Know Thy Enemy: Houston, Seattle, New Orleans, Utah
Back by (semi) popular demand! Today we'll take a look at the rest of the Western Conference's lottery squads. While the Baltic Avenues of the West don't shape up as threats this season, this bunch, including the Rockets, Sonics, Hornets and Jazz, could make a little noise. But will they be better or worse than the Lakers?
HOUSTON ROCKETS (34-48 last season)
Big Gains: Traded for Shane Battier, Kirk Snyder.
Big Losses: Traded Stromile Swift. Bob Sura?
Big things were expected from the Rockets last season, with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady (permanently referred to by Mom as "Yao's friend," since she always draws a blank trying to remember his name), having played a full season as a duo. Instead, the team suffered so many injuries, you expected news of Jeff Van Gundy getting shanked in the shower as a capper. But the talent is there, if stunningly fragile.
After healing up, Yao Ming spent the season's second half newly aggressive and absolutely balling, including a 28 point/11 board/2 block March. With Shaq on the decline (and content to let Wade carry his ass), "NBA's best center" could be Yao's for the taking. T-Mac is labeled by some as a poor man's Kobe Bryant (one hopes he has a rich man's Kobe Bryant health insurance plan), but Kobe-lite still shreds teams on a regular basis. Throw in Shane Battier, who can do just about everything (including take pressure off McGrady), and that's a pretty tough trio, reinforced by solid compliments Juwan Howard, Luther Head, Ryan Bowen, Rafer Alston, Deke "Cookie Monster" Motumbo, Snyder and Sura (assuming injuries don't force retirement, resigning him to life as a Stephen Baldwin impersonator). Then again, should everyone's medical history remain consistent, you could very well end up with Van Gundy's slower-than-a-parked-car offense being run through whoever's capable of walking. We watched that version last season. Ain't pretty.
Final Verdict: This a really tough one to call, since it's entirely health dependent. Should they all stay on the court, Yao-McGrady-Battier could keep Houston running side by side or even slightly ahead of the Purple and Gold. However, I've firmly established myself as a "gotta see it to believe it" kinda guy on this blog, so I'm gonna label them "worse than the Lakers." But an asterisk is understood. (AK)
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS (35-47 last season)
Big Gains: Drafted Mouhamed Saer Sene (not so much a big gain as a tall one), Denham Brown, Yotam Halperin, and brought '05 pick Mickael Gelabale over from Spain.
Big Losses: Traded Mikki Moore (and all his reptiles) for a second rounder in '09.
After a surprising '04-'05 campaign that saw them win 52 games and the Northwest, the Sonics took a serious step backward last year. And unless the NBA decides to award teams an extra five wins for every inexperienced, raw, below-the-legal-drinking-age center that they keep on the roster, they're one of the few W.C. squads shaping up to be worse this year than last. Most of the speculation around the team this summer has centered around where they'll play and who will sign the checks, as opposed to finding better players to receive them. Yes, they've still got Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, but after that, the talent level drops off the Space Needle. Luke Ridnour is a solid player, as is Earl Watson. Nick Collison doesn't hurt anyone. Chris Wilcox, who is likely to return, if only on a one year tender deal, played well for Seattle after coming over from the Clips. Good players all, but nothing that excites you, and maybe just a mite backcourt heavy?
Even with Wilcox, there may not be a team in basketball with a more questionable frontcourt than the Sonics. They seem to be collecting young projects in the post with the enthusiasm of sci-fi geeks hoarding commemorative Star Wars glasses from Burger King. Robert Swift, Johan Petro, and Sene have a total of three years experience between them, and all need more work than a rusted out Chevette. Seattle was so weak on the boards last year that Wilcox, whose motor was constantly questioned in L.A., was easily their best rebounder at 8.2 a game. Sure he played well, but it would have been almost impossible for him not to be a force on Seattle's glass. They were among the worst rebounding teams in the league, especially on the defensive end (Reggie Evans, who only played 20 minutes a game before being traded to Denver, was second on the team with 6.7 RPG). Combine those problems with their tendency to let other teams score with Scott Baio-esque frequency (Seattle allowed 105.6 ppg, an NBA worst), and it paints an ugly picture.
Final Verdict: In a conference headed north, Seattle's going the wrong way. Much worse than the Lakers. (BK)
NEW ORLEANS/OKLAHOMA CITY HORNETS (38-44)
Big Gains: Traded for Tyson Chandler. Signed Peja Stojakovic, Bobby Jackson. Drafted Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons.
Big Losses: Traded P.J. Brown, Kirk Snyder, J.R. Smith. Lost Speedy Claxton and Aaron Williams to free agency. Waived Moochie Norris (which is actually irrelevant, but he's one of my favorite scrub players, so I'll throw him in there).
Remember how Melrose Place started out as a totally unwatchable, boring piece of crap on the verge of getting canceled, then Heather Locklear joined the cast and it became awesome? That's basically the effect Chris Paul had on the Hornets. People talk about how dependent the Lakers are on Kobe. And that's often been the case. But the Hornets' relationship with CP could be summed up in two words: Crackhead. Pipe. Do you even remember how God awful these guys were just a season earlier? And with all due respect to '05-06 addition Desmond Mason (solid on both sides of the ball and likely the NBA's best artist) and the strides made by F David West (2nd in MIP balloting), Paul made it happen. Beyond anybody's craziest of dreams.
