From Dan Devine, Ball Don’t Lie: When Nike decided to debut a new House of Hoops location in Miami back in October, it commissioned artist Alberto Russo to create a handful of illustrations to commemorate the grand opening. I missed the super dope drawings back then, but thanks to a tip from the indestructible Tas Melas, mine eyes saw the glory at the Behance Network’s website Thursday morning.
From Rick Reilly, ESPN.com: Yes, Ron Artest is crazy. Crazy people think Ron Artest is crazy. But he’s not crazy 24/7. For instance, this morning, Artest is taking his kids to school in his Escalade, not his bright red, open-wheel Indy race car. But he has. “Cops always pull me over, but it’s street legal!” protests Artest, 31. Like so much in the life of the most unpredictable man in the NBA, the Indy car is four parts crazy, one part brilliant. Take, for instance, during the playoffs, when he usually rents himself a Lamborghini. Why, Ron Ron?
From Brian Kamenetzky, 24/7/365: There isn’t a player on the roster with whom Kobe’s relationship isn’t important, because for all their talent the Lakers still orbit around 24. Not that he needs to be hosting weekend barbeques and movie nights down in Orange County, or giving guys complimentary rides in the Kobe chopper, but it’s important Bryant maintain an accessibility on and off the court. He can’t afford to shut down or shut guys out. Talking to Luke Walton earlier in the year about Kobe’s development as a teammate, he described how Bryant is no longer a “my way or the highway” type of leader, but something more collaborative. This is vital for the team’s success. Ultimately, though, it’s Kobe’s relationship with Phil Jackson that is the most important for the team. It’s remarkable to think about how far they’ve come since the original Three-peat squad was broken up, sending Shaq to Miami, Kobe to a temporary but ringless purgatory, and Phil to his study to write a book. A book not terribly well reviewed by Kobe Bryant.
From Brian Kamenetzky, Land O’ Lakers: Derek Fisher is a pretty serious guy, particularly when it comes to people pointing out those (generally age related) deficiencies in his game. So it wasn’t surprising, after winning Wednesday’s game against the Clippers with a last second drive past rookie Eric Bledsoe, he poked one of the most prominent “Fisher sucks!” criticisms with a pointy, game-winning, hero stick. “I’ve been in that situation before,” he said, interjecting into his own very well-detailed breakdown of how the play developed. “Many of you have documented how easily guys get around me at the top of the floor. When you’re in the middle of the floor, and a guy can go left or right regardless of what hand he is, it’s a very tough spot to be in. I’m not as fast as they come, obviously, and I can get around a guy if I have the ball on the top of the floor, in the middle like that.”
From C.A. Clark, Silver Screen and Roll: With the latest installment of “The Fish that saved Los Angeles” printed in fresh ink, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves limping into their first long road trip of the season. They boast one of the least impressive three game winning streaks in basketball history, and it comes on the heels of the franchise’s first four game losing streak since returning to relevancy in 2008. Andrew Bynum still hasn’t returned, and Derrick Caracter’s day-to-day ankle sprain has placed the very idea of front court depth in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Pau Gasol is being forced to gobble up minutes like a Hungry, Hungry Hippo, and in doing so, he looks about as beat down as … sorry, there’s just no way to complete that line without an offensive attempt at domestic violence humor. In other words, it’s the perfect time to go out on the road for 10 days straight.
From Mike Trudell, Basketblog: Rookie backup center Derrick Caracter suffered a minor ankle injury after colliding with Kobe Bryant in the second quarter of L.A.’s 87-86 win over the Clippers on Tuesday, and did not return to the contest. Caracter, however, said after the game that his ankle is “fine,” reporting that he would be able to play on Friday against the Bulls if Phil Jackson calls his number. L.A.’s front line was so thin in the second half against the Clips that small forwards Ron Artest and Matt Barnes each saw extended time at power forward, with Artest shining in his defense of Blake Griffin.
From NBA.com: President Barack Obama will honor the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers next week, the White House said Thursday. It’s not clear, though, that the basketball-loving president will shoot hoops with Kobe Bryant and his teammates. Continuing a practice of emphasizing community service while celebrating champion sports teams, the president will accompany the Lakers to a Boys and Girls club, and visit with the kids on Monday, according to a White House advisory. Typically the president brings teams to the White House — as happened after the Lakers won the NBA title last year — but this time he’ll make his comments congratulating the team at the club.
From Broderick Turner, LA Times: Andrew Bynum eased his way down the hallway inside Staples Center after the Lakers stirring, last-second 87-86, victory over the Clippers Wednesday night, his mind now on injured teammate Derrick Caracter. Caracter went down in the first quarter with a sprained left ankle, leaving the Lakers even more short-handed with big men because Bynum remains out while he rehabilitates his surgically repaired right knee and backup center Theo Ratliff remains out after left-knee surgery. Bynum, a 7-foot center, had already changed his timetable on when he might return to play, moving the date up. So he was asked if he felt any more pressure, now that Caracter is out, to return even sooner — say Friday in Chicago against the Bulls, when the Lakers start a six-game trip back East.
