ABOUT JORDAN FARMAR…

It was reassuring to see Jordan graciously accept his current situation and shift focus to doing whatever he can do to help his team win the championship in the minutes he’ll have. I think it shows that Jordan really cares about winning and his teammates, even if it means sacrificing personally. There have been scores of talented headstrong young players in similar situations who became negative factors on the team to their own career detriment. I am happy to see that Jordan still has his values in proper order.

While you can criticize his brashness, Jordan’s strong self-confidence is part of why I still believe in him. Hopefully, Jordan will relax now and go out there and play well with energy. I think this might be a turning point in his career. We all know Jordan is a gym rat and hard worker but I think he let his success last year go to his head a little and didn’t work hard on the “right” things last summer. Anybody want to bet that Jordie won’t be hitting the weights hard this summer to add muscle and strength as well as working on his defense?

I also agree with Ben that Jordan’s play off the bench last year was “stellar” and really did not need the inflated 48 minutes stats to justify it. The change of pace that Jordan and the Bench Mob brought were a huge part of why the Lakers had such a successful season. Amazingly, the Lakers actually changed their offense to accommodate Jordan’s talents and abilities last year, realizing that he gave the team a different dimension. Yet, I must have read dozens of posts claiming that Jordan is a bust and will never be a starting point guard in the league. Realistically, this year just might have been an off-year for Jordan.

I find it just as easy to visualize Jordan Farmar in three years as a dynamic player who has matured and added some muscle to his frame and is starting to play at the level of a Tony Parker or Jason Terry than it is to visualize him turning into a bust that nobody wants. Not a guy who cares and works as hard as Jordan does. Imagine if Jordan Farmar could play at his best 80 or 90% of the time instead of just 20 or 30% of the time. That is what more experience can do when a player has talent and works hard. I still remember how Jordan showed up for UCLA in the NCAA Championship game against Florida. He showed me something then, a player who never quit and wanted to win as bad as a Kobe Bryant.

While there are a lot of reasons to be disappointed at Jordan’s play, it is way too early to throw him in the junk heap and discount what he has given this team in the past and what he may well give us in the future. Nor do I think that Lakers management feels this way. Like I have said before, Jordan would lucky to get any time right now if I were the coach but at the same time I would not discount the fact that he will get his game together and come back a much better player next year. He has that kind of character, even if the Farmar haters refuse to recognize it. He has a lot of Kobe Bryant as far as mind set. He just needs to figure out how to how to channel it to become a better ball player. I will be rooting hard for him to have a good playoffs and come back a new player next year.

JMNSHBO!
DNFTT!

Tom

interviews from today's practice are up:

http://tinyurl.com/cm3k9b

Good stuff from Drew, LO, PJ and Fish. Funny moment where Kobe interrupts LO's interview with a simple question: "Do we win Championships out there or in here?" Basically calling LO into the film room for, what was described by Luke as, a long in-depth film session.

With great playmakers like Williams and Nash all you can do is turn them into scorers so the other four guys are standing around watching instead of letting them get the whole team involved. One on one Deron can do damage, but Utah can only win a game with 5 on 5 action. Don't overplay Williams. Make him a shooter and live with the big numbers.

Fisher and Shannon and Farmer will be crucified in the press/blogs, but the Lakers will win in 4 or 5. Let him be a playmaker and it will be 6 or 7 games.

Dwill is gonna get his. I just wanna see UPS get his dunk on.

I wrote on this blog before, if Farmar want to be a good player he has to shoot the ball well. A point guard can't assist, can't shoot the ball, nobody wants you. It is very simple.
Williams, Chris Paul, Bynum were drafted in the same year,and only these three guys are good players in the top ten of that year.
The important thing is that the Lakers bench have to play well on the road. Let's bring back championship to LA !

BK......Williams is the best point guard in the game....
Bigger,Better,Stronger and clean....Chris Paul has at times shown to be dirty....Williams is a better defender than Paul as well..This is just my opinion, but if i was picking a team he would be the point guard....Paul might have more steals per game but man on man Williams is harder to get around..

