Silver Screen and Roll: FanPosts

A case of shoulderitis in Washington last night.

2009-11-19T15:48:47Z

Is it me or is there something more to Shaq missing the Wizards game because of "a shoulder injury"? He was supposedly back in Cleveland rehabilitating his shoulder. For those of you who didn't know Shaq has been messing around with Agent Zero's wife. I hate gossip and rumors but when your off the court shenanigans costs your team a win I feel that becomes news. What is everyone's thoughts on this? Is Shaq being injured right before the Washington game a coincidence or not? On a side note Jamison came back from a shoulder injury and Mike Miller might have re-injured his.

First Time All-Stars 2009-2010

2009-11-18T22:12:03Z

It's never too early to speculate if you love basketball!

Who will be a first time All-Star selection this year?

Here's my short list, in order of likelihood from most likely to long shot:

Josh Smith

Kevin Durant

Andrew Bynum

Andrea Bargnani

Derrick Rose

Brandon Jennings

Discuss.

Update : Notable Reader Submissions - Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, Andrew Bogut

As fans, we deserve better than that...

2009-11-15T04:09:00Z

Hello all, chiming in after the loss to the Nugs.

Rarely have I seen the Lakers perform so poorly. Wait, check that. Rarely have I seen a team as gifted as the Lakers perform in such a piss-poor manner in any professional setting. I guess I could think back to other ugly games and seasons over the past few years; the let down loss and blow-out against Boston in the finals; losing to Detroit in 2004. Thinking out loud (threw my keyboard) in reality I don't think I've EVER had to witness such a frustrating performance over the past 20 years!

As fans, as the paying multitudes that buy the gear, purchase the tickets, watch and cheer, we deserve more than that! Calmer fans may be able to look to the next game. Not I...

I know, I know. It's one game. So let's get some stuff out of the way:

Lakers are reigning champs
There were bad calls and no calls
It was a back to back and the Lakers were playing in Denver which is like 8000 feet above sea level and our boys were suffering from a poor circadian rhythm and Kobe was sick like a couple of weeks ago.
Phil didn't call a timeout.
The starters didn't play the 4th quarter.
The Spaniard isn't playing.

Okay whew. That's out of the way. What I really want to focus on, and what drives a fan(atic) like me crazy is the lack of intensity the Lakers displayed last night. In fact, they do this all the time! While watching other dynasties over the past 20 years I don't think I've ever seen such as lack of intensity, and drive, that the Lakers are apt to bring to a game on any given night. Sure they won last year when it counts, and they're the champs, I've already gone over that. I don't care. With the level of skill our teams has, the basketball savvy, and the leadership from Kobe and Fisher there should never be a night like what we witnessed on Friday (the thirteenth). I hope this stings the Lakers into being a meaner, more intense, more focused squad. They have a chance to do be a fixture in the finals for the next few years. Time to sack up!

What I'd like to see:

Hate- It's good. It works. Controlled anger directed at your opponent burns bright and helps feed to ... intensity. After the game Bynum said, “I don’t think it’s a rivalry at all. They might feel that way, but we don’t.” WRONG youngster. It is a Rivalry because as fans we can't stand Denver, and you play for us! If that drubbing doesn't make you want to get back in there and grind them under your Nikes, then something is wrong.

Artest- Dear Mr. Arest, how grand it is that you haven't gone all "loco" and stuff and jumped into the stands. How nice of you to hold Melo's hand last night after he threw you on the ground. How restrained you were after being called for weak call after call which resulted in your sitting out the rest of the game. Screw that. I want the angry, feisty Arest back. Hey Kobe, let him off his leash already. Ron is an intimidator. He's a competitor, and every now and then we need someone to lay down the law (sorry Sasha, it aint you!). Avoid the misdemeanor, but hey, I want Artest to get PISSED. Kmart/Birdman/JR... closet thugs and toughs. I mean, last year I learned that Artest played such gnarly basketball that people used to get KILLED on the courts where he grew up. Bring some real street onto the court every now and then and get tough.

Bench Mob- Okay you guys suck. No really, you suck (except you Shannon. Thanks for the effort.). You're supposed to get in there and work your butts off. If you dont' have the skill, go Rambis and play with heart. Run the offense. Play fluid, and put some work in. You don't have the right to argue calls. You don't have the right to gripe and moan when something doesn't go your way (I'm talking to you Sasha). You need to earn that. And right now, you've earned jack.

Pride in the paint- Apparently last night a leprechaun laced up some keds, put on a Denver uniform, and dunked so hard over Mbenga (who comes from the most hard core 'hood on the planet, the freakin Congo) that he toppled over like a big tower of lame. Lawson is good. I give him that. What I don't understand is the lack of tough play inside that has been a point of contention over the past few years. Pau get's his rebounds, and does those moves. Lamar is often times a beast, and Bynum gets his. I'm not talking about this. Protect the basket, get some pride. It's your hoop. Put the hammer down. I'm not talking about cheap shots and bad fouls. I'm talking about making the other team earn their shots the hard way. I see all too often people driving in on our bigs and after the play they kind of sit around looking at one another. Remember, for all the praise Melo got about the 3rd quarter, he did score most of his points on uncontested layups.

