Lakers

[cougjunkie]

Tweet from Ron ARtest this morning:

The Lakers have NEVER lost a regular game in which Pau Gasol and RT played as teammates"

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by cougjunkie

Tweet from Ron ARtest this morning:

Who is RT? Rony Turiaf?

[Surfah]

Man, this team with Pau is sick. He changes the game. When he's on the floor with Bynum there are all kinds of matchup problems for other teams. And with LO coming off the bench it continues. They're tough to keep off the glass too. Kobe found his shot too as he's moving back out to the wing off the post, though I still like that he continues to post and rotate one big to the FT line and the other to the weakside. This team is fun to watch.

And Shannon Brown needs to be in the slam dunk contest. That boy has crazy hops and throws it down. Man he had some sweet dunks tonight.

[Surfah]

YouTube- 11-22-2009 - Thunder vs. Lakers - Kobe Circus Shot Over The Backboard From Behind The Basket (SD)

YouTube- 11-22-2009 - Thunder vs. Lakers - Kobe Circus Shot Over The Backboard From Behind The Basket (SD)

[HBCoug]

Originally Posted by Surfah

Man, this team with Pau is sick. He changes the game. When he's on the floor with Bynum there are all kinds of matchup problems for other teams. And with LO coming off the bench it continues. They're tough to keep off the glass too. Kobe found his shot too as he's moving back out to the wing off the post, though I still like that he continues to post and rotate one big to the FT line and the other to the weakside. This team is fun to watch.

And Shannon Brown needs to be in the slam dunk contest. That boy has crazy hops and throws it down. Man he had some sweet dunks tonight.

I would offer Pau a deep thigh massage while treating him to a sampling of fine Spanish cheeses like Manchego and Cabrales. I'm a happily married heterosexual man, but I just have that much respect for his game and acting career.

[JohnnyLingo]

I'm just here to offer your daily reminder that the Gasol trade was dirty as hell.

Enjoy the fruits from that poisonous tree!

[JohnnyLingo]

[Surfah]

If this team stays healthy all year there is no team in the league that can beat them. Since Pau came back the Lakers have been rolling. Granted these have been home games against poor competition but this team is a different beast. Watching him in the post is beautiful. He's got every move and perfect touch. I also like how the rest of the team is progressing. Everyone else seems to have stepped up their games. Maybe it's just because everyone else is back in their normal rotation and don't have to do too much but all of a sudden, Fisher has his stroke back. Farmar has been playing well. LO is doing his thing off the bench and Bynum continues to impress with his efficiency and post play. Artest too seems to be getting into the flow and his points are coming within the framework of the set offense and not those awkward forced possessions where they'd isolate him in the post at the beginning of the season. Kobe is Kobe and if he's got tired legs he's not showing them yet.

And while the offense seems to plow over everyone right it's the defense that has been so great. They closeout. They rotate. Occasionally they lose someone but having all those bigs generally shuts down the lane. And talk about refreshing having some bigs that can defend the pick and roll.

I do wish the bench would not be so frantic in the 4th. They rush possessions and I wish they could do better at maintaining leads. The pattern the last 5 games or so is go up by 20-30 points and sit everyone for the 4th to win by 10. But I do like that they're aggressive and I have especially liked what I saw out of Morrison last night. I love that the only thing these opponents have been playing for is to deny Lakers fans tacos. I couldn't believe that the Hornets were fouling last night just to get over 100. I guess some teams are desperate for the moral victory. Either way the Lakers have been really fun to watch with Pau back.

[JohnnyLingo]

Originally Posted by Surfah

If this team stays healthy all year there is no team in the league that can beat them. Since Pau came back the Lakers have been rolling. Granted these have been home games against poor competition but this team is a different beast. Watching him in the post is beautiful. He's got every move and perfect touch. Either way the Lakers have been really fun to watch with Pau back.

I'm just here to offer your daily reminder that the Gasol trade was dirty as hell.

Enjoy the fruits from that poisonous tree!

I was watching Sportscenter last night and during the Laker highlights the ESPN guy said, "All that talent... it's just not fair!" after a Gasol make.

