Philapalooza: PJ talks to the media
We'll have some video later in the afternoon, but in the meantime you can kill the rest of your Friday with some quotes from Phil Jackson, who met with the media in El Segundo this afternoon ahead of Monday's media day. Clean-shaven and (relatively) spry, PJ seemed eager to get going on what looks to be an interesting season. Not that he was dancing a jig or anything, but that's not really how he rolls.
You can watch casually once the film is up ... until then, we'll all have to make do with the printed word. A lot of ground is covered, but given the serious jones for anything meaty, I figure you can absorb it. Some excerpts:
On upcoming season:
"We're excited about our year. A lot of the same players back again. There haven't been a whole lot of changes. Obviously Andrew (Bynum) coming back is a change, is a difference. We think that we're healthy coming into this training camp. Obviously we have some things that are going on -- Luke is still recovering a little bit from an operation, he'll be a little slow -- but for the most part we're relatively healthy, as opposed to last year, when we had players who couldn't compete right away. We think some of our players have played probably a little too much basketball this summer, with Kobe and Pau (at the Olympics), so we'll generate a camp around their limited work, at least this first week."
On Kobe's deciding against surgery on the torn ligament in his pinkie finger:
"I think it was a good idea. Regardless of the correction that might have been done by the surgery, he's still susceptible (to injury). I don't think there's any more of a risk than there would be if he had surgery, then got his finger caught in a jersey again. There's the same risk factor. There's probably going to be a little less strength there, or whatever, but he's going to be fine. He's played all summer with it. I wasn't happy with the way he shot the ball particularly, but I think he's adjusted to all that."
On Bynum:
"...Just looking at Andrew, he seems great, just to see him... He's still just in the playground stage here, but we'll see if he can get to that level where you compete in every moment you're on the floor. You're working and you're doing the things you have to do every moment. That's something Andrew was just getting a hold of when he was injured last year. We need to get him back to that space sometime, hopefully in this month..."
"...We've seen Andrew play about 20 games in three seasons. That's about it. He played, obviously, more games than that last year, but he reached a certain potential point where we saw a light go on where he reached an idea that "This is how I have to play to be competitive." What I'm going to ask Andrew to do in this offense is to rebound offensively, to set picks and to be a pivotal point in our offense. I'm not asking him to be a one-on-one scorer, I'm not asking him to get a lot of points, but this is a guy that's going to shore up the defense, which I think is the important aspect, rebound, which I think is the second most important thing in our offense, and to be a person who can facilitate and help our offense out.
That means receptions off screen and rolls that he was getting last year, the lobs he was getting last year, some offensive moves that he gets if he catches the ball on the move. Some things like that I think are important for our team to have, that kind of outlet. We know Pau is a different animal on the post. He's more of a polished scorer down there. To adjust the two of them on the floor at the same time and Lamar at a wing spot is going to be our situation. It's going to be our situation, our goal at training camp to figure out how to do that."
On his health:
"I'm feeling fine. I had a good summer."
On whether or not the guys have stopped thinking about the end of the Boston series:
"I don't think we've forgotten about it, let alone not thinking about it. Jeannie made me watch- what do you call those things ESPN runs in the summertime? They have a big ceremony down at Nokia? The ESPYs. She made me watch that when I got back from Montana just to spite me, and make me have to see those guys up there... There's still a little bit of angst and anger there (about the series, among the players and him).
On how PT will be distributed, and the meshing of the three bigs:
"I think there's going to have to be an understanding on this team that there's going to be personnel that are going to be better off against some teams and some opponents and some styles and ways that we're going to have to play. Whether we have a small team like a Golden State and the rest are all small forwards out there playing, the guys are going to have to adjust and sacrifice to meet the demands game by game. But we're going to have, potentially, a very large, tall, lanky, strong front line. If they can play defense together, they could be a very formidable opponent to score against.
Offensively, how we get those guys together and do that with the size they have and the abilities they have as starters, that's going to be interesting to see, and a big challenge for our coaching staff."
On entering the season as favorites:
"I don't think it's going to affect them. I think they know they failed in the Finals last year, I think they know that they've got a game that they can play. But those are players that may not be on the floor all the time together this year, so they've got to make adjustments. They know it's a curious training camp for them, one where we have to figure some things out before we know how we'll go into the regular season. I think they're ready to come in and work. I like their work ethic."
Are you excited at the prospect of having that large front line? Is it something you thought about this summer a lot?
"That's a word I don't use very often anymore, excited. I'm looking forward to seeing how they play. Lamar has to make an adjustment. He's had an advantage at power forward the last couple seasons, especially playing power forward in a guard slot, out there offensively. He's going to have to make some adjustments and we'll see how he does that. Pau's got a (different) role to play on the floor with Andrew. He's got to face the basket a little more, and play a more high post role... We've got some adjustments to make as a team, and offensively we have adjustments to make, too."