I'll leave it at that, but in parting would like to recap. The reigning champs scored 8 points in the 3rd quarter. I'm pretty sure LA City college could have scored at least 9 points. They scored 23 points in the second half, and Phil pulled the plug, not even letting the starters back in during the 4th quarter. Since when have professional teams quit with a full 25% of the game remaining? Denver are not good winners. They do not respect LA. They have lots of guys with tattoos and bad attitudes. I do not like them. We do not like them. They are good. They consider this game a statement of what is to come. Other teams were watching. What are you going to do Lakers? I'm hoping they grow to hate a little bit. Thanks Denver, I think we really needed that. Here's hoping tomorrow's pie is pumpkin, and not humble all over again.

No one respects the Nuggets???

2009-11-15T03:49:51Z

Stop laughing Kobe, the Nuggets are for real...

Waking up today after yesterday's debacle, I saw an article on yahoo sports by Marc Spears about how the Nuggets proved themselves last night and showed up the people who have "disrespected" them such as the media and a few Laker players. To start off I do not believe that the Nuggets were being "disrespected," even before the game by anyone. Here I will dissect Marc Spear's article to show you why this is a myth.

The Nuggets are still haunted by their loss to the Lakers in last season’s Western Conference finals, still trying to prove they belong on the same stage with the league’s elite. They feed off disrespect, perceived or real, and they listened this summer as everyone gushed over the roster improvements made by their peers.

Hmm...they made it to the Western Conference Finals, and pushed a team that won 65 games in the regular season to 6 games. Isnt that already legitimate proof to everyone that they are a contender??? No way people with brains would call a team that made it to the Western conference Finals a fluke or an illegitimate contender.

The Lakers should know that by now. Prior to Friday’s game, Phil Jackson said he considered Denver "among the three or four" top teams in the West. Even then, however, he wasn’t ready to call the Nuggets a rival.
"The Sacramento Kings are our rivals," Jackson said. "They’re a California team. They’re close to home and all that stuff."

Sorry but on this I agree with Phil. This is not a rivalry...yet. Both teams have began playing at a high level only recently...it will take a few more playoff series in the future like the one last year for this to be considered a true rivalry like it was with the kings or spurs...not just a few regular season games and in no way should this be treated as a sign of disrespect.

"Nobody picked us to win nothing," Kenyon Martin said. "The so-called experts, basketball experts, people ain’t never dribbled a ball, ran a suicide or nothing, the so-called experts [doubt us]. Oh well, man."

Hmm...no one picked the nuggets to win anything??? The ones that picked the Lakers said they would win in 6-7 games. I know this is a tiny sample from the sports media world, but the idea that no one believed in them is completely absurd.

The bottom line is that the Nuggets have been getting much deserved respect and have been considered a true contender in the west by the media and other teams. The game last night was not a statement game in any way shape or form. It was a big win for them but it did not "prove anything" to begin with..

Shaqfor3: 1 Marc Spears: 0

Denver Lakers Blowout in Perspective

2009-11-14T07:02:07Z

So look guys, I've got 110 pages worth of readings for school among others so I just felt I wanted to get this out of the way, otherwise I don't think I'd be able to concentrate on school work x_x

I was only able to watch the second half of the Lakers-Nuggets game today (good for me right? -_- ) It would seem to have been a good close game in the first half (based on the score), and it would seem like we were in for a great game. Apparently not.

Bynum had 19 points. Don't let the -1 from his season average fool you. He wasn't as dominant as he was in other games when they needed him to be (2nd half). This was an initial concern for me actually. So far, none of the teams the Lakers have faced (except the Nuggets) played tough and rugged basketball especially in the interior. So while Bynum has been dominant throughout the season, it made me wonder how he'd respond against a rugged and physical team (like Denver or Boston). I'll probably be observing Bynum closely this year. He seems to be closing in on his all-star form, but it will be interesting to see how he responds against teams that have players who are actually as big/bigger, and as strong/stronger than him.

Kobe had a subpar 19 points, being held scoreless in the 3rd quarter by great Nuggets defense. He did not have the freedom to go one-on-one in that 3rd quarter, as every time he would get the ball, the whole Nuggets defense would tilt towards him. Well you wouldn't really expect less from the Nuggets. We did expect more from Kobe though, but that's how it goes. Great players will have subpar games, and today, Kobe had one.

I personally don't like how the Lakers gave up wide open shots to force the ball into the interior in that 3rd quarter. If i'm not mistaken, Fisher and Walton made a number of those passes that resulted in turnovers rather than shooting the ball themselves. As they saying goes, when you give up wide open shots, you are hurting your team. I thought those were unnecessary passes, disrupting the rhythm of the Laker offense, and adding momentum to Denver as they resulted in turnovers.

Oh, and let's not forget the Laker's "deep bench" as some analysts continue to insist (Doug Collins, I expected more from you x_x)

All those aside, some fans are quick to judge and criticize. Like I'm sure a number of fans are now screaming things like

Why didn't Phil take Artest out after 4 fouls?
Why didn't Phil call timeout during that run?
Why didn't Phil give the Lakers a chance in the 4th by letting the bench in?
etc...

