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Giving him even more free time to gab with Sir Charles

March 10, 2008 | 11:22 am

Dwyane Wade will be shutting 'er down for the season, putting a serious roadblock in the Heat's quest for 20% win rate.  He'll undergo a followup procedure to repair a never-quite-did-heal knee injury, one he hopes will be strong enough come USA Basketball time.

Most will say this development serves mainly as clincher proof that Miami has officially packed it in (assuming news that Riles' scouting duties now take priority over his coaching gig didn't already provide a clue).  But to me, Wade being out mostly further enhances the degree to which Smush Parker has become exiled.  With Wade out and injuries making Marcus Banks, Udonis Haslem, Earl Barron and Dorrell Wright (not to mention 'Zo) anywhere from questionable to flat out "out," from a purely practical standpoint, the Heat could use a body.  Unless you know something about Chris Quinn that I don't, they really could.  And I wouldn't count on William Henry's cellie blowing up with a phone call from the front office.  There's better odds of the Heat trading to get Shaq back.  Dude has become a straight up South Beach leper.

AK


The comments to this entry are closed.

Comments

Do you guys still think your is the team to beat?

you better hope the lakers got the mssage the kings gavem last night, That the lakers still got work to do.

You learn more off the mistakes/ losses, rather than off your sugar coated blow out wins.
The reason this bump on the road feels like such a big BITC# SLAP is b/c everyone from the coaching staff to players to this blog were acting all high and mighty as if you had it locked down already, acting like champs(acting)

You guys should be disappointed, last night showed more or less where the lakers are at. If the lakers played D last night and still lost the game, atleast then you would be able to say the kings play well and the lakers didn't. but instead you guys showed that you cant defend so you try to outscore them. tsk tsk tsk

Truth is right now no team is the team to beat not even S.A.
spurs have to prove they can win without the help from the refs (duncan) and that they're not old.

lakers have to prove they actually play some D, they can score with the best of them, bt will they learn to D up.

jazz have to prove they can win on the road.

SUNS have to prove the SHAQ trade is built for the playoffs.

n.o don't know much about them actually

rockets have to prove they're for real and that they can win without yao.

warriors have to prove they can win without going 100 mph b/c in the playoffs things slow down.

No true unbeatable team out there.

Smush Parker

Love him for his name, hate him for his game.

I don't know. Smush's game ain't really that bad -- true he wasn't good enough for a starting gig in the league, but as a sub he should be adequate. It's all about his off court attitude though...

AK-
Do you have any idea what Smush could possible have done to deserve the exile? If it were his play he could easily just be buried at the end of the bench. All I can think is that he disrespected Riley in some way, and I guess Riley would have a shorter fuse than PJ. But still..... he must have done something pretty bad. Maybe Riley just has zero tolerance for pouting/sulking from a guy who's a fringe player to begin with.

"you better hope the lakers got the mssage the kings gavem last night, That the lakers still got work to do."

Abso-friggin-lutely!!!

Fire, we don't think we KNOW. To be honest I thiink we really have a great chance of winning it all this year but if we don't there's always next year, I take comfort in knowing that the Suns chances of winning this yeat are tiny and if they don't win it this year they never will.

It's funny that we have trolls saying "I told you so!" after a loss. It's mostly been bandwagon-jumping pundits pumping up the Lakers as WC favorites, rather than the fans. Putting them ahead of a proven winner like the Spurs has always been crazy talk, especially with all the questions about toughness, defense, experience and performance under pressure.

hey captain obvious. fire 32

remove me from your troll call. i aint your friend or troll homles. also whats ur name on the az central blog. kiss butt.

Elle,
Forget about next year! The players should be believing they can win THIS year..It's always about NOW

Great comment by Kurt from forumblueandgold:

"• While we watch Phil Jackson’s lineup tinkering continue, one thing he does better than any coach in the league gets overlooked — he puts players in a position to succeed by playing to their strengths.

It’s one thing to do that with Kobe, who has a myriad of strengths. But look at what he did with Kwame Brown, who has been racking up DNPs in Memphis, and his already anemic offensive numbers are down even farther. Jackson tightly defined the role Kwame was to play for the Lakers — use your big body on defense and the boards. Don’t worry about everything else, if you do that some points will come to you. It drove Lakers fans nuts at times, but Phil got more out of Kwame than any other coach.

The same can be said of Smush Parker (just shoot the three), or many other guys through Phil’s career. It sounds like a simple thing — getting guys in position to do what they do well — but few coaches are very good at it."

