New 710 ESPN podkast, plus some wolfish numbers
Are you capable of reading and listening at the same time? If so, give this post a gander while checking out our newest 710 ESPN podkast with guest Patrick O'Neal of Fox Sports Net West (along with several acting credits, including my favorite, a nefarious teen in season one of Beverly Hills, 90210). He also recently conducted an amusing Dodger interview with Manny Ramirez and Angel Berroa. Patrick, BK and I discuss matters ranging from Pau Gasol's All-Star worthiness, which Laker is the best post-game interview and my brother's inability to remember days of the week.
In terms of the written word, tonight's opponent, the Minnesota Timberwolves, take residence in butt ass cold temperatures, but the squad's been nothing but white hot this month. A 10-3 January record has, to say the least, taken the league by slack-jawed surprise. Granted, they've only beaten two teams with winning records (Phoenix, New Orleans), but when you're a sub-.500 yourself and the three losses were against solid teams (Utah, Detroit and Miami), it's still fairly impressive.
For that matter, so are the team-wide numbers cobbled together as the month winds down. Numbers that fall somewhere between "solid" and "pretty damn good" when measured against league averages. And there's only so much a squad can improve with its members keeping their game in neutral. Checking out the core player's split stats for the month, you can see that by and large, dudes is bringing it.
Randy Foye: A nice 16/3/5 overall, he's putting up just under 19 per game in January, thanks to a bettered 45% clip from the field and a whopping 43% from behind arc, on nearly six treys per game. After seeing Lamar Odom allow Boris Diaw to connect from the far line and create a 103 overtime tie, need I remind how important staying with a shooter can be? Foye has truly blossomed since being moving off guard after years of running the show, meaning Kobe (his likely cover) could have a bigger challenge than in past seasons. After a young career mostly spent hearing folks wonder why the hell Minny traded Brandon Roy's draft rights for his- and truth be told, it was a bad idea- the jabber is finally centering around Foye coming into his own.
Mike Miller:
Next to Al Jefferson, MM's the team's biggest name.
Unfortunately, he's also among the only Wolves not making a name for
himself in '09's first month. A disappointing campaign with the
team he grew up rooting has only grown more sour, and he's only shooting 19% from downtown. It's a toss up what this slump affects more. The Timberwolves success or their ability to deal the perennial block resident.
Kevin Love:
Another Minny dude that's been balling (and helping BK's quest to look
smart in endorsing the Mayo-Love deal). 9/8 overall production off the bench is now 12/10, complete with a gaudy 54% success rate from the field. With those numbers from the start, he might not only have avoided being chapped over an omission from the All-Rookie team (which I make sure to note is
sponsored by T-Mobile, lest a mercenary smash through my office window
and slit my throat), but he'd be a sixth man of the year
candidate. As it stands, he's a young 'un everyone better work to keep
off the glass, doughy as he may look.
Sebastian Telfair: It makes sense that Bassy's numbers have been January-juiced, since he's now the Wolves' starting lead guard. And the role is suiting him (and Minnesota) well. 10 points, six dimes and a steal, plus a 38% shooting mark that (scarily) represents a 30-day high. He's currently day-to-day with a thigh bruise. Perhaps this the Marbury family member I should have bonded with.
Ryan Gomes:
I've always thought he's an underrated role player (not to mention
unreasonably poo-poo'ed acquisition in the KG deal) and his January
stats are backing that opinion. 13/5.5/1 steal, and a 41% mark from behind the arc.
Craig Smith: Workmanlike and steady, kinda like his game.
Rodney Carney: With Rashad McCants seemingly out of the rotation (more time to ponder what went wrong with the less famous Kardashian), Carney's gotten the chance for more burn. And the ex-Sixer is making the most of it.
Al Jefferson: Save perhaps Mo Williams, Jefferson is the dude most discussed when it comes to All-Star snubs.
