Know thy enemy: Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns (55-27, 6th Western conference, 2nd Pacific)
Key additions: Matt Barnes, Goran Gragic, Robin Lopez
Key losses: Gordan Giricek ... um, Eric Piatkowski count?
Like blues icon Robert Johnson, Bone Thugs N Harmony, and thespian Britney Spears, the Phoenix Suns are all about the crossroads this season. New Coach Terry Porter is installing a more traditional system and abandoning the franchise-reinvigorating "seven seconds or less" style of Mike D'Antoni (now in New York, where he truly may learn the meaning of "fun" -- as in "no" -- and "gun" -- as in "one will be jammed in his mouth by March"). Gone are the days of small ball, three balls bombed 24/7 and Shawn Marion resenting Amare Stoudemire. Now it's about establishing a defensive identity, making the most out of a roster with a sizable mix of unproven youngsters and injury-prone vets (the elephant in the room -- literally and metaphorically -- among the latter contingent being Shaquille O'Neal, acquired last season in a blockbuster deal that paid few dividends) and taking one last shot at the brass ring before the whole thing likely needs to get blown up.
As anyone who remembers my incredulously confused reaction will attest, I thought the deal for Shaq was not only illogical on a head-spinning level (he's gonna improve the defense how, exactly?), but one that would leave Phoenix in considerably worse shape both during last season's playoffs (check) and this coming season (jury is out). "Phoenix Stan," blogger in chief of the excellent Bright Side of the Sun also didn't dig the Suns switching to diesel fuel, but he has considerably more confidence in his team than yours truly. For some local perspective, check out his thoughts on a few questions.
From minute one, I thought the Shaq trade was a mistake that smacked of panicked desperation. Clearly, it didn't pay immediate dividends, as he didn't elevate the team's play and they were eliminated more quickly by the Spurs during the playoffs than in 2007. Steve Kerr has maintained that meshing Shaq into the mix isn't easy and would bear more fruit with time passed. I think time passed only leads to it getting worse, similar to Shaq's durability and play. What are your thoughts?
- Phoenix Stan: Bright Side of the Sun - From the first text alert I received while in line picking up Chinese food, I thought it was the worst idea ever. Sometimes first impressions are right. Shaq is a clear liability on defense and while he did manage to increase team rebounding markedly last season that could have been done in other ways. Less costly, disruptive and less embarrassing ways. What has changed since February 7th (a.k.a, Black Wednesday) is who I blame. The trade for Shaq happened because D'Antoni was too stubborn. He had finally realized that trying to compete with Amare at the five wasn't working. He needed to improve the inside presence and was willing to slow the team speed to do it. What he wasn't willing to do was sacrifice his ideology of the score.
D'Antoni (still) believes that the way to win a basketball game is by scoring more points than the opponent. That sounds sweet and all, but like freedom and democracy in the Middle East, it ignores certain aspects of conventional wisdom that are also sometimes known as reality. D'Antoni was unwilling to play a lesser skilled big man who he considered an offensive liability. His system requires not so much blazing speed but unstoppable firepower. He would not tolerate playing anyone who wasn't a legit threat. Even Kurt Thomas, who can shoot the ball, had a career low in minutes per game under the D'Antoni regime. He didn't demand the double in the post, and he couldn't shoot the 3. He was an offensive liability and didn't play. Instead of finding away to get a lower-priced (younger and less crazy) big man to play defense and rebound he forced the team's hand into gambling on the legend that once was MVP Shaq. Kerr and Sarver bought off on it, but it was D'Antoni's stubbornness that made it happen.
How big of an impact will Terry Porter make as the new coach? He's preached defense and the preseason has actually seen Phoenix surrendering fewer points. But there's also a reason it's called "the preseason," because games don't matter. Do you think this team is capable of changing their "no D" image over the course of an entire season (or in the case of certain players -- Shaq, Amare)? And with that mission in mind, how much will Shawn Marion be missed? Could a guy like Matt Barnes help?
- I don't understand when ESPN's Chad Ford and others say the Suns don't have the players to be a good defensive team. Look at the Spurs. Is Parker or Finely or Ginobili any more defensively gifted then Nash, Diaw or Amare? Defense is about coaching emphasis, accountability and a consistent system. I see absolutely no reason that the Suns can't adjust to that. This is not a team of Cory Maggette's and Eddie Curry's. These guys want to win and even Shaq knows that they have to improve on the defensive end.
Amare is the most misunderstood player of all when it comes to defense. This is a guy who was undersized for his position for four years and simply did not get the kind of coaching he needed. I wrote an entire piece on this recently. Amare at the four will be great. He will benefit from consistent coaching and a reliable and steady system playing against guys his size. He won't have to try and adjust on the fly every night or be asked box out the likes of Andrew Bogut or Brandon Haywood. He also won't get away with giving a half-assed effort on that end of the floor either.
