"AK/BK: A Laker draft and trades thread, please."
                                                                      —Laker Tom

"AK/BK. Only 28 days until the draft. Can we start talking about the players the Lakers have scheduled for workouts?"
                                                                      —Jon Kavulic

As always, BK and I remain men of the people. And to spark a little conversation, here's a list of those who did or will work out for Sly and the Family Kupchak, courtesy of Hoopsworld.com.

Kenny Adeleke, Arron Afflalo, Maurice Ager, Morris Almond, Louis Amundson, Jose Juan Barea, Will Blalock, Cedric Bozeman, Dee Brown, Paul Davis, Guillermo Diaz, Mike Efevberha, Jordan Farmar, Nick Fazekas, Thomas Gardener, Taj Gray, Matt Haryasz, Shawn Hawkins, Chris Hernandez, Ryan Hollins, Daniel Horton, Alexander Johnson, Bobby Jones, Daniel Kickert, Tarence Kinsey, Christian Maraker, Gerry McNamara, Paul Milsap, Yemi Nicholson, Steve Novak, Kevin Pittsnogle, Leon Powe, Chris Quinn, Brandon Roy, Julian Sensley, Marcus Vinicius, Viera De Souza, James White, Eric Williams, Shawne Williams, Shelden Williams, Tang Zhengdong.

If you're drafting purely on "name" upside, the Lakers will absolutely take Tang Zhengdong. Sure, he doesn't really fill a need. But aside from a sweet moniker, the guy's "age is mysterious." What more do you want?

For more of the article's info, click here.

Enjoy.

—AK

With Miami's 89-78 win over Detroit last night, Shaq Daddy is one game away from the Finals. One game away from a shot at the Larry O'Brien. One game away from a chance to swing the whole "Shaq/Kobe" breakup in his favor. Yes, Kobe hoisted a group of YMCA players onto his back and nearly beat the Suns, but if Shaq wins another title he'll see some serious glory and at least some of that will be to Kobe's detriment (even if the engine that powers Miami's ship is named Wade...). Not that it's necessarily deserved, but it'll happen.

So here's the question. Are you past the whole breakup? Are you willing to let Shaq have another moment of glory? Maybe you actually still like the guy — there are such people, but many have, at least on this site, been forced into hiding — and will smile at his success. If not, please rate your level of anger on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being "I'm happy for the Diesel," 10 being "I couldn't be angrier if the Diesel himself came over to my house and keyed my car, stole my significant other, kicked my dog, and ate all the food in the fridge."

Me? I'm at about a five. Honestly, when the championship Lakers broke up, I said that both Shaq and Kobe deserved to live out a titleless career for not allowing their egos to recognize how good they had it in L.A. together, at least in a world where karmic energy plays some sort of role. So on the one hand, I don't think Shaq should get it. Plus, I don't like the notion of Antoine Walker with a ring. On the other hand, I do like D-Wade, and 'Zo has earned a little hardware, considering what he's gone through. So I can't say I'd be thrilled, but I won't be jumping off any overpasses onto the 101, either.

—BK

P.S.: Does the Riley factor make Miami winning more or less appealing to you?

As BK and I take things down a notch (this will be the last new post for about a week, unless any Laker related news items pop up, of course), we wanted to quickly express our gratitude to the blogging nation. Your active, loyal and enthusiastic readership has been an integral part of this blog's energy. The Times considered its foray into sports blogging to be a huge success and that couldn't have happened without you. So again, thank you. We appreciate it.

Also, a reminder. BK and I will be checking and updating the comments, so feel free to keep leaving comments on this thread. We'll do our best to keep your banter going during our brief hiatus.

Enjoy.

—AK

Hey, even bloggers don't want to get an incomplete on their report cards, so without further delay, here are my final grades...which coincidentally will be our final act for the season on the Lakers Blog.

Actually, it won't be that dramatic, but we are going to take a little break after this post. We'll keep the comments updated and obviously will throw up news if it should break out, but assuming things stay quiet through the rest of the playoffs (as they usually do), we're going to scale it back. When we return, we plan on posting a couple times a week until stuff really heats up on the hot stove. 

So here you go—more debate fodder. As a reminder, here are my first half grades:

As we prepare to shift into it's the off-season, there isn't nearly as much to talk about, plus the Times isn't paying us our full rate while the team's on hiatus, so we're gonna start posting a little less mode, I wanted to add at least one more entry that provides closure of sorts. And few things in life provide closure like a final report card. They pretty much left no ambiguity when it came to summing up how mediocre I did in high school. Anyhoo, grades were once again assessed, along with the usual peanut gallery remarks. And I'm sure BK will chime in with his two cents soon enough.

If you want to reference the first half report card, here it is.

Here's the rest of Mitch's final conference, with my comments in italics.

—BK

On Kobe and USA Basketball:

"We talked a little about that in our exit meeting. They start towards the middle of July in Las Vegas and they travel quite a bit. They're in Vegas, they go to Korea, they go to Japan. And then once they're in Japan they make a stop or two before they finally get to the finals, hopefully, which is right outside Tokyo. (They have five games of pool play?) That's correct. I saw Coach Krzyzewski in Phoenix two days ago (this would have been around the first weekend in May), we talked for about 20 minutes about what his vision was for the Olympic team. How he hoped to play with the talent that he had on the team. With Jerry Colangelo lurking in the shadows and with Coach Krzyzewski's feel for players, I don't expect to see two-a-day practices that go three hours that players get burned out at. I expect to see a group of players that are going to practice hard, (but) I don't think they'll jeopardize their careers with overpractice and fatigue, and they have a certain vision for the type of basketball they'd like to play as well, which I think fits with what Kobe feels as well going forward."

Do you expect Sasha and Ronny to play for their respective teams?

"Well Lamar is (going as well). Lamar and Kobe for USA Basketball, Ronny would be for the French National Team, and Sasha would be for the Slovenian National Team. I think it's possible that all four of those players would be on their national teams this summer."

Was it hard for you and Coach K to talk? Duke and North Carolina?

"Not with this year's recruiting class at Carolina. (laughter) Actually, as you know, we interviewed him two years ago and I have a relationship with him. He's very easy to talk to."

