Merry freakin' Christmas Indeed!
There's only one thing a Laker die-hard loves to see more than cool gifts under his or her tree. A lump of coal in the stocking of every Phoenix Suns player, coach and fan. And that's exactly what the hated visitors received during a holiday showdown at Staples. The 122-115 Lakers win featured all Laker starters in double figures, only one Sun reaching 20+ points (Steve Nash) and a few personal achievements by Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum. Plus, this was just flat out entertaining roundball. 15 lead changes. 35 combined fast break points. Scoring like Colin Farrell at an XTC party. Seriously, what more could you ask from a Christmas afternoon with the purple and gold?
And before some greedy little cuss shouts "well, what about Kobe Bryant passing Tom Chambers to reach 30th on the all-time scoring list," easy, gunpowder. That's part of the X-Mas loot, too.
THE GOOD
The Laker starters: I plan on singling out a few guys in particular, but lest anybody think I'm excluding those without a writeup, fear not. The fivesome of Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum all deserve praise and they done got it on this here Lakersblog post.
Kobe Bryant: One hell of a game is required to make 8 turnovers feel like an incidental afterthought. Kobe Bryant had one hell of a game. 38 points (26 of which came in the second half). Only 20 attempts required to net said 38 points. 13-14 from the line. 5 boards. 7 dimes. 2 steals. And in what's becoming more often the 2007-2008 rule that highlights any rare exception, an extremely controlled effort where little was forced and teammates were sought out. Such fantastic displays of dominating but unselfish play are joy to watch. Then again, Kobe might have made this section purely on the strength of that twisting, third quarter ending reverse dunk or the flurry of ridiculous turnaround jumpers.
Andrew Bynum: 11-13 from the field. 28 points accrued (besting his career-high 24 set Friday against the Sixers). 12 boards. 4 dimes (another personal best). 2 blocks. And a rather ho-hum effort from All-Star Phoenix counterpart Amare Stoudemire (19 points, 5 of which came during garbage time and borderline garbage time, and a scant 6 boards), meaning his defensive assignment was kept in check. To a large degree, Bynum kept Phoenix in check, period. Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni made no bones about admitting that "Bynum killed us." Phil is often hesitant to lavish too much praise the 20-year old's way, but he acknowledged that Kareem's pupil kept the Suns' D "on edge." Besides, there's plenty of time left for accolades. "At the end of the year, if he's the MVP, then we'll say what a great year he had," joked PJ.
Derek Fisher: I liked the 19 points. I also liked the 6 assists. But what I LOVED was nada in the turnover column. For a team often guilty of costly rock carelessness, this is always a welcome development. Everyone knew Fish could help stabilize a once-fragile and fragmented locker room. But today's performance provided high quality proof that the Threepeat Club member might be more capable of stabilizing matters on the court than many would have expected. And I'm calling myself out as a member of the "Underestimation Posse," by the way. Obviously, there's a lot of season remaining on the ol' calender. But 28 games into the season, it's safe to say that Fisher is playing much better ball than I predicted. It's times like these that I relish being wrong.
Never allowing the Suns to eclipse 50% shooting during any quarter: Phoenix hit an even 5-0 mark during the second frame, but that was as good as it got for a squad that considers 49% shooting an average night. Literally.
Grant Hill playing his 27th consecutive game, his longest streak in eight seasons: A trend that should make even the most bitter of Suns haters happy. Hill's one of the NBA's good guys and it's nice to see him sustaining some health after years of struggle. Depressing to think about how great this guy's career could have been sans a vendetta from the injury bug.
Some cat in the section next to me popped the question to his lady immediately after the fourth quarter ended. While I'm not a fan of getting down on bended knee at a sports venue (I've yet to meet a girl who finds this act anything less than tacky and lame), this proposal landed in the "good" column for two reasons. First, she said yes. Second, dude had the common sense to do it without the use of a jumbotron. No need to put your hopeful wife on the spot. And there's truly no need to risk making a jackass of yourself by getting turned down in front of 18,997 of your closest friends.
THE BAD
A tendency to relax at times: 14 turnovers on the night certainly wasn't ideal, but when you take into account that an octet belonged to the former #8, I suppose an argument can be made that the team as a whole actually did a decent job taking care of the ball. And perhaps the Lakers were so relieved at the lack of roster-wide gaffes that it resulted in overly comforted exhales after made baskets, as opposed to furiously getting back on D. Too many Suns baskets by way of a Phoenician beating every Laker down court. You'll squeak a win every now and then, but make this a habit and the odds favor Nash's bunch.
