Guess Who Might Come to Dinner!

There's a story doing the rounds in Lakerland at the moment that has the growing force of a wave. Rumours about the Lakers are more common than the Clippers losing and we've learnt to ignore them but this source is not only visable but also credible. Now here at this little blog we're pretty plugged into everything Purple and Gold but there are a couple, and only a couple, who are slightly more in the loop than us. One of those is the broadcaster/journalist/author Roland Lazenby who recently released a book on Jerry West. He says he has it on good authority that a certain Mr LeBron James Esq wants to become a Laker...
LeBron, a free agent in the summer, is apparantly making overtures to the Lakers' camp about joining them. He wants to win and he knows playing in a PJ team is the closest guarantee he'll be able to get to it. He'll also know that the LeBron brand will be much more marketable from LA but that's a synical little point.

So if this is true, what do you think? Well let's take a couple of points into consideration which make this rumour even more complicated than it already seemed. If LeBron were to sign, the Lakers would almost certainly have to let Kobe leave unless they wanted to pay enough luxury tax to buy up most of the Caribbean. Would Jerry and Jim Buss do that? Or could they play together if the Lakers decided to try and keep Kobe? LeBron would apparantly be up for that, would Kobe? His phone keeps going to voicemail so I can't answer that.
There's also the little matter that Phil isn't definately returning next season and Phil is the main reason LeBron wants to join. Maybe last night's nightmare will come true and he and LeBron will be teaming up in New York next season.

We've all had the Kobe LeBron debate, I mean, argument and could we accept and learn to love James as our new hero? Well, if this story has any traction you'll hear more about it over the coming days and weeks. If it's still floating around come playoff time and the Cavs win the Championship the story will almost certainly die a quick and painful death, if they don't (which they won't) then maybe those overtures will get louder.

Artest Vs...Everyone!

Playoff time looms and there are plenty of teams with their eye on the prize. Many teams have tried to jolt their roster into action and make a real shot for glory. The Lakers, being NBA champions (Yes, I will try to mention that as much as possible) have for the most part stayed the way they were last year except for the swap out of Trevor Ariza for Ron Artest before the season began. This move was done to step up defense and bring some much needed toughness to the champs (there it is again). Many thought the move was unnecessary, why disturb a winning team? Well, I guess it's always good to improve your team even if they have just won the championship (three times in one paragraph, yes!). The important question here, is whether or not the acquisition of Ron really make the Lakers a better team and improve repeat hopes (does that count?).

Ok, so here we go again on the hypothetical conundrum that we all love so much. Ron was brought in to increase the defensive pressure and it has worked. The Lakers defensive rating has improved this year. Excellent, box ticked, job done, that was easy. Oh alright, I suppose there are a few nuances we could talk about. Ron is a better defensive player than Ariza and this has shown as the Lakers have become a better defensive team, but what about the offensive end. The Lakers aren't quite the offensive threat they were last year but it's only a minor dip. The Lakers offense is still running smoothly, except for a few hiccups here and there but that's natural for any team, nothing to worry about there. We are getting the same amount of points from Ron that we got out of Ariza. The biggest difference between the two players are their respective athletic abilities. Ariza is very athletic with an excellent vertical, explosive and quick. Ron on the other hand is strong and powerful with a little less finesse than Trevor. Ron wrestles and muscles his way through the court, which is great asset to have because it's a constant wear upon the opponent. They have to constantly battle their way through and that becomes difficult especially in a seven game series. I think Trevor fits more in the role of a natural offensive player with his soft touch and perfect timing which is something the Lakers are not really missing. There are plenty of offensive personnel gracing the Laker uniform, if one player doesn't pop into mind then there is just no hope for you!

There were worries that Ron, a notably volatile player, would disrupt the Lakers zen and become more trouble than he was worth. Well that doesn't appear to be happening, I think the lure of winning a championship is just too strong, he knows what he has to do and he is doing it. As long as he doesn't drink during half time anymore (well maybe a little sip) and attend Phil's meditation sessions the ill tempered, disruptive Artest is a thing of the past leaving a finely tuned defensive power house, plus he raps too!

The difference is clear, the Ariza-Artest swap makes the Lakers better on paper and it seems like it is becoming a reality. The Lakers sit atop the Western Conference and are expected to return to the NBA finals. So far, so good for Ron Ron. However his real test will come in playoff time when he is going to have to shut down players like Carmelo Anthony or Brandon Roy or even Paul Pierce, yes I still think the Celtics will overcome and wriggle there way back into the finals like the little green snakes they are. If Artest can bring his renowned defensive ability all the way through the playoffs that is when the swap will really come into fruition and that is when Ron Ron will win a special place in our hearts...AWWWWWWW!