Sorry. After five or so of these, I'm starting to get a little punchy. As promised, here is the transcript from Mitch Kupchak's final press conference of the year. The second half will be up ASAP. Particularly interesting are the parts where he talks about trading Kobe*.

*(Ed. note: may not have actually happened.)

Opening statement:

"We're pleased. Our goal was to make the playoffs. We maintained from day one that that's something we thought was achievable. We'd gone on record and said that was a goal of ours, that we thought this team was good enough to make the playoffs, and we did make the playoffs. We played very well, in particular the second half of the season. And as you know, started out the playoffs and played really well. I don't think our play throughout the playoffs diminished with the exception of Game 7. I think Phoenix got over the fact that they were behind quickly, and their game improved as the playoffs went along. That may have had something to do with the way the playoffs ended, but that's a credit to them. They recovered from being down 3-1 and they played very well. Certainly losing Game 7 in the manner that we lost it was disappointing, and that took a little bit of the glow off of our achievements. But here it is two days out (the interview took place last Monday), we're over the shock of losing a playoff series. But in retrospect, we thought we had a good season and our future is very bright with young players going forward."

Kobe and Sir Charles may not see eye to eye, but at least they got to clear the air between them. Kobe dropped by the TNT set last night and explained his side of things when it came to the "controversial" 3-shot second half of game 7 against Phoenix. Those foolishly counting on some Octagon-worthy action were likely disappointed.  Either way, there was one thing Kobe and the Chuckster absolutely agreed on: The Lakers shooting guard is a first team All-NBA kinda guy. A nice honor for Bryant, whose face now hurts a little less.

This has nothing to do with Kobe, but it's hilarious.

Not that this provides a whole lot more than what you already knew, but we wanna keep you in the loop as much as possible.

AK

Last night, much of the Laker Nation was convinced they'd somehow smoked some serious crack, despite having no recollection of ever sucking on a pipe. But how else could one explain seeing one Jack Nicholson, a Lakers fan nobody can accuse of faking the funk, sitting courtside in Phoenix to cheer on the Clippers? For many a card carrying member of the Laker faithful, this sat worse than Lindsay Lohan trying to negotiate her chair after an 11th appletini. The only thing worse than bandwagoneers wearing newly purchased "Bryant" jerseys come playoff time is seeing a theoretically "true fan" putting his Ocho jersey in a drawer and throwing on a red afro wig. Such actions prompt cries of "unpardonable sin!" But does it actually deserve such wrath? Can a Laker fan, their team now done until October, actually hold his head high while yelling, "Go Sam I Am!" Would you be okay with it?

My personal opinion? No worries. The Lakers are hands down my favorite team in the NBA, but the Clippers have always been my runner up, other than a brief phase when my appreciation for KG made me a semi-Wolves rooter (unless they battled the Lakers, of course). I've always had some love for the Clips. Truth be told, there's not a ton to hate about them, especially with the Kandi Man now on the east coast. Dunleavy's a good coach and a pretty nice guy. Great young players like Maggette, Kaman, Livingston, etc. And as my MVP vote made clear, I certainly admire Elton Brand's game. But even if I didn't appreciate any of those elements, I still don't think there's anything about the Clips worthy of prompting Lakerdom fury. Yeah, there's a legit rivalry in the making. A few years (and a few heated series) down the road, I may snarl at Sterling's Soldiers the way I rooted against Team C-Webb/Bibby/Mr. Jackie Christie. But for now, I don't understand how a Lakers fan could truly hate the Clips. They've been too harmless. I totally understand why a Clippers fan would hate the purple and gold. The franchise has (rightfully) made anyone rooting L.A.'s "other team" feel somewhere between eighth class citizen and delusional masochist. It's enough to make you hate yourself, much less an organization in the same area code that's contintually flirting with dynasties. But a Lakers fan hating the Clips? Why bother? It's like a St. Louis Cardinals fan actually loathing the Cubs. Chicago's been to the playoffs 4 times since the first Reagan administration and remains powerless to the curse of a goat. They're hardly worth mustering up the energy required to hate them. And when it comes down to it, the Clippers are representing your city. They make noise. L.A. makes noise. Simple as that.

Unless you'd prefer silence, thank you very much. Many folks believe a Lakers fan roots one team and one team only. The Lakers. From the start of the preseason until the season ends. Then said fan goes into hibernation until Bynum and Wafer are suiting up for Summer Pro League. And if you did somehow justify rooting for a second team, it ain't gonna be no squad sharing quarters with the purple and gold. That's borderline incest, man! You wouldn't root to hook up with your cousin, would you? (And if you would, just keep it to yourself!) Besides, the further the Suns advance, the more street cred the Lakers get for losing to them. It's a lot easier for some to handle losing to the Western Conference champs than some clowns eliminated in the semi's. By osmosis, the better the Suns postseason, the better the Lakers postseason. Hell, let them win the whole thing. Yeah, it would really suck to see Raja Bell slip some bling on his finger. But if it somehow grants more credence to the Lakers' '05-'06, there's comfort to be had.

So where do you come down on all this. Happy to see Jack in Phoenix representing L.A.? Or pissed enough to toss out your DVD of A Few Good Men? Be sure to explain either opinion.

AK

Or TiVO, if that's your preferred television recording technology, because Kobe Bryant will be in the TNT studio Wednesday night serving as a guest analyst on their playoff coverage.  After Sir Charles popped off on air about about Kobe's Game 7 performance and an irritated Kobe apparently texted Barkley until his PDA exploded, it'll be interesting to see if/how they approach the subject.

BK 

Before you get all angry about how Smush Parker ended the season, remember that the guy didn't perform like a starting point guard in the last leg of the playoffs because he really shouldn't have been a starting point guard in the last leg of the playoffs.  Necessity being the mother of invention, Parker was forced to start 82 games.  All in all, his play was fairly admirable.  That said, the Lakers desperately need some backcourt help, and a perfect world (or even a reasonable one) Smush would be a backup.  He'll have to compete hard over the summer and going into next year if he wants to hold on to the gig.

Okay.  On to the exit interview...