Third quarter guarding of the arc. Yeah, the Suns are a hot shooting team from distance, but 5-7 is still pretty ridiculous. That 71% clip also represented a period where the Suns appeared set to regain control after spending much of the first with the Lakers in their rear-view. Fortunately, order was restored.
The Bench: Save a few good shots and passes from Jordan Farmar, a pretty quiet night from those entering the mayhem from the pine. Ronny Turiaf can be cut slack due to very limited PT. But during just over 27 minutes of combined work, Sasha Vujacic and Vlad Radmanovic combined for 2 points and 6 fouls and 0 made field goals. Obviously, it's not the end of world, especially in light of the results. And no matter how well the "mob" often plays, you can never lose sight that it's still a collection of role players and role players often play like little more than such a description. But considering how much better this team is with the bench often producing at a high level, it also can't go ignored.
And finally, a few thoughts on a certain bow tie donned by a certain 9 rings owning coach:
"What's wrong with a bow tie? A little holiday spirit." - Phil Jackson (who later added that the tie was purely a "holiday special" and specifically, a Christmas holiday special. When I pressed him whether the neck-wear would get busted out on, say, Valentine's or Arbor Day, PJ shot down the notion.).
"I thought it looked nice, you know what I mean? It was more of an old school thing. You wouldn't catch me in it. But he pulled it off." - Andrew Bynum
"It was a good look. I liked it. Phil is full of surprises." - Lamar Odom
"It was disgusting. I don't know what he was thinking. Somebody asked me, Raja Bell, I don't know, they looked over and said, "Is Phil wearing a bow tie?" I kinda looked down. That was the first time I saw it. I kinda threw up in my mouth just a little bit." - Kobe Bryant
-AK
Adam,
"However, I believe there is one glitch in your argument that you failed to address: the fact that Kobe LOVES Bynum at the moment and would probably prefer him as a starter over Brown."
I did think of that but my feeling is that Kobe can't say anything bad Bynum even if he wanted to. (Not that he wants to) But right now Kobe has to rehabilitate his image. After what he said about Bynum in the summer there's no way Kobe says anything. As a matter of fact Kobe will not bash any of his teammates.
That's why you keep hearing about the game vs. the business side of the game. That's Kobe's way of saying: If someone gets traded...it wasn't me who pushed for it. That's why when Brian Cook was traded Kobe talked to him on his way out.
Kobe is not going to the fall guy for anyone getting traded.
Now to the rest of you:
I want to rephase something I said: It's not that Bynum's defense is bad. It's that it's not good enough so that the Lakers can play Phil Jackson basketball.
It's like I said earlier: The style of basketball we're playing right now is more like Mike D'Antonio basketball. That's an insult to the Jackson way.
As far as people saying I wrote the Jackson Journals...sure I did! But that was more because of the rotation patterns he was using. I complained about the triangle but that wasn't my main concern. I said that the triangle was like a video game. I said it was too perfect and required perfect team ball for it to be executed.
But when PJ signed a 2 year contract extension...my complains came to end because, as I said earlier, that ship has passed.
And I want to remind everyone that this is a blog about basketball and not a political issue. If I see things happening that make me want to reconsider my position...I'll change my position. You people act as if though I'm running for office and bring up what I said in the past as if though it disqualifies me from having a legitimate view.
Things happen. People improve. The game is constantly evloving around the maturity of the players. Then you see a slight shift in coaching philosophy. What I do is keep my eyes open on that kind of stuff and I post about it. So if it seems like I'm changing my view...so what!
Bynum going down for a season ending injury is going to change all of your view of everything. Things happen.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 09:34 AM
Mike T knows as much about basketball philosophy as Kwame Brown does about being an All-Star.
Go Bynum!!!
Posted by: Kwame Sucks | December 26, 2007 at 08:03 AM
EXACTLY....kwane is dead weight as is Mike T.
Posted by: laker32 | December 26, 2007 at 09:51 AM
"Bynum going down for a season ending injury is going to change all of your view of everything. Things happen."
One way or the other...I'm going to win this argument!
I'll admit...it's about winning this argument now.
I think you people forget the old saying:
"Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?"
Not asking for your approval!
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 09:53 AM
I think that Bynum is way better than Kwame, but Smushcalade is right. Bynum could finish the games, but Kwame should start. Not because he deserves it but because the second unit could play of Bynums skills, in other words Bynum now commands a double team, especially against second unit big men. So start Kwame, or better yet trade for a servceable big that can start, so we can have our bench shooters feed off bynum. Next year we move Bynum to start and have a whole offseason for the shooter to develop and for farmer to develop and lead the second unit like a true top notch point guard.