Sure Marion will be missed. You don't replace a guy like that. But again, under the old system he was told to go out and singlehandedly be the defensive stopper. It was team offense and isolation defense. It didn't work. With Barnes now being named as a starter, the Suns will have their two best individual defenders at the 2 and 3 matching up against most team's top scorers. Amare will be able to roam and get weak side blocks and Lopez will guard the rim. Nash and Shaq are still sub-par, but no team has five great defenders on the floor at once. If the rotations are established and consistently coached the Suns will be a good defensive team. Key word is team.
On the flip side, with "7 Seconds or Less" now a thing of the past, what should we expect from the Phoenix offense?
- Think Detroit Basketball with better low post scoring. The Suns will work the clock only running off defensive stops and the offense will have far more isolation for Amare (the most efficient threat in the game) and will otherwise feature off-the-ball motion and cuts. The ball handler will be still while his teammates cut, screen and create mismatches and the occasional open look. On the perimeter, the Suns have several guys who can hit cutters. Hill, Barnes, Bell, Tucker along with Nash and Dragic of course. What you won't see is near the number of pick and rolls or Nash driving baseline creating for his teammates. And of course you won't see a Phoenix basketball team play rope-a-dope by allowing the other team to score quickly just so they could run the ball up the floor even faster. It was a fun gimmick but sometimes there's a reason things are the way they are.
In my opinion, Mike D'Antoni's biggest weakness as a coach wasn't his run n' gun style or defensive outlook (if you consider opposing FG%, an argument could be made that Phoenix was underrated), but his insistence on a very short rotation. It kept Phoenix from developing young players (not that they had many, since they kept trading draft picks) and wore down his core guys. Will Porter do a better job and who do you see contributing with a longer bench?
- The short bench was definitely part of D'Antoni's downfall, but I still think that stemmed from his instance on only playing guys that could score. He just wouldn't tolerate not having five threats on the floor at all times. That's too much to ask of any 9- or 10-man rotation. Porter and Kerr understand that you have to balance offense and defense and that you need to be able to win some games by holding the other team to 17 points in a quarter.
One of the Suns strengths this year is the bench. Porter said he will go at least nine deep and easily has the horses to go 10 or even 11. It's hard to play 10 guys in a game, but there are some solid options. In fact if everyone is healthy, it will be a tough job to manage the minutes. Behind the starting five (Nash, Bell, Amare, Shaq and Barnes) you have three immediate guys that are all legit NBA starters (Hill, Barbosa and Diaw) and then you have the two rookies (Dragic and Lopez) who are going to be needed to back up Nash and Shaq. Don't be surprised either if you see a line-up with no true point guard. Something like Hill, Diaw, Amare, Barbosa and Shaq (or Lopez). Porter has already said that Barnes might run the point at times as well. There's a lot of flexibility there especially to go big.
Then going even deeper, you have Alando Tucker, who I think will surprise some people this year. He's as good as any two guard in the paint, and his shooting off screens is impressive. He defends and handles the ball for his size, and his decision making and maturity are clearly evident. He plays like a vet. I hope he gets a solid chance this year to show what he can do, but it will likely only come if someone goes down. That just leaves Amundson and Singletary riding the pine. Both are decent bench guys that bring energy and hustle. This is the deepest Suns team in a long time and easily as deep as any other team in the West.
Amare, Barbosa and Diaw -- who has never played well for anybody but D'Antoni - may still be on the good side of 30, but Phoenix's other mainstay players (Nash, Shaq, Grant Hill, Raja Bell) have crossed that line and have injury issues. How concerned are you about them remaining healthy and bench players being able to step up in their absence, should they get hurt?
- You can't worry too much about injuries. If Kobe, Duncan or Paul go down, their teams will suffer too. There's certain guys you just can't replace. For the Suns, that's Amare and Nash. Nash is certainly getting older, but he's in great shape and with reduced minutes and a reduced burden to create every shot he should be fine. Amare is a beast and is no more or less prone to injury then any other player. His knees are great, and he's well rested for this season. Now with his safety glasses he's cleared to fire. The biggest concern is Shaq. It is highly unlikely he will play more than 60 games and that leaves the Suns having to start Robin Lopez. Lopez is impressive, but he's a rookie and will struggle. Even more troublesome is that when Shaq goes down, there isn't a third-string center. Either Amare or Diaw will have to move over or the 6'9" Amundson will be called on to fill in as the backup. I have been pushing all summer for the Suns to either trade Barbosa for a very solid backup center or at least sign a guy like Steven Hill instead of third- string point guard Sean Singletary. The Suns biggest weakness is at center. I do not want to see Amare and Diaw on the floor together playing the four and five, but my guess is we will.