And while head and shoulders the Wolves' best baller, his 23/11 stats
have basically held steady during this Minnesota zenith, which
goes to demonstrate how much everyone else around him has stepped up
their respective games. Defense, however, isn't often measured
entirely in the numbers, and that's always been Jefferson's Achilles
heel. If the lockdown (or lack thereof) has held steady, I'd like to
think Andrew Bynum will have an easier time containing Jefferson than
vice versa, particularly considering the roll's Drew is currently
riding and how hard Jefferson worked to get his in their last showdown.
All in all, this remains a Minnesota squad the Lakers are more than capable of beating. Handily, even. But if they treat them like the typical 16-28 squad, this could end up more of a true game than need be.
On a quasi-related note, Gerald Wallace is out of the hospital, so that's terrific news.
AK
QUESTION: THE LAKERS #2 AND #3 SCORERS THE LAST 11 GAMES?
ANSWER: #2 - ANDREW BYNUM AT 20.3 PPG
ANSWER: #3 - PAU GASOL AT 17.1 PPG
*****************
Just ran some stats for Drew over the last 11 games that are interesting and show that Drew already is the Lakers #2 scoring option. For the record, Drew and Pau both took almost the identical number of shots during the 11 games, although Pau only shot 51% from the field while Drew shot 61%. Case closed, blitz. Drew is the #2 option already.
Here are Drew’s averages good and bad for the last 11 games:
* 20.3 points per game
* 60.7% from the field (88-145)
* 71.9% from the line (46-64)
* 08.0 rebounds per game
* 02.1 blocks per game
* 01.1 assists per game
* 31.9 minutes per game
* 01.7 turnovers per game
* 0.18 steals per game
* 02.8 fouls per game
LA LAKERS ON THE ROAD….BEAST ON BOARD!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | January 30, 2009 at 03:09 PM
"Farmar and Pargo sit on the bench rotting while they could have had minutes to get game time experience."
1) Pargo was NEVER on the Lakers team since 2003-2004 season. I think BD meant was Shammond Williams.
2) Jackson DID play Farmar a ton in his rookie season but Farmar "hit the rookie wall" and kept screwing up and wasn't as aggressive. Shammond Williams did a decent job when given minutes but wasn't as talented as Farmar. Jackson started Farmar because at that time Smush began to play even worst than Farmar. In 07 playoffs. Nash EMBARRASSED Farmar and basically was Kobe with a injured shoulder Lamar Odom versus the entire Phoenix Suns team!
3) Where was Farmar when D-Will EMBARRASSED him in the Utah series and made him look like a D-Leaguer? Or how Rondo forced him into turnovers in Game 6 of the Finals? At least Kobe in his 2nd year had the courage to shoot those 3 pointers (which were air-balls) and he got the starter spot the next season. Has Farmar taken D-Fish's spot yet??
Jackson does have his slip ups but don't go blaming Farmar's production slowly on Jackson. 19 other teams has starting point guards who are WAY better than Farmar in both of skill and athleticism.
-blitz
Posted by: kobeblitz | January 30, 2009 at 03:16 PM
Telfair's name is spelled wrong.
If you go to the Wolves homepage, there's a videobox called "wolvesvision" that has some clips of Kobe, PJ, Foye and McHale discussing the match-up. McHale is so easy to hate.
Also, down at the bottom of their page, they link to official player websites. Anyone who wants a good laugh should check out Mike Miller's website.
Posted by: lakers_sth | January 30, 2009 at 03:17 PM
There is no way T-Wolves beat 7&7 down low tonight.
Beast and Pau dominate.
Lakers 107
T-Wolves 101
BD
Posted by: BD | January 30, 2009 at 03:18 PM
New winning streak begins tonight!
Defense! Defense! Defense!
Kobe MVP
Posted by: Laker Fan 24 | January 30, 2009 at 03:26 PM
Lakers_sth,
>>>>>LO. I know this won't be a popular opinion with all the "legalize it" types out there
>>>>>but look at the negatives about his on-the-court personality and compare them
>>>>>with the trademark effects chronic pot-smoking has on how people act.
You know I am a big fan of yours but I have to stridently disagree with you about LO and marijuana. Lamar gets tested like every other NBA athlete and so far has been clean since his Clipper days long ago. To taint him as a possible drug user rather than just a player who is not clutch is unfair and a surprise coming from such a respected blogger.
