Pansie= playing with a bum finger that 99.9% other players wouldn't dream of playing with.

Pansie? I don't think so.

Greetings, Laker Nation!

I am terribly sick right now and thought I was going to have a heart attack last night in the fourth quarter, but I'm extremely happy with last night's win.

Hopefully, we'll get Gasol back this week. The sky's the limit from there.

GO LAKERS!

Yo!
Thanks guys for giving us ladies a shout out! This is a great community of fans we got here.

I started really watching the Lakers last season and Ronny became my favorite player. This season I consider myself a true Laker fan... it has been a great but challenging season, with all the injuries and all, but I think the Lakers are going to show everyone who is best in the west.

Luke my man, way to step it up lately! great plays!

LO- Man I have never seen as much passion from you, and you are playing the game with intensity!

Farmar- Man- whats going on? You have been in a terrible mood, yelling at your teammates alot lately and really I think it's affecting your game....come on man.

Sasha- Do you always have to go for the three's? Drive the rim baby!

Kobe- MVP! MVP! MVP!

Ronny- Excellent play- I was going to be really upset if you were injured at last nights game. We need you buddy!

D-Fish.- Some good plays man......

Vlady- Still bringing the game to the table! Keep it up!

We had 7 DNP's last night and still kicked some warrior ass. Imagine when our roster is back to full.....

WE ARE THE LAKERS........WE ARE UNSTOPABLE!!!!!!

All right guys- I think its beer thirty.......

Go LAKERS

Simi Laker Girl

If that's Israel Gutierrez of Miami, then he's got some nerve talking about officiating when the Heat were given a Tiffany gift-wrapped championship. Harumph!

In the practice video PJ stated highly doubtful we will see Gasol on Friday...thats it...I want a new medical staff next year! Vitti's got to go!!!!

Jesus Phil you look dead in the video, get some sleep..man you look bad. take some mellatonin or something but get some sleep.

If Bynum is healthy and we get GS, I predict Bynum scores a 101 points and Wilt will be history. That team is to skinny to defend the middle.

Los Angeles Lakers World Champions 2008

BD

Does anyone in plain English can explain me why Lakers were afraid to take good old fashined hard foul against Monta Ellis.. This dude was waltzing into our paint over and over again. Just look points in the paint, without having what I would call NBA center GS outscored us in the paint. I hope this will change with Pau and esp. Drew back in action.

I ditto the THANKS from simi laker girl for the props to the ladies on this blog. You guys are really respectful which is part of what is so great about joining in on the daily banter!

GO LAKERS!

BTW - PSLAKER: Where in PS are you? We might need to coordinate a Laker cheering section during the playoffs at the Beer Hunter in LQ.

Korey,

>>>dont listen to Long Time Laker Fan (you know since
>>>2004!).

Good one. I was cheering on the Lakers while you were still
pooping in your garanamals.

Jon, how can you be sick? I thought you took all of those liquid sea minerals or urchins or whatever it is? LOL!

Trevor Ariza needs magnesium, dude's a slow healer...

Walton needs... he needs to... STOP TURNING THE BALL OVER WITH STUPID PASSES, that's what he needs...

Isn't it interesting we are currently playing with a lineup very close to what was envisioned a year ago? Kobe, Vlad Rad and Odom, Kwame being replaced at C by Turiaf and Fisher replacing Smush, except Odom is now twice the player he was last year...

The OKC:

Cow Pies
Herders
Rustlers
Dusters
Bombers (ouch)
Riggers
Black Gold

charles,

you are the original troll killer man.
i bow down dawg that fool was never a suns fan anyways

Man I hate to be this guy, but I am a perfectionist.

MAMBA24 can you change the name in the roll call to Chick Hearn not Hearns.
My apologies for the anal retentiveness, it is just in my nature.

:)

PS, can I get on that ROLL CALL, I am starting to feel left out each morning!!!

Lake Show,

Yes, that is a great video, but it already has been posted about 5 or 6 times including the thread.

The Ladies Man = McLovin

RE: KOREY POSTING

Sasha is indeed a blessing and a curse, depending on which one shows up on a given night, but he does play some defence and always play aggressive. He does not make me nervous when he is in there.

Luke though makes me really nervous whenever he is involved in a play, similar to watching Grade 8 basketball if you know what I mean.

Korey,

>>>How dare you compare Kobe to Sasha in any way
>>>shape or form.

