What do players and coaches do when things go in the wrong direction? Take a shot, for one. And I’m not talking about a shot of Jack Daniels. Be it a coaching decision or a player’s poor play, the natural reaction is to take a shot at someone – directly or subtly – when the results are negative. Some will even take a shot at themselves at times, if it’s called for. The blame game is the theme of the stories around
The Los Angeles Lakers fans and everyone else along the way were absolutely shocked very early on Monday morning, when Mike Bresnahan of Los Angeles Times reported that Mike D’Antoni – not Phil Jackson – would become the next head coach of Kobe Bryant and company. So what exactly happened? It was reported over the weekend that the Zen master and the Lakers met to discuss the coach’s possible return to the team after the firing of Mike Brown. The fact that
After a weekend replete with pandemonium following former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Mike Brown’s ousting, complete with two days of Phil Jackson rumors, crowd chants and speculation, we have a resolution. The LA Lakers have hired Mike D’Antoni, the mastermind of the 7-Seconds or Less offense. All-Star power forward Pau Gasol welcomed D’Antoni to the team on Twitter. [Read more…]
While all of the focus has been on the soap opera swirl around the Los Angeles Lakers, the NBA’s other similarly storied franchise has its own set of issues. The Boston Celtics also raised expectations by adding some key pieces in the offseason, then promptly stumbled out of the gate. But there were no death stares, insurrections, coach beheadings or panic moves. But there are some problems in Beantown. Let’s allow team leader Kevin Garnett to explain. “You can’t speed chemistry up,” Garnett said.
Fire Mike Brown. That has been the sentiment of many Lakers fans after watching their super team open the season with three straight losses. Don’t believe me? Check out our “When will Mike Brown get fired” poll. It turns out, fans aren’t the only ones having an issue with the scrutinized coach’s methods, from Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld: Fans have already started calling for Brown’s job and many of his players have started wondering if he’s the right person to lead the team. Behind
Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Blake was fined $25,000 by the NBA on Tuesday for inappropriate language toward a fan. The fine was announced by NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson. With 29 seconds remaining in Friday’s 105-95 loss to the rival Clippers at Staples Center, Blake apparently had a nasty exchange with a fan. Blake has been pressed into a starting role following the injury to point guard Steve Nash. He is averaging 5.3 points, 4.3 assists and 2.0
I need to limit the reasons to feel positive about the Lakers to just five? Well now I’m simply going to feel as if I’m short-changing them. Anyways, all narcissistic, ego-fueling Lakers comments aside, there are many reasons to look at the upcoming NBA season as one that could end with a parade running through downtown Los Angeles. But if there’s anything we’ve learned from professional sports, it’s that things rarely turn out the way you expect. There are plenty of reasons why the
With the season only about a month away, many of you will be interested in gearing up for one of the most popular sports games around: fantasy basketball. Our writer Kent Williams (@sheridanfantasy) has been all over the do’s and don’ts for your upcoming drafts, and as a long-time fantasy player myself, I can tell you that he is pretty much on the money with the analysis. If you missed it, be sure to check out the fantasy spin from today: