The Lakers Nation » DBrick’s Take

TLN EXCLUSIVE: Voice of the Nation – Jazz @ Lakers Postgame Report

David Brickley — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:38:01 +0000

David Brickley and Gregory Small were in the building to cover the Lakers victory over the Jazz, and see the Lakers secure their 10th straight win.

Here is their Post-game Report outside of Staples…

Palestra: Lakers vs. Nuggets Postgame Report

David Brickley — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:14:39 +0000

The Lakers Nation own and Voice of the Nation host David Brickley was at the Lakers Pre-season Finale at the Sports Arena in San Diego, CA.

He caught up with Coach Phil Jackson, Ron Artest, Lamar, and Kobe Bryant, about the game, and how the Lakers feel going into the regular season.

Here is his report for Palestra.net…

TLN EXCLUSIVE: Kobe Bryant at the Maloof Money Cup

David Brickley — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:11:09 +0000

Host of the “Voice of the Nation”, David Brickley, caught up with the four-time champion Kobe Bryant.

Ron OUR Test

David Brickley — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:08:35 +0000

Ron Artest on Wednesday officially became a part of the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Artest received a five-year deal worth about $33 million dollars. This either can be a major headache, or what seems to be more likely…

An absolute steal

Career averages of 16.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.1 steals.

An all-star caliber player, who has been named to All-Defensive teams, has won a Defensive Player of the Year award, and shot 40% from behind the three point line last season.

No offense to Trevor Ariza. He gave hustle, heart, and a will to improve on his game. He showed up on the biggest stage, and was a huge part why the Lakers won a NBA championship.

But Artest is better, a lot better, there’s just no argument to be made.

What Ariza’s agent didn’t know is why he was asking for more money than his client was worth, the Lakers had options of bringing in a better player than Trevor Ariza, and that player would be more then OK to sign for the MLE.

It was a no brainer, not to mention the last couple of years the Lakers have resigned their own players, they have been disappointed with their improvement. (See Sasha Vujacic, and Luke Walton)

Yes there is a crazy side of Ron-Ron that must be pointed out. His rookie season with Chicago he applied to Circuit City for a job in order to receive an employee discount. With the Pacers he attended a practice in a bath robe. He was suspended for 2 games by Pacers coach Rick Carlisle after he asked for a month off to promote his new album, and of course we all remember the 2004 brawl at the Palace.

Ron-Ron is not perfect. But it seems as if he has grown out of those immature crazy days. Sure he is still a great sound bite for reporters, and probably has a few more ejections up his sleeve. However, this new Ron Artest seems content in winning a NBA championship at all cost, and very excited to play alongside Kobe Bryant, and be coached by the G.O.A.T. Phil Jackson.

Ron Artest is this era’s Dennis Rodman. Sure Rodman dressed up in a wedding dress, dyed his hair, kicked a camera man in the groin, and even left his team before game 4 of the 1998 NBA Finals to go wrestle with Hulk Hogan.

However, those crazy antics don’t resonate as much when you produce like he did. All Rodman did in Chicago was win his fifth, sixth, and seventh rebounding title, and help the Bulls to win three straight championships.

The Rodman experiment worked in Chicago because he had a strong coach in Phil Jackson to keep him controlled, and the best in the league Michael Jordan to lead him.

Ron Artest has that same Phil Jackson, now with ten championship rings, and the best in the league Kobe Bryant to lead him.

Artest is a player that you love to hate when he’s on the opposing team, but a guy you can’t help but love when he’s in your team’s uniform. A pit-bull, that will defend the wing, back up his teammates, and most importantly do whatever it takes to win.

“Kobe has four rings, I’ve got none,” Artest said. “I’ve got to have one; I need one bad.”

Next season might be a year where the Lakers might take a sigh of relief. Artest will be there to push them to do it again and go back to back.

You might see Artest at the clubs on Sunset after the game, he might say some alarming things in the media, heck he might even pay homage to Dennis Rodman and throw on a wedding dress.

But if it produces a couple more championships. The crazy antics will just be another sub-plot in this succesfull Hollywood drama.

