Cowbell. Lots and lots of cowbell.
Here we are, enjoying a beautiful morning on March 4, and this evening's scrap with the Kings in Sacto (7 pm, KCAL) will be the first time these two teams have squared off all year. It won't be the last, though. The purple and gold will see the purple and black three more times, meaning the Kings will play a big role in determining which rung the Lakers will occupy on the playoff ladder. Sacramento has no real shot at a playoff berth and the rivalry isn't quite what it once was, but that doesn't mean the games won't have that little somethin' somethin'. After all, with everyone healthy the Kings aren't pushovers.
The Kings won't be intimidated, not with questions circulating about the team's toughness... or at the very least, Phil Jackson floating the notion in an effort to steel up his squad. Derek Fisher knows how PJ works, and doesn't question the track record. Maybe it would help for the Lakers to get out and turn themselves into some sort of street fighting gang. Just not this kind. And even stylized violence is probably not a safe means of expression for Ron Artest, who is slightly lighter in the wallet today after some provocative words to the press.
Though if Kobe does by chance find himself in harm's way, perhaps he should avoid these 13 players.
The Register's Kevin Ding has done some extra reading, and it provides a window into PJ's evolution.
Former Hornet Chris Anderson is expected to be reinstated by the NBA after a two year ban for drug issues, and will likely resign with New Orleans. Meanwhile, it's no surprise to see Sam Cassell officially in green, nor Gordan Giricek in whatever colors Phoenix happen to wear on any given day. (By the way, Steve Nash wants a little more jell time for the new-look Suns. They still need to adjust... unlike the Lakers, who added someone who fits in their system.)
Andrei Kirilenko is day to day after a hip injury.
Injury notes: Vlad Rad worked out on Monday, and might dress tonight.
Finally (not like we won't be mentioning this, like, a billion times), big news to announce: The Lakers Blog is heading on the road for the rest of the season! We've been approved for travel, so when the Lakers leave town, a K Brother will follow, starting tonight with AK in Sacramento. Live blog, postgame, all that stuff.
Woo hoo!
JEFF:"Put me on the "David Stern if Kobe doesn't win the MVP someone is going
to jail bandwagon." That's the bestest name EVER.
*____________________________________________
DAVID STERN IF KOBE BRYANT DOES NOT WIN THE
MVP THIS YEAR SOMEBODY IS GOING TO JAIL BANDWAGON
*______________________________________________
(1) NIK KANNAN - OWNER AND DRIVER……….(15) ANDO
(2) MAMBA24………………………………………..(16) LARRY
(3) VIOLATER……………………………………….(17) CBUCK
(4) OUTSIDERGUA………………………………...(18) EAST COAST JESSIE
(5) LAKERTRUTH - RIDING SHOTGUN………...(19) WHITEMAMBA24
(6) ALEXINH017…………………………………....(20) BLACKMAMBA24
(7) DREREK…………………………………………(21) TSIRY
(8) SHAQFAN……………………………………….(22) CHUCK.L.OHNIO
(9) JANAYA…………………………………………..(23) JUST ANOTHER MAMBA FAN
(10) JON K…………………………………………….(24) DREW PAUL KOBE
(11) IVI8KRS…………………………………………..(25) SBPIMP
(12) JOE DUBB………………………………………..(26) PSYCHED LAKER GIRL
(13) FEARLESS WHACK JOB ……………………..(27) JEFF
(14) TSPHERE
Posted by: Mamba24 | March 04, 2008 at 11:43 AM
i think teams are assuming the Lakers are a soft team just by the way the past couple of games have been. this might be the theme for the rest of this season and playoffs. hopefully the young guys have it in them not to let vets get in their heads. Pau is suspect. Is he ready for this stage?
Mamba24. good to have you back as the resident soul of the blog.
Posted by: sixonezero | March 04, 2008 at 11:45 AM
KEIFOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
D@amn I almost missed your post.
