Big questions for the second half
Sure, there were games here and there the Lakers would like to have back, but overall they won't do a lot of complaining about their first half performance or where they sit in the Western Conference coming
out of the All Star break. 35-17, 1.5 games back of Phoenix in the Pacific, and an equal distance away from the top of the W.C. A brief downturn after the injury to Andrew Bynum has given way to the intense optimism of the recent 7-2 roadie and the Pau Gasol deal.
In short, the Lakers are unquestionably big time players in the developing postseason story. That doesn't mean there aren't some outstanding questions to examine over the final 30 games of the regular season, the answers to which will go a long way towards determining exactly how big of players they'll be. So without further ado, the issues, big and small, Laker-related and across the W.C.:
- Pinkies and knees and feet, oh my! (And ankles, too. Oh my, again.) Will they derail championship hopes? If the Lakers are healthy, on paper they're probably the best team in the conference. Unfortunately, that's one Titanic-sized "if." As I am a few science classes short of a medical degree, I'll avoid making declarations about the health of Andrew Bynum's knee. The docs said when he went down it would be a minimum of eight weeks. That could mean eight, it could mean ten. Honestly, I have no idea, and I think most of the doctor's couldn't accurately stick a pin on the calendar to mark his exact return, either. It's a wait and see.
Then there's Kobe's pinkie. In any other year, surgery would have been a no brainer. This
season, however, one where LA is the aforementioned 1.5 games out of the top spot, but only three away from the ninth? Not to much. I think he should have the procedure, but as AK pointed out last week, I get 24's side of the argument, too. There's really no good answer, here. But as long as he plays, I'll worry that either a) he'll have stretches where his performance is diminished- the man may be a supernatural healer, but my understanding is he'll use that right hand periodically during his time on the court, so the likelihood of sustained abuse is high, and b) at some point something bad will happen, and he'll have no choice but to shut it down.
Those are the two biggies, but even with the questions, there's still reason to be optimistic. Bynum should return, Kobe is still Kobe. Assuming he can play, there's a good chance he'll play well. Meanwhile, in the supporting cast things aren't as rosy. Chris Mihm is once again down for a while. Trevor Ariza's healing isn't speeding along, and he's still expected to miss another eight weeks with a broken right foot. Luke Walton's ankle has been an issue all season, and will likely remain so. That still leaves plenty of troops in Phil Jackson's battalion, but given how depth has been a team strength all year, to see it being chipped away will give fans the willies.
- Along those lines, will Sasha Vujacic and/or Jordan Farmar sustain their elevated performance?
The Lakers have received a major boost in the backcourt this season, in
part
because both of these guys have become much more productive
players. But it's worth remembering that Farmar is still a second year
player, and it's not ridiculous to think that there could be some
inconsistencies in his play. We've seen some of that already. As for
Sasha, he's never been in a position to sustain elevated play
throughout a season, because he's never really elevated it to begin
with. I believe the kid has finally arrived, in terms of being a useful
member of the NBA fraternity, but he still has a lot to prove. - Can Walton bounce back? As Farmar and Sasha have gone up, Luke's game has gone down. While I think he's getting pounded a little too vociferously by some fans, there's no question that overall, he hasn't played very well, and there's been no consistency to his game. He'll no longer be asked to play starter's minutes (that's good), but with Ariza out for the foreseeable future, in the minutes Walton does get, he needs to play better.
- Given the potential for injury-induced turnover in the lineup, how fast can the gang get integrated at playoff time? The parts are there, but once the postseason rolls around, when teams get a chance to scout and hammer at them for seven games, throwing different looks and making adjustments, will the Lakers have enough continuity to respond in kind? As I've written before, while I think the Lakers have a good shot this year, I'm more inclined to call them a clear favorite next season, after the crew has had a full season to play together.
- How do you break down the Western Conference? It's almost
impossible to predict how the playoffs are going to pan out, in part
because it's almost impossible to predict where each team is going to
finish. Hell, at this point, it's almost impossible to predict what players
will be part of the W.C. race. Pau to L.A., Shaq to Phoenix, Kidd to Dallas. Rumors of Denver improving with Ron Artest. At this point, if
the Hornets acquired Dwight Howard for Rasual Butler, Hilton Armstrong,
some really cool Mardi Gras beads and a couple hurricanes. Nine teams
separated by 4.5 games, and it's still a work in progress.
