It is sort of hard to believe, but the final countdown really is upon us. Tonight is game 72 of the season, meaning after the Lakers face the Nuggets there are only 10 games left this year. So we really are nearing the finish line of Kobe Byrant’s career. This will be a topic we discuss more in the final two and half weeks until the final game against the Jazz on April 13th, but the finality of it all is really starting to hit me.
With that, and I offer my apologies, but I don’t have much to really say about this game from any substantive standpoint. The Lakers currently have 15 wins. They would need to go 6-5 over the final 11 games to hit last season’s mark of 21 victories — something I do not think will happen. This is disappointing and frustrating on a variety of levels, but I’ll save all that for another day in the future.
For now, I guess, my main message is to enjoy these last games the best way you can. Byron Scott says there is a 50/50 chance Kobe plays tonight, which has become the norm of late. I hope he plays, just so the fans who come out in this final stretch get to see him one last time live and in person. These games aren’t special because the Lakers are good or even because you get to see the young guys suit up and continue to find ways to improve (we will get to see plenty more of them in the coming years), but they are special for those who get to see Kobe one last time.
So, I hope he plays. I also hope the game is competitive and that those watching get a nice showing from both sides. It’s easy to forget in a season where so many losses have led to full on discussions about lottery odds (again), but watching the games and being a fan is supposed to be fun. If you’re still with us after a 15-66 record, you deserve a little fun too and I hope you get it.
Where you can watch: 7:30pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM Los Angeles.
KevTheBold says
No problem Darius. I’m usually surprised this late in the season, that you find so many interesting subjects to write about regardless.
Regarding tonight’s game, Mudiay seems always to put up his best effort against the Lakers, as if to make us regret our declining to take him.
D’Angelo on the other hand treats him like like any other player.
Let’s hope this pattern continues, at least for the remains of the season.
Mudiay’s scorn game it’s not worth risking our tank for.
matt says
Lebron does kinda remind me of homie the clown, , , what a bozo
matt says
Per last postings,
Chandler parsons is a player option
I thought ge was restricted
matt says
I’m remembering how big of a prospect andrew wiggins was,,,,and wondering if simmons or ingram is bigger
matt says
Dude what happened to d’angelo russell
Joel says
Seems like every pick-and-roll the Nuggets run gets them a layup.
DieTryin' says
Kev is right. It is not easy to find a new and interesting angle to talk about in these last few games. Thx Darius for making a tough season more bearable.
But man. I feel like McCrosky in Airplane when he said “It looks like I picked a bad week to quit smoking (drinking, sniffing glue, etc) In my case I gave up tv for Lent and decided to tune in tonight.
Started watching in the 3rd quarter, saw the Denver lead shrink to 6 and then quickly balloon to 20. Awful basketball but nice to see Kobe playing. Biggest thing is we are without any semblance of a system on either side of the ball. The paint was essentially undefended. No passing. Not close. And DEN was without Faried and GallInari.
A bottom 2 finish for the season is a lock. So we have that working for us.
Oh yeah DAR has a moderate ankle sprain.
Mid-Wilshire says
DAR has a moderate right ankle sprain. He could miss a couple of games.
Mid-Wilshire says
The Good:
Randle gets a triple double — 13 points (6-10 shooting), 18 rebounds, 10 assists;
Clarkson — 20 points (8-16 shooting, 4-7 from 3 point range), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, zero TOs
Kobe — 28 points (10-22 shooting), 4 rebounds
The Bad:
D’Angelo Russel’s sprained ankle
The Ugly:
The Lakers pathetic defense of the pick and roll; Denver’s bench torched the Lakers for 71 points (!) running the PNR 90% of the time; the Lakers had no answer; none; zero; zilch. Nada.
Ho-hum.
LKK says
Mid-W…
It’s hard to believe that a team can be this bad defensively. Ugly, indeed!
Craig W. says
I agree, it is hard to believe the players are this bad defensively. I would think they would be better if they simply devised a system to run among themselves. With Hibbert, Kobe, Bass, Williams, and World Peace, I would think they could devise a better way to play than the coaches have come up with so far.
BigCitySid says
-“there are only 10 games left this year”, one man’s opinion. I view it as “only 10 games left to the Lakers last 3 year nightmare”.
R says
BigCity, do you mean to imply the Lakers (our) nightmare is nearly over, or just this three year installment?
Because I’m thinking it has quite some time to run yet – more than just ten more games.
rr says
R,
Sid’s personal nightmare will be over when Kobe retires.
LT Mitchell says
It hasn’t been a 3 year nightmare for Sid, it’s been a 20 year nightmare. Imagine being forced to eat crow for 2 decades. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. If Kobe stays affiliated with the Lakers after retirement, the nightmare may never end for the poor soul.
Robert says
R: I think rr has answered you correctly, and I have previously asked BCS, what he meant by this.
BCS: Another chance: What do you mean that the nightmare is over? How much improvement are you expecting? And the phrase “better than expected is not allowed”.
Craig: “it is hard to believe the players are this bad defensively” They “might” not be, however, if they were “good”, then coaching (or lack thereof) could not make them this bad. At best, they are bad and the schemes are making them really bad. Best news is that they are young so they can improve, but they need to do it soon. For example, we might forced to give one of the youngsters a whopper deal soon in spite of the fact that he plays no defense.
A Horse With No Name says
. For example, we might forced to give one of the youngsters a whopper deal soon in spite of the fact that he plays no defense.
Clarkson is on a Arenas deal–only whopper he can get is at a fast food chain . . . .
I know bigs like Nurkich are nearly extinct, but this big kid is a load. And what about there two other Euro bigs? Both can play.
Very good drafting by the Nuggets.
Clay Bertrand says
Highlight of the season???— Perhaps seeing Stu Lantz’s old school basketball cards on the TWCSN broadcast along with an extended period of silent protest by Stu. I found it funny…..
It’s been a LOOOOOONNNNGGG year for sure but I know for all of us, the off season will be EVEN LONNNGGERRRRRRRRR.
As much as the farewell tour has overshadowed the season in many respects, I’d really love to see Kobe get 50 in his last game (OR AGAINST THE CELTICS!!!!).
It looks like he’s feeling a little bit better and may be getting himself in shape to drop a big number at some point—-ONE more time—–Like back in the OLDEN DAYS. At least he appears poised to finish strong (his shoulder willing).
rr says
Clarkson is on a Arenas deal–only whopper he can get is at a fast food chain . . .
—
As per the LA Times, here is what Clarkson can be offered and what the Lakers’ options and his options will be:
Teams with enough salary-cap room can give Clarkson a max of $57.8 million over four years or $34.1 million over three years. Clarkson can sign an offer sheet with only one team, which the Lakers have the option of matching (LA Times)
Robert says
Horse: I said Whopper, not Double Whopper with Cheese : ) That Arenas deal still can net a huge payday for Clarkson. It is also a deal that will need to be handled very adeptly by the new FO team (hopefully). There are variables at play in that deal that a less than stellar management team could mishandle in a big way.
A Horse With No Name says
As per the LA Times, here is what Clarkson can be offered and what the Lakers’ options and his options will be:
Teams with enough salary-cap room can give Clarkson a max of $57.8 million over four years or $34.1 million over three years. Clarkson can sign an offer sheet with only one team, which the Lakers have the option of matching (LA Times)
Thanks for furnishing the details. Is Clarkson going to get a max Arenas deal? Very doubtful, in my estimation. He will likely get somewhere around 10-12 per year from the Lakers. A good deal for both parties.