Thanks to Nique's All-NBA All-Blog Team idea and Bleed's suggestions of other bloggers who are worthy of being NBA All-Blogger, I came up with my own version based on the seasonal awards given to NBA players and coaches.
MVP: Hoffman. Not only does Hoffy represent the Lakers well on these blogs, he's also one of the best objective thinkers of the game when it comes to intelligent debate. He started ballerblogger.com and has had a tremendous following, mostly due to his fantastic reputation. He knows his stuff, his blogs are among the best, and he's on almost everybody's "favorites" list. He scores when he needs to (his blogs always get a ton of hits and his blogs are always among the most popular), passes the rock when appropriate (thanks for making me moderator of the Lakers Fan Group), and is always clutch (rarely, if at all, does he ever gets his facts wrong).
Defensive Player of the Year: Nique. No brainer here folks. This one's a unanimous winner for one simple reason - No blogger in FoxSports is on the defensive as much as Nique is. Attacked from all angles by haters, criticized at every opportunity by LeBronists, and scrutinized even by Lakers fans for not appreciating Lamar Odom, Nique will defend her turf to the fullest extent and call you a "creepazoid" while you're at it. She'll block your shot, er blog (delete, delete, delete) and most importantly, she'll play lockdown defense, get up in your face, and let you know about it even if she has to send you a separate comment on your personal inbox.
Sixth Man Award: JoshQ.Public. A sixth man provides a spark for his team. A sixth man brings the intangibles to the table. A sixth man can do it all - score, assist, and rebound. A sixth man can have flair yet can be fundamentally sound at the same time. Without the guy off the bench to bring the energy and enthusiasm, the game becomes boring and predictable. With his unique ability to mix entertaining prose with rap lyrics, symbols, pictures, humor, knowledge, and Boston homerism all into one article, JoshQ. is your Sixth Man of the Year for he brings his all around game every time he steps on the court. If he were putting up blogs every week, he'd be a starter on any team in the league.
Most Improved Player: Underage. The young one went from barely learning how to put up a graphic to being a regular contributor to these blogs. Underage comes to play every single day and is always appreciative of everyone's support. When it comes to class, underage has got it locked down pat. Never one to get into a skirmish, Underage is 100% positive about sports and life, and is getting better and better by the nanosecond. By the time Underage is all grown up, he'll probably be MVP.
Rookie of the Year: Orman1006. Just like that, in 1006 words, the Portland resident seized the trophy in convincing fashion. Despite his endearing devotion and homerism to the Jailblazers, I mean Trailblazers, Orman has proven in just a short time that the man knows his basketball. Seemingly out of nowhere, he entered the dungeon that is FoxSports and took the blogosphere by storm with an array of creative and insightful blogs. He'll respect you if you talk intelligently. He'll entertain you if you talk common sense. And above all, he'll blast you if you talk nonsense. Just think of it as being Ormanized.
Coach of the Year: Tom7. He speaks like a coach. He talks like a coach. He analyzes like a coach. He teaches like a coach. And I'm sure he coaches like a coach. That's because he is a coach. And a winning one at that. This guy knows his stuff like the back of his hand. I'm not kidding, he's like the ZenMaster of the blogs. Right when you think you know it all, he'll pull something out of the bag to make you realize you've got to do more homework. Just check out his blogs and you'll know what I'm talking about.
Executive of the Year:Ubershorty. Uber, as we like to call him, thinks of so many trade scenarios he probably spends his weekends adjusting rosters on his XBOX 360. Move over ESPN, this guy is the real deal Trade Machine. Whether it's a one-player deal or a Mega blockbuster, Uber will have a scenario specifically tailored to your team. The only problem is getting some of these moves to go down. Because at the end of the day, we all know the best moves are the moves you don' t make. Nonetheless if you have questions about your roster, this is the man you want to consult with because he's got the latest scoop (still waiting on that Lamar Odom trade on Tuesday).
First Team All-NBA (Offense)
G: BleedPRPL&GLD. A guy that bleeds his team's colors deserves to run the point on my team any day 24-7-365. Including Christmas Day. Quick as a cat, strong as a T-Rex, and better looking than a Cro-Magnon, Bleed can do it all, from superior knowledge of the game to witty and clever humor.
G: TcbDog. The way he fires back with precision, tcbdog definitely brings it. He's a big-time Kobe loyalist and he'll back him up full throttle the way Kobe sinks daggers with three defenders draped all over him. The thing about it is, this dawg doesn't back down. Kinda like Kobe.
G: Reverend Rhythm (late addition). Simply put, when the Reverend speaks, everyone listens. I've always like his blog. His unique perspective is often punctuated by his matter-of-fact, straight-to-the-point take on sports. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Guys like the Reverend, who are aggressive on offense and aren't afraid to take the big shot, are legitimate first-teamers in my mind.
C: Alaskanballa: Anytime a guy will write a blog simply to try and stump me on some sports trivia, I have no choice but to annoint him the center on my team. And anytime a guy "just loves a good debate with an intelligent fan", it tells me the guy knows what he's talking about. And at the center position, you need a player who knows what he's doing. Plus, the guy is a baller in real life.
F: Ricko. The veteran FoxSports blogger receives this award because of his consistency. Don't get me wrong, this is not a Lifetime Achievement Award, but from time to time Ricko still makes an appearance and continues to prove he hasn't lost his wit. He's the most knowledgeable Suns fan out there, and his ability to provide us with a tremendous amount of insight and combine it with entertaining sarcasm has truly earned my utmost respect despite our heated battles from the past. For those of you who don't know our history, let's just say it was like Magic vs. Bird.
F: Lisa Horne. Indeed, her talk is "straight talk from the left coast" to the nth degree. Lisa knows her s-h-!-t blindfolded. Whether it's college football, major league baseball, pro hoops, politics, or other stuff, Lisa H is a contributing writer for FoxSports by no mistake. I thought I couldn't be beat when we did our "He Said, She Said" blogs during this year's NBA Finals, and lo and behold, I was humbly defeated by this die-hard Celtic.
First Team All-NBA (Defense)
G: The Sizzel. Always defending LeBron. Always stealing the spotlight away from KOBE!!. Always all over these blogs with his unrelenting sarcasm, wit, and humor. Always getting into it with Nique. Always sizzling with hot topics. Always reminding us of Donaghe. My point is, the guy is all over the place. He's relentless, especially with those damn archives. You've got to respect that and that's why he's on my all-defensive squad. Fo' Shizzle Sizzel.
G: Gambitxxx. Aside from the fact he's another one of those bloggers who really know what they're talking about and have proven it, there's only one other reason why Gambit makes the all-defense team. He hails from Louisiana and roots for his hometown Hornets, yet he occasionally defends his first love Lakers when the situation calls for it. That's what I call a true defender right there.
C: Tsunami. Any blogger who has a name that could wreak havoc on Planet Blog is automatically on the first team. No questions asked. My recent debate with him on his Manu-Kobe blog gave me a newfound sense of respect for the guy. Although I already knew he knew his basketball, he defended his position with knowledge and class as opposed to spitting out nonsense like a lot of other bloggers do. If he weren't a tsunami, he'd probably be called Apocalypto.
