Archive for September, 2007
After a turbulent summer in which Bryant ripped management and demanded a trade, team convenes for training camp without having made major personnel upgrades.
L.A. Times: First, the good news for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant is expected to answer the roll call when the squad gathers for the first time Monday to begin the 2007-08 season with its annual media day at the team’s El Segundo facility before boarding an afternoon flight to Hawaii for the start of preseason training camp.
Now the bad news.
Kevin Garnett won’t be there. Nor will Jermaine O’Neal. Nor will any other big-name addition to a team that struggled to reach the playoffs last year only to make a quick, first-round exit against the Phoenix Suns.
That early elimination triggered a lot of finger pointing and public outrage highlighted by Bryant’s on-again, off-again demand to be traded, leaving a question whether Bryant would even put his uniform back on for this season. Bryant also criticized owner Jerry Buss and General Manager Mitch Kupchak and endorsed the idea of trading Andrew Bynum. Jim Buss, the owner’s son and heir apparent for the reins of power, publicly rejected the idea of letting Bryant go and expressed his distaste for the motivational techniques of Coach Phil Jackson. Jackson responded by backing Bryant and leaving his own future with the team beyond this season up in the air.
Good thing they did all this in the off-season, because who would have time left to concentrate on games?
Continue reading ‘Lakers, such as they are, start anew’
ESPN.COM: If you needed another reminder that the NBA is unlike any other realm on Earth, it came this weekend from, of all places, the Women’s World Cup.
After Hope Solo called out her coach’s decision-making and threw her teammate under the Greyhound, Solo was told to skip the team’s final game and go to her room. These things happen in the real world when you publicly criticize your boss and co-workers.
Meanwhile, on Planet NBA, the No. 1 training camp story has the Los Angeles Lakers eagerly anticipating the arrival of Kobe Bryant — who called out management and trashed his co-workers the last time he talked about his team publicly.
If Bryant shows up for the team’s Media Day on Monday, he won’t be banished. He’ll be welcomed with a sigh of relief from the front office and a few awkward exchanges with his teammates, including young center Andrew Bynum.
(Times like this remind me that one of the great developments of the 21st century is the acceptance of “Alright” as a form of greeting. You don’t have to manufacture an ounce of cheeriness, which you do with a “Hello.” You don’t have to wish even the slightest bit of happiness on someone you don’t really care about, as is implied with a “Good morning.” All you’re doing is acknowledging someone else’s existence. “Alright, Andrew.” “Alright, Kobe.” And they can be on their way.)
While Bryant hasn’t come out and said he will be there, the Lakers expect him to arrive in time to throw on a uniform, pose for the usual round of pictures and meet with reporters, just like the rest of the players.
Continue reading ‘On Planet NBA, Kobe and the Lakers can coexist’
Intresting note made here. Mitch Lawrence claims that Kobe has told Mitch that he is committed to the Lakers this season. Personally, I believe it. But its only this season. Media Day is tomorrow, let it begin…
NY Daily News: It’s just like old times in the NBA. Heading into training camp, the biggest stories are the Lakers and Celtics. It’s just too bad this isn’t 1984, where we could actually have a Boston-L.A. showdown in June featuring Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
Those days are long gone, but there is plenty of intrigue centering on Kevin Garnett’s new team and Kobe Bryant’s old club. After his summer of discontent, Bryant is expected to report tomorrow to media day in El Segundo, Calif., and then head with the team to training camp in Hawaii. He gave his word this past week to GM Mitch Kupchak and Phil Jackson that he is ready and willing to go. For now, anyway. It doesn’t mean that Kobe has re-committed long-term or is thrilled to be back after demanding a trade and spending most of the offseason privately smoldering over the Lakers’ lack of moves. He was hoping for Garnett or Jermaine O’Neal, at least, but their only key offseason addition was ex-Laker guard Derek Fisher. You think Tim Duncan and the Spurs are shaking in their sneakers over that one?
