I fire up the old computer to write about the Lakers and their opponents and, to be honest, I find myself staring at a blank screen for longer than I’d like. I type, erase, type and space down, type, erase, and on it goes until something resembling a post worth your time reveals itself. Some days are easier than others. Today is not one of those days.
I don’t write this for your sympathy or your pity. This is the process. And, in a way, this brings me closer to understanding what it might be like to play for the Lakers right now.
At 6-16, the Lakers have a record fully reflecting their ability to compete in the NBA on a nightly basis. They have some talent, but not a lot. They have a coach who sees the game a certain way and is working within his paradigm to best produce good results. They have an aged icon doing the same. And they’ve had some bad luck with injuries. The results have been what they’ve been, but we’ve said that already.
Every day, then, this team wakes up and goes to work trying to sort out a way to win a basketball game. Current experience says that what they try will not be successful, but they try anyway. In a game like Tuesday’s against the Kings they came out on top. Tonight, in San Antonio, they hope the same will occur. The likelihood of that happening is low, however.
Because that team, the Spurs, are the opposite of the Lakers. The Spurs are the league’s reigning champion and one of the best outfits in the association. When at full strength they are a bear that will maul you through technical expertise and master level execution. When not at full strength they will simply wear you down using similar technique and execution, only from lesser players who seem to raise their game at the most opportune times because they have been drilled repeatedly to do so. This team is a machine that inspires equal amounts of envy and awe (and, for opponents, frustration and dislike) in how they methodically do the thing they are told to do with a level of discipline befitting a team coached by a military man.
With all of this as the backdrop, a key plot point of tonight’s game isn’t whether the Lakers can win (I don’t think many believe that) but if Kobe will pass Michael Jordan for 3rd on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Unless you live under a rock, you know that Kobe will pass Jordan sooner or later and with only 31 points left to hurdle the man whose nickname was “Air” it’s likely it will be sooner. After all, Kobe has already scored 30 or more points in six games this season (second most in the NBA), so tonight would be just as good a game as any. Especially with the national TV cameras rolling.
I’ll have more thoughts on this subject when it actually happens (after dealing with that problem of the blank screen, of course), but for now my thoughts on this can be summed up with a single tweet:
Kobe's going to pass MJ in scoring and the stans are going to melt and the clowns are going to clown. But seriously, what an accomplishment.
— Darius Soriano (@forumbluegold) December 4, 2014
What an accomplishment, indeed.
My dream scenario would be for Kobe to score 31 points on 18 shots in a win over the Spurs on the road tonight. I doubt that happens, but that’s why they call it a dream. It would be fitting, though, simply because the Lakers and the Spurs are this generation’s Lakers and Celtics with Duncan and Kobe serving as two the game’s all-time very best anchoring their respective franchises. And while the Spurs have continued to be at the top and the Lakers decidedly not, it would be fun for Kobe to get a nice team win on a night where he accomplished something meaningful regarding his individual career. We’ll see, right?
Again, though, making this happen will be quite the test. As noted above, even if some of the Spurs’ main guns do not play — and Kawhi Leonard is questionable — they will be prepared to put a hurting on the Lakers. I could go on and on about how, but that’s not necessary. They will pass and move and defend with purpose and it will produce good results. For the Lakers, the hope will simply be that they can conjure up enough defensive effort to make some of those passes and cuts more difficult, have some of those shots miss, and hit enough of their own shots so that the Spurs’ defense comes up short. I don’t have any expectation that this will happen. But much like this page going from blank to 800 words, the process endures and the results may surprise you.
Where you can watch: 6:30pm start time on TWC Sportsnet and ESPN. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM.
Calvin Chang says
The Spurs are why I don’t believe talent is the issue. If you look at the Spurs B team, you can’t tell me that Aaron Baynes, Marco Belinelli, Pendergraph, Matt Bonner, Cory Joseph, Patty Mills, even the likes of Gary Neal, Danny Green, Splitter – have that much more talent than Nick Young, Wes, Ryan Kelly, Ed Davis, Sacre, Jeremy, Ellington, Clarkson. I think it’s a wash. Earlier this week, the Spurs B team toyed with the Knicks team. Sure, the Knicks are bad, but I believe the Spurs B team would easily make the playoffs in the East and make a run for the 8th spot in the West. What a difference a good coach makes.
Thomas Rickard says
I’m a Lakers fan, have been since since the 60ies, this isn’t the first bad period nor the first time there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, the difference now is that I live in Vegas and bet on NBA games, so how they lose is important, at least to me. Covers are good even if it’s being a dog, so there are good loses, so I hope they keep trying even if it’s futile.
Tankyou says
As a lover of basketball, the Spurs are a joy to watch. Sometimes its like watching the Hoosiers movie, a bunch of modestly talented guys playing with purpose and some beautiful ball movement. It was pretty funny watching the Heat try and constantly play catch up. They have so many guys that can pass well on that team.
Spurs are definitely the anti-lakers. Same faces for the most part, same coach, same ownership, and pretty much the same great results. The lakers had their times as well, but clearly this is not the time. This Lakers team and FO reminds me more of the Dolan lead Knicks. Lots of bad choices, gambling on big names, spending too much on a couple players, and the need to constantly retool their line-up every year.
Knicks have a bunch more talent than the Lakers do though, but Jr Smith/Melo just is not a good combo. The modern NBA offense is pretty much a must, the slow down stuff just doesn’t work well. Even Memphis is speeding up and spreading the floor more than ever to good effect.
I agree with Calvin Chang, different system and good coaching and the Lakers would be far better–but I truly doubt Kobe would buy in. Could you imagine IF Kobe played for the spurs? Would he really be OK with sitting a bunch, playing 20mins plenty of nights, probably only averaging 15pts a game? That’s what would happen, and Kobe would be a bench player on the Spurs for sure given his decline this year. Kobe is going to go out playing his style of hoops, everyone else be D***ed. I’m sure Lin/Davis/Ellington/Boozer are all gone after this season, no way they play with Kobe again. So basically its nearly a complete new roster to watch lose alot Kobe’s last year (pray its his last year next year, otherwise the front office will probably give him 18million or something for a 1yr ext.).
Robert says
Kobe Alert: In a phenomenal performance, KB registered his 425th thirty point game in leading the Lakers to a hard won victory against the Kings. Kobes needs 4 more thirty point games to equal KAJ for 4th all time in that category. Kobe also moved by Ray Allen for 11th all time in minutes. He is now chasing Hondo in 3 different categories – Minutes (needs 126 to get into 10th), Games (needs 4 to get to 22nd), and Dimes (needs 83 to get to 29th). He is chasing Moses in two categories, and is chasing Shaq, Nash, and MJ in 3 others. Hall of Famers all and Kobe is moving by them. He needs 31 points and the top three in all time NBA scoring will have all worn the Laker uniform.
Calvin Chang says
@Tankyou – At this stage, it will be difficult for Kobe to buy in. It has to be a strong, unflinching coach that the players will respect or fear. If Pop was the coach, I think Kobe will fall in line because he respects Pop. Pop commands respect. But with younger coaches – Kobe will walk all over them. Need to have a strong coach who is dedicated to a system.
Robert says
TankYou: “Spurs are definitely the anti-lakers.” Always have been. Which is exactly why I despise them. Kobe, Shaq, and Phil, against David Robinson, Duncan, and Pop. Opposites indeed.