Like all abusive substances, including alcohol, the burning question is always whether the drug is the cause or the symptom when the user has an abuse problem. I am a long-time smoker who has never had a problem separating my recreational drug usage with a very successful career and family. I am surely not advocating for anyone to turn to any drug to escape the stresses and problems that confront us today but more often excessive pot use is a symptom of other emotional and psychological problems – just as with alcohol.
As a drug, weed is far less destructive and anti-social than alcohol, which continues to “legally” destroy lives, careers, and families worldwide. And unlike alcohol, marijuana has been proven to have great medical benefits in treating chronic pain and improving appetites and attitudes of cancer patients to whom it is now “legally” available in CA. Anyway, I did not think your post was fair to Lamar or the millions of Americans who do occasionally light up. And yes, I guess you could politically label me a “legalize it” type.
By the way, I do not doubt that there are plenty of NBA players who probably do fit your speculation about Lamar. And probably ten times that number who have the same problem with alcohol. Anyway, I was surprised to see your moniker at the end of the post.
JMNSHBO!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | January 30, 2009 at 03:29 PM
last time at Staples the Timberwolves would not just go away. Had they not attempted to pound it into Jefferson and instead let their perimeter shooters try to win it they would have made it closer than it was already was.
Foye has some athleticism but is undersized than Kobe. Kobe should be able to do good offensively (6'6 vs 6'4).
Telfair is too pass happy and isn't scoring much. Fish and especially Farmar though needs to keep him away from playmaking and scoring.
Smith will have his hands full against Pau. Severe mismatch problem there...take advantage of that too!
Jefferson and Bynum. Jefferson put 20 points but Bynum made him struggle. Jefferson is a poor defender too so Bynum could have a good night but Jefferson is also a decent shot blocker.
As long as Mike Miller and Kevin Love are contained this one is very winnable. Besides the Lakers NEED to blow this one out so they will have more energy for the rematch in Graceland.
Elvis Presley though is a better King than LBJ.
-Kobeblitz (since Miguel Colonel decided to put a Bynumblitz...)
Posted by: Kobeblitz | January 30, 2009 at 03:37 PM
pfunk
>>>You can remove Odom's name and replace it with Luke
>>>Walton who in my estimation has made as many or more
>>> boneheaded end of game decisions that Odom.
And you named 3 examples over 2 years.
I could name 3 examples over the last 2 years where Kobe took
the last shot and the Lakers lost. Off the top of my head, Kobe
missed the last Lakers shot vs Indiana in Indy that would have
put the Lakers up 3, so that last second tip-in wouldn't have
beat the Lakers. And Kobe took the last shot in Miami which
would have tied the game, and missed. I don't feel like digging,
but I'm sure I could some up with several others.
Does that mean that Kobe is a bad clutch shooter?
No.
But that's the sort of logic that pfunk is using to classify
Luke Walton as un-clutch.
You know me, I don't want to know what happened in one
or two incedents, I want the overall pattern. If you look at
this page on 82 games, it shows who the most clutch scorers
in the NBA were last season, based on the full season worth
of stats:
http://tinyurl.com/2hs39s
If you check that list, Kobe was the second most clutch scorer
in the NBA last season. LeBron edged him out by just a bit. The second most clutch scorer on the Lakers? The Machine.
But it also has stats for getting assists and rebounds and
steals and other stuff in the clutch. Here, check out those
three categories:
clutch assists - http://tinyurl.com/d623xc
Kobe is the best on the Lakers. Luke Walton is the second
best person for getting clutch assists on the Lakers. Fisher
and Odom are way behind those two.
clutch rebounds - http://tinyurl.com/bmtvu9
Walton is the best clutch rebounder on the Lakers, slightly
better than Odom.
clutch steals - http://tinyurl.com/c2hmye
Walton is the best... IN THE LEAGUE. That's right. Last
season, Luke Walton was statistically better over the whole
season at getting steals in the last 5 minutes of close games.
