Drew, Kwame and that nutty Buss fam
I finally have a second to address the recent Hoopshype.com article written by LakersBlog favorite and longtime hoops scribe Roland Lazenby. In it, he talks about both the possibility of bringing back Kwame Brown to provide both some muscle and frontcourt depth, along with a description of the Buss family dynamic that's made Andrew Bynum as pawn and beneficiary. I'll drop a few thoughts on the latter subject first. The specifics Lazenby cites (Jim Buss encouraging Bynum to use his own doctors or pursue coaching outside of Phil Jackson) may be new items to some. But the article's general theme of a schism between Jeannie and Jim Buss (the former widely viewed as the more rational one and the latter widely viewed as an unqualified ne'er do well who happened to pick a winner in Drew) is nothing if not worn territory.
Lazenby simply revisited the topic as background for Bynum's health and contract, which is obviously topical as we speak. It's also a platform for discussing Kwame, which I'll get to in a bit.
In terms of Bynum's knee, I'm not a doctor, so I won't claim to know if he was better off following the Laker medical staff's advice or his own physicians. It's impossible to know for sure whether he'd have recovered quicker keeping things in house, so to speak. But it's definitely not unheard of for athletes to work outside a team's medical staff with injuries. If you recall, when Kobe was in Colorado back in '03, the team didn't even know he'd left Cali, much less jetted out to go under the knife. I'm not saying this to "back" Bynum. I'm just saying that, while deeper elements could certainly be lingering under the surface, the act in and of itself doesn't necessarily raise my eyebrows.
I was also a little surprised to hear Lazenby describe Drew's decision not to play in the 2007 Summer Pro League as a "bombshell." It could be a purely semantical issue (as in, "he just sort of informed them") but I specifically remember telling readers last summer that I not only wasn't surprised Bynum skipped SPL ball, but that after playing 20-ish minutes for 82 games and often going up against the likes of Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudemire, it would be a waste of his time and that workouts, whether in Atlanta or the team, would serve him better. I don't pretend that I saw his third season coming, but it's still hard to argue the results of Bynum's decision.
In a lot of ways, I think these examples serve more to demonstrate what goes on within the Buss family than present Bynum as a problem waiting to happen. The idea that this kid is favored and protected by Jim Buss shouldn't surprise anyone who has paid even the slightest bit of attention
to the team since Drew was drafted. I imagine this will remain the
case for Bynum's entire career as a Laker or until Buss puts a few
more feathers in his cap, whichever comes first. Is that relationship
problematic? I don't know, but I'm inclined to think if Bynum wasn't around, these factions would still find reason to squabble and sometimes act unprofessionally. After all, it was often that way when Drew was still a high school student.
I don't blame Laker fans if that relationship makes them nervous, but keep in mind, Dr. Buss has enjoyed an almost unprecedented degree of success as a sports owner, and that dude is a straight up odd duck. Maybe there's something in the family genes that allows for a mix of strange behavior and O'Brien trophies. Time will tell.
As for a potential "Kwame Part II," like I said when this topic came up about a week ago, I wouldn't rule it out as impossible, especially since big man options are slowly thinning out. When it comes to players capable of pushing in the post, the pickings are basically Brian Skinner, David Harrison (a head case as a Pacer), Adonal Foyle, Jamaal Magloire (meh), Lorenzen Wright (meh again), Theo Ratliff (more meh), Zo/Deke/P.J. (assuming any of the three keep playing), Didier, Michael Ruffin, Randolph Morris (never seen him play, but he's big), maybe Jake Voskuhl... and Kwame. Not exactly a mouth watering crew, making Kwame a reasonable option on paper.
But I still won't believe it until I see it. Or at least hear of meetings.
Putting aside Kwame's deficiencies on the court (basically anything other than bodying a guy) and inability to stay healthy, It would be very ballsy to bring back a player, albeit one that could theoretically fill a specific need, so universally disliked by Laker fans. Particularly on the heels of letting Ronny Turiaf- young, improving and quite beloved- go to Golden State. Unless Brown was signed on the serious cheap, it would be difficult for fans to see his return as anything but an exercise in saving a few bucks at the cost of quality.
Then again, as this front office proved by not bending to outside (and inside) pressure to make "big name" swaps (Jason Kidd, Jermaine O'Neal), they're not afraid to do the unpopular thing if it's believed to be best for the team. I just have trouble picturing them signing up for another go around with Kwame's lack of focus and drive. Great guy, but hardly the poster child for pushing to get the most of his ability.
