Caught in the Web: Times columnist Bill Plaschke vouches for Jeff Van Gundy
--The Times' Bill Plaschke argues the Lakers should hire Jeff Van Gundy as their next coach.
--The Times' Mark Heisler muses about Cleveland getting the No. 1 and No. 4 draft picks.
--The Orange County Register's Kevin Ding argues Mike Dunleavy is a legitimate candidate to coach the Lakers.
--ESPN Los Angeles' Brian Kamenetzky provides a report card for Lakers forward Ron Artest.
--Fox Sports' Mark Kriegel talk with Phil Jackson and Jeanie Buss in the video below.
--Celtics Coach Doc Rivers tells Dennis & Callahan he would've never coached the Lakers.
--The Huffington Post's Jordan Schultz talks with Magic Johnson about the coaching search.
--The Memphis Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery talks to Marc Gasol, who downplays any notion that he might want to play for the Lakers next season.
--Silver Screen and Roll's DexterFishmore looks at what the Lakers need to do to fix their defense.
--Forum Blue and Gold's Darius Soriano argues Brian Shaw should be the Lakers' next head coach.
Tweet of the Day: "JJ Barea has great story, worked his butt off and now killing on the big stage! Congrats you deserve it!" -- AndrewBynum (Lakers center Andrew Bynum)
Rick Friedman Reader Comment of the Day: "The thing with the triangle is that your top dog has to be a believer in it and be a master of it. When MJ fully accepted the triangle everyone fell in line and everyone had to abide by it. Only MJ and Pip had the license to deviate once in a while. The Lakers on the other hand have a bunch of players who like to go solo and ignore the system. It's a lack of discipline more than anything else." -- Beth
--Mark Medina
E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com
Photo: Should television analyst Jeff Van Gundy be in the running for the Lakers' coaching job? Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / June 12, 2008
@Beth – congrats on the Friedman. I thought Kobe bought into the Triangle and even asked Rudy T to incorporate it in his offense. Of course, he strayed from it a lot in 4th quarters, but that’s always been the case.
@Nuggets – The art of flopping/exaggerating contact is out of control. Dirk did it to the Lakers in game 1 and got two free throws to win the game. Unbelievable that the refs fall for that stuff.
@Justa – I’m with you. Some of the touch fouls on Dirk were ridiculous.
@Jon K – Looks like your friends in Cleveland got a little sunshine yesterday.
@Magia – Dirk also got away with pushing Kobe in the back…and not making a play on the ball. I guess Kobe would’ve had to took a dive and laid on the ground for a couple of minutes to get a flagrant called.
Posted by: LRob | May 18, 2011 at 10:08 AM
OK. Fine.... the problem here is NOT the Coach or what system to use....the problem is OLD, SLOW, AND UNATHLETIC PATHETIC PLAYERS THEY HAVE BECOME....
Trade Mamba, Pau, Barnes, Brown, Blake, & both Fisher & Luke to go along with it (Note: the next team can have all the leadership in the world in Fish...... LOL..... & all the TRIANGLE KNOW-HOW from LUKE....LOL....Who gives a damn?!!!)
Just give me:
Dwight
Bynum
Blake Griffin
DuRant
CP3
Bench: as long we have a two solid 3 point specialist, Yao Ming for veterans min., Steve Nash, Odom for his versatility and good sporsmanship/team player, (perhaps Artest and Raja Bell, or something of a steal if we can get better than Artest and Raja Bell)
Then, we can compete against the Bulls, Miami, and DALLAS!
Posted by: mary chandler | May 18, 2011 at 10:24 AM
OK. Fine.... the problem here is NOT the Coach or what system to use....the problem is OLD, SLOW, AND UNATHLETIC PATHETIC PLAYERS THEY HAVE BECOME....
Trade Mamba, Pau, Barnes, Brown, Blake, & both Fisher & Luke to go along with it (Note: the next team can have all the leadership in the world in Fish...... LOL..... & all the TRIANGLE KNOW-HOW from LUKE....LOL....Who gives a damn?!!!)
Just give me:
Dwight
Bynum
Blake Griffin
DuRant
CP3
Bench: as long we have a two solid 3 point specialist, Yao Ming for veterans min., Steve Nash, Odom for his versatility and good sporsmanship/team player, (perhaps Artest and Raja Bell, or something of a steal if we can get better than Artest and Raja Bell)
Then, we can compete against the Bulls, Miami, and DALLAS!
Posted by: mary chandler | May 18, 2011 at 10:25 AM
@mary c: Do you really think the next CBA will have every player in some playground lot somewhere and we just get to start picking teams, where the Lakers get to pick all their players first without anybody else having a pick!? Cute, but fantasy league stuff, not reality. LOL
At least it gives me a chuckle now and again to see these fantasy league wishin' and hopin' rosters.
Posted by: NuggetsCountry | May 18, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Mary Chandler, are you serious or medicated?
Your middle name must be Jane, because, girl, you are high as a kite!
CBA much?
Your proposed moves would be considered murder since Gregg Popovich would instantly die upon hearing the news of such drivel.
DBDH!
Posted by: Don't Blame Del Harris! | May 18, 2011 at 10:42 AM
At least it gives me a chuckle now and again to see these fantasy league wishin' and hopin' rosters.
Posted by: NuggetsCountry | May 18, 2011 at 10:38 AM
NUGGETSCOUNTRY,
YEP! IT'S GOOD TO DREAM!!! This is the difference btw. a visionary (a dreamer) and an observer....
I might be 14 years old now, but, one day I will own the LA Lakers!!!!!!!!
Posted by: mary chandler | May 18, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Wow: Jose Juan Barea - consistently getting into the paint. Lets see if OKC can adjust their defense; we know L.A. couldn't. On the surface, it looks like Dallas & CHI in the finals. Another season for "The King with no Ring!" GO DALLAS - last of the "old schoo" ballers still standing.
Posted by: :-( | May 18, 2011 at 10:52 AM
At least it gives me a chuckle now and again to see these fantasy league wishin' and hopin' rosters.
Posted by: NuggetsCountry | May 18, 2011 at 10:38 AM
NUGGETSCOUNTRY,
YEP! IT'S GOOD TO DREAM!!! This is the difference btw. a visionary (a dreamer) and an observer....
I might be 14 years old now, but, one day I will own the LA Lakers!!!!!!!!
Posted by: mary chandler | May 18, 2011 at 10:53 AM
mary chandler...you said trade Kobe?? Are you serious? My advise, look at the mirror and ask yourself this question? How many players in the NBA right now has the talent, passion and knowledge in basketball besides Kobe? You are talking one of a kind player here and only comes in trickles in 20 years....
Posted by: appolo c. vermont | May 18, 2011 at 10:55 AM
C'mon... Leave Mary be. "She's" an over enthusiastic Lakers fan who wants the best for her team. YOU GO MARY!!
Mary, how about this for next season:
-D Rose – PG
-Monta Ellis – SG
-D Howard – C
-B Griffin – PF
-L James – Sf
Bench
-D Will – PG
-D- Wade – SG
-M Gasol – C
-D Nowitzki – PF
-P Gasol – SF
How many championships will the Lakers win now??
Posted by: :-( | May 18, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Mary Chandler, are you serious or medicated?
Your middle name must be Jane, because, girl, you are high as a kite!
DBDH!
Posted by: Don't Blame Del Harris! | May 18, 2011 at 10:42 AM
Don't Blame Del Harris,
Well, I say Don't Blame or point the finger to anyone..... well, seriously speaking, I AM SERIOUSLY MEDICATED, not just serious OR medicated... LOL LOL LOL.....
I am a mad scientist..... seriously medicated, ~mary c. LOL LOL
Posted by: mary chandler | May 18, 2011 at 11:02 AM
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=6563112
Give Kareem a statue ASAP!
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Rocky | May 18, 2011 at 11:03 AM
OK, I pick, for my fantasy team:
Kobe
LeBron
D Wade
D Will
D Howard
Dirk
J Terry
Noah
T Chandler
CP3
K Durant
L Aldridge
S Battier
T Sephalosha (sp?)
Tony Allen
got some hops, got some defenders, got some clutch, got some unguardable, got some 3pt shoooters, got some quick, got some rebounders............coached by Pat Riley or Jerry Sloan if we can't get Pat
OK, your turn!
Posted by: NuggetsCountry | May 18, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Van Gundy?
HELL NO!!!!!
He's a Laker Hater.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 18, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Mary, how about this for next season:
-D Rose – PG
-Monta Ellis – SG
-D Howard – C
-B Griffin – PF
-L James – Sf
Bench
-D Will – PG
-D- Wade – SG
-M Gasol – C
-D Nowitzki – PF
-P Gasol – SF
How many championships will the Lakers win now??
Posted by: :-( | May 18, 2011 at 10:57 AM
:-),
Whoever you are.... you did better than me... I salute you!
Mary Chandler aka Mad Scientist.....LOL LOL LOL!!!
Posted by: mary chandler | May 18, 2011 at 11:15 AM
LRob,
I only wish I would have been in Ohio to activate the lucky barstool It seems it has to be activated by a true Lakeraholic to work... and there ain't no other Lakeraholics in Hudson, Ohio like me.
