If the Lakers lose tomorrow, it'll be due to cramped hands
Why such a prognosis? Because practice concluded with players taking turns autographing jerseys, hats and other assorted "gear" on what I believe is referred to as "Signing Day." Anybody' familiar with the "Seinfeld" episode where Jerry's fingers uncontrollably curled up after signing a stack of 12-cent residual checks for his appearance on "The Super Terrific Happy Hour" knows how treacherous a situation the Lakers are brazenly staring down. On the plus side, however, any worries about Andrew Bynum's knee shouldn't carry over into the state of his mitts. From where I was watching, Drew appeared in no pain whatsoever while lending his "AB17." He was also supporting 100% of the Sharpie's weight on his own. No help from the Lakers' futuristic treadmill.
But assuming all rest, ice and holistic therapy required to physically recover from this afternoon's Sharpie-fest is properly undergone, there shouldn't be too much concern about tomorrow's one seed-clinching contest against the Sacto Kings. At least not because of outside forces. The Lakers seemed both pleased with their good fortune and confident with their chances, but still focused on the task at hand. "We took one good step forward last night beating a good team," noted Pau Gasol. "But we've got another good team tomorrow. We just can't underestimated Sacramento. We know how competitive they are." If the game's actual importance doesn't lend enough motivation to come out with a suitable mindset, the events taking place at Staples on March 10th likely will. "They beat us here on our home court," reminded Kobe Bryant. "We want to try to pay them back a little bit."
Should the script play out in a way a purple and gold bleeding scribe would type it, the happy ending's irony wouldn't be lost on any member of the roster. Especially when you factor in how few media types (myself included) pegged the Lakers as within sniffing distance of first place potential during the offseason. "I don't think anybody gave us a chance to do it," smiled Lamar Odom. "Which makes it more entertaining." But could LO have foreseen this, I wondered? "We had a lot of confidence in our team. I think the time together gave us confidence. I said in the beginning of the season, there isn't a team that couldn't be beaten on any given night. And you could fall to any team, you know what I'm saying?" But even taking that belief in themselves into account, the hurdles leaped by this team along the way to a hopeful #1 seed can't be overlooked, given all the injuries, offseason uncertainty, trade jabber, etc. Thus, Odom confirmed by suspicion that coming out on top this particular year would be even more special to him. "That's the fun part about it. People were giving us the eight spot, the seven spot. 'If they do make the playoffs," because the Western Conference is so tough. So to (possibly) win it, that's cool."
For Kobe, a season full of wins is nothing new (although oddly enough, the 2000 Lakers were the only of his squads to actually win the West). But being this deep in the MVP-talk mix is, a position he's grateful to have achieved. "I always say, winning MVP now is really about making your teammates better, which has always been the criticism directed towards me. So to be in that category, to me, is a great sense of accomplishment. I asked Kobe if, now that's he's wrapping up a season where that negativity has been silenced, if he has a better idea of why the knock remained so persistent. If it made any more sense to him. Answer? Not really. "Last I checked, I won three rings. So it's kind of tough to be the type of player that doesn't make his teammates better. Shaq (O'Neal) wasn't the only one doing that, you see what I'm saying? So even though the criticism is there, I don't think it was justified. It's still a challenge and it's a challenge that I accept."
Depending on how one defines "makes his teammates better" (a phrase I think is often misused by the analysts, at least the way I see it), I both agree and don't agree with Kobe. But no matter how you feel (I'm not looking to rehash a never-ending debate), interesting answer. In the end, it kinda doesn't matter, since I've been predicting since December or so that Kobe will in fact win this year (deservedly so) and haven't changed my opinion. Therefore, the "Best Player Without Any Hardware" talk should cease soon enough.
Apropos to nothing important, I didn't see him actually do it, but Jordan Farmar managed to shoot an oversized yoga ball so it stayed put on top of the basket. A shooter's touch is obviously required. He joked how the little ball will rattle in and out, but he's money with the big one. Not much consolation during an NBA game, but the skill could make him deadly in a no-holds barred game of HORSE.