Save an unforeseen trade, the Lakers may very well find themselves without a better option than Kwame, but I'm expecting every viable course to be explored before offering him a deal.
AK
ding how in prattville say if we can signature kawme brown for cheap why not. i say he bench player and no presure for him during rest to superstars. i like mitch to do this. brian and andy kemetski tell lakers organization i gave ok. and i agree to resignature sascha and koby karl to.
ding how in prattville
Posted by: ding how in prattville | July 24, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Benjamin & Xodus,
I'm just asking your guys to take a step back. Take a deep breath. Clear your mind. And try to analyze this situation OBJECTIVELY.
How can the Lakers actively improve their roster so next year we can win a Championship?
I argue that we need to improve our defense in the paint and our perimeter defense, and we have to keep in mind that we don't have a lot of money to spend.
That's why I am recommending Kwame Brown and Quinton Ross because they fulfill those needs.
Think about it.
We're not looking for more stars. Just role players to improve the mix and add flexibility. That's it.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 24, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Thank God some of the folks on this blog are not employed by the Lakers. Kwame Brown? Are you serious? This man is one of the worst players in the NBA, and he brings NOTHING to the table other than a poor attitude and unbelievably low self-esteem.
People around the NBA know a lot more about basketball talent than people on this blog, and there is a reason that a legitimate 7 footer with an NBA body cannot get a contract. There are numerous teams that could use a guy who is 7 feet tall and built the Kwame is, if the guy could do anything at all on the court. Finding a legitimate center is very difficult, and when you look at the money thrown around at big guys you have to see that Kwame is viewed by league insiders as pure garbage.
To summarize: worst hands in the NBA; terrible free throw shooter; no offensive game beyond wide open dunks (which often became missed layups instead of dunks); poor attitude; low self-esteem; and completely injury prone. Yeah, give this guy $3 million a year....
Posted by: Leo | July 24, 2008 at 05:23 PM
Rocky,
"But he's also a fundamentally sound defensive player"
NO HE'S NOT. And the proof is in the fact that no one else has signed him yet. A cheap, young defensively fundamentally sound "big" would be snapped up like a German wheat beer at a Benjamin convention.
And yet the GMs are strangely silent ...
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 24, 2008 at 05:25 PM
>>>And I also forgot to mention that Kwame is also a sub-par
>>>rebounder, so he wouldn't have helped much there,
>>>either.
Well, that's not entirely true.
If you look at rebounds per 48 minutes of play, the best guys
in the league get about 17 or 18.
Lamar, who averaged the most rebounds per game (not per 48)
for the Lakers last season, got about 13.5 rebounds per
48 minutes. His average was one of the tops in the league
because he played a lot of minutes.
Mihm, who doesn't get a lot of minutes, averages 13.3 rebounds
per 48. pretty close to as good as Odom.
Kwame isn't that far behind, at 12.6 reounds per 48. That
puts all of those guys in the top 20% of all players in the
league.
Oh, and there's another guy...
Bynum.
He averaged 16.9 rebounds per 48 - which puts him in the
top 3% of rebounders in the league.
If you really want the Lakers to do better on the boards,
here are a list of some not-so-famous names to try to get
(and their per-48 average):
Justin Williams - 19.0
Jeff Foster - 17.0
Mike Harris - 16.3
Josh McRoberts - 16.0
Nick Fazekas - 15.9
Reggie Evans - 15.7
There are some other no-name guys who had very
high averages (e.g. Jerome James at 28.8 per), but they
played so few minutes that it's probably a statistical anomaly
that their averages were so high.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 24, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Xodus,
>>>Heck, I'd trade Kwame straight up for Crit. I miss that kid.
Yeah, I just liked the irony of trading Kwame for both Gasol
brothers in separate trades. :-)
We'd have to call Kwame lightning after that.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 24, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Jon K,
"The Kwame/Bynum lineup would be there simply to stop offensive momentum."
You got that right.
Of course, do we really want the Lakers to score an average of 72 points a game?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 24, 2008 at 05:32 PM
I'm going to go on a limb and say that the Lakers would have lost the finals even with Kwame.
I am certain though, that the Cake Baking industry of Los Angeles would shudder in terror at the thought of his return...
Posted by: j. d. hastings | July 24, 2008 at 05:35 PM
72 points a game?
Perfect. Starlett Bryant can score 45 and call out his teammates after every game.