F: DownsA529. He's a Detroit fan but stresses that he's not a homer. He will vent on topics that irritate him yet he shows his respect for people who debate intelligently even if they don't share his same views. He ain't no pushover despite the looks of his jolly smile. And anytime someone calls himself a "sports nut", you know he'd go into battle with you any day. He gives you "random sports thoughts" and lists his All-Time NBA teams with striking accuracy. He'll even give you his sports trivia quiz on occasion just to make sure your offensive game is in check.
F: NBA is the Worst. With him in the frontcourt and Sizz in the backcourt, no blogger is going to get by with a clean pass. You will be scrutinized, you will be searched, you will be drug tested, you will be criticized, and you may have to sample a hair follicle. Don't let that picture of David Stern fool you. Worst is no softie. One moment you think he's all sarcasm, next time around he spits knowledge to your dome that will paralyze you like a set of Stern's rules and regulations. Worst can be accommodating and cool, but don't get on his bad side because he'll d you up like Rodman. NBA is the Worm.
Thanks, bloggers, for making my time here on FoxSports totally worthwhile. I know I get into it with some of you, but know that despite my occasional temper flares, I have a tremendous amount of respect for everyone here.
The combined knowledge that is being circulated among everyone here makes this forum the best in the business and because of you I am able to learn more about the world of sports. With basketball being my favorite sports subject, this is my way of paying tribute to some of my favorite writers here.
The exchange of opinions and information that goes on totally beats reading the sports page every morning while sitting on the s-h-!-t-t-e-r.
And oh, before I forget. The Lakers' Assault Continues...
Recently, The King they call James made a comment about the greatest basketball player on the planet today.
He stated, "He's the one guy on our team that's not afraid to take the final shot or guard anyone. Kobe is the No. 1 athlete out here. Beyond basketball, I think people are starting to see his personality." Told you so.
It's the medal round, folks, which means... playoff time and Kobe time. Turns out, the veteran LEADER Bryant was just warming up and pacing himself, which is what veteran greats do. Everyone criticized his shot selection. Everyone said he was no longer as explosive as D-Wade. Everyone said he was slow and worn out. Turns out the haters have once again been proven stupid. These people know exactly who they are.
And then after the quarterfinal game against Australia, the only team to have given the Americans anything remotely close to a challenge, the legend comes out and scores 25 points, which is the most by any American player in Olympics thus far. From day one, he's been spearheading the attack by setting the tone, setting the example, and being there for his teammates on defense.
We all know he's the best scorer in the world. But does he have to prove it every game? Ask yourself that question 24 times. If I were Kobe, I'd do exactly what he's been doing, which is allow Lebron, Dwyane, Carmelo, and Dwight steal the spotlight. And then when it's time to take it up a notch, go ahead and release the venomous Mamba. It's killer instinct. It's Kobe. It's limited edition, baby.
Overrated and overhyped? More like overwhelming.
Go ahead haters, and keep adding fuel to the fire. The more you do, the more crow that will be shoved down all your throats. Courtesty of myself and Mamba.
"Ever dance with the devil under the pale moonlight?" That's what Kobe says to all of his harshest critics. And he's not being a joker either.
#32 Magic Johnson, 6-9, 225, greatest Laker of all time... Member Basketball Hall of Fame... dominated 1980s with 5 championships and 9 NBA Finals appearances... 3-time regular season MVP... 3-time Finals MVP... 2-time All-Star Game MVP... 12-time NBA All-Star... 10-time All-NBA... #1 all-time career assist per game average... led NBA in assists per game 4 times... led league in steals 2 times... career averages of 20 ppg, 11 apg, 7 rpg, 2 spg, 52% FGs and 85% FTs... one of a handful of players to win a NCAA championship, NBA championship, and Olympic Gold Medal... triple-double machine who can play all five positions... played with arguably the greatest center of all-time... only Lakers player with a statue outside Staples Center.
#23 Michael Jordan, 6-6, 210, greatest Bull of all time... Hall-of Famer... dominated 1990s with 6 NBA titles in 6 Finals appearances... 5-time regular season MVP... 6-time Finals MVP... 3-time All-Star Game MVP... 14-time NBA All-Star... 11-time All-NBA... #1 all-time career points per game average... led NBA in scoring avg 10 times... led league in steals 3 times... career averages of 30 ppg, 5 apg, 6 rpg, 2 spg, 50% FGs, 83% FTs... one of a handful of players to win a NCAA championship, NBA championship, and Olympic Gold Medal... scoring and dunking machine deluxe who can play three positions... played with arguably the greatest lockdown defender of all time... only Bulls player with a statue outside United Center.
Forget Kobe vs. Michael guys. If you want to compare another legend to Jordan, the great Earvin Johnson is the player we need to be talking about.
Although their primary positions were different, both made other teams adjust their strategies in order to counter the impact they made on the game which was tremendous.
Both players could score and get to the foul line at will. Both were as clutch as they get. Both were great defenders (Magic was a tremendous defender early on in his career, leading the NBA in steals at 3.4 per game and 2.7 per game in '81 and '82). Both were leaders who made their teammates better players. Both were marketing icons - Magic with Converse and Jordan with Nike. And above all, both players defeated the best teams and the best players in their respective eras convincingly and resoundingly.
But I'll tell you why Magic Johnson, as an overall player and team leader, makes a bigger impact on the game and on his team than His Airness.
Jordan accounted for 30 points per game and 5 assists per game during his entire career, which amounts to roughly 40 points of production for his team (for these purposes we will only equate his 5 apg as two-point field goals, giving him ten points of production for his team). His career average in steals was a little over two per game, so if we were to say one of those two steals led to a bucket, we can stretch it a little bit and say Jordan's overall impact on each game accounted for 42 Bulls points.
Magic, on the other hand, accounted for 20 points per game and 11 assists per game over his career, amounting to 42 points of production for the Lakers. He also averaged two steals a game, so if we were to take one steal that led to a bucket we're looking at 44 points that Magic was accountable for. In addition, Magic's career FG% was 52% to Jordan's 50% and his FT% was 85% to Jordan's 83%.
It's not much of a difference by the numbers, but Magic's overall career averages are still better when it comes to overall influence on a game. If we were to compare career playoff averages, it's about a tie (Jordan's 46 to Magic's 45).
Of course, many will undoubtedly say Michael Jordan is greater because many grew up in the Jordan era and witnessed the legend that was Air Jordan. And many will say Magic had Kareem and Worthy without taking into account that Jordan had Pippen and Rodman. But for those who were around to enjoy the Lakers-Celtics and Lakers-76ers rivalries of the eighties, you may be apt in siding with Johnson because he actually made us believe in magic.