Lakers Receive Another Kobe Bailout

Kobe Bryant returned to the starting lineup today against the Memphis Grizzlies. Yes, that's right he's back! Apparently he's feeling like a gazelle, his words not mine. No, seriously he actually said that. This is a good time to look at how the team responded to his return. Now, some of you may argue that the Lakers are a better, more cohesive team without Bryant and reference the four game winning streak that the Lakers produced when Kobe was first left out of the roster. I'm just going to stop you right there and take a few minutes to put this argument to rest so it doesn't creep up later down the line and just get in the way.

Yes, the Lakers rallied together without their superstar comrade and put together a winning streak against quality teams, let's just put it into perspective. First of all, the five games the Lakers played sans Kobe is too small of a cross section to build a sound argument upon. There is no longevity to draw a reliable analysis. Secondly, if you look at the defensive and offensive ratings, (available at hoopdata.com) you will notice an initial spike in the defensive ratings but with each game both ratings declined until they finally lost to Boston. In these two points it's important to notice that yes, the Lakers did really well with out their primary point scorer and enhanced their focus initially but it was just a matter of time before that focus was lost with out their superstar to keep them in check. Also, closing down the stretch became ever more difficult without Kobe, just look at the amount of missed shots in the 4th quarter against Boston, truly terrible. Without Kobe the Lakers don't have that fifth gear to go into and make the difference in close games and no matter who you are you'll eventually miss the 28 points a game and tenacious defense that Kobe delivers. Points to Purple and Gold 1, Points to the unbelieving infidels 0.

To Graceland we travel to deal with those pesky Grizzlies, have they put a hex on the Lakers? They always give us trouble especially when we're in Memphis and tonight was no different. I think it's some sort of curse, however there are others who believe that the Grizzlies are one of the few teams that match up well with the Lakers, weirdos! The Lakers won this game by one point thanks to a certain Mr. Bryant closing the quarter with a couple of threes, a tough fade away and game winning three pointer. The Lakers needed it tonight, with sloppy turnovers, travelling and a lot of missed shots, Kobe kept the blood flowing just enough to eek out a win. Lamar was not the board hungry monster of late, Pau was missing too many shots and Ron couldn't buy a bucket. Is this the result of a Kobe return? Don't start now, we've already been down this road. Personally, I just think it comes down to dealing with a team that really bothers the Lakers. Usually the Lakers have at least one position they can exploit, not so much with the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies obviously aren't as good as the Lakers in the different positions but it's not a run away. The Grizzlies, in my opinion are performing way below what they should be, they've got a good team they just need to show it. The Lakers were a little too relieved to have Kobe back and they were more than happy for him to do their work. They can't play like this and expect to win. Perhaps they deserve a little carrying since they played so well without the mamba? My answer, not in this league and not when they're earning that kind of money. This is a team that should make other teams tremble not just coast by, and they're going to have to prove that more and more since we are edging closer to playoff time. This is the time to get the juices flowing and the momentum on our side.

In conclusion my good friends, the Lakers are a better team with Kobe in it, they just need to play like it. Kobe has adjusted his game to include the team now it's time for the team to play like they deserve it. They need to play with the same urgency they do when they don't have a safety net. That's when we will see the an unbeatable team. We can't afford to have a team that forces Kobe to take on an entire NBA team by himself, he'll do it and more often than not he'll be successful, but it won't win us a championship and that Laker fans, is what it's all about.

Lakerland Coup or Rightful Heir?

Tom here again, I haven’t signed my last couple of posts. Can you tell the difference between Brandon’s and my own (many can’t tell the difference between us let alone our writing style) and do you care? Answers on a postcard. As an eminent blogger it’s important I have my ear to the ground and right now Lakerland is reverberating with chatter about whether Shannon Brown should be starting instead of Fish. The answer is quite plain and simply ‘NO’. I thought about it and even tried to come up with an academic style debate to show both sides of the argument. I’m sure there is one out there but my brain isn’t big enough. Also I don’t believe there is one.

If you don’t know, the Lakers play something called the triangle offense. I don’t quite know what to suggest for you if you didn’t know this. Suicide perhaps, or worse become a Clippers fan? Well anyway. Fish is a master at this. His stats probably won’t ever amaze you but that’s not important. It’s arguable that he’s doing his job better if they’re not headline grabbing. Why get rid of someone so good at doing something so difficult just because there’s a new kid on the block? I think LA is big enough for them both.