Thomas Rickard: This is the worst period in Laker history. Since you are a gambler: The Lakers need to make the Finals in one of the next 3 years (counting this one) or we will equal our longest period out of the Finals in history. So what is the line on us making the finals in the next 3 years? If we do not make the playoffs this year or next, it will be the first time in history we have been out of the playoffs for 3 straight years. Odds on us making the playoffs during the next 2 years? People bring up the 90’s: During that decade, we never won less than 33 games. We may do that for 3 straight years in present time. The 90’s sported 8 winning teams, 6 teams over 600 ball, and 2 over 700. We have not played 700 ball since 2009 and let me know the over/under for the year when the Lakers will next play even 600 ball? Do you want a good bet? Tomorrow Jim will wake up, put on some old jeans, a faded polo shirt, and a baseball cap, he will then proceed to do his job, which is to micromanage Mitch. See if the Bellagio will give you a line on that. My guess is that they won’t. They will tell the same thing they would say if you asked them for an opinion on our franchise: “Off the Board”
Calvin: “I don’t believe talent is the issue” I am not sure what to say to this.
Calvin Chang says
@Robert: Do you believe that the Spurs B team with Aron Baynes, Marco Belinelli, Jeff Pendergraph, Matt Bonner, Boris Diaw, Cory Joseph, Patty Mills, even Danny Green and Splitter – have that much more talent than Nick Young, Wes, Ryan Kelly, Ed Davis, Sacre, Jeremy, Ellington, Clarkson? My point is, if Pop were coaching this current Lakers group, he will find a way to get them to 40+ wins. Byron will barely reach 25 wins. Byron is not a good coach.
Tim says
Nick Young five 3’s in the first half.
Reggie Hammond says
You guys read the article about Kobe @ practice? Saying the team is soft & ain’t s#/T? Love it
VI Guy says
Who cares what Pop would do as Lakers coach? He’s not. What a pointless thing to conjecture about.
Can’t we get back to telenovela narratives where Kobe is the evil center of the universe, hindering all the other Laker all stars from shining or, better, the front office’s super arcane tank plan?
This is a pretty enjoyable game so far. Geez, enjoy the process as this hot steaming mess of a team tries to make the most of the situation.
Ko says
Surprise: Kobe 5 for 14 rest of team Young, Lin, Johnson Hill over 50%. But Kobe keeps shooting. And that helps the team how?
Ko says
Lin has just one of the lowest basketball IQ’s since Kwame Brown.
Good thing they are paying Nash $9 million to mentor him.
Kevin T says
Surprise, Kobe not in the game and they are not even getting a shot off, turnover after turnover. Just got lucky San Antonio is playing sloppy as well or they would be ahead.
Tim says
Kobe finding teammates out of the double team, making the Spurs pay for it.
Kevin T says
Man Kobe is so selfish, could have passed MJ, but he decided to pass. lol
Ko says
Kobe ball handling stinks.
Ko says
What a dumb team. Why aren’t ball handlers in the game coach.are you really this inept. 3 times in a row they can’t get ball down court.
Dumb coaching
Ko says
Kobe is a joke handling ball and this stupid coach has no PG in the game. He should be fired today
karen says
This game is on koby. Dribble dribble dribble so he can shoot. 2nd unit kept them in game. Where are they scott?
Anonymous says
Kobe has become a problem late in games. He handle ball and misses every last shot. He is killing this team Kate in games.
karen says
Scott wants koby to be the pg. How did that work out for you scott. OT
Tim says
How not to close out a game brought to by Byron Scott and the Lakers. I think Scott does not like time outs.
Ko says
Kobe us just terrIble late in games. Missed every Late shot this year. Another 7 for 21 game with 5 TO
Ko says
Does Scott know you are allowed to call time outs?
Ko says
Kobe is losing this game. 1 for 7 last 5 minutes just like every game. Missed last 6 shots. Sad
Anonymous says
Scott: run a play!!!!
Tim says
Nick Young three gives the Lakers the lead. Swaggy P
LAKERS WIN.
Ko says
Anyone but Kobe shoots in OT and it goes. Kobe 0 for 5
How come Scott can’t see it?
Thank you Nuck!
Lil Pau says
Kobe:too big to fail
vhan says
Man, Kobe is tired with all the responsibilities he need to do on this game, passing, scoring and running back to play defense. He is 35 years old, fatigue and age is a big factor playing those heavy minutes.
Citing all his turnovers and missed shots while not praising his assists on the last couple of possessions. Be glad we’ve got a win DAMN!!!
Sometimes I’m pissed to all of you this is why I’d stop commenting even last year.
KenOak says
Wow. KO posts the same way whether the Lakers win or lose. I’m tempted to go back through posts during the most recent Lakers championship runs and see if that holds true! So much anger in such a short handle…
3 weeks ago I was sure that top 3 pick was staying put. Now it looks like Phx will have at least 2 lottery picks this year. UGH.
rr says
Props to the players for winning this game. Maybe Kobe should retire and be the coach, so he can yell at them in practice every day.
I commented a couple of days ago that signing Nick Young for 4/21M is not an effective tanking strategy. The FO could have signed a worse player for a lot less money, and every now and then Young will get hot and change a game.
Robert says
Great game. Kobe was a warrior, Young just phenomenal, And I can’t believe the abuse Scott is getting when we win a game like this. Kobe running point was clearly a good thing. Does everyone realize we just beat one of the best teams in the league on their home court? I for one need to give some more credit to this team. Specifically the team of course – not the FO : )
Ko: Seriously – we have beat the Kings and Spurs back to back – it does not get better than this : )
Karen: this should be fun : )
Enjoy everyone – I do not like playing the role of board optimist
Lil Pau: Nice !
rr: Young has really surprised me with his ability to play on the same court with Kobe.
bleedpurplegold says
cant belive it…..we won?!? against the spurs? wow!!!!! AND they didnt rest any1
GO LAKERS!
Anonymous says
Ko are you even watching the game? Kobe had 6 assists in the 4th and OT. Jeezzz
rr says
Kawhi Leonard didn’t play, but yeah…give the team (yes, including Byron Scott) credit. They beat a far, far better team on the road, and that doesn’t happen often.
Calvin Chang says
If KO was the Lakers GM, everyone will get fired 🙂 Sometimes, even before the game is over 🙂
Kevin T says
Relax Ko, before u choke on your own spit, how about all those assists. Cry cry cry me a river. Kobe is a champion, and he changes a game no matter what. Without him on the floor getting double teamed and getting other guys open shots, the Lakers will lose by 20 every night. Now if we had just 1 guy on our team that demanded a constant double than Kobe will get easier shots and his average will go up. So relax. Wow
Aaron says
You heard it here first from me… But this is still a great read on what is really wrong with the NBA and the easy fix nobody wants to talk about…
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/12/13/sports/basketball/soccer-shows-how-the-nba-could-make-losing-hurt.html?_r=0&referrer=
TAE says
Did Ko even watch the game or was he just boxscore watching? Kobe had 6ast in the 4th and OT and played playmaker/facilitator tonight.
Jayz says
I’d rather fire Ko from this site. All he does is complain and whine.
He’s been posting the same comments for years. It’s like his comments are on cut and paste and just changes the names of his whipping boys.
hop says
Good win, but Kobe had three straight turnovers in the 4th. If not for a miracle shot by Young this would have been another bad lose.
