@Congrats Jon K on RCOTD.

@DBDH - I think you would've had a lot of company under that bus...myself included. At least the wifey took care of you with a comforting meal.

AW HELL YEAH!!!
RCOTD = JON K. = OUT FREAKIN STANDING SIR!!!!!!!!! KUDOS!!!

Second BTW-- Congrats on the Friedman...

Fault Kobe this time?

Dex at Silver Screen and Roll has a nice recap of the game. Here's a snip:

"Every one of the Celtics' key players had a terrific game.

The same can be said of just one of their Laker counterparts: Kobe Bryant. The Mamba did what he could to keep his team in the game, scoring 41 points on 32 shots and committing only a couple turnovers. That he took 32 shots and collected zero assists while the Lakers lost will inevitably drag us into a tiresome discussion about whether he shot too much. No. He didn't.

I'm perfectly willing to rip Kobe when he's not taking the right approach, but it's not fair to do so today. He was the only Laker not getting shut down by the man guarding him. None of his teammates - not the big guys, not Artest, not his supposedly trusty sidekick Fish - was making good moves, getting to the right spot on the floor or proving their ability to be sound with the ball in the face of the Boston pressure. Did Kobe play a perfect game? Of course not. But if you're making a list of people to blame for this debacle, Kobe's name should be at the bottom."

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2011/1/30/1965146/lakers-96-celtics-109-time-for-recriminations#storyjump

Lenny Kravitz - It Ain't Over Til Its Over (smooth side of Lenny) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAhKf_Ro4ZU
Posted by: LRob | January 31, 2011 at 09:37 AM
*
Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!! Get down DJ. LRob!!!!! I'll tell you a secret LRob...That's what I played for my 3-Peat blushing bride. True story I swear!!! LMAO!!!!

Art Fan,

I was about to post, but your quote above says it all.

@NUGGETS COUNTRY... I’m not going to get into it with you as I respect your opinion and you obviously have had more success as a player and coach than I have. Does that mean you’re smarter and know the game better than I do, not necessarily. Bottom line, I stand by my position that it is Kobe’s job and responsibility as the unquestioned team leader to get everybody else involved. Like anything in life, success is dictated from the top down. If you think that Kobe scoring 41 points and posting 0 assists is a winning formula, then I would have to say that I believe you are wrong. So let’s just agree to disagree rather than trying to insult each other’s basketball acumen.
........................
@CORNERJ... You made some excellent points and I definitely thought that Pau and Ron as well as Fish and Blake had terribly subpar games. That should not deter Kobe from still trying to get all of the players involved in the offense. We know that this team plays much better defense when they are sharing the ball on offense and everybody is involved. Standing around on offense just carries over to standing around on defense. And to expect players to ignore Kobe when he waves everybody off and goes into isolation mode is unreasonable. Kobe is who he is and I expect him to approach the next game against the Celtics completely differently. He is the leader and how the team plays often depends upon his efforts at involving everybody in the offense. When he does not do that, the team suffers. .........................
TOM

I hope with this ugly lost to the Celtics the Lakers management particularly Micth Kupchak will open their eyes and realized in the truest sense of their mind that this Laker team cannot compete with the likes of Spurs, Celtics, Magic, Heat or even the Bulls. Jerry Buss needs to open his sleeping mind and wallet to make a trade before the trading deadline in order to compete with these much improved teams in the West and East. No way this team of 2010 will bring home the bacon. They need to change the composition of their line-up. This Laker team is only good in paper as to what the NBA General Managers think that the Lakers will win the championship this year. In reality they are no match to a contending teams in the West as well as the East particularly the Celtics (as what Jerry West pointed out) They need to tweak their present line-up in order to be even be called contenders for the NBA title. Whoever it takes to trade make this team a contender again, except for Kobe and Lamar. Mitch it's your turn to make a move and we will be waiting or else three-peat will be over in the second round of the play-off.

Jon K. for the win. Congrats on the RF, bro.

DBDH!

