Report Card/Exit Interview: Ronny Turiaf
Report Card: It's somewhat hard to evaluate how Ronny truly played this season, since he was so clearly phoning it in with such zombie-like enthusiasm. Kidding. Actually, I think Turiaf was the team's most improved player, especially during the season's second half when the Lakers were low enough on big men that Michael Clarke Duncan almost got a ten-day contract. The balls-out energy one expects from Turiaf was always on display, but a 12-15 foot jumper began to fall with more regularity and he led the team in blocks per 48 minutes. I have my doubts as to whether he could- or really, should- start at power forward in the near future. Turiaf's frenetic style often provides a huge lift, but playing with reckless abandon can result in being a foul machine. As it stands, Ronny would struggle to play 30 minutes (much less 40) without a DQ. A middle ground would need to be found, and who knows how that would affect his performance (or if the skills are even there to begin with, since he's often a more energetic defender than a truly effective one). But no matter what Turiaf's role is next season, he's proving himself both with his play and as a teammate. Plus, he maintained a high standard of sideline-dancing even in the face of increased minutes. That's dedication. Final Grade: B
-AK
Ronny Turiaf's exit interview is located below the jump.
Q: How did your meeting go?
Ronny Turiaf: It was pretty good. Pretty good.
Q: Did they give you things to work on?
RT: Yeah, they told me to keep working on my offensive game. Get my body in great shape, because I feel like they're counting on me. I think I'm going to have to do that, put myself in the best shape possible. I think that's what's most important, to put my body in a way where I can play 48 minutes. That's pretty much what I have to do?
Q: How are you feeling today (one day after the loss)?
RT: Um... How am I feeling today? Let's try to put it nicely. I feel like crap pretty much. It's tough. We wanted to create history. We wanted to do something good for the city of Los Angeles, for us, for the fans and stuff, so it was very disappointing that we came so close. Once again, a couple plays down the stretch that don't help us, a couple mental lapses. It's basketball, but it's definitely tough.
AK: In some ways, did this season feel like a rookie season for you, in terms of being part of everything from start to finish?
RT: Yes. You can say it that way. Not in my head. In my head, I was a second year player and stuff like that. But definitely, it felt great to play from start to finish. I played (72) games before the playoffs, so I'm proud of what I did. I tried to stay healthy, tried to keep my body in the best condition possible. It was fun out there. It was fun, but too bad it came down to an end like that.
Q: What is the feeling like right now? Is it disappointment? Is it frustration? Is it anger?
RT: Well, I was angry yesterday after the loss. But now, I had a nice, quiet night. I played with my dogs and I feel better. But I think that we all care about each other. I think we all wanted to do something special. It's not like we were trying to go on vacation early. We are professional athletes. We want to win basketball games. If you know us, you know we're going to try to do our best to win those games. So it was very difficult for us not to do that. We were always talking about how we were trying to do something special this year. Injury came into hand and stuff like that. So it was tough to deal with, but we cared to do our best. It's very unfortunate that this group didn't accomplish something, because I know right now that there's probably going to be some changes in the summertime.
Q: Is it your preference to stay here? And did you get that sense that you'll be here next season?
RT: My first choice is to be here for the rest of my career. I don't control all that stuff. I got the sense that I would be back here next year, but who knows what's going to happen? I'm hoping to be back, so you guys know I want to be here. So know that and that's it. Hopefully, I'll be a Laker for life.
Q: You just said that you're expecting changes. Is that based on conversations you've had with people, or is that because of the way the season ended?
RT: No, the only reason I say that is because of what I read in the paper. You guys kind of made it sound like there would be drastic changes this summer, so I'm only basing my comments on what you wrote in the paper. (laughs) So don't quote me on that one.
Q: Can this team as is compete for a championship? If they get healthy, more mature?
RT: To be honest, I truly think so. If you look at the beginning of the season, when everybody was healthy, we were 26-13. We really were in tune with each other. We really had that team chemistry, as far as knowing where the other person was, what the other person was thinking. We were playing some pretty good basketball. Then all of a sudden, one guy gets hurt. We start to play a little better. Then that guy comes back and somebody else gets hurt. It's tough to just find some kind of a balance with each other. We tried our best and were kind of off at the end, but it happens.
AK: You mentioned the frustration you're feeling. Is there any comfort that can come from knowing that the Game 5 you played was not only productive, but you very clearly left it all on the court?
RT: No. No. To be honest with you, I know this is going to sound cliched, but I would have rather not played and the team win the basketball game. My personal game or success really, really doesn't matter. I mean, I'm being dead honest. I'd rather see Kwame out there scoring 25 points and grabbing 17 rebounds, because would mean everybody's playing well and we're all on the same page.
(AK's note: Ironically, after hearing this comment, I wondered if Ronny may be more concerned about Kwame getting 25/17 than Kwame himself. I don't think Ronny was inferring that. This is just what popped into my head.)
