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32
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 Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 6:30 am Post subject: Lakers in the News 8/28/12 & 8/29/12 |
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| Quote: | Kareem’s Staples Statue Long Overdue!
HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – We don’t need a specific date or even a time and place we need to be when it happens, just the news that the Los Angeles Lakers plan to unveil a statue for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at some point during the 2012-13 season (per The Los Angeles Times) is enough for us here at the hideout.
This notion that Abdul-Jabbar is being thrown a bone by the Lakers to pacify him or to quiet him, after years of public rancor between the two sides and other outside observers, is for someone else to argue.
We’re focused solely on the fact that he remains the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and should be prominently featured in any historical basketball text as the greatest big man and arguably the greatest player of all time.
We have no problem with the Lakers honoring others ahead of Abdul-Jabbar. Magic Johnson, Chick Hearn and Jerry West deserve whatever praise and hardware comes their way in Los Angeles. Whatever they do for Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal will be well-deserved as well. But if they want to make sure Star Plaza at Staples Center is legitimate, Abdul-Jabbar must be a part of the montage.
We are talking about a man who played 14 of his 20 NBA seasons with the Lakers before retiring in 1989. He also spent four years in Los Angeles before entering the NBA, leading UCLA to three straight NCAA titles (the school could have beaten the Lakers to the punch and come up with some way of honoring their greatest hoops legend by now, but that’s a conversation for another time).
As The Times story points out, things haven’t always been smooth between Abdul-Jabbar and the Lakers in recent years:
Abdul-Jabbar publicly criticized the Lakers last year, saying the failure to erect a statue of him sooner was a show of disrespect. His contract as a special assistant coach ran out in 2011 and he voiced various complaints: He had been asked to take a pay cut, the Lakers had not awarded him playoff shares as a coach, and he cited his reduced role as a coach for Andrew Bynum from 2005 to 2009.
The Lakers have attributed Abdul-Jabbar’s reduced pay and role to Bynum’s belief that he didn’t need as much personal instruction. Team officials also noted that they give autonomy to head coaches in hiring their assistants, and that players allocate playoff shares at their discretion.
… AEG, which owns Staples Center, plays a larger role in determining who is honored with a statue at the venue; other athletes with statues include boxer Oscar De La Hoya and former Kings great Wayne Gretzky.
In an interview with The Times two years ago, Lakers Executive Vice President Jeanie Buss indicated that honoring Abdul-Jabbar next with a statue would be a “natural fit.”
Said Buss: “Certainly Kareem stands among some of the greatest of all time.”
He certainly does.
And soon enough, his statue will do the same.
It’s a long overdue honor for a player some would argue is truly the greatest of all-time! |
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Last edited by 32 on Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:04 am; edited 2 times in total |
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JUST-MING
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Joined: 23 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 6:46 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | This notion that Abdul-Jabbar is being thrown a bone by the Lakers to pacify him or to quiet him, after years of public rancor between the two sides and other outside observers, is for someone else to argue. |
Not even ten sentences later,
| Quote: | Abdul-Jabbar publicly criticized the Lakers last year, saying the failure to erect a statue of him sooner was a show of disrespect. His contract as a special assistant coach ran out in 2011 and he voiced various complaints: He had been asked to take a pay cut, the Lakers had not awarded him playoff shares as a coach, and he cited his reduced role as a coach for Andrew Bynum from 2005 to 2009.
The Lakers have attributed Abdul-Jabbar’s reduced pay and role to Bynum’s belief that he didn’t need as much personal instruction. Team officials also noted that they give autonomy to head coaches in hiring their assistants, and that players allocate playoff shares at their discretion. |
Last edited by JUST-MING on Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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32
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Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 73071
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 7:22 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | The evolution of Dwight Howard’s post game
For the consensus best player at his position, Dwight Howard sure hears a ton of criticism, not all of it unwarranted. He doesn’t take the game seriously enough. He needlessly blocks shots out-of-bounds instead of tipping them to teammates. He can’t make free throws and is thus a liability to his team in fourth quarters. His lack of back-to-basket moves limits him offensively.
