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Posted by: Dave on Monday, August 03, 2009 - 03:15 PM
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Posted by: Lakers4Kobe on Thursday, April 16, 2009 - 05:41 AM
Lakers Blog
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 After a long, weary 82 game season, the Los Angeles Lakers finish with 65 wins and 17 losses, not too bad at all. In fact, the third best record in franchise history. However, the Cleveland Cavaliers were just able to sneak through at 66-16, but the issue of Home Court Advantage is no longer a topic of discussion. We’re here to talk about playoffs.
It came down to the last day of the regular season, with some surprises and some disappointments, but the playoff matchups are set. There’s more than one intriguing series set and some are definitely going to be some to remember. Let’s break it down, and see what the Lakers have to do to get to the Finals, and who they’ll be facing. Let’s start with Round 1:
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 8. Utah Jazz
I feel sorry for any team that has to face LA in these playoffs. Not only are they the deepest team in the league, but they are spurred on by vengeance. They want to crush the demons in them that remain from last year’s finals, to set the record straight. Utah is more than capable of winning a playoff series, but not against the Lakers. As Jerry Sloan put it himself, “Things look pretty bleak.”
Lakers in 4.
2. Denver Nuggets vs. 7. New Orleans Hornets
This will be a great matchup. Chris Paul will be trying to lead his team into the second round after what was unquestionable a disappointing season. Injury woes slowed down the Hornets, but one can’t help but wonder if they miss Jannero Pargo. On the other hand, Denver have exceeded all expectations this year and many are predicting them to be in the Western Conference Finals. However, this will be a tough series for both teams, but I just don’t think the Hornets have the momentum or firepower to beat Denver.
Nuggets in 6.
3. San Antonio Spurs vs. 6. Dallas Mavericks
Talk about polar opposites. San Antonio lost one of their best players, and what many considered their x-factor in Ginobli. They stumble into the playoffs as the 3rd seed after spending most of the season at the number 2 spot. On the flip side, Dallas is roaring into the playoffs, having finally found their groove. Their playing great basketball and Jason Kidd has been rejuvenated. This season can go either way though, but I think Home Court Advantage is going to play nicely for San Antonio. Both teams have to be prepared for this. I think San Antonio will pull it out but it can go either way.
Spurs in 7.
4. Portland Trailblazers vs. 5. Houston Rockets
Portland has to be one of the biggest surprises this season. Most journalists were predicting them to wind up anywhere between 6-8 seed out West but they stepped up to another level and finished 4th. I suppose you can say Houston has been a slight disappointment, but having stayed in 5th even after losing Tracy McGrady for most of the season they should be pleased with themselves. As much of a surprise Portland has been, I just don’t think they have the experience to beat a Houston team that hasn’t advanced past the first round since the 90s. Houston will be incredibly motivated to get past the first round, and they successfully avoided the one team they didn’t want to see in the first round: the Utah Jazz.
Rockets in 6.
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 8. Detroit Pistons
Cleveland has surprised so many people by finishing with the best record in the league and Detroit has surprised so many people for stupidly trading away Chauncey Billups for the Not-Answer. Detroit is stumbling into the playoffs and there is almost no hope for them in this series. They will be lucky to win a game, simple as that.
Cavaliers in 4.
2. Boston Celtics vs. 7. Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose is going to be a star. He is an amazing player and one day he will lead a team into the finals, mark my words. However, it’s still his first year and Chicago lost their last game of the season, failing to avoid the Celtics in the first round. The Celtics slowed down a bit this year, losing 4 more games this year than last, but their record is still incredibly impressive when you consider the absence of Kevin Garnett for the 20 games or so of the season. They’ll be getting Garnett back in the first round and that will be all the motivation they need, still, I think Chicago can snatch a game or two.
Celtics in 5.
3. Orlando Magic vs. 6. Philadelphia 76ers
Both these teams have stumbled into the playoffs. They lost some of their last few games and they just underplayed. Orlando didn’t play Dwight Howard for the last few games so their excusable but Philadelphia just packed it in for the season after they locked up a playoff seed. Philly did win in Cleveland, the only team besides the Lakers to do so this season, but Cleveland was resting 4 starters, including LeBron James. I just don’t see Philly making much noise this year.
Magic in 5.
4. Atlanta Hawks vs. 5. Miami Heat
This is going to be a great series. I’m really looking forward to this one. These two teams played pretty well this season and I think they’re only going to get better. Atlanta was close to winning 50 games and Miami went for winning 16 games one season, to locking up the 5th seed in the playoffs the next season, under a rookie coach, who deserves some heavy consideration for Coach of the Year. I think Home Court is going to be huge in this series and I think it will go to a game 7. At that point, it will be time for Dwayne Wade to shine. Will he step up and pull his team through? Or will he crumble under the pressure? I think it’s the first one.
Heat in 7.
So that’s it for Round 1. After the first round some teams will be exhausted, some will be well rested, but it’s all going to make up for a very interesting semi-finals. Out East, things will be very interesting. Let’s have a look:
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 5. Houston Rockets
Houston will finally be out of the first round, but they will be heading into a huge roadblock. All season long the Rockets have tried to beat the Lakers and they’ve failed every time. Blame Ron Artest for sparking Kobe’s competitive side. Houston will be happy to be out of the first round, but the Lakers will take the second round as just another road bump. They will not be giving up anything and Houston is going to feel the pressure of the LA juggernaut. Sorry Houston, your postseason ends here. I just think LA has Houston’s number, but I’ll be conservative and say the Rockets win one at home.
Lakers in 5.
2. Denver Nuggets vs. 3. San Antonio Spurs
Both teams will be coming out of gruelling first round matchups and both will be weary, but San Antonio will run out of firepower. They will sorely miss Ginobli in this matchup, especially when JR Smith starts lighting them up from downtown. Denver will be hoping that San Antonio gets through the first round, because they just can’t keep up with the Nuggets offensively. That being said, the Spurs being the Spurs, they will never go down without a fight, but I think their season ends here.
Nuggets in 6.
