Here's a list you don't want any part of
And thankfully, the Lakers avoided it. From Henry Abbott over at ESPN's excellent True Hoop blog, the same sampling of dudes recently asked to predict 2009's NBA crown bearer (a list the Lakers not only made, but owned) also weighed in on which team they considered the most likely to implode. In a result I find not the least bit surprising, the Denver Nuggets topped the list at five votes. As someone who's witnessed their tense locker room during their 2006 first-round beatdown by the Clippers, their recent opening-round sweep defeat to the Lakers and just your garden-variety, regular-season Nuggets game, I've felt for the last few seasons that we're dealing with one collection of, to put it rather generously, "strong personalities." At the Clippers' news conference to introduce Marcus Camby, the ex-Nugget confirmed the vibe I've gotten. Considering he was one of the dudes who often helped keep moods at a (relatively speaking) even keel, visions of Armageddon busting loose doesn't feel like a stretch to imagine. Frankly, I consider scenarios involving a head-shaved, 400-pound Kenyon Martin talking about "the horror" more likely than these guys getting through the season without a serious dust-up.
Second place went to the Clippers (four votes), a squad that strikes me as the equivalent of a betting line Vegas takes off the board. A sensible spread is simply too hard to figure. I can picture this totally reloaded team buying into Mike Dunleavy's system in an effort to prove themselves. I can also see them turning into "Lord of the Flies." Or, I can picture them too indifferent by Game 20 to muster the energy needed for either of those outcomes. It's really just a crap shoot. From there, you've got the Knicks and Suns with three votes, the Rockets, Nets and Mavericks with a pair apiece and the Pistons and Grizzlies each snagging a nod.
Irony alert! As Abbott noted, one year ago, the Lakers might have been this poll's leading vote-getter and are now considered among the more stable franchises. What a difference a string of W's make.
AK
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This is great news! ESPN is picking the lakers to reach the Finals and the SUNS to "languish in self destruction"?
Now we really know the lakers won't make the Finals and the SUNS will be more powerful than anyone can possibly imagine!
Keep 'em comin!
Posted by: BUTLER | September 12, 2008 at 05:55 PM
AK,
"Frankly, I consider scenarios involving a head-shaved, 400 lb. Kenyon Martin talking about "the horror" more likely than these guys getting through the season without a serious dust up."
Just fricken awesome.
Brilliant! Brilliant, I say!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 12, 2008 at 06:26 PM
C.J. Giles Very Brief Bio-Chrono Reading:
Physical: He's physically orientated which means he is positively motivated by comfort, security, structure, and money. He is negatively motivated by disorder, a lack of security, and stress.
Emotional: He's emotionally orientated which means he is positively motivated by appreciation, acknowledgement, and expression of his individuality. He is negatively motivated by anger, resentment, and feeling his unique qualities are being undervalued.
Mental: He's physically orientated which means he is positively motivated by knowledge, learning, and having his social/group role clearly defined by him. He is negatively motivated by ignorance, a lack of mental stimulation, not having his social/group role clearly defined, and feelings of intellectual insecurity.
Creative: He's mentally orientated which means he is positively motivated by issues of faith, belief, and creative focus. He is negatively motivated by a lack of faith, doubt, having nothing to believe in, and personal creative stagnation.
Summary of how the parts work together for C.J. Giles as a basketball player:
I wouldn't expect too much. His emotional type can make him explosive at times. His physical type can lend him to either be a workaholic (like Kobe) or lazy and from his past academic history, he probably tends towards being lazy. His mental type does not lead him to be an alpha-type personality, but he could be useful if properly mentored by a clear-communicating alpha-type. His creative type is very strong for competitors, but he has to get over the collective deficits of the ways his physical-emotional-mental worlds interact to make the best of that strength, which I think could be a particular challenge for him.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 12, 2008 at 06:38 PM
JUST CHECKING IN
I have bad news, My hang nail injury suffered a setback while on the golf course today. It couldn't have come at a worse time either, I was taking everyones money (as usual) by my exceptional play and my golf buddies were getting a little irritated with me, but what do I care, I am the best.
Anyway, I drove it in the rough next to a tree and couldn't take my normal swing so I had to swing left handed. This caused extra friction on my hang nail which made it worse than before. Normally I just re-tape it but it didn't work this time. Suffice to say my doctor said I needed immediate surgery (band-aid) and to rest for up to 12 weeks.
