The Week That Was, The Week The Will Be (4.14-4.20)
Here we go, folks. The home stretch. It's often been somewhere between whirlwind and roller coaster, but the Lakers will head into Staples Center this evening within spitting distance of a guaranteed playoff spot. Obviously, the team would have preferred a better result against potential playoff opponents Phoenix last week, but the 0 for post-Shaq era streak against the Suns remained intact (another shot lurks 36 hours off), but the Clips and Warriors both tasted some purple and gold fury, which will hopefully become a part of a season-ending roll. A mood will be set going into the (almost certain) postseason, which makes the next three games interesting in their own right. Here's what's on tap.
Friday, April 14th vs. Portland Trailblazers, 7:30 (FSN)
A quick Blazerland update. Zach Randolph and Joel Przybilla are out. Darius Miles has apparently gone off the deep end. The team's collective morale is barely north of funeral and its collective maturity would merit entry into a YMCA 14-and-under league. Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play? On paper, the odds of Portland's players breaking down and sobbing during the game should be better than them outplaying L.A.'s. But be careful. The Lakers have inexplicably struggled this season against the West's worst and the folks likely in uni (Jarrett Jack, Sebastian Telfair, Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, among others) do play hard, if ineptly. There's still no logical reason the Lakers should lose this one. Here's to hoping they don't think outside the box.
Sunday, April 16th, vs. Phoenix Suns, 12:30 (ABC)
One last chance to break the "O-fer" before a theoretical postseason rumble. As always, ain't no walk in the park. It will, however, be a run in the arena, since that's what Phoenix does for 48 minutes. Some will bill it as an MVP front runner showcase (Kobe, Nash). Others will hail it as a versatility showdown (Odom, Matrix). Heck, it's even a battle of "the reborn via converting to center" (Kwame, Diaw). With any luck, the marquee will also read "featuring the return of Chris Mihm!" But no matter how this baby gets marketed, it's likely to be entertaining. A game against Phoenix always is.
Wednesday, April 19th, vs. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, 7:30 (FSN)
If this game still carries weight in determining a purple and gold postseason, that's pretty freakin' sad. But most likely, it'll simply serve to help get a little mo heading into the next phase. The starters can work out some of the bigger kinks. And hopefully, some minutes will become available for the old (Jackson, McKie) and young (Bynum, Green, Wafer) in need of shaking off some triangular cobwebs. Plus, if the game's meaningless (relatively speaking), fans can simply kick back and appreciate the game of PG Chris Paul, who better be planning his Rookie of the Year speech. Kid can seriously play and without heated stakes, you just might find yourself enjoying it.
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At least 2-1!!! Cmon dont fall apart now lakers!!!
if they loss to portland, I'm going on a hunger strike. WHOS WITH ME?!?!
Posted by: the Lamar Show | April 14, 2006 at 03:05 PM
Lets go Lake show. Lets win this tonight. The playoffs is less than 3 games away. Though we will probably go 2-1, lets aim for 3-0. Lets continue onward.
May the hand of Justice hit you sonnybelfast.
Posted by: arthas (Tom Brady) | April 14, 2006 at 03:07 PM
Wafer went back to Texas did he not? And alongside my boy Devin they're a shoo-in to be first cut from the playoff roster despite the league upping the rosters to 13, so I doubt we'll see them get any minutes over the next 3 games. Hopefully we'll grab some big leads in these games though, and let our playoff bench get some more practice, Jimmy and Aaron needs them some minutes! Hopefully they've been watching the "Phil Jackson, In His Own Words" on FSN to keep fresh on the Triangle in the meantime.
Posted by: Kevin McK | April 14, 2006 at 03:08 PM
2-1.
Posted by: Keven | April 14, 2006 at 03:09 PM
Kevin McK,
Some good points about Wafer and Green. Was thinking maybe they'd be activated for a single game for a last minute look-see, but you're likely right (unless Jackson maybe decides some speed could be needed down the line. He regreted waiving Janerro Pargo before the '04 postseason, because they could have used him in potential Lue-like fashion).
At any rate, it was probably just the K-Bros mutual Von Wafer fanship talking. haha
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | April 14, 2006 at 03:12 PM
Go Lakers! Play well! Playoffs Baby!
On the Lue thing...I think Sasha needs to do what Lue did...remember when he got his hair like AI...and bugged him? lol Can you imagine Sasha with lighter hair (and probably extensions lol)
Posted by: Faith | April 14, 2006 at 03:26 PM
Yes, I understand it's hard for you guys to go more than a couple of paragraphs without mentioning the great sherrif Von Wafer, fastest gun in the West. Hopefully he'll get some good training in the off-season and raise that shooting percentage into the 20's next year (dare to dream). Let's have a quickly look at his season... poor guy only made 6 baskets this year for a total of 20 points in 73 minutes (16%) - he actually ended up with more fouls (12) than made baskets, but only one turnover for the season ain't bad, although he never really has the ball in his hands long enough to turn it over since he puts it up so fast. He gets up a shot about every 2 minutes of PT though, pretty impressive considering he plays for Phil, not sure if it's enough for them to pick up his option for next year though - when do they have to make that decision by? Training camp?