Some have also mentioned that Fish just isn't quick enough to stay in front of quicker guards and is therefore a defensive liability. This is true he can't stay in front of them but that is not his job. His job is to funnel the quicker guards into one of two man mountains. A young playboy bunny carrying giant, or a dirty seven foot Spanish hippy, either one is just fine.

There’s a lot this blog likes about Shannon Brown. A lot. But he’s still learning the intricacies of the triangle and hasn’t yet mastered getting the Lakers organised on offense. You don’t need me tell you this is probably not as easy as it seems, but maybe you do if you’re anti old man Fisher. It’s difficult! This will come with time but right now Fish has it down and shouldn’t have to step aside just because there’s a young whippersnapper throwing down some big dunks. Besides, apart from being Captain 0.4, Fish has just played his 1000th career game (one more than a certain Mr Bryant) and made 1000 career 3-pointers. Now those aren’t stats to sniff at are they?

Fish is 35 and out of contract at the end of the season. Will this be his last as a Lakers. I hope not and I don’t think so. Will this be his last as a starter? Quite possibly. If Shannon is his heir apparent then a few more months watching and learning from a past master can only be good for him and us. So to all those chattering away in my ears, give Fish a break and let Shannon learn in peace and good time. Let’s not put any more pressure on either of them than is necessary.

If you're still in Shannon's camp then let me just mention one thing, Phil keeps Fish as a starter and if you disagree with Phil then you're just wrong.

Here a Trade, There a Trade, Everywhere a Trade, Trade

Alas, tis a sad, sad day in Laker land. The sun doesn't seem as bright, the birds are singing off key, and my gaze lingers down towards the floor. What was a roller coaster of emotions that ended in heartbreak has strained me to my limits. The Lakers lost to the Celtics by one point, the irony is truly bitter.

I think it's time to talk about some of the trades (no I'm not going to talk about the game!) that occurred in the league and judge them with a Laker perspective. What? you want non bias analysis about the consequences of the recent trades, well go to espn then! The site is called Purple and Gold! We talk about the Lakers here! Actually wait, please stay, I'm sorry, I'm just in a bad place right now, I didn't mean to snap. What I will do is talk about the main trades and how this impacts the Lakers and their hopes for a repeat of a championship. Fair? Ok, then. Now, as always, let's put on our purple and gold tinted glasses and take a look at what has been going on.

I'm not going to go into all the trades, because it was truly epic, with all stars being flung around all over the place, there's just a couple that I think will have the biggest impact on the Lakers, which happens to be what Boston and Cleveland have done. The first one being Nate Robinson going to Boston. This is a little tricky because Boston lost Eddie House who was a good player, good in the locker room and well liked by his teammates. Rondo seems to be unhappy with the trade and Doc Rivers felt that it was unnecessary. Nate is going to bring a lot of energy to the team off the bench, there is no doubt there. He is young, fast and is a great offensive weapon. He'll have to work to keep up defensively and if he does that then it's a clear cut case of this trade improving the Celtics. Boston fans may not see it yet, but I think they will, actually I don't care what Boston fans do, I hate those leprechaun lovers. A better Boston is never good for the Lakers but it's only a slight adjustment to the team and maybe the trade will also break up some of the cohesion in the Celtic locker room, now that's something to smile about. Oh yeah, before I move on, Phil did say that he hates playing against Eddie House because of what he can do to his defense, that's something to chew on.

Now comes the trade with the largest impact on the entire Eastern Conference and for the Lakers repeat hopes. Antawn Jamison has moved to the Cavs, they initially had to give up Ilgauskas however he might just return. With a potential buyout by the Wizards this would give Big Z an opportunity to return to Cleveland, though he would have to wait 30 days, tragic I know. This has got me really worried. At first I was glad they didn't get Amare, but I'm not too sure that this is any better. It gives Cleveland exactly what they are missing the power and offensive threat that they were missing on the wing, especially against teams like Orlando who have Rashard Lewis. Before they never had anybody that could body up and as a consequence they suffered greatly. A power forward with Jamison's abilities hugely improves the Cavs and this is a move that shows they are serious in their quest for a ring and about keeping Lebron. In my opinion the Cavs are really going to miss Ilgauskas on their team....oh wait....damn! So, let me get this straight, the Cavs got Antawn Jamison for what amounts to nothing more than a draft pick. Mitch, I hope your paying attention and taking notes! This is a direct threat to the Lakers title run, an improved Cavs is not what we want! Mr. Charles Barkley commented that this now makes Cleveland better than Orlando, and closer to Boston. The man may be slightly insane but he is right, Boston, in my opinion, is still better but they should be deeply concerned.

There were plenty of moves in the Western Conference but nothing that really challenges the Lakers so basically what I'm saying is that I just don't care.