I witnessed both dynasties up close and personal and I watched thousands of Bulls and Lakers games - preseason, regular season, and playoffs. I've seen both players play in their primes, live. Jordan was an amazing and unbelievable offensive weapon who didn't come around to be an all-out team player until his fifth year in the league, while Magic led his team to a title his rookie year. And throughout his career, Magic won five championships and went to the Finals a ridiculous 9 times in a 10-year span with three drastically different Laker teams with two different coaches. Not even the ringmaster Bill Russell could have done that.
Magic Johnson is the ultimate NBA legend because he dominated all categories and was the ultimate winner at the same time. His triple-doubles are living proof of this. The artistic and graceful Air Jordan is close behind, but not even His Airness could play all five positions in the grandest stage and win a championship doing so. Magic was so great and influential that Michael wanted to be like him - he took Magic's number 32, reversed it, and decided to go with 23.
What makes a champonship team? What ingredients are needed in order for a team to win it all? What factors allow a team to achieve ultimate greatness?
Through the years, the two constants that form the makeup of a championship team have always been great players and great coaching staffs. But what is it that truly makes up a title winning squad and what types of players are contenders trying to create in order to establish the character of a championship team?
I believe I've got the answer (Because there are so many great teams of all time that all possess pretty much the same characteristics, I will only talk about teams of the last 20 years in order to keep you from having to read a novel. But please feel free to comment about past players on pre-1980 teams).
1. Two Superstars/All-Stars. This is the first obvious element in the make-up of a champion. Great teams of the past such as the Showtime Lakers, Larry's Celtics, The Bad Boy Pistons, Jordan's Bulls, the Dr. J and Moses Malone Sixers, the Shaq-Kobe Lakers, and Duncan's Spurs all had two superstar players who could easily be number one options on other teams. These players were go-to guys and at least one of them was a superior clutch player. No team in the history of this league has ever won a championship without having an All-Star caliber player. It just doesn't work that way.
2. Two role players who are consistently solid through a seven-game Finals series. We can start with Rajon Rondo and James Posey of the Boston Celtics since the memory is fresh in our minds. Brent Barry and Michael Finley excelled in their roles for the 2007 Spurs, as did Stephen Jackson and Malik Rose for the 2003 championship version. The 2003-04 Pistons that manhandled the Lakers had a couple of consistent role players by the name of Mehmet Okur and Tayshaun Prince who were extremely pivotal in the Finals that year. Hakeem Olajuwon had a couple of teammates named Robert Horry and Sam Cassell, who not only were clutch but brought a ton of energy to a veteran team, helping the Rockets win back-to-back titles in the mid-nineties. If it weren't for Ron Harper, John Paxson, B.J. Armstrong, Horace Grant, and Luc Longley, would the Bulls have been able to secure two three-peats despite the greatness of Jordan and Pippen? And we can't ever forget the huge contributions of Mo Cheeks, Andrew Toney, A.C. Green, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott, Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, John Salley, and Bill Laimbeer to their respective championship teams. Perhaps the most important ingredient to the recipe, role players who are toughminded, reliable, and steady are perhaps overlooked at times by fans, but they are certainly never undervalued by coaches who've been there done that.
3. Two "specialty" players who can provide instant offense or suffocating defense and take over for spurts during a seven-game Finals series. This is a different breed of role player, simply because there are stretches in games when the superstars get cold and teams desperately need a sniper or an energizer to ignite a spark. At times, these players are the ones who contribute largely to forming the identity of their team. Late in Game Six of the 1992 NBA Finals, Jordan was on the bench while guys like Bobby Hansen and Craig Hodges shot the Bulls back in the game just in time for M.J. to do his thing late in the fourth. Celtics fans surely won't forget Eddie House, and that's why Ainge decided to extend the outside shooting specialist to a new contract. Leon Powe came in and also gave the Lakers fits with his tenacity, thoroughly outplaying even the Lakers starters. Because of these two players, the Celtics stole all momentum in Game Two and the results speak for themselves. The Spurs always had Steve Kerr and Steve Smith to keep them in games with their outside shooting, and Rose and Horry to keep them in series with their ability to hustle, bring energy on defense, and willingness to guard just about anybody. Kerr and Horry, the NBA's version of the good luck charm, brought their specialty to the 1996-'98 Bulls, 1994-'95 Rockets, and the 2000-'02 Lakers as well. And what about the Bad Boys and Celtics? I'll never forget The Microwave Vinnie Johnson and his instant offense, The Worm's defensive energy against Magic and the Lakers, Jerry Sichting's outside touch for the Celtics, Cedric Maxwell's offensive expertise and creativity, and Gerald Henderson's defensive savvy. Last but not least, if it weren't for Brian Shaw there would be no such thing as the Shaw-Shaq Redemption, and if it weren't for Derek Fisher the Lakers of 2000-'02 lose any semblance of true grit and toughness.
4. The Enforcer. This list is easy. Every team in every sport needs one, even Team USA. You see them in hockey and football. You'll need them in basketball if you want to win it all. The original Dream Team had Charles Barkley. The current one has Kobe Bryant and Carlos Boozer. This year's Celtics had a couple of bruising tough guys, one a kid and the other a veteran - Kendrick Perkins and P.J. Brown. The Spurs have always had Bruce Bowen there to pick on another team's best scorer, using his reputation to intimidate and his scissor-like hands to tie up foes. The Rockets had their own version of Bowen, a toughminded veteran by the name of Mario Elie who did just about everything his team needed, including blowing kisses to opponents' benches in order to rub it in. And who'll ever forget Rick Fox, who's as tough as nails and who's charmingly good looks can easily fool anyone. His victims include Peja Stojakovic (an All-Star), Scottie Pippen (a Legend), and Doug Christie (a has-been). Before Fox, there was Michael Cooper, whom Larry Bird said was the player that gave him the most fits during all those battles with the Lakers. Of course, the Bad Boys wouldn't be the Bad Boys if it weren't for Rick Mahorn, who's still an active enforcer to this day. Just ask Lisa Leslie. The Pistons' championship formula continued years later with defensive enforcer Ben Wallace manning the frontline. And the Bulls were so impressed with the Pistons that they had to hire one (Dennis Rodman), so that they'd have someone to frustrate the great Karl Malone in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals. Sure enough, The Mailman uncharacteristically failed to deliver.
5. The Great Leader who knows how to make in-game and in-series adjustments. It's plainly obvious that 2008 was the year of surprises in the world of sports. One of the biggest ones was the emergence of Doc Rivers as a highly regarded championship coach. His ability to keep a brand new team on the same page for an entire year and conclude it with a rousing title run and embarrassing arguably the greatest coach of all time in the NBA Finals, speaks volumes worthy of the utmost respect. His tactfulness and motivation style kept his team mindful, prepared, and ready to play the best series of their lives. The bottom line is that his team played with a purpose, and Phil Jackson's team did not. Speaking of the Zenmaster, one only has to look at his treasure chest filled with nine championship rings as a coach to know that he belongs on this list. His ability to use the force and the mind as weapons still baffles onlookers to this day. It's almost as if he's Yoda incarnated.
