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A Lakers Blog. Thoughts, reflections, and the odd rant on the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA (even the Clippers).

Preview & Chat: The Cleveland Cavaliers

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After facing LeBron’s old team on Tuesday, the Lakers face his new (and, I guess, old too) team tonight when the Cavaliers visit Staples Center. And while I can go into the struggles of both teams — the Cavs have lost nine of 10 games (including their last six) and the Lakers are, well, you know — all that I’m really thinking about is this:

No one knows what the future holds, but this will be one of the last times that Kobe and LeBron face off. Kobe’s contract is up after next season, leaving, at most, three more match ups between him and LeBron after tonight’s game. But with the way these guys have missed games this year and next year potentially offering only more questions, there really aren’t any guarantees.

So, wouldn’t it be nice to get one more classic tilt between these two teams? One more game where both give a classic performance that comes down to the closing minutes? Wouldn’t that not only give fans a nice (potentially) parting gift, but give these teams some sense of life after both have struggled mightily lately? I don’t know about you, but this is what I’d like to see tonight.

And it’s certainly what I’d rather discuss rather than what has devolved into constant questions about the directions of both organizations — especially, at least nationally, the Cavs. As noted above, they are struggling severely and actually have less wins (2) than the Lakers (3) since Christmas. Every interaction between head coach David Blatt and LeBron is critiqued and the use (or, really, misuse) of Kevin Love has been so thoroughly discussed that it’s not even a front page item anymore.

So, for one night at least, just give me some good basketball with an old-fashioned battle between a couple of stars. I understand it might be too much to ask for, but I’m doing it anyway. C’mon basketball gods, give us what we want this one time.

Where you can watch: 7:30pm start time on TNT. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM Los Angeles.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Jamie says

    I agree Darius, would love just one more classic Mamba vs The King matchup… also for Mamba to triumph haha

  3. PurpleBlood says

    Way to put this match-up into perspective Darius; hope it pans out –
    You gotta figure KB´ll be pumped for this one
    ___
    As to KO´s being back on the board: shine on you crazy diamond!

    Go Lakers! (please)

  4. tankyou says

    @Shaun, Yeah Farmar is a pretty good player, Rivers is lucky he isn’t in the D-league. Oh well nepotism is alive and well, just don’t usually see it as much in sports which tend to be a bit more of a meritocracy than most jobs.

    I’m with Darius on this one, really hoping Kobe plays well and we get to see something beyond physical decline and missed shots. Hope the rest of the team plays well and Swaggy remembers how to shoot again–or maybe learns to pass and not shoot.

    Cavs were my 2nd favorite team growing up, having lived in Mentor OH. Although they are a very distant 2nd favorite team. The only time I really liked the Cavs growing up was during the Mark Price years. I already watched far too many Cavs games with Byron Scott as head Coach, which is why I truly was disgusted with the choice of bringing him here. I felt cursed having my favorite team take on the Coach I spent 3 years loathing. But oh well, not like we were going to win anything anyway this year–I just hope he is gone by the end of next year–just pay him to go away I guess, seems like the thing a lot of teams do.

    Cavs won’t be any surefire win for us that’s for sure, they have all kinds of Match up advantages over us and their crappy defense wont’ mean much if our mains shooters keep shooting sub 40% nearly every game.

  6. tankyou says

    @Anon, I completely agree I hope we don’t pick up Farmer, absolutely no point in that–maybe if he was 23 instead of 28.

  7. BigCitySid says

    -@ Shaun, “Clippers are dumb to drop farmar and bullock for rivers … Doc the GM is terrible”. Lol, yeah, what do you think is in the water at Staples causing nepotism to be alive and well.

    -@ Darius, “But with the way these guys (Lebron, Kobe) have missed games this year…” yeah, welcome to the new NBA. The NBA like every other sports leagues are copycats. The Spurs showed the world you can win a title while missing large chucks of games for no real reason, the league basically allowed it, so now more teams & players are adopting the policy.

    -Cavs are really hurting for a win, 6 straight losses, 1-9 in their last 10, 0-2 since Lebron returned.