Posted by: Kevin McK | April 14, 2006 at 03:32 PM
I felt so bad, I thought what you laid on me was the hand of justice Arthas, or was it Mitch?
AK/BK, You give me too much credit. There is nothing cryptic about it. I am a Kings fan first. Who in their right mind isn't? I am also an NBA fan, and a Brokeback fan. Should we all just be preaching to the choir and stroking each other on these blogs? You'll find me trading barbs even on our Bee blog. Although lately, we have become more cohesive as the Kings begin their move to the championship.
I depressed now. Is the Blazer game on TNT or ESPN tonight? I need to be cheered up. A good Brokeback ass whooping would do the trick.
Posted by: sonnybelfast | April 14, 2006 at 04:01 PM
I've already started my humger strike.
Posted by: sonnybelfast | April 14, 2006 at 04:02 PM
"Featuring the return of Chris Mihm"? now that's funny...
That wouldn't be "with any luck". That ABC promo would require a disturbance in the Force... OK, you meant he might play and that would be lucky. Yes, it would be great to clog the middle with bigs for 48 minutes.
3-0. I'm really, really hoping this is the time we've all been waiting for. We gel, click, come together, peak, and we win easy and we win out.
We swagger past the first round and into the great unknown.
Posted by: Vman | April 14, 2006 at 04:16 PM
we'll win these last 3 games, watch kobe erupt for a big game tonite vs. the blazers, i think he can go for 60 or more. Lets go lakers, lets do some warm-up damage before the playoffs start when we do big time damage
Posted by: Mr. Laker 4 Life | April 14, 2006 at 04:36 PM
3-0... Lakers need a win against the Suns, they need to figure out that team before they meet them in the first round. also a 45-37 record will look a lot better for the MVP voting !!!
Posted by: mon | April 14, 2006 at 05:20 PM
SURE, the VEGULAR season is over and ALL those HATERS, nay SAYERS and some of, US, NEGATIVEs have shut up. For now. BUT, its just started. the MORE I think it over, the MORE I'm convinced we can't BEAT THE SUNS. I know we can beat DA MAVS, SPURS have problems and we are PLAYIN much better than CLIPPS, NUGGS and MEMPHIS. but those SUNS are too HOT for the 05-06 LAKER team.
NOW the QUESTION:
upon a UTAH LOSS and a P&G WIN tonight (we'll be in the playoffs for sure.)
should the LAKERS mave away for the QUEENS to get the 7th spot so we can play the SPURS or should we just go at it and get the 7th. I'd lose the rest so we dont have to play the SUNS. they'll KILLLL us.
Posted by: rayray (back) | April 14, 2006 at 05:43 PM
Jackson also like Pargo because he put in the effort to learn the triangle, as opposed to Bryon Russell, who he couldn't cut.
Posted by: mannie | April 14, 2006 at 05:57 PM
Oh my god. This world has come to end. It has come to an End when Bill Simmons gives Kobe credit and declares him as the 2006 MVP. This world has come to an end. I swear if they don't crown Kobe Bean Bryant, the 2006 MVP, then I will personally track down Stern's address, Mail in my complaint letter, and it's going to be written in 72 FONT BOLD / BLACK INK with these exact words.
"ARE YOU A F****** DUMBA$$?"
Kobe for MVP. No Competition.
I will be extremely pissed off if KB8 doesn't get MVP.
People say no matter how good a player is. If he doesn't get 50 wins in a season, he shouldn't be MVP.
Well guess what? Kobe has surpassed that and made an exception for himself.
"Kobe for MVP, no competition." -Keven
Posted by: Keven | April 14, 2006 at 06:04 PM
AK/BK, You give me too much credit. There is nothing cryptic about it. I am a Kings fan first. Who in their right mind isn't? I am also an NBA fan, and a Brokeback fan. Should we all just be preaching to the choir and stroking each other on these blogs? You'll find me trading barbs even on our Bee blog. Although lately, we have become more cohesive as the Kings begin their move to the championship.
-sonnybelfast
You don't deserve to be brough by justice because you are a Kings fan or an NBA fan or an even a Lakers fan. You deserve it because you are mistake on this earth.
Lakers lets win it tonight.
Posted by: arthas (Tom Brady) | April 14, 2006 at 07:13 PM