Bad Charlotte
There's something about those Bobcats from the state of Carolina. For whatever reason, the Lakers can't lick 'em, and last night's date provided a 94-84 "no exception to the rule." Unfortunately, the defeat wasn't just a matter of coming up short against a lesser squad that inexplicably has your number. This was a curious case of total ineptness, and on several levels.
The typically prolific Laker O has suddenly grown all "Ben Howland-y," failing to find the opportunities that once flowed like cheap beer at a UCLA frat house while the Bruins play. And speaking of scoring at will, Kobe Bryant struggled to do what's normally doable in his sleep: Filling up a bucket. Yet another night where the majority of shots can't find the hole. We've reached the point where a hapless bench is basically a given, but for the sake of telling the whole story... well... the bench was hapless. Similar to how Vlad Radmanovic often felt in his old system.
Pau Gasol admitted concern over the recent funk, one he won't chalk up to fatigue. But for the sake of argument, let's just entertain the notion that what appears like extreme weariness is playing a role in these matters. With any luck, that could be alleviated by the return of Andrew Bynum right before the postseason kicks off (perhaps against the Suns in the first round). These days, Drew has been making headlines for his time spent at the Playboy Mansion, an appearance that ain't no big thang to Phil Jackson. However, for those shocked by the playmate on Bynums shoulders, wait until you take a gander at what was encircled around his hips. That's right... a hula hoop!!!
If this doesn't reinforce the need for an intervention, I don't know what will.
OTHER NOTES
- Al Harrington dishes on his time with Nellie.
- Good thing Sheed is able to get on the court again, otherwise he wouldn't be able to pick up his 16th T and an automatic suspension. Carmelo Anthony, in nearly as precarious a position, has promised to keep a cooler head.
- It's no given that Gilbert Arenas will play on Thursday's nationally televised game against the Cavs. But if he can't, at least that's more time to help shape the Wildcat roundball program.
- KG will rest for a while, but at least his knee is structurally okay. Eddy Curry is also having knee issues, but his likely flared up while tripping over a pizza.
- A return during the regular season for Martell Webster is growing increasingly unlikely.
- Vlade Divac's #21 is now a Sacramento treasure.
- Vince Carter is adjusting to a new stage in his career.
- Former NBA player Kirk Snyder's life has taken a turn for the very worse.
- Manu Ginobli is a good sport about landing on the kiss cam.
- It has nothing to do with basketball, but John McCain seeking a posthumous pardon for boxer Jack Johnson is nonetheless an interesting sports story.
AK
"With any luck, that could be alleviated by the return of Andrew Bynum right before the postseason kicks off, perhaps against the Suns. "
-AK
I don't think we play the Suns until 2010-11. Our remaining games are
Tonight @ 5pm-Milwaukee
Friday@7:30-Houston
Sunday@6:30-Clippers
Tuesday@7pm-Sac-Town Kings
Thursday@7:30-Denver
Friday@7pm-Portland
Sunday@6:30-Memphis
Tueday@7:30-Utah
That's it, 8 games until we get rolling in the Playoffs.
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | April 01, 2009 at 10:02 AM
EJK,
>>> The best case scenario for the Lakers is to snag either LBJ or D-Wade
>>> in 2010...preferably LBJ b/c he's younger. For that to have a chance to
>>> happen, Drew has got to get back and establish his trade value. If he
>>> contributes significantly to a few championships, he'll be a hot commodity
>>> around the league, and may be the piece that can bring LBJ to the Lakers.
>>> If that happens, Drew will be my favorite ex-Laker of all time.
Aside from the fact that Cleveland would NEVER trade James or Miami trade Wade, there is no way either guy would be willing to play second fiddle to Kobe or vice versa. You are talking about 3 alpha dogs. And that is not even considering the salary cap and trade requirements that would make the deal almost impossible to pull off without dismantling our existing team. You would likely have to trade Drew and Pau.
Furthermore, trading Drew would be a mistake. You would be giving away a player who will become the dominant defensive player in the league and will combine with Kobe to give the Lakers another championship duo. Your reaction is probably either the result of your unreasonable loss of faith in the current team or infatuation with a fantasy league team that you have concocted in a moment of over indulgent multi-tasking. Get real. You are talking about a fantasy trade. How about just enjoying the team we have.
You are blinded by individual play and think all you have to do to win a championship is to join Kobe with another superstar. I wouldn’t trade Andrew Bynum for any other player in the league. And after a few more years and championships, you will probably finally understand that. Until then, just keep rooting for James and Wade and ignoring the fact that the Lakers with Drew are the DOMINANT team in the NBA for the next decade.
