Pride And Shame Mix To Make A Powerful Cocktail
by C.A. Clark on May 9, 2011 8:59 AM PDT
in 2011 Playoffs
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PrintYesterday, the Los Angeles Lakers saw their season come to a stunning, early, and shameful end, losing to the Dallas Mavericks, 122-86, and being ignominiously swept out of the playoffs a full two rounds earlier than they have advanced for the past three years. Stunning? I meant predictable. After all, before Game 3, I all but called how this series would end, committing to words exactly how badly Laker teams have flamed out in those of the last 15 years that haven't ended with parades. Early? Hindsight is obviously 20/20 here, but based upon this series, and what we know of the limitations of the team faced in the last round, one has to ask if the Lakers would even have advanced past round one if they had faced any team but the one they did. It is no coincidence that, of the eight teams which advanced to Round 2, all the other ones are still playing, because they are all better than whatever it is the Lakers became in their final weeks. Using the Hornets as a baseline, and the Mavericks as the team to measure against, one has to believe the Lakers would likely have lost to any other team in the West.
Shameful? Yes, yes, a hundred times yes. For both the plays, and the players, this team, and its fans, should feel shame. But even that shame, for which there is no mitigating or explanatory circumstance in the moment, mixes with, and is ultimately shaded out by, its counterpart, pride. Because yesterday signaled the end of an era, historical context and perspective must be processed right along with the emotion of what has happened. The historical perspective is that the Lakers have gone on a magical run, and no level of shame and disappointment can remove, or tarnish, that magic, no matter how hard the team seemed to try.
Pride and shame. To feel both at the same time, regarding the same entity, is a surreal experience, and it is one that we are all sharing. We are proud of our team. We are ashamed of our players.
First billing goes to the man who demands this perspective in the first place. If Phil Jackson weren't retiring, likely never to coach again, but certainly never again coaching this group, there would be no need to look at the events of this series with a wide lens. We would be allowed to be consumed by the rage and disappointment of this failure, and then with what solutions exist to fix it. It is his imminent departure, and the subsequent effect it will have on the future of this roster, that demands we remember the years of good more than the days (weeks? months?) of bad.
Even for Phil Jackson, there is pride and shame. PJ has left a legacy that may never again be touched. 11 championships in 20 years as a head coach. As coach of our beloved purple and gold, five championships, seven NBA Finals trips, and a perfect 11 for 11 seasons ended with a trip to the playoffs. While that list of accomplishments doesn't quite measure up to his time in Chicago, there can be little doubt that some of his finest coaching happened in L.A. He guided two completely different teams to two amazing runs. He is, without doubt, the greatest head coach in the history of professional basketball. But this was also the year that all the things Phil Jackson did, all of those seemingly bizarre and nonsensical acts and behaviors that always end up leading the team to victory, this was the year when none of it worked. His refusal to call a time out as the Mavericks made short work of the Lakers' large 3rd quarter lead in Game 1 changed that game. His willingness to let players play through their issues backfired at every step of the way this year, with the most pointed incident occurring in Game 2 of this series, in which, as Steve Blake was visibly choking with horribly missed shots and terribly errant passes, Phil Jackson played Blake more in that game than in any other in the postseason. And this is also the year when he lost the ear of his team. Perhaps shame is the wrong word to use for Phil Jackson. We should not be ashamed of his coaching this year so much as we are disappointed in it, but we are disappointed. It doesn't change how we feel about his as a coach and as a legend, doesn't change how much we wish the team had sent him out more appropriately and more respectfully, but no team can fail like the Lakers just did without the coach taking a lion's share of the blame.
For Kobe Bryant, there is pride and sadness. Pride because he was the one player in the playoffs that always went after it, the one who always did everything he could. Pride because he had another tremendous year. Pride because this team's run has finally cemented his status as one of history's finest basketball players, giving him his own two legs to stand on with championships and MVP trophies. But sadness, because this season was the beginning of the end of the period of Bryant's career in which he can be consistently dominant. Lord knows the world does not need any more debates about Kobe Bryant's overall ability, or his performance in the clutch, but this year, at least, he was godawful in the closing minutes of many games, and his inability to do what he has done so many times in the past killed this team all season long. Statistically, the Lakers were one of the worst 4th quarter teams in the entire league, and that lost them at least two of the four games included in their quick exit from the playoffs. It is not impossible that Kobe can recover at least some of his closing form, that perhaps his ability to dominate games can be restored with a longer period of rest than he is currently used to, but it is more likely that we are entering the period of Kobe's career in which he is no longer a top 5 player, no longer able to dominate a game or a season for long stretches.
For Pau Gasol, we should be proud of his emergence as one of the best post players in the game, even as we are ashamed, disappointed, and confused with how quickly and voraciously he disappeared this season. It can be difficult to remember, but Pau began this season so well that people were discussing him as an MVP candidate. Without him, the Lakers do not win two championships, do not make the Finals in 2008. Without the trade of Pau Gasol to the Lakers, the NBA's entire landscape might be different right now. But Gasol is also the primary reason why the Lakers crashed and burned this season. His postseason play was terrible, and even worse, a large chunk of it lacked passion. In 2008, Gasol was punked by the Boston Celtics, and you know what, that's totally acceptable. Kevin Garnett is one of the game's best defenders ever, Kendrick Perkins is of similar ability, and that 2008 Celtic defense will remain legendary for years and years. Now, he just had the same trick pulled by Dirk Nowitzki. Don't get me wrong, Dirk is an amazing player. Spectacular. But Dirk has never, ever been known as a defensive force, and yet the Lakers' second best player, their second All-Star, the 2 in their 1-2 bunch not only failed to take advantage of Dirk's one weakness, he was completely erased by The German. Pau always acted with dignity, and towards the end you could see him trying his best, even if the results didn't change, but he is exhibit 1 in determining what went wrong with this team.
For Ron Artest, this was the year he turned the corner from thug, to loony, to lovable. His work off the court, and his transformation from the guy who punched fans to the guy who won the NBA's citizenship award is incredible. The raffling off of his championship ring, the radio singles, the crazy talk shows, everything about Ron Artest has been awesome. But his play on the court was not. The norm is for a player to gain some level of comfort in the Triangle offense in their second season, but Ron Ron never managed, and his statistical contribution to this playoff series was terrible. To make matters worse, he spent a large chunk of the season playing sub-par defense with poor effort, both of which are not usually part of the Artest experience. His defense in the 2nd half of the season improved dramatically, so the obituaries on his ability to contribute are premature, but there can be no question that the potential for Artest's five-year contract to become an albatross is as real as it is scary.
For Derek Fisher, he has much to be proud of over the course of his career, but this was the year in which his failings (which are many) could not be made up by his attributes (which are few). His play this season, and in the big moments in which he has so often shown his value, showed that Fisher has fully entered the Long Goodbye portion of his career. Words cannot express how much Derek Fisher has meant to this franchise, but it is probable that few words will be required to describe his contributions going forward. He does not have much left to give.
For Lamar Odom, the pride and shame share the same airspace. This was the year Lamar finally got it right. After 10 years in the league, he finally spent an entire season playing his best basketball. Buoyed by a trip to the World Championships as Team USA's veteran and captain, Lamar was at or near his best the entire season, and finally got some recognition (as the league's 6th man of the year) for all the understated contributions he has brought to this team over the years. We were waiting for Lamar to fall off all season, waiting for him to disappear, waiting for the inconsistency which has plagued his entire career to rear its ugly head, and it never came. This was the year Lamar finally got it right, only to get it wrong at exactly the wrong time for the Lakers. In the playoffs, Lamar was rarely effective and he is the captain of a bench that was so bad, they practically removed all chance of the Lakers being successful. And for the cherry on the crap sundae of his playoff performance, he was the first player to lose his cool as Dallas pummeled the Lakers in their final game. His shove/hip-check/whatever the hell that was on Dirk Nowitzki was embarrassing and needless, and his ejection was deserved. But give him some credit ... at least the man went after somebody his own size.
For Andrew Bynum, there should have been so much more pride than shame. This year, Drew killed off quite a few of the unfair labels he's been given over the years. Injury prone? Despite a couple scares, Drew was basically injury free throughout the year. A selfish black hole interested only in his own numbers? Drew became the star of this team's late season turn around without being the focal point of the offense, spending a brief six week period looking like the second best defensive player in the game. And, on a team in which passion was in short supply, Drew was the one guy besides Kobe who looked like he cared. This was Drew's breakout season, in so many exciting and team-dynamic changing ways, and prior to his ungraceful exit from the Lakers' final game, he was the only member of this organization for whom there should no individual disappointment. But, with one stupid, irresponsible, dangerous act, he consumed a huge portion of his built-up good will and revealed himself as a player that, should he not correct whichever part of his brain allows him to be willing to level a child (J.J. Barea is most certainly a man, but the difference in size here is what it would be for an adult to go after a child in similar fashion), will be very difficult to keep in our hearts. Drew is a Laker, and the Lakers are like family to us all. As long as he wears the uniform, I will support him. As long as he has Lakers across his chest, I will want good things to happen for him. You do not wish ill on your brother. You love your brother, and hope that he turns things around. But you can choose to not like your brother, and it's very difficult to like a player that did what Andrew just did.
Pride and shame. When such diametrically opposed ideas are combined into one, the results can be shocking, difficult to understand, and dangerous. Nearly 24 hours after yesterday's events, I'm still dazed as I try to sort through the emotional melting pot in my brain, and this is the same phenomenon that led to the behavior displayed by the team. The Lakers are a proud team, and for good reason. Their list of collective accomplishments over the past few years is unmatched. And they were ashamed of themselves, ashamed that they couldn't hit a shot to save their lives, ashamed that their defensive effort and execution were pathetic, ashamed that they were utterly destroyed by a team you can be sure they still think they are better than. That's what caused Phil and Kobe to feign confidence like they did. That's what caused Derek and Pau to play like they did. It's what caused Lamar and Drew to act like they did. These two emotions are yin and yang, never meant to be combined.