"I can get off at any time" --Kobe
haha
Posted by: Let's go C's! | July 24, 2008 at 05:37 PM
Xodus,
One thing you are overlooking about having Kwame is the
fatigue factor.
When you have to body up against a wide load like Kendrick
Perkins or Kwame Brown, it takes a lot of energy. You're in a
constant wrestling match with a guy who out-weighs you.
You don't have to play Kwame for the whole game. You could
put him out there for 15 to 20 minutes a game to wrestle with
Perkins. Then when you slide Gasol over to center and
bring Lamar in, Perkins is already a bit winded so Pau can
blow right by him.
Or you have Kwame wrestling with Kevin Garnett for 10 to
15 minutes. Then suddenly Garnett's jump shot doesn't
have quite the lift that it did because his legs are tired.
Kwame wouldn't be the knockout punch. Lamar and Pau
and Bynum deliver that. Kwame is the two rounds of punches
to the gut to loosen up the opponent a little.
More importantly, with the injury status of Bynum and Mihm,
at this very moment in time, I don't feel completely confident
that the Lakers will start the season with a healthy backup
center, let alone a healthy starter. Unless you want Gasol
and Odom to play 48 minutes a night, the Lakers have to
bring in one or two bigs to fill in Ronny's roster spot, just
in case. Kwame's far from the best, but he's also far from
the worst.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 24, 2008 at 05:38 PM
For what it's worth, throw me in wiith those supporting Skinner. Kwame was given every opportunity to succeed here, at the 4 and the 5, as a starter and a bench player. Unfortunately, it just didn't work.
This wouldn't be anything akin to P.J. bringing back a triangle-savy vet like Horance Grant or Harps. It would be like, um... bringing back Kwame Brown. To fill maybe the only open slot we have. I mean seriously... what kind of kool-aid are you guys drinking???
Posted by: dave m | July 24, 2008 at 05:38 PM
"Thank God some of the folks on this blog are not employed by the Lakers. Kwame Brown?"
I guess you won't even acknowledge what is being said by the front office:
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
If you won't acknowledge what is directly in front of your eyes how can you determine what is happening down low on the defensive end of the game, which is a part of the game that fans and press seem to ignore?
That's what this section means:
Kwame got..."got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
The front office is talking to you fans. Hey when it comes to basketball philosophy...we're done listening to what you have to say.
I don't blame them. Here's a guy who uses this statement:
"Thank God some of the folks on this blog are not employed by the Lakers. Kwame Brown?"
And here's what the front office is saying:
Kwame got..."got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
Is it so difficult to understand what the front office is saying to the fans? If the fans can't understand a simple state like: "...it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently." Then tell me what else are you refusing to acknowledge?
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 05:39 PM
I have one thing to say. How far did the Lakers go with Kwame in the lineup??? How far did the Wizards go with Kwame in the lineup??? How much did he play for the lowly Grizzlies??? That's what I thought, all you guys pining for his return have nothing solid to fall back on, none whatsoever. Even though we lost in the finals, FACT is we made it when we got rid of Kwame, PERIOD!!! Stop with all the nonsense and fake analysis and breakdown of his weak game. He's proven nothing over his disappointing career and has done absolutely nothing to justify bringing him back. Seriously, stop with all the madness and bs.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | July 24, 2008 at 05:44 PM
Mike T,
>>>I'm with Jerry Buss on this one. I like Farmar but he's
>>>too short and a defensive liability for my basketball tastes.
I think Farmar improved vastly from his rookie to sophomore season.
His offense is good, and his defense improved from his first year,
but isn't great.
Next season will be revealing for him. I think he could prove
to be a good starter in the NBA (at about the level of Fisher)
or he could just turn out to be a decent "change of pace" backup
PG (along the lines of Tyronn Lue or Jannero Pargo).
Either way, the Lakers will need to add another PG soon.
Fisher isn't going to last 10 more seasons. So they'll need
to either bring in someone to be the next starting PG or
someone to be Farmar's backup when Fisher retires.
Will Sun Yue be the guy? Maybe. We'll see when he gets
a chance to actually play against NBA competition.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 24, 2008 at 05:45 PM
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
Here's another way of looking at it:
Suppose the Lakers are talking to Kwame. But Kwame has concerns about how the Lakers let the fans determine his value. Well, with the quote I just put up, maybe the Lakers are saying to Kwame. We don't care what the fans are saying. We know what you bring and it's something we're missing. We are coming out against what the fans think are we're publicly acknowledging what you bring to the game. That's what you call support in front of the hostility of the ignorant fans.
