Extra! Extra! (10.30)

cant wait for tomorrow, just went on the laker website, that lights out thing got me so pumped up, ive been waiting for tomorrow for so long, i just hope we can beat the suns and hope kobe can play, im also pumped on bynum palying a good game.

ps congrats to jerry bus

GO LAKERS

I don't think I see this link on your extra today:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-crowe30oct30,1,862265.story?coll=la-headlines-sports

Maybe it wasn't important, but I thought it was cool to read how a rock star feels about the Lakers, Kobe, etc.

Cool, Lako. It's in there now. Thanks.

AK

"Carrying on the fine tradition of excellance for the L.A Times, The K Bros have distinguished themselves from their peers in giving their fellow bloggers a virtual smorgasboard of basketball information."

Just a little ego back rub for not getting your star today.

Absolutely love this blog!

Regarding No Costume for "Fright Nite" Game
At least you 2 can wear your old Rambis Dark Rimmed Glasses. ha ha

Go Lakers!!
Jfatty

Phil can be snide when he wants to be, but boy my respect for Phil has skyrocketed. I'm impressed after reading how Phil held his tongue when one of the pillars of professional basketball continued to try, but failed to put him in his place.

did u guys see jalen rose has been waived by the knicks.

Vman,

No respect at all from the pundits. Mark Stein has the Lakers down seven to the 19th spot.

Regarding Dr. Buss Star
Well Deserved !! He Brought us Home Laker Games on TV. The guy is a genius. Some people said that was a mistake at the time, people wouldn't buy tix etc... wrong !!
Thank you Dr Buss

Go Lakers!

Blame it on ESPN's Classic Sports

I'm sorry because i know this is old news and it doesn't pertain to this thread, but I can't help myself. Classic Sports has been running a lot of old games the last few days and I happened to catch Game 4 of the 2001 Series against Sacramento EARLY Sunday morning and it really made me both happy and angry. I really believe that every critic of Kobe Bryant should watch that game amond others from the championship years and then should each take turns writing and mailing Kobe apologies for all of the negative things that they have said about him.

I REALLY want to go in detail as to everything I saw but I will refrain. All I wil say is this, Shaq is a hypocrite, D-Wade is a weak copy of Kobe, the media has selective memory, and Kobe has already done EVERYTHING that they claim he still needs to learn how to do. He has been the consummate team player making his teammates better, it's just that Shaq got the credit for it. He has already managed to raise his playoff numbers to superstar heights, yet since only the Finals are remembered....Shaq got the credit for overmatching weaker, smaller East foes. It's amazing....watching that one game reminded me of why I chose the side of Kobe when the whole debate first started.

Like I said...blame this outburst on ESPN's Classic Sports. (I will post another post about the Lakers a little later....)

Why all this rush to proclaim the draft class of 2003 as the greatest draft class of all time? In my opinion they are not even yet on the level of the class of 1996 much less the draft class of 1984. See the list below and compare both classes, MVPs, ALL STAR appearances, Championships, ALL NBA teams, the class of 2003 has a long way to go.

PICK
PLAYER
PICK
PLAYER

1
Allen Iverson
1
Lebron James

2
Marcus Camby
2
Darko Milicic

3
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
3
Carmelo Anthony

4
Stephon Marbury
4
Chris Bosh

5
Ray Allen
5
Dwyane Wade

6
Antoine Walker
6
Chris Kaman

8
Kerry Kittles
7
Kirk Hinrich

10
Erick Dampier
8
T.J. Ford

13
Kobe Bryant
10
Nick Collison

14
Predrag Stojakovic
11
Marcus Banks

15
Steve Nash
12
Luke Ridnour

17
Jermaine O'Neal
13
David West

20
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
14
Boris Diaw

24
Derek Fisher
15
Carlos Delfino

29
Travis Knight
16
Leandrinho Barbosa

30
Othella Harrington
17
Josh Howard

33
Moochie Norris
32
Luke Walton

37
Jeff McInnis
38
Steve Blake

44
Malik Rose
41
Willie Greene

54
Shandon Anderson
42
Zaza Pachulia



43
Keith Bogans



51
Kyle Korver

Kobe hurt a good thing?

I hope that Kobe can play well and effectively tomorrow. Number one is that he takes it easy and doesnt reinjure himself.

