Caught in the Web: Catching up on Lakers links
--The Times' T.J. Simers argues that the Lakers should hire Brian Shaw as their next coach.
--ESPN Los Angeles' Andy Kamenetzky says Kobe Bryant shouldn't be compared to Michael Jordan because Bryant should have his own identity.
--ESPN Los Angeles' Brian Kamenetzky provides a report card for Bryant.
--The San Jose Mercury News' Tim Kawakami looks at how Jerry West could help the Golden State Warriors.
--ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin looks at the factors that led to the Lakers' disappointing 2010-2011 season.
--The Orange County Register's Jeff Miller examines Phil Jackson's impressive coaching career.
--The Orange County Register's Randy Youngman argues that the Lakers could use West's expertise in the front office.
--Lakers.com's Mike Trudell talks with Chip Schaefer about Jackson's legacy.
--Former Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has a bizarre commercial for Turkish TV
--Lakers Nation's Gabriel Lee looks at how the Pau Gasol trade has worked for the Lakers and the Grizzlies.
--Silver Screen and Roll's Saurav A. Das wonders if Bryant's All-NBA and All-defensive first-team awards this season were solely based on reputation.
Tweet of the Day: "OKC moving as much offensively as all those non-Kareem statues outside Staples Center." -- Jonathan_Feigen (Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen)
Rick Friedman Reader Comment of the Day: "Is the image above photo-shopped? Never seen Gasol dunking the ball. Or not when it mattered! All his pretty layups ending with 2 foul shots and the mandatory one missed FT. When one can have And 1." -- archived
-- Mark Medina
E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com
Photo: Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw talks strategy with forward Ron Artest during the first half of a game against the Utah Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena on April 1. Credit: Russ Isabella / US Presswire
Wowzers!! Ouuuchhhh with the Friedman ... congratulations!
Thanks
PSP Officer
Posted by: Practice Season Police | May 23, 2011 at 08:26 AM
Lakerfans
Prepare to brace urselves for the real rapture.. U may have survived one doomsday but there may be another one coming.
If lebron wins a ring then this world will definitely come to an end! At least mine will!! Argggggh!
Posted by: yellofever | May 23, 2011 at 10:06 AM
I liked T.J Simer's article on Shaw. The Lakers may or may not be able to get younger via trades and free agency. So having someone with such a long history with Kobe, plus the zeal of a new coach could be just what the Lakers nedd. Add the players wanting to do well for Shaw, in addition to being a good coach and assembling a good staff, it might be the best decision.
If we can keep Devin Ebanks, and I hope we do, I would really like to see him spend the entire summer working out with Kobe. Absorbing the hard work, the thousands of shots, the committment. We are going to need speed this coming year. Why not keep a 700k Ebanks and then go from there to add more speed and youth?
Posted by: Larry of LA | May 23, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Simers' piece is actually pretty intelligent.
The great coaches of the last 30 years were not retreads.
Pat Riley was one of the most inexperienced guys ever promoted to a head coaching spo. Jerry West was given the job but deftly handed it off to a guy who was better known as Chick Hearn's color man ("that's right Chick") than as a coach.
Phil was an assistant and onetime CBA head coach who was considered by many to be too weird and anti-establishment for the job.
Greg Popovich had never been a head coach above the Division 3 level in college, though he had, oddly, been a GM.
Between those three that accounts for a lot of NBA titles. Now there was Randy Pfund out there too, but there is something to be said for giving a good young coach a chance. The best candidate among the retreads is Adelman, but the guy is 65 years old. And that does concern me.
To me than candidates are Adelman, Shaw and Van Gumby. All are good choices. I'd be happy with any of them. But a young, hungry guy who already had relationships with these guys is probably my first choice (especially having a realtionship Kobe, whose respect is critical to success). And that guy is Shaw.
Second choice might be Van Gundy, who I think is also hungry, pushes defense, and has been touring the league as an announcer getting ideas about the current game.
I like Adelman, but he would be third. I worry about his ability to relate.
Posted by: Tom Daniels | May 23, 2011 at 11:11 AM
There's only one reason why Bryant shouldn't be compared to Jordan: there is no comparison.
Posted by: :-( | May 23, 2011 at 11:24 AM