The Credits: "Where the Heart Is"

by SoCalGal on Feb 19, 2012 8:30 AM PST in Credits

Pau Gasol was part of the nixed Chris Paul trade just before the season started. Since then, he's handled his very difficult situation like a trooper, showing up at training camp, and playing like it was just another day (although there have been some moments when you could sense his head just wasn't in the game). But as of this moment, he still plays for our beloved Lakers. On the other hand, Kobe Bryant says the trade rumors that have been swirling around Pau are playing havoc with his emotions, perhaps explaining why we see an aggressive Pau one night and a passive Pau the next. It can't be easy for him, and I for one, give him a lot of credit. Kudos, Pau.

"Obviously I'm not too glad I was missing some looks and not capitalizing on some opportunities that I had," he said. "When you're going through it, you're going through it. There's not much you can do about it. Just continue to play and make plays."

The Lakers will go for their fourth straight win tonight against the Phoenix Suns, the team they just spanked on Friday night at Staples Center, ruining Marcin Gortat's birthday. Keep in mind, however, that this is a road game, where the Lakers are 5-10. Yuck, right? Wish they could play at home the rest of the season? Yeah, me too. However, Phoenix is a sizzling 5-8 at home this season, so the Lakers should be able to pull off a win, and ruin Gortat's entire birthday weekend in the process.

In other news, Greg Oden just makes me sad, Stephen Jackson and Scott Skiles are kaput, and there are conflicting and confusing reports of LeBron James talking to Cavaliers owner (and Whiner Extraordinaire) Dan Gilbert. Whom to believe? Better question: should we really care? Point taken.

Finally, Kobe is a machine.

"I’m fine," Bryant said. "I’ve noticed a lot of people going down with injuries and I’m very proud to say that they’re a lot younger than I am.

"Here I am, I haven’t pulled a hamstring or pulled muscles or anything like that. Over the summer, I worked extremely hard trying to stay in shape and trying to get ready for this compression."

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so apparently our ability to force turnovers isn't just bad

but historically bad…

ZachLowe_SI: Lakers’ D has forced turnovers on 11.3% of opponent possessions. Would be 4th-lowest of all-time (record is 10.8%, ’90 Celtics)

by shawism on Feb 19, 2012 8:52 AM PST reply actions

damn! What about the opposing team fg%? Where could you find that? Just curious

where they rank as far as how many points and fg% they hold other teams to.

THE BANDWAGON: Championship? lol you’ve gotta b kidding. - Emmceee /we aren't winning anything this year man - BlueXfalcon / We arent winning anything this year - Lakergirl / we aren’t winning anything this yurrrrr - Tkuang /I expect them to make it past the first round, but I will be very happy if they make it past the second.- Gil M. / We aren’t gonna win anything this year, dude - Aethereal / don't think we will win anything this year. Seriously-CLDPC / I’m not expecting something big from this Lakers team this season - Yoshifan

by Jelly Bean on Feb 19, 2012 8:55 AM PST up reply actions

according to bball ref

we’re 8th in defensive rating, which makes it all the more interesting.

by shawism on Feb 19, 2012 8:59 AM PST up reply actions

nvm..FOUND IT

But then there are the positives that shouldn’t be ignored — the fourth-stingiest defense (90.45 points allowed), the third-best defense in terms of opponents’ accuracy (41.7 percent shooting allowed) and the 6-2 record in games against the top eight teams in the West.

by Jelly Bean on Feb 19, 2012 8:58 AM PST up reply actions

This is the main reason why I have finals/title aspirations.

by Jelly Bean on Feb 19, 2012 8:59 AM PST up reply actions

nice... didnt know we played so well against the west

Follow me: @theshmoes.

by theshmoes on Feb 19, 2012 11:33 AM PST up reply actions

Wow! Personally

I would like Jackson on the Lakers. For a player like Barnes, Artest and Jackson and Sprewell, I think, they have to be on teams where they respect the organization, coach and most of all the players they are playing with.

Woelful goes on to say that the Bucks would love to unload Jackson, but Jackson’s advanced age, high salary, and low productivity could make that a challenge. Still, the Bucks could send away a talented young player, such as Irsan Ilyasova or even Brandon Jennings, as part of a package deal that would allow the Bucks to unload Jackson, according to "some NBA officials."

by Jelly Bean on Feb 19, 2012 8:53 AM PST reply actions

they would send away Jennings just to get rid of him?

thats incredibly stupid.

by shawism on Feb 19, 2012 8:56 AM PST up reply actions

I would take Jennings in a heart beat. That would be sick.

by Jelly Bean on Feb 19, 2012 8:58 AM PST up reply actions

i dont know... he's a big time chucker

Follow me: @theshmoes.

by theshmoes on Feb 19, 2012 11:34 AM PST up reply actions

Also likes to make excuses

http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2010/11/25/sports/nh3338822.txt

Look towards the bottom of the text at what he says about Mo Williams’ buzzer beater

Coach has to meet us halfway

by Mambatsuna on Feb 19, 2012 1:06 PM PST up reply actions

He probably is but playing under Kobe and Fisher

he is going to be forced to be part of the system not be the main focus of it.

by Jelly Bean on Feb 19, 2012 1:13 PM PST up reply actions

Jennings doesn't like Kobe for some reason

Coach has to meet us halfway

by Mambatsuna on Feb 19, 2012 1:04 PM PST up reply actions

but yeah

that would be stupid.

by Jelly Bean on Feb 19, 2012 8:59 AM PST up reply actions

Its the NBA's Spanish website. Apparently, Rose wants Gasol.

The Lakers Pau Gasol want to use to rebuild their team, hence their insistence on putting on the market week after week. The message from Los Angeles has penetrated deep into the League as a fine and persistent rain that keeps falling. The issue has fed into Catalan because every human being has a limit, but some persistent yellow franchise transfer to a all star caliber player is taken as a great opportunity.

