Great stuff as usual BK,

Man I wish Sasha could translate that shooting into game situations. Things would open up more and we'd be a better team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSToE8pCoS0

I love the Mamba :)

I've always liked Gary Vitti and have thought he was an excellent trainer, but I've been doubting it this year. Of course, the injuries are not his fault, but every ankle injury this year (with the exception of Kobe) has turned out to be worse than anticipated, and in the case of Kwame and Walton, much worse than anticipated. Now Cook, who was supposed to be back by now, will still miss the next game even with all the time off??? You have to question the rehabilitation, don't you? The only reason why Kobe's ankle did not turn out this way is because it is Kobe and he takes things into his own hands. He didn't even sleep the night of that sprain in December doing exercises all night long. Somehow I don't see Cook, Walton, and Kwame doing the same. They probably look at it as more as time off than anything. But seriously, what is Vitti doing or NOT doing to contribute to this?? Any thoughts?

BK,
"After all, I scored four points in two pickup games yesterday at the gym"

Yeah, but you were probably only counting each basket as one point, right? That would make the Kobe-BK ratio 14.4, which is much more respectable than the 28.8 you initially indicated.

Worst players in the NBA:
G - Sasha Vujacic
F - Mark Madsen
C - Michael Olokowandi

I challenge you to find worse!!!

yeah, give bynum-the-kid some time. but i hope he become a full-time beast next season offensive and defensive-wise.
as for kobe, he's my man. always be.
it's laker time! woohoow!
shoot the ball, sasha!

pfunk-

My point was that LeBron was basically groomed for the NBA, with the media hype, and NBA style treatment, since about eighth grade. His adjustment to the NBA lifestyle wasn't the same as your average high school player making The Jump. Bynum barely played in high school, relatively speaking, and didn't have nearly the amount of hype around him. His experience entering the league was far different, and his experience in basketball that might have helped ready him for the NBA wasn't the same.

BK

BK,

Where were you when we needed you (when our roster was dessimated with injuries).

BK,

The key word you used is "HYPE'".........LeBron was the most hyped player to come from highschool to the pros, he basically has had everything handed to him on a silver platter.........the jury is still out on this guy's mental fortitude and his ability to overcome distractions and obstacles in his game or his lilfe.

On the other hand Kobe the son of a pro was the best "PREPARED" for the leap from highschool to the NBA both physically and mentally! Remember Kobe has been playing with pros since he was 16 years old and his work ethic is unmatched. He was the first perimeter player to ever make the leap from HS to the NBA paving the road for a LeBron James........don't get it twisted.

Right now Bynum has hit a wall and he needs advice on how to mentally overcome it.........the only person that can do that is not Kareem.....he never DID it at that age...........it's not Phil Jackson............it's not Kurt Rambis.........it's not Brian Shaw.

The only person that had to overcome obstacles at that age AND OVERCAME them was Kobe. I hope Kobe and Bynum have a meeting of the minds for the sake of the Lakers..........We need to find out soon what Bynum is made of mentally.

Also I can't help but notice the hate for Kobe all over the league even among coaches across the country.........this time it is George Karl.......Remember this was the coach of the west in Kobe's first all-star game in New York that sat Kobe the entire fourth quarter so he wouldn't be the MVP, which he was on his way to accomplishing.......Karl says in this article that he watched Kobe score the 65 and it was unbelievable but it wasn't good for the league........what?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/21/sports/basketball/21kobe.html?ref=sports

Will the hate ever end? Somebody please comment.

pfunk-

All of what you say makes for an interesting debate topic... except it isn't what I was talking about. I was making a comparison between LeBron and Bynum in terms of how they came into the league. Nowhere did I say he should look to LBJ for a model on how to deal with the jump from HS to the pros (though LeBron has handled it very well, I think), just that the circumstances of their backgrounds in basketball and in media attention couldn't be more different. Drew wasn't aged by the process as rapidly as James, or even a Dwight Howard.

