Like Alien vs. Predator, only with basketball

*****REPOST****

Mike T,

You're just playing with numbers to make Kwame look better, as usual. Kwame only played 3:37 of the Chicago so Kwame has essentially missed 16 games, unless Kwame's calves set such a strong defensive tone that they sparked the Lakers' blowout win that night.

And including that game the Lakers are 10-6 and 9-6 in games that Bynum has played in that's the most important stat. It's ridiculous how you're trying to say the Lakers are a .500 team by using games Bynum starts in as a qualifier. IT'S A TEAM GAME FOR GOODNESS SAKE. Do you think the Lakers would have lost the games to Minnesota or Denver which Bynum played in had he started?

The point is the Lakers are 10-6 WITHOUT Kwame, 15-9 overall and are currently one of the hottest teams in the NBA. The Lakers would win 51 games at that pace and are currently have the fourth highest point differential despite Kwame only playing in seven games this season.

Stop playing games.

I'd say that Kobe is more like Alien and LeBron is more like Danny Glover in "Predator II".

My money's on the Alien.

GO LAKERS!

The Critter needs more playing time. I understand how keeping him on the bench can aid in his maturation process, but this kid is real competitive and even Tex Winters said he could be a "special player."

I think it would be beneficial for the Lakers to make his development a high-priority. He needs more time on the court.

GO LAKERS!

A & BK;

I've heard a lot of Kidd trade rumors as of late, one
quote by PJ says the deal will be made. What deal?
Not much written about it. Could you enlighten?
Thanks - Paulie

Did anyone else have a dream that a sumani was coming to the California beaches? Man, it was scary!

mike

[REPOST}

Can you believe we're fourth in the West and could be third in the West by the time this ROAD trip is over?

Fricken awesome. And, barring injuries, being a young team, it is reasonable to expect a hell of a lot of improvement from this team by the end of the regular season (as long as Phil Jackson is able to instill his trademark mental toughness in these young players).

I see a lot of bloogers are ripping into Kwame Brown. I think Kwame really needs a mentor on this team, much like Andrew Bynum has with Kareem. The guy's basically a kid inside and has a screwed up father from what I've heard. Given the right leadership with someone he feels he can trust, perhaps he'd be better in approaching his potential... which he really hasn't been doing effectively over the last couple years.

All that much said, Kwame does play good defense, which says something because I believe he originally wanted to be more of an offensive presence. So, he's willing to alter his game for the benefit of the team, maybe he's willing to change his perspective and attachment to maturity for the benefit of the team.

That much said, unless he steps/grows up, Kwame is gone next year.

Who would have thought that people would be more excited about Sasha's return over having a player like Kwame guarding the basket?

Things change, hopefully for the better.

You know what? Kobe's off-season freakout may have been the best thing that could have happened to this team.

I don't think that without his freakout that several of the young players, but most importantly, ANDREW BYNUM, would have stepped up as they have this season and focused themselves.

Let's face it. Put Andrew Bynum and Sasha Vuljcic on another team or this team without Kobe and their NBA careers crash and burn.

I think everyone, with the possible exception of Lamar Odom, has greatly benefited from "The Freakout '07". Sure, it probably has given multiple members of Lakers management ulcers, but if these younger players are playing significantly better because of "The Freakout '07" (and probably the maturity of Derek Fisher's--Kobe's foil--leadership) all the better.

Regarding tonight's game and Lamar Odom. I've been tracking the stats and Lamar really makes other players better when he's in, but he does seem to have a psychological tendency towards self-sabotage during key moments of the game involving his personal play.

He had a great game against Chicago, all around great game. His issue whilst donning the Purple and Gold has been consistency. Let's see how he plays tonight. If it's a down or mediocre night tonight, we know the pattern is unbroken and they should be healthy cause for concern.

If he steps up and has a monster night tonight, it's a sign that there's reasonable evidence for hope and optimism regarding his development. I'm going to pay particular attention to his play and consistency during this road trip.

Kobe will always be Kobe. Derek Fisher is a tremendous blessing to this team. Andrew Bynum is our future and worth all the faith we've had in him. Farmar, Sasha, even Ariza, are all better than expected.

But, particularly this year, if the Lakers are to be come a "special team", an elite, it is all about Lamar Odom, if he can develop reasonable consistency and equanimity and fire in his personal game when it really matters.

Go Lamar Odom!

GO LAKERS!

Paulie - The Kidd rumor is one that the Loose Cannons is reporting is coming from Magic. A package built around Kwame's expiring contract, Jordan Farmar and pieces like Vlad, Luke, Sasha etc. Basically, some cap relief, a good young PG and filler to make the salaries match. That would give the Lakers a line-up of something like this:

Kidd (Fisher)
Bryant (whoever is left at SG)
LO (Ariza)
Turiaf (whoever is left at PF)
Bynum (Mihm)

After a 4/5 for 1 deal like that, they'd probably have to go out and sign some free agents to fill out the roster unless NJ threw in some low-salaried players. That would be a pretty formidable starting line-up but would really deplete the bench. Kidd makes close to $20M per and is looking for an extension.

Zen,

Thanks for your reply. I believe I may have mistyped, or you may have misunderstood me. Apparently, Rick Friedman understood what I meant.

The Mihm, Brown, and draft picks offer was never for J-Kidd. It was for the needed PF/C.

As I have mentioned on the second line of the post "Before I say no to J-Kidd, I would like to know who would be involved."

If that helps.

Cheers

I predict even play from the Lakers, with key runs by the Bench Mob and by Kobe. I think LeBron will create a few highlights, but will also be seen to be fed up with his nonchalant crew. I see this leading to a key offensive foul by LeBron.

Kobe will smile with the inner peace of knowing.