I mean read it for yourselves:
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
mike t.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 05:53 PM
Let's Go C's
Ahhhh, NOW I get it, you have al ove/hate relationship with the Lakers.
You love Kobe Bryant and his world class basketball talent, but you hate that he's in Los Angeles (a much warmer and culturally advanced city than Bah-Stahn)
You think Sasha's cute, but he's also out of your league...relationship wise.
You admire Phil's wisdom and calmness in the face of disaster, but his limp scares you and, besides, he's taken.
I should have relized that you are struggling with a closeted identity and are just expressing your frustration (like most children do) at the object you desire most...the Lakers.
My bad. I too love the Lakers, but have come to a place where I realize my position on earth.
I'm sorry for thinking you were a die-hard Celtic fan who bled green when you are a closeted Laker lover.
GO VICARIOUS RELATIONSHIPS!!!!!
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | July 24, 2008 at 09:59 AM
that is hilarious..
Lets go C's--good luck with sasha...hope you can get to 2nd base...
Posted by: laker32 | July 24, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Long Time Laker Fan,
"Next season will be revealing for him. I think he could prove to be a good starter in the NBA (at about the level of Fisher) or he could just turn out to be decent "change of pace" backup PG (along the lines of Tyronn Lue or Jannero Pargo)."
This is exactly what I don't like about Farmar's game. The Lakers, in no way, can play two philosphies of basketball. The Lakers play the triangle and when Farmar is on the court that changes.
The Lakers philosophy has to be one philosophy. It has to be defense first and triangle second. Jordan wants to run, which makes for a weak defense and the triangle is nowhere in sight.
I can't stand his game.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 05:57 PM
In the words of Yogi Berra " Its deja vu all over again."
Then- Lost Finals, DFish to Warriors, Smush to Lakers.
Now- Lost Finals, Ronnie to Warriors, Kwame to Lakers?
Posted by: p ang | July 24, 2008 at 06:00 PM
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
Another way of looking at it is like this:
Shut up!
LOL!
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 06:11 PM
p ang
"In the words of Yogi Berra " Its deja vu all over again."
mmm....
maybe not. We also happened to lose Shaq and PJ, among others, last time.
Posted by: giantsquid | July 24, 2008 at 06:12 PM
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
What in the hell do you people not understand about this! LOL!
Posted by: Rocky | July 24, 2008 at 06:13 PM
It's just so simple:
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
How else can I explain this, let's see:
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
LOL!
Posted by: Rocky | July 24, 2008 at 06:21 PM
Okay, now I'm seriously bummed.
I just read what Craig Smith's new contract in Minnesota is
for... 2 years for 4.8 million total. Shoot.
And even worse was the report that Sasha's getting offers
from several Euro teams.
It would be a real bummer to lose both Sasha and Ronny. I
hope the Lakers can come to terms with the Machine.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | July 24, 2008 at 06:22 PM
giantsquid,
Thats all true.
The repeat part is Losing, Losing heart and soul to GS, Replacing them with losers.
Posted by: p ang | July 24, 2008 at 06:22 PM
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
Did the fans, and not the coaches and brass, trade Kwame?
Posted by: p ang | July 24, 2008 at 06:27 PM
THE INSANITY DEFENSE…
That’s what Mike T is proposing as enjoys his wet dream of Kwame Brown returning as the Lakers “starting” center, once his hopes for an injury to Andrew Bynum come true. The crazy fantasy that Kwame Brown could anchor any defense is completely ludicrous. The guy plays solid man-on-man position defense but is totally worthless in every other defensive category. He is easy to shoot over, has as much trouble grabbing rebounds as catching passes, and never provides any help defense by taking charges or blocking shots.
He’s known for allowing penetrating players to make easy and uncontested layups.
That’s what Jon K and Benny Blanca will have to claim once they have come to their senses and realize what a cancer the uncaring and unmotivated Kwame Brown would be sitting on the Lakers bench, probably also wishing for Andrew Bynum to get injured. We’ve got a team right now that has great chemistry and shares common objectives like becoming better players and competing for championships. It’d be insanity to pollute that with the likes of Kwame Brown, who may not even get any offer to play.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 24, 2008 at 06:31 PM
"Did the fans, and not the coaches and brass, trade Kwame?"