You and I probably know more or less about Phil Jackson right? He doesn't call hasty timeouts. He allows a player in foul trouble to stay in the game. He's been known to bench Jordan when the Bulls were mounting a comeback. Etc... All for what? Learning. And Phil has said it before. If it would take losing a few regular season games to gain valuable learning experience, then so be it.

You really think that Phil still had his mind set on winning this game by the end of the 3rd? You really think that Phil was so crazy about "making a statement" with this game? Think again. And I like that of Phil. Rather than hyping the game up himself (and I'm not saying that this game is not important --- well actually, it isn't that important), he stuck to educating his boys. Look, if he really wanted to win this game, he would have gone Kobe Bryant by the 8 min mark in the 4th regardless of the deficit, even if it was just to give it a shot.

And on Phil's decision of allowing Ron Artest to stay in the game with 4 fouls in the 3rd quarter... I liked it... At the back of his mind, Phil's probably saying, "This is not the last time I'm gonna ask this of you (Artest). Come playoff time, I might have to play you with 5 fouls against Pierce, Carmelo, LeBron down the stretch." Well as we all know, Ron picked up his 5th in the 3rd but if I did not know better, that drove the message even more to Ron Artest. Phil has taught Jordan, Pippen, Shaq, Kobe, Lamar, Fisher, to play with 5 fouls down the stretch. I'm sure he'd like to add Artest to that list, especially come playoff time against the elite wing scorers of the league.

Of course we did not have Pau. But seriously Laker fans. The Lakers need Pau to win a 7-game series against Denver. But the Lakers could have won this one game without him.

Summary of this game: Denver played great. Lakers played poorly. And instead of bailing them out, Phil decides that this is a great opportunity for educating his players.

Peace :)

'sup from Peachtree Hoops

2009-11-14T04:09:26Z

how's it goin'?

Hello people of Silver Screen and Roll, My screen name is southman outta Chattanooga Tn. First of all I just want to say it's awesome to be here. I've got a few questions of oppin of the Hawks beside the fact that you guys beat us in L.A. closely. What do you think of us? are we good to you? not? so so? I need to know! and You're welcome because we beat the celtics in boston tonight and we beat some of your rivals. oh, and do you guys like us at some points? speaking of the celtics, this will make your gut burst and prepare to jump up laughing. When they were formed they were almost called THE UNICORNS!!!!!! LOL ;-) and do you guys think we're better fans than the clippers or boston or denver?

And 1's should be a statistical category

2009-11-13T18:18:54Z

With so many advances in statistics in sports, especially basketball, I think And 1's should be considered in the box score. There's the infamous PER, the popular +/- stat, True shooting percentage, assist-to-turnover ratio and many more.

This idea came to me last night when, I believe, 5 different Lakers made a bucket while getting fouled. I think it shows the toughness of the team as well as showing the opposition in another light. It would give the leader in And 1's a right to brag a lot; saying things like "nobody can stop me from scoring."

So here's a discussion: do you think that there should be a solid, concrete And 1 stat? And if so, who do you think would be the leader of this stat?

Should Jordan Replace West On the NBA Logo?

2009-11-13T15:42:27Z

This is a question that was posted on the main NBA page on ESPN.com. This is without a doubt as a result of The King's comments and his decision to not ever wear the Number 23 again. If you ask me, if it is considered disrespectful to MJ for an NBA player to consider himself even in the same leage as MJ than Lebron is the most disrespectful player ever. But, that is for another topic.

As a Lakers fan I am opposed to this idea of course. Mainly because that is my trump card when having a trash talking session with any Laker haters. I point to the fact that no matter what team anyone loves when they buy an NBA product they are marketing one of the best players that ever played the game who just happened to be a Laker. But, taking emotion away, I'm not sure if I would be that opposed by it. I just like to have those braggin rights. I'm glad that most ESPN fans have voted a resounding NO! to the poll. What do the rest of you think?

Note to Lakers Management...Byron Scott is available!

2009-11-12T20:16:56Z

The empty assistant coach seat on the bench next to Coach Phil Jackson, left cold by the departure of new Minnesota head coach Kurt Rambis, could(should) be heated up again by Showtime Laker great Byron Scott. We could see it coming. With the talent around CP3 struggling to find their game, and with a 3-6 record just 9 games into a new season, changes needed to be made right away. So, not wasting any time, the Hornets did what any good organization would do, they fired their head coach! I could go on and on about scapegoats and cost cutting and blah blah, but I will leave that to the professionals. I prefer to see the light and the end of the tunnel leading to the home teams bench at Staples center. Another gift has been presented to the Lakers by a western conference foe. This time in the form of a coach, not a 7 foot Spaniard. Could Scott be the next heir apparent to Coach Phil Jackson? Maybe, maybe not. But as the Lakers and other great organizations know, great coaches are as valuable as great players.

via d.yimg.com

The Hornets Have Fired B. Scott

2009-11-12T19:06:11Z

The New Orleans Hornets have responded to their 3-6 start by making the first coaching change of the young NBA season, firing Byron Scott on Thursday, according to NBA coaching sources.