Wake up and smell the roses instead of LBJ’s and Wade’s overrated rear ends.
JMNSHBO!
DNFTT!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 01, 2009 at 10:04 AM
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Phil Jackson is a bad coach.
Kobe is a ball hog.
Pau needs more touches.
The bench stinks.
Luke Walton stinks.
This is a not a championship team.
The Lakers are not winning the title.
APRIL FOOLS!
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | April 01, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Ship his ass out.
Posted by: jblers | April 01, 2009 at 10:11 AM
No April fool posts???
Posted by: Metallic | April 01, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Good morning Mamba24 & Laker morning CRUE!
Another stinker in the books - hopefully there aren't any left cuz I can't stand the thought of my beloved Lakers getting the finger-point & giggles come their way on the part of the troll people in other cities.
WE ARE THE FREAKING LOS ANGELES LAKERS for god's sake. This crap needs to get fixed and NOW.
PJ - COACH for crying out loud. Do some zen stuff with the incense & chanting. Move the furniture. Rearrange the lockers. Oh, I know - rest the starters and motivate the bench. Whatever it takes.
KOBE - I want you to drive to the hole. That said, I want the zebras to actually give you a call or 2. Could they BE any more biased?????? BUT - we have a quandary here. How do you drive, get beat up, not go to the line, and then still decide to drive next time down? You can't win. BUT I think you need to drive & dish to the open guy. If there are 2 or 3 defenders on you, someone's open. Do the math.
PAU - stop whining & complaining to the zebras. THEY DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK. Keep your eye on the ball and throw it down. That's it.
SASHA - stop with the frenetic pace already. This is basketball NOT on steroids. Calm down & run the offense. JORDY - that means you too. Get it inside. Be smart. Do what you were doing BEFORE you got a so-called lock on the PG of the future position.
Home court in the Finals is now a non-issue. Kobe for MVP is now a non-issue. The only thing locked in right now is we get to play in Round 1. THAT'S IT. These guys need some rest or that will be all she wrote. And that, my friends, is unacceptable and WILL NOT HAPPEN. I have faith that this ship will turn around. I have to - it's too long an off-season to listen to the crap that will be on here if we come home without the prize. And I don't have a shovel.
GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | April 01, 2009 at 10:12 AM
NEVER been able to figure out how free throw disparities like last night's happen. I know the explanations. They don't explain it...that is, except for the, refs have bad games too explanation.
Ref cred is the most important "not talked about" aspect of playoff basketball. LBJ got it, Kobe not so much. Momentum swings on calls. Legs come to life or wilt on calls. If you're getting calls, you drive, if not, you pull up.
It's not a conspiracy, it's an imperfect system which works most of the time. If the Lakers had made more shots, shown some momentum at the right time, they'd have gotten more calls. It's not supposed to work that way, but that's the way it works.
Posted by: VMan | April 01, 2009 at 10:15 AM
mikefloss,
>>> The Sky is Not Falling.....Pt 2.
I think this is actually Pt 28 for “The Sky is Not Falling” this year. Great post, mike.
>>> First let me say this to Rick Friedman..These are not desperate times!!!
>>> Far from it. I wouldn't call a probable 5-2 road trip at the end of the
>>> season desperate times.
I am not sure what is going on with Rick right now. He is usually pretty level headed.
I hope he hasn’t lost his job or gotten a pay cut or something. The way everybody is reacting to a bump in the road as if we lost all four tires on the bandwagon might have to do with the lousy economy we find ourselves mired in. Of course, it is not logical to blame the Lakers for these problems, especially when we know who is really to blame.
JMNSHBO!
DNFT!
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | April 01, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Sasha and Jordan have cost Kobe his 2nd MVP.
Sasha and Jordan have cost the Lakers the #1 seed.
Trade Sasha this summer.
Do not extend Jordan this summer.
Posted by: passionate Lakers fan | April 01, 2009 at 10:18 AM
GARUNTEE LAKERS WILL NOT WIN THIS YEAR:
just don't have it!!
Posted by: Chief Iron Horse | April 01, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Hey AK/BK,
Why are you guys blocking my posts when there is nothing malicious about my posts, granted it is as NON SENSICAL THAN YOURS AND OTHERS.
cHIEF iRON hORSE
Posted by: Chief Iron Horse | April 01, 2009 at 10:33 AM
**Repost**
If Phil is a great coach, he would be able to get the team out of the slump in time of the playoffs.
