Lakers Thread

@sit, yeah. It was like he was lost for most part of the playoffs. And after just one game winning shot, Artest was suddenly the player everyone expected him to be when he signed on to the Lakers. I really wish he could carry it over to this season.

Last edited by Bruce on Tue Oct 19, 2010 12:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

So it seems, in a bid to sell even more videogames for an already great title. MJ has finally commented on where he thinks kobe stands against the league's greatest... MJ thinks Kobe is top 10... Among shooting guards that is. According to Kobe he is not affected by this (see article below). And yet Kobe suddenly errupts for 19 pts in 1 qtr, and in only 20 min the entire game. Even though Kobe still has a sore knee, and was sluggish in the first few pre-season games. Yeah, unaffected alright. And thanks Mr. Jordan for putting more fire into Kobes belly.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=mc-bryantlakers101810


MJ's comment kind of reminded me of this Sportscenter Ad...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U1xkbZ4Ns8

comment from video:
"steiner syas your maybe the 50th best heavyweight."
"in the world?"
"in georgia."
crushes the cup

@sit, yeah. It was like he was lost for most part of the playoffs. And after just one game winning shot, Artest was suddenly the player everyone expected him to be when he signed on to the Lakers. I really wish he could carry it over to this season.

He was lost for most of the season. He played great from the first round onwards. He started to defend like how fans would have wanted him to. He wad focused. There were times when he jacked up ill-advised shots (to the dismay of Jax, the fans, and his teammates) but the rest is history.

I think Artest will be better in his second year but I don't expect him to be any less disruptive.

MJ has finally commented on where he thinks kobe stands against the league's greatest... MJ thinks Kobe is top 10... Among shooting guards that is. According to Kobe he is not affected by this (see article below).

MJ being defensive on his legacy Kobe probably will talk the same way when he becomes old. And honestly,

in net speak, MJ said: "MJ > Magic Johnson > Dr. J > Larry Bird > Kobe, Actually, MJ > Magic, Oscar Robertson, Isiah Thomas, Jerry West, etc. nuff said"
Kobe says: "I'm not getting into that fool. LOLZ"

But in kobe's defense, by scoring around 2,000 pts this season (w/c should not be too difficult for him), Kobe will be good for #6 (current: 12) all time in NBA scoring, #8 (current: 15) in NBA+ABA in scoring and #2 for active players, behind only Shaq. So in a way, Kobe has already carved out a good space for himself compared with the leagues greatest.

Magic Johnson sells ownership stake in Lakers

Johnson bought shares representing about 4.5 percent of the Lakers in June 1994 for a reported $10 million. Johnson said Monday’s sale was strictly a “bittersweet business decision,” but the five-time NBA champion has long been interested in taking a larger ownership role in a team.

“I thank (Lakers owner) Dr. (Jerry) Buss from the deepest part of my heart and soul for allowing me such an incredible opportunity,” Johnson said in a statement. “I want to assure all the wonderful and loyal Lakers fans that my decision will in no way affect my dedication and support for the Los Angeles Lakers. I am and will always be a Laker for life.”

Johnson spent his entire 13-year playing career with Los Angeles, including a 32-game comeback in 1996 nearly five years after his retirement. He has been a successful businessman since leaving the league, excelling in commercial real estate ventures including movie theaters, restaurants and health clubs.

Yet Johnson has ambitions that go beyond a 4.5 percent stake in a team, and realizing those ambitions would require him to sell his stake in the Lakers.

Sounds like he wants to join Jordan and Bird in having a larger hand in running an NBA team.

I want to see him join in a bid to buy the Pistons. That would be a good story since he's a Michigan native.

Mostly, I remember Magic's role in his time as minority owner, was to be the guy who faced the media. He was the guy who down played the Shaq-Kobe lovers' spat, the Kobe trade request and some other minor things like bad player moves. Since he is such a media darling, Magic could speak to the media about what the Lakers are thinking in a semi-official manner/off the record, without getting the team fined.

I would agree with Sit's assesment, most likely Magic wants a stake in the Detroit Team. Well it's either that or he is just using his shares from the Lakers to pay for HIV treatment. Haha. If Magic does get to be a part of the Pistons, I would imagine the team to use him to draw in a star for the team.

It'll be weird to see Magic flying another team's colours. I remember back in 1996 he expressed some interest in joining Pat Riley for a season in Miami following his comeback with the Lakers but I'm not sure how serious that ever was and he of course ultimately opted for retirement.

Well, Magic is a Laker for life. I don't mind if he has a stake in another team or management role just like Larry and Michael Jordan.

I can't wait for the start of the NBA season. It's awesome that the lakers have had such a low-key run up to the season thanks to the hype in other cities. Maybe less distractions will hopefully translate to more consistent results on the court.

@andrew: Nobody ever gives notice or feels weird when executive/front office types bounce around teams. Especially since he will not be weaing a jersey. I think Magic will prove to be an excellent asset to Detroit when they try to make a pitch for an All-star caliber player. I don't think the Pistons are too far off from returning to contention. All they need is a decent post player. As bad a loss to the Lakers it may be, Magic moving to the Pistons (and helping them improve), I think be good for the league.

@Sit: Interesting point, Larry Bird played college ball for Indiana and he buys a stake in Indiana. MJ played college ball for North Carolina, so he has shares in Charlotte. Magic played for Michigan I think? So now he has interst buying a stake with Detroit. i wonder when LeBron retires he will buy shares of the Cavs. hehe

That is why PJ is there. More than X and Os, the greatest skill PJ has is cutting through drama and handling players. I am really wondering right now whether the absence of Bynum for the beginning of the season will have an effect on the team. Whether his absence will improve the dynamics of a quick gasol-odom-artest front court or will it hurt the team more when they try to work him back in to the rotation.