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: purplehaemoglobin | December 26, 2007 at 10:00 AM
Hello Bloggers,
it's good to be able to blog again. First of , I want to wish each and everyone of you a very happy new year! noticed that we all had gotten our Christmas gift (I know i did)... I've noticed there's a few people not posting. Mamba 24 could you please bring me up to date, what has happened to KL, Gunner, Sonny just to name a few. I really enjoy the way our team is playing right now, except when ever Vlad Rad take the floor, this guys is 2 lazy reaches away to reach Smush Parker's level. Beside of that I love this team.
Mamba please put me on the Bynum most improve player of the NBA bandwagon.
AK/BK Happy holidays and thanks for keeping the house together for us Lakers to have a place to come and steam out.
Mamba from the east coast
Posted by: Mamba24Fan4Life | December 26, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Mike T,
"Bynum going down for a season ending injury is going to change all of your view of everything. Things happen."
What exactly does that mean? Are you predicting this injury will happen? Or actually rooting for Drew to get hurt? Looking into guys who'll "Tanya Harding" him for a price?
That's a seriously bizarre statement, especially considering Bynum's coming off an 82 game 2006-2007 and has only missed one game this year, because of the flu, not injury. Drew's hardly been injury plagued. Is there a specific reason you're thinking (or hoping) that "things happen?"
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | December 26, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Just a thought. Since we're discussing PJ basketball and championships, here's some food for thought. When we won our three titles, we had Shaq, Kobe and Co.(Fisher, Fox, Horry, Harper, Rice, Horace Grant, Shaw). We were also eliminated by the Spurs during that span as well.
So when we were eliminated by the Spurs, who wasn't playing PJ basketball? Was it Shaq? Was it someone else? Was it the entire team? The reason I ask this is because Mike T. seems to interpret what PJ said about Andrew as being the reason the Lakers are not playing PJ basketball.
Mike T also stated that we can win a championship with Kwame. Here's the problem that I have with that logic. By making that statement, you're basically saying that Kwame is on par or better than Shaq was in his prime(three titles during that time and a finals loss to the Pistons)which no one, even those who hate Shaq on here will ever say. Arguably, Shaq and Kobe also had a better supporting cast during their championship run than Kobe's had the past three years since Shaq left. This year's supporting cast may change that. It's also safe to say that Shaq and Kobe had better outside shooters around them during that time as well.
As of right now, which of our centers is closer to filling the void left by Shaq and duplicating what Shaq did here in LA? Kwame over the past two years hasn't come close to being a quarter of what Shaq was. Can the combination of Kwame's post defense and Andrew's offense make up what Shaq did by himself while he was a Laker? That remains to be seen. Even though Andrew is tutored by Kareem, Andrew plays more like Shaq than Kwame does.
Despite their fued, Kobe knew Shaq impacted both ENDS OF THE FLOOR. Shaq won his three Finals MVP awards mostly by dominating on the offensive end. Has Shaq ever been known as a great defensive center? Which of our centers today has a greater impact on both ends of the floor, Kwame or Andrew? If this is about Kobe winning a championship now, which center would he rather have in there with him right now? Kobe has been praising Andrew's play and work ethic endlessly and hasn't said a word about Kwame since Kwame went down, hmmmm.
We won three titles with Shaq, Kobe and company playing "PJ basketball" and didn't win titles with them because someone(Shaq?)or the entire team didn't play "PJ basketball." We've barely made a dent in the playoffs the past two years despite other worldly performances from everyone's unanimous choice for world's best player and with Kwame at center. I guess for two years Kwame has failed to play "PJ basketball" and thus should be blamed for not gettting beyond the first round in the playoffs.
PJ was also stated that Kobe was "uncoachable" in his book and then made comments about Shaq that led Shaq to call him Benedict Arnold. Yet here he is coaching the "uncoachable"(maybe Kobe doesn't play PJ basketball)and trying to mend fences with Shaq(PJ stated that he tried calling Shaq and left messages for him, but did not get a return call). So which of our centers is closer to stepping into the huge shoes left by Shaq? If you said Kwame, somewhere Mikan, the ghost of Wilt, Kareem and Shaq are laughing.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 26, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Mike, what are you smoking? Why do you have to read into what Phil says? Can't you just take what he says at face value and not try to make more of it than what it really is? Your love of Kwame clouds youe judgment. Get with the program. We have seen more production from Drew than we have from Kwame, and yet Kwame gets paid 9 million dollars to sit on the bench because he is almost ALWAYS hurt. He might be a soso players if (1) he got l injured less and got more time playing and (2) he go t new hands.