Yeah, ESPN, you're right. It's not fair. Remember that Kwame for Gasol trade? If every team could trade their dead weight for an all-star power forward, they'd look a lot better.

[smokymountainrain]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLingo

I'm just here to offer your daily reminder that the Gasol trade was dirty as hell.

You know, for as much as they lucked out with that trade, their drafting of Bynum deserves all the praise in the world.

I'm not sure there is another center in the league I would take right now over Andrew Bynum. He's averaging 19 and 10 on 58% FGs, 2 blks, and is only 21 or 22? He's a legit seven footer who rebounds and blocks shots, but also has all the tools to be a top notch offensive center. There isn't another center in the league who has all that.

Hell, if there were a draft held today of all the NBA players, Bynum might be in my top 5 - more likely, top 3.

[JohnnyLingo]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

You know, for as much as they lucked out with that trade, their drafting of Bynum deserves all the praise in the world.

I'm not sure there is another center in the league I would take right now over Andrew Bynum. He's averaging 19 and 10 on 58% FGs, 2 blks, and is only 21 or 22? He's a legit seven footer who rebounds and blocks shots, but also has all the tools to be a top notch offensive center. There isn't another center in the league who has all that.

Hell, if there were a draft held today of all the NBA players, Bynum might be in my top 5 - more likely, top 3.

This is true. The Lakers deserve a ton of credit for deciding to draft Bynum and then molding him into a great center. While watching the aforementioned Laker highlights last night, I told my wife I would kill a baby to have Bynum play for the Jazz. He's exactly what they need.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLingo

I'm just here to offer your daily reminder that the Gasol trade was dirty as hell.

Enjoy the fruits from that poisonous tree!

I was watching Sportscenter last night and during the Laker highlights the ESPN guy said, "All that talent... it's just not fair!" after a Gasol make.

Yeah, ESPN, you're right. It's not fair. Remember that Kwame for Gasol trade? If every team could trade their dead weight for an all-star power forward, they'd look a lot better.

You should watch more basketball and read fewer basketball blogs.

Marc Gasol is averaging 15.4 points, 10 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots. He is shooting 63% from the field. He has made 60 of his last 81 shots (74%).

The Lakers could have kept Marc and still been the favorites this season.

[smokymountainrain]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLingo

This is true. The Lakers deserve a ton of credit for deciding to draft Bynum and then molding him into a great center. While watching the aforementioned Laker highlights last night, I told my wife I would kill a baby to have Bynum play for the Jazz. He's exactly what they need.

Again, my Bynum boner is strong as ever, but he is exactly what every team needs. The only thing Dwight Howard does better than Bynum right now is rebound. But Bynum is a better offensive talent and is two years younger.

[JohnnyLingo]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

Again, my Bynum boner is strong as ever, but he is exactly what every team needs. The only thing Dwight Howard does better than Bynum right now is rebound. But Bynum is a better offensive talent and is two years younger.

Very true. I guess I was just saying the Jazz, as a team with 0 interior defensive presence, need him more than most.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

Again, my Bynum boner is strong as ever, but he is exactly what every team needs. The only thing Dwight Howard does better than Bynum right now is rebound. But Bynum is a better offensive talent and is two years younger.

Howard is better conditioned. Bynum has had a load of injury time for someone his young age....all knee-related, which means that the likelihood of Bynum playing into his mid-30s is probably pretty low.

I am cringing almost every time Bynum jumps into the air. You never know if it will be his last game of the season.

Howard doesn't seem to be so fragile.

Also, Howard has done a TMO commercial with Charles Barkley. Very cool.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLingo

I'm just here to offer your daily reminder that the Gasol trade was dirty as hell.

Enjoy the fruits from that poisonous tree!

I wish the Jazz were smart enough to pull of a "dirty as hell" trade. I can eat poisonous championships all day long.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by HuskyFreeNorthwest

I wish the Jazz were smart enough to pull of a "dirty as hell" trade. I can eat poisonous championships all day long.

The Jazz did pull off a very critical trade: aging Gail Goodrich for rights to draft Magic Johnson.

