No, their legs didn't get longer
The shorts got shorter.
As part of tonight's throwback uniform ensemble, the Lakers will be kickin' it old school with genuine late-80s short shorts. Nobody in the locker room was allowed to cop to it before during media time, but assuming plans don't change, the Lakers will be fully time warped for tonight's tussle with Boston's Big Three. I saw Sasha walking through the locker room in them, and needless to say, he looked a little sheepish, kind of like a guy who realized he was the only one at the pool in a Speedo. My understanding is that the Celtics, while wearing throwbacks of their own, will be wearing the longer version that is so popular with the kids these days. In all seriousness, I wonder if that gives them an advantage. No feeling self-conscious.
"It's not the shorts they played in 20 years ago. It's the style, but not the length," said Ray Allen with a sense of relief (Thanks to the Boston beat guy sitting next to me for the quote!). Meaning, they're not quite as short as they were back in the day... but they're still pretty damn short. I think as a show of solidarity, I'm going to wear a fedora with a little piece of cardstock that says "PRESS" on it. Everytime anything interesting happens, I'll shout "What a scoop!" from press row. Yeah, I know the unis aren't reaching back to the mid 30s, but I refuse to put on parachute pants or feather my hair (metaphorically speaking) for anyone.
Some notes:
- PJ said both Walton and Sasha will dress, despite sore ankles. We talked to both, and neither is totally healthy, but it sounded like they'll give it a go. Jackson wasn't sure how much each would play, though. But only Chris Mihm is inactive for L.A.
- For the Celtics, Rajon Rondo won't play, because of a bum hammy he tweaked last night in Utah.
- As you'll hear in the audio, Jackson continued to sound like a guy who plans on keeping Trevor Ariza in the starting lineup. He likes what Ariza does defensively for the first unit, and his lack of familiarity with the offense is less of an issue with that group. Walton, who Jackson has hoped to put with the reserves all season, fills a greater need there.
- Jackson said Kwame felt fine after Friday's game, and actually looked like he gained a lot of confidence in his mobility and spring. That's good news, for sure.
- AUDIO: Phil Jackson- Download phil_jackson_12.30 preBOS.mp3
BK
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Not only a full view of Kwame's calves, but an unveiling of the Kwame thighs...Be still my heart!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | December 30, 2007 at 06:50 PM
Forget the short-shorts...get MAGIC out there running layup drills.
Posted by: CornerJ | December 30, 2007 at 06:56 PM
It becomes more and more apparent that ARIZA is our GUY at SF.... this completes and settles our starting 5 for the rest of the season... Defensive intensity and offensive flexibility....
GO Lakers!
Posted by: dice8up | December 30, 2007 at 06:59 PM
I've got to admit...I'm feeling pretty nervous.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 30, 2007 at 06:59 PM
Am I the first to post?
Anyway, we're going to lose tonight!
Boston 104
LAKERS 98
Posted by: never | December 30, 2007 at 07:01 PM
GO LAKERS GO!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | December 30, 2007 at 07:10 PM
GO LAKERS GO!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | December 30, 2007 at 07:10 PM
Fellow Laker fans, it's game time!!! Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 07:12 PM
relax guys..we're winning tonight i guarantee it :)
Posted by: mike | December 30, 2007 at 07:12 PM
classic
Posted by: C.S. | December 30, 2007 at 07:13 PM
I've got to admit...I'm feeling pretty nervous.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | December 30, 2007 at 06:59 PM
==========================================
MIKE T... YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
MAN, THIS GAME IS SEND SHIVERS INTO MY SPINE... LOL
GO LAKERS... SHOW THEM WHO'S THE MAN AROUND HERE....
Posted by: dice8up | December 30, 2007 at 07:27 PM
13-9 BOSTON...
Posted by: dice8up | December 30, 2007 at 07:28 PM
Celtics are a bunch of PUNKS!!! All of them are straight up PUNKS!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 07:37 PM
OK, GAME ON! Major bad blood between these two teams starting to erupt. Kendrick tries to diss Andrew. Bad move, chin hair boy. Prepare to get posterized.