If he does that and just coasts for the first part of the season it will force the team to pick up the slack.

Then when Kobe becomes KOBE we will be ready to make a lot of naysayers look foolish

Is it possible that with both Phil's and Kobe's penchant for theatrics as well as mystery, that they are toying with the information of how well Kobe is as to hold on to the advantage that infromation gives them? If Phoenix believes that Kobe is either uncertain for opening night or at least most likely unable to provide Kobe-like play, wouldn't that potnetially lead to them being less prepared for him on opening night?

You can never underestimate what Phil does. Consider that this game is one of 4 against this team and head-to-head matchups are VERY important.

Can't wait for tomorrow!! I'll actually be there as I got tickets for face value on ebay. Gotta love Ebay.

Anyone else notice that Buss has been a lot more open and vocal lately than he was in the past?

loved the flea interview ...hes a legend

Andrew Z,

It looked like Bynum threw an elbow at Sasha on the way back to the bench. Anyone else see that?

JF

Andrew Z,

I appreciate the energy and desire of Bynum as long as it doesn't get out of hand. Sometimes youthful fire can either consume the person or explode all over someone else. Either way....control is the key. As long as he remembers that, we'll be okay.

Andrew Z - WOW! Heard the clip and Socks did yell at Shasha. Great stuff!!!
Lakers tomorrow by 3

GO LAKE SHOW!!!

The Troll-

Class of 2003 looks BETTER. Even since the PLAYERS will be 4th year PLAYERS this year, but STILL 03 looks better than 96.

So you might wanna THINK again.

Jermain ONeal was NOT even close to being as good as DAVID WEST his 3rd YEAR.

I heard Bynum yell at Sasha during the game, "Give me the f***ing ball". I took it as a good thing. Bynum needs to be aggressive. Also, Sasha needs to know to feed someone when they're on.

Interesting to read an artilce written about the upcoming NBA season and not mention the Lakers. The Clippers with 4 mentions are apparently the LA team to beat. I do like FLea's idea of them moving to Seattle when that franchise leaves. Billy Crystal can afford the commute.

Jerry Buss is, as always, the consumate optimist pitch man but I can't argue with his assessment that had those 9 seconds gone our way, we could have made the finals... and that's all I need. It's all about "could" now. We could do it this yea.. with luck and a few "ifs".

It's time, Phil, do that HOF thing you do.
GO LAKERS

"I think the biggest mistake that they (the Lakers) made – and I don't even discuss other teams, because it's stupid; I don't want to tell you what they can do or what they should do – but I will tell you this: They made one big mistake in letting Jerry West get away." RED

JF,
I saw that arm movement by Bynum but it looked like another player was between them or they were not walking that closely for Bynum's elbow to touch Sasha. Anyway, Sasha didn't react so maybe there's nothing there.

Not sure if anyone has posted this yet, but it's the Andrew Bynum yelling at Sasha to give him the f&*%*$g ball clip. Priceless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOzQnwhqFE

JJ GREAT POST

Ive thought this all along...its incredible no wonder kobe keeps spouting philospophical "Lifes too short "kind of stuff...he must have so much anger..hes so unbelievably misunderstood and poorly treated and had such a random and unfortunate combination of things not to mention a rough deal from the media reinforcing this stuff...hes described as uncomfortable? inaccessable? are you suprised? jeez...anyway I maintain another championship is pivotal for him and his legacy as a player and person...probably moreso than its ever been for any player of any sport ever...He may end up being a kind of tragic figure I think...who knows...we should all be happy hes as stubborn as he is.Most people would have just hung it up and retired to their millions with all the crap he was getting a couple of years ago...thats why guys like Bill Simmons and that prat who wrote the article about him tanking game 7 annoy me so much..just leave it alone a~holes

anyway thats my rant for the day (again)

This is Kobe's Sunday media session:

http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/LOSANGELES-CA/KLAC-AM/601029%20KOBE%20MEDIA%20BRIEFING.mp3

And for those of you who haven't seen the interview yesterday on CMI:

CMI: Kobe's growth:
http://video.msn.com/v/us/foxsports.htm?g=E9C3C236-4848-44CE-BA54-05FE88E352F8&f=33&fg=copy

