Extra! Extra! (4.4)
First of all, enough with the rain. This is Southern freakin' California. At Lakers Blog, we are officially over this bush league weather. Someone's gonna be on notice if it doesn't stop.
With that out of the way, onto the news.
Bernie Bickerstaff is Bernie Bickering with Phil Jackson (thankfully his name isn't Bernie Sampson, or we couldn't make those little jokes). His message? People who live in glass houses, or write tell all books that may have violated the trust of his players, shouldn't throw stones. Regardless of whether or not he deserved it, Rush is now a free agent and may be an offseason target for the Lakers. Is that a good idea? Review his stats for yourself and decide. Because L.A. doesn't have much money to spend this offseason, Rush would by definition have to come cheap, which shouldn't be too big an issue considering he just got waived by the Bobcats.
The Lakers face three consecutive tests in Denver, Phoenix, and the Clippers, and Jackson would like to win at least two.
Peter Vescey thinks the Zen Master should be in the Hall of Fame. We're looking up to see if T.J. Simers said something nice about Jackson, too. Put them together and it could tear the fabric of time and space. At the very least, it could explain all the rain.
Some things to look for heading into the playoffs, including a note about a potential Lakers-Suns series. More playoff talk from ESPN.com's Daily Dime. The Lakers have found a (relatively) cozy spot in Marc Stein's Power Rankings. Now that the tournament's over, it's a good time to check in on the '06 draft.
MVP Voting isn't all about numbers, but numbers definitely matter. Here are some that tell at least part of Kobe's season story.
Non Basketball Item of the Day: Here's one reason we're glad at baseball games, we sit in the press box and not by the field. Don't want to get hit by errant syringes.
(photo by Dan Levine/EPA)
Amen on the rain thing, enough! As far as the bickering goes, I tend to agree with Bernie. Though I like PJ as a coach, his arrogant and condescending attitude get old quick.
Posted by: Gerry B | April 04, 2006 at 09:32 AM
p.s
Doesn't change the fact that, as long as he's the Lakers coach I'll be behind him all the way. And yes. he belongs in the hall. No brainer.
Posted by: Gerry B | April 04, 2006 at 09:33 AM
Bickerstaff is a sad sorry coach and GM. For a long time he's been a part of losing. He's your prototypical loser in the NBA. Somehow, this guy always finds his way onto the sidelines and his team proceeds to find ways to lose.
His cutting of Kareem Rush was about as stupid as Mitch K's original cut of Rush. Rush is a solid player. A guy who can give you 30 on any given night. I think Mitch's biggest mistake as GM was getting rid of Rush. Now it's time to fix that mistake. Get Rush back in a Laker uniform.
Posted by: Rocky | April 04, 2006 at 09:34 AM
MY PLAYOFF ROTATION
Starters
SG: Kobe Bryant
PG: Smush Parker
SF: Lamar Odom
PF: Ronny Turiaf (I would go with defense here)
C: Kwame Brown
Bench
SG: Jim Jackson/Devean George (depending on the flow of the game) (I trust JJ’s shooting more than I do Sasha’s)
PG: Aaron McKie
SF: Devean George/Luke Walton (depending on the flow of the game)
PF: Brian Cook/Luke Walton (depending on the flow of the game)
C: Chris Mihm
C: Bynum
Green, and Sasha need to learn more before they can get big playoff minutes.
I would use this as my rotation. But I would make sure that either Kobe or Lamar are on the floor at all times. I like the idea of Mihm and Cook coming off the bench to doing some scoring. As long as either Kobe or Lamar are on the floor these two would work great from the bench. It would be just like having the team’s established starters on the floor from the bench. The gamble is Turiaf giving us solid ball from the 4 spot. Having Bynum as a 3rd option allows us to play aggressive ball! If Turiaf, Brown, Mihm, and Cook give hard fouls we can get away with it with Bynum as the 3rd option. Or when we need to give a hard foul in the post we can insert Bynum to do it. Rotating Turiaf, Brown, Mihm, from the 4 and the 5 spot gives us a lot of flexibility. If PJ has been holding McKie back for the playoff, I have to say, that is a brilliant move on his part. How do you like that? With a 100% fresh McKie coming off the bench for the playoffs, wow! This could really work.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | April 04, 2006 at 09:34 AM
Ughh, I hate how everyone is writing off the Lakers in the first round against the Suns...cannot wait till Friday......what is even the point of the Suns? They will never win a championship with their type of play...just keep racking up those 60 win seasons and bowing out in the playoffs...