Cue aggressive overhaul.
Whether "aggressive" equals "overpaid and overrated" has divided many an NBA analyst. But even if none of the new additions are worth their paycheck, they all have their uses. Chandler is pricey for a guy without a go-to move, but he's an energetic rebounder and defender (West can provide the front court scoring). The way too expensive Stojakovic is older and injury-prone, but can stroke it from the French Quarter and moves well without the rock. Me thinks Paul will find him for a lot of wide open looks. And for the 40 games Jackson's healthy (I don't remember which reader calls Jax "The Suit," since he's always wearing one on the sidelines, but it's a great nickname), he gives them scoring, D, and serious nads. Plus, he's taking over for Claxton, who's always hurt anyway. And bottom line, if anyone can spark automatic meshing, it's Paul. He's the best rook point guard to emerge in eons. And if CP's running of a less talented squad indicates anything, these Hornets could pack a mighty... wait for it... sting.
Final Verdict: These guys upgraded, but so have other teams. The West is seriously tough. And even if the Lakers improve by just 3 wins, I'm skeptical as to whether NO/OKC's new parts equal the 11 necessary to pass them. They'll finish behind the Lakers (although not by enough to breathe easy). (AK)
UTAH JAZZ (41-41)
Big Gains: Drafted Ronnie Brewer, Dee Brown, and Paul Millsap (no relation to Ronnie, in either blood or spelling). Traded for Derek Fisher and Rafael Araujo, resigned Matt Harpring and Jarron Collins.
Big Losses: Traded Devin Brown, Keith McCloud, and Andre Owens to GSW, Kris Humphries and Robert Whaley to Toronto, while Greg Ostertag (mercifully) retired.
Two years ago, I had Utah in the playoffs, and they were terrible. Last year, I thought they'd struggle and they nearly cracked the playoff ladder. Maybe I'm the wrong guy to make an evaluation on these guys? They were basically a .500 team both with and without Carlos Boozer last year, so it's hard to say a healthy season from the big PF will be the difference maker, even if the words "healthy" and "Carlos Boozer" could be put in the same sentence without causing laughter. Utah has a great player in Andre Kiralenko, and some good ones in Boozer, Mehmet Okur (who at 18/9 probably tops the NBA's Unknown Production Team), and Harpring, plus some potential in Deron Williams and Brewer. While I'm not sure I'd have been running out to add his contract to my payroll, acquiring Derek Fisher will help take pressure off Williams and bolster Utah's backcourt. There's theoretically enough talent to challenge for a playoff spot, but Utah will have to find more scoring. 92 points a game is even boring in Utah.
They'll also have to fix a point differential (-2.6, worse than six lottery teams) that suggests they were lucky in '04-'05 to finish with at .500. I have a sneaking suspicion Utah will be this year what they were last year- a group that isn't talented enough to beat good teams that play to their capabilities, but will frustrate good teams on off nights. They won't blow into the gym and wipe people out. If the chips fall their way, they could contend for a playoff spot. But given the improvement around the conference, it'll be a tough road in for the Jazz.
Final Verdict: Almost a litmus test for playoff hopefuls in the West, like one of those signs you see heading onto a roller coaster. "You must be at least as tall as the Utah Jazz to ride this playoff ride." Being better than them won't necessarily get you in, but being worse means you're definitely out. Fortunately for the Lakers, they're on the top side of the hand. (BK)
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***Laker vs. The Teams on this Thread***
Our record against these guys last year and my predictions against these guys this year in order to achieve 55-Wins for year:
**UTA W41-41 2 - 2 , 2 - 2
**NOK W38-44 3 - 1 , 3 - 1
**SEA W35-47 2 - 1 , 2 - 1
**HOU W34-48 2 - 1 , 2 - 1
LAST YEAR REC 9-5 PREDICTION 9-5
All that these teams represent is a chance to maybe go to 10-6 or 11-5. Utah always seems to play us tough while the others always seem to be able to salvage a win a season against us.
The Lakers this year need to come out of the box playing just like the ended the regular season last year, like wining 14 and losing only 4. That will prove to everybody that the Lakers are for real.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 11, 2006 at 01:21 PM
JJ,
Yao's second half play was actually sustained over a larger period of time than Kwame's and was at a higher level. Thus, people are gonna make a bigger deal out of it. And as far as Kwame goes, I've said many times that he made some nice strides. But he still also has a boatload of work to do. Again, that's just the truth.
And if hearing that bothers him, then he needs to develop a thicker skin, because Kwame (by his own admission and the accounts of coaches past and present) has made a habit of excuses. And if "people aren't appreciating what I do enough" is an excuse to stop trying, then the problem lies with Kwame, not anyone not "giving him enough credit." He's in his 6th season. Kid gloves no longer apply. If he doesn't like whatever he deems as "criticism," keep improving and make people shut the hell up.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 11, 2006 at 01:23 PM
All this said, MOST IMP thing is Kobe on all these assumptions. I don't think we are going to watch him play that much being healthy. So last season was bless..all these should be evaluated considering Laker's health.
Posted by: Kedar | August 11, 2006 at 01:24 PM
Onesocalkid,
Very good analysis. Look at the teams that won 55 games last year, and ask yourself if this Lakers team is that good (relative to the other teams in the league.)