CMI: Kobe's stats:
http://video.msn.com/v/us/foxsports.htm?g=257F893B-9C37-4264-802C-F8F3FE0D4C9E&f=33&fg=copy

CMI: Kobe's moves:
http://video.msn.com/v/us/foxsports.htm?g=3BFE70D2-79B4-4618-8372-32E1C86495DE&f=33&fg=copy

Gotta agree with JJ what Kobe did against Western Conf. teams during the championship years is totally disregarded since Shaq just dominated the east weak teams in the finals. I'll go further and say what he did when the Lakers needed him to step up. Tons of memories, off the top of my head; the winner against Pheonix and J. kidd, the block on Sabonis (sp) against Portland in game 6 and the ot game against the Pacers when Shaq fouled out in Indiana and thats just the first championship year. Plus avg. 30+ against the Spurs & Sac the next two years, that rebound and put back in San Ant. and even when we lost to San Ant. in the bid for 4 in a row, bringing us back singelehandedly in Game 5 in San Ant with a 3rd quarter bliss with Shaq on the bench and then setting up big shot Rob for the win only for the ball to spin out and just off the top of my head. Kobe is the greatest now bar none (DWade, Lebron etc)

By the way if Bynum yelled at Sasha and threw a elbow at him, my thinking is way too much was made of Kobe elbowing him even by Lakers supporters. For me Sasha is kinda like your annoying cousin/friend who always gets on your nerves when things aren't going great you just want to punch him. Is it just me or do other people get that.

Gotta agree with JJ what Kobe did against Western Conf. teams during the championship years is totally disregarded since Shaq just dominated the east weak teams in the finals. I'll go further and say what he did when the Lakers needed him to step up. Tons of memories, off the top of my head; the winner against Pheonix and J. kidd, the block on Sabonis (sp) against Portland in game 6 and the ot game against the Pacers when Shaq fouled out in Indiana and thats just the first championship year. Plus avg. 30+ against the Spurs & Sac the next two years, that rebound and put back in San Ant. and even when we lost to San Ant. in the bid for 4 in a row, bringing us back singelehandedly in Game 5 in San Ant with a 3rd quarter bliss with Shaq on the bench and then setting up big shot Rob for the win only for the ball to spin out and just off the top of my head. Kobe is the greatest now bar none (DWade, Lebron etc)

I was listening to the radio driving into work this morning and Jeannie Buss was a guest. So obviously, my interest piqued. LakerTom will be pleased to hear that Jeannie said that PJ plans on giving the "best players on the floor minutes" and it will include Farmar.

Andrew Z-

Thanks for the clip. I read about it, but didn't believe it until I saw it. Oh boy, that was loud and clear. I wonder what Phil said to him about it? He might have told Sasha GHTFB!

JF-

Yeah, it did look like there was some contact there. Although if Radmanovic had made the shot instead of the TO then everyone could've had a good laugh about it.

Jalen Rose has been released by N.Y. Hey Mitch can we add some veteran power to the bench. J. Rose would play his azz off in a Laker uniform! Who cares I'm just glad the season is starting tomorrow!

Long time Red Hot Chili Pepper fan right here. read flea's laker blog all last year. good stuff.

Well if Kobe doesn't play Tuesday, then it would be even more awesome if we can beat phoenix!

It would be cool if Phil and Kobe were doing a trick to make it look like Kobe won't play, but at the last second will. and then Nash is like, "Aw man! Now I have to go out there and lose."

lakofan-

Great, Great, link.

YA "why don't the CLIPPERS move to SEATTLE when the SONICS MOVE." They're gona SUCK anyway. "we dont need any STINKIN Clippers in this town."

Exhelodrvr, Andrew Z,

Look at Monday's LA Times article by Bresnahan. Buss was interviewed and stated that their strategy has changed a little bit. He talks the possibility of creating cap space by trading a large,long term contract. Sounds like they are giving more credibility to improvement via trade, rather than just looking at free agents.

Kobe, Kwame, Lamar and Radman are the only contracts close to what he described.

Many of us believe this is a critical year for Lamar and Kwame. Perhaps more so now, then we previously thought.

I wonder whether renewed trade speculation might indicate greater interest in big name players like KG.

