Los Angeles Lakers Video: Watch Pau Gasol Respond To Amare Stoudemire

One of the more talked about NBA stories in recent days has nothing to do with anything on the court, but rather the comments made by New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire. He referred to Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol as a "soft" player.

Stoudemire made the comments at a Foot Locker store in Midtown.

Here is the exact quote, as it appeared in a Youtube video:

"Nah, he's still soft," Stoudemire said, "but he's a good player, you know what I mean. But he has also help. He has help down there with Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynu, those seven footers down there. So he has a supporting cast."

I think it's hilarious that a guy who is afraid to play defense and get physical with anyone is talking about another player being soft.

Stoudemire plays well on the offensive side of the ball, but he's as soft as anyone on the defense.

Gasol's two championship rings probably help him sleep a little better at night, too.

I like that Gasol said it was "jealousy" because that's what this whole thing boils down to.

The Lakers are one of the best teams in basketball, and they are going to contend for an NBA championship once the playoffs start.

The Knicks are going to get into the playoffs, but only because the Eastern Conference is so weak after the top-four teams.

They aren't going to win a playoff series playing the kind of basketball that they play, and Stoudemire should know that.