Old school
Not the kind that involves your boy Blue (although that's pretty damn entertaining in its own right). Instead, we're talking about a pairing of squads that takes one back to the days of yore (and provides us with an opportunity to use the word "yore"). We're talking a time so long ago that the rings players DIDN'T get were worth more than their salaries, coached by a man not above maintaining a grudge whose legacy is now in jeopardy of going up in ... wait for it ... smoke. So much history involved, even those attempting to play down the matchup as a product of a bygone era will probably preach upon deaf ears.
Not that today's ballin' youth has entirely no sense of its history. Take, for example, Kobe Bryant. The Mamba may have been a kid calling Italy his playground, but he saw every play of those '80s Lakers-Celtics showdowns with a little help from his grandfather. Like everyone in audience, Kobe took a side. In his particular case, Kobe aligned with the good guys and cheered on the man now coaching Andrew Bynum. Ironically, so did a current Celt with a history of killing the team of his childhood team. Like the majority of his teammates, Paul Pierce needed to remain awfully patient for a Finals appearance to finally arrive. Boston has beaten the Lakers twice in two attempts this season, but they haven't exactly beaten "these" Lakers, if you follow our drift. This is a squad that overcame a ton o' drama to emerge as the most dominant force in the '08 playoffs.
Expect an Agent Zero opt out in exactly 28 days. No earlier. No later.
Changes afoot in Day-twah? If so, expect Rasheed Wallace to be at their center.
Falling in the Western Conference finals perhaps drove DerMarr Johnson to drink (or drank him to drive).
LakersBlog: #19 with a bullet in the Leasketbawl.com rankings.
Korey,
Super article, my man. Sorry, compton's finest, but Korey is right. Phil's the man. He'll drive you crazy sometimes but no doubt he is the gratest coach in the history of the NBA and his 10th ring will substantiate that.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | June 02, 2008 at 03:01 PM
LAKER FANS,
Time to remember and rejoice that the Beast is a Laker. Keep Andrew in your hearts as we win the series and pay tribute by freshening your memory as to how great Drew was playing and how sensational he is going to be for the next decade by watching..
THE MAKING OF A BEAST
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9efsJwJxYEk
Andrew Bynum, the next great Lakers center.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | June 02, 2008 at 03:13 PM
I'm all about our squad, but I hope that everyone's right about all this "Lakers Championship Guaranteed" stuff. Maybe it's just the philosopher in me, but I wanna see us play a game first before I make a prognostication.
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | June 02, 2008 at 03:14 PM
Korey,
I am not sure if you mis-understood my comment or actually disagree with it, but I will clarify.
What I mean is that with an inside threat of Drew and Pau (like the Shaq days) the first option in the Triangle is the inside. Inside-out if you will. As I said, I have no doubt that Kobe will lead the Lakers in ppg, but I do not necessarily think that is the first option. Yes Kobe was a 2 time scoring champion and could easily be a 10 time scoring champion if he wanted to, but he will not need to with the '08-'09 Lakers. I think you are confusing my Kobe fanhood with my assessment of his new role.
In my opinion next year the ultimate Kobe role would be to put up about 24pts., 7 rebounds and, 8-9 assists. More of a Magic Johnson role instead of the traditional Kobe role. I don't think of this as a demotion, but more of an evolution. Why would Kobe need to score as much next season?
Even when Kobe and Shaq were both putting up 30 ppg, Shaq was always the first option, not necessarily the last. That was my point.
If you think I am disrespecting Kobe in some way you couldn't be more wrong. He is my favorite athlete in the world by a long shot. You can view my Laker jersey in the blog photos at the top if you wish.
I hope this clarifies my position.
Imagine coaching against the Lakers next year with Pau, Bynum, Odom, Fisher, and having absolutely no idea what Kobe is going to do with the ball. Now that is scary.
Posted by: pslakerfan | June 02, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Are they gonna play soon? I'm getting seriously bored with all of this hulabaloo. Too much BS between the games. LEt's get this thang goin'!
Paul Pierce is in for a treat against Levormir Waltrizavich.
I can't wait to see Kobe DOMINATE Ray Allen.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | June 02, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Tom,
"Yes, I can never forgive him for wishing injury on Drew. But man, he had passion and was often unknowingly hilarious, like the time he claimed he had usurped all win-loss predictions with his one-man 60-win bandwagon."
The 60-win thing is something I'll never forget.
In fact, I'll even use it with my arguments with friends one day.
"I predict that the 49ERS will win 6 games".