If current injuries cause the Lakers to get off to a bad start, so that by trading deadline we are basically out of playoff contention, that
might be all the incentive necessary to make a few significant changes.

Read the entire article. It is very enlightening!

LakerAl,

I believe Kobe is the only player on this roster that is safe from trades. There is quite a lot of pressure on Lamar and Kwame this year to prove that they are pieces, long-term, to put around Kobe to try and win another championship. It's easy to forget because they had solid second halves last year, but both were quite bad in the first half or more of the season. Granted, time in the system was sure to help, but if both don't show substantial improvement right off the bat, I wouldn't be surprised to see one or both moved if this Laker team is not comfortably in the thick of the playoff race come the trade deadline.

With Kobe's prime being such a small window, I don't see the point in waiting around to find out if our big contract guys can reach their potential. After six, seven, eight years in the league, the idea of potential is out the window, you are what you are.

That was a cool article, I'm enjoying Buss open up a little more.

Lance Armstrong used the 'fake-out' method in his first tour win back from cancer. Similarly, he feigned weakness on one of the mountain stages the entire day, he was riding in the back, grimacing, etc. Other teams controlled the race the whole day, so lance and his team were able to conserve energy, and then at the deciding moment.... when Pantani attacks him, Lance just flies right by. No one could match him for the following seven years. But man was it awesome when the rest of the field realized he was just fine.

I doubt it is the same situation with Kobe, but in a dream world, wouldn't that be fun if he just came out blazing, and all the pundits who are predicting golden state better than the lakers because of 'their injury problems' would just have to eat their words.

Laker Al,
I don't have any hope that Kwame can transition to power forward. If I had to guess, I would say that by the end of the year Bynum will be at least as good as Kwame is, and still on his way up. That makes Kwame expendable, because of the size of his contract. If Mihm heals completely, and continues to improve, and Bynum improves as noted above, the Lakers will not be able to afford to re-sign Mihm, unless he can transition to power forward. I think the Vlad signing was probably a mistake, so his contract is probably expendable. That gives a fair amount of money to work with, without having to get rid of Lamar.

go lakers!:

Phil really did take some shots from Auerbach, who I really considered to be one of the very biggest a$$holes of all time. But Phil really knew how to use the media, as pointed out by Kevin Ding in his OC Register article. When asked about Aurbach, Phil quoted his mentor Red Holtzman, former coach of the Knicks, after beating the Celtics for the ring in 1973:

'There are some times when you think good overcomes evil, and this is one of those times.'"

Tom

bmurph:

Thanks for the update on Jeannie’s interview. Glad to hear that Phil plans on giving Farmar serious playing time. You got to be grateful as Laker fans to have a great family like the Buss’ owning the team. Give Jerry credit for 8 championships. Give Jeannie credit for bringing back Phil. Give Jimmy credit for drafting Andrew Bynum. Give the Buss family credit for a lifetime of great Laker victories and memories.

Tom

Gee, give a dead man his respect.

mike

Ex,

I love Lamar's game, and would love to have him remain as a vital piece of this team, but for the amount of money he gets paid, he can't hang around as a glorified role player.

I do agree however that Kwame could be the guy to go. And I'm not totally convinced that Chris Mihm will base where he goes next year on a starting gig. If he was willing to remain a back-up, I'd like to keep Bynum (who I think will be better than Kwame by season's end), sign Mihm to a less than MLE deal to back him up, and trade Kwame for a power forward.

Anyone need tickets to tomorrow night's game??

I got 4 seats in Premier 12, Row 5. They are up on ebay at item number 230042352906 (just copy and paste the item number into an ebay search bar).

I will be at the game myself but in a different section.

AB
Original 55-win band-wagoneer
Start Farmar band-wagoneer

Lakertom,
We really are fans. Optimistic to the end. 55 wins or bust...

However, I didn't read into Jeannie Buss' comments that Phil will give Farmar significant playing time this year. She said that Phil will play the best players, whoever they are. In fact, I remember a recent interview with Rambis saying that Farmar might be better served playing with the D-Fenders, gaining much needed experience before being called up to the big club.

The great thing is we don't have to wait much longer to find out. No matter what, I have faith in the Laker organization to make the best decision for him. And if he's on the D-Fenders, we have a great reason to follow them.

