Lakers

[TripletDaddy]

I have zero problem with the Lakers rolling to the title. I don't want any more drama or close calls.

I think Jeff Van Kobe explained last night that touching the rim in and of itself does not earn a goal-tending call. The touching of the rim/net has to alter the bounce or trajectory of the ball. Something to that effect.

Magic's mistake: trusting a rookie

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...,1139435.story

Courtney Lee doesn't rock the Sure Shot

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...4197866.column

Ariza is a thief; Pau es bueno

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...,7153750.story

Magic: 0-6 all time in Finals.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...0,374882.story

Orlando to make Game 3 adjustmen....Zzzzzzzzz

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...,7839176.story

Courtney Lee: So Close....yet so far....



Look at the scoreboard....



Hey, Kobe. I'm Mark Wahlberg. I produce Entourage. Say hi to your Mother for me!

[Surfah]

After game 1 I mentioned SVG's erratic substitution patterns.

This is a cool flowchart from Game 2 showing the lineups:

http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20090607&game=ORLLAL

[JohnnyLingo]

If the Lakers don't win that game in OT, do you take Kobe to task for his decision making at the end of regulations, Surfah? He had Odom, Ariza and Fisher wide wide wide open as he drove. Meanwhile, Kobe has Dwight Howard rising up in front of him, Hedo on his back, and another Orlando player coming on from the right side.

He decides to try and shoot regardless. I'm not convinced Howard doesn't get a piece of that ball if Hedo doesn't block it first.

What do you think?

[FN Phat]

Hey, Kobe. I'm Mark Wahlberg. I produce Entourage. Say hi to your Mother for me!

What kind of a pussy hand shake is that (on Kobe's part)? It is sad when Lil' Marky Mark makes you look like a sissy.

[FN Phat]

If the Lakers don't win that game in OT, do you take Kobe to task for his decision making at the end of regulations, Surfah? He had Odom, Ariza and Fisher wide wide wide open as he drove. Meanwhile, Kobe has Dwight Howard rising up in front of him, Hedo on his back, and another Orlando player coming on from the right side.

He decides to try and shoot regardless. I'm not convinced Howard doesn't get a piece of that ball if Hedo doesn't block it first.

What do you think?

Kobe is the best closer in the NBA. The last time he deferred to Fish, it didn't work out for him. When you are Kobesque type player you are damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[HBCoug]

A healthy Celtics team would have been a great finals matchup. A healthy Celtics team would be in the finals and probably giving the Lakers fits because Jax would be giving Fisher 40 minutes a night on Rondo.

The thought of Fish trying to stay in front of Rondo just made me noxious, so thanks for that. I need to see more Shannon Brown. Good things happen when he sees time. They really need to find some money for him this off season. The PG spot has been completely exposed. I hear Andre Miller would like to be in LA for around the MLE, but I'm not sure how they could possibly work that in along with Odom, Ariza, and Brown all being free agents. Somebody will be left out. Dump Sasha for some indoor/outdoor Spaldings. See if you can get a 2nd rounder for Farmar. I'd even explore dumping Walton for almost nothing even though he's been ok lately--bad contract there that really handcuffs us our ability to upgrade the bench. Really who has contributed during this post-season from the "deepest bench in the NBA?" Odom and Brown...the end.

[JohnnyLingo]

Kobe is the best closer in the NBA. The last time he deferred to Fish, it didn't work out for him. When you are Kobesque type player you are damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I realize it's a difficult question, but Kobe cannot have a "shoot it no matter what" mentality every time in these situations. What if Orlando puts all five guys on him? Then he'd better find the open teammate, even if they miss.

[FN Phat]

The thought of Fish trying to stay in front of Rondo just made me noxious, so thanks for that. I need to see more Shannon Brown. Good things happen when he sees time. They really need to find some money for him this off season. The PG spot has been completely exposed. I hear Andre Miller would like to be in LA for around the MLE, but I'm not sure how they could possibly work that in along with Odom, Ariza, and Brown all being free agents. Somebody will be left out. Dump Sasha for some indoor/outdoor Spaldings. See if you can get a 2nd rounder for Farmar. I'd even explore dumping Walton for almost nothing even though he's been ok lately--bad contract there that really handcuffs us our ability to upgrade the bench. Really who has contributed during this post-season from the "deepest bench in the NBA?" Odom and Brown...the end.

I wouldn't be so quick to sell Farmar. The kid just needs playing time. I would much rather have a Farmar not yet to his potential, than a veteran that is slowing down. That is what Miller will be in a short amount of time.

[Surfah]

If the Lakers don't win that game in OT, do you take Kobe to task for his decision making at the end of regulations, Surfah? He had Odom, Ariza and Fisher wide wide wide open as he drove. Meanwhile, Kobe has Dwight Howard rising up in front of him, Hedo on his back, and another Orlando player coming on from the right side.

He decides to try and shoot regardless. I'm not convinced Howard doesn't get a piece of that ball if Hedo doesn't block it first.

What do you think?

Why? Hedo got shook badly and Kobe had him beat. He had space between he and Howard and he was taking an 8' shot. Hedo just recovered amazingly and made a hell of a play. Most guys give up when they get crossed over like that. Kudos to Hedo for hanging in there. And heads up play to collect the ball and call time out. I don't think it's so much as Kobe making a bad play, as Hedo making a better play. That happens once in awhile. Even to Kobe. Besides, when Kobe elevated there were 2-3 seconds left on the clock, not much time to dish and for someone else to get the shot off.

I am fine with how it went down. Not so fine with the slow rotation after Kobe not being able to get around the pick at the other end.