"I predict that the 49ers will win 8 games, cuz if they win 6 games then I still win!"
wow...great times.
Posted by: Korey | June 02, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Jon K.
Your point is well taken. Kobe understands legacy and history and knows this matchup will be shown 30 years from now. He will be playing at the MAXIMUM level he can muster, which as we know is as high as it gets.
No one player can win a series, but Kobe comes as close as one player can come. I don't envy the Celtic's task of trying to keep him in check.
Posted by: Eric M. | June 02, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Here's the biggest sense of HUBRIS that The Celts are operating under:
THEY THINK THEY KNOW US.
They still think, like the other 25 teams in tHe NBA (Denver, Utah & San Antonio just got schooled on this), that we're the same team that got punked by the Suns in 2 consecutive 1st Round matchups.
They still think that we're Kobe, LO, D-Fish and a bunch of no-names that slightly became better once we got Pau.
I say, let 'em think that way. Double/Triple team Kobe all night long. Let their Celtic Pride lead em right into the trap...they ain't MENTAL enough to pry their way out.
Ask San Antonio...
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | June 02, 2008 at 03:32 PM
Hey BK/AK is there any way you can relay a message to whoever handles the game intro production/video? Can we not have any hip hop song (I do live hip hop btw) used or any cheezy song, please!!!!!! Can we get them to do an intro using Guns N' Roses' (They're an LA band) song Welcome to the Jungle, those opening guitar riffs montaged with that video clip of Kobe growling and shaking his jersey ( http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-04/38312791.jpg ) matching Axl's yell will send chills down the Celtic's spine especially who is going to be assigned to Kobe. I honestly believe that's when Kobe smelled blood and realized the Lakers are gonna win the Championship.
either that song or Paradise City - that'll just turn the C's green with envy (pun intended) - LA = Paradise City
Posted by: rage.one | June 02, 2008 at 03:33 PM
PSLakerfan,
Please stop while you're behind. There is no justification for your blashpemy.
Regards,
Posted by: LAKER TRUTH | June 02, 2008 at 03:44 PM
pslakerfan,
Regardless of if Kobe scores 30 or 25 ppg he is still option UNO.
Think of it this way, who will defenses concentrate on?
Who gets the ball and causes a double team?
Who gets the ball when the Lakers need a score?
Who always has the mismatch on the floor and can score at will?
The Answer is Kobe, thus it would be crazy to say he isnt option #1. Everything the Lakers do evolves around Kobe causing other teams to key on him.
Kobe wasnt the answer to those ?s above in the Shaq years. Shaq was the guy we gave the ball to the force the defense to adjust.
That is what defines a first option my man.
Gasol will get plenty of looks. So will Bynum.
But dont mistake Kobe for Magic. He will and always will be a lethal scorer.
Posted by: Korey | June 02, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Jon K
I'd already thought of that. I'd probably see Kaman moved to the Pistons for Rasheed and draft choices.
Posted by: giantsquid | June 02, 2008 at 05:39 PM
hey mamba24, put me on all badnwagons available for the lakers to make the killings. lakers rock. woohoow.
KB24 will rip ray allen's ass and paul pierces throat.
celtics stink. KG eat that.
Posted by: erick_truelakerfan | June 02, 2008 at 07:29 PM
Thanks for posting that Bynum vid, L-Tom. LA'd have no problem with the C's -- none -- if Socks were healthy. To think that this team is 15-3 against 3 50+ teams (including the reigning Team of the Decade) while being SHORTHANDED, sans Bynum and a fully healthy Ariza, that is amazing.
I heard Paul Pierce woofin' a little bit, claiming that Kobe has yet to face the best defense in the league -- theirs. That may or may not be true, but this ain't February, and I have faith the Lakers will be ready from opening tip-off onward.
Posted by: Peace | June 02, 2008 at 07:56 PM
I post the following excerpt in answer to the crap about trading Andrew Bynum, and for LakerTom, Ex, et all enjoyment.
Trust me on this, if you don't absolutely hate the Celtics you're not a true Laker fan. Tom and our ilk know that PJ winning a 10th championship will make Red spin in his grave and that's the point.
"Ultimately, Auerbach has to be considered the greatest basketball mind in the game’s history. No one should ever dispute that. And yes, he was the greatest coach the sport had ever known, until Phil Jackson started driving vans in Albany of the Continental Basketball Association. People pretend like Jackson never paid his dues. He did. He won titles in the CBA. He coached his summers in Puerto Rico for the extra paycheck. Sure, he had been historically fortunate with Jordan and Pippen, with Shaq and Kobe, but let’s get something straight: No one – least of all Auerbach – ever won without great talent.