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5. Miami Heat
LeBron James vs. Dwayne Wade. Ringless vs. Ring. This will be a great series, with both players taking it out at each other time after time. Cleveland will win it, but it will be great to watch, and I think Miami can take two games, and possibly even push the Cavs to a seventh game but I doubt it.
Cavaliers in 6.
2. Boston Celtics vs. 3. Orlando Magic
Another great matchup. Both teams will be fighting to play Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals. It will be a battle of the bigs, with Dwight Howard and Kevin Garnett battling it out under the rim. But don’t forget the guards, as Ray Allen and Paul Pierce will have to respond to the barrage of 3 point shots that are inevitable when you play the Magic. This is another series where Home Court is going to be huge, and I think this is another seven game series, with Boston claiming victory. But if Boston finds its defensive rhythm with Garnett again, it could just as easily be a 5 game series, but that remains to be seen.
Celtics in 7.
So that’s the semi-finals. The four remaining teams will be feeling to pain of the post-season but the opportunity to win a ring is all the motivation some of these teams need. The Conference Finals are going to be great, so let’s have a look.
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 2. Denver Nuggets
Last year, LA swept the Nuggets out of the first round. But that Nuggets team had Allen Iverson, and this one has Chauncey Billups. Billups is undoubtedly the MVP of the Nuggets this season, despite the increased play of Carmelo Anthony. However, the Nuggets are sorely going to miss Marcus Camby in this series. Andrew Bynum will be playing against Nene, who despite improving dramatically this season, is nowhere near the defensive presence that Marcus Camby was. Look for the Lakers to feed their bigs in this series as Kobe takes a backseat. Gasol and Bynum will be huge in this series, and Lamar is going to be a huge x-factor off the bench. It will be up to him to lead the bench against the Nuggets reserves and he will have to raise his game to another level. He has been playing great lately off the bench, and he is going to have to keep that up until the end. LA will be incredibly motivated to get to the Finals again and I don’t think Denver will be able to hang around. LA takes this series and sends a message out East.
Lakers in 5.
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 2. Boston Celtics
This is going to be a great series, an epic series. There will be so much hype surrounding this matchup and I think it’s going to live up to it. Boston beat Cleveland in the semi-finals last year and I’m sure that is going to be in the mind of all Cavaliers players. LeBron will want to be in the Finals again and that will drive him in each game. However, the Celtics have their eyes on back-to-back championships and they are not going anywhere anytime soon. Kevin Garnett is going to have to step up in this series. The Cavs don’t have anyone who can contain him, unless you think Ilgauskus and Verajao can defend Garnett. If Garnett can pull his team through, then the Celtics win. But, the kicker here is the Home Court Advantage and it will be HUGE here. This series is going to a game 7, eerily similar to last year, but I think the outcome is going to be different and the Cleveland Cavaliers win it in a close game 7, setting up a matchup in the Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Cavaliers in 7
And the Conference Finals come to a close. We now head to the holy grail of basketball, the NBA Finals. Make no mistake, this is going to be a huge series and the media coverage is going to be ridiculous. Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James. The two best teams in the league will battle it out and there is going to be pandemonium in one city, but which will it be? Let’s have a look.
NBA Finals
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
It all comes down to this for LA. They will have 7 opportunities to win 4 games against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This will be an epic Finals series, and there will be no backing down from either team. There are going to be so many factors to consider in this matchup: momentum, desire, will, home court, depth, coaching, leadership. The list goes on and on, but there is no denying one thing; at the end of this series, either Kobe Bryant or LeBron James will officially be declared the best player in the world, and there will be no logical argument to say otherwise. Both players are great, and Kobe is already on his way to legendary while LeBron continues to carve up the league with his talent, it is going to be God vs. Titan.
So how is it going to go? We have to remember that Cleveland has Home Court Advantage in this series. That will be a huge asset to them because they are nowhere near as good on the road as they are at home. But looking at Cleveland’s home record, they are 39-2. The last loss came on the last day of the regular season when almost all starters were resting. But that leaves one other loss. One loss that is going to be a huge mental factor. That loss came against the Los Angeles Lakers, who came into Cleveland missing Andrew Bynum and a Kobe Bryant that was suffering from a stomach virus, and who had to be hooked up to an IV drip at halftime. At halftime the Lakers were down by 10 and some Laker fans thought they wouldn’t be able to come back, but thanks to a brilliant third quarter from Lamar Odom (15 points, 10 rebounds in the 3rd alone) Los Angeles came storming back into the game and Kobe closed it out in the 4th.
So LA has beaten Cleveland twice this season, once with Andrew Bynum and a Kobe with a dislocated finger, and once without Andrew Bynum and a Kobe with a stomach virus. LA has not been 100% healthy in either matchup, and that just adds more fear into the heart of all Cavs fans.
The first two games are going to be in Cleveland, and this is what I see happening. LA is going to win the first game and strike the first mental blow. It will be a team effort and the Lakers will exploit the Cavs because they just matchup so well against them.
In game two, the Cavs will know they have to win it to have any hope of winning. They will take game two, but LA will have that one key win in Cleveland, and with the next 3 games in LA, things won’t be looking so well for the Cavs.
Game 3, LA. Staples Centre. The Los Angeles fans will be there in full force and will be going crazy. Pandemonium will erupt in the building as the Lakers head onto the court. The Lakers will take this game, going up 2-1 in the series and setting themselves up nicely to take out the series.
In game 4, Cleveland will be desperate for a win, as a 3-1 deficit is incredibly hard to fight out of. However, Cleveland will not get this pivotal win as LA has been so effective in shutting down LeBron in the regular season and I don’t see that changing here. Game 4 goes to LA, and they lead the series 3-1.
Game 5, and the stadium erupts as the Lakers take the court. As each player is introduced, roars and screams from the crowd ignite a fire under the players, none other than Kobe Bryant, who will be looking to rid himself of last year’s demons. The game begins and come the 4th quarter, it is all but settled. Cleveland puts up a valiant effort but there is no hope as the Lakers drive and drive and push all hope out of the Cavs’ hearts.