Tear it up, Farmar. We're believers.

--James

ANdrew,
I agree about Lamar. But with (I think) Kwame and Vlad being expendable, and possibly Lamar, a "sign-and-trade" for Garnett is not out of the question.

Ex,

I agree, however I think Minnesota would ask for LO and Bynum, rather than Kwame. For the simple fact of potential alone. Although contracts don't work out then.

How about LO, Kwame, and two No. 1's? That might get it done.

[Repost]

I promised it. Now you've got it.

VLADAMIR RADMONOVICH'S BIO-CHRONO READING!

Here it goes:

Rad Vlad is a special case (not unlike Kobe and Bynum). Rad is (nearly) as entirely mental as a person can be. He is extraordinarily so.

For those not familiar with Dr. Arthur Mikaelian's Bio-Chrono Analysis here's how it goes:

There are four basic levels of experience: Physical, Emotional, Mental/Social, and Spiritual/Creative.

Each can be experienced relative to one another. So, one can experience the physical physically, emotionally, mentally, and/or spiritually.

How one's Bio-Chrono pattern is established fixes a person's relationship with experience. As such, fulfilling these foci of attention are essential to a person being able to realize their potential, for if these foci are not fulfilled, a person will feel a disconnect from themself and their relationship with life.

Here is how Rad Vlad (Vladmir Radmonivich) is set up on the four basic levels of existence: Physical, Emotional, Mental/Social, Spiritual/Creative

PHYSICAL: (Dual process) Vladmir Radmonivich experiences the physical world primarily mentally (like Shaq and Andrew Bynum). This means that Vladmir's mental state (and social environment) has a strong impact upon his physical state. When Vladmir is in a good physical state (or powerfully impacted by a positive mental state) he feels confident. This feeling of confidence is crucial to Rad Vlad's physical success. Confidence-orientated people are truly "mind over matter" types of people. When they are in a positive state, they can literally will themselves to do things other people cannot. They can overcome great hardships (including real injury), and acheive feats of endurance, athleticism, and physical focus that other people cannot. It is not a matter of them being physically superior. It is a matter of them being able to will their bodies to acheive goals that others may not otherwise have the physical focus to acheive.

The opposite is also true with Rad Vlad. Mentally-orientated physical types are particularly vulnerable to poorly focused or self-destructive mindsets. When in a negative physical (or social) state, they become fearful, insecure, lack confidence, and make poor physical decisions. These are the types of people who can be prone to hypercondriacism. They can make themselves sick, simply by thinking negatively.

The whole reason a confidence-orientated person like Shaq cannot make freethrows has nothing to do with his body. It's his mind. He is not confident about making freethrows, thus when he wills himself to physically act when attempting freethrows, his body does not respond effeciently and he performs a terrible freethrow action and flings up a brick.

However, we have all seen Shaq perform physical feats seemingly beyond his hulkish physical capacities. Why? Because he is confident in certain actions, so his body responds with extraordinary effeciency, and he amazes.

This same scenario is true for Rad Vlad. If Rad Vlad is confident (as a result of a discplined, positive mind supported by a stable, positive social environment) he has the ability to be a remarkable (almost supernaturally so) shooter. When not, he will throw up bricks.

So, it is very important for Rad Vlad to maintain and deepen his sense of personal confidence.

(Dual Process) Rad Vlad also experiences the physical world with heavy emphasis upon the creative/spiritual. (Though this is not as significant as his mental influence upon the physical.)

This means that it is also very important for Rad Vlad to feel attractive in life and feel attracted to new experiences (like Luke Walton). It is important for Rad Vlad to acheive his physical potential that he be able to be creative in life and feel that people are drawn to him. In short, it is important that he stand out, that he not just be part of the crow.

Rad Vlad's spiritual life is very important to his physical effeciency. He needs a significant spiritual meaning and creative freedom to acheive his full potential. Infusing his understanding of basketball with spiritual metaphors should be of great benefit to him.

The opposite is also true with Rad Vlad. If he feels outcast, unattractive, and most importantly STAGNANT in his life, it will significantly negatively impact the inventiveness of his physcially creative decision making process. He will make stupid, inflexible decisions and he will be unable to learn new physical skills.