RT (Cont'd): If I have to play 26 minutes, something is not going well for us. That's the way I look at it. But I definitely left everything out there on the floor. My body's a little bit achy this morning because I'm a little bit tired, a little bit sore. I just tried to do my best and I wish I could have scored 50 last night to help us win the ball game. That's how I feel about it
AK: Do you feel like you improved this year?
RT: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Even though my season had a lot of ups and downs, stuff like that, I always stayed ready. I always worked on my game. I feel like right now, I can knock down the wide open jumper. I can go block some shots. I can play defense. And my confidence also rose to another level. When Kwame went down at the end of the season and I was playing 20-25 minutes and having some great games, I think it helped me realize that I deserve to be out there, that I was doing a good job out there. My confidence was sky high and I think once your confidence is sky high, you start to feel good about yourself. Toward the end I was starting to feel like I was in college, where everything I was doing out there was positive.
AK: Speaking of being positive, you've always been known for having a lot of positive energy. Can you apply that towards the series and use it to reconcile the way things happened?
RT: I'm gonna have to. You know, I've been down that way before. In college, I played four years in the NCAA tournament and had success. And I had disappointing years. So it's going to take me a couple days, possibly a couple weeks to get through it, because I'm so passionate about everything. I get so happy, but I also get so low sometimes. I'm gonna have to try to go back to Spokane, see my friends over there, just sort of take myself away from basketball a little bit. And then go home and relax. Hopefully, in a couple weeks, I will have put it to the side and moved on from there.
Q: Are you planning on playing for France's National team?
RT: Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. We have a big summer ahead of us. Trying to qualify for the Olympics and stuff like that. I want to be a part of history. Everybody's going, so I'll be right there with them.
Q: There are players that worry that playing with a National team can tire you out during the regular season.
RT: Well, I don't play 45 minutes a game. I don't play 150 games. I've been doing that stuff since I was fourteen and a half, so I won't stop it for a little while. I think I have a couple years, one, two, three, maybe, with the National team. I can just go to the Olympics, have some fun and then see what happens after that.
Q: You come out with an intensity and energy that nobody else can seem to match. Are you sometimes disappointed that your energy wasn't always matched by your teammates?
RT: Disappointed? No. We are all different. We have our own personality. You can't ask a cat to be a dog. That's me, being energetic all the time. You don't know that somebody else, for example Drew (Bynum), that doesn't show a lot of emotion, he might be so fired up inside, but he doesn't show it, so you don't know it. So I think we all have our own way to get ready for a game and to show that we're into the game. I'm not disappointed at all, because I know that my teammates care about the game of basketball and I care about winning. So I know that deep inside, there was fire and they wanted to play.
Q: A little off track, but we talked with Aaron McKie earlier and he mentioned a possible interest in coaching and how he talked a lot with the younger players. Do you think he'd make a pretty good coach?
RT: Oh, yeah. Awesome. And I really mean that, because Blue, every day, every game, we were arguing about basketball. We always argued about everything. He always thought I was being sarcastic, but I was trying to light a fire under him, because he was going to help me. I was going to see different sides and different points from everything. When I was on the bench throughout my career here, he was helping me a lot because he was telling me what he saw. The difference between the game played now and the difference played when he was a youngster. Stuff like that, so I definitely think he's going to be a great coach, because he knows how to deal with different people, different personalities. I think that's one great mark as a coach. And I think he has great ideas and philosophies about basketball, so I want to see him (coach) at the college level. I think he's going to be pretty good at that.
Q: College or the NBA?
RT: I think he's going to enjoy college more, because he's such a people person. He loves to make an impact on somebody's life. I saw him here, just talking to us. Such a great vet for us for the two years he was here that I think he'll be more interested, I think he'll be better for the kids, to have a person like this. That they can relate to, that they can talk to on a daily basis, so they he can help them be a better man or a better college basketball player.
ATTENTION LAKER FANS: HOSTAGE UPDATE:
DAY 7 GARNETT HELD HOSTAGE BY MINNESOTA FOR RANSOM BY LAKERS.
Honorary deputy Sheriff Shaq threatens to storm Minnesota if Garnett is released
to the Lakers. Kobe Bryant has informed Deputy Shaq that his fat lazy a** help is not needed.
Meanwhile Mitch Kupchak says he will not waiver from his “NO NEGOTIATIONS WITH TERROISTS”
stance. He says paying ransom is a Luxury, Taxing to the organization. Unknown to Kupchak ,
Jiim Buss is assembling the ransom which we are told that Smush Parker has been assigned to guard.
……………………….…………..SPECIAL BULLETIN ………………………………
A new twist in the drama may be developing ………………………………………..