Calvin Chang says
What luck! What Swag! Shot clock running down, and Lin doesn’t see Wes to his left wide open. Instead, he gives it to Swaggy, who just so happens to be waiting for a chance to make a game-winner. Great game. Very entertaining win.
sT says
We WON!
Ko says
Ok sorry
Anonymous says
Great win. Thanks Nick and guys.
Wonder why the coach had no point guards in last 4 minutes? Asking Kobe to bring the ball up aganist the smartest coach in th league is odd. 9 points in 2 minutes and 3 turnovers later and it’s tied,
Not sure but Hill, Boozer, Johnson are going to win the All-Star skills contest. Also Bryon might use hus time outs after the 2nd turnover.
Too many minutes for Kobe. Tired hence missed last 5 or 6 shots. on Laker 7 wins Kobe averaging 7 assists. On the losses 3. Seems simple.
Ko says
Ok so here is a positive stat 7 Laker wins Kobe avaraging 7 assists, 16 losses 3 assists, tonight 9 and a crazy win.
VI Guy says
” If not for a miracle shot by Young this would have been another bad lose.”
Ha, more snatching despair from the jaws of victory. Some folks on this site are more bitter when the Lakes win than when they lose….
KenOak says
@hop
How could this have been a bad loss? How!? We played the friggen Spurs! You know the World Champion San Antonio Spurs! Not getting blown out by 20 points is a win for our craptastic Lakers roster. Seriously guys get a grip. The fact that this team has won 7 games in this stacked Western Conference is amazing to me. IF the Lakers were in the East they would be challenging for a playoff spot. Look man…I’m not saying Byron Scott is crushing it as a coach or that Kobe is having his best year, but at least look at this thing with an open mind. There are 3 players on this entire team that might start for another squad. 3 friggen players. Kobe, Hill, and Nick Young. And the Lakers are 3 games out of an 8th seed in the East! While playing in the stacked West!
This team wouldn’t likely be much better if MDA were still coaching because they lost their best shooter to FA (Meeks) and Kobe isn’t hitting the 3 well this year at all. And no. IF Pop were coaching this team they wouldn’t be world beaters either.
Mid-Wilshire says
Despite the Lakers’ unravelling a bit at the end of regulation, they actually deserved to win this game. Consider the following:
1) The Lakers had more rebounds — 49-47;
2) The Lakers had more assists — 27-23;
3) The Lakers had fewer turnovers — 14-19;
4) The Lakers’ bench outscored San Antonio’s bench — 61-56; and
5) The Lakers shot better than the Spurs from 3-point range and from the free throw line.
This game was not won on luck. The Lakers deserved to win. They beat the NBA champions. On the road. In San Antonio. With Tim Duncan playing 40 minutes and Ginobili playing 31. The Spurs did not mail this one in. They simply got beat. At home. By the Lakers.
Once the Lakers realize the magnitude of their accomplishment — and once they go on a bit of a winning streak — which could happen shortly, the tone of this season could change significantly.
I still expect this to be a tale of two seasons. We shall see.
bryan S. says
ok sorry
sorry doesn’t get you out of jail but self banishment from in game commentary is in order
mud says
:^)
Ko says
Bryan I agree my posts were stupid. Took my heavily medicated current illness out here. It was a good win and I will cut out negative, I didn’t realize how repetitive it was until I went back, embarrassed as a long time fan, Thanjs for pointing it out.
Anonymous says
Aaron puts aside tank-talk following a great and hard fought win to congratulate himself on some other issue he apparently weighed in on sometime between LBJ a lock to the Lakers and Bynum for MVP. Did you happen to notice the Lakers played tonight?
rr says
Once the Lakers realize the magnitude of their accomplishment — and once they go on a bit of a winning streak — which could happen shortly, the tone of this season could change significantly.
—
See my post above. It is much more likely that they just had a hot night shooting 3s as Young had one of his heat check Swagmeister games. Young, Johnson, and Lin were a combined 11/15 on 3s. The other guys were 1/9. The Lakers are 26th in the NBA in 3p%.
Again, the Lakers are a team of guys, including the coach, with track records, especially since Randle is out for the year, and Clarkson never gets to play. Sacramento was missing Cousins, San Antonio was missing Leonard, and the Lakers pulled out a couple of close wins. The players deserve credit for tonight, but all it really probably did long-term was create an opportunity for the Tank Commanders to get angry.
Jerke says
before rr gets all up in my grill for this post – let me preface by saying this isn’t an MDA support post. That caveat being said – no – if MDA was coaching would this team be measurably better? no because the talent level is horrific and worse than last year (Lakers do not have any other players besides Kobe that are starter calibre – Hill and swag are replaceable and i still don’t get why the Lakers overpaid to keep their own guys when they were really the only team bidding) – with all that in mind however – (and again this is just a general observation about pace of play etc..) if the Lakers were playing a more uptempo/free wheelin type offensive system they would have a greater chance of pulling off more upsets like this by getting more open looks in transition, giving more Laker players the chance to get hot, plus putting up more 3’s, while the pace and flow of the game would tend to naturally limit/curtail the need for Kobe to iso as much, as well as muddying up the game plan for the other team and sucking them into an up and down affair etc… Yes Don Nelson/MDA teams had defensive issues but offensively they were always plenty potent. The prob w Scott is he want’s to slow the game on both ends – which ends up favouring individual matchups and talent vs team effort (which is all the Lakers really have). But granted the reality is that maybe playing a more offensively maximizing scheme might win the lakers some more games but they aren’t making the playoffs in the west or the east – therefore they would be better served by staying low to keep this years pick anyways. The other prob w the way the team currently plays is that MDA’s system helps inflate numbers – See Meeks, Jodie 19 mill from detroit. Given that LA should be wanting to keep their pick and or pick up assets – at least playing uptempo would give them a chance to showcase guys other than kobe a bit more and perhaps suck some teams into buying high and try to dump some contracts etc… at the trade deadline. Instead, virtually everyone aside from Swag is likely to suffer a lower year than previous lessening the chance of tempting some playoffs teams on taking a gamble on some bench help etc… while weaking the Lakers team in a constructive manner at a point in the season where everyone understands its in the lakers best interest to just play out the string and ensure a low enough record w/o actively tanking
rr says
at least playing uptempo would give them a chance to showcase guys other than kobe a bit more and perhaps suck some teams into buying high and try to dump some contracts etc…
—
That strategy worked best on one team: the Lakers, who gave 21M to Nick Young. Also, the FO only got rid of one guy last year, Steve Blake, and the two guys they got back are no longer with the Lakers. The other guys with expiring deals who someone might have wanted–Pau, Kaman, Hill, Meeks–none was moved.
For the record, I have never said, nor suggested, that Scott is a better coach than D’Antoni is. But I do not believe that Scott was hired either to be in on the tank or as a stooge to unknowingly execute it.
As to pace, the Lakers are 7th in the NBA in pace factor. They are playing slower than last year, but they actually play pretty fast. Scott got a lot of his ideas about how to coach from Pat Riley’s Showtime teams.
karen says
Did anyone notice that when crunch time came boozer, lin and young were in the game. Price played 17 min with no points
tankyou says
Karen, I agree these last two wins had Lin/Boozer/Young. That’s basically the all offense squad with Kobe and either Wes or Ellington. I like Davis but I wouldn’t want him on the court very often at the ends of close games, he is great at what he does but shooting outside 10 feet he seems poor at, plus his foul shooting is bad.