LakerTom

"Kobe’s job and responsibility as the unquestioned team leader to get everybody else involved"

WRONG again. It's Kobe's job to help this team win by any means necessary, whether it be by scoring, passing, rebounding, leading, etc. His job changes from game to game, based on the dynamics of each specific game, how defense are playing him and how his teammates are playing. When Gasol and Bynum are aggressive, and having their way, Kobe will feed them the ball. When Gasol is looking fatigued, or when he is getting bullied in the post, and starts shooting fadeaways over Big Baby, or when Bynum is getting dominated by a rookie (Cousins), or when Artest is shooting 10%, than it is up to Kobe and Phil to decide what this team needs. Last night, Bynum, Gasol, Artest and Fish were getting dominated, and Kobe's shooting energized the crowd, and kept the team in the game. Your prediction that Bynum would dominate yesterday has you eating crow again, and rather than owning up to it, you blame the ONE person that showed heart and hustle last night? Really?

JT the Brick had a good point on his radio show last night about Phil Jackson:

When a reporter asked Phil if he's dismayed that they haven't beaten any good teams this year, Phil replied,

"It's not the playoffs yet".

JT pointed out that Doc Rivers never would have said anything like that. Doc would not have even gotten close to that statement, because Doc has too much pride as a coach and former player.

If you were an NBA owner, how would you feel if your coach said after a loss, "Well, it's not the playoffs yet" ?

Yes, Phil is the all-time winning coach, but Yes, this is his also last season, and maybe it's starting to show in a few different ways.

Love Letter to Kobe Bryant from LA Lakers’ Fans
I pen this open letter to No. 24, Mr. “Gametime” Kobe Bryant on behalf of your fans. Growing up in a household of non-sports fans, my interest in sports did not come until later in life. I have fond memories of watching you work against the Pacers in the Finals in the 1999-2000 season. From the moment I saw you handle the ball, I became a fan. Fast forward to one year later, the LA Lakers now “my” Lakers, thanks to you are in the finals again. This is how I developed a love for the game. Watching you endeared me to the game and I subsequently adopted the team you played for as mine. And over the years, I’ve become almost as equally a Lakers fan as I am you fan (maybe Lakers win by a tongue). Still, I find myself in a lot of argument as to why any young player with your natural abilities coupled with a legendary work ethic should be content with being in the shadow of a behemoth of a man like Diesel for the rest of his career. Even though I thought that coupling still had at least 2-3 more years of good work left, I understood your point of view and thankfully, so did the LAL front office. When ‘they’ say you don’t pass the ball, I say why should you when there’s no one worthy of resting your laurels upon just to watch them come short after all your hard work (studying, in the gym, and working for ‘that’ shot opportunity). As the years pass, so does your legend continue to grow. Eighty-one points, anyone? I defy anyone to come close in the current or any future iterations of the game.
Now to the current team, we (fans) felt like criminals when we got ‘Sol Man. Glad to see him work well in those 07-08 highlights with another current stalwart, Ode-Man. And then D “0:0.4” Fish’ rejoins the team? Whoa! We couldn’t be any happier. To us, you are beyond man, you are super human. Even when you went tête-à-têtes with the Rockies, and it seemed that the world’s found your kryptonite. We were cautiously confident that the court will exonerate you. When you changed from No.8 “Showtime” to No.24 “Gametime”, we started to worry that the many years of being one of the most dependable players suited up night after night had began to catch up to you. Then we realized that you had slithered into another form. Gone were the days of backboard breaking dunks (only counts for 2, anyway), we’re now in the era of the ‘Mamba’ (same bird, new tail feather). The fact that winning means so much to you is why we love you. To us, you have nothing more to prove. In this generation, you are it. Never to be equaled. As there is only one No.23, there’s only one Mamba. Forty eight-minute highlights of you taking and making shots mere mortals can only dream of can be compiled enough times to make a seven-game series. You make us believe. As far as a shooting guards go, there’s nothing prototypical about you. We see what you’re capable of but sometimes it appears that you think you’re still that kid trying to carve snag his own. So you take that ONE more shot, that one more drive. This drive is perhaps why you have managed to be so good for so long. But don’t think we haven’t noticed. That’s why you’re starting in the all-star game for a 13th consecutive time.
To this end, we will like to issue to you a challenge. You are surrounded by 2-3 players capable of individually carrying a team to a winning record and average 20+ per but they’ve chosen to remain within your gravitational pull. We challenge you to transform into a premiere passer. For the remainder of the season,
- We want you to retain your drive to win and yet be contented with scoring less.
- Get 10-20 assists per
- Make it a conscious effort to get the ‘Sol Man the most shot attempts
- Never attempt more shots than ‘Young Gun’ Bynum, ‘Sol Man and Ode-Man combined.
We long to see highlight after highlight of you making impeccable passes. With your track record as a scorer, even when teams know you are looking for ‘Sol Man as the first option, you will still attract the attention you have come to command from defenses, giving everyone else that much better of a shot opportunity. And if they develop amnesia, you can burn them like no one else can. As oppose to your opponents knowing you are the first and second option. You go up to shoot, change shot mid flight and then look to pass. While this attract defense, if they properly collapse on you, this will only lead to a turnover or if you become the third option, then a forced shot that we’re all but too familiar with seeing go in. We will rather have the other mortals around you take an open shot than have our hearts skip several beats when you go up.
To us, you are super human, but it might do you better to remember that you are only human. And like Batman has Robin, needs Alfred; His Airness, Sensei Phil, Pippen and D Rod, you need the people around you. If the LAL, transforms into cavalier Cavs with you getting 10-15 shot attempts and double digit assist night after night, trust me YOU are not to blame for that. Once in a while, you’ll need to remind the humans of who you are, but one of two short burst every few games should be enough (like that five-minute stretch vs. the putridly-attired Leprechauns last night [1/30/11] when you…, mmmmm!) But, one against five 48-minute games will just not be enough to pull through this year as it has never been in the past. Everyone on a team in every team sport is important except team sports that are untimed and/or offensive players will never have the opportunity to become a defensive player within the tick of the clock; cough, cough B-A-S-E-B-A-L-L (I don’t even get why this is a sport, when a game can theoretically go on for 10 years. But I digress).
On a final note, beat the ‘Chauns if they prove themselves worthy of gaining audience with you in the finals and put Rivers and his ‘unbeaten’ starting five in their place. But remember, 1 vs. 100 will not do. It’s us versus them.

