For the fans that never miss a game. Who pour over stats and know Kobe is coming in at the 8 minute mark.
Posted: October 6th, 2009 | Author: Ali Kazmi | Filed under: 2009-2010 Season, Andrew Bynum, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest | No Comments »
OK, calm down. No I’m not saying Kobe is going to be the 6th man of the year (I’m not Bill Simmons), but if you take another look at the picture you’ll see who I’m talking about. It’s all those people around Kobe, yes the media. As the champs gear up for a repeat, this year produces several unique circumstances that the Lakers will have to deal with and depending on how much attention the media gives certain players or incidents, it could either strengthen our group or create dissent amongst the ranks.
Now keep in mind, the role of the 6th man in basketball is to bring much needed energy, chemistry and help off the bench. Just as integral to the makeup of the team as the starters, the 6th man plays a key role to any successful team. Just take a look at Lamar last year, Ginnobli to the Spurs, and Terry for the Mavs. The 6th man is the glue that bridges the gap between starters and reserves. The media, in essence, will play that roll this coming year for the Lakers. With so much extra attention brought upon the Lakers after a championship and animated offseason, they are now easily amongst the most watched and scrutinized franchises in professional sports.
Let’s take a look at some of the issues that are on the table for the the media to play around with this coming season:
1) Vanessa vs Khloe– I’m saying it. I’ll try to keep this brief, but I’m hoping that these two get along because can you imagine what a field day the media would have if they didn’t? I can see the headlines now “Vanessa and Khloe– beauty meets beast”
2) Ron-Ron — So much could be said here. He’s hands down one of the most interesting players in the league. While we’ve all enjoyed the extra information via twitter and his youtube, the question here is whether or not his extracurricular activities will add fuel to the fire for a hungry media. Ron brings a lot of baggage and Phil’s already said that the team will “monitor his activities” as the season progresses. I love him, but essentially trading Trevor for Ron, the question is and always has been, how much is too much?
3) Lamar- He’s already known to have a bit of Jeckyl/Hyde syndrome. With his TMZ offseason let’s hope he comes into the season with the appropriate amount of focus. Here’s to hoping that Lamar’s personal life stays away from his professional.
4) Farmar- This may come as a bit of a suprise, but I think that it’s important for Farmar to find a role on this Laker team before his frustration turns to dissent. We are all aware of his ongoing struggles with the coaching staff, but with Fisher returning and Shannon Brown hungry, Farmar needs to find a way to channel his discontent into results on the floor. In the end, he’s in charge of his destiny in our dynasty.
5) Bynum- The only weight he should be carrying on his shoulders this season should be making the All-Star team.
6) Kobe- Like any great conqueror, once your flag has been raised in enemy territory the primary objective is no longer seizing power, but instead shifts to keeping power. For Kobe this year will be career defining. With Lebron and Shaq teamed up (the Laker equivalent of Kim Jong il teaming up with Osama), the Celtics geared up for perhaps their last real shot, and Dwight and the Magic reloaded… It’s Kobe against the world.
The extent to which these aforementioned issues are a blessing or a curse for the Lakers can only be determined as the season plays out. Only one thing is certain: if we want to repeat, the media must look upon our team with a kind eye. Too much to ask for? Probably, but then again, the role of the 6th man is never easy.
Posted: June 10th, 2009 | Author: Ali Kazmi | Filed under: 2009 Playoffs, Best Teams In The NBA, Competitors, Kobe Haters, Laker Haters, Team | No Comments »
I’ll be the first to admit that i’ve been critical of the Lakers all season. Not out of spite, but more because of a lack of effort and resiliency. Last night though, I saw a Laker team that refused to bow out. I saw a Laker team that fought through adversity on the road. I saw a Laker team that came together on the biggest stage to show a nation of doubters that they were, in fact, the real deal.
So what if they came up a little short? All I know is that this was one of the easier losses for me to swallow all post season because I knew we didn’t give it away. I know that sounds terrible, but lets be real… the Lakers aren’t perfect. Time to step outside of the bubble and see them for what they are. The reality is the Lakers can be stagnant on offense sometimes and in such cases Kobe is our bailout. The reality is the Laker Defense can be shaky. The reality is that it would be nice to win it all at home. The reality is, the Lakers could have given up game 3 in the first quarter… but they didn’t.
