Lakers links, hot and sizzlin'
Some interesting Lakers-related reading for you on this bright-and-shiny SoCal Monday morning:
- Pau Gasol would like to see the ball a little more inside, and generate some shots that don't just come from offensive rebounds. No question that with so many post threats, the Lakers always have to be careful about spreading the ball around. Even when the rock makes it inside, says Lamar Odom, the extra pass still needs to be made. Of course, when it comes to passing from the block, one major concern is always the work of Andrew Bynum, who has in some circles gained a nickname less flattering and more celestial in nature. Darius at Forum Blue and Gold has a great post about how Bynum is operating down low, and whether he's giving up the ball enough after he touches it. As we've pointed out (in reference to Bynum, but it applies to Gasol) for LA's system to work, guys down low have to believe they'll get the ball back if they kick it out. Sometimes, they have a right to be skeptical.
- Kevin Ding of the OC Register looks at the Five Minutes of Tall during the second quarter of the Utah game.In his estimation, the key to the Big Three arrangement (Odom, Gasol, and Bynum on the floor together) is the focus of Odom.
- Shannon Brown will be a busy man when the Lakers get to Chicago, and if he has his way, during All Star weekend, too. Mostly, though, he just wants to truly establish himself in the NBA.
- If you missed it this weekend, here's this week's podcast.
- Around the NBA: The Knicks have signed former Pacer Jonathan Bender... Gilbert Arenas hopes a trip out west will help clear his head...John Salmons is struggling in Chicago, and the Bulls offense is suffering for it... Despite a slow start in San Antonio, Gregg Popovich is determined to keep Tim Duncan's minutes down... Don't look now, but after a terrible start, the Grizzlies are playing well.
It's good to see Kobe praising Shannon. It seems like the whole team have adopted him with no sign of envy. How do you spell Team? F-r-e-a-k-i-n-g L-a-k-e-r-s!!
Posted by: MAMBA24 | December 14, 2009 at 09:39 AM
If Kobe takes Shannon under his wings like he did Arriza and if Shannon improves as much by the end of the regular season as Arriza did, The Lakers will be untouchable in the playoffs.
Posted by: mamba24 | December 14, 2009 at 09:53 AM
Interesting read by Darius. With Kobe injured, Pau should definitely get the ball more than he is. I think Drew's game is definitely still developing and he is turning into an elite center, but Pau is the team's 2nd best player.
On a personal note, I'd let Pau have as many touches as he wanted, if you know what I mean. And I think that you do.
Posted by: Ophelia | December 14, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Can't compare Pau and Bynum just yet. We're talking about a savvy, skilled and intelligent veteran who is at the top of his game in Pau and Bynum is emerging and promising 22 year old. He's learning.
That said, that dang entry pass to the post takes forever! Fisher is one of the worst culprit. Artest is pretty good. Farmar is not. Our point guards really are our weakest link. Not terrible, but weakest.
Posted by: jq | December 14, 2009 at 10:07 AM
WOW from Zen himself re: Shannon Brown: "He's got a great chance to be a good NBA player, a really good NBA player."
Posted by: lakerfan | December 14, 2009 at 10:10 AM
The Lakers need to make Pau the first option until Kobe becomes accustomed to his injured finger. Actually, I see no reason why the Lakers don't do it more often. Kobe is extremely talented, but there is no denying Pau Gasol's efficiency. Andrew should be the one crashing the offensive rebounds, due to his size, and the third or second option at any given time.
Posted by: hectorartm | December 14, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Popovich can keep Duncan's minutes down all he wants. I think Pau can take him easily. With the job he did on Dwight Howard, he should have on problem on an aging Duncan. Timmy might be able to muster up the old Timmy for a game or two in the playoffs but that's it.
Posted by: mamba24 | December 14, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Missing links? Weakest links?
No, these are the K-Bros sizzling links - the easternmost in quality, the westernmost in flavor!!
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 14, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Phred:
You wrote: ‘Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.' Last words of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson.
ALL GREAT MEN THINK ALIKE:
This is what I tell my friends when we are out fly fishing during summer:
Boys & gals: 'Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.'