This of course is very disheartening as my golf group was just beginning to jell as a team (albeit lighter in the pocket) and now they won't have their star player.
They seemed to take it well though as I heard laughter and hoorays in the locker room as I was taking a shower.
My golf coach offered his condolences and told me not to worry and to take all the time I needed to fully recover. He had a bounce in his step I've never seen before. Poor guy is just devastated by the bad news.
I'll continue to keep everyone up to date on my hang nail, don't worry when I get back we will be unbeatable.
Hey guys, can you stop all that hoop and hollering, I'm blogging about my injury!!!
Here's hoping the team does bad...err I mean great without me. I can tell they already miss me.
Boy there's a big celebration next door.
Till the next update, I have to start rehabilitation immediately so I can be with my team family.
Hey guys...let me in.... this isn't funny... open the door.
Posted by: Troll Man | September 12, 2008 at 07:41 PM
Okay, my three picks:
New York for all the obvious reasons. There's a lot of talk of them getting rid of Starbury but I say he must stay... just so he can pick D'Antoni apart like a child with a winged insect.
Phoenix - there just seems to be some kind of dark, gathering malfeasance over there. Could be epic.
Boston - going out on a limb here but how great would it be? Just picture it... peace and unity gone. Garnett and Pierce at war. Allen pouting. The Boston press howling, fans throwing stuff. I kind of like it. Let's get the ball rolling with some internet rumors. Anybody else hear that Pierce is in rehab right now?
Posted by: dave m | September 12, 2008 at 08:28 PM
Unleashed the Big Beast!
Bynum, Gasol, Ariza, Kobe, SunYue
Posted by: Staples 24 | September 12, 2008 at 08:48 PM
ok I'm in now Long Time Laker Fan thanks for the invite
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | September 12, 2008 at 09:22 PM
Bloggers
Here's something to make you say hmmmmmmm?
As Steve Nash helped re-define the MVP........Most sportswriters were saying the best player on the best team in the regular season should win the award............Right?
Riddle me this; Why did most writers in the ESPN poll pick the Lakers to win the title....................yet overwhelmingly picked LeBron to win MVP...........????
AK can you help me??
Posted by: pfunk36 | September 12, 2008 at 09:40 PM
KBros et al,
Heard back from the old Bickster at AZ Republic,
"Made a passing, facetious remark for humorous effect. But don't count me in with the old guard. I love blogs and bloggers and the storm of creativity it all represents. No need to make this a red state-blue state thing."
I guess it's me that has the problem, and not him. I took his comments to seriously, apparently. At any rate, I'm glad to know that he's not one of the anti-blog old guard. That way of thinking is dying a quick death.
Keep it real Bloggers!
Dammit. I smeared my lipstick. Somebody get me LakerTom!
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | September 12, 2008 at 10:05 PM
"As Steve Nash helped re-define the MVP........Most sportswriters were saying the best player on the best team in the regular season should win the award............Right?"
Nah, Kevin Garnett didn't win it despite being the best player (No way Paul Pierce was the best player on the Celtics) so there goes that argument. Analysts have been picking Lebron to win it before the seasons and they have been wrong 2 times already. Only the regular season will tell if Lebron, Kobe, or CP3 will win the MVP.
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | September 12, 2008 at 10:38 PM
WILL INJURED STARS BE ABLE TO SHINE AGAIN?
by Charley Rosen for FoxSports.com
http://tinyurl.com/47jp64
Charley discusses Yao Ming, Andrew Bynum, Greg Oden, Manu Ginobli, and Jermaine O’Neal. Here is the excerpt about Andrew Bynum:
>>>>>
ANDREW BYNUM, C, Los Angeles Lakers (knee)
Is the young man as fully recovered as he claims to be? Will he have the confidence to throw himself into the game, to make strong leaps in a crowd, to execute sharp one-footed cuts? Will the forced layoff impinge or advance his development?
The Lakers surprised most pundits by advancing into the finals without him, but to repeat this achievement (to say nothing of winning a championship) Bynum will have to prove that he's healthy, unafraid and capable of accelerating his interrupted learning curve.
The odds of Bynum's undergoing a full return to glory are 1:2.