Also, FYI. For L.A. residents with basic cable, Pittsburgh residents with simply a TV or any out of towner with an MLB package, check out tonight's Dodgers-Pirates game (7:10 pm PST, FSN) for a Laker-centric surprise. The player involved wanted me to keep it on the hush hush, but assuming they televise his part, I imagine it'll be included in the pregame footage. BK is at the game and hopefully will have more details.
- Pau Gasol: Download pau_gasol_practice_4.14.mp3
- Phil Jackson: Download phil_jackson_practice_4.14.mp3
- Lamar Odom: Download lamar_odom2.mp3 (some funny stuff on his high school team)
- Kobe Bryant: Download kobe_bryant_practice_4.14.mp3
(Apologies that The Mamba's audio sounds like it was recorded in a tunnel. I accidentally hit "delete" instead of "save" on my iPod when he finished, but because I wanted y'all to hear Kobe's actual voice, I recorded his session off another writer's recorder. Between the "circa 1981 mixed tape-style" transfer, my trouble finding a place that was continually quiet and a guy trying to start a conversation with me while I was doing this, the audio quality definitely suffered a touch. But the effort is what counts, right?)
AK
I don't get it. If the Lakers can get an advanced treadmill from the future, why can't they just get the All-Star Andrew Bynum of the future?
Posted by: ajax | April 14, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Mamaba,
Please add me to the 16 win bandwagon. Being on the '55 WBW" made the regular season even sweeter, so I want to enjoy the Play-Offs on the "16 WBW".
Thanks,
Roky
Posted by: Roky | April 14, 2008 at 06:20 PM
People really tend to forget Kobe's "extra passes" as well as his penetration in the championship years in the playoffs that made the team better.. he was also his best on defense at the PG position early on. Lakers aren't winning anything without that..
where criticism is justified is he did have stretches in almost every year where he went away from that.. this is probably Kobe's best season in not doing that other than maybe handful of games. He is also able to work in the post more to attract double teams and pass it back more now that no one is really camping in the paint a la Shaq. The flexibility is awesome with Kobe-Pau.
Fisher said recently that this team is truly a team and not like the Shaq-Kobe years where it was feed into Shaq every single time and then Kobe and depend on them to create plays every time. Once the zone defense was allowed, this pretty much helped slow down the lakers.
Posted by: Lakerfan | April 14, 2008 at 06:25 PM
Folks:
I said it before, on this blog, that the criteria folks use in deciding on a League MVP is capricious, at best. Only recently has "makes his teamates better" been a criteria.
The multiple-MVP winners of years ago were ALL dominant players, as is Kobe Bryant. To get a real feel for the current "makes his teamates better"-charade, recognize that Oscar Robertson (who averaged a triple-double for his CAREER) is NOT a multiple MVP winner !
Bias is bias wherever you find it.
Cheers.
Posted by: Gman | April 14, 2008 at 06:31 PM
I believe this is the first time I hear KOBE mentioning about making his team mates better and to chronicle what has happened in the SHAQ years.
Without KOBE during those years, SHAQ would have never won anything. And goes the same vice versa. They were two of a kind in that offense-defense strategy.
Posted by: dice8up | April 14, 2008 at 06:44 PM
The Lakers smells the WC #1 seed... they're going to pack it in tomorrow.
Go Lakers!
Go Kobe = MVP!
Posted by: dice8up | April 14, 2008 at 06:46 PM
Gman
That's true. But that's not all.
last I checked,
Lebron didn't make any of his teammates better.
However, according to some media pundits (ie. Hollinger)
Lebron is better than Kobe. Without Lebron, Cavs is nothing.
Then, stop saying that MVP should make his teammates better!!
