Mellow day
With their opponent for the Western Conference Finals yet to be determined, these are mellow days in Laker Land. It's a good day to reflect:
- On the impact of Derek Fisher's return to the Lakers this season.
- On why the heck Kobe Bryant is so damn good. (He is, if you haven't noticed.)
- On the popularity the Lakers have around the world, as if readers of this blog needed such a reminder...
- On the stats L.A. has posted through the playoffs thus far, and what it might mean.
- On the Utah series. And how it ended. And again.
More on Mayo, and Kevin Love is getting in shape.
Enjoy Cavs/Celtics Game 7 this afternoon!
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I hope boston wins today. I can't help but want to beat them in the Finals. Assuming they can get past Detroit of course.
Posted by: joedub | May 18, 2008 at 11:56 AM
wooooooooo
Posted by: never | May 18, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Good morning Laker peoples!
Does anyone know where to watch these
games online after the fact?
Because of work I’ve only averaged one game viewed per series. Needless to say, I’ve missed out on a lot of live action (though this has provided me with some very entertaining moments, like reading blogger comments knowing we’ve already won the game). Very funny stuff. We are one dramatic group.
Any word on Bynum? Why isn’t he at games, or his he? I’ve seen a lot of ex-players and celebrities but no Bynum. How about Farmer for the 13th pick in this draft? Sign Calderon to play back up point guard and…
Naaa. I’ll leave Jordan alone.
But I think Phil may be going after one of his 6-4/6-5 guards in the off season. I don’t think this player will be a point guard necessarily, but a player who at least has good passing skills and can facilitate a bit. This team could use a Ron Harper type to steady up the reserves. I’d say we need a Milsap type bully also, but Bynum’s gonna be wearing that suit next year. I hope.
Wes
Posted by: | May 18, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Watching the Celtics, I noticed they sag off their men to protect the paint. Whoever beats them is going to have to make the jump shots the defense is allowing or score in the paint before the defenders have time to set up. The irony is beautiful. This means a return of Showtime Lakers if we meet the Celtics in the finals. We're gonna want to run these guys off the floor.
Wes
Posted by: | May 18, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Hello everyone.
Everyone dont think I'm not around because I dont chat on the blog as much. But this blog always holds a special place in my heart. Has Mike T. showed his face around here lately? Weird how he left the blog right around the time Kwame was traded hmm. think it was some tie between them?
Posted by: Paul Lee | May 18, 2008 at 01:11 PM
DFish has been a God-send to the Lakers this year. The synergy and basketball brotherhood that he and Kobe share has rubbed off to the rest of the team. Fish is unafraid of the big shot or the big moment. Think about it...his 3 free throws at the end of the half in game 6 proved to be the winning margin. Fish doesn't take plays off and understands that every possession in a playoff game can be crucial. I haven't seen Fish SHOOT this well since the 2001 playoffs when he was a key factor in helping the Lakers to a 15-1 record on their way to the C'ship, and I've never seen him play such superb all-around basketball. The Pauls, Parkers and DWills garner much of the point guard attention around the league and rightfully so. All are great players. But the Lakers have an old warhorse in Fish who won't give in to any of them.
LOVE YA FISH!!!
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | May 18, 2008 at 01:13 PM
So , should we expect Andrew for the plyoffs ???
2008-2009 season , I mean ? Greg Oden sat out the whole season after one , so will Andrew be back for the Conf Finals next year ?
I just do not understand , what kind of doctors does the organization have ?
They have screwed up Malone's recovery and now they and doing the same with Andrew ??
Posted by: novolakers | May 18, 2008 at 01:32 PM
An observation on LeBron James....
I've never seen a player travel so much and never get called for it.
Half the time he goes for the rim, he takes four full steps.
Ridiculous. Even Cleveland fans see it. Why isn't it called? Do I feel the dark spectre of David Stern once again manipulating the game at the cost of its soul?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 18, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Looks like Andrew Bynum is going to have Arthroscopic surgery after all. I hope all goes well and his surgery is successful. Get well soon AB and see you next year.