With Love,
Naigel Smith, On behalf of (your) (LAL) fans.

@MVP - I consider your calling Ron a "nut case" bashing. See NewMexLL comments from 9:42am...I agree with her that it was very insensitive.

It's way too early for me to even consider Pau will continue to play like this. He'll bounce back....even if Phil has to sit him for 3-4 games before the playoffs.

@Mamba - That's nearly impossible...out of all the songs.

i had said before that no more trades are needed, the lakers need to play "real hard all the time", well boy was i wrong! the lakers are in trouble but i thought that this was to be their statement game but they just quit. any complaints regarding kobe's takeover needs to be viewed with pj's comment that no one wanted the ball. when that was apparent, kobe took over.if pau takes kg, he gets moved, if he takes perkins he gets moved. drew was worse than lackluster and if at least if there was a fight to demonstrate the lakers pride, i would have been able to see something.now the meat of their schedule is up ,i wonder what this will all look like in 10 days or so

Hello LAL family (Mambaaaaaaaa....missed you),

Hope you're all doing well. I can guarantee you that I am probably the most pissed LAL fan today. I have to deal with all these fake Boston fans all day and all I ask from my team is to put out a tough effort day in and day out. Helllllll, for all I care, we could lose every game on our schedule EXCEPT for the Boston games (not really but you get my drift).

I will only say that Bynum, Gasol, and Artest better get it together and very fast. Artest seems like he's still in China with Shin Shin (WTF)...where the hell did his defensive efforts go?