As you've likely guessed from my questions, I have my doubts about the Suns and see them as a slipping "power." How do you envision their season shaking out?
- Most Suns fans are looking forward to the freedom of being underdogs. After years of sky-high expectations, it's actually a bit of a relief. I think the team will start slow and get a bit behind in the standings. From there, it's hard to see how they make up enough ground to pass L.A., Utah, New Orleans, San Antonio or Houston. The leaves the Suns fighting with Dallas, Denver and Portland for the 6 or 7 seed. On the other hand, there's something about this team that has me excited. It wouldn't take much more than a few injuries and some solid play to pass either San Antonio or Houston and end up in the fourth or fifth spot. This team has too much talent to miss the playoffs and not enough to reach the top again. At least not in the West.
I am not going to make a prediction for what happens come April, but I certainly won't be shocked if the team gels late and can go as deep as the conference finals. I look at this collection of talent and mix of youth and experience, and you put that together with a solid coaching job by Porter and you just never know. But that's fine, I am good with everyone counting us out. We certainly didn't live up to front-runner status, so maybe we will surprise some people as underdogs.
Good stuff. I'm not signing off on everything Phoenix Stan says. For example, I don't think Amare's problems playing D had as much to do with the players he was guarding as a lack of interest in guarding anyone. But he lays out some well-constructed opinions. Unfortunately for him (and Suns fans in general), they strike me as very "best-case scenario" dependent. Between the age/health/"fuel in the tank" issues for a handful of principal players and the general growing pains that come with implementing a new system, there seem to be more ways things could go somewhere between bad to mediocre than good.
Prediction: Gun to my head, they make the playoffs, but I'm guessing not by a huge margin and it wouldn't shock me to see them done in April. Win total in the high 40s and an 8 seed.
AK
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Does this mean the return of Butler after common sense was restored over the last 3 or 4 days?......
Off topic...LTLF....BTW Jordan Farmar had a better preseason avrg than Wafer at 13.4 per game ...
Posted by: Thirty2 | October 27, 2008 at 03:15 AM
I love Robert Johnson.
The Suns are not making the playoffs this year.
The Curse of The Big Mistake continues.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 27, 2008 at 07:41 AM
GAME ON! ONE MORE DAY! CANNOT WAIT!!! ROLL CALLLLL
Posted by: tp | October 27, 2008 at 07:43 AM
disagree! although i hate the suns as much as anyone else, i cant see them flipping past the 7th seed (barring injury).. if anyones out of the playoffs, it's dallas!
Posted by: tp | October 27, 2008 at 07:50 AM
I think Shaq looks ridiculous with a mustache. If he wants to go ridiculous, he should go RIDICULOUS! No shaving of beard and head for the entire season. Absolutely no hygene maintenance. By March, a huge unruly beard and a fro.
It's the only logical course of action.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 27, 2008 at 07:52 AM
It's funny. I hear echoes of Butler in "Phoenix Stan". Everything is best case scenario and "you gotta understand" explanations which sound a little like painfully strained rationales.
"Phoenix Stan" is civil and intelligent while Butler is not; however, they have been stricken with the same disease.
For Phoenix, "best case scenario" is not going to happen.
Secret double-agent The Big Mistake is currently working his passive-aggressive butt off to destroy the Suns from the inside. Hidden from sight, the core of the apple is rotting.
Thank you, Shaq.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 27, 2008 at 07:56 AM
tp,
Have you forgotten Shaq's instinct to turn on his teammates when things go worse-than-expected? It's as predictable Ron Ron Bill d'Artest being unpredictably weird.
It will happen.
It happened in Orlando. It happened in Los Angeles. It happened in Miami. It will happen in Phoenix.
He came into Phoenix talking about bringing a ring to the city. No way. No how is that happening. Kobe is going to go marching to a ring this year. Andrew Bynum is going to fill his big shoes as the new Great Laker Center... and Shaq will have an immature, jealous freakout.
We know him. We all know Shaq. He's predictable. And he is going to undermine the Phoenix Suns this year and as a "newbee" amoung the Suns, long-time players like Nash and Stoudemire aren't going to like being bullied by this ex-Laker. Not at all.
One word: Disharmony.
Big time.
The Suns will not make the playoffs this year, but that probably won't be apparent until the second half of the season.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 27, 2008 at 08:03 AM
Good morning Mamba24, Charles, Jon K & the rest of this fabulous Laker morning CRUE!!!!!
Well - tomorrow is the start of the Season of the Rings - the Return to Glory - The Year of the Mamba and Beast. I can't wait - we need a pre-game ROLL CALL!!!!!!!!!!
