Now I did say on KFWB Friday that since the Lakers never did what we expected.... and they were expected to lose game six in Denver...they would win just to keep their skitzoid character intact.
So it is with with fear and trembling I'm going to actually make a Lakers prediction. A sweep, whoever comes out of the East. The Lakers goal has been to go back to the Finals and redeem last year's humiliation. Consequently, they just assumed they would win the West. That often meant loss of focus for the games in between.
Yes. The Lakers failed to take it ONE GAME AT AT TIME! They violated one of sports most cherished cliches. One that is hallowed, sacrosacnt, invioable.... wait a minute. Drat. My internet thesauras just went off line....
Anyway, game 6 was the first time the goal was finally in sight and for maybe the first time all season the Lakers team we expected showed up. And have you ever seen a less emotional "celebration" than the presentation of the Western Conference Final trophy? It was like being named "Miss Congeniality" in a beauty contest. Like the worst team in the conference getting the sportsmanship award.
This is a skinny, unstable limb I'm climbing out on. But I actually believe that the Lakers team that showed up Friday night will be there for every finals game (They will bring their "A" game just to fall back on another sports axiom (It's back on line). I have five days before Lucy pulls away the football one more time. (Peanuts reference for the kids)
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
The Lakers Roller Coaster
Listen. It isn't easy being a Lakers fan. It's hard to cheer for your team when you're holding your breath, you eyes are shut tight and you're crossing your fingers.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
How Low Can You Go
Former baseball star and steroid whistle blower Jose Canseco got pounded in his mixed martial arts bout... with 7-2, 330 pound South Korean Hong Man Choi. In January he boxed former child star and disc jockey Danny Bonaduce to a draw.
And you know the sad part? Jose is still the most credible guy in the steroid scandel.
And you know the sad part? Jose is still the most credible guy in the steroid scandel.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
In Defense (Sort of) of Andrew Bynum
Lakers fans are still stressed despite a 2-to-1 series lead. And the favorite target of abuse is the lack of production of center Andrew Bynum. Who was supposed to cure all this "soft play" on defense and stop all those uncontested lay-ups.
This is not to say tha Bynum will ever be that force. (Or not). But we just don't know and won't know for a year or two. Early last season, the Lakers faithful (a list that changes quarter to quarter) thought they had stumbled onto a clone of Dwight Howard, Orlando's superstar. Let's use him as the comparison. A star since the day he stepped onto a basketball court, he came directly out of high school and was the overall number one pick in 2004. Bynum, an overweight, late bloomer, only came on his last two years in High School and the Lakers were roundly criticized for taking him with the 10th overall pick in 2005.
Howard started every game his rookie season and almost every Magic game since. Bynum sat on the bench his first two years. He was emerging last season when he went down with that knee injury and missed the rest of the season including the playoffs. Another knee injury in January and just four games before the playoffs.
This is a kid who is still learning to play center at any level...much less than the NBA... for the Lakers and in the playoffs. He's been under the microscope since day one while Howard honed his game in the obscurity of the Magic Kingdom.
Even if he were one of the great talents to come along in the last ten years (and he's not, though he has talent) and even if he were competely healthy (He's not. The knee is still sore) he still hasn't played enough to be anywhere near a major factor at this, the highest level of basketball.
Think of Trevor Ariza... out for the second half of the previous season... came back but was no factor in the playoffs. Compared to this go 'round.
Again, this is not to say Bynym will one day be a great player. And two major knee injuries in his only two seasons of extended play is a little too much coincidence.
But, for now, he will be an occasional contributor with the jury still out on what he will be in the long term.
I rest my case
This is not to say tha Bynum will ever be that force. (Or not). But we just don't know and won't know for a year or two. Early last season, the Lakers faithful (a list that changes quarter to quarter) thought they had stumbled onto a clone of Dwight Howard, Orlando's superstar. Let's use him as the comparison. A star since the day he stepped onto a basketball court, he came directly out of high school and was the overall number one pick in 2004. Bynum, an overweight, late bloomer, only came on his last two years in High School and the Lakers were roundly criticized for taking him with the 10th overall pick in 2005.
Howard started every game his rookie season and almost every Magic game since. Bynum sat on the bench his first two years. He was emerging last season when he went down with that knee injury and missed the rest of the season including the playoffs. Another knee injury in January and just four games before the playoffs.