Oh, pardon me for pointing out that the two players play
the same position. I didn't realize that Kobe had been elevated
to some saintly position such that no other player could
possibly play the same position as him.

>>>Kobe can create plays, take tough shots, and take
>>>quick shots because he earned it through skill.

Yes, Kobe has much more breadth of talent than Sasha.
Was there anything in my post that you are disputing
that claimed somehow that Sasha was Kobe's equal? If
so, then I must really have been on crack when I wrote
it because it's clearly not the case.

>>>Sasha has no right to take quick shots in games and
>>>kill the team.

So by extension, Kobe does have the right to take quick
shots in games and kill the team? Is that what you're
getting at?

>>>If they go in great, if they miss terrible.

As is the case with any player in the NBA. Whether Korey
deifies them or not.

>>>The risk/reward is too high for a player of his
>>>calibur.

Okay, so how do you, Korey, measure Sasha's caliber?

Do you judge him by his performance in past seasons?
Do you judge him by how many all-star games he has played in?
Do you judge him by his hair style?

Personally, I evaluate the merits of a player by how well
they are doing RIGHT NOW.

For example, Golden State foolishly signed Chris
Webber to a contract, based on the fact that he has been
an all-star player in the past, only to discover that he's
completely worthless to them now.

Same thing with New Jersey and Jamal Magloire.

If you consider what Sasha has done for the Lakers this
season, then you would realize that he has as much right
to realize when it is appropriate for him to shoot as much
as any of the other guards. Considering just the Lakers
guards:

Kobe Bryant - 34% on 3-pointers, 46% overall
Jordan Farmar 38% on 3-pointers, 46% overall
Sasha Vujacic - 43% on 3-pointers, 46% overall
Derek Fisher - 41% on 3-pointers, 44% overall
Coby Karl - 30% on 3-pointers, 35% overall

Now note that I wouldn't propose that Sasha should go
juking and jiving and shooting over 3 defenders like Kobe
does. Kobe is one of the few people in the league who
can do that and shoot a high percentage.

But if Sasha is wide open for a mid-range jumper to
3-pointer, it's best for the team if he DOES take it. Not
only does he have as good a chance as Kobe of making
those shots (and a much better chance than on 3-pointers),
but by making those shots, he forces opposing defenses
to pay attention to him, which opens up the lane for post
play by Bynum or Gasol or for slashing by Kobe or Lamar.

It's Sasha's JOB to take the outside jumper and to make it
consistently. While in the past he hasn't done his job,
this season he is doing his job.

>>>Plus, Sasha consistently makes turnovers
>>>ball-handling which is unacceptable.

Okay, now you're demonstrating that you are making your
judgements of Sasha based on personal bias rather than
fact. Sasha turns over the ball less than any other player
on the Lakers. PERIOD. EVERY LAKER makes more turnovers
than Sasha. EVERY ONE OF THEM. Are you following
this? Is it getting through to you?

The only current Laker who turns the ball over at a lower
rate than Sasha is Ira Newble, and that's only because
he's only played a total of 4 minutes with the Lakers and
barely touched the ball.

>>>The purpose of a shooting guard is to shoot
>>>open shots

Which is exactly what Sasha does.

>>>BUT IT'S THE DUMBEST THING IN THE WORLD
>>>to say the purpose of a shooting guard is to shoot.
>>>
>>>Let's follow this logic:
>>>The purpose of a point guard is to point.
>>>The purpose of a small forward is to small.
>>>The purpose of a power forward is to power.
>>>And the purpose of a center is to ???

Ignorant straw man arguments. Since you don't seem to
know much about basketball, let me educate you. Note
that there is some flexibility in the roles, but there are
primary functions which each role has traditionally performed:

A point guard brings the ball up the court and initiates
the offense. He's usually the team's best ballhandler.
He leads the offense and distributes the ball to the team's
best scorers.

A shooting guard is known primarily for their scoring and
ballhandling. The shooting guard is one of the team's
top offensive weapons. Generally he is the player who
takes the majority of the shots from the perimeter, many
of which are three point shots.

Small Forwards are known primarily for their offense.
They're usually bigger than the guards, and their
responsibilities include both inside and outside work.

Power Forwards are generally the bigger, stronger forwards
who play close to the basket and are responsible for
rebounding and inside scoring

Centers are usually the tallest players on the team, and
their skills traditionally include shot-blocking, rebounding,
and inside scoring.