Get excited Laker fans - the dawn of the 4th dynasty - after a too-long night - approaches.
GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | October 27, 2008 at 08:20 AM
The Mamba and The Beast...
Hmmm... sounds like a zoo or perhaps something from "Where The Wild Things Are."
Maybe we've got a nickname theme building here...
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 27, 2008 at 08:37 AM
jon k,
trust me i know exactly what you mean.. however something tells me shaq will only play 40-50 games (just a hunch? nah! we know it'll happen), and the funs will be able to somehow manage that 7th seed. i just don't see them being any worse than dallas..
Posted by: tp | October 27, 2008 at 08:40 AM
Hey Guys,
One more day till Oden vs. Bynum!
Posted by: Charles | October 27, 2008 at 08:42 AM
>>>Off topic...LTLF....BTW Jordan Farmar had a better
>>>preseason avrg than Wafer at 13.4 per game ...
huh. Looking at nba.com's stats for the Lakers preseason, they
have Jordan listed as 12.3 ppg. Wheredja get your stats from?
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | October 27, 2008 at 08:46 AM
What ever happened with The Big Homicidal's stalking case?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 27, 2008 at 09:00 AM
Hey folks. I pulled a couple political themed comments (nothing harsh). They weren't over the top, but we're SO CLOSE to getting through the election, I don't want to get bogged down in that. I believe it was rdlee and Eric who lost the comments (one was a reply to the original, which I thought I had deleted). So if you don't see it, that's where it went.
Thanks.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | October 27, 2008 at 09:15 AM
81 POINTS IN A GAME BY ONE HUMAN BEING WILL YOU BE THERE?
THE NBA WHERE KOBE BRYANT HAPPENS
Posted by: MAMBA24 | October 27, 2008 at 09:20 AM
THE DAWNING OF KAREEM&SHAQ ROLLED INTO ONE HUMAN BEING
DO YOU BELIEVE IIT ? LAKER TOM DOES. WILL YOU BE THERE?
THE NBA WHERE THE BEAST DYNASTY HAPPENS
Posted by: MAMBA24 | October 27, 2008 at 09:22 AM
What ever happened with The Big Homicidal's stalking case? GO LAKERS!
IT WAS DISMISSED WITH A STERN WARNING
Posted by: MAMBA24 | October 27, 2008 at 09:23 AM
At the end of last summer, I predicted the Lakers could get a
number 4 seed if a bunch of things went well. Pretty much
all of those things did go well, and right before Bynum went
down, I was thinking they were exceeding my expectations,
but still about 1 player away from being a dynasty caliber team.
When I first heard they traded Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol,
I thought it was a joke. NObody would be that stupid... would they?
Once Pau joined the team, I thought they would need a
little time to gel, but would have a good chance for a championship
in 2009. They made it to the finals a year sooner than I expected
and almost exceeded my expectations again.
So here we are starting another season. Here is what I
see for the season:
Bynum will return to his high level of play very quickly.
Bynum and Pau will be playin' together like cereal and milk
within a couple of weeks, and blowing opposing front courts away.
Rad will step up his defensive energy a bit (like he did in the
preseason) and by December nobody will be questioning whether
he should be starting.
The Lakers defense will be first or second best in the NBA.
The Minute Men will mow down opposing teams second teams
(and a few first teams) like mowin the lawn... on one of those
riding lawn mowers... a reaaaaaalllly fast one. By January,
TV commentators (even non-Laker ones) will be talking about
how many members of the Minute Men would be starting for
other teams.
By November, lots of people will be saying that Farmar should
be starting. That talk will persist all season, but PJ will stay
with Fisher this season, unless he gets injured. But Farmar
will average more minutes than Fish.
Sasha will play just a little below his level from last year.
He'll still contribute, but just a hair less. Partly because
some of the star players on other teams will use his cheap
suit defense against him, drawing lots of cheap fouls.
Luke will surprise people. By February, some of you will
be saying we don't need Lamar because the starting lineup
is fine without him and Luke gives more to the Minute Men.
Chris Mihm will also surprise people. He'll play well enough
that he'll probably price himself out of the Lakers price range
next summer, as some team will offer him MLE level money
or greater.
Kobe, Pau, and Andrew will make the All-Star game.
The Lakers will finish with the best record in the West.
If they don't lose any of Kobe, Pau, Drew, or Farmar for
more than 2 months, they will finish with the best record
in the NBA.
If Kobe, Pau, Drew, and Farmar are healthy for the playoffs,
the Lakers will win the NBA championship. I think those
are the four key guys. If you lose Rad, you'd have a multitude
of options to plug in for him. If you lose Fish, Farmar could
start... But If you lose one of those four, it makes a much
bigger difference to the team. Actually, if you lost Pau but
Lamar is healthy, they still might be able to win it all, as
Lamar could step into the starting PF slot.
