It was an interesting scene in Toronto tonight as I arrived to the Air Canada Centre just an hour after news broke of the big trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies. Over the last couple seasons we have waited to see if the Lake-show could pull the trigger on a deal - or if they had the players to deal for an impact player.
With Kwame Brown's contract about to expire and Memphis's intent to rebuild it made sense to make a deal. Memphis grabs a young kid, a relatively young guy in Brown and 2 draft picks that need lots of prayer to become impactful. This allows the Grizz to start over amd they will have some cash to show for it.
The Lakers grab a guy who can make an immediate impact. This move allows them some breathing room as Andrew Bynum recovers from injury, and it gives them a blanket if Bynum does not return to form. If he does return to form it allows Lamar Odom to slide to the small forward position while Pau plays the 4. And, it gives them a deeper bench when Luke Walton slides beside some of the other contributors like Ronny Turiaf and Jordan Farmar.
This is a win-win for both teams without a doubt. The need to crash the boards is imperative in the West and Los Angeles has more weapons than they know what to do with. I should know; I watched a depleted Laker team roll over the Toronto Raptors. Kobe Bryant was on tonight and unlike last night he got some help offensively. Tonight's game proved that Toronto may be able to score but can't hold it together defensively on a consistent basis. But with L.A. playing their 2nd game in as many nights they should have been stronger out of the gate. Lakers got momentum and never looked back.
Last point on the Lakers: Prior to this deal I was still not on-board with putting them into the serious contender category despite their strong record. Now, my view has changed. They are absolutely a team that should be a factor in April. This is a team built to go past round 1. If they don't there is a problem. They now have a great starting 5 (with Bynum back) and the forward position was a bigger need than point guard. Derek Fisher can run the show because he won't try to do too much. He knows the offense, he knows his limitations, he can still hit shots and knows how to play in big games. Specifically speaking, Paul Gasol is a better acquisition than Jason Kidd.
Other stuff....
- I just realized Fox used the "Pau-er" line. I'm pissed.
- After his 13.5 million is up in 2008, Johan Santana will pull in 137.5 million over 6 years. That is phenomenal. Hope the kid can hit.
All seriousness, the guy is one of the best pitchers in baseball and barring any setback or injury he should contend for a Cy Young. Being able to avoid a big bopping DH and getting the opportunity to face pitchers with 1 or 2 out and runners on base will pay off for Johan. It is a different ballgame with different scenarios when you play in the National League in comparison to the American League.
As for the contract itself, a lot of bad pitchers get paid a ton, so this is not a surprise and not out of this world in comparison to the #3 pitchers who make 8 figures per year.
- When Bill Belichick says his team is "ready to roll", I tend to believe him. Some may feel the New York Giants can beat New England and they may be right, but I don't see it. Yes, they played the Pats tight IN New York IN the cold IN front of their hometown. In Arizona it will be warm and it is a neutral site. The way I see it, the conditions favour the New England passing attack. Passes that went through the hands of receivers will be easier to catch, and nobody is as accurate or precise as Tom Brady - even if he is disrupted in the pocket.
The real question should be if Eli Manning can continue his excellent play. In my mind, he's grown as a player over the last month or so. And he should be proud of the way he has battled throughout the playoffs. He has beaten two teams he wasn't suppose to beat, outplay both quarterbacks and has defied expectations, which brings me to this...
- Tiki Barber is trying to protect himself now that his former team has made it to the Super Bowl the year after he reitres. Tiki came with baggage and now that the baggage is gone the team can re-focus. He had his quarrels with Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin and Michael Strahan. This isn't a coincidence. Somewhere down the line we have to look and say that maybe New York really IS better off without him. I think they are.
- Who are we kidding when Pat Riley says Shaquille O'Neal should be in the All-Star game? Should Magic be playing as well?
- Again, I realize nobody really cares about hockey but I will say it again: Alexander Ovechkin is THE best hockey player on the planet. He is one of the very few players who has to single-handedly carry his team to victories. I wonder how long he can keep this up. Eventually he will need a stud playing alongside him.