EMOTIONAL: Rad Vlad perceives his emotional world primarily from a mental/social perspective. This means the most important factor in Rad Vlad's emotional life is his ability to feel trusted and to trust others.

Ah... trust-orientated people. They are your best friends... and your worst enemies. They are classically inflexible emotionally. So, it is best to stay upon their good side, for once you are on their bad side, it is very, very difficult to regain their trust.

Trust orientated people love open, honest communication. It does not always have to be positive. It simply has to be honest for these people are human lie detectors and they hate liars. They forgive people easily, when they are honest. They condemn people with hatred when they are deceptive.

Their social environment is very important to them. When they trust their social environment, they will sacrifice themselves from them. When they do not trust their social environment, they will insidiously work to undermine the individual members of their group.

Trust-orientated people are people who you can trust above all others, but they are also the most untrustworthy people (when they are in a negative state.)

If you want a trust orientated person to be trustworthy (like Rad Vlad), honestly trust them, and they will rise to the occasion. It is that simple. They feel a need to perform and prove their trustworthiness, for when their word is valued, they value their word.

It is terribly painful for a trust-orientated person to be distrusted (particularly by those they care about or respect). It causes them to lose perspective and their sense of self. They become untrustworthy.

However, when they view others (not close to them) as liars, untrustworthy, or "bad" they are literally your worst fricken enemy. Perhaps even too viscious an enemy. They feel a duty to "cleanse" their environment of people they distrust.

Don't go into battle against a confident, angry, trust-orientated person who thinks you are a conniving liar who is out to hurt the people he cares about.

You will lose.

MENTAL/SOCIAL: Rad Vlad experiences the mental aspect of life mentally/socially (like Kobe). This means that it is very important for Vlad to feel respected and (in particular) IMPORTANT in his social group.

It is very important for Vlad's mental state that he feel right and that he feel respected. When Vlad feels respected and that he has a pattern of making the right decisions, he acheives great mental clarity. He is able to make decisions that are not only good for him, but good for others. His mental focus (and, oddly enough, unselfishness) becomes extraordinary.

However, if Vlad does not feel that he is important, nor respected, he loses clarity and becomes extremely disrespectful to others. He will make categorical judgements without thinking them through.

Respect-orientated people have a strange paradox. They have a tendency to be very judgemental (on both a positive and negative level), but they HATE to be judged by others.

It is important to be compassionate towards them (even when they're being a jerk) and acknowledge their social importance constantly.

In addition, they need a nurturing and supportive social environment (which they can trust). A negative and/or parasitic and/or dishonest/untrustworthy social environment will completely unbalance a respect-orientated person.

They need people with clear-cut values and they thrive upon those kinds of social environments. Rad Vlad is not exception.

SPIRITUAL/CREATIVE: Vladmir experiences the spiritual/creative world primarily mentally (like Larar Odom). This means that the most important thing in Vladmir's life is faith--faith in others, having others believe in him, and faith in ideals (what is right and wrong).

When these things happen, faith-orientated people (Vlad, Lamar) are able to accomplish amazing things.

They literally use their minds to will reality to shape to their sense of what should happen.

General Patton was faith-orientated. Faith-orientated people make great generals because when they believe in victory, victory is acheived.

Faith-orientated people like to have clear goals and focus their minds upon their goals. When they do so, they focus their perception of reality upon exploring what they already believe is real. Thus their reality begins to conform to their belief and they begin to experience their belief.

This is true both positively and negatively.

It is very important for faith-orientated people to have positive, beneficient beliefs because when their beliefs are negative, the negative begins to become manifest in their lives.

Even worse (for these people) is when they lose faith.

Faith-orientated people need direction. They need focus. When they lose it, they really lose it. They become like people lost at sea, hopeless and unsure of anything. While this experience is painful for anyone, for a faith-orientated person accustomed to navigating life with a warrior's sense of strength, this sense of helplessness separates them from all life and they suffer enormously.

And they must struggle with incredible energy to regain their focus, or they are consumed by their last of focus and meander forever through life like ghosts.

So is true for Rad Vlad.

(And Lamar. You can see why the death of his child was so incredibly painful. It has caused him to reassess everything he believed in life. Poor guy. We don't know how bad he suffered. He has been in hell.)
-------------------------------

Analysis:

So Rad Vlad has a particularly POWERFUL (and unbalanced) Bio-Chrono chart.