And that's the season as I see it.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | October 27, 2008 at 09:27 AM
CORRECTION SHAQ CASE DELAYED
http://tinyurl.com/6kot4q
http://tinyurl.com/57yu2x
SORRY JON. K.
Posted by: MAMBA24 | October 27, 2008 at 09:27 AM
GOOD MORNING CHALES
Good Morning, Morning Crue
Posted by: MAMBA24 | October 27, 2008 at 09:29 AM
GOOD MORNING CHALES
Good Morning, Morning Crue
Posted by: MAMBA24 | October 27, 2008 at 09:29 AM
Jon K,
>>>What ever happened with The Big Homicidal's stalking case?
My guess is that he paid her a million dollars to go away...
just as Kobe indiscriminately described.
Actually, I think the reason Shaq made those positive statements
about Kobe and Bynum is that he knew his image was going down
lower than Kobe's with all the muck he stirred up this summer.
He wanted to do something to make him look like a good guy again.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | October 27, 2008 at 09:29 AM
Happy birthday, dear Andrew
Happy birthday tooooooo yoouuuuuuuuuuuu
Posted by: Vman | October 27, 2008 at 09:32 AM
Oh, by the way...
Oden vs Bynum is a non-starter.
Bynum is an experienced NBA veteran who has been trained
by one of the best of all time, and who has a fluid game on both
ends of the court.
Oden is a very tall rookie with potential, but less potential than
Bynum. I think if you went to every GM in the league right now
and said, you can have either Bynum or Oden right now,
30 out of 30 teams would take Bynum. That may change in
the future, but right now Bynum has shown at least some of
his potential while Oden is still a vapor-beast.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | October 27, 2008 at 09:35 AM
Suns will turn in to the new Sacramento Queens. Once a fiery rivalry will now turn in to another game because of a big drop off in talent on the Suns/Kings part.
Those are the two teams I hated the most recently (with the Celtics being super recent). It's just a shame they can't keep up. Maybe someday soon both will become good again and we will hate again.
The best part about the rivalry is neither ever made it to the Finals. Sure, the Suns beat us twice, but in the end we were the one's laughing as WC champs, Suns can't say that.
Can't wait to go to tomorrow's game, its gonna be out of control.
Lamar = Laker for Life
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | October 27, 2008 at 09:43 AM
MON. OCT. 27 - LAKERS vs. BLAZERSS TUESDAY OCT.28
THE FORCE AND LAKER NATION ARE FOCUSED AND BALANCE
Good morning Charles
Welcome Justin N, Lebanese Mike, Laker Phil , Darleen McCutcheon,
Good Morning Laker Nation THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER.
*
NO TALK, NO POEMS, NO SPEECHES, TIME FOR THE GAME FACES
TOMORROW IS TIME ENOUGH FOR GREAT SPEECHES
TODAY IS JUST A CALL TO ARMS. LET THE VOICES RING OUT
LET THE WORLD KNOW THE AGE OF MEDIOCRITY HAS ENDED
THE DYNASTY OF THE MAMBA/BEAST BEGINS
WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, CALL OUT SO THAT THE VERY
BOWELS OF HELL TREMBLE. OUR TIME HAS COME, OUR TIME IS HERE
LET IT BE KNOWN EAST, WEST, NORTH, SOUTH THE LAKER’S ARE BACK
*
ROLL CALL!!!:
FAITH, Bob, KEIFO, VMan. Jay Jay, CHARLES, Edwin Gueco, Tsiry, FATTY, AngryLaker,
ThaShow, Tim-4Show, The-LakeShow, GenericOne, Pig Miller, TP, Taliq, JAMIE_Sweet
DICE8UP, Zakee, Cleon, SBPimp, The_D, Bozz, #4, ELLE, HMRHed, Laker_MR., TOAD
ComptonsFinest, LakerLEGACY, EXHELODRVR, LAKER TOM, RICK FRIEDMAN, JON K.