As the final buzzer sounds, confetti and balloons fall from the roof. People are crying, screaming, cheering and whistling. The Lakers stand on the court and embrace the celebration, knowing their hard work has finally paid off. Emotions run wild as players break down in tears (Sasha) and the realisation of this team’s greatness becomes apparent. Kobe and LeBron embrace centre court, the recognition that one is still greater than the other. Cleveland, gracious in defeat, heads into the locker room as LA continues to celebrate.
The celebrations go on till the parade at Figueroa Street. Millions of people crowd the streets to cheer their beloved team, and each Laker player realises the feat of their accomplishments. They finish the playoffs with a 16-3 record. This team could not be stopped, the desire for the championship ran deep through all the players.
When people look back at the 2008-09 NBA season, one team will stand out above the rest. The Los Angeles Lakers will go down in history as one of the deepest teams ever, from 1-14, each player dedicated hundreds of hours of time and effort to get their championship ring and there will be no denying the greatness of this team.
Prepare yourselves Lakers Fans, the battle is about to begin!
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Posted by: Lakers4Kobe on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - 05:26 AM
Lakers Blog
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So there we have it. The Los Angeles Lakers did not achieve one of their goals from the preseason: achieve the best record in the NBA and Home Court Advantage throughout the playoffs. They have given it up to the Cleveland Cavaliers who can now finish the season at 67-15, while LA will fall just short at either 65-17 or 64-18. Yet despite this, for one to be disappointed with this season is ludicrous. This team has proven time after time that it is the best in the league, beating any opponents who dared to challenge that claim.
The first test for this team came of December 25, against the reigning champions and arch-nemesis: the Boston Celtics. The two teams share so much history together with the latest chapter ending in a humiliating fashion for the Lakers, losing the finals 4 games to 2. It was what drove this team, drove them into the Christmas Day Game, and drove them to beat the ‘mighty’ Celtics. They won the game, but more importantly, they were able to rid themselves of the mental demons that haunted them. The win was a turning point for this team and was about the time the league realised that nobody wanted to face this Laker team come the playoffs.
Perhaps more impressively, the Lakers were able to sweep the season series with both Boston and Cleveland, despite missing Andrew Bynum for half those games and having a banged up Kobe in both contests against Cleveland. The Lakers will probably be the only ones who can say that they beat the Cavs in Cleveland this season, a blemish that is sure to be in Cleveland’s mind if these two teams were to meet in the finals.
So what can be said about this season? Besides finishing just short of getting HCA there are really no disappointments this season. The team has bonded together and pulled through during times of adversity and have time after time shown the world why this team will be one for the ages. This team is perhaps the deepest the league has seen in quite some time and with the sudden re-emergence of the bench mob sparked by the play of Lamar Odom, Luke Walton, Shannon Brown and Sasha Vujacic, it seems as if everything is coming together at the right time. It gives this team the confidence they need heading into the post season, and despite one blemish against the Blazers, this Laker team has won 7 of its last 10 games and 15 of its last 20, not bad number at all.
As the season winds down, the real challenge begins. After tonight’s game against Utah, the playoffs begin and the Lakers’ first round opponent will most likely be the Utah Jazz. This is the perfect game to make a statement, to let the Jazz know that there will be no upsets this year and that they will be the fodder of the number 1 seed. When Andrew Bynum was asked if it would be a statement game, his response couldn’t have been any simpler and clearer: “Definitely.”
So if it is indeed the Jazz, we will see a very physical series. The Jazz are a team that do not shy away from contact and controversy and even if they are falling apart at the seams, they will without a doubt push the Lakers physically. Perhaps this is a good thing, as it will allow the Lakers to prepare themselves in case they advance and go against Portland in the second round, the team that is more of a hindrance than a rival. Assuming this is the case, it’s hard to see the Lakers not winning a game in Portland, and Kobe would “F*cking love it” if the teams were to meet.
But for now the final test of the season comes against a Utah Jazz team looking to prove something to their critics. There is more going on behind the scenes in Utah than anywhere else this season, with the team having the possibility of 9 of their players becoming free agents this season, a scary thought for management who would have to fork out the cash in this economy. But the fact of the matter is this Jazz team is mentally unprepared for the playoffs this year, a disappointment for all Utah fans.
The Lakers have been able to get through the season with a very strong record and they have positioned themselves very nicely to take out an NBA title. But before any of that happens, and before we can all celebrate down Figueroa Street, there are still 16 playoff games this team has to win. The real season begins on Sunday, the real pressure begins on Sunday and the real success begins on Sunday. Prepare yourself Laker fans, were going to be approaching some turbulence very soon.
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Posted by: Lakers4Kobe on Friday, April 10, 2009 - 06:26 AM
Lakers Blog
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It was an electric feeling in the Staples Centre on the 9th April, 2009. Everyone waited anxiously to see if he would return. Time passed and nothing happened. People began to wonder. Had the reports been true or were the fabrication? People started to lose hope. Then it happened. A black-and-white screen appeared on the jumbotron with the simple message: “Bynum’s baaack!” The cheers drowned out the arena. The starting line up was announced. At Point Guard, Derek Fisher. Shooting Guard, Kobe Bryant. Small Forward, Trevor Ariza. Power Forward, Pau Gasol. And starting at centre, Andrew Bynum. The crowd went insane and so marked the long awaited return of the 21 year old saviour. The boy turned man who bears the weight of expectation on his shoulders. It was up to him to prove his worth and by the end of the game the rest of the league was wetting its pants in fear.
For Bynum, this game must have been great. To be out there after two and a bit months of rehab, to show that he can still be the centre everyone wants him to be and, most importantly, to get rid of any mental doubts he had about himself. Bynum was not dominant in this game, but he more than held his own. 16 points and 7 rebounds in 21 minutes of action is nothing to complain about for a guy that’s missed 32 games. After the game, Laker fans were already planning their calendar around the finals.
But for this Laker team to now show its worth, it has to advance through one of the toughest Western Conferences in history. There are no breaks from here on out and the first test comes tonight against the Portland Trailblazers, a team notorious amongst Laker fans. It’s been seven years since the Lakers won in Portland, and perhaps tonight that will change. Bynum will have to hold his own against Greg Oden, another big man whose had to battle his own injury adversities. It will come down to who wants to win more. The Lakers will want to win to keep alive their chances of locking up home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and the Blazers will be looking for a victory to secure their position as the 4th seed and win a mental battle over LA.