As far as the Lakers being improved this year, we don't know that yet, because the players that they picked up are not proven, full-time quantities yet. You are counting on consistency from players who have not demonstrated that quality in their careers. (Kwame, Walton, L.O.) We only have one player who's production can be counted on, and he will be coming off of knee surgery.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | August 11, 2006 at 01:24 PM
The only team among these four that could make the playoffs is the Rockets. I based that opinion on the fact that they have Yao, not McGrady. I still remember how great Yao was playing during April last year when he was really lighting it up offensively. I specifically remember him burying jumper after jumper over Kwame and Kwame remarking after the game how it must feel for guards trying to stop Kobe.
Fortunately, Yao and McGrady will never make it through the season without some form of injury. They are two of the most talented but most fragile players in the league. Hopefully, one or both will be out during our three games with them.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 11, 2006 at 01:25 PM
I hear you Zakee about the balance, or semi-balance of the other teams back to back games, but most teams (except for the 55+ win teams Phx, Dal, SA, etc.) seem to do well in winning their second games. If I recall correctly, the Lakers were terrible in back to back games in 05-06. I could be wrong, but it's what i recall. I'm just saying that IF they play .500 ball in their back to backs, that means that they have to put together and unbelievable schedule.
LakerTom:
I like your schedule, but the second game vs. SA is right after they play the Heat. Emotional letdown? Plus, it's the front end of a back to back. The third time is last home game prior to a monster roadie (8 games). I only see SA three times on the schedule...I know I am getting old though.
Posted by: onesocalkid | August 11, 2006 at 01:33 PM
Next year standing prediction
San Antonio
Dallas
Phoenix
Denver (division champ)
Lakers
Clippers
Houston
Sac/Memphis
Posted by: The Lamar Show | August 11, 2006 at 01:33 PM
Hey Guys I'm busy moving into a new apartment so I won't be able to blog much lately but in the meantime I'll leave you with this...shameless self-promotion!
Here's the latest article from the Lakersblog's 5th favorite (AK and BK being firmly entrenched at the one and two spots with Roland Lazenby and Eric Pincus rounding out the top 4) with sports journalist...ME! lol
http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060811/SPORTS/208110358&SearchID=73253459591632
Posted by: Xodus | August 11, 2006 at 01:33 PM
Xodus,
Nicely done.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 11, 2006 at 01:39 PM
Xodus
good job
p.s. nice to know you have a real name LOL
Posted by: joninjapan | August 11, 2006 at 01:44 PM
Thanks AK.
Posted by: Xodus | August 11, 2006 at 01:45 PM
exhelodrvr,
Always bringing a sense of reality to the blog, I dig it.
JJ,
The jump from 34 to 45 wins was an anomily due to the absolute perfect storm of crap that was the 2005 season. Injuries to key players, coaches leaving, first season post-Shaq, etc. I think that team, with the health luck the team had last year and a coach who didn't quit would have been around 45 wins. Check their record prior to Kobe going down and Rudy T leaving, it was the same or better than this last season at the same time.
I think it's easy for a team to get in that 45-win, middle of the pack range in the NBA, but making the next jump to the elite level is astronomically more difficult. The Lakers have a chance to get there, but I just haven't seen anything from last season, or the acquisitions this offseason (no one we obtained could be classified as a difference maker) to make me believe we belong with the elite teams just yet.
And JJ, what do you think this Laker team is going to do this year? If you had to make a statement about wins, how deep in the playoffs, etc. what would you say?
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 11, 2006 at 01:45 PM
Onesocalkid
The good thing abou the Lakers now is that we added 1 defender, a tru pt, and two outstanding shooter. Our bench is just as strong as anybodies in the league.
Farmer/Shammond
Evans
Luke Walton
Turaif/Cook
Mihms/Bynum.
Give me a better bench or should I say give me a more helpful bench. At least our bench understands there role.
Posted by: Zakee | August 11, 2006 at 01:49 PM
Andrew Z, AK, Xodus and Onesocalkid
I will help JJ out with this one. We have a bench now. It is really that simple. Phil can put about any kind of lineup on the floor to match up with any team in the league. Give me a team and me and JJ will give you a lineup!!!!! Give us two teams that are different and I will give you two different lineups that I think Phil would pick to play against the teams that you choose, plus I will give you my reason why I pick my lineup!!!
Posted by: Zakee | August 11, 2006 at 01:58 PM
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_18380.shtml good artical from hoopsworld. I am glad the lakers are not trading away andrew bynum for al harrington. Not really cause i have a lot of faith in AB (i do have some faith in him though. i am to much of a die hard fan not to), but trading him to get al would have me beating on mitchs door wondering why al and not Ron Artest. it seems the same trade to get ron artest is what the Hawks are looking for to get al. Please Lakers don't bite. He is a good scorer, but i don't really see where he fits in all that well. Kobe likes playing the SF and i would rather have a better defender playing the PF position (odem). I would like to see al on the team but not for the same price we rejected Ron Artest for.
Posted by: Jason Maves | August 11, 2006 at 01:59 PM
JJ-
I agree with you that an improved win total isn't the most important thing (assuming they win enough to get into the playoffs) and that the postseason is what matters. I never said they had to win 50+ to prove they're better than last season. Improved basketball is what's most important, and the Lakers should be able to produce better basketball.