BK

phil jackson sure spends a lot of time at the dentist. last week he missed a practice b/c of a dentist visit. hmmmmm

i'm not trying to start something but... i think phil is using that old dentist appt. excuse to kick it with jeannie in the afternoon.

if he pulls that same stunt next week, i say look for him at wolfgang puck's with jeannie

A response to Fakerz,

I must respectfully disagree with you. Plain and simple, i think you are wrong, but you are entitled to your opinion. Nevertheless, i believe you will be proven wrong this year, as will the majority of the blogger's here in lakerville. If, and that's a big if, we remain healthy the remainder of the way towards the playoffs. I think we could have first round upset on our hands, and possibly something greater. I believe in this entire basketball team, and that includes 1-15 on the roster. Everyone has a role and everyone contributes in some shape or form, and when we work as unit we are very difficult to beat in one game, let alone a seven game series.

In regards to rebuilding, this draft class may be the most deep pool of talent we have seen since 96'. And I"m thinking we have a shot at really improving our team this year through the draft, and the M.L.E. You may disagree with me, but thats okay, this is just entertainment anyways.

FAKERZ I HOPE YOU READ THIS ... (dont bother responding though):
KOBE FOR HINRINCH, THOMAS, & DENG....

hahhahahahahahahahahah....

lmao 100000x

thatz the funniest thing since Cheney "accidently" shot someone at the shooting range...

Trade a top-10 player of all-time for a collection of tier 2 players....righhtt...

Um dumby, dont you know that every championship team has a clutch player. A PLAYER THAT TAKES OVER at the end of games, can get to the foul line at will...

OF course you dont... And the name says it all "Fakerz" ... If you really liked the Lakers why would you intentionally disrespect the team you love so much?

IT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT A FAN!!! ... lol ... lmao..

you are doing a really really good job of getting people riled up on your ridiculous posts...

Undoubtedly, you are Steven, Zakee, Sonny Belfast, , in disguise...

Then once people stop responding to "Fakerz", you will create a new name and continue to stupidity...lol

Oh how about this... how about we trade Kobe for Stackhouse, Josh Howard, and Dampier.... or Marion, Barbosa, & Stoudemire ..... or how about Arenas, Butler, and Haywood???

lol.... your foolishness is unparalleled on the blog so far...

hahahahahhahaha

trade kobe... the same guy who singlehandly took us out a losing streak by putting on NBA record-setting performances...hahhahahahahahahah

stupid... i cant stop laughing

WOW. Fakers must be the biggest Laker fan, but definitely not from this city. He may not even be from this planet. While I'll agree that Shaq is one of those players that should have never been traded even once in is lifetime, not even to us the Lakers that is, Kobe is also in that same category.

Jerry West is the most brilliant man alive because he recognized his talent before anyone and got him here on a trade the day Kobe was drafted, and I wish West was still here putting our team together rather than Kupchak.
Yet, having gotten that out of the way, I don't understand why this Faker is trying to FORCE so much disrepect and shame against Kobe when he has done nothing to deserve it. This is the guy who together with Shaq led the Lakers to a 3-peat, and 4 finals out of 5 years. And the guy who will take us there again many times i believe.

These Fakers must fans of the Bulls or Bucks or some terrible team trying to get the BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE to a team of their own.

With the exception of these 5: Nash, Dirk, Shaq, KG, and Duncan, every other player in the league right now is just a JOKE when they're put next to Kobe Bryant.

Fakerz,

You should change your handle to FAKER! Cuz that's all you are - FRIGGING FAKER!
You care a rat's arse about the Lakers, but are so blinded by your hate towards Kobe that you have abandoned rational thought.
Basically, you are so full of shit your eyes are brown..

"Just because some in here seem to favor Kobe above the franchise, don't confuse the rest of us as 'dumb,' 'the same person posting under different names,' or as 'lacking in baskteball IQ.'

Who here is putting Kobe over the franchise? *NAME ONE PERSON*. You are not dumb, you chose to be dumb, and that's far worse.