- How healthy is Tony Parker? He practiced on Monday, but isn't ready for game action quite yet. With him in the backcourt, the Spurs are a totally different team. You know, the kind that wins championships. While I think rumors of their demise are a little premature (I'll believe it when I see it), it's hard to picture them winning a title unless Parker is fully fit.
- How will Kidd and Shaq change the dynamics of the conference? The reconstructed Kidd deal, assuming it goes down, is actually a better deal for Dallas, though there are those who wonder how much he'll actually improve them (personally, I think the biggest boost he'll provide is in the postseason cajones department). Shaq? I don't like that one for Phoenix, but we'll just have to wait and see.
- The Lakers play 19 more games at Staples before the playoffs. How many of those will be taco nights for media dining? Okay, the answer doesn't really affect the Lakers per se, but that doesn't mean it's not a very, very important question. Especially now that they've been including asada in the pregame feast.
Am I forgetting some? Add 'em to the discussion. But one thing's for certain- the last 30 games and into the playoffs? It's gonna be a whole lot of fun.
BK
Taoshum,
you wrote: don't understand why Kobe isn't doing the surgery right now. From what I've read, it's a ticking time bomb and what if he injures it so badly he HAS to have the surgery one week before the playoffs start? I think this team is good enough to "survive" and stay in the playoff hunt until Kobe comes back. It would just seem the logical move...
my response:
There are ~4 games b/n 1 & 9th in the west.
Gasol doesn't know the offense very well. Bynum & Ariza
are out for another 3 - 5 weeks. In the past, the role players
for the Lakers have been incredibly inconsistent. In other
words, there is a doubt in Kobe's mind as to the ability of the
Lakers without Bynum [ your guy ], Ariza & Kobe staying
in the upper 4 seeds of the race to the playoffs. To
clarify: Home Court advantage. While everyone would
like to think that the Lakers *could* win on the road, statistics
show that the team with "home court" tends to win.
Next year is not guaranteed, therefore give everything
this year. To translate into academic speech:
The championship must be torn from the lifeless hands of
the Spurs and won at the expense of KG/LeBron. It does
not wait for players to be healthy.
To put it in the vernacular: Seize the FRICKIN' day and choke
it until the Larry O'Brien trophy comes out in a pool of
PURPLE & GOLD!
Posted by: hobbitmage | February 19, 2008 at 04:47 PM
LAKER LOVER,
“Tony Parker is just as important to (sic) the Spurs as Kobe is to the Lakers”
You might want to reconsider that statement. Parker is not even an all-star while Kobe Bryant is the greatest player in the game today. No comparison in my mind or any real basketball fan who watches and knows the game.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | February 19, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Laker Lover,
You sound more like a hater to me.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 19, 2008 at 05:00 PM
Tim-4-Show,
Let me clarify that I look at options a little differently from you.
I say an option is who you look into in a offense to create a play.
Meaning, if I give the ball to Kobe, I expect him to drive & kick, drive & score, do something to create a positive play.
If I give the ball to Pau or Bynum, I expect them to do something to create a postiive play.
So that's why I would disagree that Fisher, Farmar, Vlad are options in the offense. These guys IMO primarily finish a play created by one of the "player options" in the offense. Maybe backdoor cutting or waiting at the 3 pt line for a shot but not really dribble penetration or something like that.
Odom is in effect our 3rd option because you give him the ball and expect him to make a play albeit one that usually ends up as an assist or maybe it's the pass that leads to the assist pass.
Odom has shown ineffectiveness being that 2nd option IMO because his scoring moves arent strong and can eventually be game planned for and shut down.
However, as the 3rd guy to look to I believe he flourishes from less defensive attention and players out of position from overcompensating for Kobe and Pau/Bynum.
Just my opinion though. I would agree that your view of options has merit too.
Posted by: Korey | February 19, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Laker Lover,
You've just entered Mike T territory. I hope you enjoy the view.