Maybe we could start a "Get Kwame new hands for 08 Fund" I know I'd donate.
Posted by: Elle | December 26, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Years ago...back in 85 or 86 I came out in the L.A. Times metro section. A big photo of me right on the front page of the metro section. You know what I was doing? I was doing a reverse lay-up. It was a pretty shot. They caught me in mid air flipping the ball up.
That' me. I was determined to have my shot go in. It became second nature to me as that photo will show. In that photo I'm not even looking at the basket. That's how good I was.
My detemination is like Kobe's determination. You see Kobe doing amazing things to get his will across. That's what I'm going to do to win this argument.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 10:07 AM
"Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?"
Not asking for your approval!
mike
Good one. All hail king Kobe!!! Here's a quote for you straight from the King of kings:
"Pride goeth before a fall" I won't say who that refers to because I think we all know the answer.
The Big Biblical
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 26, 2007 at 10:11 AM
M T,
You might want to read about what happened to the Israelites who worshipped the golden calf.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 26, 2007 at 10:17 AM
"It's that it's not good enough so that the Lakers can play Phil Jackson basketball."
Oh. You mean the kind of defense that Luc Longley played?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 26, 2007 at 10:19 AM
Bynum going down for a season ending injury is going to change all of your view of everything. Things happen."
One way or the other...I'm going to win this argument!
I'll admit...it's about winning this argument now.
oooooooooooh I just read this gem. Now I know for sure that you are on something. Mike, you wont win this argument because your boy Kwame is a bust, I know it and so do Laker fans everywhere. Now I'm a rational person, if Kwame gets better (hahaha) I'll give him credit, but you know what? Not gonna happen. He is a bust, a bust a bust. I say we trade him for a noodle name it Kwame #2 and use it to hit players from other teams, at least the noodle will contribute more than Kwame. Get this thru your very thick head, Drew is the Lakers future and Kwame is just lucky to have a job now. But you just wait, he's gonna go the same way Smush went and maybe you'll do us all a favor and go with him.
Posted by: Elle | December 26, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Lakers have NEVER won a title with a one dimensional big man. Mikan, Wilt, Kareem and Shaq. Is Kwame the next Laker big man to join that list? Yeah, and the sun rises in the west and sets in the east.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 26, 2007 at 10:22 AM
AK,
Does it really matter? I'm going to win this argument. Just watch what happens on the court.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 10:24 AM
"It's that it's not good enough so that the Lakers can play Phil Jackson basketball."
Oh. You mean the kind of defense that Luc Longley played?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 26, 2007 at 10:19 AM
LOL!!! Good one EX, but you also forgot about Bill Cartwright, Will Perdue and Bill Wennington!!! Man, your response is classic. LOL
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 26, 2007 at 10:27 AM
Mike T,
That you won't answer the question actually answers the question. Thanks.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | December 26, 2007 at 10:29 AM
"My detemination is like Kobe's determination. You see Kobe doing amazing things to get his will across. That's what I'm going to do to win this argument."
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Mike,
LOL, you're funny. Like Kobe getting his will across to be traded or winning his argument to trade Bynum for JKidd? Nice.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 26, 2007 at 10:30 AM
AK,
Injuries are part of the business...what makes you think that Bynum is immune to it? Lets just say that when Bynum goes down with an injury on the court. I won't be surprised.
Big men are getting injured all the time. It's physical down low.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 10:31 AM
All right fellow Laker fans, time for me to work out. Keep up the holiday cheer and spirit. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 26, 2007 at 10:37 AM
Mike T,
"Injuries are part of the business...what makes you think that Bynum is immune to it? Lets just say that when Bynum goes down with an injury on the court. I won't be surprised. Big men are getting injured all the time. It's physical down low."
Yes, injuries obviously occur and Bynum is not immune to them. However, it's one thing to simply note that fact and quite another to come off stoked by the idea of Andrew going down. You seem to fall distinctly in the latter category, which is truly bizarre. I realized you're admittedly obsessed with "winning the argument" (an absolutely futile and ultimately meaningless cause, by the way), but seriously, a little perspective is in order.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | December 26, 2007 at 10:43 AM
Lucky I don't adhere to your standards of what is right or wrong about anything. I'm not really seeking your approval about anything. And I am going to win this argument.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Mike T,
That you neither adhere to my standards nor seek my approval (nor should you, by the way) is fine by me. It's also totally irrelevant, because it doesn't actually change anything I said. Your response only further validates my comments.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | December 26, 2007 at 11:08 AM
"Seems PJ might have been reading this blog. I wonder who's the one who said that?"