Of course, Auerbach always groused that coaching was so much easier today. This was flawed and, deep down, he knew it. Talent scouting in Auerbach’s era was as sophisticated as an envelope of newspaper articles an old buddy clipped and mailed. At the time, Auerbach had complete control of his ballplayers. There was no free agency, no arbitration. Auerbach was judge and jury on your job. Want a raise? He gave it. Want to work next season? His call.
For that reason, Auerbach could reach his players at the most base level: Fear. Auerbach claimed control that coaches today could only dream.
After Auerbach retired in 1967, his replacement won the ’68 championship. Remember? Bill Russell. As a player-coach. Imagine that now.
Jackson didn’t pick these Lakers, but he sure did develop them. Andrew Bynum has a chance to be one of basketball’s best centers. When most coaches disdain giving young players minutes, Jackson cultivated a bench of Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic."
The full story's at: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;
_ylt=Ar8dvoaHG0CgIatpY9oraVy8vLYF?
slug=aw-philandredrivalry060208&prov
=yhoo&type=lgns
Posted by: Glenn | June 02, 2008 at 09:31 PM
Korey,
Super article, my man. Sorry, compton's finest, but Korey is right. Phil's the man. He'll drive you crazy sometimes but no doubt he is the gratest coach in the history of the NBA and his 10th ring will substantiate that.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | June 02, 2008 at 03:01 PM
Laker Tom,
I respectfully disagree and I believe Comptons Finest has it right..
PJ only wins when he has the best players in the NBA including the best. No genius needed to figure that out.
10th ring will just prove that not substantiate that he is the best ever. Certainly a very good coach but not best ever.
JLF
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=
Jackson didn’t pick these Lakers, but he sure did develop them. Andrew Bynum has a chance to be one of basketball’s best centers. When most coaches disdain giving young players minutes, Jackson cultivated a bench of Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic."
The full story's at: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;
_ylt=Ar8dvoaHG0CgIatpY9oraVy8vLYF?
slug=aw-philandredrivalry060208&prov
=yhoo&type=lgns
Posted by: Glenn | June 02, 2008 at 09:31 PM
I read that article too and just another media type giving too much credit for PJ developing players etc.
no Bynum came in when drafted with the mindset that he wanted to be one of the best centers in the league even dissing Shaq saying at least He (AB) made his free throws.
Tha mindset very Kobe like was way before PJ ever coached him. AB improved his play and himself with help from Kareem and Kobe to get to where he ws destined. PJ had squat to do with that.
Matter of fact he made Bynum cry and almost broke him.
No PJ diid not develop AB. PJ has a tendency to criticise players in the press and give them negative nick names.
Remember Space Cadet? That was a PJ nickname that he gave Vlade but caused him to be inconsistent with his own inconsistant substitution pattern. Remember weenie shots? That is what he said about Pau but never mind that we would not be here at Finals w/o Pau and that Pau is playing out of position. Now a lot of people are calling him weenie and calling out his manhood.
Racking Kobe in his book as uncoachable. Yeah right.
No PJ destroys people in the press and does not give a sh** about nobody but PJ himself.
He never takes blame only credit even if it is not warranted. He has done a very commendable job with some boneheads like Rodman but he still burns players unnecessarily.
JLF
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 02, 2008 at 11:38 PM
I can understand someone saying that Auerbach was a better coach than PJ, but can we at least get past the idea the Jackson only wins with good players, as if Red had to cobble together a roster out of dudes he rummaged up at the rec? Sam Jones, Tom Heinsohn, Bill effin' Russell, John Havlicek, Bill Sharman, Bob Cousy, etc.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | June 02, 2008 at 11:52 PM
There is another “given,” if you will, that people like JLF must accept if we are to have a focussed and realistic debate/discussion on this particular issue, and that is that whilst winning a championship in any sport requires a heaping of luck and serendipitous coincidence, winning 9 must logically speak to some level of skill.
I also believe, based on my personal experience, that successful leaders must be able to “manage” their charges, and get them to accept “roles” as part of a team. The “better” coaches/managers try to “develop” their players strengths and minimize their weaknesses.
By any measure PJ has been one of the most successful coaches in the NBA, and at other levels. That is a reality one cannot deny. Was he, is he better than Red? There is no right or wrong answer to that one because it is nearly all relative since they never have, and will never go mano a mano as coaches.
Posted by: Glenn | June 03, 2008 at 05:18 AM