As Mrs. Bueller asked Principal Rooney

Rooney was the Dean of students.

Good Morning Family! Ragged and Rugged Game Last night. I hope it was a sign of growth from this team. Regardless of bad referee calls on the first half, and lackadaisical play; we still pulled out a win.

Have a great day guys!

Jesterguru,

Friday's game is IMPERATIVE.

You know and I know that Portland Hates the Lakers worse than Phoenix does. Their announcers perpetually breed hate and contempt and some bull crap conspiracy theory involving the refs (they've had this us vs. them mentality for decades and ALWAYS blame the officials).

Jesterguru we need some help in the "Gaden"... my suggestion is to purchase a beverage before the game, drink it quickly, and then dump out the ice in the trash can while you tear out the bottom of the cup to create a mini-megaphone. Tell other fans you see to do this too, let them know the game plan. We need every Lakers fan in the house to chant MVP...

It's the one thing I'd love to see before I die... the Portland Rose Garden chanting MVP for Kobe Bryant.

Whatever you can do to achieve this end, I will be eternally grateful.

i don't know if anybody posted this but i's sort of LOL!
Ronney getting sonned by some bouncers

http://www.tmz.com/2008/02/27/laker-forward-gets-swat-down-at-villa/

Jon K.

Sorry for the the LO quote last week. I think I owed yo that,

LO is great this year for what we are trying to do. He makes our team even deeper then people really understand. I under estimated his value to this team.

Luke Walton has to step his game up or he could be the odd man out.

Smush Parker is gone and I don't have to defend Kwame any more.

It is great to be a Laker fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lets go Lake Show!!!!!!!

How is it that Ted Green no longer writers for the L.A. Times, but T.J. Simers does?

I thought the L.A. Times were supposed to be a quality newspaper?

Does T.J. Simers actually earn a salary or does he pay from some giant trust fund to actually write for the L.A. Times? Does he maybe have scandalous dirt on L.A. Times executives or something? The guy is a TERRIBLE and WHINEY writer. He just plain sucks. The K Brothers are clearly better writers and I would argue that a third of the contributors to this blog are better writers than this loser.

I mean, he wrote an article today on how it's difficult to find something to write about. THIS IS LOS ANGELES!

If the guy is bored about writing about the Lakers, the Clippers, the Bruins, or the Trojans... write about Pepperdine, LMU, CSULA, UCI, CSLB..., if that's not enough, find one of our incredible high school sports programs and find an inspiring story SOMEWHERE in there.

The thing about sports is that it's inspiring reading about people doing their best or rising up to the challenge of overcoming obstacles. I GUARANTEE YOU that there is at least 100 stories out there in the L.A Basin that make for good, inspiring, even dramatic story-writing.

And T.J. Simers is complaining about having to write about the Lakers. What the hell is this guy's problem? How is he earning a paycheck?

He should be a fricken journalist, make some phone calls and do an investigative story about ANY of the major or minor programs in this sports mecca and find something interesting out there.

If I was Cartman from 'South Park' I'd march right into L.A. Times Central Office and kick T.J. Simers in the nuts.

GO LAKERS!

REPOST OF A REALLY GOOD ARTICLE

Check out this great, in-depth analysis of statistics in context:

http://www.respectkobe.com/?p=18

The author at RespectKobe.com shows why you can't just compare two players statistics straight up. So, when evaluating field goal %, rebounds, assists, etc., he shows that Kobe is a MORE EFFICIENT shooter, a better rebounder, and at least as good a passer as LeBron.

If statistics interest you, you'll really enjoy this article. If you ever make comparisons of two players using stats, you should REALLY read this article.

KOBE 4 MVP

Rockets don't have "Ming or a prayer"..Good one I heard on Dan Patrick this morning.

Is it me... or does anyone else here want to SNAP OFF Mutombo's waving finger thing???

Shouldn't that be a 'T'???

AK/BK,

Have you heard any details regarding the altercation between Smush and the parking attendant? What happened?

GO LAKERS!

Best line of the day:

"But then knowing Lakers fans, they wouldn't mind those question being asked every day, a different answer every day undoubtedly keeping their interest.

The only way, I guess, you can explain the success of the "Loose Cannons."

Laughing my butt off at that one. I've never understood the "Loose Cannons" myself, 3 hours of saying the same thing over and over and over and over again, and they do that 5 days a week? What a life.

Bad start? Scoring 5 points in the first Q is a bad start. San Antonio did that this week, and managed to get the win.

Challenge for the day. Lame one-liners from songs or movies to celebrate the young Lakers and their march towards May Madness.

I'll start with:

"Let the Good Times Roll!"

Tim-4-Show,

Do you really think that Portland fans hate the Lakers more than Suns fans?

I wonder.

By my estimation here are the fans that hate us more than anyone (in order of hate):

1. Sacramento
2. Celtics
3. Suns
4. Denver
5. Utah
6. Detroit
7. Portland

What are your thoughts, big Tim?

GO LAKERS!

You know you are playing good:

When Plashke is leading the 'MVP' chants from press row.

"Mihm is scheduled to undergo a procedure Thursday that he hopes will aid his recovery from surgery to remove a screw from his right ankle. Blood will be drawn, treated, then reinjected into his body in an attempt to speed the healing process."

Hey Jon K, do you think they're adding Sea Minerals to his blood?

What's with Vic da Brick and all his haiku and Confucius?

I don't think anyone should count the Rockets out. Do you guys forget they have Tracy McGrady, and some guy named Luis Scola? TMac could be pretty potent as he takes on more of the offensive burden, and his teammates are not scrubs.

Kobe has got to watch the cumulative technical count. I think he has 11, and it's at 16 that you get the automatic one game suspension.

I get so happy when I see that Cleveland and New Orleans have lost. Anytime that happens, another vote for Kobe for MVP materializes!

It shouldn't matter to the Suns if Shaq is finished. Afterall, Steve Nash can just "make him better"!

Tucker - thats a pro-Kobe website clearly biased in favor of Kobe over other players. The same writer said Kobe was playing with D-league players the last 2 years. Guess he forgot Odom and Vald were on the team. The guy has no credibility at all.

Many of those "D-league " players have helped the Lakers get the record they have this year including Bynum, Turiaf Sasha and Farmar just to name a few. This is a true team effort lead by Kobe and Fisher.

As the Lakers started the fourth and went on a little run I told my wife that these are the types of games that championship teams win. Games where you're off, the bounces don't go your way, and overall you just look ugly. But teams that win rings find a way and this team was doing it.

She looked at me brieftly and then asked me to switch to American Idol so she could watch a teenager sing "Imagine".

But I think she really agreed with my point.

J. Walter Weatherman,

God, I hope so. And Vitamin D.

Blank,

Is Vic the Brick using Haikus now?

Vic the Brick, loudmouth,
Empty winds without a heart
Lakers Haiku best

GO LAKERS!

Zakee,

Thanks for the apology, brother. I caught some flack for calling you out, but people didn't realize we had a public bet.

Apologies are all good as long as we're winning!

GO LAKERS!

Very classy move by Ronny - bouncer says 'reservation only' and Ronny says "OK." No tantrum, no "I'm a Laker so let me in" - very refreshing to see a millionaire behaving like a man and not a baby.

My wife, who's only knowledge about baskerball comes from me said about last nights game.

