On the plus side, it was a perfect form tackle
Shoulders squared. Head up. Arms wrapped around the ball carrier. Everything a fan would want from an NFL linebacker. Unfortunately, the tackler in question is Lamar Odom, who happens to play in the NBA. And the tacklee was Ray Allen, also a hoops playin' guy. Which led to the NBA's decision to suspend LO for the hit administered. The punishment ain't all that funny in the sense of what it does to the team. But it is kinda funny, which is why Trevor Ariza began practice with a three point salute to the former Pee Wee Football legend. For his part, Odom maintains that he wasn't trying to hurt Jesus Shuttlesworth, just venting some frustrations over a previous play.
And speaking of frustrations, Chris Mihm's feeling more than his share of late. The center's foot troubles have written themselves a new chapter, this one involving his Achilles and 3-4 weeks of missed action.
When the K Brothers wear these T-Shirts around Staples, they don't get arrested. They just get strange looks.
Better Ray Allen being tackled than Lamar Odom, I say.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | January 03, 2008 at 09:47 AM
By the way, guys, you have a grammatical error in your closing sentence: "When the K Brothers wear these T-Shirts around Staples, they don't arrested. They just get strange looks."
Shouldn't it be "When the K Brothers wear these T-shirts around Staples, they don't GET arrested. They just get strange looks."?
Anyhow, you don't need to post this.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | January 03, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Mihm won't be getting the rust out till next year. It was good to see Lamar angry but I thought the suspension was uncalled for considering the previous fouls on our players.
Let's hope Kwame doesn't get re injured and the Kwame-Vlad-Luke front court for the 2nd unit makes me cringe. I hope Farmar runs that team to a t!
Posted by: Charles | January 03, 2008 at 09:49 AM
R the bots back?
Posted by: Charles | January 03, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Love the T-shirt.
I hope Isiah Thomas gets a 12-year extension and he eventually reduces the Knicks to the status of the Rio Grande Valley Silverados. I hate the Knicks.
One thing that surprises me about him is the fact that he has somehow managed to keep his job.
If what he's done to Knicks had happened to the Lakers, a year ago Laker Nation would have marched on the Staples Center and burned it to the ground in protest. It is inconceivable to me that his moron has not yet been fired. HOW?
He must have dirt on Knicks ownership or something. It's the only thing that makes sense.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | January 03, 2008 at 09:59 AM
"Don't arrested?"
There a word missing there? Do I have to sic the grammer police on you? DON'T MAKE ME!!!
Posted by: Jeff | January 03, 2008 at 10:01 AM
I sure hope Lamar uses his game off to visit a sports psychologist and do some focused intent meditation.
FOCUS, LAMAR! FOCUS!
Get your mind in order, brother! Your state of mental focus determines your creative development! That's what your Bio-Chrono chart states! Follow the chart!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | January 03, 2008 at 10:03 AM
I've had an achilles injury for almost 2 years now. Not fun, very painful. Good luck Chris.
Posted by: J. Walter Weatherman | January 03, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Rick Friedman
Blog supremacy.
Interesting stats, it's obviously more fun to chat than read. With important subjects like Kwame's calves, Zombies and impossible trades being bounced back and forth more times than a French open baseline rally, who could resist?
In a venue where facts are optional and expertise not required, hopefully it's not the end of editors.
Posted by: Vman | January 03, 2008 at 10:06 AM
The K Bros? Wanting Isiah to be fired? Who would supply their daily dose of hilarity? Endless jokes? lol.
LO got one game. Not bad all around. Personally, I'd have preferred he use up such a suspension taking down someone waltzing down the paint but that's just me.
Incidentally, there was talk of all the hard hits the Celts have been on the end of lately...wonder if it has to do with their arrogance and "get that weak stuff out of here" taunts.
As for Mihm being out. I hope he gets that stuff fixed. I don't know, it doesn't seem like he's ever going to be fully healthy ever again. Sad for a guy who works so hard, but it is a business.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | January 03, 2008 at 10:07 AM
What I'm looking for over the next several games at home against crappy teams, is for the Lakers to produce several punishing victories.
Beating an East Coast team with a .427 record by four points is more a spiritual defeat than it is a victory.
