Comments on: Preview & Chat: The Oklahoma City Thunder

By: LJAY

LJAY — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:02:42 +0000

About Gasol; Spain’s biggest sports newspaper claims he’s got a tear the size of a lentil in his biceps femoris. He’s most likely to come back vs the Suns.
What worries me, is that it seems that Pau:
1. Is upset with PJ, because he asked him (and at first he got them) at the beginning of the camp, for three more resting days, but PJ changed his mind arguing that he needed Pau from the very beginning to establish the team dynamic.
2. Is very dissapointed with the Lakers medical crew, because of the late diagnosis and the “don’t do a thing” policy they’ve taken in his case. He’s fliying his personal physical therapist from Barcelona to take over his treatment.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:51:35 +0000

Rockets preview post finally up

By: exhelodrvr

exhelodrvr — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:41:38 +0000

199) Well said.

By: LT Mitchell

LT Mitchell — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:25:22 +0000

I think Kobe’s mentality is – “if you guard me with one player (eg. Sefolosha), I’m gonna shoot and force you to put more defenders on me. When you put more defenders on me, than I will make you pay by creating easy buckets for my teammates”. This was his mentality last season, and it led to a championship.

We saw a great balance between the “gunner” Kobe and the “facilitator” Kobe throughout the playoff series against Denver. He basically took what the defense gave him. His passing became lethal late in the series when Karl was forced to throw 2 or 3 defenders at Kobe on the perimeter, which created layups and dunks for his teammates. Karl would NOT have thrown so many defenders at Kobe if Kobe did not start out the series in his gunner mode. People seem to be freaking out that Kobe is shooting the ball too much, but I would argue that being a gunner will help his facilitating in the long run. I have no doubt that we’re going to see a healthy balance between both versions of Kobe throughout the year, especially after Gasol returns and Artest gets more comfortable in the offense.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:06:55 +0000

When comparing Bynum and Kobe’s shooting figures, one must consider the load of offense they are requested to take on, and bottom line if Bynum was told to take more shots his shooting percentage would drop, he would not simply take the ones in his comfort zone.

By: LT Mitchell

LT Mitchell — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:04:40 +0000

- If anyone thinks that Bynum should be the #1 option solely based on FG%, than you must think that Eric Dampier should be the #1 option in Dallas over Dirk and Dalembert should be the #1 option in Philly over Iggy.

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:58:19 +0000

@192, I get it. Of course Laker expectations are unreasonably high & many of us get overly worked up over things that matter little in the post-season, but I know for me one factor is that it just BOTHERS me that Boston is playing such stifling D and looking so good so early. It doesn’t make us less than, just human.

By: Snoopy2006

Snoopy2006 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:52:01 +0000

I like J’s comment, 183. Middle-of-the-road, and from what I saw, very accurate.

Definitely agree with Darius’s observation on Bynum. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very pleased with his improvement, but the next step for him will be his post passing, and I also think he’ll get there.

Off-topic, but Stein’s got an semi-interesting piece up on ESPN. I didn’t realize the league had brought in new rims this year.

By: DirtySanchez

DirtySanchez — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:42:32 +0000

Its not that fans are seeking perfection, its fans wanting Kobe to realize when somebody on the team, on a given night, might be a better option than him dribbling the air out of the ball and taking a low percentage shot. KB as the leader of the team should not be so single minded to think that every night is his night to demoralize the individual who is guarding him. Nobody on here would rather have anybody other than #24 on their team, but its frustrating to see what should have been an easy win turn into a I cant believe we are about to get beat by OKC. Its not a jump off the boat moment, but team ball has to be played in order for us to win games against quality opponnents like (Boston, Orlando, Denver, San Antonio). Our bad habits now competing with inferior teams will only be magnified times 10 when we begin to play more challenging opponents.

I believe as long as Pau is out of the lineup we need one of the starters either Artest are LO to come off the bench to help solidify play. We are getting killed in every facet when the second lineup enters the game. Let WoW start at the 2 move KB to 3 and decide between LO or RonRon at the 4.

By: 3ThreeIII

3ThreeIII — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:41:27 +0000

Wondahbap, we will have to respectfully agree to disagree.

Bynum is playing well because he is big, athletic, is running the floor, has good hands, and is finishing decisively.

Would I like to see him pass out of more double teams? Sure.

But, he is getting an assist or two a night, a block and a steal per game, nine rebounds and only two turnovers in about thirty touches a night.

Seems really good to me.

I know it is early, and I even explained it was early, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be nice to see the Lakers go their absolute strength as an offense, and that is post play.

Get the ball inside is the battle cry. Bynum happens to be converting those inside touches most efficiently in the first four games.

I will never understand professionals going away from what works and trying the things that get worse results.

At the very least make your opponents adjust to your strength, make them show they can counter it, and then go with the next option.