Looking at the larger picture, the Lakers have set themselves on a whole different level to the rest of the Western Conference. They are 10.5 games ahead of the second seeded Nuggets, and many experts are already predicting them to win the title, even when Bynum was out. However, there is no easy road to the finals this year. As it stands, the Lakers are either going to play Dallas or Utah in the first round. Neither team will go down without a fight, and Dallas has been surging lately, something the Lakers will need to be aware of if they are to meet in the first round. But there is one thing the Lakers have now that people were hoping they wouldn’t get; Andrew Bynum. He will create havoc for any teams defense simply by having to guard two 7 footers at any one time. The matchup problems for other teams become numerous and Phil Jackson becomes the orchestrator of the beautiful symphony that is the Los Angeles Lakers.
Andrew Bynum’s return marks a new chapter for this Laker team. No longer can they blame any loss on Bynum’s absence and for the first time in what seems like an eternity, the entire team is healthy and playing well. If there was a better for this to happen than just before the playoffs, I don’t know it. Everything is falling into place and this team is prepping itself for what they hope is a championship run.
There are going to be times where we question the mettle of the team, times where we wonder if they are even trying or simply given up. Times where you want to tear out your hair (if you have any left by the end of this season) and throw your shoes at the TV. But I can guarantee you this, by the end of the Finals in June you will be in tears. Whether they are tears of joy or sorrow is yet to be decided, and as the time old adage states, only time will tell if these Lakers will be crowned 2009 champions of the world or runners up.
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Posted by: JonathanDavid_24 on Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - 11:07 AM
Lakers Blog
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The Lakers regular season is nearing a close soon, in the blink of an eye the playoffs will be upon us. Kobe Bryant hasn't particularly outdone himself this season to the point where he truly deserves the NBA Season MVP-repeat in the eyes of a majority of voters. This however is of no concern of Kobe, nor should even his most die-hard fans. The truth be told, LeBron has had a phenomenal season, his team is eye to eye record wise with the Lakers, and his team currently boasts an incredible 37-1 record at home. The best part is that the Lakers were the only team to walk out of Cleveland with a victory over LeBron & Co. In fact, going back to recall that game, Lamar Odom was spectacular, the Cavs had no answer for him. Truth be told, this is how it would be if the Lakers played the Cavs in the Finals this June.
Kobe would have many options such as taking over the game himself, differing to his teammates, a combo of the two, etc.
The one option that I at the top of my list but I'm afraid to declare worthy of using in the Finals if the Lakers make it this postseason
(knocks on wood). Lamar Odom has the ability to beat the Cavs with the help of Kobe & Co. If Odom can repeat his performance from earlier this season in Cleveland, the Lakers will me impossible to beat if they matched up against the Cavs. Odom can take his man off the dribble any time he wants, and can either finish around the rim, draw fouls, or dish to an open teammate. Mind you, I know Kobe can do this too, but the difference is that the Cavs expect this from him. Odom on the other hand, if he is able to do this as well, it would improve the Lakers immensely. LeBron must guard Kobe at all times if the Cavs want to have any chance of even slowing down Kobe. That leaves Odom free to roam around and take his man off the dribble and score at will. I saw an energized Odom in Cleveland, he was a monster on the boards, he scored at will....and the best part is that this was against a Cavs team at full-strength...
The Lakers on the other hand were lacking a HUGE difference-maker in Andrew Bynum.
Kobe was very ill that day too, the fade-away shot Kobe made in LeBron's face, that insanely high-arching shot was the dagger that helped us pull away with the win, and not just a small win, but a double-digit win. This must have told LeBron something, like...his team is in trouble if they meet the Lakers in the Finals... The Lakers with a healthy Kobe & Co....well that will be more than LeBron can handle.
But for argument's sake, LeBron & Co are very talented, probably the 3rd deepest team in the league...The Lakers being first & either the Magic or Celtics being 2nd deepest. Therefore the Lakers won't dare overlook anyone, not even the Thunder, Kobe has repeatedly stated his only goal and main focus this season is the championship. Everyone knows that the Lakers season has an unofficial motto...
"Win the Championship or this season was a total bust" Also, the Lakers offseason should be rather interesting, the free agents the Lakers can pick up if they offer players such as Odom, etc....would be pretty darn talented....but I personally believe Odom is one of the Lakers who keeps this team together and losing him would change this team in a way that we couldn't recover from.....The loss of Ronnie has already been forgotten and Josh Powell has done a decent job as his replacement...but Odom, he is irreplaceable......he is far too talented, has so much potential..it's sad to see him not live up to what he can do on a nightly basis...but maybe we're being too greedy since Odom has a very tough life outside of the NBA....his newborn died, that must have been something that he now lives with in agony, and it doesn't help that he has so much pressure to perform well with that on his mind......Kobe while on the trial years ago, was mentally tough on a level that I thought was unmatched....but that is not so, Odom lost a child, that is something that I believe is much tougher to swallow and stay sane and happy with in your life....I personally couldn't do it, it's too energy-draining....but Odom is such a warrior and he plays on, even though he can do so much more than he already has shown us, sometimes I just wish we'd cut him some slack.. But like most LTB fans, when he plays poorly on a consistent basis, I don't excuse that whatsoever, I demand that he be taken out of the game or that he differ to someone else more capable such as Kobe or Gasol...heck even Fish!!! lol
Ariza is the key guy this season, his defense, steals, blocks, offense, have really brought this team's talent level up a notch or two, I'm so thankful to God that he came back and showed us what we were missing last June....he has been nothing short of amazing.
The Lakers Mob Bench....or as some fans dubbed them recently
"Strench Bench" which I found to be hilarious.....but then it got old.....
we criticize our bench so much that it's like we're a broken record; sure we want our bench to be as good as last year, even better sure, but it's not happening for the time being....I can't say I'm pleased with their effort....I even joked about it earlier this season and said that maybe the entire bench is tanking it this season till playoffs....boy wouldn't that be something, the bench all of a sudden being the incredible tough force we envisioned at the beginning of the season. Sasha needs to cut his hair, it's blocking his view to the basket, or messing up his brain or something, his shot has been flat all season.....that injury he came back from shouldn't have taken his shot away completely like it seems at the moment......
