2009 NBA Playoffs
Lakers Win - Now What About Next Year?
06/15/09 20:30 Filed in: NBA
Congrats to the entire Laker family for a fabulous season, especially Dr Jerry and Buss generation two, Mitch Kupchak, Phil, and the entire team. As I said before the season, and frequently thereafter, the Lakers have the most talented and deepest team in the NBA, but being able to show that on the court does not necessarily follow. Remember the Dell Harris years?
Watching Kobe this season was amazing - seeing a great player improve his entire game to an incredible new level. Deserving much of the credit for the team's success is the previously much-maligned Mitch Kupchak, who made key player moves putting the finishing touches on what did became a championship team.
Kobe, Mitch, Jerry, Jeannie, and Jimmie are going nowhere, but what about Phil? Jeannie said on the air today that his health is fine, that this leg problems of the past season are now resolved, and that she sees no reason why he won't be return for the final season of his contract. This is great for two reasons: First, Phil is the best coach the NBA has ever seen. Period. It is still hard to forget the the 2004-5 season when Phil was retired for a year. Second, the rumored candidates that could replace him, from Brian Shaw to Byron Scott to Kurt Rambis are all sorely lacking in coaching experience, coaching ability, and/or additional qualities the Lakers demand, and need, if their outstanding success were to continue. Should Phil decide to leave, however, then the Lakers need to open the coffers and do their best to influence an experience and successful coach to move to LA, like they did with Phil. The ideal person that fits this mold would be Gregg Popovich.
On the court, the same type of critical questions are present, with the pending free agency of Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. The Lakers might be NBA champs without one or the other of these two, but probably not, and to return to that lofty perch next season virtually requires that both players be resigned. It's time for the financial geniuses in Lakerdom to work out the details.
Finally, as an LA native who has lived in LA County his entire life, I am ashamed of the idiots and jerks who have nothing better to do with their sorry lives than celebrate victory by destroying property.
Watching Kobe this season was amazing - seeing a great player improve his entire game to an incredible new level. Deserving much of the credit for the team's success is the previously much-maligned Mitch Kupchak, who made key player moves putting the finishing touches on what did became a championship team.
Kobe, Mitch, Jerry, Jeannie, and Jimmie are going nowhere, but what about Phil? Jeannie said on the air today that his health is fine, that this leg problems of the past season are now resolved, and that she sees no reason why he won't be return for the final season of his contract. This is great for two reasons: First, Phil is the best coach the NBA has ever seen. Period. It is still hard to forget the the 2004-5 season when Phil was retired for a year. Second, the rumored candidates that could replace him, from Brian Shaw to Byron Scott to Kurt Rambis are all sorely lacking in coaching experience, coaching ability, and/or additional qualities the Lakers demand, and need, if their outstanding success were to continue. Should Phil decide to leave, however, then the Lakers need to open the coffers and do their best to influence an experience and successful coach to move to LA, like they did with Phil. The ideal person that fits this mold would be Gregg Popovich.
On the court, the same type of critical questions are present, with the pending free agency of Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. The Lakers might be NBA champs without one or the other of these two, but probably not, and to return to that lofty perch next season virtually requires that both players be resigned. It's time for the financial geniuses in Lakerdom to work out the details.
Finally, as an LA native who has lived in LA County his entire life, I am ashamed of the idiots and jerks who have nothing better to do with their sorry lives than celebrate victory by destroying property.
theHoundDawg |  |
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Defense Lets Lakers Down
06/10/09 18:21 Filed in: NBA
Perimeter Defense. Perimeter Defense. Perimeter Defense.
The Lakers shot 51%, including a reasonable 35% on 3-pointers, were out-rebounded only by two boards, but missed an unacceptable 10 free throws, shooting only 62% from the line, and lost last night's game by four points. Why? Perimeter Defense. The Lakers allowed Orlando to shot 62%, including an astounding 75% in the first half.
The team defense that was so outstanding in game one and more than adequate in game two, missed the plane to Florida, and never showed up in the amway arena last night.
Kobe will be ok after his sub-par night, and the team as a whole will shoot better from the line. Those are givens. But, there needs to be the team effort on D, like there was in game one, for the Lakers to rebound and show Orlando who is top dawg in the NBA.
One other issue to consider is the fact that Gasol, Odom and Bynum played 95 minutes between them, and took a total of 23 shots. Dwight Howard committed four personals defending ghosts in the paint. The Laker big men need to shoot more, get Howard moving around more, coming out from the basket if possible, but at least having to actually defend more underneath. Only good things can happen if they do so, shooters actually scoring, and maybe Howard picking up more fouls, and maybe playing less than the 45 minutes he has averaged over the last two games.
theHoundDawg
The Lakers shot 51%, including a reasonable 35% on 3-pointers, were out-rebounded only by two boards, but missed an unacceptable 10 free throws, shooting only 62% from the line, and lost last night's game by four points. Why? Perimeter Defense. The Lakers allowed Orlando to shot 62%, including an astounding 75% in the first half.