Pau is playing like the '08 "silly puddy" Pau...dude can't protect the paint to save his life...and he was definitely off his offensive game yesterday, like he was scared or something.

And as for Bynum...oh Bynum...he has the body, he has the weight and size...what the dude needs is a friggin' personality...sort of like Kim Kardashian...has it all except for a friggin' personality. I want this guy to dunk like he wants to tear the rim off the hinges, I want him to knock Perkins off his ass so hard that he'll fake an injury everytime he plays the Lakers, I want him to pump his chest when he dunks over Shaq...shoot, act like you have some damn desire to win dude.

Ok, sorry for my rant but I needed to let it out. I know this game doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things but it did to me and they let me down. I'm going to be at the Feb. 10th meeting here in Boston and I better get a better effort from these fools. Time to make the rest of the league afraid to play us.

No personal criticisms or flames, just honest comments from a long time lurker because my job is boring...

1. Naigel Smith, do you honestly think any Laker player cares about all that rambling you posted, especially Kobe Bryant, who already publically stated he doesn't give a damn about what fans think.

2. Why do you some of you congratulate Jon K? Who cares about a reader comment of the day when it's posted on a 3rd rate blog frequented by only a handful of readers?

3. If the Lakers don't care about the regular season, why do most of you? Does the phrase, "Get a Life" Ring a Bell.

Go Clippers.

Congrats Jon K. - good stuff.

** REPOST **

Somebody mentioned earlier that this game meant more to the greenies. Now that you guys have me thinking about this, I agree.

The whole HCA is something we need to be mindful of as the season progresses. Look at who is constantly on the greenies behind - they have a legit 3 other teams (ORL, MIA, CHI). The worst we can do is 4th in our conference.

Seedings are going to way more important for the EC.

As for the WC - Spurs have to be on every night because Dallas is legit this year. I don't think Pop wants to have another 6, 7, 8 seeding - remember last year. The Spurs spent all of last year saying HCA didn't mean anything, this year, they actually have to keep looking over their shoulder.

I think this whole nipping at the bud thing can get a little tiring during the course of a very long season. It's exhausting having to be on EVERY single night.

I'm not excusing lack of team play, strengthening weakneses, TEAM defense, etc. But I think part of PJ's psychology with this Laker team is let everyone else beat themselves up. Let everyone else get the glory of the regular season media hype.

There are certainly going to be L's as well as very frustrating games where we (the casual, yet hyper, super Laker fans) get a little nutty, PJ knows how to manage a champion season. And my money is still on the Lakers and as long as he's coach, still on PJ!

If PJ sees progress, then I am okay with that. He will never tell us (or the media otherwise) but if we start to see some improvements (esp after ASG), then I think we will be on the right track.

I can still expect a much higher level of play from the Lakers. But let's face it - HCA means way more to the Celtics this year than it does to the Lakers. It meant more to the Cavs last year and oops there it went. HA!

PJ is the master. And when the chips are down and it's Spurs/Lakers in WCF - deep down, PJ knows we can beat the Spurs and frankly I feel that too. No way the Spurs beat us in 7.

I think PJ is saying if this Laker team stays in top 3 record-wise - we have a good chance to keep HCA - like last year. He might be playing a little roulette but the NBA is "where amazing happens".

Cheers all - PLG

Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | January 31, 2011 at 10:40 AM

I'm going to be at the Feb. 10th meeting here in Boston and I better get a better effort from these fools. Time to make the rest of the league afraid to play us. Posted by: EastCoastJessie | January 31, 2011 at 10:38 AM
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WOW!!!!!!!! When you come back Princess you come back with Swagger and Attitude!!! Get down with your bad self!! With EastCoastJessie representing Lakers Nation at the game victory is just about assured!!! Lol! This has been a heck of a day for The Reall Laker Girls representing on the Blog. All of you get my respect and admiration. So how have you been doing Princess? I hope all is going well physically and school wise.