>>>>>
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | September 12, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Boston - going out on a limb here but how great would it be? Just picture it... peace and unity gone. Garnett and Pierce at war. Allen pouting. The Boston press howling, fans throwing stuff. I kind of like it. Let's get the ball rolling with some internet rumors. Anybody else hear that Pierce is in rehab right now?
Posted by: dave m | September 12, 2008 at 08:28 PM
Well, rehab is all the rage now so he could recover from that rumor, but have you heard that he is running a dog fighting ring from his basement?
Posted by: Elle | September 13, 2008 at 12:26 AM
LakerTom, Charles,
Here's another link to Bynum's last game.
http://tinyurl.com/42lxmg
Posted by: Xodus | September 13, 2008 at 06:51 AM
LakerTom,
Good, you put up the links on Rosen that counters several posts of your posts about the Beast. While I envy your optimism in believing on self proclamations, at our age & time spent in watching kids grow up, I guess there has to be allowance to be wary with what they claim to be. To see is to believe and provide conclusion later based on our personal take than mortgaging the farm based on someone's hearsay. i think Bynum as a player is OK but at 20 years old, does he have the courage to jump w/o fear of being injured. On the other end, mean players will find ways to hurt Bynum or Kobe's achilles heels in order to paralyze the Lakers. Nowadays, there is no more room for idealism to say that bums and bad players are no longer around in this league. In fact, they professionalized their despicable intentions. A tough guy like Artest could have performed that role. Turiaf did that role last year and got suspended one game in the Utah series and he behaved like a lark afterwards. Mbenga was never utilized to provide as an armour security for our moneyed players: Kobe and Pau. Who will protect our triumvirate? It is Powell, Mihm or Odom, Luke, Vlad and so on...? Precisely, that is what we have expected from Mitch this summer to get athletic players who are at least 6'7" & above with muscular build that can shoot and bang as well. He got dunkers within farmar's height and our Made in China, Sun w/c is a long way to go before he becomes a banger.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | September 13, 2008 at 07:57 AM
Dave M & Elle,
Where did you get those news that KG and PP were at war? How about the dog fighting claimed by Elle? Can you please provide the links b/c I searched the Boston Globe and could not find any news of that magnitude. Are you aware that Ray Allen got married this summer? Finally, he is financially secured to raise a family. LOL!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | September 13, 2008 at 08:05 AM
Troll Man,
"Hey guys, can you stop all that hoop and hollering, I'm blogging about my injury!!! Here's hoping the team does bad...err I mean great without me."
Yeah right, you're the blogger with delusion of grandeur and thinks the universe revolves around you.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | September 13, 2008 at 08:11 AM
Pig,
What do you mean by anti-blog old guard?
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | September 13, 2008 at 08:20 AM
Winning does cure everything. As it did with the Lakers in the early season last year. That was Buss's great hope after all the turmoil of last summer, that the team would start winning and Kobe would become invested in that, which he did.
Any team that feels like they have all the pieces to win, but haven't after a couple of years, is on the bubble to implode. When the expectation is a championship and you feel like you have the best team assembled, you start looking for reasons why it didn't happen and that can turn any organization against itself.
In that respect, I honestly feel like Dallas and PHX are the biggest contenders. For both teams, I'm not sure even winning in the regular season can cure their ills because it's just a big waiting game until June. It's been a real blow to those organization's pride when they realize that a squad built with Dirk at the core or Nash and Amare at the core haven't been able to get it done. You start looking at the pieces, the coaches, the philosophy, etc and wondering which aspect you have to "fix". God forbid you discover that you might have to build around someone else.
I'll go even further and say that there are teams that should implode. That stubborness is the only thing keeping some squads from getting better. I have always said that there aren't enough "true" franchise players to go around. If you don't have access to one you have to find another way to contend.
Every team is faced with this type of situation at one time or another. The real indicator of an owner's mettle is their track record in dealing with it. No matter what, the Lakers never seem to be out of the Championship conversation for too long. One of the many reason why it's great to be a Lakers fan.
Posted by: lakers_sth | September 13, 2008 at 08:35 AM
TheBlitz sez:
"Nah, Kevin Garnett didn't win it despite being the best player (No way Paul Pierce was the best player on the Celtics) so there goes that argument. Analysts have been picking Lebron to win it before the seasons and they have been wrong 2 times already. Only the regular season will tell if Lebron, Kobe, or CP3 will win the MVP."
