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Archive for the 'Fatty's Take' Category

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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Game Preview: USA VS. BRAZIL

Published by John Fatland on August 26, 2007 in Fatty's Game Preview and USA Basketball. 9 Comments

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.

Fatty’s Scouting Report: Team USA vs Brazil; Sunday 6:00 PM ESPN 2. Also remember, that theLakersNation.com has Live Gameday Chat one hour prior to the game. Join us!

barbkobe.jpgKobe Bryant and Team USA have been on Cruise Control, with the average margin of victory at a whopping 51.5 pts/game.

Kobe hasn’t been needed much, only playing 17.5 min/game, just a mere sampling of Mamba24.

I feel like I’m visiting Costco, with all those food samples to try. These sweet little old ladies that smile and pleasantly offer neat things to eat are really clever. Why? Because they make you want more, and to get more you must purchase the item. With Kobe, we’ve seen a sampling of spectacular dunks, nifty behind the back passes, three point swishes, tenacious defense, and some incredible moves that have us and the crowds yelling for more.

Instead of more Kobe, we are forced to listen to Bill Walton read from the World Almanac. Question: Which is more boring? Bill Walton sharing geographical facts or elevator music? I’d say it’s a toss up.

Today all of that changes, because we play Brazil, which is led by Leandro Barbosa of Phoenix Suns fame.

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