I guess you don't want to acknowledge what the article said: It basically said that Bynum is Jim Buss' pet pawn and that PJ and his coaches are saying that he doesn't understand basketball concepts.
In other words there's a philosophical difference between what Jim and PJ think about how to play the game.
And the article revolves around a couple of things: The uncertainty of Bynum's injury and, still, the Lakers inability to hold there position in the defensive post, where championships are won and lost.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 06:41 PM
Jon K,
I have no idea why Phil likes Kwame as much as he does. There are 29+ NBA coaches and GMs who think Kwame is terrible. I think I'll go with them instead of Phil on this one.
This isn't about being emotional. I think you're looking at this a bit emotionally because I think you have a soft spot for Kwame. I'm looking at Kwame with perspective, while some people are attempting to make Kwame into some sort of defensive juggernaut.
Can you seriously tell me that if we had Kwame we would have won against Kwame. I posted that Boston played ugly offensively and that their offensive stats fell from 100.5 PPG on 47% shooting in the regular season to 96.4 PPG on 45% shooting in the Finals and all the people saying we need Kwame for D said nothing.
KG shot 40% through 5 games and you guys are saying Kwame's D would have saved us. It wouldn't have. We defended him very well with Gasol and Odom as his primary defenders. It would have killed any chance we had to score efficiently in that series.
Those are good defensive numbers. Better than anything we ever did with Kwame in the lineup. We'll be even better with a healthy Bynum and Ariza in the lineup.
The problem we had in the Finals was that the Celtics shut our offense down to a halt. If you re-watch the games and look at the stats you would see this. And if people didn't have some strange soft spot for Kwame we wouldn't even be talking about this.
Posted by: Xodus | July 24, 2008 at 06:42 PM
Whoa its like I am reappearing from the dead.
Okay so heres what I think is the most doable situation regarding the Lakers next season.
Im basically in the favor of finally going for a guy like Ron Artest even if it means getting rid of Odom's stats.
Trade: Ron Artest, Kenny Thomas for Odom
Basically after Odom's contract expires the only guy the Lakers could sign is....Odom. Fact is the Lakers are already above the salary cap that even if they let Odom walk next season, they cant sign anyone significant. So I go with Ron Artest. He might not be an all around player like Odom...but he fits the Lakers needs. I always think that teams should get NEED rather than the best player.Think about it. The Lakers ALREADY have the BEST player in Kobe. So now its building around Kobe.
So then we need to sign a BIG to fill Odom's MINUTES. We're not trying to fix stats, but fill the MINUTES. So Im totally up for resigning KWAME. Yes, KWAME. Why? All we need him to do is a fill an assigned role. With Drew, and Pau, we dont need a guy to score there in the post, we need somebody to knock bodies, maybe get a flagrant foul so that Artest doesnt need to do it, push some guys in the back, etc.
We all know is Lakerland that Kwame is an emtional guy. Imagine would it would do for his PSYCHE if the Lakers asked for him back. A second lease on life. A way to redeem himself? I could see him going all out to protect his teammates when it comes to those phsyical games. Knock down Boozer, beat up West, Go Toe to Toe with Perkins. THATS ALL WE NEED NEXT YEAR. People forget that the Lakers came within TWO GAMES of WINNING
the NBA CHAMPIONSHIP. So heres goes, easy fix.
PG Fisher
SG Kobe
SF Artest
PF Gasol
C Bynum
We have the best SG, a top 5 SF in Artest (Carmelo, Rashard, LeBron, Iguodala), a top 5 PF, and a top 5 center. Hello? Whats wrong with that starting lineup? Artest guards the other teams best player, and when Kobe and Pau go to the bench, Artest and Bynum play off each other. Think about it.
Bench:
PG Farmar
SG Vujacic
SF Ariza
PF Kwame
C Mihm
Off the bench you get Shooting from Sasha, Slashing from Trevor, jump shot from Mihm, muscle from Kwame. Right? Plus you still have Luke and Radman pulling up the rear...and you also get Kenny Thomas for when you have an injury to play a few minutes..
If Im Mitch, this is the most practical sollution.
Posted by: The Lake Show | July 24, 2008 at 06:43 PM
"We’ve got a team right now that has great chemistry and shares common objectives like becoming better players and competing for championships. It’d be insanity to pollute that with the likes of Kwame Brown, who may not even get any offer to play."
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
It seems you refuse to acknowledge what the Lakers coaches and brass are saying.
