New Album & The Beginning of Basketball Season

[jadis]

Lakers is actually a very lethal team specially coming after a few losses. They're so much a seasoned and toughened team that coming back strong is instinctive for them. They have all the weapons for the final grind, and the final grind is when they get most dangerous. A key element here is having an intact and healthy core during that run. One starter down and out of play spells doom, for any playoff team for that matter.

 

[Steve Williams]

Not sure who watched Lakers vs OC Thunder last night which the Lakers won. Having watched the Thunder play, I can say that they will be a contender in the next few years. To watch the accuracy and the ease of Kevin Durant making shots from anywhere on the court shows how great this kid is. KD is a young and very talented kid who one day will have MVP inscribed under his name. The bigger surprise for me however was just how good Russell Westbrook is as a point guard and IMO ranks in the top 3 in the league and from last night's game could easily be the best. His speed to the basket is lightening fast as he left players such as Kobe, Gasol and Brown in his wake. If you blink you will miss it as he is just that fast. Beware of the Thunder in the playoffs as they IMO are good enough to make it past the first round

 

[jadis]

Not sure who watched Lakers vs OC Thunder last night which the Lakers won. Having watched the Thunder play, I can say that they will be a contender in the next few years. To watch the accuracy and the ease of Kevin Durant making shots from anywhere on the court shows how great this kid is. KD is a young and very talented kid who one day will have MVP inscribed under his name. The bigger surprise for me however was just how good Russell Westbrook is as a point guard and IMO ranks in the top 3 in the league and from last night's game could easily be the best. His speed to the basket is lightening fast as he left players such as Kobe, Gasol and Brown in his wake. If you blink you will miss it as he is just that fast. Beware of the Thunder in the playoffs as they IMO are good enough to make it past the first round

I watched a bits and pieces of the game, Steve, and I agree with your assessment re Durant and Westbrook. They are a very dynamic duo, and fun to watch. Fantasy basketball time - The Thunder are a couple of players trades away from scaring the rest of the league. If they are able to trade for Kevin Love, LeMarcus Aldridge, OR Blake Griffin, that would make them real contenders. I am just imagining.

 

[jadis]

BTW, just subscribed to the new NBA Premium channel on our cable provider. Before I relied on another channel called Basketball TV but lately the games on BTV stinks, and all the good games are on NBA Premium, no recourse but to get it. Yesterday was my first subscription day and they showed both the Boston-Orlando game and the Lakers-Thunder game. No commercial with lots of insights from analysts on dead ball situations. Happy Days are here finally!

 

[Steve Williams]

The Clippers are not going to be parting with Blake Griffin any time soon. He is fast for a big kid and is getting better every time I watch the Clips. Career high last night at 47. Clips have knocked off all of the best teams in the league this year. They are a trade or two from being a contender once again

 

[Ron Party]

Jadis, I watched both games as well but, unlike you, I had to be subjected to countless commercials. I swear, if I see that damned Geico gecko one more time I'm going to throw a roundhouse kick right through my TV.

As for the Lakers, I am highly skeptical they will even make it to the finals, let alone win it again. San Antonio has lost only 6 games, half the amount of losses already piled up by the Lakers, who have played the majority of their games against teams with sub 500 records. And we all know what home court advantage means in the NBA. The Spurs look absolutely fantastic so far. If the big 3 survive the rest of the season without injury, well... I will be closely watching any games played by the Lakers in San Antonio to see how each team fares.

 

[jadis]

The Clippers are not going to be parting with Blake Griffin any time soon. He is fast for a big kid and is getting better every time I watch the Clips. Career high last night at 47. Clips have knocked off all of the best teams in the league this year. They are a trade or two from being a contender once again

I saw parts of the Clippers-Lakers game a few days ago, mightily impressed with Griffin. He is in a class by himself. Call him a power forward, he puts most to dust in that category, James Worthy, even Karl Malone did not have that much power, imo. LOL Yep, Clippers would be great if they trade for an Aldridge type of player, plus some reliable bench players.

 

[jadis]

Jadis, I watched both games as well but, unlike you, I had to be subjected to countless commercials. I swear, if I see that damned Geico gecko one more time I'm going to throw a roundhouse kick right through my TV.

