Giving the people what they want
September 15, 2008 | 10:09
am
Every week, Lakers Blog HQ is inundated with letters and emails. Some are filled with praise, others criticism, some simply contain logistical questions about things like game times and parking (for the record, our rides rest in that long garage across from the Convention Center). But by far, the most overwhelming complaint centers on the consistent, some say systemic, lack of love given to the '95 squad, which finished third in the Pacific and made it to the second round of the playoffs behind Ced Ceballos, Nick Van Exel, and Vlade Divac.
Our bad. Point taken. Here you go.
BK
Good morning everyone
Posted by: Elle | September 15, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Good Morning Charles.
Good Morning Elle, HmrHed, Morning Crue.
Quick Nick should be considered a Laker for Life. What
say You.
Posted by: Mamba24 | September 15, 2008 at 10:27 AM
finally!!
it's about time AK/BK
Posted by: joninjapan(incanada) | September 15, 2008 at 10:32 AM
I really did like that team.
Damn. Eddie Jones could finish back then. I'm still disappointed he had to go in favor of Kobe, because it would've been nice to see both of those dudes on the court at the same time. They could've really ran. Good times.
Nice vid KBros. Bring some more of that mid-nineties love whenever you get the chance.
Also, props to whoever decided to feature the Ced Ceballos rap song as the track for that clip. Genius.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | September 15, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Um, so we're talking 94-95 as opposed to 95-96? Because y'know, it really matters. Viva Sedale Threatt.
Posted by: dave m | September 15, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Really fun, exciting team because not much was expected after the team only registered 33 victories the year before. Memorable moments include Van Exel's torching of Gary Payton in round 1 vs Seattle after Lakers got blown out of game 1 and came back and won the next 3 games and an Exel's heroic shots against San Antonio in the semis. Also the first squad to be known as the Lakeshow since they couldn't use the name Showtime out of respect for the 80's Lakers. The one really good season we got out of Ceballos before he decided to go to Lake Havasu and Eddie Jones was a steal of a draft pick that year.
Posted by: Lakers85 | September 15, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Remember when Chick use to confuse all the bald heads on that team? Peeler, Sedale, Nick the Quick. Use to drive me crazy... but damn I miss it now.
Posted by: ryantific | September 15, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Ceballos (who is the SUNS' official in-game announcer these days) was the reason the SUNS didn't get the title in 1993.
The SUNS had the best reg season record, had the MVP in Barkley and the best PG in the league in KJ. And they had one of the game's best slasher/finishers in Ceballos, who was the antidote to MJ - a long athletic scorer.
But Ceballos got injured prior to the Finals and had to sit out. Hence the 4-2 series loss...injuries are hell!
Posted by: BUTLER | September 15, 2008 at 10:44 AM
dave m-
oddly, despite the anger in the letters, most weren't very specific. So we left it at "95" and covered all the bases.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | September 15, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Pig Miller:
"Damn. Eddie Jones could finish back then. I'm still disappointed he had to go in favor of Kobe"
I remember that Shaq didn't have a great relationship with him either.
Matter fact, when Jones rejoined the Heat a couple of seasons ago. They asked him if re-joining Shaq would be a problem.
He answered: "the past is in the past" or something along those lines.
But I do remember reading the practice reports.
The 1 on 1 between him and young Kobe according to the press were amazing.
Posted by: Outsidergua | September 15, 2008 at 11:20 AM
This is a laker purist video blog here. People who respond and share insight on this time period are not your run of the mill bandwagon fans. And folks I guess I'm somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, because I stopped the video 15 seconds in. Let me explain.
I hate underachieving teams. And even more importantly I hate Cedric (I gotta chill on my boat cuz I got personal problems) Ceballos. I mean please, all AK, BK, and anybody else really remember about this team is that they were a skilled AND 1 team that didn't win. Yeah they had highlights. Nick's 3 point shot, his Chris Paul runners in the lane. Nick was the man and Ceballos was the man. But what you remember historically is nothing. They lost- Cedric pulled an Artest, and Shaq made Nick go sit in the corner.