The part about him playing better defense? Everybody but you.
Posted by: akrasian | December 26, 2007 at 11:10 AM
Mike T,
>>>Injuries are part of the business...what makes you think that Bynum is
>>>immune to it? Lets just say that when Bynum goes down with an injury
>>>on the court. I won't be surprised.
>>>
>>>Big men are getting injured all the time. It's physical down low.
Yes, but some big men are more susceptible than others. For example, if the
wind blows too strongly on Kwame Brown, he's going to be out for a month
with a sprained something or other. And some "small" men are more
susceptible to injury as well. Kobe plays through pain better than most,
it takes a severe injury to keep him out -- and he's constantly being hit, tackled,
knocked down, and assaulted by defenders. Shaun Livingston, on the other
hand goes up for an undefended layup, injures himself and goes out for
a year.
And there are other players (Shawn Marion comes to mind) who almost
never miss a game. Part of it is luck, part of it is having a body that's more
resilient, and part of it is toughness -- being able to play through some
pain.
Bynum hasn't played enough seasons that we know for sure whether he's
more or less susceptible to injury, but so far so good.
If you're wishing injury on Bynum, Mike T, then I wish you would go "cheer"
for some other team.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | December 26, 2007 at 11:11 AM
Long Time Laker Fan,
"If you're wishing injury on Bynum, Mike T, then I wish you would go "cheer"
for some other team."
WELL SAID LOGN TIME!
Posted by: Mamba24 | December 26, 2007 at 11:15 AM
"Your response only further validates my comments."
Is that for you personal self assurance? Validates your comments? How is that going to stop Bynum from getting injured on the court? I mean if you see Bynum get injured on the court wouldn't you be more interested on how old mike t. actually accomplished that? I mean, if I was able to will something like that...gee...that is powerful! Wouldn't you be more interested on how the nature of that power works?
I think you're missing the point. I love basketball but I love science a bit more. Lets just call it an experiment.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 11:18 AM
Mike T,
"Is that for you personal self assurance? Validates your comments?"
No, I was simply pointing out the obvious. My self assurance and your posts are entirely unconnected matters.
"I mean if you see Bynum get injured on the court wouldn't you be more interested on how old mike t. actually accomplished that? I mean, if I was able to will something like that...gee...that is powerful! Wouldn't you be more interested on how the nature of that power works? I think you're missing the point. I love basketball but I love science a bit more. Lets just call it an experiment."
For a second I was worried you weren't devoting your time towards constructive matters. My mistake. Good luck with those voodoo dolls.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | December 26, 2007 at 11:25 AM
This is getting ridiculous, why are we even bothering with Mike T. I mean this guy is on another planet. I mean i won't even wish an injury on Raja Bell, much less for a member of the team that has brought me countless moments of entertainment my whole life. This is a human being that he is wishing bad upon. This jus strengthens my belief that Mike T is actually a troll or someone in an invested interest in the fuure of Kwame Brown. There is no other logical reason for his antics on this board. I mean it is completely and utterly ridiculous. Mike T's cooments seem to be growing proportional to the development of Andrew Bynum. This is life, some people take pride in their GOD given abilities and some take it for granted. I do not know either Andrew Bynum or Kwame Brown, but from what i see, the human in me wnats to root for Bynum becuase he seems to want to get better. I just want Kwame to help this team, but in no way should any of use wish injury on a human being for the sole purpose of "winning a meanaingless argument". Especially when that argument has no solid foundation (sort of like Kwmae Brown's Skill set). We already know Bynum has all the tools to be a good player and he looks like he wants to be great. Let's stop responding to Mike T and his ignorance. In conclusion, part of me hopes that is is actually a troll pretending to be Mike T making this asanine statements, because alas, i sometimes love Mike T's take on things. But if it is not, I say ignore him, there is no space for his type here and by extension the world.
Thanks for your time fellow laker Fans,
"PurlpeHaemoglobin Never To Turn Red"
Posted by: purplehaemoglobin | December 26, 2007 at 11:26 AM
Johnny,
>>>Fisher is the biggest difference why this year we are playing as a team.
>>> Fisher isn't afraid of Kobe. He's looking for anyone who'se open.
Actually, I've noticed times with both Fisher and Farmar when they've brought
the ball up the court and Kobe was standing there at the top of the key
waiting for them to pass it to him and they instead kick it around the other side.
