quote:

Finally, how far back do the Lakers fans reading go with the team? I was born in Newport Beach (in '66) and my earliest Laker memory is their winning the championship in 1972. My parents moved to California at the same time as the team. BTW, I still miss Chick but we finally again have a team that would make him proud.

Neil

I was born in 77 and can remember going to games since I was 5. My wife's Parent's actuall just bought the house that Chick lived in about 6 months ago. It was surreall/sad to see Marge Hearn show us the place the Chick slipped and fell that ulitmately proved to be the reason for his death. Crazy.

On another note, I actually think Bynum's injury may be a blessing in disguise. Last year he started off great and fatigue kind of set in. This year, he will probably be back for the last 10-15 games of the season, which he can get up to speed with and prepare for the play-offs with fresh legs.

Granted the Lakers will probably be the 5th or 6th seed, but with him back for the play-offs I like their shot.

And less than two weeks later, down to 6th. The West is SO competitive with very little room for error. It is a long season and will be interesting to see if New Orleans, Portland, and the other contenders can maintain the pace.

For me, Chris Paul is the MVP for the first half of the season.

who would've thought that this season you'd be saying the Lakers are an average team at best without Bynum

It is lucky for the Lakers that the Cavs don’t play them on a regular basis. The Cavs have now beaten the Lakers 5 games in a row. LeBron takes the match up against Kobe personally and put on a clinic this past Sunday by scoring 41 points. Additionally, LeBron took it upon himself to defend Kobe in the 4th and limited him to 1 for 7 shooting while denying him the potential game tying basket at the end of the game. And for some reason LeBron still thinks that Kobe is the better player!! I think that LeBron is full of crap. When these teams play each other it is obvious which player is the better of the two. It even seems that James gets more admiration at the Staples Center than Kobe does.

GSW Hoop!!!!!!!

I agree with Altaholic that the Cavs seem to have the Lakers numbers and LeBron has outplayed Kobe in their match-ups.

The West is insanely competitive and close. The Lakers need to get it going against the easier competition they have over the next 11 games. While nine of these are on the road, I think they can will 7 of the next 11.

I still like the idea of a #5 seed facing the winner of the Northwest division with the winner facing the Hornets (#1 seed?). Stranger things have happened and probably will.

Neil

Until the Lakers figure out that standing around on offense is not the key, they will be mediocre.

Tough way to lose to the Pistons tonight.

quote:

Originally posted by Juicy:
Tough way to lose to the Pistons tonight.

And a rather unique triple double by Kobe – 39 points, 10 rebounds, 11 turnovers!!

Tough loss and certainly a dubious triple double. At the end, Lakers got some bad rebound bounces and called for an iffy (at best) goaltending call. Still, they did well to come back from being down 17.

I found it interesting that the Pistons came out with near-playoff intensity and physicality to start that game. They stole the ball from Kobe on the first play and forced 17 first half turnovers. The game became less physical (and the Lakers came back) when the refs started calling the game might tighter.

Neil

The NBA referee's inegrity has dropped so low that I can't even watch NBA games any more. Part of it is that they're just bad, and part of it is that they are free from media reproach, unlike football and baseball officials.

Pao Gasol and a 2nd to the Lakers for Kwame, Crittenden, Marc Gasol and 2-1st round picks.

Championship baby!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Jfont:
Pao Gasol and a 2nd to the Lakers for Kwame, Crittenden, Marc Gasol and 2-1st round picks.

Championship baby!!!!

On paper it is freakin on!! Once Bynum comes back we will be able to match up with anyone. And I like that Odom can now just relax and do his thing. He does not have to be the number 2 option.

Wow I'm excited!!!

CYA KWAME!

it is an imposing front court w/ Bynum, Gasol & Odom, tons of mismatch potential for the Lakers to expose... Kobe can't say anything about the Lakers lack of effort to surround him with talent by moving those pics

good day to be a Lakers fan

and knock Kupchak & Buss all you want, this is the end result of getting rid of Shaq when they could get something for him in return... if they had held on to him and maybe squeezed that last Championship out of him w/ the Lakers, LA would be right where Miami is now except Kobe would be the disgruntled star to D Wade's injured youth and next season, Shaq & Kobe would have both been gone. im a huge fan of Shaq's, but a Lakers fan first, and it wasnt a popular move then, but it's paying dividends now

This is effing fantastic!! Unreal. Finally Mitch get's his head out of his ass.

Great trade!!! I'm very excited.

Peer--I'm not talking about integrity. I'm talking about style of calling the game. It went too far and the refs pushed back.

BTW, is this the first trade involving two brothers?

Neil

quote:

Originally posted by Neil K.:


BTW, is this the first trade involving two brothers?

Neil

I think only in fantasy leagues...

Neil:

I know, I was just spinning off on my own rant. The idea that refs can stylistically interpret the rules turns me off. Every game, every team, every player should be called the same. Otherwise it's just entertainment television--not sports.

quote:

Originally posted by Peer Gynt:
Neil:

I know, I was just spinning off on my own rant. The idea that refs can stylistically interpret the rules turns me off. Every game, every team, every player should be called the same. Otherwise it's just entertainment television--not sports.

I couldn't agree more...it's too bad David Stern allows the refs to continue making inappropriate calls all game long. It is far too easy for an NBA official to manipulate the outcome of an entire game. The NBA is the only American sport in which it is commonplace for the officials to shape a game any way they choose.

On the Lakers, I'm excited to see Pau Tuesday night against the Nets. I've had the tickets since they went on sale and was bummed to be missing out on Bynum. Not bummed now!!

Playing devil's advocate on the refs, I maintain that the NBA referees generally do an excellent job. They are dramatically more consistent and correct than those of the NCAA for example. Also, I've noticed that an umpire's strike zone and the NFL referees tightness on holding calls (two easy examples, I know) can shape the game as well.

Neil

quote:

Originally posted by Neil K.:
On the Lakers, I'm excited to see Pau Tuesday night against the Nets. I've had the tickets since they went on sale and was bummed to be missing out on Bynum. Not bummed now!!

Playing devil's advocate on the refs, I maintain that the NBA referees generally do an excellent job. They are dramatically more consistent and correct than those of the NCAA for example. Also, I've noticed that an umpire's strike zone and the NFL referees tightness on holding calls (two easy examples, I know) can shape the game as well.

Neil

Have fun at the game!

I'm not buying the NBA ref's doing an excellent job anymore. I used to, but now it seems like there are more and more vendetta calls, make-up calls and irrelevant crowd-pleasing controversial calls (see: Dick Bevetta). At least in MLB and NFL the league office constantly tries to improve the integrity of the officiating by implementing new systems - replay, QuesTec...the NBA seems to be backing off the integrity of the refs (and after Tim Donaghy, this seems like a questionable business practice).

Thanks.

I'm not sure the NBA is backing off but they aren't embracing Cuban's ideas either. There was a great interview in TrueHoop (a blog on ESPN.com) a couple months ago which had some interesting insight into the whole situation.

Neil