Farmar is selfish and wants to be like Kobe, that's what many say, but I think he just isn't ready to start, and Phil probably treats him as if he should be starting, and that pressure could be too much for him to handle.....put simpler, Farmar is a choke-artist.....and a turnover machine....but he can improve....I wish sooner rather than later....the playoffs are almost here and we can't have any of his b.s in a critical playoff game....whether it's home or away.
All in all, I think the Lakers as a team need to put just a bit more effort into their daily/nightly performances, and that should get us over the hump this year.....If all goes well, Bynum should be back before the season ends, and maybe he'll show us a glimmer of what he'll be able to do come playoffs......(knocks on wood) The Championship-road looks gruesome, but if Kobe has anything to do with it, he'll use every amount of will-power left in his mind, soul, and body.....lets all hope & pray that things go our way this year, because last season is one that we all want to forget...it was so painful...ughh...just thinking about it is terrible....but that's good, because it showed us our weaknesses as a team, and this year, well gladly things are going much better.
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Posted by: JXN on Sunday, March 29, 2009 - 12:05 PM
Lakers Blog
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If Andrew Bynum had never gotten hurt LAST year, Mitch Kupchak probably doesn’t push for the Pau Gasol trade so the Lakers don’t finish with the best record in the Western Conference, never make it to the NBA Finals and are still a couple seasons away from winning it all while Kobe Bryant can opt out of his contract next month when Phil Jackson might very well be titanium-hip high in mai tai’s in a matter of layovers.
It has been exactly 28 days of February and 29 days of March since we last saw Andrew Bynum vertical in shiny shorts, grinning, with a twinkle in his eye and obligatory piece of lint in his afro and a nation of Laker fans eagerly anticipates his recovery from injury THIS year.
That’s 57 days to be exact, 8.142 weeks to be even more so of a so-called 8 to 12 week rehab time frame. By the time I post this piece, there will be some Laker fans who will be able to give you hours, minutes and seconds since the last time we say Andrew Bynum play.
Do you remember?
In his last 35 minutes of NBA action, Andrew Bynum racked up 34 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks on 12 of 18 shooting. The Lakers had just beaten the Timberwolves on the road by double-digits. They were on their way to beating the Grizzlies by double digits on the road. We were already sizing up rings and dusting off rafter space for one more banner. Our kids were smarter, the wife never prettier and the car just flat out ran better.
What multi-industry bailout riddled, 12.5 million unemployment laden, $11 trillion national debt recession are you talking about?
Life was good.
But if Andrew Bynum had never gotten hurt LAST year, then we wouldn’t know that THIS year it took him . . .
. . . 32 minutes and 13 seconds to shoot his first free throw after officially returning to the NBA after his injury.
. . . 69 minutes and 39 seconds to hand out his second assist.
. . . 4 games to make his tenth basket of the season.
. . . 4 games to get his first double-digit rebounding stat.
. . . 6 games to get his first double-double, and a meager 11 points and 10 boards at that.
. . . 2 months and 2 weeks to score 20 points in a single game.
In fact, in his first official game of THIS season, Andrew Bynum committed 5 fouls in 28 minutes. The next game, he committed 4 fouls in 25 minutes. A game after that, he committed another 5 fouls in only 21 minutes. In those first three games, he shot a humbling 8 of 18.
In his first game against Dwight Howard THIS season, he totaled 3 points on 1 of 4 shooting with 1 rebound, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks with 2 turnovers and 5 personal fouls.
And, still, we were 14-1 headed into December and had yet to beat Boston in Boston and Cleveland in Cleveland.
But if Andrew Bynum had never gotten hurt LAST year, we wouldn’t have that information THIS year and we wouldn’t be expecting a quick fix for any perceived playoff problems that may or may not be existent because, well, eager, young, 7-foot-1 multi-millionaires aren’t the kind of people who take out the trash without being told to twice.
Which is exactly what it takes to win on the road in the NBA Finals.
Andrew Bynum in October of this season: 10 ppg, 6 rpg on 47% shooting which is what Chris Mihm posted as the Laker starter in 2006.
Andrew Bynum in January of this season: 17.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg on 59% shooting which is about what Shaquille O’Neal is posting as an NBA All Star.
When the Lakers do get back from their road trip, they will have 7 games left in the regular season. Eight days after that, they will have only 2 games left. The Lakers will probably open up playoffs 5 games after that. They will then be officially, at most, 4 games away from elimination at any given time.
Again, we’re counting days, minutes and seconds when we probably should be talking weeks and months. We’re holding our breath for Diesel when we probably only need a block, a few rebounds, a rotation here and there, if that. Throw in an alley-oop dunk for the kids at home. Some salt, pepper and paprika for the future all-star studded fulcrum that is our current injured center who has yet to make more than 8 free throws in a single NBA game.
Because if Andrew Bynum had never gotten hurt LAST year, then we wouldn’t have learned that championships are won by the players you have THIS year and not lost by the players you don’t.
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Posted by: Lakers4Kobe on Saturday, March 07, 2009 - 01:59 AM
Lakers Blog
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So we come to the end of a small home stand and the start of what can be labelled as ‘the toughest, shortest road trip of the season.’ 3 games in 4 nights, starting in Portland on Monday night, then advancing to Houston on Wednesday night and San Antonio on Thursday night. To say the least, it will test the Lakers to their extremes, playing in arenas that are notoriously hostile towards them, especially in Portland and San Antonio. For the Lakers to come back home with 3 wins it will require an extreme amount of effort and focus on the defensive end, and no errant or stupid plays on offense, something the bench will need to take into consideration despite their excellent night against the Timberwolves.
So what is the key to beating these teams? Well lets have a look:
Portland: They’re missing Oden; we’re missing Bynum, so no advantage there. Pau will be against Pryzbilla, not the hardest ask in the world so he must take advantage of it. But there is that other guy in their frontcourt, LaMarcus Aldridge. This guy is a beast when given the chance and LO must stop him from getting hot, or else he will pay for it. LO has had a few bad games as of late, and if there is ever a time for him to pick it up, this is the game. I want to see him take to Aldridge hard and give him a hard foul or two to let him know who he’s dealing with. LO has the build to be a banger, now he just needs the mentality. He stood up to KG, and he came out on top. Let that be a lesson for him.