David Brickley is a staff writer, and host of The Voice of the Nation podcast on TLN. You can view more of his work at davidjbrickley.com.

Andrew Bynum back on Sunday?

David Brickley — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:09:32 +0000

The time may be near, Andrew Bynum back in the lineup on Sunday?

Lamar Odom, joined Steve Hartman and Chris Myers on the Myers and Hartman show, on AM570 KLAC. Odom was asked when the Lakers are expecting Bynum to return.

“Andrew says that hopefully he will be playing not this game (vs. Houston), but the next one after that (vs. Clippers)”, said Odom.

All reports indicated that the return of Bynum would be Easter Sunday vs. Memphis, giving the young center two games to get ready for the playoffs. However, If Bynum’s prediction is correct; he would get six games of action in the regular season before the Lakers started round one of the playoffs.

Odom also added, “I think it might be a good idea, for Andrew to start because our first unit is so strong, especially with shot making, having Kobe and Pau out there.”

Odom reiterated saying, “I think it would probably be a good idea for him to start, put him right back where he started, and have me come off the bench.”

Lamar going back to the bench would indeed bring that punch that the second unit has lacked since seeing Odom and Ariza join the starting lineup. This is also good news for all Lakers fans, it looks like Lamar has finally got the big picture and is ready to do whatever is necessary to help this team win a NBA championship.

Bynum was initially injured on January 31st against the Memphis Grizzlies. A return on Sunday would have given the center eight full weeks to recover. The Lakers originally predicted 8-12 weeks for recovery.

Bynum, had averaged 26.2 points on 65.3 percent shooting, 13.8 rebounds and 3.20 blocked shots the previous five games before the MCL tear against Memphis.

The Conclusion on Lamar Odom

David Brickley — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:28:56 +0000

Lamar Odom joined the Lakers in 2004, and sitting here in 2009 he is still the most perplexing individual on this roster.

Why do I say that? Well we still can’t put a finger on Lamar. A player that some people call a walking mismatch, others call him Lamar O-dumb.

You love him then you hate him, you want to trade him but when the rumors get thick you cringe at the thought.

Regardless, you got to have deep respect for a man that has given his all to this organization. Playing with a torn labrum in the 2007 Playoffs, coming back strong mentally after the devastating and tragic death of his infant son, and a guy that has said multiple times that he wants to retire a Laker.

One of Odom’s biggest fans is hall of fame coach Pat Riley, who gave him a second chance with the Heat, after the Clippers said Lamar had, “issues of character, and other risks involved.” Riley signed him to a 63 million dollar contract, and called him “one of the most unique players that he has ever seen.”

Not a bad statement from a man that had coached players such as James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and of course Magic Johnson.

Speaking of Magic Johnson, Riley then said this about Odom.

“He is the only player to come into this league, who had the ability to play like Earvin (Magic) Johnson.”

A player that was once known for his Marijuana habit, was now being compared to the best point guard in NBA history.

Lamar revived his career in Miami, on the court he averaged 17.1 points, and 9.7 rebounds a game. But what was most important was what he did off the court. He said, “For the first time in my life I felt like a grown man, How I think. How I act. My relationships with people were changing and evolving.”

Lamar finally got the big picture. It wasn’t about the lavish lifestyle, partying, and doing whatever you wanted to do. It was about being a professional and taking your profession seriously.

Lamar was then tied to one of the most controversial and covered trades in recent time when the Lakers shipped out the “most dominant center in NBA history” Shaquille O’Neal to Miami in exchange for Brian Grant, Caron Butler, and of course Lamar Odom.

He was now a Laker and now instead of being compared to Magic Johnson, he was now the Scottie Pippen, to Kobe’s Michael Jordan.

As we all know that never worked out. But when Pau Gasol came to town last February, Lamar said, “Were like a rock and roll group” and that he wouldn’t mind being the third option on this team.

Andrew Bynum then came back from injury this year, and a lot of people were now saying Lamar is the 4th option.

In this years training camp, Phil Jackson decided that Lamar would be better suited off the bench. Becoming that Manu Ginobli sixth man type, and be the first option of the second unit.

However with the superb play of Trevor Ariza, and Jordan Farmar, people can argue Lamar may be the 6th or 7th best player on this team.

Sound kind of weird? Here is a question if the Lakers could only keep Ariza or Lamar who would you pick? How about Jordan Farmar or Lamar?

Kind of tricky, fans may be on both sides, but the fact is, Lamar is no longer asked to be the Scottie, or compared to Magic. He is just a talented piece to the Lakers championship puzzle.

At 29 years old, Lamar has gave us a body of work that we can judge him on. He is a unbelievably gifted athlete who has the ability any given night to score 35, or grab 20 boards, or dish out 18 assists. He also can produce a stat line of zero points, one board, and one assist in 20 minutes of play.

All that being said, Lamar will be an important piece in this years championship run. I also see a few games during the playoffs where he has a coming out party, and helps lift this team to the promise land.

Inconsistent may be a great word when describing Lamar. But he has made great strides in his life, and made a lot of sacrifices in order to compete for the city of Los Angeles.

You may not get Lamar Odom, you may think he failed at being all he can be. But I’ll tell you on thing, you got to respect the man.

Here’s to Lamar Joseph Odom in helping us get that ring that we all know is ours, because we all know one thing you can’t question an NBA champion.

Not Just Any Regular Season Game

David Brickley — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:46:06 +0000

David Stern: “Your 2008 NBA Champions, the Boston Celtics”

Arguably the seven most painful words some of us Lakers fans have ever heard.

Those words and the series of events that happened last June have had a long time to marinate. We shall never forget what happened, and make no mistake the players feel the same way.

From Sasha Vujacic not wearing green, and distancing himself from anything that has to do with the Celtics, to Derek Fisher writing the number 24 up on the whiteboard earlier this season, signifying the lead the Lakers had in Game 4, only to lose that game 97-91, going down 3-1 in the Finals.

Finally, here we are, what we all have been waiting for, the rematch, the revenge game, the game that we all circled on August 6th, when the NBA schedule came out for the 2008-2009 Season.

Kobe Bryant is famous for saying, “this is just another regular season game”, but even KB24 has to admit that this game is astronomical, compared to any other game the Lakers have played this season.

A shot at redemption, a time to show the Celtics that this year is our year.

There are a few things that are worth mentioning about this Christmas showdown. For one, the Celtics have won 19 straight games, and have started the season 27-2, good enough for the best start by any team in NBA history.

However, there is a man the Celtics did not see last June. He wears number 17, stands at seven feet, and weighs in at about 285 lbs, and if for one second you think that the Finals loss didn’t hurt young Andrew as much as the guys that suited up in that series, then you got it all wrong.

All in all, this is the measuring stick to see where we are. There’s no question right now that the Celtics are currently the best team in the NBA. Ask, Magic Johnson, the Lakers have at sometimes been inconsistent. Their defense has been questioned, and even their focus.

But, there won’t be one Los Angeles Laker that will lose focus for this game, because this is bigger than a game. This is like the guy, that stole your girlfriend, and then you happen to run into him six months later.

Okay, that analogy might not be the greatest, but it rings true. You got to come out swinging; I don’t think words can describe how it was watching Game 6, losing by 39 points! In a game that they should have killed to win, instead, they rolled over and died.

Will it be the end of the world if the Lakers lose on Christmas? Will all hope be lost?

Absolutely not, however, I don’t know about you guys, but all I want for Christmas is a throttling of the Celtics, well a victory at the very least.

Lastly, if for some odd reason you’re not as fired up as me, or you’re not still steaming about what happened last time we matched up against this team, pop in that Game 6 tape, if you don’t have it, go on YouTube and check out Kevin Garnett in the most awkward interview ever, yelling, “Anythiiiiiingggg is Possibleeeeee”.

You can also see Ray Allen, accepting the award of the years “Best Team”, at the ESPY’s which was held at the Nokia Theater. Guess what his first words were when he reached the podium, “Another win in L.A.!”

Remember, Paul Pierce said that he is the best basketball player in the league, or what about him falling to the ground like he just tore his ACL, MCL, and LCL, and then minutes later come running out of the locker room.

