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.
Michael C. Teniente,
"Powell is just another version of Turiaf."
I don't agree with you on this one. If you watch Powell play, he's more physical and a better shot blocker and rebounder than Turiaf, which is why I don't understand why Phil Jackson is not playing him. He brings more than just energy to the court.
Let's say the Lakers move to make a trade of Odom or Bynum (which I don't think they will). If that did happen, who would you suggest that the Lakers pick up with matching salaries?
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 12:48 PM
ExHelo,
"The most important part of coaching is preparing your team for the game. That is far more important than making adjustments during the game. Teams that are well-prepared are able to make adjustments on their own.
Magic32
WOW, seriously?
Helo,
Magic32 is correct. You are one of my favorite posters, a VERY smart guy, and I agree with you 99% of the time, BUT this "Game Mgmt. Doesn't matter" line of yours is.....one of the (with all due respect) dumbest things I've ever read on the blog. And I would NEVER say that to you, if you weren't WAAAAAAY off in left field.
It's like saying you've made a good opening chess move and the rest doesn't matter. You must re-think. It is not a tenable position.
A game of hoops is much like a chess game is some ways. It can have thousands of different outcomes on the same night, with the same teams, depending on who a coach plays, when subs are made, and what strategy the two coaches use.
Did I say you were one of my favorite posters? lol
I hope you take this post in the good spirit it is meant.
Posted by: Eric M. | December 04, 2008 at 12:48 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
NOW THEY'VE DONE IT! THEY'VE EVEN LURED MY GREAT MENTOR INTO
THIS DEVILISH BREW!! MMMMM The Force is strong in that one.
Please YODA I know we can turn JON K and Mike T back from the dark side
......TO BE CONTINUED IN A BLOG LONG AGO AND FAR FAR AWAY
Posted by: MAMBA24 | December 04, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Bill Walton,
I want to apologize for some of the seedier elements of Laker Nation who have taken unfair pot shots at your son, esteemed former Laker starter Luke Walton. I know Luke had a bad year last year, but he's a good player.
Why Phil Jackson is not giving him, Chris Mihm, and Josh Powell more minutes is completely beyond me. Phil knows much more about basketball than I do, but, on the surface, he does not appear to be using our depth to its fullest ability.
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 12:59 PM
AK,
" wish somebody had informed me of this before I created a "chain of command" flow chart ranking ALL of our readers."
So I get nothing out of that $10 I sent you?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 04, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Basketball coaching at the NBA level is probably 60% preparation, 35% player development, and 5% in-game adjustments.
If the first two items are handled properly, the third item is of RELATIVELY (as in, relative to the other two) minor significance, because most of the work has already been done.
i.e. If you see this, do this. If you see that, do this other thing.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 04, 2008 at 01:03 PM
pfunk,
"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?"
While I see your point, I'm going to side with exheldovr on this one.
Yes, it is the responsibility of a coach to make adjustment, but if a coach can coach/prepare his team so well that they can make properly assess the situation and make adjustmens on their own without being prompted to by the coach, well THAT is a true indication of great coaching. That is zen. Doing without doing.
That is a team that understands basketball and isn't that what a coach, any coach, hopes for their team?
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 01:04 PM
You guys telling Phil how to coach, what next?
You gonna tell Kobe how to dribble?
You gonna tell Manny how to hit?
You gonna tell Manning how to throw?
You gonna tell Spielberg how to direct?
You gonna tell Hanks how to act?
You gonna tell Gehry how to design buildings?
You gonna tell Kanye how to Rap?
PJ is one of the two or three best coaches in the league. PERIOD.
There is not any question about this, and every coach and player
in the league would agree with this statement.
If some of you were coaching the team, we would currently be
8-9 and you'd be bragging about what a good coach you are.
I'm no better. I'd be a mediocre coach, but at least I'm smart enough to
see that even if I don't agree with what Phil does every moment of
every game, he knows what he's doing better than I do.
EXACTLY Long Time Laker Fan.
To those people who say crap about PJ (you know who I'm talking about), why don't *YOU* try coaching the Lakers and when you get losses how you feel about us criticizing YOU!?
