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Archive for the 'Varsity Shootaround' Category

TLN’s Game Preview: Lakers vs. Suns

Published by Andrew Rafner on November 20, 2008 in Varsity Shootaround. 26 Comments

This seems to happen every time. The gregariousness of the self-proclaimed Big Cactus/Aristotle/A-Hole seems to concoct some sort of witches brew before every meeting with his former team.

In his five seasons since being traded, Shaquille O’Neal has gotten in a shoving match with an 18-year old, buried the hatchet with Kobe, and this time, has dug up that very hatchet and slung it into the back of Phil Jackson.

Shaquille O’Neal, despite all of his grandeur and heroism during his eight seasons in Los Angeles, has become the city’s favorite villain.

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TLN’s Game Preview: Lakers vs. Bulls

Published by Andrew Rafner on November 18, 2008 in Varsity Shootaround. 21 Comments

It turns out the Lakers (7-1) are mortal. It turns out they are prone to nights where they are the ones being boatraced off the floor. It turns out the 2008-09 regular season will not be a mere coronation.

Despite the perceived inevitability of unflappable success, the Lakers will lace up their sneakers and play each of their 82-games, as will their opponents.

And some nights, their foes will best them. And when that happens (and it will happen…more than anyone cares to admit) it is important not to set fire to the fallen.

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TLN’s Game Preview: Lakers vs. Pistons

Published by Andrew Rafner on November 14, 2008 in Varsity Shootaround. 32 Comments

For the last one hundred years, the automotive triumvirate of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors has dominated the Detroit automotive industry. They are not only an American institution; they are revered and hallowed major innovators and employers throughout the Rust Belt. Yet, with foreign competition growing, and the American economy in flux, the Big Three in Detroit are facing an unprecedented time of uncertainty. The dependable establishment is being shaken to its core.

Interestingly, the current day plight of the Detroit auto industry closely mirrors the fortunes of their NBA franchise.

Fixtures of the last six Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons (6-2) are a foundation of power facing imminent recession.

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TLN’s Game Preview: Lakers @ Hornets

Published by Andrew Rafner on November 12, 2008 in Varsity Shootaround. 28 Comments

In yesterday’s pregame I expressed my desire for a close game. I elucidated my listlessness over the previous five blowouts.

Ask and you shall receive, I suppose.

The Lakers prevailed in an emotional contest in Dallas in which they limited the Mavericks to only 39-points in the second half after allowing 60 in the first.

For a team that had yet to be tested in a late game situation, the Lakers reacted in part with poise and in part with a deer-in-the-headlights type shock. After a late fourth-quarter timeout after the Mavericks had cut the Laker lead to two, I swear I saw Sash with tears in his eyes.

Now, this supposed overreaction and eventual triumph proves two things to me; two things of paramount importance for me. First, the ability of the Lakers to close out a game late in the fourth quarter with their defense while their offense was stymied. Second, that this team now possesses the same abhorrence to defeat that their leader, Kobe Bryant has instilled into them.

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TLN’s Game Preview: Lakers @ Mavericks

Published by Andrew Rafner on November 11, 2008 in Varsity Shootaround. 20 Comments

A Keith Olbermann-style Special Comment regarding Laker Basketball:

I did not see a 29-point blowout coming.

Unfortunately, I am not imbued with the same type of unwavering confidence that is possessed by, say, Uncle Vic the Brick. I expect a close game, or, dare I say, a loss every once in awhile.

I am aware that it is absolutely asinine to assume that the Lakers (5-0) will roll to an 82-0 record over the course of the season. It is absurd to even expect them to win 70 games.

Yet, over the last five contests, I have found myself looking to the heavens, gazing into the cosmos, wondering what it all means. What do these blowouts and boatraces signify? How long will it continue? WHEN WILL THEY LOSE?! This lack of drama and intrigue so far in the young season has led to a sort of malaise for me. I clamor for a close game. I itch for a contest that comes down to the last possession.

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TLN’s Game Preview: Lakers vs. Rockets

Published by Andrew Rafner on November 9, 2008 in Varsity Shootaround. 21 Comments

Although the NBA season is entering it’s third week, it sure doesn’t feel like it thus far for the Lakers (4-0).

Fortunately, the so called “bye week” is mercifully coming to an end tonight as the Lakers face their first elite and formidable foe during this young season in the Houston Rockets (4-2).

And although the Laker showed some signs of rust during Wednesday’s contest against the Clippers, they eventually were able to find the same groove that propelled them to their other three victories, this time on the merits of a 7:11 span in which they held the Clippers scoreless.

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TLN’s Game Preview: Lakers vs. Clippers

Published by Andrew Rafner on November 5, 2008 in Varsity Shootaround. 15 Comments

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”

- Charles Dickens

Although the Lakers and the Clippers share the same city, it sometimes feels like they are worlds apart.

Many writers, pundits and commentators before me have tried to illustrate the dichotomy between these two franchises that call the City of Angels home.

Last season I used the allegory of two brothers. With the events of the last week, to say that these two teams are related in any other way besides the city they call home would be an insult.

Another season has come, and yet again, the Clippers are the proverbial punching bag of the league with an 0-4 record. The saddest part is that all four of the Clipper losses have been double-digit blowouts. 38 to the Lakers, 10 to the Nuggets, and back-to-back 22 and 16-point losses to the Jazz.

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TLN’s Game Preview: Lakers @ Nuggets

Published by Andrew Rafner on November 1, 2008 in Varsity Shootaround. 23 Comments

There is something so tragic to me about the Denver Nuggets and how their roster is constructed. It borders somewhere between crazy genius and just plain crazy.

They posses two of the most gifted offensive players in the game with Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson, they have a wealth of drug offenders (too many to list), and more tattoos per square inch of skin than any other team in the league.

To be quite honest, the Denver Nuggets are everything that is wrong with professional basketball: disrespectful, underdeveloped yet still potent offensive attack and a downright refusal to play even half assed defense. It comes as no surprise that Smush Parker was a part of this team until just about a week ago.

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