That was the most impressive win she's seen from the Lakers this year. They played awful, but won easily in the 4th.

And, ........they looked just like the San Antonio Spurs.

Jon K,

I haven't lived in all those cities, so it's really hard to say which fans hate us the most. Detroit has only lost to us once in the playoffs (88). I don't see why they'd "hate" more than these Western teams. The Celtics "hate" us because there's really no one else to hate... no seriously, who else, the 76ers? The Kings hate because of North/South rivalry and because they were good but not good enough a FEW times. The Suns... well, over the years they hate because we've been so good and they haven't. They're obsessed with their first round "rivals"... ha ha ha... I never knew there was such a thing as a "first round" rival.... Portland on the other hand, has HATED us for decades. They had one year where they beat us in the first round and then they put up a sorry pathetic performance after that... and the media put it this way "at least we beat the Lakers"... that story doesn't even do it justice. Lakers fans just don't hear about it much, but believe me, it's there, I know, I lived there.

Right now the Blazer fans are all depressed because of the Gasol trade. Can you imagine that?? They aren't even in the playoff hunt and they're actually DEPRESSED that we got Gasol. I'm dead serious. The reason is because they thought they were going to win like 8 straight titles with Oden in the middle, and now that Bynum has shown his strength and is only 20 yrs old, plus Pau Gasol, it effectively means they aren't "gauranteed" to win all those titles...

I really do not like their fans and I would love nothing more than to hear MVP chants for Kobe in the Rose Garden. I would cry tears of joy. Can we make this happen somehow??

J. Walter Weatherman,

Ronny "Braveheart" Turiaf is certainly a Laker we can all feel good rooting for. I sure hope we keep him in Purple and Gold for a long time.

GO LAKERS!

J. Walter Weatherman,

Where'd you get the quote about Chris Mihm?

GO LAKERS!

Good morning fellow Laker fans. Everyone have a great day!!! Go Lakers!!!

AndrewZ,

WHIPPED :)

Jon K,

Maybe I haven't been out much, but living in Denver, I think the only hate is for *maybe* Kobe himself. I don't sense Laker hatred... it might be festering because we're taking over the Pepsi Center more and more every game here, so there might be some resentment building up... but you do not have a media that is OBSESSED with the Lakers here in Denver like you have in Portland.

Denver is a 4 or 5 sport city. We have Football (Broncos), Baseball (World Series Runner Up), Hockey, Soccer, Lacrosse... all in addition to basketball.

In Portland, you have.... the Blazers. That's it. Any sports radio or media outlet is therefore obsessed with their only sports franchise, and their hate for the Lakers runs deep. Now I don't think the owners or management hates us anywhere near like the Maloofs do... but from a "fans" standpoint, I think Portland takes the title of biggest haters. The fans here in Denver, from what I've gathered, are actually pretty mild.

Andrew Z,

Great points. These are the games we would lose in years past by playing down to the competition. Also, we get very thrown off when a star doesn't suit up for the other team.

Greg Anthony said something really interesting on the radio yesterday. Bad teams find a way to lose and that losing's contagious, just like winning is.

Confidence breeds winning, winning breeds confidence. That's a vicious cycle that we don't want to break.

I knew we would win that game in Phoenix, not because Shaq would break their rhythm, but because this team is confient they can do it. Besides, Phoenix hasn't shown anything against the top teams in the West, but I'll ignore that because it doesn't support my point.

Furthermore, it's amazing that the Lakers are doing what they're doing even though teams are gunning for us now.

Did Kobe really say, "It's starting to smell familiar?"

Ronny is not an ego maniac. Doesn't Mbenga look like a bouncer on that video. A big tall scary one? Wearing Ed Hardy jiggy clothes?

AN1,

"And, ........they looked just like the San Antonio Spurs."

I was just going to post that that win was Championship Spur Team type win. Could've easily lost it but came back in nasty discombobulated fashion. Except ofr Kobe of course.

The 2 other players with the most PJ triangle experience looked lost last night. Fish and Luke, you guys......

i think Mcmillan's being tossed had more to do with the Celtics loss on Sunday. It was a very heated game and Portland was fuming. The frustration was just carried over.

Lakers game last night was the most one sided officiated game all year. (Revenge for Forte treatment?) Can I be fined for saying that?

There was no reason for him to go completely ballistic and be tossed like he did. It was an irrational emotional out burst, seeing his team going down for another loss.

Simers is a condescending ingrate. He is condescending to the Lakers and to their fans. His articles exude a sense of "I’m smarter than you because you’re idiots for being fanatic about the team". I’m sure he would be surprised to hear that the majority of us are professionals with above average salaries.

The truth that really hurts is that no one in this city would download his articles, unless the headline has the words "Lakers" in it. He admitted as much several times, when he had the show on 570 – which was cancelled.

The bottom line is that Simers can’t understand why the rest of us don’t want to read his, self proclaimed brilliant drivel on other topics, and is chafed to non-end why he only gets hits if he writes about the Lakers.

TJ, you only get read if you write about the Lakers because your articles suck. Laker fans are kind enough to throw you a bone when you discuss their team because they are hungry for information about their team. Instead of being condescending to us, you should thank us for keeping you employed for the past 10 years.

Good luck writing about NASCAR.

AK/BK..

Please don't link to a TJ Simers article without advanced warning. I don't want to give that guy hits and I don't want to read his stuff.

Thanks.

Tim-4-Show,

I think that we are the most hated team in the NBA out of pure jealousy. Not only do we have the best organization in the NBA, but possibly professional sports in general.

AND we're in Los Angeles!

I've been in the purgatory of Cleveland for about a year (God! Please speed up my move back home!) and people have this weird love/hate relationship with Los Angeles. They're like "People in Los Angeles are so shallow! They have no heart!"

And then you ask them, "Well, would you live there?"

"OH, HELL YEAH!"

Strange. People in second cities have weird inferiority complexes which they externalize as hatred for places that are actually nice places to live.

In the West, hatred towards Los Angles and Lakers is a more regional thing. Los Angeles is the clear power base of the West. And a lot of Californians, when the leave, move to places like Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, etc. and "modernize" their lifestyle. Well, some of these people don't want to be "modernized" and the changing way of life is resented.

So, the Lakers, embodying L.A. as they do, get to enjoy all their wrath.

Unfortunately, if they were smart, which they're not, they'd choose the Clippers as their enemy so they could beat up on them more often. Instead, they've chosen the Lakers, who have and will (for the most) kick the crap out of them for decades.

And, thus, their inferiority complex is reinforced.

The decisions people make are often perplexing.

Jealousy in West
The Lakers victorious
All others, faces down

GO LAKERS!

Tim-4-Show,

Okay. I get you.

GO LAKERS!

I don't know if someone already posted

http://www.sportshubla.com/2008/02/27/with-all-the-lakers
-pretty-ponies-is-luke-the-plowhorse/#more-403

I was feeling pretty the same about his game for the entire season

Jon K. and J. Walter Weatherman,
totally agree with you about TJ Simers, its sad that cynicism and contrarian points of view rule the LA Times sports pages for the last decade. What's funny is that all these so called L.A. writers call the Great Jim Murray their hero, yet they write exactly the opposite of how he did.

He's probably still bitter about losing his morning show on 570, while the Loose Cannons are still on.

If TJ Simers is still on page 2 of the sports page, they should give that space to Kareem or steal Kevin Ding from the Register.

have a good day all!

