Mo LO

Lam-Od sometimes appears brilliant, a unique playa who has ball handling skills in a big frame.

His physical gifts have never been in question. It's his mind and heart that often fail him, and those things cannot be fixed simply by his coach's deft use of the media.

Trouble is, the lakers had some success last season with Lam-Od alongside gasal. So by trying to insert bynum now, even Lam-Od's contribution to the team cannot be counted upon to duplicate what we saw last season.

Keep Lam-Od, and the rest of the NBA will be happy.

For anyone who saw Robin Lopez last night, you finally have some evidence for what I've been saying all summer: Lopez will have an impact this season, and gives the SUNS a 2nd 7-foot option behind SHACK. Lopez can both guard the rim and get some easy put-backs, not to mention improve the overall toughness of the team.

Delayed response to Hubo Blitz as my computer was down a week+

Yawn!! PJ still sucks and Kobe improved inspite of PJ"
Yup PJ is so much better! just as much Byron Scott (2 years missing the playoffs and letting Sacramento in 2005-2006 snatch the 8th seed slot) and Coach K (could only win BRONZE in 2006 World Championship despite having Lebron Wade Carmelo and even Elton Brand!).
[ I see you grasp little knowledge of basketball and try to make up for it by long rambling post stating falsehoods and calling them facts. If you knew about BB you would know that coach K had these players when they were thrown together and expected to gel. He had a roster of great players with no team concept. When the 3 yr commitment was made by players they played as a team and coach K using many of the previous players and adding Kobe won the Gold Medal. How many Gold Medals has PJ coached? I know you will probably come back with how many championships have coach K won? Well not the same. College coach cannot win championship in NBA but NBA coach can win in Olympics.

"The Lakers success deals with the players success rather than coaching success."]
Yawn boring. Too easy to sink but heck I like sinking arguments hehe. That would mean Pat Riley is also overrated (having Magic Man and The Cap) and would also mean Byron Scott is overrated (only had success with Jason Kidd and Chris Paul) if going by that argument. So there goes your precious coaches. And here's another torpedo (swisshh). If Laker success deals with players success then why did we miss the playoffs in 2004-2005?? (Hint: Phil Jackson wasn't coaching!). And if that is the case then the opposite would be true in that Laker failures should also be blamed more on the players instead of just the coach. So if you want to say that premise, then Kobe is more responsible for the 06 playoffs and 07 playoff defeats and the lost in the 08 Finals more than Phil being outcoached. LOL! Breaking down poorly fixed arguments is so fun fun fun!
[Are you that immature or do you practice at it? Pat Riley was blessed with great players and was an innovative coach. He actually did coach and not sit on his arse and do nothing like PJ. Pat Riley introduced the use of video tape replay to show players where they should be and other coaching details like shot mechanics etc. and not just draw X’s and O’s on a clipboard. This is now used by ALL teams. PJ introduced Zen and only 1 team uses it. You give way to much credit to PJ when the players win. Please stay in the bathtub when playing with your toy submarine shooting torpedoes. I think your last torpedo went astray and hit you in the arse. You have not broken anything down except for your nervous system.]

"Yup he sucked and got outcoached by Dcryatoni and Doc Rivers and did not make the playoffs one year."
Using that argument again Byron Scott got schooled by PJ not only with CP3 but also in the Finals when Byron had Jason Kidd. And nope you are sooooo misinformed. Not one year has Phil ever missed the playoffs during his coaching career, NOT ONE YEAR :D. And since you place defeats in equal to being schooled here's something: PJ outcoached George Karl, Jerry Sloan, Gregg Poppovich this year. (Owned Pop years back as well) and outcoached MANY other coaches. Byron Scott missed the playoffs 4 times in his career and lost against Gregg Poppovich on in turn got outcoached by yours truly Phil Jackson :). (Hint try harder).
"Without MJ, Pip, Shaq and Kobe he has zero, zip, nada championships."
Without Tim Duncan no rings for Popp. PJ schooled Riley during Benedict Riley's tenure with New York. Riley only won in LA (thanks to Magic and Kareem) and had a hall of famer and a good guard in Wade to win his other title in Miami. Take away Magic, Kareem, Shaq and Wade and Riley has ZERO championships. Take away Duncan and Pop will have ZERO championships. Take away Jason Kidd and CP3 and the "Will be in the Hall of Fame" Byron Scott is a laughable coach who can't even make the playoffs. So another argument thrown into quick sand, using your logic of course.
[Hint PJ wasn’t coaching cuz he got his arse fired. We in LA hire coaches to win championships and not just make playoffs. PJ has been a big loser in that department in recent history. Maybe you expect less in Colorado. So then you made my point for me. Yes without those players those other coaches probably don’t win championships either. But at least they coached. And Byron Scott made the playoffs with lesser talent and not as deep teams, something PJ cannot do. That is by your lost logic. ]