I'm looking for 20+ point victories over these team with siginifcant playing time for Javaris Critterion (aka "The Critter") and Coby Karl.
Statement victories make just that and begin the larger victory of psychological warfare that is a part of any sport: Getting the opponent to fear the team (not just fear Kobe Bryant).
Right now, it's not just about winning, it's about HOW we win. Champions want more than a victory. They want the satisfaction of knowing it is going to take their opponent a few days, at least, to psychologically regroup after the defeat that was handed them.
That's confidence. Confidence wins.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | January 03, 2008 at 10:11 AM
1ST POST. I HOPE LO GETS IT TOGETHER. I LOVED HIS GAME WHEN HE WAS AT MIAMI. HE WAS AGGRESSIVE W/ DWADE AND C BUTLER. BUT NOW HE JUST SEEMS SO TENTATIVE. ALL THE OTHER PFS IN THE LEAGUE DARE HIM TO KNOCK DOWN A JUMPER. HE HAS NO CONFIDENCE IN IT SO HE FORCES THE ISSUE AND ALWAYS GETS CALLED FOR A CHARGE. HE TRIES REALLY HARD AND SOMETIMES TOO HARD. THE PROBLEM W/ THIS LAKER TEAM IS WE HAVE A BUNCH OF FLAWED PLAYERS. IF ONE PLAYER HAS ONE THING HE'S MISSING THE OTHER. FOR EXAMPLE, ARIZA CAN DRIVE AND PLAY D, BUT HE CANNOT SHOOT. ODOM IS THE SAME W/ MORE REBOUNDING. KWAME IS A SPACE EATER AND GOOD ON BALL DEFENDER, BUT HE HAS NO HANDS. BYNUMS A GOOD HELP DEFENDER BUT NOT VERY STRONG YET TO MUSCLE ANYONE UP YET. LUKE CANT MAKE LAYUPS OR FIND A CONSISTENT SHOOTING STROKE. THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES. IF WE COULD BLEND THESE GUYS INTO ONE PLAYER THEN YOU'D HAVE A SUPERSTAR/ALL STAR CALIBER PLAYER. BUT WE DON'T AND THAT IS WHY DEALING THESE PARTS SEEMS SO ATTRACTIVE. WE ARE LAKER FANS AND WE WANT TO SEE THIS TEAM WIN BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO. HOPEFULLY THEY ALL MATURE INTO THE WINNERS WE WANT THEM TO BE. I HOPE THEY DO. BUT IF THEY DON'T I'LL ENJOY THE RIDE. AT LEAST KOBE WILL MAKE IT INTERESTING.
Posted by: DREFDEEZY | January 03, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Is Chris Mihm's foot ever going to be the same? If not, does he have any trade value?
Posted by: Sean714 | January 03, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Edwin Gueco, posting about Crittendon, wrote:
>>>I think he was also good during the Celtics game as in assists and F/T shooting.
Okay, good choice. Let's just look at the stats for the Celtic game, shall we.
Sasha was hobbling on an ankle injured in the Utah game, so he only played 8
minutes, in which he had 2 assists and no turnovers and missed the only shot he took.
Crittendon took over his minutes and played 16 mintes, in which he had 1 assist and
2 turnovers, and shot 4 of 7 from the free throw line.
So what you, Edwin Gueco, are saying is that getting 1 assist and 2 turnovers
is better than getting 2 assists and no turnovers. Oh, and free throws - shooting
57% free throws is good for a guard. I don't want to mis-quote you. That is what
you said, right? That Crittendon did well on assists and free throws in the Boston game?
This game wasn't close, so it didn't really matter that Crittendon played poorly. But
there have been several games where the Lakers won by only a few points, and
Sasha has actually hit some clutch shots down the stretch for them. And I'll take
Sasha's 91% free throw shooting over Crittendon's 57% free throw shooting any day.
So basically, the game you chose and even the STATS you chose proved my point.
Sasha is playing better than Crittendon right now. Get over it.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 03, 2008 at 11:10 AM
I keep reading that Boston has a great defensive coach. Will someone tell me who the Lakers defensive coach is?