- Says they're still a team on the young side, with very veteran leadership. But in Jordan Farmar, Bynum, Trevor Ariza, and Sasha Vujacic, there are still some core players that are definitely young, growing players. Lots of speed, energy, etc. But overall, the peach fuzz is off the team.
- PJ will look to moderate Kobe's minutes as much as possible. 35 minutes is what he sees a star player like that as needing to remain in the flow of things. 38 to 40 "is getting to be a little too much at this time."
- Olympics: Impressed with the demeanor of the team, and Kobe's leadership. Not so much Kobe's shooting, but his leadership and defense.
I asked him about last year, and what a difference a year makes. Is it something he ever thinks about? How much things have changed? (He answers, without addressing Kobe specifically.)
"There's always those little issues with basketball teams. Always someone's coming up for a contract, someone's got a free agency (situation) sitting on their table. There's always a little level of tension, and players have to play knowing they have to conform to a team. A "we" issue, not a "me" issue. Basketball business goes right against basketball team. They just fight against each other."
- Not too worried about Bynum's contract affecting his play, though "maybe some of the people around him I'm concerned about." But economically, PJ believes Bynum's comfort in knowing he has a big future professionally (and therefore financially) means the extension talks won't impact his performance.
On Ariza, and his role on the team:
"I don't hesitate to say that if this team doesn't work out the way I want it to, Trevor may be a starting player, in that first five. I may just insert him and convince Lamar to come off the bench if I feel that's better for the team and we don't feel as comfortable on the floor as I'd like us to feel. That's the role I see Trevor playing for us. I think he's going to be a person who does things defensively and offensively for us that are going to be big plusses."
Is that Plan B behind Lamar starting in that large front court?
"Yeah. I have to give that an opportunity. They deserve an opportunity to see if they can play (together)."
- On the odd chance there is any confusion, Pau will be the four, Bynum the five, due to Gasol's superior face up game combined with his shooting range and mobility. But "they'll have to have interchangeable roles a lot of times in our offense and defense."
- First salvo at Vlad: "Vladdy's not come out and played with these guys at all, because he's afraid he might get hurt. So we're saving for training camp, in hopes he doesn't," Jackson said smiling. He did say Radmanovic looked good, is in good shape, and has "the same jocular nature."
- Referenced Scott Williams and Stacey King as two bigs he had playing together, like Bynum and Gasol, though those two were backups, not starters.
- PJ called Portland a potential team to make a move in the conference. The Hornets helped themselves with Posey, but losing Pargo will hurt. He mentioned Houston as a good challenger if healthy, and Dallas and Phoenix as "the two interesting teams to see how they come out of the gate and play."
- Questions that need answering through camp and into the early season: How LO will respond to being played by SFs? Pau playing defense in space away from the basket? Bynum's ability to get up and down the floor?
On adjustment of playing time- more of a concern for starters, or players in the rotation (Luke, Vlad, etc.) who played more last season but could see reduced time in '08-'09:
"I think it might involve all guys having to sacrifice minutes because of the depth of this team. There's nine or ten guys that should be playing, and the ten man rotation really limits a team to two functioning units out there on the floor, and this team could very well play with two units on the floor in the first part of the season. That does take some time away from players, and they have to adjust to it. But in the long run, I think it saves a team a lot of mileage. It did last year for us."
On Mihm:
"...I think he's moving really well, but his shot hasn't been there (like it was). He was really an exceptional shooter from distance, especially for a big guy... Right now he still hasn't made the adjustment to his new legs, his new spring, his new ability. That'll take some time in training camp, but he certainly looks like he's back and ready to play."
- Walton will be starting the season behind, which could hurt him with PT, Vlad needs to show more consistency than he did last year, and sustain the good. Ariza didn't really have a chance to integrate himself fully. The small forward spot is definitely interesting, he said.
On the "soft" label thrown at the team over the summer, and how he'd define it:
"We know that we weren't a muscular, physical team, but we were able to where we did by finesse and speed and the abilities we had. I was always impressed with our ability to be resilient. As resilient as they were. But it was noticeable in the last series, in the last game, that they came out with one specific purpose, and that was to stick us in the basket. To go down and go to the basket and get what they wanted accomplished on the boards or in the lane. It affected us. It left a sour taste in our mouths over the summer."
So would you say that's accurate? That you were a "soft" team?
"You don't get to where we are by being a soft team, but Boston was tougher than we were in the last game. They got it, they deserved it."
BK
Xodus,
"It's a beautiful thing"
I guess. In the sense that the reflections in "fun-house" mirrors are art.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | September 27, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Ex,
That comparison is exactly the type of "beauty" I was going for.
