With not much Lakers news (by not much, I mean, almost none), I’ll leave you with some links from around the league. The Lakers had the day off yesterday and will play in Miami tonight on TNT at 5 p.m. PST.
– A Stern Warning has some highlight clips of Shannon Brown from Tuesday night’s game against the Pacers.
-The Los Angeles Times Mike Bresnahan has a column on the Lakers upcoming three-game road trip:
“On the road it’s a different style of play, a different game entirely,” Kobe Bryant said. “We can’t take the game we play here at home and take it on the road. We’ll have to adjust a little bit. You’ve got to keep your energy up, obviously keep the intensity, but on the road you really have to execute.”
The Lakers (46-15) haven’t done much executing on the road, going 9-8 since late December, including a peculiar four-game road losing streak, their longest such skid since March 2007.
After playing a Miami team that has been uneventful and generally unimpressive this season, the Lakers play Friday in Charlotte, their East Coast version of Portland in recent seasons.
The Lakers are 2-3 in Charlotte since the Bobcats’ franchise was created even though the Bobcats have never made the playoffs.
On Sunday, they’ll play in Orlando, where they went 2-1 in the NBA Finals last season, winning Games 4 and 5 to close out the series.
– Lakers.com Mike Trudell has clips and a breakdown of all of Kobe’s game winners this season. Also, the Orange County Register’s Lakers Blog has a post on Kobe filming a segment for ABC’s “Modern Family.”
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AROUND THE LEAGUE
– Last night’s collective NBA action was a mostly forgettable night. Zach Harper of Hardwood Paroxysm gives us the best and worst from last night’s NBA action.
– Eddie Maisonet of EdTheSportsFan.com had a post on why he thinks Russell Westbrook is the “livest” point guard in the NBA right now
– The Painted Area has a post up on how LeBron James is on pace to shatter the forward assist record:
LeBron is on pace to not just break this mark, but shatter it – almost a full assist per game ahead of Larry Legend’s best single-season mark. Also, note that only one of the top nine forward assists-per-game seasons was accomplished in fewer minutes per game than James’ 39.0 so far this season (Bird, ’90-91, 38.0).
Obviously, the big catalyst in pushing LeBron’s assists up to another level has been the spate of injuries to the Cavs backcourt, most notably to point guard Mo Williams, which has increased James’ responsibilities as a distributor.
LeBron was ahead of Bird’s pace prior to Mo’s injury, as he was averaging 7.7 assists per game in the first 43 games, but then took a big jump when Mo went out.
– A couple of days ago, DIME Magazine posted this video of Baron Davis selling his critically acclaimed beard. It’s definitely one of the funniest NBA videos I’ve seen in a long time.
– Apparently, Paul Pierce is back to his old trash-talking-for-no-reason ways. Stephen Jackson told reporters that Paul Pierce was being disrespectful. From our old friend Kurt Helin over at Pro Basketball Talk:
This is far from the first time, complaints about the Celtics talking go way back, beyond the Knicks last year to Kevin Garnett barking like a dog and slapping the floor in the past. On one level, the Celtics were pulling a little vintage John McEnroe — yelling to fire themselves up more than anything. On another level, the Celtics style has been about intimidating teams, not just beating them, and talking is part of that.
The problem is teams are not that intimidated anymore. They push back. Not the Bobcats, who aren’t good enough to push back if the Celtics have it going, but better teams will. And all the talking in the world will not intimidate teams anymore, teams that see the Celtics as vulnerable.
– And finally, to get you ready for tonight’s game, Hot Hot Hoops has a preview up for tonight’s game.
-Phillip
james says
looking forward to seeing how we play on the road, this month will really show our how good we are.
In other news though I think there is absolutely no truth to the rumour one can always dream http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_14506730
The point is valid though, where ever Lebron wants to go that team will make it happen
Ryan says
James, its never going to happen. Bron’s ego won’t let him share the spot light with Kobe (the opposite is true for Kobe as well). Sure it works for a short period for team USA but it wouldn’t work for multiple seasons in the NBA. Besides I have read that the two really don’t like each other that much.
My only complaint about Boom’s beard is how itchy it is. They really need to design an itch free model.
13thirtyone says
i like LBJ as a basketball player but i am also ticked with his nonsense out of it.
unless he shows that he can stop with the nonsense, i will never like him
John Morris says
Is it just me or has Lebron James been given “all-time great” status without really proving much? I’m not disputing that he’s a beast and that he fills up the stat sheet better than anyone in the NBA but what (other than an MVP and getting to the finals) has he accomplished? When Kobe was putting up Wilt Chamberlain-like numbers they gave the MVP to Nash and disreguarded the greatness by saying it was ball-hoggery. Then it was “Kobe can’t win without Shaq.” I think that basketball is full of Kobe-haters and that Lebron James is something for all of the Kobe-haters to embrace. Also, the Celtics can suck it.
MS says
Whoa there, John, you’re stepping on my sign-off. It’s really all I’ve got. Also, the Cavs can suck it.
Jim says
If the Lebrons played the Lakers right now we would destroy them. Forget the mismatches down low, Artest eats the new #6 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They got lucky playing us a month ago when he was a little heavier and not quite right with his movement. We win that game by double digits if that game were today.
MannyP13 says
While I do not agree with the whole “let’s retire #23 for every team” bandwagon, I think the attached article goes a bit too far in its criticism: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AnjcRxpin70x.2Pu4d_o6vy8vLYF?slug=aw-lebronjordan030210&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Snoopy2006 says
Has anyone with Insider access read Thorpe’s article on Melo vs Durant? I hate to be a freeloader but that’s a debate I’ve thought about quite often, and I’m itching to know what Thorpe has to say about it, how he breaks it down.