And since turnovers are what you're interested in, let's
check that as well to be fair:
clutch turnovers - http://tinyurl.com/cvo7l5
Yep, Walton wasn't great in that category. But he was better
than Kobe in that respect - probably because Kobe had the
ball more.
So there you have it.
pfunk, if you want to assume that a few incidents that you
can recall off the top of your head makes Luke a non-clutch
player, then it also makes Kobe a non-clutch player. You
can't have it both ways.
If you look at the statistics over the course of a season, the
truth is that Luke actually does very well overall in clutch
situations, when he is in them.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | January 30, 2009 at 03:38 PM
Trevor's been cleared to play tonight.
That's good news.
Posted by: Faith | January 30, 2009 at 03:46 PM
AK & BK hep me hep me.
I tried to post about clutchness, but the software keeps blocking
it thinking it's spam.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | January 30, 2009 at 03:47 PM
Change of name.
Posted by: A-Train (aka BynumBlitz-dont wanna piss off kobeblitz) | January 30, 2009 at 03:50 PM
longtime-
not sure why that happened, but it's up now.
BK
Posted by: kambrothers | January 30, 2009 at 03:56 PM
No no Miguel I'm not mad lol.
Just had to put Kobeblitz because you had to put a Bynumblitz so that would confuse people between you and me.
You can keep Bynumblitz.
-KBBlitz
Posted by: kobeblitz | January 30, 2009 at 03:57 PM
Things I wanna see tonight.
-Andrew getting a double double
-Pau hitting 55% FG
-Kobe +10 assists and plenty of rest
-Machine hitting atleast two 3's
-Atleast 5 players in double digit scoring
-10+ more than the wolves inthe rebound battle
Posted by: A-Train | January 30, 2009 at 03:59 PM
Damn Long Time Laker Fan. Way to hit the money about the Luke Walton naysayers.
Yes Walton did a bad job on the inbound pass but he's a good "role" player.
I wonder though if Pfunk36 is that guy from ko8e.com who says Kobe is better than MJ?
-KBBlitz
Posted by: kobeblitz | January 30, 2009 at 04:00 PM
"There is no way T-Wolves beat 7&7 down low tonight.
Beast and Pau dominate."
-BD
HAHA! Yes! the 7&7 nickname lives on!
http://tinyurl.com/bolwcw
Posted by: ajax | January 30, 2009 at 04:00 PM
JesterGuru and Bk
Sorry for the late response. JG I am well. Where have you been? Hope to see you post more.\
BK. Porto's is definitely the Bakery of the last two decades!
Peace Love and Soul Brotha's and Sista's.
Posted by: Charles | January 30, 2009 at 04:01 PM
Kobeblitz
HAHA, nah , it got way too confusing for even me...One thing I forgot to mention that I would love to see is for LO to go OFFFF!! As in 30 points 13 rebounds, but thats just wishful thinking hehe.
Posted by: A-Train | January 30, 2009 at 04:03 PM
Well, we've got a kobeblitz and a bynumblitz. Might as well have an mbengablitz.
Posted by: mbengablitz | January 30, 2009 at 04:05 PM
Jamie,
>>>>>Just because the Clippers are an organization run by a team of monkeys
>>>>>in business suits doesn't mean Lamar hits the bong.
>>>>>Speaking of which...
LOL, Jamie. Thanks for your comments. And pass that virtual blunt. While my boss has gone home, I am just warming up for tonight’s game. As you said so aptly, patrolling the lane. Wow, I feel like ex or blitz. LOL.
I feel for Lamar because he was just playing outstanding before the Bobcats game. Every player on the team does not have to be clutch. In fact, most players on most teams are not “clutch.” By definition, clutch refers to the small percentage of players who are able to perform at or above their level during the pressure moments at the end of close games or to perform at or above their level during the big games and playoffs.