SHOWTIME IT IS!
The Lakers will Show the Kings The time of
THE FREAKIN LA LAKERS has arrived
As a goog friend would say:
LIGHTS OUT BABY!!!! LOL!
Posted by: Mamba24 | March 04, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Good morning, Charles and all....
Mr. Mamba, please add my to the Championship and MVP bandwagons.
It's our year.
Unfortunately, gonna have to miss the tilt with Sonny's Queens to go root against the Big Quotable in person. Personally I can't wait to see the mess PHX has become. Funs and Queens going down!
Posted by: Jesterguru | March 04, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Good Morning Charles---Good Morning Laker Nation....
YET ANOTHER GREAT DAY TO BE A LAKER FAN......
I sure hope Lamar comes out aggresive tonight and drives to the basket with regularity----that goes for all the guards as well....
PICK AND ROLL---PICK AND ROLL---PICK AND ROLL.......
I hope (as usual) Ronny plays some significant minutes tonight ....
I hope this blog doesn't turn into a debate forum for the merits of different movies--or music, or anything except ....wait for it.....the Lakers / NBA
I can't believe someone didn't name the all time NBA's ugliest player to their list of ugly players---and the winner is.....wait for it......Doug Christie---but that Delonte West (looks very Leprecanum) guy isn't winning any beauty contests any time soon....
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Floyd | March 04, 2008 at 11:51 AM
OVER 100 POST IN LESS THAN A COUPLE OF HOURS!
BK, AK Thou are indeed gods my Lord!
*________________________________
KUDOS TO BK & AK FOR SPEED OF THE
BLOG BANDWAGON
*_________________________________
(01) ANDREW & BRIAN K - Owners
Drivers and Blog gods
(02) MAMBA24 - Driver and Loyal Servant
(03) BOZZ - Chief Tactician & Security
SIXONEZERO:"Mamba24. good to have you back as the
resident soul of the blog."
Thank you, Thank you! and it is always good to
hear from 610.
Posted by: Mamba24 | March 04, 2008 at 11:55 AM
LTLF - stats galore - love that info.
Smush, Kwame had to go b/c they didn't have fire in their eyes - they just wanted to collect the cash.
We have the eye of the tiger or rather mamba now and that is half the battle.
As KB24 says: BELIEVE WE CAN WIN IT ALL!
GO LAKERS!!
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | March 04, 2008 at 11:56 AM
When is the NBA gonna suspend Dirk? He had a flagrant against Fish smacking him blatenly in the face that wasn't called, and the next night he takes out Kirilenko.
Kobe got suspended last season more than once for actions nowhere near the same intention to harm as Dirk's, yet the German still gets to suit up?
B.S.
Posted by: J. Walter Weatherman | March 04, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Laker Lover you said !!!
"And my 2nd biggest pet peeve is the constant whining and complaing on every call-non call. An analyst on one of the laker games said officials review games and players who complain on actual fouls get more credence than players than complain when they are not fouled. Either way the players need to stop complaing on every play it makes them look like big babbies"
Funny that, what does all your complaining and whining about Kobe make you look like!!!! LOL
If you are going to call the kettle black, Laker Lover you go ahead and call as you see it!!! LOL
Peace!!!
Angry_Laker
Posted by: Angry_Laker | March 04, 2008 at 11:56 AM
LTLF- thats the same myth about lacking playoff experience as this is a young team. The team starts 5 veterans currently. To me thats just an excuse some laker fans are using in case the lakers lose in the playoffs.
I am betting if the lakers dont win the title, it will be Kobes teammates arent good enough. The same excuses as the last few years.
I havent seen anyone yet guarantee the lakers winning the championship or tossing down money in vegas on the lakers winning the title.
Posted by: Laker Lover | March 04, 2008 at 11:57 AM
I put my pants on one leg at a time , except when I have them on, I get NBA rings
Posted by: Phil Jackson | March 04, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Laker Lover,
Dude, you are defending the contributions of players that can't even crack the rotation off the bench with any other team, and at the same time disparaging Kobe and PJ, saying they are not great?