I aim to address that last criticism of Howard’s, which has become a talking point for fans, analysts, and journalists throughout Howard’s eight-year career. Howard is by no means the game’s most polished back-to-basket center, but he’s not the glorified Tyson Chandler some folks make him out to be either.
To call Howard’s post game “clunky” is to be charitable to the six-time All-Star. Though he possesses excellent speed and quickness for a man his size, Howard is nothing if not deliberate on the block as he reads defenses.
A few years ago, Howard only had a jump hook in his arsenal; he’d pound his way to the goal, elevate, and toss the ball near the rim. He could do this move with either hand on either block, but it was his only weapon. A savvy defender could exploit his lack of versatility, as well as his famously top-heavy frame, by lowering his center of gravity to leverage Howard further from the basket, giving help defenders more time to dig down for a steal and making Howard’s eventual shot attempt a lower-percentage proposition.
Howard is still methodical, and even boring, when he operates in the post. What’s changed is the variety of moves at his disposal. Howard’s learned to counter the leveraging maneuver with quick spins to the baseline. He has a drop step that he can use on either block to shed defenders. He’s added a rolling hook, albeit one that’s much more effective going left-to-right with his right hand, as well. Regardless of the move he uses to set up his shots near the rim, he’s able to arc his shot more consistently in the past with fewer line-drive misfires.
Put simply, Dwight Howard is not utterly hopeless in the post as some folks in and around the game might have you believe. He’s neither refined nor spectacular in this part of his game, but he’s effective. |
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32
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:04 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Playing favorites: Heat, Thunder, Lakers stand out from the pack
No matter how the 2012-13 season ends, Jason Terry's newest tattoo won't upset the NBA history buffs.
The latest bold addition to the new Boston shooting guard's body features the Celtics' mascot holding a Larry O'Brien trophy on the inside of his left bicep, which is fine considering the storied franchise has taken the prize 17 times. It's the sort of all-in move that endeared Terry to Mavericks fans during his eight seasons in Dallas, a cocky complement for the championship trophy he had inked on his inner right arm some eight months before the 2011 title run.
Though Terry is hoping to play the role of fortune teller again and help bring title No. 18 to Boston, an informal poll of 19 NBA front-office executives and coaches made it clear that even Lucky the Leprechaun won't be enough to help him with that cause. According to a group of basketball minds (including 10 general managers) who were asked to pick their favorites for the 2013 championship, the Celtics and every other team not named the Heat, Lakers or Thunder are second-class citizens in the league's changed landscape.
The final tally, with three of the voters submitting only first-place votes: The defending champions in Miami received 15 first-place votes, one second-place vote and two third-place votes; their Finals foe, Oklahoma City, garnered two first-place votes, six second-place votes and eight third-place votes; and the Lakers, who have added Dwight Howard and Steve Nash to Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, got two first-place votes, nine second-place votes and six third-place votes. The Lakers may not be seen as the favorites to win it all, but the idea that they're the top threat to the Heat is not only a topic of much discussion in the media but also clearly a very real sentiment in NBA circles.
For good measure, my top three -- with all of us playing in this pretend world where everyone is fully healthy -- would be the Heat, Lakers and Thunder. Reality, of course, may be something altogether different.
Tempting though it was to put the Lakers in the hypothetical top spot, there is a laundry list of factors to keep an eye on as their star-studded season unfolds: the health of Howard, who is still not doing on-court activity after having back surgery in April; the age and mileage of Nash (38 years old, 16 regular seasons and 118 playoff games played) and Bryant (34, 17 regular seasons and 220 playoff games); the question of chemistry and whether Bryant will defer enough to let Nash work his magic while keeping Howard happy enough in his new locale that he wants to re-sign as a free agent next summer; and the installation of Pete Carril's famed Princeton offense (former Wizards and Kings coach Eddie Jordan, a Carril protégé, is expected to be hired as an assistant and do the teaching under defensive-minded head coach Mike Brown).
Miami and Oklahoma City are the known commodities by comparison. The Heat's championship experience, quality additions (Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis) and the fact that the best player on the planet, LeBron James, is still getting better means they're even more dangerous than before. And while the Thunder's most significant offseason moves were securing extensions for coach Scott Brooks and power forward Serge Ibaka, it's been three straight years of relentless progress for them and the lesson should have been learned by now that Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden & Co. are not to be trifled with. What's more, Harden's uncertain status beyond this season creates a potential "make or break-up year," as one voter said.