    -The Kevin Love situation is interesting. It appears his skill set is not being used properly on the Cavs. IF Kevin decides Cleveland is not for him and exercises his player option this summer should the Lakers go after him (3 yr/ $49 mill range)?

  8. tankyou says

    @BigCitySid, Kevin Love recently stated he’s not opting out next year and wants to give the Cavs time to work out, he is optimistic they will figure things out. So it sounds like he wants to stay at least one more year. Sounds like winning now/soon is a high priority, so doubtful our roster next year ends up being something that looks enticing to him. In the east he can at least make the playoffs for the 1st time this year.

  9. George says

    Hate to agree with you guys as I truly like Farmar a lot. However, we already have a backup PG in Price and he starts. Plus, we don’t need to give Byron another reason not to play Clarkson. A big rant of mine is we have so many holes as a team, including PG. Why not see in Clarkson can put it together? If he shows progress by the end of the year then maybe we can move PG down the list of needs behind Center, Shooting Forward and Shooting Guard.

    Byron coaches like he has to win games to save his job. If the FO is making him feel that way then, well, that’s crazy. They should tell him that he’s safe and its OK to play the young guys. l’d like to see what a lineup of Black, Davis, Swaggy, Kobe and Clarkson could do for extended minutes. And if Kobe’s out I’d put Lin in.

  10. Stuart says

    From an ESPN Chat with Amin Elhassan earlier today:

    Ryan (New York): is the lakers situation any less dire if they don’t get this year’s draft pick? Either way Phoenix gets it either this year or next. Is this year’s draft so spectacular that they need it sooner rather than later?

    Amin: Incredibly dire. They’re AWFUL — to not get some sort of consolation for that is nuts. The top of the draft features a couple of guys who could be franchise cornerstones; they need something positive to come out of this experience

  11. LKK says

    Besting the “King” and his new court would certainly be one of the highlights of a down year for our Lakers. Sure would love to see KB make a few jumpers tonight. Nick Young too. Kobe got a lot of good looks the other night against a very good defender. Deng is a strong defender, yet the Mamba was able to get free and put up good shots. They just didn’t fall. I look for LBJ to have a strong game as the Lakers just have no matchup to slow him down.

    Go LALakers!!!

  12. Oldtimer says

    With regards to Farmar. I agree with others, no need to get him back even though his career blossomed in LA, third time will be a charm but I don’t see any changes in his dynamics since his days with the Bruins. Westbrook and Collison have over taken him by a mile. In my book, we really need a PG starter, the current ones we have are all role players in 2nd or 3rd team. Most important target is Goran and Marc Gasol as C, two important Euros that will put Lakers back into contention in the West.

  13. Fern says

    I dont think Kevin Love is missused more like overrrated he is a good player granted but he was the best player on a mediocre team i dont buy that “he is not being used correctly bs,great players “superstars” overcome that. All his rebounds come at the expense of defense because we all know he cant play a lick of defense. He is not a max contract player even less a “superstar”. About the Cavs, overrated is the word here again, Lebron deciding to return home was a good move marketing wise for him, now he is stuck there, does anyone see him leaving the Cavs? It would damage his brand, he is going to stay there. I still dont get how a FO that somehow was consistenly a lottery team including three #1 picks in 4 years (what are the odds?) and outside of no brainers like Irving and Wiggins could not draft their way out of a paper bag was considered a good FO by some people here. If Lebron didnt decided to go back to Ohio the Cavs would had been the same team it was before Lebron and after Lebron, a perennial lottery team. Btw i liked those Price and Daugherty teams. The Lebron era and that duo era has been the highlights of that franchise, the rest has been pure mediocrity. Hope we get Kobe vs Lebron one more time but im afraid Kobe is breaking down before our eyes. Still GO LAKERS!!!!!

  15. rr says

    I have always supported/endorsed Farmar as a backup PG, and I have been surprised that he has played poorly with the Clippers. He is better than Price, however, and he would probably be happy to be back with the Lakers, even though the team is so bad. Rumors have him possibly going to Sacto for Sessions.

  17. Rob Westbrook says

    Kobe played a great 1st half, with Hill and Boozer making a bunch of long twos for him (couple pretty passes inside). My favorite was the pick and roll to Black. Beautiful!!

