More Free Cocoa for my SA Friend

To start off my morning, my lovely friend in San Antonio sent me this:

"I don't have any teams, but I like when the Spurs win for the free cocoa."

Yet again, she enjoys a free hot chocolate (coffee or cappuccino) courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs and their 31 point victory over the Lakers Friday night. You better keep your ass in Texas, hear me, Jasmine!? 

The Lakers were left with only two reliable guards, point guard, Darius Morris and shooting guard, Andrew Goudelock, after guards Steve Nash, Steve Black, Jodi Meeks, and Kobe Bryant all sat out with injuries.  Yes, Chris Duhon played 25 minutes, but remember, I said “reliable.” 

Both Morris and Goudelock stepped up and played as starters should.  Morris surpassed his career best by 14, scoring 24 points in 37 minutes.  Goudelock played 41 of 48 minutes in game three after playing only 6 minutes in game two.  Goudelock added 20 points to the team’s score and had 3 steals. 

Gasol, too, played hard, finishing with his third triple-double in the last 6 games- 11 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists.  Howard led the team in scoring with 25 points. 

To make the injury situation even worse, Metta World Peace played only 17 minutes after having fluid drained from his knee early Friday.  World Peace, who had surgery on his left knee in March, totaled 1 assist in game three, and is now doubtful for game four.  World Peace labeled himself the weak link on Friday saying, "I'll probably sit out Sunday.  Then these guys will be at full strength and they'll be a strong five for a consistent game." 

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/4/27/4274330/metta-world-peace-knee-injury-lakers-spurs 

No team has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit to advance to the next round in a playoff series (0-104).  And while I never doubt the Lakers, it’s going to be a struggle to be the first to do so.  Ask Coach D’Antoni who, failing to recognize the hardworking bench-turned-starter players, in a postgame interview said of his team, “for thirty minutes they played, and it just wasn’t enough.”  So what did they do the other 18 minutes, Coach?  Plop their indolent asses in a chair and make bad decisions?  Sounds like your job to me.   
 

Spurs go up 2-0 over the Lakers

After ninety-six minutes of incessant struggle in an unseasonably cool San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers finally get to go back home to the Staples Center for game three on Friday.  The Lakers are now down 2-0 in the best of seven playoff series given their 102-91 loss Wednesday night, but all hope is not lost.  There are plenty of changes that need to be made on defense, and definitely on offense, but unfortunately, the one change that really needs to be made can’t happen at the moment; who sits their ass in the coach’s chair. 

Shooting less than 50% just won’t cut it, not against the Spurs, and certainly not when Manu Ginobili enters the game- who is playing restricted minutes- and it becomes apparent his only goal is to knock down a handful of threes.  At the same time, it becomes apparent the Lakers feel this is the perfect time to play half-assed defense and fail to rotate, giving Ginobili wide-open looks (and this is the one man you don’t want to give wide-open looks). 

Pau Gasol and Steve Blake both scored 16 points leading the team in scoring, but Tony Parker would have only needed four more field goals to match their combined score. 

With Kobe out with a torn Achilles, Steve Nash waddling around stiffer than Lexington Steele on Viagra, and Jodi Meeks spraining his ankle in game one, along with the absence of Devin Ebanks and D’Antoni’s refusal to play Chris Duhon, the last thing Laker fans wanted to see was Steve Blake rubbing his hamstring (although if he rubbed a little higher)….. Anyway, it is now questionable if Blake will play in game three after suffering a hamstring strain late in the fourth quarter.  

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1617129-steve-blake-injury-updates-on-lakers-guards-hamstring

And if Gregg Popovich calls one more perfectly timed time out, Metta and me are going to throw some elbows- at the t.v. of course. 

Kobe vs Lebron

Forget comparing Kobe Bryant to Michael Jordan.  By now anyone who has an opinion about who is better probably can’t be persuaded otherwise.  Besides, a more current and more heated (no pun intended) battle has been brewing since Lebron James was drafted to the NBA in 2003.  Whether you’re team Black Mamba or team Chosen One, to deny these two are in a league of their own would simply be to ignore getting slapped in the face with an encyclopedia- a heavy encyclopedia filled with NBA stats. 

As of January of the 2012-13 season, Kobe Bryant is averaging 29.9 points per game with 47% field shooting.  Lebron James is averaging 26 points per game with 54.6% shooting from the field.  For anyone whose watched Kobe and Lebron play, it’s glaringly obvious Kobe takes more shots than Lebron, failing to attempt less than twenty shots per game in nine years (and this is the point in the article where all the Kobe haters mumble under their breath the totally “original” claim he’s a ball hog and tries to be a hero all the time).  And I would argue- a hero he is, at least at the free-throw line.  Here, Lebron averages more than ten percentage points less than Kobe who makes 83.6% of free-throws (Lebron makes 73.1%).  Free-throws can determine the outcome of a game and having clutch players who can effectively shoot the ball from the line is invaluable, and while Kobe hits more foul shots than Lebron, both players' percentages are far from disappointing.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1487966-comparing-kobe-bryant-and-lebron-james-by-the-numbers 

When it comes to rebounds, Lebron averages 8.2, Kobe 4.9.  Obviously, with Kobe playing the shooting guard position and Lebron playing small forward, Lebron is better situated, being nearer the basket, to get his hands on more missed shots.  His small forward role also means he is more involved with defensive plays under the rim.  However, I must mention, Lebron is the only small forward to be averaging more than eight rebounds per game this season.  

