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Chilly weather, chilly team

December 4, 2007 |  8:49 am

17 games into the season, the Lakers have shown they can beat anyone, and be beaten by anyone.

Sound familiar?

It's a patter the Lakers have been in for the last couple of seasons.  Frustrating ones, if we've been taking the temperature of fans on this site in a reasonably accurate manner.  Tonight, as the Lakers head into Minnesota to face a spectacularly awful Timberwolves team (do not look directly at them, we beg you!) L.A. had better be on the right end of the aforementioned equation.  But given the number of injuries they're facing- Kwame Brown on the shelf, Ronny Turiaf out for at least this game after suffering a concussion against Orlando Sunday night, and Chris Mihm hobbled by what PJ called "foot inflammation"- nothing will come easy for the purple and gold.  Just the sort of situation that defines a team's character, says Derek Fisher.  Dude would certainly know.  From a coaching standpoint, Jackson didn't put a happy face on things after practice today. 

Turnovers have helped the Lakers sink in ESPN.com's Power Rankings.  Or in SI.com's, either. Perhaps what the Lakers need, though, isn't an attitude change, but one in the personnel department...

...As in trading Lamar Odom, at least according to one prescription.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: We'll be on ESPN 710 today with Mason from 1-3 (hopefully updating comments during commercials?) and will host a chat on the Times website at 11 a.m. Just go to this link, then click Sports Chat. 


The comments to this entry are closed.

Comments

Edwin Gueco

"AK/BK,

Automated robots always appear whenever I post. How can I avoid them? Please advise and thanks."

Aren't you happy it ain't zombies? But I guess you know all 'bout avoiding zombies! 8-D

BD -- you hit the nail on the head with the youth movement theory. Nothing else makes sense. This team is exactly what most of us thought we'd see (i.e., one that embraces mediocrity).

--The "big wins" have come against teams that were injured or on the 2nd night of back-to-backs or both.
--The patterns of weak defense and the inability to hold a lead are back in full force.
--Kobe's lack of intensity (he's playing great but the 40 pt. games are there for the taking and he's not biting) and lack of complaining further suggest that SOMETHING IS UP.
--If a full-force youth movement is not pending, then SOMETHING IS STILL UP.
--Dec. 15 should be interesting.

______________________________________________________
WITH SINCERE RESPECT, LO YOU GOT TO GO BANDWAGON
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) DRIVER NEEDED

EDWIN GUECO SAID , "Automated robots always appear whenever I post. How can I avoid them? Please advise and thanks."

EDWIN don't worry about those automated robots we'll take of them. We defeated the BORG we Defeated the REPLICATORS and we'll defeat these
automated robots. But then Edwin you must promise to get us a KWAME
BROWN autograph. He's our Leader.

Yes, it is time to trade Lamar Odom, and has been for a while.

We need to get rid of players with no heart (we traded Cook, but we still got Kwame... and others)
And we need to get players that are hungry for glory, the ones that play with some sense of urgency. Kobe plays that way, Fisher and Farmar too... Bynum is begginning to get there, I hope...

"You're not a good team until you can play the same way all the time," Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. "Even when you're not scoring the ball, you still have to play defense ... we've yet to have that throughout the whole game."

Gee... ya think????

TO HELL WITH THIS SHARE THE BALL NONSENSE LET KOBE BE KOBE.
9RINGS YOUR DAY HAS COME AND GONE, BRING BACK BYRON SCOTT

"We've had October and all of November to work on some things, to cut down on our mistakes. That's something that we're just not doing — particularly on our home court — so it's very disappointing."

Gee... ya think???

Was there anyway we could have went after this guy?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- In need of a big man, the Charlotte Bobcats reached agreement Tuesday on a three-year offer sheet with Cleveland restricted free agent Anderson Varejao, giving the Cavaliers a week to match the deal or lose him.


ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reported the offer sheet is worth $17.4 million, which would fit the Bobcats' mid-level salary cap exception.


This is the tough guy Phil wants and it's a kwame brown insurance policy.
Salaries don't match with ODOM.

I think moving Odom for less talent might be as good a move as this "pie in the sky idea" of moving him for a consistent #2 guy.

If they are scared to get ARTEST then go for a lower talent guy like some of the following even though you have to take a bad contract back to match up with Odom:

All are less talented but so what, this could allow Crittenton, Farmar, Bynum, and Luke to fill in the scoring blanks while Kobe and Fisher lead. Kobe can go back to being the 2nd best 2 guard of all time that he is and get 32 a game.

