Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Posts: 6280 Location: Central Coast
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2022 11:49 am Post subject:
Ham's "shot in the face" comment was interesting.....
Is it better to be shot in the face, or have a bunch of players who can't shoot the basketball, and two highly paid superstars who don't like to play defense?
Being shot in the face may not be all that bad, especially if it means you have players who can shoot and play D. _________________ LAKERS 2019-2020: NBA World Champions!
“I was shot in the face by accident, April 5, 1988,” Ham said Monday. “You go through something like that, it’s going to be one of two things. It’s going to make you fearful or fearless. It made me fearless. I don’t feel no pressure. It’s basketball.” Coaching LeBron and the Lakers, he said, isn’t pressure. “This here is a challenge,” Ham said.
Coach forgot the other option tho. You can also be a brodie or be browless if shot in the face. Just ask AD.
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I liked what I heard from Ham.
The team definitely needs some toughness and some fire.
Hoping he can bring in some X's and O's staff to round things out.
Who is the idiot reporter that mentioned bringing in Russ off the bench?
Stupid question to ask at an introductory press conference.
Our man Emplay got to ask a question. Unfortunately he forgot to introduce himself beforehand _________________ "Dread it, run from it... destiny arrives all the same."
I like the guy but there is no way a 4 out offense will work with LBJ, AD, and Westbrook.
The bottom line is we need shooters, we need wing players and we have minimal capital. Even healthy we will be behind: the Warriors, Suns, and Clippers in our own division
I'll watch again but after last season I don't know how any of you are still excited about November of 2022 with Westbrook as the starting pg.
Fool me once
We have the same issues as we did a few days ago. If he's good or bad, player and team issues remain. Health, AD will he/won't he be dominant, age, shooting, defense. I guess our defense may pick up. West is the West. GS, Memphis, Dallas, Denver, Clippers, Pelicans, Twolves, Jazz. Everything is about relative status. None of those teams have age as an issue. I guess we could have the best two players of any of those teams, if healthy and not worn down. Big ifs. Still no shooting, unless Monk and Nunn become playoff-ready gunners vs other playoff teams' gunners. Big ifs. Defense. Big if.
End by just saying if Ham does get this team to the Finals (i.e. the minimum for our Lebron era expectations), he'll have amazed me. Actually, end by saying it's all about whether AD is actually a top 5 player (which implies being available for the season and all the way through the playoffs) or the player we've seen lately.
Coach said a lot of good things.
But one thing he didn't say, which was very smart was: we want Russ to be Russ.
Instead talking of sacrifice and defense was brilliant.
He’s not gonna beat around the bush like some others did. And from the look of it Russ respects it. _________________ Coach Vogel, Kidd, Hollins
Max slot : Kawhi
Coach said a lot of good things.
But one thing he didn't say, which was very smart was: we want Russ to be Russ.
Instead talking of sacrifice and defense was brilliant.
He’s not gonna beat around the bush like some others did. And from the look of it Russ respects it.
Russ said a bunch of things about "sacrificing" last summer too. And then the season started and it was rubbish. As Ham said, facts over feelings. And if Russ can't shoot the 3 or is playing horrible defense, Ham hopefully brings him off the bench. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Gary Payton was an elite defender, his entire career. Even then, late in his career when he came to the Lakers, it was tough for him to just play off Kobe/Shaq and not have the ball as much. Even then, at least he had the all time great defensive IQ and some elite defensive skills (hands, anticipating etc) that helped the team to be great.
Westbrook will not turn into that, because he hasn't ever been that player. That's what I saw last year. I never really watched Westbrook play aside from when he played us. When you actually watch him play you realize he's like Melo. He's got so many bad habits on defense, he's not quick enough anymore, and he's not great at playing angles. These won't suddenly change because instead of a white non-NBA player coach telling him something instead of a man of color who was once a NBA player. Lets cut that stuff out, it will not be the reason WB changes his game.
What could happen is WB see that his career is heading down the tubes and instead of pouting in the role he had, he will embrace it a bit more. That's more realistic, especially since he's heading into FA and another bad season and he may not even get the full MLE. So what I see happening is not that at 34 years old he will become this elite defensive player that Ham thinks he can be, I think what we will see is him pout less and be more better of a teammate than he was last year. He didn't have trust with Vogel (and vice-versa) and can probably have that with Ham. Weird we supported Westbrook on this, and that says all it should about Pelinka, Jeanie and co. they have no loyalty to the little/non-big names that get you the titles (Caruso, Vogel, etc) it's all about satisfying the stars and big names. This won't get you a title, but at least the team will be in the playoffs with better health and respect for the coach (from WB).
Wolf, nothing I've seen in Russ's career tells me he's going to do such a dramatic turn about face. If anything, I'd argue that he may try to force his way on another team where he can be the "man" and put up stats. His exit interview was revealing where again, he talked about how he didn't average a triple double. That's his mindset.
