Extra! Extra! 11.12 (The Late Morning/Early Afternoon Edition)
November 12, 2006 | 12:11
pm
Sorry about the late post. The K Brothers just finished a vigorous round of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation to increase our already prodigious flexibility. Just one more thing we have in common with Kobe Bryant, who is doing the same thing to help speed the healing of his still gimpy right knee (Seriously, dude, stop trying to be just like Lakers Blog). Of course, if that doesn't work, maybe the four days of rest coming after tonight's game at Staples against Memphis will do the trick. The Grizz have struggled without Pau Gasol, and this is one the Lakers (even the hobbled, HMO friendly version) need to win.
Interesting piece from Dan Shaughnessey of the Boston Globe on the relationship between P.J. and Red Auerbach.
Reposted from previous thread;
Mike T,
Is that "smarta*s" thing your response to another one of those posts you took personal?
Or how about your response to exhelodrvr today; "Because the simple truth is this. Like, you don't like me...I simply don't like you. I usually make it a point to not engage with you."
Why do you feel the need to always come back at people with something personal? And you, of all people, to accuse someone else of being a "smarta*s". Please ......
You're right Mike, I do occasionally make a comment that is intended to be "smarta*s", as you put it, but most of the time I simply want to talk Lakers. When I do make a smarta*s statement pointed at you, it's because of you. You seem to bring that out in people as that is not my nature.
You see Mike, just like you, almost everyone posting on this site also love the Lakers. With me it's not JUST the Lakers, I love the NBA. I've been watching NBA hoops since the late 1950's, which will give you an idea of my age. I've seen teams, players, coaches, officials, rules, etc, etc, come and go, and I've discussed basketball strategy with far more people than I even care to remember. It is easy to see that you are a passionate Laker fan, knowledgeable about basketball and a very good writer. However, your team strategy and ideas are not "always" the best ideas, and certainly not the "only" ideas. We consider these Lakers to be our team, our players, and yes, even our coaches. It gets really old when you continually run PJ, Smush and Chris Mihm down. What’s the point? Most of the time when someone engages you with a post, it is done in an honest attempt to engage in friendly debate about an issue that you yourself have usually put on the board. At that time you have several choices. You can ignore the post, or respond in a civil manner and engage in debate, or you can make some silly personal attack type remark. Unfortunately you seem to use the latter choice a lot.
Mike, just look at this morning. How many posts have you made today attacking me and exhelodrvr? It's completely silly on your part that you feel the need to react in this manner.
I'll go ahead and apologize for this post in advance because I seriously doubt you will understand it the way it was intended. Instead I’m pretty sure you’ll be fuming and consider this as a personal attack against you.
Posted by: Laker Larry | November 12, 2006 at 12:36 PM
I don't feel good about this game. Memphis, though not really one that one would consider a good team...always seems to take it to us. I'm looking for us to take it to them...
We have lost the last 2 games in a row...and it seems to me that we need to come out like we're pissed and we're not having it.
That means defensively. The rust offensively is excusable...not playing together much, weird rotations (why isn't anyone taking PJ out for this? oh yeah, early season), and let's face it, Kobe is not Kobe YET. But defensively is another matter. If you're on the floor you better go after it, if you're on the floor you better put forth the effort, that means rebounds, blockouts, and basically doing what you can to try to stop your man. That does not mean fighting under picks all night long, and yes I'm talking about Smush specifically on the last part...but really the whole team for the effort part. We need to get back to the mentality, we are not a DONUT...ain't nobody should be waltzing down EASY down the lane. Foul them hard, but legal...stand and challenge. That's the kind of team we should be, not dirty, but definitely agressive, full of effort and tough. That's the only way we will actually make something happen this season...heck that's the only way we'll make the playoffs. We have to make it a purpose to be a defensive team, obviously we don't exactly have defensive personnel...but that's just another reason to work harder at it, and go after it.
The thing that worries me, is that no one is talking about it, not really. I mean someone in the team must have had a lightbulb go off...that says, oh yeah, play better defense. I mean I know they're blinded by the turnovers...but seriously.
Oh patience, yeah patience in this a new laker season process lol. Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | November 12, 2006 at 01:30 PM
Okay, everyone seems to be taking a shot at Smush Parker. Why? Let's truly take a good look at Smush and see if he really deserves all the criticism that gets heaped upon him.
Smush is a "Street Baller".
Where did that phrase come from? I think it was first coined last year by the Loose Cannons, Vic "The Brick". It was Vic's attempt to tell us that we were going to really like Smush Parker because he was a tough young kid who had grown up on the playgrounds of NYC. Smush never had anything given to him, he had to go out on the tough inner city streets and earn everything he ever got. Don't underestimate Smush, this guy is tough.
Smush don't play defense.
Hmmmm. The new NBA isn't supposed to be a defensive league. The new no hand check, no touch rules for guards on the outside makes it almost impossible to defend against any sort of guard penetration without help. Once an opposing guard has started his move and has even the slightest advantage, what point does it serve to run along side and be called for a foul when the guard rubs against you? None. You have to count on help defense from your teammates. But, name me 10 other starting PG's that were better defenders last year. Name 10 this year. Smush has very quick hands is very adept at stealing the ball.
