Report Card - Coby Karl
It's that time again! That series of posts recapping a player's performance. Lakers Blog report cards are a tradition dating as far back as 2006 (which naturally means they surfaced in 2007 as well). Remember, the grade isn't based purely on stats and/or production. It's also about the player's impact on the season, which is important to remember with certain dudes. Like the one kicking off this year's batch... 
Report Card: I'll start with the season's highlight for Coby Karl: A March 12th game at Staples against Toronto, where Phil Jackson inserted the rook for seven second quarter minutes as a not-so-subtle message to his other guards (the message being, "Ya wanna maybe stop playing so crappy?"). But even taking into account his usage as a self-described "pawn," Karl responded with some very productive court time. And with those seven minutes relived, there's not much to much else of consequence to dwell on, unless you happened to live and die by D-Fenders results. Even by rookie standards, Karl didn't get much run. But his occasional garbage time made him a fan favorite (a "mascot" status he appreciated, but wasn't necessarily wild about) and occasionally flashed glimpses into why the Lakers decided to guarantee his contract in January and keep him around. He's also a hard worker with a good attitude. It's no lock that Karl will be back next season, but of all the free agents that barely played (Karl, Ira Newble and DJ Mbenga), he's the only one I think has any chance of being on the 2009 roster. And if he's not, it won't be for a lack of conditioning. As we established many time this season, dude would have been the top candidate to represent the Lakers in a marathon. For reals.
Final Grade: D-/Inc. (His actual impact merited an "F," but he got bumped up a grade for being classy enough to provide Mom with an exclusive interview. What can I say? I'm a softy when it comes to mama).
AK
I like Coby, if his contract is about the same I'd love to have him return. Good competitive kid. But he's no Saša!!!
Posted by: dbjungle | June 23, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Anybody want to keep Coby say Aye"!
Not in favor say Nay'!
Posted by: Charles | June 23, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Aye
Posted by: toad | June 23, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Aye
Posted by: mamba24 | June 23, 2008 at 10:50 AM
But he's no But he's no Saša!!!
Posted by: dbjungle
Who is Saša?
Posted by: Fire32 | June 23, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Coby Karl? huh? It was cool having him on the squad. Good luck Coby.
The question that has to be answered is who are we going to get to guard Paul Pierce?
Looking around the NBA, who is out there that can do a good job on Pierce? Off the top, there's Battier, Prince, Bowen, and Artest. I don't think Artest would be a good Laker, so that leaves Battier, Prince, and Bowen. The Spurs will not give up Bowen. So could Battier or Prince be on the market for the right price?
I don't see either the Rockets or Pistons giving up either one of those guys without Lamar being included in the deal.
This comes down to team need in my opinion. Yes, we want to have the most talented guys on the court if possible. But the Celtics showed us that defense is what's going to win it for us. To play the best defense, we have to matchup better than every other team. While Lamar gives us a mismatch we can exploit on most regular season nights, when it comes down to championship basketball, Lamar becomes a mismatch that works to our disadvantage. He's a tweener, he can't guard the true big man consistently, HE'S NOT A POINT GUARD!, does'nt shoot the three well at all, and he's too slow to guard Paul Pierce.
Don't get me wrong, I am a big Lamar Odom fan. He's been a very good Laker. I want a championship though, and to win it we have to beat the Celtics. We can matchup with Ray Allen and Garnett, we have nobody to guard Pierce. We need a true SF who can get up into Pierce and take him out of his game. If that means trading Lamar, it has to be done.
Bottom line.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rocky | June 23, 2008 at 10:56 AM
aye
although it may be difficult with sun yue coming in next year
Posted by: richtown | June 23, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Fire32L"Who is Saša?" LMAO
Posted by: Mamba24 | June 23, 2008 at 11:07 AM
aye, but only if we have room for Kwame. lol
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | June 23, 2008 at 11:13 AM
HEY DON'T FORGET ME!
Posted by: KWAME'S CALVES | June 23, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Fatty,
Hope you are better!
Everybody thanks for the blog response. Slow day but finger point to everybody!!!
Posted by: Charles | June 23, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Whatever on Coby. Just as long as Luke is starting next year and we some how get Kwame and Smush back I really don't think we have much to complain about.
Posted by: BD | June 23, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Good morning Laker Nation!
Fire32,
Saša is Sasha, just in case you didn't know your "š" from your "sh."
Rocky,
I agree with the idea of getting Prince, though I haven't checked if the numbers would work. But in the end, I'd rather keep our team as it is.
-bozz-
Posted by: bozz | June 23, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Aye - don't forget that this man can smash a basketball. Just in case you forgot: http://tinyurl.com/589wyl
We should keep him around for summer league at least.
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | June 23, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Coby Karl is a hard worker. I'd like to see him come back, improve like Jordie did. He's shown his potential in the limited time he's played, plus how cool is that the fans get to chant "Kobe/Coby"?! should get them more rowdy.
Posted by: PeanutButterSpread | June 23, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Saša is Sasha, just in case you didn't know your "š" from your "sh."
bozz,
Around here I know him as Machine. LOL
Posted by: Fire32 | June 23, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Actually I think Coby has some promise. I can't remember the last guy coming off the reserve that I'd say that about.