BK- lost in the post game analysis is the continued poor shooting and play of Fisher, 2 points more than a dead guy. Fortunately Farmar picked up the slack but Fisher has been struggling for several games now shooting the rock.

Andrew Z

"She looked at me brieftly and then asked me to switch to American Idol so she could watch a teenager sing "Imagine"."

It's consoling to know there's another guy out there that understands my private hell.

Most men lead lives of quiet desperation... some are louder about it.

Tim,

I like the megaphone idea. But did you have to quote my typo? hahah

I will ROUSE every Laker fan I see.

Jon, believe me when I tell you, Portland fans, up until the drafting of Oden, were still living in the past. To them, the '99-'00 meltdown and ensuing Lakers championship run is YESTERDAY.

So, while we almost think of them as our little brother who we used to beat up on in the play-offs years ago before they completely crumbled and became obsolete, they still HATE us with a PASSION. We are their Celtics, their Jazz, their Spurs, their Funs, all rolled into one.

I will probably be killed Friday night but so be it. I'm gonna go loud and proud and, now, soda cup megaphoned.

Morning, guys!

Ragged game last night, huh? Oh, well, we made it through....thank God for Jordan Farmer coming it with a torch.

We really missed LO when he was out with foul trouble. There were way too many whistles that game; weak calls were going both ways. I think it really disjointed the game.

Jon K., trust me, Portland fans are a lot higher on the hate-Lakers-list than 7th. I watched last night's game with my die-hard blazer fan cousin, and growing up with him and his friends has given me quite a bit of insight to the venom they hold in their hearts for our boys. My cousin and his friends won't even wear clothes with purple OR gold on them during NBA season.

Just got my shots, and it's a good thing, because I'm feeling light-headed. Of course, that's probably just because of the NINE STRAIGHT WINS, baby!

Even Plash is giving Kobe MVP props...when did hell freeze over? Have a good one guys; ride the high :)

Go Lakers!

Happydaze

Vman - if disagreeing about what to watch on TV is your only problem, you'll be ok. That's why God invented TIVO - and don't forget - He's a Laker fan!

Instead of reading Simer's, read Flea's blog over at the NBA.com site.

I agree when Flea says this is a more fun team to watch than the Kobe-Shaq champs, because it's more joyous. The Lakers have a team that seems like a family. And they have skills that can pay the bills. It's not easy to get both. It always seems like you sacrifice some harmony for talent. But not on this Lakers team. They are committed to winning, and I believe it all started with "I'm Kobe Bryant, and I want to win a championship."

Jesterguru - what do you want us to say about you at your eulogy? LOL!

Good take Jon. I think what you said has some merit. "modernizing"... I have to laugh at that. Certainly the youth (under 20 yrs old) does idolize the LA lifestyle/trends, etc... maybe the adults see this and get mad. Ha ha ha.

Yep, they should go pick on the Clippers, that way they can feel good about themselves in most years. Ha ha ha Jon... great stuff!

SA said:

“In the 90s the teams were old, and thinned out due to expansion like no other.
the 91 lakers, while they were my team, they never had a chance because of age and vlade divac.
the sonics with shawn kemp and gary payton? Neither of those players would have been the 2nd best player on the bulls.
the Suns? again garbage. Where is KJ or Barkley. Barkley is supremely overrated. In the league today there is a player just like him, he is Big Baby, Glen Davis. And of course he is so great. Barkley was made more on hype than skill.
the blazers? with an old clyde drexler, jerome james and who else? PLEASE somebody name me players on this team.
the Jazz. . . there is a reason why jerry sloan has never won a title. Neither has Karl Malone nor John Stockton. They are adequate players, but they aren't winners. That special breed of players that can come through in the clutch. Also Sloan plays his players so hard during the season, they will never be able to win a title. Thats exactly what Larry Brown used to do. And if it wasnt for magic, and kareem or shaq and the refs, Riley would never win a title either, we saw how good he did in New York and how he cost the lakers the 88 title.”

I am sorry, but you simply do not know what you are talking about. Either you did not watch basketball during this era or you were not paying sufficient attention.

The ’91 Lakers were hardly old. Magic was the oldest starter at age 31. Worthy was 29, Byron 29, Perkins 29, Green 27. Vlade, who you try to scapegoat (the fact that you do makes me seriously question whether you followed the Lakers during this period when he was wildly popular with Lakers fans), put up 16.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg, & 2.4 bpg in that series and completely outplayed his counterpart, Bill Cartwright (8.8 ppg & 5.0 rpg). The Lakers lost that series because Jordan played out of his friggin’ mind, putting up 31.2 ppg on .611 fg%, 11.4 apg (that’s right: 11.4 apg), & 6.6 rpg (see http://webuns.chez-alice.fr/finals/1991.htm).

Again you show your ignorance. Kemp, who was the Amare Stoudamire of his day with the exception that he was a terrific defender (you need to learn about the Reign Man, seriously you’re embarrassing yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ALdNck0f2o) and Gary Payton were at their peak in ‘96 (with Kemp putting up 21.2 ppg & 12.4 rpg and Payton being named DPOY- the only guard to win this award in the last 20 years) and they completely outplayed Pippen in those finals (who only put up 15.7 ppg on .343 fg% in that series).

I just don’t know how you can call a 6’4½” PF who averaged 21.7 ppg on .541 fg%, 11.5 rpg, & 3.9 apg over the course of his career overrated. The guy was an absolute marvel and to compare slightly undersized 6’7” Glen Davis who is putting up 4.5 ppg & 2.8 rpg goes beyond the pale. Speak when you know wtf you’re talking about next time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAYQIrqbArQ.

Again, you’re just wrong. Drexler was 29. Yeah, he didn’t have a bunch of big name teammates, just a bunch of hard-nosed guys who could flat out play the team game like Terry Porter, Buck Williams, Jerome Kersey & Kevin Duckworth (not to mention an up and coming Cliff Robinson and quality vet in Danny Ainge coming off of the bench). That’s why they put up 59, 63, & 57 wins from ’89-90 through ’91-92, finishing 4th, 3rd, & 2nd respectively in team defensive rating and making the NBA Finals twice (‘90 & ‘92) and the WCF (‘91) in the other year.

The only reason that the Jazz didn’t win a championship is because of Michael Jordan. Stockton and Malone’s numbers speak for themselves. To disrespect what they accomplished is to disrespect the game of basketball itself.

Of course, I am trying to explain all this to the genius who thinks Riley cost us the ’88 title (uh, we won that year, dude… maybe you mean ’89 when Riley maliciously took out Byron and Magic’s hamstrings in the Finals after guiding us to sweeps in the first three rounds that year?).

The Lakers learned more from the win last night than any of the easy gimmes they've been having with the Minnys and Atlantas of the L. The Lakers learned that they can count on their bench to help out when some of the starters are having a bad night which is going to happen come playoff time.
The Lakers were not focused enough in the beginning bec. they were playing at home and Portland's No. 1 player was out with injury so they just expected to show up and win automatically. So they learned a valuable lesson that with the WC race so tight, every game counts.
The Lakers learned to make in-game adjustments and play more physical when necessary. They were clearly outrebounded in the first half and they came back in the second half and started boxing out and simply fighting more for rebounds and loose balls. The Blazers probably defended the Lakers pick and roll, and triangle offense better than any team has so far in the Gasol era. Maybe they just did a better job of scouting and video. However, come playoff time, all the other teams will be scouting and video analyzing the Lakers to death so we can expect this kind of challenge. This was a "growth" game for the Lakers as much as the Phoenix game so psychologically they moved up another level last night.

justanothermambafan

Haha, God is a Laker fan, though I don't think he was directly responsible for TIvo.

