Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:54:23 -0500 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/ Lakers TopBuzz http://lakers.topbuzz.com/images//themes/lakers/images/lakers-topbuzz.jpg http://lakers.topbuzz.com/ topbuzzsports@gmail.com http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-436.html Just want to say the win over the Griz tonight was a very nice game. There was concern because of the absence of Pau and Drew, but a couple things we all know is that they play the game for a reason and that any time Kobe Bryant is your oppenent, you better be worried. One had the feeling that Kobe would rise to the occasion tonight. The Lakers were at home, someone would have to pick up the slack and guess who volunteered to do it? No surprise there. We have only seem The Great Man pull this feat off about ohh....what a million times now? I got to catch the Griz announcers on Direct TV and I can tell you that although they did not come out and predict a victory, they spent a looong time in the pre game show talking about the big edge Memphis would have down low. They had the gleam in their eyes and smiles on their faces as they talked about what Memphis would do to a hampered Laker team. You could tell what they were thinking. What they forgot was the edge we had named Kobe Bryant. He can make up for a lot of missing players and then some. This was one of those games where you just sat back and enjoyed the show. Kobe was so hot, so spectacular that you just never really had a feeling Memphis could over come him or the Lakers. Kobe cast his pyrotechnic spell as only he can and the Grizzlies were just as transfixed as we were at home. The only difference is they got to see it close up live, and they get a loss on the record books while we just got to marvel once again at the best in the biz do what he does so well. I want to give a shout out to DJ here. You know, this guy will never be a star, will never be feared on the offensive end, but through hard work, determination and maximizing the things he does do well, he has turned himself into a very servicable back up center. He is not some guy you pray does not screw up. He actually brings things with him on the court that help a team win. You really have to admire a guy who has come as far as he has. I am happy he wears the Laker colors. I also don't shudder when he enters a game. I can't say that about all the players on this team. As I watched The Great Man lay another beating on another team, as he once again made the supremely arduous look sublimly easy, I thought of another player on the floor: Sam Young. I followed the rookies career at Pitt. I live there. He impressed me as a very versitile, complete player. So good in fact, I hoped the Lakers would get him. He fell further in the draft than predicted and he said he would make teams regret passing him. I believe him. I also love that kind of attitude. He had a great pre season and Memphis has high hopes for him. As Kobe painted his masterpiece, splattering the wood canvas he paints so poetically with a rubber ball, I had to wonder what Young was thinking. No doubt he had seen Kobe many times on tv. Marvelled at his exploits, shook his head at what he saw, just as we all do. But I wonder, what did this talented rookie think, seeing the man in the flesh. Watching his moves in 3D, seeing someone take this game as far as it can go and then...take it even another step further. Seeing the here to for pixels of his telivision set being translated to a living, breathing man and realizing what he saw all those years was true. Not some fiction or mirage. That Kobe Bryant does those things whether you are watching him far removed, or whether you are on the opposing team and he is right in your face. Do you think he was excited as a little kid on Christmas Eve? Do you think chills ran up his spine? What do you think Sam Young was thinking? What do you think he is saying right now, on his cell phone, talking to his friends and former college teamates who are scattered accross the country? Do you think he is talking about Kobe Bryant as he holds that cell phone to his ear? Do you think he will ever forget? Do you think we will? Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:54:23 -0500 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-435.html The year was 1994 and things were not going well. Showtime was now a word, a piece of Laker history and no longer a descriptor of a style of play, a synonym of success and championships. The Lakers record had dipped well below 500 and as the season wound down Dr. Buss knew he needed to make a change, to start to turn the team around for the coming year, for the future of the proud franchise. What was happening was simply not acceptable. He decided to fire Riley acolyte and current head coach Randy Pfund. In casting his eye around for a man who could bring back pride, work ethic and an innate understanding and love of the game to his young players he turned to Laker legend and close friend Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson. Johnson was stunned by the offer that Buss made him. At first he blanched at the idea. He had never coached before. But as he thought about it, he realized there were only 15 games left in the year. If things didn’t work out-how bad could things get in 15 games? Soon Earvin began to warm to the concept. He felt, like Buss did, that he had lessons he could impart on this new generation of players who wore the proud standard of the Purple and Gold. He felt he could do the team some good. He accepted the offer. In his first team meeting, Johnson began to tell the players what the culture of winning was about. The work it entailed. The trust of teammates. The hard hours of practice, both with the team and individually in order to reach your plateau as both a player and team. The joys of reaping the rewards of that drive, effort and desire. He gave examples of his Showtime Championship teams and how he wanted to replicate that successful formula with this new, young, eager group. During the talk, Elden Campbell yawned. As the meeting ended and the players adjourned the locker room, he overheard one of the young men mutter, “Who cares about Showtime.” The next day, Magic came to practice an hour and half before start time. He wanted to get some extra work in with the team. The Showtime players always came in early to hone their skills either alone or with each other before official practice began. Bill Bertka, the long time Laker assistant accompanied him. As the minutes then an hour went by, no players appeared. Magic turned to Bertka and said, “Where are the guys?” Bertka shook his head and replied, “Magic, this is a different era. A different team.” Finally, five minutes before scheduled time, players started to straggle in. Some even came late. Magic watched George Lynch closely. He had been a first round pick and Johnson had high hopes for him. In his first game under his new coach, Lynch had scored 30 points. In his second, he had scored only four. Magic felt Lynch could be a force if he worked on his outside shot, which was a weakness that was holding him back. After a practice, Magic told Lynch he wanted to work with him one on one the next day. To begin to improve Lynch’s shot. To lay the groundwork for his step up to another level for himself and the team. Lynch agreed. The next day, at the appointed time, Lynch just never showed. This pattern went on for a couple more days. Finally Magic told Lynch, “If you miss that shot in a game, I am going to pull you.” The Lakers played Seattle. Gary ‘the glove’ Payton hounded Nick Van Exel all over the court. Taking him out of his game and rendering him ineffective. The next day, Coach Johnson asked Van Exel to stay after practice. He told him he wanted to start to teach him about tempo. About how to see the whole floor. To make him able to counter the pressure of players like Payton. Van Exel told Magic that he couldn’t make it that day. He had an appointment. That he would get back with his coach about doing this at another time. He never broached Magic about it again. Never gave him a time to get together and learn. One day, tired of his teams’ lackadaisical practice and attitude, Johnson got mad. He stopped practice and called over bench players Kurt Rambis and James Worthy. Worthy was in his last year and averaging ten points a game. He also signaled assistant coaches Michael Cooper and Larry Drew over. He told his team, “I am going to take these old men here and prove to you that you guys don’t know how to play basketball the right way.” He and his old timers proceeded to then play the Lakers. In the first game, Magic’s team won 15-11. In the second, 15-8. In the third they won so big that Magic stopped keeping score. After going 5-1 their first six game, Magic’s team did not win another game the rest of the year. When it was over, he told Dr. Buss he did not want to continue. He felt “relieved” to be finished. Think of all the players you have watched over the years: The bad ones, the mediocre ones, the good ones, the great ones, then ask yourself, which of these would have taken up Magic’s offer of help?. Which would have been at practice an hour and half early? Which supremely talented, but lazy players would have passed on a chance to improve? Which would have settled? Which supremely talented players would have soaked up every thing Magic wanted to do, in search of greatness? Which less talented but hard working and driven players would have jumped at the chances Magic offered? Make a quick list in your head. Which would have, which wouldn’t have? I would bet all our lists would look alike. “Who cares about Showtime?” That player didn’t get it. Showtime was not some old player’s sweet reminisce about a by gone era. It was about a mindset. A desire. A work ethic. A love the game and your teammates. An acceptance of nothing less than giving your best in every practice and every game until you and your team had the fundamentals and principles to overcome any opponent, any obstacle, even if is yourself, in order to be the best you can be. To give your self the best chance of winning that every ounce of your talent, heart and sweat will allow. It is the embracing of his culture, of taking that torture test with a passion that makes champions…and what doesn’t. Who cares about Showtime? Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:56:06 -0500 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-434.html I have been reading the new book about the Magic-Bird rivalry: When The Game Was Ours. One of the interesting things I ran across was that GM Jerry West was enamored of Arkansas guards Sidney Moncrief's all around game and prefered to make him the Lakers pick instead of Magic. This does not really suprise me. Magic was kind of unknown territory, a six foot nine point guard, something never seen before. Moncrief was a terrific all around player on both ends of the floor, something that would really appeal to fundamentalist player West. Jerry Buss, who was then in the process of buying the team told current owner Jack Kent Cooke that if he did not take Magic with that pick then the sale would be off. So all us Laker fans owe the estimable and far sighted Dr. Buss a huge thanks for drafting the greatest Laker and best point guard ever and creating Showtime with its nine trips to the final and five rings. We have so many other things to thank him for. He is truly a great, great owner. West was not alone in his doubts about Johnson translating successfully to the NBA. A Michigan sports writer named Joe Falls wrote an article about why Magic would not excel in the pro game. He said he was too awkward, not good defensivly and did not have a good shot. This article from a home town reporter incensed Magic and as with all great players, prompted him to redouble his practices and shooting drills. We all know how it ended. Moncrief by the way went on to have a hall of fame career with the Milwaukee Bucks. He teamed with Bob Lanier and other good players to make them an eastern powerhouse who gave those great Boston and Philly teams fits and hard battles in the decade of the 80's, once knocking Birds Celtics out of the playoffs. Speaking of Bird, his acerbic wit is well known. Here is a funny line he used back in college. He was getting the lions share of the press and glory while playing for his college team. Apparently some of the other players were jealous of the attention he was getting. He was asked about this. His response was: "I am jealous of those guys too. I am jealous that they get to play with me and I don't." - OUCH! What a classic line by Bird. Also, we all know about Kobe's harsh work ethic. But that is the one common denominator with all the best of the best, along with talent. When Bird's Celtics were eliminated in the playoffs by Moncrief's Bucks, the next summer his workout regime included running five miles uphill, then riding a bike for another 20 miles. After this, he would go out and shoot 500 jumpers and 500 layups. All in the mid summer heat. Everyday. Sound like someone we know? The DAY AFTER Boston beat LA in the 84 finals, ML Carr went to Birds house to continue the party they had had that night. No one had gotten any sleep. He arrived at 6am. Bird was not there. Carr waited around and eventually Bird came jogging up after one of his grueling runs. Carr asked him, "What are you doing?" Bird replied, "Getting ready for next year." Sound like someone we know? lol. All the greats have that common thread running through them, don't they? They just never feel safe, never secure, always worry that someone else is getting an edge on them. It's why they are what they are. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:53:33 -0500 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-433.html With a little lull until tomorrow nights game, just wanted to give a few of my observations on the ring ceremony shown on TNT. I am sure almost all of you watched it along with me and enjoyed it just as much. Always such a thrill to see another banner raised. No matter how many times it happens, just sends chills down my spine to see another piece of championship mortar placed in the foundation of the House of Laker Greatness. I am sure the Celtic fans loved it too. The rings looked gorgeous. Well made and classy. I would love to hold one in my hand and just feel that championship heft and gaze at the workmanship. They look mesmerizing as a Kobe Bryant double clutch, ball shift to the left hand, backwards dunk...in traffic. AMAZING! I loved them strolling out some of our great players from the past. I shows the continuity of Laker tradition, championships, great teams and remarkable players from one generation of winners down through the years to the next. It was like a role call of Laker history and accomplishment. It was great stuff. It was too bad Wilt Chamberlin is still not around to take part in events like this. He was part of our 69 win team and a banner that hangs in Staples. He would have so enjoyed that kind of recognition and ceremony. The only thing I would have changed was to have Kareem as one of those who strolled out the the applause. He is the Los Angles Lakers. I have no doubt we will be seeing a similar ceremony this time next year and hopefully Kareem will be there to take that walk and bow in the limelight. One last thing that I could not help notice. Jeannie Buss seems to be getting younger every year! I don't know if it is just the good life, plastic surgery or great genes, but man, it's ridiculous. If her trend continues, soon Phil will be looking like he is dating his grand daughter, lol. All in all a great moment for the franchise and all its fans. Another feather in an already overflowing cap, yet with room for so much more. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:23:40 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-432.html Watching our opening win last night, I saw some things that caused me to speculate on wether over the long haul, it would be better to play Pau with the second team instead of Lamar Odom. We all saw the hard time the bench had in scoring. Granted, they did not have Lamar with them, do to Pau's injury. Yet is Lamar the best player for this group, and secondly, with Drew's emergence, Pau will be playing less center than in the last two years. First off, it is obvious from Drew's play the last two years before his injuries, this years preseason and last nights game that he can certainly approximate Pau's effectivness in the pivot. The fact that he is still a work in progress and will get only better means at some point he will actually become a better center than Pau, who is a finished product. I noticed last year in the short time Drew was healthy and playing, Pau's numbers did drop some when he played forward. Once Drew got hurt and he played the pivot again, his numbers climbed. This is to be expected. Even his mere presence is bad for the opposing team, even if Drew is more involved in the game. Yet wouldn't we want to maximize Pau's effectivness by trying to get him some extra pivot time? To do this, Phil would have to change the rotation somewhat. There are two ways to do this. One would be to keep Pau on the bench and start Lamar and Artest at the forward spots. When Drew comes out, Pau would enter as the center with the second team. This would be highly effective for him and the team...even more so considering he would be going against the other teams second string players. Lamar has proven he is just as effective over the last two years playing with both Drew or Pau. It is the nature of his game, passing and rebounding, that makes him a perfect match no matter which of the other two are manning the post. Pau seems to lose some effectivness when playing with Drew. Also, Pau playing with the second team would make them a much more potent offensive force than Lamar playing with them. He would also command the double team and therefor get the second team more open looks. While Lamars passing certainly helps the second team, Pau is a terrific passer as well and a much better scorer than Lamar. The other way to do this would be to start Pau, and when Drew leaves and the second team comes in, move Pau to the pivot. Pau showed last year that he is an iron man and he could handle the minutes. When Drew comes back in, then Pau would get his breather, probably till the end of the half, if Phil uses Drew as he did last night. This would give Pau an adequate rest and the process and rotation would repeat in the second half. It seems to me that playing Pau with the second team would accomplish two positive things: It would get Pau some good minutes in the pivot where he could clean up. It would also make the second team a stronger offensive team than it would be with Lamar. Of course, this would not be set in stone. Game conditions and matchups and other considerations would go into each game. Flexibility is certainly not one of our problems. Remember now, this is just speculation based on what transpired last year and how the second team played last night. Before I did this move, I would play Pau and Drew together for a while and see how well Pau can do at the forward position with Drew at center. I would also want to see how the second team performed with Lamar once Pau is backa and healthy. If, Pau's performance does dip precipitously when playing with Drew, then perhaps try the move of Pau to the second team. Of course one other factor that has to be considered if one trys this move: how would Pau take it? Would he become upset if removed from the staring slot? It will be interesting to see this year if the second team improves a lot with the addition of Lamar and how Pau adapts over the long year if Drew stays healthy this year and he is pretty much consigned to the forward spot for the first time in three years. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:03:33 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-431.html On the eve of the new season, expectations are high. I think most of us here believe we will be ending the year with our 16th championship, and some of us in the back of our minds even entertain the thought that this team could challange the Bulls 73 win mark. Our major competitors-San Antonio, Boston, Orlando and Cleveland all made big off season moves to get better and close the gap with us. It stands to reason that we too want to be better and not just be the same team as last year. It is something that we want to and need to ensure that championship against the improving elite. This being the case, I would ask all the superb basketball minds that are habitues of this great site: What three things do you want to see from this years Lakers, that would in your mind, ensure the capture of our 16th ring? I will ask that anyone who replies here leave "staying healthy" off the list. That is a given and most obvious. It is also out of anyones control. Here are mine in order of importance. 1. My number one wish is that with the addition of a healthy Drew and Artest, the team takes their defensive execution and presence up at least one notch from last year. We won it last year with a defense I would term merely adequate. Nothing more. If this team, already an offensive juggernaut could turn up the defensive screws one more notch, it would really become the terror of the league. They are hard enough to outscore now. How can you beat a team that not only can't you outscore but can't score against period? Pretty tough proposition. This single thing, in my mind would make a repeat fait accompli and bring the chase for 73 into reality. 2. Fast start for Drew. In the last two years, Drew has gotten off to slow starts. Two years ago because he was still learning so much and last year because he was coming off that horrific injury. This year I would love to see him play like the pre injury and pre season Drew right off the get go. This would just be so intimidating to our opponents and ensure a very fast start for the team. It would also do a world of confidence for our young center. If this happens, look out, the Lakers will start putting distance between them and the other Western teams very quickly. 3. The resurection for Adam Morrison and/or Sasha. With the lose of Ariza, I see several problems that Artest, despite all the goods he brings to the table, cannot overcome. First off, we will miss Trevors speed and athleticism. In sports, speed causes problems and speed kills. I just don't see how we are going to replace this aspect of what Trevor brought. It is a deficit that we will just have to live with. We will also miss his three point shooting. If Sasha and/or Morrison regain their stroke it would be a huge thing. With steady three point and clutch shooting, it will make an already potent offensive team just that much harder to contain and control. It would literally overwhelm even the best laid defenses. There are some teams almost impossible to defend. We have all seen them over the years. If we can get steady three point shooting we will become one of them. Even against such defensive stalwarts as the Celtics. There are of course other things I would like to see. But these are my top three wish lists for the 2009-2010 Lakers. I am interested to read what are the top three of all the great Laker fans and basketball minds on LTB. Please feel free to give up your own thoughts as we go on the hunt for number 16. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:35:15 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-430.html Today, NBA.com released the results of its eighth annual survey of the league’s general managers. The majority of GMs believe that the Lakers will repeat as NBA champions for the seventh time in their history, and that LeBron James will earn his second straight MVP award. More than 70 percent of those who responded believe that the Spurs, with the additions of Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess, did the most to improve their team this summer. And even though 17.3 percent believe the Magic made the best moves of the offseason, only 7.1 percent believe Orlando will make a return trip to The Finals. Below are select results from this year’s survey. The full results (60 questions in all) will are posted www.nba.com/news/features/gmsurvey.predictions/index.html General managers were not permitted to vote for their own team or personnel. Percentages are based on the pool of respondents to each question of the survey, rather than all 30 GMs. Which team will win NBA Finals 2010? 1. L.A. Lakers – 60.7% 2. Boston – 17.9% Cleveland – 17.9% 4. San Antonio – 3.6% Last year: L.A. Lakers – 46.2% Which team will win the Eastern Conference? 1. Boston – 50.0% 2. Cleveland – 42.9% 3. Orlando – 7.1% Last year: Boston – 74.1% Which team will win the Western Conference? 1. L.A. Lakers – 75.9% 2. San Antonio – 24.1% Last year: L.A. Lakers – 66.7% Who will win the 2009-10 MVP? 1. LeBron James, Cleveland – 69.0% 2. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers – 17.2% 3. Dwight Howard, Orlando – 6.9% Also receiving votes: Tim Duncan, San Antonio; Dwyane Wade, Miami Last year: LeBron James – 55.6% Which team made the best overall moves this summer? 1. San Antonio – 71.2% 2. Orlando – 17.3% Also receiving votes: Cleveland, Toronto, Washington Last year: Philadelphia – 51.9% Which team will be most improved in 2009-10? 1. Washington – 48.3% 2. L.A. Clippers – 17.2% 3. Oklahoma City – 13.8% 4. Toronto – 6.9% Also receiving votes: Boston, Memphis, Minnesota, San Antonio Last year: Miami, Portland – 25.9% Who will win the 2008-09 Rookie of the Year? 1. Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers – 79.3% 2. Jonny Flynn, Minnesota – 10.3% 3. Tyreke Evans, Sacramento – 6.9% 4. Stephen Curry, Golden State – 3.4% Last year: Michael Beasley – 48.1% Who is the best international player in the NBA? 1. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas – 64.3% 2. Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers – 10.7% 3. Tim Duncan, San Antonio – 7.1% 4. Manu Ginobili, San Antonio – 7.1% 5. Steve Nash, Phoenix – 7.1% 6. Tony Parker, San Antonio – 3.6% Last year: Dirk Nowitzki – 66.7% Who is the best defensive player in the NBA? 1. Dwight Howard, Orlando – 46.4% 2. Ron Artest, L.A. Lakers – 17.9% 3. Kevin Garnett, Boston – 17.9% 4. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers – 7.1% Also receiving votes: Trevor Ariza, Houston; Shane Battier, Houston; Rajon Rondo, Boston Last year: Kevin Garnett – 44.4% Who is the best head coach in the NBA? 1. Phil Jackson, L.A. Lakers – 37.0% 2. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio – 33.3% 3. Jerry Sloan, Utah – 18.5% Also receiving votes: Rick Adelman, Houston; Larry Brown, Charlotte; Stan Van Gundy, Orlando Last year: Gregg Popovich – 53.8% Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:29:52 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-429.html It is the Lakers swank, plush locker room. It has all the accoutrements befitting the 21st century star athletes of a our championship team: TV’s, pool table, sauna and Jacuzzi, large and expansive lockers. A superb sound system. Kobes favorite cd, Lady GaGa is blaring out. Kobe is lounging on the trainers table. He has the Finals MVP trophy in his hand and stares longingly at it. Also there is Mitch Kupchak, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum. Mitch looks at Kobe. “How you feeling champ?” Kobe: “Man I feel great! We have a great team. We should repeat. Everything is just the way I wanted it to be! Life can’t be any better. It is cool to be Kobe Bryant! I owe it all to you, Dr. Buss and this great organization. You are the best!” Mitch: “That’s great! This is going to be some year for us. I can just feel it!” Kobe: Holding out his trophy to Mitch. “Hey, have you seen my Final MVP Trophy? Isn’t it just the best thing you have every laid eyes on?” Mitch: Smiles. “Um, yeah I have seen it. It’s fantastic.” Kobe: Smiling. “Would you like to hold it?” Mitch: “Sure, let see that bad boy.” He reaches out to get it.. Kobe: Suddenly glaring at Mitch. “Ok, if you have too I will let you. But only for a second!” Mitch just sits, looking at Kobe with his hand out. Kobe: “Did you hear me!” Everyone turns and looks at Kobe. Mitch nods, looking a bit intimidated. “Yes, ok. I heard you.” Kobe hands the trophy to Mitch. As Mitch starts to bring it back to his body Kobe snakes out his hand and grabs it back. Mitch blinks and pulls back his head in a nervous reaction. Kobe smiles again. “It is nice isn’t it? Feels good in your hand doesn’t it? Has real weight to it.” Mitch forces a smile. “Yeah, yeah, it really does feel nice.” Kobe: “You know I don’t let just anyone hold it. That is MY trophy. Mine! You are one of the lucky few!” Mitch: “I can imagine.” Kobe: "I'll let you in on a little secrete. Want to hear it?" Mitch: "S..s..sure." Kobe: "My wife hasn't even touched this baby. Nobody in my house has except me. Not my kids either. Bet you didn't know that did you?" Mitch: "Um...no..I guess I didn't." Kobe: "Do you know why I let you touch it?" Mitch: "No, Kobe, I really don't. Honest." Kobe smiles: "Cuz I like you Mitch. I like you allot." Mitch smiles back: "I like you too, Kobe." Kobe turns away from Mitch and hugs the trophy. Mitch turns and looks at Drew. He is playing a game on his cell. Mitch: “Hey big guy! How are you feeling? All ready to kick some serious ass?” Drew does not look up from his cell. “Hell yeah! I can’t wait to get out there and show people what I can do….long as my knee holds up..” He steals a furtive glance at Kobe then his own knee. Pau clears his throat then speaks. “Drew, Drew. It will be so cool to have you back now! There are lots of games that you could even spell me for rest!” Drew smiles. “Yep, I want to make things easier for you, Pau. That’s the idea!” Pau smiles. “Yes, Drew. Easier for me. I have certain game that you would make good starter at center. Not all game, but some. Then I maybe start at center. You know for experience for you. Good experience! Very good starter.” He glances at Kobe who is rubbing the MVP trophy on his head. “Um.. say you start against Cleveland… yah Cleveland. And maybe good experience you start against Boston too!!. And Houston….um.. no wait! Houston can be me start. But Orlando…yes, most defiantly Orlando!! Drew must start against Orlando all the time!! Yes..Drew will ALWAYS start against Orlando…and Cleveland..yeah them too! The rest I be starter at center maby.. You in good shape now, no?” Drew looks up from his phone at stares at Pau. “Sure, Pau.” He looks down at his knee and rubs the brace. “Yep, I’m fine. Just fine….just a little pain there is all. I think it’s probably just the brace…ouch!” He grimaces and removes his hand from his knee. Mitch quickly looks away from Drew. Pau: “Drew must be ready to start against Cleveland, Boston and Orlando!!! Maybe Denver too!!” Drew: “Chill dude. I will be ready….just wish I didn’t have to wear this damn brace…” Suddenly the door pops open and Lamar comes strutting in. He does a quick glance around to check out the scene. “What, no freakin camera’s here?? What’s going on with this place? Where are the cameras and reporters? Not even anyone from E or The Insider?” Derek: “Lamar this is private meeting. We don’t want any cameras or reporters here.” Lamar flashes a huge grin and takes out a candy bar. He rips off the wrapper and starts to gnaw on it. “Derek my man, don’t you know if you are not on camera, if someone is not looking at your life on TV you are nothing! You don’t exist! Get with the program man. Get with the program!” Derek just shakes his head. Lamar spins on his heel and heads back out to the door. “Me and my internet and tv star babe have a party at Wolfgang Pucks tonight. Gonna some reporters there, yeah you know it baby! Later losers.” He flips the candy wrapper over his shoulder as he leaves and it hits Fisher on the head. Derek picks it up and puts it in the trash can. As Lamar leaves Sasha comes in. He looks completely distraught. His hair is a mess, running in tangles and down his face. Fish notices this. “Hey man, what’s wrong?” Sasha runs over to Derek and grabs him. “Oh my god man. It’s like a nightmare. It is a f*cking nightmare!” Pau keeps staring at Drew and his knee. Drew never looks up from his cell. Derek lays a comforting hand on Sasha’s shoulder. “Dude, dude, chill. It’s ok. Just calm down and tell me what’s up?” Sasha shakes his head disconsolately. “Derek, oh my god, Derek! It’s just terrible!” Derek shakes Sasha. Artest watches them from the shadows. Kobe continues to stroke his trophy. “Dude get a hold of yourself! Tell me what is wrong!” Sasha is almost in tears. “Dude, I am taking a playboy bunny to Lamar’s party at Wolfgangs and I can’t find my f*cking comb!!! Can you believe this shit!!??” Derek drops his hand from Sasha’s shoulder. Sasha shakes his head. “How could that have happened? I NEVER lose my comb. Not in all these years!! Not once!” Derek shakes his head. “Dude, it’s ok. It has to be here. We will find it.” He looks at the other players. “Lets find it guys.” Kobe licks his trophy and moans. His eyes are closed. Pau stares at Drew who continues to look at his cell and gently rub his knee brace. Artest looks up at the ceiling. Sasha starts to cry. “We won’t find it if someone stole it! Someone new!” He looks at Artest who retreats further into the shadowy corner, looks away innocently and starts to whistle. “Screw this!! I’m going to buy another one.” He looks at his Armani watch. “I might still have time to put on the gell and buy a comb. I hope Bambi understands if I am late at her house!!” Sasha turns and runs for the door at full blast. Mitch gets up and starts to edge for the door. Derek does too. Kobe swivels around like panther and looks hard at Mitch. He moves the trophy behind him..then smiles famous smile of his. “Hey boss, just want to tell you thanks. You and Dr. Buss, this whole organization was right. It all worked out just like you said it would. You guys are the best. I want you to know this is where my heart is and always will be! You guys always stood by me and did the right thing all the way around. I just want you to know how I feel. This is from the heart.” Kobe reaches his hand out and Mitch smiles and takes it. Then they hug. Kobe whispers, “I love you, man.” Artest comes out from behind shadowy corner. “Hey guys, I just want to say-“ Kobe wheels on him. “You don’t say ANYTHING you god damned f*ck!! Are you tryin to pull some Shaq sh*t on me! Are you trying to take over this team!!! This locker room!! No! No! That sh*t will not happen again on my watch!! Never! Not ever again! No more. This is MY locker room, my team and my trophy!!” Kobe turns to Mitch. “You better do something about this f*cking Shaq sh*t he is trying to pull right the f*ck now!!” Mitch: "Relax Kobe, nothing is going on here." Artest looks shocked. “Hey Kobe… I was just gonna say-“ Kobe jumps up and explodes. He pulls Mitch close and starts to scream in his face, bathing him in spit. "Nothing is going on?" He points to Artest, "Look at him. His lips were moving again. Did you see his lips move just now? He was trying to say something!! Do you know what that means!!??" Mitch looking confused: "No...I..I don't. What does it mean?" Kobe: "He was trying to talk! He is trying to take over my locker room you idiot! Thats what it means!! This is your fault!! You and that god damn f*ck Dr. Buss!! And this dog sh*t organization I am trapped in!! You guys can’t do nothing right!! You will not let someone pull another Shaq on me, no f*cking way!!! I am not that f*cking dumb.” Mitch closes his eyes in the drenching. Kobe’s spit pours down his face. Kobe shoves him to the floor and backs away from him. “I f*cking told you to do something about this and YOU DIDN’T!! I want f*cking traded right the f*ck NOW!!! I am taking my god damn f*cking finals MVP trophy and moving on to some team that wants and respect me!!! F*ck you! F*ck Buss, F*ck this city, its fake f*ckin fans and all this f*cking shit!! My f*cking agent will be calling you tonight!! F*ck my lousy inadequate teammates I am forced to play with year after f*ckin year!!! And f*ck my god damn maid too!! That useless f*cking ho b*tch!! Maybe I can hook up with Jason Kidd! Yeah he would get me that f*ckin ball! I am out of this dog sh*t operation! Kupchak, you will never touch this trophy again! NEVER!!” Kobe takes his trophy and storms out. Artest retreats into the shadow of the corner. Pau stares at Drews knee. Drew plays his cell game and rubs his brace. Derek walks over to Mitch and picks him up. They exit together and walk up the hall. Derek looks at Mitch and grins. “So, ready for another Laker season?” Mitch smiles and throws his arm around Derek's shoulder. “You bet your life I am. No place I would rather be.” Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:47:21 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-428.html I know last year there was talk of us busting the Bulls amazing 72 win season. In the end, injuries (Drew), subpar play by expected contributors (Sasha) and defensive liabilities were too much to overcome in trying to retake that record our organization had for so long before the Bulls took it away. One thing last year taught was an appreciation of just how hard it must be to win 69 games (the old record we had) or 72. Allot of things have to go right both physically and mentally and the team has to have very few letdowns, night after grueling night. Yet even with our flaws and injuries the team did take 65 wins out of the regular season. Given Drews loss and the inconsistant defense we played it does beg the question: if things do go right, if the gods smile upon us, can we reclaim the regular season win total from the Bulls? I would give a qualified yes to this question and here is why: First off I don't see complaceny being any factor with this team. Kobe does not know what that word is or that it is even a part of english lexicon. He is leader of this team and everything flows from him. Ron Artest is another fire brand type of guy who has won.....nothing. He is now at the point of his career where he sees and empty legacy at the end of a long career. If anyone perhaps is as hungry as Kobe (who of course is insatiable for victory) it is Artest. With these two strong personalities, both of whom need to win more than breathing itself (for different reasons) it is hard to imagine any player on this team being lax or blase for long without recieving a talking to by these two gents. Complacency will not be an enemy of the 2009-2010 Lakers. When one looks at the defensive problems last year, there is good reason to believe that this years version will be much improved in this department. In this case it is the addition of two players-a healthy Andrew Bynum and Ron Artest. If Drew recovers the immediate pre injury form he was showing last year, the paint will be a much harder place to make a living for teams than it was last year. The Drew that was blocking shots and rebounding like the devil right before his injury would do so much to shore up our problems down low on the defensive side. Artest will now be here to guard small forwards who make their living scoring on us and feasting out on the three point line as has been the case so often in the past few years. There is a fine line between good defense and great defense and if Bynum and Artest pan out the way they could (and should) then we may cross that line into defensive greatness and consistancy. Having Shannon Brown develop into a good defensive point would push us a long way to this goal. He seems to have the athleticism to do it. Throw Kobe into the mix and the odds of having a much improved defensive team are there. How many more wins over the 65 would this bring us during the year? Three? Five? Eight? With the addition of a healthy Drew and Artest the offense will also be even more varied and consistant than the machine we saw last year. Just a pre injury Drew shoots this teams offensive capablities so much higher than last year. How many more wins than last year would this factor into the equation? And if Sasha finds the wherewithal to become the player of two years ago and not the non entity of last season? How much of a help would that be to this team? How much of an impact will the rest an injury free Drew and a rejuvinated Sasha would afford other players impact on our won-lost record this year? When looking at what could be, if things fall right, beating that 72 win season is not impossible. We would have to win 8 more games than last year. Would any of you out there say the addition of Artest, the reimergence of Drew and a reinvigorated Sasha and all the bounty those things would entail for this team not equal 8 wins? Yes it is asking for allot of things to go right. But no more is in the asking than it did for the 69 win Lakers or the 72 win Bulls. Sometimes asking is answered with a yes. In a normal season, with this team, I cannot envision less than 65 wins and more like 68 to 70. If the asking is answered, then 72 wins or more is more than conceivable but actually probable. The Lakers hold almost every record in NBA history. The record for regular season wins was held proudly by this organization for decades. To not be its keeper is something less than it should be. All due respect to the Bulls, but they are not the Lakers and this record should be with a storied franchise, a legendary organization, not one that rode the coat tails of one great player to a momentary flash of greatness in NBA time. That record should be here with us. Not some flash in the pan. A long side the championship banners, the decades of triumph and greatness, among the legends of Lakers past and present: Mikan, Baylor, West, Kareem, Magic, ONeal and Bryant. It is only fitting. It is only correct. I would throw down the gauntlet to this years Laker team. Don't just win a title, but have the drive and passion, the desire for imortality. Go out and reclaim what should be ours to have. If this team were not capable, I would not ask it. Since I think it is, I will. This is not the moment for equivocation. Not the time for the timid. Not a year to settle. For greatness, it never is. Let loose the dogs of war and make this season one for the ages. Nothing less. Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:22:09 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-427.html For the first time ever, NBA.com will stream live the 2K Sports NBA Real Training Camp, providing fans unprecedented access to five teams’ training camps, including the defending NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. Offering fans an exclusive first look at team practices, along with interviews from their top players and staff, 2K Sports NBA Real Training Camp lineup will include the Denver Nuggets (Sept. 29), NBA Champions L.A. Lakers (Oct. 1), Boston Celtics (Oct. 3), Washington Wizards (Oct. 5) and Atlanta Hawks (Oct. 6). NBA TV hosts Rick Kamla and Andre Aldridge will each be working with guest analysts to give insight into teams’ revamped rosters and explore the top storylines for the upcoming season. NBA.com’s live stream of each team will be followed by a same-day encore presentation on NBA TV. Denver Nuggets: The team who battled the ultimate NBA Champion Lakers during the Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets look to build on last year’s success with hometown hero Chauncey Billups All-Star Carmelo Anthony as well as Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen, Nene and rookie Ty Lawson. L.A. Lakers: With the addition of Ron Artest to a star-studded roster that already features NBA 2K10 video game cover athlete Kobe Bryant, along with Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher, will the Lakers defend their championship title? Boston Celtics: After a second round playoff loss to the Orlando Magic, the Celtics anticipate the return of the ‘Big Three’ with Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and a healthy Kevin Garnett returning to full strength, along with new teammate, four-time All-Star Rasheed Wallace. Washington Wizards: A healthy Gilbert Arenas returns to the lineup to join Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. With the additions of Randy Foye, Mike Miller and Fabricio Oberto, the Wizards start the season with a new coach in Flip Saunders, renewed confidence and high expectations. Atlanta Hawks: With the additions of Jamal Crawford, first round draft selection Jeff Teague and veteran Joe Smith, will the up-and-coming Hawks continue their steady climb in the Playoffs? 2K Sports NBA Real Training Camp Programming Schedule (all times ET) TEAM DATE TIME: NBA.com TIME: NBA TV ANNOUNCERS Denver Nuggets Tuesday., Sept. 29 1 PM 6 PM Rick Kamla & Scott Hastings L.A. Lakers Thursday, Oct. 1 1 PM 6 PM Rick Kamla, Reggie Miller & James Worthy Boston Celtics Saturday, Oct. 3 6 PM Midnight (Oct. 5) Andre Aldridge & Cedric Maxwell Washington Wizards Monday, Oct. 5 1 PM 10 PM Rick Kamla & Ronny Thompson Atlanta Hawks Tuesday, Oct. 6 10 AM 5 PM Andre Aldridge & Eric Snow Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:09:47 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-426.html October 2009 Tue 27 vs LA Clippers 7:30pm Fri 30 vs Dallas 7:30pm November 2009 Sun 01 vs Atlanta 6:30pm Tue 03 @ Oklahoma City 5:00pm Wed 04 @ Houston 5:30pm Fri 06 vs Memphis 7:30pm Sun 08 vs New Orleans 6:30pm Thu 12 vs Phoenix 7:30pm Fri 13 @ Denver 7:30pm Sun 15 vs Houston 6:30pm Tue 17 vs Detroit 7:30pm Thu 19 vs Chicago 7:30pm Sun 22 vs Oklahoma City 6:30pm Tue 24 vs New York 7:30pm Sat 28 @ Golden State 7:30pm Sun 29 vs New Jersey 6:30pm December 2009 Tue 01 vs New Orleans 7:30pm Fri 04 vs Miami 7:30pm Sun 06 vs Phoenix 6:30pm Wed 09 vs Utah 7:30pm Fri 11 vs Minnesota 7:30pm Sat 12 @ Utah 6:00pm Tue 15 @ Chicago 5:00pm Wed 16 @ Milwaukee 5:00pm Sat 19 @ New Jersey 5:00pm Sun 20 @ Detroit 3:00pm Tue 22 vs Oklahoma City 7:30pm Fri 25 vs Cleveland 2:00pm Sat 26 @ Sacramento 7:00pm Mon 28 @ Phoenix 6:00pm Tue 29 vs Golden State 7:30pm January 2009 Fri 01 vs Sacramento 7:30pm Sun 03 vs Dallas 6:30pm Tue 05 vs Houston 7:30pm Wed 06 @ LA Clippers 7:30pm Fri 08 @ Portland 7:00pm Sun 10 vs Milwaukee 6:30pm Tue 12 @ San Antonio 5:30pm Wed 13 @ Dallas 5:30pm Fri 15 vs LA Clippers 7:30pm Mon 18 vs Orlando 7:30pm Thu 21 @ Cleveland 5:00pm Fri 22 @ New York 5:00pm Sun 24 @ Toronto 3:00pm Tue 26 @ Washington 4:00pm Wed 27 @ Indiana 4:00pm Fri 29 @ Philadelphia 4:00pm Sun 31 @ Boston 12:30pm February 2009 Mon 01 @ Memphis 5:00pm Wed 03 vs Charlotte 7:30pm Fri 05 vs Denver 7:30pm Sat 06 @ Portland 7:00pm Mon 08 vs San Antonio 7:30pm Wed 10 @ Utah 6:00pm Tue 16 vs Golden State 7:30pm Thu 18 vs Boston 7:30pm Tue 23 @ Memphis 5:00pm Wed 24 @ Dallas 6:00pm Fri 26 vs Philadelphia 7:30pm Sun 28 vs Denver 12:30pm March 2009 Tue 02 vs Indiana 7:30pm Thu 04 @ Miami 5:00pm Fri 05 @ Charlotte 4:00pm Sun 07 @ Orlando 11:30am Tue 09 vs Toronto 7:30pm Fri 12 @ Phoenix 6:00pm Mon 15 @ Golden State 7:30pm Tue 16 @ Sacramento 7:00pm Fri 19 vs Minnesota 7:30pm Sun 21 vs Washington 6:30pm Wed 24 @ San Antonio 6:30pm Fri 26 @ Oklahoma City 5:00pm Sat 27 @ Houston 5:30pm Mon 29 @ New Orleans 5:00pm Wed 31 @ Atlanta 4:00pm April 2009 Fri 02 vs Utah 7:30pm Sun 04 vs San Antonio 12:30pm Thu 08 @ Denver 7:30pm Fri 09 @ Minnesota 5:00pm Sun 11 vs Portland 12:30pm Tue 13 vs Sacramento 7:30pm Wed 14 @ LA Clippers 7:30pm Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:00:34 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-424.html Here is a good article in Sports Illustrated from Shaq's perspective on his move to Cleveland, being Lebron's bodyguard and his thoughts on Kobe. It is a nice piece with interesting observations by Shaq. For those who wish to see what the big man has to say about his new team, teamate, his past championships with LA and Kobe's recent success here is the link, it is good stuff: http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/ ... /index.htm I couldn't find time to really be on here alot when Trevor left for Artest so I will give a few thoughts now for those who are interested. Funny thing was, I saw two columns in the LA times: one praising the switch of Trevor for Artest, one castigating it. First off, if I had my druthers we would still have Ariza, not Artest. There are a few reasons. We have already won a ring with Trevor. He knows the system and his place in it. Artest will be a new comodity to a team that had great synergy. Artest sometimes tends to want to shoot alot when he gets the urge, something Trevor did not do. He knew his place. With players like Kobe, Drew, Pau and (hopefully) Lamar on the team, you don't want a player deciding he is going to start to jack up shot after shot like Artest will do from time to time and Trevor never would. Trevor i also younger. Sadly, in three or four years, the Bryant era will end and it would be nice to have Ariza around, not an Artest who also will be leaving the sport. Also, Artest is much more worn goods than Trevor, who's best days are still ahead. Also, Ariza's amazing playoff three point shooting percentage was no small factor in our playoff run. Putting Artests 28 percent in there instead is enough to give one the chills. You always have to worry abit about Artest going off the deep end too. He has been a good soldier lately, but it is always there in the back of ones mind. All that being said, if we had to lose Ariza, Artest is certainly a very nice replacement. At this stage of his career he is probably a better one on one defender and definatly more physical. He is a tough, enforcer type player, the one thing we have lacked. He is a smart player who can pass and score. He is a star calibure player and no second hand pickup. While losing Trevor hurts, Artest brings his own strengths to us, if not for as long as Ariza would have. The Lakers could have done alot worse than Artest for Ariza. I read some people casting blame about his departure, especially centering on his agent. I agree with such LTB members as cuckooroller. Trevor is a grown man at 24 and in the end it was his call, not his agents. I would say this only. If the Lakers wanted him back and did not really want to let him go for Artest, then when things started to go bad, Mitch should have called Trevor in for a face to face and said something along the lines of, "hey, this is getting out of hand. We want you here so lets you and me sit down here and talk about this before this goes to far." If the Lakers did want to keep him and felt they could and Mitch did not make such a call when things started to spiral, then he carries some blame along with Trevor. If on the other hand the Lakers felt they actually wanted Artest in lieu of Trevor, then things went as they wanted. I doubt we will every really know how this went down or what the Lakers really wanted behind closed doors. I guess in my perfect world, a few years down the road, when Artest retires and Trevors contract runs up, he may wish to return to his home town and by then we will be able to afford him again. But that is a long way off and who knows what will transpire with free agents and the Lakers when that time comes. Things may be so different by then. On last thought. I think Orlando losing Turkoglu hurts. Even with the signing of Vince Carter, that guy had real game and was a terrific player for them. It is now apparent that the real Orlando deal was signing Vince and letting Hedo go. It will be interesting to see if Vince is as good a fit as Hedo was on that particular team. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:03:19 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-423.html While Trevor Ariza played hard to get and shopped his services around the NBA, the Lakers and Ron Artest both decided his future was in LA and with Kobe and company. One has to wonder how much Kobe's friendship with Ron played in the Lakers decision to move on, but certainly Ron Artest's skills are worth more than the reported 6 Mil a year he is receiving. Hek, Charlie Villanueva just got a 8 Mil per year deal.. Moreover, being able to sign Ron for a reasonable deal, makes it easier for the Lakers to retain the services of Lamar Odom. Or could it be that the Lakers will still sign another player like Shaun Marion or Hedo Turkoglu as a replacement for Lamar who wants a reported 10 Mil a year? Only time will tell. Welcome to the Show...Ron Ron ! Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:43:09 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-422.html With big Diesel now in Cleveland in search of his fifth ring, the thought occured to me, he will now be playing with the third seminal player of the last ten years that was not a center. First with Kobe, he teamed up to create the unbeatable threepeat team and brought glory back to LA. Then after the terrible, messy divorce with Kobe, Dr. Buss and the organization he hightailed it over to play with Mr. Wade in Miami and guess what, he got another ring making it two for two when he has such a great compatriot to help with the load. Now he makes his trek up north to play with the last of the triumverate of great non centers-Lebron James. If his pattern follows like it did with the first two, he will be holding up the Lawrence O'brien trophy next summer. Whether he wins or not, it is certainly been an amazing career for him to play with Kobe, Wade and James. How many other centers have been on three different teams and played with three players of this calibure in NBA history? The answer is none. The closest I would say is Kareem who won rings with the legends Big O and Magic Johnson in Milwaukee and LA. Can he pull off the trifecta and win it one more time with the third of todays dominant legends at his side? With Lebron, Shaq will be a year older and slower, but on the plus side, he will be playing with a guy who is the best passer of the three legends and he will get that ball in great position when he has it and as often as possible when he is open. Not something that happened every time with Kobe and Wade. Will this facility help him improve his game some? Will it inspire both him and Lebron to become a ferocious and effective force not only in the east but in the entire NBA? Is anyone here afraid that if this pairing maximizes its potential the Cavs may indeed be good enough to take the whole ball of wax next year? Is anyone thinking in the back of their minds that he may hit the trifecta with Lebron? One thing is for sure, it will certainly be interesting to watch. Orlando too has made quick remedy to try improve on their collapse against us. Like Cleveland, they learned in no uncertain terms they did not have what it took nor were they as good as the east playoffs led them to believe. They found out that LA (and perhaps Boston with Garnett) is the standard bearer in the league and they were not in our class. Does the addition of Vince Carter make any of you guys think Orlando would fair any better against us next year? Do any of these teams moves or the assumed return of Garnett concern you or will the return of our loaded team and a healthy Bynum infuse you with a sanguine feeling? I must admit, as formidable as these three teams look right now, if Lamar and Trevor return, I am not really concerned. One thing for sure is this: the east race next year between Cleveland, Orlando and Boston is gonna be one hot shooting gallery worthy of watching even from our position atop the purple and gold Mt. Olympus we are currently ensconced upon. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:24:20 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-421.html Friday, July 10 COX Pavilion 5 PM LA Lakers vs. Toronto Saturday, July 11 COX Pavilion 3 PM LA Lakers vs. Cleveland Monday, July 13 Thomas & Mack 5:30 PM LA Lakers vs. LA Clippers Tuesday, July 14 Thomas & Mack 5:30 PM LA Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thursday, July 16 COX Pavilion 3 PM Houston vs. LA Lakers Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:56:30 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-420.html A writer named John Smallwood has written a piece saying why the Lakers won’t repeat. Here is the link to his story and why he feels this way : http://www.philly.com/dailynews/columnists/20090616_John_Smallwood__Lakers_are_good__but_this_isn_t_another_NBA_dynasty.html While next year is far off and plenty of things can happen, I find myself disagreeing with his assertions and reasoning and here is why: First off he says the Lakers are a flawed champion in flawed league. Yet he really does not go on to say where our flaws are. I would say the only real flaw we have shown is that we don’t play defense consistently. Yet both in regular season games against Boston and Cleveland the Lakers played more than representative defense. They did the same against both Denver and Orlando in the playoffs and these were two very accomplished offensive teams. After their lapses in defense I don’t really see any huge flaws on this team. Yes, the point position could be improved but don’t most teams have spots on the floor that they wish were better? Next he says we are not clearly superior in talent to other teams. I am not so sure about this. We won 65 games in the tough west. Does that not speak of a certain amount of talent. I can’t see a team without a lot going on for it winning that many games out west. When I look at our roster I see the best player in hoops, an all time great, Kobe Bryant.No team besides Cleveland and Miami have a comparable player in any way shape or form. Does Smallwood not understand how important this is? I see Pau Gasol, one of the most versatile big men in the game. Lamar Odom, ditto. I see a young up and coming star in Trevor Ariza. I see in Drew the possible dreadnaught center of the league, even better than Howard. I just don’t see any other team that has this type of core roster. The size and ability of just Drew, Pau and Lamar separates us from any other team in what we can do. Just ask Denver or Orlando about it. When you look at all these special players and the size of our big three front line players plus the all time great Kobe I actually do thing we have a definitive talent edge on all the other teams in the league. Do you guys know of any team that boasts this type of roster? He says that with Garnett back Boston could well beat us. Maybe, but he seems to forget that next year we will have a HEALTHY Andrew Bynum, not the ghost who still helped us in the playoff. The Drew we saw before the injury was so much better than the post injury Drew. Mr. Smallwood will be in for a big surprise next year when he sees the injury free model of Drew like we did for a brief moment this year. He also fails to say that Allen, Garnett and Pierce will just be another year older. He also fails to take note of the fact that both Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar should be even better next year. And dare I saw Sasha too? Yes he stunk the joint out this year. But has he really lost his ability and shot for all time? This is hard to imagine. I would venture to guess that the chances are next year we will see the Sasha of a year ago and not the brick layer of 2009. Lots of players have a bad year. Not many suddenly lose all their skills forever for no reason. It is hard to believe Sasha, at his age, is suddenly a has-been. If he does return to form it will be a huge plus for this team and make ever so much better than it was this year. Because of the age and expected improvement of Drew, Ariza, Brown and Farmar and because in all probablity Sasha will also revert to his form of last year, no team in the league in my view can expect to find more internal improvement than the current world champions. He talks of Orlando and Cleveland. Will Orlando be appreciably better next year? Will their improvement match what we should expect from Drew, Farmar, Brown, Ariza and Sasha? I don’t see it how they can do it. Will Cleveland somehow find enough firepower and inside help in free agency to actually be good enough to beat us? They were destroyed by an Orlando team that was destroyed by us. That is a pretty big jump they will have to make to take over the top spot from the Lakers next year. I don’t really see that happening either. He then talks about Portland and San Antonio. Forget the Spurs. I respect the hell out of them but Duncan is fading fast and Ginobilli is a walking triage patient. I just don’t see this team suddenly getting so good that they pass us up. Yeah if they got Lebron James or maybe Dwayne Wade but that isn’t happening. Portland? A very talented young team but not as talented as the Lakers and they showed last year against Houston they still have much more tweaking and learning to go. Can they honestly challenge us next year? I just can’t see that happening either. If injuries don’t destroy us, if Drew can finally stay healthy and play like he did right before the injury for a full year and if we keep Trevor and Lamar, I not only think this team will be a shoe in to repeat, but may actually have a chance to win 70 or more games. I think Mr. Smallwood is vastly underrating this team and what it can do next year. I think the Lakers are in the catbirds seat in a very big way. I think next year at this time Mr. Smallwood may end up writing a very different type of article. What do you guys think about Smallwood’s article and our chances of repeating? Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:29:36 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-419.html For Kobe it was #4, and he proved he could win it all without Shaq. For Phil Jackson it was #10, and he has now won more championships than any coach in NBA history. For the fans it was just.....sweet! Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:13:21 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-418.html “Oh, and while the King was looking down, The jester stole his thorny crown.” – Lyrics from Bye Bye Miss American Pie by Don Mclean. This was to be the year of the passing of the torch; handed off or perhaps more accurately stated taken from Kobe Bryant and given to Lebron James. As The King led his team to 66 wins and drove them through the playoff in a flurry of spectacular games and easy blowouts the fans and media all attended the coronation of the ruler of the NBA. Kobe and the rest of the King’s court were to be compliant observers as the latest sovereign of the league ascended a thrown built for him in the media center of ESPN and the sports rooms of the nations newspapers and sporting magazine. Yet, they should have known better. If there is one thing Kobe Bryant has shown everyone during his brilliant and startling decade plus in the NBA, he does not sit idly by and watch anything that happens in his sport. As for watching Lebron crowned King, well it just was not going to happen while Kobe Bryant had a say in things. As Lebron was feted by players and fans and media alike in his march to the throne, the one person who had the ability and desire to run a coup laid his plans and waited for his chance. One thing Kobe has learned over the years is that in the NBA, as in life the victor writes the history and those who are triumphant at the end are remembered while all others are forgotten and relegated to the dust bin of history. As Lebron and the Cavs were upset by Orlando, the door was opened a crack and that is all The Great Man needed to usurp the crown. When that chance came he pounced like Machiavelli. In leading the Lakers to a close played, but surprising lopsided series win over Cleveland’s conquerors he reasserted his position at the top of the NBA’s food chain and in doing so also placed the Lakers as the supreme team overlooking the NBA landscape. In the final game five of the 2009 NBA championship Orlando came out fast and hard, seemingly determined to deny the Lakers an east coast celebration in the Magic Kingdom. They forged a quick lead and were playing with verve and alacrity. But the Lakers instead of folding had the composure and wherewithal to stay close. It was all they needed. Before the game, the feeling among the Laker players was that if enough type of pressure was applied, if the their opponent were squeezed enough, if the memories of previous losses invoked, they would crumble. This feeling, this sense of weakness that Orlando could not take their measure was proven correct in the second quarter. The Lakers went on one of their patented runs. Playing a smothering, intense form of defense and once again ignited by Trevor Ariza’s effectiveness and energy, the Lakers closed a nine point gap and slowly forged ahead by five. Then 7 and by halftime ten. The Lakers had sent a message that Orlando would have dig deeper, play better than they ever had this year to deny the team from the west its early celebration. It was a challenge the Magic were not mentally or physically equipped to answer on this night. The second half was easy. Too much defense, too much offense, too much size, too much talent, too much Kobe, too much Trevor, too much Pau, too much Lamar, too much purple and gold to hope to overcome. A mismatch. A stroll down championship lane and a final affirmation of a great team and the season they had. For Orlando, like Cleveland the series before, a brutal wake up call to just how far they have to go to win the NBA’s ultimate prize. For Kobe it was the culmination of a spectacular career. A denouement that no critic can pierce or question. The questions all answered. Does he have what it takes to lead his team to a championship? Yes. Could he win it without Shaq. Of course. Does he take his place among the best of the best? Forever. And who can deny that this man deserves the sweet fruit of his greatest accomplishment? Yes, he has inked the negative, left side of his career ledger with missteps and contretemps over the last decade. But has he not written on the positive side, the right side of his ledger in even brighter more indelible ink? This man who has literally sacrificed his body and mind in pursuit of total excellence, this marvelous athlete who has thrilled and excited fans and plays alike with the type of play and skill rarely seen on any type of playing field, in any sport. This man who wants to win, has to win, so much that his drive borders on the scary. To see him finally attain all that he wanted, all that needed, his undisputed championship, his finals MVP was indeed a just reward for the heart and soul he has put into the game he plays on a divine level. Only the most jaded would begrudge him his singular moment of history that he worked to hard for. Yes there was a coronation of THE KING this year. But it did not take place during the regular season or in the mass media. It took place in the finals. It was made official on June 14th. And not to any Laker fans surprise the King is not the KING at all, but instead it is The Great Man himself. The master of all he surveys. The undisputed ruler of his realm-the NBA. His name is not Lebron James. He goes by the name Kobe Bryant. For Phil Jackson, like Kobe, he too reaps a final vindication that really was not needed, but necessary. It was fitting that in the championship that placed him all alone in the pantheon of NBA titles he answered the last, desperate, scurrilous charge that Red Auerback had levied against him. In taking his ninth ring, the old master of the Celtics had said Phil had never taken a weak team, built it up and won a ring. In taking a Lakers team that had bombed spectacularly, had proven itself wholly inadequate the last two years to its 15th title, Phil had taken Red’s last refuge and thrown it in the old mans face. The only shame, if there is one for Laker and Jackson fans, is that the old man was not around to see Phil disabuse this last measure of Red’s jealousy and pique. For Lamar and Pau, all the years of hard work, the carping and criticisms of their detractors are finally buried. No more charges of softness, no more theories that they were not made of the stern stuff of champions. They have reached the mountain top where only the rarified air of champions are breathed now, the choking fumes of criticisms and flaws filtered out by the shiny gleam of rings they will don next year on opening night. For Derek Fisher, it was perhaps one last time to rekindle the memories of the player that was. A ring that out of four the most personal and best one yet. For young players like Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza, they have taken their first, tentative steps of Laker greatness. The long, hard road to be remembered with other special Laker immortals has been undertook. The next decade will determine how long on that road they will travel. Ariza has already shown in the NBA’s toughest crucible what he is made of. At 23 his raw material will continue to be forged towards more of the indelible contributions he made in the finals. For Drew, at such a young age, playing his first finals handicapped by his second injury, leg brace and long layoff, even his contribution of helping to hold Orlando’s one slim hope, Dwight Howard, to an effectiveness way below what they needed was sign of his heart and ability, his place with Lakers in the next decade perhaps the brightest of all. With this title a long year comes to an end. How long? Think of all that happened, all that went on during the journey. The great start. Drew’s emergence then fall with his second horrific injury. The unconscionable and puzzling losses to Charlotte. The great road trip that culminated in the road wins over Boston and Cleveland (the wins that convinced me this team had the right stuff). The great performance of Kobe in the Garden. The nights when we looked unbeatable and the nights we looked like we could not defend a high school team. The easy playoff beating of Utah. The grinding series against a Houston team that one never felt we would lose to, but wondered why we couldn’t end. The hard steel at close quarters combat with a Denver team that legitimately looked like the threat Houston never really was. The final victory over Orlando. Think of us on here, this great LTB site. The arguments and debates as the year wound on. Who should start? Was Pau soft? Should Lamar be traded? Did Kobe shoot too much. Who should play in clutch time? Was Fisher washed up? Could he defend anyone? Was Phil too old? Was he making mistakes? All these things and more went on here hot and heavy during the long marathon march. And now it is over. All those things that were said, all those things this team and its fans experience are no more. As is true of any sports season in every league, in the end there is only one thing left standing. The name of the champion and the players and coaches who peopled that team to its final success. There are no more arguments or debates to be had. There is no more Lebron and Cleveland or Red Auerbach and Boston. No more Garnett and Pierce. No Dwight Howard or Orlando Magic. There is only Phil Jackson and the great organization from Los Angeles. There is only a team of disparate men that went through the marathon torture test of the NBA season and found the skill, toughness and resolution to not be denied. When all that happened is said and done, there are only the 2008-2009 world champions Los Angeles Lakers. That is the reality of the NBA as of this exact moment in time and that is how it will be now for all time. For Kobe, Phil and rest of this organization, in the end, that says it all and no more needs to be said. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:03:35 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-416.html With their 99-91 win last night in a tense, hard fought overtime game in Orlando that put them up 3-1 in the series, the Lakers unofficially officially ending any speculation as to who will wear the crown of champions for the 2008-2009 season. The unofficial end game was the second one the series that was forced to overtime and for a long time it seemed Orlando would continue to work their resilient and improbable magic on the Lakers just as they did to Boston and Cleveland in the east playoffs. Orlando got off to a great start, seeming to get every rebound and once again showing an urgency and effectiveness on both ends of the floor that the Lakers lacked. They were fueled most predominantly by Dwight Howard who seemed determined to set NBA finals records for rebounds and blocked shots. But on a night when Orlando needed him to be a spear, jabbing and sticking the Lakers remorselessly with strike after strike, he could only be a sword who ended up cutting both ways and on this night a sword was not good enough to give them what they needed to turn this into a genuine series. He cut the Lakers to the quick with 21 points, 16 rebounds and 9 blocks but damaged his team just as severely with waves of turnovers and making only 6 of 14 free throws. The damage he caused flowed both ways and in the end it was the veteran, battle tested Lakers who could better overcome the cuts he administered to both teams. As so often was the case this year, Trevor Ariza stepped up to the plate yet again, making his bid as a new star to climb the pecking order of Lakers players and free agent gold this off season just when things looked bleakest. The Lakers came out for the second half down by 12 and looking all the world like a team that might have win game 5 in Orlando to keep this series from being wrested out of their control. Trevor would have none of that scenario. Driving to the basket, playing manic defense, hitting all the threes he missed in the previous game, he used his skill and energy to push, prod and force the whole team to match his energy level, take control of the game, the series and ultimately the organizations 15th ring. By the time he was done talk had gone from how would the Lakers respond to the pressure of this loss to how would Orlando respond to the newly effective and aggressive Lakers team that suddenly had taken over a game seemingly lost. With a new ascendant star putting them in position to grab victory from defeat it was an old fading star who flared up to seal the deal as he has done so often in the past. They say the last thing a boxer loses when he declines is his punch. Last night Derek Fisher showed the last thing a basketball player loses when he declines is the memory of how to win the clutch when all else has failed him. No longer able to defend younger faster players, missing his first five three point chances, driving into Dwight Howard in a humiliating challenge at the basket which resulted in the expected rejection of his shot, Fisher showed in two clutch moments we so desperately needed that he still has the memory of how to win when giving the chance. With 4.6 seconds left and control of series about to leave LA and land right in Orlando’s eager lap Derek hit an improbable three to send the game into overtime. He topped this by nailing his second three straight and true with 31 seconds left in overtime to give us this win and to give the Lakers the series. With those two incredible pressure shots, Derek showed that despite all that age has stolen from him, on this night, in those two moments of desperation and necessity he still has the memories of winner. It was a fitting denouement to championship season and to a championship career of a very special player. It is these memories that the young Orlando team still has to learn, still has to earn and what separated two teams last night. The series is now over. It will end either in game five at Orlando or game six in LA. For the team that lost so bitterly last year it will be sweet redemption. For fans so disappointed last year, it will be sweet relief and celebration. For Kobe and Phil it will be final exorcism of their own particular few ghosts that have hung around their spectacular careers: Shaquille O’Neal and Red Auerbach. For veteran players like Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol it will be a sweet taste of championship champagne after years of unrewarded work and effort. For Trevor Ariza it will be the start of new and terrific career, a final affirmation of the player he has become. For Derek Fisher it will bring the glow of his fourth championship in this his toughest of all seasons, in a year he to take on father time as well as younger faster guards but still showed his memories of past glory were as fresh and spry as his body used to be. Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:27:39 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-415.html With the Lakers embroiled in their quest for ring number 15 sports right now could not be sweeter for Lakers fans. With the team we have now, we can expect even more great things in the foreseeable future. But what is the Laker organizations ultimate fate? What is the fate of the NBA and all sports leagues if you look down the barrel of times metaphorical gun to the future. It is a future that is coming faster and faster as technology explodes. Will all of us here live to see this new world. Perhaps not, but someday, some generation of humans will. With the exponential explosion and advancements in both technology and genetics there has been debate on how society will be affected in various ways. One topic that I have never heard broached, however, is the effect these things will have on sports. As virtual reality and medicine come to the point where events that would seem like miracles today become common place in the future, what will become of our favorite past times? Right now, with Xbox and other video games, one can become his favorite player on his home team and play others in and endless cycle of games or championship series. While fun, it pales in comparison to really playing sports. But what will happen if you are allowed to really compete for a virtual NBA championship or Superbowl against real players, playing at the highest level? With true virtual reality coming closer with each passing year this scenario is not that far off. People talk of having sex with the girl of your dreams in a future virtual world, or going on a dream vacation or leading armies in conquest of the world. The same opportunities will be there for sports fans and frustrated arm chair athletes who did not have the talent to be professional athletes. You will literally feel like you are on the court or football field. You will sweat, you will make plays and defend, you will get score and dunk, get tired, you will screw up, the coach will pull you when you need a rest. The fans will scream your name and chant MVP as you make a great play or shoot free throws in the seventh game of the NBA finals. It will one day all seem and feel as real to you as it does right now for Kobe Bryant. You will be able to play like Kobe Bryant if you wish; only it will be you playing in that virtual world not some pale video facsimile of your favorite player as it is now. When the day of true, virtual reality comes, will fans prefer to DO it in competition in a virtual world as real as this one is now even want to WATCH real life athletes and enjoy it as they do now? Or will they prefer to experience and enjoy top level competition, glory and disappointment for themselves instead? Science, medicine and genetics will also have just as profound an effect on sports. As the aging process is slowed and eventually stopped, athletes will not grow old or have their careers run down. The Kobe Bryant’s of the future will play for 20, 30, 50 years or perhaps forever at the same level they did at age 26. Forced retirement from age and wear and tear will no longer be in the equation. As more and more great athletes join the leagues and the old stars keep going on forever, teams will eventually be infused with Kobe or Magic Johnson type talents at every position. Will this make games better to have such great athletes on every team, at every position or will it make these types of stars watered down and common place with nothing to separate them from other players as they are today? To take this even further down the road, what happens when we can genetically engineer the body to meet our own specifications? Of course we would eliminate the genetic component of disease and deformities but that is just one avenue of genetic engineering. Already there is debate about a future world populated with only extremely good looking people who resemble gods and goddesses. Would this be a good thing? The fact is who wants to be ugly, fat, short or bald? It will be inevitable that down the road everyone will look like the most alluring models do now. I don’t think that would be a bad thing because to be perfectly honest, physical beauty is nicer to look at than ugly or average and if all people can look as they wish I see no drawback to it. Why shouldn’t people look as they wish if given the chance? But what of sports? Professional athletes differ from us in two respects: they most always have a drive and love for the game that makes them practice and play all the time. This insures the development of their skills, gives them game, if you will. The other more important difference is their genetics. In the womb, they were blessed by the gods to have the athleticism, strength, size and fast twitch muscles that separate them from mere mortals. In the future, when all of us can have our genes tweaking as kids or even as adults, to get the size and special attributes of a Kobe Bryant or a Tom Brady then what? How many millions of Bryant’s or Brady’s will there be? How many people would sell their souls to play professional sports today? That is how many Bryant’s and Brady’s we would have…millions. If any and all of us someday can literally be Kobe Bryant, Tom Brady, Sid Crosby, then what would happen to professional or even college and high school sports? Would we have to have thousands of teams in each sport to accommodate all these millions of super athletes? If we all could be Kobe Bryant, who would watch us play? Who would even want to anymore? Will science and technology simply leave sports as a archaic victim in extremis, heading for a mass grave as it bestows its miracles on us down the road? Would the benefits of science be worth the sacrifice of our current understanding and enjoyment of sports? Of course it would. Would better more interesting things replace our old avenues of joy and recreation? Certainly. Those of us alive now who love our sports, this future world seems as strange as huge craft that fly in the sky or traverse the oceans depths would have seemed to people 150 years ago. But it will come and sports as we know it will be no more. It is not hard to see the day when the NBA, NFL and all sports leagues are just as much a thing of the past as the pony express or the gladiator combat of the roman coliseum. Someday, the last Laker game ever will be played. The last great sports edifices of that last technological generation of humans will empty of fans and close up for the last time to stand quiet and still, waiting to be torn down. The leagues will fold their tents under the reality of a brave new world and we will move on to other devices of entertainment and endeavor. The one thing in life and this universe that is guaranteed is change. Sports will have no exemption from that rule. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:36:27 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-414.html Coming into game one against Orlando the Lakers brought an extensive list of objectives, both as a team and personally in their quest to garner that 15th title that proved so elusive last year. The first item of course was reverse last years championship series start with a win instead of a loss. With the 75 point shellacking of Orlando they can put a big check down on thte list. The Lakers came in wanting to take away either Dwight Howard or the Magic’s extensive array of out side shooting. The Lakers did it even better than imagined in taking out both of Orlando’s best chances to win. Limiting Dwight Howard to 12 points, Orlando to 29 percent shooting and the Magic’s big three to a paltry 33 points. The Lakers killed the Magic on the boards 55-29 and more than doubled the Magic in scoring in the paint. The tone was set early on by surprising early aggression by Andrew Bynum who not only brough scoring but rebounding and blocked shots. You had a feeling it may turn out to be a long night for the Magic when the Center in Purple and Gold looked more like the all star than the center from florida. Drew set a very early tone that told the Magic this was not the interior challanged Cleveland Cavaliers by taking it right to Howard from the get go. In he second half he once again attacked but this time on the defensive end by blocking a shot and coming right back and forcing Howard into a terrible shot. When the final game stats show All Star center and Orlando catalyst Dwight Howard with 12 points and 15 reb ounds and injured, inexperienced Andrew Bynum with 9 points and 9 rebounds then things are only going right for the team from the west coast and couldn’t be going worse for the eastern representative. The Magic had no answers for the triple headed hydra of Drew, Pau and Lamar. Not on offense, not on defense, not in rebounding. Like a Hydra, when one head is cut off and sent to the bench with foul trouble or for a rest, another head is called off the bench and monster is regrow as strong as it ever was. What happens if the Lakers take away one part of Orlando’s arsenal of success? We beat them. What happens when we take away both of their arsenals of success? We beat them by 25 points. As for effective aggession on both sides of the court and in bending the Magic to their will the Lakers can put down a huge check on the list. Phil Jackson is 31-0 in seven game series when his teams takes the first game. Another check on the LA list. Kobe Bryants desire to win his first post Shaq ring and finals MVP. With his twisting, turning, implacable moves and shots, Kobe tore through the Magic for 40 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. The Great Man destroyed any hope Orlando had in the third quarter pouring in 18 points and seemingly puntuating each one with a atavistic sneer/snarl that signaled this was not just a game, not just a series but that it was personal, that It is war. Leading his team to their first win in the series has brought Kobe’s last NBA obsessions just a bit closer to reality. In the year of Lebron James the stark truth of sports is once again resurfacing. As in life sports is about the hear and now. It is about winners. Watching the broadcast, seeing the greatman perform his miracles for the millionth time two aphorisms came to mind: ‘Out of site, out of mind ‘ and ‘To the victors go the spoils.’ On a night that was only about the Lakers and Kobe Bryant on the biggest NBA stage in the world, three times the announcers called The Great Man “the best player in the world.” On a night Kobe Bryant made his intentions perfectly clear by his performance and the visiage he showed throughout, Lebron James was totally forgotten as Kobe Bryant reaped the spoils of the victory he wanted so bad. Three more wins and the year of Lebron will be taken from the Cleveland star as quickly and suddenly as Orlando ended his season and Kobe Bryant will sit all alone among the pantheon of current NBA stars. Put a huge check down on Mr. Bryant’s list long list. The Lakers also wanted to put and to any speculation that the two losses to Orlando in the regular season was any indication of a match up problem or foreshadow of problems they may suffer to the Magic. Put 25 checks down on LA’s list here. One for each point of seperation in their 100-75 victory margin. The only team that has to wonder about match up problems is the one from the sunshine state. It is amazing simular and different one year can be. Here the Lakers are back in the finals, just like last year. But the Staples Center is not the Fleet center, the Magic is not last years Celtics, we are 3000 miles away from where we opened the finals last year and now one win closer to our coronation, not one game closer to elimination. Some final and random thoughts: The Lakers last three playoff games have been by far their best considering their performance and the quality of opposition. This bodes very well showing a team peaking at exactly the right time. Conversly for the Magic, it is how incumbent on them to stop a train that seems to be picking up steam exponentally. If they can’t by the next game, that train may run over them faster than they could have ever imagined. It is interesting to see Luke Walton actually become a better and more effective player than Sasha. It tells you how much better Luke has started to play of late and how bad Sasha has become. Right now, Shasha is truly and afterthought on this team. A guy who just comes in and is taken at fast as possible. It is a stunning role reversal for both these players from last year. A nice shout out for Andrew Bynum. For his first finals game he was amazingly composed and effective during the time he played. His early, effective aggression both in scoring, defending and rebounding told Howard and the Magic that they were not playing against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Considering he was going against the best center in the league it was a very nice stint for the kid and came just at the right time. Game one is done and now it is Orlando who has to come up with all the answers and adjustments. Our check list for success is filling out fast after game one. If we can bring out a pen after game two with another measure as lethal as we did tonight there is little doubt that barring only catistrophic injury this year will indeed be the greatest year of Kobe’s storied career and our coronation as champion for the 15th time. Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:16:42 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-413.html After the first Orlando-Cleveland game, Charles Barkley said that Dwight Howard could not keep scoring at the rate he did in the opening game. He said he simply was not that type of offensive player. Of course both he and Cleveland now know how wrong he was. Howard has shown that as limited as his offense game still is, like a very young Shaquille O’Neal, he is such a physically gifted presence he can still do continuous and deadly damage scoring if he takes the position he likes in the low post. Of course this brings up the question: can the Lakers effectively take away his comfort zone down low? The result of our two regular season meetings and his march through the playoffs seem to indicate that will be difficult. The only player who has the size and strength to do so would seem to be Andrew Bynum. Yet in his embryonic state of development he showed little else against Howard this year except a penchant for fouling in his attempts to slow Howard down. Given the added confidence Dwight has gotten with his playoff run through the east and Bynum’s lack of confidence and mobility from his injury this problem would seem to only be exacerbated now. Unfortunately Howard is also the exact type of athletic, big, strong, fast, immovable center that he has caused Pau Gasol problems too. This is alarming for a very good reason. In our march through the playoffs we relied on two mismatches vs Utah, Houston and Denver: Kobe Bryant and the inside play of Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and to a much lesser extent Andrew Bynum. If this advantage is taken away from us, it leaves us with only the Kobe advantage to fall back on. Not something you want against a powerful versatile team like Orlando and losing the inside edge is similar to what happened to us against Boston last year. This may be the first team we faced since that series where the inside edge no longer resides with us. Phil is not a big fan of double teaming and with the outside shooters Orlando has he may be even more reticent to try this tactic out on Howard. Two areas that may be successful are these: Pau, Drew, Lamar, Trevor and Kobe may have to attack Howard and the basket as much as possible. Yes the defensive player of the year will certainly pick up blocks along the way but we may also force him to pick up fouls. Nothing takes the aggression and game away from a player than knowing his has picked up foul number four or five. Because Howard has had trouble at the line, Phil may also want to use another tactic he generally loathes and that would be the hack a Howard. Between Drew and Mbenga the Lakers are sitting on 12 well placed fouls a game to force Howard to earn his points at the one place he least likes-the charity strip. He has done better on the line of late, but he has not done so in the ultimate pressure cooker of the NBA finals. Howard averaged 21 points a game against us during our two meeting. I would find this an acceptable number if we can also mitigate to great degree their outside shooting. If Howard goes off consistently like he did against Cleveland then he will turn this series into a Dwightmare for us and make beating them almost untenable. Once again, what is alarming is that the Lakers have struggled with defending outside shooting all year and the Magic have this part of their game down to a science. I usually want to see two teams play at full strength but this time for very selfish reasons, I am glad Jameer Nelson is out. To me, this Orlando team is already a strategic for us and giving them a player of Nelson’s ability would make this thing just so much harder to accomplish. In the Lakers favor is the Kobe Bryant factor. In the Denver series he played some of best ball of his storied career both scoring and in setting up teammates. He will have to continue on that level for us to have a chance. I don’t see any reason why he won’t with that elusive post Shaq ring once again dangling just inches from his face. The Lakers showed in the last two Denver games that they can play effective defense against a top quality foe. In Orlando they will be meeting the best offensive team they have faced all year and they will have to carry the willpower and determination they showed in those last two Western Conference game to the finals or risk being taken out before they really know what happened. As Orlando has proven against two teams defensively superior to the Lakers-Boston and Cleveland-if you can’t take away either Howard or their perimeter game you are facing a lost cause. The Lakers will have to take away one or the other. Not the same part every game, but one part for every win they get. The other thing going for us that we did not have last year is home court advantage. The simple math says that if Orlando does take one in LA they will still have to sweep all three mid games at home to pull off the win. Not an easy thing for any team to do against the Lakers. If Orlando does manage to win two games on our home floor, then the series would in effect be lost anyway in my view. We will also need major contributions from Lamar and Trevor Ariza. They need to play like they did in the Denver series. If they do then the Lakers will begin to pose mismatch problems against Orlando that will force them to change their game and strategy in order to keep from being overwhelmed. Contributions from Pau goes without saying. Perhaps even more than his scoring a willingness to attack Howard and try drawing fouls would be his largest and most telling attribute. A Howard handcuffed by fouls is freed Lakers team. For the first time in these playoffs the Lakers are facing a team who can score with them and take away that crucial interior and rebounding edge that has helped carry LA to this point. It is a daunting challenge. Phil and the team most certainly have their work cut out for them. To me our two biggest edges are Kobe Bryant and home court. Will it be enough? Usually going into a match up I am fairly confident of picking a winner. Last year I faced the NBA finals with dread and trepidation because I saw no way we could beat Boston. This year I enter the finals with curiosity and questions about how we will overcome a team that seems to match up so well with both our strengths-our inside play- and our weakness-perimeter defense. Because I don’t think this Orlando team is as good as last years Celtics, I do think we can win it, but to be very honest, for one of the few times in my life I don’t have an strong idea about which team will carry the day. It would not surprise me if LA wins, nor if Orlando does. One thing I do know is that for both teams, they are facing their strongest foe at this moment of history with everything on the line. Both teams have shown they will accept nothing short of the title and both seem prepared not to give an inch in getting what they want. I don’t see an easy end for neither team nor a series that won’t go at least six games and put both players and fans of each through many tough, excruciating and heartbreaking plays and games. I think everyone involved better put on their seatbelts. I suspect a very hard, rocky ride for loser and the winner alike before all is said and done. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:50:30 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-412.html After the Lakers beat Denver in game five an unidentified Nugget said the Lakers had paid 50 thousand dollars to the league in order to get the win. In light of the their lopsided 27 point win in the clinching game six, one can only assume the Lakers paid a lot more this time around for the right to abuse and humilate Denver this time around. Based on the margin of the route I one would think the price for this win to be in the range of 600 thousand. If such scenarios really were true, the Lakers would most definatly gotten a full measure for their money on friday night. But if we are looking for non basket ball reasons for the Lakers victory, I would disregard the payoff motiff and instead delve more into the realm of science fiction. This turn around for the two teams would be more of a an Invasion Of The Body Snatchers than a simple, prosaic payoff to the Mr. Stern. In a must win game six, it was the Nuggets who assumed the worst of the Lakers form with surprisingly soft play, a lack of energy on offense and rebounding and a attitude that seemed to exude a aura of indifference and it was the Lakers who assumed the best of what was Denver with energy, tenacious defense, hard rebounding and aggessive and effective offense. If one didn’t know better, you would think the Nuggets had entered some transforming pods between game five and six and emerged as the Lakers who got blown out twice by Houston and the Lakers emerging from theirs as the Denver Nuggets who had been so effective in running their offense and been so determined and effective in their defense. And as the Lakers found out in those two Houston games, Denver discovered if you are not prepared and willing to play every posession on offense with smarts and execution, every defensive shift with energy and intensity and hit the boards with with a vengence, not only will not win but you will lose by a humiliating score. When you take a team that seemed too tired or too resigned to defeat to put forth their best effort and combine it with another god like performance from The Great Man who seems human in appearance only, throw in great performances by Pau Gasol, Luke Walton, Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza and a large edge in rebounding, you end up with the recipe for a very decisive 119-92 Lakers victory that was every bit as one sided as the score indicated. The Nuggets started out listless and strangly without the brio and energy they displayed all series, and the Lakers seemed to pick up on this quickly and became more effective and confident looking as each minute went by. The Nuggets seemed to be a team which had finally realized that they were trying to beat a better squad and were simply hoping that home court would carry them through. As many teams have found out over the years, the fans can’t jump onto the court and help you out, that is something you have to do yourself. Home court can’t save you if you don’t try to save yourself. For fans here like OC Showtime who sensed the Lakers could end this series tonight if they could come out strong, that feeling was justified as the Lakers took control in the first quarter and only tightened their grip on Denver the more the game progressed. They just kept getting stronger on offense and defense and Denver conversly became more impotent as it became apparent to them that the Lakers had come to win and not just waste time tilll a seventh game in Los Angeles. It was a strange and welcome anti-climatic end to a very hard fought and close series for the Lakers and their fans. For Laker fans there was much more to celebrate than just the disposal of tough foe and return to a second straight finals berth. The real cause for happiness is that for the second straight game against our toughest playoff opponent to date the Lakers we saw were not the bumblers and stumblers we saw struggle past a gimpy Houston, but instead were every bit the team that excelled on offensive and defensive execution in sweeping Cleveland and Boston. This was a team comfortable and confident in its ability to execute and its inherent superiority over its opponent. In the last two games it won with Kobe the facilitor and Kobe the assassin, scoring machine. It rebounded, played with energy and efficiency and took apart a well coached, talented and tough team in two consecutive games. That is impressive stuff. It is title winning stuff. If this is the Laker team we will see in the finals, neither Cleveland nor Orlando will be o defeat them in a seven game series. Not since the breakup of the Shaq-Kobe 3peat team has the title looked so attainable, the championship so probable. That is the real cause of celebration in the aftermath of our Western Conference championship. After the game George Karl made several strong remarks: He said this Lakers team got stronger as each game went on. He said this Lakers team is the best team in the NBA. I can’t find fault with his opinion. He said Phil Jackson outcoached him in the last game with his strategy and defensive changes in shutting down the previously effective Denver offense. I can’t find fault with his opinion. In his most eye and ear catching soundbit he said even Jesus would have had a hard time covering Kobe Bryant in the last five minutes. In this opinion I have a minor quibble. I have heard no mention of basketball being played back in those ancient times and since I don’t consider resurrection, walking on water or his other miracles as qualifications to be an NBA stopper, I think Jesus would have had much more than a hard time in stopping the Kobe Bryant we saw last night. They claim Jesus could work his miracles in many ways, but Kobe works his on the hardwood and in that environment nobody is better. Not even a defender as qualified as MJ would have done much to stop a man so on his game, so very determined to reach the finals and rectify last seasons disappointment. Kobe Bryant has ghosts to exorcise and that is something that his finals opponent is going to have to deal with and try stop. I do not envy them their task. Jesus, payoffs, bodysnatchers and other things have been brought up in this wild and colorful series. But in the end all roads really lead to Kobe Bryant. That is the real story going on here. It is something Cleveland or Orlando will experience first hadn next week. If the rest of team can follow his lead and play like they have the last two games it will be a beautiful championship summer for King Kobe, his teamn and all the fans who follow them. So now it is the long wait to find out about our foe and the first matchup on Thursday. For all teams in the west without a certain Great Man named Kobe Bryant on their roster the wait for their next game will be quite a bit longer and a lot less meaningful than the game that awaits the Lakers and their incandescent, transcendant leader. Sat, 30 May 2009 02:47:05 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-411.html Mid way through the fourth quarter of the pivotal game four between the Lakers and upstart Denver Nuggest, coach George Karl told his team, "Were the better team, now bring it home!" His confidence harkens back to a interview ESPN played earlier where coach Karl said in reviewing tape of the previous games in the series, he liked what he saw. He felt his team was doing more things better and had control of the series. After game four and the three proceeding ones, it is hard to argue with his assessment. Even with his star player hobbled by a stomach virus and gimpy ankle, the Nuggets gave an object lesson to the Lakers in rebounding, defense, bench play and sheer high velocity aggression as they attacked a sleepy, stock still defense that LA can never hope to have won this game or a championship with. Even the Great Man Kobe Bryant could not stem a tide of dominance in so many areas as the Nuggets showed the Lakers that any hoped for after effects of their game three win were only wishful thinking on the Lakers part. How bad can you get dominated in game you need to win to put away a dangerous oppenent? The Lakers showed it in every way, every catagory. The bench was out scored and out manned. Every rebound seemed to go to the team from the mile high city, and why shouldn't they? They were the only team that boxed out and made an effort to get those boards. How bad can you let a team walk all over you and humiliate you? The Lakes showed the way be allowing a non existant defense to pave a golden path to the hoop that Denver traversed again and again to dunk, layup, stuff and convert and ones all night long. It could have been a gym drill for the Nuggets, but it wasn't, because a gym drill comes with more resistance than this Lakers team offered up. Lots of fans here say the Lakers won't win a title because you have to play defense to do that. Last years Celtics series was powerful proof of that axiom and this Nugget series is once again showing that if this version of Laker ball does hoist a trophy up in June, they will have had to do it against conventional wisdom, against type and do it the hardest way possible. Another thing has become crystal clear. Beating this Nuggets team two games in a row seems beyond a team with the Lakers fallibilities. If we do come out of this series bloody but ultimately unbowed, it will be after a game seven win in Los Angeles. To expect a win in game six in Denver is seemingly as realistic as expecting the sun not to rise tomorrow and just about as likely. The Lakers lone road win of this series was due to an anomally-in the fourth quarter of that game they forgot who they were and played defense the way title contenders are supposed to. Don't expect it to happen again. With a beat bench, a distinct inability to match Denvers attack attitude, a defense that trails Denvers in every regard and short fall of rebounds, the Lakers will need every bit of home court advantage to pull this thing out. If Kobe Bryant did not wear a purple and gold uniform, this series would have been long over instead of the 2-2 deathmatch it has become. Home court and Kobe Bryant may be the only thing that keeps George Karl's vision of the better team "bringing this home" from being not just a description of game 4 but a final denoument of the series. The question is: will having the best player and closer in the game with home court in two precious remaining games be enough to over come the purchase that Karl and his Nuggets seem to be fashioning on a very erratic and flawed Laker team? Tue, 26 May 2009 00:39:53 -0400 http://lakers.topbuzz.com/a-410.html In sports, two teams line up to play. Time passes, plays are made, mistakes commited, effort rewarded, decisions and strategies work or fail. When it is over, one team has one win, the other has one loss. But once in a great while, a win really does mean more than just a win. Such was the case tonight when the Los Angeles Lakers, teetering on the brink of serious playoff trouble fought through a talented and tough Denver team to over come a 9 point deficit and secure a 103-97 victory in the mile high city and turn this series back in a new direction. In taking a victory in Denver, the Lakers answered alot of questions posed by the two close games in LA. First and most important, they proved that they can play Denver just as tough, stay just as close and win in their opponents home floor as the Nuggets did in LA. The Nuggets now know that playing well and achieving victory is not their sole purview in LA but that the LA can respond in kind. And the Lakers now know it too. The Nuggets, after stealing a game in LA have found out that there is no safe haven in Colorado, where they had won sixteen straight and every playoff game by ten or more points. Now, they are forced to share the same doubts at home that they had planted in the Lakers. It must a strange and uncomfortable feeling for them. Second, that home court advantage that Denver fought two game so hard for, is now just a thing of the past. An advantage they wanted and played their hearts out for is gone just that fast. The math says they will have to win in LA again to take this series. Common sense says winning a second game in LA will not be any easier than it was the first time-maybe even harder. Third, for the first time in this series, the Lakers actually strung together effective offensive and defensive play for a sustained period at the same time agaist their rocky mountain tormentors. In limiting Denver to 5 of 22 shooting in the fourth quarter, going inside to Gasol, having Ariza hit three point shots, the Lakers for the first time looked like the team that swept Cleveland and Boston. When the Lakers can play that game, they are ever so hard to beat as Denver found out in the crucial game deciding, and perhaps series deciding quarter 4 of game three. The Nuggets will reamain tough, the games close and victories for both side will be hard fought, but for the Lakers, the pendulum of victory in the series and the road to the championship series just took a very decided swing back to their side of equation. In game where we had so much to prove, so much to lose, so much to say about what we are and where we are going, this win was so much more than just one win. The Lakers know it and so do the Nuggets. After that game, I do want to say a few words about Kobe Bryant. He has been called the Mamba, the best player on the planet, the best closer, the thoughest guy in basketball. All these things are true, but really they are just mere words in the english language. They are all words used to describe real things. For that reason, they just don't do him justice. Because if Kobe is anything, he is not real at all. He inhabits a place that is so unreal that no real words can justify what he does. As I watched him just fight tooth and nail, his face a grimace of pain, determination and concentration, making one great play, one unreal shot after another, I realized that now mere words do him justice. Only watching him play does. You have to see it to understand it, describing it is just a hollow exercise in futility. We may win this series, we may lose it, but Kobe Bryant has owned it. As I watched him just attack and attack and attack a brutal Denver defense, an image of a hammer pounding against a steel wall came to my mind. A real life hammer can't do any damage to such an edifice. But Kobe is not a real life hammer. He is a unreal hammer. Because when he hammers away like only he can, cracks spring up in even the toughest of steel. Splinters shard and fall away. Holes and gouges appear and he just keeps hammering like a maniac bent on destruction of not just a piece of that steel wall but every single seam, surface, rivet and inch of it. And by the time he is done, that wall has crumbled and the Los Angeles Lakers have another victory pounded out by their magnificent one of a kind hammer. All that was left of that wall tonight was broken lumps of pounded and tangled steel and the empty expressions of the Nuggets team that got assaulted as only Kobe Bryant can hit you. The shear majesty of his violence was plain to see on the face of every Denver fan, coach and player in the arena and loud as the silence in the mile high city as the final seconds ticked away, the scoreboard the last and best description to a man who refuses to accept the contsraints of reality when he dons his uniform and hits a basketball floor. Sun, 24 May 2009 00:09:12 -0400