I liked his energy, his help defense was surprisingly good and that outside shot of his is probably better than the Machine's... if this guy can make some improvements (handling, composure, perimeter/post defense) then I think he'll make a great replacement to a guy like Walton... hell, if he improves in those areas, he'll be a lot better than Luke ever was.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | June 23, 2008 at 12:36 PM
"F" or "D"??? Geez! I bet Coby rates it an "A"! Dude was with the team for the whole year, all the way to the finals, got paid booku bucks for playing a little basketball, also gets a little extra playoff money... gets to drop one of the all time great pickup lines on chicks at bars for an entire year, "oh yeah, I'm so busy, playing with the LAKERS and all..."
not a bad year for the dude... I don't know if we'll ever see him on another NBA roster, only Slava knows the answer to this but I'd bet Coby would rate this an OUTSTANDING year.
Posted by: TaosHum | June 23, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Hi Charles,
Thanks. I'm feeling better, but not quite where I want to be.
Years ago, I had back surgery and I had a bit of set back. Timing wasn't good, (never is, but during the finals!-&$%&%%!!!) but I'm past the acute stage, getting some therapy, and then will try to do some rehab and hopefully avoid surgery again.
In the mean time, the Lakers lost, my yard looks like crap, and to be expected, the blog is still upset about losing to Green Weenies.
Keep the faith, Charles
Fatty
Posted by: Fairweather Fatty | June 23, 2008 at 12:45 PM
AK,
I don't get the D- grade at all.
I mean, he made good use of the VERY limited minutes he played. How does that equate to a D-?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 23, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Charles,
Aye.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 23, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Aye.
That dunk was seeecckkk!
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | June 23, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Aye, Aye, I like Coby Karl. Don't know how good he is because his role last season was just shinning and preparing the bench for King PJ to sit. I hope Lakers will invite him back, a symbol of "can-do attitude" willing to play despite ailments that could mean end of his life, no qualms, no demands, no MLE or B/A offers, just love being around and a chance to play. Does he belong to a team who plays only for Championship, that I don't know b/c he was never tested.
Go Coby Karl. Today you are just a name, Tomorrow you will be a legend.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | June 23, 2008 at 01:21 PM
we need a SF that can score consistantly with a diverse game and some D.
Posted by: Doc4Da LakeShow | June 23, 2008 at 01:32 PM
The Lakers have many young, prospect point guards - Coby, Jordan, and the 6'9" "Chinese Magic Johnson" Sun Yue. So how are all of them gonna get enough PT to develop in the NBA?
Posted by: ajax | June 23, 2008 at 02:32 PM
Jon K.,
"AK, I don't get the D- grade at all. I mean, he made good use of the VERY limited minutes he played. How does that equate to a D-?"
Like I said right from the start, the players are being graded in part because of their impact on the season. Karl didn't offer much in tangible terms. That's also why I added the "Inc.," which acknowledges that the low grade comes in large part from playing very little, as opposed to playing poorly.
Whether it's a flawed system/outlook or not, it's the same one we've always used since we first started doing these.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | June 23, 2008 at 02:58 PM
aye
although it may be difficult with sun yue coming in next year
Posted by: richtown | June 23, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Aye,
Because I hope Sun Yue stays in China another year. I hate to see J Buss pay his contract and have PJ sit him on the bench because he is a rookie. Save the payroll save the kid for another year.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 23, 2008 at 05:51 PM
Aye, At least you could have given him a D+. If Coby's a D, what's LUke? No, don't tell me.
Wallowing on the Lakers bench all year and still managing 17.5 PPG in only 17 games in the D-League and a .411 TPG ain't too shabby. Long layoffs don't seem to bother his rhythm.
And let's see if Mitch can really earn his $$$ and negotiate Sun Yue away Aoshen. Wow, a 6'9" point guard, that should be interesting to say the least.
Posted by: lotecq | June 23, 2008 at 06:35 PM
OH, NO!
NOW THEY'RE SAYING COBY KARL MAY REPLACE POOR, POOR KOBE!
SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING!
Posted by: Luigi999 | June 23, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Aye, most definitely. Not every player on a 15-man roster is going to get serious PT - Coby's a valuable practice player, he's got heart, energy, a very good outside shot and his teammates love him. Also costs next to nothing.
Posted by: dave m | June 23, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Aye!
When he was on the court, he put in the good effort that he was supposed to and played smartly. His shot didn't always fall, but he always found another way to help. He put in a very good defensive effort.
I only wish the rest of the team could play as he did 80 percent of the time. Seriously, I loved what I saw.
Posted by: Benjamin | June 24, 2008 at 04:08 AM
QOUTE OF THE WEEK:
Go Coby Karl. Today you are just a name, Tomorrow you will be a legend." EDWIN GUECO
Posted by: MAMBA24 | June 24, 2008 at 04:58 AM
Saša, Sasha, the Machine, Vujacic, Vujakachic (if you're Jeff Van Gundy) or big Š!
Posted by: dbjungle | June 24, 2008 at 09:52 AM
I'm a Houston Laker fan so the Machine thing is catching on slow with me. What about Shishi? Man, the aspiring best shooting guard should have a serious talk with his boy about nicknames.
Posted by: dbjungle | June 24, 2008 at 09:59 AM
Hey, I'm not from L.A., can anybody tell me who Joel Myers is?
Posted by: dbjungle | June 24, 2008 at 12:01 PM