LovetheLakeShow,

you wrote: I think It’s just unfortunate that the sour ending to the Boston series causes fans clamor for changes to the Lakers roster and feel we’ve missed out on something here, before they’re really sure changes are necessary to begin with.

I think you're referring to me. Yes, I *do* think we missed
out on something. Just as two years ago, we had Smush
Parker and I thought and still do think that J-Kidd is a
better pg.

*I* can't recall Lamar playing SF. Maybe he's good at it. *I* don't think he'll be exceptional at it because I think he's
too slow for the position and too inconisstent. I disagree
with LO's statement that defense is all about attitude. He
hasn't demonstrated it for his entire career. That is not to
say that he doesn't play defense. It's just not something
that he focuses on.

I would be happy to have LO and Artest on the team. I
think LO would make a great PF coming off the bench.
Think about it this way. Kobe is a fantastic player.
Would you support him playing center?

Why is everyone so worried about this last player? Is there any chance that this player will get many minutes? Let's be honest. Whoever it is won't be playing more than a couple of minutes per game on average. That will put the big man total to 5 once he signs up, and at that point the minutes are slim. So what if it's Traylor, or anyone else.

Stop freaking out about every little thing!

Posted by: "Pig" Miller | July 30, 2008 at 10:02 AM

Bigs have a strong propensity to get injured. So yes, this player does matter. Given our PF situation, I'd say we're looking at the 9th-12th player here. One injury and that guy gets 20 minutes a game.

People are freaking out, but we're not talking about a player that will definitely never play.

And it feels kind of lame to get going after a player whose parole officer will not even let him come to workout for us.

I miss Turiaf.

To everyone agreeing with "standing pat",

The problem with "standing pat" is that we lost with
what we had. You stand pat when you have a winning
hand. We lost & badly in terms of spirit. The Utah Jazz
stood pat and never one a thing. The Pistons have
*mostly* stood pat and they haven't one a championship
in how long?

All of our hopes our riding on Bynum. What if Bynum isn't
as good as we hope? If Bynum is = to Pau & Pau is = to
Lamar & Lamar is = to Vlad we loose again.

We have to upgrade so that we're a better team because
other teams are trying to get better not stand pat.

Tully:

I'll be listening tomorrow..........best of luck!

From the diary of Tully Moxness, semi-frequent LakersBlog poster:

I suppose the remarks of the troll stung in the first couple of weeks after the finals loss, but the pain of that loss has slowly dissipated. I'm optimistic about next year, but for some reason, the troll is still around, like the last lingering vestiges of a psoriasis flare-up. I wonder what his life is like, why he's reduced to frequent inane 'Kobe sucks' comments on a Lakers blog. Is it so devoid of joy and happiness that his one remaining bright spot is needling Lakers fans? I feel sorry for him, and I hope my fellow bloggers ignore him; I've heard that if you fail to feed a troll, it will surely die, and the best method of starvation is complete ignorance. It'll be a mercy killing but a necessary one, regardless.

Tractor Trailor doesn't interest me. In trouble with the law over tax issues is a bit wimpy and too soft for me.

Now if you find someone, on probation, just released from Pelican, has a little NFL or NBA experience, now were talking.

About Ron? He was way too soft. One foot in the state mental hospital doesn't qualify as tough.

MBenga will work in a pinch. He plays hard, tries hard, and kicks hard. We just need him to come in and knock a few people around. He blocks the ball pretty decently, and on occasion misses and bruises the other guys arms, neck, and nose. Can't fine him for trying right?

Hobbitmage;

I wrote earlier:

“you wrote: I think It’s just unfortunate that the sour ending to the Boston series causes fans to clamor for changes to the Lakers roster and feel we’ve missed out on something here, before they’re really sure changes are necessary to begin with.”

You replied:

“I think you're referring to me. …”

Ah, no hobbitmage. My reference was to fans in general on this blog clamoring for changes, when the current team hasn’t even been fully tested yet. I think it’s prudent to give all the guys a chance to play together awhile first to see if any improvements are really necessary, before considering making them.

You cont:

“ …Yes, I *do* think we missed
out on something. Just as two years ago, we had Smush
Parker and I thought and still do think that J-Kidd is a
better pg.”

First my statement of “missed something” was in reference to the perception by some here of allowing Artest and other FAs this off-season to get away.

And of course Kidd was superior to Smush, that’s an obvious no brainer. But refresh my memory here. Didn’t New Jersey ask for Andrew Bynum as part of the proposed exchange for Jason Kidd at the time? If they did, then I think in retrospect it should go without saying. The Lakers were good to have turned that offer down.