The team defense that was so outstanding in game one and more than adequate in game two, missed the plane to Florida, and never showed up in the amway arena last night.
Kobe will be ok after his sub-par night, and the team as a whole will shoot better from the line. Those are givens. But, there needs to be the team effort on D, like there was in game one, for the Lakers to rebound and show Orlando who is top dawg in the NBA.
One other issue to consider is the fact that Gasol, Odom and Bynum played 95 minutes between them, and took a total of 23 shots. Dwight Howard committed four personals defending ghosts in the paint. The Laker big men need to shoot more, get Howard moving around more, coming out from the basket if possible, but at least having to actually defend more underneath. Only good things can happen if they do so, shooters actually scoring, and maybe Howard picking up more fouls, and maybe playing less than the 45 minutes he has averaged over the last two games.
theHoundDawg
This IS Next Year
06/04/09 16:44 Filed in: NBA
One year ago tomorrow night, the Lakers came out on the floor in Boston and played a great first half in the opening game of the 2007-8 NBA finals. However, the Celtics then totally dominated the second half, out-scoring, out-defending, out-coaching, and totally out-playing the Lakers, 52-37, taking the opening game 98-88, and effectively ending the Lakers' season, though they did not realize it for another few days.
Tonight, actually in little more than one hour, the Lakers open the Finals at home, and against a team very unlike the Celtics. Another key to the series is the second half of tonight's game. I expect to see an unrelenting team effort, fueled by the memories of the second half of June 5, 2008, not to mention the rest of last year's series, leading to a Laker victory that will motivate the team to keep that momentum going through the rest of the series, and provide redemption for last year's embarrassment.
Tonight, actually in little more than one hour, the Lakers open the Finals at home, and against a team very unlike the Celtics. Another key to the series is the second half of tonight's game. I expect to see an unrelenting team effort, fueled by the memories of the second half of June 5, 2008, not to mention the rest of last year's series, leading to a Laker victory that will motivate the team to keep that momentum going through the rest of the series, and provide redemption for last year's embarrassment.
| theHoundDawg |  |
Lakers' Perimeter Defense Key to Series
06/02/09 23:44 Filed in: NBA
The "experts" all say that Dwight Howard will be the key to this series. Well, I don't think so. This series will be decided not inside the paint, but outside the arc.
Howard will get his points, regardless. That will not shape the series. What will, will be the Lakers' perimeter defense, defending the real strength of the Magic offense - their three-point shooting.
Orlando shot more threes per game than any other NBA team except NY, and tied with the Knicks for the most made, during the regular season, and they have continued their dependence on three-pointers through the playoffs. Interestingly enough, while the Lakers were the third best defense against the three during the regular season, the second best was Orlando, with Cleveland first. During the playoffs, however, the Lakers have been just ahead of Orlando in three-point defense, and second to Detroit, while Cleveland fell to 12th - a major reason for their losing to Orlando.
Key matchups to watch will be Tevor Ariza on Hedo Turkoglu, and whomever the Lakers put on Mickael Pietrus. Most likely Kobe will draw that assignment, but I have a feeling Ariza will end up there, with Lamar Odom switching to Turkoglu, so long as Gasol and especially Bynum do reasonably well on Howard.
Ariza has a lot to prove to his old team, and his old coach, Stan Van Gundy, whose parting words on Ariza, when the Magic traded him to the Lakers for two journeymen who are both long gone from Orlando, were "I think it was a good move for us."
The possibility now that Jameer Nelson may be healthy enough to see action is an interesting new element to factor in. If he is healthy, he adds a new dimension to the Magic back court. If he is not healthy, and as rusty as Andrew Bynum was after his three month absence, after a five-minute emotional high, he will be a liability.
Another interesting fact is that in a changing league that traditionally depended on the NCAA "farm system", seven of the ten starters did not attend college.
theHoundDawg
Howard will get his points, regardless. That will not shape the series. What will, will be the Lakers' perimeter defense, defending the real strength of the Magic offense - their three-point shooting.
Orlando shot more threes per game than any other NBA team except NY, and tied with the Knicks for the most made, during the regular season, and they have continued their dependence on three-pointers through the playoffs. Interestingly enough, while the Lakers were the third best defense against the three during the regular season, the second best was Orlando, with Cleveland first. During the playoffs, however, the Lakers have been just ahead of Orlando in three-point defense, and second to Detroit, while Cleveland fell to 12th - a major reason for their losing to Orlando.