If Phil is a great coach, he will talk with Kobe and convince him to maximize what he is doing good in the game and lessen what he is doing bad.
If Phil is a great coach, he will call a timeout to cut the opponent's point flow .
If Phil is a great coach, he will modify his system to adapt it to what his team is capable NOW.
If Phil is a great coach, he will find a way to revive the bench mob.
If Phil is a great coach, he will be humble now, and assume his fault now, not after being beaten in the finals.
If Phil is a great coach, he will rely less in his "mind games" and start talking frankly and directly with his players.
If Phil is a great coach, the Lakers will get the championship in spite of all that was happening lately.
I don't think Phil is a great coach, only a good one. But i want to change my mind about it.
The Lakers franchise will prevail!!!
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: MrNano | April 01, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Nothing is wrong with Rick Friedman
He is telling the truth.
LakerTom has the trouble in absorbing the truth so he and his henchmen blame Rick F who is not a player, not a public figure, not a coach just plain Rick, a fan.
When the GHEexlo and GHFTom mixed in defending what is obvious, I guess that's homerism at its best and there is no one could stop it except Rick Friedman.
Go Rick, Go Jon K, the blog needs people like you. Just tell them what it is? These people are just asking questions, answer their questions a better alternative than dissing, accusing them with metaphorical sarcasm from fellow Laker fans.
If you can't handle the truth or offer no solutions to the truth just SMILE and the world will SMILE with you.
Why get angry at Rick?
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 01, 2009 at 10:37 AM
AK,
No Bette Davis connections?
Posted by: exhelodrvr | April 01, 2009 at 10:41 AM
When the Lakers lose to the Bobcats and California bumps the sales tax up another point starting today, reality feels like all the April fools prank you need.
Tonight it can all get better. Strange thing about these last 2 losses, going from confident to hopeful.
Posted by: VMan | April 01, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Jamie Sweet,
I didn't make it clear enough, but I meant, "perhaps against the Suns in the first round," which pertains to the link. Thanks for the pick up.
AK
Posted by: Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky | April 01, 2009 at 10:43 AM
While I understand and appreciate the optimism expressed by many here, and agree that on its face a 5-2 roadie at the end of the season is just fine, I still have some pretty big concerns.
It's not so much the recent losses themselves, but HOW they came about and what they've revealed.
It's pretty clear that Farmar and Sasha have lost their confidence. No matter how you look at it, having your first two back court reserves second-guessing themselvs and pressing is never a good thing. And with Sasha, his #1 role is to come in and knock down perimeter shots; when he can't do that, he doesn't really offer much else.
It's starting to look like Ariza is losing confidence in his shot as well. The last few games, he's not just missing shots, he's missing TERRIBLY. Airballs, rim grazers, and bricks...he's hitting the trifecta.
Kobe.....*sigh*....dude's just looking exhausted. It's one thing when a guy shoots 33%, but it absolutely kills a team when that same guy puts up more than 25 shots. It's really, really hard to win under those circumstances.
So yeah, while 5-2 on a road trip wouldn't be bad, the bigger issue here is where our team is at both mentally and physically. We have some of our role players playing like crap and completely lacking in confidence, and our stars wearing out.
Yes....I'm concerned.
Posted by: Jason F. | April 01, 2009 at 10:44 AM
A reminder to everyone: Posting under several different handles is discouraged on the blog. Please pick a screen name and stick with it.
Thanks.
AK
Posted by: Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky | April 01, 2009 at 10:45 AM
I don't think Rick F is out of bounds in what he said. Yes the sky is indeed NOT falling. But I watch the same games as you guys, as him and I see what he sees.
Kobe Bryant is tired. His shots are off not because he changed his mechanics or he refuses to go inside. He's just plain tired. He's shooting from the outside because it takes less energy than to drive and get beaten up.
Pau Gasol is tired. I mean last night is the exhibit A of all this. In the last month we have played Pau 40+ minutes in at least 75% of those games. By necessity? Perhaps. After all without Drew we don't have a legit 5 to really give Pau rest. But also through stubborness.
Derek Fisher is OLD. I love Fisher, but even I acknowledge that he's old. He needs rest and Farmar stinking up the joint isn't helping Fish extend his career. We need Fisher fresh for the playoffs most of all (well not above Kobe really), but a lot... because he's our main weapon in the killer jump shots. He has shown capability of that in the playoffs and if he's too tired those shots aren't going to get the lift they need and we aren't going to make said shots.