As for what else may come into play along the way, here's a sampling of perspectives from the men who weighed in anonymously so as to allow for a more candid -- and less politically correct -- point of view. And no, for the record, not one mention of the Celtics or their conference-finals counterpart from the Western Conference, San Antonio.
• Eastern Conference general manager who picked the Lakers as the front-runner but didn't select a second or third team: "Lakers, hands down. They landed arguably the best center in the NBA and the only point guard who can bring out D12's best. It all hinges on how much Kobe is willing to defer."
• Western Conference general manager who ranked his top three as Miami, Los Angeles and Oklahoma City: "Miami: Obvious reason. Lakers: If Nash can stay healthy. OKC: Too much talent."
• Eastern Conference executive who voted Miami, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles: "The Lakers will have an adjustment period for sure, but Mike Brown is so good defensively that I can see Dwight being a monster this year. He'll have to be, because Nash is brilliant but he has taken a step back defensively. It's just like Miami, which needed a year to adjust to each other. The Lakers will face the same issues. The difference is that Nash and Kobe are a little older and less inclined to be stoppers defensively.
"They'll be really good and should challenge for the Finals, but OKC should be a very good matchup for them. Kendrick Perkins has proved to be capable of defending Dwight in one-on-one situations and Ibaka can defend Gasol one-on-one, which limits the Lakers' advantage slightly. I get the sense that people are underestimating the Thunder slightly given the moves that teams around them made, and that plays right into their hands. They'll use it for motivation."
• Eastern Conference head coach who voted Miami, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles: "Miami because of LeBron; OKC because of Durant and its experience of losing last year; the Lakers because of Kobe, Nash, Gasol -- in that order. IF Howard is healthy, he will be the fourth reason."
• Eastern Conference executive who voted Miami, Los Angeles and Oklahoma City: "The Lakers had the best summer additions by far. New coaches and players will rejuvenate Kobe. He will definitely be possessed. They need to mesh quickly but it sure looks like they're going deep into June right now. The bench needs to be better" -- a group that includes free-agent additions Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks and power forward Jordan Hill, who was re-signed.
"Developing the bench players will be huge for them," the executive continued. "Gasol will be more effective with [Jordan on staff]. He'll make plays like Vlade Divac used to [while playing under a similar system in Sacramento]. Gasol will still score. Hiding Nash on defense will be the biggest challenge."
• Western Conference executive who voted Miami, Los Angeles and Oklahoma City: "LeBron and Dwyane Wade will carry the Heat once again. The Lakers will need to jell and stay healthy, but with their new mix of players they will be tough to beat. I don't see the Thunder getting back to the Finals if the Lakers play to their potential, but the Thunder should be back in the West finals again for another crack at it."
• Eastern Conference executive who voted Miami, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles: "The Heat are a defending champion who now knows what it takes to win it all. LeBron is chasing history. The pressure is off in a sense because he has a title in his back pocket. The Thunder are entering the prime and have the experience to win now. The Lakers obviously have enough to win it all, but how will Kobe and Nash hold up during the regular season? There is a lot of basketball to be played before getting to the playoffs. If they can somehow manage their minutes during the season, and win enough to be a top-three seed in the West, they will be a tough out in the playoffs. Dwight will clean up the defensive shortcomings they have on the perimeter." |
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Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold. |
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32
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:15 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Lakers can't bank on star-studded lineup alone
You hear that phrase a lot. In sports, it means a team sure looks good when you jot down the fancy names on the roster.
In the NBA, it means talking about the Los Angeles Lakers.
"On paper, they have the best team in the league," Kevin Durant told Yahoo! Sports.
"On paper, they probably have the best team in the West and probably in the league right now," Chris Bosh told WQAM radio. "On paper. I’m saying on paper."
Durant is a forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Bosh for the Miami Heat. Their teams met in the Finals, with Bosh and the Heat emerging as champs.
So you could say the Heat took the X’s and O’s on coach Erik Spoelstra’s paper and brought them to life — behind LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Bosh. The Heat were doggone good on paper, and in real life.