Just like Lebron Chris Paul is a media darling that can do no wrong...If you get a chance look a little closer at Paul during games and you just might see his cheap shots....I know the guy is an allstar but Williams gets mt vote....JMHO.....

Laker Tom,

I love everything you said above about Jordan Farmar. While like many fans I've been frustrated by Jordan's play during the second half of the season, I'm appalled at some of the hate spewed against him. This may be an oversimplification, but sometimes I think people hate on Jordan as much because he's funny looking as because of his play. Our society elevates the beautiful people and scorns those who aren't.

The most important weeks in the NBA are ahead of us. Even with diminished minutes, Jordan has a chance to contribute to the team's title run. As long as he's a Laker, he deserves our support.

Deron Williams is one of my favorite non-Laker point guard in the game. I definitely don't think he gets enough credit for what he does. He's gonna get his numbers for sure, but I have the Lakers in 4 or 5, with 5 being more realistic.

Posted by: LG | April 16, 2009 at 09:02 PM

Hear, hear!

I've said it before, DWill is my non-Laker man crush. Dude has mad game and he will definitely get his in this series. Though, if he pulls another cheap shot on Bynum, I might have to switch back to Chris Bosh.

I say Lakers sweep, ONLY if Okur and Miles aren't healthy. They both can stretch the floor, and the fact that Okur is a big makes it difficult for either Bynum or Gasol due to having to stay on the perimeter more often than not. That's the way I see it. Jazz can steal one at home with Okur, w/o him , I think we can bust out the brooms.

Lakers in 5.

-bozz-

jazz in 6!

I don't know whether D-Will or CP3 is a better PG. However, I know that D-Will averages comparable numbers in a system that isn't tailored to him and basically constructed to get him assists. I've said it a million times - NO basically has 2 plays:

CP3 dribbling around off picks until he takes a shot or shoots the ball himself.

CP3 dumping the ball down into West in the low post.

This is 90% of their offense when CP3 is on the floor. RARELY is there ever an extra pass after the one that Paul makes. No hockey assists for him.

This is also why Utah destroys NO in terms of team assists. So, is it more impressive that D-Will averags 10.7 assists on a team that averages 24.7 (1st in the league) or that CP3 averages 11 assists on a team that averages 19.6 (28th in the league). NO's offense is built to be dependent on CP3 and Utah's is not built to be dependend on D-Will.

Some people will say CP3 is better on D b/c he's a straight thief. But he's undersized and doesn't bring even close to the same level of physicality every possession on D. So would you rather have a PG who will get you 3 steals (over the course of say 60 possessions) or one who is a more physical defender all 60 of those possessions?

I meant Big Mac

Remember the playoffs last year, D-Will could not penetrate the post when there is a second defender waiting for him which Ronnie Turiaf. He has been blocked several times. I am not saying Shannon or Sasha will just let pass, he should be shadowed, while the other defender hides from the front or his side and suddenly time his jumps like what Ronnie used to do. That's very effective and avoid direct contact. Jazz players are tenacious and bruised defenders from Harping, Miles, Milsap & Brewer. They are trained as the dogs of Coach Sloan, never surrender the rebound, they always compete.

Robyn,

I never feel sorry for the Celtics.

What do we play for? RINGS!!!!!

Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.

GO LAKERS!

Rob,

"Though, if he pulls another cheap shot on Bynum, I might have to switch back to Chris Bosh."

Yeah that was very uncool, but I think that has a lot to do with his competitive nature, he was losing and he was angry. Understandable.

"I say Lakers sweep, ONLY if Okur and Miles aren't healthy."

Definitely agree there, Okur's ability to stretch the floor is a big aset to their team, and it'll be a huge factor if he's not healthy.