"The D shall set them free!"
Posted by: L | April 04, 2006 at 09:35 AM
Statistical analysis blows when it doesn't back up what you believe. I hate John Hollinger.
Posted by: KB8 Fan | April 04, 2006 at 09:38 AM
If we can get back Kareem Rush this offseason, then we should. His agent has said if PJ wanted him then they are interested. He would be a great backup to Kobe or could even start if Phil makes either one into a SF and allows Odom to get back to PF. And although we all like Laron Profit, he wouldn't be as profitable as Rush. Mitch get Rush back. That way if he don't work hard enough again then we can get 2 2nd Round Picks again. If we do get him, we just stole a whole lot from Charlotte since we got 2 of their draft picks and yet later on got him back.
Posted by: arthas (Tom Brady) | April 04, 2006 at 09:41 AM
I was never really impressed with Kareem Rush. But who know, maybe he can help this ball club. I have no idea on that. As for the Bernie comments; I guess he has a right to be angry at PJ, PJ doesn't know what Kareem was doing over there. Did Kareem dial it in? Was he just not happy as a Bobcat? Probably, but it's over now. No matter what, Bernie should at least remember that PJ makes 10 million a year. That is credible. Bernie was just angry that his authority was being questioned by an outsider. Why shouldn't PJ question Kareem's situation? He's one of our kids, we traded for him on his draft day. I wouldn't be surprised if we picked him up.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | April 04, 2006 at 10:02 AM
While Kareem Rush might work out for the Lakers, I am not so sure. I did check his stats - not much better than Sasha, with two more years in the league and a lot more playing time. Yes, he could be streaky and win a few games for you - we all remember his 3 pt barrage against Minnesota a couple of years back. Personally, I never thought much of his basketball IQ. He often seemed to have no clue on defense, although he does have good skills. Offensively, he only know one thing - pull up and shoot the 3. Myself, I'd rather go in another direction. If they are looking for another guard, I'd like to see us get a small, super quick point guard, that can break through defensive pressure and distribute the ball. I know Phil likes tall, long guards, but I think it helps to have a premier ball handler on your team, even if he comes off the bench.
Posted by: Roger B. | April 04, 2006 at 10:04 AM
Considering the looming series, how much do you hate watching Brian Grant run around, hitting baseline jumpers and grabbing boards for the Suns on our dime?
It's a strange business that has us worrying about spending 3mil for Rush while Grant's contributing for Phoenix for 15 Laker millions or whatever bloated figure it is. It's not NY Knicks crazy, but paying an employee to work for your main competitor would be grounds for insanity in any other biz.
Posted by: Vman | April 04, 2006 at 10:06 AM
The whole PJ/Bickerstaff situation is interesting because Jackson actually questioned Kareem's committment to the game in "The Last Season." On some level, he has to have an idea what Bickerstaff is refering to. But at the same time, I do agree that the timing does sound perhaps overly personal. I imagine this was something brewing between Rush and Bickerstaff for some time. He could have just released Rush a while back, been done with it, and allowed him to finish out the season on a roster.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | April 04, 2006 at 10:07 AM
Bah. When did Hollinger Stats become the be-all and end-all of how good a player is? OF COURSE he thinks that they are important. He created them.
Personally though, I've never been a big fan of John Hollinger in general nor his much-touted statistics in particular. I've said it before and I'll say it again...there are just to many things that his stats do NOT take into consideration.