Now come the Lakers, the latest paper team.
Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol were already on the roster. Steve Nash and Dwight Howard were added this summer. That’s four All-Stars in one starting lineup, making the Lakers the paper to everyone else’s rock. But teams such as the Heat and Thunder believe they still have a fighting chance. At worst.
And history shows us they could be right.
Anyone remember the 2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers? They were a pretty good "on paper" team. But James, an over-the-hill Shaquille O’Neal and an inconsistent Mo Williams crumpled when playing with cohesion and class meant the most.
Conversely, Mike Brown was the coach of that Cavs team, and now coaches the Lakers.
Anyway, how about the Lakers of 2003-04?
Another great paper team, another disappointment — as Bryant, O’Neal, Gary Payton and Karl Malone fell in the Finals to the overmatched Detroit Pistons. At least, the Pistons were overmatched on paper.
Yet they scooted to the title, winning the best-of-seven series in five rather simple games. If you remember, then-Pistons coach Larry Brown preached that his team pulled the upset by playing "the right way." That, it seems, is the scissors to everyone else’s paper.
The Cavs and Lakers of yesteryear are just two examples. The list of teams that looked invincible but failed to win a title dates back to the days when league happenings were documented via chisel and granite. Or it sure seems that way.
To wit:
• Dominique Wilkins, Moses Malone, Reggie Theus and the 1989 Atlanta Hawks.
• The Jail Blazers.
• Nearly every team for which Wilt Chamberlain played.
• Somewhere around 20 percent of those expected to unseat Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls.
• The 2010-11 Heat.
The last example may be the biggest reason for caution when it comes to today’s Lakers. After all, James and Wade alone supposedly could lift a team to 72 wins in their first season. Throw in a big man like Bosh, and . . . well, the Heat finished 58-24 and lost in the Finals (to the Dallas Mavericks).
"The best team always isn’t the one who starts out the season as the best team," Bosh warned.
"You still got to play the games," Durant reminded.
Both men speak the truth. The current batch of Lakers isn’t guaranteed anything but celebrated crowds and lots of TV time.
Kobe is 34 years old. Nash turns 39 before the playoffs. Howard is coming off back surgery. Metta World Peace is kooky. Brown’s philosophy is usually open for debate.
Then again, fans and media don’t often leave enough room for notations on paper. Just names. And when it comes to today’s Lakers, all they see is no less than four of the game’s brightest stars.
What will matter, of course, is that each individual accepts his role, responds well to coaching and keeps his eyes on the reason he was brought to town in the first place. That would be to finish one spot above second place.
On paper, no doubt, the Lakers appear to possess the very skills and savvy to make that happen. But as Durant, Bosh and the ghosts of paper teams of the past would tell you, the key is taking all those great names and turning them into something equally awe-inspiring on the court.
Otherwise, you'll likely be crinkled up, tossed in the trash and quickly forgotten. |
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Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold. |
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32
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Joined: 04 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:21 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Assessing the Lakers' potential pitfalls on road to an NBA title
It's far too presumptuous for now to camp out on Figueroa Street to ensure a good viewing location for the Lakers' championship parade.
First off, any Lakers fan who does that will sacrifice actually viewing the games next season. More importantly, it might just be a wasted exercise. Some members of the media, including myself, believe the Lakers are the favorites to win the NBA championship. But no one should exactly be shell-shocked if the Purple & Gold fall short for reasons beyond Vegas oddsmakers and NBA analysts such as TNT's Kenny Smith favoring the Miami Heat to repeat.
As talented, experienced and hungry as the Lakers are for another championship, there are a few variables that could prevent it from happening.
— Health. There's no other way around it: Despite some emerging talent, the Lakers are still an old team. Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace and Antawn Jamison make up a star-studded roster. But they also combine for an average of 34.4 years in age. They won't need to apply for an AARP card, enroll in medicare or file for Social Security anytime soon. But Lakers trainer Gary Vitti will have plenty on his hands in keeping such veteran players fresh.
Even though these athletes take great care of their bodies, Nash has chronic back issues, Bryant has a surgically repaired right knee and Gasol has had hamstring injuries in recent seasons. Even though Dwight Howard is only 26, he may not even play in the season opener Oct. 30 against Dallas because he's recovering from back surgery.
