Creamed Cheese
On the heels of a loss to the Pacers better described as "frustrating" than "heartbreaking" (the latter 
descriptor needs to be earned), the last thing the Lakers wanted to look like was back to back hacks. And while their 114-102 win over the Sixers was hardly the textbook lockdown display Phil Jackson had hoped to watch, the Lakers' offense also ensured that Philly never truly threatened the outcome. A lead swole up to 18 entering the fourth quarter was protected, albeit with a ferocity slightly below that of a rabid pit bull. Lotta points poured in by Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant (who celebrated his dazzling of Andre Iguodala and a now encouraging crowd with a cheesesteak). Just slightly lower in the scoring department was Andrew Bynum, although his rebound contribution to the box score was definitely lacking.
Also lacking, according to PJ, is Drew's judgment when it comes to substitution patterns. More specifically, it ain't none of the kid's bidness.
The Lakers, however, are racking wins like nobody's bidness, their total now sitting at an eye-popping 15-2. The clip may not strike PJ as the stuff to lap his '96 Bulls (no offense intended), it's certainly good enough that ESPN is endorsing the Lakers as the west's unquestioned best. The true #2? Something of a cloudy question.
OTHER NOTES
- Magic discusses his building of an empire.
- Never underestimate the drawing power of Eddy Curry. Or a good old fashioned soap opera. Actually, make that a comedy of errors.
- Baron Davis wants to lift the Clip, not to mention the entire city of L.A. Sadly enough, the latter seems like an easier goal.
- Chauncey Billups has dramatically helped the Nuggs upon arrival. Corey Maggette with the Warriors? Not so much.
- Jax is all growns up and he's all growns up.
- Send your best wishes to Rodney Rogers, paralyzed in a car accident.
- A heart condition might force Cuttino Mobley into early retirement.
- A look at Greg Oden v. Derrick Rose.
- Marc Gasol is already getting jerseys retired in Memphis.
To begin with, I think the Lakers will have to win more than 70 games to get home
court advantage. If they have best record, they will win the Finals in 5 or 6 games.
If the Celtics hold home court, then it will be a 7-game evenly matched series.
Posted by: LakerTom | December 04, 2008 at 11:03 AM
KUDOS KUDOS KUDOS That was a magnificent piece of writting LakerTom.!
Posted by: mamba24 | December 04, 2008 at 11:33 AM
"For all you Faker Fans
Rajon Rondo stats for last night against the Pacers
16 points 17 assists 13 rebounds
Fisher and Farmar's stats against the Pacers (combined)
14 points 6 assists 3 rebounds
At every position the Celtics are better than the Fakers with the exception of Kobe , and Ray Allen was the better player in the Finals last year.
Open your eyes Faker fans, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. the Fakers don't play defense, they don't have it in them. They have a coach whose ego doesn't allow him to change with the times.
a good example are the Trailblazers, notice the improvement as the season progresses, now notice how stagnant the Fakers look.
Boy I feel sorry (not) for you delusions of grandeur. We are a better team than last year and your savior Bynumb gets a whole 3 rebounds last night. Perkins et al will just bully Bynumb and the rest of you and then you can say you lost with class while the Celtics are enjoying another championship."
***MAL*cough*ARKY***
The clover leafs must be feelin' it if they're coming on our blog and trying to convince us of their superiority. Even Pierce (who is by far the biggest "faker") is talking about the Lakers. Sad, sad.
Did you know malarky means empty rhetoric or exaggerated talk? Guess the clover leafs don't. Poor clover leafs. So full of....yep. Malarky.
I love that word a little too much...
Posted by: longtimelakerlover | December 04, 2008 at 11:35 AM
When we win championship, under PJ, I bet you not going to be here to admit you're wrong, don't you? Posted by: LAL_Fan | December 04, 2008 at 11:19 AM
THIS BLOG IS HOT, HOT HOT! TODAY. HAHAHAHAAH
Posted by: Mamab24 | December 04, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Boston Owns The Lakers,
There is NO WAY that you can compare those two games and come out looking credible. So I already know that your an Idiot right off the start for even trying!!
The Pacers were at home when they played the Lakers and they played out of their minds And. that was just because they were so hyped about playing the best team in the NBA, They were playing beyond their means. NO WAY COULD THE PACERS EVER DUPLICATE THAT PERFORMANCE!!