It's a contract year and I doubt he will transform into a guy who will sublimate his game and stats. I think it's far more realistic Ham won't buy his B.S. and benches him for say, Nunn, or the Lakers bite the bullet to get Russ off the team. I don't think the impending FA is going to help his behavior as he may be anxious to pad his numbers again heading into FA. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Ham said Russ would be expected to shift his effort to defense and play off the ball offensively. I guess if he gets with the program, it’s a win. If (when) he doesn’t, it will be made clear who the problem is. It’s not a bad strategy for the front office actually. Russ is the lightning rod they need.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Russ has increasing interest in getting out. Not enough to opt out mind you, though maybe he takes a pretty big buyout (?). If the Lakers could get the full MLE that might be a productive “trade”. _________________ Austin Reaves keeps his game tight, like Kobe Bryant on game night.
WB needs to realize this is the last year of his career. Its play well or never play again. _________________ Naz Reid or Brooks Lopez are a must in the 2023 offseason!
Ham's "shot in the face" comment was interesting.....
Is it better to be shot in the face, or have a bunch of players who can't shoot the basketball, and two highly paid superstars who don't like to play defense?
Being shot in the face may not be all that bad, especially if it means you have players who can shoot and play D.
Maybe i'm reading this wrong, but are you comparing being shot in the face to coaching players that can't shoot?
Coach said a lot of good things.
But one thing he didn't say, which was very smart was: we want Russ to be Russ.
Instead talking of sacrifice and defense was brilliant.
He’s not gonna beat around the bush like some others did. And from the look of it Russ respects it.
Yep. Everyone is gonna be accountable.
If you're slipping on defense, it'll be pointed out in the film room.
If you keep making mistakes, you gotta come out.
Not just Rus, but everyone. Playing hard, sacrifice and accountability. _________________ 💜💛 🏆 👀 🍖 #18!!!
Gary Payton was an elite defender, his entire career. Even then, late in his career when he came to the Lakers, it was tough for him to just play off Kobe/Shaq and not have the ball as much. Even then, at least he had the all time great defensive IQ and some elite defensive skills (hands, anticipating etc) that helped the team to be great.
Westbrook will not turn into that, because he hasn't ever been that player. That's what I saw last year. I never really watched Westbrook play aside from when he played us. When you actually watch him play you realize he's like Melo. He's got so many bad habits on defense, he's not quick enough anymore, and he's not great at playing angles. These won't suddenly change because instead of a white non-NBA player coach telling him something instead of a man of color who was once a NBA player. Lets cut that stuff out, it will not be the reason WB changes his game.
What could happen is WB see that his career is heading down the tubes and instead of pouting in the role he had, he will embrace it a bit more. That's more realistic, especially since he's heading into FA and another bad season and he may not even get the full MLE. So what I see happening is not that at 34 years old he will become this elite defensive player that Ham thinks he can be, I think what we will see is him pout less and be more better of a teammate than he was last year. He didn't have trust with Vogel (and vice-versa) and can probably have that with Ham. Weird we supported Westbrook on this, and that says all it should about Pelinka, Jeanie and co. they have no loyalty to the little/non-big names that get you the titles (Caruso, Vogel, etc) it's all about satisfying the stars and big names. This won't get you a title, but at least the team will be in the playoffs with better health and respect for the coach (from WB).
I am not trying to be offensive here, and I am trying to choose my words carefully, but after seeing that video clip, I can't help but wonder if the Laker players (many of whom are social activists) lobbied for, and will play harder/more effectively for Coach Ham, being that he is much more "relatable" to them than Vogel.
I am not trying to be offensive here, and I am trying to choose my words carefully, but after seeing that video clip, I can't help but wonder if the Laker players (many of whom are social activists) lobbied for, and will play harder/more effectively for Coach Ham, being that he is much more "relatable" to them than Vogel.
They won a ring under Frank. Then the team quit on him. Of course they will play better under Hamm because it will be hard not to. IMHO it has nothing to do with him being black, or an ex-player.
The love affair tour between Ham and Westbrook is making things superstitious, I mean good lord the guy is 33 and has been playing the same way for years, Ham needs to stop acting like he is Jesus.
The love affair tour between Ham and Westbrook is making things superstitious, I mean good lord the guy is 33 and has been playing the same way for years, Ham needs to stop acting like he is Jesus.
I know people get on you here, including myself, but what tf does this even mean. Love affair tour, making things superstitious, and Jesus?
The love affair tour between Ham and Westbrook is making things superstitious, I mean good lord the guy is 33 and has been playing the same way for years, Ham needs to stop acting like he is Jesus.
Aren’t you the same guy who thought Deandre was gonna come here and be good? _________________ Coach Vogel, Kidd, Hollins
Max slot : Kawhi
Last edited by Car54 on Thu Jun 16, 2022 8:13 pm; edited 1 time in total
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