Playing through injuries, playing on bad teams, being clutch, diving for loose balls, taking charges and a million other things.
Posted by: Jimbo | April 04, 2006 at 10:09 AM
Mike T, I like your rotation in theory. Problem is, while we know what kind of shooter JJ has been through his career, he hasn't shown that in his few opportunities this year. I think that's on Phil for not getting him on the court but I don't want to see a rusty JJ that is not in any offensive rythim. Besides, if you can get past the plaintive look on his face all the time, Sasha has been contributing well on both ends of the floor lately.
As far as McKie goes, it would be great to have his defensive intensity out there if he is healthy enough to provide it.
Posted by: Gerry B | April 04, 2006 at 10:10 AM
Vindictive is a strong word. It implies that something personal was going on. Perhaps PJ is right, I mean the timing of the thing doesn't make sense.
VMAN
Yeah, that sounds pretty crazy. Grant playing on our dime against us. Wow!
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | April 04, 2006 at 10:15 AM
Much as I respect Phil Jackson,if he hadnt written that book Id be thinking he was a godlike by now....like it or not it proved he is at best a complete hypocrite...talks about not building enough trust to win a championship then returns to the lakers and Kobe.Hes a zen buddhist who sells out a young guy who was trying to help a team win a championship (which he knew was impossible to win without him) despite a situation which would have most people ducking for cover? what did you expect Phil when the decision was made for Kobe to play? a happy camper?obviously a guy with that stuff going on is going to be difficult...all to save your own ego becasue it will go down on record that you failed to win with one of the greatest collections of talent in history.
then you go BACK to the lakers?...I was one of your biggest fans but I hoped you apologised profusely to young Mr Bryant... that book was held up a some of the most solid pieces of evidence for the haters yet and set the tone for last season...imagine going through unimaginable shit and your coach writes a book documenting every last detail....unbelievable...anybody who questions Kobes a) desire to win and b) maturity should note that he has willingly played for Phil again.Why did nobody make a bigger deal of this?
If anyone has any snippets of info that will improve my state of mind on this situation they would be greatly appreciated.Ive never been able to get my head around it.....
However with Rush I think Phil was just trying to defend one of his boys which is admirable ..he knows his opinion carries some weight
Bickerstaff just said what everyone else feels but nobody is saying.The lakers probably wont sign Rush...Phil was just trying to get him a better deal for next year... that in mind Phil hasnt really started the bargaining process well if they wnat to give him a cheap contract and Rush obviously thinks he should be a star.
Id imagine Rush was cut for decent reason though...he was one of their leading scorers before he got hurt.Hes obviously pissed someone off bad.
Finally Phils possibly the greatest coach of all time.you cant argue with his results.However I often questions his methods and certainly his integrity.
Posted by: ranter | April 04, 2006 at 10:19 AM
Roger B.,
Salient point you just made about K-Rush and what little he brings to the Lakers in terms of defense and ball-handling and passing skills.
I'm of the same mindset as you when it comes to advocating a quicker point guard with dribble penetration prowess to dish off passes to the Bigs in the low post for easy scoring opportunities a la Stevie Nash or Chris Paul.
We don't need to play into the hands of the opposing defense by playing a passive style of offense. Lakers offense need to deploy an aggressive, attacking style of offense a la PHX Suns, forcing the opposing team to become exhausted by working hard on defense. Standing behind the three-point arc and launching the 3-ball's is not exactly an attacking style of offense, but rather a lazy kind.
On the defense, K-Rush is a liability on the court. Lakers need a guard that shuffles his feet and front his man. Someone like D-Fish would fit this description.
Posted by: 12th Night | April 04, 2006 at 10:27 AM
PJ's book and Kobe, I'm not touching that one.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | April 04, 2006 at 10:31 AM
Mike...I would totally buy your theory of Mckie being held back to be fresh (lol) we all know PJ is a secretive, concealed weapon kind of guy---always has the edge at crunch time ;-) I think he's going to be a big impact come playoffs...not so much in game contributions, but in locker room, in counseling our younguns (esp pgs). Mckie is also a pretty good defender, so if nothing else, when Sasha or Smush isn't getting the job done he should be able to.