When they WENT TO Boston to play last night, they were clearly more relaxed and lacked the sense of urgency because they have already BEAT the Celtics already and they pose no REAL threat!!
Kinda like how the Lakers used to play down to lesser opponents who they KNOW they can beat, but just trying to save their energy for the teams they really WANT to beat!!
Posted by: warren with butterknives | December 04, 2008 at 11:39 AM
KAMBROTHERS YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST
Posted by: MAMBA24 | December 04, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Get that cannoli out of your ass and get a cluePosted by:
EastCoastJessie | December 04, 2008 at 11:31 AM
EastCoastJessie!!! Tell it!!!
Posted by: Mamba24 | December 04, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Pig,
"Out of curiosity, Charles, when did you officially become king of the blog? (j/k of course homey)"
Of course that's a joke. Way more props to other peeps here before me. I believe we are all Stately and Noble here. I'm just trying to be like you all.
Peace with Chicken Grease. No pun intended.
Posted by: Charles | December 04, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Ex,
Could not agree more. I think it's the essence of sport that a coach earns his cred in preparation, strategy and in laying the foundation of a team's culture. During the game, the team is expected to make most tactical level decisions itself.
There's a reason teams have captains and seniority. Team success and the game itself are diminished when athletes are treated as mere followers of directions.
Posted by: The D | December 04, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Boston Owns the Fakers = Butler
See the spelling of Bynum.
Posted by: The Extraordinary Mutli-Poster | December 04, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Sounds like there should be another round of Jackson Journals. LOL!
But what good would it do. Everyone already knows PJ is out of touch with NBA players today. Plus, I read PJ said this: We are what we are: And that is a very good offensive team.
Gee, here we are some 3 years after almost everyone is yelling for defense and just now PJ is acknowledging that all the Lakers are is an offensive team.
I'm afraid it's too little too late. The Lakers are stuck with the weak legged Gasol and an immature Bynum as their defensive foundation.
They can't get it done against the Pacers, Celtics or the Pistons...and PJ know it. That why he made his statement about the Lakers being an offensive team.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | December 04, 2008 at 11:52 AM
pfunk
You need to work on your reading comprehension. I did not say that ingame adjustments are not important, I said that they are not nearly as important as preparing a team.
A team that is properly prepared
1) can make the necessary adjustments on their own, or
2) is already well-versed in the alternate plan that has been prepared, and knows what to do when the coach decides to switch tactics.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 04, 2008 at 11:54 AM
"The Lakers got back their easy offensive groove, albeit not their hard defensive edge, in a 114-102 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. They bounced back from their at-the-buzzer loss in Indiana well enough to win again and reach 15-2 but left Lakers coach Phil Jackson dissatisfied with the defense, saying: “We are what we are: a good offensive team.”"
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | December 04, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Bynum countered: “I might've gotten some in the last six minutes. You never know. You never know until the fat lady sings. He (Jackson) sings for me a lot.”
~~ Wow, PJ is now in a different generation. When he was a player of the Knicks that captured the Championship, nobody admonishes a coach. Today his star young center who recently learned how to play basketball, accuses him as the fat lady...no, no, he's still the stubborn bald gentleman who sings differently. Hey Phil, welcome to the 21st Century.
I think these players are taking the cues from the blog, they don't accept a mere W as an answer, Drew wants playing time in the 4th if they expect him to rebound and defend more. Luke Walton is looking forward to play in the 4th, Sun Yue just wants to wear a Laker uniform in the 4th and tired of wearing a dressed coat! It appears that winning games permeates ambition, while ambition breeds intense intrigues to improve further, everyone wants to communicate with each other even when playing, (hello Jordan, can I text u when your man is on the move? It will be my problem.) NBA Coaches are now expected to be a master human behavior in balancing expectations while holding players egos at bay. These are the challenges of the modern day Coach, winning is not enough, it has to be digitally substantial??? lol!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | December 04, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Charles/Pig,
No, there's a clear hierarchy in this blogmunity.
Rulers: Kamenetsky Brothers
Aristocracy: Mamba24, utzworld, Charles, Faith
Elite: LakerTom, Pig, justanothermambafan, exheldovr, longtimelakerfan, hobbitmage, lakers_sth, pslakersfan, zen, Floyd, Fatty
Underworld Boss: Micheal Teniente
Unwashed Masses: Everybody else.