I apologize for the apathetic sentiments, I'm just a little wounded at the moment but I will bounce back soon with vitality and vigor.

Keep your heads up Laker fans, Kobe will be back soon to right the wrongs, it's going to be just fine.

Basketball Diaries.....

As I write this the Lakers are engaged in battle with the vile Celtics, I however am not watching it because I will be watching a replay later with my friend who is at work right now (yes, apparently there are some Celtic fans with jobs!). So, I feel I must do something to refrain from looking at the score. We will see how long that lasts.

I thought I would begin today with a little anecdote of my adventures last night. I went to a bar where my friend was working and he introduced me to some of his friends. The drink flowed, the merriment was all around but then the basketball talk reared its head. First of all let me get this off my chest. I am sick of talking to people about basketball who have little knowledge yet claim that Lebron is by far the best basketball player and nobody even comes close. Well, it's just not true, and it's a frustrating argument because even if you are the biggest Lebron fan, you have to admit that Kobe is just as good if not better. In fact he is better, that's right I said it and so do sport writers and sports analysts everywhere. Yes, there are some who argue differently and it's an argument that will keep going because these are two amazing players. You can not however just discount either one because they are both legitimate superstars. Now back to the story, the main guy I was chatting with was adamant that Lebron was untouchable and I gently reminded him of the fact that so too was Mr. Bryant. We argued back and forth for a little while when he finally cam to the crux of his argument. His point was if you switch Lebron and Kobe, Kobe would not be able to carry the Cavs like Lebron is doing. Let's just take a minute and soak that in...wait just a little bit longer...ok now it's time to take this apart. This was my chance to teach a little Lakers history. Think back a few years during the dark ages where Kobe was single handedly making the Lakers a playoff team and he scored eighty one points in one game. Kobe has done what Lebron is doing with even less talent around him then Lebron has at the moment. The other guard on the Lakers during this time was Smush Parker, and our starting center was Chris Mihm, enough said. But here is where I come to the point of proving that his statement was just plain naive at best. He had basically asked me if I thought Kobe could do as well as Lebron on a team that has Shaq. I don't know Laker fans, do you think Kobe and Shaq could make a run for the championship?

If you're going to demean the player of the decade, you have that right, but please if you do it to me, come up with something better than that. I do admit that my bias shines through on more than one occasion but I try not to make points that are completely invalid, I may just ignore points that are anti-Lakers but I will not make arguments that I don't back up with valid points. Oh what am I saying? Lakers rule and everyone else sucks, WHOOOO!

Nervous? Who Me.....?

Two posts in one day, I know, I know, I'm getting carried away, going mental but I feel that I must air out some feelings about the upcoming events. That is the reason I created this blog in the first place.

The Lakers are playing the Celtics for the second time this season and the last time unless we meet them in the finals, which by the way I think we will, you heard it here first, oh wait, maybe somebody else mentioned it before me, that's not important. What is important is the fact that Kobe will probably not be playing, gasp, shock, horror!! That ankle must really hurt. That is not the worst part however, I'm watching the game with a friend from Boston. Yes, there are people out there who actually like the Celtics, well calling them human is a rather kind euphemism. Oooooh the jabs are starting early! Take that Boston, I've been watching Frasier a lot recently and it seems to be rubbing off on me. Anyways I'm a little nervous because what are we to do without Kobe?

I'm not saying we can't do it, I know we can. I'm just a little bit nervous. I hate the Celtics, I want us to win, I want to gloat and mock my friend. I truly believe the Celtics exist for the Lakers to beat them, apparently the Celtics have other ideas but I'm not asking them. On the other hand it's going to be good to see the Lakers play against yet another quality team shorthanded. I want to see if LO is serious about his commitment to entering amongst the league's elite players. Will Pau continue to disprove the claim that he's too soft? Will Artest try to fight the Garden? My money is on Artest! I am also curious if Phil is going to shorten the rotation this game or continue the way he has been the past few games by getting everyone involved. Well to answer these question, we are just going to have to wait and see.


Oh God, the wait is killing me......

Maybe We Will, Maybe We Won't

The Lakers are a cohesive, winning unit right now, if a little battle bruised. It's that combination of all important factors that mean we shouldn't expect to see any significant roster changes around the Staples Centre before tomorrow's trade dead-line slams shut.
It's also for the same reasons, that a lot of Laker fans with myself included, don't want to see change to a team that still looks like winning it's second championship in a row.