I've said it before, your name "Laker Lover" has to be the most ironic handle on the blog because all you ever do is bash our current team.
So by your estimation, who is "GREAT?" U say they must take average players and win with them. Which NBA Champ team had only one All-Star? Which Hall of Famer won a title on his own? Until this year, the second best player on the Lakers has been Lamar? I love Lamar, but he aint no All-Star.
The point is if you subbed Kobe out for ANY OTHER PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE over the last 3 seasons, the Lakers would have lost more games. Kobe is a fierce competitor, the perfect compliment to PJ's laid back approach, and you're too busy figuring out how to tear them down to even see it. Stop clowning.
Just my opinion bro.
Posted by: DrewPauKobe | March 04, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Mamba24 Good Moooinng to you!!!!
When do get back from 'Pluto' LOL
Did you bring back any pictures of Kobe out in Pluto!!
Its good to have you back1!!
Peace!!!
Angry_Laker
Posted by: Angry_Laker | March 04, 2008 at 12:00 PM
*-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------*
THE LAKERS 2008 CHAMPIONSHIP BANDWAGON
* ALL ABOARD! *
*---------------------------------------------------
-------------------*
01 ANDREW Z - Owner
02 RICK FRIEDMAN – Driver
03 MAMBA24 – Basking in the glow
04 KEIFO – Chief of Staff
05 JEFF – Security Chief
06 XODUS - Head Reporter and part time enforcer
07 utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER - Bearer of the Laker Flag
08 THE OUTLAW - He's reformed
09 KOBESBAD – And that’s good.
10 WHITEMAMBA24 - Route Director
11 TSIRY – Passing out the championship hats
12 AB – Crowd control director
13 LAKERTRUTH - Judge, Jury and Executioner
14 HAPPYDAZE - Director of Morale
15 LAL-FAN - Freakin La Laker Fan
16 TSPHERE – keeper of the Flame
17 STAPLES24 -
18 JUSTANOTHERMAMBAFAN - Just a Super mamba faN
19 LAKERS LEGACY - Keeper of the Flame
20 THA SHOW - Just keeping us real
21 ANDO – Superstar in the making
22 JESTERGURU – Waiting for Driving Assignment
*____________________________________________
DAVID STERN IF KOBE BRYANT DOES NOT WIN THE
MVP THIS YEAR SOMEBODY IS GOING TO JAIL BANDWAGON
*______________________________________________
(1) NIK KANNAN - OWNER AND DRIVER……….(15) ANDO
(2) MAMBA24………………………………………..(16) LARRY
(3) VIOLATER……………………………………….(17) CBUCK
(4) OUTSIDERGUA………………………………...(18) EAST COAST JESSIE
(5) LAKERTRUTH - RIDING SHOTGUN………...(19) WHITEMAMBA24
(6) ALEXINH017…………………………………....(20) BLACKMAMBA24
(7) DREREK…………………………………………(21) TSIRY
(8) SHAQFAN……………………………………….(22) CHUCK.L.OHNIO
(9) JANAYA…………………………………………(23) JUST ANOTHER MAMBA FAN
(10) JON K……………………………………………(24) DREW PAUL KOBE
(11) IVI8KRS…………………………………………(25) SBPIMP
(12) JOE DUBB………………………………………(26) PSYCHED LAKER GIRL
(13) FEARLESS WHACK JOB ……………………....(27) JEFF
(14) TSPHERE…………………………………………(28) JESTER GURU
Posted by: Mamba24 | March 04, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Good morning Jester and Floyd!!!
Floyd, Doug Christie over Sam Cassell? I cannot endorse your selection my friend.
BTW, in baseball the all time title holder is Willie McGee - I can't remember who said it but he fell off the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.
KOBE FOR MVP!!!