Posted by: lakerfan | December 14, 2009 at 10:52 AM
OUT FREAKIN STANDING BROTHER:
Popovich can keep Duncan's minutes down all he wants. I think Pau can take him easily. With the job he did on Dwight Howard, he should have on problem on an aging Duncan. Timmy might be able to muster up the old Timmy for a game or two in the playoffs but that's it.
Posted by: mamba24
Posted by: lakerfan | December 14, 2009 at 10:54 AM
EXCELLENT POST BY DARIUS.............
I am sure lakertom's pupils are waiting for their revered SWAMI to come down from Mt. Everest to share his thoughts.
Posted by: lakerfan | December 14, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Hey guys. Lurker here. Am I the only one who noticed that Gasol used the term "looks", not "touches" ?
I got the distinct feeling that he was not really complaining about touches, but just commenting on the fact that he was being double and triple teamed and that crashing the offensive boards was a way to get more looks to score.
Of course more touches for Pau can't be bad as long as Kobe is as inefficient as he's been against Utah, I will not disagree about that. Some people are already calling Pau a whiner and whatnot. This time he was not.
Posted by: loteq | December 14, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Kind of curious that Iverson leaves the Grizzlies and they suddenly start playing well.
Hmmm....
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 14, 2009 at 11:21 AM
HAHAHAH Kobe and Lebron puppet clip:
http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nike/en_US/
Posted by: lakerfan | December 14, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Remember when people were screaming that Gasol was "soft?" Now people are screaming that he should be the first option.
Interesting how things change.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 14, 2009 at 11:30 AM
I feel bad for Gilbert Arenas.
He's got bad mana in Washington.
He'd do better if he moved back home to the West Coast.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 14, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Can anyone explain to me why Kobe's puppet has a goatee? Kobe doesn't have a goatee.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | December 14, 2009 at 11:42 AM
to tomK (i think) - Before you go off and give us your no doubt educated opinion on global warming, let me remind you that for all anybody here knows, my true identity behind my mild mannered phred persona might just be former Vice President Al Gore. Do you really want to take the chance of getting me started on the topic?
Posted by: phred | December 14, 2009 at 12:36 PM
manbearpig!!!
Posted by: exhelodrvr | December 14, 2009 at 12:51 PM
LOL.
Kobe Bryant, 4 time world champion.
*PPPSSSFFHHTT* *Sprays ring polisher*
No really, Kobe will adjust. I mean seriously....he needs to snap his femur bone to not play well lol.
Posted by: Erik | December 14, 2009 at 12:54 PM
to tomK (i think) - Before you go off and give us your no doubt educated opinion on global warming, let me remind you that for all anybody here knows, my true identity behind my mild mannered phred persona might just be former Vice President Al Gore. Do you really want to take the chance of getting me started on the topic?
Posted by: phred | December 14, 2009 at 12:36 PM
...
...
Does that mean then that it was phred who invented the Internet? ... 8-)
Posted by: The Snake | December 14, 2009 at 01:09 PM
Can we not talk about Global Warming?
I've seen the lack of snow in Chile. Pacific & Indian ocean nations are
disappearing. & Most importantly, after having watched "Farce of the
Penguins", I can't read/hear that phrase without hearing that phrase
without "laughing out loud."
Posted by: hobbitmage | December 14, 2009 at 01:13 PM
For those who don't know:
http://tinyurl.com/ycph5mw
Posted by: hobbitmage | December 14, 2009 at 01:20 PM
The Snake:
Phred did not invent the Internet as I know the folks who did. But I know Phred is working on an energy-wise electrical grid.
Posted by: lakerfan | December 14, 2009 at 01:42 PM
BK
I for one am so tired of Gasol complaining that he needs more looks and members of the media buying into this b.s.!
If Pau would improve his lower base and establish post position better and stop whining or grabbing his eye and falling to the floor in a fetus position he would get better looks.
When the Lakers played Miami last week you and your brother AK did the analysis of that game you talked about Kobe's airball at the end of the shot clock in the fourth quarter but both of you neglected to mention the activity that took place before Kobe was FORCED into that shot.
What happened before Kobe's shot (and most of that shot clock )was out of that timeout it appeared Phil (the great coach) wanted to get the ball into Gasol in the post on the much smaller Udonis Haslem. Gasol was unable to gain position against Haslem in the post and was being forced further out on the floor until eventually he wimped out and decided to set a screen for Kobe and take the onus off of himself and hope Kobe would bail him out.
