Rock the vote
The coolest thing about today's practice in El Segundo? In anticipation of Tuesday's election, everyone dressed in super patriotic, Apollo-Creed-vs.-Ivan-Drago gear. You should see DJ soar through the air in that giant, red, white, and blue top hat. The man looked nine feet tall!
It is, however, hard to handle the ball in boxing gloves.
I kid, of course (or do I?), but at the top of a slow week like the one the Lakers have in front of them, with only one game between Saturday's win at Denver and Sunday's big game at home against the Rockets, politics was certainly a big topic of conversation. I'll get there in a sec. In basketball news, Andrew Bynum left practice early today with a strained right shoulder, sustained while going up to block a shot from Chris Mihm. Don't worry, it's nothing serious. "I don't even think it'll bother him to come back to practice tomorrow," said Phil Jackson. No disagreement from Bynum. "It didn't really scare me. I didn't hear any pop or anything. I just kind of tweaked it. I'll be in practice tomorrow and the game Wednesday."
Whew. Back to the election.
Phil, no question a political animal, kept his electoral thoughts close to the vest, but did indicate that the US ought to consider one big tweak to the voting process: "This is an event that's a national event. The only thing I don't like about it is a lot of countries take the day off so people can go vote. Our country has to start thinking about the importance to give the days off so that people can actually have a holiday and take their time to vote, and not have to squeeze it in between lunch and everything else."
Except, of course, his guys.
"They're off every day. They only work a couple of hours."
Derek Fisher, the man Lamar Odom unequivocally said would make the best president among current Lakers, has played an active role in the election, campaigning on behalf of Barack Obama this offseason in Montana. While it's pretty clear which direction he was leaning, both publicly and in the locker room ("I think we have a high number of people that are rolling with me," he said with a smile), Fish was very gracious in describing the value of the process. "It's been a fun. I'm hopeful that tomorrow's results will be legitimate and actual, and that no matter who's President, everyone in our country can get behind him and push him in the way that we're going to need to be pushed in terms of getting our country back on track."
More players, Fish says, are getting involved in politics, taking an interest. "We have a very young league. It's transitioned a lot in recent years. When Kobe and I came into the league in the late 90s, you had a higher number of veteran players, a lot of guys that had probably voted in two or three elections in the past. Now you have a league with guys who are just turning 21 and this is their first go round, and this is their first go round at having an opportunity to have their voice heard. It's been exciting, and hopefully the election results are not the end of the discussion, though. No matter who's president, there's still a lot to talk about."
Just to drive the point home, when asked about his chance to vote Tuesday, Andrew Bynum, the aforementioned recent 21'er, smiled, his eyes wide. "Yeah," he said, letting us know he'll be hitting his local polling spot with enthusiasm tomorrow... and just hopes the line isn't too long.
In other news...
The Trade: No big comments from the Lakers on the AI/Billups deal. Asked about it, LO pointed to his practice jersey. "this is the only team I'm concerned about. For real." Fish didn't have much to offer, and neither did Kobe. PJ came through with a couple thoughts, though. "It'll change us up over here a little in the west. Chauncey's at a position where he's still got a couple years left on the contract that'll guarantee him being in Denver," he said. "They've got two guys coming back that know the territory and are veterans that could help their younger players. I'm just trying to see how Allen fits in over there in Detroit, if he's going to come off the bench, or what. They like this kid Stuckey that's a point guard for them and has improved a lot for them. He's a real good prospect, and is probably going to have a bigger role."
The Layoff: Most of the guys indicated they'd just as soon be playing rather than practicing this week. PJ said he worked them hard Monday, generating a game-like intensity, just so the guys don't lose the rhythm built up during the first week of the season. Still, it's a time they'll use to continue working on defensive execution and grow increasingly comfortable on the other end.
Check back later for practice video and audio, including a great clip from Fish talking about what he learned on the campaign trail, and the increased interest in politics among players in the Association.
AUDIO:
- Andrew Bynum (turn up your volume- he's in soft talkin' mode): Download andrew_bynum_on_shoulder_voting.mp3
- Derek Fisher: Download derek_fisher_on_election_political_participation.mp3
- Phil Jackson: Download phil_on_trade_layoff.mp3
BK
Go Lake Show....
Make sure you go out to vote tomorrow, whether its McCain or Obama.
And I cant wait to get League Pass so I can watch every game.
If the Lakers can be a top 5 D this year, we can win 70 games and win it all..
LETS GO!
Posted by: Korey | November 03, 2008 at 03:00 PM
Go LAKERS!
Posted by: Laker Fan 24 | November 03, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Way to go Fish!