BD
Posted by: BD | January 03, 2008 at 11:10 AM
I just had a dream that Andrew Bynum had died of a mixture of alcohol with some pain meds. I saw the report in some kind of local news channel but in another city but they said it too quickly and I thought I had not heard correctly. Then other stations started reporting it, talking about it with no remorse and thats when it hurt. I couldn't believe that I felt like someone in my own family died. This team is like my family. That's funny. I felt like it was real. When I woke up I think my eyes were watery, but then I knew it was all a dream. Man that one hurt.
Posted by: johnny | January 03, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Chris Mihm's injury is very unfortunate for him. Let's hope he gets well soon.
Posted by: Xodus | January 03, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Johnny,
You're not the only lunatic in the bunch.
A lot of us truly, honestly care about this team and want the Lakers to succeed with a passion rarely witnessed in this era of complacency and mediocrity.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | January 03, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Why is nobody talking about how much I suck and what a total failure I am--both in basketball and in life?
Posted by: Kwame Brown | January 03, 2008 at 11:45 AM
K Brothers,
What's the chance of the Lakers calling Marc Gasol up with Chris Mihm's injury?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | January 03, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Jeff:
"Do I have to sic the grammer police on you?"
i'm sure AK/BK will let you be editor just as soon as you get blown out of the spalling bie you're losing
Posted by: Toad | January 03, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Hey, there was a thread on prosportsdaily that I like. It was a team by team
analysis of "team needs" done by fans of each team. Though they were done
by fans, I think the analyses were generally realistic. Here's a link to the
thread:
http://www.prosportsdaily.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175866
and here's some of the analyses:
Chicago Bulls
Needs: Inside Scorer and Big Man / Defensive Big, Rebounder
Available: Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Andres Nocioni, Thabo, Viktor, Griffin
Worth More to Us than to You: Ben Wallace, Chris Duhon
Hard to Get: Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas
Untouchable: No One
-----------------------
Philadelphia 76ers
Needs: Expiring contracts and young players to get ready to Free Agency
Available: Andre Miller, Rondey Carney, Willie Green, Reggie Evans
Worth More to Us than to You: Samuel Dalembert
Hard to Get: Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Louis Williams
Untouchable: No One
-----------------------------
Needs: Power Forward that can defend and shoot the midrange jumper
Available: Kwame Brown, Vlad Radmonivic, Chris Mihm
Worth More to Us than to You: Luke Walton
Hard to Get: Lamar Odom, Jordan Farmar, and Javaris Crittenton
Untouchable: Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum
------------------------------
Miami Heat
Needs: Point guard who can shoot 3s and defend and PF with size
Available: J-Will, Ricky, Blount, Smush
Worth More to Us than to You: Haslem
Hard to Get: Cook
Untouchable: Shaq, Wade
-----------------------------
There was some difference of opinion - there were several people who
presented differing opinions about the Lakers one, but it was an interesting
topic of discussion anyway. For example, the guy who wrote up the
Washington analysis viewed Gil Arenas as "Hard to Get" and Nick Young
and Andray Blatche as "Untouchable".
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 03, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Jon-
They don't really "call up" guys who are playing in Europe. The Lakers own the rights to Gasol, but don't have him under contract. They'd have to sign him to a deal, which they're unlikely to do unless they think he's ready to contribute right now. If they brought him over and he wasn't ready to play, they'd have to use up the roster spot to keep him b/c if he was signed and released, they'd no longer have the rights.
I don't see it happening.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | January 03, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Hey Laker faithful,
Yeah Chris Mims' injury is a tough one. But I still like the direction of things, feeling very much positive about the state of the lakers these days. Who would have thought such things in September?
Great link. Disagree with post. It's voting for one player as foundation of your franchise, using modern stars Kobe, LeBron, and Tim Duncan. Get in here and show Bryant some love:
http://www.hoopsvibe.com/nba-blog/the-best-player-to-start-an-nba-team-with-kobe-bryant-lebron-james-or-tim-duncan-ar46809.html
Peace,
FA
Posted by: FA | January 03, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Jon K,
Calling up Gasol is tricky. Right now, the Lakers could offer him a deal
starting at up to 1 million with their remaining salary cap money. But once
they sign him, they've used up their option on him, so they'd want to sign
him to a 2 or 3 year deal so that they could get Bird rights (or at least early
bird rights) on him. And then if Kwame stayed healthy, then Gasol would
sit on the bench and not play.