DeSagana Diop $2,146,000 1 - BIGGER
Antonio McDyess $6,373,900 2 - More heart and consistent
Jason Maxiell $1,041,360 2 - Much tougher
Mike Miller $8,376,194 3 - shoots way better
Channing Frye $2,487,240 2 - younger and shoots better
Ron Artest $7,400,000 2 - perfect replacement/risk
Shareef Abdur-Rahim $5,800,000 3 - would come with Artest, good size
Chris Wilcox $6,500,000 2 - Explosive athleticism and finisher
Rasho Nesterovic$7,840,000 1 - BIGGER, allow others to take on bigger responsibilties on Lakers
Jorge Garbajosa $4,000,000 2 - Savvy international vet
Anderson Varejao - banger like Nene with more energy

It's all a dream, we're not going to do anything but wait for Kwame to return and keep playing ball.

"If I could put my finger on it, they don't feel like they are together," Jackson said. "They are not pulling together the same way. I think sometimes that's a problem."

Gee... ya think???

TO HELL WITH THIS SHARE THE BALL NONSENSE LET KOBE BE KOBE.
9RINGS YOUR DAY HAS COME AND GONE, BRING BACK BYRON SCOTT

I agree on let KOBE be KOBE , Triangle man.

I think he would share it anyway cause he's tired of losing.
This FACILITATOR nonsense is stupid.

Byron would be nice but forgetaboutit

KEIFO, ""You're not a good team until you can play the same way all the time," Lakers forward Lamar Odom said:"

KEIFO!!! And LO ought to know because he's been playing the same all his
life. Close to being a superstar but never getting over the hump. I'm sorry
I've always been a Lamar supporter but I'm getting real close to saying
it's time to ship his ass for Artest.

______________________________________________________
WITH SINCERE RESPECT, LO YOU GOT TO GO BANDWAGON
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) J. WALTER WEATHERMAN OWNER AND DRIVER

Why doesn't LO tell us why HE doesn't play the same way every night?

Ted Green's analysis of why Lamar should go is on the money. The trouble is, what NBA team would want such an inconsistent player, and what would we get in return. I have to believe the other NBA teams would like the Lakers to stay just as they are. Right now, no team should be afraid to come to Staples Center and face the Lakers on their home floor. When the Lakers are on the road, they're just cannon fodder.

The team needs both Kwame and Ronny to be healthy, J-Crit and Ariza to earn their way into the rotation, and for the chemistry to return.

No one should be surprised or disheartened that it is a work in progress. I still think that by Christmas, the team will get its groove back.

Lamar doesn't make all star decisions. His skill set is lacking a mid range jumper but it's his choices, especially in the end game, that really come up short.

Would there be equal value in a trade? Not enough to suit the blog.

Why do we hate Kwame Brown, if you are a Laker fan, you would be happy to have K.Brown at this point. Not may teams have Big men that can play Defense and as you can see, Bynam is Good but he is still learning and if you trade Kwame or let him go. What happen's if he goes to the Clippers or any good team in the WEST, then the Lakers will have nobody to stop other teams Bigs, We can't STOP them now.... We have no INSIDE POST DEFENSE. WIDE OPEN LANES. POOR SPACING, GUARDS MAKE LAY UP??
Go Lakers!! if they wear the Lakers uniform then they are My Man Go Lakers !!

The comment about LO being a square peg in a round hole in his current role is something I know AK and I have both felt and written about for a long time. LO's best season, in Miami, was when he didn't have to be a scorer. He could, but that wasn't his role with the Heat. It's not something that comes naturally to him, and at this point in his basketball career, it won't.

Unfortunately, the Lakers likely don't have the personnel to get that #2 guy to stick in between L.O. and Kobe without giving up L.O. It's a shame, because if they did, it would improve not just the team b/c of the addition of skill, but also LO's game.

Caron Butler, anyone?


BK

Mamba 24 -
"I'm sorry, I've always been a Lamar supporter but I'm getting real close to saying it's time to ship his ass for Artest."

I'm with you, my brother!!!

Okay... my prediction for tonights game... Lakers will win... but barely, as the T-wolves will be scratching for a victory. Lakers by 6.

GO LAKE SHOW

We traded the wrong guy for Kwame. We should have traded Lamar
and kept Caron.

______________________________________________________
WITH SINCERE RESPECT, LO YOU GOT TO GO BANDWAGON
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) J. WALTER WEATHERMAN OWNER AND DRIVER
(2) MAMB24

BK

Caron would be great if Kwame plays PF. hmm, I've having deja vu.

