This means that Kobe Bryant is awesome and would shoot 100% on open shots if his right pinkie finger was healthy.

LTLF: If Paul Pierce were there, he'd insist on taking every shot
and team USA would finish 6th, like the last time he led the
team.

Wha What!?

PP take every shot son? Have you seen the boxscore from Team Kobe? Kobe jacking up shot like mad on a pinky finger which was almost falling off during the regular season.

Falling off my buttox.

The rouse worked because enough writers were dupped into voting for Mr. Selfish.

Good Evening Family!

Just a thought:

Does the article comment on if the person shooting the ball can tell if they're shooting with their non-dominant hand? What about people who are ambidextrous?

Hope everyone's having a fantastic day!

Sorry to be slightly off topic. But did ya'll see the Sun Yeu performance? I am very worried and against our spending ANY money on that guy. He plays scared. He bricked a ton and showed no great moves or potential.

Is it true? Are we really stuck with him? It is true that even Yao looked bad against our team (who wasn't even playing their best), but I truly failed to see the potential in him. It has made me pessimistic and bummed about next year.

GOoooooo LAKERS!!!

yall want to see playin' scared? Go check out Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals at or about 3:35 left in the 3rd quarter and the Lakers up by 24 points.

Now that was playin scared.

I have enjoyed that game over and over again.

I guess Mr. "I can get off at anytime" couldn't quite "get off" at that time or Game 6 for that matter.

"C" ya mate!

Let's go C's

You do realize that the Celtic's championship hasn't made you smarter or more attractive or faster or stronger, don't you? Unfortunately, it does seem to have unleashed your inner jerk. Does your own happiness completely depend on the unhappiness of others? Have you no pride in your own accomplishments? Seriously, your posts are little more than the taunts of an undersized third grade bully wanna be.

In Los Angeles,there are fewer people than there are automobiles...

My life is changed forever.

"I'm glad that Kobe is getting the true icon recognition that he deserves out of China. I hope this show of appreciation lasts when he gets back to the States.

I saw a couple of photos of the Chinesse people around Kobe and they look so happy. It just goes to show you that they really appreciate Kobe based on his talent alone. The guy is an amazing basketball player and China knows it.

LeBron James is nowhere near Kobe even though the United States media tries to make it out as if though LeBron is in Kobe's league. No way!

mike t."

This is the most coherent post and logical thought process I have ever seen from Mike Teniente. I hope it continues.

I've heard the hype about the Euro game being more physical and I didn't believe it. In 2006, it wasn't that hardcore.

In the Olympics, it's been REALLY physical. The fact you can't get a foul off of the ball basically wrestling the guy you're guarding to the ground makes for seriously physical play.

I'm glad it's that way because Pau is going to have to get used to it. Every team in the league is going to try to exploit him that way and to be successful he's going to have to adjust.

It's also nice to see Kobe making positive contributions even when he isn't shooting well (and boy was he not shooting well versus China--he only made one jumpshot out of 9, the other 5 shots he made were dunks). He's getting the most playing time and I think the team looks best with him on the floor.

Benjamin,

You're so right about Pau. I can't wait to see Kobe's Team USA vs Pau's Spain. I'd like to see Team USA get really physical with Pau (obviously not to the point of injury) to give him a huge wake-up call. Pau was so nonchalant to all the reporters' questions after games where he didn't deliver, it made me wonder if he had any awareness at all about his softness.

Gasol looks more like Big Bird in a Sesame Street episode than he does a professional athlete. Sure, he's got great skills and means a lot to the Lakers. But think how awesome he could become if he bulks up a little and plays a little meaner.

Pau never delivered on his promise in Memphis, and it wasn't just because of his lack luster team mates. Last season, Lamar consistently delivered close to a triple double at the 4. Pau is going to have to become much more aggressive, especially on Defense, if he's going to be as effective as the Lakers need him to be.

Sean Penn rules! He actually went inside Iran a couple of years ago and wrote a series of articles about it for the SF Gate. Interesting stuff:

http://tinyurl.com/e2yjm

I forgot about Kobe's pinky. If he's out at the beginning of the year, maybe Coby Karl does make the team just to fill some minutes until Kobe can play full time again.