"Three years without Shaq, who was chosen instead of Kobe (and who I think was run out of town by Kobe, who no longer wanted to be his 'sidekick'):"

Don't give me your frigging "I think" explanations. Support them with facts. Here's a fact for you to try to digest. The owner, coach and GM all have gone public to state that Shaq forced their hand. No one threw Shaq out Shaq wanted out because he did not want to share the limelight with Kobe. He wanted to be top dog, and so did Kobe. Management didn't side with one over the other. But when Shaq starts WHINING about getting paid 30 MILLION bucks at the BEGINNING of the season, what do you think management should have done? Paid him 30 M bucks? And what did he do afterwards? Sign with Miami for 20 MILLION less. Try to digest that before you puke out more crap.

"Miami: Year1: Takes Detroit to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit. Lost the series after Wade injures his ribs in Game 6 and Shaq continues to play with a messed -up big toe. Year 2: NBA Champion. Year 3: Poised to be one of the top-3 seeds in the Eastern Conference and make yet another deep run in the playoffs."

Now tell us honestly what you think Shaq's contributions were to each of the three years. How many games has he missed each year? Now, how responsible was Wade for all of that? And ask the Mavs how they feel about the championship they "lost". Don't believe me? Search for phatom call on You Tube.

"My team is led by: 1) a multiple quitter; 2) a guy who signed a settlement agreement with, and paid big $$$ to, a woman who accused him of sexual assault (You don't sign away millions of dollars when you don't have a reason to do so. That's all that needs to be said); 3) a guy who threw his own teammate under the bus to the cops; and 4) a guy who is playing in his 11th NBA season and has his current, hall-of-fame bound coach (who also called him uncoachable in his last book) trying to send him messages through the media about playing the offense 'the right way.' "

Now this is where you begin to insult everyone's intelligence. So you think Kobe quit in Game 7? What was your opinion of games 1 through 6? Can't spit out the truth? You forget Game 4? If you can't speak the truth, shut your mouth.

And as for the Colorado incident, who the #$#$ are you to sit here and judge on what he did or did not do? What happened outside the court is none of your business? So keep your despicable opinion to yourself. There is enough documented stuff about the "discrepancies" in that woman's claim. So, once again - SHUT YOUR MOUTH.

"Throwing teammates under the bus". If you want to bring that up, why don't you try to dissect what Shaq meant when he called the city of LA fake? See, that's why you are a true HATER. It's not about how Kobe is doing on the court - it's what he does off it. And the fact that other folks have done far, far worse is nothing to consider, right? WRONG.

On Phil. Now you hinting at Phil sending signals through the media. Back it up you dipstick. I'll send you TWENTY quotes about how Phil said the EXACT opposite THIS YEAR ALONE. And when you bring up the book, don't forget the epilogue. It's idiots like you that manufacture shit out of pure air, and then you wonder why things stink..

"I'm a LAKERS fan. A Magic fan. A Kareem fan. A Worthy fan. Etc. NO GUY IS BIGGER THAN THE JERSEY, CAPICE"

I'm calling you out right now - you are nothing but a rat. You admit to being "bullied" when the truth is that most people on this board took that lump of shit you periodically churn out and threw it in your face. You don't care about the Lakers as much as Kobe not being on the Lakers. You talk about the glorious 80s. What about the 90s you moron? Did you conveniently forget those TEN YEARS?

"Kobe can care about Kobe, and I'll care about the team."
Fact is that Kobe cares more about his team than an idiot like you. Don't believe me? Why don't you READ what PHIL, MITCH, TEX, LAMAR and the others who actually know the man say?

"It's because he knows that management picked him over Kobe in this last trading deadline, and he can act like a punk if he wants"

HA HA HA. Now read that alound 5 times to yourself and see how you come across. Are you saying that because management refused to trade Bynum, they think he is more valuable than Kobe? Pray, to whom was Bynum to be traded? To the Wolves? Have any FACTS to prove your fantasy? And btw, since you value management's opinion so much, why don't you also toe the company line on Kobe? SELECTIVE REASONING?

