I don’t know how many of you play Cyberdunk, but it would be cool for some of us Laker fans to get a team together. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a MMORPG basketball sim. Highly addictive and for true basketball geeks only. My player is Derek Fisher and I’m working on making him a 3 point specialist. Here’s the link if you’re interested:
http://www.cyberdunk.com/?ref=1679

Defender is one of the seminal 80's era video games. Love it. Love it long time.

I can't count the times I snuck into our local liquor store to play that bad boy. The game's location right by the porn magazine rack meant that I was surrendering my life were my mother ever to walk in and find me there, but like a sailor to the sirens song, I was helpless to its charms.

Some things are just worth the risk.

Go lakers

Wes

EDWIN GUEC0,

Part of the reason why this Laker bunch is so loveable is the human stories behind a lot of the players., i.e., Coby, Turiaf, Mbenga, and so on, and ofcourse their enthusiasm on the court and off the court.

Most MBA players do not really appreciate how fortunate they are to be in the league. When they work hard and show their gratitude, it is not a surprise that the fans will get to like them.

Having said that, here is why most fans do not like Luke.
He does not seem to show the kind of hustle that is required of a multi-million dollar player--a sad situation!

what a waste of money. the Lakers could have signed Luke Walton for the minimum salary.

cleveland and lebron keep losing. i love it.

Congratulations to the Lakers! Making the playoffs is step 1, finishing strong is step 2.
I can't help fantasizing about a healthy Lakers team, firing on all cylinders in the playoffs ..... that would be awesome!

rdlee,

“After watching LO play so well tonight it makes me think that the line-up many Lakers fans are pining over (Bynum-Gasol-Odom) won't work. Odom plays best at the 4 where he can go inside and with Pau and AB in there I don't think he'll have the space to operate.”

Good to hear from you although I disagree with your premise that the Lakers dream lineup anchored a Bynum-Gasol-Odom front court won’t work for several reasons:

First, basketball is a game of matchups and the Lakers want to create mismatches that enable them to pound the ball inside and play inside out as far as 3-point shooting goes. It doesn’t matter whether the mismatch is at power forward, small forward, or point guard. The Lakers will always look to isolate that mismatch, even if it is Luke Walton. By playing Bynum-Gasol-Odom, the Lakers virtually assure that Lamar Odom will be the main mismatch, as no small forward can hang with Lamar down in the paint.

Second, if you watch how Lamar has been getting his points lately, you will see that they are coming from post ups, drives or cuts to the basket, or offensive board put backs. Except when he is posting up, Lamar has been generally playing outside, much like a small forward. Often, he is at the top of the key or the pinch post waiting for the ball or the opportunity to cut to the hoop. This is not an accident as the Lakers have been working very hard with Lamar to play better without the ball as a small forward.

Third, even though I also like having another 3-point shooter in the starting lineup besides Fish and Kobe, there is no way that Vlade or any other small forward on our roster can contribute anything anywhere near what Lamar does – either on offense, defense, or the boards. There is also no way that you do not start Andrew Bynum AND Pau Gasol together provided they are both healthy.

Finally, as has been pointed out by other posters, the Lakers run a system offensively with the triangle offense that really makes it easy to plug in different combinations and mixes of players depending upon matchups. One big advantage that the Lakers have is that they have several players who know how to and can play multiple positions – Kobe, Lamar, Pau, Ronny, Sasha. The result is that Pau will probably play center when Drew is out and Lamar power forward when Pau is out or playing center, etc. We will only see the Bynum-Gasol-Odom front court for half of the game anyway. The rest of the time it will be some variation, depending again on the matchups.

Tom

One more thing on Farmar.

Mark my words.

In the playoffs, Farmar will come up big. He will step it up a
notch and play at a higher level for the playoffs, as good
players do.

Bruins lost. Feel like I've been kicked in the gut. Collison had a terrible game. Bruins shots weren't falling. Team was constantly out of position.

I still love the Bruins and always will.

GO BRUINS!

GO LAKERS!