Posted by: Xodus | February 19, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Wondahbap,
I love Derek Fisher as much as anyone out here, but I hate to tell you that Steve Nash is a much better PG than D-Fish. Nash is one of the best PGs to ever play the game; he has court vision and the ability to move the ball better than anyone in the game, including Jason Kidd. When Derek's shooting touch is on, he blows Nash off the court from that angle, but one of his biggest flaws is his inconsistency from the field.
However, I think Steve Nash is a whiny little bitch, and I still haven't forgotten the 2005 playoffs when he pissed and moaned about getting stripped late in the game because he stupidly dribbled into a double team and couldn't get a time out called before the turnover. I got into an e-mail war with Peter Vecsey about it, and I consider it a source of pride that he finally had to admit in print that he was wrong about that play. Plus, Nash is from Canada, and I had an annoying girlfriend from Montreal whose 'cut it oat' and 'get oat of my house' went from endearing to insufferable faster than a Showtime-era Lakers game. Moreover, that frigging haircut of his, where he looks like an evil scarecrow, makes it hard to watch any game in which he plays.
On the other hand, D-Fish is an inspirational player and human being who burnt the Spurs with .4 left on the clock. Also, he calls Champagne 'champigly', which is cool.
Posted by: Tully Moxness | February 19, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Tom,
i have to not jump on the 60-win bandwagon. I dont want to jinx my team.
I believe that we can get there though.
Posted by: Korey | February 19, 2008 at 05:04 PM
THANKS FOR NOTHING, DEAVON…
In the end, Deavon George actually helped the Mavs make a better deal for Jason Kidd. Had he not blocked the deal, the Mavs would have also sent Jerry Stackhouse to the Nets, with a secret understanding that the Nets would buy him out so that he could re-sign with the Mavs after 30 days. The NBA then would have stepped in and approved the deal but made sure that Stackhouse did not re-sign with the Mavs. That would have meant that the Mavs would have given up Harris, Diop, George, AND Stackhouse for 1 or 2 years of Jason Kidd. Now, they still have Stackhouse and George and instead are a little deeper into the luxury tax. Bottom line, they had no choice but to resurrect the deal or their team chemistry would have been totally shot. Another indication that Mark Cuban doesn’t really know how to build a championship team – even if for just one year.
As it is, I think the Mavs will end up no better than 6th seed and will suffer another first round ouster. The future is so dull you need a flashlight.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | February 19, 2008 at 05:05 PM
Fire32,
Just so you know, I dont see you as a pest.
I actually chuckle a bit at you being here. In the past 2 years, no Suns fans blogged here. I figure because when it was all said and done we all knew that the Suns were just better than the Lakers.
But now, the Suns know. The Suns fans know. The Lakers beat the Suns twice with Andrew Bynum.
So now, what are the Suns going to do when we have Bynum and Pau?
In essence, this is what Steve Kerr asked himself when he made the trade for Shaq.
What a crazy circle right? The guy that replaces Shaq in Lakerville forces the Suns to remember the many years that Shaq tormented them in the playoffs, crushing your Jason Kidd-Penny Hardaway "Backcourt 2000" dreams year after year. And then when Shaq wasnt doing it, Kobe was hitting game-winners on yall in the playoffs.
So now, you guys get Shaq to try to eek out a championship. Use our own legend against us....hahahahahaha...
We'll see if it works, but your presence at this blog lets us all know one thing:
The Lakers scare you and you can't do anything about it for the next 5 years.
Posted by: Korey | February 19, 2008 at 05:11 PM
Laker Lover,
A) Kobe didn't 'hold up a roster spot' on the All-Star team. He was forced to play by the league. Secondly, who cares about the All-Star game? It's an exhibition game - most of the people there were probably happy just to be in Kobe's presence
B) Tony Parker got ripped by Coach Popovich for not owning up to the full extent of his injury. He got sent home once he admitted he wasn't even 50%. There's your boy for you - such a team guy; maybe we can trade Kobe for him
C) Why don't you just change your handle to 'I Miss Shaq, Kobe Sux', because either you're a friend of KFs or just living way, way in the past. The wayback machine doesn't work yet, but someday it will, and you can go back to 2002 over and over again.
D) On the other hand Shaq, I appreciate your contribution to our championships and someday, I'll be happy to see your jersey hanging in the Staples Center rafters. Until then, why don't you just get back to the gym and stop posting on the Lakers Blog? The Suns blogs need more contributors, and you'll be much more welcome over there, at least until you start bitching about touches or the lack of respect you're getting.
Posted by: Tully Moxness | February 19, 2008 at 05:14 PM
I'm surprised that I haven't seen on this board or anywhere about the Lakers being to getting Caron Butler back. Woody Paige talked about it on "Around the Horn" today and Brent Musburger just mentioned it during the IU-Purdue game on ESPN. I'm guessing Odom would go in the deal.
Has anyone else heard anymore about this?
Posted by: Andy | February 19, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Tully Moxness,
Just call him what he is:
A WALL-EYED CANUCK!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 19, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Totally unscientific projection of future games. The Lakers have 17 home games, and 13 road games remaining. They are already 17-7 at home, and 18-10 on the road.
Assuming they have the same home and road winning percentages for the future games (70.8% at home, 64.2% on the road), that gives them 12 wins at home, and 8 wins on the road, a record of 20-10 in their last 30 games.
That would put them at 55-27 to end the season.
I haven't factored in their actual opponents, just past home and road performance.
Then again, they've been 5-1 on the road with Pau Gasol. In that case, let's assume an 83.3% winning percentage for the remaining games, road and home. That's 25-5!
60-22 would not be too shabby at all.
Personally, and as an unrealistic Laker fan, I think they should win ALL of their remaining home games. 17 wins at home, with the 83.3% on the road and some beneficial rounding, takes the Lakers to 28-2 in the final stretch.
That's 63-19, baby! Just writing this makes me egg-cited!
I LOVE L.A.!
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | February 19, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Korey,
No prob. I think we can agree that LO is ideal when he's not the 1 or 2 option.
Not that he couldn't be a 1 or 2 (especially outside the triangle) but in our set he doesn't seem to function as well there.
When Kobe said it's like Christmas everyday, now I know what he was talking about... I'm so anxious to see our guys play!
I can't believe it, it's like my life has been in rewind back to the 80s or back to 2000-2004... we're actually "in the hunt"
Yippee!
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | February 19, 2008 at 05:22 PM
HOW LONG BEFORE LAKERS TAKE OVER TOP SEED IN WEST?
The answer may be three games and one week. Lakers next three games are Atlanta, Phoenix, and the Clippers. The Suns next three games are Lakers, Celtics, and Pistons.
It is not impossible to visualize Lakers sweeping and Suns getting swept. Would that ever cause a wave of panic in Phoenix. Phoenix rising? No, more like Phoenix setting.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | February 19, 2008 at 05:23 PM
Korey,
No problem. Winning 25 out of the next 30 is pretty dang GHF, if I don't say so myself. Just got to avoid the injury bugs over these last two months.
I have us going into the playoffs with an 11 game winning streak. Remember the last time we entered the playoffs with Kobe and an 11 game streak?
We can all learn from history. LOL.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | February 19, 2008 at 05:27 PM
"Nash is one of the best PGs to ever play the game; he has court vision and the ability to move the ball better than anyone in the game, including Jason Kidd."
For starters, I'm not sure how you define "best ever".
I certainly don't think of Nash as a best ever. I consider Kidd a best ever though.
Nash has had some significant success, especially the last 3 or 4 seasons. Prior to this, he was good, but not great.
Contrast that to the "greatest ever" caliber players...
Cousy; West; Robertson; Magic; Stockton
Do you REALLY put Nash up there?
Nash in his prime was certainly a hell of a player, but I'd say he never played as well as Stockton... and Stockton played for like 17 seasons.
I put Nash maybe on the level of a John Stark or Kevin Johnson. In fact, KJ is more of the face of PHX than Nash will be... if you look back 10 years from now. One guy led the squad for a very long time to multiple opportunities, while Nash maybe will have had 3 chances when it's said and done.
Kidd's record is undisputed: He's a Hall of Famer.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | February 19, 2008 at 05:30 PM
I think my head is going to explode from excitement after reading the data on this site:
http://www.boxscorebasketball.com/strength.htm
I know, it's just numbers, but according to strength of schedule, the Lakers' schedule is going to "feel" much easier because the schedule they've already had was supposedly much harder than the scheduled games remaining!