The Lakers would be better served calling up a player from the NBDL as
an "insurance policy" in case Mihm and Kwame can't stay healthy. They
could pay him much less than Gasol, and then they could still use their
rights to sign Gasol in the summer.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 03, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Jon
I was looking in Euros and could not find gasol on any of the teams rosters but i did run accross Sam Clancy and Jermaine Jones.
Posted by: pk-in-the-mesa | January 03, 2008 at 12:30 PM
My pipe dream for the day:
http://tinyurl.com/2epyul
Mihm + Coby Karl for Thabo + Khryapa [Chicago]
Vlad + Sasha + Khryapa for Ricky D + A Johnson [Miami]
Ricky D + A Johnson + Farmar + 1st round pick for Artest [Sacto]
First Unit: Kwame/Odom/Artest/Kobe/Fish
Second Unit: Bynum/Turiaf/Ariza/Thabo/Crit/Luke
Championship Baby!
Back to reality..
Posted by: hariyahu | January 03, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Unfortunately (or fortunately), I was in the Bay Area for the New Years weekend and missed the Lakers v. Boston debacle of a game. My HD (DVR) box is out so I cant even take that route. It was the first game I missed this season...and it looks like I would've been screaming at the television set as I was screaming through my phone while updating the game on the mobile ESPN website. As with every Laker loss, my wife says that my mood is too sour and that I take way too personal. So, I can understand how we, the loyal fans, can be overly passionate to the point of crying over nightmares of Andrew Bynum's demise.
As an aside, I was forced to watch an earlier game of the Warriors and the Nuggets on FSN Bay. Those games are "On-Demand" with FSN.
It sure feels like the Lakers haven't played for a while. Tomorrow night's game has the makings of a trap game. The 76ers, sans Iverson, are always hard to put away for some reason. Lakers need to come out with some intensity and start racking up the W's with the upcoming favorable schedule.
Mihm, ever since he got posterized by Seattle's monster Wilcox (wrong move Clippers!)...Chris has not been the same. Despite some people calling for packaging Chris, I think if he's even 80%, we can start to experiment with the 4 and 5 spots with Mihm, Turiaf, Bynum, and Brown. I don't understand why PJ likes match-ups so much. If you've got a big athletic line-up, make the other teams adjust to you rather than the other way around. After the momentum wins on Christmas Day and the revenge against Utah, I thought that the Lakers would take it right to Boston. Yet again though, we witness how the Lakers get intimidated and shrivel up.
It's almost like our squad needs to play teams over and over to figure them out. I think we're just about getting over our woes with Phoenix...the only remaining teams that the Lakers haven't figured out are San Antonio, Dallas, Detroit, and the new Boston, and even the struggling Miami Heat. Psychologically, the Lakers need to be the aggressor on both sides of the ball and take the strike first. They need to stop feeling out teams before they strike. That Mamba BS analogy about studying your opponent and feeling them out before attacking doesn't work.
Boston, on the other hand, comes out and tries to thrash you from start to finish. They strike first and keep that finger on the trigger throughout an entire game. Our Lakers need that same mentality.
As far as Lamar Odom is concerned, I wouldn't mind if he turned in to Bill Lambeer...just have it translate to more aggressive basketball play. Train yourself to be more like Ron Artest without having to go into the stands and throw punches.
Posted by: Island_Gamer | January 03, 2008 at 01:19 PM
LTLF,
THAT POST YOU JUST PUT UP IS VERY SIMILIAR TO WHAT I WAS SAYING IN THE LAST BLOG. DENG IS NOT UNTOUCHABLE. THE BULLS HAVE SO MANY PIECES BUT THEY'RE MISSING THAT ONE GUY TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER. I THINK ODOM WOULD BE THEIR GUY. ODOM, NOAH, AND THOMAS WOULD BE FUN TO WATCH ALONG W/ GORDON, KIRK, AND NOCIONI. IF I WAS PAX, I'D GO RUN AND GUN LIKE PHX. ODOM WOULD BE THEIR MARION, THOMAS THEIR STOUDAMIRE, HINRICH AND GORDON THEIR NASH AND BARBOSA. NOCIONI/NOAH HIS BORIS DIAW/ GRANT HILL. ALSO, HE COULD PULL THAT BUDDY SYSTEM THE CELTS USED TO GET GARNETT. I MEAN, WHY NOT? THIS JUST MAKES TOO MUCH SENSE. THE LAKERS ALSO WOULD GET DEFENSE IN WALLACE AND A CONSISTENT MIDRANGE SHOOTER IN DENG. THE LINE UP WOULD JUST BE RIDICULOUS FOR BOTH TEAMS.
