Well, that didn't take long
April 30, 2008 | 1:19
pm
Avery Johnson is out in Dallas. Meanwhile, in Phoenix, Suns GM Steve Kerr is denying reports that Mike D'Antoni is on his way out, but that doesn't necessarily mean much given that the Jack McCallum story for SI.com that broke the news said that the Suns weren't necessarily interested in firing D'Antoni... they just won't complain if he seeks employment elsewhere.
The wheel spins in the Western Conference. Plenty more to come on this, I'm sure. Fair to say, though, that the balance of power is now a lot different than it was a couple years back.
BK
Kiwi,
"anything less than a hundred percent confidence or reaction for a guy like Walton is costly...He needs to be in a groove and feeling the game.Sometimes higher intelligence can make it harder to get in a groove.He probably thinks too much about it when a less intelligent player just plays.His strength then becomes his weakness....'
So right about his strength becoming his weakness. We have all seen that. Perceptive point, Kiwi. Thanks.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 30, 2008 at 05:12 PM
SIMPLY AMAZED:
Charles:
Once again your contributions are very poignant and right on as always, they may be one liners, nevertheless, you simply rock brotha, bra and you da man BRO. I am always baffled and flabbergasted by your prowess as to how you are able to communicate to others by just one liners. You rock:
When I read your post below my mind wonders hmmmmmm, what is Charles trying to say here, is there a deeeeeeeep hidden meaning to his message. I am sure there and yuo know it bra!!
backup C - Keith Closs
Posted by: Lakers Legacy
LMAO! Another good find bro.
Posted by: Charles | April 30, 2008 at 04:27 PM
DEEP THOUGHTS
Posted by: THE DEEP THOUGHTS | April 30, 2008 at 05:22 PM
DEEP THOUGHTS,
So professional = no social life.
HaHa, I would hate to work for whatever communist company you work for.
Posted by: frank1rizzo | April 30, 2008 at 05:35 PM
SHAQ WAS DANTONI’S MOVE, NOT KERR’S…
At least that was what Jack McCallum of Sports Illustrated told Dan Patrick on his show this morning. He said that Shaq was Dantoni’s idea all along and not Steve Kerr like everybody thought.
Nothing more about that in the article McCallum wrote about Dantoni leaving the Suns for SI but he did also say on the air that there were major philosophical disputes from day 1 between Dantoni and Kerr, with Sarver obviously supporting Kerr. One example Jack gave was Kerr requesting Dantoni to run more isolation plays for Amare with Dantoni responding that Kerr was trying to call his plays now.
What was not said was whether Dantoni’s Shaq idea was his way of responding to pressure by Kerr that Dantoni’s run-‘n’-gun wasn’t working.
Another oddity is Kerr’s and the Suns’ claim that they were going to love Marion anyway, so why not trade for Shaq. Wait and see! Marion is not going to opt out of his contract. Just like Baron Davis is not going to. There are only a couple of teams below the salary cap who can bid more than the MLE. Guys like Marion are not going to get a bigger payday in free agency. Kerr had to know that, too. Just another excuse in case the trade backfired, which is sure did.
At any rate, the Suns are done and like the Kings were never really a rival since they never really won anything. SLAM! There go the Suns and Mavs window for NBA titles. LOL.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 30, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Off the topic but is it just me or would Wizards coach Eddie Jordan be a directors' 1st choice to play Terrence Howard in a documentary about him????
Posted by: rob | April 30, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Which is more likely
The Hawks win tonight or
the Lakers win their next 12 games?
Posted by: giantsquid | April 30, 2008 at 05:48 PM
News - Wizards just beat Cleveland (in Cleveland) 88-87 to force a game 6 - ex-Laker Caron Butler scored the winning basket with 3 seconds on the clock. LeBron's last second almost-layup missed!!
Even the East is going crazy this year!
Now it's Greenie Weenies vs Hawks....
GO HAWKS!!
GO LAKERS!!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 30, 2008 at 05:51 PM
Bynum needs to stay positive more than he needs a nights sleep at this point...
Why is the assumption on here that we meet the hornets?
Theres no way they make it past the spurs...they just dont have enough experience...I predict its not even that close
Utah will give LA a run for their money...that will be a tight series and Deron Williams will kill us.But I think we will get by on home court advantage,the Kobe factor,and the mental hold that Phil must have over Sloan after the two Bulls finals wins.
The spurs and LA will be a great series.Too close to call...the spurs experience cancels out the hoome court edge.Dead even.
Whichever team gets through will beat the celtics purely becasue of the coaching.
You heard it here first.The only thing I havent predicted correctly this playoffs is Atlanta's to put up such a fight.
Heres parts of a facebook message I sent to one of my friends...