Continue reading ‘L.A. and Boston are centers of NBA once again’
HOOPSWORLD.COM: On Monday the Los Angeles Lakers will open their doors to the media before heading off to training camp in Hawaii. The offseason was a tumultuous one, headlined by Kobe Bryant’s trade demand early in the summer.
While some were adamant Bryant had played his last game as a Laker, it appears the team’s superstar will indeed report. A blurb on his personal website (kb24.com) indicated that Bryant’s staff will be at Media Day covering the event.
Although the Lakers did make some improvements over the offseason, the issues that originally irked Bryant remain. There were no big trades. The team has not made a dramatic leap forward.
Last year the team won 42 games but was decimated by injuries. If healthy, 50 wins is a realistic target. Unfortunately a number of players on the team might be considered injury prone at this point. A more realistic win total may be 46.
Depending on matchups the Lakers might even get out of the first round of the playoffs but they’ll need to be at their absolute best. Whatever residual unresolved issues that may exist after Bryant’s expression of dissatisfaction still need to be overcome.
The Lakers may not be favorites to win a championship but this coming season could be an important step towards that goal.
Although the training camp roster has not been released (a few more free agents are expected to get invites), the Lakers are bringing 14 players with guaranteed contracts to camp. The final roster spot will need to be won out by the likes of Coby Karl, Elton Brown and Larry Turner.
Continue reading ‘Lakers: Training Camp Preview’
According to the latest ESPN Mag, Marion isn’t down with the Jazz. He’s also stated he wouldn’t mind Los Angeles… so…
…In spite of Andrei Kirilenko’s trade demand, a proposed deal for Shawn Marion is still gasping for air. Says a source: “The holdup is Shawn’s not wanting to play – or live – in Utah.” …
Special thanks to John ‘Fatty’ Fatland for writing this take and giving us the privilege to add it to TheLakersNation.com. Again, if you guys see anything Lakers related that you think deserves to be put up, just e-mail us at articles@TheLakersNation.com.
Monday the Lakers are gathering for a meeting with the media at the Lakers El Segundo Training Facility. And guess who is supposed to be there? Kobe himself is promising to grace the facility he supposedly would never practice in again. And get this, Kobe will actually slip on the Laker Jersey that ESPN’s Bucher said, Kobe would forever never wear. I know its hard to believe, Kobe showing, with all the writers insisting he would absolutely, positively, not, I repeat, NOT be there.
In fact, I never really believed that Kobe would sit, but with so many Pro-Basketball writers predicting the event, you had to wonder, would Kobe really sit in protest and miss the entire season? I mean, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, right? Personally, I won’t believe it(Kobe in camp), until I see Kobe wearing an Hawaiian shirt, sipping a Mai Tai, and doing Hula Dancing on the Warriors Heads on Oct 9th, at 7:00 PM on Kcal.
But, as you can see, the writers got it all wrong. The Big Event is not whether Kobe will sit, but whether Kobe will stand. What I mean, is on the momentous Laker team flight to Honolulu, will Kobe stand up and apologize to his teammates.
By the way, this could be the most important flight in the history of the Lakers organization. As far as most of us are concerned, more important than the Wright Bros glide in North Carolina, Lindbergh’s solo across the Atlantic, or even Man’s going to the Moon. (Yes we did go to the moon, that was not a Sci-Fi movie)
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Lakers.com: What are your goals for this season?
Just to come in and contribute, to help the organization any way I can, doing whatever the coaching staff and the front office want me to do. Just play my role.
Have you spoken with Phil about what you specifically need to do this season?
Not into specifics yet. We have spoken casually on and off over the summer, but nothing specific. I look forward to getting into training camp.
Do you have a role that you’re targeting, at least in your mind? Something that you want to do?
It tends to be a little different from what they want, so I try to keep that loose and just roll with it. I’ve worked on my game a lot and run really hard this summer so I am just ready to help out.
What have you specifically worked on over the summer?