I cannot believe this. A friend of mine just suggested that the Lakers should sign him as an Assistant Coach. I think that is a great idea. Either way, I don't think it is his fault that the Hornets suffered major injuries during his tenure. When the team was healthy he almost lead the team to the WCF. I hope he comes back and join the Lakers family.

Come on Home B. Scott!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4648162

Dream Team squabbles

2009-11-12T05:38:55Z

For an amazingly open look at the passing from one era to the next, see an excerpt from Magic's and Bird's book that was posted on ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=MagicBird-091111

Now, that's just epic. That said, if you ask me, the best team of all time was the '95-'96 Bulls (Jordan's comments in the excerpt are pretty prophetic), and the GOAT was Jordan.

Fire away.

Bynum Likely to Play Thursday, Gasol Not

2009-11-11T00:59:31Z

The Lakers returned to practice Tuesday after taking Monday off. Andrew Bynum participated and, by all accounts, looked like his pre-injury self. According to the always great Mike Trudell of NBA.com, Kobe Bryant remarked that Bynum "looked great, like he was never injured," and Bynum noted that his full range of motion has returned.

Less happily, Pau Gasol did not participate in practice and is very unlikely to play Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns. Phil Jackson said that he doesn't "have any hopes for him on Thursday for sure." Pau has now been out more than a month.

Trudell's full report from Tuesday's practice is available here.

Shaq: Destroyer of Worlds

2009-11-11T00:33:26Z

Shaq's getting a divorce. Supposedly, he's sleeping with Gilbert Arenas' fiancee, who is also the mother of Arenas' children. There's been text messages exchanged between them posted. Nice work Shaq. Help ruin two families. Someone cue the "Mad Men" Season 2, Ep. 7 "Jimmy Barrett" scene when he confronted "Don Draper."

"You wanna step out? Fine......" If you're a "Mad Men" fan then you know how it goes.

You can take this with a grain of salt if you'd like, but where there's smoke, there's fire. I usually stay away from posting links like this (I refuse to link "Khlomar" gossip), but this is just more proof of the kind of guy Shaq is.

For years Kobe was labeled the bad guy, the one who broke up the team, but with all of Shaq's negative exits from teams, being out of shape, his pay demands, stealing of show ideas, raps, and now his sleeping with the fiancee of another NBA'er, doesn't it seem like it's Shaq who's the asshole? Don't get me wrong. I'm not going to pretend that Kobe is a saint, but since Shaq left, there have been many stories pointing to the "Diesel" being a selfish jerk. The type of selfish jerk who has been the cause of problems for 4 teams.

Good luck Cleveland.

*updated:

Seems like this Shaq things dates back. She used to be a personal assistant for him. She worked for the Lakers as well. She sure does seem like gold digging trash.

http://www.playerwives.com/nba/washington-wizards/gilbert-arenas-fiance-laura-govan/

2010 NBA All Star Ballot

2009-11-10T23:16:38Z

2010 NBA All-Star Ballot

Eastern

Guards
Ray Allen, Celtics
Gilbert Arenas, Wizards
Mike Bibby, Hawks
Jose Calderon, Raptors
Vince Carter, Magic
Jamal Crawford, Hawks
Chris Duhon, Knicks
Raymond Felton, Bobcats
T.J. Ford, Pacers
Ben Gordon, Pistons
Richard Hamilton, Pistons
Devin Harris, Nets
Kirk Hinrich, Bulls
Joe Johnson, Hawks
Courtney Lee, Nets
Jameer Nelson, Magic
Michael Redd, Bucks
Nate Robinson, Knicks
Rajon Rondo, Celtics
Derrick Rose, Bulls
John Salmons, Bulls
Rodney Stucky, Pistons
Dwyane Wade, Heat
Mo Williams, Cavs

Forwards
Michael Beasley, Heat
Chris Bosh, Raptors
Elton Brand, Sixers
Caron Butler, Wizards
Luol Deng, Bulls
Boris Diaw, Bobcats
Kevin Garnett, Celtics
Danny Granger, Pacers
Al Harrington, Knicks
Udonis Haslem, Heat
Andre Iguodala, Sixers
LeBron James, Cavs
Antawn Jamison, Wizards
David Lee, Knicks
Rashard Lewis, Magic
Troy Murphy, Pacers
Paul Pierce, Celtics
Tayshaun Prince, Pistons
Josh Smith, Hawks
Hedo Turkoglu, Raptors
Anderson Varejao, Cavs
Charlie Villanueva, Pistons
Gerald Wallace, Bobcats
Hakim Warrick, Bucks

Centers
Andrea Bargnani, Raptors
Andrew Bogut, Bucks
Tyson Chandler, Bobcats
Samuel Dalembert, Sixers
Al Horford, Hawks
Dwight Howard, Magic
Brook Lopez, Nets
Brad Miller, Bulls
Jermaine O'Neal, Heat
Shaquille O'Neal, Cavs
Kendrick Perkins, Celtics
Rasheed Wallace, Celtics
Western