Lamar’s situation (like Luke) is that they are NOT the guys to be in the game at the end of the fourth quarter. That does not mean that they cannot be valuable and key contributors on a championship team. Whether or not the Lakers re-sign Lamar is going to depend on the financial numbers and whether we win the championship more than on the team’s disappointment at his play in any single game. I for one do not see any viable players out there that would be worth trading Lamar for. How quickly the blog forgets how badly we missed Lamar when he was out. Lamar still has a chance to become a Laker for Life and I will be rooting for him to come through. He is a big part of the Lakers chemistry and I would bet you that Kobe Bryant would completely disagree with Kevin Ding’s opening comments about “how could Kobe stand to play with an idiot like Lamar.” JMNSHBO!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | January 30, 2009 at 04:20 PM
Speaking of radio, Loose Cannon is gone replaced by this Myers Show, another Joel Myers that can put you to sleep.
http://tinyurl.com/bz76fv
KLAC executives blew it, they just canned a radio program that works, very entertaining and up to date with Lakers news. You see it is not the team that they are working for but the fans in LA, they don't get it that - "Los Angeles is a Laker town". Dodgers, Angels, Bruins, Trojans, Kings and Ducks are all secondary to the Lakers. Anyway, who cares about these executives? From now on, please don't patronize any KLAC programs, they all suck with their bonehead executives that needs to be fired!
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | January 30, 2009 at 04:25 PM
mbengablitz
What about my cheese blitz?
Posted by: Charles | January 30, 2009 at 04:45 PM
Staples24,
I have seen enough of LO over the last 5 years that YES
I would make a trade.
The prob--they don't want to take any salary in. Understandable with AB and Ariza hitting them next year.
BUT if we could get MARION I would do it in a heart beat.
And of course Luke or Rad have to be included. LOL!
BD
Posted by: BD | January 30, 2009 at 04:52 PM
Edwin,
What about 710 with Ireland. They seem to talk Laker BB for the 1st hour or so and in detail. You don't like it??
BD
Posted by: BD | January 30, 2009 at 04:55 PM
More on the "cluchness" factor:
Okay, let's review clutchness and losing from the specific examples
of this season's losses:
---------------------
Detroit game - 11 point loss
Luke didn't play. It was actually more than 11 points for most of the
fourth quarter, so not much clutchness factor here.
---------------------
Indiana game - 1 point loss -
Luke didn't play. Fish, Ariza, Kobe, Pau, and Odom gave up a 6 point
lead in the last 3 minutes.
clutch plays:
+ Fish makes 2 free throws with 3:25 left
+ Ariza blocks Danny Granger with 3:12 left
+ Gasol dunks with 2:34 left to make the lead 115-109
+ Kobe makes jump shot with :58 left to make the lead 117-116
anti-clutch plays:
- Kobe bricks a 3-pointer with 2:57 left
- Ariza fouls TJ Ford with 2:51 left
- Lamar bricks a 3-pointer with 1:52 left
- Pau fouls Marquis Daniels with 1:15 left
- Pau misses jumper with 1:28 left - Daniels hits the free throws to give Indy
the lead
- Kobe misses jumper with :14 left that would have given the Lakers a 3-point lead
- Bynum doesn't box out Murphy, who tips in the game winner
(if you change ANY ONE of those plays, the Lakers won the game)
------------------------
Sacramento game - 12 point loss
Luke didn't play.
There wasn't much last-second heroics in this one, but the Lakers did have the
deficit down to 7 points with 8:40 left. At that point Bynum, Fisher, Kobe,
Gasol, and Odom took the floor. They gave up 10 straight points, and at that
point it was over.
------------------------
Miami - 2 point loss
Luke started, but didn't play in the 4th quarter.
Down the stretch it was Kobe, Fish, Odom, Ariza, and Gasol. Hows this for a
steaming pile of anti-clutchness:
- Fisher had a turnover, missed a free throw, and committed a foul in the last 5 minutes.
- Kobe missed two shots in the last 5 minutes, including a last second shot that
would have tied the game and sent it into overtime.
- Gasol missed a free throw and got a shot blocked.
- Odom missed two free throws and got TWO shots blocked.
------------------------
Orlando - 3 point loss
Luke started, but didn't play in the 4th quarter.