Now, their combination defines the end of Phil Jackson's legacy, and potentially marks the beginning of the end of Kobe Bryant's as well. There is no telling, as of this moment, where this team is heading. The Lakers remain supremely talented, but they also remain supremely old. With a new coach coming in, with the potential of a lockout taking away one more season of youth from the team, we can have no idea whether the Lakers in their current form will ever be capable of performing up to the impossible standard they set for themselves. They may not even be given the chance to try, because now, Mitch Kupchak, Jerry Buss, and all the other members of the Lakers front office are dealing with the combination of pride and shame as well.
Pray that they handle it a little better than the players did.
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Yeah =/
Stunning? I meant predictable.
Felt that way
For me its the consistent inconsistency that concerns me - PAGFL
It's always AMMO Time, in spirit- DexterFishmore
lebron should just lock himself away and not talk for the rest of forever-LA32
Really, really nice job
Great article, so in-depth, but straight to the point. Thanks for a good read.
Off Tackle Empire
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
by Graham Filler on May 10, 2011 6:40 AM PDT up reply actions
When the Lakers are playing in games where there elimination is on the line they go out in flames: ’04 vs Pistons, ’06 vs Suns, ’08 Celtics, and yesterday.
Kobe’s reaction to what Bynum did speaks volumes.
Follow Me here: http://twitter.com/Michael_Necci
What about '11 Lakers?
We weren’t the same team as last year. Something dramatically changed, frustration, anger, malaise, I don’t know.
For me its the consistent inconsistency that concerns me - PAGFL
It's always AMMO Time, in spirit- DexterFishmore
lebron should just lock himself away and not talk for the rest of forever-LA32
Rockets '09, Celtics '10?
Can’t generalize quite that easily.
Well, at least C.A. and the other SS&R content contributors ran through the tape this season.
Appreciate this thoughtful and honest “requiem for a team”.
"Please tell me some of these stories about Los Angeles being the basketball capital of the world." - Red Auerbach
"质量是我们的尊严。服务是我们的电梯。" ("Quality is our dignity. Service is our lift.")
"The" - shaqfor3
I heard that Kobe's wife cost us a championship
From the LA Times article.
Vanessa Bryant allegedly caused Pau Gasol’s gf to break up with him about a month before the playoffs began. This led to Gasol ignoring Kobe and basically destroying any rhythm and chemistry they had on the court. Eventually, it carried on to the playoffs, and well, there you have it.
Gasol was quoted at saying that he shouldn’t let personal matters interfere with his performance on the court.
This link doesn't say anything about Pau's personal issues or anything you're saying.
Even if this were true, Pau is a seasoned veteran and is getting paid a ton of money to play through it and be there for his team, especially during the playoffs. If his personal problems are affecting him that much he should have taken a seat next to Luke Walton until he could give it a full effort. Telling your team that you’re fine and will play through it and then not making an effort to do so is weak.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
Read page 2
“Perhaps more than anything, the notion that Pau Gasol can be this team’s next great leader was swept away. His sudden and odd postseason disappearance was the most obvious reason for the Lakers’ troubles, his fall completed Sunday when he scored 10 points while being pushed around by everyone but his coach, who thankfully refrained from hitting him for a second consecutive game.
“I have to learn from this,” Gasol said. ’’I have to learn that when something happens off the court, you have to keep it off the court."
He was referring to the report that he stopped talking to Bryant during the postseason because Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, had contributed to the breakup of Gasol and his longtime girlfriend. Lakers fans will remember that Karl Malone once publicly accused Vanessa of interfering with his personal life in a similar fashion."
You have to keep in mind how little of that commentary belongs to Gasol
I read that, and my first thought was OMG, so it really is all true.
My second though was that Gasol gave an inch, and Plaschke took a mile.
We now know that Gasol was troubled by off-court issues. We also know that rumor exists. We also know that Bill Plaschke is the king of the easy storyline.
Something is going on in Pau’s personal life. It very likely has to do with his fiancee. The rest remains hearsay until confirmation is provided in a more concrete form.
by C.A. Clark on May 9, 2011 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
I don't have the stomach to defend Dwyer against the legion of non-fans in this space right now
but can we at least be fair in our criticism of him. There is nothing the least bit tabloid about him. Its analysis. You don’t have to like it, you don’t have to think it is unbiased, but it is certainly not rumor-mongering and/or gossip, nor is it ever not related directly to the game
I don't like the guy
And I take shots at him any chance I get… That’s just me though. Other people may like his writing but it’s one reason why I stopped hitting up BDL. Can’t stand that guy.
by Cookies4LA on May 9, 2011 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
We also know how easily distracted Plashke gets.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Still, it has to be something serious for him to have stopped being a Pro.
I don’t blame Plashke for speculating, I would’ve came up with the same speculation. It has to be something serious otherwise what? Pau sucked because his gf didn’t want to lay him? Doubt it, it’s something more serious.
Plus I noticed Kobe barely talking to him. He didn’t pump him up or anything (unless I missed it I didn’t watch game 4.)
Mavs are much ado about nothing. They had the cryptonite, we couldn't defend those 3's. They will get blown out of the water by OKC, Memphis or the Heat (sad, but true, they are fast and athletic) Fuck the Mavs.
Lay off the comments about their sex life. Seriously, we are definitely better than that.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
You make it seem as If I was making assumptions about their sex life.
I wasn’t, I was just saying that I doubt it was something minor (like that situation) to have made him suck. It had to be like a break up or a fellow Laker doing something.
Otherwise do you just flat out believe he just gave up? Do you think he was not distracted as this Plashke fellow always is?
lol you made it seem as If I was throwing dirt on him or something. Or I’t maybe just me wanting to believe that he didn’t just give up as you may believe.
Mavs are much ado about nothing. They had the cryptonite, we couldn't defend those 3's. They will get blown out of the water by OKC, Memphis or the Heat (sad, but true, they are fast and athletic) Fuck the Mavs.
List of Reasons the Lakers Didn't Advance...
1. The team lacked energy and focus.
2. Injuries
3. Dallas wanted it more
4. Slow PG play
…
50. Lamar’s candy habit
51. Dirk uses better shampoo than Luke Walton
…
100. Vanessa Bryant
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
by Joshua S on May 9, 2011 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
Gotta disagree with you on #51.
Luke has the most awesome hair.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
AmMo has them both looking like Mark Cuban on a bad hair day (which is always), but I thought I should stay current.
BTW, Mark Cuban looks like the love child of all the Three Stooges put together. He has Moe’s hair, Larry’s face and Curly’s physique.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
LOL, go to last night's bar and see my separated at birth comment.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Hilarious! I just spit on my computer. I love your humor.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
Gasol's poor play is no mystery
All this Real Housewives stuff may or may not be true, but it certainly didn’t help that:
a) Pau became consistently replaced by Bynum as the no. 2 option, and neither they nor the coaches ever found a way for them to develop any lasting chemistry. As one of the main reasons the Lakers won the past 2 seasons with Bynum in and out of the lineup, Gasol doesn’t understand or accept his new role;
b) Kobe stopped practicing with the team for health reasons, and probably took a noncommittal stance to Gasol-Bynum conflicts. Add to this that Bryant consistently defies the triangle offense, and it just creates more confusion for everyone on game days. When will he pass, and when will he shoot? Nobody knows;
c) teams that beat the Lakers force either Gasol, Bynum, or both to play defense way outside the paint, near the perimeter. They can’t stop penetration from there, they can’t guard shooters from outside, and they can’t rotate on defense. Game 3 with Gasol and Bynum yelling at each other was just the culmination of something that’s been going on ever since Bynum’s been in the lineup;
d) maybe most importantly, Phil Jackson, for all his wisdom, left it to the players to figure out their differences instead of taking a more active role of mediator. With Kobe sitting out practices, and Fisher pretty much irrelevant, there’s no one to keep it together. Maybe Phil was just tired. Maybe Kobe realizes that the future belongs to Bynum, not the finesse game of Gasol and Odom.
So one thing I’ve seen consistently is, if Gasol knows the ball isn’t going into him he just rotates to the weak side and halfheartedly waits for an unlikely offensive rebound. He stops asking for the ball whenever Bynum’s on the floor. He settles for jump shots from beyond the elbow. By game 4, he was so distracted that he couldn’t even make layups.
End of an era. There will be no resurrection with this lineup. Some people have to go, and the Lakers need new blood, hungry players who know how to unite for a common cause.
good post
Proud member of Club FTR. falconPUNCH! for president!
Yep, something like this had to happen. Otherwise WTF? Yeah, Pau just gave up guys... NO.
He’s an idiot anyway for allowing something like this to affect his preformance as a pro. But we can all tell his head wasn’t in the game. The only thing I speculated was exactly this about personal life problems like gf or family or something.
Mavs are much ado about nothing. They had the cryptonite, we couldn't defend those 3's. They will get blown out of the water by OKC, Memphis or the Heat (sad, but true, they are fast and athletic) Fuck the Mavs.
Perfect recap.
Covers all the high and low spots and makes me feel better going forward that I can count on SS&R to help me channel all this raw mix of emotions I’m feeling. Thanks for a great year of the best analysis of what I still consider the best team despite this fall from grace. They’re still OUR Los Angeles Lakers and they will rise again!
what we were trying to do this season, was soooo difficult
only 3 former teams have been able to go to four straight finals. MJ never did it. Magic never did it. Our team is just too thin. Our bench is terrible. Kobe tried to save himself for the playoffs but that severe ankle sprain ruined it all.
We’ve had a good run. I do truly think it is time to look for a second all star. Gasol is not that guy.
Follow me: @theshmoes.
Yeah, I rhink the ankle had a lot to do with Kobe's not being able to go HAM on the Mavericks.
It just blows my mind that he’s gonna get blamed for the loss.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
This. There were just too many things that didn't line up this season.
I wanted so badly to see these guys prove my gut concerns wrong, but it was just too much to ask of even the best team in the league.
Anyone who puts this on Kobe is selling something. Honestly, name me one player who has played through adversity the way Kobe Bryant has. He has played through it all: Shaq being Shaq, a bunch of injuries, self-inflicted off-the-court personal problems, the longevity of playing at the pinnacle of basketball greatness almost year round with little rest.