That is the "win now" mentality that the Jazz have always fostered.

[TripletDaddy]

Grassroots campaign to get Shannon Brown into the NBA Dunk Contest.

http://www.letshannondunk.com/

Throw it down like Shannon Brown!

[smokymountainrain]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

Howard is better conditioned. Bynum has had a load of injury time for someone his young age....all knee-related, which means that the likelihood of Bynum playing into his mid-30s is probably pretty low.

I am cringing almost every time Bynum jumps into the air. You never know if it will be his last game of the season.

Yes, I overlooked the health issues. I that is a big deal. I should clarify that there are less than a handful of NBA players I would take over a healthy Andrew Bynum.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

Yes, I overlooked the health issues. I that is a big deal. I should clarify that there are less than a handful of NBA players I would take over a healthy Andrew Bynum.

On that note, it is pretty sick to think that Bynum is at this stage having missed basically an entire season to injury. When healthy, he has the tools and the strength to be lethal. If he can develop a consistent "outside" shot (a la The Dream Shake), there is no reason he can't be as effective as some of the greatest centers of the last few decades.

Also, not sure if anyone else has noticed Kareem's fingerprints on bynum's game, but you can definitely see some of the Captain in Bynum's footwork. That fake right and spin left move, esp. And in that one-handed turn-around thing he is trying to develop this season. It is almost like a non-committal sky hook that basically ends up looking like an awkward heave at the basket....but they are starting to go in more and more.

People forget that one of the reasons Kareem was so durable was because of that sky hook. He didn't have to bang down low on offense and the sky hook also prevented him from absorbing as much contact. If Bynum can develop a sky hook......yowza.

[smokymountainrain]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

On that note, it is pretty sick to think that Bynum is at this stage having missed basically an entire season to injury. When healthy, he has the tools and the strength to be lethal. If he can develop a consistent "outside" shot (a la The Dream Shake), there is no reason he can't be as effective as some of the greatest centers of the last few decades.

And this is sort of what I'm getting at by saying he might be top 3 in the league in terms of value right now. He isn't just a good young player, rather he has a chance to be one of the all-time great centers. He really has no weakness to his game. Plays defense, rebounds, can score, is athletic, has great size and body type (I don't see him getting fat at all), etc.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

I like the Lakers stealing the Jazz colors. I guess even champions want to be like Utah!

[JohnnyLingo]

Artest admits he used to drink during halftime.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by HuskyFreeNorthwest

I like the Lakers stealing the Jazz colors. I guess even champions want to be like Utah!

those are actually the old Laker colors back when the team first came to Los Angeles. Obviously, the colors were lame and so the Lakers ditched them. As usual, Utah is still late to the game and copying SoCal long after the trend has passed.

btw, anyone go to the new In and Out in Orem?

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLingo

Artest admits he used to drink during halftime.

Is this news now? I thought this was out there when he left the Bulls.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

btw, anyone go to the new In and Out in Orem?

The car line looked like you would get your food in at least 50-90 minutes. We passed.

[TripletDaddy]

The Machine is overheating

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw...,1648688.story

Mostly, Vujacic has found himself in games when they already have been decided. That's an issue for him.

"I play a couple of games in garbage time," Vujacic said. "That's not where I see myself. I don't really like to play in garbage time."

Hornets are almost Taco Busters

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...,2358235.story

[TripletDaddy]

Vince Young in Kobe's 5

http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakers.../my-entry.html

Artest bears his testimony

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...0,458566.story

Kobe: MVP II?

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw...,5379639.story

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

Artest bears his testimony

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...0,458566.story

I don't think it counts. I didn't see anywhere in the article that quoted Ron as saying "I'd like to bear my testimony..."

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by HuskyFreeNorthwest

I don't think it counts. I didn't see anywhere in the article that quoted Ron as saying "I'd like to bear my testimony..."

I thought he was pretty close

"The whole purpose of the testimony was to share problematic times in my life with the youth," Artest said Thursday. "There's a lot of kids out there right now that's going through the same things I was going through and they're able to relate."