Deron is definitely a better defensive guard. He is bigger and stronger. Defense isn't all about steals, and steals/blocks are overrated stats in terms of measuring a player's defensive ability. And sth made a great point that he averages almost as many assists as CP, on a team that averages the most in the league. Same with Kobe/Lebron. Kobe averages less assists in a system that generates the second most in the league. Lebron averages more in a system built for him on a team that is towards the bottom of the league in assists.

In any case I'm sure there are going to be times in this series when I'm going to be hating D-Will.

Looking forward to it!

LG

Tom - nice post on Farmar. Edwin as well, the "tri-puzzle" is a great name for those guys.

Deron's a tremendous player but he's just a part of the big picture. All the great Stockton/Malone pick and roll years, Hornacek's sharpshooting.... they finally get to the finals, twice and just can't get past the Bulls. And, y'know, the ups and downs since then. They've got a decent team with Williams and Boozer and they'll go on some runs but seriously, to have to go up against the Lakers in the first round? Maybe Sloan's just being honest.

Deron Williams?

In the paint, II think we have a couple of seven footers that might have something to say about that. From the outter perimeter, we haven't stopped anyone all year long so I doubt we'll start now with Deron. If the Jazz shoot the lights out, could be trouble, but don't see it happening for four games.

I dont know if its just me but I cant help imagine how happy and emotional the players would get if they could win that championship. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if i saw a few tears rolling down Kobe's face. This year seems way different than last year. First off, it's as if this year there is absolutely NO celebrating until they win the championship. Honestly, I think that's a great way to look at this whole thing. I am really just daydreaming about all this way ahead of time. However, I hope my dreams do come true, because I would pay to see the players reactions to winning the championship.

it's honestly our year, our championship to lose.

NOW LETS GET IT!!!!!!!

The announcers for the playoffs.

Utah at Los Angeles, Game 1 (ABC, 3pm)- Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, Lisa Salters
Utah Jazz @ L.A. Lakers, Game 2 (TNT, 10:30pm)- Marv Albert, Reggie Miller, Craig Sager
L.A. Lakers @ Utah Jazz, Game 3 (TNT, 10:30pm)- Marv Albert, Reggie Miller, Craig Sager
Los Angeles at Utah, Game 4 (ESPN, 9pm)- TBD

EVERYONE SHOULD RELAX, WHY THE LAKERS AFRAID OF JAILBLAZERS, LAKERS IAND KOBE WHAT TO DO, RELAX GUYS, LAKERS WILL HANDLE UGLY ROY AND OLD ODEN

LAKERS SWEEP PLAYOFFS - BANDWAGOM
*
(01) LAKER TOM - OWNER -Our last bandwagon of the year: LAKERS SWEEP PLAYOFFS
(02) MAMBA24 - DRIVER - I got the broom by my side.
(03) FAITH – Director of DEFENSE
(03) KEIFO – Riding Shotgun
(04) # 4 - Director of win number 4.
(05) JUSTANOTHERMAMBAFAN - Director Win #1.
(06) TALIQ – SHERIFF
(07) JON K. – Director of all things Bio Chrono
(08) EDWIN – Judge for all flagrant foul calls
(10) OUTLAW – Deputy Sheriff
(11) BABY OUTLAW – Director of Toddler blogger division
(12) SBPIMP – Director of anything he wants.
(13) SBPIMP TWINS – Riding Shotguns over the Toddler divion
(14) PSYCHED LAKER GIRL – Director of Motivation
(15) LAKERMAN420 – Director of Tokes.
(16) SIR CHARLES – Director of Keeping it Real
(17) OUCCCHHHH – Director of Pain Management
(18) FATTY – Director of Morale
(19) EAST COAST JESSIE – Official Latina Princess of The Los Angeles Lakers
(20) FLOYD – Director of Inspiration
(21) CHICnSTU – Director of Broadcastin
(22) DOC4daLakeShow - What you can’t read? Doctor for The Lakers.
(23) BD – Director of Names
(24) LAKER GURU FROM INDIA – Director of Meditation & Zen Liaison to Phil Jackson
(25) EXHELODRVR – Director of Quips

Lamar has provided us with an award-winning surreal quote of the day in reference to Sloan's "bleak remark:

"If I were a Laker, which I am, I wouldn't pay any attention to that."

