Quick impressions
February 5, 2008 | 8:17
pm
I wrote earlier today (in the Question of the Day) that I wouldn't read too much into the result of tonight's game- a strong 105-90 win over the Nets in Joyzey, nor the performance of Pau Gasol in his purple and gold debut. I didn't say that I wouldn't make some observations, though. We'll get into more of this in tomorrow's broadcast of Purple, Gold, and Blue, at 11:00 am (Kurt Helin from Forum Blue and Gold will be our guest). Just a few, off the cuff thoughts (i.e., don't get on me for not mentioning certain things...)
- This has the potential to be very, very good.
- The spacing offensively was outstanding, which is particularly impressive given Gasol's very shallow knowledge of the offense. The Lakers recorded 27 assists on 38 buckets, a very nice number, particularly on the road, where dimes are a little harder to come by. With Gasol in the lineup, they have a ton of guys who move the ball well, and any extra room on the court will improve the work of the weaker passers, too.
- Pau's face up game should mesh very nicely with a healthy Bynum, a hi-lo thing that could be awful constructive.
- If the ball movement can stay effective, guys on the perimeter are going to get a TON of clean looks. If I'm Rad, Sasha, and Farmar, I'm a very happy camper.
- Once Drew returns, the Lakers have the potential to be monsters on the glass. And along those lines, personally I found LO's performance tonight to be very encouraging. If this is what they'll get out of him going forward, it'll be great. He influenced the game in a big way, but didn't have to score. 14/15/5, off 13 FTs. Anytime he gets to the line 13 times, that's good.
- By the way, the Lakers won by 15, and Kobe scored six points. Yeah, the Nets suck- really, they suck- but still, how often does that happen?
Plenty more tomorrow.
BK
Last time I felt this good about a Laker team was when we got Payton and Malone...but look what happened. So I am trying not to get my hopes up but things are looking really darn good for us right now. Every GM in the league is ready to throw rocks at that dude from Memphis.
As BK mentioned, when socks gets back we are going to have a very good hi-lo game and Pau is certain to complement socks and vice versa.
Defense is not going to be a problem...we just have to hope that the injury bug doesn't strike right before or during the playoffs. But we are deep.
Although Turiaf struggled a bit tonight is he not also a big surprise with his play this year...and of course Farmar and Bynum. Then the Ariza trade looked to be brilliant and now Pau. Geez, I need my sunglasses too.
Kobe should be the MVP this year...he should have been the year he scored 81 points (he was the only reason the Lakers were able to still make the playoffs the last two years), I mean, we all know MVP is more of a popularity contest rather than a real measure of a players value to a team anyway. Kobe has been the most valuable player on the Lakers and will continue to be for a while. But in a few years, Bynum could be the MVP.
Let's keep rolling. Pau must be happy to know that he should be able to get some authentic Paella in LA.
Posted by: thedropper | February 05, 2008 at 09:47 PM
PAU: BIENVENIDO A LOS ANGELES, AMIGO!!
Some things:
I LOVE the way Vlad's playing. Faking the 3 and taking it to the hole. Crashing the glass. Giving VC the hard foul rather than smile for his poster. Moving the ball. It's almost like he was expecting to get traded, and felt like he had been given a second chance when he wasn't. Here's hoping he keeps it up.
That was by FAR and away the quietest 14 and 15 I've ever seen. Lamar is officially the Quiet Storm. The next person who talks about trading him gets a noogie and a swirlie.
Did you see Kobe giggling on his way to the bench? The dude is PSYCHED about his team. I take this as a very, very good sign. Did you see his interview afterwards? "There is a God"??? Can someone please tell Mitch to get an extension to Pelinka the SECOND league rules allow? If he gets that done, is there anything standing between him and EOY?
Derek Fisher was our leading scorer at 28 points. Let that settle for a moment: the dude who in our most likely starting lineup will be the FIFTH option lead us in scoring with 28 points. This is the equivalent of Oberto leading the Spurs in scoring. There's just no way it's fair; I almost feel sorry for the other teams in the West. Almost.
Despite what was said, I like not playing Ronny a lot for a few games. Dude has achy hips, and I'd much rather save him for the home stretch/playoff run. We know he's good to go.
How awesome is it to see Kobe dump it into Pau over the fronting defender and watch him do the flamenco pirouette and lay it in? Almost as wonderful as watching your center make most of his free throws. I'm worried about Kwame - if the people in Memphis were booing Gasol, how many games will it take for them to boo Kwame? I really, really hope he does well there.
