Just a couple of things during this 5-day break between Laker games.
For nostalgia's sake, check out this Derek Fisher-themed post.
Speaking of the Kamenetzkys, these guys just got a billion times cooler by responding to one of my recent email queries. Check out the text below:
Hey guys, love the blog and the podcast. But I have one gripe, as insightful as you two often are, why have you not called out the Spurs on their continually ridiculous classification of Tim Duncan as their "Power Forward?" Despite the fact that the dude is the biggest guy on his team, guards the other team's center, spends the majority of his time on the low block--with his back to the basket, and played CENTER in college, San Antonio calls him a PF so he can start in the All-Star game over a healthy Yao. Phoenix did it with Amare, but you wouldn't let them have it. Give San Antonio the business please. Thanks.
Hey Craig-
Certain battles are bigger than all of us. Haha.
I kid. I know I've talked about the absurdity of the PF designation for Duncan before, but it is, as they say, what it is. For TD, he's been slotted there for so long, nothing will change it now.
Oh well. Thanks for the note, and of course, for listening to the show/reading the site. We appreciate it.
Brian
For their regular blog address, click here. For their podcast, click here. I highly recommend both for the serious sports (i.e. Lakers) fan.
Last, but not least--enjoy the following video montage:
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Lakers vs. Celtics: The Day After
One of the few perks of being a fan rather than a player is that when a game like yesterday's happens, you can honestly say that you would have been entertained regardless of the final outcome. If you played in the game and lost, it could affect your livelihood, but as a fan, you'd be sad to lose, but it shouldn't ruin your day.
That being said, I was fully entertained AND frickin' happy because my team won. But not just because they won-- but mainly the way they won. I think we can honestly say that the ghosts of the '08 Finals have finally and irrevocably vanished. In fact, the C's have not beaten the Lakers at all since then, and watching this game, I marveled at the growth of one of the missing pieces from that run: Andrew Bynum. The kid is 22 for crying out loud, but is held to a ridiculously high standard--partly of where he plays (LA), and certainly partly because of the position he plays there. I mean, who else in the league has a more impressive legacy to live up to: Mikan, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq--four of the greatest players the league has ever seen and they all played your position on your team before you. Deal with that pressure.
I remember vividly the NBA draft when we picked him 10th. I was hoping for Sean Mays; I guess I should've set my sights higher:
The greatness of this play cannot be fully appreciated of course if taken out of context. Knowing that Garnett (who looked OLD yesterday) had just hit a jumper over 'Drew and barked the whole way down the floor sets this up as a very emphatic "Shut the BLEEP Up!" moment. But the kid let his game do his talking for him and the C's had no real answer for him. Finally, Phil had to play him in crunch time--another milestone. As Trent would say, "My boy's all growns up!" (The following clip is rated R, so keep little ones away)
Other things of note, Artest is finally starting to be Artest. From before the opening tip, Ron-Ron was the metaphorical (to quote John McClane) "fly-in-the-ointment, monkey-in-the-wrench, etc" in Pierce's game. Easily the biggest mismatch in the '08 Finals, Pierce's contributions were a virtual wash with Artest's--not something that figures to be in Boston's favor as Pierce should be their go-to-guy and Artest is the Laker's 3rd option at best. Artest frustrated Pierce throughout, a fact most apparent on the push-off that probably cost the Celtics the game.
Yes, Kobe does that too, Doc. In fact, he was called for it in this same game, but you probably didn't notice it because of the lack of complaining on Mamba's part. And that might have been the most surprising thing to me about yesterday's game--how much the Celtics whine.
Pierce--on every call that could've gone either way, Perkins, Wallace, you KNOW KG never shuts up. Clearly, the Lakers have some whiners too (Kobe and Pau come to mind immediately), but yesterday they shut their yaps and went to work. There were calls that hurt them too (the out-of-bounds play late in the fourth, KG falling down near Artest to limit Ron's first half minutes), but ultimately they pressed on, refused to bullied and played lights-out D when they had to. That's why the won and that's why every Laker fan today feels pretty good about their team's chances when the games really matter. That and The Mamba.
That being said, I was fully entertained AND frickin' happy because my team won. But not just because they won-- but mainly the way they won. I think we can honestly say that the ghosts of the '08 Finals have finally and irrevocably vanished. In fact, the C's have not beaten the Lakers at all since then, and watching this game, I marveled at the growth of one of the missing pieces from that run: Andrew Bynum. The kid is 22 for crying out loud, but is held to a ridiculously high standard--partly of where he plays (LA), and certainly partly because of the position he plays there. I mean, who else in the league has a more impressive legacy to live up to: Mikan, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq--four of the greatest players the league has ever seen and they all played your position on your team before you. Deal with that pressure.
I remember vividly the NBA draft when we picked him 10th. I was hoping for Sean Mays; I guess I should've set my sights higher:
The greatness of this play cannot be fully appreciated of course if taken out of context. Knowing that Garnett (who looked OLD yesterday) had just hit a jumper over 'Drew and barked the whole way down the floor sets this up as a very emphatic "Shut the BLEEP Up!" moment. But the kid let his game do his talking for him and the C's had no real answer for him. Finally, Phil had to play him in crunch time--another milestone. As Trent would say, "My boy's all growns up!" (The following clip is rated R, so keep little ones away)
Other things of note, Artest is finally starting to be Artest. From before the opening tip, Ron-Ron was the metaphorical (to quote John McClane) "fly-in-the-ointment, monkey-in-the-wrench, etc" in Pierce's game. Easily the biggest mismatch in the '08 Finals, Pierce's contributions were a virtual wash with Artest's--not something that figures to be in Boston's favor as Pierce should be their go-to-guy and Artest is the Laker's 3rd option at best. Artest frustrated Pierce throughout, a fact most apparent on the push-off that probably cost the Celtics the game.
Yes, Kobe does that too, Doc. In fact, he was called for it in this same game, but you probably didn't notice it because of the lack of complaining on Mamba's part. And that might have been the most surprising thing to me about yesterday's game--how much the Celtics whine.
Pierce--on every call that could've gone either way, Perkins, Wallace, you KNOW KG never shuts up. Clearly, the Lakers have some whiners too (Kobe and Pau come to mind immediately), but yesterday they shut their yaps and went to work. There were calls that hurt them too (the out-of-bounds play late in the fourth, KG falling down near Artest to limit Ron's first half minutes), but ultimately they pressed on, refused to bullied and played lights-out D when they had to. That's why the won and that's why every Laker fan today feels pretty good about their team's chances when the games really matter. That and The Mamba.
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