Laker pride is a term that my friends and I throw around a lot, it’s one of those “we aren’t going to throw anybody under the bus” things. Laker pride is more of a state of mind than anything, it’s kinda like the Zen Phil throws around the locker room. It’s about not falling victim to the press, to the Kobe hating, to the never ending drama that is inherent to the Laker organization. Laker pride is about not giving up. In a postseason where Laker fever was no longer a pandemic, Laker pride seemed to be on the verge of extinction.
That is, until last night at least. Last night the Lakers battled through another storm in Florida. They went punch for punch with the Magic (who had an historic/unbelievable shooting night). Last night, Laker pride seemed to have infected the whole Laker team. They lost, I know… but if you are going to lose, that’s how you lose.
The Lakers went down swinging and didn’t show any signs of letting up until the final buzzer rang. The players were all confident, resilient, and ready to battle. They did everything to win a game nobody thought they would. I was proud and you should be too, the Lakers have come a long way from the beginning of the playoffs.
With game 4 tomorrow, I’ll put my money on the Lakers. The Magic played a perfect game and the odds of them playing another one like that are slim to none. I think a friend of mine said it best: “I believe in Kobe, not in Magic”. Laker pride.
Posted: June 3rd, 2009 | Author: Ali Kazmi | Filed under: 2009 Playoffs, Team | No Comments »
I still can’t believe we are back. It’s one thing for a team to end the season in defeat and say “we’ll be back”, and it’s another for a team to actually make it. The Lakers have a chance to win a championship, a chance to get that 39 point demise from last year off their back, a chance for redemption. We have been spoiled with such a great team and the reality is – we are lucky to be back. Just ask Lebron or KG.
Either way, it’s Wednesday and the Orlando Magic are in town for with game 1 of the 2009 championship tomorrow. Let’s just hope the fact that the sky is teeming with lightning and thunder, is more a prophecy for the Lakers raining on the Magic’s parade and not the other way around.
The Lakers come into the finals on the heels of a 65 win season, a long and hard 3 rounds of the playoff basketball, and a lot of hype. Add that to the fact that they are in LA, a city of glitz and glamor; it’s a city where we like our heroes to be accessible and expect them to be sociable. This leaves the Lakers in an awkward predicament: it’s finals season and the Lakers are in the eye of the storm…times 2.
Enter the Zen. They say a team takes on the personality of their coach and from the looks of it the Lakers have learned a thing or two from Phil. OK, if they haven’t learned, they are being actively taught. From Phil requesting the team turn off their phones for the series and the organization moving their hotel accommodations away from downtown Orlando, the Laker organization is obviously on a mission and refuse to lose.
Also judging from a series of interviews given by Kobe, Luke, Andrew, Fisher, Ariza and Odom, I think it’s safe to say the Laker players are on a mission as well. They are a different team this year. From Luke saying he’s not going to call relatives back till’ after the championship, to Kobe’s stone-cold and calm approach to the series, it looks like the Lakers are in full on battle mode and don’t want a repeat of their last two trips to the finals.
Game one is in less 24 hours and the sky doesn’t look to be clearing anytime soon. So it looks like the Lakers will have to fight through the gloomy weather.
They say the safest place to be during a lightning storm is in a house, I guess it’s a good thing the Lakers are at home in the Staples Center where they are 9-2 this postseason. It’s ok though, I’d rather save the sunny sky for the championship parade.
Posted: June 2nd, 2009 | Author: Ali Kazmi | Filed under: 2009 Playoffs, Best Teams In The NBA, Kobe Bryant, Laker Haters, Team | 1 Comment »
“The Lakers are just not tough enough”, “They are a finesse team that doesn’t like to be pushed around”, “The Lakers are soft”… I can go on and on. These were the prevalent themes of the postseason for the Western Conference Champs. A postseason in which the Lakers, so far, have proven to be resilient, tough, and let’s not forget – soft.
But is that such a bad thing?
I think Muhammad Ali said it best. You know the line, no need to repeat. Arguably the greatest boxer to live, his style was unorthodox for a heavyweight. He wasn’t a big bruiser, but instead a relied on foot speed and quickness to avoid punches. Only to surprise his opponents with his power to close a fight. It won him 3 titles, and created a whole new legend in the process.