This also applies to his policy of bringing young players along slowly. It's much better to be a year too slow, and miss out on some good games, than a year too fast, and ruin a player.

I'm beginning to wonder if this is our year. Our PG defense is pretty poor and w/o Bynum to be our last line of defense against these quick pgs (Parker, CP3, Nash, Barbosa, DWilliams, Baron & Monte) we could be in trouble. Also, it looks like AB and TA won't be back with enough time to really get synched with the rest of the team on D. Its not just the triangle that players must get used to, its also team defense. I'll be happy if we make the conference finals this year and win it all in '09, '10 & '11.

Zen, I agree with you, they should be able to get Phil another ring this year I just wanted to point out to Fire that there's no way his/her/it's team will win anything any time soon. Any one want to bet what Shaq's injury (please see, excuse for not playing) will be when the Suns start to lose games and don't make it past the first round?

"In this race that's going on now, a slide, an injury, just taking a night off could be something that will hurt you later on," Jackson said.
Translation: losing the number one seed in the West.

Odd about the whole Dwayne Wade thing. It seems like they're playing for the number one pick in the draft now. That just doesn't sit right with me.

I hope they do poorly in the draft as a result.

I do like Dwayne Wade as a player, though. I wish we would have received him instead of Brian Grant in the Shaq trade.

GO LAKERS!

Fire32,

Yes, I still think we're the team to beat. Have you forgotten that sooner or later we're going to get Chris Mihm, Andrew Bynum, and Trevor Ariza back?

One bad night against a major rival is not the end of the world.

GO LAKERS!

Elle

>>>we don't think we KNOW.

you sure about that, looks like ACTING to me oh and I thought being from l.a you guys would be better ACTERS

>>>To be honest I thiink we really have a great chance

Actually I agree with you prolly the best chances in the west, BUT only if the lakers start playing D. Ever since gasol join your team it's almost been as if they stop caring bout playing defense only wanting to look pretty, scoring more points than the weak teams their facing. It seemed like playing Dwas more important when bynum was playing.

WOW.........

Im glad to see the gilligans only come-out once our twice a month because that's how often the lakers lose.........
let them have this day we have to remember it's kinda boring on that island..........there's nothing to do but talk smack about the lakers when they lose........

COMPTON

"We were a little too flat. I don't think we did a good job starting off the game," Gasol said. "They came out aggressive with a point to prove and we didn't respond well in the first half.

"We felt like we had to turn it up in the second half but I feel we should do a better job starting off games and get the intensity going right from the beginning."
Translation: not taking each opponent serious.

Fire32,

serious honest question.

Why are you so preoccupied with the Lakers?
Do you post on any other non-Suns teams blogs?
Spurs?

Jon.K

>>>One bad night against a major rival is not the end of the world.

I know that, but I never said it was, read my post again. I said bump on the road, feels like slap in the face.

>>>Have you forgotten that sooner or later we're going to get Chris Mihm, Andrew Bynum, and Trevor Ariza back?

You really shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch.


Some nights you're runnin' in quicksand. Some nights shots don't fall. It's the NBA and all these guys are capable of good nights. The Kings had one.

We're being scouted and analyzed with a microscope now. There's a target on the Lakers. Teams always get up to play in LA but even more so now. Most of our players aren't used to that, but in the end it will reap benefits in the playoffs.

KOBE DOES'NT TRUST LO.............

KOBE
FISHER
VLAD
SASHA
PA...........
I think should've been on the floor........all shooters.
It was lo man that contested KOBE shot the last play.........LO was open,why do you think kobe didn't pass him the ball???????
LO has never made a big shot in his life.......( THIS IS NOT LO TAKING A BACK SEAT TO KOBE......LO IS JUST TO SCRAED TO RIDE SHOT-GUN ) This is why I think VLAD are ARIZA should start at SF.........better shooter......better finisher.
If you watch the game again you will see they were backing off of LO an playing him to drive.......the result 8 points all off of feeds.
The same thing with LUKE they use his man to go double KOBE leaving him wide open but "cant throw a pea in the ocean" One of CHICK fav lines..........5 pts are less we have a losing record this falls into 9 rings lap......at one point he has to start coaching.

COMPTON

Ex,

I agree with that. The notion that Phil doesn't develop young players and is only a "finisher" for teams that are just a step away from a title is absurd.