This is a kid who is still learning to play center at any level...much less than the NBA... for the Lakers and in the playoffs. He's been under the microscope since day one while Howard honed his game in the obscurity of the Magic Kingdom.
Even if he were one of the great talents to come along in the last ten years (and he's not, though he has talent) and even if he were competely healthy (He's not. The knee is still sore) he still hasn't played enough to be anywhere near a major factor at this, the highest level of basketball.
Think of Trevor Ariza... out for the second half of the previous season... came back but was no factor in the playoffs. Compared to this go 'round.
Again, this is not to say Bynym will one day be a great player. And two major knee injuries in his only two seasons of extended play is a little too much coincidence.
But, for now, he will be an occasional contributor with the jury still out on what he will be in the long term.
I rest my case
Friday, May 22, 2009
A Blast From The Past
The train wreck that is Ryan Leaf is still moving. The former overall second pick in the draft has been indicted for breaking into an apartment to steal pain killers.
The Chargers once gave him 31 and-a-half million dollars. That qualifies them to run AIG.
The Chargers once gave him 31 and-a-half million dollars. That qualifies them to run AIG.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
What About the Rest of the Series?
The Lakers' 105-to-103 win over Denver in game one of the Western Conference Finals means...
The Lakers will go on to win the series. They took Denver's best shot, a Denver team that was well rested while they had been worn out in the seven game series with the Rockets. The Nuggets had the game under control but the Lakers made the clutch plays down the stretch which will hurt the Nug-Pups confidence. They expect the Lakers to win and they will.
Or...
The Nuggets will go on to win the series. Usually teams that have had long layoffs start off slow in game one of a series against an opponent that's been playing every day. But the Nuggets roared out to a 13 point lead. Physically abused the Lakers under the boards. If they hit just three of the 12 free throws they missed, they still win. They now know they can beat this team and the younger legs will prevail.
This post is subject to editing in a week or so.
The Lakers will go on to win the series. They took Denver's best shot, a Denver team that was well rested while they had been worn out in the seven game series with the Rockets. The Nuggets had the game under control but the Lakers made the clutch plays down the stretch which will hurt the Nug-Pups confidence. They expect the Lakers to win and they will.
Or...
The Nuggets will go on to win the series. Usually teams that have had long layoffs start off slow in game one of a series against an opponent that's been playing every day. But the Nuggets roared out to a 13 point lead. Physically abused the Lakers under the boards. If they hit just three of the 12 free throws they missed, they still win. They now know they can beat this team and the younger legs will prevail.
This post is subject to editing in a week or so.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Basketball Smackdown
It seems Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke...who also owns the Pepsi Center... rented it to World Wrestling Entertainment for this Monday night...but now have to ask them to reschedule...so the Nuggets can host the Lakers in game three of the series.
As a compromise to fans who wandered in by mistake... Kobe Bryant will be allowed to hit Carmelo Anthony with a folding chair.
As a compromise to fans who wandered in by mistake... Kobe Bryant will be allowed to hit Carmelo Anthony with a folding chair.
Monday, May 18, 2009
We'll All Be Better For This
Lakers' coach Phil Jackson always wants to use games as learning experiences for his precocious lads. Judging by the post games comments...it apparently took them six games against the Houston Rockets to figure out two important concepts that might benefit them in the future.
1) You have to try really really hard in the playoffs. Because there's a chance the other team will.
2) Everything else being equal... tall teams do better than short teams in basketball.
Which calls on my all purpose fall back philosophy; when all else fails..chalk it up to character building.
1) You have to try really really hard in the playoffs. Because there's a chance the other team will.
2) Everything else being equal... tall teams do better than short teams in basketball.
Which calls on my all purpose fall back philosophy; when all else fails..chalk it up to character building.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A Traitor To My Profession:Bashing a Sports Cliche
"This team really knows how to win, Bob"
"Yeah. Score more points than the other team".
"Yeah. Score more points than the other team".
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Lakers Lethargy
Thursday night, the Anaheim Ducks showed as much grit as the Lakers showed quit.
But one question. While the players roast under the whithering heat of national scorn...why does the Zen Master get a free pass?
Most sports fans think motivation comes entirely from fired up halftime speeches and the like. But players are motivated when they are prepared. When they know what another team is going to do and how to counter it. Or when the other team does something unexpected... the coach figures it out...CALLS A TIMEOUT...and make the proper adjustment.