Salaries that match but will opposing teams be interested? Likely not: Pal Gasol, Joe Johnson, AK47, Marion, Ron Artest/Kenny Thomas, Ron Artest/Shareef.

And if your looking for a contributor-scorer: Nocioni/Joe Smith.

I reluctantly agree with Green's article. I love LO but we gotta get something going here. 9-8 is not what I had in mind after the start we had. Somethings gotta give and I think it may be Lamar. Unless maybe Washington will take Kwame back for Caron Butler, but that is a long shot.

Artest still scares in excites me on a NBA level.

Any thoughts on Pau, word is Memphis is ready to trade him now. We get him and his little bro, they at least should be able to muster some level of chemistry. That along with Kobe could be a sparkler for us.

Im not sure I believe all that, but it is a thought.

T-Woody

We should expect a huge game from Andrew Bynum tonight against the T-Wolves. Consider all the injuries to the other centers: Kwame (knee), Mihm (foot), Turiaf (concussion), Ratliff (knee) and Jefferson (knee). That only leaves Mark Madsen and Michael Doleac. This could be a major breakout night for Drew!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3141032

It's not too late to make a run at him. He is the perfect head-banger Phil wanted.

Cavs still have the rights to him for a week and his price just got halved. Cavs keep saying they need shooters. Vlad Rad for him would be AWESOME.

" the Lakers have shown they can beat anyone"

The San Antonio and Boston losses seemed fairly convincing.

K George,
"WIDE OPEN LANES. POOR SPACING, GUARDS MAKE LAY UP??"

That happens with Kwame, as well. He is not good at coming over to stop a guard who has penetrated. He plays good post-up defense on bigs, and mediocre defense on bigs who have an outside game, and that's it.

WITH SINCERE RESPECT, LO YOU GOT TO GO BANDWAGON
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) J. WALTER WEATHERMAN OWNER AND DRIVER
(2) MAMB24
(3) TWOODY

TRADE LAMAR?

All you guys have to do is look at the history of Lamar Odom. He always plays bad in the beginning of the year and plays like an all-star AFTER the all-star break. This is mainly because the past 2 summers he didn't work out. One more year to evaluate before trading him. Maybe he will actually have a summer where he can work on his game.

BK,

I watched LO a ton when he played for Miami and I think the big difference is that he's never had a defined role in LA. His role is constantly changing in LA and LO also had the ball in his hands a ton in Miami. Dwyane Wade didn't really start to blossom until the second half of the year and even then LO still had the ball in his hands a ton and a lot of the offense was run through him.

So even though Riley didn't say "hey go out and score, Lamar" he allowed Odom to play with the ball in his hands a ton. Personally, I'm not sure if LO would have continued his success had he stayed with Miami. Wade's gotten so good that the entire offense is run through him (and let's not forget Butler's progress had he remained with the Heat).

Who would have thought we traded the wrong small forward to the Wizards for Kwame?

Why not Lamar for Antawn Jamison?

LO for Artest and SAR or Kenny Thomas?

LO for Udonis Haslem and Jason Williams?

LO for Mike Miller and Stro Swift?

LO for Richard Jefferson?

I'd for any of these right now to be honest. Each give us something that would provide a chemistry change.

Either that or move Kobe out and build for the future. It's obvious the two just don't work together.

Lakers basketball, where .500 records happen.

BK,

I'll take Caron Butler and Darius Songaila (spelling) or Butler/Thomas for LO + a pick....

Xodus,
I think it's obvious why. Odom doesn't have the energy some nights. He doesn't have the energy because he's working hard on his game in practice to make up for his lack of summer conditioning. He's playing loose at home and looks tired on the road. He did the same thing last year. He's working real hard on his game right now and he's too tired to play well in games. Just like last year, he will turn it up after the all-star break.

Twoody,
"Any thoughts on Pau, word is Memphis is ready to trade him now. We get him and his little bro, they at least should be able to muster some level of chemistry."

The K brothers and the G brothers could play a 2 on 2 game for charity!

How about trading LO to Chicago straight up for Ben Wallace. He can start at center, then move to PF when Bynum is in the game. At 6'9" he'd be great at PF for us too. He could be the "tough guy" we need.

As for Kwame, that would make him expendable. Maybe package him for anyone who might be able to score. Start with the Chicago trade and include JCritt and Kwame and ask for Noccioni.

Kwame and JCritt for Artest? WOW! Fisher, Bryant, Artest, Wallace, Bynum!

Maybe to GState w/Jcritt for Al Harrington?