    Why do our starting bigs Davis and Hill have 1 and 0 rebounds in a combined 19 minutes? Granted both teams are shooting over 50%, but that’s unacceptable. Black already has 3; love the energy he brings.

  18. LKK says

    Well, for one half Darius is getting his wish. Kobe vs. LeBrawn with both players having high level games in a tight, well played contest. Hope it continues.

  22. Chearn says

    Not watching the game but just looked at the box score 15 assists! As usual, I’m sure the Lakers missed a few others right at the basket. Such a high basketball IQ he can do anything he wants on the floor, however his preference is scoring. Mamba!

    Sigh, if only last year’s Nick Young would come out to play.

  27. Aaron says

    When Kobe has a flashback game like this it’s like dreaming of a dead relative… It’s just fills you up with emotion. Except this is real.

  28. LKK says

    Good game. Really like Tristan Thompson. Lakers should keep their eye on him as he’ll be a free agent this off season.

  29. Baylor Fan says

    It is fun to watch the back and forth between Kobe and LeBron. The big difference is that LeBron can still take it to the hole.

    Maybe Kelley can find his way to the weight room sometime. He is getting thrown around like a rag doll.

  30. Chris J says

    The only thing worse than watching LeBron get free throws every time anyone is within 10 feet of his missed shot is seeing Young struggle to shoot well for so long. To keep hearing Harlan and Miller call LeBron “the best player on the planet” is as comical as when the Staples Center denizens still yell “MVP” when Kobe is at the line. In the past, but not anymore.

    I wanted a W tonight, but I suppose I should take consolation in the fact the L brings us closer to a high draft pick, and the hope that offers.

  31. Rob Westbrook says

    Kobe4life: No one said Kobe was THE reason we were losing, just one of many. And we were referring to hero ball Kobe who was shooting almost 40 FGAs/game at 37% and playing terrible defense because he was averaging 38 min/game.

    Over the last half dozen games, Nick Young is playing the way Kobe was in November, and it’s been actively hurting the team.

    Hill, Wes, and Boozer made their jumpers and made Kobe’s career high possible. But poor overall defense and terrible rebounding numbers from our bigs.

    Look at our bench. They don’t contribute enough of the little things:
    Boozer 9 pt, 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 to in 23 min.
    Young 14 pt (4-13), 2 reb, 0 ast in 22 min.
    Kelly 2 pt (1-5), 3 reb, 0 ast, 1 to in 21 min.

    Great game by Lebron. Career night by Kobe; glad I was able to watch.

  32. hop says

    ko,
    Ronnie price is still the worst shooter on the team. not Nick Young. Good game Kb24.
    Again why do we play Ronnie Price so much.

  33. LKK says

    Chris J…
    What I find amazing is that any time James drives he always extends his off arm almost like a football stiff arm. Sure looks like a foul to me. He gets away with a lot. I guess most great players do.

    A career high in assists from Kobe at age 36. The Mamba never ceases to amaze. Shame it didn’t result in a win.

  34. Oldtimer says

    I think kobe critics on this board should listen to what Reggie was saying on the broadcast booth, it is a rare opportunity to have another player like him, 19th year in the league, 3rd highest scorer in NBA, had several major injuries and could still play at high level. Unfortunately, they wanted him to play like the King because he’s franchise player garnering $ 24M this year. If he had good teammates, perhaps he could have exceeded 20 assists and less TO’s. Well, what would you expect playing with scrubs to protect the draft pick from the Suns. Lofty objectives indeed, we love it!

  35. Mike says

    Why does Price continue to get major minutes for us? How much does he have to get destroyed on defense, and how little does he have to give us on offense to stop playing? Apparently he finally reached that threshold tonight since he got yanked the last three minutes as even his apparent secret lover or father (has to be one of the two, nothing else makes sense) had enough, but damn, he gets a crap ton of rope.

