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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The bright spot in the bay (nfl wise)will be coming from Oakland this year. I'm stoked they got Artie back. He was the man back in the day in L.A.! Alex Smith is a waste of $50 mil. But Nolan should tie up a lot of loose ends.
>_<
Posted by: dan the man >_< aka smushcalade | August 14, 2006 at 10:54 AM
Fearless,
Just kind of reiterating what AK said, I think Mitch and the Lakers basically put feelers out for almost any deal, just to see what the market looks like. I think any published reports as far as rumors are concerned get bolstered by having "Lakers" mentioned. Considering the key piece to almost any package the Lakers put together starts with Chris Mihm and goes downhill from there, I would venture to guess that offers from other teams are a bit more appealing.
However, I am all for the Lakers being mentioned in every rumor, it makes for a wonderful conversation piece.
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 14, 2006 at 10:58 AM
Michael A.
My point was that in order for Turiaf to be effective playing at the 5, it would be when he's up against Borris. And with Amare's situation, Borris will be playing plenty of minutes at center, giving larger window of oppertunity for Turaif to play the 5. If Amare was 100% we wouldn't even be having this conversation.
>_<
Posted by: dan the man >_< aka smushcalade | August 14, 2006 at 11:00 AM
Korey:
Cant believe y ou're a Niners fan, too. Great, between dan the man and sonny belfast and you and me, we have 4 die hard Niner fans in our own little sub-blog.
And you are right to be excited. Nolan has the Niners primed to be the big surprise team in the league this year. I actually think we have a possible shot and finishing over 500 if everything continues to look as good as it does now.
Go, Alex Smith. Go Niners.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 11:00 AM
Next Championship Years
L.A. Lakers '08
L.A. Clippers Never!
L.A. Dodgers '07
Oakland Raiders '08
S.F. 49er's 2029 (j/k)
>_<
Posted by: dan the man >_< aka smushcalade | August 14, 2006 at 11:05 AM
I am at home today and I'm watching the Photo Shoot for the Rookies. I'm not sure if anyone else is watching it too (unless you're like me at home watching NBA TV), but it looked like Farmar has bulked up a little bit in the last month or so. Can any of the K bros confirm if he has put on weight?
Posted by: RichDaDCLakerFan | August 14, 2006 at 11:05 AM
The Troll
I would trade him for ....
Lebron James, Carmelo, Elton Brand, Shawn Marion, Andrei Kirilenko, Garnett, Dwight Howard, Dirk, Jermaine Oneal, Amare Stoudemire, Tim Duncan.
I would consider trading him for but not 1on1 and depends on their injury status:
Tmac, Pierce, Artest, Chris Bosh, Paul Gasol.
_____________________
some of the players you listed were just... wow. you cant be serious about trading him for players like Drew Gooden, Maggette, Boozer etc. They're all decent players but cmon. tell me you are joking.
Posted by: The Lamar Show | August 14, 2006 at 11:08 AM
Andrew Z:
I don't think you look at things negatively, more like conservatively, which I think 48 wins represents.
I would actually categorize you as a "realist" but, since I'm considered to be such an "optimist" others would interpret that as my saying you were a "pessimist."
I also enjoy your posts and the back and forth. I'll also admit to you that I sometimes do turn volume of the optimism up a notch or two when I sense a negative trend emerging on the blog. But I will deny that I ever said that.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 11:18 AM
dan:
Next Championship Years
L.A. LAKERS '07!
L.A. Clippers Never!
N.Y. YANKEES '07
Oakland Raiders Never!
S.F. 49ER'S '09!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 11:21 AM
Hey guys I have a question does anybody know how many all-defensive teams the following players all together have been named to:
Vince Carter
Lebron James
Dwayne Wade
Ray allen
T-Mac
Notice these are all players who have either crticized Kobe or have been compared or regarded as better players. I know Kobe has 6/7. I am not a 100% sure but I beleive when the question is answered it will show that Kobe is unmatched to these mortals
Posted by: Francis Ikwueme | August 14, 2006 at 11:23 AM
WOLFE:
Not a Niner's fan, huh. Must be an LA Raiders fan or an LA Rams fan. Sorry, I forgot those were the teams you guys lost.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 11:27 AM
Guy:
I still think that 55-Wins sounds about right for this year considering how strongly we finished the regular season last year and the new players we added. I would expect the entire blog to have signed up by Christmas, including even exhelodrvr and Andrew Z.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 11:31 AM
Okay...I haven't had FSN for awhile and there's FSN in this place I'm vacationing in (Yay). So anyways, last night they were interviewing Jeanie Buss. It was interesting stuff. She was saying how Phil signed in for 3 years, and you have to believe that he came here to win a championship---so this season what she's really just expecting is forward progress since she (and Phil) believes a championship comes in steps. So Championship in 06-07! lol. She also said, you have to trust in our resume, we have the history of winning, we have the best player in the game (she also said you know Kobe's going to keep on breaking records), and the best coach in PJ (I think ;-) so we have a recipe for success. All in all good stuff, so if they have replays I'd watch it.