"Quit trying to put words in my mouth. I detest it when clueless bloggers try to make a point while creating falsehoods or misrepresentations of what other bloggers say or think. I remember you admitted to doing this when you said it was a trick you learned debatting Humanoly.
I gave credit for PJs career for having the fortune of coaching the right teams with the best players other wise he would never have won 9 rings.
Since you are trying to link me to PJ and Kobe with not giving PJ credit go to the horses mouth. Run to Mitch and demand they TRADE Kobe because he is uncoachable. A direct admission he can't and has not coached Kobe to succeed. Got it?
So stick to debatting points on what is said not what you perceive or it could get nasty. I take huge offense for anyone putting words into my mouth."
Wow Calm down, I thought my annoyance at Butler last night was bad you take the cake (sorry about last night btw Butler as much as I dont' want to apologize). Well here's one if you want to stick to debate points: I'm not Hugo Boss nor am I from Colorado nor did I put that trick about putting words in your mouth (show the exact quote please) and it was Hobbitmage not humanomoly that I debated. So that's already 4 incorrect facts you have there fella.
[ I don’t have to calm down as I am calm. I am stating adamantly for you to stop trying to put words in my mouth or it will get ugly. I am not yelling, cursing, name calling but just stating a fact. It was a reply in an email to me you stated that. I found it so do your own homework. Hint try Google. Also a true Laker fan never apologizes to a Troll. How laughable sorry Butler, hahahaha. So pathetic an action ]

Also "would probably make this excuse" does not equal "this is what JLF said" (try look at the difference please?) . And trying to use the "uncoachable" premise? Well look at the performance of Kobe without Phil Jackson in his one year without Phil (2004-2005). Already posted the stats so I won't bother but not only did Kobe have a his highest turnover year and his worst shooting year since his 2nd season in the NBA but also missed the playoffs and got only 3rd All NBA Team despite being the most "complete" player in the NBA. Next year Phil comes back and boom All NBA First Team and First All Defensive Team for KB. Cool huh?
[ Is that because Kobe did this by himself as he has before? Like the time he took a clipboard from Cleamons and drew up a play in PJ’s face (coached) that is what Lakers did. Remember PJ lost in the faceoff in front office to get Kobe traded. He won’t make that mistake again. He goes to FO and demands him or Kobe goes, guess who goes? Hint it ain’t Kobe. Kobe is his own motivator and works hard to improve and does not need PJ to motivate him. Give Kobe the credit not PJ. Very cool indeed.]
So no I don't get your arguments about Phil Jackson unless simply you just hate the man in general in that case I say that's your personal preference and well I can't object to that.
So please don't use arguments like "Phil got outcoached by D'Antoni" or similar crappy premise, I can easily blow them up like I just did now. And for dessert that Mbenga thing which you are so high on. That quote you quoted on me earlier was not from ME but from BUTLER so another WRONG fact you "try" on me. And speaking of Mbenga, I can't honestly say the Lakers would have done better or worst with more playing time for Mbenga (heck things can happen) in the finals. But heck here's a question who is better as a center Ronny Turiaf or Mbenga? If it was Ronny then you have your answer as to why Mbenga never played in the finals. If it's Mbenga then why did he foul out in less than 3 quarters against the Grizzlies (Ronny never fouled out in that game). The Grizzlies shouldn't be mistaken for a "good" team and yet Mbenga fouled in in 3 QUARTERS. I remember that you tried to justify this by saying "Chris Mihm also fouls alot" (yes I remember). Well Chris Mihm never fouled out in 3 quarters huh? Mbenga would have gotten owned by the Celtics. Say all you want that we would have done better with Mbenga, the fact is we would have LOST still. No but or ifs or that, A lost game is a lost game no matter how we want to sugar it up. Even putting in Newble or Mbenga the Lakers would have most likely still lost and losing is still losing!
I should end it here hehe. Good day.
-blitz

[You need to put your feet on the ground with your statements. I have stated many times why I dislike PJ ‘s methods and stated I like him as a person but not as coach. You are right you can’t object to that. However my take on the Celtics series is that Mbenga could have helped by throwing Greenie Weenies a curve. Things like that work. Just look at PP’s fake injury while the Lakers were in the game, and then that distraction changed the game and it’s outcome. As I stated we know for a FACT we know the Lakers lost NOT using Mbenga. For a FACT you or anyone else cannot say we would not have won. You can opine as such but the truth is we will never know. My opinion is that we would have won and would have likely won.
Yes you should end it there as your arguments were just rendered useless.]