I'm not certain but I'd bet it was Dr Buss's mentor, Hugh Hefner, who's made many giant leaps for mankind.

BTW I did DVR the game and the refs are even worse in hi def slow mo, as you'd expect.

Jon K,

I don't mean to be rude but could you stop calling bloggers who disagree with you "haters"? I don't think very many of us "hate" Luke, we are unhappy with the way he is playing but we don't hate him. It's almost like we are not allowed to have an opinion that differs from yours because if we do we are either "haters" or not real fans. At any rate maybe we should give you a thesaurus so you can find a new word to describe those that don't agree with you.

Laker Lover-

We mentioned it in the postgame last night, I believe. No doubt Fish's shot has been off, or at the very least incredibly inconsistent. He's under 35% from the floor since the break, and under 39 since the start of February. It shouldn't be terribly surprising, though. Most players, not just Fish, go through hot and cold stretches with their shot. And very few are rock solid consistent over an entire 82 game season. He's not shooting well now, but there's no reason to believe he's in a downtrend that will last for the rest of the season.

Guys go through ups and downs. It's only when the downs last longer (Walton has slumped this year more than he's thrived, for example) that it gets worrisome.

BK

Tim-4-Show,you are in Denver huh?

I had a 4 year stint there from 1997-2001 via a job transfer. I loved Downtown area, worked on 17th St, and lived like 10mins way. I especially enjoyed the 16th street mall..They were in the process of building a ESPN zone just as I moved away..Denver was def an experience (both good and bad) considering I am from NY. I got to see the Lakers like easily at the then new Pepsi Center and great seats then. It was way common for visiting team to stroll down the 16th street mall, so I saw many of the players. I often wondered if they stayed at the Adams Mark hotel right next to my then job..But yeah, just reminiscing..Denver was cool...

The agent of Sam Cassell thought the Clippers will release his guy and will be a Celt next week. He underestimated Don Sterling, the quintessential wheeler and dealer of real estate in the Southland. He will not renounce a deal and run, in fact he would capitalize it and try to make money out of it. That's Don, a foregone conclusion whose Clippers should be at Anaheim but remain in LA because he believes his team will remain standing when Lakers fall.

There is still hope for Brent Barry or Tyronn Lue, they have not made any decisions yet. We are the tops in the West, with plenty of bigs in our reservoir, we need a strong sell to seal the deal. One of these two players could help our second unit big time. It rests on our reliables while we don't completely rely in the hands of undesirable. We need good LA lawyers to present our case or superstar Salesman to sell what sizzles with the Lakers.

Was that the video of some bouncer keeping Ronny Turiaf out of a night club?

What? Did this night club include dancing? What kind of of awful judgment causes one to keep Ronny OUT of one's dance club? If I owned one of those things, I would hire people to keep Ronny IN Da Club, much like some giant, sweet-throwdown delivering, hard rebouding, all-out hustling, postive-energy creating version of 50 Cent, only from Martinique, French-speaking, heart-warming and universally well-liked (in other words, not at all like Fitty, but I had to draw the "In da Club" reference).

LakerinBC, I think it just goes to show you how excellent of a coach Nate McMillan is..That team is a true testament of his excellent coaching and I think that they are def a team with a huge upside in the coming years if they can stay together and healthy of course..

Andrew Z,
Clearly she was internalizing her frustration with the Lakers performance, and was afraid that if she kept watching the game it would come to the surface. My wife is the same way; sometimes she will even go into a different room if I'm watching a Lakers game.

Vman,

The kid's performance wasn't that bad. That David Archuletta sure can sing.

Elle,

I will not agree to your wishes.

If you're going to dish it out, you better be able to take it. People rip on Luke (who's playing hurt), but the Lakers keep winning. Why not use your energies celebrating this team instead of complaining every time a player plays imperfectly?

Has Luke not been playing well? No, he hasn't. Been he's been a solid contributor for this team for a while.

The fact of the matter is that once Smush and (more importantly) Kwame left, people started ripping on Luke in droves. Not before that.

So, it seems some people just need someone to rip on. They think that makes them a "passionate fan" or something.

"Kwame's gone! Who am I going to rip on now? Oh, I guess Luke's still on the team."

We're first in the West. I think that's a lot more important than Luke playing inconsistently.

As such, I dub those people who have little to add to this blog other than criticisms of individual players--when we have the best record in the West with half our team injured--HATERS!

Haters annoy me and I will let them know as such.

GO LAKERS!

justanothermambafan:

I would be honored if youwould eulogize my love for the Lakers.

I will need someone there to say something other than, "He brought a lot of good porn to the world," or "He once spectacularly burned down a barn."

Thanks!

JG

Elle,

I bet you voted for Hillary Clinton. Didn't you?

GO LAKERS!

keifo

"Is it me... or does anyone else here want to SNAP OFF Mutombo's waving finger thing???

Shouldn't that be a 'T'???"

Mutumbo did get a T for waving his finger after his first block.

On whether Detroit fans hate the Lakers: based on the opinions of my cousins, uncles and aunts, who nearly all live in the Detroit area, the only thing worse than a Laker fan is a Yankee fan (or someone who drives an imported car).

Sean,

Ouch! I think you've got a fly named SA smeared on the windshield of your Buick.

Haven't been by in a long time...

how are the bandwagons coming along?

I believe i should still be listed on the "Bynum Breakout" and the "50 win".
I guess i should have just joined the "Bynum Breaks" bandwagon...
50 wins is still very much in sight...
how are all the old time posters? miss you guys; keep the blog strong.

Jon K., Amazing_Happens, et al.

In RE SIMERS--

I'm in total agreement. I responded (on the previous thread) about how I try to not take the bait and hate the hater, but I cannot help myself when it comes to Simers.

His column today is a snarky, inane gripe about how much he doesn't enjoy writing snarky inanity. His POV is strictly anti-Laker, Dodger and LA, on the whole. But he seems to love children's charities. Lithium, anyone?

Respect, D.

Wasn't Kobe getting MVP chants in Boston last year?

If I am remembering that right, I think they should be moved down the list a little bit.

"Kobe was playing with D-league players the last 2 years"

Kwame
Smush
Luke
and Andrew not playing very well, committing a ton of fouls (most of which was Smush's fault)

I think that almost an accurate statement. Its pretty much a slight exaggeration of the truth.

WHO YA WITH

VU!

SIMERS!!!!!

YOU SUCK SIMERS!!!!!

AHHHHHHH PLEASE DON'T GET ME STARTED ON SIMERS, AGAIN!!!!

AHHHHHH NEED PROZAC NOW......MUST LOOK AT STANDINGS TO CALM DOWN.......

janaya

Mutumbo can wave the finger as long as he directs it at the fans. When he waves it at the player he blocks, he gets a T.

So you see him turn to the sidelines before he wags it most of the time.

I love seeing Plaschke eat his words - now he's calling for Kobe to win MVP.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke27feb27,1,3321616.column

frank rizzo,

I would rank Kwame and Smush on the E League.