"But I'm looking for improvement, and none's to be found. Unless you count making the playoffs as an improvement on Kobe's Lakers Year 1"

What part of the following statements do you find hard to comprehend?

1. Year 1. Coach botling in the middle, Kobe and Lamar being out for substantial periods of time. So you think, inspite of that Kobe should have led the team from the baseline into the playoffs?
2. Year 2: In Phil's first year, the team comes one rebound away from upsetting the Suns in a series no one predicted
3. Year 3: In spite of missing LO, Kwame, Luke and Mihm (a lot of times at the same time), the team is still in 6th place in the WEST.

Perhaps you are confusing the team's improvement, with your own intelligence?

"As a #1, I want to hitch my wagon to a different horse(s). "
Why don't you and your horse go down to the barn together and have some "FUN"?

Now, let's see what drivel you come up with - I'm waiting to chew you out...

This is the third time I've read that Phil has to leave early for the Dentist. Is he eating too much candy or what???

Fakerz,

You are so funny. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Hilarious stuff man! You ought to take that act on the road. Hahahahahaha! Keep those jokes coming man. I'm loving it.

pfucnk...its obvious what BK was sayng...and Kobe was not held up as a model of maturity when he came into the league...he had trouble adjusing in many other respects...Lebron was not only a better player he also had the maturity to handle himself.Now I Like kobe and dislike Lebron but that much is obvious.

Look guys I am not a big blogger, however I read this blog on a daily basis. I don't say much, and I take everything you all say into consideration.

Fakerz:

YOU ARE AN IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PLease, NBA Gods put the Lakers in the Eastern conference for a season and see where Kobe Takes them. You analyze Shaq leaving with all that bull crap about where he has taken his team. Everybody in the free world witnessed D-Wade single-handedly resurrect the Heat in game 4 of the Finals last year and the Refs and Dallas collapse against his new found "greatness". I Don't know what you were watching and from your posts not interested.

Please stop posting so I don't have to read Idiotic posts from people who do not know what the hell they are talking about

J Buss made a simple business decision. He offered Shaq enough money to make him the highest paid player in the NBA and the man wanted more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What kind of businessman would pay an employee more who was overweight, lacked loyalty to his organization, and used company time to heal a wound he should have taken care of in the offseason.

Fakerz please shut up. Watch as Kobe takes us to the promised land. And when he does you better not act like you were a fan all along. If you do, you are exactly as your name says, a MF'ing Faker

maybe we can trade up to draft the Chinese kid Yi?

that article on kobe was one of the worst articles i've ever read.. (arent all kobe bashing articles pretty poor??) a bunch of quotes from the nuggets, and karl saying that 65 wasnt good for the game.. yea great article.. how do ppl get their jobs i swear..

as for fakers.. just ignore that guy, dont even give him a response... and im sorry evan, there is no discussion really..

"Trade Kobe" talk is completely fruitless anyway the Buss family will never trade Kobe, he will have one of his #'s hung from the rafters and thats that.

Right or wrong thats the way it is END OF DISCUSSION!

And in regards tot he article about Kobe I like that Iverson defended Kobe a little bit saying he throws his arms out after a shot all the time and no one is saying hes a dirty player.

George Karl is a loser and a wannabe, hes a Larry "get out of town" Brown
disciple so anything he says is suspect.

Fakerz,

What color is the sky in your world?

Your thinly-veiled disguise at not wanting people to quickly & easily call you out on bad ideas, "Just because some in here seem to favor Kobe above the franchise, don't confuse the rest of us as 'dumb,' 'the same person posting under different names,' or as 'lacking in baskteball IQ" (your words) are absolutely ridiculous. Trade the best player in the NBA for players comparable to everyone else?

Shaq was no team saint. He was causing problems of his own. He wanted more money than the team could afford. (If you've ever seen the footage of him running down the court during a game, looking to the sideline, and yelling "pay me more money", you'll know what I'm talking about.) He would have crippled the salary cap. Kobe makes $17 million this year. There are at least 8 players in the league, many with no rings & not nearly the stats, that make more.This allows the head office to make decisions they believe will build the team. (Vlade - so far bad; paying Luke to stay when he becomes a free agent - good.) Kobe has a say, I'm sure, but doesn't make those decisions. And he sure as h*** could get more money.