Unconfirmed rumours have Kupcake being sent down to the Developmental League
And a Mr. J. West replacing him if Kupcake … er Kupchak fails to produce. Attempts to
Contact Kupchak for a reaction were unsuccessful, but we are told he is busy helping, recover
the ransom that Smush failed to guard. Parker replied with a snarl “I don’t know nothing, it’s
not my fault I was about to go on break and I attempted to pass it to Kwame but it slipped
through his fingers. “
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROLL CALL:
FAITH, KEIFO, FATTY, MITCHELL, KIWI, TALIQ, RespectMyAuthrothm, EDWIN G., TIM-4-SHOW, Thirty2
FAN OF MAMBA, WESOJOENIXON, BAYWOOD, JJ, EXHELODRVR, AJAX, WOW, MIKE T, SBPIMP,
LAKERTOM, LAKER FAN, DAVID WHANG, VMAN, KOREY, XTRO ,Tha Show, FearlessWhacK,MARTY,
JANDRO, LAKERFAZE, MCGARNAGLE, GO RAKERS, EASTCOASTJESSIE, GUGY, Zakee, Swettual,Utzworld
FKILLAH, GENERIC_ONE, GDCHILD, ANDREW Z, GINO, CBUCK, LAKERGURL, ADAM KILEY,Jorema
Bynum=TheBigLazy, ZEN, SARCOCOP,COMPTONS FINEST, MIGUELINHO, J.Walter Weatherman
PhxLkrFan, Socalife, Greekdude, Michael J, Michael H, Rick Friedman, Gunner24,
JOREMA, CRITICAL BEATDOWN, PFUNK36, PAUL LEE, WEAVE MAN,JON KAVULIC,Lakers4Life,JimBussIsAMoron
BERKLEYLAKER, CHITOWNLAKER, ANGRYLAKER AK, BK LAKER FANS,wiZo, James da Kingpin
ALL TOGETHER NOW:
“FREE GARNETT NOW BUSS PAY THE RANSOM”
“FREE GARNETT NOW BUSS PAY THE RANSOM”
“LAKERS TODAY LAKERS TOMORROW LAKERS FOREVER”
“GO LAKERS GO!”
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 08, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Exit Interview Outtakes!
Ronny Turiaf
RT: NEXT QUESTION!! YOU! THERE WITH THE MOUSTACHE AND AVIATOR SUNGLASSES!
G1: [looking around] Uh, me?
RT: YES, YOU.
G1: Oh, right. Uh, Ronny..
RT: [interrupting]FROM NOW ON YOU WILL REFER TO ME AS TURIAFINATOR.
G1: Right, sorry. Turiafinator, where would you say your tremendous energy comes from?
RT: THE SPILLED BLOOD OF WARRIORS THAT I SLAUGHTER IN BATTLE.
G1: I'm sorry, the what?
RT: SPILLED BLOOD. WARRIORS.
G1: Oh, oookay. What are your goals for the summer?
RT: TO CRUSH MY ENEMIES, SEE THEM DRIVEN BEFORE ME, AND TO HEAR THE LAMENTATION OF THEIR WOMEN. ALL IN THE NAME OF CROM. THE SUNS ARE INFIDEL DEFILERS. THEY SHALL ALL DROWN IN LAKES OF BLOOD.
G1: Crom, you mean like from Con...
RT: [interrupting]SILENCE!
G1: ...
RT: I WILL ALSO ATTEND A VARIETY OF DANCE CLASSES AND TEACH ART CLASSES FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD. PERHAPS I WILL GIVE THEM THE PUPPIES I STEAL FROM MY FALLEN ENEMIES.
G1: Dance cla...
RT: [interrupting] SILENCE! NEXT QUESTION!
************************************************************
And in case you missed the ones from yesterday...
I realize that it may be a bit unorthodox to post these here instead of airing them in the national media, but after the cake incident (you’ll have to continue reading and wait for the Kwame outtakes to see what I mean), I think it would be best to relay all of this to a smaller audience. Because I fear for my life, mostly.
I managed to sneak into the press conferences for each of the players and even got in a few questions for each of them. Once the press corps figured out I was not one of them, all of my questions were cut from the record, unfortunately. AK & BK… I waved at you guys and you two just stared at me blankly. I think it’s probably because you have no idea who I am, other than that I post on a blog as “generic_one.” I was the guy behind that one guy with the press pass.
And now, without further ado...
Exit Interview Outtakes
Aaron McKie
G1: Mr. McKie, what would you say was your most integral role on the team?
AM: Uh, well, I’d say that I was able to provide some leadership to the guys. I really didn’t get to play much, but in practice I talked to them a lot more. On the bench, too.
G1: What would you talk to them about?
AM: Well, you know… just where they should have been on a play, what to watch for the next time they went down the court. That sort of thing.
G1: [pausing]
[the audience starts to mumble a bit while waiting for the next question]
G1: [snickering and shaking head] I’m sorry… I really apologize, but I’m drawing a blank here. Which team did you play for this season?
AM: [blinking a few times in disbelief] The Lakers. The Los Angeles Lakers.