LAKERS:
1. FISH/FARMAR/CRITT
2. BRYANT/VUJACIC/ARIZA
3. DENG/ARIZA/WALTON/VLAD
4. WALLACE/TURIAF/WALTON/VLAD
5. BYNUM/WALLACE/LO WRIGHT/MIHM
BULLS:
1. HINRICH/CURRY
2. GORDON/SEFOLOSHA
3. NOCIONI/ODOM
4. ODOM/J. SMITH/NOAH
5. BROWN/NOAH/SHELDON WILLIAMS
ODOM CAN SCORE DOWN LOW IN THE EAST AND THEY CAN JUST PUSH ALL DAY LONG. THEY'D BE REAL FUN TO WATCH HIGH FLYING AND FAST. RUNNIN AND GUNNIN!
LAKERS WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO RUN THE TRIANGLE GETTING OPEN LOOKS FOR DENG AND BRYANT AND STILL BEING FLEXIBLE IN ALL POSITIONS. DENG CAN EVEN PLAY THE 2 PUSHING KOBE TO THE 1 AND ARIZA AT THE 3 GIVING PHIL HIS TALL GUARD LINEUP HE LOVES SO MUCH. AND WE DIDN'T GIVE UP ANY YOUNG TALENT(FARMAR/CRITT/BYNUM). ALSO WE CAN NOW FINALLY DEFEND THE PFS IN THE WEST.
HEY, I CAN WISH CAN'T I?
Posted by: DREFDEEZY | January 03, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Why is nobody talking about how much I suck and what a total failure I am--both in basketball and in life?
Posted by: Kwame Brown | January 03, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Because we don't want to get hit by a flying cake.
Posted by: 33StraightWins | January 03, 2008 at 01:52 PM
LTLF,
You are becoming Mike T. using every nitty & gritty of statistics of two players who playerd for few minutes. He could have 2 assists but LO was blocked by KG that result to tackle of Ray Allen.
LTLF, are you reqally evaluating players based on every move they make that is recorded by stats. Why don't you try expand to a wider horizon. As I said before, stats are used as guides but don't conclude based on stats alone. Anyway, if you really think Critt sucks, lets leave it at that. Our opinion does not count in the F/O.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | January 03, 2008 at 01:54 PM
AK-BK with Odom out for a game- has their been any talk of starting the cake thrower and Bynum together?
Posted by: Laker Lover | January 03, 2008 at 02:07 PM
I just read an article on yahoo.com sports that named the 5 most disappointing teams in the NBA. They had Houston, Chicago, Milwaukee, Miami and NY. The interesting portion was the demise and fall of the Heat and how Dwayne Wade as great as he is unable to carry his team.
It's amazing how just two years ago just about everyone was saying how Wade had passed Kobe as the premiere player in the league. I'll just say that I now see how valuable and great Kobe is in being able to carry his team with less talent and experience to the playoffs the past two seasons. Sure, Wade is great and they've had injuries and some change in personnel, but Kobe willed the Lakers to the playoffs last year despite all the injuries and inconsistencies. Despite all the drama that seems to surround Kobe, I'm glad he's still a Laker and working hard to get our team to a championship level.
The fact that experts, analysts and pundits are saying that the Heat still have a chance to make the postseason with a record of 8-24 shows how WEAK the Eastern Conference is. Seriously, if any team in the West had a record like that, consider them done. Wade is finding out just how difficult it is to carry a team on his back. Riley's magic has run out, Shaq has Kryptonite around his hips, knees and feet and Wade is now the Lone Ranger. Things are definitely sunnier here in LA than it is in South Beach. Look forward to the day we retire Shaq's number during which Shaq will thank the crowd and anoint Andrew as the next great Laker big man. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | January 03, 2008 at 02:34 PM
AK/BK,
Is there an update on Walton, Turiaf and Sasha's status? I've heard that Phil is leaning towards starting Turiaf in LO's place so I'm assuming he's healthy, but what about the other two?