Key matchups to watch will be Tevor Ariza on Hedo Turkoglu, and whomever the Lakers put on Mickael Pietrus. Most likely Kobe will draw that assignment, but I have a feeling Ariza will end up there, with Lamar Odom switching to Turkoglu, so long as Gasol and especially Bynum do reasonably well on Howard.
Ariza has a lot to prove to his old team, and his old coach, Stan Van Gundy, whose parting words on Ariza, when the Magic traded him to the Lakers for two journeymen who are both long gone from Orlando, were "I think it was a good move for us."
The possibility now that Jameer Nelson may be healthy enough to see action is an interesting new element to factor in. If he is healthy, he adds a new dimension to the Magic back court. If he is not healthy, and as rusty as Andrew Bynum was after his three month absence, after a five-minute emotional high, he will be a liability.
Another interesting fact is that in a changing league that traditionally depended on the NCAA "farm system", seven of the ten starters did not attend college.
theHoundDawg
Not "King" Yet, LeBron Can Watch the Lakers Win on TV
05/30/09 23:45 Filed in: NBA
Watching the Lakers dominate on Friday night, I saw this deep, all-around team, lead by the dominant player in basketball, Kobe Bryant, get back to the series they were aiming for since last June. Fighting through the Western Conference's top teams, the Lakers showed the depth, leadership, and coaching that is needed to win a title.
As I said before the season began, the Lakers have by far the best, deepest team in the NBA and the "Magic" will need just that to stretch the series to six. Boston was a shell of the team that won the title last year, due in most part to injuries, but also due to personnel moves and aging, and Cleveland is the most over-rated group of journeymen to get to a conference championship series in years. It did not take that good of a team to win the east, and the Lakers will show the "experts" who picked Denver to be playing next Thursday night what a true championship team looks like.
James, Howard, Wade, etc. are all great players, but Kobe is by far still number one, and his leadership alone, as he demonstrated Friday night, is enough to pull out close, key games. Gasol, Odom, and Ariza are playing like monsters, Luke Walton and Shannon Brown are providing tremendous vigor and intensity, and I feel strongly that in the finals the rest of the deep and talented Laker backcourt will have more than a few highlight moments. And, slowly but surely, Andrew Bynum (who, remember missed three+ months up to the start of the playoffs with a serious knee injury) is rounding into form.
Mr. Howard, who may well be number two to Kobe, will certainly have his moments, and score his points, and be dominant on the boards, but professional basketball is not a one-man game (right, LeBron?) and a team effort, led by the real number one, will be the reason the Lakers make up for last year's frustrating, demeaning, embarrassing, NBA finals.
theHoundDawg
As I said before the season began, the Lakers have by far the best, deepest team in the NBA and the "Magic" will need just that to stretch the series to six. Boston was a shell of the team that won the title last year, due in most part to injuries, but also due to personnel moves and aging, and Cleveland is the most over-rated group of journeymen to get to a conference championship series in years. It did not take that good of a team to win the east, and the Lakers will show the "experts" who picked Denver to be playing next Thursday night what a true championship team looks like.
James, Howard, Wade, etc. are all great players, but Kobe is by far still number one, and his leadership alone, as he demonstrated Friday night, is enough to pull out close, key games. Gasol, Odom, and Ariza are playing like monsters, Luke Walton and Shannon Brown are providing tremendous vigor and intensity, and I feel strongly that in the finals the rest of the deep and talented Laker backcourt will have more than a few highlight moments. And, slowly but surely, Andrew Bynum (who, remember missed three+ months up to the start of the playoffs with a serious knee injury) is rounding into form.
Mr. Howard, who may well be number two to Kobe, will certainly have his moments, and score his points, and be dominant on the boards, but professional basketball is not a one-man game (right, LeBron?) and a team effort, led by the real number one, will be the reason the Lakers make up for last year's frustrating, demeaning, embarrassing, NBA finals.
theHoundDawg
LeBron this, LeBron that, Blah, Blah, Blah...
05/23/09 16:33 Filed in: NBA
Online, in the papers, on sports talk radio, or heaven forbid, turn on Sportscenter, or any other TV sports show, and that's all you read, hear, or see.
It seems that the Combined Sports Media is now the LeBron the Magnificant No One Else Is Any Good or Matters Anymore Media.
Exactly how many championships has he won? Oh, yea:
theHoundDawg
It seems that the Combined Sports Media is now the LeBron the Magnificant No One Else Is Any Good or Matters Anymore Media.
Exactly how many championships has he won? Oh, yea:
theHoundDawg