  36. Shaun says

    Gotta agree with people…. price is terrible
    …. clarkson needs to get some burn … its not making any sense … unless its gonna help win us games …. #ninja-tanking

    When ur are looking at the beggining of the year for kobe remember these have been his teammates for the year

    At least 04-06 kobe had lamar, young farmar, young bynum ….. this really is the worst team he has been on – no wonder he was shooting 30%

    Kind of getting fed up of these past few years of having only guys on 1 year contracts …. outside of kobe and for me hill no one really to root for on the team …. you pretty much want everyone else off the team and we all know they will be … at least clarkson should be on the team … put him in

    Also, tristan thompson is terrible and looking for a max contract …. i dont think so

    And, farmar like average 10 amd 5 off the bench for us last year … would be an upgrade even over lin

  37. rr says

    No one said Kobe was THE reason we were losing, just one of many.

    —

    Nah. There is a small group of people here that have focused very heavily on what he was doing and have never really stated that he was just “one of many” reasons that the Lakers are bad. This is readily observable by the fact that the vast majority of the posts made by these people deal with Kobe, and almost always deal with how he is playing on offense, and usually say something mildly negative about him, even when he plays well. And Young is playing the way that he always does; the shots aren’t falling for him right now, because he is not an especially good NBA player. His FGAs have not gone up the last month; he is just missing more shots.

    The Lakers lose because they don’t have any consistent, high-level front-line NBA talent on the team. They have an aged legend who occasionally looks great and who is now adjusting his game to his new physical reality, and they have a bunch of bench players and part-time players, some old, some young, some in their primes. But they don’t have anybody who is really flat-out good, much less great. That was true before the team went to training camp, it was true on Tuesday, when Kobe went 3/19, and it was true tonight, when he was excellent. And the Lakers lost both of those games.

  38. tankyou says

    Kobe played amazing, only reason we even had a shot at the game last night (Hill did well also).

    But let’s see Coach Scott is “trying” to win yet he continues to play Ronnie Price more than anyone but Kobe and Nick Young plays no matter how bad he shoots, and does about nothing on the floor besides shoot poorly.

    Wayne Ellington DNP? SO we have Nick Young playing shooting guard last night, no Clarkson, no Ellington? Why? Young has sucked big time for awhile now and his Defense and intangibles are not there.
    Ronie Price last 5 games: 26% FG .091%from 3pt, and the worst defense I’ve seen him play all season the last few games–just getting owned out there.
    Nick Young last 5 games: 23%FG and 15% 3pt, and of course nothing much else you can say about Swaggy when his shot isn’t falling.

    So Lin, Tarik Black, Wayne Ellington, Clarkson who have been playing really well gets sason low minutes (Lin), or no increase in minutes (Black–but at least he’s brand new) or DNP’s (Ellington/Clarkson). So what’s going on? Are they trading Ellington? Does he have a secret injury that no one talks about? LIn has been playing the best Iv’e seen since the new year and is rewarded with crazy low minutes even when Ronnie Price completely sucks?

  39. George Best says

    Watching that game has to remind people why Kobe is a top 3 all time player. To do what he does at his age with crap talent around him is truly remarkable. Its a shame these final few years of his career were wasted but you still have to feel he got a careers moneys worth with five rings as many players with great talent are lucky if they see more than one. You just wonder what could have happened had he played for a lot less money even if he didnt have to. He could have made it back post retirement with his name alone. You dont get your youth back and the fight to win games and championships has to mean more to a player like him as you only have so many games in your body. Money can be made at almost any age when you are a once in a generation athlete with his resume.

  40. Chearn says

    rr-Awesome, truthful post!

    Oldtimer, great point. Reggie appreciates how difficult it is to play the game at this point in Kobe’s career. Unlike many TV analysts, announcer types he doesn’t dispense disparaging vitriolic remarks in regards to Kobe and his efforts. Like I’ve said before Kobe gets the money on or off the court how many players feign injuries to rest or celebrate their birthdays? Kobe could sit at home eating Krispy Kreme doughnuts and playing NBA Live circa 2007. Appreciate that he honors his contract.

    LBJ proclaimed “Greater than Great” by NBA.com is breaking down and requires a host of young players to remain relevant. Let’s see if he makes it to 19 years in the NBA, five championships, and several gold medal podium appearances–wait, he’s already retracted his name for consideration in the Olympics so he’ll never reach Kobe in that aspect.15jan2015- Not watching the game but just looked at the box score 15 assists! As usual, I’m sure the Lakers missed a few others right at the basket. Such a high basketball IQ he can do anything he wants on the floor, however his preference is scoring.