And which Western teams will be "feeling' that the games are getting more difficult than the ones they've already played? Phoenix, San Antonio, and New Orleans!!!!!!!
I'm getting worked up over a bunch of data points!!!!
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | February 19, 2008 at 05:42 PM
Laker Lover,
"1) he thinks he is so valuable to the team they cant play .500 and make the post-season without him. Message to his teammates- You guys cant win without me.
And when things go bad. Guess what? WE GET THE RADIO RANT ONCE AGAIN THIS SUMMER. 6 weeks is all he would be out? Wake up LOSER KOBIATCH! THE TEAM DOESN'T NEED YOU FOR 6 WEEKS. YOU ARE NOT THAT GREAT! IF YOU WAS THEN YOU WOULD HAVE CARRIED THIS TEAM THE LAST FOUR YEARS OUT OF THE FIRST ROUND.
TEACHER TOM,
"You might want to reconsider that statement. Parker is not even an all-star while Kobe Bryant is the greatest player in the game today. No comparison in my mind or any real basketball fan who watches and knows the game."
AND IN TONY PARKERS DEFENSE, LIKE A TEAM PLAYER HE SAT OUT UNTIL HEALTHY. AND BY THE WAY, WHO WAS FINALS MVP LAST YEAR?
I guess KOBIATCH IS THE GREATEST PLAYER IN THE GAME TODAY TO NEVER GET HIS TEAM OUT OF THE FIRST ROUND AND TO NEVER WIN A FINALS MVP.
OH, MY BAD. SHAQ STOLE THE FINAL MVPS FROM KOBE.
I KNOW THAT ALL YOU BLOGGERS ARGUMENT.
Posted by: Gunner | February 19, 2008 at 05:44 PM
HOBBIT,
"To put it in the vernacular: Seize the FRICKIN' day and choke
it until the Larry O'Brien trophy comes out in a pool of
PURPLE & GOLD!"
THAT TYPE OF SELFISHNESS IS WHAT GOT KOBE IN THIS MESS TODAY. YOU SEE YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHEN SOMEONE IS NO GOOD.
JUST WHEN YOU THINK THINGS ARE GOING GOOD AND TRY TO SATISFY THE OLD BALL HOG, THEN HERE COMES THE FINGER INJURY. NEXT, IT COULD BE A KNEE.
HEY LOSER KOBE! YOU BETTER GET THE SURGERY BECAUSE I KNOW YOU AND THIS BLOG IS GOING TO MAKE THE EXCUSE LATER IF YOUR FINGER GETS WORST THAT, THE TEAM LOST BECAUSE KOBIATCH WAS HURT.
Posted by: Gunner | February 19, 2008 at 05:48 PM
Andy,
It's all talk. Sportcasters need to talk sometimes even when there's nothing to say.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | February 19, 2008 at 05:49 PM
I would take Duncan then Ginoblie over Parker. Horrible comparison IMO.
W/O Kobe, there is a great chance the Lakers miss the playoffs. If they do, what good is a healthy Kobe? He is primed and ready for the Olympics. lol
The West is WAY TOO TIGHT for Kobe to go down for 6+ weeks. If everyone else was healthy, that would be a different story. But that is not the facts right now. This team needs Kobe to make the playoffs.
Posted by: frank rizzo | February 19, 2008 at 05:50 PM
We'll see if it works, but your presence at this blog lets us all know one thing:
The Lakers scare you and you can't do anything about it for the next 5 years.
Korey
I'm with you all the way on that, and to tell you the truth I'd rather see the trophey stay in the west for as long as possible.
Like I said I'm not too proud to admit that, but to sit here and read post after post from what I think are pretty smart ppl,
Bash trades from other teams is just plain ignorant.
I know this blog is home to laker fans so I understand why you say what say sometimes, but c'mon, to bash the SHAQ, and now the KIDD trade nd say that the trades hurts Phoenix, and Dallas more than helps them is well i'll say again IGNORANT.
Truth is every team in th west has got to watch out for who ever they face...bottom line.
