alkaholik asked: Pretty sure pau's going to get traded next year, what do u think?
Sorry to all of the followers for the lack of Game 4 updates, was pretty devasted. It’s taken all day to recuperate. (lol)
As for the answer to this question, this article by Kevin Ding is a great read.
Bryant has tired to having to prop Gasol up time and again. Bryant did it often last season in pursuit of a third consecutive title on a bad knee and before Bynum was ready, offering the compelling Natalie Portman-inspired narrative that Gasol is too often the “white swan” instead of the “black swan.” Like the movie, it didn’t end well.
This season, Bryant has still believed that Gasol can come through when it matters most. Bryant’s public request that the Lakers stop dangling Gasol in the trade market was him believing Gasol needed that support to persevere. When I was comparing the very night before the March trade deadline the emerging Bynum and Bryant to the regular one-two punch of Shaquille O’Neal and Bryant, it was Bryant who digressed to say: “We still have Pau.”
…
Gasol believes he’s hungry for more titles. If he really was, his baseline level of focus would be higher instead of only spiking high.
At a time in his career when Bryant needs more help and not less, this mix of talent has gone sour. Not toxic, mind you, but sour.
Championship teams find a way to win because they aren’t afraid to lose.
And in that regard, the sweet-hearted, good-intending Gasol is unfortunately the Lakers’ No. 1 problem. (source)
Anonymous asked: Starting next season, the Lakers will no longer be on Fox Sports Net and KCAL 9. Two years ago, Time Warner Cable made a deal with the Lakers to create two regional sports channels — one in English and one in Spanish — that will use the Lakers as their backbone. Meaning starting the 2012-13 season, they will cover all preseason, regular-season and postseason games that are not nationally telecast. (Google "Time Warner Lakers" and there will be numerous links about this)
Anonymous asked: Benching Bynum made sense, it really did. He didn't even come in and play like he should have after the intial benching either so he deserved to sit. Kobe getting benched made sense too. Kobe is the best hands down and my favorite player, but he has teammates, and I'm personally sick of seeing him hold the ball for the whole shot clock and not even try to penetrate and throw up a horrible shot after horrible shot. When they stop sharing the ball, they give up leads and lose and I'm sick of it.
Oh, it definitely made sense. Neither I, nor gotemcoach is saying that. It kind of speaks about a larger issue, and that’s Mike Brown. The way that he treats the player just isn’t consistent across the board.
Bynum deserved the benching, Kobe’s benching was a little more perplexing. Maybe bench him in the beginning of the quarter, but why until 1:51 left in the game? Like we saw last night, despite whatever kind of shooting night he’s having, it’s just valuable to have him in the game in the bottom half of the 4th.
I don’t mean to defend him because he really does shoot us out of games, and I agree with the sentiment about sharing the ball. Especially when two games ago the Lakers had 33 assists on 40 made baskets.
gotemcoach asked: I also think Bynum should be inside, and said so as much in the piece. My issue is with Mike Brown mishandling and mismanaging the team and it's players. You can't treat players differently in public, on television. He needs to earn their trust and respect, and punishing players on TV won't get it done. He wants to bench Bynum? That's fine. Sit him for the quarter, but why the whole game? If he has a reason, then fine, bench him for the game, but you have to be consistent with the others.
- Posted 2 months ago
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aghattas98 asked: Okay, I'm a huge lakers fan, and i read your bynum column, but i have to say i completely agree with what brown did. Bynum has the ego of a 8th grade child, he's starting to celebrate after every nice move he does, he's barking at the officials and doesn't care for technicals. i don't really care if hes 25% from 3, he better stay in the paint where he dominates. He shouldn't let his ego kill his talent.
Oh, I didn’t write the column, gotemcoach did.
I actually don’t necessarily disagree with the benching, as my first thoughts after him taking the shot were, “what the hell is thinking, sit his ass down.” However, Mike Brown is straddling a line where he does things like this, but then fails to really get after the players. It’s almost like the inmates running the asylum.
And Kobe really should have backed Mike Brown, but his “I see a little of me in him,” comment was an open invitation for the players to openly defy the coach.
As for Bynum, his immaturity will be the only thing (besides another freak injury, knock on wood) that stops him. You’re completely right. Sometimes I forget that he’s the same age as me (24), and that these things happen, but I really can’t forgive him. He’s not as great yet as he thinks he is (I can’t see him taking a team to the Finals like Dwight Howard did at 23).
- Posted 2 months ago
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Anonymous asked: i'm still so disappointed that the Lakers didn't promote Brian Shaw or hire Rick Adelman. Mike Brown has no creative offensive mind and his defense is that great either. Having Kobe sit until a minute left in the 4th while giving MWP and Steve Blake extended minutes shows why he's terrible. He also needs to let Goudelock and/or Morris play. Those guys cannot play better than Steve "-17 +/-" Blake.
I’ve gotten lots of messages that pretty much follow along these lines.
Kobe didn’t really speak out about Mike Brown after the game, but he did admit he was upset at being benched. It was just a baffling decision considering how Kobe literally facilitated our comeback in the 3rd quarter.
And like you mentioned, having Steve Blake play extended minutes didn’t make sense either. Having Blake try to defend OJ Mayo is a joke, really. Mayo went 4-4 for 9 points in a stretch where Blake guarded him.
I would have liked to see Goudelock play. I also would have liked to see Jordan Hill play. For as great as Bynum was offensively (30 points), he only had 4 rebounds. F-O-U-R. Even when Pau wasn’t shooting well in the first half he still had 8 boards. No way Bynum should be getting worked over by players like Hamed Haddadi.
Anonymous asked: Do you think that. Mike brown is a suitable coach for LA? His strategy never worked with LeBron in Cleveland, why should it work here?
I think defensively he was the right choice. The Lakers do move better (though it didn’t show tonight) on the defensive end of the floor.
Offensively though … I wonder to myself what the hell he’s thinking. The rotations he puts on the floor, the plays he draws up. I think he has a habit of taking hot players out of the game, as well as not really holding players accountable for their mistakes like Phil did.
Anonymous asked: Fisher's production was going way down and he wouldve been an expensive player that got very little playing time with the lakers having four point guards. It is sad to see him go, but no player is above the organization. Lakers got more talent and production in this trade.
The Lakers got very better talent-wise, as well as reduced lots of payroll. I just think there’s something to be said about chemistry, and having a player that Kobe will actually listen to.
From a pure numbers standpoint though, you’re right, this is exactly what the Lakers needed. Minus giving up that draft pick.
szechwean asked: I agree with you that the Fisher trade was unnecessary. His history of producing at just the right moments (i.e.; the playoffs), clutch performances, and just the store of knowledge he's gained as a member of five champion teams (and many more playoff teams) is invaluable, even if his overall production has gone down. Not only that, but there's a certain nostalgia/respect factor to it as well: I had hoped that Fish would be able to finish his career as a Laker.
Anonymous asked: Derek Fisher Traded to Jordan Hill and First round pick ? Thoughts ?
I think it was unnecessary, even though we all know his minutes would have been going to Sessions. Just something about having a clutch shooter, and a strong leadership presence makes him an invaluable piece to a championship team.
Not to mention us giving away a first-round pick. I don’t see the ‘good decision’ factor in this. Especially not for Jordan Hill.