That sums up Lamar, whom we all love but sometimes wonder what area of outer space (not inhabited by Radmanovic) he actually lives in. The same guy who inbounded the ball to himself (last year) could very easily wonder what it would be like to be a Laker...while wearing a number 7 gold and purple jersey. Or maybe he thinks he found the jersey under his Christmas tree and decided to wear it to a game or two at Staples, just like the rest of the crowd with their 24s!

Good Morning Charles
Good Morning Morning Crew.
Yes Deron Williams is good. Yes Deron Williams is one of the players we should play scheme for. But I tell you Phil already took this whole situation into consideration. Shannon Brown was not A trade thrown in. Shannon Brown was what the trade was all about. Phil coached the Bulls in Chicago Illinois for several years and is very friendly with all the Mid western coaches. Deron Williams played for the University of Illinois. Shannon brown played for Michigan State. They played against each other several times a year and are also Friends. If there is one player in the entire NBA that knows DWill like a book it’s Shannon Brown. I can not remember one game where DWill got the best of Shannon Brown in college. I can remember maybe two where Shannon got the best of DWill. As Draft prospects Shannon Brown was rated ahead of DWill until the ILLINI made the NCCA finals and though they lost, DWill stole the show, which moved his draft status up. Phil has Dwill charted every which way from Sunday. The only thing we have to worry about is how well Shannon has the triangle down. I think Shannon Brown will stop DWill and Dwill thinks Shannon Brown will stop DWill. This series Will be a sweep. It will not be an overwhelming series all games will Be close except the last. Sloan teams have a bad habit of just giving up when the outcome seems certain. That’s my words of wisdom for
This series. As far as us against Portland, B.S.!!!! This is once again Phils mind games. As has been said several times 9Rings uses regular Seasons games in a variety of ways. To see how certain players will Matchup in the playoffs, to give the opposing coach the wrong idea Of how the Lakers will play. Phil will willingly lose a game if he can Find out if certain matchups work or not. The Blazer series is a sweep And an easy sweep. The conference finals will be The Lakers over the Nuggets. Phil already controls George Karls Mind. Kobe has Carmello psyched. Once again Lakers sweep the conference finals In the Finals Lakers vs. Caviliers. This will be a funny as hell series. Every game will be a complete blow out. The 1st game is in Cleveland and they know we can beat them on their floor so they will overcompensate and it will end with the lakers blowing them out. With the Lakers having destroyed the Cavs home court myth the Cavs will become spastic and revert to what they really are a bunch Of role players and one true superstar. The superstar will play the game of his life but alas this time his supporting cast will stand Around and wait for Lebron to pull it out for them and lose again. Now 3 games in a row in LA. Can you say SWEEP! That’s it! Folks the first playoffs sweep in history. AND THE GLORIOUS START OF DYNASTY # 4.

We will have to get ramped up right away for the Jazz and then keep up the same intensity until the end. Posted by: Laker Justice | April 16, 2009 at 11:20 PM

JON K. This is serious we are going to need at least 7 more crates of Dit Jar dow. And no sampling on the way back.

Robyn, you wrote exactly what I have been thinking..SO WORD TOYOU ON THAT..Nobody, I mean, no one in the League cared that Bynum went down, this is a cutthroat league -- you play with WHO you have..instead we got dogged and clowned on for being soft, this, that and a third. So if the CELTICS happen to make it to a next final, and we do too, I say we put it on them....Blow them out like they stole something!!

Cinz,

That Sunday game is disappointing. I'll be muting the TV as has been customary this season as long as Mark Jackson is anywhere near a microphone. That guy hasn't said anything insightful yet this season (or likely in his entire career). JVG is great, and Breen I can almost stomach.