GRAIL, BigDAWG, NAJA aka BONUS, KOBEBLITZ, NEVER, OUTLAW, LAKER_BANDIT
RDLEE, TWOODY, HUGO_Boss, CORNER J, BAYWOOD, HUGOSPAIN, Laker_TRUTH
Tsphere, WeaveMan, SIX_ONE_Zero, FEARLESS, CBUCK, KIWI, LAKER_STH, JANAYA
utzworld THE BANNER HOLDER, HTP, East_COAST_JESSIE, WOW, SAMLL, P_ANG
ADRIAN_PALOMAR, CALIPHILOSOPHER, JESTER_GURU, , MIKE_T. HTP, 1978
LAKERPHIL, LEBANESEMIKE, DK, WESJOENIXON, WOLF, JUSTIN_N., ERIC_M
BLACKMamba24, BrownMamba24, WhiteMamba24, Mamba24Fan4Life, FanOfMamba,
JustAnotherMAMBAFAN, JustALakerFan, VI LakerFan, MR_barney_DANGLES,JMAN
LAKER_Bake, LAKER_Larry, LAKERS4REALZ, LAKERSNZ, DAVE_M, ZEN, MARTY
HELLRAISER(certified Mamba Fan) LAKERMAN_420, MAGIC_MAN, HOBBITMAGE
EVIL CARTMAN, DARLEEN MCCUTCHEON, TINIDORS, LAKERFanFromNY, BOBIE
DAVE ROSENZWEIG, CALI_KING, PS_LAKER_FAN, JOHNNY_P. DAVID_WHANG
BRAD, DAN_the_MAN, HUBBIT, SEAN714, AJAX, PAUL_LEE, BENJAMIN
STAY_THIRSTY_MY_FRIENDS, COMPLEX_Brotha, CHUCK23, LAKER_HOLIC, EJK
PURPLE&GOLD_FOREVER, GD_CHILD, CDUB0512, LAKERFAZE
LAKERGurl, SFLAKERGirl, PSYCHEDLAKERrGirl, SIMILAKERGirl, BOCALAKERGIRL
LAKERGIRL_1980, HOUSTONlakerGIRL, LakersRydeOrDie, LAKER_Lass, She_KOBE
DrewPauKobe, KobesBad, NIK KANNAN, SLO_GAL, DAVID_IN_SPAIN,
SmoothD, ISSANG,THIRTY2, BLAZE1BX, MAGIA32, EAST_NYBOER
Machiavelly, DOC4daLakeShow, Korey, KARYNANAR, BRAD, PUDDLE, BLKTHGHT06
EPICMESS, StrangerInTheNight, CAMERON, BYNUMITE, USC_LAKER
T_SENSEI, BerkleyLaker, CHICK_4EVER, LONG_LIVE_CHICK, ALEXHIN017, HTJ
HEAD-MBENGA, LAL_FAN, LOOK_LONELY, LOTECH8, VIOLATER, LAKER_IN-BC
SALTLAKER, FKILLAH, HARIYAHU, JCOOL, BZAR, LAKER_Dawg, PS.LAKER_FAN
MICHIGANLAKER, YOU_EVER_NOTICE, JANDRO, TRIO, XTRO, PK-IN-the-MESSA
WondahBap,Cyrus(Ventrilquist), Laker_HOPEFUL, MITCHELL, EAGLE_BOY, TEEJ
CriticalBeatDown, RealityBites, RESPECT_My_AUTHORITH, EAGLE_Boy, AA_LOOS
AMAZING HAPPENS, TELLitLIKEitIS , Lakers4Lyfe, Nestros_Bistro, LINDA_PINED
McGARNAGLE, JOREMA, AFRO_Joe, DASCILLA JONIN_in_JAPAN(InCanada),
FRANK FRIZZO, STOCKTON_SHOWTIME, LADIES_MAN, KIKOS_DAD, LAKER_Fan
GiantSquid, STAPLES24, RICO_TICO, LAKALOVER, HE_WHO_HOOPS, B4_HOOPS
GREEK_DUDE, MobWagoneer, PK-in-the-MESA, LAKAFoo, JHLANNERY
LakerFanCanada, ValleyLaker, CHRIS_H, SWETTUAL, NEMIA FALETOGO
LAKERKev, Reality_Check, Benny_BLANCA
BronxLakerFan ChitTownLaker, HoustonLaker, TexasLaker, BrazillianLaker,
*
ALL TOGETHER LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT A NEW DYNASTY IS HERE:
*
WE ARE THE FREAKIN LA LAKERS THE WINNERS OF 14 NBA TITLES.
THE TEAM WITH THE BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE IN NBA HISTORY.
THE ONLY TEAM WITH 2 HOF COACHES. THE TEAM WITH THE MOST
PLAYERS ON THE 50 GREATEST PLAYERS OF ALL TIME LIST(6). THE
HOME OF THE REIGNING AND FUTURE MVP – KOBE BRYANT. THE
HOME OF WILT, KAREEM, GEORGE MIKAN, SHAQ, MAGIC, ELGIN BAYLOR,
THE LOGO(JERRY WEST), PAT RILEY, JAMES WORTHY, BOB MCADOO,
"BIG SHOT ROB HORRY" GAIL GOODRICH THE LEGENDARY SPORTSCASTER
CHICK HEARN COACHED BY 9 TIME TITLE WINNER PHIL (9RINGS) JACKSON
& OWNED BY THE BEST D@MN OWNER IN SPORTS DR. JERRY BUSS
AND THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN EVER DEFEAT OR DIVIDE US IS US
LAKERS TODAY RLAKERS TOMORROW LAKERS FOREVER
Posted by: MAMBA24 | October 27, 2008 at 09:45 AM
WoW, I think that we finally got rid of HIM.