But wins and losses will play a role, don't you think? If nothing else, we have to put all the teams in order. As for making the same kind of leap in wins this year as they did last year, that's going to be tough- I know you're not saying they will, but bear with me. The Lakers probably would have finished around .500, give or take a game or two in '04-'05 had the injuries not been an issue. So an 11 win improvement isn't totally indicative of how things were year to year.
As for the Lakers being better than Houston, of course they have something to say about it. They get to go out on the court and prove what they can do. Like I said, I think when it's said and done, they'll be better. They've made improvements. So have the Rockets and others. But if everyone's healthy on both teams, I don't think it's a given that LA will win more games than Houston. It'll be tight. I'm talking about a game or two in the standings one way or the other in terms of how close they could be. If I had to put down money in Vegas on who would finish with the better record, I'd take LA. But with a healthy T-Mac and Yao, that gap isn't very large at all.
Your points about how it will be tougher to win 55+ games this year, as the top teams in the WC did last year are good. Phoenix didn't win 55 games, and they were pretty solid, right? That's a reason, among a few others, that I haven't thought they'd win 55 like some others on the blog. They'll have to play well to push 50 (so will everyone else, by the way). They don't have to win 55 to be a good team, which is a good thing, because they won't win 55. In that sense, I agree with you, but I haven't been throwing out all the win total numbers.
By the way, what about my conclusion is "quick"?
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | August 11, 2006 at 02:01 PM
Zakee,
Your defender, which I assume is Maurice Evans, is known as a good defender, not great, and couldn't get off the Pistons bench last year. Your "true point guard" was the 26th pick in a weak draft and is completely unproven in the NBA and one of your "outstanding shooters" is so good he's been out of the league for a couple years. As for our bench "understanding their roles" I don't know how you know that since they have never played a single second for Phil Jackson or the Lakers. They have absolutely no idea what their roles are and we have no idea how they will do in those roles.
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 11, 2006 at 02:02 PM
Zakee:
I hear you on the bench being better, but knowing how PJ plays rookies (or lack thereof), Jordan won't see much PT...plus he has to not learn the triangle, but run it.
Shammond is unknown/journeyman.
I think Evans is the best pick-up, someone to spell 8/24 for more than 4 minutes a night.
Luke is Luke. Luke's the most popular mediocre player in LA.
I hope Turiaf continues to blossom, I love the guy.
Cookie, oy, if he ain't draining his shots, he's pointless, except for his 6 fouls.
I hope AB gets some minutes.....I like Chris but when he breaths, he gets the whistle.
Sounds pretty pessimistic, but I know it is better than last year.
It still sits squarely on the first squad.
Posted by: onesocalkid | August 11, 2006 at 02:05 PM
***17 BACK TO BACK GAMES***
One of the big advantages that was accomplished by Mitch and management during the off-season was really shoring up the Lakers' bench and improving the quality of the starters and the bench players.
One of the places where those improvements will have the biggest impact is in back-to-back games, which is an area that really hurt the Lakers last year, primarily because of the weakness of their bench. I think we will be able to maintain our level of performance much better this year in those games.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 11, 2006 at 02:08 PM
AK
Do you think this is a possible starting lineup the lakers might use next year?
Smush
Evans
Kobe
Odom
Kwame
Posted by: The Lamar Show | August 11, 2006 at 02:11 PM
Zakee,
I'll agree that our bench is better this year than last, but it's still weak. We are not "elite team" deep, and taking your challenge, how does our bench stack up against that of the Mavs and Spurs? What about the Clippers or going to the East, the defending champs Miami Heat?
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 11, 2006 at 02:17 PM
The season really comes down to this:
First 24 Games
17 of their first 24 games are at home......they better kick some 110 at home to start.
Last 19 Games
11 of their last 19 games are at home......
They better start it and finish it.......no BLEEPIN' third quarters this year please!
Posted by: onesocalkid | August 11, 2006 at 02:20 PM
lamar show
I doubt brown starts as center cause i don't see why mihm lost his starting position. he was the lakers starter untill he was injured.
Posted by: jason | August 11, 2006 at 02:21 PM
Andrew Z, AK, AND XODUS
Evans is backing up Kobe. So we really don't need that guy, but A hell of a backup that can play multiple possesions. As long as he can do that, then he will help the Lakers out tremendously, because he is better then George. Luke and Mihms started for us last year, so for them to now come off the bench, that is a tremendous upside. Turaif is now playing with us for a full year which means this will help Cook out. If Cook doesn't step hs game up in practice and on the floor, Turaif will take all his mins. Remember to that Luke plays the 3/4 and RACMAN. Oh yeah and so does LO. Bynum is just a project again this year unless he just starts to dominate in practice. I don't think that will happen, but I do think he will get aliitle bump. As for Farmer, as long as he doesn't get hurt, and he plays along side of Kobe, the this kid is tough enough to take on the challenge. He has proven it his entire career. And for Shammond, he played for Dean Smith. He knows how to play with superstars. Playing with Kobe will elevate his game tremendously. LO loves passsing the ball and this guys Loves knocking down shoots. He never played in the trianlge before and I think he is really going to blossom in this offense. Remember BJ Armstrong/Craig Hodges. Please these guys were far from good, they was just on Mike's team.
