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Author Archive for John Fatland

Game Prediction Contest Results Are In…

Published by John Fatland on October 31, 2007 in Contest. 7 Comments

Kobefan2408 WINS FIRST GAME PREDICTION CONTEST!!!

It was close. 30 contestants were within 5 points of each other, but one contestant stood out from the rest with an amazing score of 20. Congratulations to our first contest winner. Kobefan2408, you are the master of predictions, the Nostradamus of the NBA, the Prophet of Round Ball. Well, at least for this one game.

Only one got the Trivia Challenge correct. PrOmega. Way to go prOmega!

Only one had a zero. C’mon Phantom! You can do better than that? Keep this up and we will start calling you Agent Zero Phantom. :

This Friday against the Suns, the contest of 15 games begins. As Mr. Miyagi told the Karate Kid on the island of Okinawa when facing the death duel. “This no practice Daniel-San, is for real.”

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TLN’s Pre-Game: Lakers vs. Kings

Published by John Fatland on October 26, 2007 in Fatty's Game Preview. 16 Comments

Kobe is sitting out this game because of his sore right wrist… Read all about it here.

Game Preview: Kings vs Lakers

Friday 7:00 PM Lakers Standard Time

Thomas and Mack Center - Las Vegas

Television: KCAL, ESPN

“It is what it is?”

“Are you ready?” As one reporter asked Coach Jackson after practice on Wednesday.

Looking for some insight, I waited for Phil’s answer. He hesitated, and then said something very PJ-like. “It is what it is, you gotta go do it.” Profound no, truthful yes. Encouraging? Not really. You never know with this Phil guy. He sounded more like the General leading his troops into battle, knowing the outcome will not be good.

When asked about Andrew Bynum’s defensive prowess? General P. Jackson shook his head and said, “Don’t ask me that.” All the reporters laughed, all we bloggers moaned.

When asked about the Utah game? General P. Jackson said, “It was one of our better defensive efforts as a team.” The reporters smiled. “You don’t believe me?!” We bloggers frowned.

Putting a good face on the situation. Our fearless leader announced the starting five for Friday’s game. And adding, “its not set in stone,” but this is our starting line-up this Tuesday against the Houston Rockets.

The regular season starters for your Los Angeles Lakers.

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TLN’s Pre-Game: Lakers vs. Jazz

Published by John Fatland on October 23, 2007 in Fatty's Game Preview. 6 Comments

Lakers Preview: Jazz vs Lakers

Honda Center - Anaheim

Tuesday 7:00 PM Lakers Standard Time

Television: KCAL, NBA TV

‘Dancing with the Stars’

“If you want to dance with the stars, nothing is given, you have to give your best effort. You must be dedicated to your goal at hand. You must feel you can be the best. Time and effort are secondary. Desire is primary.” - Marc Cuban (Billionaire, Dallas Mavericks Owner, and Dance Expert)

To the Lakers, ‘Dancing with the Stars’ means becoming one of the Elite teams of the NBA. Will the Lakers be good enough to Waltz their way across the NBA (National Ballrooms of America)? Can they Two Step with the Suns, Line Dance with the Spurs, and Tango with the Mavs?

If you gauge the Lakers by the Preseason, you are sadly mistaken. Preseason means nothing. As Derek Fisher said laughingly after practice, “Phil Jackson will show you everything in the preseason, but NOTHING of what you will see in the regular season.” What the Fishmeister means to say, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

PJ with his dancing stick by his side, will continue to teach these Lakers to dance and step to another beat. 2 - 4 - 6 - we score, then we Tri and Angle for more. Tap, Tap, Tap, he goes, beating his stick on the floor, like a Russian Ballet teacher. “You son’s of slugs, AGAIN. Do it AGAIN! No! No! No! You are taking one step backwards for every two steps forward.” (Clippers game)

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TLN’s Pre-Game: Lakers vs. Clippers

Published by John Fatland on October 21, 2007 in Fatty's Game Preview. 26 Comments

Game Preview: Lakers vs Clippers

Sunday 7:30 - Lakers Standard Time

Television: Fox Sports West

‘The Battle for LA’

Public Announcement: Because of the seriousness of the Clippers - Lakers rivalry. All fans attending tonight’s game will be required to check their guns at the door. Extra Security has been added for your protection. Teams of Hell’s Angels, retired WWF Wrestlers, and LA County Jail Trustee’s in uniform, will be roving the perimeter of the Staples Arena to insure peace between the rival fans. Management will not tolerate riots, nor excessive displays of verbal abuse between Clippers and Lakers Fans. For your assistance, First Aid Stations, and M.A.S.H. units will be provided as a courtesy by the Staples Arena. Please enjoy the game responsibly.

This is what the Clippers Public Relations Personal dream, wish, and pray they had. A rivalry that is second to none. A rivalry that is so intense, it could lead to LA’s version of Civil War. It ain’t gonna ever happen.

And here’s why? The stat’s don’t lie.

Official stats from last nights games. (Source NBA.com)

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TLN’s Pre-Game: Lakers vs. Bobcats

Published by John Fatland on October 20, 2007 in Fatty's Game Preview. 22 Comments

Game Preview: Bobcats vs Lakers

Saturday, 7:30 Lakers Standard Time

Television: Fox Sports West

‘All’s quiet on the Lakers Front’

The Big news from the Lakers practice facilty. “Bynum loses bet to Kobe.”