This team was worn out and sadly had to watch the dam break in this series. Onward!
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
just kidding the 82-85 lakers with magic did make 4 straight finals
point still stands, its freakin hard.
especially with the team constructed as it is
Follow me: @theshmoes.
all we need is a
quick, athletic guard and and another all star at the four spot to get us back on top next year. oh and bench that can score more then 10 points would be good too.
He got his name when his parents were in a restaurant. His father was very pleased with a steak he ordered and at the time his mother was pregnant. So his dad asked the waiter what's the name of the steak that he ordered and the waiter, obviously told him. It's called, Kobe.
how do we do that?
Kobe insisted the Lakers to sign grandpa Fish. Who in their right minds would want to trade for Fisher?
i don't know how but it needs to get done. that's all i know.
Mitch, Jerry… make it happen!!
He got his name when his parents were in a restaurant. His father was very pleased with a steak he ordered and at the time his mother was pregnant. So his dad asked the waiter what's the name of the steak that he ordered and the waiter, obviously told him. It's called, Kobe.
Kobe's wife
So, any truth to this whole mess about Gasol’s gf and Kobe’s wife? His wife doesn’t seem to be the nicest person. Remember her beef with Karl Malone? And then her housekeeper suing her?
This may or may not be relevant to the conversation
but I’ll be damned before I give any credence to the idea that Kobe’s wife ruined this team
What does her not being a nice person have to do with anything?
Unless she kneecapped Gasol, I don’t care what her personality is.
I don’t care if she’s the basketball version of Yoko Ono, she had nothing to do with what happened on the court.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Has fan dispair got this desperate really? This is tabloid nonsense.
The Malone thing was legitimate and it was Kobe who had the beef with Malone and rightfully so.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1944994
Our Lakers weren’t the best team this year and had fatal flaws in arguably one of the best playoff brackets ever. That’s life, but they’ll be back. No one gets back to form like the Lakers, just hang in there and enjoy the good basketball left this year.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
You are right Joshua, nothing happened, Pau just gave up.
This is nothing more than “desperation” of wanting to find out if there was a personal problem involved in Pau’s weak professional play.
Mavs are much ado about nothing. They had the cryptonite, we couldn't defend those 3's. They will get blown out of the water by OKC, Memphis or the Heat (sad, but true, they are fast and athletic) Fuck the Mavs.
Not.
Mavs are much ado about nothing. They had the cryptonite, we couldn't defend those 3's. They will get blown out of the water by OKC, Memphis or the Heat (sad, but true, they are fast and athletic) Fuck the Mavs.
Again, even if true, it's on Pau to adjust to it and contribute.
I’m not saying he bailed, but his performance was costly.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
This is the kinda play
that creates fairweather fans. Most Lakers fans throughout the country will pretty much always be fairweather, but it’s hard to be a fan and stay loyal when the Lakers play with such a lack of passion. They weren’t even frustrated, like teams such as Boston, Denver, Houston, and OKC have done to them in past playoff runs. They were just completely disinterested. I don’t get it.
Ok Mitch. Make something happen.
No Dwight Howard please. We need a point guard. And a new coach, with possibly – gasp – something different than the triangle.
just how can that happen?
what are you going to do with grandpa Fish? He’s owed millions and no other GM would trade for him.
The PG the Lakers need isn't going to be brought in with Blake and Brown unless Pau, Bynum or Odom are included.
BTW that guy isn’t Chris Paul. He’s a Maverick Carter guy all the way and will join the unholy union in Miami.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
The concern now becomes
Who is gonna step up and take Bynum?
1) he’s been hurt and can very well get hurt again
2) he’s shown to be some what of a lose cannon… playoff fouls are one thing but he can really get nasty.
Despite these shortcoming someone will want him and hopefully the Lakers can get some good pieces for him.
Now IF, and that’s a BIG if, these Gasol-Kobe communication breakdown rumors are true than maybe Gasol will have to go if they can’t patch things up.
Didn't you mean "loose cannon"?
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Teams will be crawling over themselves to get to Bynum if the right package is in place.
He’s arguably the 2nd best center in the NBA.
1. He’s healthy. He has shown a toughness in fighting through injury anyway.
2. Before the yesterday would anyone really call Bynum a loose canon, or nasty? He has moments of frustration, but zero teams in the league are legitimately concerned about it. Let the hype of yesterday die down. Heck, Ron Artest was key in one of the ugliest incidents ever in the NBA and he’s the freakin’ citizen of the year!
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
by Joshua S on May 9, 2011 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Dang it you rubbed off on me...
canon
CANNON!
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
You've got a good points
I just hope something good happens. LOL sowwy…. I can’t type fast and spell correctly at the same time >.<
Nola would take Drew... Or Gasol
If they believe they can’t keep Paul. They’ll want youth, which Bynum is. Gasol is more of a marketing move than a move for the future.
Anyone else looking to build for the future would bite on Drew too, even some contender’s desperate for legitimate size in the middle.
by tandur on May 9, 2011 11:21 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
It's so crazy that less than 3 weeks ago we were praising the shit of Drew
Now he’s a goat, and I don’t mean “greatest of all time”
Well
Don’t pull cheap crap like that.
In all honesty, I think the Lakers will want to keep him. Just like they took chances on Rodman and Artest, and stuck w/Kobe, Buss believes troubled players can change. He’s still young, tons of potential, incredibly efficient… It’s mostly fans who were disgusted with his bush-league actions that will want him gone.
by tandur on May 9, 2011 11:28 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I didn't like the foul
But he’s a damn good player and it be tough to part with him for anyone other than D12
i curious right now what mr. buss is thinking?
we all know jerry hates to lose! he loves the top of the mountain. im thinking he’s stewing right about now. mr. buss is one owner who actually has the balls to make something happen, and happen swiftly?
he didnt hesitate to to boot shaq out of L.A., and he even took phone calls, entertaining offers, when our own kobe bryant demanded a trade! thats balls! he’s going to make something happen soon. this reminded me of 07’, when the lakers were thumped in phx, kobe at the press conferance said it loud and clear, that the lakers “need to do something…now!”.
in came pau gasol, and everything else is history. something similar’s going to happen imo. someones going to have to go. odom?,gasol?, bynum? if thats what its going to take? then so be it. its going to be a whole new regime sitting on those chairs at the staples center. its going to be wierd! and will probably take a while to get used to it, but! the lakers will not stand for this, ill tell you what! somethignbig wil be going down this offseason, and im not talking about the lockout!
by Mark Jaramillo on May 9, 2011 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions
He has time to cool off and ease into it, especially with the lockout looming.
He and Kupchak clearly see this is a time to do it right and not rashly. No one adjusts on the fly like the Lakers front office. They contend nearly every year not just to make the playoffs, but push for a title. This year was just death by a thousand cuts. Too many little issues on a team that has seen a ton of action the last 4-5 years. Dallas was hungry and on point and I’m not sure even a good series from Pau would have changed that.
Phil’s gone, but for how long? No one really believes Phil is permanently out. He isn’t a rebuilder, even by the Lakers standards. I think he’ll relax a bit and then start looking to come back once the next off-season kicks in. There are a lot of big names out there and if the Lakers land one or two, I bet it entices him back.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
My bets on Phil are...
New York first, employing the triangle w/Anthony and Stoudemire.
Miami second, if they can’t win it all this year or next.
by tandur on May 9, 2011 11:13 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I'd say New York is out. Phil doesn't want a rebuilding project with players not suited for the system.
Miami has natural allure, but Phil and Slick Pat under one roof? I think not.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
How?
Unless he wants to be vastly underpaid, or Miami trades Bosh for CP3, which I doubt Nola would take because other contending teams have more to offer (like the Lakers), I don’t see how u fit a 4th player on the team making $15 million+.
Or Miami could offer the rest of it’s roster, still doubt Nola would take it.
by tandur on May 9, 2011 11:12 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Bynum seemed pretty frustrated
So pardon my disposition; why should I listen to a system that never listened to me?
by Furious Styles on May 9, 2011 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions
It just didn't have to end this way.
This is worse than a decorated armed forces veteran that displayed courage and valor on the front lines, coming home from deployment and killing a family of 4 because of drunk driving… Ya… something like that. This is just sad. So much went wrong in so little time. A week ago today, at this very moment LA and Dallas hadn’t even started their series and now one week later it’s all over. Crash and burn. The wreckage is hideous but you just can’t turn your head away.
But life will go on, the show will go on and time and our generation’s very short attention spans will hopefully bury this deep where it can not be found.
I think a better military analogy
is that of a veteran unit that has fought honorably for years finally breaking under the weight of expectations and tenacity of their enemies. I’m thinking of Napoleon’s Imperial Guard at Waterloo.
Sure I’d prefer if they would have left the field with their banners still flying but it doesn’t take away from all the battles this groups has fought and won over the years.
You're right
This series doesn’t take away any of the banners that this organization has won over the last 11 years… but they didn’t go out swinging. Not in the competitive sense at least cough bynum cough
We should've seen the signs of failure coming when our bench comprised of "veterans"
AKA old farts… Theo Ratliff??? Really Mitch?
the one thing i couldnt stand about mitch...
for every good player he signed? he biffed it with 3 more!…we STILL have walton!!!!! for 2 more yrs!!?
The look on Kupchak's face after Andrew's foul yesterday was, to say the least, scary.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Personally, I want Bynum gone now too
He may only be 23, but that’s twice now in one season he elbowed a plait in midair. Get that bush-league shit off the team. Odom as well, he’s a quitter. He quit against Phoenix, Boston, and now Dallas. And I’ve already made it clear Pau’s time here is done. Thanks for the two championships, now send his gutless ass somewhere else.
by tandur on May 9, 2011 11:17 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Well, shit, tell us how you REALLY feel... lol
Sarge Clemins
by Big John Stud on May 9, 2011 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions
We'll see all three in Laker gold next season
Mental mistakes can be corrected, and talent is too valuable to trade over a PR snafu. Odom gave the team a discount when he could have easily left, Drew is only 23, and Pau, well, I’m having a hard time finding something positive to say about him, but I think LA will keep him, bc they’ll unlikely be able to find a quality trade for just him.
by tandur on May 9, 2011 11:32 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
That could easily have been the title of this post.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
naw...you got a pic of it SoCal?
