Comments on: Kobe, team approach the crossroads

By: Omar Aberilla

Omar Aberilla — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:20:29 +0000

I’m sorry, Michael Bennett did you say that Kobe could learn a thing or two from LBJ!? It’s not just tenure, but skill-wise, talent-wise, decision-making-wise; Kobe has the upper-hand lest you forget. I still have to see LeBron get his team out of huge holes on a consistent basis. And the jury’s still out on his free throw shooting especially in the clutch. I know his percentages are up, but not good enough if you’re to be the face of the NBA and you’re a guard or a wing player at that. You can even tell this early that the Cavs won’t make it to the finals. LeBron is one of those guys who do a lot of things well, but just couldn’t get their teams over the hump in crucial situations much less win a championship. He’s not winning a championship any time soon. Really, that’s how I feel and he may not win one his whole career. He’s a Charles Barkley, Karl Malone-type of superstar. There’s just too many holes in his game. He’ll garner multiple individual awards though, no doubt about it.

By: Douglas Persons

Douglas Persons — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:03:01 +0000

Coming a little late to the discussion. After the last two laker wins, I imagine Roland might need to re-think the original premise; the show has their game back. But mostly, I want to just thank Roland for being so insightful over the years and say to the infantile Javaman, please calm down, or step off. There’s nothing ingratiating about coming in to a forum shouting (CAPS) nonsense and then telling people not to be so TOUCHY. If you’re older than 13, it’s time to start acting it. Peace.

By: space

space — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:53:01 +0000

what the hell?
they lose a couple games and all of a sudden they are on the verge of collapse? the league fears the lakers! —HELLo! there are only 3 other teams in the league in their same win vicinity. a team isn’t entitled to having some off days? where is the column on the celtics collapse? i don’t see it eventhough they lost back-to-back games.
i don’t know what to say.
wait- wasn’t this the same hoopshype.com that made mention that the spurs were about to NOT-make-the playoffs after a few people went down. wha-wha-wha their too old? its the same story: RELAX. even if kobe AND gasol got hurt now, come playoff time the lakers would be in the hunt and still a feared team.

By: javaman

javaman — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:13:43 +0000

You know what? Let’s forget about Haslem or Rose! How about trading Luke Walton and Chris Mihm for an above average fast rising sleeper like Chris Paul. Nobody would notice, It’l be a stroke of genius! LIghtning can strike twice…

By: LakerKev

LakerKev — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:05:18 +0000

Great piece Roland. I’m a huge fan and I’ve bought all your books on the Lakers. This team was so dominant over the first seven games of the season and they’ve been on a slide ever since despite the fact that they’ve continued to win games (mostly against lessor opponents). I think this team desparately needs another guard or wing player who can create offense for himself and others. This would ease the burden off of Kobe’s shoulders some what. A guy like Joe Johnson would be perfect for this team. He’s a poor man’s LeBron James. He can do it all, score, dish the rock, defend, knock down 3’s. Right now though they need another PG to replace Farmar. Fisher cant continue to log 35-40 minutes a night. They’re running the risk of him breaking down.

By: Liam McKnight

Liam McKnight — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 17:38:47 +0000

Great post Frank B, i enjoyed it.

Awesome stuff.

By: frank B

frank B — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:26:28 +0000

The Lakers lose two games in a row, and the sky is falling, Michael Bennet is sucking on Lebron’s dirty jock strap again, and suddenly Kobe is leading the team down the “destructive spiral of the past”?

Miami played a great game against the Lakers, and maybe someone else noticed that trying to beat Orlando at home isn’t as easy as getting the usual Kobe bashers to write to hoopshype.

There is a reason that yesterday’s stellar victory against the Celts featured two teams with the best records ever this late in the season; the NBA has a lot of good players and teams and is fantastically entertaining because of it.

The Lakers are really good. The Celtics are really good. The Cavaliers are really good. Orlando and San Antonio are knocking at the door. Detroit, Denver, Portland, New Orleans, Dallas, Phoenix etc., etc. all have to be reckoned with.

I am really enjoying this season, which to me started with a great victory for USA basketball at the Olympics. So much time is spent pitting these fine young men against each other that it made me proud to see Kobe, Lebron, JKidd, Carmelo, DWade, JHoward, CPaul, TPrince, CBosh, CBoozer and MRedd working together as a team. Each individual put aside their ego for the love of the game and it sure looked like they had a good time doing it.

This seems in direct contrast to the tone and tenor of this article about the Lakers that looks to find the dark cloud in the Lakers silver lining of a season so far. Destructive spirals of the past led by Kobe? Three NBA championships, Five NBA Finals, Two Scoring Titles, One MVP Award, 81 points in a game type of spirals or what?

Go Lakers! Go NBA basketball!

By: javaman

javaman — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:33:47 +0000

Quite perceptive of you Ibti, thank you. Whoa! Roland, we be cool man. I have no quarrel with you. Don’t be too TOUCHY TOUCHY. If you are everything you say you are behind closed doors and remain pristine in the privancy of your own thoughts at all times without fear, then you have my admiration and respect. I was merely highlighting the obvious that for the most part Showtime chooses to ignore. I’ve heard you around radio stations and remember one particular show with JOE McDONNEL. That did not end well. SO, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

By: Roland Lazenby

Roland Lazenby — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:02:30 +0000

Ibti,
You may be right. Javaman may have been referring to Showtime, but it didn’t appear that way. Really it doesn’t matter if he was talking about Showtime or me, or both of us. I’m a pretty big stickler for civility. You can debate without getting nasty and personal (making assumptions about people you know nothing about). We all do that by the way. I just happen to think we have to work hard at not doing it. It’s not the same thing as talking smack, by the way. Talking smack is all in fun. When people get nasty and personal, that’s a show killer.

Peace. If you can find it.

By: Ibti

Ibti — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:52:35 +0000

BTW that move would give Utah more cap room to re-sign Millsap and add other players if they want since Odom’s contract is expiring after this season.

But the main point is get rid of Odom with Vlad/Walton IN ANYWAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.

Some people can work their butt off and play some defense or good defense (like Vujacic who is atleast trying) and others can’t play at all and freelances like Luke and Vlad, the Lakers can’t have that type of player on their team, they need MORE toughness.