Comments on: Fast Break Thoughts.

By: From Brasil

From Brasil — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:00:22 +0000

Disagree!! That is still basic point guard play, to deliver the ball to the right place. That is why I was never a fam of Nash. Despite his assists numbers, he would hold on to the ball too much. But Jason Kidd does it, Baron Davis does it, Andre Miller does it and Paul does it (although, their plan is for him to hold on to the ball).

That is what PGs are supose to do.

By: Travis

Travis — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:07:21 +0000

wondah- whether Pac is overrated is a matter of taste, but I wouldn’t say that he was an “actor” given that he was killed while running around Vegas with LA gangsters. In any case, I like the Kobe comparisons: Kobe demolishes the East Coast teams last year (Lebron: Biggie, Kobe:Pac) and 2Pac wrote “hit em up”, demolishing bad boy records.

Concerning Ron, I agree that its harmless now, but the reason I loved the 08-09 Lakers so much more than the 3-peat teams is the lack of drama off the court. Hopefully Ron puts this stuff away when the season starts.

By: inwit

inwit — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:27:30 +0000

About 40 days to go until training camp starts – I’m not sure I’m going to make it!

I think Artest knows he is replacing a player, Ariza, that the fans really bonded with last year. But all kinds of silly talk and stunts won’t do it with us, but playing his rear off on the court and bringing toughness to the front line will do alot.

It’s a little like when Byron Scott replaced Norm Nixon, it took some time for everyone to get over it, and then it worked great.

By: Kareem

Kareem — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:04:06 +0000

Wondah,

Sorry, but the 2Pac-Kobe comparison is ON point. Two cerebral players. Both were introduced to the game with proven squads: Digital Underground and the Shaq-Phil Lakers. Both come from unusual backgrounds: Kobe’s Italy is Tupac’s theater; Tupac’s jailing is Kobe’s rape case, both transformed to much more cerebral and mature manifestations of themselves. I think someone could make a case that Phil Jackson is the Sug Knight of coaching (as if only by reputation he’s landed extremely talented teams, and it’s really criminal how many championships he’s won). We need to tie a do-rag around Kobe’s head and see how well he acts an “even thugs cry.”

I love Artest. I hope his antics equal good court play AND absolutely wacky on and off the court theatrics (in a way that doesn’t find him sidelined). If I had international calling in Lebanon, he’d be on my speed-dial.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:03:00 +0000

64. My issues with Artest are not his energy (although he took nights off in SacTown), it is his hoops IQ. I don’t really want to rehash this again, but my concern is that despite Kobe and Phil, when the going gets tough he is going to try to take over games, or he will do things that break down the offense. Last season we begged him to take over games because the Rockets were much worse when he did. Time will tell if that will be different this time around, I am rooting for it too be.

As for 63, debating what kind of step back Kobe/Gasol/Odom may or may not take back next season during August is about as pointless as further Artest discussion. I just don’t see what we gain from it now, and remember we have months before the season starts. Months. Sorry if it bores people, but welcome to the offseason.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:34:48 +0000

Kurt,
After watching Artest for many years and appreciating his competitive spirit from a distance… the one thing I know is Ron gives it all every night on the court. What I would like to see him do is curb his eating to match his work ethic. He needs to lose some fat and weight so he can get back some quickness. Thats what we have to worry about with Artest. He shows up for every game… he is focused and is a true warrior. That is the last thing you have to worry about. I hope he gets on the same HGH he used in 04 with Indiana. He was all muscle and averaged 25 ppg that year to go along with his DPOY award.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:27:34 +0000

Man its good to be a Lakers fan. This team is so stacked we have to discuss back up coaches. But it still bores me. Its not too early to talk about this season.

Its not like we have an all star at every position… what about PG?!?. How much worse is Fisher going to be next year? How much of a baby step back will Kobe, Gasol, and Odom take? How much better will Andrew Bynum, Shannon Brown, Sasha, Morisson and Farmar be?

Can the Magic or the Spurs challenge the new and improved “mighty” Lakers? Is this the year Lebron can win a championship with an average supporting cast?

There are plenty of things to discuss other than who might replace Phil 4 years from now. The Lakers are a loaded team… but they are not perfect.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 06:24:29 +0000

56. I don’t give a crap about his off the court stuff, I want him to be focused on the court. Not like last year, actually in tune with teammates and doing what is best for the team. If he does that, he can give his phone number to anyone he wants.

By: Craig W.

Craig W. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:41:21 +0000

If I’m not mistaken, Phil Jackson was a big man playing basketball. He is a pretty good coach.

By: Craig W.

Craig W. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:33:05 +0000

This ‘crazy’ comment about Artest and people’s insistence that players conform to some global idea of normal really does have a connection with Kareem’s inability to get any ‘run’ in the coaching ranks – IMO.

I have followed Kareem since he was a freshman at UCLA. I have never heard any well documented situations where he was rude or abusive to people. He was always thoughtful and internally focused.

He also took a lot from the general public – see John Wooden’s comments about what he learned about people by how they treated Kareem (Louis). This was 1966 when Kareem enrolled in UCLA and the times were extremely different. Anyone who hasn’t lived through the 60′s and the black/white thing should think twice before they criticize an athlete for keeping his feelings and opinions to himself.

Kareem is extremely proud of who he is and where he came from. This still grates on some of the ‘straight jackets’ in the NBA management structure.