I think kobee won it only because no one could decide who was the best Celtic. In the end, it didn't much matter because the voters were shown the folly of their ways in the Finals. KG, Ray A, and Paul P all had their moments of glory and impact.
LeBrawn may be more valuable to his team than just about anyone not named Nash - the cavs have been awful outside him. the lakers have gasaul, odom and the coach who had MJ...which makes kobey's impact comparatively less than LeBrawn's...and you can't ignore the way LeBrawn has manhandled kobey whenever they match up.
Posted by: BUTLER | September 13, 2008 at 08:38 AM
"The odds of Bynum's undergoing a full return to glory are 1:2."
I wish bynumb well in his recovery, but the odds are probably correct, maybe the same for Oden.
As center, bynumb is of course subject to the worst beating of any of the other positions - that knee will be tested by bigger, stronger men who will force bynumb to bear their weight in the paint.
Besides the physical aspect, there is the mental part of rehab. bynumb hasn't played competitively for - what - 7 months now? In the back of his mind, he will be compensating for his fear of injury by being more cautious, and will be less interested in banging inside.
Then there's the presence of gasaul, who plays much differently as a PF than odomb. The learning process will coincide with learning how to play with a weakened knee.
In the end, bynumb will need to look up to AMARE for the hope he desperately needs.
Posted by: BUTLER | September 13, 2008 at 08:48 AM
You are the ancient Rolling Stones playing halftime at Super Bowl XL. You will tip the season with a 163-year-old starting lineup: Shaq (36), Amare (25), Hill (36), Bell (32), Nash (34).
Just for you Buttler, skoal :)
Posted by: Badfinger | September 13, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Repost
Hey Butler,
Who do you think has/will have a bigger contribution to the Suns, Shaq or Charles Barkley. And my second question is, if Shaq and Barkley had a race who would win?
Regards,
MJT
Posted by: MJT | September 13, 2008 at 09:18 AM
There are still a few spots open in the Fantasy Basketball
league.
Send me an email at fanleague08 at perry.com if you'd
like to join... I have to enter your email in the fantasy league
setup page and then it'll send you an invite to add a team.
Looks like the draft will be the last Sunday morning before
the season starts, so you'll have plenty of time to figure out
who you want to draft and plan your strategy.
Oh, and the draft order is randomly selected the morning
of the draft, so it's possible you could be the last person to
join the league but get the first pick in the draft.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | September 13, 2008 at 09:26 AM
Pfunk36,
"Here's something to make you say hmmmmmmm? As Steve Nash helped re-define the MVP. Most sportswriters were saying the best player on the best team in the regular season should win the award..Right? Riddle me this; Why did most writers in the ESPN poll pick the Lakers to win the title.....yet overwhelmingly picked LeBron to win MVP......???? AK can you help me??"
Well, the foundation for your question doesn't quite hold, because the MVP gets picked on regular season results, so whoever theoretically wins the title isn't a factor. More importantly, Nash winning his first MVP hasn't created any firm trends that "the best player on the best team gets the MVP." That happened with Nash's first trophy and Dirk in 2007. But Nash also won in '06 when the Spurs had the best record and Kobe won in '08 when Boston had the best record. And if you look the rest of this decade, only Shaq ('00) and Duncan ('02) won while playing as the best player/best record, meaning the mindset you cited was truly never in existence pre or post Nash.
Beyond that, it could reflect some thinking that a healthy Bynum might diminish some of Kobe's stats (for the "numbers" crowd). The panel also predicted the Cavs as an East elite and winning the Central, which certainly creates the requisite "upper echelon" record to compliment James' stats. Maybe they just think LeBron will have a more impressive individual season than Kobe, even if Kobe's on a better team. I really don't know, but I also don't find LBJ winning MVP such a mind blowing, eyebrow raising idea. It's not like the panel coughed up Jake Voskuhl's name. Even if you think Kobe is the better player (and I personally do), it's not like LBJ is so far behind in the rear view mirror that a legit discussion can't take place.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | September 13, 2008 at 09:35 AM
>>>Most sportswriters were saying the best player on the
>>>best team in the regular season should win the award.
Not quite. Last season, that would have been Kevin Garnett.
The way it seems to go is that you have to be one of the top
3 or 4 players in the league AND your team has to be one of
the top 3 or 4 teams in the league.