Guards
Leandro Barbosa, Suns
Chauncey Billups, Nuggets
Aaron Brooks, Rockets
Kobe Bryant, Lakers
Baron Davis, Clippers
Monta Ellis, Warriors
Manu Ginobili, Spurs
Josh Howard, Mavericks
Allen Iverson, Grizzlies
Stephen Jackson, Warriors
Jason Kidd, Mavericks
Kevin Martin, Kings
O.J. Mayo, Grizzlies
Tracy McGrady, Rockets
Andre Miller, Blazers
Steve Nash, Suns
Tony Parker, Spurs
Chris Paul, Hornets
Jason Richardson, Suns
Brandon Roy, Blazers
Ramon Sessions, Wolves
Jason Terry, Mavericks
Russell Westbrook, Thunder
Deron Williams, Jazz

Forwards
LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers
Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
Trevor Ariza, Rockets
Ron Artest, Lakers
Carlos Boozer, Jazz
Tim Duncan, Spurs
Kevin Durant, Thunder
Pau Gasol, Lakers
Rudy Gay, Grizzlies
Jeff Green, Thunder
Blake Griffin, Clippers
Grant Hill, Suns
Richard Jefferson, Spurs
Kevin Love, Wolves
Shawn Marion, Mavericks
Kenyon Martin, Nuggets
Paul Millsap, Jazz
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Lamar Odom, Lakers
Anthony Randolph, Warriors
Luis Scola, Rockets
Jason Thompson, Kings
Al Thornton, Clippers
David West, Hornets

Centers
Andris Biedrins, Warriors
Andrew Bynum, Lakers
Marcus Camby, Clippers
Marc Gasol, Grizzlies
Spencer Hawes, Kings
Al Jefferson, Wolves
Antonio McDyess, Spurs
Nene, Nuggets
Greg Oden, Blazers
Emeka Okafor, Hornets
Mehmet Okur, Jazz
Amar'e Stoudemire, Suns

Crazy Like A Fox: Discussing Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza, and My Mom

2009-11-10T09:56:33Z

An Aside on #37 For the Los Angeles Lakers:

[disclaimer: i basically just copy-pasted this from my blog that noone reads - I don't know if that is cool under the SS&R etiquette, but I was pretty happy with what I wrote and wanted to share it with some laker fans]

By the time Ron Artest signed with the Lakers this summer, his label as an "enigmatic" or, less kindly "unstable" personality had already crystallized into cliche thanks to many well publicized incidents (exhibits A, B, C, et. al.). And, it must be said, Ron didn't exactly try to play down his eccentricities - the whole Michael Jackson Saga*, culminating with Ron choosing his jersey number (37) to pay tribute to the number of weeks (37... duh) Jackson's "Thriller" spent at the top of the charts, was only one example held up by the national sports media (i.e., espn.com, foxsports.com and other such pundits) of why the Lakers had erred in "trading" Trevor Ariza for Ron Artest. Marc Stein, of the Espn.com "Power Rankings" repeatedly asserted the "Artest as distraction" meme, claiming Ron-Ron's volatile way would disrupt the delicate chemistry of the Lakers.

*Ahem. Note: Ron says ni*** like 60 times in this one, but it's clearly a term of affection. Still, probably NSFW. Though you really shouldn't be watching or listening to Ron Artest on YouTube at work anyways, regardless of his word choice.

[I had embedded the Ron-Ron Michael Jackson tribute song here, but you've all seen/heard that I assume. If not - LINK]

Well, with 10% of the season in the books, and the Lakers sitting at 6-1 despite missing their 2nd best player for all seven games, and their 3rd or 4th best player for the last two, the great Ron-Ron chemistry experiment seems to be going pretty well. What is interesting, however, is Ron appears to be paying his dividends precisely in the area where he was supposed to be a liability: our team chemistry and effort.

Neither of these two is playing basketball now. Instead: rehabbing respective injuries by lifting huge bags of their endless supply of cash.

On the court, there is no doubt Ron has looked a bit rusty - or maybe we (Laker fans) simply perceive the differences in his game, and his deficiencies compared to Ariza, as "rust." After all, I doubt a 30 year old tank of a man is going to get any better at finishing around the hoop in traffic - I miss the sheer ease, the effortless manner in which Ariza would soar to the hoop, contorting his body for a emphatic slam or acrobatic layup. Ron, I am sad to say, is significantly more ground-bound - as several blown layups, and one serious rejection of a dunk attempt - courtesy of the rim - have shown. Even when he does dunk, there is visible effort and strain, an element of unease, where it appears likely Ron might lose a finger or strain an arm. And we certainly won't be asking Ron to guard Tony Parker, like we would Ariza - but that is the point of this post - they are different players, and as much as we want to view each in contrast of the other (see: reporters asking Artest how he felt when Ariza dropped 33 points the other night), to do so would be to shortchange the both of them. Lakers fans, especially, would do well to put on the blinders and ignore Ariza's boxscores, because as tantalizing as hypothetical situations always are, they have even less of a bearing on LA's chances of taking home the L.O.B. this year than Adam Morrison