This isn't a matter of, oh we're just giving up on homecourt. We're playing FOR the championship and if these guys continue to expend energy on useless games and continue on this roll, the playoffs will be uphill. Don't ge me wrong, I have faith we still win, but it'll be that much tougher.
Rest the players now Phil! Who knows while you're doing so, the bench might slump themselves out with opportunity.
Posted by: Faith | April 01, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Laker Tom,
Greetings, dear friend. No I haven't lost my job or been asked to take a pay cut. I sincerely believe that I'm being very level headed. Quite a bit of deep thought went into my post last night. We can respectfully disagree on things from time to time and obviously this is one of those times.
Sure, the Lakers are on a ridiculously long road trip, which is tiring enough. But this team has serious issues which must be addressed before the Playoffs begin. The regular season record from hereon in means virtually nothing. The quality of play leading up to the Playoffs means everything.
I see Phil's point about wanting to win 60 regular season games. But let me point to the New England Patriots' perfect season. The Pats were winning games when they were playing poorly. It caught up with them when it most mattered: the Super Bowl.
The Lakers must be prepared to sacrifice some regular season games for the good of the cause -- the ultimate goal -- the NBA Championship. The starters need rest and the bench needs extended minutes to work through its issues. Without a bench that contributes, the road to the Ring will be a rocky one at best. Smooth out the kinks, now. The Zenmaster must prove once again that he's the Lord of the Rings. This is his chance. Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rick Friedman | April 01, 2009 at 10:49 AM
MARK CUBAN HAS BOUGHT THE LAKERS
Kurt of Forum Blue and Gold reports:
Saying "If you can’t beat them, join them," the very public owner of the Dallas Mavericks has purchased a majority share of the Los Angeles Lakers from Dr. Jerry Buss.
Cuban made the announcement via Twitter.
While the final price was not made public, it is believed to be well more than the $584 million that Forbes estimated the Lakers franchise was worth. Cuban said he was glad to overpay — that it was worth it just to see David Stern’s face when he has to hand him the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
"He dodged that bullet a couple years ago that he had the refs call a foul on my guys (the Mavericks) for even looking at Dwyane Wade," Cuban said. "Let's see him stop me now."
If Cuban cannot win the title with the Lakers this year, he has promised to make lopsided trades that would bring Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and other key Mavericks over to the Lakers to form an unbeatable Überteam that would not only win a title but would also obliterate the current single season wins record.
Posted by: ajax | April 01, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Its should read Bobcats from the state of North Carolina. Carolina is not a state.
Posted by: Jdh343 | April 01, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Jdh343,
"Its should read Bobcats from the state of North Carolina. Carolina is not a state."
It is if you don't recognize South Carolina. haha
AK
Posted by: Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky | April 01, 2009 at 11:04 AM
LakerTom,
"I wouldn’t trade Andrew Bynum for any other player in the league."
That's why I'm glad you're not our GM. I'm pretty sure 100% of the GMs in the league would trade Drew for LBJ in a heartbeat. LBJ is the present and the future of the league. Drew has merely shown flashes of great play during his short career.
If LBJ wants to come to LA, which there is a chance of happening if he indeed wants to move to a bigger stage, Cleveland would be crazy not to consider a sign-and-trade with the Lakers to get him out of the East. And Drew would be the perfect piece to bring him here.
LBJ would become the Man on the team once Kobe's game starts declining, which is not far away given the mileage on his body. Kobe, Pau and Drew may be good enough to win a few championships. Kobe, LBJ and Pau are a surefire Dynasty.
The problem you have, and that Mitch has had over the years, is that you overvalue the players on the current roster. That's how you end up with bad contracts for mediocre players. That kind of poor management is what turns the American icon GM into Government Motors.
Posted by: EJK | April 01, 2009 at 11:07 AM
"It is if you don't recognize South Carolina. haha"
I do, but Charlotte is not in South Carolina. they are two different states. if you refer to both of them , it's the Carolina's.
Posted by: Jdh343 | April 01, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Rick said rest the starters? Fix the problems? That's been posted more than a few times as has everything else that can be said about a 15 man roster and some coaches.
Rant on, it's understandable if not always reasonable. If ya can't rant here, what's this world coming to? Don't answer that.
Posted by: VMan | April 01, 2009 at 11:16 AM
OK. Time for me to stop sidelining and to put back on The Cloth.