Posted by: Xodus | January 03, 2008 at 02:45 PM
AK/BK,
Since you have access to Laker players and practices, what type of post moves is Andrew working on? Is he still practicing the Skyhook? Is he working on a mid range or short turn around or face up jumper? I've noticed that he uses the jump hook or drop step power move to the basket in games. Would he be comfortable with a turnaround baseline jumper like Ewing or Hakeem? I would appreciate your insight. Thanks.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | January 03, 2008 at 02:49 PM
"i'm sure AK/BK will let you be editor just as soon as you get blown out of the spalling bie you're losing"
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Posted by: sixonezero | January 03, 2008 at 02:49 PM
AK/BK,
How about if Andrew because he's so long, picked up a shot similar to Rasheed Wallace or Bill Cartwright? Extend the ball above his head and shoot it from the top. I'm sure he won't have the range of Wallace, but he would be impossible to block around the hoop.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | January 03, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Nemaia,
I agree that Miami has no shot at the playoffs, but I don't think that should detract from Wade's status. First of all, he hasn't seemed to return to the consistent great form he established from 2004 to early 2007 before he got hurt. And the Heat's roster is brutal right now. Watching them play a game is downright painful right now despite the moments when Wade seems to have recaptured his mojo.
Miami needs to worry about rebuilding about Wade instead of believing they can make a run to the playoffs (where they'd be a sacrificial lamb at the mercy of Boston or Detroit.)
Posted by: Xodus | January 03, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Xodus,
To the best of knowledge, Ronny is fine and will be starting at PF tommorrow. His limited minutes of late were basically the result of nobody else being available to play backup center, not his health. As for Walton, he was running a little bit in practice, but I don't know the exact state of his health. Sasha wasn't around, but he's now got some back spasms.
Also, Vlad tweaked his ankle during practice today. Phil didn't think it would be too serious and Radmanovic apparently walked away under his own power. But that's the FYI.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | January 03, 2008 at 03:04 PM
I'm no Kwame fan, but calling him a failure in life and basketball sounds crazy. Say what you will, but the guy got drafted 1st in the NBA, plays for the Lakers and makes 9million a year. If that's failure, I'll take it!
Posted by: JohnnyB | January 03, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Edwin,
I believe that what LTLF is just saying that Sasha is more ready as a NBA player than Crittenton right now and he probably will stay that way even if Critt plays more minutes along the season.
LTLF, you're probably right but there is no need to be so hard on Crittenton (and Gueco). Maybe the guy could develop that fast. We never know.
But right now there is no question that he is not ready.
Anyway, I'd be very glad if someone could explain to me why a lot of guys here call the guy Critten"d"on with a D instead of a T. What's up with that?
Posted by: Allan | January 03, 2008 at 03:16 PM
Achilles heel injuries can be fatal. Just look what happened to Achilles.
Posted by: ajax | January 03, 2008 at 03:21 PM
I daresay Crit will turn out to be the better player (and I'm a Sasha fan to boot)...considering the high praise that's been coming from PJ (a guy not known to praise players, esp rookies).
In fact some of the moves he's done on the floor reminds me of showtime. Showtime baby!
Off topic...but man, I had no idea Radmanovich was this injury prone. Man!
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | January 03, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Hermaia - is anybody saying that the Heat have a shot at making the playoffs? Not unless Shaq comes back totally rejuvenated. If not, they have no shot, none. That might be the best thing for them right now, it might be the only way that they might be able to get young talent.
I don't think the East is that weak. For sure the Celtics look legit, at least they did the other night; that was as thorough a butt-whipping as we've suffered all season. Detroit worries me as much as San Antonio, or anybody else.
Posted by: Michael A | January 03, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Michael A, re: Rejuvinated Shaq. Every woman will tell you, it's hard to turn back the hands of time lol.
Posted by: Faith | January 03, 2008 at 03:37 PM
Making 9 mil. is not failing.
9 million is successful to me. Exspecially if it in 1 year.
Who is idiot who made that comment???????????????