Time to unwind. And get ready for the Super Bowl. I hope to witness history this Sunday. It will be nice to explain how I got to watch a Football team go undefeated in one season. Doesn't come around often folks.
The regular season won't be a good indicator of how the Lakers will do in the post season.
First, they will be integrating a major component into their notoriously hard to learn offense.
Second, injuries to Andrew Bynum, Chris Mihm, Luke Walton and Trevor Ariza will hold the Lakers back in the regular season, plus the time it will take for the injured players to get back into shape and the team to adjust to them.
But come April, all of not most of these wrinkles will be ironed out, and the Lakers will be SCARY!
What team is equipped to defend twin towers that regularly score into the 20s, and Kobe Bryant?
Tom - I think with this move they have built enough talent to go deep. For the last two years I haven't been convinced but now I am.
Why? The emergence of Andrew Bynum, the trade for Gasol, stability at the point with Fisher and their depth is better than it has been in a long time. And they have a player who can carry them for a game or two in Kobe. They are a serious threat now with the pieces they now have.
Thanks Tim. Glad you enjoyed it. I've been critical of LA's shot in the past and my analysis has been true thus far. But I really see this as a shot to the arm for the Lakers.
I really like this one....a lot of great points and personel views.....along with a powerful punch to each argument....I will now be looking for more from you.
tellin - Thanks a lot. Just don't read my posts from a few weeks ago as I really took it to your QB in some posts. Regardless, I appreciate the kind words. Cheers!
Lisa - The Mets clearly showed they were running on fumes despite getting some gutsy performances from Pedro after he came back from injury. I never expected their staff to pitch as well as they did in the first half.
However, their hitting was an issue in the second half.
Eliminating the attitudes apparently help. That is what New England did prior to their championship run as well.
No worries about hockey. It goes on 13 months out of 12. Cheers!
What up the DAn! Glad to see that you are slowly becoming a believer.
Here's the scary thing for the rest of the league, including the Celtics:
1) The Lakers' length on defense - Ariza, Odom, Bynum, Gasol, Kobe - is tremendous. The paint will be well covered, and teams will be forced to beat LA from the outside. I will take it one step further and say that LA could probably play zone all game and get away with it.
2) The acquisition of Pau automatically makes Lamar Odom the best fourth option in the league. Bar none.
3) We will be extremely difficult to match up with since four of the five starters can command double teams in the low post at any given time. No other team has this luxury, not even Boston or San Antonio.
4) Kobe now has a reason to remain a Laker for life and he can now concentrate on becoming the team leader we all know he'd become.
5) Fisher, Farmar, Ariza, Turiaf, Radmanovic, Vujacic. Two years ago this bunch would have sounded like the worst supporting cast of all-time. All of sudden our perception is much much different.
The Lakers' Assault continues...
Last edited by J-DIZZLE on February 3rd at 12:27 AM.
Pau boosts this Laker team to the class A section of the West. Before this, they were a B team - even with the good start. But, they still have to go out and prove it.
As for today, New England will score more than 21. Expect at least 30 from them. It will be a track meet with the Pats taking it.
Lakers management has done their part. Now it's time for Kobe and company to go out there and strut their stuff.
The funny thing about the SUPER BOWL is that ELI MANNING did a TOM BRADY and pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history.
I feel for JUNIOR SEAU but I don't feel bad for the PATS. Their overconfidence showed, that application for the 19-0 patent should never have been released prior to the game, and this year's PATS team failed to peak at the right time. Joe Montana's perfect 4-0 record in the big game is safe once again.
From Toronto, CANADA. On hiatus from sports talk show. Also the starting shortstop for the Lizzards. Honorary member of "The Clique" because I am a made guy. If I ever got to work for Fox Sports I'd put into my contract that I must put in no less than 60 hours of work per week.
Just shows that sports is my life.
And check out the Samsung T10. Excellent MP3 device. For more info: http://www.an ythingbutipod .com/archives /2007/10/sams ung-ypt10-rev iew.php