Did you follow all that, Korey. I don't expect Sasha to block
shots. I don't expect Sasha to get rebounds. I expect Sasha
to play competent defense and to make outside shots, as a
SHOOTING GUARD should.

Let me put it this way.

If you had Mike Miller on the team, would you complain
that he was taking too many shots? How about Manu
Ginobili? Or Ben Gordon? Or Deron Williams? Or
Corey Maggette? Or Ray Allen? Would you complain
that one of those players was taking too many shots?

Well get this. Sasha makes a higher percentage of his
shots than ANY of those players this season. No, I'm
not saying Sasha is as good as any of those players, but
when it comes to pure shooting, Sasha is better. And
THAT is why I say Sasha should let it fly any time he
thinks he has the open shot.

See that's the difference between you and me. You decide
what players you think are good and which are bad and then
you make positive or negative comments about them based
on that, regardless of the facts (e.g. your completely false
and ignorant claim that Sasha turns the ball over a lot.).
I look at what the players actually do on the court and
comment on their actual performance. When Luke or Sasha
has a bad game, I'll say so. But when Sasha's shooting
gets the Lakers back into the game, as it did last night, I will also say so.

Pig - great names for OKC - too funny! LOL! Although, the Cyclones is pretty good (from The Lake Show).

Ladies Man - you need to crawl back under the rock you share with Troll Man....

Let's do a little schedule breakdown breakdance here:

Let's take out all the games Bynum and Gasol played in this year. This means that for those games Kwame Brown or someone else was playing the majority of minutes.

In those non-Bynum and non-Gasol games, the Lakers are 9-8 (I'm including the New Orleans loss because Pau barely played in that one).

Of those 17 games, 7 were before the Kwame trade.

The Lakers were 3-5 with Kwame as their main center.

The Lakers are 6-3 without Kwame (and a non-Bynum, non-Gasol center)!

Ladies and gentlemen, the Kwame effect!

Webber to retire per ESPN.

Identify the troll..........done

Wound the troll.........well done Charles!

Starve the troll..........in process

Then, I'll prepare a nice roast over open coals and Pig will have a feast!

I love troll meat. Sweet and delicious!

Long Time,

Brilliant response and tutorial to Korey regarding Sasha.

Tom

Korey,

>>>Well maybe if Sasha doesnt brick two 3s early in the shot clock in overtime then we wouldnt
>>>need the clutch 3. The point is not that he makes shots every so often. It's that there are a ton
>>> of early in the shot-clock contested shots that make no sense. He's killing the team with that.

Okay. You were wrong in your assertion that Sasha turns the ball over a lot, so let's test your
latest claim about Sasha. that "there are a lot of early in the shot-clock contested shots" made
by Sasha.

Here are all of Sasha's shots (and early offense he was involved in) in last night's game:

11:38 in the second quarter - made 3-pointer with 14 seconds on shot clock
10:37 in the second - missed 3-pointer with 5 seconds left on the shot clock
9:15 in the second - Sasha passes to Luke for a dunk on a fast break
8:10 in the second - Sasha makes 3-pointer with 22 seconds left on shot clock
(on a kick-out from Luke after an offensive rebound by Luke)
7:28 in the second - Sasha misses 3-pointer with 2 seconds left on shot clock
6:33 in the second - Sahas misses 3-pointer with 5 seconds left on shot clock
5:26 in the second - Sasha makes 2-pointer as the shot clock is expiring
3:51 in the second - Sasha makes 3-pointer with 2 seconds left on shot clock
0:06 in the third quarter - Shasa misses 3-pointer with 3 seconds left on shot clock
11:12 in the fourth quarter - Sasha makes 2-pointer with 14 left on the shot clock
8:18 in the fourth - Kobe makes a 2-pointer with 2 seconds on the clock (Sasha assists)
7:43 in the fourth - Sasha makes a 3-pointer with 4 seconds on the shot clock (Kobe assists)
1:47 in overtime - Sasha misses a 3-pointer with 10 seconds on the shot clock
0:59 in overtime - Sasha misses a 3-pointer with 13 seconds on the shot clock
0:43 in overtime - Sasha makes a 3-pointer with 9 seconds on the shot clock
0:09 in overtime - Lamar Odom makes a layup with 3 seconds on the shot clock (Sasha assists)

So, let's see.