Sarge Clemins
by Big John Stud on May 9, 2011 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions
I don't know how to find it, but they showed him on ABC shortly afterwards. Not good.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Fast forward to the 1:30 mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXzM5Z0FxrQ
THE CAVS SHALL RISE AGAIN...
BEAT THE HEAT.
This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by National Basketball Association.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
that is so weird.
I just got that message now too, but I went there right after Wave posted that and the vid was there. Weird. They took it down in literally the last 10 minutes.
Anything that makes the NBA look bad they go after
Fights, hard fouls, etc
by tandur on May 9, 2011 12:14 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
WHAT?!
it was working when i posted it!
This one still works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRS0LTJVeUo
Fast forward to the 1:17 mark
THE CAVS SHALL RISE AGAIN...
BEAT THE HEAT.
WOW!
"Maybe I’m old school," Nash said, "but I signed a contract to play here and I want to honor it. I feel like I owe it to my teammates and the city and everybody to keep battling until they tell me it’s time to go." STEVE (God of Basketball) NASH
it's still up on dailymotion
So pardon my disposition; why should I listen to a system that never listened to me?
by Furious Styles on May 10, 2011 6:44 AM PDT up reply actions
I think Gasol
is miscast as a power forward. He isn’t fast enough to beat power forwards with his moves and isn’t strong enough to overpower them. Gasol is what he is, a very skilled, finesse center.
So along those lines I think either Bynum has to go or Gasol does. In a vacuum I’d package Bynum but If the rumors about a Kobe-Gasol breakdown are true then you (gulp) package Gasol.
8 weeks ago, you wound't have said any of this
Mamba, Mr. Intangible, Candyman, Spainard, Bynumite, Ron-Ron, Luuuuke, Breezy, Blakers, neck-tattoo contributor
I never thought Gasol-Bynum played well together.
There was a two month stretch where Bynum played like Bill Russell, if Bynum would have continued to play like that it wouldn’t have mattered what contributions we got out of Gasol or any power forward.
This feels eerily similar to the summer of 2004
Hopefully things don’t spiral like then though
What is the nature of your thoughts, gentlemen, when you say "fuddle duddle" or something like that?
It won't be nearly as bad...
If it’s even bad at all
"I might be sick in the head or crazy or thrown off or something like that, but I still think we are going to win this series," Bryant said. "I might be nuts. Win on Sunday. Go back home and see if they can win in L.A."
*Kobe Bryant is sick in the head, crazy AND thrown off. Don't forget nuts.*
On a side note
Who is everyone rooting to win the title this year?
I heard alot of ppl going w/Dallas, using the Dirk/Kidd angle, but I can’t root for the team that just knocked my own team out, and they still have Jason Terry on their roster (ugh).
Can’t pick Miami or Boston, and I’m already sick of Chicago, despite how lovable ppl find DRose.
So that leaves ATL, OKC, and the Grizz. I really dislike OKC b/c Durant’s greatness relies a bit too much on taking advantage of a stupid rule (the swing thru shot to get the FTs).
I’m going with Memphis, or Atlanta. Grizzlies cuz I always loved grizzly bears, and both I think might make Stern the most unhappy person in the world. Imagine those ratings! Lmao
by tandur on May 9, 2011 11:46 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Totally Memphis.
Preferrably for 2-3 more Finals appearances. Then the Pau Gasol trade won’t look so much like a steal.
---
Revenge is ice cream.
this is me too.
And, I’m sure I’ll snap out of it, but at this particular moment I’m really pretty disinterested in who will win or any kind of playoff talk.
This. I'd love to see them both lose and then have a lock out next year. Suck precious years from them both.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
i NEVER want soo lebron sport any ring much less a championship one!
ive grown up despising the celtics, the bad boy pistons, hell, even the mark aguirre led mavericks back then, but even with the teams just mentioned, ive never in my lifetime seen those h.o.f. players pull any kind of childish antics that lebron’s been demonstrating the last 6 yrs!
dancing on the sidelines, posing for pictures, that damn scowl, after a made shot! all the posturing, im from the old-school man, maybe im too old school, but i just cant embrace antics like that on the court from a bunch of proffetional athletes.
thats why i loved it when the cavs went down last yr, and fittingly saw lwbron throw his jersey off. that team was arrogant, courdesly of there leader. kobe, or jordan’s never done any of that! what would these 2 rather have done? breakdance after a dunk/foul? nope! calmly walk to the freethrow line…AND1!!
lebron, for all his worldy talents dont deserve a title in my eyes. hopefully he’ll go down as one of the greatest…to never win a title! (malone,nash,wilkins, barkley…….).
by Mark Jaramillo on May 9, 2011 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
I concur
Not Boston (we have to pass them in number of championships won and we’re only down one to at least match them)
And definitely not Miami (Lebron needs to wait a few more years for acting like a petulant prima donna for most of his career thus far)
The Mavs look like an interesting bet. I feel Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd deserve to win a title before they too retire (nevemind Jason Terry) and it feels better to say that we at least we were beaten by the eventual champions (although some may harbor a grudge against them for sweeping us)
"Confidence is a lot of this game or any game. If you don't think you can, you won't." - Jerry West
"If you're a competitive person, that stays with you. You don't stop. You always look over your shoulder" - Magic Johnson
"What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection." - Kobe Bryant
"I gave it my body and mind, but I have kept my soul." - Phil Jackson
by Middle Earth Riverdweller on May 9, 2011 8:11 PM PDT up reply actions
actually i rooted for the mavs and dirk when they lost, or should i say, got ripped off! the finals against dwayne "you cant touch this" wade.
i actually cant stand wade either! dont know what it is about that dude. he was an arrogant ass when they won the title that yr. not trying to bring back the “conspiracy” theory thing again, but damn! was that gm rigged! to go up 2-0/ and proceed to lose 4 straight? cmon now….
by Mark Jaramillo on May 9, 2011 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions
I wanted the Mavs to win back in 2006
Because i didn’t want Shaq to have one more ring over Kobe. And I actually like Dirk’s game. It’s hard to hate a 7 footer with an almost unlimited range and a good shooting touch.
"Confidence is a lot of this game or any game. If you don't think you can, you won't." - Jerry West
"If you're a competitive person, that stays with you. You don't stop. You always look over your shoulder" - Magic Johnson
"What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection." - Kobe Bryant
"I gave it my body and mind, but I have kept my soul." - Phil Jackson
by Middle Earth Riverdweller on May 10, 2011 1:11 AM PDT up reply actions
and that is the reason they wont make it..
I’m going with Memphis, or Atlanta. Grizzlies cuz I always loved grizzly bears, and both I think might make Stern the most unhappy person in the world. Imagine those ratings! Lmao
Sarge Clemins
on the future
First of all, I didn’t think Odom’s foul warranted an ejection. So people should pipe down about that. It was a dumb foul at that point in the game, only based on frustration, but not eject worthy.
Bynum’s foul was shitty and regrettable. I hope he outgrows that shit by next season.
Am I the only one who thinks we shouldn’t trade away Gasol? We still haven’t gotten to the bottom of why he went so downhill in the playoffs. If it truly is some kind of personal problem that involves the team, then it needs to be dealt with quickly. But people are so soon to forget that this guy turned the franchise around. I think the contributions Gasol made for several years still outweigh his lackluster play in the past month. It seems like an issue of focus, a mentality, and that can be regained.
I also say you don’t trade away Bynum unless you can really get Dwight Howard, but anything I’ve heard to support this being a possibility is mere speculation.
Hope they do tap Shaw to coach . . .
On to next season.
I agree that the Odom body check wasn't ejection worthy
But who cares now? It showed god awful sportsmanship and reflected poorly on him and the Lakers
At least he felt embarrassed and stupid by it. He admitted as much in his postgame.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
No kidding he looked like he hadn't had candy for a week after the game.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
LOL. That's the saddest thing I've heard in the aftermath of the Lakers' ultimate loss.
"Please tell me some of these stories about Los Angeles being the basketball capital of the world." - Red Auerbach
"质量是我们的尊严。服务是我们的电梯。" ("Quality is our dignity. Service is our lift.")
"The" - shaqfor3
Keep Pau
I’m with you on everything Bynum for Howard i can live with…Odom just showed heart maybe a lil mis-placed but id rather that than going out like a punk and just take it…we ask them to show emotion but then when they do we dog them for it…Pau still want him in a Laker uni he’s worth too much to us
by purplebloodgoldheart on May 9, 2011 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Kobe just got named to the all defensive team
Tony Allen got hosed.
"El Hombre es esclavo de lo que dice y Amo de lo que calla"
by Jonny 4 F1ng3rs on May 9, 2011 11:51 AM PDT reply actions
totally hosed
Tim Duncan wins championships. Vince Carters fills the arenas.
Kobe Bryant does both.
The ideal way to win a championship is step by step.
-Phil Jackson
Wasn't Allen 4th in DPoY voting?
Which I found shocking, but based on that, yeah he got hosed
by tandur on May 9, 2011 11:53 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Yes....for the 9th time....that was highway robbery
"El Hombre es esclavo de lo que dice y Amo de lo que calla"
by Jonny 4 F1ng3rs on May 9, 2011 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions
As much as I love Brian Shaw, and have been wanting him to coach these Lakers..
I think we actually need a change in the system and a new face. That is why I am now in full support of Rick Adelman. Had we made it to the Finals I would think differently. Brian Shaw would bring continuity, but Adelman will bring something different, yet similar.
"I might be sick in the head or crazy or thrown off or something like that, but I still think we are going to win this series," Bryant said. "I might be nuts. Win on Sunday. Go back home and see if they can win in L.A."
*Kobe Bryant is sick in the head, crazy AND thrown off. Don't forget nuts.*
Throw the bank at JVG
I always thought he did a great job in NY.
by tandur on May 9, 2011 11:58 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Seconded
Steve Van Gundy is a terrible coach
by C.A. Clark on May 9, 2011 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
LMAO
"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."
