Lakers March Madness- Final Four
(What, you thought we forgot?)
Apparently, it's an important weekend in some big college basketball thingy. Maybe. I don't know. That's really none of my business. Why? Because I'm neck deep in Lakers March Madness Bracketology. After two exciting opening rounds, and a stirring flurry of competition in the Round of Eight, it's down to the Final Four, and the competition is stiffer than a left-handed Kwame Brown jump hook.
Without further ado, your matchups:
Ceballos Bracket
#5 Phil Jackson's Zen vs. #7 Kobe Bryant's fadeaway
So appropriate. The spiritual core of one of the great coaches in NBA history (who defeated Kwame Brown's calves and Adam Morrison's facial hair en route to this point) against one of the Association's greatest closers, slayer of both LO's fashion and Pau Gasol from the elbow. This is gonna be like Gandalf vs. Aragorn.* Break out your 20-sided die for this one-- you'll need at least that many angles to figure this one out.**
Reid Bracket
#4 Shannon Brown's hops vs. #2 Derek Fisher's gravitas
Brown beat out We Want Tacos! in round one, then edged out Andrew Bynum's physical therapist in the Elite Eight. The man can jump. Over backboards, over buildings, over birds (flying birds specifically, otherwise it wouldn't be that hard). But can he jump over the monumental gravitas of Derek Fisher? Luke Walton's Y and R appearance couldn't, and neither could Sasha's headband.
Voting below.
BK
*Or maybe it isn't. I was thinking of a battle between a sage wizardly type and an honorable, athletic man of action. If the comparison isn't "Tolkien accurate," I apologize and respect your enthusiasm, but really don't want angry letters in the mailbox from die hards for this. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
**Along those lines, I realize I'm mixing LotR and D'n'D here. Again, nerdlingers please hold the emails.
So it looks like we're going to have to cheer on Washington to beat the Cavs on Wednesday. Hopefully former Lakers Caron Butler and Javaris Crittenton are up to the task. It also looks like we will have to cheer on the Celtics too assuming the Lakers will be winning the rest of their games.
Posted by: never | April 05, 2009 at 12:17 PM
How is it that we're playing the Clippers today and I haven't received a single insult yet?
I made a pact with Kobeblitz that the ONLY day I would accept vitriolic abuse without retribution is when the Lakers are playing the Clippers.
You guys are missing out on a rare opportunity here.
Go Clippers!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 05, 2009 at 12:40 PM
I think that the Cavs will lose in Philly and possibly against Boston. They also have to play at Indiana which would be a tough game for the Cavs as well. The Lakers just need to win the rest of their games and I think that they'll get homecourt advantage throughout. I think the game at Portland will be the one we really need to get homecourt.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 05, 2009 at 12:54 PM
These choices aren't tough enough. I'm telling you: Kobe's fadeaway will win it all for sheer awesomeness. D-Fish's gravitas will win (before being eventually pounded by Kobe) because he's been a Laker for two moons.
Posted by: Cactus Berry | April 05, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Jon K
The Clips don't inspire vitriol. They, well, don't inspire do they? As a fan of lost causes, and because of your unwavering support, I've warmed to their plight but...
A Clippers game is still a good opportunity to match socks, which has become harder and more essential than it would sound now that my 2 sons and I share about the same size white, sport sock.
Posted by: VMan | April 05, 2009 at 01:02 PM
I must be losing my mind. I actually enjoyed Heisler's column on AB17. Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rick Friedman | April 05, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Wow, where have I been? I missed out Sasha's headband getting eliminated!
Posted by: Faith | April 05, 2009 at 01:19 PM
Game day! I love the Sunday whites. It's been a long, long time since they've gotten to bust those out, too.
Go Lake Show!
Posted by: The Outlaw | April 05, 2009 at 01:20 PM
Friggin' Spurs. They looked really bad against the Cavs. Duncan gave them nothing and the Cavs were without Ben Wallace & Verajao (however it's spelled).
Also, I really want the Mavs. to lock the Suns out of the playoffs. I hate the idea of having to listen to a sweaty old Shaq for another whole series.
He deserves to have his playoff hopes set with the Suns.
Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: olf | April 05, 2009 at 01:28 PM
Jon K - With all due respect
Clippers played Denver last night.
Denver - 5,280 feet
Then after the game they flew to LA, arrived in the wee hours of the morning, and will play the Lakers at 6:30 PM (Lakers Standard Time)
The Lakers could start MBenga, Powell, Luke, Morrison, and Shannon, and still blow them out, no?
Please, don't hurt me for stating the obvious!
Fatty - Who can count on one hand how many Clippers Fans there are in the entire Free World.
Posted by: Fatty | April 05, 2009 at 01:48 PM
I watched Bill Russel talking to Duncan. Amazing to hear about Jackie Robinson’s wife asking Russel to be a pall bearer. It’s great to think how far things have come since then.
Kind of gives you more hope for the future during these tough times.
Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: olf | April 05, 2009 at 02:05 PM
The Outlaw
I love the 'Whites' as well. The good guys always wear white.
But did you know the origin of the Whites?
Its a little known fact, but the team manager, while doing the laundry, accidentally, poured a gallon of bleach into the washing machine thus producing the whites. Its felt he made this egregious mistake because he was watching the Lakers Girls practice on the laudry room monitor. Anyone could have made a mistake like that under those circumstances.
Kobe, not wanting to have the team manager fired spoke up for him saying, "you know, I like them that way. Why don't we wear them on Sundays, since we are missing church anyway."
Dr. Buss liked the idea as well, since he didn't want to throw them away and also wanting to make more money on extra Jersey sales.
And now, you know the real story behind the whites.
Cliff Claven 'Fatty' of Cheers
Posted by: Fatty | April 05, 2009 at 02:07 PM
The Suns are having a "Do you want to get away?" moment while being blown out by the Dallas Cubans.
Totally embarrased on National TV!
Posted by: Fatty | April 05, 2009 at 02:10 PM
Vman,
"The Clips don't inspire vitriol. They, well, don't inspire do they? "
Wrong - they do serve a purpose in today's world - they inspire pity!!
Posted by: exhelodrvr | April 05, 2009 at 02:13 PM
Not yet Jon K.
Besides it is best used when the Lakers beat the Clippers. And when Laker Tom also is there to cheer for the demise of the Clippers. Kinda like opening up a very good bottle of champagne when it is only December 30th. New Years is inevitable but it is best to open the bottle up when New Years actually strikes rather than the day before.
Until then: Patience is a virtue.
Posted by: Kobeblitz | April 05, 2009 at 02:17 PM
A Clipper game should be a time you kind of multi-task. Doing the laundry, writing the checks for bills, playing with the pet etc.....However, at the same time you don't won't to underestimate their desire to make a statement against their hallway rivals. So don't take for granted that you can run out for a pizza knowing the game is in the bag and then come back and find that the Lakers are down by 10 points with 2 minutes to play.
Posted by: coachD | April 05, 2009 at 02:23 PM
Jason Kidd is putting on quite an audition to join either the Lakers or the Cavs next year. Kidd is a FA next year so I hope that Kobe and Phil can get the Lakers brass to really go after him. Even at his age, Kidd is definitely an upgrade over Farmar. I would insert Kidd as the starter and bring Fish off the bench and decide whether to keep Farmar or trade him. Think about Kidd running the offense and setting up Kobe, Pau, Andrew, LO and the rest of the crew for easier shots than they're getting already. We could even at times have Kidd at Point, Fish at SG and Kobe playing the 3 if we wanted a three guard attack. We could create matchup nightmares all over the court should we land Kidd.
Shaq, Nash and the Suns have set. They're done. I still remember when PJ said that Grant Hill never returned a call made to him by the Lakers manangement when he was a FA when the Lakers were interested in signing him. It's a shame that he chose the Suns because I think he would've been a good fit in our system.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 05, 2009 at 02:29 PM
Jon - I just left you a tiny dig on the last thread but it wasn't really much. Now that the invite's out there, I'll try to do better. It's a little hard because I actually kinda like the Clips (although they're even more of an embarrassment this year than usual.)
Posted by: dave m | April 05, 2009 at 02:43 PM
Wow, the Suns' defense is, um... well, shoot, they don't have a defense.