Does anyone else think MIke T was lurking, hoping that Pau did horribly in his debut so he could post how stupid the Lakers were to trade Kwame? Is there anyone else who wishes KL hadn't been banned so we could mention how Pau Gasol obviously had no problem coming to LA and playing with Kobe?
PAU TO MIKE T AND KL: F-U!!!
Posted by: SBPimp | February 05, 2008 at 09:47 PM
prince. You observed what I said could be the only thing that could stop us from making it to the finals. PJ coaches with his ego way to much!
Posted by: chuckjr | February 05, 2008 at 09:47 PM
@Gunner-
I know. It's gotta hurt. I felt it when Shaq won a championship riding Dwyane Wade and the ref's striped coattails.
But I never thought I'd see someone stoop so low. Now Kobe's going to ride PAU GASOL'S coattails to a championship? Are you kidding me? Pau Gasol is a fine player, but now you're going to tell us here that HE is the man, not Kobe Bean Bryant? I'd like to say that I don't care who gets the credit, because I don't. I'm just worried about your mental and spiritual well-being at this point.
Denial ain't a river in Egypt, homey.
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | February 05, 2008 at 09:49 PM
Check this out:!!
Suns, Heat agree to Shaq trade
Suns, Heat agree to Shaq trade
No longer confident they can win a championship with their current roster, the Phoenix Suns have agreed to a blockbuster trade that will bring them Shaquille O'Neal, pending results of a physical, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday.
O'Neal will travel to Phoenix aboard a private plane, the source said, to undergo an MRI on his ailing left hip Wednesday. If he passes the physical, the Suns will complete the trade by sending Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat.
The Miami Herald first reported the Suns and Heat were in serious discussions regarding the trade.
Johnny Ludden is the NBA editor for Yahoo! Sports. Send Johnny a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_
ylt=AvJlKROFCBVNXvb1sPDzBwWLvLYF?
slug=jy-shaqdeal020508&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Posted by: lil_jeff_pinoy | February 05, 2008 at 09:50 PM
I would be pumped to see Shaq against Kobe in the playoffs! That would be fun!
If all Shaq did was concentrate on defense and Amare moves to the power forward position, I think they will do better than people think.
Posted by: zen | February 05, 2008 at 09:51 PM
SIMERS!!! TJ SIMERS!!!! YOU KOBE HATING JERK!!!
LET IT GO SIMERS!!!! LET IT GO!!! and then resign please.
I am so sick of your ANTI-KOBE articles.
CAN WE TRADE SIMERS????
janaya
Posted by: janaya | February 05, 2008 at 09:53 PM
Looks like Shaq/Marion is really happening. O'Neal is on his way to Phoenix for a physical. Listening to Jalen Rose on NBA Shootaround, he almost convinced me this could work for the Suns. But I still don't see it. The guy isn't healthy enough to provide the sort of things they want him to do on the defensive end. Not consistently, at least. Not judging by what I've seen from him this season.
But hey, I didn't believe the rumors in the first place, so maybe I'm wrong about this one, too. But like the trade itself, I'll believe it works when I see it works.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | February 05, 2008 at 09:54 PM
The GHE guys were exhelodvr, Andrew Z, Michael, and others.
The GHF guys were LakerTom, Jon Kavulic, Edwin Gueco, myself, some others.
The GHE guys did not want to be patient at all. They wanted to make the big trade immediately, including Bynum because they didn't want to wait 3-4 years for him to develop. The GHF guys generally liked the team as it was and thought guys like Brian Cook and Kwame were useful. It doesn't matter now as we are all united as one. Go Lakers!
Posted by: The Original Ken | February 05, 2008 at 09:55 PM
WELCOME BACK TO THE PACIFIC!!!!
SHAQ ATTACK!
Suns counter attacks Lakers move. Is this basketball or a game of Chess?
Make sure we keep Mbanga!
Posted by: Staples 24 | February 05, 2008 at 09:56 PM
We definitely gonna win it all!!!
Posted by: Ando | February 05, 2008 at 09:57 PM
By the way, does anyone think that the Gasol trade happens if Bynum never went down with an injury???
I've never been thankful for one of our guys to get injured but this might be a case where the results in the end are better because socks went down. We'll have to wait and see and I suppose we'll never know for sure whether we would have gotten Gasol without the injury to Bynum.
Posted by: thedropper | February 05, 2008 at 09:58 PM
As long as Suns do not give up both Marion and Diaw, Shaq deal should be good for the Suns. They still have Amare and Diaw if Shaq gets injured. But if Amare gets injured, Suns is done without Marion.
Posted by: Staples 24 | February 05, 2008 at 10:00 PM
amazing,
"So, how long til the cockaroaches come out and say Gasol is better than Kobe.