Are the Olympics on? This is ridiculous! How little action can they get away with showing in between the commercials and the rambling announcers trying to get face time? WHO CARES! Show some SPORTS for Godsake!

JohnnyP,

>>>>>Sorry to be slightly off topic. But did ya'll see the Sun Yue performance?
>>>>>I am very worried and against our spending ANY money on that guy.
>>>>>He plays scared. He bricked a ton and showed no great moves or potential.

>>>>>Is it true? Are we really stuck with him? It is true that even Yao looked bad
>>>>>against our team (who wasn't even playing their best), but I truly failed to see
>>>>>the potential in him. It has made me pessimistic and bummed about next year.

I don’t know what game you were watching in your parallel universe, Johnny, but Sun Yue looked like a genuine steal as a second round draft pick. How many 22-year old kids who have never played against real NBA players would have played with as much confidence when matched up against the NBA’s acknowledged most talented player and recent MVP?

I think Sun Yue showed great ball handling and passing ability, a pretty good stroke, and the ability to take care of the ball under great duress (only 1 turnover). And the kid may be raw but he again showed some excellent shot blocking instincts. It’s obviously too soon to predict how he will do but it is easy to see that the Lakers like the all-around game that Sun has as well as the tantalizing prospect of having a 6-9 guy who can really play the point in the Triangle.

As for Yao, give the guy a break. He is obviously not 100% and nowhere near in shape but burying that 3-pointer and blocking Kobe’s shot, Yao inspired his undermanned Chinese team and gave his fans a lot to cheer about. Yao has proven to be one of the truly classy men and good sports in the NBA. China may not be a breeding ground for the most athletic superstar players yet, but you obviously don’t even see how far they have come or how good Yao is and Sun Yue may become. Anyway, that’s just my take on your unbelievable post.

You were probably also one of those who thought Bynum was a bust and Kwame the prince. LOL.

Tom

May and Walsh are smoking the Cubans right now.

Let's go C's!,

Life is great as a Laker fan. Life is great .......feeling fine indeed!

KB24's decision to postpone surgery had a lot to do with his COMMITMENT to Team USA. In this case, his desire to play through his CONFIRMED injury tells me that he is unselfish and willing to sacrafice for his country and fellow NBA players on the team. Think about it? Most players would have had surgery right away and make a million excuses not to play at all and OWN up to their WORD. It's a heck of a lot better than "street cred!" KB24 will have it done after the games if you are wondering . That's what I call a TEAM player!

BTW, your reference about KB24 "getting off at any time" argument used many times in your posts brings this to mind: He can pretty much say what he wants simply because he can back it up at ANY time. He has won MANY times. Therefore, why not? If for some reason he can't do it at that time, then tomorrow! If not tomorrow, then the next day! next month! next year! Why not be cocky! Why worry about what people think, especially those who criticize him? He's most likely laughing at all of them for their GENUINE interest and CONCERN for his overall WELL BEING. Whatever! For the attention he gets, why not love "hate" as well? Life goes on homey. Critics will be critics. Kobe keeps getting richer and richer.....After all, he once scored 81 points in a game (second most points scored in a game in NBA HISTORY)! You might throw in 3 rings and league MVP as well for clarification.

Speaking of injury and commitment earlier, PP REALLY should have his knee throughly checked before the season starts. If he truly hurt it (his actions are somewhat of a mixed signal variety), then what's the hold up on his end? After all, he is doing NADA this summer (I can think of a commitment he could have made a couple of years ago, but might have been too afraid to do so. A star can't be afraid to FAIL on the WORLD stage. There's always the 2012 team he can commit to. To save face, he might want to consider it). He can't continue to rely on prescribed pain killers or cortizone shots that he most likely took during the Finals to alleviate the pain (KB24 most likely as well for his pinkie for months priot to Finals). A knee injury is one heck of a thing to have! I wouldn't be surprised if he damaged it more during the Finals playing the role of hero (which I admit, he did well). However, it is time to face the knife and defend the title with no glitches! Thanks to modern medicine, he looked rather fine, too fine which made me wonder. Hmmm..... If his knee is not seriously checked and scoped out soon, nasty scar tissue could develop (part of the process of healing) that will prove to be chronic during the upcoming season (probably already has anyway). For sure, his wheelchair would be put to REAL use this time around.