The season didn't end in the way you wanted to.  But have you had a chance to look at the whole season and see what you've accomplished?

"It was a disappointing end to the season, but for myself looking back at the season it couldn't get any better-- actually, it could be better, but looking back to where I came from, being in the NBDL two seasons ago and now I was the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers.  Who would have thought?  Not in a million years I would have woke up one morning and said I was going to be the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers and I'm playing for the Florida Flame right now."

(Interesting note- Smush started to say "I am the starting point guard," and caught himself, instead stating "I was the starting point guard."  It's an important distinction that shows he doesn't feel a sense of entitlement regarding the job leading into next year.  It also prompted the next question.)

You say "was," in the sense that you have to go back and get it again next year?

"Oh yeah, definitely.  Nothing's guaranteed for me, here.  My name isn't Kobe Bryant.  (Not a dig at Kobe.  It's fair to say 8/24 has a roster spot locked up next year)  Nothing is guaranteed.  I still have to come back and fight and earn the respect of the players, the coaching staff, the fans, the media.  I still just have to get better and grow as a player."

Phil has said he wants to add speed and defense, and those are your things. Things you can bring, too.  Are there things you haven't shown this team yet?

"There's a lot of things I haven't shown myself yet.  I know what I'm capable of doing, and I believe this year (was) just a learning expereince.  And hopefully I can learn from things that I've experienced this year and grow as a player.  You haven't seen the most of Smush Parker yet, and neither have I."

We're going to start holding off on the Extra! posts here for the time being.  The reason?  Not enough purple and gold news to sustain posts.  But we have a few other things to put up (including  final "report cards" for each player) before we enter "summer mode" on Lakers Blog, so keep checking in.

And we'll do our best to keep the comments updated now and throughout the summer so you guys can keep the debate alive. 

BK

It's been two years since Shaq and Kobe filed for the most famous divorce this side of Tom and Nicole. How they liking things now? David Aldridge mulled it over a bit and came to the following conclusion: Neither is digging the single life quite as pictured. Even a doughy, lazy and flaky Shaq likely would have provided Kobe more help than #8's supporting cast during that Lakers-Suns game 7. Said lack of support got Mark Heisler did a little thinking about another potential divorce down the road: Kobe and the Lakers.

Who knows? Maybe if Phil Jackson had chosen the Knicks over the Lakers, he still might be coaching in L.A. next season, anyway.

Last night, BK and I stopped by Staples to check out a little Clippers-Suns playoffs action. As it turned out, neither team played particularly well, at least on the offensive end. But the Suns managed to eek out a 94-91 winner after Steve Nash hit a clutch jumper with 3.6 seconds left and Vlad Radmanovic missed a game-tying three. Now down 2-1, it's obviously imperative that the Clips regroup going into game 4. And given that the Clippers' game plan is similar to the Lakers' blueprint in round one (making use of size advantages in the post, slowing tempo, etc.), I asked a few Clippers what they took away from watching the Lakers when it came to prepping for Phoenix. Here's what a few of them had to say.

Shaun Livingston: You can't count (the Suns) out. I don't think home court really matters with his team. As long as there's a rim and #13 on the court for them, they have a chance. And they can get hot anytime. We're taking them seriously and we're trying to close the series out and win.

We saw that the Lakers went inside and it was good for them. And we thought that it could be good for us. I think that was our main plan, anyway. But it was almost kind of a blue print before we actually starting playing (Phoenix), so that definitely helped us when we saw what we could do. And we feel like we could do it better.

Chris Kaman: I thought the Lakers did a good job of getting Kwame the ball early in the game and going inside. I thought Kobe did a good job of getting his teammates involved. Lamar Odom was good... They played them pretty well. I thought they had (Phoenix), to be honest with you. Up 3-1, they just gotta get one game out of the three. I thought we'd be playing the Lakers for sure.

Quinton Ross: Phoenix, they're so small so you wanna try to pound the ball inside against those guys. And if they double team you, you gotta make them pay for that. So that's our game plan. Kwame had a good series. Lamar had a good series. They just pounded the ball inside so we're just trying to just follow that pattern and hopefully get a "W."

On guarding Nash, an assignment Ross will draw most of the game.

He's such a tough cover, man. With him, hopefully, he's just having an off night. When he shoots the ball, you try to to contest the shot. Try to keep in front of him and don't let him get into the lane, where he's dishing out and finding guys, or getting layups, things like that.

Did you feel for Smush, having that assignment?

Yeah, it was tough on Smush. But Steve's a great player. You just try to contain him the best that you can.

Is he one of the tougher covers you've had?

Oh, most definitely. People might see him. They might not think he's quick... but if you don't watch him, the next thing you know, he's going right by you. I'm just trying to move my feet and do the best I can with him. It's definitely a challenge.

It seems like everyone from the dude on the corner drinking Bud in a paper bag to George W. Bush has an opinion on Kobe and game 7. We've already heard from Sir Charles, obviously. Now it's time to hear from "the people" (who mostly remain faithful to the half man-half mamba), and Tex Winter (who was confused by the play of every Laker who stepped on the court, but still thinks Kobe's head scratching play was agenda-free and hardly the cause of the loss). 

Now here's an article that hasn't been written a whole over the years in Southern California.

As promised, more exit interviews from the Lakers.  Today, Kwame Brown.

BK

What was the gist of your meeting?

"Just to stay at it.  I've got to keep at it.  They're very curious about where I was going to be in the summer.  They want me to be here to complete my rehab on my right foot.  My left leg is so much stronger than my right.  When I'm running and stuff it's just so off balance I can't really sprint.  So try to get everything down to where I'm moving quick instead of having to work at running and work at doing things, just doing them instinctively."

Mitch had mentioned they were very interested in your summer activities, making sure you were working out, etc.  Were you planning on doing that anyway?

"Yeah.  The only thing we're going to do differently, they want me to take a vacation earlier than I had planned.  I was going to be here for three or four weeks, and coming in and shooting and stuff like that, but they want me to leave now so I can be back earlier."

Have you ever been told to go on vacation before?

"No.  But I owe it to myself and to them, because I don't want to have an incomplete rehab lingering on to next year."