He is INCREDIBLY mentally orientated. The mind is a double-edged sword, it can cut a path forward with amazing power and precision. It can also trap a person in illusion and suffering.

This is the crux of Vladmir Radmonovich's life.

If any man is a true coach to Rad Vlad, they will respect this fact and strengthen his potential.

They will do so by helping provide a supportive, trustworthy social environment.

They will do so by being honest with Rad Vlad.

They will do so by having respect for Rad Vlad's potential and the incredible power of his mind.

Since Vlad is mental (primarily) on all four levels of perception. Each of those levels magnify the others. Thus, Vlad is even MORE confidence-orientated than other confidence-orientated people. He is even MORE trust-orientated that other trust-orientated people. He is even MORE respect-orientated that other respect-orientated people. He is even MORE faith-orientated that other faith orientated people.

In short, his mind is incredibly power. He literally is psychic. That is no bullcrap. He is.

He is also incredibly vulnerable to negative social environments. Social support is remarkably important to his life. Lack therof will ruin him.

(Andrew Bynum is mental on three of four levels. He is also a very powerful [and vulnerable] Bio-Chrono.) Quite frankly, this team (Lamar, Bynum, and Kobe included) have a hell of a lot of mental energy associated with them. It's a good thing, but our coaches better fricken manage it properly or there is hell to pay.)

In short, Vladmir Radmonovich has the potency of remarkable power. If he (and his social group/coaches--because literally he cannot do it alone) are able to unleash it, he is unbeatable.

Period.

GO LAKERS!

P.S. Jordan Farmar also has a great Bio-Chrono reading. Not as extraordinary/unbalanced as Vlad's, but solid. Farmar's next!

P.P.S. Another thing about Rad Vlad (and Lamar Odom for that matter). They are very much about the concept of "TEAM". "Team" is a state for them. If they are with their team, they will work their hearts out for their team's victory. If they feel out of place or unappreciated by their team, they will be particularly uninspired, even unconsciously undermining their forced "team".

So it is very important for these two players to feel important in their team and feel that their personal values are also the values to their group. When this is so, they excel.

Andrew Z,
Minnesota doesn't have a lot of choice, IF Garnett wants to leave. (As you have pointed out, he would have to be willing to take a pay cut.) They could let him go and get nothing, or do a sign-and-trade. And he would be able to control which team he went to. Of course, that depends on whether he would be willing to leave a LOT of money on the table, and if he thought the Lakers would be the most likely route to a ring.

exhelodrvr,
Thanks for the response. Though not a Kwame supporter, I hope that he can continue to improve his game once he returns. This is basically his year to demonstrate what he can do. Kwame has always seemed like a short term solution anyway. Before this training camp, Bynum was not ready for prime time. Most folks figured that Kwame would finish his third (final) year, before Bynum was ready to start. But that may have changed.

By next summer, there will have to be some major reshuffling. And I'm guessing that a lot will depend on what happens at the center position.
If by next summer, Mitch can skillfully work a trade to exchange Kwame and parts for a good PF to match with Bynum, then we might be able to continue improvement without a big setback.

If the Lakers team assessment has progressed to the point that they know who they will not keep next year, that would make it easier for them to deal particular players at mid-season if the right offers comes along. Otherwise I dont see them having that information until next summer.

If Kwame continues to improve as a defensive center, and his reputation has been reestablished around the league, he will command reasonable interest from other teams. I dont think the Lakers will have any trouble finding a trade partner for him. The better he becomes, the more value he will bring.

I am just not sold on Odom at PF. I agree he is young and athletic and always a threat for a triple double. Perhaps he will eventually compliment Bynum, as Bynum emerges as a monster in the middle. Then there will be less need for Odom's efforts in the paint and he can resume his perimeter game. But if Bynum continues to emphasive his offensive game over his defense then the team might want to match Bynum with a strong defensive PF. Long term, the center position seems Bynum's to loose.

Mihm is a capable player. If he is willing to sign for reasonable money, he should be resigned.
His success at the PF position when he returns will probably determine his future with the team.