I don't want to conversate about 95 lakers. Bloggers aint lining up for this one. I don't want to conversate about 05 lakers, when Kobe was killin the league single handedly. I want to talk championships. That's Laker fans- bandwagon or not, we're a spoiled bunch. I represent the Laker fan who watches 90% of their games for for a number of decades and takes their losses hard. But, what fans like me really take hard is when losers like Ceballos fake on the funk. I see Ceballos and I'm punchin him in the juevos. Jerk.
Let's go Lakers! 08-09 LAKERS. The beast, the spaniard, the doberman, 0.4, the machine, and whatever Lamar is? Come On Lamar, we need you to step up baby. Let's go!
Posted by: johnnyboy | September 15, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Im too young to remember Cedric Ceballos, was he a good player? From this video he seems pretty athetlic, im thinking he was an Ariza type of player. Anyways I still remember nick the quick. However, my memory only goes back to the days of eddie jones. Its great to be a laker fan, so much rich tradition.
Go Lakers
Posted by: TrueLakerFan | September 15, 2008 at 11:32 AM
"But Ceballos got injured prior to the Finals and had to sit out. Hence the 4-2 series loss"
Yeah, Ced would have been the difference maker... pff.. chhhh... (restraining laughter)... ok, screw it... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAH.
That guy is a chump and always has been a chump. He'd have just been another name in the NBA annals of people MJ has DESTROYED. That was a great series but the Bulls were winning no matter what.
Posted by: puddle | September 15, 2008 at 11:35 AM
2000 game aginst the Blazers was it!!
We destroyed them... much like we'll destroy
Posted by: keifo | September 15, 2008 at 11:50 AM
2000 game against the Blazers was it!!
We destroyed them... much like we'll destroy EVERYONE this season!!
GO LAKE SHOW!!
LIGHTS OUT!!!
Posted by: keifo | September 15, 2008 at 11:51 AM
That was a fun team with a lot of young talent. Vlade has the heart i thought and Nick was something special. It all fell apart because they didn't have a true vet. HofF leader all throughout to keep those guys in line. Plus, those are some interesting personalities. I wonder what Phil would have done with them.
Vlade, Nick, Eddie, Cedric...athletic, creative, talented. Was fun to watch, but was not meant to win a championship and was never gonna last.
Thanks for the post! Good memories ain't always about the trophy. That just be too boring.
Posted by: jq | September 15, 2008 at 12:00 PM
>>>Im too young to remember Cedric Ceballos, was he a
>>>good player?
Yes and no. He was a dynamic scorer and very entertaining
to watch. He led the Lakers in scoring for two years, but only on
a per-game basis, as he was injured a lot.
He was something of a local favorite because he played his
college ball at Cal State Fullerton.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | September 15, 2008 at 12:05 PM
http://tinyurl.com/6zf6fl
hope he's not copying Paul "trying to copy willis reed moment" Pierce aka the drama leprechaun this NBA finals LAKERS VS CELTICS will meet in a historic clash kobe vs mr "who thinks he's better than kobe because he won finals mvp" pierce, garnett vs pau who will show that he can mesh with an inside presence of bynum, vujacic vs allen 3 point bonanza, odom vs darius miles the lakers sixth man vs the celtics sixth man.
this year its our time can u beat a first five of these:
PG Monkey King
SG Black Mamba
SF Space Cadet
PF THE SPANIARD
C BEAST
and a bench of these:
THE PACKAGE
0.4
THE MACHINE
TURIAF V.02
LUUUUUKE
MIHM
and a farmar?
i bet you cant
so let me hear yall laker fans all over the world
let hell be raise LAKERS!!!!
GO LAKERS!!!!
GO MAMBA!!!
Posted by: hellraiser(certified mamba fan) | September 15, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Puddle sez:
"Yeah, Ced would have been the difference maker"
Correct. Check out CC's stats from 1993 and you'll see he made the SUNS the best Pacific Division team in history, prior to the Nash II era at least.
Ceballos could dunk blind, which no one has repeated!
And, just think of it this way - losing CC was like if the lakers lost kobey.
Posted by: BUTLER | September 15, 2008 at 12:12 PM
I used to be a big Vlade Divac fan. I hated seeing him play for the Kings. It used to drive me nuts.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 15, 2008 at 12:27 PM
BK - Blog anger rears its head in mysterious ways sometimes. Personally, I'm incensed that nobody's giving props to Travis (a foul waiting to happen) Knight.