Posted by: Chris Edwards | May 18, 2008 at 01:52 PM
bynum...no,,,it can't be
Posted by: HAHA | May 18, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Does anyone agree that both the Cavs and the Celtics look pretty darn bad? Lebron can't get anyone to step up and help him. The Celtics make some good runs, but they look totally out of sync. The Pistons should be able to beat either one of these teams easily. A Lakers/Pistons rematch would be pretty nice. It's been four years, but that series still haunts my Laker dreams.
Go Lake Show!
Posted by: The Outlaw | May 18, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Morning all...Well i think its good news that Bynum has decided to have the scope on his knee..Why.? It gives the doctor a good chance to have a close look at whats wrong
and rehab for the real problem can start asap.Instead of guessing whats wrong the correct treatment can be applied.
Get well Bynum
Go Lakers
Posted by: Thirty2 | May 18, 2008 at 01:56 PM
If Bynum would have originally gotten surgery, he would have been back a month ago.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 18, 2008 at 02:07 PM
Some thoughts....
That 14th technical foul on Kobe during the regular season proved to be a blessing in disguise. Since then, Kobe has surrendered to the referees and has provided an excellent example for the rest of the team. The Lakers now don't bitch and whine after every call that doesn't go their way and don't waste their energy arguing and agonizing with the refs. Great job by the team and by Kobe in particular.
Faith's guy, Sasha, has really impressed me of late. Not only is the "Machine" knocking down open shots and playing with control and aggression on the offensive end, but he is making his bones as a defender. I can see him holding his own with the likes of Manu and Peja. Sasha is really growing as a player.
Lamar and Pau were great in this series. People may want to label Pau as being soft, but I think he is tough enough. Pau knows who he is, and that is not a physical player. He has great hands and is a great passer. As for LO, he is born again HARD!! He has emerged as a team leader and is exhibiting all of his varied skills. Plus he brings a toughness under the boards that shores up an area where the team is somewhat lacking.
Rad is the X-factor. When he's on his game, the Lakers are even more lethal. He shocked me in Gm. 6 with a nice post up and shot over Ronnie Brewer. Vlad needs to make that a strong part of his repertoire.
JFarm doesn't get a lot of love from the refs. He does get hit a lot on his drives to the basket with no calls. Jordan needs to develop a floater over the summer and spend a little time in the weight room.
This is as enjoyable of a Laker season as I've ever experienced. Win or lose I'm proud to be a fan of this team. No flopping, no thuggish fouls...just good, hard, smart, unselfish basketball.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | May 18, 2008 at 02:12 PM
It certainly sounds like the Bynum situation may have been mishandled by his original doctors. Had the decision been made to have the surgery immediately, he would have been 4 months into the recovery process. It's water under the bridge now and the most important thing is for Drew to regain his health and resume his career on a high note next year.
Posted by: bronxlakerfan | May 18, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Who would you rather face, the Spurs or the Hornets?
Lane
http://LosAngelesSource.com
Posted by: Your Source Los Angles Tickets | May 18, 2008 at 02:34 PM
I smell a cleveland upset
Posted by: lakeraholic | May 18, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Um, for a couple of people who seemed confused: Arthroscopic surgery is NOT microfracture surgery.
http://tinyurl.com/56tw8o
Vs.
http://tinyurl.com/6c33ks
Oden and Amare had microfracture surgery, which is a minimum four months and usually much more to be NBA 100% (it used to be career ending). Arthroscopic surgery is much less problematic.
According to Wikipedia: "It is not uncommon for athletes who have a beyond average physical condition to return to normal athletic activities within a few weeks." More time away than a couple of months usually means something went wrong or something else is going on. That's plenty of time for recovery and more (probably much more if Bynum stays focused) before training camp.
While is is always possible there could be complications, arthroscopic knee surgery is generally not a big deal and there is no indication that Bynum should miss any time next season.