Posted by: Xodus | September 27, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Blitz,
Man, those picks made me realize how much I'm going to miss Ronny. He'll always be a Laker to me, though, even if finances couldn't make that the case in reality.
Posted by: Xodus | September 27, 2008 at 05:11 PM
thekobebryantblitz
Just because you've drank the PJ Kool-aid don't try and give it to me.
Phil Jackson has a track record buddy. He will say anything and all you or any journalist have to do is just follow up what he says.........that's all
And to your other point nobody would have accused Kobe of giving up if He had not re-entered that game with 7 minutes to go and your team is down by 30 points.
Phil just wanted Kobe to be part of that humiliation to deflect attention away from himself,
Go back to the Olympics and listen to the tenor of Coach K and how he respects his players during the press conference........and then listen to Phil's arrogant azz
When Coach K was questioned after USA's poor shooting performance against China Coach K didn't talk about anyone's poor shooting.........in fact he said shooting woes was the least of his concerns he was far more interested in defensive intensity and the rebounding and defensive rotations. He said the shooting would take care of itself
I wonder what Phil would have said.........probably blame someone other than himself.
Posted by: pfunk36 | September 27, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Video of the press conference:
http://tinyurl.com/4stejb
Posted by: laker hopeful | September 27, 2008 at 05:28 PM
pfunk36,
"Phil just wanted Kobe to be part of that humiliation to deflect attention away from himself,"
LOL!
Because the fact that Kobe was one of the players on the court when the 30 point leading being built wasn't enough. Let's make sure that everyone KNOWS that Kobe played in this game by putting him into the game late to remind them.
Posted by: Xodus | September 27, 2008 at 05:37 PM
Xodus,
oops...
That should read "30 point lead was being built."
Posted by: Xodus | September 27, 2008 at 05:43 PM
Jon K-
I took it to mean "Team Bynum"- family, agent, etc. would be more concerned than Andrew himself about the new deal. It was one of those oddly PJ statements, kind of out there without a lot of context. Assuming he's available again on Monday, I'm sure he'll get asked about it.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | September 27, 2008 at 06:06 PM
"And to your other point nobody would have accused Kobe of giving up if He had not re-entered that game with 7 minutes to go and your team is down by 30 points."
Game 7 2006 Playoffs versus Suns. Down by 25 (very close to 30) at the end of the 3rd Quarter. Kobe still is in the game and afterwards people unfairly calls him giving up. And didn't you remember the Celtic's "You're not Jordan!"? Him on the bench only reinforces the fact he "gave up". Send the reserves and we could have lost by 50 (speculation though not unreasonable). No this is the Finals and you try to send your best player to try to win it, not to give up. Maybe YOU don't think people would have said it, but many people outside Lakerville would say Kobe "gave up" in Game 6 had Phil decided to take him out.
"Phil Jackson has a track record buddy. He will say anything and all you or any journalist have to do is just follow up what he says.........that's all"
You sure your name is Pfunk36 and not Jerry Krause? Krause said the exact stuff you said about PJ and looked what happen to the Bulls after the 6th championship.
"Go back to the Olympics and listen to the tenor of Coach K and how he respects his players during the press conference........and then listen to Phil's arrogant azz
When Coach K was questioned after USA's poor shooting performance against China Coach K didn't talk about anyone's poor shooting.........in fact he said shooting woes was the least of his concerns he was far more interested in defensive intensity and the rebounding and defensive rotations. He said the shooting would take care of itself
I wonder what Phil would have said.........probably blame someone other than himself."
Olympics: Impressed with the demeanor of the team, and Kobe's leadership. Not so much Kobe's shooting, but his leadership and defense.
Yup giving credit for Kobe's defense and leadership sounds arrogant (sarcasm here).
"Just because you've drank the PJ Kool-aid don't try and give it to me."
Nope not saying I want you try to drink the PJ Kool-aid. Me and most bloggers will NOT drink the PJ Haterade.
Try again. Your points are so so moot and I'm having fun hehe (busting up arguments).
Xodus,
I will too miss Ronny so much. Maybe he didn't become the physical player that he could have been but hey he does have some good skill (shot blocking) and he was always a bright spot in the Lakers Locker Room. I wish him well wherever he goes. Even if he wasn't going to get as much playing time as he did last season, I wanted to at least have him accept the qualifying offer so we would still retain him and not spend that much money and the next season he could have gone if he really wanted more playing time and money without the Lakers being too much of a obstacle if that was his desire.
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | September 27, 2008 at 06:08 PM
I have a concern about PJ saying that Andrew will anchor defense, set picks, get offensive rebounds as his firt focal point.