Posted by: Troll Hunter | October 27, 2008 at 09:48 AM
*ANDREW BIRTHDAY BANDWAGON*
(01) VMAN - Driver & Owner
(02) MAMBA24 - Riding Shotgun
Posted by: MAMBA24 | October 27, 2008 at 09:50 AM
Mamba24,
Thanks for the update.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 27, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Hello Blog Bretheren...
Life has gotten a bit too busy for me to stay as active on the Blog as before, but I'm still here.
What's REALLY SCARY for the rest of the league? The Lakers are beating teams by double digit margins...WITHOUT KOBE!
Be afraid, Butler...be VERY AFRAID!
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | October 27, 2008 at 10:00 AM
21, 7'1, playing with Mr 81... whatever the contract, that's "it's all good" defined.
Posted by: Vman | October 27, 2008 at 10:01 AM
mamba,
"GOOD MORNING CHALES
Good Morning, Morning Crue"
You didn't have to do it twice. That's a frivolous use of bandwidth. Please save your posts for more important itmes.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | October 27, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Mamba24 aka Lar-dizzle!
Finger point at cha'!
Posted by: Charles | October 27, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Long Time Laker Fan,
"right now, 30 out of 30 teams would take Bynum. That may change in the future, "
I'm starting to question your definition of 'Long Time"
Your comment is on par with someone who only has about two or three weeks of prior basketball knowledge, let alone someone who knows anything about the Los Angeles Lakers.
You need to earn a name like that rook.
"may change" LOL!!!!!!
Really?
Posted by: rL | October 27, 2008 at 10:09 AM
mrbarneydangles,
I, too, have felt a strong recent hatred for the Kings, Suns, and Celtics.
Now that the Kings have dropped off in terms of competitiveness, I still thoroughly enjoy beating the crap out of them, but I feel a bit more pity for them, particularly because they're all Sacramento has, but also because they really don't act like jerks so much anymore. I'd like for them to be more competitive.
The Suns is a different story. For the last several years these guys have been flat-out jerks. I want to crush them.
I want to see them wandering, blind and disheveled aimlessly through the desert for the next several years being repeatedly pummeled by the Lakers. Until we have complete vengeance my wrath will not be quenched.
Regarding the Celtics, we just need to beat them and always beat them. They'll return to ignomity within a few years. They are not a young team.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 27, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Hey,
Mark Stein actually had something good to say about the Lakers...
"Francesco (Toronto): If you had your pick of frontcourt tandems, who would you choose: Bosh/Jermaine, Gasol/Bynum, Shaq/Stoudemire or Okur/Boozer?
SportsNation Marc Stein: Good one. I'd have to go Pau and Bynum, largely because of their ages, but I know what you're getting at and I'm high on Bosh and Jermaine, too. Simmons and I argue about this one all day but I think they're going to be nice together."
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | October 27, 2008 at 10:13 AM
So are Kobe (mamba), Andrew (the Beast), Sasha (the Machine) and Derek Fisher (0.4) the only players on the Lakers with "official" nicknames?
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 27, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Looks like the Lakers are keeping Coby Karl.
http://tinyurl.com/653dyh
Good.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | October 27, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Vman,
Kobe walks away after 2010,
Bynum 's wide pelvis does confirm Gary Vitti's ultimate nightmare senario that creates a hyperbole of leg injuries,
Lakers are strapped in luxury tax limbo for years while we eat this contract.
"It's all good"
Posted by: 99 bottles of beer | October 27, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Hey,
I just thought of something that hadn't occurred to me before.
So the hype is that LeBron will jump to a major city team in
2010. And New York/New Jersey are the favorites.
But what about the Clippers?
Summer of 2010, they'll have 20 million in cap space, plus
they'll have a top point guard (Baron Davis) a very good center
(Chris Kaman), an up-and-coming shooting guard (Eric Gordon)
and a good young SF/PF in Al Thornton. Add Lebron and
a few role players to that, and you've got a serious contender.
How cool would it be to have the two best players in the NBA
in the same city?
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | October 27, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Be afraid, Butler...be VERY AFRAID! Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | October 27, 2008 at 10:00 AM
I wasBANNER HOLDER. I was afraid you might not be here to give the
benediction for the new season. Now all iis right in Laker Nation and
we can proceed to get out title back. AND THIS TIME EVERYBODY
ENJOY THE TRIP.