'Other than that your spurs are the home team most likely to lose a series Im sorry to say...but I think they will pull it out and maybe alot easier than some are predicting '
'nah they wont win in LA ...they'll get one, maybe two,in Denver but Im predicting a 4 -1 series victory.Bold I know but thats how its going to shape up.Denver just arent that good,their players and coach are totally overated and have been for years.They dont have the character or the discipline required to take out a serious team especially from behind'
'I dont see houston giving Utah too much of a run and all the east home teams will pull through too.Cleveland is the most likely to lose but they wont'
'and Dallas are done... New Orleans are lucky to come up against them and will beat them easily but I still think NO will crack under the pressure and wont make it out of the second round regardless of who they face...they basically choked at the end of the regular season already and that will hurt them mentally.I just cant see them coming up against Kobe,Duncan, or Nash and not being totally psyched out.They are just lucky they are against a team that is emotionaly fragile'
Posted by: Kiwi | April 30, 2008 at 06:00 PM
I don't think Mark Cuban could fire himself for screwing up the Mavs. So, the next best thing...
Posted by: lotecq | April 30, 2008 at 06:02 PM
Jon K
"The Hornets aren't all that scary to me... Chris Paul is."
Peja was a combined 15 of 22 from the arc against the Lakers in the two Hornet wins this year.
Its Peja who scares me. If the Lakers shut him down, they beat the Hornets handily.
Posted by: giantsquid | April 30, 2008 at 06:07 PM
never,
Yes. Phil did a 5-min video interview.
That was a flop on Smith's second foul.
Anyone enjoy that Wizards/Cavs game? Great game for Caron with the game winning shot.
Hopefully, this young Atlanta team can keep their heads above the water. Would love for them to steal one at the Garden.
Posted by: mel | April 30, 2008 at 06:08 PM
Kiwi,
Two questions:
1. Being overseas and being over there. How much basketball did you get to play?
2. Seeing as you seem to put a few away and therefore must be one qualified expert. What is your favorite pub and brew?
My family is planning a trip to London and is looking for recommendations.
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | April 30, 2008 at 06:10 PM
Charles - did I see another "knock knock" post earlier today? If so - who's there?
Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 30, 2008 at 06:15 PM
Lakertom
To me the Shaq trade was clearly not a good trade and obviously a gamble - Maybe they kidded themselves that there was a chance it could improve them but it was a small chance.My gut feeling was the situation with marion was worse than the Suns let on and they had to trade him.They'd believed they could win the previous year and although not playing so well they were doing fine.I thought it was a desperation trade and Shaq was the best they could get at the time.It was also a trade that the fans couldnt help but be suckered into believing in the possibilities becasue it was Shaq...therefore they would be more understanding when it went wrong than if they'd traded for say Odom...to me it was a desperate move but for once a team was able to keep the problems inhouse then make a quick trade....the next logical move is to blame the coach.I could be wrong but I find it hard to believe anyone on the suns believed that trade would actually make them a better team.
Posted by: Kiwi | April 30, 2008 at 06:17 PM
Fatty
Played a lot of basketball at high school at a level that was high by NZ standards but obviously nothing like what you have in the US...havent played competitively since but was always up for a pickup game and played on some social teams and the like...but been pretty slack since I got to England partly because its just not set up for it with all the soccer mania.
London...my favourite brew is a good pint of guinness...or anything cheq...my favourite pub is a tough one but in the centre of London not far from trafelgar square theres a place called 'The Sherlock Holmes' which I find quite cool...
I actually live in York which is a couple of hours from london on the train.Its a great little historic city thats had everyone here from the romans to the vikings to william the conquerer to the civil war,the war of the roses, and its got the architecure and stuff to prove it.Its got a medieval wall round the city and loads of great streets and mueseums and heaps of pubs etc.Its a nice change of pace from london and great if you've got kids...if you do end up in York let me know.
all the best fatty
Posted by: Kiwi | April 30, 2008 at 06:35 PM
ANDREW BYNUM WILL “DEFINITELY BE BACK” …
Very very encouraging comment from Ed Ziti in Lakers Library at MVN:
http://mvn.com/nba-lakers/2008/04/30/nba-coaching-
carousel-and-some-andrew-bynum-rumors/
----------------
In Laker news, about two weeks ago, I was in Los Angeles at a local watering hole having a drink, when I had a chance meeting with an old friend with deep ties within the Laker organization. The subject of Andrew Bynum came up and I was commenting on how good it would be to have him back on the Lakers for the play offs. Anyway, he turns around and says to me, “Andrew is fine, the Lakers are holding him back as a precaution.” Then he mentioned that he’ll definitely be back and that was the end of the conversation.
Now that the first round is over for the Lakers, and the Rockets have extended their series with Utah, it gives the Lakers a couple of more days to rest and heal. I was under the impression that Andrew was done, especially after Phil Jackson’s “remote chance” comment, but might the Lakers be saving Andrew as a secret weapon?