KOBE FOR MVP!!!
KOBE FOR MVP!!!
Posted by: DrewPauKobe | March 04, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Thirty2,
I hear you man, I became a Packers fan in the 90s because of Brett Favre. Sad day for the NFL.
....and back to Lakers talk
Laker Lover,
I don't think you can compare stats bet. Cook and Sasha to show their value to the team. Sasha (this year) has been more valuable than Cook ever was. He has been closing out games as of late, and has been guarding some of the best guys in the league (Kidd, Wade) I don't think anyone here is saying he is an all-star, just showing enthusiasm for how far he has come along.
Posted by: Lakers Legacy | March 04, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Jesterguru (Portalnd 300) and Floyd (Man of the hour),
Hello and have good one!
Posted by: Charles | March 04, 2008 at 12:09 PM
It does no good to just have the picture up without being able to see the skit:
http://www.funnyhub.com/videos/pages/videos/snl-more-cowbell.html
CLASSIC
Posted by: richtown | March 04, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Good afternoon Blog Fam... 7 hours to game time!
Mamba, please put me on the Championship and Kobe MVP bandwagons!
Let's Go Lakers!
Bzar
Posted by: Bzar | March 04, 2008 at 12:12 PM
GOOD MORNING LAKERS BLOG!
AK/BK, congrats on another milestone! Nice to know the Lakers blog will be traveling with the tea. Now, THAT'S a bandwagon!
AK, be sure to bring your ear plugs 'coz those cowbells sound nasty!
Hey, Mamba24, you sure do know how to liven up this blog! If, by any chance you have a minute, can you add me to the roll call and all the bandwagons in this blog! Thanks!
It might be a tough matchup tonight. The team must bring out their toughness. The guys need to get out of their slump. Looking forward to seeing some changes.
Man, the Suns sure are harping... this and that. Where's the four or five days now, Shaq? All that talk equals nothing! The littlest violin is now playing for the Suns.
Love it!
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Happy Gilmore | March 04, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Mamba24,
I was supposed to be the 24th member of the Kobe MVP bandwagon... what happened?
Laker Hater,
If I understand you correctly, you're saying that one guy shouldering most of the load for a team that wins 42 or 45 games in a season should also be able to take out a team that won 60+ games in a 7 game series?
The fact that they couldn't get that done (they being PJ & Kobe along with supporting cast) means PJ & Kobe are not that great.
Someone please call David Stern. We have an imposter!
Phil Jackson should not be in the Hall of Fame. And while you have him on hold, tell him that Kobe is a pile of crap player who should never sniff the MVP let alone some hall of fame....
When he asks you why, tell him "because Laker Hater said so"
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | March 04, 2008 at 12:14 PM
How could someone who knows a single iota of basketball, let alone someone who professes "love" for the Lakers, come on here and say that
9 Rings & 9 Fingers are "not that great"
Maybe you don't think either are the "best".. maybe you think there are better players out there, or better coaches...
But to say "not that great"... LAUGHABLE.
9 Rings is a Hall of Famer.
9 Fingers is a Hall of Famer too.
They're both GREAT. They're both Superstars!
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | March 04, 2008 at 12:18 PM
AK/BK,
Glad to hear you're on the road. I think it makes the game thread that much better knowing you're at the game, representing as it were.
I think CJ's stat about all but 2 MVP's being on 1st or 2nd place teams is quite the telling stat. And I believe it. I think Kobe will win the MVP if we can get the best record in the WC.
This is a big game for us. The next 3 are Sac twice and the Clips, while the Spurs play in Denver and in Phoenix.
Go Lakers.
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | March 04, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Don't compare Cookie and Sasha. No one said Cookie couldn't shoot, and yes, that's all Sasha does on offense, but while Sasha is more annoying than "lock down" on defense, he can at least guard the apposing player at his position. Cookie was a black hole defensively and makes Sasha look like Bruce Bowen and Ron Artest's illegitimate love child.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Cameron | March 04, 2008 at 12:23 PM
HI LAKER NATION!!!