As for Rush, I've always been impressed by his offensive skills...but I'm not sure that is necessarily what we need this year, and next. We need defensive players. However if we can get him cheap for next year...then maybe (course that would mean we'd have to let someone go...so sorry AK/BK it might be Von Wafer =)
Posted by: Faith | April 04, 2006 at 10:35 AM
Question:
on the '06 draft link...it says Boston Celtics 8, then 20 (suns via lakers)...I'm confused...was 20 the pick we were all stressing about?
Posted by: Faith | April 04, 2006 at 10:37 AM
Re Bickerstaff: You have to figure that pretty much everyone who has coached in the NBA in the past 20 years is envious of PJ, and that everyone of them (except maybe Doug Collins!) is saying to himself "Sure, if I had had Michael, and then Shaq and Kobe, I would have won nine titles too!"
Posted by: exhelodrvr | April 04, 2006 at 10:40 AM
To the Ranter, "Nuff Said".
k Rush's stats suck, he is barely shooting 40 percent, with very low assist and high turnover (for the minutes he plays), why bring back rush when we will have proffit back next season? and also i bet green can jack up more shots in a short amount of time.
Posted by: The Troll | April 04, 2006 at 10:41 AM
cmon mike...I must be missing something? whole situations totally whacky
Posted by: ranter | April 04, 2006 at 10:43 AM
Hey, it's Faith.....yeeeeaaaaaahhhhhhh! You know, she's so cool!
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | April 04, 2006 at 10:45 AM
This is an exciting time for us Laker fans. With these 2 weeks of longer layoffs (and generally lax schedule down the stretch), it means the team can hunker down at the practice facility and put some more tweaks into the offense, which they've shown they're ready for with their recent solid and confident play. It also gives recent Uni-donners (ha ha) J.Jackson & McKie some practice time to work into the flow and try to get more comfortable in the system on both ends of the floor - if we can get those 2 guys contributing we become a much deeper and more experienced team. If we can get Mihm back in the next week or so and keep a healthy roster headed into the post season, we'll be in a great position to make some noise and surprise a lot of people.
Posted by: Kevin McK | April 04, 2006 at 10:45 AM
ranter,
What situation?
Posted by: Michael Teniente | April 04, 2006 at 10:47 AM
The Suns have our pick this year, while we have the Heats pick. The trade we made for Mihm we traded it to Boston, and it somehow got to Phoenix.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | April 04, 2006 at 10:49 AM
At the time, Phil's book was speaking the truth. If it wasn't, why would Kobe accept Phil back to the Lakers?
These days I see Kobe being a team type of player. In my opinion, this is because the pressure for him to conform was so intense that he had/has no choice. Part of this pressure came from Phil's book, which exposed the true problems that the Lakers were dealing with from Kobe. Fortunately for us Laker fans, most of those problems were related to a lack maturity on Kobe's part. I think Kobe took heed to the words of his coach and sought to improve upon himself as a teammate. A work in progress to this day.
At the same time, I think Phil deserves credit for the forgiveness he has shown towards Kobe. After this all went down, there was nobody except for the truest of us Laker fans that had Kobe's back. When Phil came back, he set the example of forgiveness. Now, Shaq has forgiven him. Only true playa-hatas hate Kobe now.
A book is a snippet in time and does not always reflect the present situation. At the time, Phil was speaking the truth. And I think Kobe benefitted from it.
Bickerstaff is the one with no credibility. He needs to win a few games, maybe take a team to the playoffs, maybe have a team that plays to its potential, better yet, maybe he should motivate a player instead of ridicule a player. Bickerstaff is a loser plain and simple.