Lakers Legacy,

wuttup man honest answer

other blogs are boring, this one is pretty popular theres always someone posting. Seems like the K bros work around the clock so the laker/basket ball fans have something to read and write about.
Plus this blog has good bloggers, smart , funny, some sane, some crazy ( and I'm not talking about charles our spat IS OVER), but like the ones that say crazy stuff like jeff v gundy for coach, crazy funny stuff after one loss.

Whats wrong with me being here anyway, I dont bash your team. I dont say you suck,

I need some more coffee - I had a terrible nightmare last night. It involved the Lakers losing to the Kings - oops - just threw up in my mouth a little when typing that....

Charles

BTW as for the troll call update, I couldn't get to you on that yesterday b/c first race of the season for moto gp was on.

but you say Mike.T and gunner aren't trolls, but gunner only seems to come around when the lakers lose and bashes kobe, knowing very well that kobe is the haert of the team.
That looks pretty trollish to me.

Mike. T wished bynum would fail so that kwame can take you guys to the promise land, then when gasol joined the team and the lakers started winning games Mike says he has no more time for the team blog, thats troll like to me.


My prediction: The Lakers will get it together in the upcoming tough road trip. The players will be more focused and will actually play instead of reading their press clippings.
I predict a 4-0 road trip. Yes, beating NO, Houston, Dallas, Utah.
This team has shown that they can beat anyone on a given night if they have their head on straight.
Yet, I think LA will lose to San Antonio in the WC Finals this year if AB and TA do not get back until the first round of the playoffs.
There simply won't be enough time to reintegrate them into the lineup and Team D won't be strong enough to beat San Antonio in a 7 game series. The Spurs are just too organized and experienced.
Lakers will win first 2 rounds by relying on their offense w/c is as good as any team in the L (even w/out AB and TA).
Every team needs to go through school of hard knocks first before tasting success and this Laker team has not suffered enough yet. Still too cocky.
Shaq and Kobe went through 4 years of being knocked out in the playoffs before they won their first title. MJ, Scottie and the Bulls same thing.
The Showtime Lakers were an exception tasting success in Magic's rookie year but they had to go through a beat down from Boston in the 84 Finals before transcending to another level.
Same reason, I don't think Celtics will win EC, not enough experience together.
Unfortunately, Finals this year will be another boring Pistons-Spurs slug-a-thon. What an anticlimax after the regular season excietement.
We'll have to wait for 2009 Finals to see long awaited Lakers-Celtics.

Fire32,

>>>but instead you guys showed that you cant defend so
>>>you try to outscore them. tsk tsk tsk

More trolling, huh? I'll take the troll bait on this one.

So you say you think the Lakers are trying to be like the Suns
from the last few years, huh? No defense, just try to score so
much that the other team can't keep up.

If all you have watched of the Lakers' season is the first
half of last night's game, then that would be a realistic
impression. The truth of the matter is that the Lakers
CAN defend.

point 1: the second half - They did a much better job of
defense in the second half and held Sacramento to 43
points.

point 2: the season - The Lakers are holding opponents to
44%, which is 4th best in the NBA. That's as opposed to
the Phoenix Suns, who give up 45.87% to their opponents,
which is 21st best in the league (not to mention that they
give up 105.3 points per game, which is 4th worst in the
NBA).

Point 3: the season with Bynum - When Bynum was playing,
the Lakers were holding their opponents to an even lower
percentage - just over 42%, which was second best in the
NBA.

It seems you want to use 1/2 of a game and make a hasty
generalization about that and assume it applies to the
rest of the Lakers' season. Obviously, the Lakers first half
of last night's game is no more an indicator of their whole
season than it is an indicator of Sacramento's whole season.

If your logic were realistic, Sacramento would be scoring
71 points in EVERY half and they'd be leading the league
in scoring and be 10 games ahead in the West.

But enjoy your delusion. I guess you have to cling to
something when your team is barely hanging on to make
the playoffs.

>>>I thought being from l.a you guys would be better
>>>ACTERS

At least we in L.A. can spell.

I ate Fire32 for breakfast this morning. Kinda had a burnt taste to it.

Los Angeles Lakers are a team that has a history of excellence. Not that fire32 would know or understand anything about it because let’s just say that his team isn’t used to winning big….ever!
So what? Big deal! Laker fans believe in the possibility of a championship and why shouldn’t we? We have the pieces. Can you blame us for being excited? Last I checked this blog is a Lakers blog. I am sorry but I think that this persons need to rub it in our face stems from pure jealousy. I can understand why you hate us!!!