Instead, what sticks out from Ron's contibutions to the young Lakers season is not his spot up shooting (not bad, and getting better), his passing (surprisingly good), his on-ball defense (typically excellent), but that very air of straining, pressing. In a word: determination. Now, Ariza was certainly a "hustle player," but that same stoicism and fluidity that made his forays to the hoop so exciting also robbed his game of urgency - even when Trevor was making a huge play, he looked casual. Now, this can be a good trait, e.g. Tim Duncan, but Duncan is assured of asserting his philosophy, his style, on the rest of his squad, by nature of his being the Pack Leader, the biggest baddest wolf on his team. Ariza, or Artest, can have no such luxury on the Lakers. Even aside of one Mr. Big Bad Mamba himself (and that is no small aside), The Spaniard and Young Money (a.k.a. Drew) are more essential components from a pure X's and O's perspective. Not to mention the ultimate Alpha Male: the Slovenian Jordan, Mr. Sasharapova.... pause. Given this arrangement, Ariza was something of a stealth ninja - making plays in the cut, the gifted and willing recipient of opportunities created by the Lakers' big dogs. Artest, in contrast, inspires his teammates to make more opportunities for the whole team, through sheer effort, and what an effort it has been so far.

I knew that Ron's determination was something special when my mom** looked up from the LA Times crossword puzzle with a few minutes left in the anticipated Mbenga - Young Gasol tilt of last week, and remarked, "Wow! I really like that Artest. He just tries so hard!" This was of course answered with my dad and I explaining that Ron was talented, but crazy, liable to beat your ass, etc., but all my mom would say was, "Well, I don't know about that, but just look at him! He's just working so hard out there! I think that's what this team needs."

**one of the gifts of moving home post-college is getting to see my mom try to make sense of all of the sporting events preempting dancing with the stars and desperate housewives on our tv.

Wow. Check, and Mate. I had just been shutdown by my mom - and she was right, I realized as I watched the game unfold. For every blown layup or questionable dribble (of which there were pleasantly few), there was Ron up in Rudy Gay's grill on the permiter, slamming into Zach Randolph in the post, rolling over Kyle Lowry for a loose ball, hustling into position to can a 3, bull-rushing the hoop for two freethrows, and just generally giving off the vibe of a man possessed. Although this game provided Ron's best (or 2nd best) boxscore of the season, it also highlighted his-non-stat-line contributions. In our first game ever starting D.J. Mbenga, hopefully one of few, Ron made an almost literal impression on the game, a physical stamping of his effort and drive onto the proceedings. Of course, if Ron really were inspiring his teammates to defend harder, make sharper cuts, get after the ball with his same pitbull mentality, then it would show up in the +/- stats, right? Plus/Minus, for those unfamiliar***, is an NBA stat, rapidly growing in popularity and prevalence, that attempts to measure a player's overall impact on offense and defense by measuring the difference in their team's points scored and points allowed when they are on or off the court. This is a simplification of course, and there's all sorts of algorithmic figurings going on to try and isolate the impact of one player from the 5-man unit and whatnot, but essentially, if you're a player who helps his team win on both sides of the floor, you'll have a good plus/minus score.

***hey, you never know.

Well, Ron Artest has a GREAT plus/minus score. Best on the Lakers, in fact, according to both the official NBA +/- score and the preeminent independent NBA analysis site, 82games. By the NBA's rankings, in fact, Ron has had double the impact of the 2nd best player (guess who? rhymes with Sobe Giant).

Official NBA +/- Ratings For the Lakers

82 Games +/- Ratings For the Lakers

I found it very gratifying to see the numbers confirm what I had already seen with my eyes: when Ron is on the floor, the Lakers defend harder, get after the ball more, and are more likely to run the offense inside-out. Now, +/- is context dependent, and clearly Ron owes a lot of his success TO #24, and for that reason +/- isn't the stat for saying who is better than who - but rather for measuring a player's importance to, and effectiveness within his team. And suffice to say, in this young season, Ron has shown that his bulldog determination may end up being the championship ingredient the Lakers need to get past a retooled Orlando, rejuvenated Boston, or the resplendent Lebron (is there someone else important on the Cavs? yeah, I didn't think so either). And even my mom can see that.

Up next: Pondering the sources of the Suns' rejuvenation.

Can someone please turn on the lights??

2009-11-10T07:25:57Z

via farm4.static.flickr.com

For the last couple of years, Staples Center has had the lights off which hang over the crowd. Many have said they made this move to give the arena more of a theatre type of environment or to replicate the type of lighting which they had back in the Forum, or the system at Madison Square Garden, I dont know. The last couple of years I have had a gripe over the crowds energy in the game. Most of the home games they seemed uninterested in the game or very quiet, even for playoff games. But the early 2000's they were very loud and into the game such as for example, game 7 of the 2000 western conference finals. I began to think it was because of the increase in a celebrity audience, since tickets prices are the highest in the league, and to some extent, this is might be true. But the main reason I think why the crowd has not been as loud as it was in the early 2000's is because they turn off the lighting over the audience.

via www.sportsshooter.com

(Notice the lighting over the audience at Clippers games are on)

