Here’s an underrated statement for this season’s version of the Los Angeles Lakers: they have not been the luckiest of bunch in terms of injuries suffered, from top to bottom. This team was tagged as the undisputed best team in the league before playing a single game together. Obviously, that has been far from the case. It’s easy to say that the team simply hasn’t gelled – which is true – but they certainly would have been much better than what
Is it an exaggeration to call Jrue Holiday a member of the elite point guard class in the NBA? Not entirely. Sure, it was only last November that Holiday was coming off a disappointing third season in which his reclining numbers and lower efficiency ratings had many analysts wondering whether he had reached his ceiling as nothing more than a competent point guard. This season, however, Holiday has indisputably become a worthy All-Star selection and has earned a rightful place on the short
After Friday’s dispiriting home loss to the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni could not take it any longer. D’Antoni went on a wide-ranging rant against his team, targeting its lack of commitment and effort on both sides of the ball. He said the Lakers were “messing with the basketball gods” and called their championship aspirations “laughable.” Although D’Antoni mentioned no one by name, very few wearing the forum blue and gold appeared exempt. [Read more…]
How much do you know about the Brooklyn Nets head coach P.J. Carlesimo? Other than the Latrell Sprewell choke incident and the insistence on starting Kevin Durant at the two once upon a time – both disastrous scenarios – you probably don’t know too much about the man. That’s about to change some, as you’ll learn about his loyalty, what he thought about the “choke” incident, how he thinks the 2012 USA Team would fare against The Dream Team and more
The Los Angeles Lakers play in Phoenix tonight and will be looking for their seventh win in nine games. More importantly, tonight was supposed to mark the return of Pau Gasol to the Lakers’ lineup. Gasol unfortunately broke the news this evening that he will not be making his return tonight in Phoenix, but will be back on the court soon. [Read more…]
For fantasy basketball owners this is the most exciting time of the season. This long and tenuous regular season is finally reaching a conclusion. It is my experience that nearly every season for nearly every league, at least one dominant power-house fantasy team falls apart during the last couple weeks before playoffs due to injuries. The NBA season is unlike that of any other professional sport. The postseason ends in June yet the preseason starts in October. The grind for NBA
Just when it seemed like things were starting to turn around for the Lakers this season — now 34-32 after starting a dismal 17-25 — Kobe Bryant suffered what is being diagnosed as a severe left ankle sprain and will be out “indefinitely.” [Read more…]
I have been asked this several times this season, and I have been wrong each time. But I now believe it is time to take the Los Angeles Lakers seriously. Why else would I elevate them nine spots to eighth in my latest NBA Power Rankings? [Read more…]