Posted by: Mayor of Kobe-Town | November 03, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Hobbit,
didn't I say he would work on his jump shot? I believe I did and I did so much that you cheer and try to rub it in my face. So I did a little sending back to sender kind of thing.
Like I said before, he has good slashing game and when near the basket is a good finisher. Plus he has extended his range no doubt. But what did I say about creating his own shots? 1-3 or 33%!
Sure he got into 4 free throws which is good though one of the dunks he didn't finish much to his disappointment. But his only field goal came set up by the Laker you hate the most: Lamar Odom :).
Plus with Drew in trouble, PJ opted to leave Lamar as PF and keep up Radman down the stretch instead of putting Trevor or Sasha in. Looks to show you that while Radman has improved his defense, PJ knows that Trevor still isn't the full time starter role player that is required in the game.
When the offense is cold so is Trevor (I am hoping he will in the future create his own shots and become a better personal defender. I kinda think during Game 4 of the Finals had he been active in the 4th quarter as he was in the 2nd quarter we would have won that game) Not a knock on Trevor and not saying his defense is bad, but just like what the TNT and ESPN announcers agree: Trevor needs to improve his personal defense to be the role player that will guard GINOBILI!, Pierce, and other perimeter threats when Kobe is resting or when Jordan is with him and we switch to more man to man defense. His defense at the passing lanes? Excellent. His personal defense? Work in progress.
And shot selection? C'mon I do it to all Lakers including Kobe. I just wished he shot at most 3 or 4 from downtown instead of 5. Man could his FG% really go up if he settled less from the perimeter.
Haha Trevor shot 33% from the field! (Hey I just had to do it again).
-blitz
Posted by: kobeblitz | November 03, 2008 at 03:16 PM
Derek Fisher for President!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 03, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Bynum strains rotator cuff ...should be ok
Posted by: Thirty2 | November 03, 2008 at 03:47 PM
I say, DON'T VOTE! Every year I get older I become more and more horrified and disillusioned when I hear the reasons behind why people vote for this or that. There should be a common sense test that people have to pass before they can go in and vote and cancel out somebody else's well thought out position.
Posted by: King Kwaminus The Pontificator and Exalter of his Majesty's Good Word | November 03, 2008 at 04:01 PM
If anyone would dressed in super patriotic, Apollo-Creed style gear it would be Lamar Odom.
Lamar's got panache.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 03, 2008 at 04:03 PM
Hey Butler,
Like LTLF said, your Suns are the ones that just go surpassed lmao....seriously cant stop laughing about your weak logic. Heres a chat between ESPN's John Hollinger and a Fan.
ruru (Tempe) : Where does this put the Nuggets in the West?
John Hollinger: I think this is going to cost somebody a playoff spot. The presumption before the season was that Denver wasn't a playoff team; I think after this deal they almost certainly are, probably in the 5-6 area in the West. So there's a good chance it will cost somebody like Portland or Phoenix a playoff spot
Posted by: The Big Fence Defense | November 03, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Butler,
Heres another one for ya:
Joe (Charlotte, NC): Regarding the Suns, at times they show flashes of brilliance on Defense and other times, they show that they're still learning. Do you think this team can be a force?
John Hollinger: I saw the Hornets game and I was not impressed at all. Their best defender, Bell, has lost a lot the past couple years, and nobody else has really stepped up. Who's the defensive force over there who will allow them to have that identity? I just don't see it.
Posted by: The Big Fence Defense | November 03, 2008 at 04:19 PM
King Kwaminus The Pontificator and Exalter of his Majesty's Good Word,
If you don't vote, you can't complain.
It's a rule.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 03, 2008 at 04:20 PM
and another:
Steve Kerr, Phoenix: Are you kidding me John? Cost Phoenix a playoff spot? Have the 2-1 Suns not shown you that the Shaq trade still might pan out and the Suns will be well above the 8th seed?
John Hollinger: Depends a lot on whether Shaq plays 75 games or 45, doesn't it? Not to mention I haven't exactly been in awe of the Suns thus far
Posted by: The Big Fence Defense | November 03, 2008 at 04:21 PM
PJ supports Obama as well, as indicated by the contributions he made to his campaign. Way to go Zen Master!
http://tinyurl.com/6pzapf
Posted by: THI | November 03, 2008 at 04:27 PM
*****I see Mitch has competition for best GM in BB.******
Dumars is brilliant. Get rid of BBBBillups and his contract for an expiring contract like AIs. If you all havn't noticed Billips hasn't been real good since 04. Last year he was terrible and even Rondo made him look old and washed up.
