because I want to wreck this league together." Manziel confirmed he exchanged texts with Loggains, but said the one in which he claimed he would "wreck this league" may have been exaggerated. "I dont know if thats exactly word for word," he said. "It was something along those lines." He explained he didnt mean he was going to dominate as a rookie, just that he wanted to help the Browns win games. "Whenever it is I get a chance to play, I dont want to come in and be mediocre," he said. As for his desire to join the Browns, Manziel said that was true. "This was a place I felt comfortable with," he said. "I liked the situation here and I wanted to come here, and if they wanted to take me and were trying to get me earlier, I said, Lets do it. I dont know what kind of influence that had or what exactly that did." Pettine told Manziel that if he wants to start hes going to have to beat out Brian Hoyer, who made three starts last year before a knee injury ended his season. Manziel said he understands hes nothing special -- not yet. "I was completely OK with hearing that from everybody," he said. "I dont want to come in and have anything handed to me that I dont deserve." Manziel was humbled long before the Browns took him. "I got passed up 21 times, so that says something," he said. As for meshing with his new teammates, Manziel is fitting right in. Offensive lineman Joe Bitonio, a second-round pick, said there was a moment of awe when he walked into the locker room and realized his locker was next to Manziels. "At first I was like, Man, thats Johnny Manziel," Bitonio said. "And then once you get to know him, hes a normal guy." On the field, Manziel has already made an impression. "Amazing," running back Terrance West said. "Hes Manziel, right? Everybody knows Johnny Manziel. He makes plays. He makes big plays. Hes a great player." But right now, hes only Johnny Rookie. ' ' '