None of this is much surprise of course, for two reasons. Firstly the Lakers did some big business in the summer with the acquisition of Ron-Ron from the Rockets and the departure of Trevor Ariza in the opposite direction in what was supposed to be a move that would freshen up and improve the champions. I think we can all agree this has worked. Secondly, finances. As we all know the Lakers are paying a large amount of Luxury Tax, partly due to the Artest and L.O. signings. Adding to this would not amuse Jerry Buss who has already spoken of cost cutting and belt tightening. So with no headline grabbing moves seemingly apparent, can we expect any movement?

There's no secret of the Lakers admiration for Bulls' guard Kirk Hinrich, apparently the Celtics have their eye on him as well, they're always trying to ruin our fun. ESPN predicts this trade would see Jordan Farmar, Adam Morrison and Josh Powell depart or, a three team trade that would see Luke Walton and Sasha go with Sasha ending up in Portland. This second option no longer seems viable as Luke is injured again (get better soon man, we love you). Either way this trade would have further implication on the salary cap and therefore is most likely to happen when this season is over and we're celebrating another championship (that wont jinx it will it?). By then Fish, Josh Powell and DJ Illunga will be out of contract and Jordan, Shannon and Adam Morrison will be restricted free agents. This will give the Lakers more financial manoeuvrability and will also give PJ more time to decide if either Farmar or Brown are Fish's heir apparent to leading the triangle.

On a side note, Kobe is also a restricted free agent in the summer but unless something drastic happens, everyone is expecting him to renew his contract.

So, it doesn't look like much will happen, especially anything significant. Mitch may tweak things a bit. Don't be surprised if he does and don't be surprised if he doesn't. We'll be able to tell by tomorrow!

Sacrilege, Blaspheming and all the Rest

It's been mentioned once or twice around the internet, with the recent buzz of free agents becoming available this summer, the idea of trading Kobe for one Mr. Lebron James. After violently reacting, saying horrible things about their mothers, their mental stability and putting voodoo curses on any writer I saw write such blasphemous statements, I then calmed down, put the voodoo dolls away and decided to give the articles another shot. Since it was merely an intellectual exercise, I managed to come to terms with everything and even see some of the points they made. I think it's only fair that I do the same since, I so adherently disagree with such a trade I need to explain why. So, after running down the hallways screaming 'unclean, unclean' and whipping myself with a branch, I was finally able to form the words and write this article. Now, let's get this unpleasant business out of the way.

This one's going to go into some depth, normally I'd say grab a beer and make yourself comfortable but not this time, not with this subject. Instead I want you to stand up, and hark back to the time when the priest told you that the thoughts you had when you spied on your sister in the shower, aren't natural, it's not ok and you're a bad, bad man that's going to hell. Feeling dirty and ashamed yet? Good.

We have to approach this the way a general manager would, the most obvious place to start is which player is better? That's quite a question, considering the two players and it's a question that rages in offices and chat rooms around the world. I can't count the times I have heard people argue this. Let's talk stats. Lebron James has averaged 27.8 ppg, 7 rpg, 6.9 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.9 Bpg, 3.3 TOpg over his career. Goodness me! Kobe Bryant has averaged 25.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.6apg, 1.5 spg, 0.6 bpg, 2.9 TOpg over his career. Yeah Buddy! There isn't much difference in the stats between these two but Lebron edges Kobe in most areas. However, Kobe's career is twice that of Lebron's making these numbers that more impressive, but this isn't the Hall of Fame induction, we want to know who is going to put the most numbers up in the future. This is where we come to the factor of Kobe's age.

Kobe is thirty one years old while Lebron is twenty five. Kobe will probably retire in four or five years (well, most mortals would anyway) where Lebron has many more years in front of him. In this sense it seems that you should go for Lebron and try to lock him up for as long as you possibly can. However, we know that we can keep Kobe and that he will be competitive for as long as he graces us with his presence on the court. How long would Lebron stay and would he definitely come to LA? We would definitely have to let Kobe go before Lebron would come just to show him we're serious. What if he falls into the snares of Miami or New York. The Lakers would spend the next five years looking over their shoulder to watch Kobe build up his own team and come and crush the Lakers any chance he could get. That's not a warm fuzzy thought because all Laker fans know that he is more than capable of doing just that. Then we have the problem of salary size, with Kobe relieving some of the financial burden with him leaving, would Lebron want an even bigger slice of the pie. With the current sentiment around the league being that owners wanting to keep their wallets sealed up tight, I doubt Jerry Buss would want to get into a bidding war for Lebron.
We already know Kobe's price tag.

