Walton and Leinart assembled a team of friends to play in a recreation basketball league that draws many former college players.
“It’s not like we were in some slouch league,” Leinart says.
Walton mostly coasted, pulling up for 3-pointers in transition, playing casual defense. When an opponent on one of the league’s better teams managed to get under Walton’s skin, however, he responded with a 36-point half in a semifinal playoff victory.
They went on to win the league title, with Walton hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer in the championship game and sealing the victory with a game-winning steal.
That this championship was celebrated at a pizza parlor rather than with a parade through downtown Los Angeles didn’t matter. Even in childhood, Walton’s competitiveness came out in board games, video games, and ping-pong.
“I’ve played all those things with Luke hundreds of times,” Nate Walton says, “and it’s always the same level. He’s not laid back at all when it comes to the competition.”
Quote:
“His dad taught him to play chess,” Susie says. “(Luke) could see three or four moves out. He has that thing about him, where he can see something and see what can happen as a result of what’s going on in that moment, and I think that’s one of his favorite parts of coaching. Watching what other teams do with their players and then matching it. Like chess.”
Walton and his brothers did not grow up lounging on the beach. It was a place to go swimming. Nate Walton says the idea of Luke as a beach bum is a misconception.
Walton and Leinart assembled a team of friends to play in a recreation basketball league that draws many former college players.
“It’s not like we were in some slouch league,” Leinart says.
Walton mostly coasted, pulling up for 3-pointers in transition, playing casual defense. When an opponent on one of the league’s better teams managed to get under Walton’s skin, however, he responded with a 36-point half in a semifinal playoff victory.
They went on to win the league title, with Walton hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer in the championship game and sealing the victory with a game-winning steal.
That this championship was celebrated at a pizza parlor rather than with a parade through downtown Los Angeles didn’t matter. Even in childhood, Walton’s competitiveness came out in board games, video games, and ping-pong.
“I’ve played all those things with Luke hundreds of times,” Nate Walton says, “and it’s always the same level. He’s not laid back at all when it comes to the competition.”
Quote:
“His dad taught him to play chess,” Susie says. “(Luke) could see three or four moves out. He has that thing about him, where he can see something and see what can happen as a result of what’s going on in that moment, and I think that’s one of his favorite parts of coaching. Watching what other teams do with their players and then matching it. Like chess.”
Walton and his brothers did not grow up lounging on the beach. It was a place to go swimming. Nate Walton says the idea of Luke as a beach bum is a misconception.
I would assume they'll have a presser on Tuesday. Give Luke Monday off to wrap up in Oakland and start setting up in LA. Rest of Tuesday and Wednesday to get caught up to any draft stuff
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 144432 Location: The Gold Coast
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 8:53 pm Post subject:
Looking back at when Luke was hired, I now find it interesting that Mitch mentioned that they would keep Luke up on draft workouts and other things with flash drives. Lakers are so secretive that they don't trust their data getting hacked on the internet. _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.
Looking back at when Luke was hired, I now find it interesting that Mitch mentioned that they would keep Luke up on draft workouts and other things with flash drives. Lakers are so secretive that they don't trust their data getting hacked on the internet.
Mitch should be head of the CIA. Those knuckleheads need a shakeup.
Joined: 15 Sep 2012 Posts: 29150 Location: La La Land
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 10:33 pm Post subject:
Poor Luke. I'm sure he'll make our offense above average next year.
But the defense.
There's a good chance our starting lineup next year has these players 1-4
DLO
Clarkson
Ingram
Randle
Next season, there may not be 1 above-average defender in the bunch. _________________ "Every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better”
Poor Luke. I'm sure he'll make our offense above average next year.
But the defense.
There's a good chance our starting lineup next year has these players 1-4
DLO
Clarkson
Ingram
Randle
Next season, there may not be 1 above-average defender in the bunch.
We need help in all facets. Seeing improvements in any of them would be nice. It's tough to be patient, but gotta believe in the process. Nothing happens overnight. _________________ Smrek 2, Nevitt 1, Barkley 0
Poor Luke. I'm sure he'll make our offense above average next year.
But the defense.
There's a good chance our starting lineup next year has these players 1-4
DLO
Clarkson
Ingram
Randle
Next season, there may not be 1 above-average defender in the bunch.
Well we are going after Ezeli and Barnes so there's that 😂
Joined: 15 Sep 2012 Posts: 29150 Location: La La Land
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 10:44 pm Post subject:
Jim99187 wrote:
kikanga wrote:
Poor Luke. I'm sure he'll make our offense above average next year.
But the defense.
There's a good chance our starting lineup next year has these players 1-4
DLO
Clarkson
Ingram
Randle
Next season, there may not be 1 above-average defender in the bunch.
Well we are going after Ezeli and Barnes so there's that 😂
If that happens...LINK _________________ "Every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better”
Joined: 15 Sep 2012 Posts: 29150 Location: La La Land
Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2016 10:49 pm Post subject:
nevitt_smrek wrote:
kikanga wrote:
Poor Luke. I'm sure he'll make our offense above average next year.
But the defense.
There's a good chance our starting lineup next year has these players 1-4
DLO
Clarkson
Ingram
Randle
Next season, there may not be 1 above-average defender in the bunch.
We need help in all facets. Seeing improvements in any of them would be nice. It's tough to be patient, but gotta believe in the process. Nothing happens overnight.
You're right. The reasonable thing to do is be patient, and hope our young core grows.
How many wins next year would it take for you to feel we're moving in the right direction? _________________ "Every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better”
Richard Jefferson is retiring. Welcome to the coaching staff, Mr. Jefferson!
Michael Grange: A very, very, happy Richard Jefferson just told me in Cavs room he’s retiring. “I’m done. I’m done.” And then — “I need a cigar” – via Twitter michaelgrange
Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 28422 Location: LA --> Bay Area
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 7:33 am Post subject:
kikanga wrote:
Jim99187 wrote:
kikanga wrote:
Poor Luke. I'm sure he'll make our offense above average next year.
But the defense.
There's a good chance our starting lineup next year has these players 1-4
DLO
Clarkson
Ingram
Randle
Next season, there may not be 1 above-average defender in the bunch.
Well we are going after Ezeli and Barnes so there's that 😂
Yeah...those two idiots lost the series for the Dubs. We can trash Steph and Klay but the truth is that you need your roleplayers to step up when the playoff defenses lock in, doubly so in Game 7s. Hell we saw it in 2010 when Ron Artest made up for Kobe's average offensive output. Had Barnes even shot 35% in game 5 or 6 the series probably would have been over.
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina 2h2 hours ago
Luke Walton on analytics: "I plan on using them down there. If they bring us numbers we haven't been thinking of, now we have a new topic."
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