Posted by: Fire32 | February 19, 2008 at 05:52 PM
If you don't know what you are talking about, it's better to keep your mouth shut or in this case don't post. This applies to a handful of folks here.. Kobe holding up a roster spot? No. He didn't want to play and he let the league know. It's not his fault that the league forced him to suit up and not give that spot to someone else. Isn't it interesting that Stu Jackson told Byron Scott to play Kobe as little as possible but yet start him? It's the league, not Kobe.
When someone's hatred runs deep, you can't reason with him/her. So, I'll leave it at that.
Posted by: Lakerfan | February 19, 2008 at 05:59 PM
Lakers will win the west.
Dallas just made another stupid trade.
What I dont get is the following..
Kidd went 23-30 with TWO scorers alongside him in the EAST..what makes them think he can do any better with Dirk essentially in the west?!
stupid...but good for us!
go lakrs..kill atlanta before beating the stupid FUNS...
shaq is running his mouth already i bet.
good!
go purple and gold!!
hello to all the blog bros...
Posted by: Lakers4Realz | February 19, 2008 at 06:01 PM
Pachuila, Horford, Williams, Smith, Childress, Johnson, Bibby!
These are all very good players! But without Tyron Lue, Hawks can't beat the Lakers!
If Phoenix signs Tyron Lue, they can beat the Lakers too.
Don't forget before we can beat the Suns tomorrow, we have to beat the Hawks first, so stay FOCUS TONIGHT!
LAKERS NUMBER ONE!!!!
SUNS in their next three games 0-3 (Lakers, Celtics, Pistons) hahahaha!
Posted by: Staples 24 | February 19, 2008 at 06:09 PM
What makes Nash a shoo-in for the HOF is his two MVPs.
I'm not saying he didn't deserve them, I'm just saying there were a lot of guys those two seasons who were also deserving.... and those two MVPs take a guy who averaged 7.8 assists per game for his career into the HOF.
Eh... I suppose if Petrovich can make it in, then Nash can too.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | February 19, 2008 at 06:11 PM
mel....Thanx for the link to that story about the Big Amnesia.
What really annoys me about Shaq is that he gets a free pass on a lot of the BS that comes out of his mouth. In the story that blogger mel linked us to, The Big Dirty Laundry was quoted as saying "....but my thing is that I wasn't going to run if you weren't going to throw it to me. I know Steve(Nash) will throw it to me."
Then his new coach chimed in..." (People) will be surprised when they see how well a motivated Shaq can move."
WHAAAAT??
First Shaq questions his old teammates, and then D'Antoni enables him with some bogus talk about "motivation". I guess a paycheck in excess of $20M wasn't enough to motivate the Big Boy. What a crock!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | February 19, 2008 at 06:13 PM
Great article by JA Adande:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=PlayerPoll-080219
No love from the Mamba. I love it!
Posted by: | February 19, 2008 at 06:16 PM
i dont like the caron for odom thing.
sorry.
odom is a more VERSATILE player than caron..i love caron..but still.
i think odom will thrive in there with bynum and Pau under there...
i say no more moves.
Posted by: Lakers4Realz | February 19, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Dear fellow bloggers Gunner, Laker Lover, and Luke Walton all live together in the same beach house with matching shorts.
Posted by: chuck23 | February 19, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Gunner/Laker Lover,
Cavs lost to the rockets today... because lebron has 5 TO's and shto 38% from the field LOL
Posted by: look lonely | February 19, 2008 at 06:39 PM
Why so much Fuss about Kobe's not going for surgery? The guy is sacrificing himself for the name of the game but still some of us not even appreciate it? or maybe they're just concern what future holds for kobe if it worsen his injury. But the reason is unacceptable "The only reasons Kobe is not having the surgery are self serving"... Are you in good state of mind, Dude?
I firmly believe that Phil will give Kobe less minute in today and tomorrow's game or next. Kobe and Phil will observe Laker's games, in how they'll play without much help from Kobe/or in the absence of his offense before deciding for Surgery.. It's a good move for Kobe for keeping the surgery onhold. The Team might need him to put the Lakers in a Playoff. He already shows to us how he plays with the injury so I'm not so worried about his injury getting worst.