Flicker32 (or whatever your name is)

You learn more off the mistakes/ losses, rather than off your sugar coated blow out wins.
The reason this bump on the road feels like such a big BITC# SLAP is b/c everyone from the coaching staff to players to this blog were acting all high and mighty as if you had it locked down already, acting like champs(acting)

Seems like the Sun's will be the head of the class in the learning dept. SHAQ WAS A MISTAKE and LOS SUNS have been acting like champs since that triple overtime game in Boston many moons ago.

You, just like your team, need to get off the Lakers ish...
You even put Los on your uni's trying be just like us.

Shaq looks like Grape Ape in the purple uni and like Clifford the Big Red Dog in that hideous Orange Uni!!!

I ask this, how can you root for FAT SHAQ when he didn't even try when he was on the HEAT?

We don't have our best player not playing hard when his team sucks...

YOU'RE a WACK SUN's fan, with a team of washed up has beens and never will be's

I say this all in fun!

Enjoy the rest of the regular season, that's all you will have to root for!!!

Laker in BC,

Is that British Columbia? Baja California? or Before Christ?

:-)

>>>My prediction: The Lakers will get it together in the
>>>upcoming tough road trip. The players will be more
>>>focused and will actually play instead of reading
>>>their press clippings.

I totally agree with you here. I think the Lakers just came
out flat not expecting much of a challenge from the Kings
last night, and the Kings came out super pumped and played
hard, and by the time the Lakers got their act together,
they had a game on their hands.

With those four road games in the West, the Lakers KNOW
that it's going to be a hard-fought game EVERY night. So
I expect them to come out and play hard from the first
quarter... not from the third quarter.

>>>I predict a 4-0 road trip. Yes, beating NO, Houston,
>>>Dallas, Utah.

Pretty bold prediction. I'll go with 3-1. I don't know who
they're going to slip up on, but my guess would be Utah
or Dallas (because they're both MUCH tougher at home
than on the road).

And I'd be perfectly happy with a 2-2 trip, if it involves
beating Houston. That would be good enough to keep
them in one of the top 2 seeds in the West. If they lose
all 4 games, they'll be in the position where Phoenix and
Dallas are now, but I don't think that's likely.

It is time to walk the walk!

When you listened to Luke's comments before the game (Sacramento is capable of giving quality teams trouble) , Odom's comments after the game (72 points at half-time is unacceptable), you may think that the Lakers understand the risk and play accordingly. Apparently talking and walking are two different things. As Kobe said, it is time to stop the talking and walk the walk. At this point, even a playoff spot is not guaranteed - 5 losses will kick the Lakers out of the playoff. There are games with Golden State, Portland that Lakers can lose on top of New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Utah and San Antonio. I hope they had the wake-up call yesterday.

One thing that annoyed me while watching the Lakers is their whinings. First of all, they are pointless. Either you get a foul call or you do not. There is no avenue of redress in NBA. So, why bother? On top of that, it is hurting the defense. I am particularly concerned about Kobe, who is two technical away from one game suspension. It will translate into one loss, which the Lakers cannot afford.

Dear Fire32 -

Please stop posting on the Lakers Blog!

I hate playing with Shaq and losing Shawn was a huge mistake. He played defense and covered up my deficiencies.
Shaq is killing us but I am trying to be professional and play through this mess.

We have lost our swagger and I cringe everytime Shaq dives to the floor with his false hustle.

I wish I stayed in Dalllas, this team is not tough enough!
Oh wait, neither is Dallas.

Steve Nash

Fire32,

Any team can get beat on any night.. However I think the Spurs are and will be the team to beat. San Antonio didn't play their best yesterday and Phoenix barely won. With our injuries, it's looking more like a Boston/San Antonio Final.

Fire32,
thanks for the reply.

I do agree that this is a great blog and can see why non-Laker fans would want to post here. I was just curious to get your answer, since I am not one who would post on a Suns or Spurs blog for that matter (although I am sure there are Laker fans that do)

Fire32

Thanks for your reply.

If you insist on keeping them on the "Troll Call', I guess that's your agenda.

The Lakers have lost and we have yet to see them (KL Gunner and Mike T) post. Sometimes it goes for months where bloggers won't post, sometimes years. Mike T has his own personal issues and maybe in jail and has chosen to prioritize his blog. (Adding more issue in respecting their names.) KL and Gunner I have no clue where they have been, but it's been a while since they have posted after a loss.

I personally would ask them first before you post them in your roll call. Perhaps on a day where you actually see them input an entry? It is the reverse with the Mamba24 though; they wish to be put the blog roll call.