When Kobe passes a lot the Lakers seem far more competitive. Kobe doesn’t have to be the “pg” but it helps to have Lin and Kobe on the court to create shots and drop dimes. Lin may be mediocre most of the time but he has flashes of brilliance. Price’s shooting both this season and for his career is very evident that he just isn’t someone that can shoot. Price can keep starting, but I hope that Lin keeps getting the lion’s share of the minutes.
I’m giving props to Lin/Wes/Boozer for all playing well and Kobe for making some good passes at the end of the game. Of course Young’s shooting tonight was HUGE.
Renato Afonso says
Aaron,
Remember that the european system works because there’s no salary cap. It’s impossible to have salary cap in domestic football leagues… But I agree with you on this. If there’s 30 teams and a D-League, a relegation league with no salary cap would be awesome.
tankyou says
3 game winning streak after we beat the Timberwolves Sunday! Lin and Boozer may not be great starters, but as 2nd stringers they are amazing. Apparently we need to try and have Swaggy shoot basically nothing but 3’s from now on 🙂
Swaggy is just hilarious he is a walking talking superlative, after he retires from the NBA he should become a positive thinking guru and start his own talk show.
vhan says
@rr
if MDA is going to coach this team, the Lakers’ front office will not sign these kind of talents. Hill will probably gone. There will be no Price, Davis, Boozer too.
Oldtimer says
That was a great W last night. I hope it stays that way consistently in the next games. They can do it if they want to, they can win more games if they trust themselves and abide with the plays set by coaches.
Hale says
All those hand injuries have long affected Kobe’s dribbling. He did a good job splitting the defense several times after that cross-court turnover. Point Kobe can work in spurts but he’s going to be susceptible to pressure D.
Lin’s court awareness on passing in limited. He has strong tendencies that I don’t see him breaking without him understanding how predictable he is & altering those patterns. This is another place where Nash’s absence is odd.
Man, I hate the Spurs. And I’m sick of nearly every thread becoming a slobberfest about them. I’m easy this season. Beat the Spurs, 2nd Celtic game, Rockets and Clippers and I’ll eat 2014-2015’s lost season. I want Clarkson to get all of Ronnie Price minutes by the last 3 months of the season. Riding the pine isn’t going to show you what you have in him and given Randle’s injury, he’s the only practical bright spot for the future that might exist.
Fern says
I dont care what people say or whine, this team is better coached than last year. We are not getting blown out on a nightly basis and we are not losing by 40 points at least once a week like last season. And the team is playing better D as of late. We still a bad defensive team but they have improved a bit. Good win last night against the defending champs on their gym. People can B and moan but beating the champions on their house is a big deal for a team that is struggling like our Lakers. And to answer someone from another post that answered me about the Lakers built thru the Draft mentioning Magic, Worth and Kobe, they traded for those pics they didnt tank nor they were a horrible team. Part of the Lakers getting Magic and Worthy was luck. Kobe was more of a design because The Logo wanted Kobe and Kobe wanted to play with the Lakers but when they traded for those pics that became Magic and Worthy they didnt had a clear idea who the pic was going to be and how high it would be and that the teams that they traded with where going to be that bad on the seasons that the picks were going to be available. Picking Magic and Worthy were no brainers when the time came. Btw i be in Dallas the 26th and guess what, im going to see the Lakers!!!! And maybe flip the bird to Cuban lol. Good win last night!!
rr says
if MDA is going to coach this team,
—
Again: when it came down to it, the FO paid D’Antoni to go away, rather than extending his contract, and then turned around and gave Scott a four-year deal. That doesn’t mean Scott is a good coach or a better coach than D’Antoni is, but MDA defenders should IMO simply own that, and accept it, and if they are mad about it, blame the FO rather than blaming Scott, Magic Johnson, and James Worthy. Yes, those guys all bagged on MDA all the time, and I can why that double-standard bothers MDA’s fans. But Scott is here and D’Antoni is gone because Jim Buss wanted it that way.
Aaron says
Renato,
Yes of course. There should be no sallary cap. That’s part of switching to a European football system that is far superior. Again… Nothing will change and basketball will stay a socialist system instead of a capitalist one until there is no more monopoly for the NBA.
J C says
Pinching myself.
We actually beat the Spurs?
In SA? In OT??
Yes Kobe’s ball-handling a little (!) suspect down the stretch, but the 9 assists were enough! I liked that he didn’t ‘shoot us out of it’ like he sometimes has in the past.
But the biggest positive that I saw last night from Kobe — in fact, I loved it —
Was that he seemed to realize the team had a chance at a win — and that for one night, was more important than passing MJ.
Michael can wait.
Yes, he’s often shot poorly in 4th quarters lately as Ko mentioned.
But tonight, with all eyes on him and with a chance to make history, KOBE PASSED THE BALL.
I even believe he shot a little poorly because he was just the tiniest bit nervous.
Kobe talks a big game, and with good reason.
But passing Michael Jordan??
Even #24 is human.
And as his star starts to fade, it’s his humanity that will emerge, must emerge, and finally, in spite of everything, endears me to him.
Chearn says
Hale-“All those hand injuries have long affected Kobe’s dribbling. He did a good job splitting the defense several times after that cross-court turnover. Point Kobe can work in spurts but he’s going to be susceptible to pressure D.”
Thank you!
_______________________
Fans forget that Kobe had an excellent handle until injuries derailed this aspect of his game. However, he is efficient at finding a means to remain relevant as a distributor. BTW, those hand injuries were almost a decade ago, so many aren’t aware of that. They wonder why we fans of Kobe find little fault in how he plays. He has devoted his body for the game that he loves.
When Kobe breaks MJs record, the volume of noise will intensify on how it required Kobe five years more than MJ to accomplish the feat. Until that time, let’s calculate how many points MJ scored as a rookie on a bad team while Kobe languished on the bench of a talented team. Moreover, let’s add the points that MJ scored on a horrible team that allowed him the freedom to shoot anytime and anyway he desired during his peak years. Analysis is perspective one can use it to fit one’s narrative.
Lin and Nick were phenomenal in this win.
Oldtimer says
rr,
if MDA is going to coach this team,
I’d like to add furthermore that if MDA is the coach this season, there would be a Laker fans revolution at Staples just like the French revolution. What good do you obtain from chuckling three pointers if you leave your court wide open? It is the hillbilly strategy in making a living.
harold says
Wins like this frustrate me because it seems to show that we can compete with this roster. Sure, we will lose in a 7 game series (even a 3 game series) but it just seems that there is so much more room for growth within – basically, a coach could make a difference day in and day out.
Anyway, another game away from our lottery pick.
rr says
Harold,
Every NBA team has good nights. The Lakers knocked down 50% of their 3s, and still needed OT and a crazy shot by Swag to get this in the W column. SA was missing one of their best guys, last year’s Finals MVP. Two of the Lakers’ 7 wins have been in OT, and they have won two games by 10 points or more, one of those by exactly 10. OTOH, they have lost 9 games by 10 or more, and 4 by 20 or more. Prior to beating SAC by 3 and SA by 2, they had lost by 16, 17, and 17 points.