Posted by: coolhair | April 14, 2008 at 06:47 PM
With regards to kobe MVP thing, Kobe should thank KG for being injured for a while and boston still winning, if not ,even if LA gets the topseed KG will be runaway MVP.
KObe will win this one ( its a close one) bec. media has no more alibis to degarde kobe's effort
Posted by: manslayer | April 14, 2008 at 06:48 PM
Kobe is the most versatile player this league has ever seen. You need him to score, he'll put up 81. You need him to facilitate, he will run the hardest offense ever created, the triangle. You need him to shut down defenders, he will lock defenders down, like he did in the olpmpics. Nobody in the history of bball can do what Kobe has done over the past, and continues to do. All he does his take instructions from his coaches, Phil and Coach K, and he does exactly what they tell him.
Posted by: wow | April 14, 2008 at 07:04 PM
I have never watched a baseball game a day in my life, but today is a momentous ocassion and this red head commentator on tv sounds way too old
Posted by: bobie | April 14, 2008 at 07:09 PM
ak/bk,
i want your job damn it
Posted by: the_cool | April 14, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Mamba24,
Larry, we already have a 2008 Championship Bandwagon! You need to kill this 16-Game Bandwagon and add those late arriving and slow believing last-minute claim jumpers to the REAR of the 2008 Championship Banner. Make it right, Mamba. Don't let these "bandwagoners" hi-jack the true bandwagon. The 2008 Championship Banner was FIRST!. Let’s get it right. LOL. Thanks.
As a reminder, here is how the 2008 Championship Bandwagon got started as a result of the Lakers and Pau defeating Shaq and the Suns. The day before the game, the GHE co-chairman and ultra-realist Andrew Z. posted the following surprisingly optimistic post:
-----------
“I'll go ahead and make the (way out there) prediction that if the Lakers win tonight, they will win the NBA Championship this year. Period.
That's about as good of a LakerTom impersonation as I can muster.
Posted by: Andrew Z | February 20, 2008 at 02:19 PM
----------
Right after the Lakers beat the Suns, I asked you to start the 2008 Lakers Championship Banner with Andrew Z. as driver and myself as co-driver. Unfortunately, I later somehow got deleted entirely from the bandwagon. Please add me as the #2 on the bandwagon. And tag all of those late-comers on the 16-Win Bandwagon to the REAR of the Lakers Championship Bandwagon. We’re happy to have them climb aboard but they need to know that the “choice” seats were already “claimed” by braver & smarter bloggers.
Thanks.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 14, 2008 at 07:28 PM
I believe this is the first time I hear KOBE mentioning about making his team mates better and to chronicle what has happened in the SHAQ years.
Without KOBE during those years, SHAQ would have never won anything. And goes the same vice versa. They were two of a kind in that offense-defense strategy.
Posted by: dice8up | April 14, 2008 at 07:38 PM
Yeah Hawks! Atlanta clinching a playoff berth means no lottery pick for the Suns in the upcoming draft. The Suns are setting in the West. Bye Old Man Shaq, Bye Old Man Nash. The window is almost closed, the panes are jigglin', the glass is frozen stuck.
Posted by: rdlee | April 14, 2008 at 07:40 PM
I love how Kobe says that...
AK/BK how can you argue with that?
If a guy wins 3 titles as the co-star on the team how can he NOT make other players better?
Most importantly, he made Shaq a better player because of the threat of Kobe. Similarly Shaq made Kobe better.
That lethal combo TOGETHER made Fox, Horry, Fisher, etc. better.
You cant win chips with just 1 good player doing everything.
I agree with Kobe. He was so good at what he was doing he fit into the team seamlessly yet he got pegged as a guy "who didnt make players better"...
hogwash!