I would probably be a mediocre coach as well (never know heck maybe one of us could be a good coach). But you guys just love to criticize our wins (save for the Celtic fans).
Back in the OC Register, there was an article of who was poll by GM's of the best coach in the NBA currently. Guess who was it?? PJ Carlisimo. Joke! It was Phil Jackson.
Is he 100% correct all the time? No way! No coach is. But almost every GM would pick Phil Jackson over any of you PJ Doubters!!
-blitz
Posted by: kobeblitz | December 04, 2008 at 01:06 PM
To those who keep taking shots at PJ, you guys are like checkers players criticizing a chess grandmaster. Aside from the fact he's got 9 rings to prove he knows what he's doing, a lot of his moves are NOT just for the game in question, but for the season and the playoffs.
His moving of Lamar to the second unit was a stroke of genius. I can't think of another coach in the league who would have thought of that or been able to pull it off and keep Lamar happy. Also, the way the two units are giving key players lots of resting time is brilliant. You want your best players to have fresh legs when playoffs roll around. Kobe definitely had tired legs in the Boston series, and it made a huge difference. This year, watch out. He's going to run them ragged.
Also, the way his subtle digs at certain players (Bynum, Kobe) and protection of other players (Lamar, Luke, Vlad) are designed to get better performance out of them or style of play changes are another unique characteristic of his that no other coach can pull off.
It needs to be said that his coaching last year, in my opinion, was perhaps his best ever. He managed to maneuver the Lakers a year early into the NBA Finals despite not having Bynum, Arriza, or Mihm the last half of the season or the playoffs.
This year, he's going to get #10, baby! And all you "Phil-deniers" can go pout over a good game of checkers with your grandpas.
Posted by: CornerJ | December 04, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Jon,
>>>>>I say it's time to follow Magic Johnson's (who I might add has a statue
>>>>>outside of Staples Center) lead.
I say there is only one team in the NBA to root for – Lakers. Anything else is tantamount to cheating on your wife, girl friend, or significant other. Even if the G.O.A.T. says so!
Even though Baron is a former Bruin and I wish him well, the Clippers sucked before, suck now, and will forever suck in the future. And soon all of the players that you and AK have always overrated – like Elton “Got No Game No More” Brand and Cutino “Can’t Get It Done” Mobley and Chris “He’s No Andrew Bynum” Kaman – who have proved they could never win anything, will soon be mere role players on mediocre teams. In fact, Lamar Odom may be the only ex-Clipper to have a strong career after the Clippers.
I love you, brother, but the Clippers are just a bad habit you really need to learn to break. You can only love one NBA basketball team. All of the others are the enemy, including the Clippers, no matter how desperate and despicable they are. They are just lewd succubi looking to deflate you and drain your fandom. Stay true to purple and gold. LOL.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | December 04, 2008 at 01:08 PM
AK or BK, could you e-mail me pslakerfan's info? I would like to get in touch with him re: Lakers tickets!
Thanks.
Posted by: Emma | December 04, 2008 at 01:15 PM
Jon K.
1) Stop trying to be a homer for Clippers trash (Powell). Not saying he's a bad player but he was built for depth. Had Lamar started at SF he would have been backup PF. Who is better as a PF overall? Lamar Odom. It's no contest. Yet you question PJ over why he isn't playing Powell more than Odom's minutes?
You might as well say right now Pierce is better than Larry Bird.
btw, your boy Quetin Ross is injured. And you wanted us to get him! Also Shaun Livingston is still injured!
2) Chris Mihm is at best a solid backup. But anyone will say (even mike t.) that Pau is still by far the better center than Chris Mihm is. Why put a less talented person at center than Pau is. Oh don't even try me Jon Jon K. Try a look at this:
http://tinyurl.com/4zoaf2
An interesting note about it also shows a shadow of Chris Webber (he was no longer the PF of the early 2000's) juking out your other boy Kwa-may Brown.
Understand now why PJ is playing more Pau and Lamar over Mihm and Powell?
-blitz
Posted by: kobeblitz | December 04, 2008 at 01:17 PM
EastCoastJessie,
>>>>> Boston fans calling anyone fakers is a joke in and of itself.