Posted by: CornerJ | December 30, 2007 at 07:37 PM
Celtics starts good but we can catch up with them before half time.. Smoke them up lakers.
Posted by: trio | December 30, 2007 at 07:44 PM
West is watching guys.. Kobe must do something spectacular later on this game.
Posted by: trio | December 30, 2007 at 07:46 PM
ok so its illegal nowadays to play defense in the nba?
whatsup with the refs?
Posted by: mike | December 30, 2007 at 07:47 PM
Lakers have missed several easy layups and free throws(2 by Fish and 1 by Kobe). Refs are giving the Celts all the calls. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 07:47 PM
Very effective Celtic defensive strategy. They're smothering the post players in our triangle, denying the inbound pass that starts our cuts. The result is that our perimeter players are stuck holding or dribbling the ball with nobody to pass to. We're stagnating or trying to force penetrations through 2 or 3 defenders. Phil needs to find an answer to this soon or it's going to be a long, frustrating night.
Posted by: CornerJ | December 30, 2007 at 07:49 PM
I didn't like the refs handle this game too.. Kwame is in the game and Nice passed to Ariza..
Posted by: trio | December 30, 2007 at 07:51 PM
Lakers shooting is ice cold. Kobe is 2 of 9 so far and Lamar is 3 of 10. Just cut it down more before the half and we can still get them in the second half. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 08:01 PM
Our guys get stock with this retro shorts, they seems can't move much as they used too. Lol..
Posted by: trio | December 30, 2007 at 08:03 PM
I hate the refs.. They're making the game slow..
Posted by: trio | December 30, 2007 at 08:07 PM
We're just not hitting open shots tonight. We're still in it though. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 08:09 PM
Bynum just had a clean block on that punk Perkins and was called for a foul. Refs suck tonight!!! We're still in it even though we're shooting 32% so far. It has nothing to do with the Celtics defense, just guys missing shots. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 08:14 PM
It's like a bad heavyweight fight. Lots of clinching, head butts, and fouls. Not a lot of solid punches being landed by either side. Lakers are shooting as bad as any game this year. We're lucky to be down by only 7 so far.
Posted by: CornerJ | December 30, 2007 at 08:14 PM
Kobe is 3-13 so far, but at least he's attacking the hoop. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 08:15 PM
Luke missed and easy layup, LO misses a three on the following possession. Attack the hoop, we're only down by 5 despite shooting like crap so far. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 08:18 PM
My goodness we're just in the 1st half and both teams' Key players are in fould trouble.. What's up refs?
Posted by: trio | December 30, 2007 at 08:20 PM
Who is the genius who dreamed up this dumbazz idea to go with the short shorts? Our guys are totally off their game. If you've ever played, you know that you get into a rhythm and feel with your uniform, socks, shoes, etc. Change them and it can screw with your head.
Get rid of the dumb shorts...and get rid of the idiot who came up with them.
Posted by: CornerJ | December 30, 2007 at 08:23 PM
We're still within striking distance down 8 at halftime. Celtics aren't that good and Pierce is getting a lot of phony calls. Kobe and LO are 6 of 26 combined from the field so far. We should be better in the second half. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 08:25 PM
Well, Andrew's deficiencies have really been exposed tonight. He just can't muscle himself into a good position. When up against other aggressive rebounders, he's too passive going after the ball. And he just doesn't move his feet quickly enough on defense.
You've done good up to this game. Take it as a learning experience and come back stronger, Drew.
Posted by: CornerJ | December 30, 2007 at 08:52 PM
Lakers can't afford to trade baskets. Kobe is still cold and the Refs are really blowing this game. I really feel that the Celtics are overrated. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 08:52 PM
Refs gave the Celtics this game, I don't care what anyone on here says. Celtics are overrated and will not win a title this year or any other year with the fake big three. Refs really suck in this game along with our shooting(Can't believe Kobe is off in such a big game). Charge against Kwame turned this game, Refs need a whistle up their a$$e$. Celtic defense is bullsh!t!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 09:08 PM
OK. It's over. Ray Allen just put the dagger in. It's back to the drawing board. Work on our game.