As noted yesterday, Kobe Bryant's D was singled out by those in the NBA who judge, so to speak. And speaking of judging, some feel Sir Charles may have inappropriately dropped a guilty verdict on Kobe. But who knows? Soon Barkley could be too busy ripping on his own players to worry specifically about Bryant. Lakersblog is just excited that Magic may finally enter the world of business. You know, he could just have a head for it.

Today's NBA bizarro world that features the Clippers in the playoffs and the Lakers "gone fishing" has also accentuated the differences between each team's fan base. Need a hint? Two words:  Nicholson. Muniz. There's also no "Laker Daryl." (and as we've pointed out during Lakers-Clippers live blogs while nursing a migraine, that may not be a bad thing).

And there ain't nothing wrong with that. Congrats to "The Artist Soon to be Formerly Known as #8."

I don't mean to question the voters, but no Eddy Curry? After the way he anchored that Knicks paint defense? Perhaps a recount is in order.

Here's how the voting shook out.

AK

Well, the hype over KobeGame7-Gate is certainly dying down, but remnants of discussion do remain. Scroll about halfway down this link to find Scoop Jackson's theory: It's a lot more Phil-centric than some of others. B.J. Armstrong's theory is right at the beginning of the next link: It's a lot more "there's nothing really to analyze-centric" than some of the others. And in one writer's opinion, Kobe may never win because he's never content to just be himself and play.

As we all know, there will soon be oodles and oodles of free agents out there for the taking. How many are potentially feasible signings for the Lakers' budget? This guide provides a little insight into who's on the verge of getting grossly overpaid (One suspects, however, they'll be able to afford this cat.). If Donald Sterling's words are to believed (always a dicey proposition), Sam Cassell and Vlad Romanovic will not be in purple and gold unis next season.

Next on the exit press conference list, Lamar Odom.  Dickens had A Tale of Two Cities, L.O. had A Tale of Two Seasons- the first and second halves.  His splits show increased scoring and assists after the All Star Break, but there is no stat to measure the increased confidence and assertiveness he showed on the court.  Here's what L.O. had to say on his way out, with a very busy summer in front of him. 

BK

On his meeting with PJ-

"It was cool.  Just talked about some of the things I've got coming up this summer, as far as auditioning to go play in the World Games, what I plan to do to keep in shape.  Talked about the season I had, my position, where I like to play, where I'm most comfortable at- a question you (the media) often ask me."

You guys are still talking about that?

"This is the time to talk about it.  I'm most comfortable playing towards my mismatches.  Big guy on me, take him outside.  Small guy on me, take him inside.  In the triangle, I was comfortable in learning how to control the tempo from that position, playing the guard spot.  So next year I figure most likely it'll be the same role.  Now that I know the offense, of course I feel a lot more comfortable in it.  I guess I'm just looking forward to staying in shape this summer, coming back here, and getting back at it again.  It was an emotional ride, especially towards the end of the season for us, as far as fighting for a playoff position, making it to the playoffs, being up three on Kobe's shot, and now we're on the outside looking in.  Phoenix played great ball to come back from 3-1.  I take my hat off to them because they beat us." *

*L.O., a sensitive guy as it is, was clearly still taking the playoff loss hard... which is a good thing.  You wouldn't want guys to blow it off. 

On satisfaction they can take from what they did accomplish this season-

"When we look back at it, we look back at the beginning of last year, and of course not picked to make the playoffs, not playing in the postseason.  So to be able to fight and coming together late in the year and taking the 7th spot, (and) be six seconds away from advancing.  We had a great year, but you know, of course it hurts."

On finding stability this summer-

"I hope so.  I understand the business of basketball.  But I hope and I pray that this is my home, and this is where I'll end my career.  It's a great franchise, and they have great people here.  This has got to be one of the coolest places to play basketball.  You have Denzel Washington at the games, Jack's at the games, (Lakers P.R. chief) John Black's at the games, Brad Turner (of the Press Enterprise) is at the games (at this point, L.O. is having a little fun...).  This is a good place to play basketball.  Last year we didn't make the playoffs and this year, we were playing in the first round.  Playing in Staples Center was amazing and the energy that was in that building was incredible.  You know, I'd love to see that for the rest of my career."

Never let it be said Kobe Bryant can't type with the best of them. After getting word that Charles Barkley criticized his "selfish play" in game 7's loss to Phoenix, Kobe text messaged Chuck to relay his dissatisfaction. The two exchanged about 20 messages, most of which were reportedly unprintable on this blog. When it was all said and done, Sir Charles didn't change his opinion (good luck making that happen), but admired Kobe's up front response and emphasized that this isn't personal. Having gotten things off his chest with Barkley, Kobe may decide to text this guy in Charlotte next. But before addressing all these people, he's gonna have to ice down his thumbs for a while. That's enough texting to tear a ligament.

Sure, the Lakers could have eliminated the Suns, played the Clippers in a historic round 2 for the ages and perhaps advanced to the Western Conference Finals. But don't you feel better knowing the city of Phoenix is better off the way things are now? Probably not, but Lakersblog is always trying to help its readers find silver linings.

This cat was a beast at Cal.

Monday in El Segundo, the Lakers gathered for their exit meetings with the coaching staff... and to face the local media one last time.  We'll be bringing you the transcripts throughout the week, starting today with Phil Jackson (he's the coach, for those of you just tuning in...).

BK

On the progress of his exit meetings thus far-

"They're holding themselves responsible for so much for the game on Saturday.  I have to get them to let go of that and realize the finale of Thursday night's game led to a certain buoyancy to Phoenix's game and a certain aspect of our own game that contributed to that loss.  And not to go by that.  It's hard to judge seventh games, as I told you guys (after the game).  Those things sometimes are steam rollers, and there's nothing you can do.  Get out of the way, it's an avalanche, and that's how it was for us.   But there are things you can do to prevent that.  We weren't able to do that in the first six minutes, and then it got to be the avalanche." 