Posted by: Zakee | August 11, 2006 at 02:23 PM
Nice article Karl, oops Xodus. Well, i think PJ should hire Hardy to be a part-time coach of the Lakers, if she can drive our players to practice 4 hours 4x a week until October, that's good enough to rationalize the 55 wins rather than guess-timating based on sets of assumptions. Xodus, you're optimistic that someday Veltcheva would be an Olympian now that she is 11th in the nation. That's where the Lakers were ranked last season according to sportswriters.
Goodluck to your journalistic pursuits, there's a big chance of reading your name in the Miami Herald or Insidehoop, sometime in the future. Based on what you're doing now, that's just being realistic.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | August 11, 2006 at 02:25 PM
jason
i am pretty sure mihm is no longer the starter for the lakers. its going to be lamar, vlad and kwame in the front court.
just curious if the other line up would work tho? i know tex winter wants Kobe to move to SF and play like Jordan did.....and Mitch said Evans will get significant mins the coming year the interview after the draft. thats before we signed Vlad of course.
Posted by: The Lamar Show | August 11, 2006 at 02:34 PM
The Lamar Show,
It's hard to answer that without first having seen Evans play with these guys, but my initial instinct is probably not. I'm guessing either Smush-Kobe-Vlad-LO-Kwame or Smush-Kobe-LO-Kwame-Mihm, at least at the start of the season.
I see Evans playing off the bench and often at a variety of spots, mostly determined by where he's needed defensively. He's not a true lockdown stopper, but he plays with a lot of energy and can make guys work. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the game technically at "the point," but mainly just to guard the other team's 1. Kobe or Lamar can be the main ball handlers on the offensive end.
But again, haven't seen Evans play with them yet, so that could all change.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 11, 2006 at 02:35 PM
***HOW BIG IS IT TO WIN 55 GAMES?***
There is a subthread in many of the posts on this thread that too much is being made about how many wins the Lakers get and what really counts is how far do they go into the playoffs. They ask "where did all this 55-win bandwagon stuff come from?"
On the surface, that argument appears valid. After all, you don't win any rings for how many wins you rack up, just for beating everybody in the playoffs. Baseball and football have many examples of a hot team coming together in the playoffs and going all the way.
I don't think that is the case with this particular Lakers team. I think that 55 wins is a critical measuring stick for the team. We gained a lot of confidence during our 14-4 run at the end of the regular season last year and 3-1 lead over Phoneix in their first round series. But we still lost the last three games in a row and basically choked. I think we really need to rebuild much of that confidence that got shattered during the Suns collapse.
The way to do that is to rack up a minimum of 55 wins, which would give us a for sure top 4 seeding in the West. I think that how the Lakers start the season will be a pretty good harbinger on how the rest of the year is going to go. With the improvements we have made to strengthen the starting lineup and our bench, we need to take off right where we left off at the end of last year's regular season. We need to get out of the gate playing at a 55 win clip from the get-go. Anything less, and I will be very concerned about the ability of our young team to overcome the collapse against the Suns.
If we start out by winning 2 out of every 3 games -- which is the pace to win 55 -- I think we we may end up winning even more games and going even further in the playoffs. Phil's teams have traditionally peaked at the right time, just as the Lakers did last year by winning 14 of their last 18 games. If we start out on a pace to win 55 games and then close even stronger, we just might have grown enough in the year to go all the way.
That's just my opinion, of course, but it's a lot more fun than thinking that Kobe is going to get injured, Kwame is going self-destruct, Lamar is going to go brain dead, Smush is going to choke again, Bynum is going to prove to be Olawokandi, Radmanovic is going to forget how to shoot, Farmar is going to be Von Wafer, Evans is going to be Devean George, Turiaff is going to have a heart attack, and the rest of the stuff that the naysayers are so afraid are going to happen.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 11, 2006 at 02:36 PM
Andrew
Phill always gets the best out of his player. I am not worried about them not understanding. He is not your from the Knicks name Larry Brown. Phil has 9 championships, he get the best out of them.
Posted by: Zakee | August 11, 2006 at 02:44 PM
LakerTom,
I agree with what you said, the Lakers need to get going from the start, none of this "learning the offense" or "it takes time" crap. If the Lakers don't come out of the gate hot, they're in deep trouble. There are too many good teams in the West to start slow and have to try to play catch up against. I think the team this year will be better than last year, I just think the West is so much better collectively that they can't get to 55 wins. On the same note, I think their might be three teams that get to 55 wins, and maybe one that breaks into the 60s. I just think teams from the West improved that much during the offseason.
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 11, 2006 at 02:45 PM
I did realiaze we won 14 out of our last 18.
Plus on top of that we lost 20-25 games by 5 pionts or less.
Posted by: Zakee | August 11, 2006 at 02:50 PM
I don't think the Lakers will start hot this season. Seems like everybody is either new or coming off surgery...