{Sigh}
Anyhow, I've been told that not only was their winter miserable this year, but it has also been "the Year without a Spring."
It's late May, raining 6-7 days a week, and temperatures maxing upon in the upper 40s-low 50's.
Miserable.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 18, 2011 at 11:15 AM
"She's" an over enthusiastic Lakers fan who wants the best for her team.
Posted by: :-( | May 18, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Someone call LEWSTRS, his niche is being usurped XD
Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: MrNano | May 18, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Typical Clippers move.
They finally have the maturity and intelligence to give up a draft pick they don't need in a trade and it ends up being the number one pick.
Tragically hilarious.
Go Clippers!!!!
GO LAKERS!!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | May 18, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Just say no to "hand down, man down" Van Gundy!
Posted by: JT | May 18, 2011 at 11:33 AM
mary chandler...you said trade Kobe?? Are you serious? My advise, look at the mirror and ask yourself this question? How many players in the NBA right now has the talent, passion and knowledge in basketball besides Kobe? You are talking one of a kind player here and only comes in trickles in 20 years....
Posted by: appolo c. vermont | May 18, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Appolo C. Vermont,
There's an old adage in Wall Street: "YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST SALE."
.... I might be just 14 years old now, but, one day, I will own acquire the LA LAKERS AND I WILL KEEP IT WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP UNDER MY WATCH..... IT'S ALL ABOUT PURE BUSINESS/ MONEY AND ENTERTAINMENT.... I WILL GIVE THE LA FANS MORE FOR THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY AND ENTERTAINMENT...... NO ROOM FOR WEAKNESS.... I AM ABOUT SHREWDNESS, RUTHLESSNESS, NO EMOTION, CUT THROAT, & KILLER INSTINCT!!!!
Mary Chandler aka Mad Scientist ........ hehehhe LOL LOL!!!!!
Posted by: mary chandler | May 18, 2011 at 11:42 AM
got some hops, got some defenders, got some clutch, got some unguardable, got some 3pt shoooters, got some quick, got some rebounders............coached by Pat Riley or Jerry Sloan if we can't get Pat
OK, your turn!
Posted by: NuggetsCountry | May 18, 2011 at 11:09 AM
OK OK OK.... NUGGETS COUNTRY,
YOU GOT MOST OF MY FAVORITE PLAYERS..... I HAVE TO GO AND SHOP SOME PLAYERS IN RUSSIA OR IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD TO DEFEND AGAINST YOUR PICKS....
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK... I HAVE TO DO SOME SCOUTING AROUND THE WORLD!!!
Posted by: mary chandler | May 18, 2011 at 11:50 AM
@Rocky
I believe that the Islamic faith adheres to "thou shalt not make false images of a g**". Kareem is a basketball g**. Therefore, no statue. LOL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plaschke has always been a moron. Just a notch above Simers.
Yeah, that's all we need for a coach, Jeff "The Ankle Biter" Van Gumby. Defensive scheme: Bite the ankle of the other teams best player.
[INSERT EMPTY VOID HERE]
Posted by: The Triangulator | May 18, 2011 at 11:51 AM
bring back Rudy T.
jk
Posted by: We Want Tacos | May 18, 2011 at 11:59 AM
If you haven't checked out the link above with Mark Kriegel check it out.
The interviews with Phil and Jeannie are about 30 mins but there are some interesting revelations.
-Phil said Jeannie should take over the Lakers from Sr Buss, no wonder Buss Jr hasn't spoken to him in a year.
-Phil told Shaq the MVP award should be named after him when he first came to the Lakers.
-All personnel decisions went through Phil.
-During the Suns playoff series on 2010 Phil had lunch with Dr Buss and agreed to come back for one more year.
-Phil talks about when he poked Pau ("one of my favorite players") during the playoffs and why.
Other interesting things...
Posted by: Art | May 18, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Van Gundy?
HELL NO!!!!!
He's a Laker Hater.
....well said mr. jon k....a plashke endorsement is the final nail in the coffin.....
Posted by: xyz | May 18, 2011 at 01:14 PM
If JEFF Van Gundy is hired, I think the lakers chances of landing Howard will be zero since he currently plays for STAN Van Gundy!
Posted by: Giant Green Bald Headed Lunatic | May 18, 2011 at 01:57 PM
LOL! This place is a joke! They ban Eric Wright and DFIsh but Mary Chandler is is Jon K's new love interest!
Posted by: This place is a joke! | May 18, 2011 at 09:49 PM