Vman,

Posted 3 times, no response.

Of course my posts criticized him for his history of being unapproachable to fans.

Still, he should try facing the issue some day. It would make his blog more interesting.

Wes

I am really bummed for Yao. He's a good guy, an excellent player and I'd like to see him out there competing.

Denver and Golden State better not miss the playoffs now or there will be a full on mutiny in those cities.

Tim-4-Show,
where's the link to the Amare article?

Kenny Smith thinks were good, but not good enough to beat Shaq and the Suns in the WCF.. Can you believe it?

zen

(THESE ARE NOT FIGHTING WORDS)

but why do you sound so surprised?
The playoffs are a different beast, you have to play a more defensive minded game. During the season a team can take blows and not go down, but in the playoffs a team can only take so many blows before your knocked out.
SHAQ is not the best in regular season play anymore, but for a 16 game season he is completely capable of delivering a knockout punch to any team. Kenny is judging by what SHAQ playing with the SUNS (who BTW are a very good temam regardless of how you guy's feel about them) can do in the playoffs.
Kenny is also going off what has happened in recent years with the lakers getting booted in first round by the SUNS, yes you got the season series this year but in a playoff series it still remains to be seen.

BK,

I recall you saying in 2006/2007 that you think Dwade is a better player than Kobe despite the fact that Kobe was carrying a team with Kwame Brown, Luke Walton and Smush Parker as starters? The same Smush and Kwame that are about to wash out of the league. How about amitting you were wrong then?

Mark Kriegel's article on Fox Sports: http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7839988/
On-the-Mark:-Kobe-has-a-chance-to-shine-

---------------------------
My comments:

While Kobe has been playing amazing basketball this year and raising his team's level along the way, it's also amazing how some people expected a team of Smush, Kwame, Luke and a Odom who had been a career underachiever to be world beaters or close to it.. and claim Kobe has "never made teammates better" as Mark does in this article.. yeah, like Jordan and Barkely have said before, it's easier to "make teammates better" when they are talented.. You know what's interesting? Almost every teammate that's come on to the lakers have had their best FG% playing alongside Kobe.. (and not to slight LeBron, but, that's the opposite with his team.. all his teammates have struggled.. assists don't tell the whole story.. while people can talk about LeBron's stats, their offense looks awful and a major part of the blame goes to his coach and not having a true system but have LeBron dominate the ball.)

Kobe has had to carry a team of bench players (or even less in the case of Smush and Kwame) to the playoffs in the tough west, with players like Tierre Brown and Atkins playing significant minutes earlier and people have the audacity to claim that Kobe was doing too much and not making them better. Yeah, some people would rather fail like the Miami Heat than have a leader who has the ability to shoulder the load according to what he is working with.

Kobe always molds his game according to the situation.. this is a given. If the Olympics team needs defense, that's what he'll give. If the lakers need facilitator and defender, that's what Kobe will give. If they are in a drought and need some points, he will try to do that. A leader always tries to provide what the team needs. There is no one better in doing this: mold his game according to the situation.

The only time I was really disappointed with Kobe was in 2004 against the Pistons.. but that was also some of the best defense I've ever seen and the refs allowing Pistons to manhandle the lakers (like Phil said in his interview yesterday with AM570), get charging calls against Shaq and load the paint area.

Finally, I'm proud that Kobe is getting better in other aspects of leadership this year. Fisher and Kobe will provide the necessary leadership to take the lakers to promised land.

RandallJohn,

While I appreciate your "wait-and-see" attitude, it sounds to me like you're just being a negative nelly.

I will grant you that the Spurs and Pistons are proven champions, and we should fear and respect them. So MAYBE the Spurs are still the faves of the West, MAYBE. I'd say it's about even considering our depth and championship experience (though not as deep it is significant - don't forget Pau won a real World Championship too). And the Pistons run 3 rookies in their rotation (well two rookies plus Amir Johnson who is getting his first run this year), plus they are coached by Flip who hasn't proved anything in the postseason yet.

So who is your favorite? And by how much?

Also, the first round is 7 GAMES now, same as last year when GS beat Dallas. Only the Spurs and Pistons even have a chance if we're healthy, and I'd say it's about even between the three.

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

YAO MING!

I am here and sad to say that this injury of Yao will only help Denver and Phoenix!

I was really sure that with the H.Rockets surge, one of those two teams would not make the playoffs and somehow I was 99% sure that it would be the Suns!

I'll tell you why I was so positive about what I am sayong here...

Houston and Denever has an easy schedule ahead while the Suns... you guys already know.

Not that I am wasting my energy on the Suns failure but... I am positive that they will go 6-8 in the next 14 games including today's game.