Posted by: Mannie Jenkins | August 11, 2006 at 02:52 PM
Jason Maves,
Nobody was saying Andrew Bynum was being traded or offered to Al Harrington from all the media reports except in the hypothetical trade scenario set by Eric Pincus. At this point, Al Harrington is a free agent. He and his agent, Arn Tellem could determine on which team they want to go. Here is the standing offer of Pacers when they stopped the negotiations: $7.5M (MLE & BAE) + $3M bonus and 1st round draft pick to match the sign & trade between the two teams. The Hawks GM sat on the offer so Harrington nixed the idea by changing his agent and open all negotiations with previous offers. Atlanta Hawks could not do anything to force AL to accept that deal nor DEMAND the Lakers to trade Andrew Bynum + Mihm. Harrinton through his agent, Tellem will still have the final say on any kinds of offers. So the truth is, all that you read are purely speculations, hearsay and innuendos. Some people negate the trade scenario while others affirms it, now the fictionary tale becomes factual.(This is similar to the story of WMD oh-oh!)
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | August 11, 2006 at 02:53 PM
I know this is TOTALLY off subject, but I was sitting here reading the comments about the Rockets, and a thought popped into my head: How do you guys think Tracy Mcgrady will be remembered in NBA history?
I've wondered this for a while, and when AK called him a poor man's Kobe the question popped into my head again. It was just a couple years ago when people were arguing whether he was better than Kobe, and saying how great a player he was, but now it just seems like everyone says "Mcgrady is a great scorer, but....". Do you guys think Mcgrady will go down as one of the greatest players of all-time, or is he destined to be remembered as Dominique Wilkins type player, great scorer but that's it?
Don't get me wrong, I think Dominique was a great player, and deserves more credit and respect than he gets, but that's my point. Wilkins is hardly ever mentioned with Jordan, Magic, and Bird. He wasn't even one of the greatest 50 players, and I know a lot of people (including myself) think that is just wrong. So is that Mcgrady's destiny: never to be mentioned with the Kobe's, AI's, LeBron's, and Wade's of the world?
PS: I know I'm going to hear some complaints about this being a Laker's blog, and this having nothing to do with us, but I really want to hear your thoughts.
Posted by: Weave-Man | August 11, 2006 at 02:55 PM
Soon to become household names in Brokebackville (easily confused with BrokeVacaville, where the criminally insane nuts reside) the following is submitted:
Bibby - 7th year, (The Bibbinator) - He'll handle it much less and shoot it much more next season. Good news for Kings fans. Could be bibbilicious!
Garcia - sophomore, (The Cisco Kid) - Athletic, tenacious defender at guard or forward. Team oriented and good ball handler. Non stop and the kid can swish from long range.
Martin - junior, (K-Mart) - Shooting guard and future all star, maybe this will be his year.
Miller - 7th year, (Bonzi calls him our Point Center) - Play with Team USA will have him primed (for the first time) when the season opens.
Rahim - 9th year, (The Sheriff) - Always about a half cut below All Star caliber, but solid, oh so solid. Played with his jaw wired shut which told us a lot about him. With the Kings, had his first taste of playoff experience last year. He's unselfish and hungry.
Artest - 6th year, (Ron Ron, Testes, Artesticle) Nuff said.
Salmons - 4th year, (perhaps a nice catch) - After his near miss career debacle, he couldn't be happier to be a King. He may thrive on a team which defers to the team rather than an Iverson, Bryant or other superstar.
Price - sophomore, (The Price is Right) - may be the biggest shock to opposing teams
next season. Good vision, ball handler, perimeter shooter and bull dog defense that never quits. He was an undrafted, unknown (outside of Utah). Petrie is a genius.
There you have it. The essential 8 man Kings rotation. Of course, it is still not too late and I would not be shocked to see a Bonzi sign and trade (with Kenny Thomas) for a big. Andrew is a big.
Posted by: sonnybelfast | August 11, 2006 at 02:57 PM
Weave-Man,
I thought McGrady would have been exactly like a Dominque Wilkins if not for the injuries. I dug the human highlight film but he wasn't one of those stars that kind of transcended the game a la Bird, Magic, Jordan. That's not to say he wasn't a hell of a ball player, he just was a step below that level. I think McGrady is the same way, just a step below the likes of Kobe. Unfortunately the injuries will keep him from even going down as a player on the level of Nique. It's sad, I've always liked Tracy and was amazed at how much that cat could light it up. Healthy he's the second best scorer in the league.
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 11, 2006 at 03:11 PM
Andrew Z
Don't mention Dallas because they can't stop two guards and we got the best 2 man in the league. D-wade and Kobe kills them.
San Antonio- You got me there. They have experience. I think the Lakers are going to shrten up the rotation. Phil is good at that. In that seroius the only people to come off bench is:
Luke/Mihms/Evans/Turaif/Farmer. Hold up if you put Kobe in there and take out Eavns we are good. We don't have to play 12 guys. Just 3 or 4.
Clipper-
If you sit up here and tell me that you like Ross/Livingston/Tim Thomas and Aaron Williams better then
Shammon/Sasha/Farmer
Evans
Luke
Turiaf
Mihms
Then you are bugging. Come on man. Tim hit 1 big shot his entire career and Livingston can't shoot worth a lick. On the LAKERS bench you have two guys that started in the triangle last year and they were productive. Luke and Mihms. Yo the Clippers are not that good. I am sorry. They are ion for a rude awakening this year.They don't have a Kobe and Elton Brand is not Shaq or Duncan so he can't do it by himself. He needs a Wad/Lebron or Kobe on his team and they don't have one. Shoot they can at least have T-MAC or Vince to help them out.