It is no mistake that teams who win titles have great coaches who are great strategists and masters of their craft. Not only are they magnificent at utilizing the talents of their players to fit a particular system, they are also second to none in coordinating game situations. Chuck Daly always had great timing with his substitution patterns. Gregg Popovich's philosophy and coaching style have made his team the winningest NBA team since the new millenium. He learned his craft from Larry Brown, who not coincidentally has also won an NBA title. Pat Riley's excellent combination of tenacity and brains allowed him to turn the Showtime Lakers into the most balanced team of all time, able to run-n-gun for a full 48 minutes and wear down the opposing team or slow it down when the situation calls for it in order to physically beat down an opponent.
So who's the next championship team? You already know my answer. Using this formula, why don't we all argue back and forth as to why your favorite team has it and why mine doesn't.
Don't ask me where my sources come from. I have telepathy, thought transference, E.S.P., a sixth sense. Just kidding. I simply like starting rumors because I believe I should be a GM in this league. Just kidding again. But I'm sure the Clippers could use me.
With Donnie Walsh all but promising that Zach Randolph will be moved, it makes logical sense to think that the new Knicks GM will send him to his former team, the Indiana Pacers.
Especially with Jermaine O'Neal being traded to Toronto, it makes even more sense for the Pacers to go after a decent power forward.
Meanwhile the New York Knicks, who decided to go with Danilo Gallinari in the draft, never got the point guard they were seeking although they still have Stephon Marbury and recently added Chris Duhon. Marbury isn't going anywhere because of his contract and diminishing skills. Duhon can play both guard spots, which means Nate Robinson is major trade bait.
Therefore, I wouldn't be surprised to see the following trade happen:
New York receives: F Troy Murphy, PG Jamaal Tinsley
There have been headlines coming out of Atlanta reporting that SF Josh Smith and the team are far from agreeing on a long term contract. Smith, who had a breakout year both on offense and defense, was heavily coveted by Philadelphia and the L.A. Clippers, among others, but we all know what happened with those two teams.
With Mike Bibby's ridiculous $15 million contract due to come off the books after next season, Hawks management is taking their time and completely weighing their options. Are they going to resign both Bibby and Smith to lucrative long term deals or do they believe that the future of their franchise is better off heading in another direction? Atlanta's recent history suggests the latter.
This is the same team that failed to keep Dominique Wilkins, Kevin Willis, and Doc Rivers together for many years and the same team that broke up Dikembe Mutombo, Steve Smith, and Mookie Blaylock after they couldn't get past Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the nineties.
So what's the deal in Atlanta? Here's a potential sign-and-trade deal that can be consummated in the next couple of months if the Hawks are indeed only looking to build for the short term.
Atlanta gets: F Lamar Odom
Lakers get: F Josh Smith
For several years now, the Chicago Bulls' roster has been out of balance. And that's why the Bulls never seem to make any progress. By picking up Derrick Rose in the draft, they basically sent the message that they were no longer happy with Kirk Hinrich and the $10 million they owe him each year for the next five years. Moreover, with Duhon bolting for The Big Apple, the Bulls no longer have a reliable back up point guard. And best believe Ben Gordon is not going to be playing the point guard position either.
By trading away Ben Wallace for Drew Gooden (and his expiring contract) last season, they made it known they weren't satisfied with the progress of Tyrus Thomas and his lack of low post offensive production. It was clear they needed a player who could operate down low and make plays. Chicago is definitely going in another direction and most importantly, they want to go young and rebuild all over again.
For several months now, the L.A. Lakers have made it clear they no longer believe Lamar Odom is their man at the small forward position. Though he shows flashes of brilliance, his lack of consistency in playing at a high level just doesn't cut it for a championship contender like the Lakers. In fact, they even offered Odom to the Bulls last year in an attempt to acquire the relentless Argentinian Andres Nocioni. It might happen now.
Lakers receive: F Andres Nocioni and PG Kirk Hinrich
Bulls receive: F Lamar Odom and PG Jordan Farmar
And finally, wouldn't it be nice if the Sacramento Kings could get a former player back? The Kings' freewheeling offense, led by Kevin Martin and Beno Udrih, seems to be the perfect fit for outside shooter deluxe Hedo Turkoglu. Hedo would return to his former team, but this time around he's a better and more complete player.
The much talked about Ron Artest, therefore, moves east to Orlando to play alongside Dwight Howard to form one of the most imposing defensive tandems in the NBA. On paper, this looks like a quality and reasonable trade for both teams. Artest is given the chance to show his worth by playing for a legitimate playoff contender in Orlando. Meanwhile the Maloofs get a low-risk player in Hedo at slightly under $7 million per year for only two more years, and most importantly they are familiar with him.
Kings get: F Hedo Turkoglu
Magic get: F Ron Artest
Other significant players who could quite possibly change zip codes before next season are the Hawks' Josh Childress, the Pistons' Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince, the Mavericks' Josh Howard, Utah's Andrei Kirilenko, and Miami's Shawn Marion.
The wheeling and dealing isn't done, folks. In fact it's only just begun.
Joe Dumars said the other day that he is doing his best to improve his aging team and there's "a 50-50 chance" something might happen in the coming months.
Aside from the Tracy McGrady rumor, nothine else significant has surfaced.
Personally, I don't believe T-Mac would be a wise long term investment for the Detroit Pistons because if you look at the Pistons' magic formula over the years, it has never been about a one-man show. And T-Mac is certainly a one-man show.
He averages about 25 per game while the Pistons' current leading scorer doesn't even top 20 per. Deeeetroit Basketball is all about spreading the wealth and team ball, and I'm not so sure T-Mac has the type of personality to stand up to guys like the vocal and enigmatic Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton because throughout his career McGrady has always been the number one option.
In addition, the Detroit organization prides itself on having players that play excellent team defense and nowhere in McGrady's resume does it state that he's a superb defender. He's an average defender, but certainly not one to lock anyone down. And with T-Mac's propensity to go one-on-one and score in bunches, I don't think Wallace and Hamilton would be too happy. Considering Detroit's system on offense, wherein they set constant picks to free up Hamilton and allow Rasheed to operate in the low post as well as the top of the key, McGrady would only be frustrated by the lack of touches and isolations he would get as a Piston. Therefore, I don't see this trade happening unless a third team is involved.
If the Pistons are going to ship some players, they will want a reliable scorer, a top rebounder, and a big man in return who is adequate on defense and is a team player who fits the Detroit mold. One of the main reasons they lost to Boston in the ECF is because the aging Antonio McDyess was simply too inconsistent and he was often beat on the boards by Kendrick Perkins. And although Jason Maxiell was game, he just didn't have enough big game experience to make a resounding impact. Finally, Theo Ratliff is a free agent so there's no telling who the Pistons' backup center will be next year. It's plainly obvious Dumars needs some ammunition inside.
Detroit would probably also want a back up point guard since Lindsey Hunter is thiscloser to receiving AARP benefits. With Rodney Stuckey ready to blossom and Juan Dixon continuing to possess a shooting guard mentality, nothing is clear at point guard for Detroit. The same can be said at the small forward position, with Jarvis Hayes gone and Walter Hermann unsure about returning.