In the last 5 minutes, here were some things that happened:
- Lamar Odom got a shot blocked, turned it over once, and fould
Dwight Howard twice.
- Kobe bricked 3 shots, including a last second potential game tying shot (for
the second night in a row)
------------------------
New Orleans - 11 point loss
Luke was out with an injury.
The Lakers started the 4th quarter with a lead, but Kobe missed a couple of
shots, Sasha missed a couple of shots, and Ariza missed a layup, and suddenly
it was tied. They managed to push it back to a 5 point lead with 8 minutes
left,
and then it was Pau bricks, Sasha bricks, Powell bricks, Kobe bricks, Fisher
bricks, Ariza bricks and they're down 8. Then Fish hit a three pointer.
And then it was Ariza bricks, Fish bricks, Kobe turns it over, Bynum charges,
Kobe bricks twice and it was in the fridge. So basically the whole team
just played terrible terrible offense in the 4th quarter.
-----------------------
San Antonio - 1 point loss
Luke was out with an injury.
The Kobe & The Kraken show dug the Lakers out of a hole and got them within
2 points with 5 minutes left. From there, Trevor made 1 of 2 shots, Pau made
a shot, Kobe made a couple of shots, and Lamar made his only shot. All of
that mighty clutchiness gave the Lakers a 2 point lead with 12 seconds left.
And by the way, from 1:42 down to :12 was back and forth clutch shots by Kobe
and Tim Duncan.
And then Fish fouled Roger Mason. If he doesn't foul him, then Mason's basket
would have tied the game & it would have gone to overtime. The foul actually
gave San Antonio the lead. Very anti-clutch.
And then there was the trip of Trevor Ariza as time ran out. I'd call that
one an anti-clutch play by the refs. Hard to blame Trevor.
------------------------
Orlando - 6 point loss
Luke was still out injured.
Lakers had a 2 point lead with less than a minute left. Then Jameer Nelson
went off for 7 straight points, basically unguarded by Fish, while Kobe
was bricking 3 long jump shots and Lamar was bricking one long jump shot.
Very anti-clutch for Fish and Kobe in this one.
-----------------------
Charlotte - 7 point loss in double overtime
Luke played 18 minutes total. He did not play in the 4th quarter.
With Pau & Farmar starting the 4th, the Lakers turned a 6 point deficit into
a tie with 5:50 left. At that point Bynum and Fisher replaced Pau & Farmar,
& the rest of the team stayed the same. From 5:50 to 2:32, Charlotte
outscored the Lakers 9 to 2. Those nine points were 2 layups, a 6 footer,
and a 3-pointer. Kobe's heroics and Fisher's 3-pointer with 14 seconds left
got them back to a tie. But if Bynum & Fisher had picked up the defensive
level that Pau & Farmar had been playing, the game would have been won in
regulation.
In the 1st overtime, Kobe fouls out with :39 left and the Lakers with a 3
point lead. Since Ariza's injured, Luke gets the nod. Odom plays like a
dummy and gives up the game-tying 3 seven seconds later. With 4 seconds
left, Walton makes a bad inbounds play.
Walton goes back to the bench for the start of the 2nd overtime, and doesn't
come back until there are 25 seconds left & the Lakers are down 6. He does
nothing good or bad from that point.
-----------------------
So there you have it. This season, there has been exactly one game where
the Lakers lost the game with Luke playing in the clutch. Mostly, that's
because Phil has favored playing Ariza down the stretch, so Luke has rarely
been on the floor in clutch time.
But for pfunk or anyone else to criticize Luke for his anti-clutchness, they
need to take a close look at who was on the floor for all those other close
losses.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | January 30, 2009 at 05:07 PM
LakerTom - I'm sure it was lost in translation but my point was that our criticisms of LOs play on the court are consistent with the effects pot has on the PERSONALITY, not health, of people who are chronic (not casual) users. Passivity. Lack of consistency and motivation. And just generally spacing out at times. Our pet peeves.
Posted by: lakers_sth | January 30, 2009 at 05:12 PM