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Hollinger’s Team Forecast: Los Angeles Lakers

Published by Jim Murdoc on October 2, 2008 in 2008 Off-Season. 16 Comments

ESPN: 2007-08 Recap
NBA executives are fond of saying it’s the deals they don’t make that often end up being the best decisions, and certainly the Lakers would agree with that sentiment.

It’s hard to remember, in the wake of their conference championship and Kobe Bryant’s MVP season, but when training camp opened, Bryant’s frustration with his supporting cast had him pining for a trade to a team that he viewed as a more legitimate contender. His frustration stemmed from the team’s refusal to trade Andrew Bynum for Jason Kidd at the 2007 trade deadline.

In retrospect, much of it seems hilarious — that he wanted to go to the Bulls because he felt they had a better chance of winning the title, for instance, or that he wanted Kidd instead of Bynum — but at the time it was dead serious. Fortunately, Bynum broke out with an All-Star caliber first half of the season, immediately justifying the team’s decision to hang on to him, and the rest of the Lakers’ youthful core began playing dramatically better.

Bynum checked out with a midseason knee injury, but almost immediately the Lakers had an incredible trade fall into their laps. L.A. procured star forward Pau Gasol from Memphis at a cost of two players who weren’t even in the rotation: guard Javaris Crittenton and center Kwame Brown, and three long-term assets — Spanish forward Marc Gasol (Pau’s brother, ironically) and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010.

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Lakers youngsters fight for last roster spots

Published by Jim Murdoc on October 2, 2008 in 2008 Pre-Season. 3 Comments

O.C. Register: The young guys hung together, unsure and unknowing what they were supposed to do or where to go during Monday’s media session.

Few reporters approached them. Even fewer television cameras sought them out. So the group of rookies joked around, laughed and then took a group photo.

Yet, by the time Lakers training camp ends, one player, maybe two, will emerge from the pack, separated by their superior ball-handling skills, shooting ability or defensive play and be rewarded with a roster spot.

The competition for the final two roster spots will be fierce as training camp opens Tuesday. Coach Phil Jackson traditionally likes to carry only 14 players, allowing him leeway later on in the season in case the Lakers suffer multiple injuries.

The rookies know this and are aware of each other’s competitive drive.

“I feel the spots are open for someone to take, for the rookies to take, you just have to go out there and take them,” said Dwayne Mitchell, a free agent guard who played last season for Iowa in the NBA Developmental League.

“They are going to take the best two guys, the two guys they feel can best help them, this team and improve their game.”

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Phil, Lakers want Livingston

Published by Chris Manning on October 2, 2008 in 2008 Off-Season. 30 Comments

We’ve talked about Livingston before, but now it seems both Phil and Fish would want him here on the Lakers! I’m open for anything that brings us more height and versatility, are you?

O.C. Register: Several teams remain intrigued with the prospect of having Shaun Livingston on its roster. That includes the Lakers, according to head coach Phil Jackson…  At 6-foot-7, and possessing uncanny court vision, Livingston is the prototype guard that Jackson covets. There is no one on the Lakers’ roster that has the playmaking skills that Livinston possessed when the Clippers selected him fourth overall in the 2004 draft….

“He’s Phil’s type of cat,” Lakers guard Derek Fisher said. “He’s versatile, with the ability to play a bigger guard defensively. We’re talented now but if Shaun somehow was able to join the mix, we’d be unbelievable.”…

TLN Pre-Season Perspective: Interviewing Rip City Project

Published by Jonathan Somers-Harris on October 2, 2008 in Pre-Season Perspective. 16 Comments

Hey Guys,

We’re counting down the days till the start of the new season, and it’s about time for everyone to be making predictions. This year, instead of just doing one prediction, I decided to go out and interview one blogger for every NBA team.

The bloggers whose opinions we will be graced with over the next few weeks are the best of the best, as all of them have featured in Yahoos Ball Don’t Lie basketball blog’s Blog Association, where Kelly Dwyer has been profiling the best team-centric NBA blogs out there. If you have any inclination of increasing your knowledge about the NBA, these are the blogs you need to read and subscribe to. (I know I will be!)

Today, we are honored to interview Couper and SJ from Rip City Project, home to the most luminous and scintillating analysis on the Blazers ever known to man. Couper and SJ were gracious enough to lay down the truth about the Lakers and the Blazers.

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Exclusive: Elie Seckbach for The Lakers Nation

Published by Elie Seckbach on October 1, 2008 in Elie's Take. 22 Comments

Elie Seckbach, The Embedded NBA Correspondent is bringing his magic to the Lakers Nation. He will be posting videos discussing issues that go way beyond X’s and O’s

In this video he talks about what some people say about Lakers fans…

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Vujacic sprains left ankle

Published by Kam Pashai on October 1, 2008 in 2008 Pre-Season. 16 Comments

Don’t worry too much! Its not THAT bad.

OC Register: Sasha Vujacic sprained his left ankle during the Tuesday night scrimmage. It was diagnosed as a moderate sprain, but Vujacic suggested he could be back in action in a few days.

Vujacic ran into DJ Mbenga during a baseline drive when Mbenga tried to take a charge. Vujacic said it’s an area on the outside of his ankle that is causing sharp pain.

“I was going to the basket,” Vujacic said. “Hard to believe, but I was going to the basket.”

Vujacic noted that he should be able to do more of that now that he’s “210″ — and to be completely honest with you, I initially thought he said he was “too tan.”

It’s no coincidence that a moment later when Lamar Odom was joking with Vujacic about getting hurt, Vujacic asked Odom to tell reporters how Vujacic got hurt.

“Tanning?” Odom deadpanned.

Podcast: Voice of the Nation - Episode #11

Published by Jim Murdoc on October 1, 2008 in Voice of the Nation. 8 Comments

The Voice of the Nation Podcast with Andrew Rafner and David Brickley will guide you through the capillaries and ventricles of the Lakers Nation.

Andrew and David find their way out of the offseason swamp and make their first steps into the 2008-09 PRE-SEASON, complete with a visit from Chris Manning who shared his experiences from Lakers Media Day! Plus, Dr. Andrew gets into the REAL reason behind Sun Yue’s mononucleosis.

Playlist -
Camera Obscura - San Francisco Song
The Kooks - Mr. Maker
The School - I Want You Back
T.I. feat. kanYe west - Swagger Like Us
Count Basie - Jumpin’ At The Woodside
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Asobi Seksu - New Years
Dengue Fever - Tiger Phone Card

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Download Link: Voice of the Nation - Episode #11

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Odom wants to start, and Jackson knows it

Published by Jim Murdoc on October 1, 2008 in 2008 Pre-Season. 11 Comments

O.C. Register: Lamar Odom would rather start. He would rather have a big season and get another big contract to replace the one that expires at the end of this season. He would also rather win a championship with the Lakers than be elsewhere.

So Odom acknowledged he’s conflicted about his personal and team agendas, especially after Phil Jackson continues to ponder his brainstorm from the end of last season that the Lakers might be better served with Odom as a sixth man and defensive ace Trevor Ariza starting.

“Whatever he wants, I guess I would do,” Odom said. “But I wouldn’t suggest (a reserve role), especially in a year where I want to be on the court for obvious reasons.”

Jackson and Odom have spoken briefly about the matter, but Jackson remains set on waiting and seeing what kind of defense the tall frontcourt of Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum can deliver together for the starting lineup. Jackson brought up the name of San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili to reporters after practice as an example of how elite teams usually have a starting-caliber player coming off the bench.

Jackson also offered this little dig when asked about the possible bench role motivating Odom to work harder: “I don’t know. I’ve never seen Lamar motivated before.”