On thinking about what could have been done differently in the series-

"Well, we felt like we could have won, the first four games were really pretty good.  They got an offensive rebound and a three point play in the first game, and they got an offensive rebound and a three point play in the sixth game.  It gave them the ability to win a couple of games.  We took one in game number four in that series.  Game number five was difficult, because we had that whole issue that jumped in our face and distracted the team a little bit.  We had some things that stood in our way during the series that we just should not have in a normal series.  But they learn.  And this is a growing experience.  I don't in any way believe that this team could have won a championship.  We were all the time about getting to the playoffs and making noise in the playoffs.  That's been my whole message to these guys, and we did that.  We accomplished a goal.  So we met a goal, and I'm trying to make sure that they understand that.  That we met that goal, and that's the important aspect about this season.  They were able to rise to that occasion.  What we learn from the experience that we have is what's ultimately the important thing.  That this does not happen again to these players when they get into this opportunity or situation.  Or to this team."

The late ex-Beatle George Harrison's best solo album was entitled "All Things Must Pass." And if you're a fan bummed about the game 7 blowout (and the damage it's done to Kobe's rep), that title track is probably worth listening to. Perhaps Phil and Mitch already cranked it up, because they're now keying in on future playoff runs, an attitude they deem appropriate after a competitive first round series. Pushing a #2 seed so hard signals the promise of better things to come.  Assuming, of course, there are better players to come as well. Inking a superstar isn't necessarily the issue. Given everyone's satisfaction with team's core, much focus will simply revolve around providing them a little more support.

Shoeless Jim Jackson? Had Jim Jackson actually played during game 7, this nugget of info could have sparked rumors that JJ was tanking things in order to keep the Suns in the playoffs, Tim Thomas in need of a Phoenix house and JJ's pockets lined with rent checks. But he never left the pine, so it's merely a quirky piece of Lakers-Suns postseason trivia.

Know how Donovan McNabb's mom is all cute and funny and hands out soup? Apparently, Raja Bell's mom is a little edgier.

An outcome that couldn't be more predictable if it were a Saved by the Bell plotline: People continuing to scrutinize Kobe Bryant's game 7. How to classify what is, whether pro or anti-Kobe, an undoubtedly odd performance? To some, it's a simple matter of Kobe  inexplicably choosing not to force the issue when necessary, even if the reasons are fuzzy. In one writer's opinion, the game managed to expose Kobe as the Bizarro-Jordan. But what's even funnier is how it managed to turn the normally hyper-critical Peter Vecsey into the Bizarro-Vecsey.

(AK's note: What amuses me about Pete's article is that it likely has less to do with his opinion of Kobe and more with the public sniping the columnist and Barkley have engaged in. Under normal circumstances, I imagine P.V. would have shredded Kobe's "motives," since he typically bags on everyone. But when nemesis Barkley beat him to said punch- which must have really steamed him- he shifted his focus to railing against Chuck.)

Of course, much of Kobe's performance goes hand in hand with the "help" he was getting from his teammates. But no matter whether you think Kobe went out on a malicious bang or a frustrated whimper, it's obvious the front office needs to add a few more pieces. Even the overwhelmingly positive strides made this season can't mask that truth. A slew of free agents from Speedy Claxton to Reggie "Grabby Hands" Evans will be evaluated for their potential to fit in. There will also be the question of what to do with their own free agents, Devean George being the most prominent.

And finally, the Clippers will represent L.A. in the quest to bring the city a title. How weird is that sentence? It may not be the series everyone (including the Lakers' roomies) wanted, but it should nonetheless be pretty entertaining. As they say on PTI, who ya got? (AK's prediction: Clips in 6)

photo by Paul Connors/AP

You have no idea how much I wanted to title this post "Know-Nothing Hack."

The dream: She has officially ended. But it was one hell of a series, easily the first round's best, one lulu of a bad 7th game aside (although even that one had a certain "can't avert eyes from bizarrely fascinating carnage" thing going for it). For the opening 6 games, however, it was truly inspiring to watch a pair of squads so desperately wanting a second round date with the Clippers. Both teams played their collective asses off. The Lakers jelled as a unit better than even their most optimistic supporters could have realistically imagined. In the meantime, the Suns proved they were capable of some actual D. And you have to give Phoenix a lot of credit. Okay, you obviously don't have to. But you should. They overcame monster odds and that takes a serious amount of heart, grit and character. Plenty of teams would have quit in their situation (Denver Nuggets, anyone?). The Suns manned up. You can't take that away from them, no matter how much you'd like to.

I couldn't help thinking about some readers' reactions towards my "glass half empty" assessment of game 1's tight and winnable loss. Many found it negative to focus on lost opportunity rather than L.A. controlling tempo with an exceptionally balanced attack. But like I said, it wasn't about being pessimistic or not giving the Lakers enough credit to continually play their game. It was about not wanting to give Phoenix extra opportunities to hang around and adjust. Had the Lakers won that game, it could have (theoretically) been an L.A. sweep instead of a historical Suns comeback. Yes, some will maintain the real killer wasn't game 1, but game 6's overtime heartbreak. A valid point, I suppose. But it doesn't really matter which loss you deem more important. If a less skilled team can't afford to drop one playoff game, they truly can't do it twice. Bottom line. If an underdog squad has its heart set on advancing, there's no such thing as a good loss.

AK is following up with his thoughts on the series, but I figured I'd throw some "Game Seven" out there in the interim, just to address some of the big issues that have come out of the Phiasco in Phoenix (clever title, eh?).  I'm doing my best to keep my thoughts confined to Game 7, so keep that in mind when reading. 