The Celtics organization can't ill afford to continue to celebrate their title and mess around with their most prized athlete of 10+ years who has had both limited success (until this past year ONLY) and a whole lot of failure. He can't play on one leg forever. Likewise, one cant' shoot quality perimeter shots on 4 fingers (try it sometime if you are skeptical by taping the last two fingers of your shooting hand TOGETHER). Dont' worry, KB24 will COMMIT to surgery, most likely sacraficing his training camp time with the team. Now, that's a FACT!

On the other hand, PP's COMMITMENT has to go beyond late night partying and Las Vegas streets. The Celtics organization should know better as well. He and the Celtics must do the procedure NOW! He must face the fear of the OUCH!

My dear lad, like I said before, SUCCESS comes down to commitment in one's ENTIRE career based on the body of work they have done. KB24 has been one heck of a player since day ONE! Still going strong.......His achievements as an INDIVIDUAL and TEAM player through the years through good and bad times are proof in the pudding. Need I say more? Feeling fine thank you...

Laker pride through adversity! Do have a nice day and remember to laugh as always. Peace!

P.S.- Poor Butler! Can't seem the understand the "0" concept of his Suns. That is "ZERO" championships to date.

Does anyone know if tomorrow's USA vs. Angola game is going to be delayed again? It says start time at 8amET..would hate to wake up at 5 only to find out it starts at 8 AGAIN!!!!

So what does this say about Kobe Bryant, who canned many a shot from February onward with his littlest shooting finger out of whack? I can't say for sure, considering I'm not even positive I understood the article, but it would stand to reason that such effectiveness means The Mamba and his right pinkie share a relationship that's rock solid simpatico.
--

You got it.

The NewScientist article refers to a study published by Nature Neuroscience -- which you can find abstracted here [ www.nature.com/neuro/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nn.
2182.html ].

The Nature study simply suggests competitive athletes in a particular sport apparently develop finely-tuned anticipatory 'resonance' mechanisms that better enable them (their brains) to predict the outcomes of related activity compared to non-athletes who lack equivalent anticipatory resonance mechanisms.

To actually see the videos used in the study where athletes correctly predicted makes & misses 70% of the time vs. < 40% by non-athletes -- check this review at Science News of the the same [ www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/35043/title/
Never_bet_against_a_pro ].

Let's Go L's,

I get happy every time I see your post. It looks a little like that other let's go guy, but then scanning your words I find a much better sentiment.

As for PP, he is too afraid of needles to have gotten a cortisone shot. He said he didn't get one in the Finals series and that was the reason.

I can think of another word that starts with P.

I know this is off-topic, but in previous posts, the question of Sun Yue's grasp of the English language was brought up....look up in you-tube...sun yue..."sunyue @ dallas with chinese national team", in this inteview clip, I would say that his English is definitely better than some of the bloggers we have polluting this forum with his spew of crap stew....(LGC)...how does it feel, LGC, that a 22 year old Chinese national is more proficient and apparently more intelligent than you. LGC, "Let's Go Chinese"!!!!!!!!!!

LakerTom,

You wrote: Andrew Bynum will take care of any problems the Lakers have as far as being tough. He will prove to be exactly what the team needs to be physically dominant on offense, defense, and the boards. He is the reason that Jerry Buss, Mitch Kupchak, and Phil Jackson aren’t worried about the Lakers being “too soft.” When we beat the Celtics soundly next year, there will be a lot fewer trolls or defensive geniuses to scroll by. And that is something you can count on.

So you're saying that one person will cover all of the
team's defensive weaknesses? To make sure I'm clear:
You're saying that Bynum at Center, will address the
defensive liabilities of Vlade, Luke, & Odom at the 2?
He's going to address the perimeter game because Jordan
is a bit small? Is he going to fix the rotation issue too?
He's going to play the full 48 mins and never come out
for a break? He's not going to ever be injured again?

I'm asking, because I thought we saw something similar
in Kobe 3 years ago and we were unsuccessful. I
thought that basketball was a TEAM game as opposed
to 1 guy doing everything?

I'd like to think that I'm not a troll. I certainly don't claim to
be a defensive genius. I have been playing multiple
sports and studying martial arts for a "long" time. I'm also
reasonably intelligent and I try to listen to those who have
more experience.