A lot of catch and shoot and defensive stuff. In this offense, the triangle, you get a lot of opportunities to just catch and shoot, but you don’t get a lot of time to play with the ball and do stuff off the dribble. So I’ve really been working on my shot, making it more consistent and more efficient. We’ll see how it works out.
Have you worked with Fisher at all?
We’ve played a few times this summer. He’s a great guy, going to be a great addition to this team.
Have you learned anything from him thus far?
Just a level of professionalism. How he carries himself, how he comes to work everyday. That’s something that can rub off on all of us.
Continue reading ‘Catching Up with Jordan Farmar’
Fox Sports: The time has come for Kobe Bryant to end months of silence regarding the Los Angeles Lakers.That’s assuming he joins his teammates Monday at media day in suburban El Segundo and then on the flight to Hawaii for the start of training camp Tuesday.
Although Bryant is expected, his spokesperson Catherine Sebring declined comment when asked about his plans, lending a bit of intrigue.
Still, the Lakers are counting on him.
“Without mentioning specific names, appropriate people in our organization have been in contact with Kobe, and we have no reason to believe he won’t be in Hawaii for training camp,” team spokesman John Black said.
A posting Friday on Bryant’s Web site indicated the 29-year-old will be at camp.
“The countdown to tipoff is on,” it began. “Summer is gone, fall is upon us and that can mean only one thing: NBA training camps are just around the corner. While some teams are holding their media days today, the Lakers will invite the media to their practice facility on Monday and will depart shortly after for training camp in Hawaii.
Continue reading ‘Kobe expected at Lakers training camp’
Related:
ESPN: Lakers expect Bryant to be at team’s Hawaii training camp
KB24: The countdown to tipoff is on…
L.A. Times: Has a sports executive ever entered a season more outnumbered, outmanned and potentially out of his mind?
On the court, the Lakers will be playing two-on-one.
Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant are the two.
Mitch Kupchak is the one.
Off the court, the Lakers are sounding like two million-on-one.
Laker fans are the two million.
Mitch Kupchak is the one.
The Lakers general manager has been publicly ripped by one of the league’s best active players, publicly questioned by a Hall of Fame coach, angrily swarmed by Southern California’s most passionate fan base.
Oh, yeah, and one more thing.
He’s not Jerry West.
As the Lakers take the court next week for the beginning of training camp, everyone will be cheering for Bryant’s presence, and Jackson’s wisdom, and Andrew Bynum’s maturity, and Lamar Odom’s health, and even Kwame Brown’s hands.
Continue reading ‘Plaschke: Kupchak has at least one supporter’
HOOPSWORLD.COM: By now, many of you have seen the video on the main-page in which I discussed the Los Angeles Lakers and GM Mitch Kupchak (I know because of all the e-mail I’ve received since it was posted at the beginning of the week).
And yes, I really do believe that Kupchak has done a pretty decent job.
And no, I haven’t been drinking.
I know it’s fashionable these days to blame Kupchak for all of the Lakers’ woes. He’s been setup to be the fall guy if the Lakers struggle this season, and he’s already being bashed by Laker fans for his inability to acquire a superstar this offseason. Although, don’t be surprised if Shawn Marion, who recently requested a trade, ends up in LA before all is said and done (more on that later).
First, I’m not sure fans understand just how hard it is to consummate a trade in today’s NBA. It’s not like Kupchak can just waive his magic wand and make a Kevin Garnett type player show up on the Staples Center hardwood in exchange for Kwame Brown, Sasha Vujacic, and a couple of headbands. It takes two to tango, and not only that, but salaries have to match, as well. Point is, it’s not easy to orchestrate a big trade in today’s NBA.
Moreover, with Garnett out of the picture, would it really make the Lakers better to move Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum for a guy like Jermaine O’Neal? Look, you won’t run into a columnist who has more respect for O’Neal as a player and a person than I do, but moving Bynum in such a deal may not be the most prudent decision.
Continue reading ‘Is Mitch Kupchak Really to Blame?’
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