ON PHIL- I'll admit that I was a little disappointed that there wasn't some big trick up the guy's sleeve, but in the end, he's a basketball coach, not a miracle worker.  Phil stuck with Smush- not what I would have done- but in defense of the Jackson, it's not like he had a ton of options.  Pull Parker for George and assuming you still have Walton on the floor the Lakers would have been far too big and slow to cover the Suns (not that they were doing a good job anyway). The high screen and roll was killing them, but not because one guy but rather the entire defensive unit was terrible.  To defend that play- making the proper switches, recognizing the situation, playing good help D- requires good team D.  The Lakers don't have a bunch of intuitive defenders.  Combine that with the fact they don't have the athletes or the talent to cover the Suns, and it can get ugly.  What we all saw Saturday was a defensive meltdown of shockingly epic proportions.  Like watching a 73 car pileup on the 10.  Totally grotesque, but it draws your attention like a picnic draws ants.  Honestly, I kept rewinding the DVR because each time I thought I had seen The Worst Defensive Play Ever, stopped and watched it two or three times and then moved on, the Lakers would come back with No Seriously, This is The Worst Defensive Play Ever and I'd have to repeat the whole process.  It took like 7 hours to watch the game.  The way they were playing, clearly overwhelmed by the situation, I don't know if anything short of importing players from other teams would have made a difference (especially players who could hit a shot, which would have gone a long way to improving L.A.'s performance on defense).  That said, I would have liked to have seen the Lakers throw something at the Suns... even though I don't know exactly what that something should have been, and I doubt it would have made a difference.  And in the end, I give PJ a lot of credit for figuring out a way to push the Suns to seven games when most thought, and talent would predict, that the Suns would dump the Lakers faster.  If that Nash three in Game 6 comes off the rim at a different angle instead of falling into Marion's lap, we're all having a very different conversation right now. 

Just wanted to remind everyone, the blog will not be shut down during the off season. It won't be updated daily, but we'll be posting throughout the summer for Lakers news, FA acquisitions, trade rumors, NBA developments, player updates and any thoughts we have regarding the team. And we plan on posting actively throughout the coming week, as I'm sure it'll take at least that much time for everyone to truly wind down from this season's worth of events. So be sure to keep your eyes on the blog. We'd hate to be doing this all by our lonesomes.

As you were.

AK

It was a good run, but they're done. 

Game Seven Saturday evening wasn't technically over before it started, it just seemed that way.  Pick a statistical category, and you can virtually guarantee the Suns dominated the Lakers on their way to a 121-90 pasting of the purple and gold.  Unless the category is "Bad Defensive Rotations."  That one, the Lakers totally had in the bank.  Game Six emptied the tank of whatever was left after the first five, and it wasn't enough as Phoenix exposed the young and inexperienced LA hoopsters and became the team that won 50+ this year.  The Lakers had already played their best basketball.  Once a rebound away from the 2nd round, the Lakers are done, with a winter to think about what went wrong (in Game 7 that is... in the grand scheme of things some time should be given over to what went right this season, too).  But for the next couple weeks or so, L.A. will be a one team town. 

Raja Bell says he's happy the Kobe talk is over, but just in case there were three or four Laker fans who still kinda liked him, he took one more swipe at Ocho. 

In a couple of years, despite the disappointment, the importance of this playoff run may become apparent.  The Lakers have some serious decisions to make (though not a lot of wiggle room in which to make them), the backcourt and power forward being a top priority.  Phil still feels good about the season, but a better Game 7 performance from Kwame and Lamar would have injected a little more confidence into this summer. 

Kobe's quiet second half will be a matter of debate for a while.  And apparently, people are still questioning the whole, "Keep Kobe or keep Shaq" decision.  Here's one opinion (the correct one), and another (correct's ugly cousin incorrect.)

T-Minus 3 seconds and counting before people start speculating what this means regarding Mitch Kupchak's future.

We'll show you the boxscore.  You decide if you want to look at it. 

Not much else to say that hasn't already been said.  Kick back, enjoy, and try not to break anything.

BK

Very simple task today, folks. 

"I would give __________ for the Lakers to win Game 7."

Keep it clean.  Points for creativity.

BK

Game 7.  Very possibly the two coolest words in sports.

For Laker fans, there are mixed signals in the tea leaves.  Good sign: Only seven teams in the history of the league have erased a 3-1 deficit to take a series.  Bad sign:  The visiting team is 17-75 in Game 7s.  Something, as they say, has got to give.  Kobe Bryant believes that despite losing the lead, the Lakers shouldn't be nervous.  After all, the Lakers aren't supposed to be here anyway, given the talent disparity between the squads.   

Game 7 could get ugly fast if the Lakers don't tighten up the D, which has become sloppier than a group of preschoolers at a spaghetti dinner.  One culprit, Smush Parker, will keep his starting gig but will be on a shorter leash given the stakes.   Phil Jackson believes that Parker can and will turn it around, and his teammates have worked to restore his confidence.  We're guessing they haven't done that by showing him the threads on this blog.  The Lakers lack Game 7 experience (no small issue), but have enough going for them that Laker fans can have some hope.  Especially in a series that has been incredibly exciting, and about as predictable as Ron Artest. 

One thing is certain. The Lakers wouldn't have made it this far without a solid relationship between Phil and Kobe. 

Be honest.  Even if the Lakers lose, would you still want one of those Hallway Series shirts, just as a fun souvenir?  And finally, by now most of you have seen this, but we figure there's no healthier way to let the tension go than by yelling at a Skip Bayless column.  Try not to wake the neighbors. 

John Ireland of ESPN 710/KCAL 9/CBS 2 fame posted this up on the CBS-2 Blog this morning.  Good take on what went down last night, and a larger issue of basketball fundamentals and strategy.  I'm interested to read what you guys think (about his take on the game, and the larger issue he discusses). 

BK

The following email came from "Benjamin," who posts quite a bit. It felt quite timely, because the topic's something I've actually been thinking about after reading various blogger chatter regarding everybody's favorite Phoenix 2-guard.

"When a player talks about a foul that never happened in the media and it's shown to not have happened and the player faked it in video replays, what are some of the results?  Does the player get less respect from the media and/or league?  I'm thinking specifically of Raja Bell making stuff about about being hit with an elbow in the face when it clearly hit his shoulder as Kobe turned in game 5.  Why do so many media outlets report it as truth that Kobe hit Bell in the face a bunch?  Are they that gullible?"

It's interesting that Benjamin asked this, because I think some people are taking a couple widely circulated replays where Bell flops as indisputable proof that he was never elbowed the entire game. But those clips in question aren't the only times Bell may be referring to. They're just the times where a flop was caught on camera. There very well could be times where Kobe did elbow Bell that weren't caught on camera for whatever reason (the camera was focused on other players, bad angle, etc.). Even Kobe never claimed during the post-game 5 press conference that he hasn't elbowed Bell at all. He just said he hasn't done it on purpose. So as far as "calling out" Raja as a liar, I would personally feel sketchy about it, because I know stuff goes on during a game that broadcasts don't catch. So it's not a question of the media being "gullible," in my opinion. It's just acknowledging you can't possibly have seen everything. 

