NBA 2012/2013 season discussion thread

I wonder if the Lakers finally figured something out that I've been saying for a long time. Kobe needs to stop being a volume shooter and start taking advantage of the size advantage the Lakers have against most teams, and the multitude of offensive options they are under utilizing.

Their winning percentage was .390 before the last two games. In these two games, Kobe stops volume shooting and changes his focus to setting his teammates up for quality shots. They immediately beat a playoff team by 18 points. Then they beat maybe the best team (and by the numbers the best road team) in the league by 9.

On Friday, Kobe took the 4th most shots on the team. He scored the 5th most points. The team has five guys with at least 14 points. Six guys got at least 8 shots. Two others got 6 shots. Kobe goes 7/10 and has 14 points. Because he's not busy jacking up long jump shots, he also gets 9 rebounds. And most importantly, his team just about blows out a playoff team, they win by 19.

Today Kobe took the 2nd most shots (12), but 5 guys got at least 9 shots. Six guys scored at least 11 points. Kobe goes 8/12 and has 21 points. Again, because he's not busy shooting long jumpers, he gets 9 rebounds to go with his 14 assists. And again, most importantly, his team gets a solid win over maybe the best team in the league, at the least the team most would pick as the favorite in the West.

If the Lakers don't keep playing this way for at least the next 10-12 games to see what happens, they are beyond stupid. If Kobe himself doesn't insist that they do this, I will refuse to believe he cares most about winning. If 10-12 games from now Kobe has played similar to this (again, doesn't have to be 14 assists and 9 rebounds, but this general style of play at least) and they don't go at least .500 during that stretch, then fine. Do whatever he wants to do. But if they don't give it a try, they are stupid. If they do and it doesn't work, I'll be surprised.

 

The Lakers firing Brown as quickly as they did, when Nash hadn't even really played, and with Dwight still as hurt as he obviously was, was stupid. To hire a coach like D'Antoni for that roster only compounded the idiocy.

 

All-Star Weekend starting tomorrow.

 

Skills competition, 3pt shooting competition, and Slam Dunk contest are about to start.

 

SO SAD I don't get TNT.

 

Well, I hate to say it, but you aren't missing much IMO. Listening to Barkley, Shaq, and Ernie Johnson is probably as enertaining as anything any of the players are doing.

Kyrie Irving tore it up in the 3pt contest though, combined with his performance last night in the Futures game, he's on a roll.

 

Well, what I wanted to see is this: Damian Lillard beats Jrue Holiday for skills crownAnd on the Blazers blog, Lillard had this to say:

 

I love watching and listening to Bill Russell (interviewing him pregame). Such a dignified man.

 

Just like Morgan Freeman.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

Noah, with the killer crossover.
--- merged: Feb 18, 2013 at 11:13 AM ---
Lakers Owner Jerry Buss Dead at 79 | KTLA 5

 

I've always loved Bill Russell. Seems like such a classy man.

Stumbled across this video of his yesterday:



Holy Cow!

 

If you get NBA TV, do a search for "Mr. Russell's House". It's a documentary/interview by Bill Simmons with Bill Russell at Russell's house. I've read a couple books about Russell but still learned a few new things. He's always impressed me both for what he did on the court and the way he's conducted himself off the court.

 

I came across Dennis Rodman's HoF induction speech today, from two years ago. I don't know how I missed it at the time.





It starts off kind of slow, but it is a very touching speech IMO. He always struck me as a good hearted person who was just so messed up that he didn't know how to act. It kind of comes out that way in the speech. If you are a basketball fan at all, I think it's worth the few minutes to watch.

 

Yeah, I read that this morning around the same time I found the video. Of all people to send.