Posted by: Zakee | January 03, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Hermaia - is anybody saying that the Heat have a shot at making the playoffs? Not unless Shaq comes back totally rejuvenated. If not, they have no shot, none. That might be the best thing for them right now, it might be the only way that they might be able to get young talent.
I don't think the East is that weak. For sure the Celtics look legit, at least they did the other night; that was as thorough a butt-whipping as we've suffered all season. Detroit worries me as much as San Antonio, or anybody else.
Posted by: Michael A | January 03, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Michael A,
I watch NBA TV, ESPN NBA Fastbreak and other sports telecasts and many if not all the analysts, experts and commentators say things like Miami is fortunate to be in the East where even with their bad record they can make the playoffs if they make a run. They'll also say things like, "never count out a team that has Shaq and Wade..." or "Despite their record, the Heat can still make the playoffs because of Shaq and Wade..."
You say the East isn't that weak, but you mentioned ONLY Boston and Detroit as being legit. Any other teams you care to mention from the East that are any good? Orlando is starting to slide after their fast start. Compared to the West that has SA, PHX, DAL, NO, LAL, DEN, GS, PORTLAND, UTAH and HOUSTON when healthy. Shall I go on? When I say that the East is weak, it's because at 8-24 the Heat can still make the playoffs if they make a run and teams in the East are struggling with the exception of Boston and Detroit.
Last but not least, dude, get my name right at least if you're going to quote me. It's Nemaia, not Hermaia. LOL
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | January 03, 2008 at 04:04 PM
I am sorry Allan and LTLF. Perhaps, this is the characteristics of people who have aged in watching the lakers. I still think Crittenton is better than Sasha by a huge margin, the former has just not been given a chance to prove it. I have seen Sasha for the last 3 years and he's included in my mythical scrubs' five, that's my bonehead opinion and I stand with it.
Thanks for the rescue Allan but many us here get into minutiae of things when we debate. From minutiae, it gradually leads to subtleties of ego boosting that they know better or "I told you so" mentality. This is the tendency of the blog since time immemorial and it has always evolve to those kind of personalities. As i said many times, we always debate on this blog on who is a better between laker players or other players which do not really mean anything in the grand scheme of things. It is a subjective reasoning. We are all laker fans with certain viewpoints and it is just IMPOSSIBLE to have two minds or three to coincide ALWAYS with what is said at all times. I do not have the same opinion with Mike T. or Lakertom, EX, AZ or Rick Friedman or AK/BK or Jon K but nonetheless, I respect them on what they believe. I don't INSIST on what I know, I just express it as an opinion and leave it at that because nobody among us has a clear understanding or authority because we are only fans. After blogging for quite sometime now, we learned to respect mutual differences of opinions and I hope that should be the unwritten rule among us to maintain harmonious relationship.
As a veteran, it's hard to teach an "old dog" with new tricks unless you can prove you are an older dog with more experiences. lol! If you live in the present, then we are just speculating. The future will render the final verdict.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | January 03, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Faith,
Regarding Sasha... I too am impressed by his level of improvement. Watch him play. I seriously think he has been spending his time modeling himself on Steve Nash. I AM NOT SAYING that he is like Steve Nash. I am only saying that there are certain elements to his game--moving the ball up quickly, dribbling quickly to the hoop and then dishing it out, his inside dribbling style especially around bigs, his outside shot--that remind me of someone who has been watching a lot of film of Steve Nash.
Good. Fine by me. Steve Nash is an incredible player and he, and Shawn Marion, are the only Suns to play with class.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | January 03, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Did you hear that Isiah Thomas says he'll be coaching the Knicks to an NBA championship?
Urgh.
I am so losing respect for New Yorkers. Why have you not marched upon Madesen Square Garden pulled out Isiah Thomas and beaten him to death or some other act of terrible, final cruelty?
I mean, come on! I hate the Knicks, but I recognize that they are an historically signicant program. How has New York allowed this idiot to single-handedly turn the Knicks into the most inexplicable laughingstocks in professional sports?
They wouldn't tolerate this in Atlanta or Milwaukee. How are they tolerating it in New York City?
Crazy.
I'll take Mitch Kupcheck anyday.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | January 03, 2008 at 04:29 PM