Posted by: Mamba24 | October 27, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Laker Tom,
What do you think of Singletary pulling J.T. and Vernon??
I love it!!
--------------------------------------------------------
ONE MORE DAY!!
Go Lakers!!
dan
Posted by: dan the man | October 27, 2008 at 10:24 AM
I don't mean to be pessimistic, but from watching the Laker game on ESPN the other night, there was a flaw that I saw in Bynum's game that I hope he gets around as his career: too much reliance on his length.
Now don't get me wrong, I think his length is a wonderful asset to have, but sometimes it may not be enough when attacking the rim and working in the post.
I look at how Oden, Shaq, Amare, Dwight, KG, and other centers attack the rim when going up for a dunk, jump hook, etc, and it appears clearly that they get much more lift on their shots and on their dunks than Bynum does. I think Bynum lucked up to a degree that the most prominent post player he went up against in pre-season was J O'neal.
Part of me thinks that if he doesn't increase his lower body strength, players such as those mentioned above would swat a majority of his shots out of there because of the lift they get when they jump. I don't think it's just enough to get it above the rim just enough to get it down. If you want to be a dominating center in this league, you have to have that swagger (and the game behind it) to let people know you're not playing around.
I remember watching highlights of Kareem early in his career with the Bucks (maybe his 1st or 2nd year in the league), and they showed an exchange where Chamberlain was guarding Kareem in the post, and Cap went up for a sky hook. Because of how close Cap was to 20k, he easily blocked the shot. Kareem recovered and instead decided to swing right, shoot left while moving away from Chamberlain a little. But because of the lift that Chamberlain could get, he smacked the next hook shot Kareem put up to half court. Of course you can make the argument that Wilt was ahead of his time, but you don't think Dwight, KG, Amare, Chandler can't make defensive stops like that?
Just something to think about.
Posted by: CHI Laker Fan (fka ATL Laker Fan) | October 27, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Mamba 24
Please add me to the roll call and to the Bynum Bandwagon as water boy.
Go Lakers!!!!!!
This is our year.
Jack as
Laker North
Posted by: Laker North | October 27, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Long time,
We definately love you long time. Great post.
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | October 27, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Happy bday Drew ... we love ya n truly hope u'll live up to the expectations ...
AK/BK,
When it comes to the suns the elephant in the room as far as I'm concerned is Terry Porter ... the suns let go a coach that averaged 55+ wins during his tenure ... what in mr. porter's mediocre coaching resume leads them to believe that he can do a decent job with this team ... like really who here believes that Shaq will even listen to this dude, lets not forget Shaq is the same dude that told Tex Winter to stfu ... if you're not in the upper echelon of coaching you're gonna have a hard time controlling the big daddy ... does stan van gundy in miami ring a bell?
Posted by: Taliq | October 27, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Mamba24 aka Lar-dizzle! Finger point at cha'!
Posted by: Charles | October 27, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Good Morning Charles. Sorry about the wrong
spelling of the name. Pre Season jitters I think.
How are you my brother
Posted by: mamba24 | October 27, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Phoenix Stan - Typical Suns Fan, ignores the reality of why the Suns will lose.
42 years and counting and still no Title.
Poor Phx Stan. He mentions the Suns are strong defensively at the 2 and 3 spots, but overlooks the fact that the best of the competition are strong at the 1 and 5, the weakest part of the Suns defense.
He fails to deal with Porters plan to rest Nash and Shaq about 20-22 games. In the tough West, it puts the Suns at a big disadvantage to compete with the West's elite.
I agree with the K's thoughts that this team could finish as low as 7 or 8, but could finish no higher than 5. Point of fact, the Suns at times will look like a contender, but not be able to sustain play at a high level.
Look for Amare to have a tremendous MVP like year. Look for Nash and Shaq to have a big decline as they are held back by the DNP with the CD.
Posted by: Fatty | October 27, 2008 at 10:45 AM
The Suns have a shot at the title if three things happen:
(1) Shaq returns to his 2000 MVP form.
(2) Nash returns to his 2005-2006 MVP form.
(3) Grant Hill goes back to his late 90's form (pre-ankle injury).
So they're really only three steps away from a championship. Good luck, Phoenix.
Posted by: EJK | October 27, 2008 at 10:49 AM
"Suns will turn in to the new Sacramento Queens. Once a fiery rivalry will now turn in to another game because of a big drop off in talent on the Suns/Kings part. "
MAKES YOU HAPPY TO BE A LAKERS FAN!!
Good Morning all!
The Legacy starts tomorrow!
janaya
Posted by: janaya | October 27, 2008 at 10:58 AM