Though I cannot get anyone to agree, I think there is a weakness at SF. Someone as strong as Artest would make this team a monster. It would allow Kobe to remain at his natural SG position and would allow Odom to roam more which is his natural style. By adding a strong SF to what already is in place, the team would improve tremendously. Artest would be my first choice, but there are others who could help also.

More thoughts later....

LakerAl,

Seriously, how can you not be a Kwame supporter? Have you seen how he improved in just one year after struggling through a toxic environment in Washington? (A team and environment that sucks, in case you don't know.)

His improvement was just short of remarkable.

He has Phil Jackson, Kurt Rambis, and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar mentoring him now.

These are Laker greats.

I'm sorry, but I'm in the Michael T. camp when it comes to Kwame. He is going to be one hell of a player.

We just need him at power forward because Andrew Bynum is our next dominant center.

Bynum
Kwame
Kobe
Lamar
Farmar

That is the championship lineup of the Lakers.

[Bench]

Mihm
Turiaf/Cook
Luke
Evans
Sasha/Smush

I'm as serious as a heart attack.

I have such faith in this team.

I haven't been this excited since Showtime.

GO LAKERS!

LakerAl,
We'll probably never know, but I have wondered if Mitch signed Kwame to an overly expensive contract under the assumption that he would not live up to it, but would then (because of the contract along with the development of Bynum and/or Mihm) be excellent trade bait.

LakerAl,
I think Lamar's best position is SF. I love Artest as a player; I just don't think he is worth the risk yet because of his past behavior/quitting on the team issues.

Jon K.
Understand your support for Kwame, but you have not addressed what to do with him. He has shown NO ability to handle the PF position. Therefore, do you extend his contract and give him more time to "develop", or would the team be better off to allow Kwame to continue to improve at the center position and trade him for an equally good PF?
I am suggesting the later.

Exhelodrvr,
Yes, Lamar matches up well with the leagues larger SF's and that seems to be his more natural position. He has quickness and versatility and can also board with the PF's. But right now we don't have a strong veteran PF to replace him. You are probably right about Radman. Not sure (in hindsight) that that was money well spent. Garnett would be ideal but he would likely be a better fit with Mihm than with Bynum. And KG will bring a high price tag. Perhaps the team should look for a younger PF to match with Bynum, someone like a David West (who is a FA next summer) or a Channing Frye? I don't think that obtaining a younger PF like West or Frye would necessarily be a setback for the team, because both Radman and Kwame appear to be tradeable commodities. But that would make resigning Cook necesary.
One final thought, IF Mihm can return healthy and show us something at PF, that might be an interim solution to allow Lamar to play more SF this season. I like Mihm and really hope his ankle injury is not career threatening.

Exhelodrvr,
Opps, my bad. Just saw in this mornings LA Times that David West signed a multi-year extension to stay with the Hornets keeping him from becoming a restricted FA after the season. Oh well, there is still Channing Frye, I guess!

Exhelodrvr,
Whether Mitch planned it that way or not, Kwame's aqusition was a very risky move. Perhaps he saw something in Kwame that he liked. But committing that much salary to an underperforming player who up to then had great potential but very limited success, was certainly not a conservative move.

Unless Kwame gains some remarkable ability to grasp the PF position this year, his time with the Lakers is likely short, because the team cannot afford to keep both he and Bynum, even if Mihm leaves.

So, now we have three centers and a weak PF situation. Solution?: Bynum is the future. We also keep Mihm if possile and trade Kwame for a PF who compliments Bynum. I think there are more than a couple of teams that would like to add an improving core player like Kwame. Trading him at midseason might be too soon. I would wait until next summer when he will be healthy and have more time to continue his improvement. That would also give Bynum more time to develop. Brown's increasing trade value would likely bring us a decent PF in return.

Back to PF, what other players (this side of Tim Duncan) would give the Lakers the instant credibility (at PF) that Garnett would bring? Not many!

Back to Artest, its been reported that Ron respects Kobe, is good friends with Lamar, and with Phil Jackson, would be matched with a coach experienced and capable of handling more difficult players. All probably true to a degree.

Therefore, while Artest is agreeably not the most mature of individuals, if he became available via opt-out, it might be worthwhile to try and sign him to a short 3-year contract with lots of performance clauses. If Artest can be signed without having to give up a lot in trade, I think it would be worth a try.