Most telling was Bryant noting that he had challenged Bynum to back up his big talk about how his Abdul-Jabbar-taught skyhook was coming along by shooting it in the game. But Bynum didn’t. “I won a nice little bet off of him,” Bryant said, smiling. Said Bynum: “Yeah, he challenged me to do that. … I’ve got to bring one of ‘em out.”

Fatty’s Take: Well Bynum, when will we see that ‘Sky Hook’?

The other news. Kobe goes off. Off on the Lakers Players this time. “He took a personal challenge and he pretty much destroyed all the teams we put out there (against him),” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. My question: Does this mean we have no players left for tonight’s game? I get the impression from PJ, Kobe left them all lying on the floor needing medical attention.

If this is the Big News, Does this mean Kobe is back and ready to lead the Lakers on?

“When it’s time to play, I’m ready to play,” Bryant

Fatty’s Take: Kobe destroys team in practice?! Yeah, sounds like Kobe’s back to me.

Now on to the game preview.

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TLN - Laker Game Preview: Lakers vs Supersonics

Published by John Fatland on October 18, 2007 in Fatty's Game Preview. 0 Comments

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Laker Game Preview: Lakers vs Supersonics

Thursday 7 PM Lakers Standard Time

Television: Kcal/TNT (a preseason game on National TV?)

“It’s Just the Preseason, It Doesn’t Count”

kobesonics.jpgWatching the first two preseason games in Paradise, we all kept telling ourselves, “Its just the preseason, it doesn’t count.” I’m not telling anybody anything when I say, our defense was porous, we didn’t get back on transition, we shot the three poorly and we turned the ball over, a lot.

But as you focused on the Lakers, you noticed something was different. And it wasn’t just a few of them had some nice tans. (1st prize Rambis) They had similar uniforms, the names were the same, but they were definitely different.

Here’s what I noticed:

Lakers last year: Lakers get rebound. Fatty has time to go to bathroom, get Coke out of fridge, make popcorn, get comfy on the couch, just in time to watch the Lakers get into their offense.

Lakers this year: Lakers get rebound, Fatty starts to get up, but notices Lakers are streaking down court, looking to score, in what we now know, in 7 seconds. If the easy shot is not there, we go into the triangle, but not the normal triangle. Its like, well, faster.

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“If Kobe goes, I’m gone”

Published by John Fatland on October 14, 2007 in Fatty's Take and Kobe Watch. 88 Comments

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Fan’s threatening to leave the Lakers. Improbable and impossible as it seems, some are threatening to walk out on their favorite team, the Lakers, if Kobe is traded or opts out. I’ve heard more than a few bloggers say if Kobe goes, “That’s it, I’m out of here.”

When you really listen to them, they are just fans venting frustration with the Front Office. The thought of losing two Hall of Fame players in 4 years is too much for some to bear.

But to follow Kobe no matter where he goes, is bordering on worship. He is awesome to watch. I will admit, I’ve been a frequent admirer and sometimes worshiper of the Half Man - Half God, Kobe Bryant. He does things that mere mortals wish they could do. But following Kobe to the ends of the earth, like the old Carole King song, “Where you lead, I will follow. Any where, any where, you want me too” is not my thing.

Think about it. Could you really root for Kobe if he played for the Boston Celtics, the Sacramento Kings, or gasp, the Phoenix Suns? Absolutely, positively, no way.

If you think you can, try this test first.

Repeat after me: “I love the Phoenix Suns. Go Suns. Beat the Lakers!”

If you found that hard or even impossible to say, (try typing it) then you are truly a Laker Fan for life.

My loyalty is with the Lakers, even if they have a funny name, that makes no sense being in L.A.

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Game Preview: Lakers vs Golden State

Published by John Fatland on October 9, 2007 in Fatty's Game Preview. 10 Comments

Also, be sure to remember we have Live Gameday Chat one hour before the game… so, uh, be there.

The first two games of pre-season are the most important of the season. We have GOT to win those,” Golden State Warriors coach Don Nelson joked after a recent practice in Laie.

Normally, Fatty would agree with Nelson’s assessment. But after our ‘Summer of Discontent’, The Lakers Nation aficionados (bloggers) have an unusual interest in what is normally a ‘can miss’ game. We have lots of questions about our team, and we want answers, no WE DEMAND ANSWERS, and we want them NOW. So tonight we stay up late, (unless you are one of the privileged ones that live in paradise) we analyze our favorite team, and we look to see if this team has what it takes to compete in the NBA.

Necessary Reminders: Tools needed: TV, Computer, coffee, pen and note pad, and an open mind.

Not Recommended: No beer, no popcorn, no candy, and no fun. (This is serious business and we can’t allow anything to impair our judgment.)

Key Matchup of the Game: Javaris Crittenton vs. Jordan Farmar

Forget the Golden State players. We want to see what our guys can do. Farmar has experience, Critt has promising talent. Who will get those minutes behind Fisher?

“I’m definitely looking forward to that,” said Lakers guard Javaris Crittenton, the team’s first-round draft pick. “First real NBA experience. I had summer league but this is the real deal.” For a good look at the match up, check out this article. Notice the picture of Critt with his arm around Farmar. Best of friends? Right.

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