Comments on: Fast Break Thoughts http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/ A Lakers Blog. Thoughts, reflections, and the odd rant on the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA (even the Clippers). Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:18:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Stephen http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/comment-page-4/#comment-464805 Stephen Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:40:15 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/#comment-464805 Craig(#163), True,but my perhaps faulty memeory is that while Kobe went public w/trade demand in June(and at time I admit I blamed the timing for LeBron Jealosy),he didn't start throwing Bynum in front of the Buss(couldn't resist bad pun)until after Olympic Qualifying. In any event Bynum's hard work evidently highly impressed Kobe once Kobe saw the results and all looks very bright for the Lakers. Craig(#163),
True,but my perhaps faulty memeory is that while Kobe went public w/trade demand in June(and at time I admit I blamed the timing for LeBron Jealosy),he didn’t start throwing Bynum in front of the Buss(couldn’t resist bad pun)until after Olympic Qualifying.
In any event Bynum’s hard work evidently highly impressed Kobe once Kobe saw the results and all looks very bright for the Lakers.

]]> By: Lamar Odom is back! http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/comment-page-4/#comment-462333 Lamar Odom is back! Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:27:14 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/#comment-462333 The cake dunk was way overrated. The cake dunk was way overrated.

]]> By: drrayeye http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/comment-page-4/#comment-462270 drrayeye Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:29:47 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/#comment-462270 Phil's concept of Laker D seems as complex as the triangle, but pieces had begun to appear before the injuries to Trevor and Andrew. Pau Gasol has allowed Phil to consider expansions of his philosophy never seen in Chicago, and not seen in Lakerland since the days of Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Let's call it situational defense. Phil wants to dictate the pace of the game, scoring the high percentage shots on offense, minimizing turnovers, minimizing the percentage of opponents on defense--targeting key players--getting defensive rebounds, blocks, and steals. He wants to make the offense part of the defense but to play for stops and turnovers to close out the game. Pau helps on offense by making such a high percentage of his shots that opponents have very few opportunities for fast breaks. Pau also either directly or indirectly helps with offensive rebounds. On defense, he uses finesse, redirecting more shots than he blocks, getting his share of defensive rebounds. It seems obvious that Trevor and Andrew will make substantial contributions, but even with the defense that we have, our points scored/allowed difference is third best in the NBA. That's why you don't hear me complaining about Laker defense lately--even though I'd like us to reduce the number of points scored by opponents by 5-10. That might well happen when Andrew returns. Phil’s concept of Laker D seems as complex as the triangle, but pieces had begun to appear before the injuries to Trevor and Andrew. Pau Gasol has allowed Phil to consider expansions of his philosophy never seen in Chicago, and not seen in Lakerland since the days of Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Let’s call it situational defense.

Phil wants to dictate the pace of the game, scoring the high percentage shots on offense, minimizing turnovers, minimizing the percentage of opponents on defense–targeting key players–getting defensive rebounds, blocks, and steals.

He wants to make the offense part of the defense but to play for stops and turnovers to close out the game. Pau helps on offense by making such a high percentage of his shots that opponents have very few opportunities for fast breaks. Pau also either directly or indirectly helps with offensive rebounds. On defense, he uses finesse, redirecting more shots than he blocks, getting his share of defensive rebounds.

It seems obvious that Trevor and Andrew will make substantial contributions, but even with the defense that we have, our points scored/allowed difference is third best in the NBA.

That’s why you don’t hear me complaining about Laker defense lately–even though I’d like us to reduce the number of points scored by opponents by 5-10. That might well happen when Andrew returns.

]]> By: Craig W. http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/comment-page-4/#comment-461793 Craig W. Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:35:44 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/#comment-461793 Stephen, One problem with your Kobe-Howard scenario. Kobe went off in June -- before he and Howard spent much time together for the USA team. Kobe was very quiet after his June rampage. Stephen,
One problem with your Kobe-Howard scenario. Kobe went off in June — before he and Howard spent much time together for the USA team. Kobe was very quiet after his June rampage.

]]> By: harold http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/comment-page-4/#comment-461759 harold Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:10:46 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/#comment-461759 160 - interesting take! looking at it again tho it looked as if Kobe laughed, checked the jumbo to see if he was being shown, then laughed harder for image control. anyway, great show on the dunk contest. I hope kobe doesn't get too excited and plays more than he must. 160 – interesting take! looking at it again tho it looked as if Kobe laughed, checked the jumbo to see if he was being shown, then laughed harder for image control. anyway, great show on the dunk contest. I hope kobe doesn’t get too excited and plays more than he must.

]]> By: carter blanchard http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/comment-page-4/#comment-461531 carter blanchard Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:30:28 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/#comment-461531 Draiiiiiiiiinage! Draiiiiiiiiinage!

]]> By: Stephen http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/comment-page-4/#comment-461480 Stephen Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:55:18 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/#comment-461480 Harald(156), Kobe seems to have fun at every All Star Game and in the off-season games that are held. Could be he gets to play basketball w/his peers just for fun,w/out having the constant pressure of leading his team. However,he and Dwight developed a really great relationship during the Olympic qualifying run. (Almost every bench shot had the two of them together,talking,smiling and laughing.)I believe that playing w/Dwight-and seeing the effort Dwight puts into lifting,improving his game,etc.-lead to Kobe's public frustrations w/Bynum. Harald(156),
Kobe seems to have fun at every All Star Game and in the off-season games that are held. Could be he gets to play basketball w/his peers just for fun,w/out having the constant pressure of leading his team.
However,he and Dwight developed a really great relationship during the Olympic qualifying run. (Almost every bench shot had the two of them together,talking,smiling and laughing.)I believe that playing w/Dwight-and seeing the effort Dwight puts into lifting,improving his game,etc.-lead to Kobe’s public frustrations w/Bynum.

]]> By: Nagaz http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/comment-page-4/#comment-461408 Nagaz Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:03:38 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/#comment-461408 oh, and hope you feel better Kurt. oh, and hope you feel better Kurt.

]]> By: Nagaz http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/comment-page-4/#comment-461364 Nagaz Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:33:12 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/#comment-461364 hey, nomuskles. you should think about teaching. I know it doesn't provide the money or glory of being a doctor, but today's kids really need good mentors. I don't know how it works where you are, but here there are so many positions without teachers, the schools hire people straight out of undergrad, no teaching experience or knowledge required. If it's the same where you are, you could even try it out before going for your certification. Just something to mull over. hey, nomuskles. you should think about teaching. I know it doesn’t provide the money or glory of being a doctor, but today’s kids really need good mentors. I don’t know how it works where you are, but here there are so many positions without teachers, the schools hire people straight out of undergrad, no teaching experience or knowledge required. If it’s the same where you are, you could even try it out before going for your certification. Just something to mull over.

]]> By: TCO http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/comment-page-4/#comment-461269 TCO Sun, 17 Feb 2008 08:30:51 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/02/14/fast-break-thoughts-26/#comment-461269 As far as creativity goes, his second dunk was not awe inspiring, especially considering the standard that had been set in the previous round by Howard with the superman "dunk." I did like the no shoes dunk, but the actual move he did was essential the same as he did on his 1st attempt. As far as creativity goes, his second dunk was not awe inspiring, especially considering the standard that had been set in the previous round by Howard with the superman “dunk.” I did like the no shoes dunk, but the actual move he did was essential the same as he did on his 1st attempt.

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