Don't you see how much Kobe makes a decent center look? Even with a bum pinkie. Hate to pick on Lebronze, but if Lebronze suffered that injury, he'd be out for a week. Kobe was right back in it.
Kobe makes his teammates better.
MVP.
Oh yeah, go Lakers.
---------
I agree. Kobe will make GASOL X 2.
The west is due for a shakedown and I am hearing RUMORS of Shaq to Pheonix?? If Kerr does that, he is an idiot. I hope he is an idiot.
Shaq would be OUT of EVERY play. I would like to see the FUNS play a half court game for 48 minutes. Laughable at best....
NOW LETS GO LAKERS!!!
MAMBA, TIME FOR THE "BAN TJ SIMERS" WAGON!!
I VOW NEVER TO READ ANY OF HIS ARTICLES AGAIN!!
What a smuck....
Posted by: janaya | February 05, 2008 at 10:01 PM
BK,
They also made a good point that the practices that Riley does makes it harder to stay healthy. Dantoni won't work Shaq as hard.
Posted by: zen | February 05, 2008 at 10:01 PM
At the end of ESPN Fastbreak they said that the Shaq to Phoenix trade is going to happen. WTF?
Posted by: Los_Angeles Jakers | February 05, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Hey BK
Gasol and Bynum gonna run laps around Shaq. Marion was their Mr. Intangible terrible trade for the Suns in my opinion.
Posted by: Paul Lee | February 05, 2008 at 10:02 PM
How geeked up will the Staples Center crowd be then first game back from this road trip?
(Beating the same drum that others have already...) it sure is bright in Lakerland.
Posted by: EHomp | February 05, 2008 at 10:02 PM
another reactionary move by an opponent... in the 3peat era, the blazers tried to put together a team to stop us, result = breakup of team... then the kings tried to do the same thing, result = breakup of team... now phoenix?? and we're barely starting the kobynum era, we JUST added Gasolina and already they're scrrrd........ instead of being leaders they're all followers... history always repeats itself....
dear phoenix, your window of opportunity is closing.... now you just bought a lock for it.... dumb....
Posted by: xyz | February 05, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Whomever starts the Corey Hart (I Wear My Sunglasses at Night) bandwagon, put Milo in the crowd.
My dust-encrusted mirror shades from the 80's still fit for the 21st Century Showtime.
--Milo.
Posted by: MiloRambaldi | February 05, 2008 at 10:06 PM
AND Shaq is going to be more motivated than ever to spoil the Laker's party.
Posted by: zen | February 05, 2008 at 10:06 PM
zen-
That is a good point, for sure. On the other hand, there's going to be much more activity playing for Phoenix as opposed to Miami. I can see that both ways. But I just wonder if he's healthy enough now to be able to fill the void they're asking him to fill. And in a year or two? Yikes.
I realize the Lakers just picked up a guy with back problems, but the health issues between Gasol and Shaq don't seem to equate, and certainly the age difference is a big deal, too.
If Shaq reaches back and dips into the tank for the reserves that are probably still there- a motivated Shaq is still a dangerous Shaq, just not as dangerous as before- maybe it pays off. I just have trouble seeing him operate in that system.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | February 05, 2008 at 10:06 PM
BK,
This is going to be a disaster for Phoenix. The interesting thing is that it appears that Kerr and Co. didn't confer with D'Antoni before this deal went down. From what I've read, he didn't even know this was happening.
The fact that they want Shaq for his offense and not his D is even more hilarious. Shaq was a bad screen and roll defender when he was in LA, he's even older and slower now. He has 4 20 point games this season and has fouled out 5 times, that's a very telling stat.
He's averaging under 30 minutes a night because he can't stay out of foul trouble.And he can't stay out of foul trouble because he can't move his feet. Shaq's going to make their D worse, not better since PHX just gave up their best perimeter defender (who often guarded guys like Paul and Parker) so they can get Shaq who won't be able to move into position to defend those guys on their way to the rim.
I thought Steve Kerr was smarter than this.
Posted by: Xodus | February 05, 2008 at 10:06 PM
Eighties Laker is wack.....complete with the short shorts.
Don't hate on Kobe. Fatquill O'niell would have ZERO rings w/o the Mamba.
I cant nderstand how those who say they are fans, BUT they hate Kobe (damn.....dont wanna open that discussion again).....
janaya
Posted by: janaya | February 05, 2008 at 10:06 PM
Mation and Banks for SHAQ!
Lakers could have offered Odom and Sasha for Shaquille to Miami! Pat Riley should have offered Shaq to Lakers first..