But before anybody takes this the wrong way, I'm NOT in ANY way trying to justify Bell's clothesline on Kobe. I don't care if Kobe elbowed him or not. It's been a physical series on both ends (Bell being no exception) and elbows are gonna happen. That's just playoff basketball. But you don't start turning this into WWE rasslin'. Period. I may hesitate before calling out Bell as a guy spinning tall tales, but I have no problem calling him out as a dirty player.

Great question, Benjamin.

AK

This one stings.  Or burns, if you want to get all literary. 

The Lakers had an opportunity to extinguish/set/douse/suffocate/snuff out the Suns (hey, we might as well use more cliched, Sun and fire related lingo here, because just about every link you're about to read does the same), but in the end they didn't have an answer for Phoenix's offense in Thursday's 126-118 loss at Staples Center.  Considering all the Lakers had going for them- home court, Raja Bell's suspension, a three point lead with 30 seconds to go- to lose in the end is a monumental opportunity lost.  The two teams will head back to the desert, where Saturday Phoenix will try to become only the 8th team in NBA history to win a playoff series after going down 3-1.  The Lakers will need better D to contain a confident Suns team that is clearly playing loose, and must overcome the less than stellar history of road teams in Game 7s along with the doubt creeping into the minds of many.  The Suns managed to shake off a monster performance by Kobe (and a pretty impressive showing by L.O.) to take home the victory... something they always seem to do when Kobe goes off. 

The Hallway-or-Better-Name-If-You-Have-One Series, touted by so many, is now in doubt.   Purple and gold bargain hunters will keep the faith, but can't start snatching up playoff tix out from under Clippers fans quite yet.  Even worse, Raja Bell gets a chance to redeem himself.   

One reason?  Leandro Barbosa, who drew the Guard Kobe Straw (that's the short one) in the physical-but-not-metaphorical absence of Bell, and responded with a huge game.  He was just one of three Suns role players who came up big while the Lakers didn't get much out of their supporting cast.  Another big part of the puzzle?  Keeping Kwame Brown out of foul trouble and containing Shawn Marion, who was everywhere Thursday night. 

The boxscore will show a solid rebounding advantage for the Lakers, but they'll be remembering the one that got away (while Phil Jackson wonders why his guys didn't use the foul they had to give, hacking Shawn Marion before he could kick the ball out to Thomas). 

If you need something to cheer you up, and we bet you do, try this.  Peter Vescey admits he was wrong about the Nash timeout thing.  Your cards and letters worked! 

If anyone could use a laugh, it's a Laker fan right now. And Kobe had a fantastic zinger at the post-game press conference. Told that Lamar Odom was really down on himself for not securing the rebound Tim Thomas eventually converted into a trey (which led to OT and the loss), Kobe was asked how he keeps guys from dwelling on mistakes.

"You just put it behind you. There's nothing you can do about it. You know what I mean? After you go to the bathroom, you don't stand there and look at what you just dropped in there. At some point, you gotta flush it, man."

Gotta say. Between that and his instant classic sound bite speculating Raja Bell's hug-free childhood, Kobe's ready for a ten minute set at The Comedy Store. Dude's been on a serious roll lately.

FYI. Which reporter posed the question leading to said quip? None other than BK himself. We take comfort knowing we're making a difference out there.

AK

Game On!!!!

If Kobe had hit that opening shot, this place would have done gone and freaked out.  As it is, the second one lit 'em up pretty good.

Right away, Walton posts up Jones and goes to work.  They're going to post the hell out of the Suns tonight, especially with all the mismatches and the short bench Phoenix is rolling with (did you hear?  Raja Bell was suspended!)

Early foul on Odom.  Can't let him get in foul trouble.  Silly foul, too.

Lakers are going to have to tighten up the D on the perimeter, or it's gonna be a long night.  That said, Phoenix is going to have to find an answer inside.  It's no mystery where each team has an advantage...

Jones with a three.  I'm thinking the Lakers may want to ditch the "Let's give up lots of open threes" strategy early.  I didn't see that one on the board in the locker room...

Timeout.  I don't profess to know everything about basketball, but generally when you let a team shoot 89.9%, you lose.  They may want to tighten that up a little.

5:33- They're down to 81.3%, so things are looking up.  You're not gonna believe this, but Tim Thomas got booed when he came in.  They actually had Bell's jersey and shorts laid out and ready to go in the locker room before the game.  I think the staples crowd booed those, too.

What's up everyone? How's it going? Just about ready for the tip. And I had a cool sighting alert as I walked towards the court inside Staples. Walt "Clyde" Frazier, dressed in a cream colored pin stripe vest and pants (no jacket), with a satiny black button down underneath. I believe it may have been the exact outfit worn by Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever. Clyde can pull off such an ensemble. I simply cannot. Between the 70's garb and the crap he uses to darken his hair, he looks no different than his playing days.

First Quarter

Lakers down by 10 and take a time out. The Suns are 4-4 from beyond the arc and firing. Before the game, Phil talked about how he actually was concerned about Barbosa starting for Bell, since Barbosa is faster than Bell and more or less as good on the offensive end. Because of that, the Lakers will have to work even harder to keep tempo to their liking.

As the Lakers came back on the court after that first time out, the P.A. guy played "Start me up." About time that song got some play at a sporting event.

Luke buries the long two off the double teamed post pass from Kobe. It's amazing what these playoffs have done for Walton's confidence. He even seems more athletic now than in the past, simply through this recent aggressiveness.

That lay up around Marion by LO: Is it just me or does Odom have the longest stride in the NBA? He seems able to get from the 3 point line to the circle without even taking a second step.

Kobe spent waaayyy too much time dribbling into traffic when that turnover happened. He needed to give it up and start fresh.

If your ears are suddenly bleeding, it's from the crowd noise after Kobe bounce passed the ball to George for that dunk. Place went freakin bonkers.