The Lakers are not all that different. Quick and athletic, with a swagger that’s undeniable, and are to some spectacular – to others, they are infuriating. The Lakers have proven in the first few rounds that you don’t have to fight the beast with sheer strength. That instead, you can pick and choose your spots to deliver your blows – and when that moment comes, make no mistake about it, the Lakers have a right hook that can take out anybody.
So how have the fights broken down for the Lakers thus far? Let’s look at their scorecards
Round 1- Utah
The Lakers came out swinging. Coming off a solid regular season they rode their momentum into the ring and took apart the Jazz. Bobbing and weaving, the Lakers pinned the Jazz to the rope with their size and offensive firepower. They dominated all the fundamentals and executed their game plan. It’s almost easy to forget how well we played against Utah because of the blown leads, but in the end, the Lakers took this round easily.
Score: Lakers 9, Jazz 6
Round 2- Houston
The Rockets struck first blood here. The Lakers came off a 6 day rest unprepared for the attack of the Rockets and, consequently, were taken advantage of. As any boxer knows, it’s hard to recover from a bad start at the beginning of a round and this definitely showed in the Lakers struggles here. They were hit by a steamrolling Rockets team and taken down early in the round.
The Lakers stayed with it though, fighting their way out of the corner and off the ropes with a gritty uppercut punch delivered by Derek Fisher. From there the Lakers, with a cut above their eye exposed, battled to win the round. It wasn’t pretty, but you can’t always deliver the knockout punch in every round. Sometimes you just have to use your jab and wear your opponent down.
The Lakers did just that, they wore the Rockets down thin, but were still unable to deliver a knockout– they were in a dogfight. In the end the Lakers managed to salvage this round. They beat their bloodied opponent, but in the process showed cracks in their armor. As Muahhamad Ali once put it after a fight, “It was the closest thing to death I could feel”. Suddenly the Lakers were not so invincible, but maybe their near death experience was the wake up call they needed.
Score: Lakers 9, Rockets 8
Round 3- Denver
After coming off a convincing few rounds, the Denver Nuggets were ready to fight. The Lakers, with sporadic play and a few cuts, were well aware of the challenge that lay ahead of them. This was going to be more fight club than boxing though. Here a tired and insomniac Kobe and Pau proved to be a one- two punch (a la Brad Pitt and Ed Norton). The Lakers, caught in the glare of the flashing cameras and stage lights, were struggling with themselves in the ring as much as they were with their opponent.
Staying true to their strengths, the Lakers jabbed their way to early round success. The Lakers found a way to protect their cuts but in the process opened up their body for easy shots. These body shots were starting to add up, however much prepared they were coming into the fight for them. Their months of training taking shots to the side and stomach were nothing compared to the action in the ring. Unable to put together a consistent round, the Lakers took another hit and found themselves jabbing their way into Denver.
The air wearing thin, the Lakers know that they cannot afford to go down early. They fight with everything they have to keep the fight even, going punch for punch with Denver. However, Denver had a few dirty tricks up their sleeves and the officials seemed to let them slide. Now the Lakers have two options: 1) make excuses or 2) Find a way to win. The Lakers chose to dig deep and make no excuses. This is what they trained for, this is where they wanted to be, this was the time to show the world what they were made of. They want that belt.
In what seemed like a moments time, the Lakers put together a barrage of combos that proved to be too much for their opponent to handle. With Denver against the rope, the Lakers swung for the sky and delivered a knockout punch. Again, what started off as an ugly round, ended with a win.
Score: Lakers 10, Nuggets 8 1/2
The Lakers have learned a lot about themselves during the first 3 rounds of the fight. Nothing more important than the fact that they know they can win playing like they want to play and they are capable of taking a punch. The Los Angeles Lakers are able to win a dogfight in the ring and at the same time know they are still skilled enough to dance their way to a championship ring.
So what’s next? It’s the final round for the Lakers and they had better expect a punishing fight. With one more obstacle between them and the championship the Lakers will see Dwight Howard and the Magic. It’s not the dream showdown everybody expected, but you better believe it’s still a tough heavyweight fight. Come to think of it you might as well start calling it the Rumble in the Jungle because Kobe-Dwight could be the new Ali- Foreman. Who will win? Who knows, only one thing is for certain and my man Muhhamad Ali put it best: “It will be a killa… and a chilla… and a thrilla.”. God, I love this game.