P.S. Smush was in the Sparks game last night.
Posted by: Faith | August 14, 2006 at 11:42 AM
50+ wins and Amare:
If you watched enough Lakers games you would know that 50+ wins was not a stretch last season. The minors adjustments made over the summer should, barring any unforseen events, (i.e. injuries) allow them to reach 50+ wins without it having to be considered a miracle. Maybe not 55, but definitely over 50.
I also wanted to throw out for discussion the following story about Amare Stoudemire I found and read on hoopsworld.com:
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_18404.shtml
I know Amare is a great player when he's healthy, but he is not even at this time 100%, and there is no definitive way to know if he will be for the beginning of the season. Even if he is, we've all seen guys come back from injuries like this and never be the same again. But even then this story has holes. Shaq is NOT the most dominant force in the league anymore, not since a few years back. IF Amare is as good as this guy says, I would still put him behind Yao, a true center, assuming the end of last season for Yao was a sign of things to come.
Either way, is anyone as disturbed by this guy's love for Amare Stoudemire as I am?
Posted by: TheeCaliKing | August 14, 2006 at 12:03 PM
Edwin, LakerTom,
Ha..ha..ha.. I do the exactly the same thing after a win/loss. I also do the same thing when Miami losses. I check thier web site and go on the blog to hear all the fans cry. Keep up the great posts. If it weren't for my motorcycle blog community I would contibute a lot more. Maybe when the season starts I will be a regular contributor.
Posted by: Sean714 | August 14, 2006 at 12:05 PM
Tom,
just twist the knife a little deeper, why don't you?
I see that you hate the Raiders. But I must admit that being both a Niner fan and a Raider fan is pretty rare. But the rivalry is nothing like it could have been in '91, when the two teams almost danced in the super bowl. But the Montana/Rice 49er team and the Jackson/Allen Raider team lost in the conference championships to the Bills and the Parcell led Giants.
>_<
Posted by: dan the man >_< aka smushcalade | August 14, 2006 at 12:08 PM
The Lamar Show.
You will consider Tmac for LO, and The truth? Even with his bad back, Tmac is twice the player Lamar will ever be. Com'on now, Paul Pierce is a 3 or 4 time all star!
Posted by: The Troll | August 14, 2006 at 12:08 PM
Pete:
Good to hear from you.
Carmelo Anthony is sure looking good. I think he wants to show people that he is the best of the class of ’03 and overshadow Lebron, Wade, and Bosch.
From the quotes, it does sound as if KG is going to exercise his player option and become a free agent at the end of the year. If so, the Wolves will have to try and trade him before the mid-year deadline or risk losing him for nothing. I think the LA Times will need to get a bigger server to host the blog on if that does happen.
Not sure how many people on the blog will be able to remember Vinnie Johnson but the guy could sure light it up. If I remember correctly, I think Vinnie came into the league the same year that the 3-point shot did.
I’m a big Niner fan and think we have a chance to finish better than .500 this year. I am predicting we will go 9-7, which will be a big jump after 2-14 and 4 -12 seasons. Some fans might think that was overly optimistic since the Niners have only played one exhibition game, but it’s enough for me. Nolan is doing a fantastic job rebuilding the entire team and we are way ahead of schedule, just like the Lakers are in the NBA.
I think Phil is going to give both Bynum and Farmar a chance to play big minutes early in the year to see what they can contribute and try to get them ready for 2007/8. I think he wants to win that 10th championship before he retires, which could be at the end of that year in his health does not improve.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 12:10 PM
Am I the only one who is reminded of Jason Kidd (the best PG in the league) when watching Jordan Farmar? I believe people had the same worries about J-Kidd when he came in: too slow, not a good enough shooter, etc. He proved them wrong. Not to say hes as good as Kidd, but I can see the same signs.
Posted by: TheeCaliKing | August 14, 2006 at 12:19 PM
I think we should trade Vick the Brick and Steve Hartman for Tony Cornheiser, hell, through in Hacksaw too.