But it's fuzzy, too. If there are 3 really good players on the
top team in the league, then you could argue that the
team's so stacked that none of them is all that valuable.
That and injury time is what kept KG from winning it last
season. And with Kobe-Gasol-Bynum-MonkeyKing that
may hurt Kobe's chances next season.
Certainly, Cleveland could be one of the top teams in the
league next season, and surely LeBron will be one of the
best players. But it's all a guess at this point. If Cleveland
ends up 5th in the East, then that kills LeBron's chances.
But it's all speculation at this point. You never know who
the real front runners are for MVP until about February.
Last year at this time, would you have guessed that Chris
Paul would nearly have taken it over Kobe?
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | September 13, 2008 at 09:35 AM
Badfinger,
Is that your fav band? Huh...
Anyway, you sez:
"You are the ancient Rolling Stones playing halftime at Super Bowl XL. You will tip the season with a 163-year-old starting lineup: Shaq (36), Amare (25), Hill (36), Bell (32), Nash (34)."
The Stones still get lingerie tossed on stage, so not a bad comparison, though I think the SUNS' collective wives (SHACK notwithstanding) have forbidden extramarital sex.
Now, it's a valid argument, this age thing. But wasn't that what they said about the "old" Celts this past season? The lakers are younger by far...and lost by 39 in Game 6 to the grandpas.
And, let's not forget the SUNS have the best training staff in the league, a staff that is best equipped to keep the old fogeys healthy and limber.
I mean, what's better for the 2008 season - a 36-year-old healthy SHACK who averaged 14-11 last season with the SUNS, or a questionable 21-year-old bynumb who avgd about the same?
Posted by: BUTLER | September 13, 2008 at 09:38 AM
>>>Well, rehab is all the rage now so he could recover from
>>>that rumor, but have you heard that he is running a dog
>>> fighting ring from his basement?
LOL. You guys are bad. Trying to start rumors about Pierce.
That's just mean spirited and cruel.
And did you know that he's a member of Al Quaeda?
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | September 13, 2008 at 09:40 AM
MJT asks:
"Who do you think has/will have a bigger contribution to the Suns, Shaq or Charles Barkley. And my second question is, if Shaq and Barkley had a race who would win?"
Well, Barkley was in his prime when he came to PHX. He had incredible games such as putting up a 44-25 Game 7 vs. Shawn Kemp and the Sonics.
SHACK of course is in the twilight of his career and isn't the best playa on the team, as Barkley was. AMARE is by far more potent at this stage.
But SHACK'S impact has been positive. The SUNS had to trade the Matrix because he would have left this summer anyway, and the SUNS were already paying him 17.5 mil, so to get a player who has championship exp and can shore up the SUNS' woeful interior rebounding and size issues, at 2.5 mil more per year was a good bet.
The trade changed everything about the SUNS, unfortunately in a way; but as brilliant as D'ANTONI was, the lack of defense ultimately kept the SUNS from winning the title (and some help from Donaghy, Stern, injury gods).
Though others see doom in PHX this season, already the mood is positive from what the playas have been reporting. Much like the Celts last season, the SUNS now have proven veterans with promising rooks and a deep bench. And a black ex-PG coach known for toughness with a defensive mindset.
Posted by: BUTLER | September 13, 2008 at 09:48 AM
I think if a MVP vote is close then the team with the better record wins.You've got to do something pretty special to win if theres another MVP candidate in your conference with a better record.If the hornets had won the west then Paul would have been the MVP last year,Nash did something special by holding the suns together after Amare went down.
Voters may see Kobe as too surrounded by talent next year but if the lakers get the top seed then unless lebron plays out of his mind and gets the cavs 50 plus wins and a top two finish in the east then it will go to him.Voters will be lining up to give Lebron the MVP next year to try to keep the best player argument alive.It feels like its preordained that its his season...kind of in the same way it became Kobe's season this year.its Lebrons to lose...
I'd pretty much bet my life that the mvp will go to one of those three players Bryant,Paul or Lebron....Kobe and Paul have to win the west but if Lebron gets say 52 wins and the winning west team hasnt won more than 65 games then it will be his.I dont see anyone else in a legitimate position to win MVP apart from perhaps Ginobli if the spurs can somehow win the west and the cavs falter.If the lakers do what I expect them to do and win over 65 games then it's Kobe's.