"You want to make history you gotta do historic things" - Kobe Bryant.
Congrats on making 8000 comments.
What happened to the C-a-C?
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
Whoa, didn't even notice!
I have no idea what happened to the contest. LakersFoEva has been MIA for quite a while.
"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."
"You want to make history you gotta do historic things" - Kobe Bryant.
He said somethiing sinister got past their firewall and he's not able to do the posts from work any more.
He works for the government so he has to find time at home and he just hasn’t been able to do it.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Oh, I see.
"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."
"You want to make history you gotta do historic things" - Kobe Bryant.
Oh come, he's seems like a nice guy.
Wait, who now?
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Definately
Couldn’t even get the Monstars to beat MJ and a roster of Looney Toons.
by tandur on May 9, 2011 12:12 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
still hurting
Somehow i thought that because we made it to the ship 3 straight years us going out in the playoffs would be easier to handle but damn it really ain’t…and now all the extra mess/off-court rumors/trades coming out just has me shaking my head…even tho Pau got on my last nerve in the playoffs i still want to keep him, he’s too good a player to just let go and hope we get equal value and he’s gettin hated on way too much. 3 finals 2 championships 2 years without losing 3 straight game not all him but he definetly played a huge part. Bynum as well showed me what he hopefully will become. I know he’s catching a lot of flack for that foul but im still ridin with him atleast he showed he cared. It might not have been the right player to do it to or the game to do it but i can understand why he did it. Odom defintely showed he belonged a Laker i don’t even think there is any reason to say he will not be here next year…some changes need to be made but I don’t think its anything major we just didn’t have it this year but will be back to re-claim our throne im 100% sure of that. still proud to rock my purple and gold all day
by purplebloodgoldheart on May 9, 2011 12:00 PM PDT reply actions
We need better shooters and faster guards
Dallas essentially ran non-stop P&R, up to 3G per possession, or Dirk iso’s. The problem with the P&Rs is our guards we’re either too slow to get over the pick, or too slow to recover to shooters when they collapsed to the paint on weak side help defense, or just didn’t challenge the shot. Blake/Fisher = too slow, Brown = too stupid.
On the offensive side, no one could hit an outside shot when the Mavs doubled the post, which killed the spacing on offense.
Yea, the bigs sucked at times, and their poor play put the team in the deficit, but poor guard play cinched the deal.
by tandur on May 9, 2011 12:08 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I hear you
yesterday was the first time all season that i acctually thought farmer and sasha would have helped us win that series….lol…but we do need shooters and pg but for all that we’ll have to wait ands see if mitch can work his magic ( no pun intended)
by purplebloodgoldheart on May 9, 2011 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions
its going to be a loong summer!
never thought we would end this early, but it is what it is…we can analyze it over and over and it still wont change the fact..whats even worse is that we may have seen the last laker game until october 2012! At which point the world will be 2 months away from ending so this means no more laker championships ever again! But anyways id like to thank everybody on here for their posts that have helped me cope with frustrations this whole season..it helps to know im not the only one who feels a little empty inside.. but either way i have no doubt that all that persoanl shit will get handle during the offseason, otherwise their will be some changes made
obviously this is all linda rambis's fault and she needs to be replaced pronto.
"Gimme the fuckin' ball!" - Andrew Bynum
LOL
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Biggest shame of all?
Mitch not resigning AMMO.
"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."
"You want to make history you gotta do historic things" - Kobe Bryant.
by LakerAce on May 9, 2011 12:20 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
truth
The Lakers are 2-0 in Championships with Adam Morrison in control of the “player resting devices”.
That’s another way to say.. . . “bench”.
For me its the consistent inconsistency that concerns me - PAGFL
It's always AMMO Time, in spirit- DexterFishmore
lebron should just lock himself away and not talk for the rest of forever-LA32
by 99bc99 on May 9, 2011 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Good points...
For Ron, I’d have to say that his missed layup/dunk in game 4 summed up his contributions this postseason. I literally face palmed when I saw that.
I have to believe Gasol will get out of his funk and play better next season, and yes, as sad as it is to admit, Fisher has really dropped off this year. We’re going to have to find a younger point guard. Please retire while you’re still somewhat ahead, Fish.
Odom and Bynum have their own issues to sort out. In most cases Odom’s foul would not have led to an ejection, it wasn’t that bad, but perhaps Bynum’s mishap highlights his immaturity somewhat. He is, after all, only 23, and research has shown that the prefrontal cortex of the brain which is responsible for higher thinking is not fully developed until around age 25. That sore loser mentality of a child came out in full force in that foul.
All in all I would hope that our core players stay together. I don’t believe that Kobe is falling off though. His finesse style of play that doesn’t involve as much physical contact as others would lead me to believe that he still has at least 3 more years of productivity and being the focus of the offense.
regardless..
Good kids don’t do that.
Only punk assess.
Proud member of Club FTR. falconPUNCH! for president!
from the "international business times" - someone linked it in another post, but i'm putting it here for people who prob won't see it.
Will Dwight Howard be on the Los Angeles Lakers next season?
“Everybody knows that Dwight Howard wants to be a Laker,” said a person familiar with the All-Star center’s plans, according to CBSSports.com. “They’re going to lose Dwight Howard for nothing. He’s not staying there. Dwight Howard is going to be in the same mode as LeBron James.”
Acquiring Howard may only take the Lakers giving up Andrew Bynum, and perhaps some draft picks, as the Magic would likely want a big man in exchange for their star center.
But trading Howard to the Lakers could open up a public relations nightmare for Orlando.
Sure the team wants something in exchange for Howard, and Bynum is only 22, and has plenty of upside. But letting another great center go to the Lakers, after the famous free agent signing of Shaquille O’Neal in 1996, would stir up bad memories and upset the fanbase.
Magic fans don’t want to see Howard in a Lakers uniform. General Manager Otis Smith will have to shop Howard around quickly and quietly. Should a trade rumor fall through, it would ignite bad blood between Howard and the organization.
A big reason this trade could go through, is that the player or players that Howard would be traded for wouldn’t take Howard’s new team out of contention.
When Kobe Bryant demanded a trade after the 2006-2007 season, a stumbling block was Bryant’s destination would be depleted because of the players the team would have given up to get him.
The Magic are in a similar situation. Howard wants out, and wants to go to a contender.
The Lakers might be the only reasonable destination. But sending Howard to Hollywood is a tough pill to swallow for Orlando, even if it makes sense.
Perhaps the Magic would include a third team to take the sting out of the deal, but the Magic probably want Bynum, not another team’s package.
One thing is for sure, the Magic need to get something in return for Howard, because if he walks without the team getting something return, it will be a humiliating setback.
Read more: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/142932/20110509/lakers-dwight-howard-magic.htm#ixzz1LsxQClBb
"Gimme the fuckin' ball!" - Andrew Bynum
Make it happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mavs are much ado about nothing. They had the cryptonite, we couldn't defend those 3's. They will get blown out of the water by OKC, Memphis or the Heat (sad, but true, they are fast and athletic) Fuck the Mavs.
That all hinges on if Howard demands a trade
Regardless, Jerry Buss and Mitch will find a way to make this team more competitive. Nobody is going to be buying those expensive tickets to see Gasol and the bench stink up Staples Center, as apparent from the boo’s in game 2.
i don't think you understand the situation.
by the way, none of the above was my own commentary. the blockquote just failed for some reason – the whole thing is an article. as for this all hinging on howard demanding a trade, no it doesn’t. clearly the dude is leaving as a free agent in 2012, so the magic need to trade him or they get nothing in return.
"Gimme the fuckin' ball!" - Andrew Bynum
they'll probably go through with the trade
but do we really need howard? what we need are shooters, better bench and a PG
def. a PG!
i like fish…but it’s time for him to take a seat next to luke (okay when does swagbro’s contract expire??)
OK he isn't THAT bad
Fish would make a serviceable backup. I wouldn’t even mind him starting so long as he’s not playing too many minutes. They need a new PG who can take the bulk of the minutes and play AT LEAST 25 minutes if not over 30 (off the bench or in the starting lineup, I don’t care) to take ball handling responsibilities, and also limit Fisher’s minutes and keep him fresh for the end of games and postseason.
"I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot."- Kobe Bryant
Thanks for the memories Andy
Bring J.R. Smith to LAL
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
Is there a way to bring his shooting to L.A, but not J.R. himself?
"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."
"You want to make history you gotta do historic things" - Kobe Bryant.
Right? Can't stand that dude.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
He's a punk
But he’s instant offense. He can hit the 3 and he’s athletic. Isn’t that what we need?
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
by RA37thriller on May 9, 2011 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions
The punk is what we don't need.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
So is Barnes and we signed him
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
Yes, that's what I was thinking.
Except Barnes is less of a DB than JR Smith. Believe it or not…
For me its the consistent inconsistency that concerns me - PAGFL
It's always AMMO Time, in spirit- DexterFishmore
lebron should just lock himself away and not talk for the rest of forever-LA32
Do you remember the fight with Dallas at the end of the regular season?
Barnes slapped an assistant coach who was simply just trying to hold him back. I know for a fact you don’t remember the crap he pulled with Kobe when he was with Orlando. Listen I’m not a Barnes hater, I’m from his neck of the woods even. I’m not saying J.R. is a model citizen either but he’s flat out a better player than Barnes too. This guy can put points on the board, and he’s a free agent I believe
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
That asst. coach had no reason to be holding him back.
Barnes was clearly trying to walk back to the bench and so IDK what the asst. coach was trying to accomplish by holding him back. Not to mention I think Barnes had no idea who was holding him back.
I’m not trying to say what Barnes did was right, just saying it’s not the worst thing in the world.
"I might be sick in the head or crazy or thrown off or something like that, but I still think we are going to win this series," Bryant said. "I might be nuts. Win on Sunday. Go back home and see if they can win in L.A."
*Kobe Bryant is sick in the head, crazy AND thrown off. Don't forget nuts.*
Still I think it's pretty clear
You ask all 30 teams which player they would rather have and they would all take J.R. Smith
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
Although I would gladly take Afflalo on the Lakers
I’d still prefer J.R. Aaron is a great defender, but J.R. is by far a better shooter and scorer. Regardless we could use one of em. Afflalo kinda choked for Denver in that OKC series too.