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Michael C. Teniente,
"Sounds like there should be another round of Jackson Journals. LOL!"
Bring it on, Mike!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Of course it's Butler. That's the only way he can post on here, seeing as his beloved Suns (by the way, we just moved to AZ and my son came home and told me that S.U.N.S. stands for See U Next Season..hahaha) are choking. How can you validate the fact that their starting center has to sit out multiple games? ALL THE TIME? It's unacceptable. I get why. I understand he's old and needs to be coddled, but it's unacceptable for all the other players. Not that I feel sorry for them, I don't. But can't EVER see the Lakers doing anything like that.
So sad, really. See U Next Season....
Posted by: longtimelakerlover | December 04, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Jon K -
Hey, I wash.
*sniffs*
Posted by: longtimelakerlover | December 04, 2008 at 12:03 PM
Hey Mamba (Larry),
I tell you I just can't stand these dumbass Celtics fans.
Missed you guys though...how about those lovely Lakers (minus the Pacers of course)? Just got myself an early X-mas gift and got tix to the Lakers game here in Boston. Even if I'm the only gold jersey in all of Boston (highly doubtful), I will represent loud and proud.
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | December 04, 2008 at 12:04 PM
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN LAKER NATION
MIKE T. HAS NOW JOINED THE FRAY
Rock on Laker Blog, Rock ON!!
Posted by: Mamba24 | December 04, 2008 at 12:05 PM
hobbitmage - you could've stopped at "Hmmm ... In case you're not being sarcastic" because I was being sarcastic.
All of the changes the Lakers have made to their philosophy this year is b/c of what Boston did to them in the Finals. The focus on D, the appointing of Rambis as the defense czar, is b/c Boston hangs their hat on their D and b/c of Thibodeau. The uproar over one loss? Because the repeatedly stated goal of the team, from the coaches on down is to secure home court advantage throughout the playoffs and, b/c of that loss, the Lakers are currently 1.5 games behind Boston.
And, even though people don't agree with me, I'm pissed that the Lakers haven't learned how to play with a lead against good teams - particularly b/c it's what the Lakers did in 2 losses in the Finals. It's too late to learn the lessons at that point. So, yeah, I'd rather the Lakers figure out how to address that before they get there. I believe the Lakers have the talent to thoroughly beat anybody, but not the mentality yet.
I also think it's important that the Lakers beat Boston and Cleveland in the regular season b/c it speaks to how the teams match-up and they are probably who the Lakers will face in the Finals - and I do fully expect the Lakers to get there.
Posted by: lakers_sth | December 04, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Michael C. Teniente,
Why do you think that Phil Jackson is NOT playing Josh Powell more? For all the life in me, I cannot figure it out.
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Hey Boston Owns...
The Lakers lost to the Pacers by... 1.
Your Mighty Celtics lost to them earlier in the year by...16
Oh, and in that game Rondo had....2 Pts!
Posted by: ShowtimeTake2 | December 04, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Aristocracy: Mamba24, utzworld, Charles, Faith
Elite: LakerTom, Pig, justanothermambafan, exheldovr, longtimelakerfan, hobbitmage, l
akers_sth, pslakersfan, zen, Floyd, Fatty
Underworld Boss: Micheal Teniente
Unwashed Masses: Everybody else. Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 11:58 AM
NO, No, No, I want am one of the @sses JON K . LISTEN CAREFULLY:
STEP BACK FROM THE TABLE AND GENTLY PUT THE DIT DA JOW CUP DOW.
THEN TUEN TAKE THREE STEPS AND GET THE PURPLE AND GOLD PILL.
Please Jon K I beg of You. LOL!!
.
Posted by: Mamba24 | December 04, 2008 at 12:12 PM
longtimelakerlover,
Then you need to join the "Elite" by either intrigue, creativity, blackmail, hard-work, deceit, or revolution!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 12:13 PM
There is no hierarchy on the blog. It's a basketball website and everyone has equal standing... because it's a basketball website.
BK
Posted by: kambrothers | December 04, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Even if I'm the only gold jersey in all of Boston (highly doubtful), I will represent loud
and proud. Posted by: EastCoastJessie | December 04, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Hey Jessie & if one of those freakin fans ask you a question here's what you say:
WE'RE THE FREAKIN LA LAKERS WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!