Aaron says
This is FB&G right? The Lakers blog for educated sports fans? Lebron James SO FAR into his career is up there with the all time greats. He is having the greatest season in the modern NBA era as we speak. I hope Laker/Kobe fans can appreciate his genius because players like Lebron don’t come along all too often.
Jim says
Basketball legacies are about rings. Unlike probably every other sport, rings define greatness more than anything. Lebron’s only rings come from jewelry stores so far. Until that changes he’s got a problem.
chibi says
jason terry suffered a broken oribital bone last night, so he’s slated for surgery. no word on how long he’ll be out. I believe Courtney Lee suffered a similar injury last year, and he only missed a couple of weeks.
Darius says
#10. I know you have another comment in moderation. I really can’t let that through just because it’s the entire Thorpe article just pasted into a comment. I always feel dicey about copying and pasting someone’s entire article when it’s pay to read.
Snoopy, Thorpe basically concluded that Durant is currently a better player than ‘Melo, but he had tons of praise for both players with a lot of technical breakdowns of their game(s). Typical, high level stuff from Thorpe.
Basically, Durant is a better finisher in the lane, from three point territory, and at the FT line. Both are active on the boards, but both could be better – he did give ‘Melo the edge in offensive rebounding, but attributed some of that edge to the scheme that KD plays in where Westbrook and Sefaloosha are good offensive rebounders so KD has to get back a lot in transition D.
Another thing he said was that both are capable defenders and that both have shown strides in that area in the past two seasons. He thinks they do have room for improvement in that area though. Another ‘criticism’ is that neither are complete impact players in the mold of Lebron, Kobe, and Wade; they don’t make their teammates better in the same way. While they’re both willing passers, ‘Melo and KD help their teammates more by being offensive threats and creating space for their mates to operate with rather than being distributors and setting them up for easy baskets.
That was the crux of it.
Darius says
Also, in a way, I agree with Aaron. Lebron is fantastic. We, as Lakers fans, may not like his antics or like to take the best parts of Kobe and show where Lebron falls short, but in the end, Lebron is awesome. He is a once in a generation talent and should be appreciated for how good he is. Does that mean he’s perfect? Of course not. But Kobe isn’t perfect either. So why get caught up in the negative when dealing with such a special player? I’d rather just enjoy the man for what he brings to this game.
MannyP13 says
Jim,
I don’t know if I agree with you. Getting a ring adds validation but it does not create legacies.
After all, Dr J, Clyde the Glide and The Logo only won one ring a piece and yet their legacy on the game is unquestionable. The same goes for guys like Elgin Baylor, Pistol Pete and the Mailman who never won a single title.
You’re telling me that D Fish and Robert Horry have a bigger legacy than all of these guys because they have more hardware?
Lebron is a beast. But, no one will know his legacy, if any, until he retires from the game.
BOOBOO says
LeBron James will not play in Los Angeles. His ego will not allow him to coexist with Kobe (vice versa), and he knows that he will not be able to fill up the stat sheet in the Triangle offense.
I do not understand why it is so difficult for people to grasp the understanding that LBJ, as a forward and with the offense run through him, will always get more rebounds and assists than Kobe. Does that automatically make him a better player than Kobe? Seems like it, considering how everyone is already proclaiming the “King” as one of the all-time greatest due to his stats.
Jim says
Manny,
I agree with you that the number of rings aren’t the end-all, be-all of a players legacy. But having a ring is a huge difference-maker. We can appreciate players independent of the number of championships they win, but there will always be the void of being great without the ring (and even those with the rings, questions can arise when/if they don’t win them being the alpha dog on the team). While a lot of times this is determined by who else is in the league (Baylor and Malone come to mind), at the end of the day it is still an elephant in the room when discussing greatness (In my mind it is because basketball is the sport that can be most affected by 1 player on a team).
Now it is incredibly likely that Lebron will retire with at least 1 ring. However, it is premature to anoint him the next Jordan without him getting his title. Lebron is a singular talent and probably the best 1 on 1 player in the game today. But let’s not confuse that accomplishment with those of the greatest player to play the game. Jordan in his first five years had multiple 30 point years (including a 35 point year), won a defensive player of the year award, and an MVP award. Lebron is great, but he hasn’t come close to being Jordanesque yet.
John Morris says
I admit to talking some smack earlier today about Lebron being handed a spot with the all-time greats. I wouldn’t feel like a good Laker fan if I said only good things about it.
This thought just popped into my mind a few moments ago. Has anyone here pondered life as a Laker fan after Kobe? By then Phil will surely be gone too. I know it’s looking maybe a little too far ahead when we are in the midst of threatening to 3-peat again (I’d love to be able to buy another one of those shirts)?
How about this? The Celtics can sit on it.
Jim says
John, when I think about life after Kobe I get flashbacks of Vlade Divac.
Darius says
Game preview for the Miami game is up.
http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2010/03/04/preview-and-chat-the-miami-heat-4/
MS says
Thanks John, much better. Also, Lebron can suck it.
Snoopy2006 says
Darius (and whoever else tried to help), thanks a lot for that. I was really curious to see what he had to say.
I’m a bit surprised. Thorpe obviously watched much more tape than I did, but I probably would have given Melo a very slight edge. On top of a silky smooth J just like Durant, Melo uses his size/body in ways Durant doesn’t (actually, he uses his body in ways Lebron has yet to master). He’s an absolute killer on the block, with that footwork and strength. Probably the most complete offensive player after Kobe. Durant strikes me as far more mature, a much better leader, and a better slasher off the dribble.
Lebron’s phenomenal, end of story.