My Top guys for Basketball Announcing and Commentary:

Announcers:

5. Mike Breen (Annoying catch Phrases, and clearly east biased but still above average. "Puts it in!")
4. Kevin Harlan (Even though he has a preponderance of annoying catch phrases "With no regard for human life!")
3. Mike Tirico (Just all around solid, without too much flash and pop)
2. Marv Albert (Still at the top of the game after a long career "From downtown! Yes!")
1. Dan Shulman. (This is guy easily has the best voice and interjects the least amount of commentary and crappy catch phrases. He's one of the only pure announcers left)

Commentators:

5. Reggie Miller (Funny, and has some interesting insights. Also takes a joke well)
4. Doug Collins (Some good coaching insights, but can be annoying at times and offers little in the way of entertainment value)
3. JVG (Can be very funny and has some good insights into the coaching and strategy aspects of the game)
2. Clyde Frazier (For those of you without League Pass, this man is just plain awesome. Very intelligent, great game knowledge and entertainment value. He's a MUCH smarter and less annoying version of Mark Jackson.)
1. Hubie Brown (Easily the best in the business in my opinion. He offers the best statistical analysis, in game strategy breakdowns and enterttaiment value. There's a reason he's in the hall-of-fame)

Are the Jazz just good practice dummies for the Lakers?

The Jazz are way overmatched by the Lakers . Not that it will be easy, it won't. But there are parts to the Jazz game that the Lakers are in much better shape to handle for this go around.

What do you remember from last year that they did to particularly hurt us? These are a few things that I remembered.

Problem: Derons penetration? Fisher did a nice job of directing D. Will away from where he wanted to go. But when Jordie came in, Williams killed him penetrating or posting him up down low.
Solutiion: Shannon Brown and occassionally, late in the game, Kobe. And when he penetrates, try and force him into Bynum.

Problem: The kick out pass to open shooters, Okur, Korver, etc...
Solution: This is where having Ariza this time will improve our D. He closes quickly, and has long arms to alter shots. He also allows Kobe to roam more freely, rather than having Kobe stay at home near the paint.

Problem: We forced Utah into missing many shots, but didn't finish the job, by giving up an incredible amount of offensive boards. This was the only reason why some of the games were close.

Solution: Bynum.. He is so long and tall, that he can dominate the glass. Last year, knowing they had a chance to rebound, Utah was always hustling to get the boards. It will be much different as AB grabs the reb, Utah will eventually spend less time on Off Rebs and look to get back on D to stop Lakers transition game.

Problem: Utah's interior passing for lay ups.
Solution: Again Andrew Bynum. If Okur draws away one of our bigs, we still have Gasol or Drew to protect the rim.

Problem: Utah getting the Lakers in foul trouble
Solution: Our depth. We now have some very capable players for back up. Bynum - Ariza - Shannon as well as Powell.

Utah is still Utah and will do some of this stuff well, but no where as well as last series.

On offense, the Lakers will be more efficient than last year as Utah has almost no answer to stop most of the Lakers game.

I see stretches of Utah not scoring consistently and is why a series sweep in my opinion could be very likely.

Game 3, Utah's best hope to win a game.

Problem: Home crowd ignited them to play hard, and the Refs gave them many favorable calls.
Solution: This Lakers team has matured a lot from last year and releshes that situation. (see Cleveland and Boston games)

I feel the Lakers as a team have improved in many catagories, while Utah has regressed, but wanted to key in on our players that we didn't have last year, that will make a series difference.

What else do you see as this series difference makers?

I don't know, I hear nothing but whining an complaining all game long from JVG.

What else do you see as this series difference makers?
Posted by: Fatty | April 17, 2009 at 08:47 AM

I think you about covered it sir. I'm sending my 10 thru
PayPal to the Fatty foundation as I type. lol!

Question what did Paul Pierce said when told that K.G.
would be out. "THEY MAY TAKE OUR KG'S LIFE BUT THEY'LL NEVER TAKE OUR WHEELCHAIRS... I MEAN FREEDOM!!