Posted by: Mamba24 | December 04, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Open letter to Phunk36
Your anger and voracity of hate directed towards Phil Jackson and Luke Walton is unhealthy.I recommend that you seek psychiatric help..........Bill Walton
Posted by: Bill Walton... | December 04, 2008 at 12:17 PM
ltll,
>>Hey, I wash.
>>
>>*sniffs*
Don't cry longtimelakerlover. I think he was confusing you with
me - he did the all lowercaseoneword thing, but with "fan" instead
of "lover".
I'll be right back, I'm going to go roll around in some mud.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | December 04, 2008 at 12:17 PM
A team that is properly prepared 1) can make the necessary adjustments on their own, or
2) is already well-versed in the alternate plan that has been prepared, and knows what
to do when the coach decides to switch tactics. Posted by: exhelodrvr
| December 04, 2008 at 11:54 AM
CHECK.
Posted by: MAMBA24 | December 04, 2008 at 12:18 PM
There is no hierarchy on the blog. It's a basketball website and everyone has equal standing... because it's a basketball website. Posted by: Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky | December 04, 2008 at 12:1
MATE
Posted by: MAMBA24 | December 04, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Michael C. Teniente,
"Sounds like there should be another round of Jackson Journals. LOL!"
~~That's the Mike T. that I know who writes brilliant strategies in basketball without engaging in rough and tumble of insults. If your ideas are criticized, belittled and bypassed, listen to criticisms and don't despair. Silence is golden. We need Mike T as a fellow Laker fan not an enemy combatant w/o any other ideas except mouthing on Kwame or anti PJ! Keep it up, many of us here will be looking forward to your JJ. Please don't make it too long, I will fall asleep. lol!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | December 04, 2008 at 12:22 PM
BK,
"There is no hierarchy on the blog. It's a basketball website and everyone has equal standing... because it's a basketball website."
I wish somebody had informed me of this before I created a "chain of command" flow chart ranking ALL of our readers. There's six months of my life I'll never get back again.
AK
Posted by: kambrothers | December 04, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Jon K,
Regarding your post on:
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Thanks for the kind words, but you should take my name out and add your name to the list BAB's. Bad Ass Bloggers.
Plus there are a lot of BAB unnamed posters Xodus, All Justa's, JWalter, Tim-4, Hugo, Edwin Gueco, The Lamar Show, Toad, Laker Tom, Eric M and basically everyone on that roll call.
The other music and food blog's I belong to don't have the Communal feel that's for sure.
Posted by: Charles | December 04, 2008 at 12:23 PM
@EastCoastJessie:
Best and funniest post of the season.
I was LMAO.
Concur with everything said. This young team will learn and get even better. In June we will punk the C's and send the chowds back to drinking haterade again.
Posted by: Ice | December 04, 2008 at 12:23 PM
There is no hierarchy on the blog. It's a basketball website and everyone has equal standing... because it's a basketball website.
BK
Posted by: Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky
There it is fam bam!
Posted by: Charles | December 04, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Charles/Pig,
No, there's a clear hierarchy in this blogmunity.
Rulers: Kamenetsky Brothers
Aristocracy: Mamba24, utzworld, Charles, Faith
Elite: LakerTom, Pig, justanothermambafan, exheldovr, longtimelakerfan, hobbitmage, lakers_sth, pslakersfan, zen, Floyd, Fatty
Underworld Boss: Micheal Teniente
Unwashed Masses: Everybody else.
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K.
Isn't it more like - The regulars-? As in always here day in n day out.
Posted by: Magia32 | December 04, 2008 at 12:26 PM
BK,
Your feigned attempts at supporting anarchy in this blogmunity will not be tolerated.
These Machivellian machinations are not appreciate on our (the unwashed masses) part.
We all know who's in charge. Don't deny it, your dark lordship!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 12:31 PM
BK,
So is it that some are more equal than others ala "Animal Farm"? Is that what's it's come to, eh BK?
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 12:34 PM
You can also join the "Elites" by sipping lattes or driving a Prius.
Posted by: EJK | December 04, 2008 at 12:35 PM
"Why do you think that Phil Jackson is NOT playing Josh Powell more? For all the life in me, I cannot figure it out."