I agree with all 3 but I think Andrew has to be SUPER.
This includes commanding a double team in the POST.
The anchoring of the defense, the rebounding, and commanding a DOUBLE TEAM will make the LAKERS win the TITLE without question.
ANDREW NEEDS TO BE THE #2 star on the LAKERS and that needs to be his productivity.
PAU and LAMAR showed that they could not be #2 at the CHAMPIONSHIP level, not West playoffs level but CHAMPIONSHIP level.
This season is about ANDREW BYNUM first and then
if KOBE has the legs left to FINALLY finish the whole damn thing off and bring the title back to where the MAGIC MAN set a standard!!!!
That's what's up!
What up LakerTom??
It's time!!
Posted by: LakerBake | September 27, 2008 at 07:56 PM
"Anti-Jacksonianism?"
O.K., forwarding this one to my friends at Websters...
Posted by: Badfinger | September 27, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Lakerblake
It might well happen that Bynum's role is bigger than what PJ is saying but they might as well start by having him plug the holes from last year and if he starts demanding serious attention then all the better.He's young he's coming off an injury,the team is already pretty good without him,and he's facing enough pressure as it is.Lets go easy!
Posted by: Kiwi | September 28, 2008 at 03:35 AM
Butler,
"If odum leaves, it'll hardly be a surprise. LA's foes are hoping he stays with the lakers.
What I find interesting, is this quote from PJ:
"We know that we weren't a muscular and physical team. We were able to get to where we did by finesse and speed and the abilities that we had"
I think Odom has done his job according to team orders, when he came from Miami, and 1st year with Lakers, wasn't he bulkier??? ....to play in the post....But that costed him speed.....then he leans down a bit, still plays the 4, and gets over 10 boards a game (?) and people still criticize,...lack of physical toughness, well, the Lakers obviously do not diet like the Celtics, (Chubbapalooza)....but going deep into the playoffs, being able to execute their game and use their fat asses to their advantage....they won...they key is to play your game, keep it flexible, and make them adjust...problem last year, obviously we had no gate-keeper (last line of defense, Bynum, we had the keymaster with Kobe and his defensive approach, started last year, probably will up it a notch this year, and please let it be more contagious than MONO (may Sun rest in peace, no he's not dead.....any word on what he's going to do during training camp time, hang around, but at a distance, or stay home in bed, not "kissing"....)
Any idea as to what PJ's appproach to VladRad really has, if Vlad doesn't care, he wins, if he crumbles, he loses, PJ wins but loses, and team loses....but then it's survival of the fittest and Vlad is not a child, but a man with a storied history of his upbringing and growth....so I think it's probably a standoff, where they do it just to feed the media chum. If Vlad gets beat off the dribble, his man will have to get past 3 obstacles, Jordan Farmar blocking layupp from behind, the 4 player, then the 5 player rotating over to fill the lane...better than last year, when all he had to get past was the (4)/5 Pau, who had to watch out for foul trouble....this year, with the depth, if fouls become a problem, depth and hunger will persevere.
h.
Posted by: humanomaly | September 28, 2008 at 08:22 AM
You put Kobe on the Houston or Phoenix teams that Barkley was on and you have a title. Hey - put Lebron on the Lakers - title. Two superstars, two. Magic without Kareem = no titles. Just games here - could we sign Lebron in 2010? Is this even possible? Butler, I wanted Ron Ron but he is not really what leadership is all about. Mamba, Blitz, Xodus, Mike T - happy Sunday.
Posted by: Otis Campbell | September 28, 2008 at 09:01 AM
Jamie Sweet,
>>> Not good news for Vladrad fans, shying away from playing because he might get hurt. That's not the toughness that we're looking for.
Gee, I didn't know there were any Vladrad fans.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | September 28, 2008 at 09:12 AM
LakerBake-
I wouldn't worry too much about it. The point of what PJ was doing, I think, was to avoid putting Bynum in a position where the expectations for him to be a savior, so to speak, would be high. He talked as well about how Drew was just getting to the point as a player that he had an awareness of how good he could be, how to dominate a game, etc. Then he got hurt, so he's still a young, developing player who needs to grown and learn.
On a team with Kobe, Gasol, Odom, Fish, etc., I think this is sound strategy. Take the pressure off, don't say that Bynum needs to be a monster in the low post for the Lakers to succeed, etc. It'll certainly be beneficial if he is, but give him those other things to focus on- rebounding, screens, defense, blocked shots- that make a player whole. He'll get his points, and as we saw last season teams will have to honor him on the block or they'll get burned.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | September 28, 2008 at 09:26 AM
Ex
Aunt Bea in a fun house mirror was art... in black and white, naturally.