Maxx

Im kind of offended by the Lakers/Celtics story, where the supposed "NBA insider" suggests Rondo has an advantage of Fisher. Are you kidding me????? Rondo is in his second year, whereas Fisher is a three time NBA champion and added to that hes been in the playoffs almost every year he's played. Although Fisher was not the starter during Indiana finals, he did face Mark Jackson who was a stud at the time, played extremely well versus Iverson during the Philly Finals and added to that he played well vs. Jason Kidd in the 3 peat year. Fisher has tremendous heart and plays extremely welll at the defense end, whereas Rondo has never been tested in anything.
Moreover, Fisher has been vital for the Lakers dramatic improvements this year. Fishers shooting nearly 50% from the field and 40% from 3-point range. And one should not argue that Rondo is a better point guard in regards to distribution of the ball because lakers have Odom and Kobe who both make the majority of the assists in the triange offense. Fisher makes the passes when he needs to and makes the tough shots when the team requires it (example .3 second shot vs. the Spurs)
Give a brother some respect!

cdub0512,

Yea he does kind of contradict himself..He says the Lakers are the team to beat, but he's saying he thinks the Suns will beat them. What I want to know is what happened to the Spurs!

Tony Parker has been out a lot this season, but he's back just in time for them to make a push..The Spurs will be tough.

Sorry but Yao Sucks. He is so soft like a Lo-Mein Noodle and more like a chinese version of Upgraded Shawn Bradley.

TIM,

--------------------

Back when I thought we were only going to win 25 of our last 30 games, I was really worried about the Mavs. Now that I’m looking forward to 34 straight, I think they will be just another speed bump in the Lakers road. lol.

What is going to be a big advantage for the Lakers is no Diop or Harris. Diop, with his height and length, is the kind of center that can give Pau trouble and Harris, with his speed, is the kind of point guard that gives all the Laker guards trouble.

Jason Kidd, on the other hand, as good as he is, hasn’t really been a major problem for the Lakers to stop. I see this game as being a pretty easy win that will show the real separation between these teams. The Kidd trade made the Mavs easy marks for us.

As for Amare, like usual, your comments were exactly my thoughts. This guy has no depth of character or insight as to how to play basketball. He is nothing but a physical marvel with weak heart and questionable character. The Suns traded the wrong guy.

--------------------

Tom

Dear Mamba24,

I hereby submit the Medical Bulletin Calendar as of 2/26/08, the ETA (Estimated Time Appearance) of following players:

1. Drew Bynum - March 31, 2008

2. Vlad Radmanovic - Day to day approximately March 15, 2008 (depending on the snowboarding conditions in the mountains. lol!)

3. Trevor Ariza - April 30, 2008 It could be the start of the 2nd round playoffs. (Unless of course they could find a good duco cement that could mend the broken foot.)

4. Chris Mihm - Indefinite but on players option till next contract year. They have to find and unscrew the missing screw embedded between the elbow and the heel. LMAO! When he got injured two years ago, it was the elbow, after a while he didn't make the playoffs a second operation needed on the elbow, and then the elbow never healed until contract time. Contract was reduced but renewed in 2007, played few games we thought it was elbow, oh no it was an ankle on the heel. Lately, it was reported he has a screw. Sorry, I'm mihmFUSED, I just stop asking.

Kobe Bryant - strained, torn pinky ligament, depressed by haters from referees, sportwriters, jealous fans. Because of the catalan effect, the battery is still running.

We are the Freakin' Lakers, never satisfied of anything, dissatisfied when we were down and still not happy when we are No. 1. We want to be on top of No. 1. LOL! Therefore, Mamba 24 by the power vested in you by the blog could you tame the debates, hide those inflated egos, corral those overflowing optimism, make love not war to fellow laker fans. Show no mercy to opposing teams, get that 40th W. tonight. Go Lakers!

Classic!

Loved that comment of yours it is pretty much clear of what I been thinkin lately!

Now... let's stop talking about Shaq because he still Shaq! Certainly he doesn't do what he used to but he can certainly bring the best out of every Phoenix opponents.

About K. Smith... well that his opinion... we should not enjoy only when people talk good things about the lakers but also enjoy when they start to doubt it.

The Lakers have proven that when people doubt 'em, they perform well! just like what happened last WED when lots of people thought the Lakers were going to lose due to the inthusiasm of people seeing Shaq in phoenix and his promises of being in the best team he ever played for.

Idiot. That's Amare.

"You got it right. Michael Jordan is the "Most Marketed Player EVER!" I don't think he's even close to in the same league as Wilt Chamberlein.

It's the same thing with LeBron James. I don't think that LeBron James is even in the top five players in the league RIGHT NOW, but he is the Most Marketed Player Right Now, and whether or not people want to admit that, it does effect people's perceptions.

They asked Chick Hearn who was the greatest player he ever saw, and Chick had seen them all. He said, "Elgin Baylor." How much do we hear about Elgin Baylor? He's practically an afterthought among the Greats. Why? Amoung the Greats he was one of the Least Marketed Players Ever."