Miami
These guys are old as dirt. The won that championship last though I do give them that. But there bench is Mourning/Payton/Poesy/anderson/ Doleac/Simmoons. Man they are old as dirt. That stuff ain't working next year. They are truely going to have to defend there crown. They are old. The entire bench. They bettre hope Sahq doesn't get hurt next year. If he does they are finished. There bench is suspect.
Posted by: Zakee | August 11, 2006 at 03:11 PM
Weave-Man,
I think that how McGrady will be remembered will largely depend on whether or not he wins any championships.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | August 11, 2006 at 03:24 PM
Zakee,
We also won a bunch of games by 5 points or less.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | August 11, 2006 at 03:26 PM
Andrew:
The importance of a fast start! Finally, something you and I agree on. The sky is fallling. Thanks.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 11, 2006 at 03:26 PM
Zakee,
I know Kobe and Wade put the smack down on Dallas, but Dallas blew that series. Miami never blew them out of the building, it was their own mental unraveling that caused them to lose. I still think Dallas has the deepest roster in the league, and will be back up there contending this year.
Listen, I like Luke Walton but he's a perfect fit for a Phil Jackson team and would be pretty expendable on any other team. I really like Chris Mihm and as a back-up center he's outstanding. ronny Turiaf is another guy I like but the dude picks up two fouls waiting at the scorers table, he has a long way to go. What gets me is how much you overvalue our point guard bench trio. I just don't think they're that good.
I forgot to mention Phoenix. With Kurt Thomas and Amare Stoudamire coming bank, the addition of Marcus Banks to spell Nash, and the late season improvement of Diaw and Barbosa, that's a tough team to match up against.
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 11, 2006 at 03:29 PM
LakerTom,
Watch out, cats and dogs might start getting along.
On another note, this is from and ESPN Insider article where the writer examines the seven WORST signings of the offseason. Enjoy.
4. Lakers sign Vladimir Radmanovic
The roller-coaster ride known as the 2006 playoffs provided the Lakers with a crystal clear look into their future. The team had to upgrade its offense and lessen the load on Kobe Bryant. Also, the triangle offense requires spacing and good outside shooting, especially when the team does not have a consistent low-post scoring option (other than Bryant).
So the Lakers signed Vladimir Radmanovic to a five-year, $30 million deal. While Radmonovic does have the ability to help the Lakers with his shooting touch, in particular from 3-point range, he does not rebound well for a 6-foot-10 player. He also seems very indifferent on the defensive end, which will not sit well with Phil Jackson.
Radmanovic's play and attitude decline when he does not touch the ball often, and he might not be content with the number of shots he has after Kobe and Lamar Odom get theirs. He has not sustained a consistent level of play during his career and sometimes seems to suffer from Randy Moss Syndrome -- i.e. playing hard only when he feels like it.
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 11, 2006 at 03:37 PM
Andrew Z
tHIS IS WHY PLAYERS LIKE LO/RACMAN/KOBE/EVANS/LUKE come into play. Between these 5 guys they are going to get all the mins at the 2/3/4 spots. Everybody else has to work for theirs. Mihms can back Kwame up and play the 4 if possible. Our players can play multiple positons. I am really not even thinking about Turaif and Bynum. I would split my mins at tose spots between the guys I named. The only spot the is sketchy is the piotn and if BJ AND HODGES did it for the bulls, then I think Phil hand pick Shammond and I think our great GM pick Farmer. Two solid choices to run inside a triagle offense with Kobe in the back court. Please stop forgetting that these two guys are not Smush. They bother played in outstanding programs so they understand the concept of basketball. Smush is the dumbest/ most talented palyers in the league. Well this year he has to people that I think are going to help him out tremendously. For the first time he is going to be challenged everyday. Just because Shammond has been out the league doesn't mean he stop knowing how to shoot. And playing for Dean Smith only tells me that he has a competitive spirit and is up for any challenge. I am sorry, but is different playing with a guy like Kobe. He is actually going to be open now. Totally different game for. Farmer will handle his own. Sure he will have some ups and downs, but at the end of the day he will get the job done. It is really not taht much he has to do if you think about it. He has to play defense.
Posted by: Zakee | August 11, 2006 at 03:48 PM
LakerTom,
"and the rest of the stuff that the naysayers are so afraid are going to happen."
A lot, perhaps most, of the posts on this blog are from the perspective of what the author thinks the coach/GM of the Lakers should be doing. If you want the team to be successful, you'd better have coaches and GMs that can realistically assess talent levels, attitudes, and the potential for success for various combinations of players. That doesn't seem to be the case with a lot of the analysis done here. Much of it is way too optimistic about the level of talent on the Lakers, and inaccurately downgrades the talent level of the other teams.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | August 11, 2006 at 04:03 PM
rdlee
Yep. I think thats why we GOT VLAD, Phil N Tex want RUSH and I think we should pick up KUKOC.
digtaz
Hey it's not the COFFEE. It's the freakin RED BULL bro.
AK/BK
I disagree with yall.