The backcourt is a whole different story. Nicholas Batum and Steve Blake aren’t exactly names that drive fear into the opponent, but there is one other guy that is starting to do so, Brandon Roy. This guy is turning into a beast and he’s putting himself in a position to lead this Blazers team to the playoffs this season and try to cause an upset. However, don’t expect him to have one of his big games against Kobe Bryant, who will make it his goal to shut him down. But to win this game, defense is the key and each player will have to pull his own weight to pull out the win in the arena the Lakers seem to have no success in, the Rose Garden. Let’s see if they can turn around the curse.
Houston: Talk about a team that has been hot lately, the Rockets have won 8 of their last 10 and for some reason, seem to be a much better team without McGrady as opposed to with him. I don’t know is this is a personnel issue or some character clash but Houston has improved dramatically since McGrady had micro fracture surgery, and people have come out to say he has played his last game as a Rocket.
A lot of this success has been the result of the improved play of Yao Ming, who’s been dominating teams as of late. He will be the main concern for the Lakers, and Gasol will have to play above the rim to win the duel with him. Perhaps sticking the much tougher DJ Mbenga on him when Gasol is resting might disrupt his play, but we will see what Phil does on the day.
Another concern for the Lakers will be Ron Artest. Either Kobe or Walton will start as the defender against him, something that presents two polar opposites. Kobe will be able to contain him, Walton won’t. I think in a game like this, Ariza should spend the majority of the time on Artest, while Walton spends more time against the second unit, but again, we will see what Phil does.
San Antonio: Without a doubt this will be the toughest game of the road trip. The Spurs are one of the best teams in the league and while people were willing to write them off as ‘over the hill’ at the start of the season, they have proven doubters wrong again and have played at such a high level, they’ve moved back into second place in the West, although they are still 8.5 games behind the Lakers, but that is a story for another time.
There are three players on this team to look out for: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli. As of now, it seems like Ginobli won’t play in the game, but this is no excuse for the Lakers, as the spurs have a more than competent replacement in Roger Mason Jr, who burned the Lakers in their last meeting.
Tim Duncan will be guarded by Gasol, a difficult ask. Gasol has to have his best game of the road trip against Duncan and he has to shut him down. Duncan is the epitome of the consistent player and 99% of the time he will get you 20 points and 10 rebounds. If Gasol can hold Duncan to 10 points and 10 rebounds, it will be a solid effort from him. Odom can use the help defense to make life harder for Duncan, but he can’t lose sight of his own man to help out Gasol. It will be interesting to see how this matchup plays out.
Fisher will have the duty of guarding Tony Parker, which you would have to give to Parker. The guy is one of the best at driving into the lane and has one deadly teardrop. Fisher will have to focus intensely on defense to guard him and maybe switching to put Kobe on him could be interesting and slide Fisher over to guarding Mason. Either way, the pick and roll will have to be defended well in this game for the Lakers to win, but then again this is the Lakers, and the pick and roll seems to be the one play they can’t defend. Don’t ask why, I have no idea. They have the pieces to but they just can’t get it right. Not that they’re totally incompetent but they do struggle.
One of the biggest challenges for the Lakers will be playing in San Antonio at the AT&T Centre, an arena with a rich past between the Lakers and Spurs. From Fisher’s 0.4 to the Spurs eliminating the Lakers from the playoffs, there have been good and bad times for the Lakers in this arena, and hopefully Thursday will add another good memory and not a bad one.
This road trip will push the Lakers to their limits both physically and mentally. There are many challenges they will face and they will have to be prepared to come out and play Lakers basketball and run their opponents into the ground. The Lakers have the best offense in the league and their defense does seem to be improving. Hopefully they will utilise these to their advantage and beat these teams and come back home with a 3-0 road trip, setting themselves up nicely for home court advantage and in preparation for their 7 game road trip near the end of this month. If all goes well, the Lakers can wrap up the home court advantage at the end of this road trip, but there has to be a complete and total focus from the entire team. From Kobe to Morrison, every player will need to play their role and make sure they come away with 3 wins.
So what do you guys think? How will we fare in this upcoming road trip?
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Posted by: JonathanDavid_24 on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 06:45 AM
Lakers Blog
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Our Lakers finished the Pre-All-Star break with a bang going 6-1 losing only to Utah in a game that was very winnable. Kobe has entered the second half of the season with the killer instinct that we all know and admire. Shaq & Kobe had a memorable All-Star appearance together; sharing the MVP award. Kobe still seems to feel uncomfortable around O'Neal, it was easily seen whenever an interview took place with the two next to each other. Kobe however, is a professional basketball player, and the best in the game too, he doesn't let a simple emotional-type situation hyped by the repulsive media take over his will to win basketball games. Kobe has made it well known that he had plenty of fun during the All-Star weekend festivities, etc, but his focus on winning remains firm as ever.
On a side note, Gasol loved the All-Star game, he was very humble, and social throughout the entire weekend. The only negative thing Gasol took place in; according to some, was his silly behind-the-back passes to Rudy Fernandez in the Slam Dunk Contest this past Saturday. Some say Rudy Fernandez was robbed by the "Russian Mafia" judges, I am undecided on this, so I'll leave it up to each of you to decide the "truth".
Phil Jackson must have been so irritated during All-Star Weekend, he was all over the place. However, let us hope that the break at least helped some of our struggling Lakers such as Sasha, Walton, Farmar, etc. With 4 days off, they must have had some sort of individual practice. As we all know, Sasha & Farmar are total gym-rats as they have self-proclaimed themselves so often & proudly. It's time for them to own up to their struggles and hopefully have worked hard to at least improve somewhat; we need all the help we can get with Bynum still out.