Posted by: Staples 24 | February 05, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Anyone see Kwame's stats in his first game for the Grizz:
K. Brown 16 minutes
4pts
4 rebounds
3 turnovers
3 fouls
and minus 14
Pau Gasol 36 minutes
24pts
12 rebounds
2 turnovers
3 fouls
1 steal
4 assists
and plus 20
Damn that says it all right there. It's only one game but damn...I think this will be a consistent representation of the difference between these two players.
Posted by: thedropper | February 05, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Shaqs ego is to big to be Amare Stadamires sidekick
he will want the ball and stop the ball movement if the
why would the suns make this trade?
panick move no marrion? you have a 36 year odl grant hill and 78 year old shaq and 34 year old nash there is no way that team can play with the big boy they are giving up a top 10 defender in marrion for a man who let's erick dampier score 18 points and get 14 rebounds on him i love shaq but he should retire instead of making him self look like a fool and while getting bood in phoenix for faulling out or going 1-9 from the line
Posted by: shneurson | February 05, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Yeah
I hope kobe and ariza posterize shaq in the playoff. Revenge is sweet
Posted by: ShazLakers | February 05, 2008 at 10:09 PM
here is the match up
Shaq Bynum
gasol stadamire
odom hill
bryant bell
fisher nash
suns have diaw and no bench while the lakers have
farmar vuyacich radmanovich walton ariza turiaf
i just don't see the suns wining if they would want to go small they are going to have to take shaq out and with no marrion their talles player would be 6-8 diaw
Posted by: shneurson | February 05, 2008 at 10:11 PM
If Shaq goes to Phx, that will be another David Stern conspiracy move just like Gasol to LA.
Think of the TV ratings when LA meets Phx in the playoffs just to see Kobe v.s. Shaq.
Then, LA vs Boston in the finals. (or LA vs Cleveland, Kobe vs Lebron, if Garnett stays injured)
Posted by: LakerinBC | February 05, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Xodus,
Should I just cut and paste our entire conversation from earlier about why this won't work and save ourselves both some trouble? haha
Good lord, it is absolute lunacy on Phoenix's part if they do this. The rate Shaq is rapidly declining, if they literally don't win this season, the window will be shut, sealed up with cement and then the window itself will be locked inside a vault.
My head is about to explode.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | February 05, 2008 at 10:12 PM
I don't really see the Shaq trade helping Phoenix. Injury prone and slow. He isn't going to be able to run with the team like Marion could.
I think he will benefit from Nash's passing ability though. He may end up putting up better numbers than he was in Miami but if the rumors are true and they only want him to focus on defense then he isn't going to be happy there for very long. I don't think this increases the Suns chances of winning the championship and it might end up hurting them.
I still appreciate the championships Shaq brought to LA but I was a bit sour by the way he treated Buss on his way out. It will be fun to kick the Suns ass in the playoffs but I'll feel a bit sorry for Shaq. Just a bit though.
Posted by: thedropper | February 05, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Remember also that Shaq only starts playing well after his birthday in March. That is according to Phil Jackson! That's when Shaq turns it up.. It will be interesting...I hope we get Bynum healthy in time.
What is interesting about this trade, is Riley always looks for deals with teams that are under pressure to get a deal done: Lakers needed to trade Shaq and now Phoenix is under pressure to keep up with L.A. That is how Riley gets his deals done.
Posted by: zen | February 05, 2008 at 10:14 PM
it's nearly embarrassing that shaq's been passed around the league so many times... he's like the JLO of the nba, can't make a marriage work.... it ain't no fun if the homies can't haaave none....
Posted by: xyz | February 05, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Shaq is the ultimate possum. Acts wounded and then lo and behold, he's been cured.
I see a little snake in the grass potential. Shaq can regale them with stories about Kobe. Material to put in their sequel to 7 seconds.
Sigh. Just when they kissed and made up.
Posted by: mel | February 05, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Fun stat:
MOST POINTS IN A LAKERS DEBUT
KAJ - 27
Magic- 26
STU LANTZ - 26
Elgin - 25
PAU - 24
In other words, Pau had a pretty good game, but he's no Stu Lantz. Gotta love any list that breaks down KAJ, Magic, Stu, Elgin. If I were Stu, I'd have that tattooed on my chest.
Posted by: SBPimp | February 05, 2008 at 10:16 PM
Is next year the last year of Marion's deal?
Posted by: zen | February 05, 2008 at 10:17 PM
yahoo sports website is know comfirming that it happened.
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_
ylt=Ao.0v3DLbw4E4VZBjCcAalK8vLYF?slug=
jy-shaqdeal020508&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Posted by: LB | February 05, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Seems like a desperate move, done only because the Lakers got much better. They could have kept Kurt Thomas for the kind of money Shaq is getting. Kurt was better for what the Suns do on offense, and on D, Kurt was mobile and big.