All this so-called media type saying LeBron is making his team mates better than Kobe does, I have this to say..Take a player that played with LeBron and Kobe who also ended being traded and see who made the player better..
Lebron..Carlos Boozer ( Utah) still playing great.
Larry Hughes & Drew Gooden (chicago) still playing important mins
Kobe..Brian Cook (orlando) playing very limited minutes
Kwame Brown (memphis) DNP-Coach
Smush Parker (Heat ) dont even know where is now.
I REST MY CASE!!!!!!
Ron Lo
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: ron lo | March 04, 2008 at 12:27 PM
I feel like I'm at a pep rally! Hey everybody!!!
Go LAKERS!!!!!
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | March 04, 2008 at 12:27 PM
HI LAKER NATION!!!
All this so-called media type saying LeBron is making his team mates better than Kobe does, I have this to say..Take a player that played with LeBron and Kobe who also ended being traded and see who made the player better..
Lebron..Carlos Boozer ( Utah) still playing great.
Larry Hughes & Drew Gooden (chicago) still playing important mins
Kobe..Brian Cook (orlando) playing very limited minutes
Kwame Brown (memphis) DNP-Coach
Smush Parker (Heat ) dont even know where is now.
I REST MY CASE!!!!!!
Ron Lo
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: ron lo | March 04, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Just got my first Lakers-Spurs tickets, I will be taking my daughter with me.
The feeling is great, is great to be a Laker fan!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: DOP | March 04, 2008 at 12:30 PM
And that cow belll clip is very funny.
I never realized how funny and true untill I started listening for the cow bell in other rock classics. I was shocked to find how often that little baby makes an appearance. Like when you buy a new car and suddenly you notice how many of your car there are on the street, once you listen for the cow bell, you find it everywhere.
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | March 04, 2008 at 12:30 PM
I am forgot how upset I was that Balkman didn't get suspended for this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EGl-MiD0J0
I am embarassed that the Knicks are still called an NBA team, and their owner is a pompous idiot for continuing with Isiah as coach. I am glad the Lakers don't play these A-holes again, because they aren't playing basketball, they are head hunters. Sorry Sasha that you don't get protected at all. I don't think the Carmelo punch to the throat was any where near as violent as Balkman's BS. Someone please tell me i missed the news, and he was actually suspened. And if not, how in the world is that not at least a game suspension when Kobe gets suspended for a shoot follow thru. Open your eyes David Stern!!! and is that what you meant by biased in the last thread AK???
Posted by: Nik Kannan | March 04, 2008 at 12:32 PM
TaosHum,
Exactly what i am saying. Other players get away with so much in this league, and it always seems like the NBA is nit picking Kobe?? I posted a Balkman foul up top that is clearley a suspension. But NBA (Stern/Jackson) did not even give it a second look. Goes back to AK's thread yesterday about bias against Kobe. Unless we are frequent with our outrage about it, i don't believe it will be recognized, if not for anything more than more KB24 bias.
Posted by: | March 04, 2008 at 12:40 PM
*____________________________________________*
KOBE BRYANT NO MVP NO PEACE BANDWAGON
*____________________________________________*
(1) NIK KANNAN - OWNER AND DRIVER__(16) DREW PAU KOBE
(2) MAMBA24_______________________(17) LARRY
(3) VIOLATER_______________________(18) CBUCK
(4) OUTSIDERGUA___________________(19) EAST COAST JESSIE
(5) LAKERTRUTH - RIDING SHOTGUN___(20) WHITEMAMBA24
(6) ALEXINH017_____________________.(21) BLACKMAMBA24
(7) DREREK_________________________(22) TSIRY
(8) SHAQFAN________________________(23) CHUCK.L.OHNIO
(9) JANAYA__________________________(24) TIM-4-SHOW
(10) JON K___________________________(25) JUST-ANOTHER-MAMBAFAN
(11) IVI8KRS_________________________(26) SBPIMP
(12) JOE DUBB_______________________(27) PSYCHED LAKER GIRL
(13) FEARLESS WHACK JOB___________(28) JEFF
(14) TSPHERE_______________________(29) JESTER GURU
(15) ANDO
Posted by: MAMBA24 | March 04, 2008 at 12:41 PM
TaosHum,
Exactly what i am saying. Other players get away with so much in this league, and it always seems like the NBA is nit picking Kobe?? I posted a Balkman foul up top that is clearley a suspension. But NBA (Stern/Jackson) did not even give it a second look. Goes back to AK's thread yesterday about bias against Kobe. Unless we are frequent with our outrage about it, i don't believe it will be recognized, if not for anything more than more KB24 bias.
