Jordan Ikeda's NFL Football fan blog

Hey, maybe Kobe reads my blog. Lol. Yeah right. Whatever has happened since Nov. 21 when I wrote that the Lakers (in jest mind you) should trade #24, well, he’s started to play much better. He’s still taking around 18-20 shots a game, but his looks (with the exception of a few) have been much cleaner. That 12-18 performance against Denver is how he should be playing every night. He’ll get plenty of easy buckets if he moves the ball. I also like how Kobe’s looking to go for more steals and blocks. Speaking of great play, how about Trevor Ariza. Amazing. He posted a double double (11 points and 11 rebounds) and tossed in 5 assists and 3 steals with only a single turnover. Plus, he got banged in the head, not once, but twice, and instead of get up and act like a thug,

Continue reading "Now That's More Like it..."

Okay. I don't really mean that. But, good lord almighty, Kobe needs to learn how to play within the flow of the offense. 23 shots? Really? He shot twice as many shots as anyone else on the team. The offense totally stagnates when he goes off trying to get his. I thought he had taken drastic steps last season towards team play...hence the MVP. This year, he was supposed to take the next step and be even more selfless. Hasn't happened yet. He's shooting a miserable 44 percent. With this team he has, with all the great passers (Gasol, though he only had 4 points, dished out 9 assists) he should be well over 50 percent every game. I like the effort he's exerting on defense. He had two monster blocks on Shaq that were taken away by fouls, and he's getting his hands on balls while double-teaming

Continue reading "Trade Kobe"

Ruben Patterson once claimed he was the Kobe stopper, then routinely got lit up for 30 points whenever he faced him. Many have tried to contain Number 8 turned 24 and few have had success. James Posey and Paul Pierce and the zone defense of the Celtics shut Mr. Bryant down during last season’s finals.

But that was a total team effort, and Kobe was trying to play 1 on 5 for much of the series. Also, in his defense, he didn’t get a lot of the same calls he was getting in the regular season and even during the first three rounds of the playoffs.

That aside, the Lakers just got smashed Friday night by the Detroit Pistons. Of their last 10 meetings, the Lakers have lost 8. All by double digit margins. 

Friday night saw Kobe force up a bunch of shots, and though he finished with 29 points, he had to take 30 shots to get there. Guarding him for much of the game was Tayshaun Prince. I thought this was interesting because I remember how horridly Kobe played against the Pistons in 03 when they lost in six.

Continue reading "Tayshaun Prince the Official Kobe Stopper"

If last night’s narrow victory told us anything about the Lakers, it told us that there are a couple of holes in the Lakers new and league best defense. For one, they are susceptible to the 3-point shot. The way their defense is devised, they allow for the weak side to shoot the corner three, though they still try to get back and contest the shot. Point is, that shot is available. Another thing that was obvious (see Erick Dampier’s 12 offensive rebounds) is that when they do try and defend that corner shot, they allow a lot of offensive rebounds to guys willing to put in the work. Last night, Damp put in the work and was rewarded. Tonight, Tyson Chandler, who always puts in the work, will kill the O boards if the Lakers aren’t careful. In fact, because they are comin

Continue reading "Lakers verse Hornets"

Well, so much for that supposed "test" last night. The Lakers steamrolled the Houston Rockets in the second half holding them to a measely  34 points. 82 for the game and 37.8 percent shooting for overall. The Rockets dominated a sloppy Lakers team in the first quarter, taking a 14-point lead into the second. In the second quarter, the Lakers second unit dominated the Houston Rockets’— ending any debate of which team is deeper. Granted, the Rockets second unit will be bolstered by the return of Shane Battier, but the Lakers bench squad is too long and athletic. Ariza makes a highlight reel play every time he touches the ball (3 steals, 3 assists and 4 offensive rebounds). Odom had 2 steals, 2 blocks and 2 assists. And Jordan Farmar (16 and 6 with 2 steals) would

Continue reading "Defensive Force--Kobe for DPY?"

What does Kobe need to accomplish to finally get out of the shadow of Michael Jordan? Well, despite having 5 All-NBA Defensive First team selections, he has yet to win a Defensive Player of the Year award. MJ’s got one of those. So far, the Lakeshow have looked stellar on defense. The team is holding opponents below 86 points per game and 38 percent shooting. The new zone that they’ve incorporated has done wonders, so it’s not Kobe’s kudos for the team’s defensive prowess—however, it’s possible for him to take home the award KG got. It’s obvious the team feeds off of Kobe’s intensity—much like KG. Just a little thought to throw out there. The other thing Kobe doesn’t have that Jordan has is the best regular season record.