Posted by: Kiwi | September 13, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Xodus,
Thanks for the link. Karl, how can you expect me not to get overly exciting about Andrew after watching him? How can any Lakers fan not be smiling from ear to ear about Drew?
Here is a pretty funny video of Drew blocking Paul Pierce. I had not seen this before. Lakers fans will love this:
http://tinyurl.com/5v5pq5
Make way for the Era of the Beast. Contract extension to be announced next week.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | September 13, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Kiwi touched on an idea in the last thread...
What will Los Angeles Lakers fans do with a season without internal struggles, conflicting personalities, and off-court drama?
No Magic-Kareem tension...
No Magic-coaching staff drama...
No Van Exel...
No Shaq-Kobe drama...
No Smush Parker...
No Kwame Brown...
Just a group of players who listen to their coaching staff, get along, behave themselves, and win...
I personally believe that some fans will utterly freak out.
A lot of Lakers fans CRAVE drama. They crave the infighting. They crave that tension so they can complain about things and blame players for "ruining" things.
I don't think I'm THAT GUY. For me, if we have a good-vibe, drama free, everyone healthy season that ends in a Championship. THAT would be my ultimate season. I love the winning, but hate the drama.
I like a team where everyone gets along, everyone supports one another, and everyone enjoys--and shares in--the individual success of their teammates.
I think it could happen this year. I really do.
If there's any truth to Kobe's statement that he won't have the surgery because he doesn't want to miss the bonding process of training camp, then it really could happen this year.
If Andrew Bynum is embraced for his gifts, instead of looked upon with suspicion, it really could happen.
If Lamar Odom maintains his passive leadership roll and Derek Fisher his active, wise-man, leadership roll, it really could happen.
This could be the best season ever since we first beat the Celtics back in 1985.
It could truly be Great.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 13, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Edwin, I heard the dog rumor from www.allcelticplayersarethedevilsspawn.com
Posted by: Elle | September 13, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Jon K.
you should also add these two things to that list:
No Brian Cook......
(Cook and him throwing his warm up jerseys on Phil's lap just because his playing time went lower because Lamar came back). And he was a terrible player beyond shooting 3 pointers and some offense.
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | September 13, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Great, the Blazers are probably going to sign Shaun Livingston. That's all we fricken need.
Urgh.
http://tinyurl.com/5ldzog
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 13, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Long Time Laker Fan,
Actually I heard that while Paul Pierce was on a crack-fueled bender in Las Vegas, he ran over a Girl Scout in his car, wrapped the body in an American flag, and then burned it in the desert where it started a major wildfire at East Mojave National Monument.
Then he went home and killed a puppy for fun.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 13, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Pfunk36/AK,
I believe that MVP has as much to do with positive press, endorsements, and television commercials as it does anything else. Journalists are effected by hype almost as much as everyone else.
Now that Kobe has turned the corner in terms of receiving consistent positive press again, he'll be a favorite to win the MVP again. Why? Because the Lakers are going to rock this year and the Cavaillars (the OTHER spokesman for sports drinks and stuff like that) will be a fourth or fifth seed in the East.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 13, 2008 at 10:38 AM
"i mean, what's better for the 2008 season - a 36-year-old healthy SHACK who averaged 14-11 last season with the SUNS, or a questionable 21-year-old bynumb who avgd about the same?"
No-brainer, 15 years younger, same stats?
"The Stones still get lingerie tossed on stage..."
Umm yaa, by women older than my MOM (and I'm 40)
Serious, this is your last chance, bud. With the age of your starting lineup, new coach, thin bench, uhh, good luck.
Badfinger says: Come and Get It
Posted by: Badfinger | September 13, 2008 at 10:41 AM
FANTASY SPORTS IS RUINING FANDOM…
First off, I am not one of those old farts like John McCain who doesn’t email, text message, or understand or embrace technology and the Internet. In my time, I have owned and run software development and web consulting firms, can write and debug business software applications, and currently work as the controller for a $15M sales hi-tech distribution firm specializing in digital signage, post production, streaming, AV, and broadcast hardware and software. My social networking is more Linked-In than FaceBook or MySpace, but I understand first hand how technology has rewritten the rules by which sports as a business today must play.