Or for an underused Marquis Daniels from Indiana? He could start at the three or spell Luke Walton and provide some lift off the bench

Maybe for Quinten Richardson from NY?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WITH SINCERE RESPECT, LO YOU GOT TO GO BANDWAGON
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) J. WALTER WEATHERMAN OWNER AND DRIVER
(2) MAMB24
(3) TWOODY
(4) ANDREW Z.

It's not how you start. It's how you finish.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ONE MORE YEAR TO EVALUATE LAMAR BEFORE TRADING
HIM BANDWAGON
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) ZEN - DRIVER AND PRESIDENT

Don't get me started on the Butler trade. If nothing else, for BK's sake. The poor guy's had to listen to me bitch about it 24/7 since approximately 30 seconds after it was announced. haha

AK

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TUESDAY DECEMBER 4, 2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALL RIGHT IT’S GAME DAY SO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS RIGHT?….. RIGHT!

ROLL CALL::
(1) FAITH, MIKE T. TALIQ, Edwin Gueco,, KEIFO, WOLF, Q WUOR, CLEON, EASTCOASTJESSIE
MAMBA24Fan4Life, Fan of MAMBA, WhiteMAMBA24, BlackMAMBA24, AFRO_JOE, LAKERTRUTH,
KIWI, Wow, Peace, J_CooL, DAVID WHANG, AdamKiley, LakersryDeordie, ANGRYLAKER, TSIRY
TIM-4-SHOW, THA_ SHOW, TheLakeShow, WESJOENIXON, BAYWOOD, The_D, SBPIMP, DAXMDD
utzworld THE BANNER HOLDER, CaliKing, Rick Friedman,Thirty2, ExheloDrVr, ) JANAYA,CBUCK
GENERIC_ONE, TWOODY, JJ, Ajax, MITCHELL., LAKERTOM, Charles, BZAR, JUNO, NEVER
JOREMA, VMAN, Korey, Xtro, MCGarnagle, Gugy, GDChild, Laker4Life, BLKTHGHT06, WONDAHBAB
KL BEAST, FearlessWhackJob, MARTY, JANDRO, LAKERFAZE, PhxLkrFAN, PRINCE, AKRASIAN
TexasLaker, BOB, EagleBoy, JR., Zakee, KOBE’S T., ZEN, Purple & Gold, TSPHERE, t_sensei
Tully Moxness, KobeRocks, David Peterson, centralk, FKILLAH, CYRUS(Ventrilquist), BOYSOY
Swettual, Andrew Z, LAL Fan, Brandon C., Kinglakernidas, HUBBIT, GREEK DUDE,
RespectMyAuthorith, Hariyahu, LAKER_STH, KobeFromManilas, RAY RAY, HOBBITMAGE
SARCOCOP,Staples24, Bobby, COMPTONS FINEST, MIGUELINHO, MAN, KSANDHER
TUKLAW, CDUB0512, MRBARNEYDANGLES, BENJAMIN, MJCMAN32, PFUNK36,
SOCALIFE, HAL9000, Michael J, Michael H, Michael A., ALEXINH017, VIOLATER
Gunner24, GINO, FATTY, LAKERGURL, CRITICAL BEATDOWN, LEELO, BLAZE1BX
PAUL LEE, Jay EL, SocalSpider , WEAVE MAN, JON KAVULIC, Tajluck,
Caesar, BERKLEYLAKER, Dice8Up DION, KARL, CRAIG, MITCHELL, B4HOOPS, RYAN
JR, Dascilla, tellitlikeitis, Nik Kannan, GABE, SEAN P., HanSoulFood, HollywoodJack,
RICO TICO, DREW, NESTROSSBISTRO, LAKERAHOLIC, LAKOBER, SLO GAL
Jay Jay, TaosHum, DEREK, Caeser, Obel, CHITOWNLAKER, RealityCheckTime
wiZo, MagicShaq, HugoBoss, OSCAR, RDLEE, RealityBites, LakerLarry, Bucky, Guy
LakerLifer, C.S. Jova, Tripgame3, SIXONEZERO, HOUSTON LAKER, Todd BATTLES
JONINJAPAN(INCANADA), LT Laker Fan, , KATE, TROY, Mainor, East Nyboer
JEFF, ANDY B., SwanWorld, PUPLE&GOLD_4EVA, Benny Blanca, CS in Virgina
TIM IN SYDNEY LakerBake, JMan, Mfeige, Jennifer, Chris H. Lincoln Laker, Reggie
Any_One_mouse, 10milliondollarZen, Shiva, Laker_Hopeful, LakerDawg, RDANEEL,
PHIL JACKSON, KOBE BRYANT, Marc Gasol, Sun Yue, Shamond, Williams,
Ronny Turiaf, V. Radmanovic, Maurice Evans, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher,
Luke Walton, Brian Cook, Kwame Brown, Andrew Bynum, Coby Karl, Mihm,
Jordan Farmar, Jarvis Critterton, Larry Fulcher, SASHA VUJACIC, Linda Pineda
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALL TOGETHER NOW:
WE ARE THE FREAKIN LA LAKERS THE WINNERS OF 14 NBA TITLES
THE TEAM WITH THE BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE IN NBA HISTORY
THE HOME OF WILT, KAREEM, GEORGE MIKAN, SHAQ, MAGIC, KOBE,
ELGIN BAYLOR, JERRY WEST, PAT RILEY, JAMES WORTHY, SILK
COACHED BY THE 9 TIME TITLE WINNER PHIL (9RINGS) JACKSON AND
NO ONE WILL EVER CONQUER OR DIVIDE US
LAKERS TODAY LAKERS TOMORROW LAKERS FOREVER

