Ch-ch-changes
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The Lakers are expecting to see a few heading into this evenings Game 2 (7:30 pm PST, TNT) against the Nuggets of Denver. The biggest would be the decision to go big, which means Linas Kleiza subbing in for Anthony Carter. Theoretically, the taller lineup allows George Karl to continue putting Kenyon Martin on Kobe while not giving up as many mismatches in the paint. Among dudes going batty with the free space in the paint was Lamar Odom, who's basically had his way in most games since Pau Gasol's arrival (and has some T-shirts to help fans... wait for it... gear up for the postseason). There should also be some zone heading the Lakers' way, which could very well lead to more outside shots from a quiet game 1 guy like Derek Fisher. As for the Lakers, they're feeling relaxed and loose heading into this contest, but that shouldn't be confused with complacency. The Lakers are well aware of their coach's 17-0 clip after going up 2-0, which is why they're looking to maintain the current position of their two dozen feet.
FYI. The folks over at firegeorgekarl.com don't like any of you.
Whatever recession could be hitting this fine nation, it's apparently not affecting the pocket books of Laker fans.
More on the space age treadmill.
It's probably not too early to start wondering if Dallas is out, which could very well mirror the fate coming for Avery Johnson.
Bostonians now have some wicked hate for Mike Bibby.
Two interesting tidbits: 1) Charles Oakley wants either Herb Williams or Patrick Ewing to replace Zeke Thomas. 2) Oak's pitching a cooking show???
We're all about Nikita Koloff shout outs on Lakersblog!!!
And finally, we love our readers, but none of y'all can stay on our couches, either.
I am having a ball being a Troll on Suns websites.
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"Did anyone actually think that Stern was really going to let us win? Cmon!"
Yea, Stern made Shaq miss free throws, HaHa
Stern made it easy for Ginoblie to tear up your D.
Stern made your offense 1 dimensional.
Its all Sterns fault.
Your team is going to be bad for a while, I would start getting used to it, and stop blaming it on other people.
Posted by: frank1rizzo | April 23, 2008 at 01:14 PM
EastCoastJessie, and all east coast laker fans. Props to you guys for staying up late to watch the game. But thats what seperates the die-hards from the average fan!
PsychedLakerGirl - what do you think for LO's line?
Charles - what do you think of the LO shirts?
Posted by: Lakers Legacy | April 23, 2008 at 01:15 PM
BD \, hell to the naw on feeling sorry for the big complainer. Fatso is getting just what he deserves. He thinks too high of his skills as well as the suns. How can u think u r so great when u haven;t won a thing. Suns coach is an idiot to diss the spurs so they can hear it.
Posted by: lakergirl1980 | April 23, 2008 at 01:22 PM
mamba24 do you realize that typing in all CAPS is considered rude in cyberspace unless everything you write is very important, which I really doubt hehehehe and I hope yuo agree lol. Most of your posts are short, incoherent and of no consequence. STOP TYPING in all CAPS it is very annoying for us who enjoy blogging..numskull!!
hehehehe
The Phoenix Fan
Posted by: The Phoenix Man | April 23, 2008 at 01:28 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3357721
Gasol headlines some of the NBA transplants.
Posted by: mel | April 23, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Thanks Lakers Legacy...it takes a lot to be a Laker fan in the East...but there's nothing a true fan won't do for his/her team.
Heck, I'd fly out there just to have a Lakers Blog family reunion. Hanging out and dowing a few cold ones with all my Laker lover while watching a game would be lovely.
We really should plan that for next season...or even this season while the Lakers play the Celtics in the Finals.
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | April 23, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Legacy: don't think it will be massive in points but more efficiency. I am thinking a 20 pts/20 boards night with respectable # of assists. But I think defensively is where he will be huge - especially with Camby and Martin attempting to hog up (no pun Pig) the low post area.
I have to give him credit - he has been awesome this season. I was not liking LO too much going back to when he was traded to LAL - didn't see the fire and he always seemed too lackadaisical. Media kept saying how great he was but I/we never saw it. Now we are. I figured the personal stuff was dragging him down - who wouldn't be affected? But he has really rebounded (in more ways than one) and I am feeling the fire in his interviews now. It's a huge and good step.
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | April 23, 2008 at 01:32 PM
Legacy: I also really like the fact that LO is flying under the radar (so to speak). Gasol's big night will force Thugs to adjust to him. KB24 will also have player adjustments. But I don't think they matchup well with LO - his length and ability to move will cause them problems all night and they don't have the manpower to manage all 3.