Posted by: Vman | September 28, 2008 at 09:39 AM
blitz,
Ronny does not look nearly as good as he does in Purple and Gold.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 28, 2008 at 09:42 AM
BK,
Thanks for the feedback.
Hey, do you have any idea how Sun Yue's mononucleosis may effect Lakers management's choice to sign players during training camp?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 28, 2008 at 09:44 AM
To add to what BK said about PJ just enjoying a Vlad Rad tweak every now and then, I thought the comment might have been a joke referencing when Vlad got hurt during the '06-07 training camp, which put him behind the 8 ball to begin with. Maybe I'm wrong, but either way, I don't think it really matters.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | September 28, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Vman,
"Aunt Bea in a fun house mirror was art... in black and white, naturally. "
Thanks for a wonderful visual!
Posted by: exhelodrvr | September 28, 2008 at 10:49 AM
LakerBake,
No need to put pressure on Bynum. Let him grow into a more sophisticated offensive game. He will get plenty of easy opportunities because of how the defenses will need to react to Gasol and Bryant.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | September 28, 2008 at 10:52 AM
I agree with B.K. What Phil laid out is all within Andrews current capabilities. He really doesnt have to be super to win a ring, just solid. Just having him changes all of the matchups and he will get his points because there really anyone out their that can match up against our Bynum/Pau combo. Even Boston will have trouble. Perkins will have to play Andrew straight up without much help from KG. Last year KG doubled down on our center in both the regular season and the finals. He cant do that any more. Good times ahead.
MH
Posted by: michael h | September 28, 2008 at 11:02 AM
LakerBake,
>>>>>I have a concern about PJ saying that Andrew will anchor defense, set picks,
>>>>>get offensive rebounds as his first focal point.
>>>>>I agree with all 3 but I think Andrew has to be SUPER.
>>>>>This includes commanding a double team in the POST.
>>>>>The anchoring of the defense, the rebounding, and commanding a DOUBLE TEAM
>>>>>will make the LAKERS win the TITLE without question.
>>>>>What up LakerTom??
Couldn’t agree with you more, LB. It’s the key to great inside out basketball.
What up is the Era of the Beast.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | September 28, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Great article on Bynum on the front page of the LAtimes. He was supposed to back up Josh Boone and Hilton Armstrong? Couldn't lead his High School team past the first round of the state championship, and three years later is the star starting center of the Lakers. Goes to show how you can not predict things like player development in sports. Bynum is the anti-Kwame. Kwame had so much hype, people knew about him, and did terribly. No one knew about Bynum and when he got picked so high he had a lot of pressure but did not crack because of it. It only made him better.
Posted by: laker hopeful | September 28, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Otis
1) Having Charles Barkley and Kobe Bryant would be worst than the drama between Kobe and Shaq. Barkley feuded with Hakeem and Pippen in Houston over the number 1 slot. Barkley only succeeded on Phoenix being the number 1 guy. Put another superstar that is capable of being number 1like MJ, Shaq, Olajuwon, Kobe, Pippen, Ewing, and even legends like Wilt and Kareem, Barkley would clash over since he has a huge ego problem. (He still has it on TNT even if it is much better).
2) Lebron on the Lakers hmm that's a tough one. Better offense? Maybe. Better defense? Maybe not as Lebron hasn't recieved that much votes for the all defensive team.
3) "Two superstars, two" Can't get that in one or two big signings. Have to have one big one either developing from drafting (the best way) or do a sign and trade (that is rare, Pau Gasol trade was very very sneaky and lucky). And the answer is no we probably cannot get Lebron in 2010. He wants to be a billionaire and while he can get that in LA he prefers New York (his favorite city is Brooklyn) and to even be at that point the Lakers would have to let most of entire team go (Jordan Farmar, Pau Gasol (trade him for cap room and draft picks), Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum wouldn't be resigned since he wants a contract of 16 million per year and that would force to either give him or Kobe up, assuming you want Lebron and Kobe and Kobe stays around his current Salary of 20 Million (Lebron would want more if not equal) so that's another 20 million so that's 40 million and you still need about 10 more players and to get the really good role players have to spend at least 5 million. So either have to sign only 3 at mid level exception and really on rookie (rookie contracts are cheap, like 1 or 2 million) or sign people to minimum for only 1 or 2 years. As if the really good role players sign only for 1 or 2 million for that long (sarcasm). So no cannot get Lebron unless blowing up the entire team and lose for the next two years (as if LA wants to miss the playoffs).
Otis, we are fine, Bynum and Ariza will help us and we have all the things needed to make the title run. This offseason was quite since we have everything that we need and didn't require much except our players becoming healthy again to lead to the title. Basically calm down lol.
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | September 28, 2008 at 12:39 PM
I am welcoming myself back to the blog.