Continue reading "How Does Kobe be Better than MJ?"

I just can't figure out how NBA reffing goes. Kobe got a million calls in the Jazz series with similar physical play, but then, when facing Boston, he gets none. I remember a million calls for a one Dwayne Wade against the Dallas Mavericks as well. All fans want is consistency. I realize that reffing is a tough gig. Impossibly tough. But it isn't tough to stay consistent. 

Check Kobe getting mugged by the 2008 champs.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQaVvf2VOsc

NOT saying that Boston didn't deserve it. NOT saying that this video is unbiased, although, he seems like he's trying to be. Just watch and gather from the video footage whatever you want. 

Lakers and Blazers tonight at 7 p.m. PACIFIC TIME. 

Continue reading "Huh..."

Step right up! Step right up ladies and gentlemen. 

Tonight, here at Staples Center in the best city in the world, Los Angeles, for your own viewing pleasure and wonderment, we bring before you a spectacle of all spectacles. Two giants, two young warriors, one a man-child beast the other a beast-child man, both ready to step up and claim the mantle of bigman of the next decade.

In the right corner, standing 7 feet 1 inches tall, weighing in at a lean, yet finally maturing and toned 285…playing center for the Los Angeles Lakers, #21…Andrew Bynum!

Recently recovered from knee surgery, the 21-year-old with the baby face uses his soft touch around the basket, and his Mr. Fantastic-like abilities to reach up into the sky and seemingly grab and flush down every single pass, no matter how wild or how off target, while also using a limited, but effective array of hooks, bank shots and dunks to completely dominate the middle on offense. With his 7-3 wingspan, he is able to alter plenty of shots and send many of them back like letters with wrong addresses. 

Continue reading "Man-Beast Vs Man-Beast: Oden vs. Bynum (Round 1)"

This is an awesome little video of Kobe trash talking Sasha. Looks like both are feeling a lot better. Which is good news. 

http://www.pe.com/video/index.html?nvid=295673&shu=1

"snicker commercial" 

"Not mentally strong enough to make the shot." 

It's all priceless. check it out. 

Continue reading "Kobe kicking it with Machine"

I'm back. lol. Got a new blogsite that will be up and running by the start of the season. This site will still get Lakers updates, but it will be strictly Lakers. For all things Westcoast in the NBA, check out www.westcoastlsant.blogspot.com next week. And check the links too. Okay, on to the meat. 

Lakers looked great last night for several stretches. Here are some notes on the game.

-    Despite making only one shot, Vladimir Radmanovic is looking active. This here blogger mentioned last year that Vlad Rad looked like he was learning from the Trevor Ariza school of basketball hustle: diving and cutting and looking for offensive rebounds or tip-ins. Last season? He might have graded out as a C-. This year, he’s shooting for an A and is currently sitting at a B. It’s been a pleasant surprise so far, and if he continues to progress and continues to keep his head in the game even if he doesn't get shots, than he’ll be a valuable commodity as a starter. Speaking of taking his shots, Joel Meyers is an idiot. As the third quarter was winding down, Odom got off the bench to come in and Vlad Rad took what Meyers said was an ill-advised 3-pointer (the one that Pau rebounded and put back in). Here’s why that play wasn’t a bad play. It ended with a Lakers score. Here’s why that shot wasn’t a bad shot. Andrew Bynum had Andrea freaking Bargnani on him and Pau (who had initiated the break in the first place) was hustling back down the court with Jermaine O’Neal trailing him. That’s the two biggest players on the Lakers underneath or moving towards the rim with JO behind and Bargnani “on” Bynum. I’d take those match-ups every which way including loose. Which means Vlad Rad, who, I think is supposed to be known for his 3-point prowess (right Joel?) should take that shot every single time in that situation. You’ve got your two best rebounders on isos against weaker rebounders and a wide open look at your bread and butter shot. Vlad’s gotta take that shot. Period. Exclamation! 

Continue reading "Lakers Notes on Preseason game against Toronto"