Concern factor: 10. Given the incredible depth and talent, Lakers Coach Mike Brown should be more comfortable limiting minutes for his veterans during the regular season. But as with any team, the Lakers' championship hopes would be severely dampened if they suffer significant injuries, particularly in the postseason.
— Chemistry: There are a number of superstars on this team, but there are also two newcomers and only one ball. As a whole, how do the Lakers maximize productivity from such a lineup? The Lakers all talk about their willingness to make sacrifices now. But let's hear what they have to say when the games actually start. Will Bryant still take it upon himself to want to carry the offensive load and shoot too much? Will Howard become frustrated that he's no longer the main option on offense? Will Gasol again resist having to play second fiddle to another post player? Will Nash pass so much that it takes away his outside shooting threat? Will World Peace feel so disconnected that he will just jack up shots whenever he's able to get them?
All these players have intelligent basketball minds. But they also have a healthy dose of pride and ego. At some point, it's only human nature to feel frustrated over a reduced role. Should the Lakers hit any rough patches, it could exacerbate the situation all the more.
Concern factor: 5. The Lakers will sort through this dynamic through training camp and the beginning of the season. No doubt there will be some issues, because drama always surrounds the Lakers. But when the playoffs hit, the Lakers will have already ironed out roles and broken down the intricacies of the Princeton offense. Bottom line, the Lakers know they can't afford to be concerned about individual performances. Bryant and Gasol would much rather win another title than feel the pain of a third consecutive early playoff exit. This is Nash's best chance to win his first NBA championship. And this is Howard's best chance at rehabbing his sour reputation around the NBA for how he handled his exit with the Orlando Magic.
— Mike Brown: The Lakers' head coach can longer be excused for having the unenviable task of following Phil Jackson and dealing with a shortened training camp and a fluctuating roster as excuses for the early playoff ousting. In his exit interview, he conceded he could've done a better job in navigating those variables. But the general public, which was hardly accepting of the Brown hire to begin with, won't grade him on a curve this season. With the Lakers' front office assembling such a talented roster, will Brown prove that he just needed better pieces to make his coaching philosophy work?
Who knows? The Lakers quickly tired of Brown's long practices and film sessions as well as his overwhelmingly animated sideline demeanor. I've been told the comprehensive playbook, intense practices, cliched speeches and overly eager congratulatory gestures reminded many players of their high school playing days. With the Lakers' talented roster, they don't need such antics. They just need someone who will have enough authority in emphasizing his offensive and defensive principles without micromanaging.
Concern factor: 6. Many, including yours truly, questioned Brown's overly intense practice schedule, how he played his starters heavy minutes and his constant rotational changes. But Brown was also dealt a tough hand in following a coaching legend, dealing with the Chris Paul nixed deal, losing Lamar Odom, handling a fluctuating roster and having a lack of talent outside of the Lakers' Big Three in Bryant, Gasol and Andrew Bynum. To Brown's credit, he also showed a willingness to adapt his regimen and give players ownership.
Under that framework, I believe Brown will do a much better job in handling his resources, establishing a rotation and earning enough respect. There may be times Lakers players or the media will be justified in questioning his decisions. But Brown won't significantly make or break the Lakers' championship fortunes.
— Better competition. The Lakers may have everything they need in contending for a championship, but will it be enough to beat Miami or Oklahoma City? I've already predicted that the Lakers have enough, but it wouldn't be surprising if they still fell short. Both the Heat and the Thunder have stronger continuity. They feature better star players in LeBron James and Kevin Durant. And they have more youth and athleticism. Miami's Chris Bosh and Durant are correct that the Lakers appear better because of the talent they have "on paper." But that doesn't account for the fact that the Lakers collectively don't have as much experience playing together.
Concern factor: 8. As the Heat painfully discovered in 2010-11, no one can just hastily put a team together and expect everything to work out right away. The Lakers were smart enough not to boast about winning multiple championships. They're also mature and experienced enough to know the process won't be easy. But Miami and Oklahoma City are strongly equipped to contend for championships for the next six seasons. |
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32
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Joined: 04 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Hold Off On Crowning The Lakers
HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – No matter how many times we see it in print or hear it from the pundits or even other players around the league, we’re having a hard time anointing the Los Angeles Lakers as the best the Western Conference has to offer before anyone reports for training camp.
