(2011)-2012 NBA Season

[Borgminister]

I still think the Kobe/Bynum dynamic will figure in terms of offensive approach to the game. Bynum can be dominant; Pao doesn't have that attitude in him.

Two alphas won't mix--just ask Westbrook and Durant.

 

[gblews]

Two alphas won't mix--

If this were true, Kobe and Shaq would have 3 fewer championships -- and those two actually hated each other. Having two alphas on a team isn't the killer, having two alphas who play the same position can be.

 

[Borgminister]

No no--Shaq was the alpha at that time, period. Kobe was an upstart.

Now Kobe is the alpha, and Bynum the upstart. However, one is no longer in his prime, the other is coming into his.

All I'm saying is that Kobe should be less concerned about hoisting 25 shots up a game at 25% accuracy, especially if he fancies himself a co-coach on the sidelines, and get Bynum to Shaq-like dominance.

But that is not in his nature, and will hurt the team this year. Unless he surprises me.

 

[gblews]

No no--Shaq was the alpha at that time, period. Kobe was an upstart.

Uh, say what? By the time the Lakers got really good (again), in '99-'00, Kobe was as much an alpha as Shaq. That is what nearly tore the team apart the following year. Had Kobe not had that alpha personality, the Lakers may very well have lost the 2000 championship. You may be confusing "No. 1 option" with "alpha".

Now Kobe is the alpha, and Bynum the upstart. However, one is no longer in his prime, the other is coming into his.

All I'm saying is that Kobe should be less concerned about hoisting 25 shots up a game at 25% accuracy, especially if he fancies himself a co-coach on the sidelines, and get Bynum to Shaq-like dominance.

But that is not in his nature, and will hurt the team this year. Unless he surprises me.

Kobe IS a "co-coach". At this point in his career, with his basketball I.Q. and experience, this is part of his value to the team. But why you think this has anything whatsoever to do with the number of shots he takes in a game is beyond me.

Throughout his career, generally, if the guys are hitting their shots, Kobe has been a willing passer. He was the team leader in assists before they acquired Sessions.

Kobe has always been first and foremost concerned with winning. Yes, I know this is a difficult concept for many, considering all of the talking heads who look at Kobe's shot totals and, like you, draw faulty conclusions. But think about it; if Kobe was this total "me first" player, how do you think he got all those rings? Either Kobe is the consummate team player or the concept of "team player" is flawed.

And considering that Kobe has played on 5 championship teams, no doubt you've been surprised a lot over the years.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

The Thunder's problem isn't Westbrook and Durant having a conflict of egos.

 

[Borgminister]

All I'm really saying is that the Lakers should go inside out so Bynum becomes the monster he's capable of being, and Westbrook should set a bar of double-digit assists per game for himself.

Not gonna touch the Kobe as assist leader statement, 'cuz that sort of speaks for itself.

Edited to add: What a monster game between OKC/LA today...must set DVR!

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Well, the Thunder are done. I know they're the number 2 seed in the playoffs but, being realistic, they're done. They win one playoff series and no more. This is what? The fifth time they've blown a double digit lead and fallen completely apart in the fourth quarter? It takes talent to blow an 18 point lead. I give them credit. This collapse was spectacular. They can't beat a team that matters when it counts. They lost that ability after they last played the Lakers and they never got it back. That's not pouting. That's me being realistic about what's happened.

When you have a team down by 18, you step on their throats if you're a winner. You don't get tentative, allow their defense and Kobe's offense to regroup and then settle for jump shots until the final seconds of the game because going inside is something you're suddenly too scared to attempt. You don't turn the ball over again and again in critical moments of overtime when you have a chance to win it. You don't. Not if you're a winner.

I give Brown and Artest credit. They made a decision to take Harden out of the game with an injury and it paid off. Can't have him suddenly getting hot like he did the other night. Like I said, you get under the Thunder's skin and their game falls completely apart. It fired up the Laker fans and juiced up the team's adrenaline. Whatever works, I guess. The Thunder couldn't handle it mentally and it worked beautifully. I root for my team always, but they're done. I have no illusions. So, how many games does Artest sit out? They can win without him, as today proved. A calculated plus minus gamble?