Well, the Celtics can kiss defending their NBA title goodbye now. With Garnett out for the playoffs, the Celtics will have a hard time even getting past the underrated Bulls in the first round and a strong Magic team in the second round. If the Celtics are lucky enough to reach the Eastern finals, Lebron and the Cavs will surely demolish them in 4 games. That's just too bad 'cos that means Lakers fans will have to wait another 20 years for a Lakers-Celtics title clash. I would've loved to see the Lakers annihilate the Celtics in 4 games in the NBA Finals this year.

Jon K.,

I don't know! But chances are good I may catch one of them eating in the neighborhood. They won't be hard to miss..Not many people are 6'5" or taller out here!

If I do see a CAV, i'm going to let loose the trash talking! I really want to tell them how stupid their photo picture routine before the game is.

Do you really think the CAVS are terrified of Lamar because of one good game? He plays one good game out of 3 if your lucky.

Also you notice Lamar had really good games around the first week or two of Bynum going down. It's because the scouts weren't ready for the lineup of Odom and Gasol again.. In other words, the teams weren't prepared.

As soon as the teams adjusted, Lamar disappeared again. So I wouldn't take that ONE game against the CAVS as a true indicator.

Deron will have it tougher this year than he did last year against the team defense Phil will throw at him. In review, last year didn't work out that well for him.

Utah has a 2 line weapon: the foul line, and the 3 point line.

If Okur can get a big out of the paint, it will help their cause but we have more than one.

If we take their heart in the first 2, sweep, if not, a slug fest.

Rick,

Thanks for your comments about Jordan. I have a hunch he is going to have a very good run during these playoffs. Unfortunately, I also have a hunch that Shannon Brown is also going to have a more productive playoffs. This summer will be the key for Jordan.

Tom

Dave,

Good to hear from you. You bought up a very good point about the Malone and Stockton Jazz teams, which never won it all and were probably better than the current team. As for Sloan, he knows this is not one of his better teams but one of his worst.

Tom

Video of the Town Hall mtg w/ Mitch and PJ is up:

http://tinyurl.com/djru2q

A lot of really great insight.

Good morning Mamba24 & Laker morning CRUE!!

Is it Sunday yet?????

We've got this. Call it a feeling - call it confidence - whatever you will - but I'm quite sure we got this. No one has an answer for the 7 footers in the paint, the Bean on the floor, the D from Trevor & Shannon, the shooting of the Machine, the problem for the enemy that is LO and the war-tested experience of Fish etc etc. We got this. No one can match up effectively enough over a 7 game series to unseat us. WE GOT THIS.

Utah? Puh-leeeese.

Portland? Punks & upstarts against the big dogs on the floor. They'll get schooled.

Crabs? Bring it on - if you make it that far. We've owned you both games this year. Like I said before - you're all crazy walk & lot's of talk but not enough substance to back it up.

Weeners? OH SON I SAY BRING IT ON! I hope we get you. I pray to god we get you. I hope KG pulls the mother of all PP wheelchair moves. Give us your best shot. You will go down in flames like the end of Red's cigar. And - I must say - deservedly so. Bunch of cry-baby weenie ass punks.

GO LAKERS!!!! WE GOT THIS!!!!!

We should use MBenga in the first qtr to guard D Will. Use all of MBengas 5 fouls and hammer him into the ground. That will stop D Will. HAHAHA

Weeners? OH SON I SAY BRING IT ON! I hope we get you. I pray to god we get you. I hope KG pulls the mother of all PP wheelchair moves. Give us your best shot. You will go down in flames like the end of Red's cigar. And - I must say - deservedly so. Bunch of cry-baby weenie ass punks. GO LAKERS!!!! WE GOT THIS!!!!! Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 17, 2009 at 09:26 AM

OOOOOOOOOOOH WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the Fire JAMambaFan. Tell the truth now, Jon K.
slipped you a cup of that dit dar jaw. didn't he?
I knew it, I told him we wouldn't use it till the Finals.
JONNNNN KKKKKK.!! report to headquarters!!