So if you still persist on finding camaraderie by linking people to your Troll call; the best post I suggest for you to read is:

"hey captain obvious. fire 32

remove me from your troll call. i aint your friend or troll homles. also whats ur name on the az central blog. kiss butt.

Posted by: blingbling | March 10, 2008 at 12:08 PM"

I mean this in a non combative tone just so you know.

Hope this makes sense...

Ouch! Although the win/loss column is at 1 and 1, the Sacramento Kings of Basketball clearly bested the Lakers at least 80 of the 96 minutes they played (thus far) this year.

This is not a fluke. The Kings soundly walloped each of the top five teams in the West (Utah twice) and also dispensed of Orlando and Detroit (twice), and other playoff contenders. In a nutshell, the Sacramento Kings of Basketball are probably the best team in the NBA not going to the playoffs, and are better than some who are.

Laker fans betray themselves and their team when they disrespect any NBA team or approach a game believing that anything less than their best effort and a bit of luck won't be required to win. The Lakers are not close to being that good. No team is, and it is precisely this attitude (Tom) which could be your undoing.

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/773098.html

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/773101.html

The Lakers are a damn good team and I believe you are a legitimate top 5 contender. As is often the case however, the attitude of a team often times mirrors the energy and sentiments of its fan base. This could put your team at a distinct disadvantage.

Two observations:

1. Good and bad calls go both ways in almost every game. Just be thankful that the more "storied" franchises and players tend to recieve preferential treatment in big games. In last night's game, during EVERY free throw sequence, a Laker player was in a ref's ear. It is clear that officials are tired of Kobe's incessant whining. It is equally evident that the rest of the Laker team is more than happy to follow the Man-child's example.

2. Any athletic and physical team willing to take it to the Lakers for 48 minutes has a good shot at winning the game. In such circumstances, a 7 game series will not go 7 games.

I'll be courtside the next time our two teams meet at Arco.

Sonnybelfast

The Ref's helped the Lakers lose yesterday's game. They didn't get any calls going their way. Yes, the Lakers we not playing up to par but the ref's didn't give the Lakers a chance to win.

We've definitely lacked toughness and defensive intensity since Bynum and Ariza went out. That's going to be the key when those two guys come back. We can score with anyone, but w/o those two we've become even more a finesse team.

"71"
Oh AK/BK: congrats to Catherine Royer for her positive spirit in light of hard fought battle with breast cancer. She would be an aswesome add to the blog - wonder if she knows about it???

Can't Kobe just said he missed the shot..he is just a baby...I need more spacing......not if you take the ball to the rack....Kobe...youre not that young anymore..grow up....stop yelling at the refs and admit you did something wrong....

please stop responding to

Fire32 agenda .... replaces KL, Gunner, Mike T, Laker Lover and Co.

he makes one comment and there are 10-20 bloggers with answers, comments and so on

he was not here for a week while the Suns lost.

Everybody thanx for the reply

Charles, will do. actually I'm not going to post that anymore.

Bling your off the list and I dont blog anywhere else.

Zen, yes true any team can beat any team any day, I have said that before myself.

Ajax, ok???

LTLF, actORS(my bad), yes you do sort of remind me of the SUNS and thats what you should be worried about.

played better D in the second half, well shoot anything under 71 points in the second half is playing better Defense c'mon man. I'm not only looking at the first half, Defense was absent almost the entire game.
You say when bynum was playing, you were holding teams to 42%.
I agree, I also posted that when bynum was playing the lakers looked like they had more pride on D, but with gasol it's a different team. with gasol the lakers try to outscore you.

Take it how you guys want, but this what I see without purple n gold goggles. This is not bashing, but if you guys want to continue thinking theres nothing wrong with how your team is playing, then I'm the one thats delusional


Xodus,

couldnt agree more with your toughness post. ariza will be a huge asset on defense and bynums presence will help out a lot too. with those two in the lineup 71 points in a quarter will never happen.

isnt ariza out for the rest of the season though?

GO LAKERS

sonnybelfast,

Excellent post!

Charles,
You must have missed Gunner's rants last night and this morning. Losing is like leaving the trash outside at night... the trolls come around in droves to feed.

I think last night's game was an eye opener for our Lakers. Believe me, that'll be one HUGE positive. Kobe and Pau will step up as leaders.

Colorado loves the Lakers!

mrbarneydangles,

There's a chance he'll come back for the playoffs. But who knows what type of condition he'll be in.

Sacto Queens played spoilers last night. They're done for the season. We b allright.

 


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