Christ on a cracker, Westbrook, if you'd passed the ball once or twice in overtime that might have helped.

EDIT--Okay, I apologize. I've calmed down and I realize that Brown wouldn't orchestrate that. There still isn't word whether or not Harden has a concussion. The team doctors think he might miss a few games depending on the severity, so that's obviously very upsetting in addition to how the game ended. What the fuck did Artest--oh, excuse me Metta World Peace--think he was DOING? Was it payback for the Lakers losing last time? What? Don't tell me that was inadvertent. I thought good old Ron was supposed to be above assault these days. If you hit someone like that on the street they would sue you.

 

[1001001]

No way there was a plan or a plot there.

Just massive stupidity.

Mr. "World Peace" is going to be getting a letter from the Commissioner shortly.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

No, there wasn't a plot. I was ranting for a while. Venting, if you will. Artest is a fucking thug. There's still no definitive word on whether or not Harden has a concussion. Westbrook is selfish and a hindrance to his team for all his talents and Artest is a thug. That's very plain. Wasn't he the one who jumped into the stands to fight the fans at Indiana way back when? I hope to God he doesn't have any kids or pets. You don't "accidentally" give someone an elbow after you make a basket and you're not contesting for a rebound. The replay has him dead to rights. He drew that arm back. You hit someone in the temple instead of the back of the head and you can kill them if you're strong enough. I mean it--that shit was appalling. It would make anyone see red.

Some of the yahoos at yahoo are saying it was "obviously unintentional" and worth 2 or 3 games at most. I'm sure they'd be so forgiving if it were someone on their team who was knocked out of the game.

 

[Borgminister]

I say this as a person who believes in redemption and who liked Artest: Suspend him for the rest of the regular and post season, period. Unintentional my ass. Athletes like him have great awareness of where they are and what they are doing--it was too clean a shot and obviously not part of the chest-thump routine.

During the game, shit like that may happen--a hard foul, send a message. A blind-side shot to the head that could've hit the temple and killed a man? That's something completely different. And frankly, if Brown is any kind of coach and Kobe is any kind of leader, they will both take Peace to task for that action and administer some form of internal discipline.

Sickening.

Hey, 42 of 56 for Westbrook and Durant is what lost the game. Where's Perkins hard edge he was supposed to bring to that team anyway?

 

[Dorian Thompson]

His hard edge must have been on a bathroom break. It didn't seem to materialize in the 4th quarter. Dammit--injuries to Harden notwithstanding, I can't be anything but discouraged about the late collapse. It's still so incredibly disappointing because I've seen them finish well for most of the season until these last couple of weeks.They took care of the Lakers twice. They've beaten the Clippers by double digits. They've been good in games late and won many close games during the first three quartes of the season. I know they can do it; that's why I'm baffled. Maybe they had a little too much success in the early games.

Fatigue? Immaturity? Bad luck? Other teams improving and having a better mindset? All of the above. My Thunder are talented as hell, but they're still a year or two away. That youth that I felt would be such an advantage is not all I touted it to be. That much is obvious.

During the game, shit like that may happen--a hard foul, send a message. A blind-side shot to the head that could've hit the temple and killed a man? That's something completely different. And frankly, if Brown is any kind of coach and Kobe is any kind of leader, they will both take Peace to task for that action and administer some form of internal discipline.

Sickening.

You'd be surprised how many disagree with you on my IM and Twitter, Borgminister, and they're not just giving me the business. They're serious.

"Inadvertent, in the heat of the moment, Harden had it coming because he was jawing with Kobe the previous game, maybe a fine but a suspension would be too much, it's about time; in" the 80s the NBA wasn't full of 'pussies' like now".....it floored me. Not to mention the fact that instant replay must not exist in the Staples Center. No one could have clapped after seeing that arm come way back in slow motion. You would think Artest doesn't have scrawny little arms and shoulders. That's a big man.

 

[Borgminister]

Crazy.

70's, 80's, whenever: If it is from the blind side, period, it is dirty and should be punished. Peace is a coward and a liar as far as I'm concerned, and would've been put in his place fast in the 80's too, if you want to take that 'logic' further.

As for trash-talking, I'm sure Kobe has done some of same during his time too. (As have numerous players)

This was worse than Bynum's elbow to Berea's chest in that one game...