Where'd all the NorCal fans come from?
Why are we talking Raiders and Niners in the Lakers Dojo?
Sacrilege people!
Posted by: onesocalkid | August 14, 2006 at 12:26 PM
Jman449:
You need to rejoin the faithful and be grateful that John York had the balls to admit he had screwed up and the money to fix it by firing and paying off Donahue and Ericson and bringing in Mike Nolan.
Remember that Eddie DeBartalo made the exact same mistake as John York did when he first took over as owner of the Niners. DeBartalo's first GM was Joe Thomas, who ran the team for two disastrous years. DeBartalo quickly realized his mistake and did a better job the second time when he hired Bill Walsh.
You have to give John York credit. When he realized that he had made a major mistake with Donahue and Ericson, he didn't sit still but actually paid them $10M to leave and then did a great job the second time around when he hired Mike Nolan to restore the franchise.
Nolan is turning the team around from top to bottom. The Niners may still be 2 years away from making it to the playoffs and maybe 3 or 4 years from competing for a championship, but just like the Lakers, they are on a fast track to get back to winning championships.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 12:42 PM
It is almost heresy to place such low expectations on the San Francisco football franchise, but a 500 season would suffice for the coming season.
On the other hand, their rapid rise back to the very top will not at all surprise me when it happens. They are, afterall, the Forty Niners! It'll be like coming back home.
While for the most part the dust seems to have settled and rosters seem mostly complete for the coming season, my gut tells me some major moves and changes lie in wait. Do you realize it's possible that soon, Kobe won't be a Brokeback?
How would you handle that? Like I said before, if Kobe had been replaced at the beginning of the season last year, your team would have had close to the same number of wins. Think about it. And if not last year, certainly this year, the Brokebacks would really be shaping up. Let's see now, who could you have gotten for an uninjured Saint?
Posted by: sonnybelfast | August 14, 2006 at 12:47 PM
Sonny:
Glad to hear about the cease fire on York. He deserved the heat he got but he really just made a rookie owner’s mistake in putting Donahue and Ericson in charge much like DeBartalo did with Joe Thomas. Eddie got it right the second time with Walsh and I think John got it right the second time with Mike Nolan.
And you are right that the San Francisco 49ers are one of the most storied football franchises in the NFL and should always be competing for championships, much like the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Yankees.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 12:48 PM
onesocalkid,
The Raiders still have a huge L.A. fan base!
Not everybody in socal loves the Chargers!
>_<
Posted by: dan the man >_< aka smushcalade | August 14, 2006 at 12:49 PM
Tom,
I heard that York was not even a football fan when he bought the Niners. And it was his wife's passion for the game that ultimately led him into the direction of the nfl. Have you heard this story?
>_<
Posted by: dan the man >_< aka smushcalade | August 14, 2006 at 12:55 PM
The Raiders have a huge fan base everywhere, as do the Niners and Brokebacks. No getting around it. The Kings have grown immensly in that regard and are just getting started.
Let the season begin! We're making a run for it!
Posted by: sonnybelfast | August 14, 2006 at 01:02 PM
Among storied franchises, I forgot to mention the Dodgers.
Posted by: sonnybelfast | August 14, 2006 at 01:05 PM
dan:
Couldn't help twisting it, bro. You should have been around during "real" Raiders' years back before they became a traveling circus and when Al Davis was actually alive and breathing. The Raiders were the meanest and toughest team on the block. I still remember seeing Joe Namath coming out of a game with blood running down his face after getting a typical Raider cheap shot after the whistle in the NFL playoffs. Sad to say, I don't think Al has the touch anymore but he also can't let go of the reins. He never should have let John Gruden leave.
I feel for how bad it is going to be for you on the Raiders side but fortunately for you, the Niners are going to back over .500 this year and back in the playoffs next year. And the Raiders may be competing for the number one pick next draft.