Hey, Butler, still feeling like baiting the Lakers fans? Once and for all:
YOUR TEAM SUCKS.
Go Lake Show!
Posted by: The Outlaw | April 05, 2009 at 02:56 PM
Jon K -
I like you too much to throw insults your way. Hope you enjoy the game!
Posted by: Caliphilosopher | April 05, 2009 at 03:08 PM
Wow what a difference two years make. Talk about role reversal when it comes to the Lakers and the Suns. I guess Shaq can eat his words about the Suns being the best team he's ever played on. He is definitely the Big Contradiction.
Here's a good hypothetical question for everyone. What if D-Wade of 09' had as his starting team Smush at PG, Kwame at Center, LO at PF and Luke Walton at SF as Kobe did in 06'? Keep in mind that Kobe averaged 35 pts a game that season and led the Lakers into the playoffs as the 8th seed in the tougher WC. Right now you have guys like Jon Barry and others are picking Wade as the MVP this year when Kobe did what he did back in 06' for the Lakers and finished 4th in the MVP race that Nash won. Don't get me wrong, I can't take anything away from the superhuman season that Wade has had, but right now it should be only between LeBron and Kobe. Let the debate commence.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 05, 2009 at 03:11 PM
Outlaw,
I love the Sunday whites as well, but I always felt during the early period of them, the Lakers always lost, so I loved the whites, but hated the results....the team is better now, so all is good. I guess Stern likes the L's Sunday whites, because I counted......, for the season, 12 Sunday home games, 5 Sunday road games. I want Sunday Blacks for those road games....(like the one Kobe wore with the snake on him on the cover of Slam#81, no not Nicole Narain), (I think)....it seems some teams have more than 3 uniforms, including the Cav's who have worn that ghastly yellow uniform. They need to go back to the Brad Daugherty days jerseys...
I say the Orange County Clippers of Los Angeles (please move) have jerseys that are designed like polo shirts so they can turn collars up, ala 1980 style....(yes I hate the OC), and of course why not pink and baby blue. No one else has been bold enough to go there...then we can have the Clippers locker room converted to a multi-use area (anything to a VIP's hangout, to horse saddle storage. (how about a place where the player's wives can have so they can point fingers at each other and do that head bobbing/swaying thing at each other in private as they go at each other, sure could have used this back in the Mrs. Rice days)
Posted by: humanomaly | April 05, 2009 at 03:14 PM
While watching the Cavs-Spurs game, the PA played a different music theme from offense to defense. When the Cavs were on offense, the music kinda just boomed, like a bass & drum thing. But when the Spurs were on offense, it was different with a kind of "tweet" included that sounded to me like a ref's whistle.
AK/BK, are there any rules on what can be played during a game? It seems like it might be distracting to hear that whistle sound during the game. I know the home team would be used to hearing it every game but the visitors wouldn't.
Inquiring minds want to know. Well, maybe just mine.
And as for the Suns...... wow, talk about a beat-down in a must-win game. They have to win out with the Mav's losing out for the 4 all-stars to get into the playoffs.
Can't see that happening.
Matt
Posted by: HBMatt | April 05, 2009 at 03:41 PM
Okay, okay, wait.... I just read the "perusing" thread again. Jon, you're "pinkalot"? Really? This is awesome. How on earth was that name conceived? Did you have anything to do with the choosing? Was it a Heisler funny? Did the K-bros suggest it? Pinkalot! Pinky!!
Posted by: dave m | April 05, 2009 at 03:48 PM
Nemaia,
Kidd would certainly be a bargain if he signed for the mid-level. My only concern would be his lack of shooting ability. The PGs in the Triangle have to be able to knock down 3's and spread the floor.
humanomaly,
The "Orange County Clippers of Los Angeles" has a nice ring to it. If Orange County can survive a bankruptcy, it can survive hosting the Clipper franchise. I think.
Posted by: EJK | April 05, 2009 at 03:49 PM
PEEHONIX - Looks like miracles won't happen.
How will SHACK and GNASH do on TNT's Playoff coverage?
Wish we could have swept PEEHONIX. Damn.
Posted by: Jman449 | April 05, 2009 at 04:16 PM
Dave M,
No, Jon K. and "Pinkalink" aren't the same person. Not to the best of my knowledge, at any rate.