Posted by: dave m | September 15, 2008 at 12:35 PM
TrueLakerFan,
Ceballos had one of the best "Touches" I've ever seen. He was a great scorer even though he didn't have a great jump shot.
He was an average shooter, but he excelled around the basket. He flipped, tipped, batted, and flinged more shots in than you can believe. He cut down the baseline and seemed to ALWAYS get the ball off the boards and flip it in.
He also had great hops and could FINISH well above the rim. I think he was our first all star after Magic retired for the second time. Nick the quick was an all-star one year also I believe.
Posted by: Eric M. | September 15, 2008 at 12:37 PM
AK/BK
I heard or read that the Lakers are playing 5 on 5. Practice. Is Bynum in those games?
Keep up the good work!!!!! Only 30 more days to training ca mp
Go Lakers
Jack
Posted by: Laker North | September 15, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Well i guess if nothing else he must of been entertaining to watch.
Go Lakers
Posted by: TrueLakerFan | September 15, 2008 at 12:43 PM
truelakerfan,
think of Ceballos like Shawn Marion, both had/have mental issues. Both quick off the floor, about the same size, no Ceballos was smaller, 6'6" 190 lbs....about the same shooting ability, although Ceballos' shot did not look like a special olympics game. Because of their quick jumping and put backs, Ceballos was always able to get around 10 boards a game, and alot of points, he was sneaky, with alot of points off offensive putbacks, I don't want to talk about Marion, never did anything of interest other than run, for the Suns...did have to play oout of position, so I'll give the Hatrix some credit. Ceballos came out of Cal State Fullerton, not exactly your college basketball Mecca, I think he led the nation in scoring there, or I may have that confused with Leon Wood. The team had bad attitude back then, blame the coaches, not the players. He was traded to the Sun's for Robert Horry, after the towel in the face, that Ainge deserved....oh, I see someone already covered this, oh well...by the way, both players mentioned were African-American, and Sun Yue is Asian....hmmmmmm
Posted by: humanomaly | September 15, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Jon K.
"I used to be a big Vlade Divac fan. I hated seeing him play for the Kings. It used to drive me nuts."
yeah its because he created mismatch and problems to lakers defense then with shaq in the middle but you gotta be proud that without divac we couldn't have gotten kobe right now he will be with paul tearing up the west right now and all we laker fans can say is jerry you would've pull the trigger.... whats done is done....
still i say divac should be known as the best laker flopper of all time next is fisher fox then vujacic
let hell be raise LAKERS!!!
GO LAKERS!!!
GO MAMBA!!!
Posted by: hellraiser(certified mamba fan) | September 15, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Butler you said
Puddle sez:
"Yeah, Ced would have been the difference maker"
Correct. Check out CC's stats from 1993 and you'll see he made the SUNS the best Pacific Division team in history, prior to the Nash II era at least.
Ceballos could dunk blind, which no one has repeated!
And, just think of it this way - losing CC was like if the lakers lost kobey.
I think we got the better of the deal. Robert Horry is a great player, and knew enought o leave the looser team he was with to win 5 more tittle, and he busted up that punk NASH.
MJT
Posted by: MJT | September 15, 2008 at 01:09 PM
Mamba24,
Nick Van Exel should NOT be considered a Laker for Life.
Don't you remember "1-2-3-Cancun!"?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 15, 2008 at 01:22 PM
i loved those teams.
Posted by: tp | September 15, 2008 at 01:23 PM
jon k.
agree with u. i loved nick, but he was tough to cheer for and had his selfish agendas (think TO). if u hate on ceddy, u gotta hate on nick.
Posted by: tp | September 15, 2008 at 01:38 PM
" ...Check out CC's stats from 1993 and you'll see he made the SUNS the best Pacific Division team in history, prior to the Nash II era at least.
Ceballos could dunk blind, which no one has repeated!
And, just think of it this way - losing CC was like if the lakers lost kobey."
LMAO, dude, stop, yer KILLIN me :)
Posted by: Badfinger | September 15, 2008 at 01:59 PM
"Pig Miller is the second-best passing center in the league."
If I had a dollar for every time Chick Hearn said that during those seasons, I'd be. . . well, I'd at LEAST be a mid-hundred-aire.