I don't think the Pistons are too far off from returning to contention.

That is why PJ is there. More than X and Os, the greatest skill PJ has is cutting through drama and handling players. I am really wondering right now whether the absence of Bynum for the beginning of the season will have an effect on the team. Whether his absence will improve the dynamics of a quick gasol-odom-artest front court or will it hurt the team more when they try to work him back in to the rotation.

It's not the first time LA will be starting off without Bynum, they will be fine. The team is pretty much used to Gasol/Odom front court given they have that line up pretty often even when Bynum is around. (Maybe not starting, but I don't see why that should be an issue.)

I think too much importance is given to the whole starter/bench thing. It's not like these guys will be playing together for the first time.

On another note, I don't know how fucking old Theo Ratliff is and if his old ass has any mobility to move, but I'm glad LA signed him, no offense to Mbenga, wish him all the best in NO with his cro magnon shoulders.

And for anyone that doesn't know as yet, I am Jack-all.

@benji: laugh all you want. Of course what I meant was the pistons need to acquire a superstar front court player first. don't let season records fool you. haha

@pedo boy: Playing Gasol and Bynum at the same time always made match up problems for oposing teams. True, artest has been with them for 1 whole season, but it is very important for players to know their exact roles and spot in the rotation to get their rhythm going.

I only got to saw previews of Ratliff, he seems ok. But I think all they need him for is to collect garbage minutes. As far as I remember, the teams PJ has would almost always have a veteran at the end of their respctive careers at the end of the bench. In chicago he had Perdue, salley and 1 season he had Parish. In LA he had Rider, Shaw and salley again. I think PJ has an inherent mistrust for rookies. Come playoff time, having a player with experience will help them more than having a young unproven talent I guess. With the injuries Ratliff had earlier in his career, I am surprised that he stucked around. From what I read he is taking minerals?

Kobe got two players to play with him on the lakers squad that Kobe had a tough time playing against, Ron Artest and Matt Barnes.

First off, telling a Pistons fan that their teams record shouldn't fool them is just asking for trouble, especially when it's some freak like Ben.

Secondly, playing Gasol & Odom also creates match up problems for opposing teams since Odom is a 7 footer with the ability of a guard, so I don't really see your point. Also the bit about Artest makes no sense? Suddenly Artest will go from doing what he's been doing to thinking he's the focal point of the team?

The Lakers pretty much know their "exact roles" and spot in the rotation, getting their rhythm going really isn't an issue with these guys, you're making them sound like little kids who are playing together for the first time ever.

Ratliff won't only be playing garbage minutes, he's a useful addition with the injuries to Bynum.

About the minerals, that's nice?

@andrew: Nobody ever gives notice or feels weird when executive/front office types bounce around teams. Especially since he will not be weaing a jersey.

Granted, it's not the same as actually suiting up for another team but given that Magic has been a part of the Lakers in some capacity since 1979 and often gushes about them when he's commentating, I'd suggest it'll be a little strange to see him take a role with another team and talk as enthusiastically about them as he has the Lakers for over 30 years.

Vujacic to marry Sharapova
http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... sharapova/

He is very lucky, more hot girls in Lakers game this season.

@pedo boy: actually, I was recalling odom before gasol came to the team. Odom may have the skills of handling the ball like a guard, but it was really painful watching him regularly miss floaters and putbacks in the paint. I was pointing out really how fielding 2 7 ft players in Gasol and Bynum for easy putbacks. Odom may have the size of a PF, but he just simply can't dominate the opposition in the 4 spot. Also, the terms little kid and lost seems synonymous with Artest and Odom.

Regading benji, I more or less know what he is like in this forum, with his, shall we say duh, "sharp wit". Since you mention that he is a Pistons fan, I will drop over to the pistons thread a little later to give some "creative input" for him over at the Pistons thread.

Conchetumare, I could not hate that bitch more now. Now he's marrying Sharapova. He'll probably find the cure of cancer or whatever next.

Bruce, Lamar is fine at the 4 spot. There are a lot of things that he brings to the table that do not appear on the stat sheet. Gasol/Odom are a perfectly fine combo, as Pedo Bear (wtf with the name dude ) has stated. It just depends on health and match ups to see who to pair on the court. I really do not think you lose that much if you sub on Lamar from Bynum depending on who the other team has on the floor.

Has anyone of you seen "Kobe doing work" by spike lee? Great video. I do like Odom has the ability to roll and catch the ball for easy lay-ins, and you'll see that in the video. I do agree that Odom brings to the table things that very few PF can, But my point simply was, it is also rare to have dual post threats in Gasol/Bynum. Odom at 4 does not give that same edge. Of course it will greatly depend on the match-up.

Funny thing though, Bynum was supposed to return in December. But after PJ made comments to the media about putting Bynum in a reserve role, Bynum now is able to run with his full weight. haha. I think Bynum will soon have a miracle recovery after being threatened to a bench role.

@drex: haha, reminds me about the time I learnt that adirna lima was marrying marko jaric. Vujacic and Sharapova are just engaged anway, there is still hope for Sharapova's male tennis fans.


In case, anyone is curious how they look. Here are some photos.



And here is how Adrianna Lima looks with Jaric. With eyes positioned like that on his head, how does the guy even shoot and pass the ball?

Sasha looks stoned in both of the pics...and i dont even see Jaric in the last one, he's filtered

Ring ceremony tomorrow.

Too bad my Fisher jersey ain't here yet... still on backorder

so that is probably why they were showing a CSI Miami re-run on TV with Paul Gasol in it.

phpBB [video]

Good luck to Kobe dodging question from the media about defending against the Heat. And I guess DJ, Powell and Morisson gets rings now. Good for them. Haha