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
He had just came back from an injury didn't he?
"I might be sick in the head or crazy or thrown off or something like that, but I still think we are going to win this series," Bryant said. "I might be nuts. Win on Sunday. Go back home and see if they can win in L.A."
*Kobe Bryant is sick in the head, crazy AND thrown off. Don't forget nuts.*
It's pretty known
He isn’t a scorer. That’s just not his game. It wasn’t his game at UCLA either. Good player nonetheless
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
JR is a headcase
but i think playing with Kobe could be good for him. I’d support signing him. In terms of physical talents, JR is up there with the best in the league
Follow me: @theshmoes.
I seriously hate JR Smith..
His attitude, his tendency to take ill-advised shots.
He is a bipolar type player, if he is hitting his shots he pretty much hits everything, but if he isn’t, he doesn’t do much else. IDK how I would feel if we acquired him.
But we do need a shooter so I suppose it’s something we need.
"I might be sick in the head or crazy or thrown off or something like that, but I still think we are going to win this series," Bryant said. "I might be nuts. Win on Sunday. Go back home and see if they can win in L.A."
*Kobe Bryant is sick in the head, crazy AND thrown off. Don't forget nuts.*
We do need shooters
I don’t really care who. But that’s something we need
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
No, they wouldn't.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Haha ok.
You disagree with me just to disagree. Barnes is trash and everyone knows that.
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
No.
"I might be sick in the head or crazy or thrown off or something like that, but I still think we are going to win this series," Bryant said. "I might be nuts. Win on Sunday. Go back home and see if they can win in L.A."
*Kobe Bryant is sick in the head, crazy AND thrown off. Don't forget nuts.*
LOL, I don't disagree with anyone "just to disagree".
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Well I think anyone who considers Matt Barnes a better basketball player than J.R. Smith isn't all there in the head
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
Well I think anyone who phrases arguments in this manner isn’t all there in the understanding of the meaning of an opinion
by C.A. Clark on May 9, 2011 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Remember last summer's big to do about not caring that Shaq went to Boston?
Yeah.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
I think I'm missing something here
So I’m being told to respect the opinions of others on here? Understandable, I get that. Yet I can’t post my opinions or suggestions regarding the Lakers without essentially getting the same thing you’re accusing me of doing? That’s fair.
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
Nobody is disrespecting your opinion.
You just happen to think you know everyone else’s opinion when you don’t.
Still I think it’s pretty clear
You ask all 30 teams which player they would rather have and they would all take J.R. Smith
Barnes is trash and everyone knows that.
Well I think anyone who considers Matt Barnes a better basketball player than J.R. Smith isn’t all there in the head
Each statement you have made you have generalized to everyone. While this may be your opinion, it is not everyone’s. And considering what you said in the last quote, you aren’t respecting anyone else’s opinion at all, while nobody has disrespected you.
"I might be sick in the head or crazy or thrown off or something like that, but I still think we are going to win this series," Bryant said. "I might be nuts. Win on Sunday. Go back home and see if they can win in L.A."
*Kobe Bryant is sick in the head, crazy AND thrown off. Don't forget nuts.*
LOL, wow.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
he didn't slap anyone
that dude had no business putting his hands on anyone much less a heated player.
Matt Barnes did not slap anyone. What kind of bullshit is that?
That coach grabbed him around the waist, and the rule is never to touch the other team’s player. Barnes didn’t know who was holding him and he simply tried to get the man’s hands off of him. Dude should have let him go immediately. It’s his own fault that he fell.
As for Orlando, I remember what happened. Why would you think anyone else forgot except you?
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
He didn't slap anybody, he pushed the coach away.
I do remember what he did with Kobe. That’s why Kobe respects him.
For me its the consistent inconsistency that concerns me - PAGFL
It's always AMMO Time, in spirit- DexterFishmore
lebron should just lock himself away and not talk for the rest of forever-LA32
I went through the five stages of grief
And I have now arrived at acceptance.
It is what it is.
Did I except a sweep at the beginning of the series? No.
But I did expect a blowout for Game 4. The Lakers followed their own trend of spectacular flame-outs at elimination games, that it was easily predictable.
But that does not mean it was acceptable, though I have now accepted it.
It did really happen – I’m not dreaming and the ones I feel the worse for are probably Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant.
Despite how this season has ended, it can’t take away what the Lakers have accomplished, what Phil has accomplished, and what Kobe has accomplished.
He and the Lakers will just give the league hell next year.
Magic Johnson irritated me last night. What’s the point in berating a team that’s already been kicked in the groin and shat on? I know it was humiliating and embarrassing to watch, but he sounded like those fairweather fans and Steven A Jackson. The team does not need to be blown up. It’s been to the Finals three straight times, most of its starters had been playing in the summer with their national countries for two straight years, it was just a very difficult task to get to the Finals again. Could they have gone out like the Champs? Yeah. But the flame-out doesn’t warrant trigger-happy, finger-pointing blowup of the team.
Obviously something must be done in terms of our depth, bench, and point guard position. Last year we were able to skate by on the starters + LO dominating and the magic of Ammo, but this year, it just caught up to us. Age, fatigue, mental stress, physical stress, lack of chemistry, whatever it was, it just caught up. Rest up this summer and come back strong next year.
I’m now going to dive back into my ice cream. On the subject of trade speculations and free agent signings, I hope that we somehow get Deron Williams. Though my brother thinks Mitch might trade Pau to Orlando for Dwight. Dunno how’d that work out or if it’s just wishful thinking on his part.
Lakers 2009 Road to Redemption: TREVOR, DEREK, LAMAR, PAU & KOBE.
Play the game of which Lakers reminds you of: Devin Ebanks - TA - TI, Shannon Brown - Chris Brown, Pau Gasol - Jesus, Machine - Luis Scola/Russell Brand, PJ with mustache and beard - Colonel Sanders.
by PeanutButterSpread on May 9, 2011 1:25 PM PDT reply actions
I'm not sure about how much of it were his immediate feelings
or if he said those things for the sake of the show… but because of his feelings for the Lakers, I respect his opinions, and in this case I hope the Lakers try to do something to resolve the team’s uninspired, effortless play.
Defense wins championships.
He's not tweeting for the sake of the show.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Lakers suckkkk
all their players are aging and declining. Their dynasty will be over when kobe retires.
Last time I checked Kobe isn't retiring sometime in the near future so that's fine
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
...and unfortunately for you guys, you're paying him a LOT of money over the next three seasons.
Clippers // Chargers // Rays // Gators // Boise State
"The Lakers do win games. But things can change." - Blake Griffin
I'm not paying Kobe shit thank you very much
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
It's pretty clear that I meant "the Lakers" by "you" and "you guys."
Clippers // Chargers // Rays // Gators // Boise State
"The Lakers do win games. But things can change." - Blake Griffin
Kobe can and WOULD re-structure his contract to gaurantee another chip.
And you can take that to the bank.
Sarge Clemins
by Big John Stud on May 9, 2011 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions
If that's true, why didn't he just take less when he signed his extension?
Clippers // Chargers // Rays // Gators // Boise State
"The Lakers do win games. But things can change." - Blake Griffin
Think about it from a buisness perspective.
Get the most while you can.
He already said he will do what it takes to keep winning. He thought he could win another with this present mold. Now he may have to give a few mil back to get the next chip….and believe me he would.
Sarge Clemins
by Big John Stud on May 9, 2011 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Kobe still has at least 3 good seasons left in him
Worth every penny.
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
unfortunate? naw man.....naw man
Sarge Clemins
by Big John Stud on May 9, 2011 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Bananas.
"I might be sick in the head or crazy or thrown off or something like that, but I still think we are going to win this series," Bryant said. "I might be nuts. Win on Sunday. Go back home and see if they can win in L.A."
*Kobe Bryant is sick in the head, crazy AND thrown off. Don't forget nuts.*
Dude...
it happens to all great teams. but the lakers do not suck. they’re record of success speaks louder than this debacle
What did Dallas do differently on offense in the playoffs?
Because they weren’t dominating the Lakers like this in the regular season.
Did they just hit shots they didn’t before? Was it Peja?
Dallas beat the Lakers fair and square, I’m just struggling to understand what the Mavs did any differently to have such an improvement in offense.
"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson
"Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd." - Voltaire
they didn't have to worry about defense.
and the lakers froze up. brrrr…..
"Gimme the fuckin' ball!" - Andrew Bynum
They rode the hot hands.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
they were ridiculously hot from behind the arc
I did a fanpost on that, but I’m having 2nd thoughts on publishing it.
Jason Terry just hit another 3.
twitter
yeah, I'm going for Dallas now but afraid that they won't be able to hit a three against their next opponent(s)
Defense wins championships.
dallas blew there wad against the lakers...
there going to fail against the thunder/grizzlies watch!
by Mark Jaramillo on May 9, 2011 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Amazingly shitty defense from the Lakers
Same plays over and over and over again. It’s amazing that no one ever figured out the concept of going under a screen or staying on a shooter.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
ikr? you could see where the shot was gonna come from before it happened
yet our players failed to rotate or were late when they do.
Fuck, I miss Ammo and winning.
Non stop Pick and Rolls
They would run up to 3 per possession until they got the defense in a position that the weak side had to help in the paint on the roll man, then kicked it to the open shooter while the Lakers slow perimeter players tried to get back or rotate to the shooter. The only other set they would run is a Dirk post elbow iso where he could shoot right over the top of his defender.
In technical terms, the Mavs almost never ran curl plays for their shooters off of screens, or a 4-high offense. At times they ran what coaches call the thumb-up (or horns-up) set, which is essentially a option P&R to either side of the court depending on how the ball-handler defender was positioned.
by tandur on May 9, 2011 4:45 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
they studied and exposed the Lakers biggest weakness didn't they?
and they trusted in their game plan, which increased their confidence and belief that they would win
Defense wins championships.
they look like they stepped up the intensity for the playoffs and had a desire to work hard and win
the Lakers did not
Defense wins championships.