LET US PRAY...
Dear Lord, we need RESTORATION.
The weariness of such a long season has caught up to our Lakers. Kobe's shots aren't falling like they normally do. The Bench Mob has been reduced to a shadow of their early season selves. LO's inconsistent...AGAIN! They're not giving Pau the ball in the paint and the defense is lackluster.
But we praise You. We thank You for granting us the #1 seed in the West. We thank You for answering our prayers with Andrew's recovery - and CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM BACK ON THE COURT! We thank You for choosing this moment in time for us to face adversity...
...better now than in June, Lord!
RESTORE US!
Restore Kobe's shot.
Restore the Bench Mob.
Restore the spirit of teamwork amongst us...even if it means some of our guys don't fill up the stats sheet with double digit points!
Grant strength to those who need to sacrifice their own desire to be noticed for the greater good of the team.
Let these last 2 losses be a clarion call for Kobe, Pau, LO and the guys to step into the greatness that we know is in us.
We did not suffer through last June and the following months to get to this point and to watch our hopes and dreams fade away. We, the fans of Laker Nation put our TRUST and HOPE in YOU! We believe You will RESTORE US. We believe You will REFRESH US. We look forward to watching Your mighty hand lead us and guide us to the NBA Championshp this year! Yes, these 2 losses have been setbacks. But we know that, with You, SETBACKS are SETUPS for MAJOR COMEBACKS!
Let the COMEBACK COMMENCE!
Let Andrew return to the court in a blaze of glory.
Let the Mamba return to strike venom in the hearts of our opponents.
Let the Spaniard TAKE HIS GAME to higher levels.
Let LO play with the strength and glory that WE KNOW exists in him.
Let Sasha & Jordan humble themselves and play their game NOT FOR STATS or GLORY, but for the good of the team as a whole.
Let D-Fish be our rock steady voice of reason, strength and confidence.
Let PJ and the coaching staff lead us back to the promised land!
Let Laker Nation rejoice! For You will RESTORE US!
We thank You in advance for answered prayer...AMEN!
Calm the fears of the doubters and naysayers w
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | April 01, 2009 at 11:17 AM
AK
I was stationed at both North and South Carolina. I refuse to recognize either one!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: ChicNstu | April 01, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Good Morning Charles....Good Morning Everyone...
API Press Release:
This morning The Los Angles Lakers petitioned the NBA league office to not have to play the Charlotte Bobcats ever again. In a move Dr. Buss described as "mercifull to our fan base", the Lakers want to eliminate the Bobcats from all future schedules and the embarasment that goes hand in hand with playing the only other team in the history of the league to have a winning record against the Lakers besides the Boston Celtics. NBA Commissioner David Stern said the league will seriously consider the Lakers request.
AS ALWAYS, AS EVER, YET ANOTHER GREAT DAY (AND SEASON) TO BE A LAKER FAN !!!
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | April 01, 2009 at 11:32 AM
REPOST
more thoughts or so,
the Lakers can not beat the Bobcats--simple as that...
even if the Lakers had Jerry West, Magic , Kareem, Wilt, Elgin, Worthy, Shaq, George Miken, and any other Laker, all in their primes we would still not be able to actually beat the mighty Bobcats...
if the Bobcats make the finals this year we are toast...a four game sweep..
Is it Wednesday yet?
API Press Release:
A U.S. Government emergency air lift is scheduled today at 1:00 P.M. EST. The cargo to be delivered via a C-5A cargo jet is 15 cases of Chick Hearn Basketball Pills, the receipient, The Los Angles Lakers. Laker Pau Gasol, who seemingly does not need the pills, will be donating his case of pills to other Lakers that have a greater need than himself in an unselfish team gesture.
In a related story, the Lakers coaching staff, as well as some players are to be government tested for "high basketball I.Q." mainly to determine if any coach on staff or player actually possesses any of the elusive quality.
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | April 01, 2009 at 11:41 AM
"Furthermore, trading Drew would be a mistake. You would be giving away a player who will become the dominant defensive player in the league and will combine with Kobe to give the Lakers another championship duo. Your reaction is probably either the result of your unreasonable loss of faith in the current team or infatuation with a fantasy league team that you have concocted in a moment of over indulgent multi-tasking. Get real. You are talking about a fantasy trade. How about just enjoying the team we have.