So, give the guys credit, and I hope they enjoyed it. It will be cool when Kobe passes Jordan. But this team is what it is.
J C says
There goes the tank!
jerke says
Telling proponents of MDA to accept and own the situation is just a pompous and hypocritical way of telling people to shut up because you don’t agree or are tired of the argument. Using the logic you applied, feel free to reply similarly to the people that still voice opinions about PJ 3 years later. Furthermore MDA was the coach as recently as May and would’ve been coaching this team on his current contract if they hadn’t reached a buyout – so discussing or postulating as to whether or not the team would be better or worse under him when this season is certainly a reasonable, valid and expected discussion – and disagreeing with those that post in support is reasonable as well – But trying to limit argument/discussion because you are tired of it and and therefore people should just “accept and own” isn’t.
Personally MDA resigning unless he got an extension was the best option for him as one xould see this season was going to be a gong show and I stated as much in agreement w Robert at the end of the season that it was in all parties interest that MDA move on. I also think Scott was dealt a losing hand off the bat regardless of what calibre of coach he is – however if Scott/Mitch/Magic et al…. had “just owned and accepted” the current roster/state of the franchise instead of making ridiculous remarks about competing for championships or “happy days are here again”, that would’ve helped defray some of the current consternation. W regards to style of play, Scott has not shown himself to be particularly adept at crafting either an effective offensive or defensive scheme – though in his defense there are few players on this roster capable of playing decent defense due to physical/mental limitations. Offensively yes they might be 6th in pace but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are playing an uptempo/spacing style that would help free up guys who don’t have the individual talent for more open shots, while likely creating way more high efficiency looks/coverages that would favour kobe and limit his load. More than a couple writers have voiced this in the past couple weeks and even Darius openly tweeted on the subject a game or two back. There’s nothing wrong w co-opting schemes/ tenets of MDA’s offense regardless of what people think of him personally. And the spacing and ball movement would certainly benefit Lin, ellington, Davis etc… for all of pau’s issues w MDA, even he still posted near career average #s so there is no reason to think Boozer wouldn’t see some benefits as well. at the very least it would take the onus off kobe to create every shot whether shooting or playing point wing.
Trip says
While I wish losing wasn’t the best way out of an extended stay in the ‘mediocre zone’ it unfortunately is. So I can’t help but cringe when we pull one out like last night.
I hate the notion of having to turn this around solely on signing elite FAs. I just don’t see that many elites a) hitting the market; b) being attracted to an iffy Laker roster; and c) being young enough to give us more than a few peak years before they begin to slide.
Besides, I think elites prefer to join a team with young emerging talent versus the Laker FO approach of come here and we’ll fill in around you. Getting back to my point above — elite FAs are usually around 30 so their NBA clock is short. They don’t have enough peak years left to spend 2 or 3 years to fine tune a roster so it can win a championship. They want to be contenders in year 1.
I think we need more young controllable talent to put a solid foundation in place so we will be attractive to an elite FA. Unfortunately, that means losing this year to keep our pick. We are so close to riding out this rebuild I see us in year 2 of a 3 year process. Winning an extra 10 games this year does nothing but assure that our rebuild takes longer — possibly much longer.
nimble says
wow,incredible hatred for a wounded future hall of famer that helped bring 5 trophies who assisted 3 key baskets late in the game.
rr says
Telling proponents of MDA to accept and own the situation is just a pompous and hypocritical way of telling people to shut up because you don’t agree or are tired of the argument.
—
Nope. Never said that you can’t talk about it all day if you feel like it, as long as DS is cool with it. One thing I don’t do is tell people to stop posting or to stop talking about what they feel like talking about. That goes for talking about Phil, Howard, Kobe, Jim Buss–whatever. Only DS has the authority to do that, and while I have some sharp edges and am very opinionated, I try to be a post-and-let-post guy. I don’t think, for example, that people other than DS should be telling Ko what to post during games.
My points are simple, and you didn’t address any of them:
1. D’Antoni is gone, ultimately, because the FO wanted him to be. They could have extended him. They didn’t. So if you think the team would be better off with him than with Byron Scott, who, again, came here as a very known quantity, then your complaint is mostly with the FO. So, if you want to second-guess everything Scott does and compare him unfavorably to MDA all the time–and we have some people here doing just that–then I personally think that the FO should be part of that conversation.
2. D’Antoni was put in a very tough spot here, again, in large part because of the FO. But he simply didn’t get the job done in some very key respects, in part IMO because he didn’t adapt as well as I personally thought he would when I backed the hire. As Ramona Shelburne said when MDA left, D’Antoni was not an innocent bystander. The LakerMobile has run off the road, flipped several times, and crashed into a lake. MDA wasn’t the driver, but he did help to plan the trip.
Fern says
*Sight* when will people will realize that the Lakers wont build thru the Draft. The FO has stated time and again and again and again thru the years that the Draft it’s a tool, not THE tool to rebuild. And again Jeanie himself said that tanking is disgraceful and i agree 100%. Thats not how the Lakers do things so please people need to get those thoughts about “ninja tanking” and all that nonsense out of their heads. We just happen to have a crappy team right now, its not the 1st time and it happenned to every single elite franchise in the entire history of sports. I believe the Lakers are waiting until Kobe retires until they make a serious move. When KB contract comes off the books and they keep the current plan of 1 year deals until 2016, the Lakers will have a team with a clean slate and massive humoungus cap space. Everybody in the league knows and we all should know that a situation like that is very very enticing to any elite FA because guess what, this is the Lakers. I believe this season and the next are going to be the same 2016 is the year that we should fwd to, so if people are so spoiled that they cant take a couple of losing seasons well sucks to be you. Btw i liked the intwrview of Jeanie and Jimbo, they sounded honest and care deeply about this team. The Lakers will be back on top soon, 2-5 years. Happened before so im not in panic mode like some people here.
Oldtimer says
You can talk of MDA in all threads but he’s history in this franchise. The history dealt about “Scourge Era” wherein he left a lot of unpleasant memories as: 1) the only Coach who was able to knock out the durable Kobe for more than one season; 2) the word tanking( before his arrival nobody used that word in the Lakerland); 3) strings of injuries that turned El Segundo into a Care Home during practices 4) no defense mentality; 5) 7-seconds offense and 6) absolute snub of the post players turned them into stretch players. Lakers should have learned experiences of other teams like Suns, Knicks before hiring a lame coach (lame used as an adjective not pertaining to his physical injury when hired).
Anonymous says
I think the FO needs to flip Young into some future asset. He is the difference between keeping our top 5 pick or not. We are just bad enough without an additional 15 point scorer to have one of the two/three worst records in the league.
You would think a contender would want a scorer off the bench.
rr says
What good do you obtain from chuckling three pointers if you leave your court wide open?
—
D’Antoni is like most coaches: he has strengths and weaknesses and would be effective in some situations, but not in others. Neither of the narratives about him among some in the Lakers fan base are ones with which I agree:
Narrative 1:
He is a top-flight, innovative coach, unfairly run out of town by ignorant fans and out-of-touch, nepotistic commentators.
Narrative 2:
He is an arrogant clown, and his schemes are a basketball cartoon that could never win a title.