Vman - since you recorded the game and the Lake Show WON, then you have our permission to keep doing it. Someone else - who shall remain nameless (because I can't remember who it is) - must CEASE & DESIST recording because we lose everytime they do.

Jesterguru - consider it done - how's this:

JG loved THA SHOW
Hearts bleeding purple & gold
In his name they'll win

Jon K - couldn't agree more - It's one thing to hate on a guy, but quite another to call it like you see it. Luke's not playing well right now - simple as that. Doesn't make you a hater - makes you a realistic. However, we also know you to be an optimist. He's a veteran & will pick it up! Elle - I know you believe it!

GO LAKERS! The BEAN for MVP!

(Mamba24 - where are you??)

heheh, thanks brother

The view from the steeple looks nice.

Look down there, what's that?

A Sun.

Poor little guy.

And there--a Spur, a Rocket...a little Jazz.

Now that we have it, we can't let it go.

If we win every game from here on out we're Western Conference champs, and you cant tell me game 7 at Staples isn't better than game 7 in San Antonio or Phoenix.

We keep winning and we keep this view.

Look at that one--a little Maverick scuttling along.

The air seems cleaner up here.

I don't see us loosing more than a handful of games the remainder of the year. Not with the bench effort we saw last night; not with Kobe and Gasol and Odom's sly contributions and this bench and Phil...

Look at the running around down there bumping into each other.

Day by day.

We can do this.

Wes

Charles... fair enough. But we both can agree that they aren't NBA starters.

wesjoe,

"If we win every game from here on out we're Western Conference champs, and you cant tell me game 7 at Staples isn't better than game 7 in San Antonio or Phoenix. "

Technically, if they win every game from here on out there won't be any game 7s.

frank rizzo,

they are far from starters..... it was meant as a joke brother...

peace

Jon K,

>>> I dub those people who have little to add to this blog other than criticisms of individual players--when we have the best record in the West with half our team injured--HATERS! Haters annoy me and I will let them know as such.

Jon, you need to get over yourself. This is a blog for Laker fans of all sorts and all opinions. Again, no one died and named you Commissioner of the Thought Police.

I'm not angry with you. You're a respected senior blogger, here. But the tone you set by your comments is inconsistent with the spirit of our forum.

People who criticize Luke's play are not haters. As a multi-million dollar player under a long contract, there are expectations by the owner and the fans that he be a contributor to the team's success. He is not fulfilling that expectation by anyone's standards.

Yes, with all the injuries to Vlad and Ariza, he must be given a certain number of minutes. With his limitations, it is a problem. Phil has acknowledged giving Luke more minutes than he would like to. But most would agree that even with his limitations, he can contribute more than he does. Therein lies the rub.

Our criticisms of Luke may irritate you, but all opinions are welcome here. All we ask is that you be more accepting.

Jon,

I like Luke and I think most of us do too but we do have a very valid concern, Luke's game has gone down this season instead of going up or at least staying at what it was last year. If you want to talk about hate I hated Smush Parker and I disliked Kwame but those are not the same kind of feelings I have for Luke. I want him to do well because it helps the Lakers and my fear is that he wont play up to what he should and that it will come back and bite us in the long run.

To be fair he has been hurt but he really needs to step it up a bit, I think we've seen what he can do and that's why we expect more from him.

PS. I just hate the word hater, it's what teenagers call each other when they can't think of anything else, kinda like this "Boo you don't agree with me you are such a hater*

Whoosh... as the joke fly's over my head.

Exhelodrvr,

Anything's possible. Maybe we have a 10 game series...maybe we forget how many wins give us the series...maybe the ratings will be so high they make it the best 12 out of 14....huh?

Wes

In defense of the red-headed stepchild...

Everyone keeps hyping on Luke being -19 in last night's game. And an
article on sportshubla posited that "the Lakers usually flounder when
Luke is out there but often fly when he isn't"

The problem is the author generalized that one game as if that happens
every game. It doesn't. Since he was using that stat to justify his
(wrong) argument that Luke causes the Lakers to suck, let's look at
the real stats. Here are Luke's +/- stats for the last 10 Laker games
(working backwards):

Trailblazers -19
Supersonics +20
Clippers +8
Suns -5
Hawks +14
Timberwolves 0
Bobcats +1
Heat +3
Magic -6
Hawks +12

By comparison, let's look at the +/- of another Lakers and see how he
did in those 10 games:

Ronny Turiaf: +6, +2, -10, +1, +6, 0, -5, +6, -5, -4

So in the last 10 games, Ronny Turiaf has had a negative impact on
the team in 4 games, while Luke has only had a negative impact 3
times. Yet I don't see articles on sportshubla saying how Ronny is
an anchor dragging down the team. For some reason they (and others)
have decided that Luke is the whipping boy for any inefficiencies
by the team.

And note that the only LOSS in those 10 games was the last game against
the Hawks. So Ronny let the team down in an actual LOSS, while Luke played
well in that game. The only loss in the last 10 games was because Kobe shot
poorly (with a freshly injured pinky) and ALL the Lakers played bad defense,
allowing the Hawks to shoot 47%. Note that Luke was the BEST player for
the Lakers in that game. He had 9 points on 50% shooting with 6 rebounds,
and 3 assists, and they were +12 with him on the floor. But Luke's heroics
weren't able to make up for the bad play of Kobe and the other Lakers. Where
was the article stating that?

Going back to other recent losses:

Pistons on 1/31 - Luke DNP. That means it should be a blowout by the Lakers,
right? Wrong. Turiaf -3, Vujacic -14, Farmar -15. Where was the long
diatribe from sportshub saying how much Sasha and Jordan suck? How the
Lakers fly with them off the floor and flounder when they're on the floor?

Cavaliers on 1/27 - Luke +2 - 9 points on 50% shooting, 5 rebounds, 5 assists,
and 4 steals. So who lost the game? Fisher shot 3-for-11 (-5 with him on the
floor). But his backup was no better - they were -9 with Farmar on the floor.
And -12 with Turiaf on the floor.

Dallas on 1/25: FINALLY!! Finally a loss you can legitimately blame on Luke.
Luke made the only shot he took, had 4 rebounds and 3 assists, but the Lakers
were -8 when he was on the floor. Of course, they were also -9 with Farmar
on the floor, -10 with Kwame, and -11 with Lamar.

Anyway, you get my point. While I agree that Luke has had some bad games this
season (last night being one of his worst), he is not the anti-Kobe and he
does help the team more often than he hurts them.

So when you say, "Luke sucked in last night's game", then that is a valid
opinion and I will agree with you. And I will point out that Fisher also
sucked last night, and Kobe and Lamar were crappy in the first half. But
when you start generalizing that and claiming that Luke is always bad or
that Luke makes the Lakers worse or that the Lakers should play Coby Karl
instead of Luke and it would improve their play, then you are making an
incorrect generalization, and I will disagree with you.

When Rad or Ariza are healthy, I think either one should start over Luke.
There is no question about that. But Luke can and does contribute to the
team, and if you say he doesn't, then you're either practicing selective
memory or you're lying.

I think John I brought a lot to the show today...

Wes

Kobe Bean Bryant
he should win the M V P
wish that I could vote

Do you realize we are only playing eight deep?

That will take its toll if Vladimir doesn't come back soon.