Go Lakers!
Good job AK/BK on the interview. I agree, however, that there was not much questions at Phil as how he will assess his coaching strategy. One thing is to say that if Odom doesn't work on the front line he'll put in Ariza, but how much of that is his fault? I have a feeling that Odom is really being used as a scapegoat, for better or worse.
I really like though that he's going to put Gasol back on the high post. That is where he is way more efficient. Gasol is not going to power his way to the basket, but he can use his feet to get momentum to get to the basket like he did against Garnett in that Game 2 dunk.
Posted by: The Lake Show | September 28, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Jon-
Regarding how Sun's absence could affect the roster, my guess is very little, other than perhaps if they do keep 15, they might be more inclined to keep a guard. But really, Sun was the 13-15th guy anyway, so it doesn't change much.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | September 28, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Jon K,
Could you do a Bio-Chrono on Brandon Heath?
If you can, thanks.
Posted by: XandO Pro | September 28, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Assuming the players stay healthy, I think this team could take a quantum leap forward because of one simple factor. No one is going to have to compensate for some element that's missing on the team, which has been the case in varying degrees ever since the Shaq trade. When players are allowed to fulfill roles, to be their own pieces and not have to play beyond themselves, that's when they're the most productive and efficient. This is the unsaid benefit of depth and players vying for PT. Specialists will be allowed to be specialists. No one has to play out of position or do something beyond their skillset.
Deficiencies may be exposed as the season gets underway, but I don't anticipate they'll be very big. This team, as constructed, is close if not complete. It's exciting. I agree with PJ that last year's run was ahead of schedule. Before the post-season, I said I hoped the team would gain some valuable playoff experience - and they did - more than expected. This year is the beginning. Now is the time.
Posted by: lakers_sth | September 28, 2008 at 02:43 PM
TIME TO GIVE CREDIT TO JIM BUSS…
Imagine that you Jim Buss and you have finally just started working for your father Jerry Buss learning the ropes in preparation of someday taking over the reins of the family owned Lakers. The team and its fans are in turmoil in the aftermath of the Shaquille O’Neal trade to Miami and the team missing the playoffs for the first time in years. The silver lining for the Lakers is the
#10 pick in the NBA draft, the Lakers reward for their dismal season and their first opportunity in many years to draft a top 10 player.
Andrew Bynum had wowed Laker execs at a private workout in Chicago but Phil Jackson wanted to draft a player who could help the team sooner than the 17-year old New Jersey high schooler, a proven player such as Sean May. Since the Lakers were not ready to commit to drafting him, Bynum worked out for Portland and was getting ready to work out for Golden State, two teams with higher draft picks than the Lakers #10. You love Bynum’s potential and have a vision that he could be the next great Lakers center. You can either back down to Mitch and Phil and the rest of the Lakers front office scouting team – or you can put your reputation and perhaps your future as the owner-manager of the Lakers on the line.
Thankfully for Lakers fans, Jim chose to put his name and reputation on the line, not only to commit to Drew that the Lakers would take him #10 so he would shut down his workouts, but also to refuse to include Bynum in any trade discussions with the exception of a deal for KG. Within the next 30 days, the Lakers are going to sign Drew to a 5-year contract extension for something close to $70-80M, guaranteeing that he will wear purple and gold the next 6 years. There will be the usual naysayers who claim that Drew is an injury risk or has not proven he is worth a max contract, but trust me, Jim Buss will not allow Andrew Bynum to become a free agent no matter what. The contract extension will be signed before the October 31 deadline.
We can talk all day about Kobe being a better leader, Pau fitting into the team perfectly, young players like Jordan and Sasha maturing, but bottom line, the emergence of Andrew Bynum as a dominating center was the catalyst without which the Lakers might have sunken. So let’s all give a well-deserved toast to Jim Buss, who just may be a chip off the old block, if you know what I mean. It may his name rather than Jerry’s that is associated with our next threepeat.
If you think about it, Jim is doing just exactly what his dad did over the years. Rather than micromanage and second guess everything like Marc Cuban, Jerry Buss stayed involved but generally trusted his basketball people to call the shots and make the decisions, except for those rare franchise-defining moments. For the Lakers, that moment came when they had to decide whether to draft Andrew Bynum or Sean May. Like his father, Jim looks to be a chip off the old block insofar as making the right BIG decision – like drafting and keeping Andrew Bynum.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | September 28, 2008 at 02:51 PM
BK,
Thanks.
XandO Pro,
I'll do it today.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 28, 2008 at 03:11 PM
XandO Pro,
I did a quick Bio-Chrono reading for Brandon Heath.
It's pretty good from a competitor's and teammate point of view.
Physically - He's mentally based, which means he's heavily focused on the dialectic between confidence versus fear/insecurity.