We just need to hope that they do a great job and get him back into a good off-season conditioning routine. Kevin Love is another great example of a big man who was thought to be "unathletic" who's showing how much that can be overcome (he never had Bynum's size or length, of course).
It's sort of shocking how little many of the NBA's players are willing to work based on what they get paid. Another reason why it's nice to see the culture that the Lakers have built this season. I give props to Phil Jackson for creating and environment conducive to the professionalism and also swagger that this team is showing.
Hope they're getting some good rest. I know all of our prayers are going out to Drew.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Cameron | May 18, 2008 at 02:55 PM
What's up Lakerville!
Well, it looks like the other shoe has finally dropped. Bynum's gonna have his surgery and I like it that it's being done this early. He should be ready for training camp next season. He's young. His recovery should be faster than older players.
Posted by: SamLL | May 18, 2008 at 03:00 PM
could not agree more with Thirty2 - too long. at least now we can look forward to a healing and return.
too bad it was not done after the injury, but Doc's know best
Posted by: thomas | May 18, 2008 at 03:12 PM
could not agree more with Thirty2 - too long. at least now we can look forward to a healing and return.
too bad it was not done after the injury, but Doc's know best
Posted by: thomas | May 18, 2008 at 03:13 PM
It's good that Bynum's getting this work done. Hopefully taking a peek in there will help them figure out what's wrong.
Posted by: Xodus | May 18, 2008 at 03:19 PM
The Lakers should get rid of their entire medical and training staff. Four months after his injury it is finally decided to perform surgery on Bynum's knee? When the Lakers medical staff diagnosed a full recovery in 8-12 weeks? And how long will it take him to recover from surgery?
After it took two full years to mend Chris Mihm?
And how long has it been to mend a small broken bone in Trevor Ariza's foot?
Is this the best the Lakers can do? Just because they're ours, doesn't mean they're any good!!! Would you trust your own children to the Lakers medical staff? Fire the the bums now!!
Doesn't Mitch Kupchak, as GM, have control over this? Kobe, you still have work to do!!!
Posted by: jimjoyce | May 18, 2008 at 03:27 PM
The Celtics don't look very good. No flow.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 18, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Hey all - always a great day to be a Laker fan!
Well - that pitiful excuse for a team (the Leppercons) just beat LeBronz. Oh well - I'm thinking Duhtroit can take 'em - I guess we'll see....
AB to get knee surgery - finally some news we can digest! I hope the BEAST will be ok and they figure out exactly what the problem is. We need that boy for next year! Get well soon AB! You were a huge part of the Lakers' success this year & will be for many years to come.
I'm looking forward to the Spurs/Hornets game tomorrow to see who we'll play for the WC Championship. Should be a good game, but I think Spurs will take it. They know how to win on the road, so I believe that will be the advantage that gives them the edge. But I guess you never know what can happen in a Game 7 - another one of those wait & see moments...
Meantime, I'm antsy & can't wait for Wednesday. Unfortunately I have a meeting that night, but I have to tell you - I thank God for my TiVO!!!!!!!!!!!! And don't worry, my winning percentage on recorded games is very high! (Unlike some posters I know - LOL)!!!
GO LAKERS!
8 to O'Brien..........
Posted by: justanothermambafan | May 18, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Celtics win, but it was close....I am less and less impressed by them as the playoffs go along..there is no way they can beat the Pistons the way they are playing...pistons will win the first game..
watch.
Now....I dont care who we play..i cant wait until wed!
lets go lakers..
GEt well fast Bynum....we need you back!
Posted by: Lakers4Realz | May 18, 2008 at 03:46 PM
Wes, if you have a fast connection you can download the games at sportbit.org. Let me know if you need an invite.
Posted by: Emma | May 18, 2008 at 03:48 PM
So after four months of speculation, we're going to surgery.
Posted by: never | May 18, 2008 at 03:48 PM
The Bynum news is horribly disappointing but even I said a month ago that he was headed towards the knife. That's just the way it was going.