It is interesting that you put Wilt over Jordan based on his bigger numbers (it’s certainly can’t be rings) and then choose to slight LeBron James who is currently having the best season numerically of anyone in the NBA (30.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 7.5 apg, 2.06 spg, 1.06 bpg, .486 fg%).

You’re also entirely wrong. Jordan was by far a better basketball player than Wilt.

Wilt was the Shaq of his day, that is to say someone with an incredible physical advantage over everyone else playing combined with an unusual level of skill for someone of his size. However, like Shaq, he lacked focus (joining the Globetrotters, acting, his sexual escapades) and didn’t make the most out of his talent to ensure team success for most of the seasons of his career. Also, like Shaq, Wilt’s playing level faded quickly and badly in his early 30s as he lost his physical edge. That’s why, despite the ridiculous numbers that Wilt put up early in his career, he ended up scoring the same career ppg as Jordan and ended up with less overall points scored.

Sure, Jordan was also incredibly talented physically. But, the bottom line is that the guy was only 6’6” playing in an era of great 7 footers, while Wilt was a 7 footer who played in an era with 6’9” centers. What set Jordan apart from Wilt (and virtually everyone else who has ever played) was his mental prowess with which he mastered himself, the flow of the game, and eventually the psyches of his teammates and even his opponents (this is the level that Kobe has not quite reached yet, although I think that he is getting there). It was this difference in mental ability as a basketball player that allowed Jordan to win 6 championships with far less talent (and zero post presence) than with Wilt was able to win only 2 championships.

The bottom line is that Jordan only played with 2 HOFers in his career (George Gervin, if you’re willing to count the 18 games they played together the year Jordan broke his foot which was also Gervin’s last in the L, and Scottie Pippen, who isn’t in yet in the HOF but will be). Chamberlain, on the other hand played with 8 HOFers (Paul Arizin, Tom Gola, Nate Thurmond, Hal Greer, Billy Cunningham, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, & Gail Goodrich). That’s not even counting two players with whom he played who were multiple All-Stars in Guy Rodgers (4 times) and Chet Walker (7 times).

As far as Baylor is concerned, I agree that he isn’t nearly as appreciated as he should be. Kareem also says that he was the best that he ever saw. You do have to keep in mind though that guys like Chick and Kareem were/are a bit prejudiced because Baylor was the first great creative 1 on 1 wing scorer who played above the rim and changed what people thought was possible on the basketball court. How could they be as impressed with the guys like Dr. J, Jordan, Kobe, and now LeBron who are merely continuing the path that Baylor blazed out of nothing? So, no doubt the guy was a great player and an absolute original, but he also won a big fat 0 championships (he was an unimaginably painful 0-9 in finals appearances between college and the pros).

Sean P,

Phil Jackson said yesterday in an interview that Jordan was the greatast interior offensive player in the history of the NBA. He said no one could score inside with the variety of ways he could. In was in large part with his freakishly big hands. He said in the post, Oscar came close, but Michael was still the best.

Wilt Chamberlain had freakishly long arms! And he was tall and athletic. I don't think anyone in the NBA now has arms like that! I can see why he dominated that era. Unfortunately, if he was truely special, he would have found a way to get his team to be successful against the Celtics. Just my opinion. He should've tried to become an even bigger defensive force like Russel was.

Wilt chamberlain came close to blocking Kareems hook once at it's peak...He was a physical freak!

In to-day's Mike Bresnahan's Lakers report , I saw a picture with a girl holding a sign which reads " HONG KONG for Kobe MVP 2008, we love U " . I am from Hong Kong ( living in LA ) too, anyones from HK too ?
fyi : Hong Kong used to be a British colony , it's now a Special Administrative Region of China in Southern China.

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.

KOBE 4 MVP

Great article about Chris Webber and his involvement with African/American documents and artifacts and how he uses them to engage youngsters in meaningful dialogue. Stories like this and efforts like the "Day of Service" during All Star weekend should recieve more publicity.

I hope the Portland announcers don't call the game. They along with snapper jones and the sac kings announcers are horrible, and are haters that are always trying to crack dry jokes when it comes to the lakers. I wish Chick Hearn were still around because even though he was the lakers announcer, he called the game for what it is. If you were bad he would say it, if you were good he would say it without being totally biased in favor of the lakers. He always knew facts and had good insight about the other teams and their players. He is sorely missed.

laker fans r jackasses, u guys win a few games in the regular season and already think u won the west...what a joke. the spurs in 5... u guys did get better, maybe u can win 1 game ha ha..... spurs own your ass and deep down u know it... it gets real quiet in staples when ever the spurs score more that 2 baskets in a row, in the fourth u could hear a pin drop. it's like daddy coming to spank that ass..you can act like you're not afraid but, u no u R !!!!!!!