Let me make it plain to you. We don't give a damn what you feel, think or say...
It's that simple.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 06:44 PM
LakerTom,
And the most ridiculous thing is that these guys are saying Kwame is a fundamentally sound defender when he does just one thing well. That's like saying Bruce Bowen is a fundamentally sound offensive player because he can hit corner threes.
Doesn't make much sense does it?
Posted by: Xodus | July 24, 2008 at 06:44 PM
It looks like Mike T. and Rocky are the same person. Oops.
I'm gonna put down the amount of money that I think Kwame Brown should get in $ for playing basketball:
0
He's that big oafish guy that only gets picked because he's that big oafish guy.
Just say no to Kwame Brown and Mike T.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | July 24, 2008 at 06:46 PM
LTLF,
Kwame won't be playing long enough to fatigue anyone. If he is playing heavy minutes than we're in serious trouble. Either way Kwame isn't providing much.
Posted by: Xodus | July 24, 2008 at 06:46 PM
Mike T is Phil Jackson
It's all so obvious now. Who are the only two people in Los Angeles that hold Kwame in such high regard. Heck, if Kwame hadn't been injured, PJ probably would have started him the whole season last year.
The apparent disdain Mike T has for Luke and Jordan is meant to distract us. And why would Mike T constantly criticize PJ, his only ally? Clearly, he doth protest too much.
Of course, Mike T and PJ are both in love with Artest, but even PJ, I mean Mike T, slips occasionally.
Posted by: giantsquid | July 24, 2008 at 06:47 PM
" We’ve got a team right now that has great chemistry and shares common objectives like becoming better players and competing for championships."
This what you call denial. You left off the part that the big men are too skinny to hold position on the offensive and defensive post against the likes of Kendrick Perkins. Perkins scored a big 20 on Bynum and now you think that's somehow going to change? Why or how would that be? Perkins weighs 280 lbs. All of suddens he's not going to get better but Bynum and Gasol are?
The logic is just mind boggling. Or, rather, the lack of logic.
Again:
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
That means: Shut up!
LOL!
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 06:49 PM
In case anyone didn't see this. I'm reposting it.
KG in the regular season:
18.8 PPG, 53% from the field
KG against LA in the first 5 games in the Finals:
16.3 PPG, 40% shooting
Boston in the regular season:
100.5 PPG, 47% shooting
Boston in the first 5 games of the finals:
96.4 PPG, 45% shooting
Thus, we can conclude that the Lakers played good D in the Finals. Dominant? No. Good? Yes. And we'll be even better when we add our best rebounder and post defender in Bynum and our 2nd best perimeter defender in Ariza. Boston beat us because their D was among the most the most dominant of all-time ground our 110 PPG offense to a halt. Kwame only makes us much worse on that end, with a marginal at best improvement on D.
So with these facts in mind, tell me why we need this dude?
Posted by: Xodus | July 24, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Laker Tom's thoughts:
"We’ve got a team right now that has great chemistry and shares common objectives like becoming better players and competing for championships. It’d be insanity to pollute that with the likes of Kwame Brown, who may not even get any offer to play."
Lakers coaches and brass thoughts:
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
What the Lakers are saying to Laker Tom is this: Your thoughts about this basketball team is irrelevant.
If you won't acknowledge what unknown (Perkins), before this season, did to Gasol and Bynum this past season then you are in serious denial and at this point...your thoughts become irrelevant.
LOL! That response Laker Tom wrote was full of hostility because what Lakers coaches and brass are saying go against every post Laker Tom has written this summer.
I mean, gee, this guy is so transparent it's like a comic book.
LOL!
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 07:01 PM
Great post, BK.
Drop knowledge on these guys. lol
Posted by: Xodus | July 24, 2008 at 07:01 PM
From HoopsHype Article:
>>>>>Tex Winter, the longtime coach and team consultant, was in Las Vegas
>>>>>to evaluate the Lakers’ summer league team. Winter said he is totally out of
>>>>>the loop on personnel decisions with the team and hadn’t heard of the
>>>>>Kwame deliberation, but Winter said it makes sense, especially for Lakers
>>>>>coach Phil Jackson. “Phil has always liked Kwame,” Winter said. “Phil’s
>>>>>always felt that defensively he’s pretty good.”
From HoopsWorld Article…
>>>>>In one of the more interesting stories of the day, there's a lot of buzz around
>>>>>the idea that Kwame Brown could return to the Lakers now that he's a free agent.