G1: Oh, oh that’s right. Sorry.
********************************************************************
Shammond Williams
Note: I’m not sure why I kept calling him “Shammond Williams.” I guess I thought it sounded funny, or something.
G1: Shammond Williams, how would you say that playing in Europe prepared you for your return to the NBA?
SW: [laughing] Well, I’m not really sure that it did. It’s a whole different game out there. They rely on a lot more outside shooting. I guess I picked up some different languages while I was there, so it helps me in that regard.
G1: What regard, Shammond Williams?
SW: Well, there’s a whole lot of European players in the league right now, so it helps that way.
G1: Ah, I gotcha, Shammond Williams. Shammond Williams, what do they call “basketball” in Paris?
SW: [laughing] Paris? I didn’t actually play there, but when I was around they called it “basketball” but you know, with an accent.
G1: Oh, really?
SW: Yeah. And you know what they call a... a... a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?
G1: They don't call it a Quarter Pounder with cheese?
SW: No man, they got the metric system. They wouldn't know what the [bleep] a Quarter Pounder is.
G1: Then what do they call it?
SW: They call it a Royale with cheese.
G1: A Royale with cheese. What do they call a Big Mac?
SW: Well, a Big Mac's a Big Mac, but they call it le Big-Mac.
G1: Le Big-Mac. [laughing] What do they call a Whopper?
SW: I dunno, I didn't go into Burger King.
********************************************************************
Chris Mihm
G1: Chris, I’d like to say first off that I really admire your ability to circumvent the rehabilitation process by remaining perpetually injured.
CM: Uh… thanks, I think. Wait, what?
G1: Chris, what is going to be your biggest priority going into the off-season?
CM: No, what did you say before?
G1: When?
CM: Before.
G1: What is going to be your biggest priority going into the off-season?
CM: No, before.
G1: Chris?
CM: About injury… INJURY!
G1: You were injured, right.
CM: Yeah, what did you say about that?
G1: Didn’t you just bring that up?
CM: No, you did!
G1: When?
CM: Look, can we just move on please.
G1: Chris, what can we…
CM: [interrupting] No, not you. Someone else.
********************************************************************
Brian Cook
G1: Hi, Brian. If you could think of one thing that could explain why Mitch Kupchak picked you over Josh Howard, what would it be?
[Mitch Kupchak leans over and whispers in Brian’s ear]
BC: I don’t… I don’t think I should have to answer that.
G1: Touchy subject?
BC: Yeah, kinda.
G1: Sorry, then.
BC: It’s alright, man. Just ask something else.
G1: Brian, if you could think of one thing that could explain why Mitch Kupchak picked you over Leandro Barbosa, what would it be?
MK: Brian doesn’t have anything to say about that. Let’s ah… let’s take a 10 minute break and then come back.
Note: At this point, I decided it would be best to slip out the back for a smoke because I noticed Mitch heading in my direction with a couple of guys from security. Fortunately for all of you, I had brought a change of clothes, a fake mustache and some aviator sun glasses so I could continue with my questions. Unfortunately, they decided that Brian’s turn was over.
********************************************************************
Vlad Radmanovic
G1: Vlad… can I call you Caveman?
VR: [laughing] I don’t think that would be a good idea.
G1: Okay, thanks.
VR: [pausing] That was it?
G1: Yeah, why?
VR: Well, I expected something about snowboarding or something.
G1: No, no. That was it.
Kwame Brown: [from the back] Why’d you jump off that mountain?
G1: [looking back towards Kwame] Why’d you throw that cake?
Note: That was why people were laughing, AK & BK. Just FYI, this isn’t the cake incident I mentioned. It got worse in Kwame's actual interview.
********************************************************************
Andrew Bynum
G1: Mr. Morgan, on “30 Rock” you…
AB: [interrupting] Mr. Who?
G1: Mr. Morgan? Tracy Morgan?
AB: [pointing at himself] Andrew. Andrew… Bynum.
G1: Oh.
AB: Did you… have a question?
G1: No. Not anymore, I don’t.
********************************************************************
Mo Evans
G1: Mo, what’s it like working with Tracy Morgan?
ME: I’m sorry, what?
G1: [pointing at Andrew Bynum] That guy… Tracy Morgan.
ME: That’s not Tracy Morgan.
G1: Oh, I get it now. This is like a joke. Alright, I’ll play along.
ME: No, that’s not a joke… it’s Andrew Bynum.
G1: I know, I know! Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Say no more.
Note: Obviously, the Lakers don’t want us to know that Tracy Morgan is really playing for them.
********************************************************************
Jordan Farmar
G1: Jordan, what kind of frustration did you experience having to back up Smush Parker every night?
JF: [laughing] I wouldn’t call it frustration at all. He’s a great guy, and… he plays hard every night.
G1: [rolling eyes] Yeah, right. C’mon, what do you really think?