Powell is just another version of Turiaf. The Lakers let Turiaf walk for a reason. With Bynum back there were no minutes for Turiaf. Powell took Turiaf's place on the roster.
The Lakers aren't in need of energy. There in need of a solid defensive big man to force teams to play out of a halfcourt set.
Right now teams don't respect the Lakers defensive middle. That's why they attack the lane and rim regularly.
PJ see it. Most of the media sees it. That's why the media is starting to question the Lakers defense even in wins. That's why PJ said the Lakers are an offensive team.
The writing is on the wall. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Lakers pull a trade.
The stakes are as such: Kobe Bryant will walk if the Lakers don't win it all this year. So the Lakers have to be watching how their defense is working, even in wins.
That's because if it continues to be problematic then they know it means no championship this year. No championship this year probably means no Kobe next year.
The Lakers can't trade Gasol because he's perfect at the 4 spot but weak to terrible at the 5 spot defensively. The Lakers don't want to trade Bynum but if the defense continues to struggle it's a possiblity they might have to consider.
The next option is to trade Odom. But what can Odom bring that will address their need for a defensive big body? Again, it goes back to Bynum being the only real chip the Lakers have to bargin with.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | December 04, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Magia32,
The unwashed masses are always present and, thus, ARE the regulars.
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Thanks Ice...but I want the Lakers to CRUSH them on Dec.25th and again on Feb.5th before we CRUSH them again in June. Sorry, my hate for green is just oozing today. :-)
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | December 04, 2008 at 12:36 PM
POST OF THE DAY:
There is no hierarchy on the blog. It's a basketball website and everyone has
equal standing... because it's a basketball website.
Posted by: Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky
There it is fam bam! Posted by: Charles | December 04, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Posted by: MAMBA24 | December 04, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Hey Boston Owns, I'll tell you what though, the Phoenix Suns suck.
They should TRADE NASH, right?
Posted by: Lakers Own the NBA, Welcome Back Green Weenies | December 04, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Here is a die-hard Laker Fan who was not impressed with last nights victory.
Same old problems are still there.
1. PGs that couldn't guard a paperweight and keep it out of the key if there life depended on it.
2. After playing Clippers twice the Defense now seems like something of the past. Was it a gimmick defense and now teams are figuring it out or even worse they refuse to show the effort needed to play D. D is all about hustle and effort and now that is gone. WHY? Is it cause we are not playing the Clippers every other day or does Phil really only care about the offense.
3. As long as PJ sticks with Fish and Rad in the starting unit keep expecting slow starts and being behind from the beginning. Phil seems to be proud of his 2nd unit being 1 of the best, how about having 1 of the best starting units instead?
4. PJ and Kobe still have there egos which I am afraid will cost the Lakers another chance at a trophy. PJ and his game adjustments just SUCK! And Kobe is still to much about himself. Everytime he sees a Vince, McGrady, it becomes a personal battle everytime and forgets about the team thing. This is why I always hate the last 5 minutes of the game. It is just Kobe 1 on 1 everytime. You might get 1 pass from him but that is it.
Kobe is a great player no doubt about it..off the charts, but team player only when he has to. Like after he takes 3 shots in a row he might feel the need to pass.
I still think the Lakers can become the best team this year but at this time its still Boston. Till Phil Jackson figures out on how to stop PG penetration into the paint and the Lakers quit making all these journeyman look like Superstars its not going to happen. You see what Berrea did to the Lakers? He looked like Pistol Pete!
Rondo is going to eat up Fish or Jordy. The PG position
needs to be upgraded before we can win it all. The Defense must figure something out to keep them out of the paint.
Bynum take it to PJ! PJ cost the Lakers last year and good thing this 21 year old kid says what is on his mind.
Things like the point guards can't keep anybody out of the lane. OUCH! I like this one after the Indiana game.. The guys just quit playing after they got the 15 pt lead in the 4th period. Once thing about Bynum he is bruttally honest.
Everyone states why isn't he rebounding. Have you noticed he rebounds just fine for the 2nd unit. Reason why they feed him the ball and they look for him, Ariza, Farmar, Sasha. 1st unit forget it. They never pass him the ball down low, Kobe has to get his. I think we went through this with Shaq I am pretty sure about feeding the big dog down low. He is not involved in the 1st unit play so why rebound or hustle, he never gets the ball. Might as well bring him off the bench with the 2nd unit.