Also let's not forget the Nick "The Quick" Nike advertisement: "I love the sound. . . of nothin' but net. . . SWOOOOOSH."
And was it me or did Eddie Jones NEVER break a sweat while he played; I always felt bad for the guy because Shaq's hulking frame clogged the lane and he couldn't slash and move; the two of them playing together was fingernails on a chalkboard.
Even Kobe had to make serious adjustments to his inside game with Shaq as a teammate. Eddie just never seemed to figure out how and his face was an almost continuous scowl of frustration.
Posted by: Schlieren | September 15, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Wow.
I didn't grow up with the Magic Showtime teams, and got into basketball around '93.
Became a fan of the HEAT because of living in Miami, and the Knicks because of Pat Riley's coaching. (Gave up on the Knicks when Riles moved to SoFL)
Started to like the Magic because of young guard people told me to watch to get an impression of how MJ32 played.
So, became a Magic fan as well.
In my Senior Year of High School (1994-95) I saw the "Lake Show" on TNT.
Nick the Quick and EJ were the backcourt of the future.
I became (and have been) a closet Lakers fan ever since.
Ced was great on that team like Marion.(Just like Marion, Coach Harris never ran plays for Ced)
Lynch was a workhorse as well with no offensive game.
Threatt emerged as a..... well, you get the pun.
They shocked the then SUPERSonics in the 1st Round. Won some money on that Series!
Van Excellent hit a big shot in San Antone in Round 2 but they couldn't beat the Rodman Spurs who got schooled by the Dream in the 95 WCF.
The video is not a true representation of the "95 Lakers" in that EJ is wearing #6 (#25 in 94-95). I saw MJ32 throwing a lob to VD (MJ32 came back in 96). Great video nonetheless. Loved the use of Cedric's "Flow On" produced by Warren G.
Made me want to find a copy of NBA Live 95 or 96 and play as that team.
Great memories.
Posted by: Justin | September 15, 2008 at 02:18 PM
"Pig Miller is the second-best passing center in the league."
The truth is told. I miss you Chickie baby. You always did me right.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | September 15, 2008 at 02:19 PM
Wow.
I didn't grow up with the Magic Showtime teams, and got into basketball around '93.
Became a fan of the HEAT because of living in Miami, and the Knicks because of Pat Riley's coaching. (Gave up on the Knicks when Riles moved to SoFL)
Started to like the Magic because of young guard people told me to watch to get an impression of how MJ32 played.
So, became a Magic fan as well.
In my Senior Year of High School (1994-95) I saw the "Lake Show" on TNT.
Nick the Quick and EJ were the backcourt of the future.
I became (and have been) a closet Lakers fan ever since.
Ced was great on that team like Marion.(Just like Marion, Coach Harris never ran plays for Ced)
Lynch was a workhorse as well with no offensive game.
Threatt emerged as a..... well, you get the pun.
They shocked the then SUPERSonics in the 1st Round. Won some money on that Series!
Van Excellent hit a big shot in San Antone in Round 2 but they couldn't beat the Rodman Spurs who got schooled by the Dream in the 95 WCF.
The video is not a true representation of the "95 Lakers" in that EJ is wearing #6 (#25 in 94-95). I saw MJ32 throwing a lob to VD (MJ32 came back in 96). Great video nonetheless. Loved the use of Cedric's "Flow On" produced by Warren G.
Made me want to find a copy of NBA Live 95 or 96 and play as that team.
Great memories.
Posted by: Justin | September 15, 2008 at 02:24 PM
hellraiser,
"still i say divac should be known as the best laker flopper of all time next is fisher fox then vujacic"
Dude, Vlade Divac was the innovator of flopping in the NBA! Divac deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame for revolutionizing basketball by introducing "the flop!"
The game has never been the same since.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 15, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Outsidergua
"The 1 on 1 between him and young Kobe according to the press were amazing."
I believe it. If I'm not mistaken, Eddie made a few all defensive teams in his younger years, and he was only a couple of seasons ahead of Kobe in terms of experience when they were playing on the team together. I really fell in love with the Lakers during those years. I was in HS and playing basketball almost every day of the year for three years. I miss it. I'm glad things turned out like they did for the Lakers though.