Ben (Ho-down No O) Holland is just another one- dimensional coach who will never bring the Bruins a championship. Way to bring Collison back in when he was stinking up the place. Collison didn't even want to play evident by his last foul. Collison's stock will drop dramatically in the NBA draft. The reason is, he is not quick enough even for his size. He got schooled out there and choked big time and ran away and hid.
The UCLA coach was so out-coached by Calipari it was sickening. Get an offensive clue. Granted defense will win alot of games for you but it won't help you when you play a high school offense.
It will be a pleasure to watch Kansas and North Carolina, offense baby. At least Steve Lavin played up-tempo BB.
If it wasn't for some questionable referreeing and an easy path to the final four, a lot of people would be calling for Howland's head. UCLA was really fortunate this year and was clearly the weakest link in the final four.
NOTE TO BEN. get an assistant coach who knows the offensive side of the ball or else your days at UCLA might be numbered.
In college ball its NO OFFENSE NO RINGS.

Tom:
Thanks for your reply. I guess my thought is that I haven't seen Lamar make those drives and cuts to the baskets with two low post men in there. Maybe Pau will come out more and the lanes will open up for Lamar. I've just observed that Lamar excels when he is playing the 4, not the 3. Even in Miami where he had the longest stretches of consistently good baskeball was when he was playing 4 next to Caron.
No matter what, I want Lamar to continue his excellent play. There will be an adjustment period when AB comes back. I see Bynum coming off the bench and subbing for Pau or Lamar, so in the playoffs I doubt we will see much of the three of them together. Just my opinion.

markythearky

What team doesn't make it to the playoffs, you have to be pretty bad not to.

Phil has been blessed with great players, but he is also smart. Like when he bailed on the Lakers after being totally outcoached by Larry Brown in the Finals. I still remember Brown telling his players that Jackson will not adjust to what they were doing. To top it off he goes and blames Kobe. This guy is so full of himself it's pathetic. He will never admit he's coached a bad game in his life.
He comes back from his hiatus and you want to give him credit for making the playoffs the last 2 years? It was Kobe not Nine Rings who got the Lakers into the playoffs.
Once again he is lucky the Lakers have the nucleus to be championship contenders for years to come, and thanks to Kobe, you will probably win some tiltles barring the injury bug.
That being said, It was good to see him sit Luke down last game. But I'm sure we will see him to much tomorrow night. Someone had it right earlier when they said it was Luke who should have been sent down. All year I've heard Luke just needs his confidence back. Well he can get it in the D-league, then again, maybe not.

For all the people wishing the Lakers would dump Farmar
and try to get Darren Collison, consider the difference
between the two in the NCAA tournament.

Two years ago, Farmar led the Bruins all the way to the
championship game. And Farmar was CLEARLY the leader
of the team. When they needed scoring, he gave it to them.
When they needed an assist in the last seconds to beat
Gonzaga, Farmar got the assist. When they played #1 seed
Memphis, the Bruins played tough defense and held the
Tigers to 45 points.

Eventually, the Bruins were overcome buy a deeper, more
talented team in Florida, but even in the final game, Farmar
stayed composed and kept competing when most of the team
looked like deer in headlights.

Last week against Western Kentucky and today against
Memphis, Darren Collison disappeared. Last week, some
of his teammates made up for his terrible play, but this
week they couldn't do it. Memphis repeatedly double-teamed
Kevin Love in the post so that the Bruins couldn't pass it
inside, and DARED the Bruins to take outside shots. Josh
Shipp hit a couple early, then started briking, while Collison
shot like crap and was unable to guard either of Memphis'
taller guards.

If you were wishing for Russell Westbrook, that's a bit
more realistic. At least he played pretty well when it
mattered.

On the point guard front, Derrick Rose looks to be an
absolute beast. If I had the number 1 pick and I didn't
already have a top top point guard, he'd be my pick. He
looks like the next Deron Willams to me.

Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | April 05, 2008 at 05:26 PM

One more thing on Farmar.

Mark my words.

In the playoffs, Farmar will come up big. He will step it up a
notch and play at a higher level for the playoffs, as good
players do.

Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | April 05, 2008 at 05:27 PM

LTLF

For you remember JF came on to team with Kobe, (best player in league) Luke playing best ball of his carreeer in contract year and Turiaf a rookie who was giving it all and fans dubbed him braveheart. He had Lamar and Kwame playing half assed and Bynum starting his rise (heldack by PJ)

He was not expected to come in and save the Lakers and he did not. He played very good for a rookie and got and deserved his props. But to compare JF to Collison on one game Bruins lost or Russel Westbrook each of whomm never played a game in the NBA and JF is in his second is apples and oranges.
So much that I still believe that Crit is and will be a greater player. I did see them as the Laker pg tandem with Crit as starter and JF as backup. Hope we can get Crit back down the road. hopeul or wishful thinking....maybe but I would like.

Doesn't that make him inactive for the next game? That is if he's still with the defenders in the next game.

I daresay maybe we need that active spot for someone else?

Here's hoping!

Go Lakers!

Posted by: Faith | April 05, 2008 at 03:22 PM

Faith

Nope. Means he can be called up at ganme time to play but I doubt it because PJ was not playing him anyways.

No Coby is under contract and is part of the 15 man roster. In order to get another spot they would have to waive him. I don't see that happening either.

Right now it is the best for him as PJ refuses to play him so best he can get pt is in D league. He will be called up for the playoffs and probably inactive for games unless we get a guard injured.

I don't agree that Luke's problem is lack of hustle, I think it's a lack of talent. Luke is a willing defender, he just is too slow to guard fast guys and too small to guard big guys.

If you are not going to contribute much on one end of the floor, you had better be very good on the other end. The second part of Luke's problem is his atrocious outside shooting, he basically does not have to be guarded unless he's standing under the basket.

In the end, we have a player who is always going to have problems on defense and has really lost his jumper. On the plus side, he is a decent passer for a Forward (although probably overrated) and I think he tries hard. To be fair to Luke, he also seems to have a knack for coming up with a big play here and there.

Posted by: Jman449 | April 05, 2008 at 04:43 PM

I think the problem is injury oriented and the major problem is between the ears. He has no confidence.

Notice when LO effs up he has that silly grin like to say ooops. Look at Lukes eyes when he effs up. He looks like he is ready to cry. He does have talent but has not been able to show it because of injuries and the mental block.

>>>Ben Howland is by far the best UCLA coach since
>>>Larry Brown and John Wooden.

Larry Brown didn't coach the Bruins to a championship, they
lost in the final to Louisville. Try Jim Harrick and John Wooden.

Tim,

“Could it be that we've yet to see the BEST of Kobe the Bean???“

When you consider that Kobe is still younger than MJ at his peak, I think you might be right. In fact, I would bet that Kobe’s legacy will eventually be connected more to Drew than to Shaq as I think he will win more championships with Drew than with Shaq. I foresee the day when there will arguments as to whether or not Drew is the greatest center in Lakers and NBA history. He is going to be that great.

That’s also one of the reasons why I also find the KB versus MJ threads frustratingly unfulfilling. You just can’t compare KB to MJ until both have completed their careers. Right now, you have to acknowledge MJ as the greatest. When he is done, I expect that Kobe will have surpassed MJ in championships and accomplishments. For now, MJ remains the greatest ever, assuming, of course, you can ever make such a judgment.

I think most of us have gone through similar evolutions as you did regarding MJ and probably Kobe, although there still are a huge number of basketball fans out there who will not give Kobe a fair break for a variety of reasons. Most Laker fans, however, have finally seen the light and realize that they are watching a once in a generation player and they should enjoy every minute because like everything great in life, it won’t last forever. Magic didn’t. Kareem didn’t. That’s why I am amazed at those few Lakers or basketball fans who just can’t bear to appreciate the greatness that is KB24.

Those transcendental moments when you see the greatness in a player are some of the most thrilling moments in sports for us. Watching Drew earlier in the season throw down every pass tossed anywhere near the rim, grab every rebound above other players, and patrol the lane blocking shots like Kareem, I went through a similar evolution and became convinced that I was watching the next great Lakers and NBA center. I know it wasn’t even for a full season, but I’ve watched enough championship Lakers teams in the past to recognize the real thing when I see it. And Drew is the real thing.