You cont:

“*I* can't recall Lamar playing SF. Maybe he's good at it. *I* don't think he'll be exceptional at it because I think he's
too slow for the position and too inconisstent. I disagree
with LO's statement that defense is all about attitude. He
hasn't demonstrated it for his entire career. That is not to
say that he doesn't play defense. It's just not something
that he focuses on.”

You may indeed be correct, but I would prefer to see the Lakers triple tower threat experiment actually fail first, before pronouncing it a failure prematurely. Also the Lakers could try other options should Odum not work out as a long SF.

For instance, and somewhat radical I admit, move Kobe to the 3 and try Odum as a point forward like Scottie Pippen played throughout most of his career. Or more conventionally, use Ariza at the 3 and bring Lamar off the bench to backup Gasol.

Whatever the case, we should be patient to see what we have first before seeking any major personnel changes.

You cont:

“I would be happy to have LO and Artest on the team. I
think LO would make a great PF coming off the bench.
Think about it this way. Kobe is a fantastic player.
Would you support him playing center?”

I would have been happy with both Lamar and Artest as well. But at the urging of his agent I suppose, he threw a wrench into that possibility by choosing not to opt out. So the Lakers could have a chance to acquire him with their MLE.

Now it’s pretty much all academic at this point. Though there is the future possibility he may not choose to sign with Houston next season (since one never knows with Ron Ron) and the Lakers manage to resign LO for a reasonable price. Then use their MLE to bring in Artest if he’s willing.

But that is all too far ahead to speculate about right now.

I don't think Sacto made the trade to spite the Lakers. They weren't going to give Artest to the Lakers, that's for sure but you are forgetting how much Artest has reduced his trade value with his... what? unpredictability? There were only so many teams that were going to gamble on the guy so getting Donte Greene - a first round pick this year and another 1st round pick which will probably be packaged with another pick to move up in the next draft is not a bad return on a guy that was "only" taking up about $7m in cap space, allstar or not.

No spite here from the Kings but there is a pattern in the NBA were buddies and former colleagues help each other out. Minnesota could have received more from the Lakers or Phoenix last year for KG but no way in hell was Mchale trading KG to the hated Lakers so he took less to help his buddy Ainge. When the Lakers got Gasol for basically nothing GM Chris Wallace was at one time Jerry West's protege as was Mitch Kuptchak at one time. Now Artest to Houston where Rick Aldemann also has a relationship with the Maloofs having been a coach in sac-town. Maybe the NBA should look into this! naw J/K since we got Gasol but there is some truth to this buddy system in the league.

AK,

Actually, Houston has even worse smog than Los Angeles, if you can believe that.

GO LAKERS!

mrbarneydangles,

Thanks for the Lamar predictions. I appreciate that you don't just have blind faith and recognize some weaknesses in Lamar's game.

One incident in particular that mentioned is a thing that really bothers me.

I remember when Lamar walked onto the court to inbound the ball and gave us a TO late in a game. I've never seen anyone in the league come close to doing something like that. And I've never really forgiven Odom for that and for what it represents. I honestly believe he may still be smoking the dank stuff and that he's not one of those people that keeps it together well when he does so.

Your predictions are VERY optimistic, heh.

If Odom can get 12 rebounds a year playing at least half time as SF and get 7 assists, he's worth 14M.

On the high end, I'd predict something like 17/8.5/.5.5. If Bynum does his job, Odom shouldn't have to grab as many rebounds. I also think 5 assists a game for a point forward/SF that isn't always the primary ballhandler is very good in the triangle.

Odom puts up my numbers and plays good D with focus all season and I'm pretty happy. I'd prefer he average something like 20 points though. If his other duties are lessened, I want him taking open jumpers and driving in for dunks and fouls.

hobbit,
"The problem with "standing pat" is that we lost with
what we had."

You're way off base with that logic. Gasol only had 30 games, with no training camp.
Bynum was out.
Ariza and Mihm were out (for all intents and purposes).
Fisher, Kobe, and Walton were playing hurt.
Farmar and Vujacic improved significantly, and are likely to make big jumps again (based on their previous trajectory and work ethic).
So keeping basically the same roster is NOT standing pat in this case.

TROY

I am with you my man.

I have bad feelings about our upcoming season.

Tracey McGrady looks like the next man possessed in the playoffs like Paul Pierce.
Ron Artest is their Garnett and Yao plays the Ray Allen role.