AK
Posted by: Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky | April 05, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Nemaia Faletogo,
Will they be in the East or the West? Because if in the East (esp looking back at that dismal---hasn't changed much really---conference, I think you have to believe they make the playoffs easier than in the West).
Posted by: Faith | April 05, 2009 at 04:30 PM
Tonight's game should get ugly but you never know with our bench. Hopefully the bench, instead of blowing out lead, will use this game to get their mojo back against a pretty awful team. A 20 point, 8 assist game would be nice from Farmar.
Too bad Bynum isn't back to drop another 40 on the Clipps.
Lamar = Finals MVP
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | April 05, 2009 at 04:37 PM
EJK,
Actually Kidd is a pretty good three pt shooter and has a higher shooting percentage. from beyond the arc than both Farmar and Sasha. I believe Kidd would take the mid level in order to win a ring. The other thing about Kidd is that in the triangle he could post up smaller guards and pass out of the post any of the other Lakers which would be pick your poisons for the opponent. Imagine Kidd passing to Pau, Andrew, LO or Kobe in the post or finding Fisher, Sasha or Kobe for wide open jumpers. Kidd is also one of if not the best rebounding guard in basketball which is huge considering that Kobe is also a great rebounding guard as well. The different combinations you could put on the floor with having a Jason Kidd would be matchup nightmares for the opponents. Keep in mind that Kidd is one of the premier table setters ever to play this game and adding him to a team that possesses great passers in Kobe, LO, Pau, Andrew and Luke Walton would be fun to watch.
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | April 05, 2009 at 04:43 PM
Jman449,
"How will SHACK and GNASH do on TNT's Playoff coverage?"
You sent a shiver down my back thinking about TNT or ESPN dragging Shaq & Nash onto their playoff coverage. I think listening to those pompous a@#$#es (jerks) comment on a Lakers playoff game would actually be worse than playing the Suns in the 1st round.
Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: olf | April 05, 2009 at 05:01 PM
ANYBODY ELSE THINK THAT…
…the sky is still falling now that we are closing in on the Cavs for best record and Andrew Bynum is suddenly on the verge of returning to action?
…the Lakers are NOT going to win out the rest of the regular season now that Andrew Bynum is ready to start seeing some action?
…the Celtics will probably fold their tent against the Cavs so as not to help the Lakers win home court advantage by securing the best record?
…there is another player on the Cavaliers other than LeBron James who the Lakers have to fear in the event they meet in the NBA Finals?
…Kevin Garnett’s injury comeback may end up dooming the Celtics hopes to repeat whereas Andrew Bynum’s may end up propelling the Lakers to the title?
…for the same reason we do not want Andrew playing next week against the Grizzlies, we should consider playing him tonight against the Clippers?
…the Lakers are a better team with Pau Gasol at center with an express lane always open to the paint inviting teams to make easy layups and dunks?
…the blog has been far too serious lately and it’s great to have Fatty back stirring up our sense of humor, “practicing psychoanalysis without a license,” and talking up LSD?
…perusing the Lakers Blog would be a lot more enjoyable if the KamBros focused on the posters as their bread and butter rather than the readers?
…notice that the Lakers Blog is rapidly evolving into the SNL of NBA blogs what with the KamBros March Madness, Photoshop contests, and constant pop culture references?
…Jon K’s banishment to Cleveland must in some way be punishment from God, who is a Lakers fan, for his unconscionable support of the Clippers?
…humanomaly was correct in stating the “committee” was the only word in the English language with 3 sets of double letters?’
JMNSHBO!
DNFTT!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 05, 2009 at 05:12 PM
AK - Ohhhh. I guess I read the "perusing" thread too quickly and lumped your comment to pinkalink in with the dictionary debate. Apologies to Jon, and to Pinky as well.
Posted by: dave m | April 05, 2009 at 05:20 PM
Jon K,
Just a thought! I know a Clipper is supposed to be a fast ship, but I was wondering if maybe they weren't the "nail Clippers" because every time they play it's like someone screeching their nails on a chalk board. Then I thought, well... maybe they're the "paper Clips" because they're so soft and fragile, sort of like toilet paper. However, then the answer hit me. Donald Sterling is such a penny pinching cheap skate they should be known as the "Los Angeles Coupon Clippers".