Posted: May 27th, 2009 | Author: Ali Kazmi | Filed under: 2009 Playoffs, Bench Mob, Laker Haters | 2 Comments »
Just when Laker fans worked up enough courage to poke their heads out of the door, game 4 came along. It was one of those games that I’m sure all Laker fans are used to by now. The kind of game where they think to themselves, “just get it down to single digits before the next quarter”. The kind of game where every time the Lakers get into a defensive stance or tussle, you knew the whistle is going to blow for the other team. The kind of game that, quite frankly, makes it hard to be a Laker fan. It wasn’t pretty but it seemed like on memorial day the Lakers paid memorial to the Lakers of the Houston series. Knowing that game 4 was a chance to ut some meaningful distance between them and the Nuggets, the Lakers feel into the Nuggets trap.
So what went wrong? I think the main three things were:
Rebounding
We got out rebounded 58-40. The Nuggets attacked the glass, especially on the offensive end where they had what seemed to be at least 2 shots every time they went down the floor. They had 20 Offensive rebounds to our 9. Looks like instead of getting offensive boards we got offensive “bored”. Looking at the way the Nuggets played, these 2nd chance points ignited the crowd/players and took away our easy transition hoops on the other end.
A lot of this comes back to our bigs. A box out is basic and instead of looking for touches on the offensive end, maybe they need to create their own touches off the glass. Basketball is a game of fundamentals: rebounding, defense, and free throws (we were 24-35). If the Lakers do those three, they have a shot at winning.
The Mob
The bench mob combined for 24 points while the Nuggets combined for 42 (24 by JR Smith). Offensively, you can live with 24 points, but defensively we cannot give up 42 points to their bench and expect to win. The bench needs to come into the game and play with a sense of desperation and with tenacity.
On a side note, what’s up with Sasha? I mean Derek went through a drought and still got plenty of playing time (he still sorta is in a slump). But that’s Derek. He’s got a resume. Sasha, on the other hand, has been nothing short of awful. I don’t see the logic in him shooting his way out of his slump in such close games…games where we need those clutch shots. In this series he is 4 of 17 (23%), which is actually even lower than the 18 for 64 (28%) he was coming into this series. The playoffs are not a time to find your game Sasha. I’m seeing a long off season of “tradesasha” websites on the horizon if he doesn’t stop complaining and missing shots.
Refs
The officiating has been questionable, to say the least. This postseason, more than any other I can recall, has been defined by the referees. It seems that with every game instead of getting it right, they just get it more wrong. Granted, I’m a Lakers fan, but regardless there has been an air of uncertainty blowing through their whistles. I think Phil said it best post-game,
“Basketball is a game where the aggressor gets the advantage, and tonight we didn’t know what a foul was and what wasn’t a foul. Start of the game, we got guys knocked around going to the basket, they said, ‘We’re going to let those things go.’ By the end of the ballgame, little fouls were being called all over the place.”
This was apparent by the 31 team fouls the Lakers accumulated. It’s not just Phil either, each coach in the final four has made their own case. For the refs to choke on their whistles at the beginning but then to go whistle crazy at the end (or vice versa) is, not only inconsistent, but detrimental to the integrity of the game.
Eerily resembling the 7 game fiasco in Houston, the Lakers circus is headed back to LA with a tied series. Essentially a best of 3 now, anything is possible and with what appears to be an inability to put together back-to-back solid efforts, you have to think that this series goes to 7. The Nuggets are pushing us around and hopefully the Lakers will find a way to channel their frustration into two more victories. Hearing Kobe and Pau after the game, I think it’s safe to say that game 5 will be the Lakers to lose…but then again, so have all the others this postseason.
We’ve seen the Lakers play like champs and have seen them play like a Deer lost in the headlights. If it’s one thing the Lakers have proven it’s that they are good enough to win but not great enough to be counted on.
Posted: May 23rd, 2009 | Author: Ali Kazmi | Filed under: 2009 Playoffs, Team | No Comments »
I guess there isn’t too much to be said about the first two games. Everything the Lakers knew going in to this series was exactly what they got. Denver is tough, gritty, and not going anywhere soon. In a season where the Lakers were kings, Portland and Houston were seen as the up and comers and the future of the wild west, Denver has done a bit of soul searching and created their own niche. They have what has become a rarity in this era of the NBA, they’ve got a pair of shiny family jewels…I guess the best way to say it is that they have Rocky Mountain Oysters. As for the Lakers, in the first two games, they seem to let their own pair ascend.