3. If the Lakers don't care about the regular season, why do most of you? Does the phrase, "Get a Life" Ring a Bell.

Posted by: Clippers Fan | January 31, 2011 at 10:39 AM

Look who's talking you hypocritical ass.

if we are this ticked off as fans........? , i hope the lakers have a players-only meeting if that is what is needed.i don't know, are we expecting them to do things they can no longer do? perhaps, but they had a chance to demonstrate their defense of the title and didn't show up.

if we are this ticked off as fans........? , i hope the lakers have a players-only meeting if that is what is needed.i don't know, are we expecting them to do things they can no longer do? perhaps, but they had a chance to demonstrate their defense of the title and didn't show up.

Posted by: lance from da' bronx | January 31, 2011 at 10:55 AM

@lance- the real crime is Dr.Buss has to pay these guys, even when they play like this. It hurts our pride, it hurts his wallet even more, he's paying a luxury tax for this? No wonder he yells at Jimmy and Mitch a lot (or so has been reported)

Having gone to three consecutive Finals and winning two of them is a great accomplishment. It can't ever be taken away from them or the fans.
The only downside of this is that people develop an attitude that because they did it three times in a row, surely they will do it again.
This is certainly a natural reaction for fans and pundits. It would be natural even for players to think it as well.

But it is clear to anyone who wants to see it, anyone who is willing to actually try and look at things objectively, a malaise has crept up on this years Lakers. They may not even be aware of it.

This years Lakers isn't last years Lakers, just like you aren't the same person you were last year. We don't notice how we change on a day to day basis. We don't notice the small incremental physical deterioration, we don't notice the day to day things that effect our thoughts, our attitudes, our desires and motivations. But they do change.

There comes a point where the sacrifice required is just too much to give for the prize. There may be some Lakers who may have lost the "do whatever it takes" mental attitude required to drive themselves to the point required to continue winning championships and there are some Lakers who never had that attitude in the first place. It's extremely difficult for most players to maintain the focus, energy and commitment required to win just one championship.

Is Kobe the same Kobe as last year? Yes, maybe better.
Is Pau the same Pau as last year? How about Ron?
Without the same Pau and Ron as last year, can the Lakers really win it all again?

These Lakers can do better, maybe.
In the playoffs they can ratchet up the intensity, maybe.
In the playoffs they can overcome the poor work habits they are establishing during this regular season, maybe.

In the last three years Finals the team with HCA won each time, as is most often the case. It's actually pretty unusual for the team without HCA to win a Finals.
The Lakers are have dug themselves into a hole. Instead of filling it in as the season goes on, they seem to be digging it deeper.
They are not accomplishing any home court dominance this year.

Pau and Ron seem like they visited the Hotel California.
Sometimes I wish the media and fans would rip Pau and Ron so bad they would get mad as hell and not gunna take it anymore and play like they are going to make anyone who dare bashed them look stupid. But I'm not holding my breath for that to happen.

The whole team seems to be feeding off Gasols soft finesse approach instead of Kobe's "don't back down" Tom Petty attitude.
Where's the toughness?
Drew could be a major enforcer if he would choose to do so.
Instead, he chooses not.

The only one's who have the right mindset are Kobe and a never say die Fish who just doesn't have the physical skills to make a difference.
And Phil seems to have an attitude along the lines of hey, you are the guys that won the last two championships, you should know what it takes so get it done, just go do your thing and I'll be over here watching.

Trades aren't going to save the Lakers this year. Mitch has made his bed, this is the team they will go with.
It has become quite clear perhaps more than any other year for this team, that they think they can turn it on in the playoffs and win, even without HCA.
The odds of any team winning the Finals without HCA are not good.
The odds of any team going to 4 consecutive Finals are even worse.
We'll see...

@Tom
"Frankly, I’m almost at the point where I might try and trade Pau Gasol straight up for Carmelo Antony at this point as I don’t see Pau getting any better."

I agree with you one this one, IF Bynum can turn into the beast we know he can be, not for short stretches, but escpecially for these big games against playof opponents.