My problem is that this same technology has allowed so-called fantasy sports to flourish, contributing to the continued slow death of the die-hard fan. Along with modern free agency, the over-expansion of professional sports, the explosion of video games, and the intentional internationalization of sports, more and more fans are foregoing their loyalty to specific teams and players and instead becoming fans of the sport in general. While I love basketball and will watch almost any teams at any level play, I just do not get how Lakers fans can join a fantasy league and draft and root for Celtics, Spurs, Suns, or players from other teams that are rivals.
I joined a couple of fantasy leagues way back when and just could not understand how any Lakers fan could find pleasure and satisfaction by drafting and rooting for LeBron James or Amare Stoudemire or Kevin Garnett. When I watch games with my son or other Lakers fans who have fantasy teams, I just grit my teeth when I find them rooting for a guy on the other team to make a basket, get a rebound, or complete an assist EVEN when they are playing against the Lakers. To make it worse, sometimes these guys put money on their fantasy teams which just completely dilutes their once proud Lakers fandom.
I have now made a rule that nobody can watch games at my house with their blackberries or iPhones if they are in a fantasy league. And nobody is allowed to root for a player on the other team. My son complained stridently but I told him I would rather watch the game alone than have to see fans rooting for the Lakers on offense and then some a-hole on the other team when the Lakers were on defense. As far as I am concerned, fantasy sports suck. I actually believe they are one of the key reasons why we get so many crazy trade ideas and screwed up rosters proposed on the blog. It’s just more proof of the constant dilution of true fandom by fantasy sports. You won’t find me wearing a Lakers jersey and rooting for Paul Pierce. I don’t know whether I can say that about Long Time or the rest of the fantasy ballers. I just wish they would take off their purple and gold when they do that. Or make sure there are no children around.
JMHO.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | September 13, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Elle-
I have a membership there. When you sing up, you get a free pass to their sister sites--
www.redaurbachisthedevilhimself.com,
www.paulpierceisapansymcwuss.com,
and www.samcassellsfacekeepsmeupatnight.com.
Entertainment for all ages.
Posted by: Jeff | September 13, 2008 at 10:53 AM
LakerTom,
I really enjoyed your post about fantasy sports.
I agree.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 13, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Jon K says:
"This could be the best season ever since we first beat the Celtics back in 1985."
You are exactly right, it feels like we're on the verge of something big, with a young, proven, and supremely talented squad, with a BIG chip on their shoulder. I cannot wait to see it.
Posted by: Badfinger | September 13, 2008 at 10:57 AM
By the way, does anyone want to request a Bio-Chrono Reading for any Laker player or member of Laker management, coaching staff, or ownership?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 13, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Fantasy football used to be fun. Now there are entire magazines devoted to finding obscure players. Years ago it was fun to find a sleeper in the draft or off waivers, now people BUY the information, they spend hours upon hours scouring the internet for tidbits they can use to pick up say a Kicker for week 5 when their starter has the week off.
It's just not fun anymore, it's an occupation, it's not about friends getting together for some fun and some bragging rights, it's about who has access to the best research. If some of these guys applied the same effort to the stock market that they do fantasy football, they'd be millionaires.
Posted by: Stay Thirsty My Friends | September 13, 2008 at 10:59 AM
say goodbye to DJ Mbenga. I think he's getting some really bad advice, asking for more than the minimum. WHO is going to pay that? We got him off friggin WAIVERS last season, hello? Why does he think he was on waivers to begin with?
The Lakers signed this C.J. Giles who clearly fits the "project" label but... that's what Mbenga was so... what do we need Mbenga for if this guy will work hard and listen to Kareem? This guy should grovel at the feet of Kareem if he has any sense at all. Kicked off 2 teams? This is it. He makes the most of this chance or he probably blows any chance of making it in the NBA. How could he not improve having Kareem Abdul... FRIGGIN Jabbar teach him how to play? That's like having Paganini as your personal musical coach.
http://tinyurl.com/6bhanu
This is it. One more no-turning-back moment for Giles, who is 22 now and finds himself between his hometown of Seattle and the spot where his college career dead-ended in Corvallis, Ore. He's preparing to enter the NBA draft.
He stands 6 feet 11 inches, so tall and so skilled that he remains a marvel even in the mind of the man who kicked him off Oregon State's team in January.