From Gregg Patton, The Press Enterprise: It didn’t happen Wednesday night, in the first meeting of Kobe Bryant’s Lakers and Blake Griffin’s Clippers. It won’t happen next month or next spring, and probably not even next year. But you can see it, in the not-too-distant future. When Bryant fades away, Griffin emerges as the city’s premier basketball superstar. A Clipper over a Laker, whoever he may be? There’s a first time for everything. If the Clippers do manage to build something with their young talent over the next year or two, it will likely be a tandem act — Griffin and shooting guard Eric Gordon, another emerging, every-night talent — paving the way.
Psiwolf says
Does anyone know if TheRealCachookaman made a new youtube channel? Please let me know if he has, thanks.
DirtySanchez says
Andrew doesnt sound overly optimistic about his earlier than expected return. The team believes he’s ready, but he doesnt believe he is ready(wow). This guy is to be counted on when he is half sure of himself, Im getting a little edgy about this upcoming road trip(please talk me away from the kitchen knives). If fans believe that Bynum is going to push it to the limit, like the playoffs last year, I think your in for a rude awakening come next Wednesday.
I hope the team is not pushing Drew to return just to win road games in December. Let Artest get some minutes at PF, his minutes at SF were already down with Barnes playing so well. Artest more than held his own against Griffin Wed night, 5 or 7 minutes a game to give Pau a rest should be sufficient. Artest loves a new challenge getting dirty in the paint with the big boys is right down his alley. Flexibility on the roster from positions 1 thru 4 was a big reason that LA was a favorite to win it all, let’s see it put to use.
If a player does not have confidence in a surgically repaired limb, said player has a higher risk of another injury to occur due to over compensating for the last injury. I would rather Bynum sit until he’s comfortable, might cost LA some games now, but will payback in the long run with a confident player ready to give it all.
karlum says
@Psiwolf:
yes, he has.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCaCHooKaMan
exhelodrvr says
dirtysanchez,
“I would rather Bynum sit until he’s comfortable, might cost LA some games now”
Two problems with that:
1) The impact that has on Odom and Gasol.
2) Last year showed the importance of HCA. After the recent slump, they probably don’t have room to give away a extra games now.
DirtySanchez says
#4 exhelodrvr
Its almost a darn if you do, darn if you dont situation. You make a valid point about LO’s and Gasol’s minutes, but if a mentally unsure Drew comes back on the court and plays timid or scared to get hurt again it will be a wash. I read Phil’s concerns all the time about Gasol’s minutes, but it seems that he has done little too nothing about the problem. If Phil would actually try to let Pau or LO rest, with a combination of small ball lineups to DC at the 4, it would help over time. Believe me I want Drew back just like everybody else, but the reality of Drews past is coming back like a bad dream. A healthy Drew is what seperates LA from the rest of the teams in the league, too think about home court now in December is a fatal mistake in my opinion.
Craig W. says
Now if only we worried about current events as much as we worry about our Lakers — oh, I forgot again; we spend all this time on the Lakers to forget what else is going on.
exhelodrvr says
5) DirtySanchez,
Management has been gambling with poor quality backups at the PF and C positions, because they “aren’t needed” since the Gasol/Bynum/Odom rotation can easily handle all the minutes. Of course, when one of those three is very injury-prone, it’s not a smart bet. Doesn’t mean that they won’t get away with it, just that it’s not a smart bet. So far this season they are having to pay for that gamble.
PJ says
Exhelo
I wouldn’t exactly call it a gamble. That’s a formidable front line rotation. Dr. Buss is spending very lavishly (high payroll). There is not much left to spend on 4th/5th big men off bench.
I don’t think any team in the league runs 4-5 deep up front. A lot of teams are not even 3 deep.
tsuwm says
>A lot of teams are not even 3 deep.
if that.. the Warriors, f.i. – Biedrens, Gadzurak, and? Lee/Radman??
but then you have the Cs, who seem to have seventeen bigs, even with three hurt.
tsuwm says
if you could have any young big, who would you pick? BLopez, KLove, Griffin, someone else?
exhelodrvr says
PJ,
It’s not a question of the amount of money that is spent, it’s a question of the depth relative to the likelihood of one or more of those three missing significant time because of injury. They could be spending 10M on those three, or 35M on those three, and it’s still a gamble.
Psiwolf says
@#10 I’m a huge huge fan of Love ever since the FIBA tournament, where I first noticed him and was able to watch his play for prolonged periods of time. I have a tremendous amount of respect for his game. Everytime I get the chance to watch him, he always seems to hustle, bring great energy, and hustle on both ends of the court.
I give Bynum credit too, especially for last years playoffs, but come on, if your team is in the finals and has a chance to win it all, it only takes an inkling of competitiveness to go out and play, if at all possible. Kevin Love plays for the T-Wolves and brings that sort of energy time and again. Definitely a much more impressive feat.
However, you said “any” young big? Dwight Howard of course. That guy is so resilient that they actually wrote an article the other day when he actually missed a game (I forgot where the article came from exactly, but I want to say espn’s site).
Psiwolf says
@#3 Much thanks, I was going crazy without his highlights to watch at work. 😀
tsuwm says
Psiwolf, d’oh. I *should have said young big in his early days; it seems like DH has been in the league for a long time now.