I wish Pau could play at the level he did a few years back, but it seems like he's in the declining stage of his career. It's time for a shakeup!

Thank you! What do you mean "spur of the moment"...like Vegas spur of the moment? Either way, congrats!! You have some 'splainin' to do mister!!!LOL Posted by: EastCoastJessie | January 31, 2011 at 11:06 AM
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Naw, not like that.Now Princess don't laugh. lol! Like deciding to marry the same woman on the spur of the moment for the 3rd time! Stop that ECJ! Stop it now!! LMAO!!!!

@Art
EXCELLENT post!
Let's hope our team can beat the odds this year. I beleive they can still turn it around, but I think change needs to happen. I also beleive that a shakeup in the lineup would help this team out A LOT.

Since you mentioned it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUTXb-ga1fo

@EastCoastJessie, Get my E-mail address from MM and I'll tell you the whole crazy story.

J West,

You better be Jerry Fricken West to use that title. He is one of the Greatest players ever and a core of everything that it means to be a Laker.

If you are NOT actually Jerry West I suggest you use at different moniker lest I meet you in a dark alley.

What do we play for? RINGS!!!

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

GO LAKERS!!!!

Posted by: Jon K

MM,

Why is this guy allowed to threaten me ?

@MVP - I consider your calling Ron a "nut case" bashing. See NewMexLL comments from 9:42am...I agree with her that it was very insensitive.

Posted by: LRob | January 31, 2011 at 10:28 AM
====

That's the way I have ALWAYS felt about him, but I have restrained myself from voicing that opinion in here until now. So call me "very insensitive." I can live with that. Have you ever seen me post anything about him when MM puts up articles about him? Nope. That's why. I'm insensitive to a lot of things because I have strong opinions. So call me judgmental, too. The thing that cracks me up is that Artest takes less bashing in here than Gasol, Bynum and Fish combined. People go bonkers over him because they find him humorous and generous. Not me. Never have, never will. His post game interview after Game 7 .. which was hilarious strictly from a perverse standpoint .. showed who he was and he's been at it ever since. He might be a great teammate and all, but his mental deficiencies have been playing out on the basketball court all season. Like I said before, I am hopeful that he gets his act together and I suspect that he probably will. I just want him to perform on the basketball court and I have no interest in his crazy off the court conduct. So far the latter has generally consumed the former this season. Sorry if it doesn't go over well in here, but then again, very little of what I have to offer does go over well in here. So be it.

Sorry if it doesn't go over well in here, but then again, very little of what I have to offer does go over well in here. So be it. Posted by: KobeMVP888 | January 31, 2011 at 11:19 AM
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Now, now my brother that is simply not true. You are a well respected member of Lakers Nation. It's just that your approach to some things is like you are trying a life or death case. I think all some members of the Nation are trying to say is, it really is not that serious and if possible use just a little less of that tremendous legal cross examining fire power. I apologize in advance in sticking my nose into somewhere where it doesn't belong but it pains me to see you folks argue so when it is so evident that you are all good decent Lakerholics. Now I shall slink away and await my bashing. Again no offense meant my brother.

mclyne,

Thanks.
That link you posted, the Lakers should have that song blaring in the locker room before every game.
Attitude matters.
And this Alfred E Neuman What? Me worry(?) attitude this team has sucks.

No worries, the Lakers have a chance to beat Boston in Boston on Feb. 10th!

The very next game (Feb. 11th) will be the Lakers traveling to New York City to take on the Knicks, and I'm going to be there!