Not to mention the fact that people compare that to the Willis Reed moment, which is the most disgusting comparison I’ve ever heard in my life, and is a slap in the face to the respected Hall of Famer.

So it is Christmas time, it is time to be with our loved ones. But, at 2:00pm Pacific Time, even my loved ones, know where I need to be, in front of the T.V. rooting on my Los Angeles Lakers, and if a Lakers victory means I don’t get any presents this year. Then that’s fine with me!

Boston, you better be ready, because we are!

Kobe leads Team USA to Capture Gold

David Brickley — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:34:07 +0000

I took a few things away from the USA vs. Spain gold medal game.

The one that sticks out the most is that Team USA would NOT have won the gold without the one and only Kobe Bryant.

It took the final game of the Olympics to truly test this “Redeem Team”, it took the gold medal game to see if this team is truly the best in the world.

They proved that, and it’s not like we needed any more reassurance. However, Kobe Bryant also proved that he is the best on the planet, and one of the biggest pieces Team USA needed to regain gold, and solidify the United States as the finest in the world.

The respect is un-matched, and with all the talent on that USA team, and all the big names that are asked to carry their respective NBA teams, everybody knew when it came down to it, the star of stars would be Kobe Bryant, and he would lead them to the promise land.

Some of us wondered if Kobe would ever put his stamp on these Olympics, if indeed he would ever prove that he is the best of the best. When team USA needed him, he stepped up. When the rest were lost, he was there to guide them. When the team was looking for answers Kobe stepped up to the challenge.

Kobe Scored 13 points in the fourth and final quarter, being more aggressive in the final minutes, after Coach K told Kobe, “Let the Mamba loose.”

Spain was a great competitor, the previous meeting they would lose to Team USA by 37, this time there was more on the line, and Spain definitely rose to the challenge.

Someone who definitely rose to the challenge was Kobe’s Lakers teammate Pau Gasol, he had an impressive effort, and it was nice to see him more aggressive and going at Dwight Howard, after being labeled soft after the lackluster performance in the NBA finals.

As a diehard Lakers fan, and a proud USA citizen, it was great to finally see Team USA back on top where they belong, no matter what the media said, USA is the pinnacle of basketball talent.

The USA flag was raised in the air, higher then both Spain and Argentina, and the national anthem played, it was an emotional time for Kobe, all those involved with USA basketball, and any patriotic American. It sure feels good to be back on top!

Congratulations to Kobe, Team USA, and our man Pau for a great effort.

What do you think? Does Team USA win this game without the killer instinct and immense talent of Kobe Bryant? Were you impressed with Team USA’s effort throughout the Olympics? We want your take! Sound off in comments

The Unusual Side

David Brickley — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:26:30 +0000

Who are you, and what did you do with Kobe?

We all know Kobe as being the man with ice water in his veins, the player that wants to rip your heart out, and wants the ball down 1 with seconds to play.

Kobe wasn’t nervous when he was just 18 years old shooting potential game winners for the Lakers as a rookie. Even after air balling a few, he never got nervous or anxious, he just kept shooting.

When Shaq left town, most people would be nervous, it was now Kobe’s team and all praise and criticism would rest on his shoulders, yet nothing, cool as the other side of the pillow.

Kobe is always cool, calm, and collective. Nothing ever worries him; he lets nothing get in his head, and always is up for the challenge. Showing the world that I have been here before, and I have no problem taking the final shot, have no problem being the guy everybody will criticize if the team does bad, and have no problem being boo’ed in Game 1 of the season because I asked to be traded.

However, Tuesday at 2:30PM Pacific Time, Kobe was nervous.

For the first time as a diehard Kobe fan, I saw him anxious, edgy, and even frightened.

Kobe didn’t realize that people were going to ask him questions at a news conference; Stu Lantz had to reiterate that to him. Kobe accepted the MVP and then awkwardly walked away.

Come on Kobe this isn’t the academy awards, this is a press conference; all those reporters out there are there to ask you questions!

So, Stu told Kobe, “the reporters are going to ask you questions”, and then KB24 walked right passed the mic, asking, “Where do I stand?”

