As Mrs. Bueller asked Principal Rooney
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Join us for today's edition of Purple, Gold, and Blue. We'll have guests John Ireland (CBS/KCAL) and ESPN The Magazine's Molly Knight. 11 am. Click the show widget on the side of the page to listen, or go to www.NowLive.com.
Nine times?
And similar to her reaction upon learning her son Ferris had missed school nine times, Laker fans are amazed learn that with last night's 96-83 win over the Blazers, their purple and gold have now emerged victorious on nine straight occasions. But while a nonet of triumphs would hint towards an unbridled roll at hand, in truth, this Laker win was anything but a cruise control cake walk. For starters, bad start. The first quarter featured various sluggish elements, whether shooting, defense and overall energy. Jordan Farmar's insertion late in the frame provided an adrenaline shot in the arm, but despite the upped pulse on display, the Lakers were still prone to mental lapses and weak execution, often the reaction to Portland's physical style of gamesmanship. But despite these factors, the contest remained tight, a scenario where fans have typically counted on Kobe Bryant to take over. The Mamba didn't disappoint. Already having laid the foundation for a terrific second half, Bryant dropped 11 in the fourth quarter and helped his squad pull out of reach. The confetti may have fallen a mite early, but as the box score shows, it were more "glitch" than "jinx."
Performances such as last night's are the fodder for continual "Kobe:MVP" chatter among the fans and pundits (even those who once vehemently questioned Bryant's legitimacy for such hardware). Phil Jackson is on board with a nod for his star. Kobe's main competition for the award includes LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Chris Paul. There's little danger, however, of Luke Walton siphoning away votes from The New Jack Bauer.
The Lakers being on top of the Western Conference would be an achievement during any season. But in 2008, it's absurdly hard to pull off, ridiculous to the point where tinkering by the league might be required. Then again, the curmudgeons aren't all that impressed with a .702 winning percentage in a conference where ten teams are above .500, so perhaps everything is hunky dory as is.
Hey Houston, the Lakers feel your pain.
The Smushcalade remains on blocks in Miami. William Henry and Sam Cassell should get together and go bowling. Aside from the general complications that come with asking Donald Sterling to part with casheesh, there's a potential wrinkle up north and in the desert.
Dallas is now in the Jamaal Magloire business.
Rooney was the Dean of students.
Posted by: Kurt | February 27, 2008 at 09:21 AM
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!
Posted by: Charles | February 27, 2008 at 09:22 AM
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.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | February 27, 2008 at 09:23 AM
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/
Posted by: samski | February 27, 2008 at 09:27 AM
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!!!!!!!
Posted by: Zakee | February 27, 2008 at 09:28 AM
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!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 27, 2008 at 09:29 AM
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
Posted by: Tucker | February 27, 2008 at 09:30 AM
Rockets don't have "Ming or a prayer"..Good one I heard on Dan Patrick this morning.
Posted by: zen | February 27, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Is it me... or does anyone else here want to SNAP OFF Mutombo's waving finger thing???
Shouldn't that be a 'T'???
Posted by: keifo | February 27, 2008 at 09:35 AM
AK/BK,
Have you heard any details regarding the altercation between Smush and the parking attendant? What happened?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 27, 2008 at 09:36 AM
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.
Posted by: J. Walter Weatherman | February 27, 2008 at 09:39 AM
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!"
Posted by: | February 27, 2008 at 09:40 AM
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!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 27, 2008 at 09:40 AM
You know you are playing good:
When Plashke is leading the 'MVP' chants from press row.
Posted by: AN 1 | February 27, 2008 at 09:42 AM
"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?
Posted by: J. Walter Weatherman | February 27, 2008 at 09:42 AM
What's with Vic da Brick and all his haiku and Confucius?
Posted by: | February 27, 2008 at 09:43 AM
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!
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | February 27, 2008 at 09:44 AM
It shouldn't matter to the Suns if Shaq is finished. Afterall, Steve Nash can just "make him better"!
Posted by: McGarnagle | February 27, 2008 at 09:46 AM
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.
Posted by: Laker Lover | February 27, 2008 at 09:48 AM
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.
Posted by: Andrew Z | February 27, 2008 at 09:48 AM
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!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 27, 2008 at 09:52 AM
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!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 27, 2008 at 09:53 AM
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.
Posted by: J. Walter Weatherman | February 27, 2008 at 09:54 AM
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.
Posted by: AN 1 | February 27, 2008 at 09:54 AM
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??
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | February 27, 2008 at 09:54 AM
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!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 27, 2008 at 09:56 AM
J. Walter Weatherman,
Where'd you get the quote about Chris Mihm?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 27, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Good morning fellow Laker fans. Everyone have a great day!!! Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | February 27, 2008 at 10:00 AM
AndrewZ,
WHIPPED :)
Posted by: hariyahu | February 27, 2008 at 10:00 AM
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.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | February 27, 2008 at 10:01 AM
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?"
Posted by: | February 27, 2008 at 10:02 AM
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?
Posted by: Charles | February 27, 2008 at 10:02 AM
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......
Posted by: Charles | February 27, 2008 at 10:05 AM
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.
Posted by: AN 1 | February 27, 2008 at 10:06 AM
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.
Posted by: HmrHed | February 27, 2008 at 10:06 AM
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.
Posted by: zen | February 27, 2008 at 10:08 AM
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!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 27, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Tim-4-Show,
Okay. I get you.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 27, 2008 at 10:11 AM
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
Posted by: LAL_Fan | February 27, 2008 at 10:12 AM
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!
Posted by: Lakers Legacy | February 27, 2008 at 10:13 AM
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.
Posted by: Laker Lover | February 27, 2008 at 10:14 AM
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.
Posted by: Vman | February 27, 2008 at 10:14 AM
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.
Posted by: Jesterguru | February 27, 2008 at 10:18 AM
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
Posted by: Happydaze | February 27, 2008 at 10:20 AM
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!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | February 27, 2008 at 10:20 AM
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."
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | February 27, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Jesterguru - what do you want us to say about you at your eulogy? LOL!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | February 27, 2008 at 10:22 AM
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!
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | February 27, 2008 at 10:23 AM
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?).
Posted by: Sean P. | February 27, 2008 at 10:26 AM
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.
Posted by: LakerinBC | February 27, 2008 at 10:27 AM