Emotionally - He's physically based, which means he's heavily focused on the dialectic between enthusiasm and emptiness.
Mentally - He's creatively based, which means he's heavily focused on the dialectic between social/creative union and conflict of ideals.
Creatively - He's creatively based, which means he's heavily focused on the dialectic between love and hate.
I'll go into greater detail about this later on tonight, but it's a good reading. Oddly enough, there are some major similarities between his reading and that of Kwame Brown's, except that Brandon Heath has a physical predisposition that is likely to make him a far more competitive personality than Kwame Brown.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 28, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Gasol will be playing a lot of backup C when it is time to win games. Mihm and Mbenga, as much as I like both of them and glad the Lakers resigned DJ, will only be playing when the Lakers are blowing out the competition.
My greatest worry is still the bench.
Last year, the bench mob did really well when Bynum was playing center but of course it was time for him to move up to starting C.
This year, we will have the best starting lineup in the game, whether it is LO or TA in the small foward position.
With Pau playing backup C and PJ trying to manage his minutes because of his summer Olympic playing time, the question will be who will the backup PF minutes go to?
It is going to be between Vlad Radman and LO.
LO will be getting a lot of backup PF minutes if Vlad isn't on his game.
Which is fine because Ariza and Luke can still cover the SF position where we are the deepest in the NBA.
So the key players next year are: Kobe, Bynum, Gasol, LO, Fisher, Farmar, Sasha, Ariza, Vlad and maybe Luke (if he can recover from his injury and it is possible that he won't). That's really our 10 man lineup for the playoffs.
Last year, PJ liked playing the bench as a 5 man unit but that probably won;t be possible this year, as Gasol will be switching between starting PF and bench C; and LO will be switching as starting SF and bench PF.
Gasol is smart enough to handle the extra complexity but I wonder if LO has enough brains to do it. LO can be a bit slow mentally.
Posted by: LakerinBC | September 28, 2008 at 03:39 PM
LakerinBC,
Odom will get minutes at PF no doubt and so could Radman. I don't see no reason for Powell to get minutes either if he really has a good preseason. Plus he got two 20 point 10 rebound games which could only help him get PT with the Lakers.
-blitz
Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | September 28, 2008 at 04:35 PM
laker hopeful sez:
"Kwame had so much hype, people knew about him, and did terribly. No one knew about Bynum and when he got picked so high he had a lot of pressure but did not crack because of it. It only made him better."
I'm not sure I'd get too sentimental just yet. bynumb needs to actually play, now. Not just dunk in practice in front of approving friends and kareem.
Posted by: BUTLER | September 28, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Tom - I'm happy that Jim Buss advocated so strongly for Andrew at draft time. I'm not so sure that I'd call him a chip off the old block, at least not in a broader business sense (he certainly has the party part down pat). Jim has too often seemed prone to creating divisions and when Phil mentioned not being so sure of "the people around" Andrew, I wondered if Jim Buss might be one of those.
Posted by: dave m | September 28, 2008 at 05:28 PM
BUTTLER
"I'm not sure I'd get too sentimental just yet. bynumb needs to actually play, now. Not just dunk in practice in front of approving friends and kareem."
How about all those times he dunked on Amare last season? In front of a National TV audience?
I can't wait for the season to start.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | September 28, 2008 at 06:56 PM
XandO Pro,
Okay. Here's the thing about Brandon Heath...
Physically he is mentally based. This is good because people who are mentally or creatively based are more competitive than otherwise people. They obtain their physical strength through being "better" (more competitive) than other people.
Emotionally he is physically based. This is problematic because it is difficult to really get deep with these people. They are all about amount more than quality, emotionally speaking. These people love emotion. Emotion. Not what kind of emotion. Just emotion. I feel sympathy for these people because when they hurt, they just feel dead inside and its very hard for them and very hard for other people to relate to. Still, for them to be stimulated they need enthusiasm and energy in terms of communcation.
Mentally he is creatively based. This means he is a good team player. It also means that it is essential that he be essential. The more important his role; the better he will do. He will be mentally/socially stimulated by having the ability to create opportunities for other people (teammates) and to in some way be able to dictate the flow of the game. He thinks at least two steps ahead of the moment and is very intuitive.
Creatively Brandon is creatively based. This means a lot of things. First of all, Brandon's creative life is the CORNERSTONE of his life and his success (and success can be measured in a lot of ways.) Ultimately (no religious bias here) Brandon needs to get himself right with God. Why? Because everything in Brandon's life comes down to his creative level (which is also his spiritual level). His mental level is creative... which brings him back to his creative level. His physical level is mental... which is creative... which brings him back to his creative level. His emotional life is physical... which brings him to his mental level which is creative... which brings him to his creative level.