Personally, I think that he is a skilled offensive coach with some very good ideas on that side of the ball, and I think his leadership style/schemes would work on a team centered around upbeat veterans that had speed and 3P shooters (IOW, the 2006 Phoenix Suns). Jodie Meeks, a guy with an upbeat personality who can shoot the 3 and has decent speed, really liked playing for MDA and had his best year under him.
But I don’t think that D’Antoni is that good at coaching D, and I think he has observable and serious flaws as a communicator.
Jerke says
There was no reason to refute either of your points because I don’t disagree with either them and those are relatively factual to begin with. Nor do I wish MDA was back and both sides needed to part ways if LA wasn’t willing to extend and publicly support their coach. I’ve also posted as such a couple times thats all in the past as well and no sense wishing for MDA or any other coach to come back woulda/coulda/shoulda etc… But just because I supported MDA in the past doesn’t mean that critiscisms I make directed towards Scott and his game planning aren’t valid – and that referencing MDA in terms of offensive strategy does not automatically mean I’m calling for him to be reinstated.
If I’m a coach with any kind of track record I’d want to stay far far away from LA as I don’t think this thing is going to get turned around under Jim Buss’es self imposed time limit – and I don’t see anything that leads me to believe that Jeannie is in any way qualified to make any decisions related to running the basketball side of the franchise when that time does come. The longer this goes on the more I’m beginning to wonder if maybe Mitch isn’t/never was quite the decent FO guy i thought he was – but more the beneficiary of happening to have some tradable pieces at opportune times in franchise history – and just happening to find situations where other teams would rather get something than lose a player for nothing – and the current salary cap/structure has become more punitive to teams that make bad moves. As stated by others, I think the possibilities of LA simply making homerun free agent signings are over. There’s a pretty clear pattern of zero young player development under this franchise (there hasn’t been a good patient teaching coach here who can develop young players – and there isn’t one now) and the FO combo of Buss and Mitch has shown a really limited ability to find pieces on the cheap to supplement depth. What is frustrating is that the weaknesses of consistent outside shooting and adding at least an average wing defender could’ve been addressed if the Lakers had just kept Jodi Meeks – his 6.5 mill a year wasn’t a horrible deal and the Lakers could’ve had him for less most likely if they had made a move to sign him sooner. Its parts like those that you need to identify and keep because of their value for dollar so that you have something in place when you do have a chance to sign someone big. Up until this summer I thought pretty much every move the FO made was defendable w/o having to be an apologist for them – I can even understand hiring Scott even just for the benefits of reducing some of the coaching drama and shutting Magic up – but the subsequent signings, failure to move Pau for some sort of asset last Feb, then Mitch throwing his coach under a Buss by making comments about championship aspirations has me really questioning if this FO can turn anything around.
SO if they go then who does Jeannie hire or turn to for advice? West isn’t there, she can’t turn to PJ (legally restricted by conflict of interest understanding w League office when PJ took NY job) and there is no one associated with the Lakers anymore of the old guard that could be really trusted to step in and do a proper rebuilding job. Some of it is hyperbole when some have recently called for the team to be sold – problem is that there may be some truth to that thought
KenOak says
MDA-
Hey if you give him a team that’s suited to his offense then sure I think he can win and even win a title. For example- Give MDA Lebron, Wade, and Bosh for 4 years (plus Ray Allen, and Miller) and they win at least 2 championships. Book it. They were that good and his offense is tailor made for those players.
However, what if you gave him Kobe, Pau, Bynum? We know that Phil won 2 championships with them and went to 3 Finals. Would MDA have been able to do the same with his offense? I say no. Those guys needed to play in the post on offense and if they were running the floor and jacking up 3’s instead, then it negates having 2 7-footers back on defense.
Could MDA have won 3 championships with Kobe/Shaq? Again I don’t know. Shaq dominated the game on offense from the post, but that was only half of his game. If he can’t get back on defense because the team is shooting 25-30 3’s a game, then the Lakers offense would suffer as he was a pretty good rim protector.
MDA is a brilliant offensive coach who can absolutely win a ton of games if you give him the right players. I have yet to see him win a championship, however.
rr says
because guess what, this is the Lakers.
—
The KBros call this concept “Lakers Exceptionalism” and they don’t see basing hopes on it, in today’s NBA, as being a very good idea.
But based on the interview and the way the roster is structured right now, Jim Buss seems to believe it to some extent as well. I very much hope that he is proven right.
Jerke says
“When a reporter told Scott that Nick Young had expressed a desire to be the player to assist on the basket that pushed Bryant past Jordan, the Lakers coach couldn’t suppress a grin and a wisecrack at the shoot-first swingman’s expense. “Nick hasn’t passed all year,” Scott joked. “How’s he going to be the one to pass it to him?” Orange County Register”
lol
Robert says
rr: “Lakers Exceptionalism”: They of course should be calling this “Laker Manifest Destiny” : ) And yes – while basing hopes on it is questionable – it may be all we have.
Jerke: Amused that you refer to an agreement with me in a post where you are disagreeing with rr, as he is much more diplomatic than myself : ) That said, as you state – we have been able to agree on MD and other topics even though we are on opposite sides of the issue. And you can feel free to speak about MD, Phil, or John Kundla for that matter. A few points: Byron falling flat on his face does not make MD or Phil look any better. Different year, different roster. MD was dealt a tough hand and so was Byron. Ironically, if we beat Minn tomorrow, we will have a better percentage than last year. I do not buy the “fun” argument. it is about winning, and MD did not get that done, and Byron is having a tough time to date. Ironically, looking at some of the recent posts, people are speaking of MD needing a three point shooting, quick roster, without ball hungry post up big men. In other words, the opposite of what we had when he was hired. I said so at the time. I wore the board out about it and was told by many posters to stop talking about Phil and get on the MD train. Fast forward, so we now know that the Phil/MD thing was handled poorly from a PR standpoint. MD was not suited to the roster at the time. He was never really given a roster that was good for him, and then he was asked to leave. The PR, the hiring, the roster, and the parting of the ways were all decisions by the FO. If someone feels like I do that the FO is horrible, then I can understand if they also think MD got shafted. However for someone (not saying you) to think that the FO and MD are both genius, is simply mutually exclusive at this point. Either the FO made yet another coaching mistake or they didn’t, but if they didn’t then why did they let MD leave. If it was due to public pressure then again – horrendous reasoning by the FO.
Slappy: Noticed your post at the end of the thread a couple of thread ago. The mantra over there is Jim is genius and has good genes/jeans, Jeanie can’t be trusted, Phil is a scoundrel, Magic/James/Byron/D12/Mike Brown are all idiots. And of course MD is a genius. Tanking is all by design because Mitch is a ninja and the fact that we might end up with the 7th pick again will not disprove that in their eyes. There is just no way to make all of that fit together, yet they do. The only thing the same over there as over here, is that nobody can agree with regard to Kobe, which is the case everywhere : )
TheNumberOfFlopsIsTooDamnHigh says
As always, I’m loving the discussions on this board, keep it up you guys.
Regarding the conversation about tanking that has been going on here during the last few weeks, I wanted to say a thing or two myself:
I think Magic is entitled to his opinion, and rather than criticizing him (the person) for voicing it, we should criticize the essence of what he is saying.
(BTW, I’m actually surprised that he suggested we should loose as many games as possible, since he was an elite player himself, albeit I think his rationale is far removed from that “active athlete” phase of his life, and more that of a businessman now.