I disagree with media that our perimeter shooters will be more active (or encouraged) tonight. I thinks its going to continue to be a low-post game/series. And I don't think PJ will let the team fly with 3's because as he has said - that is a really bad habit esp. in playoffs.
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | April 23, 2008 at 01:38 PM
his shirts look weird.... LO should design them more like his religous t shirts... and more street and less technology like. that's not his style.
Posted by: | April 23, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Charles - what do you think of the LO shirts?
Posted by: Lakers Legacy | April 23, 2008 at 01:15 PM
Pretty dope. We should catch up next weekend and talk about ML75-Elay etc... Sparked some interest...
Hope you have a good one bro...
Posted by: Charles | April 23, 2008 at 01:42 PM
Oh! are you kidding me??? I just bought a Lamar Odom TShirt, how can you NOT buy one of these things? I totally couldn't resist...
LO7
That's classic... maybe I'll wear it to Nordstrom the next time I want to feel totally inadequate in a retail store...
Posted by: TaosHum | April 23, 2008 at 01:42 PM
Sign me up for the "For God's sake, Mamba24, stay away from the Speedos!!" bandwagon!
Posted by: exhelodrv
_______________
I SECOND THAT EMOTION!!! (Sorry Mamba24....)
I checked out LO's T-shirts - I actually like 'em. I'll probably get one. They are a bit (!) expensive but there's no recession in LakerLand - don't you read the papers?!!
__________________
"Yea, Stern made Shaq miss free throws, HaHa
Stern made it easy for Ginoblie to tear up your D.
Stern made your offense 1 dimensional.
Its all Sterns fault.
Your team is going to be bad for a while, I would start getting used to it, and stop blaming it on other people.
Posted by: frank1rizzo
_________________
I must be a Funs troll at heart because I get all giggly and gleeful reading that!! The implosion cannot be stopped now. Soon now, sooner that you think, there will be a nuclear holocaust in AZ from D'Antoni's head expoding. Can't wait to check out the fallout from that! Should be just as much fun as what will happen in Dallas....
GO LAKERS!
The BEAN for MVP and FINALS MVP or NO PEACE!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 23, 2008 at 01:42 PM
Good night everybody, time to go home...it's almost 5 here. Enjoy our win tonight. I'll be watching.
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | April 23, 2008 at 01:43 PM
"Love seeing Dallas go down in the first round. I'm sure that 36 year old Jason Kidd is going to put them over the top next year... Ahahahahahaaa!
Also, doesn't Dampier seem like their "Kwame"? Those dudes need a real Center... and a better coach..."
Posted by: TaosHum | April 23, 2008 at 12:56 PM
TAOSHUM,
Since you compared Dampier against Kwame, I would like to make some comments regarding Kwame and our existing big men.
First, Altho' Dampier, based on his stats (6.1 pts, 7.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists) is not what I would call a legitimate center, at least he can do most of the things that are required of a low post player. I cannot say the same about Kwame.
Secondly, I believe my man, Mbenga, can become better than Dampier if given the opportunity. It's too bad that we got him so late in the regular season--with not much PT, he is not comfortable with the triangle offense, so his tendency is to shoot the ball immediately since opponents will leave him open. If we are patient with him, he could become valuable in the future as a back-up center.
Thirdly, I am hoping that we can see Chris Mihm in action in the first round. Hopefully, we could have a blow out game where Chris coulg get some PT. He used to give us 10-10 per game which is still better than Dampier.
Posted by: Robyn | April 23, 2008 at 01:44 PM
I can sum up the whole FireGeorgeKarl.com article in one sentence.
They HATE us cause they AIN'T us!
The Banner Holder has spoken!
Posted by: utzworld THE BANNER HOLDER | April 23, 2008 at 01:56 PM
FROM PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
BONSOIR MES AMIS,
READY FOR GAME 2? = OF COURSE WE WILL WIN IT TOO.
CONGRATULATIONS TO FATTY!!!
THANKS TO MANBA24...
DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE AND FOCUS AT THE ZONE CUZ THAT BOY FROM LUTENIA CAN KILL US WITH THE TREES.
THAT GAME IS VERY IMPORTANT AS FISHER SAID CUZ WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE OUR HOME COURT ADVANTAGE.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE GROUNDING OUR DESTINY UNTIL JUNE= DEFENSE +FOCUS.
SEE YOU AT THE GAME
LOVE TO ALL
SHEKOBE
Posted by: SHEKOBE | April 23, 2008 at 01:57 PM
Fatty,
Brilliant post.
You are now the official Laker prophet.
Please ask the Omnipotent One when Bynum will return.
Thanks.
Posted by: LAKER TRUTH | April 23, 2008 at 02:01 PM
Phoenix Man....
We can tolerate trolls, but don't you dare come on this blog and insult Mamba24!! Don't you have enough to do digging out of that 0-2 hole the Spurs have you in?
Lakers have to be careful tonight...they can't afford a letdown. Kenyon Martin is a sneaky, dirty player and I can definitely him commiting some sort of hard foul against Kobe trying to throw the Mamba off his game. Kobe needs to get Martin in early foul trouble and the game will fall into place for the Lakers.
Kobe's recent statements confirm what I've suspected for a while...that he never really wanted to go anywhere. The Lakers are the pinnacle of NBA basketball as an organization. Only Boston can match or exceed the LA legacy. There was nowhere for Kobe to go but down if he forced a trade. LA is his basketball home and where he belongs.
GO LAKERS!!! TCB TONIGHT!!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 23, 2008 at 02:14 PM
Does everyone remember the game when Kwame was booed by the home crowd?
I just thought about that, and how far this team has truly come.
We all argued and argued about it, but in the end it might have been what drove the Gasol trade. Fan upheaval can really make a difference.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | April 23, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Robyn,
It’s amazing to think that with Drew and Pau we have two all-star level centers, one of which can also be an all-star level power forward. While I also like Mbenga, like you, the player I still find very promising is Chris Mihm, who will be back next year no matter what since he has a $2.5M player option on his contract.
Chris is still just a shell of his original self physically but I am hoping that he will be our version of a “first round pick” next year since we traded ours to the Grizzlies. It usually takes two years for a player with a serious foot or knee injury to get back to where he was pre-injury. If Chris can recover, he will give us a third quality big man to rotate, who could also play a little power forward. It all depends on Chris getting his hops and game back. Before he was injured, he was having his best year in his career and was one of Kobe’s favorites with a very polished low post game that is perfect for the Lakers. He’s another guy who can pass, catch, shoot, and finish above the rim – when healthy, that is.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 23, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Fairweather Fatty,
When I read your name this afternoon on Mamba's roll call. I cried like a baby! This is like Kobe getting his MVP. You are indeed a fairweather friend, in times of hardship you abandoned us at the start of the season because at that time Lakers were stucked Kwame and Cookie. Remember you said that you're inviting bloggers to meet you at Lakers preseason game in Las Vegas, whatever happened there in Vegas would be left in Vegas...maybe a donation, a weeping girlfriend we don't know.. You never wrote back, you moonlighted in other blogs while we're suffering here with KL, Kwame and MT and also the Kobe crisis' where there was civil war in the blog.
As soon as you heard of Pau Gasol joined the Lakers while...Cookie and Kwame are gone as well the fallout of the basketball mind, you came back with gusto! There is now "F" before the name Fatty which truly honest to goodness true. We are very happy that you came back Mr. Faiweather. Your comeback is like reading John Milton's classic, Paradise Lost (losing Fatty)......which we're dealing now the problem of...... Paradise ReGained(Fairweather Fatty coming back) which may mean the lucky charm is here - Lakers NBA Champion in 2008.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 23, 2008 at 02:20 PM
The difference between a championship organization like the Lakers and wannabes like the Mavericks is obvious. Mark Cuban panicked and pulled the trigger on the Jason Kidd deal while Mich and Dr. Buss remained patient until the right deal (Pau) came along. Think the Mavs could use Devin Harris to slow down CP3 a little?
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 23, 2008 at 02:22 PM
justanothermambafan,
Technically, you won't get "fallout" from an "implosion." But it would still be fun to watch.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | April 23, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Good Afternoon Charles, Jon K., MAMBA24, Toad, and everyone else on the blog!
Congrats to Fairweather Fatty! I hope you enjoy your day!
It's time for us to put the rest of the conference on notice tonight: The road to the finals should be through Los Angeles!
Let's Go Lake Show!