>>>>>The biggest bandwagon is running right down Atlantic Ave. and right
>>>>>into the Gahhhden. What a loser!
I laugh when I go into a sports bar and see all of these young people wearing green KG jerseys, knowing not one of them had ever seen a winning Boston basketball team in their entire lives until last year. Fakers they definitely are. Good call, ECJ. Boston SUCKS!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | December 04, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Mike T
Excellent Post...........But the most valuable Piece the Lakers have is Lamar Odom's expiring contract. THEY MUST MAKE A TRADE BEFORE THE DEADLINE if they hope to win the championship. They have to shore up the guards because Fisher is not going to get it done ( I would have signed Flip Murray in the off-season but that's me)
I don't understand not playing Josh Powell either...........I think he could be a valuable addition THIS YEAR for the Lakers.........because he is physical and an athlete.
The sickness that is in Phil Jackson's mind is he can't justify playing Powell because where will that leave Walton? How do you justify paying Luke all that money for all those years........without admitting it was a mistake of monumental proportions?
These are the types of thoughts that determine some decisions Phil makes..........which is why he can't explain anything to Bynum........it just wouldn't make sense.
"Oh what tangled webs we weave when we first practice to deceive"
Posted by: pfunk36 | December 04, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Eric M,
"It's like saying you've made a good opening chess move and the rest doesn't matter. You must re-think. It is not a tenable position. "
When have I ever said that in-game adjustments did not matter? I said that they are much less important than the pre-game work, which is true.
It is highly unlikely that players, at this level, will see anything in a game that they have not seen before, especially if film study is including in "seeing before". So the players should know what to do in particular situations, because that has been practiced and gone over in meetings. They will have a pretty good idea of what to expect in the way of substitutions, because the pattern has been established by the coach, so the players on the bench can be anticipating when they will go in, what they should be looking for in the flow of the game. All that is done prior to the game. The system that is used/plays that are run/defense that is played should be designed - in advance - to optimize the performance of your roster. If the majority of this is done "on the fly", the team is not going to do very well.
If the coach is constantly running along the sidelines screaming at his team what play to run, or what defense they should be playing, he hasn't done his job. And the players don't perform as well in those situations.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 04, 2008 at 01:26 PM
Wow...I go off to work for a few hours and the place is a zoo!
Jon K. - Me in the Aristocracy? No, brother. Faith, LakerTom, Edwin, Mamba, Yourself and even Mike T. belong in my spot, brother.
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | December 04, 2008 at 01:27 PM
LakerTom,
If Magic Johnson can root for the Clippers than why can't you?
I'm not asking you to root for the Clippers over the Lakers! Heaven's no! Never!
But are you honestly going to tell me that if the Clippers are playing the Milwaukee Bucks or the Detroit Pistons or the FOREVER HATED Boston Celtics, that you'd rather see the Bucks, Pistons, or Celtics win INSTEAD of the Clippers?
Think of it this way. The rest of the NBA are the Lakers' enemies. Support the Clippers in beating the Lakers' enemies and then support the Lakers in beating the Clippers.
My enemy's enemy is my friend.
If Magic Johnson can accept that fact, so can you.
Go Clippers!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 01:32 PM
Also......
Zone Defense:
"When a shot is attempted, it is often harder for players in a zone to find counterparts to box out for the rebound, which sometimes results in an offensive player getting an easy offensive rebound."
Since sometimes we are using zone defense it is more likely that we will give up offensive rebounds. Man defense it is easier to box out not the zone. Have to understand this will happen.
"Dribble penetration is very effective in breaking down a zone. If a guard can dribble into the gaps in the zone, multiple defenders must converge on the ball. The ball handler can then often pass to an open teammate for a shot."
Most of you guys are still so so much into the man to man defense. Do you know how zone works? Even the current Laker scheme? How Philly attacked the zone defense is simple: The SG is usually free at the 3 point line when we go to contain the penetrator. Because Iguodala isn't a shooter he goes near the basket and when we did contain Miller, the Center/PF always set a screen in the middle and opened up a passing lane for Iguodala for an easy layup.