Enter the Los Angeles Lakers. With all the focus on Ron Artest coming to L.A., one thing is clear. No significant progress has been made. Yet.
And with Lakers' management doing a great job of keeping things under wrap like they always do, one would only assume that they're continuing to talk to other teams about potential trades.
On February 2007, I suggested that the Lakers go after Pau Gasol since he would be a perfect complement to the triangle offense with his all-around game. For over a year there were no significant rumors of the Lakers being even remotely interested in dealing for Pau, although they were probably keeping a close eye on him from a distance. All everyone talked about was that the Bulls were heavily interested in the Spaniard but nothing ever came of it. One year later the Lakers swiped Gasol as quickly as a debit card, withdrawing the Spaniard from the Grizzlies with no one expecting it.
With everyone talking about Artest, how do we know Mitch Kupchak and Magic Johnson aren't quietly making calls and sending text messages to Dumars in the morning and late at night? Every time I catch a glimpse of Dumars at the summer league in Las Vegas, he's always on his phone messing with his texts. Could it be possible the Lakers are saying Lamar Odom isn't available to Sacramento because he would be a better fit in Detroit playing alongside Wallace and Hamilton as the third option and number one rebounder on the team? Is L.A. native Tayshaun Prince secretly speaking with Olympic teammate Kobe Bryant behind closed doors after practice and being the undercover liaison between both teams?
Whatever happens in the coming months will be interesting and intriguing all at the same time. The trade that nobody has mentioned thus far is the one involving 2004 Finals combatants Detroit and Los Angeles. Both teams have recent history as trade partners when the Lakers acquired Maurice Evans from Detroit a few years ago for a couple of picks.
Prince and Chauncey Billups (approx. $20 million combined annual salaries) for Odom, Jordan Farmar, Chris Mihm, and second round pick Joe Crawford (approx. $19-20 million combined annual salaries).
The Pistons get two expiring contracts, a highly sought after point guard, they address needs, and most importantly they get younger while still being able to compete in the East and clear much needed cap space for the future by relieving themselves of their long term obligations to Tayshaun and Chauncey.
Meanwhile the Lakers create a veteran-laden starting lineup of Billups, Bryant, Prince, Gasol, and Bynum and move the aging yet dependable Derek Fisher to the bench to create a stable lineup that will probably remain the same for the next three years minimum.
A Pistons' team source recently downplayed a rumor that T-Mac was close to being acquired, noting instead that Houston was "just one of many teams to whom the club has spoken about potential trades." Is one of those teams the Lakers?
As Lisa H mentioned, "the gauntlet has been thrown down" and her game face is on. I like that.
This right here is of epic proportions. It's bigger than Mt. Rushmore, stronger than HGH. It's massive like Kimbo Slice, more entertaining than Girls Gone Wild.
All of this pre-Finals hype is only getting better. What could be better than Lakers-Celtics? You guessed it. Lakers fans versus Celtics fans.
The NBA FINALS: Where LakersCeltics happens. Let's get it on.
Lakers take Game One.
L.A. lost twice in the regular season to the Celtics, and they remember. The Lakers lost their last three NBA Finals games back in 2004, and they remember that one too. When Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson are on a mission, they respond like no other. The Celtics are in for a rude awakening once they find out how much different the Lakers are with Pau Gasol.
How the Lakers will do it.
Kobe makes his presence felt immediately, whether it's getting his teammates involved or getting to the foul line. We won't see any of this 1-4, 2-point first halves for Kobe like he displayed against San Antonio. This is the NBA Finals. Kobe lives for these games. He will be involved in just about every play and the much-publicized Celtics defense better brace themselves because the Triangle Offense will be operating on all cylinders. The bottom line is the Lakers will be focused from the start because they are meditating and summoning the power of the force as we speak.
Expect these trends to develop from the outset: Long distance threat Vladimir Radmanovic will get his shot off early and make an immediate impact. As a result, the Lakers spread the floor even more for other shooters such as Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, and of course, Bryant. Refs will allow physical play because the game is in Boston. The refs will call fouls against the Lakers, perhaps putting Lamar Odom in foul trouble. And the Celtics will try to body up on the Lakers. However, what Boston will undersestimate is the Lakers' balance. They, too, can b@ng with the best of 'em. And if Boston allows L.A. to get out in transition and put the pressure on their defense, look out. Lastly, the Celtics' offense will be surprised at how quickly Lakers defenders rotate to the ball and how tough Ronny Turiaf is on defense.
The Lakers will throw many different looks defensively in order to confuse and disrupt the Celtics. They will play KG straight up. They will double on occasion. Pierce will also get double teams on occasion. Defensive specialist Trevor Ariza may see significant minutes guarding Pierce as well. Ray Allen will have his hands full with Kobe so I don't see him getting off like he did against the Pistons in games five and six. Some may think that the Celtics' will be able to force L.A. to keep taking outside shots, but we all know that Kobe and Phil are smarter than that. Because of Gasol, Odom will have lanes to penetrate. Kobe can also drive the lane at will, or penetrate and kick. Meanwhile, Gasol is moving without the ball the whole time and can also be a threat in the high post set of the triangle offense. Simply way too many options for the Lakers to attack the Celtics' defense and by the end of the game, Coach Doc Rivers won't know what hit him.
Let these stats marinate in your brain, LISAH!
We all know how dominant the Celtics were in the regular season so I don't even see a need to explain. Their regular season statistics speak for themselves.
But this is the postseason baby. It's a different brand of basketball that's being played here folks. It's a different tempo that's being played and different adjustments being utilized. What I'm saying is, regular season numbers don't even matter one bit. Just ask the 2006 and 2007 Phoenix Suns and the 2007 Dallas Mavericks.
If you want to get an accurate depiction on how each team is doing, one need only look at the last 20-25 games. Games that were played in late April and May. Games in which the great teams supposedly peak. Games that count and mean something. And games in which the two teams in the Finals have their rosters intact. Let's take a look at some critical statistics from the last two months, and while we're at it, why don't we go ahead and throw away all those stats from November to March.
LAKERS: In their last 19 games (4 regular season and 15 playoffs), Los Angeles has averaged 106.8 pts per game while giving up 97.9, an 8.9 point differential, while compiling an impressive record of 16-3 against the likes of Denver (4-0), Utah (4-2), San Antonio (5-1), New Orleans (1-0), Sacramento (1-0), and the Clippers (1-0). During this time, the Lakers peaked and got better as the regular season wound down and the playoffs progressed.
They scored a high of 128 against Denver, showing us that they can run-n-shoot when necessary. They gave up a low of 71 against the defending champs, proving they can clamp down defensively when the stakes are high. They scored over 100 points in 15 of the 19 games, and have given up less than 100 in five of the last six games they played the defending champions, who is no stranger to scoring a ton a points. Just ask Phoenix.
The Lakers' regular season average of 108.6 ppg went down a tad bit to 106.8 so this is not much of a difference. The glaring difference was their defense. While the Lakers gave up 101.3 ppg in the regular season, they improved in their last 19 games, giving up only 97.9, a 3.4 point difference. Nothing but positive trends here for the Lakers. I will prove the negative Celtic trends shortly.