JF: Look, I really can’t talk about that.
G1: Okay, if you’re happy with playing with him, don’t say anything after this next question. AND… if you think he’s extremely awful, say anything you want after this next question. Got it?
JF: Uh… yeah, I think.
G1: Thanks.
JF: Wait, was that the question?
G1: You’ve said all you needed to.
********************************************************************
Sasha Vujacic
G1: Where are you from, originally?
SV: [laughing] Shouldn't you know this?
G1: Well yeah, but just humor me.
SV: Alright. I'm from Slovenia.
G1: If it's 10:30am here, do you know what time it is there?
SV: [thinking] 7:30pm?
G1: Right. And what time do you usually practice?
SV: In the morning?
G1: When do you hit the most shots, at practice or during a game?
SV: [laughing] Well, in practice it seems.
G1: So, if you lived in Los Angeles, but switched around your sleep patterns so that you were on Slovenian time which would make it seem like 7:30pm here was 10:30am...
SV: [laughing] Wait, what?
G1: If you slept during the day and woke up at 12 noon, then... wait. If you went to sleep at 7:30 every... no, that's not right. Look, if you practiced at 4am in Slovenia and then flew here to Los Angeles for games...
SV: [interrupting]I'm confused.
G1: You and me both, dude.
SV: You started it, idiot.
G1: "Sasha" is a girly name.
Note: Sasha didn't actually retort after that at all, he just sat there looking a little dejected. I think his eyes welled up a little, though.
***********************************************************************
I’ll be posting the rest of them as AK and BK do, as long as they’re alright with it. I’m not trying to steal the spotlight here, just thought I’d share some of the stuff that was outright omitted from the press conferences.
Posted by: generic_one | May 08, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Turiaf should get an A just for the level of energy he brings to the team.
Overall he deserves a B. He did all that he was told to do and once
he learns the triangle I predict he will be more valuable than Horace Grant
was to the Bulls during their 3 peat. Ronny, LO, Kobe and Farmer should be
the new Laker core. I would say Bynum but I predict He, Kwame and the
Ski Instructor along with Cook will be use in a three team deal for KG which
I predict will be done about June 5.
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 08, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Ronny Turiaf...smart smart man.
Posted by: Kiwi | May 08, 2007 at 10:20 AM
if the lakers got cheap on their fans, why shouldn't their fans get cheap on them too?
Posted by: karl | May 08, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Lol Generic One I love it!
Posted by: CPO_Bruin | May 08, 2007 at 10:28 AM
turiaf is a keeper.
i would prefer that he be a laker for life.
Posted by: tha show | May 08, 2007 at 10:31 AM
Mamba24,
"Turiaf should get an A just for the level of energy he brings to the team.
Overall he deserves a B."
So you start out by saying that Turiaf should get an A then turn 180 and go against your initial claim and say he deserves a B? Come on now, lets be a little more consistent... or work on how you structure your arguments.
Props on the "Hostage Update"... still not feeling the "Roll Call"
Posted by: No_Mamba | May 08, 2007 at 10:51 AM
Generic_one, you're my hero. I always look forward to your posts. Keep it up, dude.
Posted by: Jeff | May 08, 2007 at 10:54 AM
Ronny was the bright spot in many a Laker dark night during the second half of the season. He's a keeper.
I'm with Ronny, I hope he's a Laker for life!
Posted by: Fan of the Mamba | May 08, 2007 at 10:56 AM
No Mamba you are absolutely right I do need to tighten up those arguments. As for the roll call your're right again and this will probably be
the last day for it.
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 08, 2007 at 10:58 AM
G1
I totally disagree. If you roll your tongue around the "nd" in Shammond, like "Shammonduh" it creates a tribal kinda groove that the "Williams" interrupts.
Other than that, very informative, especailly the metric system thing.
Posted by: Vman | May 08, 2007 at 11:06 AM
LakerFaze in da house!
Ronny is a keeper. I hope the energizer man doesn't over do it this summer, we'll need him fresh for the start of the "NEW-LOOK" season. Lights out is so last year... hehehehehe
Posted by: lakerfaze | May 08, 2007 at 11:08 AM
Was anybody listening to LA radio this AM?
Two local sports stations interviewed Kenny Smith (TNT) and one asked him which team looked to have a better future...Lakers or Clippers? He said Lakers, definitely. He felt the Clippers regressed this year and didn't look good going forward, but the Lakers were able to stay in place, even with the injuries and therefore looked in better position to improve going forward.
Kind of makes me feel good.
Posted by: Craig W. | May 08, 2007 at 11:16 AM
If the Lakers want to have any chance to be champions, Ronny Turiaf has to be an integral part of the bench. He brings positive energy all the time and hustles and does the dirty work. he improves the team chemistry and can make the open jump shot and cann shoot FT well under pressure.
That's a definition of an excellent role player.