And you are right, it is really weird to be able to be a Niners fan AND a Raiders fan. Must be a new "younger" way of doing it. As I have said before, I don't understand that mentality. In the NBA for me, there are just the Lakers. In the NFL for me, there are just the Niners. All the other teams are just enemy teams that are in the way and I hate 'em all.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 01:06 PM
dan:
I'm not even sure if John York is a football fan now. What he is not, however, is dumb. He knows he has a very valuable franchise and he wants to make sure it gets more valuable rather than less valuable, which means he will spend what we need to restore the glory. He also wants to eventually have his son Jed take over the 49ers just as Jerry Buss wants to have his son Jim take over the Lakers. You might say that Jed York and Jim Buss are mightly lucky couple of guys.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 01:13 PM
Wassup bloggers, this is my first post but I've been reading the blog for quite some time. The biggest Lakers, Dodgers, and Raiders fan there possibly is!! Anywho, I don't know if anyone has posted this but nba.com came out with power rankings for next year.
http://www.nba.com/features/power_rankings.html
Sorry if you can't click on that, just copy and paste. This guy, John Schuhmann, has us at # 14, BEHIND Washington, Denver, NO/Okla City, Memphis, LAC, and the rest of them. Personally I was a bit shocked. I understand if other people don't believe us to be a top 10 team, but 14th and behind the wizards, nuggets, etc???? Just makes me more anxious for the season to start and Kobe win MVP, Lamar be the Lamar we all know he's capable of being, Kwame coming into his own, Smush coming into his own, Vlad being one of the best 3 point shooters (he better be practicing), and all the other story lines that surround next season.
Guess thats my first post, look forward posting some more
peace
Posted by: 24Tushort08 | August 14, 2006 at 01:14 PM
sonny:
I think that we may need to come to an informal understanding to keep Laker and 49er posts separate so that dan and I can continue to "hate" your Laker posts and, at the same time, "enjoy" your Niner posts without feeling like traitors. The "integrated" posts really seem weird, like kissing your sister or something. Or maybe kissing your brother. You get the idea.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 01:19 PM
TheeCaliKing:
You are right that many of the criticisms being tossed at Jordan Farmar were also tossed at Jason Kidd when he came into the league. I agree that Farmar has the physical ability and mental agility to become one of the leagues top point guards.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 01:22 PM
Sean714:
I'll bet there are a lot of fans that do the exact same thing. In fact, I've often wondered why the hometown newpapers even print a sports page when the home team loses. Most fans only want to read about the wins and forget the losses. And the worst are the overtime losses that you Tivoed and watched at 3:00 a.m. and the Lakers just lost in OT.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 01:26 PM
The Troll
Of course I wouldnt trade LO for Tmac with a messed up back. I dont see how Tmac is twice the player Odom is when he cant even move. The only thing Tmac is much better at scoring. He's got no D, their passing is about the same but Odom's better at rebound. Tmac is stronger mentally but lets be realistic here.... this is not nba Live where we can turn off injury so nobody gets hurt. Tmac's back can give in anytime. If you tell me a 100% healthy Tmac for Odom then hell yah, but you cant can you? Why do you think Denver's giving away Kmart but nobody wants it? Its not just because of his contract but people are scared his knees will give in even though he say he's healthy. If you believe everything everyone tells you then I feel sorry for you because you are a fool. WTH is Tmac going to do for us on the bench? Sell more tickets? And I said might trade for Pierce because even tho I love his game, he's not as versitle as Odom and he's older. but that one is up to personal preference. I'd rather keep LO tho.
Posted by: The Lamar Show | August 14, 2006 at 01:27 PM
Who wants to jump on board the "34-loss bandwagon" with me?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | August 14, 2006 at 01:28 PM
Faith:
"Smush was in the Sparks game last night."
Did he get to play? I think this could be the answer to Smush's problems. This way he could still be the starting point guard for Los Angeles if he played in the WNBA. But don't they have some form of drug testing for testosterone?
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 01:32 PM
Dan:
I don't like the Raiders, nor the Chargers (although L.T. is a stud). I know the Raiders are too terribly popular here....their signs, stickers and jersey's are everywhere still and they've been gone for how long now? Maybe if they would have only built that stadium in Irwindale, maybe then I would have checked them out.
I grew up on the Bruins, Rams and Angels....I'm in the 626.
I would never have gone to the Colosseum anyways...why play Russian Roulette with one's body? Raider fans....gotta love 'em, gotta love 'em about as much as the city where the Queens forage.
Posted by: onesocalkid | August 14, 2006 at 01:32 PM
we should trade for Reggie Evans. I like his rebounding and he's got good "ballhandling" skills.
Posted by: The Lamar Show | August 14, 2006 at 01:42 PM
exhelodrvr:
That was pretty funny. Good luck with your bandwagon. Or was that a hearse?
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | August 14, 2006 at 01:50 PM
24tushort08,
Big Ups!
>_<
Posted by: dan the man >_< aka smushcalade | August 14, 2006 at 01:58 PM
exhelodrvr,
Count me in on that bandwagon, that sounds just about right to me. Seventh seed here we come!!