I think both of them make a conscious effort to keep the offense diverse and
not collapsing to Kobe-ball. It still does deteriorate to that sometimes, but much
less often than the past two seasons. And I'm perfectly happy with a 5
minute stretch of Kobe-ball here and there for its entertainment value, but
I hope the rest of the team stays healthy so they won't feel compelled to
go to it more often.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | December 26, 2007 at 11:41 AM
purplehaemoglobin,
>>>i won't even wish an injury on Raja Bell
Well shoot, I will. I wish a paper cut on Raja Bell for every time he gets away
with grabbing, shoving, chucking or otherwise molesting a player he's
"defending". Oh, and I'll also wish him a hangnail for every time he clotheslines
a player. I don't think Bell is as dirty a player as Bruce Bowen, but there should
be some karmic payback to guys like that.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | December 26, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Mike T - you're in rare form today, haha! Just please don't say anything about Jeanie!
Posted by: dave m | December 26, 2007 at 11:49 AM
Man....it's almost beyond belief that anyone calling themselves a Laker fan would wish that a team member become injured just so they could win an argument on a blog. Unreal.
ex....that "golden calf" line was classic!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | December 26, 2007 at 11:52 AM
I will say this last night LO did some good things Like slashing to the hoop and not forcing passes he really doesn't need to take the threes, more 17ft and in and go through the middle and receive ball and turn and shot a pop-out jumper.
Mike T. Cakeman is the lakers MVP at this moment because he is injured (as usual even as he said this is his contract year) and even if he does come you don't how long. Brown is useful if he gets in shape but he is a back up and spot starter, that being the progress of his game because he works on it, where as Cakeman only throws food at people ( JR H S and some whippy H S).
Oh was that picture of you in Metro a Yard time picture at Solidad
Posted by: PK-IN-THE-MESA | December 26, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Long TIme Laker Fan:
"And I'm perfectly happy with a 5
minute stretch of Kobe-ball here and there for its entertainment value"
Are you serious ?
Sometimes I have the distinct feeling that some of the so called basketball fall fans here only look at laker games. I mean that is the only way that someone makes a statement like that.
The media hypes all the other guys such as Lebron, Wade and so on and sub-consciously i think it makes us question Kobe, we look at his every miss and take the granted his makes. I have NBA League Pass, I watch a LOT of baketball and have not missed a Laker game in 4 yrs. Kobe is the best out there, and though i do agree with the notion that more ball movement is sometimes necessary, comments like that just rubs me the wrong way. We as Laker fans have no idea how good Kobe is unitl we start looking at other teams in the same light as we look at our team. Look at a Cavalier game, look at a heat game, look at a nuggets game, there is no comparison to Kobe's game.
I am a laker supporter before and after Kobe, but give the guy his props. BTW the fourth quarter of tuesday's game is going to be a template for the rest of the season, Kobe of Screens to force complete ball movement, lamar and the points picking other teamates because the defense is focusing so much more on a moving Kobe as opposed to a "iso Kobe". Blame the coaching staff not Kobe.
Thanks for your time fellow laker Fans,
"PurlpeHaemoglobin Never To Turn Red"
Posted by: purplehaemoglobin | December 26, 2007 at 11:58 AM
AK,
"For a second I was worried you weren't devoting your time towards constructive matters."
Good point! Good point! And worthy of a response.
Unfortunately, I can't move on "towards constructive matters" until I conclude my experiments. I'm a pretty conservative person and I'm not willing to try to implement my theories, on constructive matters, until I have a body or work to justify my science.
That body of work is based on experiments performed on "lab rats" if you will. Once I'm satisfied that what I do is legitimate then I'll move on to more "constructive matters."
Right now I'm on the edge of mastering the concepts. I've already mastered the theories. But to implement them into actuall life...well...I need to perform a few more experiments.
You see my "lab rats" aren't really getting hurt. They're millionaires! My experiments, if they work, which I anticipate they will, will only hurt their pride. They will still be millionaires. No one really gets hurt with my experiments.
I sent you a document a while back. Somewhere deep in that document is the foundation of my work.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 12:04 PM
I know I shouldn't feed the trolls, but Mike T. is a total moron.
Wishing that an emerging Lakers star gets hurt just to win a stupid blog argument? Wow. What a tool. He's an even bigger tool for even thinking that anyone actually wins blog arguments.
But anyway, all I know is that I love me some Andrew, and I think he should keep the starting job. I think that Kwame will be great coming off the bench, especially to bang with and wear down the opposing team's bigs. Both players need to share the minutes to reduce wear and tear on their bodies. Andrew and Kwame and co-exist just fine, and both can contribute solidly to our championship run. What's so hard to understand that we need both of these guys?
Posted by: whatever | December 26, 2007 at 12:09 PM
I don't hate the Suns. I actually respect them. Sure I want them to lose, like I did Shaq's Heat, but now I feel sorry for Miami. You always respect the game.