Boston's defense is also zone and would rather take perimeter shots from other teams. That's why Nellie's Golden State Warriors not only beat the Celtics last year but nearly upset them this year because they played to the weakness of the Celtics defense and just rain dropped perimeter shots. Golden State also uses zone and guess who had to save the Celtics? Ray Ray. KG shot like crap 39% (9-23) and Pierce also didn't have a nice night either 43% (6-14).
But wait isn't the Celtics more Physical?? They shouldn't have any problems with the Warriors because Warriors play small ball.
That's where we are so wrong. Zone defense is what slowed down the Celtics.
No defense is perfect. Understand that people. Contrary to what people say (most likely Troy) the Pacers had the perfect offense against our defense: outside shooting. Troy Murphy was a good outside shooter and that forced Lamar/Pau to be more near him and opened up lanes (why Radman is needed to open up the lanes for us!).
Try to understand that before saying this guy is a bad coach or not.
-blitz
Posted by: kobeblitz | December 04, 2008 at 01:37 PM
I have been reading this blog for almost a year and I still don't know the answer to this question.
IS MIKE T. A LAKER FAN?
Seriously I don't have a clue. Mike T. can you clear that up for me?
Posted by: pslakerfan | December 04, 2008 at 01:41 PM
kobeblitz,
I think you forgot to take your meds today.
You also seem to forget that Chris Mihm was are starting center and did pretty well for us in that position and he is back to pre-injury strength. Also, Pau Gasol is a MUCH better power forward than he is a center, particularly defensively.
I don't want to see Pau Gasol play one minute of center when we have Mihm and Mbenga available to play minutes.
Regarding Powell, you may not like him for being an ex-Clipper (which is insane), but if you've seen him play, he's played very well for us this year and he plays phsycial defense which is something we've been lacking this year. So, I see no reason to keep him tied to the bench when he obviously can benefit the team with minutes.
Regarding, Quinton Ross, I could not anticipate that he would be injured this year, but it does not change the fact that he's a lock-down perimeter defender and that is one of the areas where we most needed to improve from last year.
Regarding, Shawn Livingston, I'd rather have a injured Shawn Livingston on the bench with all his potential than an injured Sun Yue on the bench in D-League with no future.
So, in summary, I stand by my positions and your criticisms seem to be based more on a lack of medication/imbalance of crucial neurotransmitters than an actual honest and reasoned assessment of the situation at hand.
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 01:42 PM
Posted by The D
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.
So you are saying what all the world outside of LA knows, It's Kobe's fault.
I would also like to add that I loved Bynumb's comment that if he played in the the last 6 minutes he could have got more rebounds. Perhaps he could have got 3 more rebounds to double his total.
HA HA Fakers
Posted by: Boston Owns the Fakers | December 04, 2008 at 01:43 PM
If a coach other than PJ has MJ or Shaq/Kobe in his team, how do you know that he cannot win a championship? If PJ is responsible for the 9 rings, is he responsible for having 4 future HOF and lose the championship?
Some folks are giving PJ credit that was simply not there. Can you tell that Lakers simply do not have talented one-on-one defenders. Why were we play one-on-one matchup defense for the last 2 years? Why does it take so long to try team defense? And who is responsible of using our current team defense?
Posted by: PJDoubter | December 04, 2008 at 01:44 PM
Emma,
I would assume you can email Pslakerfan at the email listed below his most recent comments, no? PS, will that work?
In general, if most readers can try that first before asking BK and I to set up a connection, that would be great. We'll try if need be, but sometimes there's also no need for a middle man.
AK
Posted by: kambrothers | December 04, 2008 at 01:45 PM
pslakerfan,
"IS MIKE T. A LAKER FAN?"
Yes. He's just a bigger Mike T. and Kwame Brown fan than he is a Lakers fan.
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Mike T,
>>>>>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.
Yeah, like Kwame Brown? LMAO. We have Andrew Bynum. Nuff said.
>>>>>Right now teams don't respect the Lakers defensive middle.
>>>>>That's why they attack the lane and rim regularly.