No Smush Parker

Means CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry Kupcake for cursing you out last year.

Congradulations to all the young Lakers who are starting to prove they the belong in that uniform that there are wearing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

watcher74,

I'm with you all the way!!!
Here's my repost:

"My gut tells me go for a PF/C first. Package Mihm and Brown and a draft pick or two. Don't include Farmar or JC coz they are the future."

H0-ho-ho!

watcher74,

I'm not certain. It is a tempting trade, but I don't want to give up a Farmar. He's a competitor. Losing Rad Vlad also does diminish our three-point shooting, but perhaps Sasha could pick up that slack.

I'm not too concerned about the draft picks, especially considering how young we are, though we get considerably older as a team with this trade.

Yeah, I don't know. And since my gut doesn't push one way or another, it probably isn't a great idea.

GO LAKERS!

Jon K, you sure you want to use that analogy? Danny won, after all.

Rick F and Charles,

Couldn't agree more that we could use some help in the front court. At the beginning of the year I was clamoring for an "All-Star type" front court player, but I had no idea Bynum would produce the way he is. I really like the line-up when Turiaf gets to play the 4, so it makes me believe that if we could get a PF or PF/C or both in a package, we would benefit.

And it doesn't even have to be an All-Star, just someone who can play/work hard and contribute (i.e. Ariza).

I'd really like to see the FO use Kwame's expiring and draft picks to get in the mix with Atlanta and Philly and get Lorenzen Wright and Shelden Williams. That seems like a good way to go.

Remember that New Jersey almost agreed to this deal last year until the last minute they wanted Bynum. Well, now Bynum is untouchable so New Jersey might be feeling the pressure soon to just do the deal.

Magic was at the Hawks/Heat game though...I think the FO is active, but there are a lot of possible trades out there.

Charles,

My bad.

I'm off the J-Kidd trade. We're getting good production from our point guards. What I'd like to have is a bruiser power forward like Charles Oakley or Udonis Haslem. Ronny could potentially develop into that type of player, but he's not tough enough for that yet.

Ok, Here's my only thought I'll give on the JKidd scenereos popping around. Dude can put up double digits, rebound, and give practically 10 assists nightly to a team that IF THEY OUT ASSIST THEIR OPPONANTS TEAM THIS SEASON HAVE WON 99% OF THEIR GAMES SO FAR. I sometimes don't agree with Money, but the other night after the bulls game, he siad that you'd be STUPID to not trade for Jkidd if you could get him without giving up Bynum. I wholeheartedly agree with him. If all they ask for a Farmar OR Critter, Kwame's contract and Vlad or Luke +picks? People, I don't care how well the bench is playing, you do that deal. If you throw Kidd into a starter group where the starters aren't playing particularly well as of late, it jumpstarts the startes and takes a bit of the load off the bench.

And anyone who says Jkidd wouldn't fit well in our system?....go to an island somewhere and mumble with the rest of the crazies. Kidd would work FINE cause he's that good a player.

Plus, Bynum would have someone besides Kobe who would decide to throw him the DAMN BALL. I make a guarentee- Kidd comes, Bynum can go up to 20 a night, based on the fact that his touches will double. I can't even begin to imagine how good the rebounds will be.

Anyways, that's my thought, feel free to flame me if you disagree.

Xodus,

So from my understanding, Magic was at the Heat/Hawks game the other night. So it makes me wonder if the Lakers are looking at a Udonis Haslem or something.

Mike T:

"Did anyone else have a dream that a sumani was coming to the California beaches? Man, it was scary!"

A 'sumani'? Is that a giant wave dotted with tiny bits of candied fruit? Sorry for the cheap shot but i couldn't resist... On the positive, I give you MUCH credit for antagonizing this blog with undying support for Kwame.

KIDD TRADE:
I'm not jumpin on the bandwagon but I won't complain if it happens. You can debate all you want about Kidd's health and salary cap issues, but a Kidd-Kobe backcourt is pretty tantalizing.

About a month ago I had this dream:

I dreamt that I saw Steve Nash come and kick Lamar Odom on the shin and Odom went down to one knee. Then I saw Derek Fisher praying on both knees. Then I saw Luke Walton on his back on the basketball floor being kicked by Steve Nash. The look on Walton's face was of pure terror.

Then I saw the rest of the Lakers, wearing their white uniforms., surround Steve Nash and they were kicking him. They were really beating him up.

Then I woke-up.

I didn't say anything until know. And know I hear this Jason Kidd talk.

Out of curiosity I went to the Trade Machine and put in the following:

Nets get:

Odom
Fisher
Walton

Lakers get

Kidd

And it was approved.

mike

Ron,

Yea but your talking about a HOF point guard here. He can adjust and create chemistry...I think he will be just fine in the triangle because he's smart. Having him, Odom, and Kobe on the same court together would be a sight to see.

At the end of games, you would have:

Pg-kidd
Sg-Fisher
SF-Kobe
Pf-Lamar
C-Drew

Talk about experience from your ballhandlers. It would be the best rebounding team in the nba, the best passing team in the nba right off the bat. That is rediculous.

Ron,

"Basically, I am saying that our frontcourt is fine the way it is."

We have Bynum = Doing Great, Turiaf = ailing on and off.
Kwame = oft injured and not playing, Mihm = still recovering and have you seen him play? All we have are Bynum as a true center and Turiaf playing a Back up center in a PF's body.

Lamar, Luke, and Vlad are SF 's. Though Lamar is doing better against smaller PF's.

Back court PG= Fish, Farmar, JC
SG = Kobe, Sasha who is doing great, Karl. I belive were doing fine in the Back court....

"Kwame makes his presence felt on the defensive end" See point's above. And he's not playing. How is he making his presence felt?

Peace