You are blinded by individual play and think all you have to do to win a championship is to join Kobe with another superstar. I wouldn’t trade Andrew Bynum for any other player in the league. And after a few more years and championships, you will probably finally understand that. Until then, just keep rooting for James and Wade and ignoring the fact that the Lakers with Drew are the DOMINANT team in the NBA for the next decade."
While I disagree about you on the Bynum-Lebron thing (heck I would do that in a heat beat, same goes if it was Kobe for Bynum and they were the same age), I agree with you full Laker Tom about EJK. And I know you can read this EJK but damn man, you think too "Let's get Lebron/Wade". Get read dude there is no way that Lebron will be coming to LA unless he changes his mind about Cleveland and New York FIRST. Wade will probably stay in Miami or at the most go back home to Chicago. You say "trade Pau for Amare/Bell" earlier this year then you suck up to Pau and called him our most consistent player and don't even include him in talks anymore electing to Bynum.
Get over it dude. Like Hank Hill did to Bill about his ex-wife not coming back (before Bill all went crazy and coming to realize his wife isn't coming back) I'll just crush your dream about a Bryant-James or Bryant-Wade duo in LA.
LBJ NOR WADE WILL BE COMING AND THAT'S THE END OF THAT.
Does Mitch sometimes overvalue players? Sure but you can say that of almost all the GMs in the NBA. You have to make due with what you have and that includes holding on a future piece that may be great and not be trading away.
What you suggest is like trading away a rookie Hakeem in exchange for Clyde Drexler. Not a bad trade perhaps but anyone would tell you are dumb to trade away the 4th best center all time in the NBA for maybe at most the 5th or 6th best SG of all time.
Bynum is no Hakeem by any chance and he hasn't done more than a few games of well (around 20+). Hold on to the good pieces and cut dead weight (Sasha for example).
Since you said it to Laker Tom, no offense but:
I'm glad you aren't our GM.
Posted by: Kobeblitz | April 01, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Hey Dudes, Chillax... Everything's Gonna Be Allright...
Ricky F, My only problem with your post was the part about it being DRASTIC TIMES which need DRASTIC MEASURES. That was an over reaction in my opinion. I agree with you that the starters need some rest, but PJ is not gonna sit guys out completely to give bench mob crazy minutes. We still must go 6-2 down the stretch to keep home court for Boston or even Orlando. That being said, I'm sure we'll all be seeing more clock for Jordan, Sasha etc as to get them more confident leading into playoffs. Hopefully we'll see AB in maybe the last 3-4 games, which could give us a completely new look off the bench come playoffs.
Tom, I agree that AB still has to much potential upside to move, but cmon, if it's for LBJ or D Wade, I'm moving the dude. However, neither Cleveland or Miami would make that trade so it's irrelevant. BTW, neither LBJ or Wade is overrated, they're both at the very top of basketball's Mount Rushmore. LBJ might be the best to ever do it when it's all said and done.
Back to reality now people, let's get this W tonight and get our mojo back going into the playoffs. We need Kobe to keep his pitch count under 25 and hopefully move up his assists to around 7-8. That's the magic number to me.
I would love to see a little more Sasha action at the 2 and Kobe at the 3. We'll see what PJ has up his sleeve. Either way, I'm feeling a Milwaukee beat down tonight.
ps. Retire Cooooop's number. Could be some good inspiration leading us into our championship run. 21 did it like no other.He never took a play off. Defensive animal, great offensive clutch player. COOOOOOOOOP.
Posted by: mikefloss | April 01, 2009 at 11:47 AM
relax.
Posted by: jq | April 01, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Go Rick F!!! Amen brotha!
I would add the following PS:
Now is the time to earn your keep PJ! It's a recession and Lakers_STH would like to get his money worth!
LGL!!!
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | April 01, 2009 at 12:03 PM
I agree with all the posts, each n every single one of them.
Posted by: Magia32 | April 01, 2009 at 12:10 PM
blitz,
"You have to make due with what you have and that includes holding on a future piece that may be great and not be trading away."
OK, let me get this straight. If given the chance, you don't trade a player who may be great for a player who already is great and arguably the best player in the league now and for the foreseeable future. That makes a lot of sense.
I'm so disappointed you aren't our GM.
Posted by: EJK | April 01, 2009 at 12:13 PM
AK
Suns in the 1st round? It could happen. I would love (as would most of the NBA marketing team) to see a Lakers vs Suns 1 st round, but I'm thinking Dallas is the more likely choice, although both teams have been pretty incocnsistent this year. No worries on the extremely mild gaffe. You guys rule.
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | April 01, 2009 at 12:35 PM