Man I hate the Spurs.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | September 15, 2008 at 02:27 PM
I think that Shaquille O'Neal is the most sweaterific player in NBA history.
Seriously, can anyone think of a player who actually sweats more than Shaquille O'Neal... well, at least when he actually plays hard, you know.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 15, 2008 at 02:31 PM
Nick the Quick was legit
Lamar = Laker for Life
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | September 15, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Cedric Ceballos?
I got only one thing to say to that:
Lake Havasu!
Those were the Fakers not the Lakers.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | September 15, 2008 at 02:33 PM
nice, what song is tht
Posted by: tl | September 15, 2008 at 02:34 PM
"Those were the Fakers not the Lakers."
Someone sounds like a fairweather fan.
"Seriously, can anyone think of a player who actually sweats more than Shaquille O'Neal... well, at least when he actually plays hard, you know."
Two words for you Jon. K: Shawn Kemp.
Easily the sweatiest man to have ever graced a court.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | September 15, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Good Afternoon Mamba24 and Everybody!
Here is another video that best makes you anticipate the season, and appreciate how far we have come along from 07'-08' season. This mother effing kid man. Goliath of a game. This team, like no other. 4 championships for this decade soon. 4 the hard way!
http://tinyurl.com/622t3n
For Xodus and Laker Tom shout to by the way!
Posted by: Charles | September 15, 2008 at 03:09 PM
mrbarneydangles,
"1-2-3-Cancun!"
That's all I have to say.
I'm glad Shaq demanded that they ship his ass out.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 15, 2008 at 03:11 PM
When I think of the 1995 lakes I think of my 1994 Ford Probe. Not one of the best cars I’ve had, but for all the hardships and all the engine problems, it was still one of my favorite cars. Despite the quality issues of that car, I still thought it could hang with the Honda’s and the Acura’s but could never be called the prime time sub-compact sports car in the early-mid 90’s. The 1995 Lakers was like that, not the best team the Lakers ever had, nor was it the most popular. The Lakeshow had the panache and the attitude (mostly Nick) to beat any team in the league, but when it counted most, they could not beat the team that had Jordan, Olajuwon or Payton. Despite it all, when I think of the mid 90’s, I will remember my college days, my Ford Probe, Nick the Quick and 1995 Lakeshow.
Posted by: grayvilla | September 15, 2008 at 03:23 PM
Good afternoon Laker family. Long time no post...
Man I loved watching Nick the Quick do his thing.
On the road, opposition mounting a comeback? Dial up Nick at Night to drop a trey from deep beyond the arc. On the way back down the court Nick would push his hands down a couple times. Cause that's exactly what my man was doin'. Keeping 'em down and in their seats. Man that's a vivid memory. Oh and what about Nick doing a little boxing combo after a yet another big shot to seal up a game? I can see it just like it was yesterday.
Yeah, I hear ya on the whole 1,2,3 Cancun thing. But Nick was your typical young knucklehead at that time. Anybody remember him giving Ronnie Garretson that forearm shiver into the scorers table? Like Forrest's mama would say "Stupid is as stupid does". Thankfully, Nick grew up and was even able to play with Delmer again in Dallas like it was no big deal. I remember an interview with Leslie Nielson, errr, Dull Harris, in which Dell was full of praise for how far Nick had come.
Nick is a Laker for life for me. Espcecially at this point when his bucketheaded transgressions can be looked back upon as mere youthfull stupidity.
Long live Nick the Quick!
Posted by: magicman | September 15, 2008 at 03:44 PM
"Ceballos could dunk blind"
And trying to follow in that tradition, Shaq has gone back to shooting free throws blind.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | September 15, 2008 at 04:00 PM
DONT FORGET:
Eddie Jones and Anthony Peeler! Those dudes were fantastic as well!
Posted by: David Berezin | September 15, 2008 at 04:14 PM
someone PLEASE tell me there's a YouTube of Eddie Jones dunking on Shawn Bradley almost 3 times in a row when the 76ers used to play at the spectrum. Some of the best dunks that I've seen in my lifetime!
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | September 15, 2008 at 04:15 PM
Vlade could grow a beard in 2.7 seconds
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | September 15, 2008 at 05:02 PM