As for the Lakers, I am highly skeptical they will even make it to the finals, let alone win it again. San Antonio has lost only 6 games, half the amount of losses already piled up by the Lakers, who have played the majority of their games against teams with sub 500 records. And we all know what home court advantage means in the NBA. The Spurs look absolutely fantastic so far. If the big 3 survive the rest of the season without injury, well... I will be closely watching any games played by the Lakers in San Antonio to see how each team fares.

Ron,

No commercial during live games but there are some during canned programs hosted by some analyst in between live games. And actually I love those commercials because they make me feel like in inside the USA! LOL Just like when I was getting UHF broadcast from the US military bases in the P.I., I get to see those U.S. commercials, quite a nice feeling.

And yes, agreed about the way the Spurs are playing. They are solid as a rock now. Pop is a great coach. Tough, no nonsense guy. You see a lot of discipline in the team without much fanfare and trash talk.

 

[jadis]

Watching the Heat-Hawks game now, and I still can't believe how many empty seats there are at the Miami Arena despite their good showing of late (prior to the James injury but now he is back).

 

[Steve Williams]

i'm watching too. Atlanta could beat them in a low scoring game such as this

 

[jadis]

i'm watching too. Atlanta could beat them in a low scoring game such as this

Yup. I would imagine the Heat fans would be noisier than this to show more encouragement for their players. Boston, LA, Spurs, Dallas, have very noisy crowds, to name a few.

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

There seems to be something artificial about the Heat. Miami is a College sports place.. The 'Canes and the Gators, etc are all the rage .. Even the Dolphins are second billing as far as Floridians are concerned ...So the Heat wins and they are all pleased with that .. yawn The City looks elsewhere for the most part or so it seems (currently living in Miami ..BTW)
@Jadis

James Worthy was not a power forward, just to make things clear... Small forward. The lakers Power forwards of the 80's were Kurt Rambis then AC Green. It is also too early to tell if Griffin will be as good as Karl Malone... I beg to differ with the lack of power from Malone, ask those who played with him.. The man was/is a spectacular physical specimen who was impossible to move from his chosen spot... However strong your center or power forward was .. dealing with the Mailman was a difficult endeavor fraught with bruises, aches and humiliating dunks during and after the game...
Not yet worried about the Lakers.. They have Kobe and Jackson... It looks like Kobe needs to keep playing to get his flow but at the same time needs to save his body from the tear of the long season ... I will wait till comes the playoff ... I like the play of Odam still and the others are trying to fit in the offense .. Not worried ...yet ..

 

[Steve Williams]

I'm not worried yet either Frantz but I do have some concerns. I like the way Phil is playing Kobe only 30-32 mins per game to rest him for the grand finale BUT Ron is correct to express concerns as to whether they will make the Finals.

I agree with Frantz about the strength of the mailman and heaven protect those defenders' faces when he went strong to the basket with elbows elevated as he always did

 

[jadis]

@Jadis

James Worthy was not a power forward, just to make things clear... Small forward. The lakers Power forwards of the 80's were Kurt Rambis then AC Green. It is also too early to tell if Griffin will be as good as Karl Malone... I beg to differ with the lack of power from Malone, ask those who played with him.. The man was/is a spectacular physical specimen who was impossible to move from his chosen spot... However strong your center or power forward was ..

My mistake, Frantz. Yes, Worthy technically was not the power forward in the line-up. It's just that somehow I always equate him as one because of his moves in driving to the hoop had a lot of power, including the way he dunks. McHale had a tough time against him those days. In my mind, perhaps I was just awed at the highlight films of Griffin considereing this is his first year of actual play, being injured the whole season last year.

 

[Steve Williams]

And Griffin is only 21 to boot. Incredible slam dunks. I hope he wins it this year

 

[jadis]

And Griffin is only 21 to boot. Incredible slam dunks. I hope he wins it this year

I hope too, Steve. I'm looking forward to the dunk contest.

 

[Ron Party]

Steve, I bet I know what you're doing right now.

 

[Steve Williams]

ESPN baby

Lakers 13 Dallas 8

 

[Steve Williams]

The big surprise is that Detroit is beating Boston by 8 with7 mins left in the 4th

 

[jadis]

The big surprise is that Detroit is beating Boston by 8 with7 mins left in the 4th

yeah, i'm watching now, they're still down. but i'm surprised at the good play of wilcox and monroe. i'm seeing them for the first time. LOL boston is playing uninspired all game.

and even more surprising, rip hamilton is benched the whole game. i wonder why?