Posted by: Korey | April 14, 2008 at 07:42 PM
Some Media say, the Game between Lakers and Hornets is having a big factor in deciding who deserve to be the MVP. But unfurtunately, Hornet lost and so Bryant should be the MVP choice. However, their stance change as they said the Game between Lakers and Spurs is so important for the Lakers to win in order Bryant to lock up the award(and Lakers must be at the top of the West) but once again Lakers win. And Hornets lost to the Kings the day before. I've thought the MVP is defiintily lock-up to Bryant but still I heard so many speculation and reasoning from stupid Media that someone more deserving than Kobe. Damn it..
What Kobe does isn't for that award. I think he never after for that award. As what he introdued himself to his team in Hawai. "I'm Kobe Bryant and I want a championship" I don't know if that the exact words he said but something like that. He wants a Championship and we want a championship.. That's all that matter to us right now.. We need to shut up those Media that are so bias to him. Choke them with the Championship Trophy..
Posted by: trio | April 14, 2008 at 07:44 PM
Some Media say, the Game between Lakers and Hornets is having a big factor in deciding who deserve to be the MVP. But unfurtunately, Hornet lost and so Bryant should be the MVP choice. However, their stance change as they said the Game between Lakers and Spurs is so important for the Lakers to win in order Bryant to lock up the award(and Lakers must be at the top of the West) but once again Lakers win. And Hornets lost to the Kings the day before. I've thought the MVP is defiintily lock-up to Bryant but still I heard so many speculation and reasoning from stupid Media that someone more deserving than Kobe. Damn it..
What Kobe does isn't for that award. I think he never after for that award. As what he introdued himself to his team in Hawai. "I'm Kobe Bryant and I want a championship" I don't know if that the exact words he said but something like that. He wants a Championship and we want a championship.. That's all that matter to us right now.. We need to shut up those Media that are so bias to him. Choke them with the Championship Trophy..
Posted by: trio | April 14, 2008 at 07:44 PM
Kobe is the only perimeter player in the league you would want both with the ball and defending the ball in the final two minutes of a close game. The Lakers are on the cusp of being the best team in perhaps the best conference ever, despite playing many games without their other key players. He's played in every game this season, inspiring his teammates like never before.
Posted by: dice8up | April 14, 2008 at 07:59 PM
Kobe is a shut-down defender and has been the best offensive weapon in the league since MJ departed. He is a coach on the floor, has learned to trust other players and has led the Lakers to the top of the most competitive conference in the history of the Association WITHOUT an All-Star teammate.
Posted by: dice8up | April 14, 2008 at 08:01 PM
AK,
Thanks for the Tidbit of news on Bynum. Laker Fans are starving for news on Bynum and it doesn't matter how trivia it might seem I can't seem to get enough and hoping one day we will get positive news about Drew. Thx!
BD
Posted by: BD | April 14, 2008 at 08:01 PM
This is not a lifetime achievement vote. This is based on Kobe playing outstanding team (and individual) ball while carrying an injury-plagued club to the top of the West. Andrew Bynum has played only 35 games and Pau Gasol just 25 with the Laker
Posted by: dice8up | April 14, 2008 at 08:04 PM
rdlee,
Phoenix thought that was going to be a lottery pick.
It just keeps getting better doesn't it?? LOL
Now if only we can get Drew and Ariza back.
Its all good in LakerLand!
BD
Posted by: BD | April 14, 2008 at 08:06 PM
Observations...
IF the Lakers play with the defensive pressure they demonstrated the 1st 20 minutes of the Hornets game Friday night and the last 24 minutes of the Spurs contest on Sunday afternoon... we'll be having a parade this summer!!
While I keep telling everyone that will listen not to expect a championship this year, deep down I think they just might pull it off this year and if they do... "Katie bar the door" as Chickie Baby used to say!!
We're building a bonafide DYNASTY!!
GO LAKERS!!
Posted by: Laker Dodger Die Hard Fan In Upstate NY | April 14, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Actually trio, he said something like, "My name is KOBE BRYANT, and I am here to WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS!"
But very good comments on these media people... they would find any reason not to give KOBE the MVP award.