HOUSTON
If the ROCKETS got SHANE it's to have somebody to DEFEND the other teams best GUARD. It's T-MAC's job but he's INJURED. I think the ROCKETS have the biggest gap than any team in the league between how they LOOK on paper and how they actually ARE. T-MAC has a BAD BACK and it's not getting better. they are a very SLOW team (Because of YAO and I think Bynum is a POOR man YAO without the Fethery shot)and that was ONLY good for the days that NBA was played like NFL.
HORNETS
ChrisPaul is THE BEST point in the world after NASH. Don't try to argue. he is the BEST. YESSSSS, better than ARENAS, or AI or Bibby or whoever you wanna name. And I know they added PEJA, who just added to the rather THICK LIST of over paid NBA players, CHANDLER, an above average deffender, and BJackson, who's 87 years old. BUT, they lost the PLAYER that GLUED them together, SCORED the BIG points and most IMPORTANTLY made the big palys in Mr. PJ BROWN. Thats a BIG loss and I don't think they can over come it. They are my "05 SACRAMENTO KINGS, before the ANIMAL got there," of the 06. They have no CHEMISTERY on paper (If that makes scense)
SONICS:
Are you KIDDIN ME? can you atleast tell me WHO's gonna pick up the SLACK for VLADI RAD and ADaniels from their successful 04-05 run. come on K's
UTAH:
Now UTAH is a team along with MINNESOTA, MEMPHIS, CLIPPS and the NUGGETS that we SHOULD be worry about.
I think we shouldn't be WORRY about anybody. this year is ONE of those that if we don't BEAT ourselves we are MUCH MUCH BETTER than expected and thats always...well...BETTER. SONICS??????????
my 06 SURPRISE team: believe it or not PORTLAND.
Posted by: rayray | August 11, 2006 at 04:41 PM
RayRay,
"SONICS: Are you KIDDIN ME? can you atleast tell me WHO's gonna pick up the SLACK for VLADI RAD and ADaniels from their successful 04-05 run. come on K's.... SONICS??????????"
Considering BK said he thought Seattle would be much, much worse next season and I agreed in a later comment, my question to you would be...
...Seriously, what are you talking about? That statement makes almost as little sense as the idea of picking up Toni Kukoc. haha
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | August 11, 2006 at 04:47 PM
I don't know why so many people are down on Chris Wilcox. Basically, the reason given by Dunleavy for not playing him more that he didn't like the way he played in practice. Frankly, I would rather have a player that performs in games than in practice, and I never thought he was that great of a coach. I think if you check the record, he has a below .500 coaching record. I could never understand the way Dunleavy used Wilcox. Last year, against Detroit, the Clippers were on the verge of being blown out on their home court, when Dunleavy inserted Wilcox. He proceeded to totally outplay anybody Detroit tried to use against him. Then when the Clippers got close, Dunleavy yanked him and Detroit won going away. All Wilcox ever needed was a chance to play, and equally important a chance to play in an uptempo offense. I'd take him over any player on the Lakers, except Kobe and Lamar.
Posted by: Roger B | August 11, 2006 at 04:49 PM
Fact: The Brokebacks have had several players (who in their prior NBA experiences) were all star calibur, and yet, they went nowhere fast on the squad with the god-child.
Purely coincidence? Imagine how it must be for the average NBA player (all of whom are also world class basketball players) to show anything in the shadow of an fan ordained ball and spotlight hog. Many of you even stroke him (or make excuses) for headlining the adultery and rape sections in the newspaper.
Who is to say that a player like Smush, if provided some real -teamwork oriented- mentoring and leadership won't one day become a genuine star? He certainly has the physical attributes.
I contend that had you traded Kobe at the beginning of the season last year, your win/loss record would have been similar, except for one thing. Your newly risen star would not have quit in the last playoff game. Nobody but the Saint is that high and mighty.
Sadly for the Brokeback organization, many of you wholeheartedly agree with that last observation. Trade him while you can still get something for him, before he breaks a leg or something. Is he not over due?
Posted by: sonnybelfast | August 11, 2006 at 05:06 PM
AK touche'!
RAY RAY RAY RAY RAY!
WHen YOU UsE So MAnY CAps, AlL i CAN SeE Are THE CaPS, whICh thRoWs OFF ThE SynTax a BIT.
In MY VieW, youR POsts arE woRTHWhilE, bUt PLeaSe GivE US a BreAK.
Posted by: sonnybelfast | August 11, 2006 at 05:13 PM
Wow that was a lot...tsk tsk, the K Bros at it again lol.
It all comes down to perception really...others think there's too much negativity while others point out the exburerant optimism...there's nothting wrong with that. At the end of the day, we're all different (many many) people whose main purpose is to talk, celebrate, criticize and HOPE for the best for our beloved Lakers. That's why you see people blogging at odd hours of the night (when really I in particular should be sleeping lol) and others in the early (much to early for me) morning.
So through all this "battle of words," (which if you've been paying attention, is what this blog is all about...I think it bears repeating: thanks K Bros for the blog! Where else can we argue, make friends, flirt (though that's just me lol), attack each other, break keyboards in our exuberance, frustrate ourselves, and read 100s of entertaining and "valuable" posts each and every day and love doing it...nowhere else I tell ya but Da Blog! So thanks!
P.S. Xodus! Hell yeah, you're our very own 5th best reporter lol. Good article!
Posted by: Faith | August 11, 2006 at 05:15 PM