I also loved the sobriquet of the Fearsome Foursome that Edwin resurrected to describe the Kobe-Drew-Pau-Lamar 1-superstar 3-all-star quartet. Laker fans are the envy of the NBA right now. If the Lakers can win out the rest of the year and get home court through the playoffs, they will be hard to beat in the playoffs. It is not impossible to imagine that the Lakers could even sweep through the playoffs. The only impediment in my mind is the late start in getting back our injured centers and the fact that they won’t be 100% this year in the playoffs. Still, I think we have enough firepower to win anyway.

Tom

Kings beat Nuggets without Artest, Miller and Udrih in Denver tonight. The Lakers need to jump all over the Kings from the start and just take it to them. I have a feeling that Artest and Miller will play tomorrow night but Udrih won't. We need to blast both the Kings and Blazers on this trip. Go Lakers!!!

My take on Luke:

1. This season of playing with a really good team has exposed him as a mediocre at best player.
2. He has absolutely no humility in him whatsoever. I have never heard him call himself out after a bad performance. Lamar always calls himself out after a bad performance.
3. It may be editing by the producers but do you really think if we got to see "Life with Kobe" that we would not be watching him working out or practicing every episode. Instead we get Luke's dog, drycleaning, driving to the game, etc........

Just my opinion......

AK and BK,

Should we all be worried about you. The NY Times is featuring an article that says you have entered a dangerous profession:

"A growing work force of home-office laborers and entrepreneurs, armed with computers and smartphones and wired to the hilt, are toiling under great physical and emotional stress created by the around-the-clock Internet economy that demands a constant stream of news and comment. Some are starting to wonder if something has gone very wrong. In the last few months, two among their ranks have died suddenly. "

Of course we contributors will continue to demand more threads and faster postings. It's just our nature. But seriously, do you guys worry about this stuff?

pslakerfan.

I have to disagree with you on 1 point only...his humility. I couldn't find it on youtube, but I saw it. The reporter asked if he could talk to Luke and his response was: "About what? Me playin' like a bum?"

At least he knows it. LOL!

LakerMan 420

LongTimeLakerFan:
>>>Ben Howland is by far the best UCLA coach since
>>>Larry Brown and John Wooden.

"Larry Brown didn't coach the Bruins to a championship, they lost in the final to Louisville. Try Jim Harrick and John Wooden."

Try reading what I actually posted. Winning a title doesn't make Harrick a better coach than Brown. I still say Howland is the best since Brown and Wooden.

Phil is holding Bynum out because with the first playoff game at home he is hoping to demoralize the competition when the starting lineup of Gasol, Bynum, Odom, Bryant, and Fisher is announced in front of a packed Staples...whoever we play will piss themselves...
hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Plus if other teams don't know how healthy Bynum is it will be harder for them to prepare for him in the playoffs. it will give us an advantage for the first round to be holding all our cards close to our chest.

JustaLakerFan,

But isn't Jelani McCoy a Defender and he's played multiple years in the NBA on multiple teams?

GO LAKERS!

ODOM played as good of a game as I've ever seen him offensively.
The shot selection was so perfect.
The jump hook and the swoops to the hoop.
If he focuses on that shot selection and lays off the jumper that would be nice.

Gasol on the other hand, seemed tentative with decisions at times with the ball in that high post.
He's gotta take the open look, get the soft hook positioning or just move the ball.

Farmar has got to prove that he can play consistent effective ball in April, May, June.

Jury is still out on him, we slobber over the guy's December play but it's time to finish strong and we need him with D-Fish's injury.

Turiaf seemed energetic but he did not have a purpose. He needs to come off the bench with his starter's attitude.

Vlad-Rad is full of shit.

Luke needs to come off the bench ready because he could take Vlad-Rad's minutes.

Ariza will easily be able to take both Luke and Vlad-Rad's jobs by default.