Kobe knows the triangle offense that the Lakers run, inside and out (get it!) and is playing his best basketball this year by running it to mere perfection. That's something that doesn't show up in the stats. I've often wondered how Lebron would fit into such a system especially with Bynum and Pau. Lebron needs a lot of space in the paint that the Laker bigs might not be willing to give up, nor should they be expected to. I don't think Lebron's post moves are anywhere near that of Pau, Bynum or Kobe's for that matter, which is essential for the triangle offense. To make this work you would have to shift Lebron to the guard position and have an over sized guard, similar to Magic Johnson. Oooooh, now we're getting interesting. We know Lebron is a good passer and we know he handles the ball well, so it seems logical that he could handle the role of a guard, though his jump shot still needs work it would make a terrifying match-up difficulties for any team. As interesting as this sounds, for Lebron to fully be effective in the triangle as a guard it would take him a few years to get used to it, would Mitch be willing to wait that long for such a high price tag, would Laker fans?

Kobe is one of the most competitive athletes out there and he has already won four championships for the Lakers and is on the road to win more. Lebron hasn't won any and has failed multiple times at playoff level basketball. You could argue that Lebron hasn't had the players around him to make a serious championship run, I think that is perfectly legitimate reason but does he have that hunger Kobe does to win again and again, for me it doesn't seem like it is on the same degree as Kobe. When Kobe is not winning he is unhappy, the losses haunt him and he makes sure that he is in a position to win. That drive rubs off on team mates and spurs them on to become better. The fire and passion are indispensable to a team, perhaps it is what's missing on Lebron's teams.

The speculation is endless but I think it comes down to the fact that there is no reason to trade Kobe, the team is happy, the basketball is effective and beautiful. Lebron doesn't offer anything (besides a little more longevity) that Kobe doesn't have. What kind of team would cast away one of it's greatest of all time for something a little younger? Kobe is great and will be until the end of his career and that's because he has a huge skill range. Much more than that of Lebron, who still rely's on his explosiveness, athleticism and strength to do what he does. Will he still be able to this in four or five years time when he is a little older? Only time will tell but it's just another risk the Lakers would be banking on to turn out in their favor.

There is just too many ifs and buts for the Lakers to seriously consider the Lebron/Kobe trade. Kobe is our man and continues to prove himself, what more must a player do? That is why this whole idea is just plain blasphemous. I know there is room for more arguments but I think it's a clear cut case. The speculation was fun but it's at an end now. I know I didn't go into all the different individual awards and all that good stuff but they're not that important when you're looking at the team as a whole and if you're still not convinced by the article I only have one thing to say to you, 81 POINTS!

Good Day!

Player of the Decade

This just in, Purple and Gold have just found out who the NBA Player of the Decade is;

If you had any doubts than ye are a person of little faith for the Player of the Decade is our very own Kobe Bryant!

That's right DECADE, not the season MVP, not even consecutive MVPs but the entire decade!

With an astonishing 54% of the vote, Kobe clinches it and it is well deserved, congratulations number 24.
The runner up was Lebron with 17%, Shaq with 13%, Tim Duncan 8%, Steve Nash 5%, and Kevin Garnett with 3%.

The people have spoken!

Lakers Gone Wild

The stars in Hollywood can't seem to help but show off their own scoring abilities on camera because all the 'cool kids' are doing it and being the Hollywood team it only seems fitting that the Lakers get involved as well.

Lamar Odom's wife, the reality TV star Khloe Kardashian, has admitted to considering making a solo sex tape for her man to enjoy while on the Laker's next roadtrip. In a future episode of her show 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians', the 25 year old can be heard telling a friend, "I'm thinking about making a solo sex tape." The friend replies, "Like masturbation?" To which Khloe responds, "You'd be like this, filming it with your eyes covered." To everyone's suprise, Khloe's friend refused! She said, "I am not going to tape you. That would scare me." I guess the idea of using a tripod wouldn't be as much fun but all might not be lost. Khole is still determined to keep her Lamar happy and has admitted, "I kind of like the idea of a sexy little video. It could be naughty." This blog is fairly certain that she won't be keeping just Odom happy. With the locker room known for its limits on privacy who knows what other Lakers, Mrs. Odom, will also be keeping company.

However Khloe decides to keep Lamar warm in those cold, lonely, luxury hotel beds with the his recent onslaughts on the court he deserves it! Here's to you LO!

My Team is Better Than Your Team

This weekend we enter the All Star break and it's always a good time to look at your team, take stock of the situation they're in and the situation developing in the league. Let's take a look shall we.

The Western Conference is once again looking cramped in the playoff spots with only the Lakers looking like they're on solid footing but don't let that fool you, it's not the time to get complacent because the Denver Nuggets are only four games behind and they are chomping at the bit to overtake the Lakers. Well, they can dream anyway.