So you see Derrick Rose, the reigning AL MVP, who wants to International in Chicago. Rose believes that its impact on the Lakers Pau in 2007 could be repeated this season with the Bulls, seeking his first ring after the Jordan era. The base and share agent power forward. This is Arn Tellem and this could facilitate the operation.

The basis of the Bulls has suggested this movement to the policy of the franchise. His plan is that Chicago is apparent from Boozer, who charges $ 13,500,000 this season, and a player, possibly a base, to try to convince the Lakers, who do seem willing to transfer to the Catalan power forward, "as long as square the issue, "he would say Pau.

http://www.marca.com/2012/02/19/baloncesto/nba/noticias/1329642134.html

by E-ROC on Feb 19, 2012 8:59 AM PST reply actions

LOL, the translation is funny, and so poetic.

The message from Los Angeles has penetrated deep into the League as a fine and persistent rain that keeps falling.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. - Albert Einstein
Captain Obvious, er, MagicJohnson: Kobe, Bynum & Gasol all must step up big to beat the @Hawks.
Tweetness

by SoCalGal on Feb 19, 2012 9:05 AM PST up reply actions

I know. Its so Shakespeare, lol.

by E-ROC on Feb 19, 2012 9:08 AM PST up reply actions

wish I was this eloquent

The issue has fed into Catalan because every human being has a limit, but some persistent yellow franchise transfer to a all star caliber player is taken as a great opportunity.

This is Arn Tellem and this could facilitate the operation.

by shawism on Feb 19, 2012 9:15 AM PST up reply actions

awesome

how you doin'
Twitter: @bluefalcon916

by bluexfalcon on Feb 19, 2012 9:26 AM PST up reply actions

I'm not gonna be around for the game tonight, so you're on your own, kiddo.

by SoCalGal on Feb 19, 2012 9:29 AM PST up reply actions

derp

how you doin'
Twitter: @bluefalcon916

by bluexfalcon on Feb 19, 2012 9:33 AM PST up reply actions

Derp you!

by SoCalGal on Feb 19, 2012 9:52 AM PST up reply actions

this is so confusing

“the reigning AL MVP” wuh?

"These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game." - Charlie Wilson
"I think that all the silence is worse than all the violence." -Lupe Fiasco
Don't Forget To Change Your Sig Tomorrow Since We're Playing Phoenix, SCG

by Marty Mart on Feb 19, 2012 10:21 AM PST up reply actions

Roland Lazenby is throwing some venom on twitter.

He’s talking about Jim Buss and Jerry Buss and the Lakers transition. Worth the read.

http://twitter.com/#!/lazenby

by E-ROC on Feb 19, 2012 9:32 AM PST reply actions

Yeah, he's right in this case.

by SoCalGal on Feb 19, 2012 9:33 AM PST up reply actions

'Money' moves to help the Lakers in 2012 is a good article.

Before we get to the offers I would extend to other teams, one simple question that I can’t get an answer to: Why have the Lakers not signed any of the productive players from the D-League to 10-day contracts in order to try and upgrade their bench, or even one of the troubled positions in their starting lineup?

PG Justin Dentmon continues to play at a high level for the Austin Toro’s and would be worth a look, as would SF Gerald Green, who’s a member of the D-Fenders, and was just named the player of the week after averaging 28 points-per-game in four contests.

I don’t know why either.

I do like the idea of acquiring Beno Udrih or Ramon Sessions via the exception.

by E-ROC on Feb 19, 2012 9:37 AM PST reply actions

lol

i don’t get it either

by Marty Mart on Feb 19, 2012 10:23 AM PST up reply actions

I would reply with...

When was the last time a D league player made a significant contribution to a title contender or added significant contributions to help a team in the post season. The Lakers are playing chess not checkers.

by Jelly Bean on Feb 19, 2012 10:36 AM PST up reply actions

You cant win a chess game with a board full of pawns

Jus cause a guy is in the d league doesnt mean they cant play. Fisher or Kapono would average double figures in the d league yet they are sitting on the roster

See me on Twitter follow me @ EddieCheeze, Catch me on FB friend me Eddie Cheeze, See my group on youtube listen to us Hood Platinum, want me ta kill a track email me Cheeze2k11@gmail.com....Im errwhere

by EmmCeee on Feb 19, 2012 11:24 AM PST via Android app up reply actions

that is a good point

I kind of agree.

by Jelly Bean on Feb 19, 2012 1:14 PM PST up reply actions

Since we have the worst bench and worst PG in the league

things couldn’t get any worse so looking at a couple D leaguers couldn’t hurt.

by Jelly Bean on Feb 19, 2012 1:18 PM PST up reply actions

dependent on a variety of factors, Kapono could be fine in the D League. Not a star, but a solid shooter

fisher plays too much out of what he is supposed to do and that is more of his problem than anything

by Marty Mart on Feb 19, 2012 1:09 PM PST up reply actions

lol at "pawns"

good points.

by Jelly Bean on Feb 19, 2012 1:14 PM PST up reply actions

Lol, the use of the D-League is to fill out the rest of your roster.

A D-League player provides flexibility because they would be on a ten-day contract. This player would be a role player, not a star. Said player would not be required to shoulder the load of the offense. They would provide what they’ve been doing in the D-League. He would just be a role player, nothing more. Its a low risk, low or high reward move.

Anyway, here are the players that contributed to title contenders: Chuck Hayes, Ime Udoka, and Devin Brown. I’m sure there are others. Danny Green is currently doing some good things with the Spurs.

by E-ROC on Feb 19, 2012 4:44 PM PST up reply actions