Posted by: Rocky | April 04, 2006 at 10:52 AM
Faith et. al.,
Don't forget we're losing Devean this offseason, and Jim Jackson and Devin Green will also be free agents, so we'll have a few open roster spots to play with, meaning we don't necessarily have to cut anyone to pick up Kareem (or someone else) in the off-season.
Posted by: Kevin McK | April 04, 2006 at 10:54 AM
exhelodrvr...I agree thats why its cool Phils back and has taken on the task of trying to lead a team from nowhere to somewhere.It also tells me the lakers mean serious business.we are lucky to support a team with two guys who are at the top of basketball historically but their legacies are influenced so much by the next few years....I just think Bickerstaff probably thought hell I dont need a lesson on ethics from this guy
Posted by: ranter | April 04, 2006 at 10:57 AM
I think Bernie has a right to be a little ticked off at PJ's comments. It is, as he says, really none of Jackson's business. To me, this is part of the gamesmanship Jackson plays not only with players, but other coaches around the league (and an explanation into why, from many things I've read and heard, he's not the most popular guy in the coaching fraternity), and is also very good at his job.
Some of that is probably jealousy, sure, but some of it is stuff like this, where he comments on another guy's moves, especially with the words he chose. There's a certain arrogance to it, and it's outside the norm.
That said, we're talking about Kareem Rush, and a feud between the Lakers and Bobcats. Not a really big deal.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | April 04, 2006 at 10:58 AM
Faith,
We have the 26th pick, which is left over from the Shaq trade. The 20th pick is the one we sent to Boston who then sent it to Phoenix from what I remember. I'm not sure which year(s) the 2 second round picks from the Bobcats come into play, but we may have more draft picks than we need, so we could see Mitch move some of those picks or try to trade up before the draft happens.
Posted by: Kevin McK | April 04, 2006 at 10:58 AM
lol Mike
Since I don't have insider...and not to get away from the PLAYOFFS BABY! I checked out this site of the mock draft instead...interesting. I think the pick they chose for us is actually somewhat good...But Andrew Z's pick (of Rajon Rondo...is also pretty good...but out of our reach if the website is accurate)
http://www.nbadraft.net/
P.S. for those with insider...can you please post the projected Lakers picks?
Posted by: Faith | April 04, 2006 at 11:00 AM
Bernie Bickerstaff is right Phil should never counsel anyone or have nothing to say about vindictiveness because he is the poster boy in the NBA for vindictive right now with that that book.
Posted by: coxman | April 04, 2006 at 11:15 AM
Mike...PJ preaching trust,then coming into a situation where the trust was already gone,Phil wanting to come back,Kobe having him back,lakers having him back,book being written despite Phils personal connections to lakers,Pj as not only a human but a zen budhist being able to do that to someone in such a vunerable position...you dont have to answer I just think there are alot of questions we will never know the answers to...Bryant I can make excuses for (sometimes I have to try hard)but I think that book was pure indulgence and inexcusable.
Rocky.... good points but I would say that it is jacksons side of the story, Kobe will have his and hes put the book behind him becasue he knew it was the way to win...same as me (doesnt sound that way I know!) either way Kobe may have acted badly that year Ive got no doubt he did ...I would have too... but it just shouldnt have been given to the world.
Kobes situaiton makes it even worse but in any senario a coach spilling the beans on the goings on of a team is just breaking every code there is...maybe coming back was Phils way of saying sorry and helping to redeem Kobes image at the expense of his own and saying sorry to the lakers also...we will never know!
Posted by: ranter | April 04, 2006 at 11:23 AM
arthas....
Rush is not a starter except for teams like the Bobcats. he'll be coming off the bench if we sign him. I'll take bets with anyone who thinks other wise. and you seriously think Rush's a reliable starter or a better talent then Profit? we didnt give away Butler so we can have a even smaller guy at SF and still have Odom play PF. Kwame is only a good 1on1 defender. He doesnt block/alter shots. Him and Odom wont be able to handle the front court.