Posted by: Dave | December 26, 2007 at 12:23 PM
This was an excellent game by the Lakers. Andrew Bynum especially looked great, and Kobe looked healthy for the first time in weeks. With the trade deadline coming up quickly I have to wonder if Mitch will be able to get something done to give this team some extra firepower for the playoffs.
Posted by: unpossibl1 | December 26, 2007 at 02:32 PM
"Lucky I don't adhere to your standards of what is right or wrong about anything. I'm not really seeking your approval about anything. And I am going to win this argument.
"
Heh. You can argue all you want - but anybody who both knows basketball and has an open mind can see very clearly that Bynum is already a much better overall player than Kwame - and Bynum is still improving by leaps and bounds, while Kwame isn't. The point of arguing about facts isn't to "win" but to find the truth - at this stage it is obvious you are more concerned with "winning" than truth. Sad. Pathetic even.
And your obvious rooting for Bynum to get hurt shows you are not a Laker fan, btw.
Posted by: akrasian | December 26, 2007 at 03:46 PM
Mike T
You sux. If anything bad happened to bynum, I hope that something bad to you. I really mean it. Bynum right now is the most important part of lakers apart of bryant. Without him, we have no chance in the playoff
Posted by: ShazLakers | December 26, 2007 at 05:13 PM
Mike T,
Well, I'm not going to waste time debating the validity or ridiculously bad karma involved with your "experiments." If sitting around trying to "will" Andrew Bynum towards injury is how you prefer to spend the bulk of your waking hours, so be it, I guess. It's morally reprehensible and fairly delusional (not to mention completely irrational for a Laker fan), but that's on your conscience and day planner, not mine.
I do have one question, though. If you're so convinced you can "will" certain events and are dead set in "proving" Kwame's worth, wouldn't your energy be better served trying to "will" Kwame's body towards continually good health?" He clearly needs some extra help. Wouldn't that be a more positive and productive use of your time?
I realize this logical (and considerably more humanitarian) approach comes with the "downside" of Bynum playing and potentially succeeding, which clearly displeases you. But practically (and karmically) speaking, this does seem like the more reasonable way of "experimenting," not to mention actually helping the Lakers. Maybe I'm missing something, but this take seems pretty obvious.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | December 26, 2007 at 05:22 PM
"I do have one question, though. If you're so convinced you can "will" certain events and are dead set in "proving" Kwame's worth, wouldn't your energy be better served trying to "will" Kwame's body towards continually good health?"
Now that's a good question.
The problem I was having with Kwame being healthy was how nobody would acknowledge that he was a big part of the reasons why the Lakers were winning over the last 2 seasons.
Let me clarify that: Over the last 2 seasons the Lakers, whenever they seemed to be gaining any type of momentum has been when Kwame Brown has been the starting center.
I wrote about it and I wrote about it and I wrote about it but no one believed me. Heck, after the Lakers lost to the Suns in 7 games a couple of years ago, during the offseason, I said that if Kwame Brown goes down we would be up shyt creek.
Well, we started out pretty good last season and when Odom went down we went 5-5. Then Kwame went down. Then Walton went down. Then we really started going downhill.
Now my observations were this: When Kwame was in the game I saw that the opponents offense was like trying to penetrate a buffer zone. It was amazing! I saw this over and over.
When Kwame wasn't in the game I saw, literally, a lay-up parade. It was then I realized how important defense was and so I started preaching it.
But no matter how I described it...I wasn't making any headway.
What upset me most was how PJ tried to make Kwame the fall guy. And I think Kobe tried to do the same thing. That told me a lot! I know what I was seeing in Kwame's defense. To me, Kwame has been a victim of basketball politics. I'm convinced of that.
I mean people knock Kwame like it's the thing to do. And now we have Bynum doing really really well. It's not like Bynum is creating his own shot. What it is, is this: Kobe Bryant isn't hogging the ball anymore.
Kwame Brown was a victim to Kobe Bryant's politics. And that pisses me off really really bad. I HATE IT when nice guys are victimized by chumps like Kobe Bryant who all of a sudden, this season, decides to pass the ball in the middle on alley-oop passes.
He could have been doing that with Kwame since day one.
I don't know if you remember but when Media day came around this season the Lakers were asked what they needed to do to be successful.
Lamar Odom said: Stay healthy.
Kobe Bryant said: Execute on both sides of the ball.
Kwame Brown said: Pass the ball and stay healthy.
This is the first year since Shaq has left that Kobe Bryant is actually passing the ball. And through it all, all Kobe Bryant has been trying to do is throw Kwame under the bus continually.