    Mamba! I witnessed greatness viewing his first game in Los Angeles during Magic’s Midnight Summer Madness event Deo volente, until his last game. BTW Tracy McGrady played in that game and was no less spectacular than Kobe and he’s been out of the league for years.

  41. J C says

    “…how many players feign injuries to rest or celebrate their birthdays? Kobe could sit at home eating Krispy Kreme doughnuts and playing NBA Live circa 2007. Appreciate that he honors his contract.”

    —–

    This is a great point CHearn.
    As bizarre and counterproductive as I’ve viewed ‘the contract’,
    the flip side of the coin is that at least Kobe is trying to honor it!!

    Games like last night remind us that KB is really a special talent.
    Too bad there’s not more around him.

  42. Joe A says

    This may have been discussed already, but it seems Kobe’s “inefficiency” shooting the ball this year is a little over blown. Against his career averages, he’s taking and missing one more shot per game…which could have as much to do with the (lack of) talent around him as his declining skills. Now, the eye test certainly says there’s things he simply can’t do anymore…but from a shooting efficiency standpoint, he is really the same player I’ve loved to watch for two decades: a volume scorer, with an unmatched ability to make high degree of dificulty shots and a knack for the big moments.

    But this perceived “ballhog” is definitely showing he’s not a one-trick pony. I’m guessing those 17 assists were the most in one game by anyone in their 19th season, but has anyone his AGE had more assists in a game? It really was a fun game to watch last night…

    I hope the “shuitting him down” thoughts don’t come to fruition. I, personally, don’t care what version of Kobe we get, I always find something he does entertaining and amazing.

  43. Chris J says

    I’m far from those in the “Kobe is the main problem” crowd, so please don’t take my saying it’s laughable when fans still call him “MVP” as a sign that I am piling on the guy. It’s merely a statement of fact.

    By the same token, Reggie Miller is correct in his comments that people are seeing a rare talent, and we should appreciate Kobe’s greatness while we still can. But being mindful of his extraordinary career does not mean we are “haters” if we point out that the Kobe of 2014-15 has many flaws in his current game.

    People were disappointed to see Frank Sinatra on stage in the late 80s/early 90s, his voice shot and often needing a teleprompter to remember the lyrics to songs he’d performed over and over again, for decades. Just because the old Frank had lost a few steps, it didn’t diminish fans’ appreciation of his overall greatness — they just left the room thinking, “Damn, I wish it were 15 years ago again.” Watching Kobe these days is no different.

  44. Lil Pau says

    Good post, but I’d bet Jason Kidd and maybe even our own beleaguered Nash beats out Kobe in most assists in a single game as an old man. Still, that’s crazy company, esp for a SG.

    Really enjoyed last nights game– was like a time capsule of Kobe v LBJ and there was even some dude on the cavs who looked like an older, fatter Shawn Merion! Wait…

  45. Joe A says

    Kidd got 18 assists @ age 37
    17 assists at age 36 (3 times)
    Never cracked double digits in his 19th season

    Nash had 13 in his 18th season…we won’t talk about his 19th 🙂
    Nash once had 20 assists at age 37

    Stockton played 19 seasons, never more than 12 assists that year.
    He did have 17 assists at age 39 though.

    For Kobe to even be in this discussion is kinda ridiculous, even more so considering his reputation of not making his team mates better. I think he could have focused in on just about any record early in his career and adjusted his game to go after it (assists, steals, threes, whatever)…I’m glad he was a scorer.

  46. PurpleBlood says

    The Lakers lose because they don’t have any consistent, high-level front-line NBA talent on the team. They have an aged legend who occasionally looks great and who is now adjusting his game to his new physical reality, and they have a bunch of bench players and part-time players, some old, some young, some in their primes. But they don’t have anybody who is really flat-out good, much less great. That was true before the team went to training camp, it was true on Tuesday, when Kobe went 3/19, and it was true tonight, when he was excellent. And the Lakers lost both of those games.
    ___
    paraphasing CHearn: rr´s post is intense & right on the mark, thanks rr