LakerTom,

you wrote: Everybody has to make up their own mind about that. Of course, some already made up their mind. The main reasons we lost the game was the subpar and disappointing play of Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Derek Fisher, and Steve Blake. Kobe had an efficient game scoring wise but failed as the team leader whose job and responsibility is first and foremost to get his teammates involved in the game. Had he done that, I think we could have still won the game. He did not. That’s my opinion and I stand by it. If you don’t agree, no problem. If you think 41 points and 0 assists is a winning formula against the Celtics, it’s your opinion. If you believe every nuance of what Phil says, that would be incredibly naive. If you want to insult me or denigrate my basketball UI, go for it. Bottom line, we are not going to beat the Celtics with Kobe not sharing the ball and posting assists. Kobe did not play team basketball.

my response: According to what you have written, no player is responsible
for their own lack of hustle. Kobe is responsible for them not hustling, not
being in position to rebound, & not being in the right position to receive a
pass. Unfortunately, this flies directly in the face of what Phil Jackson has
said about everyone else. That is why I have phrased my questions in the light
that I have. I wanted to be clear about who was thinking what.

No, I don't think that 41 pts & 0 assists is a winning formula. I have also
watched Kobe play for ~ 14 seasons. This exact same thing happened when
we had Smush, Kwame & co. The exact same arguments were made. It has
now been clarified that they played like punks. i.e. they sucked. So after
Kobe drops 41 pts on one of the best defensive teams in the league and Phil
Jackson points the finger at Kobe's teammates, you say Phil is wrong and it's
all Kobe's fault. That just seems ... incorrect to me. Either Phil knows what
he's talking about or he doesn't. The 11 rings does speak volumes. So does
the former professional basketball player on the blog. However, y'all could
all be smokin' crack and the real reason for the loss is ... Sun Spots!

you also wrote:
Frankly, I’m almost at the point where I might try and trade Pau Gasol straight up for Carmelo Antony at this point as I don’t see Pau getting any better. His motivation to improve his game is as hapless as his willingness to own up to his weak play and poor efforts. Melo is 4 years younger and plays a much tougher brand of basketball.

my response: interesting words. Does this make you a Pau-basher?
Some people might compare the careers of Pau & Bynum and substitute
Bynum in your proposed trade. Not me, but people I know.

In any case, it's good to have your words on record.

btw, I did find this particularly interesting.

you wrote: The main reasons we lost the game was the subpar and disappointing play of Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, Derek Fisher, and Steve Blake.
I noticed that you didn't put Bynum's name in that list.

fyi: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=310130013

Bynum checked in with a mighty 11 pts and a whopping 6 rebounds. He also
had 1 blk, 0 assists & 0 steals. However, he doesn't make the list of sub par
performances.

Umm ... what dictionary do yo use? What is your criteria for sub par?

@sean

You have forgotten one very important fact about Jerry Buss: he is a big time gambler.

I do a gree that a big trade probably won't happen, but I can still hope.

celtics are the best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jon K. - I've warned you before. Whether you like the person's handle or not, don't make personal attacks

Hmmm, I didn't see anything about the "throw-back" uniforms the Lakers were wearing against the Celts on Sunday.

Did you notice? They looked like they were from the Magic Johnson era, or maybe even further back? They had the rounded neck and shading on the numbers.

Now if we could only get Magic Johnson back when we need him . . . . . . .

Oh Mamba, I see what you were talking about. What the heck happened to this place? Come on kids, play nice!

@Larry Johnson When the Lakers are at their best, they can beat the celtics! Sorry :(

LakerTom: Peace. & I agree that something is very wrong with Pau. Unless he is suffering from mono or similar then he is pouting/depressed and it is affecting the team drastically. Trade - who knows, but I have been blogging for a nasty banging big for months now, also, however we get it done. Kobe can score & assist enough if he has people breaking to an open spot who can put a shot in the basket. We need a Kevin Love type who can bang and get his own on putbacks/STRONG tipins and such. Pau has turned back into that weak sister we picked on as kids and the whole NBA knows it, which is worse!

"AW HELL YEAH!!!
RCOTD = JON K. = OUT FREAKIN STANDING SIR!!!!!!!!! KUDOS!!!

Posted by: mmaba24 | January 31, 2011 at 09:34 AM "

DITTO!

@KobeMVP888............Amen,I said how I feel and I'm done! I've read all your blogs and I do know your a Lakerholic and I am not one to stir the pot, I guess that just triggered the Mom in me. Congrats to JonK!

number 18 is coming to bean town baby