Then he finally was directed to the podium, with his hands on each side, tapping his fingers rapidly.

Then the words we have never heard came out, “I’ve never been here before, I’m nervous”

That may not be a shock to some Lakers fans, but it is to me. Kobe Bryant, nervous?

A man that always answers questions perfectly, with intelligence and etiquette, A man that is always all business. Actually had no idea how to act, the man that has ice water in his veins, didn’t know how to accept the MVP.

The reason, was because it was the one thing Kobe had no control over. No matter how hard he worked or how much he wanted it, there was no guarantee that he would ever win a MVP.

Although Kobe will not say it publicly, Kobe Bryant wants to be known as the best basketball player to ever play. Yet, there’s no way he could ever be considered for that title, if he never won an MVP.

MJ, Bird, Magic, Wilt, Kareem, Dr. J…Yup, all MVP’s at one point.

Well Kobe is now in that class, and when it’s all said and done, Kobe can now potentially be known as the greatest player that has ever played the game.

Congratulations, Kobe!

Save Bynum ’til next Season!

David Brickley — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:17:42 +0000

When Bynum went down we told ourselves, as long as he’s back for playoffs we will be fine.

Which was understandable and perfectly logical at the time, we needed Bynum to compete with the elite teams. But we didn’t know how good we would become without him in the lineup.

Fact is, this team is currently healthy and ready to go, to win a NBA championship. It should be considered a failure, if we do not win the Gold.

Having Bynum and Ariza back 100% would almost not be fair, too good to be true. Can you imagine?

The lineup we have been talking about since the trade. Andrew Bynum at Center, Pau Gasol at PF, and Lamar Odom at the small forward position.

Then we round of the starting 5 with the veteran savvy, Derek Fisher, and then at the 2 spot will be the best player in the league, the M.V.P. Kobe Bryant.

Heck of a lineup, to me the obvious favorite to go all the way. Excluding Fisher, four players that could be the go to guy on a lot of teams. Give another year for Bynum, and have Odom be this consistent for 82 games. We might have four All-Stars come next February.

Last time that happened Van Exel, Eddie Jones, Kobe, and Shaq. But this foursome would be even better.

Most likely, we will have to wait till next season to see this impressive lineup. But fact is, we don’t need Bynum or Ariza. Let them heal for next year so we can challenge our back-to-back.

Now again, let’s not get ahead of ourselves as Kobe always says, “We take it one game at a time,” but can you fathom winning the NBA championship, not even at full strength, then come back next year better than ever?

That’s too far into the future, but right now with the Kobe – Gasol duo, and how deep our bench is, we talk, walk, and act like champions.

I haven’t seen our guys this confident since the championship years with Shaq, this team looks destined, I can already see some of these sound clips ending up on those Sports Illustrated Championship DVD’s.

Some may be mad; some might say I’m looking too far ahead. But all I’m saying is this team looks like it’s ready to be crowned. Has all the pieces, has the coach, has the MVP, and has the experience to go all the way.

I never would of thought I would say this but we really don’t need Bynum or Ariza back, sure it would be nice, but I think with this current team were almost selfish to rush back a future All-Star.

So yes, Im saying it, we don’t need Bynum. We have two All-Stars, the best third option, and have the deepest team in the league.

Not to mention a coach with 9 Championship rings. I can feel it, this feels like our year, it’s our time!

We’ve followed because we believed, since Game 5 against the Suns last year, we all came together and knew this wasn’t okay for our Los Angeles Lakers to be bounced in the first round with little talent to compete.

So we followed, and then fell when Kobe demanded out, but somehow kept following knowing this Laker team would go back to what it’s known for, competing for NBA titles.

Were back, what takes other franchises decades to re-build, were back, and look like we have a great shot at winning a NBA title.

I said it earlier in the year, and I’ll say it again; I totally plan on driving down to Figueroa street in June,

Yes, that means I would be at a Lakers Championship parade.

And yes that obviously means that the Lakers would be 2008 NBA Champs.

There I said it… again!

David Brickley is a TLN Staff contributor, you can contact David at DBricks33@GMail.com, also check his work out at MySpace.com/TheDavidBrickleyShow.