If they thought their defense was bad WITHOUT a big man, wait til they see what happens on pick and rolls with Shaq. He doesn't go out. Bynum and Gasol are going to be a handful for Shaq and Stoudemire. I don't see how they'd match up. Stoudemire was dominated by bynum each time they met, and Shaq isn't himself. Bynum would be too much for either of them. Gasol all-around game will be too much for shaq or Stoudamire to handle.
Oh well, I guess I just convinced myself that I'd like to see him go to the suns.
Posted by: #4 | February 05, 2008 at 10:19 PM
If you don't already, you guys really have to check out slamonline.com. Great stuff over there on all of the NBA.
This is from Lang Whitaker's games notes of tonight's game:
• YES (the Network that broadcasts Nets games) catches a great moment: In between quarters, a kid went over and knelt down next to Kobe on the end of the L.A. bench so his dad could take a picture of the kid with Kobe. Kobe notices and, without the kid catching on, looks at the camera over the kid’s shoulder and holds up two fingers behind the kid’s head. If you’re that kid, please email me the picture so we can run it on SLAMonline.com.
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | February 05, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Gunner,
He had a dislocated finger. The dude was giving himself a heat check and trying to feel it out. His 11 turnovers against the pistons?? How many times did Kwame drop Kobes feeds to the post again??
Your like a teenage kid that wants to argue JUST to get a reaction out of us. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD AGREE WITH YOU?? Ahhhhh SIMERS......
I have it figured out....HEY EVERYONE....
GUNNER IS REALLY TJ SIMMERS!!!!
YOUR SHAM IS UP GUNNER!!!
Posted by: janaya | February 05, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Nets got served some Kung Pau indeed!
As for the Shaq trade, I wouldn't be so hasty to call it a bad move. Steve Kerr is a very bright guy and he knows that it's time to bring in a huge low post presence if the Suns are ever going to get to the finals. Shawn Marion hasn't been happy in Phoenix for a while, he makes a ton of money and wants a big-time extension. The real question is whether Shaq has any gas left in the tank. He's certainly going to have some big-time motivation. He also won't have to deal with Riles' destructive, marathon practices. The Suns will maximize whatever Shaq has left. If this happens, you'd better believe that PJ will take it VERY seriously.
We could have some real battles ahead... Drew & Pau versus Shaq & Amare - GO LAKERS!
Posted by: dave m | February 05, 2008 at 10:19 PM
I am fortunate to have NBA league pass, and watch the Heat at least a few minutes every time they play.
Shaq can barely get to the rim anymore. If he really goes for it, he can get down a nice dunk......but not by much. His hips and feet and knees are GONE.
Bynum will be getting lobs over the top of him for slams over and over. It would be GREAT entertainment!
PHOENIX......Please make the trade.
Posted by: Eric M | February 05, 2008 at 10:20 PM
1) Kobe vs Shaq in the playoffs. Oh how sweet!
2) Watching Bynum Vs Shaq in the playoffs. Sweet again.
3) Hearing Shaq say "Nash is my little brother and he's the best player in the NBA"
Posted by: zen | February 05, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Bad GM Mitch is dead.
Long live Steve Kerr, worst GM ever! haha.
Laker fans everywhere support you Stevie.
Posted by: Faith | February 05, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Shaq: Don't be fooled by the rocks that I got, I'm still Shaq from the block. Used to have a little (game) now I have a lot (mileage).
No matter I go I know where I came from..
Posted by: Faith | February 05, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Darryl,
"Even with Bynum's return, there should be 20 - 25 minutes a game "
Where? You have Bynum, Gasol, and Odom splitting 96 minutes at C and PF.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | February 05, 2008 at 10:23 PM
SHAQ from the bottom in the East to contenders in the West..... With Amare and Diaw, Suns can afford to loose Marion. Good move by Steve Kerr!
SHAQ gets his 5th ring? and Kobe whatta!
A chnage of scenery for Shaq in Miami with his divorce would do him good in Phoenix. Charles Barkley, you're love for Phoenix, Nash and Shaq, hate for the Kobe and the Lakers! What do you have to say?
Posted by: Staples 24 | February 05, 2008 at 10:23 PM
AK- tell us how you really feel about the potential Shaq trade! haha
Posted by: Laker Lover | February 05, 2008 at 10:24 PM
its official. Diesel to phoenix. the clock on steve kerr's job has started to tick away...
Posted by: sixonezero | February 05, 2008 at 10:27 PM