Why? Because when people, go to a movie, they often have the lights turned off, to create a sort of ambient, quiet environment. That is the major flaw with this light setting. When people go to see a Laker game at Staples Center, they see the crowd in the dark, and this might in a way make the crowd think they are at a movie so they should not be so loud (in an instinctive kind of way). Another reason why the dark light setting is bad is because it separates the audience from the game. In a light setting where the court and the audience are visible, the audience feels like they are part of the game and get loud and cheer on the team. But, when the crowd is in the dark, they get detached from the action of the game. For some reason, clipper games have the lights for the audience on. I think it could be because there is not so much of a celebrity fan base there, like at laker home games so there is not much of a need for a theatre type light setting.

via imagecache5.art.com

Early 2000's (crowd lights on)

(The crowd was much louder back then)

via cache3.asset-cache.net

(2009 finals)

(notice crowd mostly in the dark, crickets chirping)

I don't know what you guys think. This is just my opinion on the matter. Id like to see Staples Center be more of a fan type of environment again which encourages the crowd to cheer at laker home games...

(Props to Justin N. whose comment gave me the idea to make a fan post on this matter)

Poll

Should Staples Center turn the lights on over the crowd for Laker games?

The Ron Artest Effect Pt 2

2009-11-09T19:42:12Z

Last year, in the 2009 playoffs. Yao Ming and Dikembe Mutombo went down. Their front line consisted of Luis Scola, Landry and Chuck Hayes. Yet, despite lacking 14-15 feet of bodies... they pushed the Lakers to seven games, more than the Nuggets (full strength) and Magic (who beat the Cavs who were at full strength).

It's only been a few games... but this season the Lakers have played without Pau Gasol and played without Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol for 2 games. Yet, most the credit has been going to Kobe for carrying the offensive load.. and rightly so. However, if one looks at Kobe's numbers OTHER than scoring.. he has not done much. In fact, if one looks at Lamar Odom's numbers in the Grizzlies game, he fouled out, had three points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. All subpar numbers for Lamar (especially since he is starting). Lamar also had subpar numbers as a starter against the Hornets having 7 pts, 9 rebounds and only six assists. Yet, on the defensive end (Laker fans) are rewarded with tacos each night. DJ Mbenga, Powell and even Luke Walton were able to hold their own as the front lineup. How I ask?

Well the title of the Article gives it away. The reason the Lakers were able to win, hold on, play defense, get rebounds is RON "pitbull" Artest. He led the Lakers in assists both games. He had 8 and 7 rebounds both games... but if one watched the game... many of Lamar or DJ's rebounds were due to Ron Artest's SOLID boxing out. Just like the Rockets... who played with Scola, Hayes and Landry... the Lakers are doing surprisingly well in two games with DJ, Josh and even Walton. Yes, Lamar.. you get some credit (but you ARE playing subpar).

I once wrote that Ron Artest was going to make the Lakers a lot tougher. DJ, Josh and Luke holding their own against Okafor and West? I would never have guessed. DJ, Josh and Luke holding their own against Randolph and Marc Gasol? I too would never have guessed just like I would never have guessed Scola, Landry and Hayes could have withstood Gasol, Odom and Bynum. Ron Artest is a multi-faceted player on both the defensive and offensive end. Him being there allows players to play to their strengths, grab more rebounds (due to his boxing out), play better defense and not only create his own shot but set up other Lakers with his team leading assists. If Trevor Ariza was still part of the Lakers... I'm sure he could "score" 20 or so in a game and pick up some of the scoring load. However to enable the Laker bigs to play better defensively and offensively? I doubt it. Can Trevor Ariza shut down Joe Johnson the way Ron Artest did? Maybe.

So for the year 2009-2010... the numbers may never support it for Ariza finally gets to throw up thrice the shots he would if he were in LA... but Ron Artest > Trevor Ariza.

I can only imagine Ron Artest's effect on the Lakers' Bynum and Gasol....

Comprehensive thoughts on the Laker's season thus far

2009-11-09T08:31:11Z

Everyone likes bullet points, right?

- The home loss to Dallas was pretty bad, but aside from that the Lakers have started out very well. Their schedule has been easy, and they haven't been exactly toying with the opposition, but they have gotten the W's. That's all that will count past December.

- Kobe is my MVP right now, and I can confidently say that he should be yours too, even if you're a Celtics fan. For a while it was Melo, but now that Denver is no longer perfect, Kobe's superior numbers given his situation give him the edge. He's carried the Lakers, coasting along the top of the WC in Pau Gasol's absence. Some quick numbers on Kobe: 48% FG despite 23% 3pt, 83% ft, 6.3 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.8 spg, 33.4 ppg. For comparison, Carmelo: 45% FG, 81% ft, 6.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.7 spg, 31.4ppg.

- The evolution of Kobe's game is a pleasure to watch and from what I read, eerily similar to MJ (what else is new?)