So since creativity and spirituality are interconnected (on a variety of levels) Brandon really needs to explore his spiritual life to be his best. It all comes down to that.
If Brandon is able to get his spiritual life together, be creative, be able to feel that he is an essential component of a team, lead the creative development of that team (on some level), be surrounded by people who are enthusiastic/emotionally expressive, AND have a forum through which he can explore his inherent competitive nature... he should do EXTREMELY well.
Indeed.
If he's doesn't become a Laker, in the right environment he will do very well.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 28, 2008 at 08:01 PM
Hers is my take on the starting five.
Bynum, Gasol and Kobe are locked in for C, PF and SG. The starting SF should be based on who gets to start at PG? But first, I do not think Lamar Odom should even be considered starting at SF, ODOM should be the 6th man at PF position replacing either Bynum or Gasol.
It leaves us with Radman or Trevor? The strengths and weaknesses of these two are very much the opposite of each other. So, why don't we answer the question first as to who start at PG, Fisher or Farmar? I believe that Farmar needs an athletic running wingman with him to be successful in his running game, Trevor Ariza is he's guy. In the same way if Farmar comes off the bench, Ariza should too.
While if Fisher continues to start at PG, Vlade Radmanovic is the perfect compliment to Fisher's run the offense aka Jackson's triangle offense.
So my personal choice is for Farmar and Ariza to join the 3 regular starters. (Bynum, Pau and Kobe) I also think this is our best offense/defense team of five.
And let Fisher, Sasha, Vlad, Odom come off the bench playing atleast wth either Bynum or Gasol at Center. This is almost the starting five of last year, how great could that be?
The only change I will make in closure is maybe inserting Sasha for Trevor or Farmar if the games are close enough that Sasha's shooting could be very important.
Posted by: Staples 24 | September 28, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Mihm 10 th man, Walton 11 th man, Sun 12th man, Mbenga 13th man, Powell 14th man.
Posted by: Staples 24 | September 28, 2008 at 10:05 PM
Fine poetry there; Like a haka. Like the rabid stomping of ancient feet in the Colosseum in
Rome calling the warriors to their doom or glory, so your poetry of the coming season calls
all fans back from their farms and factories and decries and that all now stand as one, and
rise together in this hour to answer the cry glory and the call of fame!
Wow! Wes Posted by: wesjoenixon | September 26, 2008 at 12:31 PM
I'm sorry Wes but I'm gonna have to steal those lines for later on in the season when we
need them. I see you haven't got out of shape during the layoff. LOL!
Posted by: Mamba24 | September 29, 2008 at 05:15 AM
And the people cried, Save us from these degenerate Celtic scum who know not how to
reign. And the gods felt pity and some a bugle sounded and the Zen master returned from his
summer retreat back to lead the forces of good(The Freakin LA Lakers) against the Dark Side
(TheCeltics & the rest of the no class NBA scum). The Dark side began to tremble as they realized
their reign upon the land was coming to an end. They realized a 4th Laker Dynasty was upon them
and they feared that this one would be endless, as the Dynasty of Mamba would last for 4 more years
and then the Dynasty of The Beast – like a seamless thread - would continue for 10 more. They tried all
manner of evil tricks to sabotage the start of the Dynasty…TO BE CONTINUED.
WILL YOU BE THERE? THE NBA WHERE LAKER DYNASTY's 4, 5, 6 ..........HAPPENS
Posted by: MAMBA24 | September 29, 2008 at 06:30 AM
Good Morning Guys,
It has been about a week and a half and I have missed quite a bit. Anyways, Happy Media day and looking forward to posting this week!
Posted by: Charles | September 29, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Media Day post?
KBros?
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | September 29, 2008 at 08:42 AM
TRAINING CAMP!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 29, 2008 at 08:54 AM
Pig,
There will be definitely be reports from Media Day.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | September 29, 2008 at 09:02 AM
Mamba,
>>>>>Dark side began to tremble as they realized their reign upon the land was coming >>>>>to an end. They realized a 4th Laker Dynasty was upon them and they feared that
>>>>>this one would be endless, as the Dynasty of Mamba would last for 4 more years
>>>>>and then the Dynasty of The Beast – like a seamless thread -
>>>>>would continue for 10 more.
Dynasties upon dynasties! I love it, Larry.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | September 29, 2008 at 09:07 AM
It has been about a week and a half and I have missed quite a bit. Anyways,
Happy Media day and looking forward to posting this week! Posted by:
Charles | September 29, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Charles back posting and Media day too! My goodness my cup runneth over!
Posted by: MAMBA24 | September 29, 2008 at 09:20 AM
Thanks, Andrew.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | September 29, 2008 at 09:27 AM