Posted by: dice8up | April 14, 2008 at 08:11 PM
What the F????? Moments after being very grateful that the Jerry West promo was down I got slapped with another innane Luke Walton celebration on the official Lakers site. The anatomy of Walton? Some players just "get it." Walton "has emerged as one of the team's moset reliable role players."
It is bad enough that they abuse us with Walton's presence. But this propaganda campaign is either insane or insulting. No matter how many times they say Luke has a high b-ball IQ, those who follow the Lakers know otherwise. Are they trying to brainwash us? What is with all this insane Luke adoration?
This is like a communist re-education camp. I cannot believe that anyone in the Lakers organization believes this drivel. If they do, God help us. Those who are brainwashed are impervious to evidence. I tremble when I think that the rest of the NBA is not drinking the same cook-aid that our GMs are.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: JohnnyP | April 14, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Ak/BK,
Who's the unoriginal reporter that asks every interviewee if the Lakers are in the "proverbial zone" question? Geez, does that guy have any other questions to ask. I believe he asked all four guys in your audio clips that question. Be original! Ask some original questions. What a dork.
Posted by: Joe | April 14, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Rockets are going down in Utah. Lakers clinch WC top seed.They will still beat Sacto tomorrow......big mo going into playoffs.
Posted by: spokanlakerfan | April 14, 2008 at 08:15 PM
Houston Rockets are going to lose to UTAH...
Posted by: dice8up | April 14, 2008 at 08:18 PM
Korey,
To clarify what I meant, along the lines of how Kobe and Shaq BOTH helped their teammates during the threepeat era, I absolutely agree with Kobe. They both contributed equally on that level and anybody who says otherwise is flat out wrong. Where I disagreed, at least on some level, is how Kobe has helped to lift teammates after that era ended. It wasn't the time period Kobe was specifically addressing, but at the same time, that time period is also when Kobe's dealt with the most "doesn't make his teammates better" accusations. I've addressed that topic in the past and don't wanna rehash it yet again (not least not for another 24 hours. haha).
But during the threepeat time, I think Kobe raises a legit point, for sure.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | April 14, 2008 at 08:30 PM
BK
Thanks for the vague and inconclusive response!
chuck23 April 14, 2008
Posted by: chuck23 | April 14, 2008 at 08:38 PM
JohnnyP
hahah..
"This is like a communist re-education camp."
Posted by: kleander | April 14, 2008 at 08:43 PM
So what happened at the Dodger game, for those of us that couldn't watch? Kobs threw out the first pitch or something?
Posted by: Gabe | April 14, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Man, PHX is having a very hard time dealing with GOLDEN State....
Go Warriors... Hahahahaha
Posted by: dice8up | April 14, 2008 at 08:54 PM
IF you guys didn't see it's pretty funny. It is a kobe"jump over a car" imitation.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3XSyqgVu9NU
Posted by: du ma | April 14, 2008 at 08:57 PM
JohnnyP,
>>> another innane Luke Walton celebration on the official Lakers site.
You may remember, Luke was featured virtually all of last year on Lakers Courtside Connection. For weeks and weeks, FSN has been running nightly episodes of "Life with Luke," like we care.
Luke might get more respect on this blog if he were as dedicated to the game of basketball as he is dedicated to mugging for the cameras. It's like he rubs his Hollywood obsession in our noses.
Since Jeanie Buss is in charge of Laker marketing, one has to wonder if that's why PJ gives Luke so many minutes. Luke may be more a favorite of hers than he is of the coach.
But with so much at stake for the Lakers right now, I'm going to give it a rest. I'll give Luke my support as I do every player on the team, right now. We can pick up this conversation after the Championship parade in June.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | April 14, 2008 at 09:10 PM
wow, Houston lost.
NOH is still in the running (their game tomorrow is vs the Clips)...
but it's all good. We gotta get our boys to lock it down and run it Tuesday night!