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 14, 2006 at 02:02 PM
Tom,
I was waiting for someone to make a crack about Smush at the Sparks game last night. I should've known it would be you!
>_<
Posted by: dan the man >_< aka smushcalade | August 14, 2006 at 02:04 PM
AK,
You know, I knew better than to let my hopes get up. This move looks like it will make the Pacers that much better.
You know, Bynum is still 3-5 years away from his prime. However, what people forget is that rarely are your primary players in their primes at the same time. Usually, its good enough if everyone is *around* their primes.
Shaq was just past his prime and Kobe was still ascending when they ran off three titles.
Kareem was well past his prime and Magic was a rookie when they started dominating together. I think only the bulls had players peaking together. I think that's why they went for 6 in 8 years.
Using this logic, maybe the Lakers become real competitiors in about 2 years...
That is my wish.
--Fearless
Posted by: Fearless | August 14, 2006 at 02:13 PM
Francis,
That list of players has no one to blame but themselves. I've always been down on T-Mac because he's got every skill Kobe has, is 3 inches taller, is quicker, and is longer. If T-Mac played "D" he would rule the world. He'd be absolutely unstoppable. Dude's too lazy, though. To be both a defender and a scorer you have to put in the work in the off-season. He don't want to do that.
Posted by: Fearless | August 14, 2006 at 02:22 PM
Fearless,
I'd have to say that when the Lakers were running off their titles, at least the first two, Shaq was definitely in his prime. Unfortunately his poor conditioning caused his prime to be shorter than it could have been, but he was definitely at his peak then.
Not to beat a dead horse, but it still gets me that everyone thinks Bynum is only a year or two away from being better than serviceable. Dude, the kid played something like 30 HIGH SCHOOL games. That's ridiculous. Not only could he have used some college experience, he could have used three more years of high school experience. That being said the guy looks to have a good future, but don't get it twisted, not only is he young, but he's extremely INEXPERIENCED.
as for Kobe's prime, that guy has more mileage on his legs than the average 28 year old. He needs some major help soon if he wants to compete again.
Posted by: Andrew Z | August 14, 2006 at 02:27 PM
onesocalkid,
I remmember when the Raiders were the Lakers and the Lambs were the Clippers of L.A football.
Good Times!
>_<
Posted by: dan the man >_< aka smushcalade | August 14, 2006 at 02:33 PM
24tushort08,
Welcome to the funhouse!!!!!! All joking aside, you're right, that dude is an idiot!!!! I think as far as the rest of the world is conserned we didn't make any moves at all. I thought after proving EVERYONE wrong last year these people in the media would give us some more respect, but I guess that's just too much to ask. It's aight though cuz when the season starts they will all see what we already know.
PS: Miami is definitely not the best team in the league, and we all know who the best player in the league is so that comment dude made was just dumb. I would rate Dallas, and San Antonio over them. Actually I think we are a better team than Miami. They got lucky (and a little help from the refs) and beat a team that was easily better than them, but that won't happen again.
Posted by: Weave-Man | August 14, 2006 at 02:35 PM
On Bynum:
The most positive points on AB thus far are that hes big and growing, and the kid shows a definite willingness to learn. Hes playing with Kobe. He doesn't have to be great. He just has to be good. Personally I'm a supporter of the idea that you learn and get better on the court, not on the bench. I'm not saying Phil should start him, but he should definitely get some good minutes. Hes not a rookie anymore.
Posted by: TheeCaliKing | August 14, 2006 at 02:57 PM
Kobe on the cover of NBA Live '07
http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=281548
Posted by: RichDaDCLakerFan | August 14, 2006 at 03:43 PM
THE TROLL
Buddy your POST, looks like, was written by one who's got a hold of some GOOD STUFF.
You'd "CONSIDER" trading LO "depending on need/situation" with:
"Caron Butler, Richard Jefferson, Corey Maggette, Tayshaunn Prince, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Channing Frye, Drew Gooden, AL Harrington, Rasheed Wallace, Antawn Jamison and Paul Gasol."
Well, you should "consider" taking it easy on the GOOD STUFF.
AGREED, you'd be crazy if you don't trade LO for CBOSH and you can difinately make a case for PAU(not PAUL by the way)the way he played last year but the REST???????????????????????????????????????
I think you should have stoped your piece WHERE you named the players you would trade LO with and you'd be FINE. But, like I do all the time you let your EMOTIONS take over and your POST started going SOUTH 150 miles an hour.
and where is the LAMAR SHOW. SLEEPIN?
Posted by: rayray | August 14, 2006 at 04:10 PM