What do you know? Lakers fans rejoice! No. 24 came out and said he’s happy he wasn’t traded. While he did bypass rescinding his trade demands with a cool, “I don’t get into that stuff,” he also said, “My boys and I have such a tight bond.”

 That’s excellent news for anyone who loves the purple and gold. It’s also very timely following Phil’s inking a 2-year extension not but yesterday. Hmm.

 Kobe’s been having a sub-par year in comparison to his last few, but after taking 27 shots per game in 2006 and 23 last year, he’s down to 20. He’s getting guys involved, though his average assists don't paint the whole picture. Just watch him actually look for—sometimes like a hawk zeroing in on its prey—Andrew Bynum.

Continue reading "Happy Together"

Anybody remember when Sasha Vujacic couldn’t shoot? I do. I remember him coming into the game and jacking up shots and all of them clanking off the rim. In all honesty, they weren’t off by much, but none of them went in. I remember thinking, why in the world did Lakers' GM Mitch Kupchak draft this skinny little dude who looks like he’s in grade school who can shoot but can’t make anything?

Well, turns out Mitch has been right on quite a few of the guys he’s drafted. Sasha put the game away last night, scoring all 14 of his points in the final period. He’s definitely a gunner. Busted three 3s. Luke Walton, another Mitch draftee, another at-the-time questionable draft pick, was a perfect 6 for 6 from the field and another key component to their win.

Continue reading "Apology to Mitch"

Derek Fisher, regarded as a man in decline last year, has come out gunning shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc and a scalding 50 percent overall. He’s having the best season of his career in terms of percentages, efficiency and overall per minute production. But numbers don’t tell the whole tale.

It’s well known that he and Kobe were buds and remained in contact even after he left for Golden State. Drafted in the same class, the two spent their first 8 seasons together, won three championships and have kept in contact through text messages over the course of the past few seasons and playoffs.

Fish’s clubhouse guy mentality and overall likeabilty seem to have worn off on #24. 

Think Kobe’s warming up to his teammates? Luke Walton recently said, “Kobe is a huge part of the team so the only way we can get closer is if he gets closer and he's definitely gotten closer to a bunch of the guys.”

Continue reading "The Importance of Fish"

17 and 16 with 2 assists, 0 turnovers. That’s the kind of game we drool over when it comes to Lamar. He’s shown so much promise in so many different stretches (2006 playoffs and the 2003-04 season), and yet, at 28, he has yet to live up to that potential.

I’m a big Lamar fan. He’s long. He’s got handles. He’s got great court vision. He’s unique. There isn’t another player in the league quite like him. A player who can get you a double double in points and rebounds and throw in five plus assists on top of that. He’s got a bit of range, can occasionally hit the three, and he can bring the ball up. He can guard shooting guards and power forwards, can post and drive. He can do pretty much everything.

And yet, sometimes he can’t do anything. He’ll get lost for long stretches of games where you’ll forget he’s even playing. 

Continue reading "The Lowdown on LO"

Tonight, Kobe Bryant makes his season debut at Quicken Loans Arena to face the man child everyone calls the King.

Though a bit hobbled, Kobe’s got a hurt shoulder and a pulled groin, and despite the fact that he’s been less than Kobe-like in his past few, the obvious question arises. Who’s better? 

To be fair, Lebron James has a sprained finger on his non-shooting hand that kept him out of five games, so it’s not like #24 is the only one suffering serious injury…Kobe didn’t even have to miss any games for his…

Let’s just say it like it is. Lebron is a freak. He’s a football linebacker with point guard handles and vision, wide receiver dexterity, and superhuman hops. He’s just so physically imposing he’s impossible to guard or stop.

Continue reading "Big Showdown...sort of"

Yes, I’m an unashamed Lakers apologist. Perhaps the worst kind of sports fan. So shoot me or stop reading (just kidding, please soldier on). Last night Lebron James defended his home floor and put the “defensive stop” on Mr. Bryant. He dropped 33 points, 5 assists, 10 boards and threw in a block and a steal to boot. Amazing numbers no doubt.

He also took it upon himself to stop Kobe at the end of the game. “I didn’t even ask, I just told Sasha (as in Pavlovic) to go somewhere else,” the King told reporters following the Cavs 94-90 win.

Of course, everyone had been hyping this match up (even this blogger) for the past couple of days, wondering who was better. Well, there’s no question Bron Bron had the better game, he put up better numbers, shot better and won. End of discussion. He even got less help from his teammates with only Daniel Gibson, a dude nicknamed “Boobie”, and Big Z (Zydrunas Ilgauskas)  scoring in double figures, with 15 and 12 respectively. Kobe had three. Fish 18, Odom 19, and Bynum, 17.

Continue reading "Got the Better of?"

On Christmas day, Andrew Bynum destroyed the Suns. Obliterated them. He had 28 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks. He out-stat Mr. STAT. Amare had 19, 6, 2 assists and 3 blocks against the young 20-year-old.  What a difference two months make. Before the season started, there were trade rumors flying all over about Bynum. AB for Kidd. AB for Jermaine O'Neil. There were also rumors flying about concerning Stoudemire. But those rumors were brushed away as ridiculous. Amare for Kevin Garnett? Let's not be ridiculous. Amare's the future. KG is the past.  Well, not 60 days later and the whole world seems upside down. KG has returned to being the best power forward. Bynum is the new kid on the block. He's been labeled the best big man not named Dwight Howa

Continue reading "A VERY Merry Christmas"