See you in the Finals, Boston.
Posted by: CornerJ | December 30, 2007 at 09:14 PM
Find something else to look at, he was the least of our problems tonight. Kobe was completely off tonight with everyone else. Don't bring up bullsh*t on here tonight. There was a lot wrong tonight, so speak on everything. Boston is grossly overrated and will not win a ring this year or any other year with KG. I said it here and I'll stick with it.
"Well, Andrew's deficiencies have really been exposed tonight. He just can't muscle himself into a good position. When up against other aggressive rebounders, he's too passive going after the ball. And he just doesn't move his feet quickly enough on defense.
You've done good up to this game. Take it as a learning experience and come back stronger, Drew."
Posted by: CornerJ
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 09:15 PM
Kobe and LO are 11 of 38 and the fourth isn't even over yet. Refs helped blow this game open. Celtics suck!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 09:18 PM
Refs suck right up til the end!!! Lakers will bounce back from this. We missed the same shots we hit against Utah the other night. KG will end up like Karl Malone with no rings. Stu Lantz gives Celtics defense waaaaaaaaaay too much credit. LO should've punched Allen in his mug. Celtics, laugh now cry later!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 09:35 PM
Sorry, Nemaia, the Celts ARE good. Great defense. Very quick hands. Quick feet too. We got no uncontested shots. None. We got hammered if we drove to the rim. Every pass of ours seemed to be either ticked or picked off.
You can't let your anger at the fact we're getting our butts kicked cloud your objective judgement. Yeah, I'm ticked too, but I want to analyze what they did to take us apart like this so we can be better prepared next time. Check out my comments AFTER you've cooled off. I love this team, but they've got to shore up the problem areas to compete.
Posted by: CornerJ | December 30, 2007 at 09:35 PM
Refs took us out of the game early with calls against Bynum and Ariza. I think it took both players out of their game and both couldn't get back into it. Their were several bad calls that went against Andrew, Kwame, Ariza, Fish and Kobe. Kobe was 6 of 25 from the field, LO 6-17 and Fish was 4-10. Our bench gave us very little except in garbage time. For a second tier star, Pierce gets calls like he's Wade or LeBron. Seriously, I don't see the Celtics getting to the finals. Sour grapes? Hell yeah, but I'll stick to my prediction. Pistons from the East, wide open in the West. Our team has 4 days before they come back and start a new streak. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 10:07 PM
After really thorough analysis...I take back what I said about the short shorts. They were obviously the ONLY thing keeping us from getting totally blown out in the first half.
Short shorts = -8 points
Long shorts = -19 points
Ergo, we gotta go with the short shorts from now on.
Posted by: CornerJ | December 30, 2007 at 10:12 PM
"Sorry, Nemaia, the Celts ARE good. Great defense. Very quick hands. Quick feet too. We got no uncontested shots. None. We got hammered if we drove to the rim. Every pass of ours seemed to be either ticked or picked off.
You can't let your anger at the fact we're getting our butts kicked cloud your objective judgement. Yeah, I'm ticked too, but I want to analyze what they did to take us apart like this so we can be better prepared next time. Check out my comments AFTER you've cooled off. I love this team, but they've got to shore up the problem areas to compete."
Posted by: CornerJ | December 30, 2007 at 09:35 PM
Corner J,
I hate to have to agree with you, but you're right for now. I'll reserve judgment on this Celtic team until they prove they can win a title. If they fail to do so, I'll call them one of most overrated, overhyped team in all of professional sports. Regardless of how good they look so far in the regular season, if they don't win a title, then I'd say their window to win a title is closed because everyone will be much better next season and the Celtics will fall back. Until proven otherwise Detroit is still the team to beat in the East. I have to disagree with comments about the Celtics defense because we had good looks, but didn't knock them down. They're better than us right now, but we'll see who has the last laugh when all is said and done. Celtics are built to make a run for 2 or 3 years, while we're set to compete for at least the next 5+ years.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | December 30, 2007 at 10:17 PM