The Eastern Conference is looking a little more spread out with the Cavaliers sitting dominant at the top and the Celtics on a little bit of a downward spiral, that can't help but make you feel good. Orlando are the next on the list but even they got turned out by Lebron and friends at the Q on Thursday. Hmmm I think Lebron can almost taste that NBA ring. It's a pity (for him) that the Lakers are fielding one of the best teams in basketball and will give the Cavs serious competition. Don't believe me?! I'll explain why!

You just have to look at the lineup and see what the Lakers have. There's Kobe, Pau, Bynum, Ron Ron and Mr. O.4 (aka Fisher). That's 33 feet and 3 inches of length. I know, size isn't everything (or so I hear) they need skill too. There is no shortage of that here with the best player in the league (that's Kobe if you were not aware), the most skillful big man in the league (Pau) and one the meanest, toughest perimeter defenders out there, Artest, I don't even need to go into the other two for my point to be made. That's not even the best bit, our sixth man is Lamar Odom! That right there is enough said but I'm not going to stop there, oh no! For there has been recent developments that should not go unnoticed.

Kobe and Bynum have sat out the last three games injured, chills still run down my spine when I say those dreadful words. What has become of our beloved Lakers? I will tell you what, the talent that was stored up in the rest of the lineup burst through and swept away any opposition in their path. This included whipping Portland into shape in Portland, something we haven't done in five years and going to Utah and hand delivering them a backhand for thinking they could carry-on a ten game winning streak in our conference. Uh -huh not cool!

It's the Utah game that I want to focus on for a few words here, because it was truly a team effort that fueled this win. The defense from Pau and Lamar was truly suffocating the Jazz and their combined point scoring was lethal. Though something else was noticeable when the Lakers were playing, there was a complete second unit out there for a considerable amount of time in the third quarter. I'm not talking the kind of second unit that has one or two starters in it or one with Lamar (we all know Lamar is really a starter) but an entire squad from the bench was on the court. Something I haven't seen Phil do the entire season, until now. The great thing is, the Jazz had three starters on, including Mr. Boozer, and they still couldn't handle us. With Kobe and Bynum out it's great to know that we can step up and handle things. Do you think the Cavs could win without LeBron against a quality team like the Jazz? nah! Plus we've already seen what happens to the Celtics when they are missing one of their big three. No team has the depth that the Lakers do and it's depth that wins championships in this grueling season.

To wrap this all up and to make clear the point I'm trying to get across, is that the Lakers are looking superb coming into the second half of the season. We may not be top of the NBA at the moment but we are not far behind in second place. But, Brandon, we got pummeled by Denver and Cleveland, twice! This is true, but I say fear not Laker fans, we're just starting to hit our stride and by the time the playoffs roll around we will be in full swing and what do regular season games mean in playoff time?.....NOTHING!

So, let us all trust in Phil to look to getting the Lakers in shape for playoffs and winning a championship rather than the best NBA record. The Cavs had the best record last year but it's the Lakers with the ring on their fingers. Also, Orlando panned us twice last year in regular season but then when the finals came around we sent them on their way without even thanking them for showing up!

Do you think there is a team with more skill and talent ? I would love to see some arguments for it.

The Rage Against The Machine

I suppose I should start with an introduction. My name's Tom and I'm going to drop by to offer my views from time to time. I'll try and offset Brandon's rage with wise and sage thoughts. Think of me as the Tex Winter of the operation! But before I get too full of myself I want to start off on a touchy subject...
Does Sasha Vujacic deserve all the stick flying around him at the moment?

There's no doubting that Sasha has been inconsistent at best this season, and last. Glimpses of his flair and nailed on shooting flicker into view from time to time but far from enough for most Laker fans. So why is this?

Obviously his minutes are down. From peaking at 17.2mpg two seasons ago they're down to 7.6mpg in 50 games this season. That's quite a difference and gives him a lot less time in which to make an impression. But, and here's a big but, he's shooting almost as well as he has done (this is his 2nd best shooting season). I know, I know, surely not but the stats speak for themselves. So there's the conundrum. The problem seems to be with his enthusiasm. He needs to take a leaf out of Larry David's book and curb it. As the brilliant Kevin Ding of the OC Register puts it, "Vujacic has always had a tendency to press when his minutes have decreased, trying to fit 25 minutes of play in 10 minutes on the court. The result usually are bad shots, bad fouls and, in turn, more bench time." This really sums it up. Sasha doesn't want to be playing garbage minutes but when he's on the court his play only warrants them. It seems he needs to mature and keep thinking about the good of the team not about improving his playing time. This could be said of a few of our young stars but I wont get into that now.