Smush stands around on the perimeter on offense and takes too many 3's.
Mostly, that's his job, that's his position. The bigger guys go inside and post up, Smush completes one leg of a triangle somewhere on the perimeter. Mostly Kobe and LO are the slashers\cutters\rebounders. Smush generally is responsible to get back in transition defense and slow or stop the ball.
Smush has a bad attitude.
Smush is our starting PG for the second straight year. He's also our second lowest paid player. (Not an excuse, just a fact.) Smush is a talented young kid with a competitive attitude. Yes, he gets upset at times during the game, so do I. Smush almost never gets the benefit of calls by the officials because he is just one of the young journeyman players in the league. His status will be elevated a bit next year because of tenure and a new contract. He might also have a bad attitude if he reads this blog. :-)
Smush is not an all-star point guard and probably never will be, but he is the second best guard on our team. Only Kobe is better. It is possible that Farmar will become the starting point guard at some point, but I doubt it will be this year, and maybe never. Phil sees something in Smush that works with his scheme. Why don't we give it a chance and watch it develop.
Posted by: Laker Larry | November 12, 2006 at 01:46 PM
Common Lakers... take the W
Posted by: koob8 | November 12, 2006 at 01:53 PM
Bynum has to have a big game tonight, Memphis is going to be small.
Had a dream last night: In tonight's game, Lamar is arguing with a Ref and ends up getting ejected and suspended for the next game against Toronto. In the Toronto game, Kobe is left with no other scorers and, with the game in question, he goes off for 82 points!
Posted by: ajax | November 12, 2006 at 02:16 PM
Laker Larry,
I really don't want to get into an exchange of uselessness...but that quote you use wasn't even to you.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | November 12, 2006 at 03:34 PM
Extremely insignificant trivia item of the day - If Andrew Bynum scores two points or more in tonights game, he will surpass his total scoring output for all of last season. Last year he scored 74 points and he currently has 73.
Posted by: Roger B. | November 12, 2006 at 04:01 PM
God willing, Bynum should have 30 tonight.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | November 12, 2006 at 04:15 PM
THE LAKERS HAVE TO GET BACK TO MOVING THE BALL AROUND AND CREATING EASY SHOTS. BRING THE ENERGY BACK INTO THE LINE-UP WITH BIG MINUTES FOR RONNY. I LIKE LUKE AS A STARTER BUT I THINK HE'S BETTER SERVED COMING OFF THE BENCH, TO PROVIDE COHESIVENESS BETWEEN THAT UNIT. HE'LL BE ON THE FLOOR AT THE END ANYWAY. WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT VLAD CAN DO, MAYBE HE CAN PROVIDE SOME MORE SPACE FOR THAT FIRST UNIT.
Posted by: WILCOX2020 | November 12, 2006 at 05:59 PM
Laker Larry
get over smush, he's on his way to the bench.
goooooooo kwame
Posted by: bob | November 12, 2006 at 06:27 PM
I think Shaughnessey as it wrong, Red Auerbach would have a very different opinon..
J. Bardt
jbardt@insidertraders.info
http://bardt-links.com
Posted by: J. Bardt | November 12, 2006 at 07:17 PM
Our Lakers looked a little better tonight with hustle and nice ball movement. They still let Memphis back in though with some sloppy play and turnovers in the 3rd Quarter. Kobe can actually maintain a FG percentage above 50% if he cuts down on shooting the three with the 24 second clock winding down. I've noticed that his percentages dip when he settles for threes or has to try to bail out the team with a shot late in the shot clock. Lamar was in a nice flow tonight and had a great all around game. Bynum was really good tonight as well with some nice post moves, but he needs to dunk more around the basket so his shot doesn't get blocked(he had one blocked by Stomile Swift real close to the basket which he could've stuffed)but he's improving and was more aggressive on the boards and defense as well. Kwame looked pretty good tonight as well and helped by bringing a defensive presence. Four days of rest will do this team good as they work on some things and get the wounded more time to heal. The Lakers still make me cringe when they get a big lead because then they tend to go more one on one and make mistakes. Mo Evans had the jam of the night!!! Farmar got ripped a couple of times and looked tentative in his shot selection. At least they got the win. Looking forward to Friday.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | November 12, 2006 at 09:50 PM
Couple of observations reposted from my report from going to the game yesterday:
This W, although against a struggling Grizzlies squad, was not unlike USC whooping on Stanford last week. Sometimes you just need a confidence builder. You need to remember what it feels like to execute the offense easier and without as much opposition so that you can bring that experience to tougher games.
PJ gave LO and Kobe time on the floor without each other where each could feel free to be the initiator and not have to worry about whether or not to defer. Seemed to work although LO didn't really have a tough defensive assignment either. Luke did though. Mike Miller torched him last night and look what happened to Walton's production offensively. Hmmm...
I've noticed this the past couple of games but the refs have been letting a lot of stuff go in the paint. They're still calling things pretty tight on the perimeter but have seemed to swallow their whistles once the ball goes inside. I almost felt like there were more travelling and 3-second violations than foul calls. I prefer "letting the players play" but with all the attention on refs "controlling the game" with their tech calling, I just thought I'd point out that maybe they are letting them play.
Posted by: lakers_sth | November 13, 2006 at 12:10 PM