However, I think professional basketball is, like all sports, about winning, winning now, and winning only.
Giving all you got 100% of the time, and perform to the best to your ability to beat your opponent.
Losing on purpose is cheating, and in professional sports this is absolutely unacceptable. It is cowardly, immoral and despicable (just like flopping in order to get a foul call).
Further, purposely building a bad roster or implementing a flawed strategy to loose is fraud, and betraying the fans and supporters who pay top dollar at the games or for cable to watch their team compete.
Rooting for losses makes you a proponent and guilty of the same fraudulent and immoral behavior that we’re really looking at when we all talk about “tanking” so casually.
So repeat after me: Loosing on purpose is fraud, its immoral and cowardly, let’s never forget that.
So please, for once and all, get that “support the tank and root for losses” bullcrap out of here, it is a sign of a weak, unsportsmanlike, immature and shady character, it is against anything we stand for, and it’s a testimony against honest and hard working sportsmanship that is an inspiration for the youth in our country.
Having said that, I think that Byron Scott is a better coach than D’Antoni, if only for the fact that he holds his players accountable and makes them work hard and respect the game. That alone doesn’t make him a great coach by any stretch, in fact I think he is an average NBA level coach at best, but in no way is he worse than D’Antoni, who gave the impression that he didn’t care either way, whether we lost or won.
Of course there are other factors, like D’Antoni’s random rotations and substitutions that drove me (and the players) up the wall, but I’ve mentioned that here before. Byron is much better at trying to develop consistent rotations. But of course, he is nowhere near current elite level in terms of running an inspired and effective offensive system, let alone developing rookie talent.
Darius, I would like to see a write up about the staff and their efforts for young player development and strength and conditioning in the Lakers organization. To me the eye-test, stagnant to marginal individual player improvement and injury frequency of the recent history suggests we’re falling behind in this area.
Anyways, great win, lets get two more and get us a little roll going here!
rr says
The longer this goes on the more I’m beginning to wonder if maybe Mitch isn’t/never was quite the decent FO guy i thought he was
—
I think calling a guy who has won as much as Kupchak has, whatever advantages he started with, not at least decent, is really pushing it.
Kupchak under Jerry Buss nailed the big moves:
Choosing Kobe over Shaq
Drafting Bynum when the team had a lottery pick (Jim Buss supposedly had a lot to do with that)
Getting Odom back in the Shaq deal worked long-term
Bringing Phil back
Keeping Kobe when he wanted out
Getting Pau
He also finished the 2008-10 teams with several small moves–Fisher, Ariza, Farmar, Walton, Vujacic– and the Ariza/Artest switch, although there was a cost on the back end, (that was another Jim Buss thing, supposedly) did what it was supposed to do. But Kupchak’s track record on building the bench/using the draft has been spotty–we saw that from 2001-2003 and again from 2011-13.
What happened this time was that the big moves didn’t work:
Paul deal was vetoed
Nash broke down
Howard walked
Coaching hires backfired
And as many have noted, the team sold off draft picks and made several small short-term moves trying to get Kobe and Dr. Buss one more trip to the big rodeo. The franchise is paying the price for all that now.
The recent big moves:
Drafting Randle
Kobe’s deal
hiring Scott
are not looking good, and didn’t seem good at the time, although Randle of course still may work. And, as noted, I don’t think this year’s roster was constructed wisely, because I think the FO tried to kind of sort of tank without totally tanking. The other big move was the decision not to commit to any long deals, except, oddly, the one given to Nick Young. Thus, Buss and Kupchak are as of now pinning their futures on the 2016 and 2017 player markets.
So, looking ahead, Kupchak is 60 years old, and I expect that if things don’t work out for Jim Buss, Kupchak will either be moved to a consultant’s job or will retire, and the Lakers will hire a younger guy from outside the organization who is more part of the new breed of analytics-oriented GMs as part of a huge organizational shake-up. I don’t see Jeanie either
a) Handing the keys to another of her brothers
or
b) Selling the team
You mentioned Jerry West–and as I said last week it is worth noting that West works for a team that has won 15 straight games and is 20-2.
rr says
But just because I supported MDA in the past doesn’t mean that critiscisms I make directed towards Scott and his game planning aren’t valid –
—
That’s fine, but hammering on Scott all the time for his rotations and his schemes, or what he says to the media, is just people more or less doing the same thing that you didn’t like when people were doing it to D’Antoni, and again, Scott is a known quantity. The FO knew what they were getting. And, like D’Antoni, Scott doesn’t appear to be especially adaptable.
Scott’s best teams were the Kidd teams in New Jersey and the Paul teams in New Orleans, so I think he needs an elite PG to drive the offense, so that he can focus on the Riley virtues that he values–instilling toughness, etc. Scott has never been about schemes and tactics. The Lakers don’t have a guy like that, and they don’t have any interior presence on D.
I have a long reply about Kupchak in mod.
mud says
Jerke! you don’t find BS’s comment about Nick’s passing to be mean and demoralizing???!!!
yeah, sarcasm…
PurpleBlood says
don´t know if anyone´s seen it, but Swaggy´s post-game interview is hilarious.
___
Chearn,
excellent points on KB´s hands & his & MJ´s different paths to greatness
___
always LOVE beating the Spurs, especially in S.A.!!!!
Slappy says
From above:
Further, purposely building a bad roster or implementing a flawed strategy to loose is fraud, and betraying the fans and supporters who pay top dollar at the games or for cable to watch their team compete.
Rooting for losses makes you a proponent and guilty of the same fraudulent and immoral behavior that we’re really looking at when we all talk about “tanking” so casually.
————
Why would it be fraud? Because you didn’t do your due diligence and actually determine whether you were plopping down good money on a cheap claimer in the 3rd at Santa Anita?
And let me put that this way, as I can tell you and the rest with a complete and utter certainty that the management of the horses in the 3rd at Santa Anita are not all trying to win. I mean there’s more to performance than simply raw talent. One of the more is consistency. So if you’re stuck with a cheap claimer in races that cannot possibly earn you enough money to stable, train, and run the horse, the best solution is to have your horse look like it needs a lung machine, witness the prior results in the racing form. Then you really try, bet in Vegas, since Vegas pays track odds, you don’t lower the odds by betting at the trick, and you don’t tip off the smart folks that you’re actually trying this time. And Jimbo should know this, what with his prior experimentation in horse racing. And like those horse owners, Jimbo isn’t about to say that we were tanking for the last six races but now we’re actually trying. In other words, everything that was said by the both of them is exactly what the tanking horse owner and trainer would say as well. Which brings to both items, and so as the one soul once said, never give a sucker an even break. So don’t take them at their word and don’t think that they are trying, as there might be reasons for not speaking truth and not trying.
And some of the media analysis is absolutely wretched, by the way. Since somewhere along the line I read that losing breeds a losing mentality. Could very well be true, but the claim assumes a fact not in evidence, to wit, that the losers we have now will be around when the team is actually trying to win. And as you can imagine, the best of both worlds is to construct a team where they can try all they like, but like the horse in the 3rd claiming at Santa Anita, there’s no hope of ever rising to the Grade 1 stakes race. Here that would be Carlos Boozer appearing as a broken down former Grade 1 stakes horse. He’s trying, mightily. Just can’t defend to save his life.