We need more athleticism but I think we have something in Ebanks
He’s already better than how Ariza was at that stage of his career and he sounds like a hard worker. We know the new coach will give him more time than PJ did so I think that may be a potential antedote for our slow ass defense.
"If somebody had their life on the line, and they’ve got their options on who they want to save their life — tell me who you’re going to pick? You’re going to look at the stats first?" - Kobe Bryant
Great piece, man
Really captures well what a lot of us are thinking.
Please remember: it's not my fault your team sucks.
Twitter feed: @dexterfishmore
Dex my man..
Why do you despise me? haha
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
i dunno if he does.....but i do!
lol
Sarge Clemins
by Big John Stud on May 9, 2011 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions
For?
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
my sarcasm didnt go thru the screen? lol
Sarge Clemins
by Big John Stud on May 9, 2011 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm gullible sorry
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
Sorry, what?
I think you lost me.
Please remember: it's not my fault your team sucks.
Twitter feed: @dexterfishmore
by DexterFishmore on May 9, 2011 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Well played Dex
Well played
Leaving Jimmer Fredette open for 3 is like leaving Brad Pitt alone with your wife. You know he's gonna hit it.
I'm gonna publish an article...
It’s gonna be about our troubles as Lakers fans. How ruff its benn aver the last 4 years. And how hard its been with Kobe. And how ruff it must be to just find some “shooters” to put round our “4” center pieces. And how ruff it is to have SO MANY BANNERS!!!!
Sarge Clemins
DO IT
Ya, we’re blowing this a little out of proportion. Put any team in front of the Mavs team from this last week and see if they could have stopped that onslaught of 3s…. Lakers will be fine. They got their asses kicked but it happens.
Hey, Carlisle, please get off the peyote please
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=6514530
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
Hilarious comment.
I admit when I heard Carlisle say that I laughed. Lets see how Top 10 Dirk looks when Dallas loses.
"Winning takes talent; to repeat takes character." - John Wooden
by Joshua S on May 9, 2011 10:42 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Yep, you pretty much covered what we're all thinking and feeling C.A.
Everything about yesterday is so disheartening. It’s gonna be tough to recover from it all, especially with the fact that Phil won’t be around after all this. But we will most definitely bounce back in time.
"Always keep an open mind and a compassionate heart." -Phil Jackson
Thanks for everything Phil. See ya around.
Wow Chuck....
Never knew he was a Laker hater
"I don't mind being the goat. I don't mind being the villain, hated. I've been that my whole career, so it's not like that's anything new. I don't mind people jumping on the bandwagon or jumping off. I just focus on playing the game." -Ron Artest
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius
Envy perhaps?
"Confidence is a lot of this game or any game. If you don't think you can, you won't." - Jerry West
"If you're a competitive person, that stays with you. You don't stop. You always look over your shoulder" - Magic Johnson
"What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection." - Kobe Bryant
"I gave it my body and mind, but I have kept my soul." - Phil Jackson
by Middle Earth Riverdweller on May 10, 2011 1:13 AM PDT up reply actions
Quality write-up
I will remember this core group with a lot of pride and I agree that we will not see this group together again. I would say that if Kobe is not going to practice with the team, he is no longer the 1st option going forward. That should be obvious and I was concerned when I heard about this.
As to the shame, I have a few random thoughts.
1) Was there this much BS in 2009 when Denver took their cheap shots in the WCF? There was much praise for McHale’s closelining of Rambis in 1984.
2) Phil was right. Gasol was being fouled. This tactic has been allowed off and on since 1973 when Cowens used it on Kareem (Lew at the time), it was the ONLY method of stopping him in his early years. Why it was allowed again this year is for debate. NBA the new WWF.
3) Let us remember these players study the games in slow motion during the off days. They see when they are fouled with Refs staring right at them swallowing their whistles. I know how pissed I was watching the end of game 1 and I did not have my professional career on the line. For them, they have been fighting through this uneven officiating all season, in Miami, then in Utah, home vs Denver. Pau was just taken right out of the playoff games. Does anybody remember Lamar acting remotely similar, I do not and that has me wondering just what they were seeing on tape.
I love Fish and Kobe, they got us within 1 of Boston and that was no easy feat.
I have seen a few
playoffs in my day and that was pafreakingthetic!!!!!!This is the kind of bullshit that Bird, Magic, Russell, and now I gotta choke on it f******* M.Jordan never ever would have let happen, too much heart, too much class, and way too much PREPARATION!!!!!!!! The “jet” killed the Lakers?Peja “washed up” Stojacovic, old man Kidd??Are you flipping kidding me?It would be one thing if we had been beat by a better team in a grueling series that would go down in the history books, but the crapass dallas washed out in the first round playoffs perenial losers?The team that only knew how to lose??What did we all of a sudden get crappy, did we all of a sudden lose all our ability? No, we lost heart, we lost will, and we let an inferior team win a series they had no business being in. I will say this now, that group of losers in Dallas will NEVER, EFFING EVER, win a NBA Championship, underacheivers all.
Look at you: member of the honor roll, assistant to the assistant manager of the movie theater. I'm tellin' ya, Rat, if this girl can't smell your qualifications, then who needs her, right? Mike Damone (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
Sweet, Celtics just lost to Heat
Suck it Boston. If we’re not allowed to make it past the 2nd round, neither are you.
I would rather a franchise like Boston won it all than those prima donnas from Miami
Look at you: member of the honor roll, assistant to the assistant manager of the movie theater. I'm tellin' ya, Rat, if this girl can't smell your qualifications, then who needs her, right? Mike Damone (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
Sorry the path is being cleared
Rose got the MVP, kiss of death for Bulls.
The West team has no hope in the finals. Heat will shoot 30+ Ft’s each game.
I really want to see them take on Dallas
Dallas is streaky as hell, but i’m still willing to bet on them
"I don't mind being the goat. I don't mind being the villain, hated. I've been that my whole career, so it's not like that's anything new. I don't mind people jumping on the bandwagon or jumping off. I just focus on playing the game." -Ron Artest
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius
I don't like Lebron James either
but I have nothing against the Heat or Wade or Bosh. Still, you should never cheer for our arch nemesis to win a championship.
Lebron’s Miami is the NBA team that everyone hates. But that just started this year. They haven’t really done anything to the Lakers franchise. No bad blood.
The Celtics, on the other hand, have been kicking our ass since the late 50s. Even though we beat them last year, they still have an overwhelming 9-3 record against us in a championship series. Lots of bad blood in this rivalry, including the Bird-Magic hate, Rambis-McHale closeline, Pierce’s fake wheel chair incident, Garnett punking Gasol, Gasol calling out Garnett for being old, Artest-Pierce hatred, the obnoxious BEAT LA slogan the Chowds invented, etc.
It’s a real rivalry and there’s deep hate. Celtics should always be the last team you ever want to win a championship.
by notaznguy on May 9, 2011 9:02 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
I don't think Magic and Bird genuinely hated each other
They were engaged in a heated rivalry but there was no bitter and lingering animosity between them. But you’re right and I agree, I would rather have teams like Dallas, Chicago, or even Memphis win the title and not the Celtics nor the Heat. If it was the other way around, it’s pretty likely that a Celtic fan would not want the Lakers to win another title.
"Confidence is a lot of this game or any game. If you don't think you can, you won't." - Jerry West
"If you're a competitive person, that stays with you. You don't stop. You always look over your shoulder" - Magic Johnson
"What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection." - Kobe Bryant
"I gave it my body and mind, but I have kept my soul." - Phil Jackson
by Middle Earth Riverdweller on May 10, 2011 1:39 AM PDT up reply actions
hey you're here!
that’s why you’re not in the bar
Just got one more than Shaq. You can take that to the bank. You know how I am. I don’t forget anything. - KOBE "JELLYBEAN" BRYANT
its like
lakers can be beaten by everyone else but not to the C
Just got one more than Shaq. You can take that to the bank. You know how I am. I don’t forget anything. - KOBE "JELLYBEAN" BRYANT
I was there a few minutes ago
Had an exchange of thoughts with I3oh about Luke Walton and the Heat
"Confidence is a lot of this game or any game. If you don't think you can, you won't." - Jerry West
"If you're a competitive person, that stays with you. You don't stop. You always look over your shoulder" - Magic Johnson
"What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection." - Kobe Bryant
"I gave it my body and mind, but I have kept my soul." - Phil Jackson
by Middle Earth Riverdweller on May 10, 2011 2:47 AM PDT up reply actions
but no matter what, please, please do not let those gd mavs and asswipe Cuban win
Look at you: member of the honor roll, assistant to the assistant manager of the movie theater. I'm tellin' ya, Rat, if this girl can't smell your qualifications, then who needs her, right? Mike Damone (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
An excellent article
And the title pretty much describes how I feel right now as a Laker fan: an undented sense of pride, in our team’s winning tradition and the back-to-back titles we have, and shame in how this team’s season crashed and burned the way it did.
"Confidence is a lot of this game or any game. If you don't think you can, you won't." - Jerry West
"If you're a competitive person, that stays with you. You don't stop. You always look over your shoulder" - Magic Johnson
"What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection." - Kobe Bryant
"I gave it my body and mind, but I have kept my soul." - Phil Jackson
by Middle Earth Riverdweller on May 9, 2011 7:22 PM PDT reply actions
Nice Revisionist History
But it’s completely made up. Pau played great in the 2008 postseason and poorly in the 2011 post season.
In the 2008 finals against his nemesis, Pau had a 0.532 field goal percentage (0.530 for entire playoffs) 10.2 rebounds per game (9.3 for all playoffs), 14.7 points per game (16.9 in all playoffs).
Defense? Kevin Garnett had a playoff average fgp of 0.429 in 2008 finals, playoff average of 0.495, 10.5 rpg playoffs, 13.0 2008 finals, 18.2 playoffs, 20.4 finals.
2011 against Dallas? 0.422 fgp (0.420 for all playoffs), 9.3 rebounds (7.8 for playoffs) per game, 12.5 ppg (13.1 for all of playoffs).