Posted by: greek dude | May 08, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Go (Larry) Mamba 24, we have no more Mamba to watch but we have a Mambo to read in Mike T's litany of Kwame. No answer for SB Pimp, you see Lakers is all about Kwame, what more can u ask from SBPimp's post, that's the whole summary of the Journal. haha!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | May 08, 2007 at 11:17 AM
Craig W, "Was anybody listening to LA radio this AM?"
I didn't hear the interview so thanks for the update Craig W.
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 08, 2007 at 11:23 AM
Vman: That DOES have a nice ring to it. I was thinking of saying his name like "SHAMON" accompanied by a "HEE HEE" ala Michael Jackson from the 80's, but I lost my nerve at the last moment.
Posted by: generic_one | May 08, 2007 at 11:25 AM
Edwin Gueco, "that's the whole summary of the Journal"
Now Edwin do not tempt fate by dissing The Journal. After all it
will be a testiment against Phi lol.
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 08, 2007 at 11:29 AM
lakergurl
“Really? Two REGULAR SEASON MVP(regular season emphasized) fo Nash makes Kobe second banana to him? If Nash is that great, why did he not get an MVP while in Dallas? Does Nash have an All Star MVP? Does Nash have championship rings?”
I knew my posting would tick someone off. I guess you’re the taker. Nash is a better overall player than kobe all day everyday and twice on Sunday. I’ll go back to my mantra that b-ball is a team sport, not an individual sport. if b-ball was a one-on-one game, Prince Kobe Steak would be one of the greats at the 2 spot. Sorry, but the past 2 years the writers have been with me on MVP. I think Nash is more deserving this year than Notwitzki.
What's up with the Nash-bashing on this blog. You all call me a kobe-hater, but there are just as many Nash- and Shaq-haters. Don't any of you appreciate b-ball for what it is? Nash is a very good player who plays the game the right way. It's funny as hell watching Nash run up and down the court passing and making plays for the team. For someone who's not ultra athletic, Nash plays great. Kobe can learn a few things from Nash.
Posted by: KL "the beast" | May 08, 2007 at 11:44 AM
Yo Mamba24, I guess I've been demoted off roll call. I stood up for you yesterday when No_Mamba was bashing roll call. It's all good.
Fan of the Mamba, you wanna go at it again today?? i'll start. Kobe sucks!
Posted by: KL "the beast" | May 08, 2007 at 11:46 AM
KL "Yo Mamba24, I guess I've been demoted off roll call."
No Beast you haven't. That's my bad, but I think unless Garnett is signed or
a major developement occurs. roll call will be retired until next seasom.
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 08, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Good grade for Ronnie. I sure hope his back next year.
What makes a winning team is the Energy; Unless it's there 24/7 forget about being a winner.
Baywood
Posted by: Baywood | May 08, 2007 at 11:52 AM
you read plaschke's column?
"It was Kupchak who traded All-Star Caron Butler and ballhandler Chucky Atkins for Brown, whose one moment of brilliance in this series didn't compensate for his long moments of being a bonehead.
It was Kupchak who drafted Brian Cook ahead of Leandro Barbosa and Josh Howard, then signed Cook to a $10.5-million extension, and for what?
It was Kupchak who gave decent money to Aaron McKie, Slava Medvedenko and Vlade Divac and great money to Vladimir Radmanovic.
And, yes, it is Kupchak who is still paying Brian Grant, and does anybody even remember him?
The trade of Shaquille O'Neal was not Kupchak's fault. But it has been his job to figure out how to build a contender out of the Kobe Bryant remains.
Three years later, the place is still a wreck."
No kidding. Kupchak is f###ing killing me.
Posted by: adam i | May 08, 2007 at 11:57 AM
Ronny Turiaf is a true GHFer. Guys like him are rare, and they are always so cool that they make a lot of other people want to pretend to be GHFers simply in the hopes that they could be that cool too...
Posted by: guity | May 08, 2007 at 12:02 PM
Mamba 24 -
Feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeling you!!
Love your passion and it keeps me pumped!!
“LAKERS TODAY LAKERS TOMORROW LAKERS FOREVER”
“GO LAKERS GO!”
You da man!!
Posted by: keifo | May 08, 2007 at 12:03 PM
Mamba24, cool. I'm actually starting to think that maybe kobe with one other very good player and good role players may be enough if kobe can play better team ball. i have faith in this offseason. Bynum is done.
Okay, looks like the blog is dying out. i had fun talking trash and talking b-ball in the blog.
i'm out.
Posted by: KL "the beast" | May 08, 2007 at 12:03 PM
adam i,
great article by plaschke.
i've been trying to explain that on the blog to no avail.
many believe (and still do) that this current roster is just a MLE away from being a contender.
um, no. we kinda need an all-star inside presence and a veteran point guard who is worth a damn. and chuck atkins sucks. i do not want that malcontent back.
however, it all comes down to dr. jerry buss.
things will happen this summer if he wants them to.