Exhelodrver,

"The K brothers and the G brothers could play a 2 on 2 game for charity!"

The charity would have to come in the buckets spotted for the K Brothers. haha

AK

Zen: We Must Battle

"One more year to evaluate before trading him. Maybe he will actually have a summer where he can work on his game."

EVERY FRIGGIN YEAR since Lamar got here, we've heard the "One More Year" argument. It's a daggone broken record now. The position where we are right now, we don't have time to wait One More Year before the light bulb clicks on in dude's head. LO is the poster child for INCONSISTENCY. He had no business being #2 on this team.

We've got a golden opportunity to make a splash with the dudes we have now. It's time to get rid of all the cpmplacent, lethargic players.

Put ODOM/KWAME/MIHM in a trade package and let's see what we can come up with.

zen,

LO hasn't worked on his game since he entered the league. So excusing the last two or three seasons because of injuries and family crises ignores the first 6 or 7 years of his career where he's added nothing to his game. Look at his stats from his rookie year. They look exactly like his stats from his past couple of years.

He's the exact same player he was when he entered the league. He's all right handed, an average to below average midrange shooter, an average to below average three point shooter, a pretty good rebounder and a pretty good passer, average defender, average post moves (and he's never added a good fadeaway or up and under moves.).

Good call exhelodrvr, That would be something to see.

TWoody

BK:

In general, I agree with you about extrapolating numbers. Phil is definitely taking considerable care to make sure that Drew is not given too many minutes right now in order to protect him. He is also giving Mihm time on the floor in the hopes that he can regain his skills in time to help us later in the year. As to Kwame, I still think he may be traded if Mihm can pick it up a little. I don’t see the Aziza trade as the end of the deals that we will see before the trade deadline. If Mihm does not improve fast, however, we may see a re-signing of Kwame, which will thrill Mike and dismay others. It all depends on how Mihm does and what Kwame is willing to re-sign for. Without a doubt, we need both guys right now. It’s hard to win without a good backup center.

Truth be told, however, Drew may be our best number two option on offense right now and I expect to see him play more minutes as the season progresses. You are right that I don’t expect to see him play 40 minutes per game but I don’t think it is unrealistic to see him in the low 30’s. There is also no way that Drew will be traded right now. As was brought up by many of us, there are no more KG’s out there. Bynum right now is untouchable. Lakersville will end up being the Kobe and Drew dynasty. And Drew will be right up there with Dwight Howard and Greg Oden as the premiere centers in the league – maybe even the best. Time will tell but there is no question that the future of the Los Angeles Lakers includes Andrew Bynum as a cornerstone or core player.

Tom

------------------------------------------------------------------------
WITH SINCERE RESPECT, LO YOU GOT TO GO
TRADE LAMAR BANDWAGON
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) J. WALTER WEATHERMAN OWNER AND DRIVER
(2) MAMB24
(3) TWOODY
(4) ANDREW Z.
(5) utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER

Andy L & Kwame Brown Steward,

I am running out of letters and numbers, I need a bot buster. HELP Where is our Zombie guy when we need him? The bots don't want me mentioning "trade Sasha", he is the new lord of the rings. They say, don't trade Sasha, it will give you bad luck for 7 years and the team in hiatus too for 7 years.

Lord Kwame, can we just trade you? not Sasha.....

* OK, as soon I hit post the bots will appear arghhh!....they follow me everywhere.

 


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