Last season, when Kobe Bryant was on the floor he took shots (or was fouled) on 30% of the team’s attempts. For some perspective, that was the third highest level in the league (Allen Iverson was at 32.7%, Jermaine O’Neal in his limited time was at 32.3%). What was impressive is that Kobe was still […]
Archives for October 2005
NBA Preseason Poll
I’m one of a number of NBA bloggers taking part in a “Power Rankings” of NBA teams each week this season. The first one is out right now, up at yayasports.com, with (hold your breath) the Spurs on top. The Lakers are 15th. Frankly, as with college football, I think doing these things preseason is […]
Fast Break
Through the weekend I’ll be filling in over at True Hoop, following and commenting NBA news — except for when my Irish are defeating USC (a guy can dream, can’t he?). The Lakers have left Hawaii and news is a little slow, but here are some team and NBA thoughts: • Aaron McKie started the […]
Notes From The First Preseason Game
Preseason games are not about winning and losing, although winning is nice. They are really about seeing players and how they fit in your system. Here are some notes from the first preseason game (which I was able to find and watch on NBA League Pass), but be sure to take them with some salt […]
Honolulu or Rome
Tonight’s the first Laker preseason game is against Golden State from Hawaii and at 10 p.m. (Pacific) and you can bet I’ll be in front of the television — either watching the game or my Tivo’d Rome from Sunday. See, the first three Laker preseason games are not being broadcast here in Southern California because […]
Triangle 101
It’s the one offense even casual basketball fans can name, thanks to Phil Jackson and his nine titles with it. But ask those fans what the triangle offense is and you’d likely get a blank stare or an answer along the lines of “Well, your best players form a triangle…†The offense is more complicated […]
Fast Break
Just a few thoughts as the Lakers slave away in what likely aren’t fun practices. Of course, they are doing that in Hawaii and they’re well paid so you can’t really feel bad for them. • The Lakers cut Vlade Divac loose yesterday, something that was not a surprise. He told the LA Times his […]
Thoughts On The First Day Of Camp
It didn’t take advanced statistics — or half a brain, for that matter — to see that the Lakers biggest problem last year was defense. Which is why the first notes I’m reading out of training camp in Hawaii make me smile. Chris Mihm told ESPN that two-third of the early practices focused on defense, […]
If They Can Keep Their Head…
This season’s Laker team has more “ifs†than a Rudyard Kipling poem. As training camp starts today, no team in the NBA is harder to forecast than these Lakers. That is due to so many “ifsâ€, so many unanswered questions. They could be a solid playoff team, they could make us fondly remember last season. […]
Fast Break
Getting in the flow of the season, today is a “travel day†to Hawaii for the Lakers, then training camp will start tomorrow. That’s when we’ll start taking a closer look at this team, until then here are a few traveling day thoughts: • Update: The latest Carnival of the NBA Blogs is up at […]