And this stat is for those mumbling Kobe haters- Kobe’s 4.9 assists per game, rank him third of all shooting guards in the league, meaning only two shooting guards more frequently set their teammates up to score with successful passes.  Lebron averages 6.9 assists per game making him slightly more generous than Kobe, but again, neither player stands out as being overly selfish with the ball- regardless what the parrot-like Kobe haters repeatedly chirp. 

Ask any player in the NBA what they want the most and they’ll tell you they want nothing more than to wrap their ring finger in championship gold.  All these above-average stats mean nothing without in the end being showered in team-colored confetti at least once.  Once?  That’s for Lebron.  Kobe has a total of five championship wins since being drafted in 1996 to the Los Angeles Lakers.  Yes, that’s a full seven years before Lebron was drafted so it'd only be fair to give Lebron seven years to catch up, right?  Not entirely.  Nine years into Kobe’s career, he already had three championship wins, but sure it's possible Lebron could catch up, he would only need to win four of the next five seasons to match Kobe’s record.  But I’m sure by then Kobe will have added at least another win to his total and Lebron would need to do more work, and so the cycle would continue until everyone finally comes to the realization Lebron will never be as decorated as Kobe.  

                                                                             Kobe dunk on Lebron
                                                                                                                             Twicsy.com

No Free Coffee for San Anotnio

After Sunday’s disappointing loss in San Antonio and having to hear everyone run their mouths about how they knew the Lakers couldn’t beat the Spurs- on top of reading numerous Facebook comments from people who I’ve never seen post a single thing regarding basketball ever before- I’ve decided to let everyone in on some of the impressive history of one of the most successful franchises in the NBA.  Maybe this will give some of the fake, few-weeks-a-year fans something to talk about.

                                                                          Bleacherreport.com

The Lakers have appeared in nearly half of all playoff finals since the start of the NBA- 30 of 62, winning over half the times they appeared- 16 of 30.  In 1950, the Minneapolis Lakers won the first ever NBA title.  They also won the title the previous year, but the season was played under the Basketball Association of America (BAA). 

Also, with a total of 16 titles, only the Boston Celtics have won more championships with 17, last winning in 2008.  The Chicago Bulls are third with only 6 titles, last winning in 1998.  Many would credit, at least their most recent success, to coach, Phil Jackson.  After winning the 2002 finals, Phil Jackson surpassed Pat Riley for most championship wins by a coach with a total of nine rings.  Jackson has since added two more with back-to-back wins in 2009 and 2010. 

http://www.nba.com/lakers/history/year_by_year.html

Who’s the NBA leading scorer of all time?  Of course it’s a Laker.  During his twenty-year career, spending all but six with Los Angeles, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored a total of 38,387 points.  To quote a more recent record, in 2006, while playing against the Toronto Raptors, Kobe Bryant scored a total of 81 points, setting the record for most points scored by one player in Laker history and second most in NBA history.  But guess who he’s behind?  Another former Laker, Wilt Chamberlain, who had a 100 point game against the Knicks in 1962 (Chamberlain played for the Philadelphia Warriors at the time).  

http://www.ehow.com/facts_4867057_facts-los-angeles-lakers.html 

Whether the Lakers defeat the Spurs to advance to round two of the playoffs this year or not, Laker fans know they have something to be proud of, knowing their team is arguably the best in the history of the NBA.  Last night I spoke to a friend who lives just outside of San Antonio.  She told me that whenever the Spurs win, all the Valero gas stations in the city give away free coffee, hot chocolate, or cappuccino.  I told her she should move from the area because she is going to be getting quite thirsty come Wednesday. 

Spurs win Game One, 91-79

The numbers may not necessarily say so, but the Lakers appeared to be missing something in Sunday’s game one against the Spurs, and I don’t mean Kobe, I mean emotion and enthusiasm. 

Although both Howard and Nash finished with double doubles, I couldn’t help but feel I was watching a Bobcats, Wizards game.  Control of the ball was sloppy leading to 18 turnovers and Paul Gasol failed to play decent defense, often times giving a comfortable amount of space to the shooter.  Steve Nash’s shooting was rusty after missing the last eight games of the regular season, shooting 6 of 15.  Even Metta looked as though he shot up with one of Nash’s epidurals before the game, scoring a total of 5 points with 2 assists in 32 minutes.     

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400459787 

Coach, Mike D’Antoni didn’t help the situation much either.  Since he came to the Lakers early this season, he has failed to recognize what Gasol is- a post player- forcing him outside too often.  Injured Kobe Bryant tweeted during the game, “Pau get ur ass on the block and don’t move till u get it.”  D’Antoni’s response?  “He’s a fan right now.”  No, Coach D’Antoni, he’s not only your star player, but the best player in the NBA!  Kobe said it best in a follow-up tweet, "A fan?? Lol #microphonetalk," then "On to game 2. I will be watching from the crib again in a pau jersey and laker face paint ha! All jk aside We will be fine on wed #fanmamba."  