I wouldn't say that it's imperative for the Lakers bench to all of a sudden regain their swagger, but at least rediscovering it would be more than a blessing. Kobe, Gasol, & Odom have been amazing in this stretch since Bynum left. I find it difficult to say the details of Bynum's reason for not playing...I somehow feel as if I will be the one who jinxes him. Therefore I tend to use words as "Bynum left" or "Bynum's out" hoping they don't sting too much to read....I'm sure they're less harsh than the media who use essays to describe even the tiniest detail of Bynum's status....They're so brutal. It's ok, because Haters are usually the ones who spark a fire inside of a team and the team goes all out to show how they can rise above such adversity and turmoil.
In closing, the 2nd half of the season begins tonight at Staples Center, the Hawks come to L.A hoping to snatch a win from the Lakers, who had a lot of personnel, etc at the All-Star Weekend events. We can only root for our Lakers to come out, hopefully Kobe does as he says and leads his team past this adversity and into the playoffs with home-court advantage....This is it guys, every game, every possession, we need to take DEAD SERIOUS, every free-throw made by our poor FT shooters is going to help, every missed free-throw by an opponent matters, the
struggles will continue in one way or another; whether it be media driven or something else. Lets take it one game at a time, no getting ahead of ourselves or being cocky like the Celtics fans. We're better than that, we respect our Lakers confidence, but arrogance from a team's fan-base can actually be the downfall of a Great Team. Lets not be those fans, lets be the respectable fans who have a team to cheer about.
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Posted by: Lakers4Kobe on Friday, February 13, 2009 - 03:51 AM
Lakers Blog
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So we come to the All-Star weekend. The best of the best will head to Phoenix to strut their stuff and show fans why they were voted in. Meanwhile, the rest of the league gets some time off to reflect on their records and sit in quiet joy, or despair at the misery that has been their season. For the Lakers, they will take the first option and they will take it gladly. No matter what anyone says, nobody expected these Lakers to be the best team in the West, and perhaps the league. After Andrew Bynum went down to another freak injury, the Lakers’ nation ran out onto the streets screaming that the sky was falling. However, since Drew’s injury, the team has gone 6-1 with the only loss coming against Utah after 8 games in 8 different cities in 14 nights, and to go undefeated in that stretch would have been amazing, but it was not to be. Still, for anyone to complain about the Lakers’ record right now would either be intoxicated or not know basketball.
This season posed many questions to begin with. Would Drew and Pau function together? Would Lamar benefit from coming off the bench or not? Would Kobe wear out before seasons end? And perhaps the most asked question, will there be any trades this season? Well, Drew and Pau formed one of the best front lines in the league, Lamar was productive off the bench, Kobe is still going strong, and, perhaps most impressively, Mitch Kupchack managed to trade Vladimir Radmanovich, or Space Balls as we all “affectionately” called him. The Lakers have been brilliant, and it doesn’t seem like they are going to stop any time soon.
However, not praise comes without criticism. The lackadaisical defense is still a problem, one that won’t be resolved while Drew is rehabbing. The Lakers are still playing down to the level of their opponents and will only play at their full potential against the teams that matter (Boston, Cleveland, San Antonio…) Theses issues will need to be resolved further down the season in time for the playoffs, but for now, the Lakers will have some time to rest and reminisce.
It must be noted though, that players have stepped up in the absence of Bynum, namely Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. Both players have elevated their game and are keeping the Lakers at the same level they were before Drew went down to injury. Pau has been absolutely dominant, destroying opposing front lines with his shooting range and back-to-the-basket moves. Lamar Odom has stepped up his game dramatically, to heights once though impossible by all of us. 3 straight games of 17+ rebounds is no easy task. The increased productivity of these players, as well as the continued high level of player from Kobe, Fisher and all the other Lakers have silenced the pessimists and proven once again that they can win the title, with or without Drew.
While Kobe and Gasol will head out to Phoenix to play in the All-Star game, the rest of the team will get some much deserved time off to do what they like (except snowboarding) and rest their bodies for the final stretch of the regular season, and begin preparation for the playoffs, which the Lakers will undoubtedly be a main focus of. During this time off, it is important for these Lakers to realise that they have a 42-10 record, lead the Western Conference and for now, are the best team in the league. While they enjoy this fact, they must also acknowledge that the season isn’t over. Too many times teams have slipped after All-Star weekend, thinking the season was all wrapped up. It is crucial for this team to not fall into the trap of mediocrity, they must continue to strive to be the best and aim for home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
In a way, the All-Star weekend is the perfect symbol of what this Lakers team has been this season, All-Stars. They have shot down any challenge that has come to them and they have proven time and time again why they are the best team in the league, and why they will be carrying the Larry O’Brien Trophy at the end of the season, down Figueroa Street.
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Posted by: JonathanDavid_24 on Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 01:50 PM
Lakers Blog
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The Los Angeles Lakers have taken a serious blow to their Championship quest roster. Rumors that Andrew Bynum will return earlier than the 8-12 week schuedule set by doctors has Lakers fans getting both excited & set in further disbelief. Although Phil Jackson has stated that in about one month Bynum will "resume basketball activities", one can't help but wonder whether to keep their hopes up or just give up on Bynum's "early return" These many uncertainties bring Laker fans focus to the other Lakers centers; Chris Mihm & Josh Powell.
Now, Chris Mihm hasn't played much basketball since getting injured a couple seasons ago, he says that he stays in shape, with hopes of getting some minutes logged and trying his best to get rebounds and play defense for the Lakers. Mihm also has said that he feels much better, no longer ailing his ankle injury. Some say that it wouldn't be fair to judge his current skill level due to his performances on the court due to the extremely short-time amount he plays per game. Years ago when Mihm was the Lakers starting center, he was an above-average rebounder, decent shot-blocker, and had a semi-reliable mid-range; 7-12 foot jumper. But since his injury, Mihm has steadily decreased his production on the court, even during extended minutes played in Laker blowout wins. His shot still is somewhat there, his free-throw skills are terrible, and he doesn't seem to have the lift or power he once somewhat had.