Posted by: trio | February 19, 2008 at 06:40 PM
Just for the record..i hate steve nash almost as much as greasy whinny D antoni.
steve nash is overrated..period....
he thinks he is a funny man with this stupid comments...make no mistakes about it..all of the FUNS are scared of this lakers team...without Bynum
with Bynum.....well they will be shaking.
Also..i cant wait for AB to dunk it on shaq's big fat 1000% head.
You know it will happen too!
Posted by: Lakers4Realz | February 19, 2008 at 06:44 PM
Interesting night around the league....
Houston beats the Cavs by 10 in Cleveland despite a triple dub by LBJ....Rockets are really hot and are playing great defense.
Orlando is putting it to Detroit in the Palace of Auburn Hills.
KG is back for the C's in Denver. 36-31 Nuggs after 1.
SA and Charlotte 36-32 at halftime. Are the Spurs the most boring championship team of all time or what?
Can't wait for the Laker game. GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | February 19, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Gunner,
you are misinformed my friend...
and i think you do live in a cave...
Posted by: Lakers4Realz | February 19, 2008 at 06:47 PM
Haters, Shaq has a message for you all about Bryant:
"He's playing fabulous," said O'Neal. "He is the best player in the league. He's a tough guy to guard."
Posted by: trio | February 19, 2008 at 06:50 PM
I wouldn't trade for Caron right now. You give up a healthy productive Odom for a guy whose hip flexors flare up in the shootaround?
Posted by: mel | February 19, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Regarding Adandes' All Star poll.
Ask a stupid question and get a bunch of stupid answers.
Posted by: AN 1 | February 19, 2008 at 07:11 PM
What a ridiculous score at the half. Utah up on Warriors 77-64. haha
Posted by: mel | February 19, 2008 at 07:12 PM
The FSN pre-game show is a pathetic joke. They've spent the bulk of the first part of the show on Paul Gasol (old news), and about a minute on Kobe's finger, which frankly is all I want to know about before the game.
There is not only NO insight on this show, they tell you LESS than you already know. This blog is so on point (no surprise), but none of the FSN commentators offer anything more than pablum.
James Worthy and Jim Hill are so superior to MacDonald, Nixon & Company that it leaves me speechless. This is the last FSN pre-game show I will tune into.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | February 19, 2008 at 07:13 PM
Korey,
>>>So that's why I would disagree that Fisher, Farmar, Vlad are
>>>options in the offense. These guys IMO primarily finish a play
>>> created by one of the "player options" in the offense. Maybe
>>>backdoor cutting or waiting at the 3 pt line for a shot but not
>>>really dribble penetration or something like that.
Surely you jest. Both Fisher and Farmar are much better at
setting up the offense than Lamar. They both are better passers
and can drive both left and right, unlike Lamar who can only drive
left effectively. They also are both much better outside shooters
than Lamar. A smart defender on Lamar would just back off and
dare him to shoot the outside shot and only defend the drive to
the left. It would be a guaranteed shut-down.
In fact, Farmar might be even better than Kobe in the role of
the guy who initiates offense. Did you watch the rookie challenge
game? 18 points and 12 assists. He got the ball to the hot hand,
pushed the ball up on fast breaks and got layups and dunks for
his teammates, and hit a couple of threes and a couple of shots
where he drove into the lane and shot a fall away. I don't think
Jordan will ever be as effective a scorer as Kobe, but I think his
peak will be much higher than Fisher (or Odom).
You are closer to correct about Vlad. He is most effective as
a "spot up at the 3-point line" guy.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | February 19, 2008 at 07:39 PM
AN 1,
There was one notable abstention in the voting: the ultra-competitive Kobe Bryant.
"If it ain't us, I don't care," Kobe said.
F#$#$#ing great one!
What an answer. Everyone else gives PC responses and Kobe is just Kobe... no wonder the haters don't like him. All he cares about is the hardware.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | February 19, 2008 at 07:45 PM
We dont really need caron!! He's a scorer. Thats the last thing we need right now.
Posted by: zen | February 20, 2008 at 09:50 AM
have you heard about 20-game winning streaks lately?..
well, the lakers will get it done...mark my words..
20-game winning streak...wow
Posted by: brett | February 21, 2008 at 08:26 AM