All in all, the Lakers point differential versus their opponents has gone up from the regular season which suggests that they are nothing like the team Boston faced in 2007. And this is all because of Kobe and Pau Gasol.
Celtics fans can think that beating Detroit was such a huge accomplishment since Detroit is so good defensively but the Celtics never beat the champions. The Lakers did. The bottom line is that the Lakers have proven they can play ANY style of ball in order to secure victories. The Celtics, meanwhile, have been one-dimensional all postseason long.
CELTICS: In their last 20 games, Boston has averaged 91.6, down 8.9 points from their regular season average of 100.5 ppg! You be the judge as to what this suggests. All I know that it's a negative trend for the boys in green.
Although Boston has only given up 87.2 ppg in their last 20 games (better than their regular season opponent average of 90.3), their point differential is down over this span. Their point differential over their opponents is only 4.4, way down from their 10-point differential in the regular season!! Another negative trend for the hopeful Celtics fans. While the Lakers' point differential has gone up in the playoffs, the Celtics' have gone down. And isn't playoff competition supposed to be when teams are at their best? You be the judge.
- The Boston Celtics did what they were supposed to do at home, which is dominate an eighth seeded team. The Atlanta Hawks did what they were supposed to do in Game 7 on the road, which is play like an eighth seeded team...
- How will Gang Green gang up on Lebron James? Or do they even need to? Early prediction is Celtics in six, with James averaging close to 40 in the series...
- But I won't be surprised if Boston suffers an early exit if Cleveland's role players play their role to perfection. In the Name of the King, the Knights of the Brown Table will be expected to battle for their lives. Ok, maybe it's not life and death. But it's the NBA Playoffs, where there is only one...
- Just like I thought, the Detroit Pistons' big backcourt of Chauncey Billips and Richard Hamilton manhandled tiny Jameer Nelson and inadequate but game Maurice Evans in their 91-72 blowout of the Orlando Magic. This will set the tone for the series...
- If Orlando can't pick up the pace and force a running game, Detroit will control the tempo, keep the scores low, keep it physical, and will keep on frustrating center Dwight Howard. At this point, the young and inexperienced Howard will not have the moxie to will his team to recover. Superman is looking more like Superboy and thus the Pistons should close it out in five...
- I keep saying to the skeptics, don't sleep on the Pistons...
- Byron Scott is one hell of a coach. His team came prepared for battle and took it to future Hall-of-Famer Tim Duncan like no other opponent has done to him before. Props to the former L.A. Lakers shooting guard, who came up with a genius strategy to hold Duncan to five points and three boards, Brian Skinner numbers...
- Duncan looked like Shaquille O'Neal out there on Saturday night. Slow and tired with no lift and contstantly getting burned on defense. With Duncan also missing his free throws a la Shaq, the only thing missing was the Hack-a-Tim. But I'm sure Scott won't employ that tactic anytime soon...
- We did see the Hack-a-Chandler for a quick second, which came to everybody's surprise. Since Popovich loves doing it so much, I'm beginning to think we should start calling the Hack-a-Shaq, Pop's Special Recipe...
- And be sure to check out the latest hit on television. It's called...
YOUNG GUNS: The Assault Continues
Starring Kobe Bryant as William H. Bonney aka Mamba the Kid
Pau Gasol as Doc Scurlock
Lamar Odom as Chavez
Andrew Bynum as Richard "D!CK" Brewer
Sasha "Vidal Sasoon" Vujacic as Dirty Steve Stephens
and introducing Luke Walton as Charley Bowdre
with Phil Jackson as John Tunstall, Mamba the Kid's teacher and mentor
This is how the West will be won - the old fashioned way, with all the gunslingers taking over your town.
The first round of the NBA playoffs is almost complete and I've seen enough of the games to be able to tell which teams are for real and which teams are going to come up short.
After watching and dissecting about 3-4 games per day, I've definitely received a strong dosage of postseason action thus far. While teams continue to beat up on each other, the annual awards are being passed out and the incomparable Kobe Bryant waits patiently for the MVP trophy.
Meanwhile, Ernie, Kenny, and Charles continue to be the best in the business at giving fans expert analysis, new footage for Youtube, and up-to-the-minute updates on who's going fishing.
What can we expect from here on out? Here's a glimpse:
L.A. Lakers - The Young Guns have been on a mission since day one of training camp. They made a statement by dispatching the high-powered Denver Nuggets, the first 50-win team in history to get swept out of the playoffs. OOPS, scratch that. Thanks to Hoffman's expertise, the Lakers also dispatched the 50-win Portland JailBlazers 7 years ago. Good job, Hoff. It appears the Lakers make a habit of embarrassing good teams with high expectations in the playoffs.
Kobe is dominating like only he can, while Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom continue to provide the inside presence the Lakers need for them to keep teams guessing on defense. The role players are coming off the bench and taking over during short stretches in games when the stars are either resting or are in foul trouble. The roster is the deepest in the league and they're about to get defensive specialist Trevor Ariza back in a couple weeks. Phil Jackson is on a major mission for his tenth title and has something to prove as a coach. Lakers fans are talking title. It's safe to say the Lakers are back. Advantage, Lakers.
Prediction: Western Conference Finals, NBA Finals, NBA Champions
San Antonio Spurs - Everyone counted them out because they were 1-3 against the Phoenix Suns in the regular season. Everyone said they were too old and lacked the depth needed to successfully defend their title. Everyone said there was a reason the Spurs don't ever repeat as champions.
Then the playoffs started. Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Gregg Popovich continue to impress in the postseason because like Kobe, Derek Fisher, and the Zenmaster, they've been there and done that. Once again they've flipped the switch, they're playing championship level defense, and they're proving to the Suns that in order to play elite, you've got to dictate the tempo, protect possessions, and get to the foul line when it matters most. When the Spurs run into the Lakers, they'll realize that the Lakers are just as good in doing the things the Spurs do best. And the Spurs will find out the Lakers are deeper and bigger. And the Spurs won't have home-court advantage. Advantage, Lakers.
Prediction: Western Conference Finals
New Orleans Hornets - The suprise team of the year keeps on surprising. They're stellar play on offense and defense comes from a balanced lineup that is being coached by someone who knows what it takes to go deep in the playoffs. They are about to free the disappointing Dallas Mavericks from their misery and will probably face the Spurs in the second round. The Hornets are deep enough to match up and compete with San Antonio, but a major advantage for the Spurs is that they will get a number of calls going their way late in games.
Against S.A., the Hornets will have to figure out how to prevent Ginobili and Parker from penetrating at will, and Duncan from abusing the 6-9 David West in the post. Popovich will devise a strategy to nullify the Chris Paul-Tyson Chandler alley-oop so Byron Scott will have to find a way to genetrate fluidity and continuity on offense with players like Morris Peterson, Bonzi Wells and Jannero Pargo, who will need to come up huge. And we know that Bruce Bowen will be physical with Peja Stojakovic, thereby minimizing his effectiveness as a three-point shooter so it makes it even that much more important for the Hornets' bench to counter Brent Barry, Fabricio Oberto, Michael Finley, and Kurt Thomas. It will be a great learning experience for the young Hornets, who are still a Michael Redd type of shooting guard away from being a great team. Advantage, Spurs.