Andrew Bynum is already recognized as among the top three centers in the league defensively and blocks or alters more shots in a week than Kwame did in a season. Did you see the defensive job that Drew put on Chris Bosh? I didn’t think so.
>>>>>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.
Get real, Mike. Phil was just trying to get the team to pay more attention to defense. It’s called reverse psychology but that may be too subtle for someone like you to understand. As for the media, that is just journalists stirring things up and trying to find an angle.
>>>>>The writing is on the wall. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Lakers pull a trade.
So that is what happened to the Jackson Journals. Your walls probably look like those of a serial killer or budding cartoonist. I would love to have you post Jackson Journals. We used to love laughing at them and then tearing them apart for their weak logic.
>>>>>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.
What a joke. And where do you think Kobe is going to go? Kobe will opt and sign a new contract whether the Lakers win it all or not this year. He is a Laker true and blue, unlike some pseudo fans that really don’t care about the team.
>>>>>The Lakers can't trade Gasol because he's perfect at the 4 spot but weak to terrible >>>>>at the 5 spot defensively.
Pau is the only one of the top three power forwards who can even play center. I would say he would probably rank among the top ten centers in the league even though he does not have the weight and strength to compete against the tougher centers. We went 35-8 with him at center. Oh, I forgot, he is why we got rid of your boy Kwame.
>>>>>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 Lakers defense has struggled for a few games but overall still ranks very high. You are completely mistaken if you think there is any chance that the Lakers will trade Bynum. He will be the next great Lakers center, although you will probably not be around then.
>>>>>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.
It is not out of the question that Odom would be traded, especially if we did not win the championship this year. But if we win, expect Jerry Buss to bring the entire team back for several encore performances. I doubt you will be around then but you are welcome.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | December 04, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Posted by ShowtimeTake2
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!
You make my point exactly
Rondo improved, just like a well coached player or team.
Has Luke improved? Vlade? Bynumb? Odumb? Fisher?
You can't improve when you run that antiquated Triangle offense and then play wussie trapping defense. Ray Allen and Eddie House will kill you again if you try that pansy defense against us.
HA HA
Bye Bye Faker Fans
Posted by: Boston Owns the Fakers | December 04, 2008 at 01:51 PM
Is Powell better than Odom or Gasol at PF? No.
Is Mihm better than Gasol or Bynum at C? No.
That is why they aren't playing much right now. The Lakers are using a three-man rotation to cover the PF and C spots, rather than 2 two-man rotations (1 per position). The coaching staff sees the flexibility of Odom and Gasol, and is smart enough to be taking advantage of it.
It also should tell you that the Lakers do not intend to trade Lamar mid-season, otherwise they would be playing Powell, Mihm, and Walton more in preparation for that.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 04, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Boston does SUCK, LakerTom. These bandwagoneers are an embarrassment to true basketball fans everywhere.
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | December 04, 2008 at 01:54 PM
PJ Doubter,
Other coaches have had Shaq/Kobe and MJ on their team, without winning.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 04, 2008 at 01:56 PM
CornerJ,
>>>>>To those who keep taking shots at PJ, you guys are like checkers players
>>>>>criticizing a chess grandmaster. Aside from the fact he's got 9 rings to prove
>>>>>he knows what he's doing, a lot of his moves are NOT just for the game
>>>>>in question, but for the season and the playoffs.
CornerJ lofts one from deep in the left corner and …..SWISH!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | December 04, 2008 at 01:58 PM
PFunk,
Very nice post regarding in-game adjustments.
Posted by: LAKER TRUTH | December 04, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Wow. I step away from my desk for a couple of hours... and the blog explodes. Suddenly there is a blogging hierarchy. Mike T. is back after a Lakers win. Jon K. is rooting for ex-Clippers... oh, wait, that's normal. (j/k, Jon)
All this armchair coaching, and the Lakers are still 15-2. This team made it to the Finals last year, folks. And they didn't have either Bynum or Ariza. Big difference.
No trades. No drastic lineup changes.
Just play with heart, energy, and conviction. Keep working on the defensive rotations. Make the right passes, and make them decisively. Stay healthy.
Go Lake Show!
