Monday, May 08, 2006
After Thought
For all the talk of a choke, for all the disappointment that Lakers fans must feel, for all the media folks who were on our bandwagon when we were up 3 to 1 and now act as if they expected the come back, I am proud of my Los Angeles Lakers.
They told us we weren't going to be in the playoffs. And even if we did sneak in it would be as an eighth seed. We got in as a seventh and were far from sneaking in missing the sixth seed by just a few games. Not only did we make the playoffs, we took the second seeded team to seven games. And quite possibly could have swept them had a call or two been made at the end of the first game. Not blaming the refs (which is hard for me because I feel they suck), just saying a couple different calls, different bounces and who knows.....and that can actually go both ways.
Kobe Bryant continued his journey to the Hall of Fame, averaging 35.4 points a game and taking home the scoring title. Included in this net barrage were 81 and 62 point efforts, alongside 27 (I think that's the number) 40 + point efforts. Kwame Brown, Luke Walton, and Smush Parker had better than expected seasons (excluding the last couple of playoff games). Lamar Odom showed signs of the impact player he could be when he's comfortable....I'd like to see him maintain a consistent aggression but at least we saw less of the fadeaway layups and more of the confidence.
I would say that we're on schedule right now with our rebuilding. I wonder if Lamar Odom will be used as trade bait for a Kevin Garnett now that Odom's understanding and comfort level in the offense has picked up. Also wonder who else we would have to ship with Odom to get a deal like that done. I can't imagine there's a possibility of keeping Odom and getting Garnett but can you imagine that starting lineup.....Kobe, KG at PF, Lamar at SF, Kwame or Mihm, and Smush at the point. SO much for double and tripling Kobe.....
There's also been some talk of getting help at PG....don't know how that will shake out but I hear Bobby Jackson is gonna be a free agent. Possibility????
They told us we weren't going to be in the playoffs. And even if we did sneak in it would be as an eighth seed. We got in as a seventh and were far from sneaking in missing the sixth seed by just a few games. Not only did we make the playoffs, we took the second seeded team to seven games. And quite possibly could have swept them had a call or two been made at the end of the first game. Not blaming the refs (which is hard for me because I feel they suck), just saying a couple different calls, different bounces and who knows.....and that can actually go both ways.
Kobe Bryant continued his journey to the Hall of Fame, averaging 35.4 points a game and taking home the scoring title. Included in this net barrage were 81 and 62 point efforts, alongside 27 (I think that's the number) 40 + point efforts. Kwame Brown, Luke Walton, and Smush Parker had better than expected seasons (excluding the last couple of playoff games). Lamar Odom showed signs of the impact player he could be when he's comfortable....I'd like to see him maintain a consistent aggression but at least we saw less of the fadeaway layups and more of the confidence.
I would say that we're on schedule right now with our rebuilding. I wonder if Lamar Odom will be used as trade bait for a Kevin Garnett now that Odom's understanding and comfort level in the offense has picked up. Also wonder who else we would have to ship with Odom to get a deal like that done. I can't imagine there's a possibility of keeping Odom and getting Garnett but can you imagine that starting lineup.....Kobe, KG at PF, Lamar at SF, Kwame or Mihm, and Smush at the point. SO much for double and tripling Kobe.....
There's also been some talk of getting help at PG....don't know how that will shake out but I hear Bobby Jackson is gonna be a free agent. Possibility????