Kobe hits the buzzer beater. I think he's discovered his trademark "stance" after such moments. Slightly crouched down, arm at a perfect 45 degree angle, fist clenched. You may be seeing a lot of that one before his career ends.

And Terrell Owens is now in the house, wearing a white "Bryant" jersey. He's got better seats than the brothers Gooding (Cuba and Omar). Who have better seats than the Brothers K (although not by much).

End fo the first: Lakers, 37. Suns, 30. You may not like the Suns 57% FG to end the half, but considering it matched a summer temperature before, it's actually a good trend for the Lakers.

Okay, so at your next cocktail party we recommend NOT sitting Raja Bell and Kobe Bryant at the same table.   Bell's one game suspension has put him out for tonight's Game 6 at Staples, but it hasn't prevented him from continuing to talk about ClotheslineGate, and he seems something less than fully contrite.   Bell is taking swipes at everyone from Kobe to Phil, and since we media types love a good war of words, we've made sure everyone has a chance to get quoted on the issue.  In the process, Steve Nash delivers an excellent commentary on BallGate with Reggie Evans.   Still, we're not sure Bell is really helping himself by running his mouth (unless looking whiny and self absorbed is his goal, in which case, carry on Raja!).  At least his teammates are supporting him.

On the court- don't forget, there is still actually basketball left to be played- Bell's absence leaves Leandro Barbosa to do the heavy lifting on Kobe... which is a good thing for the Lakers, who have posted him to death.  Whatever the result, Raja's big swing will change the look of this series (hopefully not too much, because it's been hella entertaining).  Will the Lakers stay with the same game plan, or will they look to have Kobe exploit his potential mismatch?

It's not quite bulletin board material, but Elton Brand's preference to play the Lakers goes beyond the crosstown intrigue.  He thinks the Clips match up better against the purple and gold.  TV folk think they match up better, too.  For ratings, that is.   If the Lakers do see the Clippers, it's a good bet that a) the guy guarding Kobe won't clothesline him, and b) the guy guarding Kobe will play very, very solid defense. 

Kwame Brown is trying to stay focused and grounded in the midst of allegations he was involved in a sexual assault last Saturday.   He is still yet to be interviewed by police, and no charges have been filed. 

This, or at least the first couple paragraphs, is kinda silly. 

photo by Rick Hossman/AP

Y'all knew about this anyway, but if we didn't give it a separate post, I wouldn't have gotten to write this hilariously clever title.

AK

Then channel that color in a happy way! The Dodgersblog is now a reality! The link in question is latimes.com/dodgersblog. There are still a few kinks getting worked out, so it remains a bit of a work in progress. But dammit, we felt you people should wait no longer! And wait no longer you shall!

Very fire and brimstone, eh?

Anyway, another round of thanks goes to you bloggers for helping score us this gig. Without the enthusiasm you've shown the Lakersblog, the odds of a second site would have greatly decreased. So thanks again.

AK

One half of yesterday's news was the Lakers Game 5 loss to the Suns in Phoenix.  The other was news that Kwame Brown is being investigated for sexual assault.  While details are thin at this point, it's clear that this is a potentially serious issue that could have ramifications far beyond the playoffs.  Hopefully, he'll be cleared of any wrong doing.  But after the ordeal of Eagle, Lakerville is certainly sensitive to these sorts of issues. 

I think it's important to reserve judgment until more details emerge.  Nobody really knows at this point what is going on.  He has neither been arrested nor charged. Clearly, it's an unfortunate and unnecessary distraction during an important time for the team, and another bump for a guy who has made some significant strides this season.  I like the kid on a personal level, and from the little contact I've had with him, sexual assault seems out of character.  I'd hate to see him get into this kind of trouble (though if it can be shown he did something of this magnitude, he should be punished accordingly.)

Obviously, when we learn more, you'll learn more.

BK

Photo by Paul Connors/AP

It was bound to happen at some point.

For the first time since the first quarter of Game 1, the Suns looked like the Suns and a game played out the way many predicted before the series started- with Phoenix lighting up the scoreboard and the Lakers struggling to keep pace on defense.  Pushed by strong games from Steve Nash, Boris Diaw, and Shawn Marion, Phoenix's 114-97 Game 5 win will push the series to Staples Center for Game 6 on Thursday.   Whether Raja Bell, who was ejected after delivering a clothesline to Kobe Bryant that would have made Rowdy Roddy Piper proud, will be in uniform is still up in the air.  For their part, Phil and Kobe aren't pushing for it (but would they really complain if it happened?).   Either way, the blue skies of a 3-1 lead are a little cloudier, and the pressure for the Lakers to win Game 6 will be huge.  After all, nobody in L.A. wants a Game 7 in Phoenix, while the Suns finally have reason to feel confident. 

One thing the Lakers need to fix ASAP?  Regain their rebounding advantage.  A check of the box shows, with their bigs in foul trouble all night L.A. was abused on the offensive glass.   Or maybe they should ask Charles Barkley to keep his mouth shut.  Good luck with that, by the way.  Maybe he does need to talk, because the players weren't before Game 5. 

With Chris Mihm a "washout" for the rest of the series, guys like Luke Walton will have to continue their strong play.  A little more "Games 1-4" Sasha wouldn't hurt, either. 

Perhaps it's too early in the season to play golf in Salt Lake, because even the folks in Jazz country are wrapped up in the drama of this year's first round, which has prompted another person to apologize to Jerry Buss. 

Jim Jackson and Dodgers OF Kenny Lofton, who have seen more of the country than Fodors, break down their travels. 

Any guess as to how Southern California will vote in this poll?

photo by Rick Hossman/AP

We promised you a thread for the game.  We never promised when. 

Anyway, hopefully the site will stay online long enough for this to be useful.  Have at it!  Interesting first half.  This is the first time that Phoenix has looked like, well, Phoenix since Game 1.  No coincidence that the Lakers inside muscle has struggled with foul trouble.  The Lakers need to stop turning the ball over, and really need to stop sending the Suns to the line.  Check out the rebounding margin.  Not dominating like it was in the last three games.

Nice bucket to open the 2nd from Kwame.

BK