Maybe Sasha's mind is elsewhere. I know mine would be if I was nailing a body that looked like Maria Sharapova's. Maybe it's on trying to become the 'Machine' that we all used to love. Whatever it is, I wish he would sort it out because he can be so good.

What can your President do?

Do you think Obama can dunk? Please God I hope so! My president can dunk, what more do you need?

Shaq Vs Pau

I've created this blog to be able air out my feelings and emotions about the Los Angeles Lakers. I've become weary of the vacant stares of my friends as I once again regale everything I could possibly think about THE basketball team. Yet, I cannot keep my mouth shut and I continue to spread the good word whether they appreciate it or not. So, here I am in the dark corners of the internet putting my views and opinions into the public domain.

Enough jabbering it's time to begin the onslaught of Laker discussion:

Shaq Vs. Pau

Which big man will be more appreciated by Laker fans.

For any successful team in the NBA a dependable and dominant big man is essential. From the likes of Wilt Chamberlain to Kareem Abdul Jabar their mere presence on the court is invaluable. As basketball developed so too did the role of the big man, not just able to rely on size alone, they had to posses the skills to remain competitive like Hakeem Olajuwon’s signature move the ‘dream shake’ to redefining the big man’s role all together with the arrival of Dirk Nowitzki. The Lakers have had their fair share of talented big men most notably in the recent decade that of Shaquille O’neal and Pau Gasol. As the future unfolds players will come and players will go but these two will definitely be remembered by all Lakers fans for their enormous contributions they gave to the illustrious purple and gold. The question is which of them will hold the more favourable view amongst the Laker diehards?

Shaquille O’neal can easily be included on any fifty greatest players of the NBA list, with just his sheer dominance on the court and overwhelming, backboard destroying, player reducing power. Shaq made any guard encroaching on the paint feel as if he had just walked into the giants cave and could swear they heard him mutter fe-fi-fo-fum before they were reduced to a heap on the floor. Other big men were up against a man mountain and would be grateful for any opportunity to nab a rebound that they could get. With his footwork and power Shaq dominated the position of center and helped bring the Lakers three consecutive NBA championships a feat that will leave him admired for years in Los Angeles.

The acquisition of Pau Gasol in 2008 by the Lakers still makes every coach in the Western Conference shudder from just the mention of the Spaniards name. He joined Kobe and Phil to help a team struggling to make playoff position all the way to the NBA finals. Though they lost he came back better the next year and the Lakers went the whole distance. Pau Gasol’s skills on offence are undeniable, the patience, skill, finesse easily make him one of the best seven footers in the league. Pau Gasol shifted the balance of power in the west firmly into the Lakers camp.

To start this debate we should get into the nitty gritty world of numbers and stats. Shaq while playing for the Lakers averaged 26.8 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3 assists in 8 seasons, have I mentioned how dominant a player he was for us? Pau Gasol after one complete season with the Lakers has averaged 17 points, 11.3 and 3.4 assists, fairly studly. Unfortunately Pau hasn’t played long enough for the Lakers to really go into more detail on the meaning of the numbers. Shaq’s scoring average is much higher and he has produced it consistently for 8 years, the stats are in Shaq’s favor.

We’re going to have to delve a little deeper than just numbers to fully appreciate this debate. Character and team influence play a huge role, especially when winning over the fans. Shaq brought three championships home however in his wake, split the Laker faithful between him and Kobe. He was also part of the team that lost to Detroit in 2004. This has tarred Shaq’s reputation in Los Angeles and seems to overshadow his achievements, with Shaq’s departure from the Lakers it seemed to usher in a ‘dark age’ for the Lakers with Kobe the lone white knight doing his utmost to claw his way to success. Fast forward years later enter Pau Gasol and things are bright and rosy once again, the Lakers were back in the finals against the hated Celtics, but embarrassment ensued and Pau was heavily criticized for his lack of strength and toughness, the flaw in his game. However he came back the next year more determined than ever and improved himself and the team. Shaq’s presence on the team while at first making it great then drove a wedge straight through the heart of the team, something that Laker fans may find difficult to forgive despite the infamous ‘three-peat’. Pau on the other hand has done nothing but make the Lakers more cohesive, united and driven since his arrival. He continues to be a huge attribute to the Lakers and is sorely missed when he doesn’t play, however Pau has only brought the Lakers one ring……so far.

It’s a little to early to tell in my opinion which big man will be admired most amongst Laker fans, Pau just hasn’t been in Los Angeles long enough but if the trend continues it will be Pau that Laker fans will have the fondest of memories for. The situation in which The Diesel left the purple and gold is a bitter pill to swallow and as long as Pau doesn’t follow suit he is destined to be one of the Lakers all time great big men surpassing Shaq.