>>>>>Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the
>>>>>"good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever.
>>>>>it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently. Tex Winter is quoted
>>>>>today as saying that they always liked what Brown brings on the defensive end,
>>>>>and would welcome the chance to bring him back into the fold.
Do you notice how in the first article, Roland Lazenby confirms that Tex has not heard the rumor although he says Phil did like Kwame as a defender, which we all know.
Then notice that in the second article, Bill Ingram bases his thought that the “Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently” on Tex’s comments without any mention that Tex said he had no idea if the Lakers were interested in Kwame.
Only a fool would take this as proof that the Lakers front office want to resign Kwame, even at an the rock bottom price of the veteran’s minimum. I’m like AK. I wouldn’t believe it for one second until the Lakers release a news update. Talk about Fool’s Gold.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 24, 2008 at 07:02 PM
"And the most ridiculous thing is that these guys are saying Kwame is a fundamentally sound defender when he does just one thing well."
It's what PJ thinks and Tex, too:
Tex Winter is quoted today as saying that they always liked what Brown brings on the defensive end, and would welcome the chance to bring him back into the fold.
ONE MORE TIME:
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
Your thoughts are irrelevant! That what "... it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
Not just PJ but Lakers brass, too.
Read it and weep!
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Laker Tom,
"Do you notice how in the first article, Roland Lazenby confirms that Tex has not heard the rumor although he says Phil did like Kwame as a defender, which we all know. Then notice that in the second article, Bill Ingram bases his thought that the “Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently” on Tex’s comments without any mention that Tex said he had no idea if the Lakers were interested in Kwame."
I actually noticed that earlier and emailed BK about it. The Hoopsworld writer actually presented this in fairly misleading fashion. In presenting, through Tex's comments, the Lakers as being "interested" and "welcome Kwame into the fold," he left out an awful lot of pertinent info (like Tex having no idea what, if any, conversations have taken place about Kwame). I was pretty surprised by this reporting, since Hoopsworld typically does a pretty good job.
MInd you, I'm not faulting Mike T or whomever in the "pro-Kwame" camp cites this. They're just going off what they're reading. I'm just saying, it wasn't a very good job on Hoopsworld's part of presenting what they got from Lazenby's article.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | July 24, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Xodus,
It was a wonderfully inspiring speech. The irony is that this is what we get instead of intelligent conversation about how Drew will change everything next year or how his ability to protect the rim will turn the Lakers into an aggressive pressing team that will lead the league in turnovers and steals. Seal-the-lane? What a laugh. Kwame’s help defense in the paint is worse than a matador. He doesn’t even slide over with his cape. He just watches the guy go in for an uncontested layup and then claps or tries to clap his hands in meek frustration. He is as mean and tough as Mike T is fair and unbiased.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 24, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Let's go C's
I just got it.
C's stands for calves. Let's go calves!
You're a big Kwame fan. Who would have thought it?
Special Kwame man love = Mike T. PJ, Let's go C's
Posted by: Fatty | July 24, 2008 at 07:12 PM
Kobe and Kwame…
>>>>>The front office needs to think logically. Kobe learned from last year not to
>>>>>start talking crazy about anything. Kobe isn't going to "talk" his intentions.
>>>>>Kobe is playing it smart now. But come the end of the coming season, if the
>>>>>Lakers don't make it to the finals....I think Kobe is going to walk because of
>>>>>the incompetence of the front office.
Obviously, Mike T. has never figured out whom Kobe was talking about when he said it was great for a change to play with someone who could “catch the ball and finish.” The surest way to make sure Kobe does not opt out unless it is to sign a more cap-friendly contract with the Lakers is to make sure that Kwame Brown never wears purple and gold.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 24, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Mike T,
In this case, I don't care what PJ says, he's wrong. There are 29+ other NBA coaches who disagree with him and several more GMs and team Presidents. PJ also loves Luke and we all know how you feel about him.
And you have no credibility whatsoever. You ripped PJ everyday for 2 1/2 years because he "manipulated lineups, by playing guys like Mihm and Bynum too many minutes instead of Kwame" and now you love him because he likes Kwame. What happened to all of that. Now it seems like you love PJ. You're just a guy with an agenda and a tired schtick.