You know why the 2nd unit is so good?? They pass the ball around unlike when it stays in Kobes hands for 20 out of the 24 seconds on the clock. Give me the Big 4, LO,Ariza, Sasha, Farmar and Bynum and they would kick the shit out of the 1st unit. PJ the Bozo should have Ariza and Farmar starting but no...Old man fish and Space Cadet have to start. Boston should be licking there chops right now. I know Rondo is... Who's guarding me... a guy named Fish and hes 40 years old, can't wait till Christmas.
Bynum keep talking and expose PJ. The media won't.
Yes he has 9 rings due to the great talent he had but he has lost 2 finals in a row and been outcoached by both. Geez...Doc Rivers even out coached him.. What a disgrace. At least Doc knew to become good they had to play DEFENSE!
Anyway GO Lakers and please show a little heart and effort and play some D. I am starting to think it was just a mirage.
Oh yea...15-2 is pretty good. LOL!
BD
Posted by: BD | December 04, 2008 at 12:39 PM
BK, Your feigned attempts at supporting anarchy in this blogmunity will not be tolerated.
These Machivellian machinations are not appreciate on our (the unwashed masses) part.
We all know who's in charge. Don't deny it, your dark lordship! Posted by: Jon K.
| December 04, 2008 at 12:31 PM
NO NO NO JON K! BEWARE OF THE DARKSIDE!!
PLEASE OBE WA KENKOBE ONLY YOU CAN HELP US NOW
Posted by: | December 04, 2008 at 12:39 PM
jon K -
Or I could just not wash...
Posted by: longtimelakerlover | December 04, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Charles,
Why did you include me in the BAB's? No, we are the FFBAB's on the sidelines. Please include there lakeraholic, pfunk36, chuck32, LTLF, VMan, Zen, Kiwi, Wow and Kobeblitz as Flip Flopping BAB's.
Dunno what we like!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | December 04, 2008 at 12:42 PM
When we win championship, under PJ, how do you know that it is because of PJ or despite of PJ? Or because of Kurt Rambis took over the defensive training of the team? Or simply because of the players?
Just because a rooster crows at the break of dawn does not mean that it is responsible for the sunrise!!
Posted by: PJDoubter | December 04, 2008 at 12:46 PM
"pfunk
You need to work on your reading comprehension. I did not say that ingame adjustments are not important, I said that they are not nearly as important as preparing a team."
exhelodrvr
I understood you perfectly..........I just disagree. In-game adjustments are CRITICAL.........not just in basketball but in life. In basketball it is a DIRECT responsibility of the coach to make these adjustments......NOT THE PLAYERS........for it is the coach who has the final say..........Otherwise why pay a coach?
In-game adjustments is the difference between winning and losing.........life and death...........especially if you are evenly matched. It is called strategy..........thinking on your feet.
I don't know if you have ever played the game yourself but sometimes when you are participating in the game you can't see everything a knowledgable person can see who is watching the game from the sideline.
Usually if you are involved in the game you can only see bits and pieces of what is happening out there............where the weakside help is coming from............who is making digs at the bigs...............Are they bringing a help defender to the strong side utilizing zone principles against certain players or are they doing it against everybody?
These are things that a coach should be monitoring while watching the game so they can advise the players as to what is going on out there...............similar to what a good manager does for a boxer in a tough fight.
Basketball is a series of adjustments especially today because the rules have changed in the last 7 or 8 years. Jordan never saw defenses that can be comprised today.
Defenses today such as Boston can totally disrupt your offense by taking something away...........especially an offense like the triangle.
Phill Jackson has just started using aspects of the zone rules with his defensive schemes and this rule has been in affect since about 2000....................What has he been doing in practice the last 9 years???
Did they even teach defensive concepts? No wonder they signed Luke Walton to a 6 year contract.............The team has no defensive concept to speak of........which is the basis for determining personnel.
Ira Newble could have helped against Pierce last year.............but defense wasn't a priority for Phil Jackson.........Phil was lost ..........and exposed.
Can't you see this?
Posted by: pfunk36 | December 04, 2008 at 12:47 PM