Posted by: tha show | May 08, 2007 at 12:07 PM
Ronny is my second favorite player behind Kobe right now. He should be a Laker for life, he's too special to be anywhere else.
"Why'd you jump off the mountain?"
Posted by: ajax | May 08, 2007 at 12:10 PM
why not trade Kobe and Chris Mihm for Dwayne Wade and Shaq? Any Takers
Posted by: Ronald | May 08, 2007 at 12:13 PM
Adam,
That article is stupid.
1. I would trade big/athletic for small ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. We didn't need Butler.
2. 20 something other teams passed on Barbosa and Josh Howard too. What is the point? All the other 23 GM's must be crap too?
3. Decent Money to Mckkie? It was mid-level and he just had bad luck with injuries. Slava? They didn't pay him much at all and Vlad? He didn't know he would go out snowboarding...
4. Paying Brian Grant? He HAS NO CHOICE but to pay Brian Grant! He is owed the money from the Shaq trade. It's not his fault at all.
Look guys. Your arguments are pointless about Mitch. He is not the worse GM in the league and Jerry West wouldn't have done any better under the same circumstances.
I'm tired of people saying that Mitch sucks as a GM. First of all, he hasn't been in charge long enough to build anything. And no one can build much when all your picks are late first round. NO one expected Barbosa and Howard to have such an impact. It's always a matter of luck when it comes to late round picks.
The only problem I have with Mitch is that he's keeping us in this situation by giving us a decent team that makes the playoffs. I don't want to make the playoffs and not win. I want to make the playoffs and WIN. Everyone knows the Lakers had no chance, but they insisted on making the playoffs anyway. Now we are stuck with another late first round pick.
Posted by: zen | May 08, 2007 at 12:16 PM
Keifo's iin the house!
It's KG or bust as far as I'm concerned.
Posted by: Mamba24 | May 08, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Also, they only say those things in the article to start controversy. They know deep down, it's not really true. It's to sell advertising and more newspapers.
Posted by: zen | May 08, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Mamba24,
You keeping me out of Roll Call?
Posted by: LAL_Fan | May 08, 2007 at 12:41 PM
Hey Mamba 24! Before it's all say and done with the roll play You've forgotten your arm companion. Stay true to it, we'll get KG or at least JO. And I like the way the blog is handling the Kobe haters by offering them "cold shoulder" or better yet ignoring them.
Go Lakers, go Kobe! The table is about to turn... we'll shut them up.
Mamba from the eastcoast
PS:Finally who won the MVB award?
Posted by: mamba24fan4life | May 08, 2007 at 12:49 PM
got to love Ronnie.
Posted by: fkillah | May 08, 2007 at 12:56 PM
All I know is that KG is not coming to the Lakers. O'Neal might but we will lose alot if LO is included in the deal because we will still be a player away from being elite. I truly think Kupcake wont get nothing done, and hopefully next year everyone can stay healthy and play like the 26-13 team all year.
Posted by: kbryant81 | May 08, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Down with Kupcake! Long live Kutcheck!
KG '08
Posted by: Neverfear | May 08, 2007 at 01:00 PM
I heard something funny on sports radio this morning.
Fan is short for fanatic. Therefore, there is usually no thinking or objective evaluations about players or trades.
On this blog that seems to be generally true.
It is not a question of HATE or LOVE. It is a question of business and business cycles. There is luck involved in all picks after about #15, but some GMs seem to be better at it than others (I. Thomas comes to mind). As the NBA has changed, neither Jerry West or Mitch Kupchack have been leading the parade. Mitch seems to have gotten his sea legs over the last two years - and Walton came on board the year before.
Heart is tough to measure, but both Farmar and Turiaf have it and they were picked by Mitch.
I liked the bloggers comment who said that perhaps Kobe's and PJ's statements actually might have signaled to free agents that the Lakers might be a good destination as well as freeing Mitch's hands about trades with other clubs - without any official club statements.
This is a cutthroat business. Don't underestimate other GMs. Mitch is getting better, in this era of excessive 'bling', excessive contracts, and a very restrictive salary cap. Brian Grant is officially gone - let the games begin.
Posted by: Craig W. | May 08, 2007 at 01:02 PM
"why not trade Kobe and Chris Mihm for Dwayne Wade and Shaq? Any Takers"
I would trade Kobe for D-Wade in a heartbeat.
Posted by: Sean P. | May 08, 2007 at 01:12 PM
Mamba,
Wait, I thought we couldn't make any moved until after July 1st?
I think Garnett belongs here, and is exactly the kind of guy we need. I only hope we can get him without giving up LO - can you imagine those two on the same front line? They would outrebound every other team by themselves, then take it coast to coast and lay it in or dish off to Kobe for a pull-up. Man, I'm salivating!