Posted by: The Outlaw | December 04, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Laker Tom:
"They are just lewd succubi looking to deflate you and drain your fandom. Stay true to purple and gold."
That is so F'ing funny.
RMA
Posted by: RespectMyAuthoritah | December 04, 2008 at 02:06 PM
LakerTom,
You're doing it again. You're poking the bear. Come on, let's try to be civil with Michael Teniente, otherwise we bring out the worst in him.
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Jon K,
Hey thanks for including me on the Elite list (you did forget to include yourself on that list however)---I never thought any one would ever call me an elitist (ha ha-I have ever and always tried hard not to be one), but in the context of this list I feel humbly honored indeed Sir...
There are a LOT of bloggers on this blog who offer insightful, entertaining, and valued opinions about our beloved Lakers...
and then there are the mental defficients...
most of us may fluctuate between the two at times maybe (especially after a loss ha ha)
Anyway I too would like to see Powell ( and Mihm)inserted into different line ups--I think Powell is (or can be) an upgrade over Ronny (as much as I liked Ronny)--
Hopfully like you said, Jackson will start to utilize his depth (which is definitly one of our great strengths this year) more which will help us out in the long run etc.
" I'm going to start a war for peace"
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | December 04, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Jon K. You serious?
Your man-crushes on Mihm and Powell are getting ridiculous.
There's a reason those 2 are career bench warmers.
Pau is a better PF no doubt, but he is still one of the top centers in the league.
Have you forgotten how well Lakers played after acquiring Gasol? He played mostly C last season.
Posted by: Ice | December 04, 2008 at 02:08 PM
exhelodrvr,
It's not a matter of who's better. If that was teh case I'd be pushing for 48 minutes for Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum each.
It's a matter of using our depth appropriately to keep our level of effort, energy and defensive urgency up. That's what I'm talking about.
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakerss Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 04, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Jon,
>>>>> But are you honestly going to tell me that if the Clippers are playing the
>>>>>Milwaukee Bucks or the Detroit Pistons or the FOREVER HATED
>>>>>Boston Celtics, that you'd rather see the Bucks, Pistons, or Celtics win
>>>>>INSTEAD of the Clippers?
Yes, I would root for the Clippers over the Bucks, Pistons, and Celtics. But they are just lesser enemies. Again, there is only one team. What has happened is that fantasy sports tendencies and local familiarity has undermined and diluted the pureness and trueness of your Lakers fandom. You can respect other players on other teams and even respect how other teams play but in the end, they are not the Lakers; they are the competition.
As for the Clippers, I would think their miserable record year after year despite all of those supposedly “great” players they drafted with all of those lottery draft picks and the poor performance of almost every player who left the team or signed elsewhere shows that it was nothing more than local familiarity and loyalty that led you and AK to be so high on such a dismal and desperate franchise whose owner, GM, coach, and players can be summed up as nothing more than a bunch of big losers.
I mean, what other conclusion one could come to? Why don’t you make a list of current and past Clipper players and see how many really great or even good players are on that list. Elton Brand is just the latest example of an overrated ex-clipper player from Duke. You might as well root for Caveman and the German national team. LOL.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | December 04, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Laker Tom,
I really liked your post about the over reactions over a loss etc.
And I heartily agree that we should all enjoy every minute of this season...
I know I just like watching the Lakers play (always have)--I dig every season, every game, every play--for better and for worse...
I would rather watch a Laker game, even a loss (as much as I hate losing) than anything else that's on TV.
This season is special one in a long line of special ones...and that's why.....wait for it....
AS ALWAYS, AS EVER, YET ANOTHER GREAT DAY (AND SEASON) TO BE A LAKER FAN !!
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | December 04, 2008 at 02:16 PM
If LO doesn't return next year, I hope we can get Paul Millsap from the Jazz. I've always liked his game and he'd add interior strength and bulk to the team. The only problem is that we might confuse him with Drew too often.
Posted by: EJK | December 04, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Bynum is just the cornerstone of the Lakers future.
If Phil is great with preparing the team before a game then Phil should take the back seat like Tex Winters, Lakers need a Coach that is great in gametime decisions, Phil's major weakness.