Posted by: nik kannan | March 04, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Tim-4-Show,
More Blog-Sync-Think my friend....
It now an hourly event...
LOL
KOBE FOR MVP!!!
KOBE FOR MVP!!!
KOBE FOR MVP!!!
Posted by: DrewPauKobe | March 04, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Mamba24.....Is this bandwagon a closed group? If not put me down!!
Posted by: DOC4daLakeShow | March 04, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Nik Kannan,
"I am forgot how upset I was that Balkman didn't get suspended for this..."
Yeah, talk about your "Unnatural Basketball Moves" - Kobe would be out for a week...the league office really is a joke when it comes to this stuff.
Posted by: DrewPauKobe | March 04, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Drewpaukobe,
Hey Sam Cassell is a good looking alien--ha ha--I heard he was that guy's double on the original The HIlls Have Eyes---
I wish I could remember the name of this real ugly white dude that played in the eighties--he might have even played for one of the new Florida teams and was picked on the expansion draft---anyway he litterally looked like someone beat the crap out of him in the locker room before each game---he was the winner of the ugliest player in the NBA poll they took with fellow NBA players doing the voting....
hey we didn't mention coaches---my kid calls Jeff Van Gundy the living dead---those are some serious bags under his eyes---
Mike T. is doing a compete study on ugly players and will have his study done in three months or less.....
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Floyd | March 04, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Mamba24,
Id like to be the blog team trainer for the 2008 NBA championship bandwagon, if thats okay with you captain?
Posted by: Nik Kannan | March 04, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Nik Kannan
That Balkman elbow on Sasha was terrible. Yet a good example of league bias on a player by player basis. Let's say that would have been Wade or Labron etc.....Supension!
Posted by: lakerfaze | March 04, 2008 at 01:03 PM
Laker Lover you are right!!!
"I havent seen anyone yet guarantee the lakers winning the championship or tossing down money in vegas on the lakers winning the title. "
But I hear Vegas; have stopped taking anymore money on whether your next post will be some boring rant about the inadequacies of Kobe, blah, blah & double blah!!!
Peace!!!
Angry_Laker
Posted by: Angry_Laker | March 04, 2008 at 01:10 PM
Tim-4-Show,
>>>If that were Kobe making the defensive play, he
>>>would have been ejected & suspended, probably for
>>>TWO games.
No way. Kobe got suspended two games for an unintentional
hit that was less than that. If Kobe intentionally clotheslined
someone like Dirk did, or hit someone on the head like Dirk
did, he'd be suspended for the rest of the season.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | March 04, 2008 at 01:19 PM
Floyd,
JVG is not a handsome dude, I must agree...
Any of these names ring a bell (expansion year rosters)?
