- 04:22 AM
- 12/22/24
Hal - two points to make, in regards to your comments. First, Kobe shot an amazing rate from the floor tonight; I always feel that coaches should continue to feed the player with the hot hand. The second option, Lamar Odom, was 0 for 5 at one point late in the 4th quarter when he finally hit a three that was given to him wide open on an assist from a driving Bryant. Second, Shaq's not going to score 82, ever. Shaq won't score above 50 for the rest of his career - he's just not that into basketball, except in the 99 - 01 run, the first two of his three championships. Since then, he's gotten in progressively worse shape, been a bigger liability to his own continued health, etc. Big men historically drop off dramatically in their early 30s, and Shaq is 34; his off season conditioning this year was so poor that he injured himself a handful of games into the season & missed 18 games. It's not gonna get better for him, and that's a shame, to see such talent squandered. For my own part, I tend to like Kobe - he's a selfish bastard, and doesn't make other players around him better the way Steve Nash does, but at the same time, so was Michael. If Kobe had a second floor general (a Pippen) who was as solid a defensive player as Bryant is, comfortable deferring to Kobe on offense, and better at Bryant's areas of weakness (sharing the ball, setting up teammates, offensive rebounding), the Lakers would be a force to be reckoned with, even with the Spurs & the Pistons tearing up their respective conferences. The question is, who is that Pippen? Ron Artest? Kevin Garnett? I fear Los Angeles, in letting go of Jerry West, has squandered the GM skills it would take to acquire a Robin to Kobe's Batman, and we'll see several more years of phenomenal numbers & early playoff exits from the Bryant squad.
posted by jonson at 11:53 PM on January 22, 2006
Begineth? Slide? Vito, the Jazz begun this slide in 1998, immediately after Jordan's shot fell, with the departure of Hornacek & the aging of Stockton & Malone, it's been nothing but downhill since. And there's no more sliding left, they officially hit bottom, in my opinion. There will be a few years (how many remains to be seen) of complete mediocrity. Either it will be brief, like the early 90's Lakers, or sustained, like the post Jordan Bulls. Either way, Utah fans, avert your eyes for a while, this won't be pretty.
posted by jonson at 02:04 AM on September 14, 2003
I'd like to hear Chick Hearn, if only because that would mean he was still alive and ready to comment on another season.
posted by jonson at 06:46 PM on September 13, 2003
That game is very fun! I only gave it a few tries, got 103. Will keep practicing!
posted by jonson at 03:03 PM on July 13, 2003
billsaysthis is wise. Any suggestions? Anyone? Some sort of public embarassing, with the forum being this website?
posted by jonson at 09:19 PM on July 11, 2003
I too would keep the dollar amount low, as high dollar wagers tend to make quick enemies... How bout this: as it stands now, regardless of what happens in the future (let's say Tim Duncan blows out a knee over the summer, or more likely Kobe gets sentenced to prison time), i'll put $20 on the Lakers to go farther in the post season than the Spurs do. If they both are eliminated in the same round, it's a push, otherwise, I will mail you or pay pal you or whatever, the amount at the end of next season, and likewise you shall do the same for me should the Lakers outlast the Spurs. Deal?
posted by jonson at 05:31 PM on July 11, 2003
In his rookie season, Derrick Coleman had a short lived spot for And 1 where he closed with the tough guy tagline "You're Welcome!!" And I remember thinking, man, you've really got to prove your bad-assness on the court before pulling a spot like that. I suppose it wouldn't have been quite so painful if he had gone on to have a hall of fame career, but he was among the biggest NBA busts of the 90s (along with Shawn Bradley & Joe Smith).
posted by jonson at 04:38 PM on July 11, 2003
Hey, this has probably been discussed before, but is wagering an option on Sportsfilter? Cause I do love me some wagering, and I think in my friendly rival avogadro I might have a potential co-wagerer for a Western Conf. champs bet...
posted by jonson at 04:32 PM on July 11, 2003
My friend and fellow Sportsfilterian Chad is from West Virginia, and when other Los Angelenos mock his small town upbringing, he is quick to point out that we Lakers fans owe every championship banner we own to the State of West VA, which produced Jerry West, winner of our first championship & GM during the team building of all our following championships.
posted by jonson at 04:30 PM on July 11, 2003
Yeah, that "no one is laughing now" was the highlight of the clip for me. I kept wanting to add (as I repeatedly re-watched the video) "no one is laughing now, but just wait... wait... okay THERE! Now, now we're all laughing".
posted by jonson at 05:15 PM on July 10, 2003
You can see why Kidd hates Scott, though, right? I mean, wasn't it Scott who beat Kidd's wife, Jumana, with a closed fist? Oh no, wait...