Phil's health is also a concern. That's prpbably why he does not put much pressure on himself in gametime situations and just let the players adjust. Phil has caused us two Championships already, THE LAST TWO NBA FINALS, the 2004 and 2007!!
It's time for Phil Jackson to exit next year. Lakers should be grooming a head Coach already.
Posted by: Staples 24 | December 04, 2008 at 02:16 PM
No real time to post right now, just enough time to read and enjoy......
That the Blog is still the same....
Yesterday.......Today.........and Forever!
Mamba, if you are still around, put me down as 'Guardian of the Purple and Gold' and food taster.
Posted by: Fatty | December 04, 2008 at 02:17 PM
pfunk36,
Only the blind laker cheerleaders won't acknowledge the Lakers defensive problems. It's funny how they try to write around the problem, which makes their "logic" laughable.
The media is dropping hints. PJ says it outright and some of these cheerleaders are still in denial.
A trade is coming.
mike t.
Posted by: Michael C. Teniente | December 04, 2008 at 02:19 PM
i don't know what y'all problem is.
check the showtime laker's ppg allowed and scored and the allowed fg%. you'll see that this team measures up quite well. i remember how many times both the showtime lakers and the shaq/kobe lakers trailed or were even at half to put teams away in the third. heck, i remeber the chamberlain/west lakers having these kind of games in the MIDDDLE of the 33 game streak, which most of the children who claim to be long time fans never even saw. NONE OF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU"RE TALKING ABOUT, although it's fun for everyone to have all these opinions.
LAST NIGHT'S GAME WAS NEVER IN QUESTION! the lakers dominated, regardless of the stats.
look, i'm not claiming that the team is perfect, it's GOOD to be this dominant this early and STILL have room to improve! these guys will work on it.
to those who want another coach, who?
this team is in contention NOW and is at least co favorite to win it all. at this time in the season, things couldn't be better than that! let's pray for the team's good health. that will be much more vital than any of the peanut gallery's opinions.
Posted by: mud | December 04, 2008 at 02:19 PM
BK, I take offense in that. Am I not the QUEEN of the blog? haha, jk,
Man I'm getting tired of winning...not! lol.
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Faith | December 04, 2008 at 02:27 PM
PFunk
you're missing Ex's point about game preperation being more important than in game adjustments.
in your chess analogy, great game preparation would actually equate to being a chess grandmaster, already equipped with moves and counter moves.
that's just the way it is.
Posted by: joninjapan(incanada) | December 04, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Laker Tom,
Great reponse to Mike T.--you are the master indeed Sir.... Huzah !
" I happen to know that this is the lupin express"
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | December 04, 2008 at 02:29 PM
REPOST FROM THE OTHER BLOG TOPIC: Couple things I've been meaning to vent about & of course share...
Andrew and Sasha need to DEAD that crying everytime a foul is called,( ONE of the VETs, COACHEs, LEADERS, hell, whoEVER, needs to jump in their asses about that) And the body language, throwing a tantrum, flinging their arms, dropping their heads, incredulous facial expressions when a basket is scored on them or near them, a turnover, whatever.Leave the play where it ended, get back on D-fense and continue to play, continue to hustle, put the play behind you, I mean, really. Sometimes these TWO act like rookies! Regardless of their actual age, they've been in the league long enough... But those defeatest-like actions, dropping their heads and all that, have to go -- get over your bonehead plays and get back into the game!
I do believe WE need a next guard -- maybe someone like Thabo Sefolosha from the Bulls, but again, I don't know the workings of numbers or whatever, I just know he's long, athletic and seemingly a good fit for our type of offense..Imagine a backcourt of Thabo, Kobe, Ariza, Lamar and Pau or Bynum..(man, Length for days and with Pau, speed and quickness too)! Sweet..
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | December 04, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Outlaw,
Your post on:
Posted by: The Outlaw | December 04, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Was spot on. Leave for lunch and voila, the blog is alive and kicking...
Posted by: Charles | December 04, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Mud: I feel you what you are stating..."that's real talk"
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | December 04, 2008 at 02:33 PM