Posted by: Xodus | July 24, 2008 at 07:20 PM
AK,
Thanks for your comment about the HoopsWorld quote. I think it was a typical sloppy extrapolation of rumor that the Internet has made common. LOL. I’m with you on this one. Mike T. doesn’t surprise me, of course, and we all know Jon K is crazy since he is also a Clippers fan (JK, Jon), but when Benny Blanca and a few other bloggers start to sniff at Kwame like Mike T., I begin to worry about an epidemic. Got any more Lakers Girls threads to drop on us. LOL. And I AM trying to be civil but it sooooooo hard.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 24, 2008 at 07:23 PM
Does anyone know what Mutombo will do for next season? i'd rather see him on the court for the lakers instead of kwame
Posted by: richtown | July 24, 2008 at 07:24 PM
Without saying, 96.4 PPG on 45% shooting is not good defense.
Kwame's offensive ineptitude shadows the fact that he IS fundamentally sound on the defensive end. You don't have to get a lot of blocks to be able to impact the game.
Kwame does move his feet on defense and takes charges, he contests shots, and most importantly he is solid in the paint. Guys like Perkins and PJ Brown will not get position on him easily.
Kwame is a back-up center; 15-20 min at the most. For the Lakers, he could be a luxury since he'd give us 3 legit defensive 7 footers to throw at teams if we need to. And who out there could be better than Kwame as an insurance policy for Bynum?
Don't make me bust the quote out on you guys.
"Brown, who was part of the deal that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers, got the "good riddance" treatment from LA fans who saw him as a drastic underachiever. it seems the Lakers coaches and brass saw things differently."
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rocky | July 24, 2008 at 07:24 PM
The original article:
"Faced with a “weird” situation with center Andrew Bynum, the Los Angeles Lakers are toying with the thought of bringing back Kwame Brown, a free agent.
No, this is not a joke.
Yes, this is the same Kwame Brown who rode out of town to a chorus of fan boos in a trade last February that brought Pau Gasol to the franchise. Brown is the former No. 1 overall pick that many consider the biggest bust in league history. Why would the Lakers want him back?
Think about it.
The Lakers made it to the NBA Finals last season and found themselves in a collection of dire mismatches with Boston. For starters, Los Angeles had no one to contend with Celtics center Kendrick Perkins’ size and strength. “They could have used Kwame in the Finals,” said one Lakers insider.
Tex Winter, the longtime coach and team consultant, was in Las Vegas to evaluate the Lakers’ summer league team. Winter said he is totally out of the loop on personnel decisions with the team and hadn’t heard of the Kwame deliberation, but Winter said it makes sense, especially for Lakers coach Phil Jackson. “Phil has always liked Kwame,” Winter said. “Phil’s always felt that defensively he’s pretty good.”
The start:
""Faced with a “weird” situation with center Andrew Bynum, the Los Angeles Lakers are toying with the thought of bringing back Kwame Brown, a free agent.
No, this is not a joke."
and then:
"Think about it.
The Lakers made it to the NBA Finals last season and found themselves in a collection of dire mismatches with Boston. For starters, Los Angeles had no one to contend with Celtics center Kendrick Perkins’ size and strength. “They could have used Kwame in the Finals,” said one Lakers insider."
Correct me if I'm wrong but Roland Lazenby is quoting a Lakers insider, right? I mean everyone know Roland Lazenby has his Lakers connections.
Then after this part of the Roland Lazenby article he brings up Tex Winters perspective on what he recieved from the Lakers insider. To which Tex says: It makes sense.
I mean this is one hell of a thing to say without some concrete information:
"Tex Winter is quoted today as saying that they always liked what Brown brings on the defensive end, and would welcome the chance to bring him back into the fold."
That what Bill Ingram of hoopsworld is saying. And now you're saying that he doesn't know what he's talking about because he doesn't have anything to go on except for Roland Lazenby article? Oh yeah, he just gets his stories from reading web sites. He doesn't have a telephone and he doesn't call or know anyone. He just writes about basketball based on the things he reads from other writers.
OK...
You see this part of Roland Lazenby article?
"No, this is not a joke."
That means he has information from an insider, which according to the structure of his article, he repeated to Tex Winter, who said it makes sense. But Laker Tom and AK seem to think hoopsworld is mistaken.
LOL!
Talk about denial.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | July 24, 2008 at 07:29 PM
I'd take Birdman with his strange post-rehab persronality, time out of the league, untested recent play, and uncertainty because the Hornets didn't seem to have a single issue letting him go before I ever took Kwame back.
Posted by: Benjamin | July 24, 2008 at 07:32 PM