Those who have more experience than anyone on this
blog said: "The Boston Celtics were the better defensive
team. They played more physical defense."

I hope you're right because first and foremost I want the
Lakers to win. I think you've been smoking something
*really* interesting and I'm disappointed in you for not
sharing! The desire of my heart is that the Lakers make
a trade and pick up a defensively minded person,
because I don't think it's something that can be taught.
It has to be caught. I think that Kobe is so far beyond
the rest of the team that they look at him and say I can't
do what he does. With the offensive firepower on this
team, I care less about Lamar's versatility and more
about a defensive presence like Bruce Bowen. Offensive
versatility means nothing when the bully knocks you on
your butt and steals your lunch money.

Go Lakers!
Go Kobe!

ps. Just as I said I was wrong about Mitch, I'll be happy to
tell you I was wrong about your thoughts on Bynum. I
hope Mitch has another deal up his sleave though ...

Team USA just coasted to victory. It was nothing special. We won by like 20, looking like we didn't even really put forth much effort in doing so.

What caught my eye this morning was a short interview with Candace Parker. Now, I'm used to these women basketball players. There's Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Tina Thompson, Taurasi, etc. And there's one thing that these women have in common; these are not the best looking women in the world.

Candace Parker is fine and she can ball.

I'll tell you what, if women's basketball can get itself some more ladies as good and as fine as Candace Parker is, the WNBA might have something special.

Guys do not want to pay to see ladies that look like Vanessa Lobo.

Go Lakers!

wow. Kobe's 3-point shooting has been brutal in the first two games.
He needs to step it up against the better teams.

Rocky:"Candace Parker is fine and she can ball. "
Amen! Don't forget Candice Dupree of the Chicago Sky
and Kara Lawrence.

HobbitMage:"So you're saying that one person will cover all of the team's defensive weaknesses? To make sure I'm clear:You're saying that Bynum at Center, will address the defensive liabilities of Vlade, Luke, & Odom at the 2?He's going to address the perimeter game because Jordan is a bit small? Is he going to fix the rotation issue too? He's going to play the full 48 mins and never come out for a break? He's not going to ever be injured again?"
DAMN! And I was feeling so cocky.

Has anyone read this, Pargo and Mourning to the Lakers a real possibility?

http://thelakersnation.com/blog/2008/08/11/nation-
discussion-mourning-and-pargo-to-los-angeles/#more-4302

http://thelakersnation.com/blog/2008/08/11/dr-z-
blogs-on-bynum/

Thought you might like to see this.

If Mourning and Pargo are en route, that would be sweet.

I think what we have here is someone taking a walk down to the Gabby River and going on a tour of the Rumor Mill. Yes, the Rumor Mill where rumors are shaped and shipped out to sports blogs and magazines everywhere. I seen some rumors, 15, 20 feet long.

But seriously, Why sign Sun Yue AND Pargo? Now we're overloaded at PG and SG. Unless it's for practice purposes, or just to keep the fire under Jordan's tuckus lit. Maybe management didn't take a Middle-Eastern excursion so well. Perhaps they are thinking that Jordan could stand to shoot a few jump shots a day and work on defensive slides. If we hadn't signed Sun Yue, then I would applaud this (potential) move. But what team needs four PGs?

Now Zo...that would be a coup. You want toughness? Even if he doesn't play, he'll get in guys faces and tell them that if they don't knock somebody down in the 1st quarter that he'll eat their car. That's right. Zo doesn't take nothing from nobody. He'd kick a puppy if it looked at him funny.

Alright, maybe not that last part. But he wouldn't even have to play much, just his pressence would be enough. Strange rumor, I'd just as soon give the entire financial figure to Zo if it meant he'd sign. Farmar is defintely more clutch than Pargo and they are both suspect on defense. As passers they both rate a B-, nothing spectacular, not even very fundamentally sound, but they don't make sloppy mistakes.

Also...
Mitch Kupchack was heralded as a great talent in the NBA, then he BLEW out his knee, multiple surgeries, rehabbed for about two years, and made a short comeback during showtime. Shaun Livngston should share a fireside chat with Mitch about long rehabs and coming back with positive energy and focus. That's all you can do when you come back from a major injury, just try hard and stay positive.

GO LAKERS!!!!!