Finally, mercifully, thankfully, it's game day
It's been a long time coming, but the Lakers will finally play a real, live game tonight against the Rockets at Staples (7:30, TNT). It won't put an end to the turmoil the team is enduring to start the year, but at least keeping score and counting games in the standings will give everyone something else to do. At best, it's a return to business as usual, at worst a sideshow while KobeWatch! plays out. Today, Kobe's a Laker (and for a while, at least, likely to stay that way), all the comments are positive, and the Lakers have hope just like everyone else. Certainly those on the inside like D-Fish are aiming high. The light popping on for Kwame Brown could facilitate the process. As could a season of Kobe playing distributor as well as scorer.
Finally, as far as previews go, it wouldn't be complete without one from Mom, who sent in a few nuggets in response to these SI.com scouting reports for the Lakers:
- "These reports are dismal."
- "I think Luke Walton is better than reported and a good leader."
- "Nobody mentions Coby with a C."
- "I think Kobe needs an attitude change. I agree that he is not the coach and should pump up his team. Let Phil Jackson criticize Bynum and the others."
- "If they don't win and he isn't traded, there is always Dancing With the Stars" (a reference to Mark Cuban).
Meanwhile, back on the Kobe Trade Front (you thought that was going away?) more have opined. Mark Spears of AOL writes that the Lakers shouldn't move him. Too much damage to the franchise, too hard to get anything resembling quality in return, too much leverage in the process for Kobe. Better just to try and make him happy in L.A. Steve Dilbeck of the Daily News agrees, saying Kobe's value extends well beyond what he does on the court.
Meanwhile, TJ Simers pretends not to understand why Kobe won't give him a straight answer about where he wants to play. Peter Vescey continues to weigh in on the situation, saying (among other things) the Bulls are still the best fit of the places 24 is reportedly willing to go. Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld has dismissed the Kobe-for-Gilbert rumors (would you expect otherwise?).
Mike T,
If Phil's so bad, why does he have an open-ended offer for a contract extension?
Everyone else,
Here's an interesting article I found. It's an unusual article from the media by a guy that spent 5 days with Kobe in Vegas.
http://www.esquire.com/features/the-game/kobebryant1107
Posted by: Benjamin | October 30, 2007 at 02:08 PM
-Vladimir Radmanovic: Sore Throat - Doubtful
you're joking, right?
Posted by: CBuck | October 30, 2007 at 02:25 PM
"I don't know if our GM is capable of spotting Manu Ginobli. He was taken by the Spurs as 2nd round - 28th pick. Lakers missed him by a mile. Even if they have Duncan here, if they're capable of just ruining any team, it would be no use. I sincerely have no faith at the Lakers F/O. It's time for a change."
You may be right, but first I think we have to have an idea of what type of team we are looking to create...is it a half-court motion offense which controls tempo and runs the triangle (Spurs, Shaq-Lakers, etc..) or are we looking to create a running offense which looks for every opportunity to create easy baskets (Phoenix, GS, Magic-Lakers)? It seems that our coaching and management have been unable to stabilize our team identity. You have to admit, Luke Walton was brought in as a triangle player...but Javaris Crittendon wasn't. Now we hear the team will run more...What this team needs is some continuity from the top down.
PFunk,
Don't you think it's time to get off the Kobe-is-a-nice-guy bandwagon? I've defended the guy for years...but now it's just too much. Point fingers all you want...it really doesn't matter. Kobe kept a mistress named Michelle in addition to the Colorado incident, he did "snitch" on Shaq (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1004044shaq1.html), he did call out Karl Malone, he did wait to re-sign until after the Shaq deal, he did call Jerry Buss an idiot and he did demand a trade.
End of the day, Kobe is accountable for his own actions.
J-
Posted by: johnnyb | October 30, 2007 at 03:46 PM
When did the Lakers "jump out to a 17 point lead" against the Suns in
Game 1 ? Are you living in some parallel universe or something?
Are some of you more Kobe fans than Laker fans?
After Kobe eventually gets traded will these fans shift their loyalty to his new team rather than cheer for the Lakers?
Just curous.
Posted by: Samie | October 30, 2007 at 06:11 PM