Pau sucked this post-season for the first time ever as a Laker, period.
If he does this once in a tiny spurt every 3-4 seasons i won't mind
"I don't mind being the goat. I don't mind being the villain, hated. I've been that my whole career, so it's not like that's anything new. I don't mind people jumping on the bandwagon or jumping off. I just focus on playing the game." -Ron Artest
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." -Confucius
Me either.
Don’t you love the chase? Sometimes it doesn’t work out; those are the stakes. But when it does work out, it’s like having that first cigarette: your head gets all dizzy, your heart pounds, your knees go weak. Remember that?
Follow me on Twitter and I'll follow you too. LOL.
http://twitter.com/domidomdomz
there are lot of problems on the Lakers player this year but
still i would rather keep this core group and try again next year. no need to trade anyone.. an interesting article i read on yahoo say how these lakers players has a side job, that may not happen next year.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;ylt=AtCYUtl1BGX6hnE4SySKHW8vLYF?slug=ap-lakerscollapse
I'll take Dwight for Bynum and then CP3 for Gasol.
I’ll miss Bynum and Pau, but I’ll miss championships even more.
No problem Mitch, right?
The more I think about it, the more I think Kobe’s decline will be very gradual and can play many more years as the starting shooting guard. Need to get a young core going now. Add some athletic bouncy guys and bam, were back.
There is no question that someone (or all) in the Bynum – Gasol – Lamar combo will be traded because its a luxury the Laker’s can no longer afford and Kobe needs a playmaker.
i'd take that deal
"Hardwork beats talent when talent fails to work hard"-Norm Nixon
There are basic Fundamentals that are needed to move forward in this game. Always keep your guard up at all times to avoid being caught in a trap. Overcome the fouls that will be committed against you REBOUND AND PRESS ON. ADJUST to the Limelight: ALL-STAR PLAYERS ARE ALWAYS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION. Know what your role is and play your position. Find a game plan and execute it. REMEMBER YOU ONLY GET OUT OF THE GAME WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT.
I'm on it so let's tweet: @B_M_Bizness
we can't give up all our size.
I think one of the 7 foot troika is heading out the door but we need to keep some length and size.
You'll miss Bynum and Pau when you're getting better players in return for them?
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
Yes
But there are three big men and one can be traded for a point guard. If you can trade for the best point guard in the lead (Pau) vs. a league average point guard for (Odom), its an easy decision for me. Especially when you compare CP3 and Pau’s ages.
I’d love to keep Pau, but he’s the only one with the salary and skill to trade for CP3 or a player of similar caliber. That means we need a monster center as a big man. Either way Pau would fit in great as a peace of the puzzle, but isn’t the answer to complete the puzzle without a Kobe Bryant in his prime.
Despite his subpar performance in the playoffs, everyone knows Pau is an awesome PF/C in his prime and his trade value is still at a premium and it is either time to sell or keep him for the duration.
Now if we could trade Odom, Luke, and Blake for CP3 I would be all for it and keep Pau, but that’s not going to happen. What I wouldn’t want to see happen is him traded for a bunch of stepping stones like the trade for Shaq. We need 1:1 return plus an age premium.
it’s all good. these guys need a break. thanks for the great run. this thing isn’t over.
"the man who created a legend; the legend who resurrected a franchise."
yup
"Hardwork beats talent when talent fails to work hard"-Norm Nixon
There are basic Fundamentals that are needed to move forward in this game. Always keep your guard up at all times to avoid being caught in a trap. Overcome the fouls that will be committed against you REBOUND AND PRESS ON. ADJUST to the Limelight: ALL-STAR PLAYERS ARE ALWAYS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION. Know what your role is and play your position. Find a game plan and execute it. REMEMBER YOU ONLY GET OUT OF THE GAME WHAT YOU PUT INTO IT.
I'm on it so let's tweet: @B_M_Bizness
This is not th end
"Confidence is a lot of this game or any game. If you don't think you can, you won't." - Jerry West
"If you're a competitive person, that stays with you. You don't stop. You always look over your shoulder" - Magic Johnson
"What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection." - Kobe Bryant
"I gave it my body and mind, but I have kept my soul." - Phil Jackson
by Middle Earth Riverdweller on May 9, 2011 9:28 PM PDT up reply actions
*the end
"Confidence is a lot of this game or any game. If you don't think you can, you won't." - Jerry West
"If you're a competitive person, that stays with you. You don't stop. You always look over your shoulder" - Magic Johnson
"What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection." - Kobe Bryant
"I gave it my body and mind, but I have kept my soul." - Phil Jackson
by Middle Earth Riverdweller on May 9, 2011 9:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Great stuff, Chris. I wonder how Kobe will deal with the reality that Father Time is just around the corner.
"A life, Jimmy, you know what that is? It’s what happens while you wait for moments that will never come." - Lester Freamon, The Wire
by silverandblack_davis on May 9, 2011 9:30 PM PDT reply actions
I'm sure he'll whatever he has to do in order for this team to keep winning.
Even if it means he plays a lesser role.
"If you have a debate with a scholar, you can win. If you have a debate with an ignorant person, you will definitely lose."
"You want to make history you gotta do historic things" - Kobe Bryant.
Like being the facilitator on offense
or improving his shot selection and perfecting his outside shot so that he could deliver the dagger threes at the critical moments and break the opposing team’s will to fight.
"Confidence is a lot of this game or any game. If you don't think you can, you won't." - Jerry West
"If you're a competitive person, that stays with you. You don't stop. You always look over your shoulder" - Magic Johnson
"What I'm doing right now, I'm chasing perfection." - Kobe Bryant
"I gave it my body and mind, but I have kept my soul." - Phil Jackson
by Middle Earth Riverdweller on May 10, 2011 1:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Such a disappointing year in the end
But we all know it had to end sometime. We just all expected it to be another year or two away. The reality is that this isn’t about Kobe being too old, it is about the rest of the team (save Bynum) being too old and worn out from playing 4 years worth of basketball in the last 30 months. Kobe’s answer to increasing age was a refined shooting stroke and an improved back to the basket game. What is Pau Gasol’s answer to increased age? Shooting lousy fadeaways, playing disinterested at the defensive end and essentially becoming a hybrid of late 90’s Karl Malone and Rik Smits? The FO has to decide whether we have already got the best out of Pau Gasol. As for Bynum, if he wants the Lakers to be HIS team, he has to start acting like a leader and stop acting like a teenager who throws a temper tantrum by stealing some nerd’s lunch money. Even Bill Laimbeer in all of his faux tough guy glory would have at least gone after a small forward. Does there need to at least be fine tuning, YES! Does there need to be consideration regarding a complete overhaul at this point, YES! This is no longer a championship team. This is a team that WAS a championship team. Thanks for the memories and the parades down Figueroa Phil! I would still rather go through the highs of the jubilation we all felt after Game 7 last year and the lows of yesterday afternoon than never having won it all. Also, thanks to the people who work so hard to help make SS&R one of the most knowledgeable and entertaining sites on the internet. Y’all make me proud to be a Laker fan even on days such as today when the haters get to not only hate but also gloat.
"Hey, the talk before was that I couldn't do it without Shaq. Well, I did that. And then I did it again."
- The Black Mamba (and don't think he won't do it again)
Fuck Fairness. Fuck Happy Endings. Fuck bad PR. Fuck losing. These are the tenets of the Black Mamba.
- C.A. Clark
by Jason78 on May 9, 2011 10:02 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Pau's been saving energy by not running out to three point shooters
But to be fair, so did everyone else on the Lakers.
Should be well rested for next year.
go!!!
for CP3 and DHoward…………. and everything will come back to normal next season… playin’ for championship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kobe
NOT in the top 5 best players ? That’s where you’re wrong C.A. As long as Kobe Bryant is still in the league, he will always be a top 5 player. Because of his skill set, he can affect the game in ways very few other players can.
I believe Kobe and pau resolve their issue, get back on track, and get back in the running for the 2012 NBA Championship. Go Lakers. 2012 Champs !!
by drake m on May 10, 2011 12:58 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Any player who can not practice, is not even top 10
Lakers have a lot to think about. Like is there even going to be a season in 2012?
totally disagree
As long as Kobe Bryant is still in the league, he will always be a top 5 player.
Jason Terry just hit another 3.
twitter
ikr?
"If somebody had their life on the line, and they’ve got their options on who they want to save their life — tell me who you’re going to pick? You’re going to look at the stats first?" - Kobe Bryant
by desecrator09 on May 10, 2011 10:26 AM PDT up reply actions
Guys, I think you might be talking with your heart.
Hell, at the end of game 3, even Fisher did not know where to be on offense when Kobe tried to pass out. Time for Kobe to allow someone else to be 1st option, win, lose or draw.
I am glad he is getting some rest and he should consider getting those fingers operated on this off season. It will take about 3 months to get all the swelling out if he has a surgery like mine.
Um, they're saying he's no longer a top 5 player.
Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose. - Bill Gates
To be great is to be misunderstood. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I’m an arrogant Lakers fan. So fucking what?
Tweetness: @SoCalGal64
Stephen Curry is get-able...
at least that was the case in January. Mitch: Get on it.
http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/01/22/warriors-owner-willing-to-trade-stephen-curry/
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
Really, Ben Howland? 2 NBA All-Stars,
and you still couldn't get it done?!
Go Lakers! Go Dodgers! Serena, Marry Me!
Toronto wants to deal. If Reggie Evans is healthy (foot) he's a board getter for cheap
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AsNnLgA3rN.6HI9BwqKoGhTFPKB4?slug=teamreports-2011-nba-tor
U-C-L-A Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Bruins!
Really, Ben Howland? 2 NBA All-Stars,
and you still couldn't get it done?!
Go Lakers! Go Dodgers! Serena, Marry Me!
nah he's old an injury-prone
"If somebody had their life on the line, and they’ve got their options on who they want to save their life — tell me who you’re going to pick? You’re going to look at the stats first?" - Kobe Bryant
by desecrator09 on May 10, 2011 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions
This
And he’ll never play in our frontcourt rotation. 99% of our problems are in the backcourt.
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. -- Sun Tzu
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