Why would Denver want his contract?? Somebody needs to find out what is going on in Denver. The Fans should be PISSED.
Get rid of Sheed and AI contract and BINGO you can get anybody! Can you say Lebron James or Chris Bosh...heck they could end of with both after this trade.
Dumars....man....brilliant.... Mitch has to be smiling and has to admire that trade for it's future implications for the Pistons.
I thought the Camby trade couldn't be topped but Denver did it again.
And people wonder why teams like the Suns or Nuggets never win.
BD
Posted by: BD | November 03, 2008 at 04:37 PM
Guys,
I think you guys should pencil in Kwame Brown for President.
Posted by: never | November 03, 2008 at 04:41 PM
SIGN MCDYESS!
SIGN MCDYESS!
SIGN MCDYESS!
Posted by: SIGN MCDYESS! | November 03, 2008 at 04:45 PM
SIGN MCDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYESS!
Posted by: DAMMITT | November 03, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Jon,
It’s interesting that the Derek Fisher was flagged by the players as the one most likely to become president or to go into politics. Nor was it a surprise that he had already performed volunteer work for Barrack Obama. As we all have acknowledged, Derek obviously has the intelligence, conscience, and demeanor to be a real asset to our state and country politically. It could be that his return to LA and the Lakers may portend a bigger and more important role in the future for Fish. How does Mayor Fisher or Governor Fisher sound?
I have not followed the Sacramento mayor’s race but maybe sonny can chime in on how ex-NBA player Kevin Johnson is doing in his first attempt at politics. And I understand that Charles Barkley is still planning on running for governor of Alabama down the road. And who can forget ex-NBA player and Rhodes Scholar Bill Bradley’s post-Knicks career in the United States Senate. I used to hope the BB would run for president. Brains, integrity, and charisma! Sound like anybody you know today in politics?
On a related note, I have always thought that Steve Young could conceivably be a viable political candidate down the road. Although he is a Republican, he is one of the classiest and most intelligent athletes I have ever heard speak. I thought the move by he and his wife to support the No on 8 campaign in direct conflict with the Mormon Church showed the kind of leader Steve could be in the future on a national basis. He is the kind of candidate that could bring the Republican Party back in favor among the voting public.
Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, I hope that every Lakers Blogger does their part and votes. That is the only thing that counts and what makes America great. That and giving whomever wins the election our full support. One way or another, it will be good to finally have a new president-elect by tomorrow night. Then we can just focus on our Lakers.
Of course, all of the above is solely pure speculation and just my own personal views.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | November 03, 2008 at 04:56 PM
Just watched the interviews from practice. I was actually kind of surprised PJ said so much about the AI/Billups deal. He basically just reiterated what the media is reporting. So what I'm saying is I'm surprised PJ would be paying that close attention.
Posted by: lakers_sth | November 03, 2008 at 05:05 PM
Hey,,
The Nuggets are going to cut McDyess, I think we should get him.
Posted by: muffin | November 03, 2008 at 05:16 PM
SIIIIIGN MCDYYYYYYYESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
Posted by: warren with butterknives | November 03, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Yeah, It's a really good idea, let's do it.
Posted by: muffin | November 03, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Has anybody heard anything yet? The L.A. Times hasn't updated it's homepage.
Posted by: muffin | November 03, 2008 at 05:24 PM
You actually have a better chance of winning the lottery than having your vote counting for anything. The odds of any one particular major political race comming down to one vote is 63 million to 1. You have about a 1/3rd better chance of winning the SuperLotto. I 've heard of a race comming down to a handful of votes before but i don't think i've ever heard of one comming down to a single vote, excepting the race where only a few hundred people vote. It'll probably be hundreds even thousands of years before a major political race comes down to one single vote. And even if it did happen in your lifetime the odds of it being one that you cared about or even are able to vote on are astronomical. So in essence your vote is irrelavent, but if it makes you feel good, by all means, knock yourself out. I know i'll be wasting my 15 min. at the polling station tomorrow morning just like I plop down my $2-$4 a week at the liquor store.
Posted by: dymandave | November 03, 2008 at 05:25 PM
not voting is a vote.
voting for the lesser of evils is evil
Posted by: ed slauselbucket | November 03, 2008 at 05:41 PM
What are the Lakers waiting for?
"give a big a chance!"
Posted by: muffin | November 03, 2008 at 05:48 PM
AK, BK,
Can you guys get us the scoop on the Lakers/McDyess situation?