Whenever Luke is on the floor, teams are packing it in. PJ was forced to go small with Sasha in the third quarter earlier than he wanted.

Miami will present no problem, but Portland on a back to back on Friday will. Followed by a Sunday showdown with Dallas.

Luke is playing very good team D, but is becoming a tremondous liability because of his poor shooting.

We need Vladimir back badly to stretch the D and allow our big three to roam freely through the lane.

Hmmm...

I meant:

"I think John Ireland brought a lot to the show"

Not the alternative reading:

"I think John, I brought a lot to the show"

Can't wait to see if the Bynum/Gasol/Odom experiment works.

If it does, we are legend.

If it doesn't...who do we trade?

What will be the reason why the Bynum/Gasol/Odom doesn't work?

Lamar not adapting to the 3? Or will it be Bynum and Gasol having redundant games?

Hmmm...

Wes

Here was my exchange with T. J. Simers this morning via email

==============
Ha Ha, man it must be pretty boring now days for you. And difficult i may say to make a living.
Be careful, LA Times will catch up to you sooner or later, just like KLAC did.

Simers, T.J. wrote:
==============
and i was just named top 10 columnist in the country---but always nice to hear from the clueless

To which i replied
==============
Yeh it sucks to be clueless. Hey but at least one of us gets named to the Top 10 list.
Why so defensive?

Havent seen a reply from him afterward

Do you realize we are only playing eight deep?

AN 1

That's phil trying to bite D'antoni's style.

I want a shout out!!! haha

AK/BK

Great show, dudes. John I's Fish comments were spot on.

The big question on my mind is, how tall is he? He doesn't look dwarfed in player interviews.

Hey...

Joel knows about food...

There you go...

Wes

Nice photo on cnnsi.com of our guys...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/

Good job...

Wes

keifo,

If I'm not mistaken, did I see Jordan Farmar waving his finger after the last few 3's? No, maybe I was just imagining it. lol. Sort of low wag vs. Mo's high wag.

Tom

Ali, "Top Ten writer in the Country?"

Too bad he's not a top ten writer in LA.

Elle & Rick,

I'll call things as I see it. That simple.

I'm am adamantly against political correctness and the attitude that "everyone just needs a hug in this world.

Nonsense.

Far better to be direct and honest and to call people out when then need calling out.

Honesty before coddling and worrying too much about offending people. This world needs a lot more truth and a lot less whiney people who criticize, but can't take having their perspective challenged aggressively.

I am ready for your response.

Do your worst!

Go Luke Walton!

GO LAKERS!

As long as Kobe, Fischer, Lamar, and Gasol are starting, now the Lakers can win with anyone at the 3. Heck they could even put coby carl starting and move bryant to 3 and probably still win.

BK- I was just pointing out the Fisher shooting slump as something to keep an eye on come playoff time.
Keeping you guys on your toes.

Obviously when the lakers are winning its overshadowed. As they say winning hides your weaknesses just like giving up offensive rebounds.

There is no guarantee that will improve when Bynum comes back because Gasol will still be at PF and Bynum cant block out two guys. Thats what I am curious to see when Bynum returns as well as what happens to Odom when he moves to SF. It all sounds good on paper but lets see it on the court.

Mamba23

60 before 20 ? Let's get technical.

60 before 20 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes

50 before 20 Means 10-3 run... easy for this team !!!

55 before 20 is 15-3 run.... we've .been at this level for some time !!!!

60 before 20 is a 20-3 clip <<< That's our present pace; we can continue and rise to the challenge.

Mamba24 get the bandwagon hitched.

Baywood

"That's phil trying to bite D'antoni's style."

Yea, except Phil is doing it because Drew, Ariza, Rad-man, and Chris are injured... not because everyone sitting on the bench are crappy. HaHa.

Laker Tom - the finger wagging was being done by Sasha "The Machine" Vujacic. I didn't see Jordan doing it, but I could be wrong...

GO LAKERS!!

The BEAN for MVP!!! (or NO PEACE!)

Ali,

How in hell was T.J. Simers listed as one of the Top 10 columnists in the country? Who voted? Was it out of 10 columnists? This is inconceivable to me.

Wes,

Bynum-Gasol-Kobe-Lamar is going to work out. Bynum and Gasol game compliments each other. And with Farmar growing! YES!

Good times are ahead!

Who's hurt?

Mihm
Bynum
Ariza
Rad Vlad

Who's playing hurt?

Kobe
Luke

And look how well we're doing!

Fricken awesome!

I cannot wait until late April!

GO LAKERS!

AK/BK,

Just finished reading Ted Green’s latest at your SportsHubLA website. I have to say I agree with the poster who suggested that he replace TJ at the Times. What is Ted’s background and when will you have him on NowLive?

Nice interview with Ireland. I missed the part about the 55-Win Bandwagon as my computer burped right there. Funny, I didn’t remember that it was Ireland that called us all Wack Jobs last year and caused Fearless to change his name. LOL.

Good job, guys. Keep it up. 65-17 is full GHF.

Tom

LuKE

If others are dominating, Luke can fill in with the best of them. When healthy, he has improved defensively as the overall team D scheme has come together.

I will never understand why he could not or would not take a page out of his Uncle Larry Bird's book and practice his shot till the nets fell off. His hasn't developed much since he came into the league and that is a skill that's developable.

Luke as a consistent deep threat would change his career entirely.

Rebounding will be sick when Bynum comes back.

Bynum was doing a GREAT!!!! job against opposing centers. Add the fact that you can move Lamar to the 3 with Pau @ the 4. OMG. I know other teams are dreading this.

That's not just good on paper, you can take that to the bank. That IS a rebounding front line. PERIOD

There's no nice way (or PC way to quote Jon K) it...

Simers is HORRIBLE.

Please K-Bros... I always look at my browser before clicking on the links just to make sure it's not a Simers link before I click it...

Please denote that its a Simers article before you link it, maybe an asterisk, or perhaps (Simers) written somewhere in the link...

Most of us cannot stand his writing and do not want to support him in anyway.

And while you're at it, maybe you could breeze through the office, head over to his desk, and "accidently" spill his coffee cup all over the place, ha ha ha.

Top 10 writer... he sounds like Michael T saying Kwame is the greatest center playing in the NBA.

Jon K

>>> Honesty before coddling and worrying too much about offending people. This world needs a lot more truth and a lot less whiney people who criticize, but can't take having their perspective challenged aggressively.

All of us are ok with having our perspective challenged. That's the fun of this blog. It's ok to tell us our perspective on Luke is wrong.

But dubbing people you disagree with as "haters" fits the definition of a personal attack. A personal attack is distinct and separate from disagreement with an opinion. A personal attack doesn't have a place on this blog. In fact, it is prohibited by the "full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form" under LAT.com rules.

So let's be civil and respectful in our discourse here. It's got nothing to do with political correctness and everything to do with the spirit of this forum. Thanks.

Isnt it ironic that?

the very same people who constantly call posters of critical comments of Kobe, haters

the very SAME people who are hating on Simmers.

And the fact he was named top 10 in the country is a cruel irony to those same Simers haters.