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Yeah, a lot of Lakers' fans are saying it was just "clean, gritty basketball." Some of them called in to the OKC post game show expressing just those sentiments and to opine that Harden "contributed to it by getting in Artest's space." The fact that he was just getting into position for the inbounds pass doesn't seem to register. Players never get close to each other on the court to play man to man or go for rebounds or what have you.

Harden has a concussion. He was experiencing sensitivity to light, loss of balance, some short term memory loss--all the typical concussion symptoms. He came out of the locker room because he wanted to sit on the bench but the doctors nixed that. They made him to go back inside and get more tests. Also, Artest is claimed in a post game comment that he "didn't know James was there."

 

[SmoothieX]

I got no dog in this fight.

World Peace flat out cold cocked the guy. Given his history, I bet he gets 10+ games.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

Listened to local sports radio on the way to work. Concussion officially diagnosed for Harden. They're not sure if they'll allow him to play tomorrow night. The NBA has concussion criteria that he has to meet before he'll be allowed to play. New rules this year. He's experiencing headaches and dizziness. He'll recover, of course, but I continue to be distressed by how many people I read saying "Harden should have known better than to get so close to Artest." As if players don't bump and shove and run into each other on every inbounds pass and change of possession. Artest has never bumped a player in his life or gotten in his face?

Obviously Artest still has his anger issues. He wanted whoever was on him--and I don't believe for a minute he didn't know it was Harden-- to get out of his way so he got pissed off, his temper flared and he drew back that arm and aimed for the head. Wasn't he the one who choked PJ Carlissimo who, coincidentally, was the Thunder's first coach? If Artest doesn't get at least 10 games David Stern is a spineless worm. Look at Artest's history. It's effing ridiculous.

 

[gblews]

Nice win over a team the Lakers have struggled to beat this season. The Thunder can look at it as a "law of averages" thing or a "they needed it, we didn't (as much)". Another game in which Andrew doesn't show up. This is the one thing that continues to separate him from Dwight Howard -- if Dwight is on the court, he plays hard even if he isn't playing particularly well.

Metta's little stunt was unfortunate. But there is no way to defend what he did. With the way it looked coupled with the damage it caused, I think he will get 5 to 15 games. Too bad. He was playing so well and had been a model citizen for all of his time in L.A.. BTW, if the suspension is more than 10 games, Metta likely ended his Laker career with that blow as there was talk of them amnestying him next season even before the incident.

At this point in the season, I think the odds on favorite to come out of the west has got to be San Antonio. What a job by Pop and that organization. OKC better not get caught thinking their window of opportunity is THAT wide because those windows can close awfully fast in the NBA, ask the Sacramento Queens, Blazers, etc and teams like the Spurs and Lakers have little respect for "windows".

Wasn't he the one who choked PJ Carlissimo

Latrell Sprewell. Not saying it was right, but I understand how he could choke Carlissimo -- P.J. was a dick.

 

[Dorian Thompson]

That's right. Sprewell. Now I'm remembering. Artest is the malice in the palace.

Yeah, San Antonio is looking very favorable.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Leaving aside the good and the ugly for a second to the just plain bad, the Charlotte Bobcats need one win to the avoid the worst winning percentage in the history of the NBA. Anyone think they can do it?

 

[Borgminister]

Only if they suit up Silas...

 

[Dorian Thompson]

7 games for Artest. Stern, you lily livered coward. He deserved at least 10. The guy needs to be taught a lesson about staying on those meds he's supposedly taking for his "anger problems." If he could do that in a moment of anger, what would he do if someone got in his face again? All I can think of is the damage that could have been done if Harden's face had been turned slightly more towards Artest. We're talking Tomjanovich damage. Artest is not scrawny and weak.

Harden had to sit out the game last night. He would have received significant playing time because Brooks wanted to rest Westbrook, but he sat out because the doctors haven't cleared him yet. He's feeling better, but still has some headaches according to him. Durant played a fair amount of time because they wanted him to have a chance at the scoring title, but he sat more than he usually did and the reserves got extra playing time. The doctors are in no hurry to clear Harden with new rules in place and those headaches still going on.