HOUSTON IS NOW THE FAVORITE IN THE WEST.
THAT DEFENSE IS STIFLING AS BOSTON's.

I'm very concerned about our Lakers.

I think Artest gives them a toughness to combat us and they were already a tough out with that defense and deliberate style of ball.

I hope Jordan wants to move Gerald Wallace.
Our only hope are 2 things,

we truly use our size and play as BIG as we are tall.
KOBE BRYANT finally says enough is enough and can not be denied.

I'm not sure until I see it.
KOBE has 2 excellent Finals games in his last 11 games.
Game 2 vs Detroit 2004 and Game 3 vs Boston 2008.

That's it and that pains/concerns me and the LakerNation if that's our outlook.

As TROY said, what a season ahead of us.

Great deal for Houston...unlike the lakers they were a team that really needed to make a move/take a punt.

Artest should be able to give them one decent season at least,maybe two but that will be it.

However if you were watching closely he basically ruined things for a contending pacers team three years in a row - the brawl ,and trade demands... but in the conference finals vs detroit in '04 he got a stupid tech at a critical time in game 6.Hes just not going to get through an entire playoffs without cracking at a crucial moment.its this aspect that lakers fans that wanted him have overlooked.

McGrady.Yao or both will get hurt at some point as always...This team will be elite but wont be able to win the west.If nothing else it will take this team a year or two to learn how to win in the playoffs

The suns? no way...dont listen to Steve kerr.This is a team that had its chance and made a trade for a big name in order to distract the fans from the fact their time was up.

Lets worry about the hornets and the spurs

Artest responds to Yao Ming quote:

"I understand what Yao said, but I'm still ghetto," Artest said, according to the report. "That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he's ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he'll understand what I'm about.

"If you go back to the brawl, that's a culture issue right there. Somebody was disrespecting me, so he's got to understand where I'm coming from. People that know me know that Ron Artest never changed. - Ron Artest

What a douchebag. First off, the usage of the third person is enough to make me gag on my oatmeal, but this whole ridiculous notion that ghetto culture should be embraced and adhered to until death sickens me.

Artest's comments sound like they should come out of the mouth of a lifer at San Quentin - "He disrepected me, so I had to stab him."

Dude, ghetto culture is a culture of death and violence; of drugs and illiteracy; of unwed mothers and abject poverty. What's there to glorify? People will excuse his comments and his outlook, tell me I just don't understand, that he's really just showing love for his neighborhood, but to me, it's a silly life-long pose to try to act the thug when, being a millionare, you are merely acting the fool.

Politically correct people applaud guys like Artest and Carmelo Anthony for staying "true" to their "ghetto roots," thinking it raises up the black man, when in reality, it demeans the black man and empowers the ghetto.

Do we applaud the boy who grows up in an abusive home, gets rich, then beats his wife, because, you know, that's his culture? Or the kid who was molested, who then grows up, raises a family, then molests his son or daughter, because that's his culture? That's where he came from?

Appalling.

Dalton,

>>>>>Dude, ghetto culture is a culture of death and violence; of drugs
>>>>>and illiteracy; of unwed mothers and abject poverty. What's there
>>>>>to glorify? People will excuse his comments and his outlook,
>>>>>tell me I just don't understand, that he's really just showing love
>>>>>for his neighborhood, but to me, it's a silly life-long pose to try to
>>>>>act the thug when, being a millionaire, you are merely acting the fool.

Great job, Dalton. What a contrast African-Americans are seeing between two prominent black men who love basketball. One man has been nominated for President of the United States and is idolized for being a shining example of just how far this country has come from the shame of slavery and just how high a black man or woman in this country can aspire. The other man just made me considerably happier and more satisfied that we didn’t trade a class guy like Lamar Odom who is loved by his teammates for this cancer who wants to glorify the very same things that are devastating his people.

Tom

How could it be any more clear after THAT? Mbenga could work with Kareem from 2:00 AM to 11:00 PM EVERY DAY and he wouldn't get any better than what we saw last season. What do you see in this guy? He can't box out, he barely functions on offense, God knows what he does on defense, he doesn't know how to set picks... I mean... you might as well pick up some big dude off a Junior College team and develop him than waste any more resources on Mbenga...

Hey, how many minutes did Mbenga play against Boston? Exactly...

Posted by: Chrissy Everett Mihminus Daring you to say it one more time Jim Rome | July 30, 2008 at 10:02 AM

======================
Exactly my point too! DJ ineffective or PJ simplly a fool? I say PJ the fool!