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/22114458/kobe-bryant-says-he-wont-tweet-ingame-analysis-again

On top of all us Laker fans missing Phil Jackson more than ever today, we all had to endure the endless, and quite pathetic, praise of Tim Duncan from Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy.  Duncan played very well scoring a total of 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals, but the constant “oohs and aahs” were a prime example of why the term “dick riding” was invented.   

But to end on a positive note, Dwight Howard and Steve Blake showed up today, playing hard on both offense and defense.  Howard’s 20 points, 15 rebounds and Blake’s 12 points, 4 steals, make me believe these two guys will help their teammates get it together for game two on Wednesday in San Antonio. 

                                                                           Bigstory.ap.org

Gotta Love Metta

Every time I mention Metta World Peace to anyone who isn’t a basketball fan, their response is always the same, “What is that?”

But anyone who follows the NBA certainly knows who he is and knows he is capable of playing some of the dirtiest basketball in the league.  World Peace earned his reputation in 2004 when he fought with Detroit Piston fans, earning him a full season suspension.  Love him or hate him, there’s no denying he keeps things interesting and plays with unmatched excitement. While some, including myself, would argue he has slightly relaxed a bit since he joined the Lakers, replacing Trevor Ariza in 2009, he has still had his fair share of questionable and bizarre moments in purple and gold. 

A lot of Laker fans were rightfully concerned about World Peace, then known as Ron Artest, playing alongside their star player, Kobe Bryant.  If there was a perfect definition to describe rivals, these two would be it.  But Laker fans settled down quickly once it became clear these two were ready to put the past in the past and chase a ring together.

Their chase proved successful in 2010 when the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in a seven game final, decorating both men's fingers with the ring they dreamt of.  So when World Peace announced he was selling his championship ring in order to raise funds to donate to various mental health charities, it left some wondering where the dirty, unpredictable, and rather unstable Ron Artest went.  He even went as far as publicly thanking his psychiatrist in a postgame interview.  

http://www.heygoodcall.com/home/2011/10/3/metta-world-peace-formerly-ron-artest-donates-285k-to-mental.html

But it didn’t take long for World Peace to prove he still had it in him to play some dirty basketball.  In game two of the 2011 NBA playoffs, World Peace was ejected after elbowing Mavericks guard, JJ Barea in the head.  The hit came only a few moments after shoving forward, Shawn Marion.  Then in April of last year while playing Oklahoma City Thunder, he threw another famous elbow, this time knocking guard, James Harden, to the ground, resulting in a concussion. 

 

Photo courtesy of theeveningjones.com

So it seems as though, since World Peace throws at least one damaging elbow a year, usually occurring in a heated playoff game, he would be just about due for another (If you don't count the punch to Detroit's Brandon Knight in February).  With the Lakers managing (somehow) to make it to this year’s playoffs, I know I’ll be watching and cheering on the charitable crazy man who I’ve come to love and accept as a Laker.  But one person who won’t be rooting for Mr. World Peace is his own brother, Daniel Artest, who is a diehard Spurs fan.  World Peace commented, “I’m not talking to him.”   If I were Daniel, I’d stay far away from his brother’s elbows for a while.   

   

http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-lakers-spurs-metta-world-peace-daniel-artest-20130419,0,4767381.story   

Lakers Defeat Rockets, Make Playoffs

After Wednesday’s win over the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers have secured the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs.  This coming Sunday, the number two seeded San Antonio spurs will host the Lakers for game one of the first round match up.  http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/130419lakers_spurs_preview

The Spurs will be without forward, Boris Diaw for 3-4 weeks (which won’t matter long since they won't make it past the Lakers) due to surgery to remove a synovial cyst from his lumbar spine.  Kobe Bryant will be missing for the Lakers due to a torn Achilles tendon suffered during last week’s game against Golden State.  However, star point guard, Steve Nash, who sat out against the Rockets with nerve pain, should be cleared to play in time for Sunday’s game one.          

The Lakers have no doubt struggled this year to make it this far and have fought through their fair share of injuries and drama, including firing head coach, Mike Brown, after an 0-8 preseason and 1-4 regular season start.   The Lakers brought on former New York Knicks coach, Mike D’Antoni, who was recently named Western Conference coach of the month for the month of April.  Bryant, too, was honored in April being named player of the week for three games played from the 8^th to the 14^th.  Bryant scored a total of 111 points during three games against New Orleans, Portland, and Golden State, leading his team to victory on all three occasions. 

Ending the regular season with a record of 45-37, which by Lakers standards is absolutely horrific, doesn’t mean they should be counted out.  The team has clearly come together after losing Kobe and have played hard these last few weeks to get into the playoffs, and I don’t see their determination letting up any time soon.  In fact, I confidently predict they sweep the Spurs in round one.