Phil Jackson deservedly ranks with the great coaches in NBA history. You don't win 9 championships if you're just along for the ride. But different coaches have different strengths. Many coaches and managers (like Billy Martin or Larry Brown) are at their best with teams that are somewhat undermanned and they compensatve by strategy. But historically have struggled and been accused of over-coaching or over-managing when they have great talent. Conversely, a coach that just "lets the guys play" sparkles on a team with a lot of talent. But isn't as strong in the strategy department. This is not a new criticism of Jackson. It's always been there even at the height of his glory years. And his supporters rightly point out that getting ultimate talents like Kobe and Shaq or Michael Jordan and...anybody...to play together is a great talent.
Now back to the adjustments or lack of same. Last year the Lakers blew one of the biggest leads (24 points) in a finals game (4) in NBA history. Followed in two games by the biggest blowout in a finals clinching game ever (39 points). All season long the Lakers have blown big leads though usually (but not always) hanging on to win. The games against the under manned Rockets add to the body of evidence... that Phil simply can't adjust during a game. His exuse when teams are building up big leads is he wants the players to figure out what it is for themselves. A learning experience. Like when your dad didn't know how to spell a word but pretended he did; telling you to look it up so you'll remember it better. What's Phil using these "learning experiences" for? The summer rec league?
Players can look sluggish and loafing when they don't know what do to to counteract an offense or defense. A player standing flat footed can look really bad but unless he anticipated the play, he can't catch up.
And there may be one final problem. People create a mystique that helps them in their jobs beause those under them have a confidence the boss will find a way. It's not unusual for people to start, as Al Pacino said in "Scarface"...to start snorting their own...uh, stuff. For years players bought into the Phil Jackson "I'm smarter than anybody else and way ahead of them" mystique and it motivated them. It could be that Phil started to believe it himself. Forgetting the famous quote from Thomas Edison; "Genius is 10% inspiration. 90% perspiration."
Win or lose game 7...this will remain a problem.
Bret
“Be kind, for everyone you know is fighting a great battle.”
Philo of Alexandria. 1AD
But one question. While the players roast under the whithering heat of national scorn...why does the Zen Master get a free pass?
Most sports fans think motivation comes entirely from fired up halftime speeches and the like. But players are motivated when they are prepared. When they know what another team is going to do and how to counter it. Or when the other team does something unexpected... the coach figures it out...CALLS A TIMEOUT...and make the proper adjustment.
Phil Jackson deservedly ranks with the great coaches in NBA history. You don't win 9 championships if you're just along for the ride. But different coaches have different strengths. Many coaches and managers (like Billy Martin or Larry Brown) are at their best with teams that are somewhat undermanned and they compensatve by strategy. But historically have struggled and been accused of over-coaching or over-managing when they have great talent. Conversely, a coach that just "lets the guys play" sparkles on a team with a lot of talent. But isn't as strong in the strategy department. This is not a new criticism of Jackson. It's always been there even at the height of his glory years. And his supporters rightly point out that getting ultimate talents like Kobe and Shaq or Michael Jordan and...anybody...to play together is a great talent.
Now back to the adjustments or lack of same. Last year the Lakers blew one of the biggest leads (24 points) in a finals game (4) in NBA history. Followed in two games by the biggest blowout in a finals clinching game ever (39 points). All season long the Lakers have blown big leads though usually (but not always) hanging on to win. The games against the under manned Rockets add to the body of evidence... that Phil simply can't adjust during a game. His exuse when teams are building up big leads is he wants the players to figure out what it is for themselves. A learning experience. Like when your dad didn't know how to spell a word but pretended he did; telling you to look it up so you'll remember it better. What's Phil using these "learning experiences" for? The summer rec league?
Players can look sluggish and loafing when they don't know what do to to counteract an offense or defense. A player standing flat footed can look really bad but unless he anticipated the play, he can't catch up.
And there may be one final problem. People create a mystique that helps them in their jobs beause those under them have a confidence the boss will find a way. It's not unusual for people to start, as Al Pacino said in "Scarface"...to start snorting their own...uh, stuff. For years players bought into the Phil Jackson "I'm smarter than anybody else and way ahead of them" mystique and it motivated them. It could be that Phil started to believe it himself. Forgetting the famous quote from Thomas Edison; "Genius is 10% inspiration. 90% perspiration."
Win or lose game 7...this will remain a problem.
Bret
“Be kind, for everyone you know is fighting a great battle.”
Philo of Alexandria. 1AD
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