Posted by: the Lamar Show | April 04, 2006 at 11:29 AM
Bernie Bickerstaff is a coach who's made a living out of losing!!! It's got to be a slow Laker news week to even mention this crap!!! I'll take Phil over that clown anyday BUT I will give him some props for that "Last Season" dig. Doesn't make him a better coach but its almost like the class nerd getting in one good shot on the school bully before getting his ass whipped!!! Bickerstaff shouldn't be allowed to say that he & PJ are peers but he does have a right to defend himself.
I've read all of PJ's books and I'm praying that he's in the process of writing another one about this season!! I'd love to know what that first meeting was ike when he & Kobe met face to face in training camp. What its really like for him to have a "work in progress" squad for the first time in his NBA coaching career?!?! As a sports fan, I think it'd be an interesting read!!
AK/BK we need some practice info on the blog. Maybe an interview with the Mamba himself because we can't spend our next few days discussing the Bobcats!!!
Posted by: Mitch | April 04, 2006 at 11:29 AM
That was a good article from Peter Vescey. The coaches that he mentioned should all be in the HOF. Sloan, Riley, Rudy T., Pop and Phil have hovered above the pro basketball landscape for the last 2 decades like giants. They should be recognized for their accomplishments.
Ranter:
You made an excellent point about how Kobe's maturity and acceptance of Phil Jackson has turned what once was regarded as a major story of the NBA season into a non-issue. In his power ratings for ESPN, Mark Stein declares that it is because of the Zenmeister that the Lakers have a much better record after the All-Star break this year as opposed to last. While that is partially true, losing Kobe and Lamar for long stretches certainly contributed to the team's poor record down the stretch a year ago. I'm not surprised that one of ESPN's "experts" neglected to mention that little fact.
I also think that Phil"s comments concerning Kareem Rush are just his way of stroking Kareem and setting up his possible return to L.A. That's Phil being Phil. When you combine his smartass personality with the success that he has had, it's no wonder that he's hated by some of his fellow coaches.
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 04, 2006 at 11:30 AM
Yup hes great at his job... I always feel hes a step ahead...I kind of got used to believing there is a chess move behind everything he does...thats why I am and always will be baffled by that book...it just seems like a random act of self indulgence for a guy usually so in control...crazy
Posted by: ranter | April 04, 2006 at 11:30 AM
ranter,
I hear you, man! What's done is done. It's playoff time now and I'm feeling jacked up at the possibilities...GO LAKERS!
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | April 04, 2006 at 11:32 AM
Guys! Before, we play the Suns we have to go through Denver first. I'm really looking forward to this game. I want the Lakers to beat the $hiet out of the Nuggs. That team is as arrogant as anyteam can be. I hope Kobe or Lamar Shuts down Carmelo. ANd Kwame, lays a smack on K-Mart shopper...
Posted by: willn2win | April 04, 2006 at 11:37 AM
As for Kareem Rush, I'd take a wait and see approach to putting him back on the team. I always saw him as a guy who wanted to have his own team, not that you can call the Bobcats much of a team!! He never seemed to like coming off the bench and his "show" against Minnesota hasn't been repeated which says to me he's an underachiever!!! It's nice Phil can stand up for a player he used to coach (although he has some problems standing up for some he CURRENTLY coaches) GOD HELP ME FOR THAT OBVVIOUS DIG!!!
There will be a lot of cats waiting to come out here a be part of this repairing dynasty, we kinda look desperate waxing philosophical on the Kareem Rush era?!
Posted by: Mitch | April 04, 2006 at 11:40 AM
Don't have much to say I haven't read the latest blog post, since I just got back from welcoming my gators back home.
I just wanted to say, THE GATORS ARE THE NCAA CHAMPS BABY. Any Bruins who were talking trash about us learned what it means to be Gator bait. We beat 5 out of our 6 opponents by 12+ points baby!
That's it for my rant...The rest of my posts will be Laker related after this.