MIAMI HEAT
2 Rory Sparrow, 3 Anthony Taylor, 4 Rony Seikaly, 10 Kelvin Upshaw, 10 Clinton Wheeler, 11 Craig Neal, 20 Jon Sundvold, 21 Kevin Edwards, 31 Pearl Washington, 34 Todd Mitchell, 40 Sylvester Gray, 41 David Popson, 42 Pat Cummings, 43 Gramt Long, 44 Scott Hastings, 45 John Shasky, 55 Billy Thompson
ORLANDO MAGIC
4 Scott Skiles, 11 Sam Vincent, 20 Morlon Wiley, 21 Sidney Green, 24 Reggie Theus, 25 Nick Anderson, 31 Jeff Turner, 32 Otis Smith, 33 Terry Catledge, 35 Jerry Reynolds, 40 Dave Corzine, 42 Mark Acres, 45 Michael Ansley, 50 Jawann Oldham
Posted by: DrewPauKobe | March 04, 2008 at 01:27 PM
Laker Lover
>>>I was never a big fan of cookie but his laker stats are
>>>similar to sashas this year and people on this blog are
>>>acting like sashas an all star.
While it's technically true that Cook's stats were similar to
Sasha's, Sasha is a much much better defender. There
was a play on Sunday where the way folks came down the
floor, Dirk posted up Sasha, and you know what? Dirk
missed. I have no doubt if Cook was guarding him, Dirk
would have driven straight past him for a dunk and
an and-1. I'm not saying Sasha could guard Dirk for a
whole game, but I bet if he did, Dirk would score less than
if Cook guarded him for a whole game.
I actually did like Cook. If he had worked on improving
his defense, the way Sasha has, then the Lakers probably
never would have signed Rad, and we'd now be merrily
cheering Cook every time he ran a pick-and-pop with
Kobe.
It's funny, but in your initial post on this topic, you said
"...the only way to win consistently in the NBA...". That's
the problem. With the Smush/Kwame/Cook starters, the
Lakers were NOT winning consistently. And it's because
of the quality of players that they had starting.
Fans have always given some credit (and some grief) to
Lamar. And other Lakers the last 3 years have gotten
some credit when they played well for stretches, but
NOBODY other than Kobe has played consistently that
whole period. If Lamar had stayed uninjured, maybe
he would have qualified, but no other Laker in the last
3 seasons played a full season of quality basketball. I'm
not saying they had to get a 20-10 every night, just play
hard and to the best of their ability. Kobe is the ONLY
Laker who did that.
Sasha's not an all-star. Nor is Farmar or Fisher or Bynum
or Radmanovic or Odom or Turiaf. The difference is that
those players have been playing hard every game. And
that's why they deserve more praise than Cook or Kwame
or Smush, who were all notorious for sulking through games
if things weren't going their way.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | March 04, 2008 at 01:36 PM
mamba,
Loved the Bench Mod intros. What woulld be really cool would be an audio intro that we could click on for inspiration, especially right before the game started.
In your spare time, of course, Larry. LOL.
Gracias, Mamba.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | March 04, 2008 at 01:40 PM
God, I used to love the way Jawann Oldham and Jerry Reynolds played the game.
Posted by: Jesterguru | March 04, 2008 at 01:42 PM
ex,
The big comment of day again. Bravo.
"Did you hear? Kobe destroyed the periodic table, because he only recognizes the element of surprise."---Ronny
"That must be the explanation for why the team has such great chemistry this season."---exhelodrvr
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | March 04, 2008 at 01:44 PM
LakerTom,
Thanks, although I admit it caused some unpleasant flashbacks from college.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | March 04, 2008 at 01:53 PM
long time,
I absolutely agree with you on suspensions for flagrant fouls that lead to another player missing time. Cheap shot by Dirk, who is losing my respect this year. He should have at least be thrown out of the game. But will the NBA even suspend him. No. What bull. Talk about BIAS.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | March 04, 2008 at 01:56 PM
DrewPua Kobe,
Grand kudos indeed---it's Pat Cummings---find a pic of that dude---he looed like Ali's punching bag ha ha
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Floyd | March 04, 2008 at 01:57 PM
mamba,
How did I get left off the 2008 Championship Bandwagon?
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | March 04, 2008 at 02:00 PM