Posted by: Laker Larry | April 05, 2009 at 05:34 PM
Jman449,
"How will SHACK and GNASH do on TNT's Playoff coverage?"
You sent a shiver down my back thinking about TNT or ESPN dragging Shaq & Nash onto their playoff coverage. I think listening to those pompous a@#$#es (jerks) comment on a Lakers playoff game would actually be worse than playing the Suns in the 1st round.
Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: olf | April 05, 2009 at 05:01 PM
olf - SHACK + BARKLEY = KOBE BASHING 2.0
Not looking forward to that. At least the WCF will not be on TNT this year. SHACK will not be coming to STAPLES for the studio show.
Posted by: Jman449 | April 05, 2009 at 05:58 PM
EJK,
The only problem is that Donald Sterling wants to or is almost the king of LA real estate, Looking at the Real Estate ads, it looks like he's amassed most of the buildings that create the canyon effect as you drive from BevHills to Weswood....I looked up his net worth, it's about 3 times Jerry Buss', but wasn't sure whether that actually included the teams...cuz the Buss figure was low, if it did, then Buss does not have alot of the side. Sterling has that ego...as I have said many times, they never should have let them out of San Diego....which is a nice city, which I would not mind living in. Orange County will survive the bankruptcy as will most everyone else, it's just a matter of their recovery. I always bring it up, but I believe Sterling has more say in where his team loses than I do. O.C.,...They have an arena, they would have community/fan support, it would take the stain off of Staples Center....The Elgin Baylor story really died down fast....see what becomes of his...I think Sterling has his lawyers Starbucks Red-eye mode.....Baylor will come out worse than when he was released.
If the Laker's don't win it this year, sit back and hold your breath for what Kobe will do....is management thinking that at 30 years old and 13 years of play (plus payoffs), he may be slowing down, so financially would they hand him what the max is? Would he pull an Arenas and take less for the good of the team? We definitely need a player (2guard) who can play the Kobe role, we have Gasol, we have AB, we have LO....we have 1's...prepare for the future....
As for JKidd, would he be willing to play for the mid-level and become the 08/09 Gollum????? I would take him. Leadership skills may help, Kobe does a good job, but his Sir-Shoot-Them-All persona takes some credibility away, and no teammate will beach about it when he goes into his 1 on 5 act, because they don't want to end up in Memphis. I think JKidds rebounding, assists would make up for his lack of outside shooting. Look, our current and past outside shooters don't knock down with regularity anyway so what's it going to matter???
NCAA....UNC....then we get Tyler H (trade), but does he become Love, or does he become Madsen....amazing isn't it, Madsen's still in the league, .... he must be some locker room messiah....
Posted by: humanomaly | April 05, 2009 at 06:04 PM
Tom -
Yes, I think Bynum should play tonight for precisely that reason.
I join you in welcoming back Fatty - welcome back Fatty! Speaking of sense of humor, I miss Sonny Belfast. I even miss Ding How, whoever he was.
As for Jon and his unabashed Cliipper love, I have no problem with it (and applaud him for inviting insults because of it). In that same sense, I never minded that Sonny B was (is) a Kings fan.
As for the larger Clippers picture, I think the team is so thoroughly snakebit that it really doesn't matter who they have on the roster.
Posted by: dave m | April 05, 2009 at 06:15 PM
LakerLarry,
What about the hair clippers?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | April 05, 2009 at 06:52 PM
humanomaly,
Yeah, Sterling is a real estate magnate and a very good businessman. Unfortunately for Clipper fans, he carries over that business mindset to the team and has only cared about profitability for most of the years as owner. He could probably care less that the Clippers are the laughingstock of the league and the butt of Leno jokes as long as they make him a buck. The only good news for Clipper fans is that he's getting up there in age and nature will take its course eventually.
As for Kobe, I'm 99% sure the Lakers will offer him a max extension. Although I hope Kobe decides to take less for the sake of the team, I highly doubt that's gonna happen. And you're right to think about the future. LBJ, anyone?
Posted by: EJK | April 05, 2009 at 08:00 PM