Posted by: thekobebryantblitz | September 25, 2008 at 07:31 PM
JLF

what the lakers SHOULD do to make all their pieces fit . . .

Place Sasha at the starting 3 spot, to space out the offense and have fish run the point in the triangle . . .

3 post threats (kobe, pau, bynum)
3 outside threats ( kobe, sasha, fish)
3 ball handlers (kobe, fish, sasha)

---- this works . . . and would result in perfect balance of the triangle . . . -----

We put Lamar, Ariza, Farmar and whoever else as a running unit . . . .

this takes advantage of their run and gun mentality. . . . would provide decent defense with ariza to hold down the perimeter and anyone else from our stable of bigs to hold down the middle, but more importantly it allows us to use the open court skills that are neglected when in the triangle offense

Jon K,

"How many years do you think it will be before the Kings are back in the playoffs because they're certainly not making it this year?"

The Sacramento Kings of Basketball will be in the playoffs next year, although I will not at all be shocked if they sneak in this year. We've got some great young talent. What we need is experience and the chemistry that develops with it. You never know. It's why they play the games.

Note to fantasy league'rs: Put Bobby Brown in your stable. He reminds me of Chris Paul with a purer shot.

Go Niners!
Go Dodgers!
And yes, Go Kings!!!

Sonnybelfast

anyone have a link for the game????

Any links to tonight's game?

Here's a link that I found.

http://ziucchiradio.altervista.org/watch.php?id=351

Try this one

http://ziucchiradio.altervista.org/watch.php?id=351

Game Day!!!

Enjoying it ... thanks Xodus

Xodus,

You're an angel. Many, many thanks for the link.

I've got to get this whole Charging v. Blocking thing cleared up. Anyone please tell me the rule. I always thought that if the defender was moving it's considered a block, and if he's stationary it's a charge. Did the rule change?

josh powell!! sweet jump shot

Josh Powell looks taller than 6' 9".

Interesting combinations of players on the floor.

GO LAKERS!

Xodus,

Thanks for the link.

GO LAKERS!

I like Lamar's aggressiveness in this game. He should really continue this type of effort.

Jon K,

No problem.

One guy we can let go it's Coby Karl... He is supose to be a shooter..

There we won a preseason games anyone (besides Butler don't get me wrong man, I'm used to what kind of things you'll say lol). wants to say now we will not even make the playoffs??

The Lakers have now a week off before facing off against FC Barcelona. Kinda cool since that was the team Pau Gasol was on before he got drafted by the Atlanta Hawks.

Positives:
2nd Half starting lineup, that lineup was nice and so was the starting lineup, having Radmanovic may solve the problem of Gasol-Bynum clogging the lanes.

Only 7 3 point attempts by the Lakers who are most likely to be on the team. That is good, less 3 pointers (that doesn't mean the team shouldn't make any attempts at 3 pointers) will usually (not always) translate into higher FG% from mid range and close to the basket.

Rebounding: All big guys (Bynum, Gasol, Odom) rebounded well especially for not usual minutes. That's exactly what they need to be getting. Consider Radman's rebounding to be an addition, he's not usually a rebounder. Sorry Mihm nor Mbenga doesn't count since neither of them should play more than limited minutes in regular season.

Defense and hustle: Limited the Kings to 37.2% shooting and stole the ball 13 times.

Andrew Bynum: More aggressive and had a reasonably good night.

Bad:

Turnovers. From the people who are most likely to be on the team (Bryant, Bynum, Gasol, Fisher, Odom, Ariza, Farmar, Mihm, and Powell) (Vujacic and Walton and probably Sun will be on the roster but wasn't dressed) (Mbenga, Karl, Crawford don't count since they may or may not make the roster) made 20 out of the 22 turnovers. That is way too many, granted it is Pre-Season and hence DOESN"T COUNT it's still too many and must clean up.

Hope that alleviates some people who says "We won't make the playoffs this year". No Butler lol I told you don't count, sorry man but you are a Suns guy so you don't count, hate to but heck if you want me to even consider NBA League pass you have to behave hehe and find a way to get me a house in Manhatten Beach. Westwood is nice but heck the beach is better!