Any chance McHale takes Kwame, Cook, McKie and Vlad for Garnett? I'm totally dreaming here, but a front line of LO, KG and Socks would be amazing. Add Kobe and Farmar in the backcourt and we're in serious business. You could even sign Watson as a FA and we could have the all-Bruin point. Think this team competes for a championship?
1 - Watson/Farmar
2 - Kobe/Evans/Sasha
3 - LO/Luke
4 - KG/Ronny
5 - Mihm/Socks
All KINDS of matchup possibilities - we could go gigantic and put Kobe at the point with Walton at the 2, we could go small with KG at the 5, LO and the 4, Evans at the 3... please Mitch, at least ASK. I don't care what sort of humiliating crap McHale has you do, do it and make this happen!
Posted by: SBPimp | May 08, 2007 at 01:13 PM
THA SHOW,
yeah, mle my a$$.
ZEN,
you're a dork. all i'm saying is
kwame (butterfingers) brown and brian (now you see him, now you don't) cook
OR
caron (kobe's bff) butler and leandro (thank god my name isn't smush) barbosa
and
aaron (garbage time) mckie, shammond (useless) williams, vlad (space cadet) radmanovic....
good god.
i'm not saying kupchak is stupid. i'm saying he's REALLY stupid if he thought kobe and pj would be happy with all this silliness.
lol.
i mean, wow. come on.
Posted by: adam i | May 08, 2007 at 01:15 PM
No matter how much we bytch and moan for Mitch or anyone else is going to have a tough off-season changing the look of this team. People don't just line up to make the Lakers better. After Kareem it took years to land a center and I'm not talking about Vlade who was a good dude but he didn't bring any titles. That's one reason that the Buss's are trying to keep and nature Bynum, BIGS are hard to come by and we'll need an inside - out game to compete with certain teams. Bynum just has to have a HUGE summer and if back its time to show major progress. The deal that brought Shaq to LA all of us know it was done by Jerry West and I still don't know who he slept with to get that done. This going to take a second or third team to get involved for us to get any quality "Make a difference" players. J. kidd is good but he wouldn't have made the difference in the playoffs.
Posted by: lakerfaze | May 08, 2007 at 01:17 PM
A Kobe for D-Wade trade is not an upgrade. We will either be at the same level or worse, D-Wade cant score 50 or 60 night in and night out to carry the team for a win.
Posted by: kbryant81 | May 08, 2007 at 01:20 PM
Ronny Turiaf: The heart, soul & GLUE of the Lakers.
Damn the scoring and defensive averages, whoever's the GM come trading time needs to conduct personal interviews with potential team members to find out where these guys' hearts and spirits are at! Not only does Ronny have theright heart and spirit to carry Laker Nation, he gave it all he had everytime he stepped out on the court! 12 more guys like Turiaf on our squad and that's another dynasty, folks!
Posted by: utzworld | May 08, 2007 at 01:20 PM
AK
Sorry to disappoint you brother, but if the Suns lost tonight ( most likely they will), they cooked, gone , swept, sayonara. I love you and your opinion brother but I truly, passionately hate the Suns.
Later
Mamba from the eastcoast
Posted by: mamba24fan4life | May 08, 2007 at 01:20 PM
Been away for a minute, got a new gig that's eating up lots of my time but I just wanted to comment on Turiaf. He's truly one of the most genuine cats I've seen in the league in a long time!! When I go to games I love how he waits for all the starters to come to midcourt to give them a hug of encouragement, Teammate thy name is Turiaf!!
I hope he can get stronger over the off season and learn how to finish better around the basket cause he could be vital especially if Bynum or L.O. has to go in a big time trade!! Overall, this was another frustrating season but my Purple and Gold half full glass tells me we'll all be better come November!! This is the summer for Kupchak to show up or blow up!!!
Posted by: Mitch | May 08, 2007 at 01:23 PM
"Any chance McHale takes Kwame, Cook, McKie and Vlad for Garnett?"
No.
But we might have a chance at getting Garnett (+ trade filler) for LO, Bynum, & Brown (which I would do in a hot minute, by the way).
Posted by: Sean P. | May 08, 2007 at 01:25 PM
SBPimp,
This is the time for dreaming... and I salivate just as much about those ideas, but you know there's no way in hell Mchale would go for that. Maybe Kwame, Odom, Bynum, Cook, Mckie, and Radman, AND some draft picks, AND etc etc, lol.
But I would still ALMOST make that trade, I'd trade the whole team except Kobe and Lamar for KG. 10 losers for KG? Now that would be sweet. just play a 3 man rotation.
ROFL.
Man, I'm dreaming too, but it all seems rather complicated at the moment.
Posted by: adam i | May 08, 2007 at 01:27 PM
lakerfaze
good point. it did take us a loooooong time to get shaq. remember the early and mid 90's, anyone? cedric ceballos and nick van exel? lol. man, that was gruesome.
Posted by: adam i | May 08, 2007 at 01:29 PM