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | April 23, 2008 at 02:33 PM
For the Lakers to take it all, they must be CONSISTENT.
Yes, that's the word my Laker friends.
They just have to be consistent in playing well both in offense and defense. They have all the hardware and software and skills to got for the kill but they must be CONSISTENT night in and night out. The Lakers team are soooo Goooood if they have IT but at the same time soooooo Baaaaaaaaaad if they don't have IT.
If they can find a way to overcome this challenge, they'll be in for the BIG JACKPOT.
May be its the coaches' job for them to find a way to be CONSISTENT IN PLAYING GOOOOOOD.
Just my two cents worth.
Have a nice day fellow Lakerfans.
Posted by: Lakersfan in KiwiLand | April 23, 2008 at 02:34 PM
Bronx: you bring up a very good point.
I wonder if KB24 wants to stick around so he can be part of surpassing the hated Celtics in number of world championship banners???
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | April 23, 2008 at 02:36 PM
lakers_sth,
Suns are in denial and I agree re their sense of entitlement. Lakers expect to win but still have respect for their opponent. Teams still play 5-on-5 and the moment you underestimate your opponent, you're in danger of losing the game.
Posted by: SamLL | April 23, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Phoenix Man...........or Phoenix Fan.............or whatever alter ego name you want to use today (just pick one and stick with it, huh?):
As bronxlakerfan said, DO NOT DARE TO COME IN HERE AND CRITICIZE MAMBA24. You have no standing to do so, and in your pitiful attempt to do so, you have already awakened the wrath of the Laker Nation. Go back to Planet Orange or whatever hole you crawled from and just dissappear.
You have much more critical things to consider if you are indeed a Phoenix fan than Mamba24............like what kind of lame team are you going to have for the next five years..............or...............how do you find a way to beat the Spurs with no depth and no"D"?
Oh, that's right, Stern won't let you win and the Most Demonstrative Flopper Shaqtus just can't stand all the flopping............yeah, yeah, that's the story!
Posted by: toad | April 23, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Pig Miller
That's true. "Fan upheaval can really make a difference"
It was Fans in France that caused the Revolution and overturned the government.
It was Fans here that rebelled against King George which lead to the birth of the USA.
And its the fear of Lakers Fans that have caused David Stern to let Kobe have the MVP.
Okay, everyone. Beer and Pizza party tonight, 7:30 PM PST
Bring your own Pizza, Beer, (Vodka for some) and be part of the biggest Pizza Lakers Party in the whole world, here at LA Times Lakers Blog.
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | April 23, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Dampier sucks. That's why the Warriors gladly gave him up to the Mavs... him and his bloated contract. LOL
Posted by: SamLL | April 23, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Technically, you won't get "fallout" from an "implosion." But it would still be fun to watch.
Posted by: exhelodrvr
_______________________
Thanks for the correction - wrong word but right sentiment, n'est pas?!!! OMG - it's going to be sooo much FFFUUUNNNNNN!!! Yee frickin' haw!!!!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 23, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Dampier does indeed suck but I think Avery Johnson as a coach sucks even more. The two combined are a powerful force in suckiness. Then you toss in a 36 year old PG for next year and they might as well implode that team and start rebuilding around Dirk for 3 years from now or... trade Dirk while he still has max value, which would take HUGE basketballs on Cuban's part... or... what?
Got my Lamar Odom t-shirt com'in. Yeah baby!
Posted by: TaosHum | April 23, 2008 at 03:35 PM
PschedLakerGirl....
I'm sure that is part of Kobe's thinking. I know I'd love to see the Lakers pass the Celtics in total banners!!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | April 23, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Bronlakerfan:
Let me AX you a question. Why you go ghetto on me? Why you be threatning brotha? we be cool, chill homey or is it a homeboy or crib brotha. Bronx is a zoo and tough gig to come out of but now you are in LA so chill brotha and enjoy sunny LA. Its all good.
Denver 120 Lakers 109
Phonex 4 Spurs 2
Phoenix 4 LA 2 without Bynum in conference final.
last word of advice Brox brotha don't be nincompoop!!
Go Phoenix!!
Posted by: The Phoenix Fan | April 23, 2008 at 04:40 PM
Phoenix Fan,
That last post (using your own words) was short, incoherent and of no consequence. You should be the last person to call out another blogger on here.
hehehe
Posted by: Lakers Legacy | April 23, 2008 at 07:04 PM