You did make a fair enough assessment that Sasha bricked two threes in overtime, and 10
and 14 seconds left were somewhat early in the shot clock.

But to counter that, up to that point in the game, Sasha had hit 4 of 8 of the 3-pointers he had
taken, and 6 of 10 overall. Sasha had a hot hand. If Sasha had shot 0 for 5 to that point, then
yes, it would suck for him to jack up a 3 with 10 seconds left on the shot clock. But considering
that he was shooting well for the game, I consider it proper for him to take those shots.

The Lakers weren't protecting a lead at that point. On his first miss, the Lakers were down 2 points,
and on his second miss, the Lakers were down 1 point. If the Lakers were trying to protect a 10
point lead or something, then it would matter more when in the shot clock someone shot, but
if Sasha has an open shot with 10 seconds on the shot clock, I want him to take it.

As for whether Sasha took "a ton" of shots early in the shot clock -- only 4 of his 13 shots in the
game were with more than 9 seconds left on the shot clock. Considering Phil's mandate to go
for some early offense this season, I'd hardly consider 4 of 13 "a ton". But it is a subjective
judgement, so if you consider that he shot 4 shots fairly early as bad, then you are entitled to
your opinion.

And you say if Sasha hadn't bricked the first two threes in overtime, then he wouldn't have
needed to hit the clutch 3 near the end. I could counter that if Kobe hadn't missed two shots with
a minute and a half left in the game OR if Walton and Turiaf hadn't turned the ball over in the
last two minutes OR if Lamar had hit both his free throws with 9 seconds left, then the Lakers
would have won the game in regulation. Sasha started the fourth quarter and contributed
to the Lakers building their lead from 1 point to 8 points. When Sasha went out with 4:45 left
is when the game started to slip out of the Lakers hands.

Now. All that said, if you want to criticize Sasha, I suggest you choose Sunday's game. In that
game he shot 0 for 5 and didn't play very well at all. I don't ask anyone to declare Sasha a
superstar or anything of the sort. And I wouldn't bother to defend criticism of his play in a game
where he played badly. In fact, I have occasionally joined in such criticism.

I just take offense when someone criticizes the play of a player in a particular game when the
truth is that the Lakers would have lost without the contributions of that player in that game.
I've defended Kobe and Lamar and several other Lakers this season from similar unwarranted
criticism. When a player plays like crap, shoot away. But base your attacks on fact, not on
your general dislike of a player. That's all I ask. Is that so unreasonable?

toad,

thanks for the holla!

- LTLF wants to compare Kobe to Sasha
- LTLF thinks Sasha has the same rights on the court as Kobe and is allowed to make the same mistakes as Kobe
Read:
"I didn't realize that Kobe had been elevated
to some saintly position such that no other player could
possibly play the same position as him."
and
">>>Sasha has no right to take quick shots in games and
>>>kill the team.
So by extension, Kobe does have the right to take quick
shots in games and kill the team? Is that what you're
getting at"

Actually, yea, that's exactly what real basketball fans are getting through LTLF fans
skull.

If Kobe kills the team taking quick shots, I can accept that. I cant accept it from Sasha.
Thatz why Kobe is a HOF and Sasha is a role player (8th man?).

You admit Kobe is levels above Sasha but want them to be able to make the same mistakes? ahahahahahahah!

It is OK for Kobe to have 5 TOs, take 30 shots and do whatever it takes for the team
to win. We all can deal with Kobe bad games, Kobe bad plays, and etc. I wonder why?
Well, because Kobe more than makes up for it by carrying the team.

All day every day I will like and die with Kobe making mistakes than Sasha making mistakes. I wont accept living and dieing with Sasha making mistakes.

It's called ROLES on the team. Sasha has a small role. Get the ball, shoot it when open, dont TRY to dribble around the world and get picked like you are in kindergarten! SASHA has a slim margin of error because his job is limited.

Kobe's role is obviously to do everything and thus he will make turnovers, take bad shots, do whatever.

Its OK. He's Kobe and he is a HOF and I want the Lakers losing/winning because of him. That makes sense.

We cant accept that from Sasha. Know your role. Shoot. Dont turn the ball over ESPECIALLY when you having very LIMITED ballhandling responsibility in the 1st place!!!!

But of course, LTLF thinks Sasha gets afforded the same courtesies of Kobe for some reason...