Prediction: Western Conference Semifinals
Utah Jazz - The coaching brilliance of Jerry Sloan can only take them so far. Just like last year, the Jazz will give a solid effort only to come up short because a bigger and better team beats them inside. They beat up on a Houston team that was missing their lone inside presence in Yao Ming and included a center who should be retired and an undersized rookie power forward (Luis Scola) who never got any calls going his way. Their best point guard didn't play until game three but it was already too late and the Jazz took advantage. But this time they will face a Lakers unit that has won 12 of 13 dating back to the end of the regular season.
Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer are two of the best pick-n-roll players in the NBA, but Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko are also two of the most inconsistent players on that Jazz frontline. The Jazz will be game, but they'll be hard pressed to take the Lakers to seven games, let alone win two. They're just not deep enough and their lack of size and muscle inside and absence of a solid defender against Kobe will lead to their demise. They were 1-3 against L.A. in the regular season and Pau Gasol didn't even play in any of those games, making it even harder for the Jazz to strategize and plan their matchups. In addition, former Jazz guard Derek Fisher knows all their plays. Advantage, Lakers.
Prediction: Western Conference Semifinals
Gone Fishin': Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Denver
Boston - Their two losses at Atlanta prove what I've been thinking all along. This particular team's lack of experience playing together in games of significance has come back to hurt them temporarily. But it's not too late for the guys in green. They're full of veterans and this may be the wake-up call they need in order to get their act together, which they will.
But if it's Detroit and Boston in the East Finals, I like the Pistons' chances. Postseason special Tayshaun Prince will be a load for Paul Pierce, Rasheed Wallace will give KG fits inside and outside, and Chauncey Billips and Rip Hamilton will execute much better than Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo. And the difference will be the Pistons' bench outplaying the Celtics' bench. Two lingering questions remain: Can Kevin Garnett take over a series and is he really cursed? We shall see. Advantage, Pistons.
Prediction: Eastern Conference Finals
Detroit - The unpredictable and mysterious Detroit Pistons already received their wake-up call and they pulled out a tough one on the road against the surprise of the East, Philadelphia. Their success, once again, lies on the shoulders of the enigmatic Wallace. Another huge concern is Coach Flip Saunders' ability to motivate his bunch. It seems like everyone on the roster has something to prove, especially since they collapsed last year at the hands of the one-man show they call Lebron James. If anything, Detroit still has the best team defense in the East when it comes to postseason play because they've proven it so many times in the past. As of press time, Detroit is blowing out the Sixers by 17 and siezing all momentum in the series. Advantage, Pistons.
Prediction: Eastern Conference Finals, NBA Finals
Cleveland - King James keeps doing what he does against the Wiz Kids. The only question is whether or not his teammates will follow suit. Their overall play in the playoffs has been respectable but not exceptional. One thing is clear: the only "soulja" in the series between Cleveland and Washington has been James. The big test comes in the second round against Boston, and if Lebron treats the Celtics the way he did the Pistons last year and advances, I will finally believe. But I just don't think that the Cavaliers have enough toughness as a team unit to match up with the Celtics position for position. Advantage, Celtics.
But for now, let's just enjoy being witnesses.
Prediction: Eastern Conference Semifinals
Orlando - The big surprise in the Magic's first round series against Toronto hasn't been the dominance of Dwight Howard. It's been the steady play of point guard Jameer Nelson. His consistency spearheaded Orlando's attack and he suddenly became another valuable weapon, hitting big shot after big shot. However, Orlando is still prone to giving up easy baskets and Detroit's offensive weapons will know how to take advantage. And if Howard ends up in foul trouble, the Magic will have a hard time keeping Prince, Jason Maxiell, and 'Sheed from scoring inside. In addition, Orlando's guards don't have what it takes to matchup with Detroit's guards, who all move well without the ball. Advantage, Pistons.
Prediction: Eastern Conference Semifinals
Gone Fishin': Washington, Toronto, Atlanta, Philadelphia
And lastly, please Kenny Smith... I plead with you. Do not take that job with the New York Knicks!
A quick pre-season look at the postseason, with predicted conference ranking and predicted record in parentheses.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Lakers (#1, 57-25): Best conference record against the West (37-15) says something, so let the dynasty begin.
New Orleans (#2, 56-26): Surprising Hornets could be prime candidate for postseason letdown, but they're led by former Lakers champion Byron Scott, which says something.
San Antonio (#3, 56-26): Many believe Spurs are old, but Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker aren't, so don't be surprised if defending champions reach conference finals.
Utah (#4, 54-28): Jazz horrendous on the road all season long, but they won Game 7 in Houston a year ago with Derek Fisher on the roster, so we'll see what they're all about in the rematch.
Houston (#5, 55-27): The value of the big man - if it weren't for Luis Scola and the ageless Dikembe Mutombo, the Rockets would be out and the Warriors would be in.
Phoenix (#6, 55-27): Suns' poor head-to-head record against West playoff teams says a lot about their ability, or lack thereof, to compete with the best of 'em, but the arrival of Shaq and the re-emergence of Amare Stoudemire have made the Suns legitimate contenders once again.
Dallas (#7, 51-31): Not that it's possible, but the Mavs could do to the Hornets this year what the Warriors did to the Mavs last year.
Denver (#8, 50-32): It's obvious to me that Carmelo Anthony's desire to be in Denver in the future is not in his plans, as poorly timed DUI charge indicates, therefore Nuggets have zero chance of winning a game against the mighty Lakers.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Boston (#1, 66-16): Leading the league in defense and wins and 25-5 record against the Western Conference says something, so let the dynasty begin.
Detroit (#2, 58-24): The Spurs of the East keep winning with balance and chemistry and they're deeper and younger, so don't be surprised if Pistons reach NBA Finals.
Orlando (#3, 52-30): Magic have been better on the road than at home all season so home-court advantage in the first round could actually hurt them.
Cleveland (#4, 46-36): Lebron of 2007-'08 looks like Kobe of 2005-'06, which means one-and-done in the postseason.
Washington (#5, 43-39): The Nuggets of the East - all that talent and firepower but not enough in quality decision-making to win big games.
Philadelphia (#6, 41-41): Even if overachieving Sixers get swept in the first round, young team has already made believers out of tough Philly fan base.
Toronto (#7, 41-41): Underachieving team can't seem to solve point guard situation and Bargnani is a bust, which means Raptors will be one-and-done against the Pistons in the first round.
Atlanta (#8, 38-44): Even if the Hawks were to pull off an upset and win game one of their series against Boston, they still don't have enough big-game experience to close out the Celtics in a seven-game series.