Jon,

This is not about political correctness and everyone in the world needing a hug; it is about people being able to express their opinions without you being dismissive and rude. Your opinion is not more valid than mine or Rick’s, we all deserve some degree of respect, we have a different point of view and that’s what makes this place so cool, if we all agreed with each other it would be a pretty boring place. You don’t need to agree with me or my opinions but at least acknowledge that I have the right to think and feel as I wish without being called a hater simply for using my brain and having opinions that don’t jive with yours.

AN 1, Jon:
Yeh dont know which list he is talking about, maybe the K Bros know.

No TJ No, Starbucks is not a country and neither is Sherman Oaks.

vman-

He's 7'8".

BK

Laker Lover--

Not calling you a hater or hating on Simers...

Just don't enjoy his insidious baiting and snide, holier-than-thou attitude. While he is certainly entitiled to his opinion, I just wish he would opine in a different city, state, country or maybe even solar system.

It's not irony that makes me wish this; it's geography.

Re: Luke bashing:

Look, every team's going to have a number of lesser talents and plenty of cold streaks. Reality of modern sports. On the other hand, Luke's been a great team chemistry guy, which to me is more valuable than the best stats of any other team's eight or ninth guy which is what Luke is for the Lakers.

Nothing wrong with "criticising" any Laker out there for their PERFORMANCES.

But look at things objectively, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A WRITER. If a writer wants to talk about Luke Walton, discuss his good and his bad and offer an opinion...

What makes Simers so horrible is that he has these opinions that are
1. Unsubstantiated
2. Based on stirring controversy
3. Anti-intelligent 90% of the time

Everyone on here has been critical of Kobe at some point or another, even the K-Bros... but the KBros give you objective opinions, they aren't pie in the sky and they aren't haters by any stretch of the imagination.

Simers = Lord of the Haters.

He looks at half the story.. the story that fits his own twisted view of reality. That's why he sucks.

LakerTom,

Kudos for knowing who won the 1 on 1 tourney --Rudy T. that is some knowlege my friend.....

During one of our Championship years, I think it was either 87 or 88, if we didn't literally get down by 23 to 28 points in the middle of the third quarter we lost the game. And it never felt like we were going to lose either--if we were ahead in the third I was pretty worried and we lost a lot of those games---can anyone come up with actual scores in the mid 3rd and the final scores---does anyone even remember that?

Anyway our current team may have that confidence as well--it's good to see them not get shaken--like in the Suns game--our confidence and swagger is just starting to grow. And that's the scarey part for the rest of the NBA .

GO LAKERS!!!

frank rizzo,

Also, I don't think Stache boy patented the 7-8 man rotation? Larry Brown have an 8 man rotation too?

stevevilakers- Simers is a little over the top at times and he tends to point out the things people dont really want to read or remember. Call it glass half empty or snide but I enjoy his coulmns most of the time whethere I agree with him or not. And he does have a charity with childrens hospital for the kids there so he cant be all bad.

Elle & Rick,

This is a sports blog. Have you guys ever played sports? Why does a little smack talk bother you so much? It must be a little too close to the bone and resonate a bit too much.

You two are awfully thin-skinned for people who have no problem "calling out" the poor play of a wounded player (who the game before last had 11 points, 7 rebounds amd 7 assists) while we're atop the Western Conference for the first time in what feels like forever and we should by all reason feel extremely optimistic about our future.

Personally, I think you two are lame.

And if people are screaming "PUKE SUCKS!" when he's having an off game, especially considering the circumstances and the fact that we've won NINE IN A ROW!

If these people are unable to focus on the big ("The future's so bright I've got to wear shades!") picture and instead want to shout about how Luke isn't playing great ball right now.

Well, I find these people REASONABLY annoying and I will continue to call them haters.

I'm not against people criticizing the Lakers, especially when players are playing beneath their capabilities, but to shout about it and focus unduly upon it, especially considering how well we're doing is just plain lame.

Everyone who's had some life experience realizes that some people in this life are just haters. That's just the way it is and they serve little benefit to anyone.

I see no fault in calling something for what it is. If someone's a hater. Well, it brings me a little joy to remind them as such.

So, if you two want to obsess about how Luke is playing poorly hurt when we've won nine in a row and are on top of the Western Conference with half our team hurt... then you're a hater in my mind and can't appreciate things when the gettin's good.

GO LAKERS!

I am a Simmers "Hater"

As least I can admit it. I just choose not to read his crap. Plain and simple.

I don't feel the need to disguise my dislike for his work.

I don't spend post after post, thread after thread, trying to poke holes in all his articles to try to justify my feelings. HaHa

Wes and Jon K

I write from Barcelona, Pau's land. I was national referee at the ACB spanish League and I'd like to tell you it'll work. Jon K is simply right! Look:
- Drew is 7'00 / Pau is 7'00 / Lamar is 6'11
- Who has that front line?
- And who has so talented front line?
- Lamar playing as a 3 will ball even better than now, letting the doorstops to Drew & Pau.
- And yes, they will work togeteher, because of their mutual compliments as Jon said, but also because Kobe (he really makes better the others) and specially BECAUSE PAU IS GREAT (sorry 4 my english) TAKING OUT, COVERING THE 5-4 RIVAL so he let rebounds to his teammates, and I do really think Phil knew that.

So get ready to see LAL vs. SAS and (I hope) LAL vs. BOS or DET.
Barcelona's people were always pro-Lakers (since Wilt and later the showtime and Magic's dream of Barcelona '92). Madrid were pro-Celtics.
We see all your games here...!
GO LAKERS! GO!

Happydaze,

He won't wear ANY purple and gold for the whole length of the NBA season? At all times or just during games? Are you serious? Really?

GO LAKERS!

Elle,

I don't want to be rude, but if you don't consider the comments coming from people about Luke "hater" worthy, I don't wanna know what kind of environment you grew up in. Maybe the moniker doesn't apply to you, but you have to agree it definitely applies to quite a few others around here.

Wow

You would think with so much success this blog would be buzzing happily along right now, but that is not so...

CONFLICT!!!

Maybe everyone just needs something to complain about in life, and if the Lakers are doing well, how are they going to get out their anger?

TRUTH - people on this blog HATE on Luke constantly - no arguing that - it's usually very emotional

TRUTH - Laker Lover, you say almost nothing positive ever about anyone on the Lakers, so your name is very ironic to me

TRUTH - Jon K is a sensitive guy, a big time contributor here, and when you cross him you will incur his wrath!!

TRUTH - Elle is a sweetie caught in a web she didn't see coming

TRUTH - NONE OF YOU ACTUALLY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT EACH OTHER, so personal attacks are meaningless

OPINION - Can't we all just get along? (lol)

Luke is not performing well, even he would admit that. But he is injured, we only have 8 guys who can even play right now, so we need some contribution from him at least until we get healthy. It won't always be pretty but he's not hurting us nearly as bad as the contributors make it out to be.

KOBE FOR MVP!!!
KOBE FOR MVP!!!
KOBE FOR MVP!!!

wesjoenixon

no nuggets in sight?!

Possible 1st round matchups-

Who do you think is the best and worst match up for the lakers, assuming they have home court?

True Charles,

Fire32 is just too easy to poke at. He sits on this blog and just keeps saying "TIMMAY!" over and over again.