Posted by: xodus | April 04, 2006 at 11:44 AM
agreed Mike agreed!!!!45 wins and a tough effort in the playoffs and lets see people argue that Kobe doesnt make his teamates better...I honestly didnt think this team would make the playoffs at the start fot he year. By the way you called it with Kwame so now Ive got to hand it to you...
Posted by: ranter | April 04, 2006 at 11:49 AM
When PJ wrote that book, I doubt if he had any intentions of ever returning to the Lakers. He came back for 30 million reasons. If the team doesn't pan out, he's got a golden parachute that will take some of the sting out of not being able to win a 10th ring. Hey, I'm glad that Phil is coaching the team, he is a great basketball coach, plain and simple. But he is also a very shrewd and manipulative man. Let's hope he can manipulate the team to 3 victories in these next 3 games! GO LAKE SHOW GO!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 04, 2006 at 11:53 AM
ranter,
Thank you, but remember! I'm also calling a Championship this year, too.
Got to run, blog to you all later.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | April 04, 2006 at 11:54 AM
lamar show,
as much as Kwame doesn't do that, he's been doing that lately. Kwame is beginning to help out on defense and while it may not be as good as Mihm as of now, Kwame has the potential to do that. Kwame's defense has now not only to the point where he can hold his own against some of the league's best big dudes, but also now beeing able to help out. In the Hornets game, when Speedy Claxton blew threw Sasha, Kwame was there in order to block route and force Claxton to make a bad shot. Kareem may not be a starter at the SF, that I may agree on. But Rush has a bit better talent than Profit backing up Kobe. To simplify, we need a PF better than Cook. Lamar is good at the SF spot so unless we get a stellar SF, he stays at the 3. Kareem has great talent and though not as good as Kobe or even Caron Butler, he's still a better choice for a backup to Kobe than Profit would be.
Posted by: arthas (Tom Brady) | April 04, 2006 at 12:07 PM
nicely put Bronx I like to think he didnt come back for the money but I guess $30 mil is hard to argue with when you think about it...still I think its a Jordan situation he cant resist the fact that people are saying he cant do it...I respect that double or nothing attitude...and of course my latest theory...its a big walk of shame as he apologises to Jeannie and the doctor for the book
Posted by: ranter | April 04, 2006 at 12:12 PM
Congrats Exodus!!! Damn that Noah!!! And Brewer on Afflao?! Damn that was an ass kickin for sure!!! You took massive heat from the Bruin nation on the blog last week, sorry most of them can't even Man Up and post today!!!
Congrats big dawg and as a Laker fan I hope we can ride your string of winning right into the NBA playoffs!!! Being a Gator fan & a Laker fan meant no pre season hype for you on either of your teams. Hope the Lakers get some Gator pixie dust on us!
Seven blocks....wow!!!!
Posted by: Mitch | April 04, 2006 at 12:34 PM
Don't forget the 10th (and breaking championship)...I think that's just as important as 30 million...especially since this time, it would be without the "stars" people always attributed his championships solely on.
Posted by: Faith | April 04, 2006 at 12:37 PM
arthas,
i agree kwame's been playing better help defense lately, but he still is not a "stopper" on D. We need someone in the paint that would make other players scared to go inside. I think the Lakers should really really REALLY consider signing Alonzo Mourning next season. I know he wants to win a ring, but if the Heat falls before reaching the conference final again... he'll realize he shouldnt waste his time there and go play somewhere he can get major minutes because he definitely can still play. Zo can still avg 15 10 and 3 blocks a game.
Alonzo, Kwame and Lamar.... now that's a great front court and we dont have to trade away anyone. Even tho Kwame's better at C, eventually if Bynum is our future, Kwame's gotta learn how to play PF.
Alonzo - Mihm/Bynum
Kwame - Tariaff/Cook
Lamar - Luke
Kobe - Profit/Rush (maybe)
Smush - Sasha
I say drop Jim Jackson and Mckie, then sign either Profit (my choice) or Rush.
Posted by: the Lamar Show | April 04, 2006 at 12:44 PM