But even with all that the Lakers were still able to win with Kwame's defense alone. But Kobe and the rest of the Lakers alway found other reasons as to why they were winning when Kwame was the starting center. The audacity of give Luke Walton all the credit, when it was Kwame who was sealing the paint.
OK, that brings us to this season. In Kwame's 5 starts the Lakers were 4-1. And we would have been 5-0 if PJ had pulled Bynum out in the 4th quarter sooner in the opener agains Houston.
But again the pattern was holding. It was this and it was that. But it was never Kwame Brown. So what I needed was to have Kwame go down to show Kobe Bryant and the Lakers staff just how important the guy is to their winning.
If Kwame had stayed healthy then the Lakers would have continued to defect the credit to other sources.
So, I was getting angry and angrier...and all I could think of was: I need Kwame to go down! I need Kwame to go down! I need Kwame to go down and for an extended period of time.
Well, here we are 19 games later and the Lakers are 12-7.
My theory is this: If we do this well with Bynum and Kobe passing the ball...well watch how well we do with Kwame.
The only problem I'm going to have in my theory is having Bynum around to complicate matters. I need Bynum to go down for 19-20 games, too.
Then we can see, if Kobe passes the ball, how much more affective Kwame is than Bynum. You see Bynum getting 35-40 minutes per game? I want to see Kwame get 35-40 minutes a game, too. The only way that's going to happen is for Bynum to go down with a 20 game injury.
I'll be honest with you: I'm pissed off! And I've been pissed off over this matter since we lost to the Suns a couple of years ago. Kwame had a good series. He was scoring and his defense allowed to take the Suns to 7 games. If it wasn't for PJ playing Parker so much when he had George to guard Nash...the Lakers would have won.
Personally, I think the Lakers are screwing Kwame around big time. I think they want to get him on the cheap. That's why even this season PJ wasn't
giving Kwame the minutes he deserved. It's Kwame contract year and the Lakers are trying to screw him. That's my opinion.
Now, I am going to continue with my experiments because this is a matter of justice. And I am speaking loud and clear that I'm going to use my spiritual resources to bring justice to this matter.
I am seriously pissed off over this stuff that has been happening over the last 2 seasons.
Here's the old saying:
"Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy."
You see, Kwame is a nice guy. He won't say anything. He probably doesn't have the words to express himself properly. In this regard he his "poor and needy." But you know he has concerns over the way the season ended last season. I heard he said that that Lakers had no leadership whatsoever. In other words the Lakers weren't acknowledging what he contributes to the team.
You see it's my duty to speak up on behalf of nice people. You know why? Because I have knowledge but I'm not a nice guy! But instead of slapping people around, taking their money, and disrespecting them at my good pleasure...I've decided to take up the cause of the innocent. Of the weak! And instead of slapping people around...I've been granted the ability to understand spiritual matters and to implement them as I see best.
Yeah, I need Bynum to go down for about 20 games. Either now or towards the end of the season. It doesn't matter to me. But this Kid, Kwame Brown, is going to get the chance to highlight himself in this, his contract year. I guarantee you that! And I say that in the name of the Lord, who cares about justice.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 07:04 PM
If the Lakers were smart they would pacify me and just start Kwame at the Power Forward spot.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 07:05 PM
Mike you can go back to prison for the lakers can't do it?
Posted by: PK-IN-THE-MESA | December 26, 2007 at 07:50 PM
Mike,
I'm sure as soon as he's done dealing with the little stuff like flooding and mudslides in Indonesia, Darfur, AIDS and malaria in Africa, poverty on this side of the pond, etc., the Lord will get to the injustice that is Kwame Brown's lot in life.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | December 26, 2007 at 07:54 PM
Mike t the mother ship is landing and your EARTH time is up please depart in a peacefull manner and follow the green line.
Posted by: PK-IN-THE-MESA | December 26, 2007 at 07:58 PM
BK,
That just goes to show you how one demential you think the Lord's mind is. It's called omni-present. That means he's everywhere at all times. Gee, you don't even know that yet you have the never to try to use your logic?
What did I get you mad?
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 08:53 PM
BK,
One more thing:
The Lord is omni-present in spirit. That means he everywhere at all times observing all things at once.
Yet, to you, it seems he's a ghostly figure sitting behind a desk with a stack of files with a priority order. I can't believe you're that stupid.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 26, 2007 at 09:00 PM
Mike T-
It's fair to say you missed my point. I'm comfortable, though, that most people will understand what I was getting at.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | December 26, 2007 at 09:05 PM