I know your not supposed to, but I bring my bag of troll food to work with me every morning. :)

This team reminds me of this team...but we're even better:

1994-95: Newcomers Key Lakers' Revitalization

The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the league's most improved teams in 1994-95, and their playoff success augured well for the future. The Lakers had finished the previous season with a 33-49 record; in 1994-95 the team was 48-34. The 15-win improvement was second best in the league behind that of the Dallas Mavericks. Aside from the emergence of electrifying point guard Nick Van Exel, three new arrivals keyed the Lakers' turnaround: Head Coach Del Harris, free-agent signee Cedric Ceballos, and rookie Eddie Jones.

The postseason was even more satisfying. The Lakers earned a No. 5 seed in the playoffs, finishing in front of the defending NBA-champion Houston Rockets, and they met the fourth-seeded Seattle SuperSonics in the first round. Los Angeles was defeated soundly in Game 1 but responded with three straight victories to score an upset. Van Exel, who made a name for himself in the postseason, averaged 24.8 points and shot .500 from the field against the Sonics. In Game 3 of that series he set a team record by playing 48 minutes without committing a single turnover-all the more impressive considering that he handled the ball against a Seattle team that had led the league in steals.

In the Western Conference Semifinals the Lakers met the San Antonio Spurs, who had finished the season with the league's best record. Los Angeles won two games in an exciting series but fell to the Spurs in six. In Game 5 at San Antonio, with the Lakers down three games to one, Van Exel hit two buzzer-beating three-pointers-one at the end of regulation and one at the end of overtime-to give the Lakers a 98-96 victory.

For his team's effort, Harris was named NBA Coach of the Year. General Manager Jerry West was named NBA Executive of the Year for his work behind the scenes. On the court, Ceballos had a terrific season in his first year with the Lakers, averaging 21.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.03 steals and earning selection to the All-Star Game, although he didn't participate because of an injury. Van Exel averaged 16.9 points and 8.3 assists in the regular season, while center Vlade Divac averaged 16.0 points, 10.4 boards, and 2.18 blocks. Athletic swingman Jones averaged 14.0 points and won a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team

Oh yeah...

Wes

I just sent an email to TJ Siemers this morning and I got a prompt response back.

Here is the message I sent:

It's quite clear that you are not a professional
sports writer, you should be writing for the
gossip/entertainment section. Does it bother you that
much that you don't have any dirt to write about the
Lakers and/or Kobe? Would it kill you to write
something nice about the Lakers? No one is forcing
you to write about the Lakers, so don't sit there
whining like a crybaby.

I have never come across a writer with such disdain
for the local sports team as well as for the fans. You
are ridiculously biased, and no longer will I read
another article from you on-line to up your hit count.
BTW, in case you didn't know (brace yourself), every
single basketball fan in LA hates you and thinks your
a douche. I know, but you will get over the shock
eventually.

This is how he responded:

blah blah blah

He knows that I am completely right and can't say anything back...Punk....

Frank Rizzo, Bloggers!

I think I found an ID on the troll!!!!!!!!

http://tinyurl.com/222cd8

Frank Rizzo,

I don't think Fire32 is a troll - he has been stand up in admitting when he was wrong, congratulating us when we win, and openly stating his desire for Bynum and the rest to get healthy so we can battle in the playoffs at full strength.

He's a Suns fan so he's an idiot (just kidding Fire) but he seems reasonable enough to me...

KOBE FOR MVP!!!
KOBE FOR MVP!!!
KOBE FOR MVP!!!

Portland fans hate our stinking guts with a passion---I have a bunch of family there and believe me that city is obsessed with Laker hatred---we have knocked them out of the play-offs so much they can't even say the word Laker without throwing up in their collective mouths.

In the eighties they wouldn't even locally televise their away games with the Lakers for a couple of years---unprecedented indeed!

Actually I don't think there is any NBA cities that like us---the Lakers are either a love or hate team (and passionately so)--which speaks volumes for our relevence and another reason we will always be the team to beat "BEAT L.A." they ALL say.....I say.....wait for it ....GO LAKERS!!!!

wesjoenixon,

Can you imagine what would happen today if Mitch traded a 16 ppg / 10rpg center, and traded that guy for a 13th pick in the draft????

I think he'd get killed.

Yet, Jerry West did precisely THAT.

Kobe Bryant... Jerry West's greatest draft choice (because he traded a cornerstone of the franchise to get him)

ABOUT THAT SMALL FORWARD POSITION…

One interesting development we are watching courtesy of Drew’s, Trevor’s, and Vlade’s injury and Luke’s ineffectiveness has been the success of our 3-guard offense with Kobe playing the 3 to make room for Jordan and Sasha to play the 1 and 2. With the way that Jordan and Sasha have stepped up their games, this is a very potent shooting lineup that we are definitely going to see more of as we head into the playoffs. You can tell that Kobe loves this lineup. Teams are finding that it is very tough to beat the Lakers by doubling Kobe when Jordan and Sasha are raining 3’s on their heads.

I am also not worried at all about how Lamar plays when he slides down to the 3 once Drew returns to the starting lineup. Part of the reason is confidence that Lamar has found his niche in the offense, which is making hard dives and drives to the rim or posting up in isolation when matched up with a smaller player – neither of which is dependent upon his playing the 3 or 4. Like the Cap said, Lamar is like a Swiss Army Knife that gives Phil some great options on offense and defense. We’re going to see a lot of games where Lamar ends up being the key match-up that other teams cannot handle, especially after trying to scheme ways to defend Kobe and Drew and Pau.

The other part of the reason I’m not concerned about Lamar working out at the 3 is that he will still be playing a lot of minutes at the 4 backing up Pau when Pau is on the bench or playing the 5 to give Drew a breather. By using Pau to back up Drew and Lamar to back up Pau, the Lakers will then always have at least two of their three bigs – Drew, Pau, and Lamar – on the court at all times. These 3 players will make up the “real” twin towers and dominate the boards and interior defense. If we run into foul difficulties or injuries, then Ronny will see more playing time.

Returning to the 3, it is also obvious that Vlade and Trevor once healthy will dominate the remaining minutes at small forward that Kobe and Lamar do not cover, Vlade for his 3-point shooting and Trevor for his perimeter defense. Luke, like Ronny, may find himself to be the odd man out in small forward rotation, especially until he can regain his slight edge physically. A 100% healthy Luke would be another asset in our quiver. Anything less than 100% and Luke should just ride the pine and wait until next year.

So here is my prediction of minutes at the 3 once everybody is back and healthy: Kobe 12, Lamar 16, Ariza 12, Vlade 8. Luke 0.

Tom

Rick Friedman,

>>>But dubbing people you disagree with as "haters" fits
>>>the definition of a personal attack.

I disagree with that. Calling you a "hater" (and I'm not) is
just stating the belief that you are unreasonably biased
against a particular player.

If Kobe scores 50 points and the Lakers win and Gunner
criticizes him because he took 30 shots or because he
turned the ball over 7 times, he's harping on the negative
aspects of the game and ignoring the positive contributions
that Kobe made to the game. Calling him an "idiot" would
be a personal attack. Calling him a hater is just saying
that you think he is unreasonably biased against a
particular player.

If Luke turned the ball over 5 times a game and took 12
shots a game and the Lakers were on a losing streak,
then he would deserve the amount of crap he gets from
bloggers here.

But for Luke to get as much criticism as he does when
he has had a positive effect on the team more often than
not during a winning streak is unreasonable. He's not
nearly as bad as Smush or Kwame, as some would like
to imply, and he has been playing on an injured ankle
since New Years, bec