Oh that's a bad bad headline AK. You sure you don't wanna go back to the drawing board and repost a little later?

I know its off topic but...
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/060825
He mentions Kobe, and in a positive light no less.

Heres an Idea, send him back to Philly....Nothing against the guy but if Philly is where his heart is then Philly is where he should be. Its not like we will miss him on the squad and it would free up a spot.

Just a thought.

Fearless

I wrote you a quote on the other blog about D wagner.

. . .that the fantasy blog is a great idea

that and avitars

AK

looking forward to it

Zakee,

If Farmar gets more PT and he has weapons like 24, LO, Radman, and Wagner lurking, then I can really see your point. All I know is I've seen Farmar repeatedly get his teammates wide open looks with no one anywhere in the vacinity.

What I was struck by was how UCLA would be in a must make a bucket position and Farmar would set up Aflalo et. al. and they would be so open that they could re-position the ball and calmly sink the J.

It's like the only guy playing under pressure was him because he would take it off the rest of the team.

Could you imagine the season LO would have if he consistently got the rock while he was open? Plus, if you are stubborn and you try to lock 24 down and keep LO under wraps, Farmar can sink that mid-range jumper all night long. Kwame will be free to do what he do. Radman will be waiting just to sink another dagger.

I can see how that would work. You make a good point.

--Fearless

Oh, I almost forgot. Major props to McKie. Major. Anytime someone gives back to the kids is worthy of note and celebration. That just means the b-ball asside, McKie is a solid dude.

That is the most important thing.

--Fearless

Back from a 9 point deficit to prevail!

Go Monarchs!

Stephen's got me pondering their underwear.

i'm tired of speculating about players here and there. i hope all this point guard talk is getting to smush. maybe that would light a fire under his ass and get his head straight. that seems to be all it is. get out there and earn a fat contract for yourself smush.

Sonny,

I think you're blazin too much cowchip!

>_<

Dude, if this job requires me to witness up close and personal those two making goo goo eyes and hand signals at each other, I'm freakin' quitting. haha. Just kidding.

Sort of.

But lest anybody forget, Christie is indeed a former Laker. Not that such pasts automatically make him a good addition. It just might make him a little easier for some of you to stomach.

AK

I can't believe some of the names being thrown. Are you serious. Smush has got the tools. He's as good as the rest of the team. Stick with him. The dude can steal the ball and shoot.

I love Juanny Wags; however, I just don't see him fitting in the triangle. I know Smush isn't as polished as Juanny Wags bein he's a Playground legend n all. But he's been in the system and all of that should just make him into a better player. We've got too many guards already. Lets just hope one steps up out of the pack. I just want the season to start. I always liked Shammond when he was at UNC. U know how the Lakers love UNC players. I just hope someone is just consistent on both ends of the court. I'm wonderin why Rush wasn't picked up instead of Shammond? Can't wait to see the season start.

dref

I want Cleveland to get Wagner back so Kobe and Lebron can meet in the championship. All cleveland needs is a pt. Plus Murray left and Jones sucks so this would be a perfect replacement for them. We all ready got our pt guards, so we can't use him this year, but boy it would be nice to see him and Kobe in the triangle together. The Nets need to take a look at him instead of J Williams

Here's a good picture of Pinnock in the SPL for those fans who hope he gets an invite to camp.

http://www.colonialhoops.com/files/IMG_3943_Pinnock_Jam.jpg

Fearless:

I still expect Farmar to win the starting point guard job by the start of the regular season. I believe he is the catalyst and facilitator we need to take the team to the next level. I think Phil and the coaching staff will see that once training camp and the exhibition games begin.

That you don’t “need” a true point guard to run the triangle offense doesn’t mean that a “true” point guard can’t make the triangle offense run even better or help the team get easy baskets in transition. That’s why Tex Winter and Eric Pincus are so high on Farmar.

Inserting Farmar into the starting lineup will allow Kobe to play small forward in the triangle, just as MJ did for the Bulls, where he will get easier shots and be harder to double-team. Playing more off the ball will also conserve Kobe’s energy allowing him to return to being the shut-down 1-on-1 defender he once was.

Using Farmar to solve the point guard problem will also allow Lamar to stay at power forward, which is where he is most valuable to the Lakers. While Odom can play point guard or small forward on occasion, Lamar’s optimum position for the Lakers is power forward, as close to the glass as we can get him.

Farmar can also be a major help in making Kwame a more productive offensive player. Farmar will give Kwame passes that he can catch, including lots of easy dunks and alley-oop slams off of penetration. And his “true” point guard skills will definitely help Andrew Bynum develop into an impact player sooner.

