Just a few random thoughts on a Monday. • Phoenix may have run into the one team they can’t just outscore. Knickerblogger pointed this out already, but the game was played at Phoenix’s tempo (98 possessions, right at their playoff and season average) and they shot 52.7% (eFG%). The problem is Phoenix let the Spurs […]
News
The Final Four
Since about mid-season I think we all knew, and in some way hoped, it would come down to this. There were four teams that were serious contenders for the NBA crown and for a change two were in the West and two were in the East. Now we see who is the best. Here are […]
Preakness Picks
Giacomo won the Kentucky Derby but is getting no respect from the “experts. ” He’s not getting any here either — I think that race set up for him and he got a perfect ride out of Mike Smith, but that’s not going to happen this time around. This is a speed-favoring track and I’ll […]
Friday Afternoon Humor
Came across a great one from brushback.com: Shaq Drops Out Of Playoffs To Focus On Insulting Lakers
We Have Seen The Enemy…..
Apparently the NBA and players union are on their way to a lockout this summer. Even a one-month lockout could be bad news locally as it could water down the Summer Pro League in Long Beach, at least in terms of having a Laker (or Clipper or Warrior or…) team competing. With a new coach […]
End of Season Report Card: Center
This is the last (finally!) of a series of season wrap-up posts for the Lakers (we’ve already done team management, point guard, shooting guards, small forwards and power forwards). Players in this post will be listed this way: Kobe Bryant (23.8/15.1/+2.8). Those numbers are: the player’s PER, his opponents PER for the season at his […]
Earning My Lunch Money
Bunch of thoughts from a bunch of different things this past weekend. • Let’s get the Phil Jackson stuff out of the way (I’m growing weary of the Buss/Jackson dance the same way I was weary of the Shaq/Kobe “As The Basketball Turns†soap opera). Phil Jackson spoke to the LA Times and said, “the […]
Carnival of the NBA
NBA blogs are catching on like, well, blogs, with more and more popping up each week. A number of the best new ones are listed in the new Carnival of the NBA up at Bulls Blog. A lot of great stuff in there and a chance to read what some very clever writers are saying.
If Not Phil, Then …..
I’m not really comfortable with publishing rumors in this blog, even on a juicy topic such as if Phil Jackson is returning or, if not, trying to discern from the outside who or what the obstacle is. I’m not privy to inside information, which is why I’ve focused this blog on the discernable, things you […]
President Jackson?
According to Eric Pincus at Hoopsworld, everything is set for Phil Jackson to return as head coach of the Lakers except for one detail — his title. In his “State of the Lakers” press conference last week, Dr. Buss acknowledged Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Assistant General Manager Jimmy Buss as his key advisors. […]