Timetables go out the window. Who knows what shape his basketball will be in whenever it is he's able to practice again. Oh well. Getting a glimpse of how dominant he could've been makes it almost worse.
Posted by: lakers_sth | May 18, 2008 at 03:51 PM
as a Laker Fan, i am deeply disappointed with the Bynum knee condition. They should have done it before. Garry Vitti is not doing his job. That will take about 3 to 5 months recovery period. Good Luck Andrew
Posted by: Botsoy | May 18, 2008 at 04:10 PM
I'm also a little nervous like the Coop about the next match up of either Tony Parker and Chris Paul. WHO WILL SHUT DOWN THOSE GUYS???
Wait we have Trevor Ariza.
Okay I'm not so worried after all...
Posted by: Johnny | May 18, 2008 at 04:10 PM
Hey the Coop just jinxed the Lakers. Thanks alot Michael a hole. J/k lol.
Posted by: johnny | May 18, 2008 at 04:12 PM
If Bynum would have originally gotten surgery, he would have been back a month ago.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 18, 2008 at 02:07 PM
i don't think that this is necessarily true. they're talking about cleaning scar tissue afaik. obviously, the scar tissue wouldn't have existed back then. the idea is that his knee is healed, but there is scar tissue formed that needs to be removed because it's causing pain. he would actually be able to move after surgery, it's just a very small incision, but he'll be immobilized to avoid reformation of scar tissue. afaik, this is difficult to prove without the scope and the formation of scar tissue is difficult to predict.
at any rate, i'm glad that they're going in and getting this over. he'll likely be in good shape come next season. we can win without him for the moment.
people are always looking for someone to blame or a goat's blood to spill to appease the gods, but superstition never helps. Vitti just stops bleeding and cracks backs, tapes ankles and wrists and massages cramps and strains. he does no medicine, so there's no point blaming him for such things. doctors aren't gods, they are people, they WILL make mistakes. the Laker doctors are at the top of their feilds, but that doesn't make them infallible, nor can they be blamed for that which they know nothing of, unless it can be shown that they were willfully ignorant or neglectful.
on another subject, Boston sure looks beatable now, don't they?
Posted by: man | May 18, 2008 at 04:31 PM
==== DEREK FISHER OR RAY ALLEN??? ====
Whose career would you rather have?
Hit many clutch shots, when multiple championships , play lots of great teams...
Many All-Star games, greatest 3pt shooter (stat-wise) in history, no titles...
Whichever one you rather have probably shows something about your personality!
Posted by: Korey | May 18, 2008 at 04:36 PM
Lebron James on post game interview regarding guarding Paul Pierce:
"I have always taken the challenge of guarding the other teams best player......(studders, then pauses and continues) I mean, this year, I took the challenge of guarding the best player on the other team" If you want to be the best you have to guard the best."
Hmmm. Spoken like a true MVP...Kobe anyone????
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | May 18, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Arthroscopic surgery? That's not as bad as advertised..Players have that done all the time, Amare had his knew cleaned/scoped and was back on the court in like 2 weeks..This should help Andrew's rehab..Chill with the paranoia...We have a WCF conference to WIN!
Go Lakers!
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | May 18, 2008 at 04:55 PM
Jon K,
I noticed LeBron walks/travels/Steps2theNameofLove/TwoSteps all that, but remember he is said, KING JAMES, he can do whatever he wishes like he also said in the post game interview today, he is one of the best players in the game today..
So in a word, "he got it like that."
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | May 18, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Weave,
Great to hear from another OB. The Best of Times for Lakers fans.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | May 18, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Mellow Day Meaningless Topic..
Candace Parker !!!!!
I never really paid attention or noticed WNBA players as anything other than Basketball players, mostly because, I personally didnt find them cute or very attractive. Candace has changed that... she's a cutie. Never thought I'd say that about a WNBA player or look forward to watching the Sparks play lol
Posted by: complex brotha | May 18, 2008 at 05:41 PM
man,
You might be right. I'm not a doctor. However, I've had three knee surgeries due to athletic injuries. For arthrocscopic (sp?) surgeries, I was back in less than six weeks. For my one major surgery (for an injury six times worse than what Andrew went through) I was back in four months.