Eventually Kobe did bail out the team with that 3 at the buzzer but it was at least to me a constant reminder why Gasol never won a playoff game before he played with Kobe.
When games are more physical and it becomes a halfcourt game Gasol is usually rendered less effective and he MUST improve this aspect of his game and take personal responsibility instead of looking to blame someone for not getting him the ball
Posted by: pfunk36 | December 14, 2009 at 01:57 PM
Uh-oh..... Politics. My dad taught me not to discuss religion, politics or Luke Walton in polite company. It's hard on friendships.
Tom D.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | December 14, 2009 at 01:59 PM
I still think we need to get Shaq back on HIS team LAKERS. As I said before let's don't get our hope high, we are 15-2 at home and 3-2 on road. So who says we are untouchables! Wake up and smell the coffee we are playing great with what we have!
Posted by: LongLiveShaq | December 14, 2009 at 02:06 PM
pfunk36:
Did we not win the title with Pau's "weak lower base" and not to mention a stellar defensive job he did on beast Dwight. Don't let Pau's frail physique fool you and also has proven to be extremely durable. In my book he is plenty strong and what he lacks in brute strength, he makes up for it with his very HIGH IQ.
cheers!!
Posted by: lakerfan | December 14, 2009 at 02:31 PM
So, between Ariza and Artest, who got suspended first? Just saying....
Posted by: #4 | December 14, 2009 at 02:32 PM
There's a simple answer to Pau's dilema and more -
KOBE NEEDS TO NOT PLAY FOR A WHILE
Really - one hit to that finger and he could be seriously out of commission for a long time - and maybe not be back at his best for the playoffs. Its one of the easiest injuries of all to re-injure and you know nobody guarding him is gonna take it easy on that hand. Quite the opposite.
Kobe sits out a few weeks and the following happens:
1)His finger heals to 100% so he's at full strength months before the playoffs.
2)Pau becomes more of a focal point in the offense
3) Shannon starts and gets a lot of good minutes to develop his game
Worst case scenario is we go .600 instead of .700 or .800 for a spell. Maybe we lose home court at the end of the playoffs, but that never stopped Phil during our threepeat. The most important thing is to be sure Mamba has no lingering injuries come April - June. Look how the Celtics folded last year when KG tried to play through his injuries and kept reinjuring himself.
The best warriors know when to rest and what to save their strength for.
Posted by: Jay Jay | December 14, 2009 at 02:40 PM
Of course Gasol and Bynum both should have gotten more touches in the Utah game. That's a no brainer. As to whether or not Drew emits Hawking radiation, I've seen him make the skip pass out plenty of times where it led to a basket. Too bad the NBA doesn't give out hockey type assists.
Posted by: Mark | December 14, 2009 at 03:21 PM
jq: Great point. There is art to the entry pass, and our guys are fingerpainting at best.
Posted by: jimjoyce | December 14, 2009 at 07:33 PM
3-2 on the road with overtime wins against Houston and OK City.....hmmmmmmm that is not very impressive; however I don't think bringing back Shaq is any better an idea than trying to bring Kareem and Worthy; maybe Sedale Threatt is available to play point guard
Posted by: The Green Asterisk | December 14, 2009 at 08:48 PM
Wow, the quality of the comments on this excellent K Bros blog is really high. pfunk, great comment re: Pau and Udonis. I think Pau needs to lift some weights. Artest gets the ball into the post quickly, that, his defense and ability to post, shoot 3s (well, sort of) and pass generally is a reason his +/- is so high (plus he happens to be paired up with the right folks). Thinking PJ needs to say flat out to Farmar, Shanwow and Sasha that whoever puts the ball into the paint the most, all else being equal, gets the most PT and enforce it and talk about it during the game. Because otherwise, they'll go into selfish dribble/drive/highlight reel/3 point gunner land, respectively. Their nature is to be selfish, perhaps taking after old Kobe. I also hope a Laker (should be Kobe but may need to be Pau or DFish if Kobe doesn't do it) start slapping these faux point guard subs around so they pass in to the post more again and again. Or we lend them for 2 years to San Antonio to get some schooling.
Posted by: Riding Pine | December 14, 2009 at 10:53 PM