Finally, Farmar will be able to make sure that Vladimir Radmanovic gets the ball when he is wide open for the easy 3-point shots for which we signed him. Farmar may not now be a great 3-point shooter but he has shown that his midrange jumper is money and that he can get into the paint anytime he wants.

Defensively, I believe Farmar will be able to hold his own. He is a crafty defender who is far more athletic and stronger than he looks. He will do a better job on Steve Nash and Tony Parker than Smush did last year. There are also very few guards that he will be matched up with who really have the post up skills to hurt him.

Farmar will also be a great “team” defender, especially on pick and rolls as he showed at UCLA. He has the leadership and confidence to become the team floor general for defense as well as offense. While he will make rookie mistakes, he will quickly adjust to the talent and skill level of the pros and learn to “run” the team.

While Kobe or Lamar could also run the team, it makes better sense for the Lakers to put Farmar in that role. That allows Kobe and Lamar to play off the ball more where they will be able to get easier shots and not be double teamed. It is all about the synergy that Farmar can bring to the team and synergy, making the team better than the sum of all of its parts, is the only way this Laker team has a shot at a championship this year.

Finally, I think you will see a different Phil Jackson coaching the Lakers this year. Phil knows that he may only have two more years to win his 10th ring before his health may force him to sit down. As Jeannie Buss said, Phil wants to win that 10th championship before he retires, which may well mean this year or next. To do that, he will need major contributions from Farmar and Bynum and will be ready to invest playing time early in order to reap the results in the playoffs and next year.

This is, of course, all my opinion. You may think that this is unrealistic or too optimistic. I do think, however, that the scenario I have laid out makes great sense and that Jordan Farmar has the mental fortitude and physical skills to make it work.

Tom

sonny:

We are going to start the rookie with the saint.

Tom

Mckie's definitly doesnt have much left in his tank, he is still bothered by injuries and i have heard from people close to him in philly that he is probably done after this season.

For the longest time, Doug was my favorite King. Unassuming and got the job done. That was then and this is now. You can't really be serious. You're the Lakers! I'm embarrassed for you.

I agree that Farmar, as I've stated in prior posts, is part of the future of your team. Actually, he's probably made to order.

Even so, he is a rookie. I don't care how good he is, along with Bynum, if you start him, you are still a couple of years out. So start him!

I have family visiting from Albany (East Bay) for whom I am preparing a Thai feast. See you tomorrow. Hold your breath. WiZole, just pinch it off.

I gotta admit, I've like Christie's game since he first left the Lakers. Even though he did play for the kings, I still knew that he was a good player. It would be nice to have him coming in off the bench to backup Kobe, It would acually help him considering he would not have to play as many minutes, zo it would add to his durability. However, I don't think he could even do that anymore. The dude isn't as young as he used to be, and I know he's had some nagging injuries that may not be any better. Hypothetically it would be nice. However, I have my doubts that he is still able to physically handle the NBA career.

And his wife is crazy.

B.
Thee Cali King

dref,
Rush shot 38.6% last year. His 3 pt shooting was 34.8% last year. Smush shot 44.7% from the field and 36.6% from the arc for us last year. Rush has range, but his overall shooting is poor. Their rebounds and assists are kinda hard to compare b/c Rush didn't get Smush's minutes, but they are tilted towards Smush and Smush definitely had a lot more steals.

joninjapan:

What do you mean, "the same thing over and over?" Oh, you must mean my campaign to educate the blog on what Farmar is going to mean to the Lakers? At least give me credit for trying to say it differently, but repitition is the heart and soul of any campaign.

I am just trying to wake the sleeping Laker fans and get them to think about how Farmar will impact the team once he becomes our starting point guard. This way, when the preseason games begin, they will know what to expect and will be able to easily see why Farmar is so important to the Lakers future.

Laker fans will see immediately in preseason games that Farmar makes the Lakers a vastly superior team when he is on the floor. I want them to remember my posts and to watch how Farmar makes it easier for Kobe, Lamar, Kwame, and Radmanovic to play when he is in the game. I want them to see how the triangle should really be run, to see Kobe at the 3 and Lamar at the 4 where they will get easier shots and not be double-teamed. I want them to see how easy it is for Kwame to catch the passes that Farmar gives him and how Vlade will get the ball when he is wide open.

So while I may be saying the same thing over and over, it is for a good reason. It is so everybody will better understand why everything will seem to run smoother and the game be easier when Farmar is running the team and Kobe and Lamar are playing more off the ball.

Tom

But, but Jackie darling says that he's all better now

According to Hoopsworld we did go after Bonzi, but he wasn't interested in whatever we offered him. Now he might sign for 3 mil and help Melo out. That would make them contenders if they can get KMart healthy.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/member/article_10789.shtml