Also, no team wins championships without at least two all-stars. The Lakers, the Celtics, the Bulls, the Lakers (again,) the Spurs, the Pistons, the Heat, etc. all had them. The Lakers started off great this season because:
1. They were healthy.
2. They had two all-stars. (Lamar would have been in Vegas had he not suffered that knee injury.)
As Lamar continues his rise, Luke continues his, and Drew keeps getting better and better, the Lakers will become even more serious contenders.

Younger teams have more problems with less experience (the Lakers are a young team,) players take time to execute 'the triangle' (not just learn it,) and championship teams need a superstar to rally around. It is and always has been.

It's going to happen again in L.A. with Kobe. Luckily for you, people will have long forgotten your ridiculous ideas.

Fakerz,

What color is the sky in your world?

Your thinly-veiled disguise at not wanting people to quickly & easily call you out on bad ideas, "Just because some in here seem to favor Kobe above the franchise, don't confuse the rest of us as 'dumb,' 'the same person posting under different names,' or as 'lacking in baskteball IQ" (your words) are absolutely ridiculous. Trade the best player in the NBA for players comparable to everyone else?

Shaq was no team saint. He was causing problems of his own. He wanted more money than the team could afford. (If you've ever seen the footage of him running down the court during a game, looking to the sideline, and yelling "pay me more money", you'll know what I'm talking about.) He would have crippled the salary cap. Kobe makes $17 million this year. There are at least 8 players in the league, many with no rings & not nearly the stats, that make more.This allows the head office to make decisions they believe will build the team. (Vlade - so far bad; paying Luke to stay when he becomes a free agent - good.) Kobe has a say, I'm sure, but doesn't make those decisions. And he sure as h*** could get more money.

Also, no team wins championships without at least two all-stars. The Lakers, the Celtics, the Bulls, the Lakers (again,) the Spurs, the Pistons, the Heat, etc. all had them. The Lakers started off great this season because:
1. They were healthy.
2. They had two all-stars. (Lamar would have been in Vegas had he not suffered that knee injury.)
As Lamar continues his rise, Luke continues his, and Drew keeps getting better and better, the Lakers will become even more serious contenders.

Younger teams have more problems with less experience (the Lakers are a young team,) players take time to execute 'the triangle' (not just learn it,) and championship teams need a superstar to rally around. It is and always has been.

It's going to happen again in L.A. with Kobe. Luckily for you, people will have long forgotten your ridiculous ideas.

Next Year:
What I think the Lakers need is a shorter (6'5" or under), quick footed, defensive specialist who doesn't need to score to keep his head in the game. I doubt that can be found in the draft. However, it is not a talked-about type of player. That means Mitch may be able to find them around the league - I know, there aren't too many of them playing at NBA level.

Think about next year. I believe the Lakers will sign Chris Mihm and Walton. That means we will have a pretty solid frontcourt. I am assuming Turiaf and Brown continue to improve and Andrew continues to lift weights. Mo is a 2nd team player, Rad will get better and be happier on the 2nd team than he would be this year, Farmar will continue to improve. Sasha is a spot player and, if he could just move his practice abilities to the game he would greatly increase his minutes.

I suspect the Lakers will sign Smush, if - and only if - he stops his pouting and shows continuous intensity in the game. He really is worth a reasonable NBA salary. Shamond should be pretty well versed in the triangle by next year and we should see a real battle between Smush and SW for the point guard spot. If neither shine then we will really need that defensive-minded pickup and use Kobe/Lamar/Walton as the people to bring up the ball and distribute.

This year:
I am praying there are no more injuries and we can get a rhythm going into the playoffs. I believe it is now time for us to stop 'baggin' on our guys and take all that analysis and focus it on where each player can best be used. Let's give Phil (and company) our take on where our strengths and weaknesses should be focused in each upcoming opponent.

GO LAKERS!!