It just seems like this whole thing with Andrew has taken way too long. And as a lifelong athlete with a lot of medical knowledge, I cannot say that definitively, but I can say that with some confidence.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 18, 2008 at 05:56 PM
lakersrydeordie,
LeBron James is a very good player, but if he didn't get all the calls and all they didn't ignore all his travelling, he wouldn't be so impressive.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 18, 2008 at 05:58 PM
About the Laker medical staff...
Maybe there is a problem...after all, Kobe ended up in Colorado on his own (almost), because he chose to have the procedure done outside of the organization. In retrospect. They probably could have scoped Bynym's knee at the time of the injury and they probably considered it, but they probably would have had to wait until the swelling went down, and that would have probably been at least 2 -3 weeks from the time of the injury.
Health-care kinda sucks all over, for professional athletes down to regular people who work for companies that provide them (us) with heath benefits. The professional athlete obviously gets more attention than the common man.
A proper diagnosis requires both parties; patient and practitioner to work together during the entire process from initial diagnosis, to proper and continued communication, interpretation of the facts gathered to formation of a plan to reach resolution. If anyone drops the ball in this process, you don't get from point a to point b in the straightest line.....so maybe there was a problem somewhere...can't blame the medical staff (I wouldn't want to, that would be slanderous....). We can only assume that something was not interpreted or communicated correctly, and that led to a plan of action which possibly delayed Bynum's recovery in the speediest manner.
Posted by: humanomaly | May 18, 2008 at 05:58 PM
Derek Fisher or Ray Allen????
I would take Fisher's, ....Allen always looks like he's about ready to cry... Has he ever taken a charge in his career versus the thousands that Fish had to fake before he finally figured out how to take the hundreds of real ones he's taken. Do you guys remember why he's got such a great shot now?...Remember, way back, he had an injury (probably foot) and when he came back he was a true shooter. Just like Kobe and why he's so good with both hands, he had an injury to his right hand and spent alot of the downtime working on his left handed game. That's what professionals do, they don't go to strip clubs, well at least not all the time...(see Zach Randolph...who can be a Macy's blimp if they still have those dumb parades).....
...Ray Allen, another Gollum...
Posted by: humanomaly | May 18, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Complex Brotha
Can't wait for the Sparks calendar.
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | May 18, 2008 at 06:29 PM
Hey whats up with game seven being on monday? I dont understand that at all that is weird. The game should have been today. I hope New Orleans wins but honestly i dont care
Posted by: Memo | May 18, 2008 at 07:08 PM
Wes:
"Good morning Laker peoples!
Does anyone know where to watch these
games online after the fact? "
-----------------------------------------------
As a matter of fact, I just found a link for Game 5:
http://www.justin.tv/psn_4/111427/Lakers_vs_Jazz_game_5_
I also left a link in the 'Cutting Drew' thread to a torrent site that archives games, but you have to download those to watch. This one is a direct feed for game 5.
Posted by: MiloRambaldi | May 18, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Game 6 replay:
http://www.justin.tv/jayrntv/112441/Lakers_vs_Jazz_game_6
Posted by: MiloRambaldi | May 18, 2008 at 07:38 PM
the celtics don't seem to have much offensive chemistry.
the lakers are sincerely happy to watch each other score and feed off each other.
Ray Allen was benched in the 4th quarter, not to rest him, just because he sucked so bad...
yeah, the idea of beating them is not so glorious, unless they sweep detroit or something...
Posted by: eddie brock | May 18, 2008 at 07:53 PM
I miss Kwame Brown
Posted by: Memo | May 18, 2008 at 07:57 PM
Jon K,
On Lebron, I feel you, trust & believe, I was being facetious...
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | May 18, 2008 at 09:05 PM