Yes, those are blasphemous words in the Southland and sure to get us kicked out of line at Roscoe’s, but you know it’s the truth. As good as the Lakers look on paper with Steve Nash and Dwight Howard joining Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace, the problem is the paper.
We have no idea what this group will look like in the flesh, on the court trying to work out the kinks during training camp and trying to find a rhythm as a group with Nash, Bryant and Howard all used to being the centers of attention on their respective teams. And since none of us has seen Howard in uniform since April (due to back surgery and the rehab process that followed), it would be foolish to assume that there won’t be a transition period for him to adjust not only to his new teammates and surroundings but also to being back in the flow of live action.
There hasn’t been any time for this group to get together and bond during the offseason. Bryant and Gasol spent the bulk of the summer working with their respective national teams and competing in the Olympics. Nash, Howard and World Peace have all been busy tending to their affairs as well. So unless they’ve been getting together for pickup games or team-bonding trips to the beach, training camp will be the first time this crew assembles and embarks upon the process of becoming the contender we all assume they will be by the end of the regular season.
Mike Trudell mapped out the timetable for the arrival of the Lakers’ stars the other day on his Lakers.com BasketBlog, highlighting the very points made above:
Steve Nash is expected to be in Los Angeles in mid-September, and plans on working out at the team’s facility.
Dwight Howard is currently doing his therapy/rehabilitation from back surgery at a facility in the Westwood/Century City area of L.A. At some point, he will transition over to working with Lakers head athletic trainer Gary Vitti, the team’s head physical therapist Dr. Judy Seto and the rest of Vitti’s staff (a time has not yet been set). Lakers spokesman John Black said Howard will not be doing any basketball/weight workouts until he’s cleared medically, and that there is no target date for any of that at this point.
Pau Gasol is expected to return to Los Angeles at the end of September, while Kobe Bryant is more than trusted by the team to make his own work out arrangements for the offseason prior to training camp.
We’re assuming quite a bit about a team that has been escorted from the playoffs rather abruptly in each of the past two seasons.
The internal business that has to be handled by the players and Mike Brown and his staff is just one part of the equation, albeit the most important one. And there is a ton of trust that has to be placed in the hands of all of these individuals if we’re going to buy into the idea of these Lakers turning into championship contenders in such short order.
But there is also an external dynamic that comes in the form of both the defending Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the runner-up San Antonio Spurs, the team that finished with the best record in the regular season last year. And that’s not even factoring in the reigning world champion Miami Heat, who are sure to be lurking on the other side of the conference divide.
None of these other championship contenders will be rolling over for the Lakers, no matter how much praise they heap upon their rivals (Kevin Durant) during the offseason.
The same way the rest of the league placed that bullseye on the Miami Heat after LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces, the Lakers will be targeted by everyone and especially the other league powers.
It’s not so much that we don’t believe these Lakers are capable, because on paper they are indeed the most formidable group in the entire league. We’ve been here before, though, convinced that a team that appeared to have all the right championship pieces in place is ready to handle the business only to watch them fall short of their ultimate goal.
All that said, if we were Lakers fans, we’d be giddy about the prospects of this upcoming season. It’s not every day you acquire Hall of Fame talents at point guard and center, to go along with two other future Hall of Famers.
But there was a similar buzz in the summer of 2003 when future Hall of Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton were added to the mix with Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. On paper, there wasn’t another team that was supposed to come close to matching that group. You don’t win Larry O’Brien trophies on paper. |
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akgolf
Star Player
Joined: 18 Feb 2010
Posts: 1448
Location: Edmond, Oklahoma
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | The same way the rest of the league placed that bullseye on the Miami Heat after LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces, the Lakers will be targeted by everyone and especially the other league powers.
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Like every year. |
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omarDW12
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Joined: 30 Aug 2012
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 2:23 am Post subject: |
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| Well, I would post vids from China of Dwight Howard but cause im new I need to wait for 100 post. Give me power to make a thread so you guys can check the vids out |
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