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Archive for October, 2007

Boos come early for Lakers’ Bryant in 95-93 loss to Rockets

Published by The Nugget on October 31, 2007 in Postgame Comments. 22 Comments

Bryant hears it from the home crowd at start, but cheers soon come and he finishes with 45 points in loss. Late run can’t erase Rockets’ effort.

What were your thoughts of the game? Sound-off…

L.A. Times: It was a game of firsts, some of them infinitely more surprising than others.

That the Lakers lost their first game of the season to the Houston Rockets, 95-93, wasn’t as startling as another event that took place Tuesday at Staples Center.

Kobe Bryant was booed, loudly, on his home court during pregame introductions, perhaps only a one-game reminder from fans that he was their darling as recently as six months ago, but also possibly a harbinger of things to come if the losses begin to collect this season.

There were loud cheers when Derek Fisher was introduced after three years away from the Lakers, but the boos continued for Bryant when he touched the ball for the first time.

Undoubtedly, it surprised him, even if he kept it to himself. His pregame prediction on the fan reaction: “I don’t think it will be any different.”

Afterward, Bryant said he could comprehend their frustration.

“I understand where they’re coming from,” he said. “They didn’t really understand the whole situation because I’m keeping my mouth shut like I should.”

Coach Phil Jackson was caught off guard.

“I turned to one of my coaches and said, ‘Are those boos?’ And one of them said, ‘Yeah, those are boos,’ ” Jackson said. “I was surprised.”

Continue reading ‘Boos come early for Lakers’ Bryant in 95-93 loss to Rockets’

Magic states he’s “upset at management”

Published by The Nugget on October 30, 2007 in Random. 27 Comments

First game of season, the drama continues…

Clublakers: He said that there are too many voices in the organization right now, and whether the Lakers get a fair trade in return, they will move him. Said Kobe wants to be traded to Chicago, and even if he goes there, he’s going to go to the Bulls and be in the same situation there as LA because LA will have gutted their team.

He also said Kobe didn’t act smart when he got “Shaq traded” to be the man, now he realizes it isn’t that easy to do it alone. Stated that he should have accepted Shaq as the leader, been ok with it, and was partially to blame for the whole fiasco.

Charles said LA won’t get equal value for Kobe. States LA is a 7th or 8th seed team maybe.

LD2k was on KCAL in Los Angeles

Published by The Nugget on October 30, 2007 in Spots. 1 Comment

I just got a call from him that he was interviewed by KCAL and plugged the Lakers Nations. Am not sure when it will be on. News tonight, maybe.

If anyone can capture it for us and post it online we will be very grateful. Post it in the comments.

Thanks!

David Aldridge on TNT: Jermaine O’Neal talks may be back on

Published by The Nugget on October 30, 2007 in Random. 13 Comments

Heard it from some executives and Magic Johnson confirmed it. Thoughts?

Video coming later tonight…

TLN: Public Service Announcement

Published by Shane Bien on October 30, 2007 in Shane's Take. 9 Comments

Here we are, on the brink of a new season. As the City of Los Angeles unites again tonight at STAPLES Center, it is important that we come together and support our beloved team.

The Kobe trade talk is done. As of now, just like he has been for the past 12 years, he is OUR guy. Amid everything off the court, I have yet to see the day he has never performed on it. As fans, the millions of us have backed Kobe through everything, and no matter what you think of him during these avalanches of trade demands, the message was simple: Improve the team and get Kobe some help. Kobe voiced what EVERY single fan on EVERY Lakers forum has been screaming about since Shaq’s departure.

This has never been about Kobe lacking love for his fans in this city, it has only been about the only thing we as fans care about: Winning. If he believes he can win here, he will…and so will we. Being Lakers fans, we take the road less traveled, but we have the best stops.

TheLakersNation.com - “We Follow Because We Believe.”

Lakers decide to bring back Bynum, Farmar

Published by The Nugget on October 30, 2007 in Articles. 2 Comments

Looks like Bynum and Farmar will be Lakers for a very long time. Well, another year or two. Thoughts?

ESPN: The Los Angeles Lakers have exercised a fourth-year contract option on Andrew Bynum, and picked up the third-year contract option on Jordan Farmar.

Bynum, taken by the Lakers out of high school with the 10th selection in the 2005 NBA draft, averaged 7.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.56 blocks while playing in all 82 games last season. The 7-foot, 285-pound center averaged 21.9 minutes per game.

Farmer, a guard chosen by the Lakers with the 26th pick in the 2006 draft, appeared in 72 games last season, averaging 4.4 points and 1.9 assists in 15 minutes. He also played three games for the team’s D-League affiliate and made NBA history on April 1 when he became the first to play for both a D-League and NBA team on the same day.

Barkley likely to criticize Kobe tonight on TNT

Published by The Nugget on October 30, 2007 in Articles. 4 Comments

So it has begun already… This should a very dramatic Lakers season. Sound of in the comments… BAH! You know the drill.

Yahoo!: Charles Barkley is calling out Kobe Bryant again for dogging it.

Barkley criticized Bryant on Monday for the way he asked the Lakers to trade him, then for not appearing to give his full effort since owner Jerry Buss said he would consider a deal.

So when Barkley goes on the air Tuesday night for TNT’s season-opening doubleheader, he will probably have some strong words about Bryant for the second time in three years. He said Phil Jackson’s questioning of Bryant’s effort over the weekend was the “final straw.”

“What Phil Jackson said yesterday, that was like they’re at the point of no return now. There’s a point where you know you can make a marriage work, but what Phil Jackson said yesterday, that was the end of it,” Barkley said at a luncheon with fellow studio analyst Kenny Smith.

“That’s the one thing I respect most about Kevin Garnett. Even though he played on terrible teams, there is not a player in the last 10 years who played harder than Kevin Garnett. And that’s the one thing that disappoints me. Phil said that Kobe’s just going through the motions. … And if your coach tells you you’re just going through the motions, that’s pretty much the end of the straw.”

Barkley called Bryant “selfish” after Game 7 of the Lakers’ first-round playoff loss to Phoenix in 2006, after Bryant took just three shots and scored only one point in the second half while the Suns pulled away. Bryant told Barkley he was upset in some text message responses, then made a guest appearance on TNT’s coverage later in the playoffs to discuss the matter with Barkley on the air.

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Special Game Preview: Rockets vs Lakers

Published by The Nugget on October 30, 2007 in Contest and Fatty's Game Preview. 46 Comments

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Tuesday 7:30 Lakers Standard time.

Television: TNT

‘Make no mistake, this is it’

This has been the ‘Mother’ of all off seasons. We’ve been analyzing, debating, arguing, wearing out the trade machines, and for some of us, even ‘plotting,’ to storm the Staples Center. And why? Like you need ME to tell you. Because of two simple statements. The first, ‘Do it and do it now!’ The rallying cry for all Lakers Nation Fans. Those words got we bloggers excited, didn’t they? ‘Cmon, Mitch! Do it!’ That was followed by the hard one, the two words that hurt to the core. ‘Trade me.’ It’s been tough, I must admit. But now, ‘this is it,’ its time for the Lakers Season, our season to begin.

So, where will you be tonight? Just as the Kenny Logins song chimes, “This is it, make no mistake where you are….. the waiting is over” There’s no mistake, even with all the turmoil, with all the talking going on between us, we are all still a family of Lakers Fans first.

Its also my hope, that wherever you will be, you will be watching the Lakers. And of course, enjoying yourself, (this time, get out the beer, popcorn and candy) because Lakers Basketball for the 60th year in a row, is on the air!

Continue reading ‘Special Game Preview: Rockets vs Lakers’