Nice to see the guys from training camp to hold the lead. Just got a little nervous when they started to fire shots too early. Oh well.

BTW Coby Karl is a shooter, just didn't like some of his attempts. He's better either spot up or going from a pick or faking the shot and moving to fire a shot kinda like Sasha.

Lakers_sth I concur, Drew is nice in the post but teams will pick and roll with him too much (they got scouts in these games). Guys who can shoot from the perimeter like Miller and Okur might give Drew problems. I guess that's why Phil put Odom on Okur and Gasol on Boozer during last year's playoffs (heck it worked since Gasol gave Boozer a hard time especially, forcing Deron Williams to be the main threat at scoring).

"I've got to get this whole Charging v. Blocking thing cleared up. Anyone please tell me the rule. I always thought that if the defender was moving it's considered a block, and if he's stationary it's a charge. Did the rule change?"

Pig here's what the rules are on charges:

1) was still, or moving sideways or backwards but not forwards, when contact occurred
2)took a legal guarding position before the contact, that is, one with both feet on the floor
3)was hit on the torso (as opposed to the arm or leg)
4) respected the elements of time and distance

If it was about the foul on Trevor, then its clear. Trevor pushed his man using his body and initiated contact on the other guy's body while the King's player was moving backward. That's why Trevor got the foul if you are talking about the offensive foul on Ariza lol.

Prepare for a small break till FC Barcelona!

-blitz

Nemaia,

"I wish the Lakers could also keep Giles but I doubt they will."

No way they will keep them without me around!

C.J. blew it bigtime!!!

I love Fish but I have two requests from him.

1. That he stops shooting 3's in transition.

2. That he never attempts to drive to the basket in the halfcourt.

Hey Laker Fam -

Well, better game last night. Not so ugly as last time. I liked the activity level of Ariza and some of the other gang. Drew looks lost on the floor when Pau is out there. I noticed Pau was getting lots of touches and Drew not so much. I was happy when Drew was in with Fish later and they started working off each other. Drew doesn't seem to be the monster that he was last year in the paint. He did have a beautiful block which was more like he was last season. Hopefully he bounces back and gets it going. It is, after all, preseason.

GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, nice article today about Lamar Odom. Sounds like Lamar Odom is relaxing into the notion of playing sixth man. Good and good for the team.

Lamar Odom = Sixth Man of the Year and Laker for Life.

GO LAKERS!

Good morning Mamba24, Charles, Jon K, Pig, Toad & the rest of this fabulous Laker morning CRUE!!!!!!!!!!

Well FINALLY - a preseason win. Maybe now everyone can take a deeeeeep breath and realize the sky is NOT falling! LOL!

I saw quite a few positives in last night's game.
Drew's working out the rust a bit more - nice couple of blocks!
Fish doesn't look like he's lost a step since last season - hopefully his dedication to his training keeps him spry for the entire year. We'll need him come playoff time.
Josh Powell looks like he might be the next Laker - he's been pretty consistent.
Pau looks smooth - I hope that face-up jumper continues to fall all year.
TREVOR - man - what can you say. I'm really glad he's healthy. He is going to cause some serious problems for the opposition. I just love his ability to anticipate on defense.
Lamar - my boy LO - I love this guy. He showed last night that he can do what it takes to make this team successful. He wants to win so he'll suck it up & contribute like only he can. Lamar MUST be a Laker for life.

This week of practice should make a huge difference to how they come out next game. It seemed like they were a little less lost & a lot more excited and focused. This week should be interesting - can't wait to see Saturday's game!

GO LAKERS!!! (and GO DODGERS!!)

Hey guys,

How was the game last night? Didn't watch it because I was at the Dodger game. Sounds like Lamar did some good things? He came of the bench? That's good news. Like I said before, I don't care where LO plays as long as he's productive.
---------------------
Jon K-

I asked you in the other thread but haven't checked to see if you replied. Anyways, I know you've told me to go to Scotland Yard and I still haven't but have you been to Cavaretta's right next store? Amazing Italian subs.
--------------------
Charles, pslakerfan, and others-

How was the get together? Sorry I couldn't make it but I definitely want to meet all you in the near future.

Lamar = Laker for Life

GO LAKERS

D@MN. D@MN, D@MN! VON WAFER ON
THE CLIPPERS! ABANDON SHIP LAKE SHOW
THE WRATH OF VON WAFER IS BAOUT TO BE UPON YOU.