Conference Finals Prediction
West - Lakers over Spurs in six East - Detroit over Boston in seven
How amazing was the Lakers' regular season? To put it in perspective, their best defensive player (Andrew Bynum) and their second-best perimeter defender (Trevor Ariza) missed a whopping 91 games combined while former starter Chris Mihm was out another 43 games as was starting center PauGasol for 10 more in March. All this adversity and the Lakers still managed to gain the top seed in the conference, further justifying why the great Kobe Bryant should win MVP honors every season.
It didn't take long, but the Young Guns in purple-and-gold sure shoved a few basketballs right down all the haters' throats (sorry, but I had to get that off my chest).
A season filled with the type of drama topped only by your typical TV soap opera, the Los Angeles Lakers showed the rest of their competitors what commitment to excellence really means to an organization. This team, led by the incomparable Bryant, has grown up. They've endured the journey thus far, slowly and confidently adopting the qualities and skill sets needed to become a championship dynasty while picking apart the rest of the league at the same time.
With a remarkable combination of size, athleticism, depth, fundamental play, and Zen-inspired moxie, the Lakers have become arguably the most balanced team in the NBA next to the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons. L.A. went from 42-40 and seventh place in the West a year ago to 57-25 and first place this year, a 15-game improvement which in most seasons would be enough for Coach Phil Jackson to capture the elusive Coach of the Year honors. Once again, the Zenmaster won't win the annual award. But how do you explain a coach who possesses nine NBA titles and only wins Coach of the Year once in his career? Nevertheless, it doesn't matter to P.J. because we all know he has much bigger fish to fry.
There were numerous contributing factors to the Lakers' successful turnaround this season. Of course, the mid-year acquisition of Gasol catapulted the Lakers to elite status, but keep in mind that L.A. was just as strong and talented with Bynum at the center position before he went down in January to injury. At the time, Bynum was leading the league in FG% and was averaging 17 ppg, 12 rpg, and almost 3 bpg during a three-week span in which the Lakers began to peak and find their identity. The team really started to show how great they were long before Pau came to town.
Meanwhile, the much maligned Lamar Odom found his identity and began to flourish as the number-three option. L.O. was an automatic double-double every night, and he finally figured out how to play with Kobe - he cut to the basket more often, shot less three-pointers, and drove the lane with regularity (a la Scottie Pippen) to take advantage of all his length.
For those who haven't noticed yet, Lamar's extension is an absolute thing of beauty. The thought of Odom in the spotlight makes Lakers fans cringe and gasp for air, but when he's behind the scenes and flying under the radar, he plays like an All-Star. And it has made the Lakers great. Just ask Charles Barkley.
But there's more work to be done, for the final mission still hasn't been accomplished. The Lakers cannot take solace in the fact that they have home-court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. After all, they haven't been that dominant at home. The Lakers are actually a better and more efficient team on the road.
As Gasol said, "This is when the fun starts," making reference to the upcoming postseason. This we know for sure: the road to the NBA Finals in the West goes through L.A., not S.A.
And finally... a quick summary on the Lakers' key rotation players in order to break down what once was and why they are where they're at now:
Bynum
Before: Everyone, including their grandmother, wanted to trade him for Jason Kidd. Kobe trashed him publicly. Mitch "Cupcake" Kupchak stood pat and maintained the faith like most true Lakers fans.
After: An extensive off-season workout regimen transformed him into a top-five center, and all of a sudden he's Bryant's favorite teammate on the floor. He looks like an All-Star, plays like an All-Star, and will be a perennial All-Star. Suddenly, Cupcake just might win Executive of the Year.
Odom
Before: Everyone said he was overpaid, soft, lacked consistency, and played with no energy or passion. Nonetheless, he stepped it up in postseason play but was never a constant threat as Kobe's Pippen.
After: Bar none, the best third or fourth option in the NBA. Defender deluxe and rebounding machine who's a triple-double waiting to happen. Surprisingly consistent, he is now playing like an All-Star, he's a mismatch for every opposing team, and he has turned into Kobe's Dennis Rodman for the all-around defensive effort he brings to every contest.
Gasol
Before: Memphis Grizzlies, 0-12 in the playoffs, singin' the blues.
After: Los Angeles Lakers, first place in the West, singin' "I love L.A."
Derek Fisher
Before: Leading Utah to the Western Conference Finals as the stabilizing force in the locker room, then took a pay cut.
After: Leading L.A. to the top of the most competitive playoff race in history as the stabilizing force in the locker room. Priceless.
Sasha Vujacic
Before: Tentative shooter with little confidence, little minutes, and was afraid to make mistakes on the floor for fear of being benched by Coach Jackson. Called the "11 o'clock player", his little hair made him look like a little boy in a big man's world.
After: Among the top 10 most accurate three-point shooters in the league who is also a pest on defense. He gets under the skin of opposing guards, and he is now playing big minutes. Went through NBA's version of puberty and can no longer stop his hairdo from growing, just like his game.
Jordan Farmar
Before: Young rookie was prematurely thrusted into the starting lineup during last season's playoffs. He struggled offensively and defensively, his jumpshot was highly inaccurate, and at times was almost as lost as Smush Parker out on the floor.
After: Returned in the best shape of his career after strict off-season training regimen and yoga program in Tahiti. Outside shooting improved dramatically, but most importantly became a consistent floor leader, spearheading the Bench Mob attack into one of the best second units in the NBA. Fans love Jordan so much they booed Smush Parker every time Parker touched the ball during his first game against his former team. The fans' message? If Smush had never been in Farmar's way in the first place, Jordan would have gotten his turn much sooner in his development.
Ronny Turiaf
Before: Huge heart, constant energy, constant effort, not enough experience.
After: Huge heart, constant energy, constant effort, more experience leading to a better jumpshot and better understanding of his role on the team. All of a sudden, he's tagging along with Kobe on commercial shoots.
Vladimir Radmanovic
Before: Overpaid, snowboarding "space cadet" who was so lost in the triangle offense it made fans wonder why the Lakers ever signed a Clipper. They started to call him "Vlade", doing a major disservice to former Lakers semi-legend Vlade Divac. Somewhere in Yugoslavia, Divac kept reiterating, "There's only one Vlade."
After: Injury-free and no longer snowboarding on company time, he actually found a way to crack the starting lineup. Once again an outside shooting threat, reputation has been upgraded from "space cadet" to "astronaut farmer", suggesting he may be on his way back down to earth. Nickname adjusted to "Vladdy", making Divac proud.
Luke Walton
Before: Regular starter, who averaged career highs in points, rebounds, and assists in 2006-'07 but was still a step behind the competition.
After: Regular Bench Mobster, who averaged career lows in every statistical category but still knows the system better than most of his teammates. Scrappy player is perhaps the most well-rounded 10th man among the playoff teams, and he has finally made up his mind to post up smaller defenders in order to take advantage of game situations. New nickname is "Spanky", because there isn't a game in which he doesn't get his shot blocked at least once.
Kobe
Before: Problem child. Need I say more?
After: MVP. 'Nuff said.
Let the fun-and-games begin. It's showtime all over again in the City of Angels, where winnin' time happens.
YOUNG GUNS: The Assault Continues