[Surfah]

The thought of Fish trying to stay in front of Rondo just made me noxious, so thanks for that. I need to see more Shannon Brown. Good things happen when he sees time. They really need to find some money for him this off season. The PG spot has been completely exposed. I hear Andre Miller would like to be in LA for around the MLE, but I'm not sure how they could possibly work that in along with Odom, Ariza, and Brown all being free agents. Somebody will be left out. Dump Sasha for some indoor/outdoor Spaldings. See if you can get a 2nd rounder for Farmar. I'd even explore dumping Walton for almost nothing even though he's been ok lately--bad contract there that really handcuffs us our ability to upgrade the bench. Really who has contributed during this post-season from the "deepest bench in the NBA?" Odom and Brown...the end.

It will be an interesting summer for sure. The Lakers priorities have to be Ariza and Odom. Odom has already gone on record that he would stay in LA for less. I want Shannon Brown back also. We'll have to see what the cap comes in at. If it's pulled back as much as people are saying it's going to hurt lots of teams.

I think Luke could go. But I feel like Jax will be kicking and clawing to keep him. Sasha needs to go. But we're on the hook with that one and I don't know who would take him with 2 years left on his contract.

I think Farmar and Brown can hold down the PG spot with Fish coming off the bench another year. That's if we can keep Ariza, Odom, and Brown though. If we can't keep Brown then I don't know what the Lakers will do for PG.

[TripletDaddy]

What kind of a pussy hand shake is that (on Kobe's part)? It is sad when Lil' Marky Mark makes you look like a sissy.

He isn't shaking hands. He is letting Mark kiss his ring.

It's good to be the King.

[TripletDaddy]

If the Lakers don't win that game in OT, do you take Kobe to task for his decision making at the end of regulations, Surfah? He had Odom, Ariza and Fisher wide wide wide open as he drove. Meanwhile, Kobe has Dwight Howard rising up in front of him, Hedo on his back, and another Orlando player coming on from the right side.

He decides to try and shoot regardless. I'm not convinced Howard doesn't get a piece of that ball if Hedo doesn't block it first.

What do you think?

I think the Lakers are up 2-0 and need to win 2 of the next 5 games.

You make a really valid point, though. After 82 games, 60+ regular season wins, and being up 2-0 in the NBA Finals, Kobe better get his act together. He is hurting the team!

[TripletDaddy]

It will be an interesting summer for sure. The Lakers priorities have to be Ariza and Odom. Odom has already gone on record that he would stay in LA for less. I want Shannon Brown back also. We'll have to see what the cap comes in at. If it's pulled back as much as people are saying it's going to hurt lots of teams.

I think Luke could go. But I feel like Jax will be kicking and clawing to keep him. Sasha needs to go. But we're on the hook with that one and I don't know who would take him with 2 years left on his contract.

I think Farmar and Brown can hold down the PG spot with Fish coming off the bench another year. That's if we can keep Ariza, Odom, and Brown though. If we can't keep Brown then I don't know what the Lakers will do for PG.

I heard buzz over the weekend that Agent Zero wants to fire up the hibachi at Staples Center next season. Given his ridiculous contract size, this means one of 3 things: he goes to the Clippers; the Lakers do a S&T with Lamar (keeping Ariza); or the rumor is a bunch of crap.

I don't make that move because Arenas doesn't give you what Lamar can give you on the glass. Also, how effective is Arenas as a third to fourth option? Because that is what he would be.

If the Lakers win this thing, I think Buss takes the luxury tax hit and brings back both Ariza and Odom. Ariza gets a raise...somewhere around 5 or 6 per, and Lamar takes the hometown discount to about 11 or so per. They need both players to make another run or two at this thing over the next 2 seasons.

Crybaby isn't very good trade bait, so he will likely stay. If he can develop his outside shot, then Sasha will be expendable. As is, Sasha should already be looking at plane tickets.

Lakers have no need for both Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar, but what they really should be doing is talking privately to Fisher about doing what is best for the franchise and playing off the bench next season. At this point, he is stealing developmental minutes from our young PGs.

I am hoping Josh Powell sticks around because I like what he adds off the bench in terms of energy, plus he is relatively cheap.

All in all, I actually think it will be a relatively quiet off-season for the Lakers. The main guys that have trade value are critical pieces, so I just don't see them going anywhere....Kobe, Gasol, Odom, Bynum, Ariza.

The role players like Walton and Fisher are well liked by Jax, so they will stay, too.

The rest of the squad is expendable, but nobody wants them. Sasha really did not help himself out this season. I think that he probably had the worst season of anyone on the team, relative to his paycheck.

[Surfah]

I actually would like to see Morrison get some good reps in and practice with the team. Maybe some Kobe work ethic would rub off on him and he can start seeing some time. Wishful thinking I'm sure.

The Arenas bit is interesting. I haven't heard that here in Wizards land. I don't do it if I'm the Lakers. Rumors like these will abound though I am sure. Players want to win rings. And I think they're seeing LA as the best opportunity for them to do that.

I'd still like to keep Brown and Farmar. Brown is big enough to play the 2 and give Kobe some rest but versatile enough to handle the point too. I look for Farmar to eventually replace Fisher when he retires. Fisher really needs to come off the bench. I think he'd be more valuable with the 2nd unit anyway, especially since his shot will come around. He's not going to be in this slump forever.

Sasha, goodbye.

[TripletDaddy]

I guess Jax still has some tricks up his sleeve. Experience matters.

"They're doing something different," Howard said of the Lakers' defense. "They're forcing me baseline and they're coming as soon as I put the ball down. So it's really a learning experience for me ... I was frustrated tonight and in the first game, but being the leader on my team, my teammates cannot see me frustrated."