Re: watching the lakers erode away their hopes for repeating

When I saw the title of this post, of course I thought the sole focus of this post would be on the Lakers' likely loss of Odom. While you mention that, your premise is that the Artest acquisition and Ariza loss is what will have the most influence.

Respectfully (always!), I disagree.

You're right - Ariza's solid. I also think it's true that Ariza can play the "backup" or "No. 3" (perhaps even No. 4 or No. 5) scoring role quite well. But, it's your characterization of Artest that I mostly disagree with.

1. Artest played well with Yao and T-Mac, then knew how to be the "leader" when T-Mac (and later Yao) went down. Despite his past reputation, Artest knows that he's lost to Kobe before and he won't be taking the "lead" of this team anytime that No. 24 is on the floor.

2. As you mentioned, Artest is a defensive stalwart. Of course, Ariza had his shining moments on the defensive end as well, but the point is this: Artest on the floor means that Kobe won't have to guard the other team's best player/scorer (be it LeBron, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, etc.) Ariza may get to that point in his career, but he's not there yet.

3. While I'll admit to having worries about his character/attitude, I've pretty much stopped thinking about that. As I said in #1, his ego should be kept in check by Kobe, and Phil knows how to deal with people like him (i.e. Dennis Rodman). Moreover, if Odom comes back, Artest and Odom grew up together supposedly, and I'm sure that will help.

My biggest concern is the return of Odom, but frankly, I still (perhaps wrongly) believe that Odom will be back. The latest I've heard is that Odom called Jerry Buss this week to reignite talks, in the midst of Miami offering him a deal.

The Lakers can still pay Odom the most, and frankly, his little spat probably earned him a better deal than he would have got had he signed on July 1.

With Odom back, the team is virtually the same as it was last year. Artest and Ariza are a near wash in my book, though if you hold a gun to me I probably give the edge to Artest.

Without Odom is obviously a different story, but despite Bynum's disappearance in the 2009 Playoffs, you can't forget about the player he can/could/may be come the 2009-2010 season.

Always the eternal optimist, I still bet on a 2010 repeat.

Odom's Gesture

The Clippers filed a complaint to the NBA this weekend complaining about a certain "gesture" that Lamar Odom made after a 4th quarter dunk.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen the video, but apparently after the dunk, Odom grabbed his crotch. What that means? I don't know. Perhaps he got hit? Maybe it was like, "get off my jock"? I don't know, but it offended the Clips.

Just last week, after hitting a clutch 3, Kobe did the Pedro Cerrano "You have no marbles" dance (sorry, couldn't find a video from Major League II, but here's the Kobe ).

That's certainly more "offensive" than anything Lamar probably did, but you don't see the Spurs complaining. Maybe because they won? Or maybe because they aren't the Clippers and sitting at 10-32 halfway through the year. Either way, this is the NBA, and players are obscene. Get over it.

K.R.'s Back - But is Phil Jackson gone?

I haven't even seen this online yet, but reports on LA's ESPN radio suggest that during this Sunday's Lakers vs. Spurs game, ABC will air a taped interview that took place today between Magic Johnson and Phil Jackson.

In that interview, Johnson supposedly asks Jackson how much longer he plans on coaching. Reportedly, Jackson answers that he will coach through the end next season -- that is, he'll finish this year and next, completing his current contract with the Lakers, then he'll hang it up.

Obviously, being that he's Phil Jackson, you've got to take it all with a grain of salt. He "retired" in 1998 after guiding the Bulls to 6 NBA championships only to return to take the Lakers job in 2000. He "retired" in 2004 after the Lakers failed to beat the Pistons in the NBA Finals, only to return after a one-year hiatus.

So, this leaves a few questions. Will he really retire? What if the Lakers win the championship this year? Will he leave on top?

What if they win both this year and next year? Will he want to leave while on a championship streak?

If he does leave at the end of next year, may Kobe Bryant opt out of his contract if the new coach isn't who he wants to play for? On that note, how much say will Bryant have?

Lastly, who are the candidates for what is arguably the most attractive coaching job in not just in the NBA, but in all of professional sports? Inside candidates are certainly Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw (if not Jim Cleamons or Frank Hamblen). Outside candidates have got to be current New Orleans Hornets coach and former Lakers star Byron Scott, who recently said that the Lakers job would be his "dream job." Scott's current contract conveniently expires at the conclusion of the 2009-2010 season.

In 2004, at Bryant's urging, the Lakers reportedly offered the job to Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, though he ultimately rejected. Perhaps after bonding with Kobe on the 2008 "Redeem Team," Coach K may be more interested in the Lakers job if offered it again in 2010?

Anyway, it's all preliminary at this point, but it's definitely an interesting story that hasn't really broken yet. It'll be fun to actually see what Phil says in the interview that is causing so much hype in the LA sports radio world.

kobe hurts knee, k.c.r. pukes

but he's okay! kobe, that is. no confirmation on k.c.r.

injuries aside, what will the reigning nba mvp bring to the court this year? until the 2008 finals, it seemed that kobe had finally figured out how to feed his teammates while taking over at the right times. but as game 6 dragged on, bryant looked like the kobe of old, utterly unable to do anything as the celtics ran away with it all.

oh, and lamar odom seems to be on the trade block. these lakers may still be good, but they're far from a shoo-in as repeat western conference champs.

one thing's for sure: things are going to get mighty interesting once bynum is back in as the go-to big man.

Interesting Shaq Interview

Shaq sat down with ESPN for a candid, very unlike-Shaq interview. He was very apologetic and sincere. It's definitely something to check out. It's long, so if you don't have time, I've broken down the highlights.

9:40 - OK, this is Shaq-being-Shaq; "Dream Team II" (which Shaq played on) was better than Dream Team I. Really, Shaq?

5:44 - Favorite Moment with the Lakers? - "Playing with one of the greatest players ever, Kobe Bryant. That was fun." Again, seriously?

4:26 - "I think we were the greatest 1-2 punch in the game." - on him and Kobe. Is he regretting things?

4:08 - Shaq talking about the infamous rap about Kobe. He apologizes, says it was blown out of proportion, but then says, "if you look back, I just said the same thing that you guys said." Really, Shaq? Did any ESPN commentator say "Kobe, tell me how my ass tastes!?" He later says he called Kobe and said "My bad."

2:29 - Great Shaq moment. "Did you already make a prediction that this team will make it past the first round?" "Yes I did. "But, it's September." "So."

:50 - "What is Tim Duncan got his fifth [ring] before you got yours?" "I'd be pissed."

It's a fun interview. Check it out.