Posted by: muffin | November 03, 2008 at 05:51 PM
Muffin,
I don't have a ton of info, as I was in a jury duty waiting room all day (WHERE I EVENTUALLY FOUND OUT I DON'T HAVE TO SERVE, CLINCHING THE AMERICAN COURT SYSTEM'S STATUS AS THE WORLD'S GREATEST!!!). From what I've been reading, Dice doesn't want to play anywhere else but Detroit. But we'll see how it plays out, or if Denver even buys him out to begin with. Frankly, I think they could use him, but what do I know?
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | November 03, 2008 at 05:55 PM
What the hell is Mitch doing? I've been watching nbatv for 20 minutes now and no mention of the Lakers being active in obtaining McDyess. Kupchak needs to get more aggressive.
Posted by: muffin | November 03, 2008 at 05:57 PM
FOR ALL THAT IS HOLY, LAKERS...SIGN ANTONIO MCDYESS!
Posted by: muffin | November 03, 2008 at 06:01 PM
SIGN HIM BEFORE BOSTON SIGNS HIM!!!!!!!!
Posted by: muffin | November 03, 2008 at 06:04 PM
AK,
Sorry to hear about the jury duty.
But do you know what the real crime is?
NOT SIGNING ANTONIO MCDYESS YET! lol
Posted by: muffin | November 03, 2008 at 06:06 PM
speaking of voting...it just got cooler...
Perks for voting…
If you vote on Nov 4, you get a free Starbucks tall coffee, and a crispy kreme donut, and ben and jerry’s ice cream
Which is apparently illegal in California but what the hey lol.
Posted by: Faith | November 03, 2008 at 06:18 PM
The Gasols Rule…
Halftime against the Warriors, Marc Gasol has 20 points and 9 board. Too bad we had to give him up to get Pau. It would have been cool to have both brothers as Lakers.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | November 03, 2008 at 06:19 PM
Drew injures his shoulder in practice. But is expected to play.
http://tinyurl.com/687cbn
Posted by: Faith | November 03, 2008 at 06:25 PM
BK, seems like Pau disagrees with us about the Laker intensity against Nuggets.
http://tinyurl.com/5eejkr
Posted by: Faith | November 03, 2008 at 06:32 PM
I didn't say I wasn't going to vote, I said nobody else should vote. I should rule by decree because MY votes are well thought out, not like, "oh, I voted for him because I like his hair"...
People gave their lives so we can go and vote and somebody sitting in front of their tv right now eating a chocolate bar and drinking a Pepsi HASN'T DECIDED WHO THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR YET!!! You know who "they" are, and guess what? by encouraging them to go vote they'll shrug, go down there and flip a coin, probably cancelling out some of your well thought out votes in the process. Oh yeah, EVERYBODY go vote... it's just like owning a house, right? EVERYBODY should rush out and buy a house with nothing down and minimum payments, what's the worst that could happen if EVERYBODY went out and did that, huh?
Thus Spake The Kwaminus...
Posted by: Kwaminus Klaatu Barada Nikto Brownicus | November 03, 2008 at 06:52 PM
muffin-
Hey. Far as I know, the reason McDyess isn't going to Denver is, in part, because at this stage in his career he doesn't want to move again. From what I've read- and I'm only going on what i've read/heard, b/c I don't have inside knowledge of the situation, he's expected to wait out the 30 days or whatever it is, and stay in Detroit.
But if he wants to go somewhere, he'd be perfectly useful here. I just wouldn't count on it.
Faith-
Whenever a team doesn't play well, they always say they lacked intensity, etc. It's a sports cliche. What I watched didn't look like a lack of effort, but a lack of execution and crisp play. I don't see them as the same.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | November 03, 2008 at 06:58 PM
Why do we need to sign McDysses? So he can take over the garbage time minutes that Josh Powell plays.
I don't get why every Laker fan wants us to sign every available player. It's silly.
Posted by: Xodus | November 03, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Faith,
I thought so too, during the game. BK said they weren't lacking, but it just didn't seem like they were nearly as determined as they were in the first two games.
I guess Pau agrees.
Posted by: "Pig" Miller | November 03, 2008 at 07:04 PM
dymandave,,
>>>>>You actually have a better chance of winning the lottery than having your vote
>>>>>counting for anything. The odds of any one particular major political race coming
>>>>>down to one vote is 63 million to 1.
LOL. Speaking of the power of 1 vote, over 6M Democrats have been emailed the ingenious CNNBC Non-Voter Video created by MoveOn but I wonder if our Republican bloggers have seen it. Regardless of party, it is a slick and hilarious concept designed to remind voters how important their vote is by presenting a full-blown professionally designed spoof news video where the email recipient is told that McCain and Palin have won the election by 1 vote and he or she has been identified as the person whose failure to vote cost Obama the election.