I’m not jumping off the wagon, don’t get me wrong… I just think it’s time to be honest. I think the Lakers need to get away from this complacency and get hungry. They need to get better with every game and so far it has been 1 step forward and then 2 steps back. Lucky for them, they have had enough talent on the team to make it by. Going into Denver for games 3 and 4, it’s time to show what the Lakers are really made of. So I guess the question that begs to be asked is:
What is the Lakers identity?
To use an analogy, it’s like in high school where the nerdy kids find their identity and move forward in life, motivated and better prepared for the obstacles thrown at them. They may not be the most popular and they may not get the girls, but you better believe they are going somewhere (or at least plotting for revenge). The Lakers, on the other hand, are like the popular HS quarterback that has never heard no, never has to figure out who they were because everyone else wanted to be like them. Surrounded by a bunch of people that say yes, they have taken the easy road through their adolescence without soul searching. They flash a smile and it seems like they can get out of any problem (yes, even with the ladies). So what happens when HS is over? What happens when the regular season ends and the playoffs begin? Where does the popular kid go? Well, that depends on what kind of story it is.
The Lakers have become a bit of a spectacle as of late. A team that is equally revered and loathed. They have been called everything from “sexy” to “pitiful”. Even though they beat Utah 4-1, all they heard was the critics commenting on their blown leads. Moving on to the rickety Rockets series, the Lakers were pushed against the wall and for the first time, they didn’t have backup. Their popularity taken away, no friends to come to their defense, and dumped by their girlfriends; it was literally a moment when push came to shove. The Lakers showed enough character though. They stepped up to the challenge and did what they had to do to get by 4-3, only to arrive in Denver completely lost.
This is where we pick up on the story. As a viewer, if we had to guess what the ending was going to be…what would it be? Are they the popular kid that is ill prepared for the real world? Or are we the popular kid that gets redemption and finds a happy ending?
I couldn’t tell you. I wish I could, but the Lakers have worked that Hollywood magic and weaved a story that reads more like a mystery thriller than a drama. All I know is that games 3 and 4 are where we will find out who we are for better, or worse.
Posted: May 19th, 2009 | Author: Ali Kazmi | Filed under: 2009 Playoffs, Kobe Bryant, Team | No Comments »
Since the beginning of the playoffs, I found myself with a funny feeling in my stomach. It was a feeling of uncertaintly, one that I had sadly grown accustomed to. Only, this was the feeling I had for the 3 years Post-Shaq…and yeah, in the finals last year. Except now, we were supposed to be ready. But, as was made crystal clear in our 2nd round matchup against the depleted Houston Rockets, we might not be there yet.
As Dr Kobe diagnoses it, it seems to be “bipolar disorder”. It makes complete sense after I looked up a definition of bipolar disorder on webMD :
The dramatic mood swings of bipolar disorder do not follow a set pattern. A person may experience the same mood state several times — for weeks, months, even years at a time — before suddenly having the opposite mood. Also, the severity of mood phases can differ from person to person. -webMD
I don’t know if Kobe’s been giving commencement addresses at med school graduations, but wherever he got his honorary degree, it sure seems he’s doing the school proud.
To sum up the Doc: we’ve got Jekyll/Hyde syndrome. It doesn’t take a genius to see that the Lakers have been the epitome of inconsistency. One day we are a team to be reckoned; full of, spirit, scoring, passion, and pride… you name it we got it. Other days, once we take off that gold or white uniform and don our purple, we turn to an ugly monster: inconsistent, apathetic, submissive and undeserving.
We are lucky to be out of the 2nd round and now everyone knows we are not as invincible as we were at the beginning of this shindig. Maybe the more important thing is: we know that we aren’t invincible. According to all the polls on ESPN and all of their “esteemed” writers we have also taken on a new role…. the underdog. That’s a role we haven’t played in a while. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
So what’s it going to take to get back to the finals and actually win this time? We know our bigs need to play big, we know our bench needs to return to their “mob” mentality, we know Kobe needs to be Kobe, and, last but not least, we need to take some of that medication that Dr. Kobe prescribed to us, you know… some lithium, multi-vitamins, or whatever it takes for us to return to greatness. Because the way we are playing right now, a championship is about as likely an economic recovery.
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