-----------------
Drew will return for the conference finals. Then for sure, Resistance is futile!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 30, 2008 at 06:44 PM
frank1rizzo:
Do not take my comments on Bynum as being anti social or it has anything to do with politics. Your response is very lame and has nothing to do with politics. Bynum is in NBA and especially playing for one of the biggest stage "The Lakers" because he has talent and worked hard to be where he is today. All of this can be lost in a second as nothing in this life is a guaranteed. Now, if I see this kid at a party during playoffs and risking injury, just like Radmonvich too was having fun skiing then I certainly question Bynum’s frame of mind and work ethics. Of course, I certainly hope that Bynum blossoms into first and foremost into an all around human being, secondly, into a great basket ball player and I wish him success. At the same time I would hate to see him be misled into the world that is constantly pulling us into distractions. To grow up intoa well rounded human being requires common sense, discretion, commitment, accountability, lots of dedication and finally “Grace”.
I am only basing my thoughts on a link so for all practical purpose I may be completely wrong, not the first time . However, I do want to see Bynum realize the his potential as a human being first and then as a basket ball playa supreme.
No hard feelings it is a mere deep thought :)
DEEP THOUGHTS
Posted by: DEEP THOUGHTS | April 30, 2008 at 07:03 PM
Kiwi,
Nice to hear your story and we're glad you found time to post again. Hopefully, everything is OK now. BTW, out of topic how much is a gallon of gas? and a 25 lbs of rice in England? It's getting ridiculous here in the states and in Asia.
Also, are the playoffs shown live in (white rose) York?
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 30, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Are you guys watching Garnett punking out on the refs?
Posted by: mel | April 30, 2008 at 07:38 PM
Kiwi,
York? Yeah I think my ancestors(Norwegian) did some raping and pillaging there.
We thinking Christmas time. Let you know if we make it that far.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Cheers!
Fatty the Red - Who still thinks Odom is chief of the Viking gods.
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | April 30, 2008 at 07:47 PM
LakerTom,
"Andrew is fine, the Lakers are holding him back as a precaution.” -MVN Story on Bynum
That's vintage PJ, eventhough it is just a rumor from an insider that's peace of mind for all of us than arguing different kind of charades. With the improvement of Mbenga as a defensive weapon, it is also possible Bynum will not play at all if Lakers keep on winning.
My evaluations on future opponents:
Utah Jazz - competitive at home but a bad road team Lakers 4-2
San Antonio Spurs - Magic 3 players are dangerous still possess the hearts of the Champion but they're much, much older. I don't think they can keep up with the Lakers for 48 minutes Lakers 4-2
New Orleans Hornets - Two guys that could sting the Lakers: Chris and Peja. Only Byron Scott has the experience on Conference Finals.
Lakers 4-1
Finals
Boston Celtics - With their performance in the first round series, Lakers 4-2
Detroit Pistons - Same story with Spurs, they're much, much older than the last time we faced them in the Finals. Lakers 4-2
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 30, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Nemaia Faletogo
Talofa!!!
Posted by: Charles | April 30, 2008 at 03:53 PM
Charles,
Talofa!!! Thanks for the great samoan greeting uso(brother in samoan or uce(samoan slang fohr brother). Sorry for responding so late, but better late than never. May you and the rest of my blog fambam have a great night!!! Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 30, 2008 at 10:43 PM
i wouldn't be surprised to see b-shaw somewhere on the list of candidates for the suns job... shaw-shaq redemption, part 3.
Posted by: dave m | April 30, 2008 at 10:45 PM
ET TU BRUTUS:
Lakers did well in round one, beyond my expectations, and may even get past the Utah or Huston (maybe) but Hornets are pretty scary. There is a remote chance that if the Lakers make it to the finals, then Lebron and gang will be tooooo dang strong for SOFT lakers without the PARTY KID Andrew Bynum.
I smell TREASON, et tu Brutus...
Check out the Party Kid's escapades below:
http://cohn.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=2192520&cohn
I hope this is not true of Bynum but if it is then I SAY TRADE THE KID FOR a young POWER FORWARD who is honorable. If I am in a bloody WAR then I would prefer men with courage and honesty around me and not liars and cheat!!
Et Tu Brutus!
Posted by: Et Tu Brutus | April 30, 2008 at 01:33 PM
what a load of SH!t. This has been posted before and most agree he is 20 yrs old and needs to relax a little too.
As I posted before he is entitled to have time off like anyone else.
Do the finger pointers take time off on their weekends or work ceaslessly for their company? I bet they take time off.
No trade as AB needs to stay here as we already have an allstar PF.
Let it go man and try to be more human.
That's my opinion and I stand by it.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | May 01, 2008 at 06:08 PM