Only problem so far is, as I’ve said, the racing form shows that some other horses aren’t really trying either. Which wouldn’t matter so much in horse racing, as management isn’t looking for a draft pick. But it matters here, so picture Byron as Pincay, with a small body so strong that he can pull the horse back with no one ever knowing. Now, to be fair, it would rather likely be up to Pincay to later accept the mount when some were trying to win. Don’t know whether we can say that about Byron, as he might be an expendable pawn here. But so you get my point, the change in coaching style goes well beyond the purportedly no D’Antoni to Defender Byron, since there’s also the heavy reliance on the 3 versus the 3 not so much. So a purportedly defensive coach with no one who can defend and a reliance on the worst shot in the game, the mid-range jumper. In other words, friend, there are two choices here, some are trying to win and gave a purported defender a team that can’t defend, to go along with a love of the mid-range game, the worst game in the NBA from an efficiency standpoint, and so that would seem to mean that some are entirely clueless, which is a lot, lot, lot less comforting than the intentional tank, or instead we have the “ninja tank” which means that the team might have some worthy, not necessarily great or elite, but worthy, on rookie scale contracts talent, when all those dollars are later free to be used on the elite talent that might be looking for a team that already has some young talent on it. You see, the elite talent coming, remember what I said in the other thread, Durant comes at the earliest at 28, so I don’t imagine that he wants to have olders on the team such that there need be a rebuild while he’s on the team, I mean, he isn’t getting any younger, right? And as I said, the best, well, not the best but an entirely great result would be if they could snag a franchise anchor in the draft and then add an elite 28 year old and then when he goes the way of the dinosaur you look to add another guy that age to go along with your existing franchise anchor.
And have you thought about how the FA thing plays out? Unless the FA knows what the team actually is, well, if he doesn’t know that, then he doesn’t know if the parachute is going to open after he jumps off the bridge. Since maybe all those who are signed afterwards end up being cheap claimers in the 3rd at Santa Anita. And if you try the other way, and sign the parts first, then what happens if, and when, like this season, the elite go elsewhere or stay home? Now you’ve got parts but no one to get you home, and you run the risk that one of the parts brings some of what the next available elite soul would bring to the team, i.e., there’s a talent redundancy, and so someone isn’t being maximized. So to sign that elite guy, you might need to lose a part, get another part, and then the elite FA. No one may want the one part and the replacement part might be out of stock, as it were.
Lastly, re the sportsmanship, the luxury and repeater tax don’t appear to me to send the message that you would like, since in terms of particular team winning, both are entirely anti-competitive. Only because the players’ union has agreed to the same does the perception fool some into believing that it isn’t worse than the era of collusion in baseball. Same thing, owners signing on to a scheme to not make their teams better. Or more correctly, signing on to a scheme where if you try your best to make your team the best, the league hooks you up to a car battery and says, now, now, now, there’s negative consequences for trying to be the best possible team. So do me, in particular, a favor, and spare me the moralizing. Since you clearly do not see the whole picture here. But so you do, the team would not need to tank if there was no CAP, no luxury, and no repeater, since what with the money the team has, they could go all Yankees on us and simply outspend the rest of the league. Meaning, let’s see LeBron return to Cleve and leave 50 mil a year with the Lakers on the table. And what with the repeater, since relatively new, the league looks less like sport and more like chess. And this goes back, by the way, to my critique of the team’s management, since if winning takes priority over money, not saying that it does, but if it did, then some violated the old gambler’s adage, to wit, if you have the strength, use it; never give a sucker an even break. Is why, as I told Ko, I was a little disappointed, more in fact, when no harsh words from the Lakers attended talk of the repeater tax. Is also why, by the way, I wasn’t happy with D’Antoni’s scheme, as the same did not max the team’s bigs. Again, if you have the strength, use it; never give a sucker an even beak.
BlizzardOfOz says
“Could MDA have won 3 championships with Kobe/Shaq?”
Funny stuff. Pringles would have had Tyronn Lue dominating the ball, with Shaq spotting up in the corner for three pointers.
Hale says
Blizzard,
Shaq would have challenged Ray Allen for 3 point attempts.
I wonder if Pau is having more FUN this season or last? Thibs probably has him posted along the perimeter like Portland does Kaman. Doesn’t he?
Anonymous says
Wow.
Gotta say this site is rockin.
Great posts, Slappy, rr, # of flops.
I love # Flops indignation re tanking, and yet
I especially liked Slappy’s horse training example/response.
This site is a really cool aspect of being a Laker fan.
Fern – have fun in Dallas!
Mavs look GOOD this year.
BigCitySid says
-Bottom line: so many, probably most, of those who truly care about the Lakers, don’t like the direction of the way things are going. That statement may sound obvious, but it’s worth pointing out at this stage of the season.
-I’m familiar w/ trash talk during games & practice…but in front of the media? Also didn’t know it was called “trash talking” when a player is calling out the front office.
-No problem w/ Magic playing “bad cop” pertaining to the Laker’s current position.
-Beating the Spurs was obviously a nice win, but please people, it’s only one game in the standings, and once the Lakers lose to a team they aren’t suppose to, it won’t make a difference. A young, bad & injured T’ Wolves team is on the scheduled tonight. SHOULD BE an easy win if the Laker team that beat the Spurs shows up…but that’s the sign of a bad team…inconsistency.
-Yeah, Magic & Pistons won last night, keeping pace w/ Lakers win.
-@ 7-16, Lakers currently record # 23 of 30 teams.
-Lakers 4-6 in last 10 games. “Only” 15 teams posted a better record in their last 10.
-Lakers are quickly on their way to hanging w/ Peter Pan in the NBA’s version of “Never Never Land”…no post season…no 1st round draft choice.
KenOak says
@BCS
“-I’m familiar w/ trash talk during games & practice…but in front of the media? Also didn’t know it was called “trash talking” when a player is calling out the front office.”
One of your favorite players trash talked the OWNER of the team on tv. He got traded, of course which you said you believed was a mistake.
mud says
yes, Sid, we know they stink right now.
so what?
i cheer for the team.
i hate it when they lose.
i love it when they win.
good things can start happening at any time.
all that i’m looking for THIS season is steady improvement.
i don’t care whose fault it is. even knowing whose fault it is, i can’t fix it, but i’ll continue to root for this team.
they ARE improving.
it WAS a good win.
let’s see if they can begin to smell a bit less rotten as the year progresses.
one thing is for sure, the lottery pick is not a guarantee of anything. there’s no need to give up the season for it. there will be opportunities to improve the team with or without it. what are those? we don’t know yet, but they WILL appear. if they don’t and the Lakers become the Cubs, well, those who can’t stand it, or don’t feel cool not backing winners can find another team. that’s just reality.
TheNumberOfFlopsIsTooDamnHigh says
@ Slappy:
You explained (again) how tanking works, what consequences it may have in the future and why people do it, which I and everyone else on this board already knew.
What you didn’t do, is refute my argument that loosing on purpose in competitive sports is fraudulent, immoral and despicable, regardless of any possibly advantageous results.
Whether you think I don’t get the big picture or why you agree that the team should try to tank was not relevant.
What was relevant is that I said to do something “wrong” (i.e. loose on purpose) even if it is in order to get something “right” in return (i.e. a better pick) is cheating, I will never condone it, and in my opinion people who support that idea have a shady character which I want nothing of.