posted by jonson at 05:06 PM on July 10, 2003
Believe it or not, I would much prefer that. I still long for the days of the 80's NBA where the Celtics & Lakers battled it out evenly matched with 4 or 5 all stars on each team, while the second place teams merely had players like Jordan, Isaih, Hakeem, Ewing, Barkley, etc on them. A wealth of talent concentrated among four or five teams will be fun to watch... unless you're in the East Coast, where you'll probably get real tired of watching the Cavs & the Magic pretty quick.
posted by jonson at 05:04 PM on July 10, 2003
Yeah, I'm overwhelmingly with vito90 on this one too. Anyone want to chime in with an opposing point of view? I don't say that to flame bait, I'm genuinely curious why this shit is still going on, and if anything, seems to be gaining in popularity. At least cockfights have had to go underground, this shit is so mainstream acceptable it almost succeeds in masking the fact that the bulls are on their way to a brutal slaughter for the amusement of the crowd.
posted by jonson at 10:31 AM on July 09, 2003
Hey, on the plus side, maybe Payton & Kobe will make the Lakers less reliant on Shaq and his stultifying but painfully effective style of play that won three championships while boring the league senseless.
posted by jonson at 10:28 AM on July 09, 2003
avogardo has a solid point - look at the number of teams with four or five absolute superstars over the past five years: the Blazers, the Kings, the Mavericks, and yet, look at who has won: the Lakers & the Spurs. And in both cases, when it came down to it, there was no question as to how the team worked. Sure role players need to be good, but there could be a problem if the shots go to the wrong person at the wrong time because they're (ahem) chasing the all time scoring title or perhaps used to being the #1 option on their significantly less talented Milaukee/Seattle team, etc.
posted by jonson at 10:00 PM on July 08, 2003
That's frankly amazing. I mean, I was shocked when I read that he had even HAD knee surgery, I had no idea the knee was causing discomfort. I wonder if he did it so that players who were thinking of joining the Lakers wouldn't take his health into condition (after all, he already had the shoulder surgery). Still, not cool. Possibly not the most uncool thing he did while in Colorado, but still...
posted by jonson at 04:36 PM on July 08, 2003
Isn't this his third bust? Qu'elle dumbass.
posted by jonson at 04:47 PM on July 07, 2003
Thanks, Bryant. Say, you aren't by chance NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, are you? Cause you got some 'splaining to do if you are!
posted by jonson at 08:45 AM on July 07, 2003
What does OTGH stand for?
posted by jonson at 12:35 AM on July 07, 2003
You've gotta imagine that would make them a top contender... still, so much seems to reside on Shaq's shoulders. When he's not up to the task, he sometimes responds by demanding the ball more, and when you factor in Malone's pursuit of Kareem's scoring record, and potentially Kobe's MVP jonesing, which seems to manifest itself in scoring runs rather than assist/rebound runs, that's a lot of potential forced shots, especially either out on the perimeter in Kobe's case or under double/triple teams in Shaq's case. The play of Payton will be the determining factor. He was not the equal of Ray Allen in the Bucks/Sonics trade, in my opinion, as the Sonics improved after the trade (thanks to a couple triple doubles by Allen, no less), while the Bucks faded. Honestly, next years' championship may well be decided not by this trade, but by whatever trade the Spurs make. If it's the right one, and it plays out well, the season may be over before it starts.
posted by jonson at 01:36 AM on July 06, 2003
Vito, well put, I couldn't agree more. In addition to the offensive prowess, don't forget, Payton was one of the best defenders in his position ever; like many of the all time best, he could put his team on his shoulders and will them to victory - I still remember a couple of years ago when, with seconds left on the clock, down by two, out of time outs, he dribbled the length of the forum floor, around every Laker defender, and pulled up *and nailed* the three as time ran out. He was a great one, and Miluakee will not long keep him (contract expires after less than 30 more regular season games. Maybe he'll pull a Charles Barkley and take a pay cut to go to a great team (hint hint) as a third option?
posted by jonson at 10:59 AM on February 21, 2003
And my Lakers continue to limp along in 8.5th place, no trades to be made, no one out there in hoopsville willing to lend a hand to the three time world champs. Come back, Jerry West, come back! Our new GM is riding your coat tails as the team ages/decays!
posted by jonson at 05:37 PM on February 20, 2003
The thing that didn't get mentioned in the article (to my surprise) is the obvious nickname swap that Utah & New Orleans must do. In addition to returning the Jazz to their Louisiana roots, Utah is commonly known as the Beehive State, which would suit the Hornets nicely.
posted by jonson at 05:34 PM on February 20, 2003
Kobe drops 81 for 2nd most in a game in history of NBA.
humans1 - no you couldn't.