No need to apologize for being a man of HONOR.
But today is another day..
F## KG, F# THE CELTICS CLAP CLAP, CLAP CLAP CLAP
Posted by: ChicNstu | April 17, 2009 at 09:25 AM

Thank you. and as they say:
F## KG, F# THE CELTICS CLAP CLAP, CLAP CLAP CLAP

I've got butterflies.
Posted by: Jon K. | April 17, 2009 at 09:16 AM

WTF!!!!!!! JON K. HAS BUTTERFLIES? HELLLLLLLL NO!!!!!
Boy get in there and get you some Dit dar Jaw right now.!!

Utah has a 2 line weapon: the foul line, and the 3 point line.Posted by: Vman | April 17, 2009 at 09:14 AM

OUT FREAKING STANDING VMAN !!!!!

That's just too bad 'cos that means Lakers fans will have to wait another 20 years for a Lakers-Celtics title clash. I would've loved to see the Lakers annihilate the Celtics in 4 games in the NBA Finals this year. Posted by: pinoy matador | April 17, 2009 at 09:01 AM

ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT, 20YEARS CELTICS YOU HEAR THAT!!!!! POUR IT ON BLOGGERS. THIS IS WAR!!!!

AK/BK,

"Being a Laker fan isn't a requirement to post here. BK and I have taken a lot of flack over the years for not weeding out anti-posters, but our stance won't change. But if you're simply trying to bug people (as opposed to debate basketball in earnest), we won't tolerate it."

Thank you.

Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.

GO LAKERS!

If anybody finds Engineero send him to me. I left off a protocal. He'll be as good as new?

By the way, just WTF is a Engineero?

LaKer Fan

You sound like fighters do at the press conference before a big fight ... then they get in the ring get KO'd and then after the fight still talkn about what they are gonna do in the rematch!

Or the drunk at the bar telling everybody ... Hold me back Ill kill him but not really wanting to fight.

YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE LAST YEAR ... YOU SHOULDA GOT IT DONE THEN! You got your a@@ handed to you now you are talkn about what your would do if you had another chance. Hasnt your anybody told you to never put off til tomorrow what you can do today?

Fact is the Lakers have had 11 chances vs the Celtics in the Finals and have lost 9 times. We have a winning percentage of 81 head to head. How many more chances do you need. 9 of our 17 banners have been hung at the expense of the Lakers!

Even the Generals have a better winning percentage.

Mr. 0-2,

We would love nothing better for y'all to summon up all the Umbutu you can muster, rub it all over KG's knee, and pimp slap LeBron, Superman and the rest all over your parquet floor. Perhaps you can get the same steroid deale...i mean "angel" who visited The Lie during Game 1 to visit him as well.

Although...I must say...if Kobe and a so-called bunch of softies were good enough to GET TO the Finals last year, and The Lie, The Nut Cracker and the rest of the greenie-weenies can't get there this year without KG, what does that really say about your team?

Schooling LeBron will be satisfactory, but don't get it twisted...WE WANT BOSTON!

Fatty,

Thanks, man.

I'm actually doing everything I can right now to get back to the heart of Laker Nation, but until then, I will bravely endure the hordes of mouthbreathing LeBroniacs slavishly worshipping their Crab King.

My favorite quote overheard from a LeBroniac while watching a Michael Jordan commercial: "Dude, I have no idea why they make such a big deal about Michael Jordan. LeBron James has accomplished EVERYTHING Jordan's accomplished AND MORE... well, you know, except for the Championship thing."

Urgh.

What do we play for? RINGS!!!!

Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.

GO LAKERS!

Great post Mamba24. I agree with everything! Personally I thought Shannon Brown on DW was a brilliant move by Phil. I loved his play in the season finally and it will really help take a load off of Fish so he can be fresh through out the playoffs. With the now Fish, Brown, and Farmar rotation at the point I think is going to pay huge dividends in the Finales against the Cavs. 09 NBA Champs here we come!