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Author Archive for Chris Manning

Kobe Will Take Europe Defection Down To The Wire?

Published by Chris Manning on November 12, 2008 in Kobe Watch. 4 Comments

This is nothing to really be worried about… or is it? Either way, 7-0 start with the best team arguably - in Lakers history - sounds a lot better than showing off for some Euro team. What do you guys think?

RealGM: A source close to Kobe Bryan’ts camp says that European clubs have reached out quietly to his representation and set baselines for a possible free-agent contract. Offers of $30 million a year in Greece and Italy promise to be on the table, and, says one associate, “I guarantee whatever happens that Kobe will take that whole European thing down to the wire before he re-signs with the Lakers.”

Nation Discussion: To McDyess or not to McDyess?

Published by Chris Manning on November 12, 2008 in Nation Discussion. 28 Comments

According to this ESPN article, McDyess was waived by Denver which means he is a unrestricted free agent. While all the reports claim the same thing - McDyess will wait 30 days and return to Detroit, others say multiple teams including the Lakers have a small interest…

Such NBA powers as the Celtics, Lakers, Cavaliers, Hornets, Raptors, Rockets, and Suns are among those interested. However, an NBA source very close to McDyess said as of yesterday he plans on returning to Detroit, and many people close to him say they’d be shocked if he went elsewhere.

This one is simple, should the Lakers even try to go after McDyess or is the Lakers’ 6-0 ferocious start enough to justify passing on the old vet? Sound off!

Kobe to pass Bird on all-time scoring list!

Published by Chris Manning on November 11, 2008 in Kobe Watch. 16 Comments

UPDATE: Leading his team to a 7-0 start, Kobe dropped 20 making him 3 points away from this honor!

ESPN: Bryant is 23 points shy of Larry Bird on the career scoring list.

Here’s why the Lakers may be the greatest team ever (by a Bucks fan)

Published by Chris Manning on November 11, 2008 in News. 6 Comments

A Bucks fans argues why the Lakers may be the greatest team ever… there is still a LONG way to go but I like it…

BucksDiary: Should we save everyone the time and the aggravation and just have Kobe pose kissing the O’Brien Trophy retro Jordan style right now? Because barring injury or stupid personnel maneuver (neither of which can be discounted), there is next to no way the Los Angeles Lakers will be denied the NBA World Championship this season. In fact, they may end up being the greatest team of all time. And I’m talking objectively. Let me lay out the case.

At the moment, I would argue the “Greatest Ever” distinction lies with a different Los Angeles Lakers team, the 1971-72 version. I make that assertion because that 71-72 Laker team had a “Net % Team and Opposition Win Score above the NBA average” that was higher than any team I calculated, and my calculations go back to the 1963 NBA Finals.

Nation Discussion: Which Lakers (out of 5) are heading to the AS game?

Published by Chris Manning on November 11, 2008 in Nation Discussion. 17 Comments

The 2009 All-Star ballots are in!

Better yet, it features 5 Lakers; Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol & Andrew Bynum!

Who do you think will make it on there? Does Bynum have a better chance than Odom? With their strong start, how does this effect voting! Discuss it now!

Bynum #2 in Blocks!

Published by Chris Manning on November 11, 2008 in Random. 4 Comments

Bynum promised us all he would focus on the defensive end and boy has he ever (5-0 start)! Over on ESPN, you can check out the block leaders, big Bynum is sitting pretty at #2 behind Dwight…

Bynum strains rotator cuff on right shoulder

Published by Chris Manning on November 3, 2008 in News. 25 Comments

Bynum gets a small injury in practice but the big fella should be alright though!

O.C. Register: Andrew Bynum strained the rotator cuff in his right shoulder during practice but is expected to play Wednesday night against the Clippers. Bynum probably will be able to practice again Tuesday; the injury is considered that minor.

“It’s all right; it’s just a little tight,” Bynum said. Bynum got his arm bent back when he tried to block a dunk by Chris Mihm. “It’s just a strain,” Phil Jackson said. “I think he’ll be fine.”

NBA.com: Race to the MVP: Kobe starts season on top … again

Published by Chris Manning on November 1, 2008 in Kobe Watch. 8 Comments

With week one wrapping up and Kobe having a clutch performance to once again defeat the Nuggets, this article claims he is in the MVP race lead. Whether or not it’s too early, those “MVP” chants still give me goosebumps…

NBA.com: Welcome back to Race to the MVP. We missed you. We missed writing it. We missed the arguments between the Kobe Bryant lovers (a lot of you) and the Kobe haters (possibly even more of you).

1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (Stats: PPG — 19.5; RPG — 9.5; APG — 4.0; SPG — 1.5; BPG — 0.0; FG% — .483; FT% — .833)
Love him or hate him, Kobe’s greatness can’t be denied. He’s talented, he works hard and he plays hurt. For anyone other than Kobe to win MVP this season, they’ll need to take it from him. Think he’ll let that happen easily? His initial individual numbers for this season aren’t eye-popping, but his Lakers have won their first two games by an average of 29 points.