Posted by: socalife | April 14, 2008 at 09:11 PM
So, with Houston losing to Utah, that's a wrap right?
Lakers have the #1 seed win or lose tomorrow, right?
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | April 14, 2008 at 09:14 PM
wait...with houston going down again tonite..looking at the standings they own the tiebreaker with both san anotonio and new orleans, so even if they loose tomorrow arent they the number 1 seed no matter what?
Posted by: | April 14, 2008 at 09:16 PM
Not a bad stat line......Raymond Sessions....Bucks point guard....20/24/8........
Posted by: Thirty2 | April 14, 2008 at 09:39 PM
Johnny P.,
I told you he's the favorite of the Laker organization and the media who are rejecting Kobe but they will vote for Walton with a new award MVRP (most valuable role player).
Not only a communisit teach-in camp, we are treated like a conceiving woman to name our child, Luke for he can be the best if he plays like Luke. Arghh!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 14, 2008 at 09:42 PM
Amazing_Happens,
Nope, they gotta win. New Orleans only has 25 losses. If we lose tomorrow, that would be our 26th loss, so we'd drop to the #2 spot. Unless New Orleans loses on Wednesday, then we'd be back up at #1.
Ugh...let's just win.....
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: gokobego | April 14, 2008 at 09:44 PM
Phoenix is going to get the 5 seed. Shaq in 2nd round.
Posted by: BD | April 14, 2008 at 09:48 PM
Kobe and Shaq
http://youtube.com/watch?v=j3vmpM2FGzU
Posted by: Q | April 14, 2008 at 09:50 PM
No wait, New Orleans can still win if Lakers lose and New Orleans beat Dallas...
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | April 14, 2008 at 09:51 PM
du ma,
I dont know if that video was a fake or not but I read da comments and someone posted on there that da kid died 27 hours later of internal bleeding and broke his both legs and shattered his pelvis, Really hope it was a spoof.
Read da comments
Posted by: Stars_R_Aligned | April 14, 2008 at 09:52 PM
After going slow mo for a bit and if you slow mo it at 40 seconds you see that it is a fake.
Posted by: Stars_R_Aligned | April 14, 2008 at 09:55 PM
Yeah...I hope it's fake
Posted by: du ma | April 14, 2008 at 09:56 PM
AK,
WHAT HAPENS WHEN SPURS, HORNETS and LAKERS END UP WITH SAME RECORD IN WEST? WHO GETS 1 2 and 3? I AM HAVING DIFFICULT TIME UNDERSTANDING THIS. SHED SOME LIGHT PLEASE..
-Disgruntled,Frustrated Laker Fan
Posted by: Disgruntled,Frustrated Laker Fan | April 14, 2008 at 10:01 PM
Lakers cannot afford to tank their last season game for the following reasons:
1. Winning the Conference is for the fans at Staples, fans on radio/TV, fans on Lakers Blog throughout the world. Not good to end the year with a loss with crappy team AT HOME.
2. Win this one for Kobe, it has some connection to the voters who are at the fence peeling out petals muttering: shall I go for Kobe or shall I go with Paul. Sacto's game will seal the deal
3. Which do you prefer a sober Anthony or a limping Nowitzky? I will pick no defense Nuggets in shedding the first blood.
4. Bragging rights against the spoilers. Sacramento has no business of winning except to embarrass the Lakers. With all the non-compromising owners, Maloof Brothers of trading Artest or Bibby to the Lakers during the off season, please don't give them any favors of winning the last game, you won't hear the end of it because that's their only achievement they could brag for this season.
5. Lastly, as Johnny P said: we will win because we have Luke@!&%*!!!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 14, 2008 at 10:08 PM
dice8up,
Thanks for the correction..
Indeed, the Media Haters are just trying to find an Alibi to Discredit Kobe..
Posted by: trio | April 14, 2008 at 10:26 PM