"The most talented, athletic player I've ever coached," said Kevin Mouton, former Oregon State assistant and interim head coach. "Ever. In 16 years of coaching."
Posted by: Stay Thirsty My Friends | September 13, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Because for the first time in too long nobody’s counting us out, and everyone seems to be counting us in, even pre-preseason has some hype to it - it’s all good!
Because for the first time in a long time I can fantasize a little and kinda stop and go – hey that’s not a fantasy, the odds are it could happen - it’s all good!
The great fantasy is that the Lakers could blow out the gate hard, and run away from everyone else all the way to the Larry O. Even more enticing and desirable for this fan, though, would be if the team just picked up where it left off last season, steadily improving, constantly learning to play better together, finding different ways to win, making every game a must see, can’t miss event.
Considering our fairy-tale Cinderella-like season last year, when it sure feels like we came from worst to first, I’m not sure even the Celestials had a better season, even if they did win the grand prize. Perhaps this season having climbed from the valley of despairing to the heights of inspiring, maybe it is time to take it to another level and believe that we can fly.
Over and out until the first pre-season game, guys and gals. I’m sitting back, just getting ready to enjoy the ride.
Posted by: Glenn | September 13, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Jon,
>>>>>This could be the best season ever since we first
>>>>>beat the Celtics back in 1985.
>>>>>It could truly be Great.
I agree 100%, Jon. But I still think there will be a lot of drama. It comes with the territory (LA) and the expectations (championship). LOL.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | September 13, 2008 at 11:16 AM
LakerTom,
I agree with you on your post about fantasy sports. However, if that is what our youth want to happen, then that's how they want to spend their time. We belonged to baby boomers that experienced myriad of crazy things and would love to move on than devote time to fantasies. That does not necessarily mean we are out of touch with the youth. By mere blogging and exchanging opinions, we're putting across ideas, inputs and passion as a Laker fan, why do we have to go with the video of make believe.
I defenitely agree with LakerTom and Jon K on these matters. Blogging w/ the legion of K-Bros is already a task of bridging the old divide of Laker fans belonging to different eras. The same way w/ childish trolls hurling insults, putting up childish posts to attract attention, please, please be considerate with other laker fans in this blog who prefer to speak Lakers and once in a while the call of the times. Somebody here talked about himself in the golf links which is purely abuse of blogging, yet AK/BK did not censor it. They censored JonK, MikeT or Pfunk expression of passions and yet this gutless troll talking about himself which was never solicited got thru. This is just one of those fantasies posts. Please don't overextend it further and blame those who don't prefer fantasy sites.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | September 13, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Jeff,
www.samcassellsfacekeepsmeupatnight.com.
*snort* that my friend is classic.
Posted by: Elle | September 13, 2008 at 11:38 AM
"How could he not improve having Kareem Abdul... FRIGGIN Jabbar teach him how to play?"
So far only Andrew Bynum has truly benefited from Kareem's mentoring. Jerome James and especially Michael Olowokandi both had Kareem's tutalge and the former ended up being a mediocre player and the latter becoming the 3rd biggest bust in NBA History (only Kwa-may Brown and Chris Washburn are/were worst than the Kandi Man). Mbenga and CJ Miles are not expected to be even rotation players just role playing backups at best. Neither should be really considered "projects".
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | September 13, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Edwin Gueco,
"Somebody here talked about himself in the golf links which is purely abuse of blogging, yet AK/BK did not censor it. They censored JonK, MikeT or Pfunk expression of passions and yet this gutless troll talking about himself which was never solicited got thru."
Two things.
1) The "golf" post, while certainly random, seemed to be a joke/satire of sorts. While I didn't personally get it, there was no real "harm" intended (that I could see), so I don't see what the problem is.
1) On the overwhelming whole, Jon K's "censored" posts were threats of physical violence against other readers, which are obviously against the rules. Mike T has written posts that were almost purely personal attacks or too centered along topics (religion, politics) that we expressly asked not be discussed at length. And if memory serves, Pfunk36 has NEVER written a post that didn't go live, because he's always respected the blog rules.
You need to get your facts in order and in the proper context before talking about what we "censor." Or just leave that duty up to us- as it's our job- and don't worry about it. But either way, spreading misinformation creates a false impression that BK and I don't need to be correcting.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | September 13, 2008 at 11:44 AM