Anyway, the video is really laugh-out-loud funny regardless of your politics. After viewing it, you can sign up on CNNBC to send it to your friends, e.g. Andrew Kamenetzky, who would then receive a customized email and video with his first and last name slickly inserted visually and audibly throughout. At the bottom of the email are a series of linked stories such as Obama saying he was disappointed but not mad at Andrew, McCain angry that he does not get the launch codes for 77 days, Bush stating that he has been vindicated, etc.
The video itself is masterful with quick interviews of people saying that Andrew let us down, the police taking Andrew into protective custody, a lady calling Andrew a “mfer” for not voting, even a goatherder in Afghanistan saying how disappointed he was in Andrew and that McCain would probably now blow up his goats. Hell, it was so damn funny I even sent to a dozen of my Republican friends since they needed some cheering up and they all thought it was hilarious. After all, in the video McCain and Palin have actually won. LOL.
So, anyway, here is the link. Enjoy!
http://tinyurl.com/6paepj
>>>>>I know I'll be wasting my 15 min. at the polling station tomorrow morning
>>>>>just like I plop down my $2-$4 a week at the liquor store.
dymandave, the only items in the liquor store that cheap are those airline bottles of whiskey and vodka. Save up for a month and go to BevMo and buy some real booze. LOL.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | November 03, 2008 at 07:04 PM
Sign McDyess and then what? Where is he going to play. If you start him and bump Radman, you'll just clog up the middle because he cant shoot from long range. The very thing you were trying to avoid by bring Lamar off the bench. You'll also pissoff Lamar. So you bring him off the bench ahead of who? Lamar? no, can't handle the rock like Lamar and they both have similar mid- range games. Ariza? no, can't defend as well as Ariza and not as athletic and doesn't know the system. So you put him ahead of Walton and bump Powel to the inactive list. So signing McDyess get you an 11th man who plays garbage time minutes in a blowout. It doesn't make any sense. The only pickup that makes sense for the Lakers is at PG where they are thin and Guard in general. They have only 4 players at the Guard position. A 5th Guard would seem logical since Sun Yue is not ready to be in the NBA.
Posted by: dymandave | November 03, 2008 at 07:08 PM
LakerTom,
Marc Gasol is a beast. 25 and 13 tonight. We kept the wrong Gasol! haha j/k.
Posted by: Xodus | November 03, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Tom,
27 and 16. Maybe Kupcheck can see something!
Posted by: never | November 03, 2008 at 07:22 PM
Freakin Marc Gasol just had to blow up against my Fantasy Team.
We aren't going to sign McDyess. I mean what position could we use him for? Backup PF? Odom and Odom is more talented than McDyess. Plus we got Josh Powell though McDyess could be an upgrade over Powell. Backup C? Got already Chris Mihm not to mention DJ Mbenga.
McDyess would be a good backup PF if we already didn't have a better backup PF.
-blitz
Posted by: kobeblitz | November 03, 2008 at 07:25 PM
We are kinda seeing the end of an era, a changing of the guard so to speak.
Players like AI and Jason Kidd will be lucky to make 50% of their expiring contracts next year, whereas Kobe is more than worth the 27 million for 5 years (135 mil total)he can recieve if he choses to opt out.
I wouldn't be too confident that Kobe will take a cut to help the team's payroll situation with the Salary Cap. Some of you seem to think it's a foregone conclusion that Kobe will sign for about 20-22 million, but now you're talking about Kobe losing out on 25-35 million total. Highly doubtful he will pass (no pun intended).
Would any of you give up 35 million?
Posted by: You Ever NOtice | November 03, 2008 at 07:31 PM
ed slauselbucket,
Voting for the lesser of two evils is pragmatic.
Pragmatic people get things done.
Non-pragmatic people get the crap kicked out of them by life and earn the respect of NO ONE.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 03, 2008 at 07:35 PM
Ummm... so... Marc Gasol scoring 27 and 16 is pretty good for a rookie.
Umm... yeah... I guess it is.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 03, 2008 at 07:41 PM
Don't get me wrong. I'm glad we made the trade for Pau. Stilll, it may not be as bad a trade by Memphis as many have suggested.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 03, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Looking at the Mavericks-Cavaliers Game, it seems that the Mavericks aren't going to make the playoffs.
Kidd is well past his prime. The only ones who are really a concern is Dirk and Josh Howard. Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse are also declining and while Terry has scored 17ppg so far, he had to shoot more to get it (37% shots made). '
AK or BK, hope Mark Cuban doesn't get too pissed off at his team that he again bans bloggers.
-blitz
Posted by: kobeblitz | November 03, 2008 at 07:44 PM