Josh Powell on the other hand has turned out to be a more than pleasant surprise to the Lakers coaching staff. Josh posseses an excellent spot-up jumper, he also is an above average shot-blocker; at 6'9 there isn't much more the Lakers staff can ask of their backup PF/C. A few games that Powell has played significant minutes off the bench, such as the Spurs game in San Antonio. Powell made three consecutive jumpers off of pick & roll with Kobe Bryant being the decoy, freeing up Josh for the open jumpers. Some fans would say that Powell has a better jumper than Odom, at times; that is hard to argue against.
The rest of the Lakers "Mob bench" has been very useful in important stretches of games. The energy that the Lakers bench brings is by far the best in the league, no other team's bench can match it.
Trevor Ariza has been the cataylst for the Lakers defense, he shows up every night with a strong & positive attitude to play hard at all times. Ariza is a tall, agile defender, at 6'8 with incredibly long arms, that have picked the pockets of Star Players such as LeBron, Rondo, Pierce, Ray Allen, Carmelo, Iverson, McGrady; and that is just a few of Ariza's unfortunate victims to his stellar defense. Ariza has also shown a much improved three point shot that is more reliable than Odom's or Walton's. When Ariza is on target with his shot, the Lakers are impossible to beat, they have never lost a game where he shoots well. At the beginning of the season, it was every Laker fan's dream that Ariza would be the spark off the bench we knew he could be. As this season has progressed, Ariza has not disappointed, in fact, many fans would argue his case in favor of winning this year's NBA: Sixth Man Of The Year Award.
Sasha Vujacic has struggled most of the season in comparison to his breakout season last year. Yet, game after game, faithful Lakers fans root for his shots to fall, knowing that he can be deadly from downtown. This season, Sasha is shooting 36% from deep, a huge drop from last year's impressive 44%. On a lighter sided note; his free-throws are very reliable even though he only shoots about two per game; Last season Sasha shot 83% from the line, this season he is shooting 90%. It would be wise for the Lakers to get the ball to him in situations where they have a slim lead and the opposing team has to foul; Odom might have been clutch vs the Celtics in Boston, but I'm sure every Laker fan would have rather had Sasha shooting the pair at the charity stripe.
Radmanovic has not played much at all; only seeing 27 minutes of total action in the past 4 games since Bynum went down, while averaging 0.75 PPG & made only 1-5 from downtown.
Jordan Farmar just got back from his injury; but what has impressed many is his speedy recovery, as I'm sure they hope Bynum will also accomplish. Farmar has been less of a "selfish" player as some like to call him. Farmar has his shot back, is racking up quite a few assists per game, and is being less careless with the basketball. Phil still has to get after him once in a while, when Farmar starts turning over the ball recklessly in blowout wins. I wonder if any fans hate that about him? Lets say the Lakers have a 20 point lead in the 4th quarter, with all their starters relaxing on the bench; Farmar tries to get fancy around this time, and ends up handing the opposing team 4-5 turnovers in a few minutes, then at the end, we win by 10 or 12. That must annoy quite a few fans.
The Lakers starters are not to be worried about, they've been holding down the fort very well since Bynum's tragic injury.
Gasol has been incredible in every way since Bynum went down. Gasol is averaging 27.5 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.2 BPG, while shooting 43/62 from the field for 69%, and shooting 24/29 from the line for 83%. Seeing those numbers takes away any doubts about Pau deserving his 2009 All-Star Selection.
Luke Walton has not answered the call of stepping up, he still has been declared a defensive liability, although not as much as Radmanovic; aka "Spaceballs" as Phil likes to call him. Walton is a skilled passing SF, who at times can give fits to players such as Pierce, Carmelo, LeBron, on defense. Luke is not as pesky as Sasha, yet he does hold his ground against Star players much better than Radmanovic. I'm sure many Laker fans are rooting for a trade that will rid them of Walton, but his fat contract will keep this from happening any time soon. Most would agree that he starts because of his passing, others would say because Radmanovic is that much worse of an option.
Kob Bryant has been just as impressive as Gasol. Kobe is averaging 37.0 PPG, 5.0 APG, 5.0 RPG, 1.5 SPG, just about 1 BPG, while shooting 33/39 from the line for 85%, 11/23 from downtown for 48%, but his FG's have been 52/108 for 48%, right on his season average. The Celtics game had a lot to do with that. Before the Celtics game, Kobe was 42/79 for 53% from the field in the three games since Bynum.
Odom is not a fan favorite. Many demanded for him to be traded immediately when Bynum left, but the rumors proved to be false as Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak has stated in a recent interview that Odom will not be traded. Kupchak added that Odom provides so much to the Lakers, he is needed even more than ever now that Bynum is out, and Phil Jackson has stated the same. This past Thursday Odom stepped up big time against the Celtics, finishing with 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, & 2 steals in the Lakers incredibly thrilling 110-109 OT Victory over the Celtics. However, this performance has many fans skeptical, and rightfully so, as Odom is known to disappear often in clutch moments of games. Odom needs to listen to the coaching staff and snap out of whichever lull trance that keeps him from showing up at games with a competitive, aggressive nature.
The question always will remain, who will continue to step up off the Laker bench, they cannot rely on the hope of Bynum's early recovery, the Lakers must find a way to get an aggressive ultra-competitive mindset instilled in every Laker, Kobe Bryant is the perfect example of this mindset; he leads by example, being the most spectacular player on the planet, and having an insanely competitive nature; a killer-instinct matched by no other player. For the Lakers to be successful, they must not get ahead of themselves as most fans do, instead they must take this season, one game at a time, it will keep them focused and determined to go all out in each game. Overconfidence is not an emotion possessed by any Laker, they know the battles will get tougher as the long weary season continues to progress. Every oponent must be equally respected, not feared, but deeply respected, to the point where the Lakers will consider every team as skilled as the Celtics or Cavs, only this way will they step it up. Sadly this is not how the Lakers usually play, instead, they play down to the grueling level of most of their mediocre opponents, who seem to relish playing the Lakers, knowing that they can play their game-style & the Lakers will only try to match it. It never gets old, as Laker fans will always support their team, in good and bad times; but during these dark times, with every team gunning for the Lakers, they must accept this challenge, and realize; This Lakers team made the NBA Finals last season with ease. Therefore they can do this, and hopefully Bynum will be back in time if they make the Finals this season (knock on wood).
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