- Ron Artest is nothing but good for this team from what he's demonstrated so far. His facilitating skills are incredible and his toughness and attitude can be felt throughout the team even though he hasn't become an alpha dog yet. Part of Kobe's excellence so far I think can be attributed to having Ron on the court. Kobe's offensive explosion as well as his steal numbers (currently 2nd in the league) are indicators. I was surprised to see that Artest is not leading the Lakers in assists (he's second to Lamar (4.7) with 4.2).

- #37 also passed a very subtle, yet important early season test in the Rockets game. It was a heated game and Ron was the center of attention. He was getting booed by the crowd and you could tell by his mannerisms that he was really trying to get at Ariza. Ron even picked up a technical arguing a call. However, did Ron ever lose his head? No. On other teams he might have, but when things got fiesty Kobe went over to Ron and gave him a few words. In the end, Ron posted one of his best games on the season, made a huge clutch shot, and helped the Lakers earn a tough road win against a good team. Does this outline the rest of Artest's career as a Laker? Of course not, but it does give some indication that even when tempers flare Ron should be able to play controlled and effectively.

- By the way, what was up with the Rockets booing Ron? From what I understood, he didn't really bail out on their team. The Rockets didn't want to give him a deal longer than one year. Rockets fans are quick to forget what he did for their franchise. Did Tmac or Yao ever get them out of the first round? No, but Ron did the first year he was there. He also led them in a competitive and tough series against the Lakers last year, which helped the team blossom into what they are today. Pretty lame showing from Houston.

- People jumped on the bench prematurely when they started the season with a few bad games. This is really the first time that the team has had to play without Gasol in a long time (that makes a big difference compared to Andrew Bynum...there's more to it than just Lamar coming off the bench). Phil has worked rotations though and the bench seems to get more and more comfortable game by game. However, I will not give the bench a pass until they show that they can contribute on a tough road trip.

- On that note -- I don't watch many other teams regularly, but Luke Walton has got to be one of the biggest night/day players when it comes to playing at home and playing on the road.

- I maintain my standpoint that Shannon Brown should be our backup PG and that Farmar should be traded (preferably Sasha, if possible). Brown fits the system very well and when the team is healthy we won't need him to be a big time dribble penetration playmaker, even with the second unit. We'll have LO and either Pau or Bynum to run things out of the post. Brown's 3-ball is as good if not better than Farmar's and he is a better defender as well. I think Brown has a better future on this team as well because he seems to fit in much better with the starters than Farmar does. Plus how awesome is it when your point guard throws it down on a regular basis?

-Mbenga filling it at starting center has been great. He's outplayed everyone's expectations, including mine. His rebounding and commitment to protecting the rim has shed some light on the holes in Andrew Bynum's game. The Lakers have actually been better since AB went to the DNP list. The only thing I wish for in regards to this team is for Andrew Bynum to take more pride in his defense and his rebounding. I want him to get mad and passionate like Perkins, Garnett, and even Gasol (we've seen Gasol make some big blocks and get downright animal). It's nice that Andrew Bynum wants to make the all-star team, but it's clear that he is very very concentrated on his scoring and that is flat out the least important aspect of his game when it comes to this team winning a championship. This kind of defensive mentality will be critical against a team like the Celtics who have a very good and deep front court.

- That said, I think if Bynum can improve his defensive game, he could very well be inserted into the closing unit instead of LO. I think the addition of Artest over Ariza allows for this (better spacing, better playmaking on the wing).

- Am I the only one that is not at all surprised by Josh Powell's play? He's still a subpar defender, rebounder, and finisher with a very smooth jumpshot and decent hands. He's hit the three ball before. I like having him come of the bench, but him being buried behind a healthy Laker frontcourt isn't going to be a bad thing either.

That's it for now...post any of your own thoughts or whether you agree/disagree with any of mine.

too early for MVP rankings?

2009-11-08T21:53:00Z

via www.pleasantmorningbuzz.com

MVP Rankings from NBA.com for week 1 of the very young season...

1. Carmelo Anthony

2. Paul Pierce

3. Kobe Bryant

4.Dwayne Wade

5.Dwight Howard

6. Steve Nash

7. Joe Johnson

8. Trevor Ariza

9. Chris Bosh

10. Lebron James

I thought it was funny as hell to see Trevor on this list and Lebron at number 10. They should honestly wait till after the midpoint of the season to do these rankings because everyone's numbers are inflated and by then they will have regressed to the mean. Then again maybe they use this for fantasy leagues or etc. but i dont know...the list just seems very silly.

Bynum, Gasol to Miss Sunday Night Game

2009-11-08T04:12:49Z

Broderick Turner of the LA Times reports tonight that neither Andrew Bynum nor Pau Gasol will play against the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday. Both still are feeling pain from their injuries and were unable to practice on Saturday. Gasol has not seen game action in almost a month. He last played on October 9th, in a preseason game against Golden State.

Like the Memphis Grizzlies, the Hornets have a pair of big men who can score, in Emeka Okafor and David West. They're both off to strong starts this season. DJ Mbenga will presumably start once again, with Josh Powell seeing significant minutes off the bench.

Phil Jackson did sound a note of confidence about Bynum's and Gasol's eventual recoveries:

"We have a three-day break after the game on Sunday and I can't see any reason why this should be that extended that it would go on past that time."