Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

It’s obvious in retrospect that the LA Lakers have major chinks in their armor, after getting swept aside in the 2011 NBA playoffs. But the signs were there even before the Dallas Mavericks broke out the brooms.

The New Orleans Hornets limped into the playoffs going 11-10 over the final 6 weeks of the regular season. The mighty defending champion Lakers should have beat them down like a Stern red-headed step-child.

Instead, Chris Paul dropped a triple-double on em to tie the series at two apiece, setting the stage for the eventual champs, prompting the following tribute to CP3 from yours truly.

When you think of the Lakers you think of a multi-headed monster.

And Chris Paul nearly put down the dragon by his lonesome like some modern basketball knight in shining, powder-blue armor.

(Closer look at his weapon of choice)

Touche, LA.