.J. SIMERS
Just give the Lakers the title now
After Tuesday's win, the only question left is whether they will be distracted in next year's season opener.
T.J. Simers
October 29, 2008
I just watched the Lakers play and I'm already worried about next season's opening night.
You know there are going to be questions about how hungry the guys are after winning the 2008-09 NBA championship, Lamar Odom named the sixth man of the year and SashaVujacic the Finals' MVP.
DJ Mbenga and Josh Powell will be fresh off their appearance on Letterman, and there's going to be a ring ceremony, and you know what a distraction that can be.
Boston's Paul Pierce broke down crying when he received his ring Tuesday night. And you can just imagine what a mess Vic theBrick is going to be after the Champs' banner is unveiled to begin next season.
Phil Jackson will have moved past Red Auerbach in championships won, and by then for all we know he might be married to Jeanie and coming off his honeymoon.
AS GOOD as the Lakers looked after just two quarters, I don't think anyone is going to quibble if public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter starts referring to the Lakers the rest of the season as Champs.
The Champs will probably be 14-1 by the end of November, or better if they can slip past the Clippers tonight, and 25-3 when they meet Boston on Christmas Day. The biggest concern facing the Champs now is making the games more entertaining than this opening-night yawner.
Had they played the World Series on Tuesday night, some fans might have been forced to turn to it.
The Champs demolished Portland by 20, a team Jackson likened to New Orleans before the game with the capability of surprising everyone in the NBA. The surprise will be if TNT puts the Trail Blazers on TV again any time soon.
The Champs already tower over the opposition, starting two 7-footers. Portland started one, and he's a clod, who then turned his ankle. Only one of the Champs is a clod, but he can score like crazy.
If you're still not sure which 7-footer I'm talking about, he's the one who argues with the referee every time they whistle him for a foul. I have no idea why the refs pick on Pau Gasol so much, but maybe it's their way of trying to even things out.
Because it's just not fair when the Lakers can bring Odom, Trevor Ariza and Vujacic off the bench. Mitch Kupchak gave up Brian Cook and Maurice Evans for Ariza, and just like many of you thought, it's just a matter of time before Kupchak is named NBA executive of the year.
Ariza is supposed to be a very good defender, but he was the offensive spark early on against Portland, and if he's going to be successful from three-point range, who needs Vladimir Radmanovic? Sorry, sometimes it's just hard to picture him a Champ.
The Champs are deep, all right, which should make it so much easier to play back-to-back games, which usually takes its toll on the best of teams. The Champs have seven of those before the first of the year -- two coming on the road against New Orleans, but no sweat.
A year from now, everyone a little heavier from making the banquet circuit, and not so starved for a title, maybe it will be a bigger struggle. It always is to repeat as Champs.
But right now the Champs look absolutely unbeatable.
Just give the Lakers the title now
After Tuesday's win, the only question left is whether they will be distracted in next year's season opener.
T.J. Simers
October 29, 2008
I just watched the Lakers play and I'm already worried about next season's opening night.
You know there are going to be questions about how hungry the guys are after winning the 2008-09 NBA championship, Lamar Odom named the sixth man of the year and SashaVujacic the Finals' MVP.
DJ Mbenga and Josh Powell will be fresh off their appearance on Letterman, and there's going to be a ring ceremony, and you know what a distraction that can be.
Boston's Paul Pierce broke down crying when he received his ring Tuesday night. And you can just imagine what a mess Vic theBrick is going to be after the Champs' banner is unveiled to begin next season.
Phil Jackson will have moved past Red Auerbach in championships won, and by then for all we know he might be married to Jeanie and coming off his honeymoon.
AS GOOD as the Lakers looked after just two quarters, I don't think anyone is going to quibble if public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter starts referring to the Lakers the rest of the season as Champs.
The Champs will probably be 14-1 by the end of November, or better if they can slip past the Clippers tonight, and 25-3 when they meet Boston on Christmas Day. The biggest concern facing the Champs now is making the games more entertaining than this opening-night yawner.
Had they played the World Series on Tuesday night, some fans might have been forced to turn to it.
The Champs demolished Portland by 20, a team Jackson likened to New Orleans before the game with the capability of surprising everyone in the NBA. The surprise will be if TNT puts the Trail Blazers on TV again any time soon.
The Champs already tower over the opposition, starting two 7-footers. Portland started one, and he's a clod, who then turned his ankle. Only one of the Champs is a clod, but he can score like crazy.
If you're still not sure which 7-footer I'm talking about, he's the one who argues with the referee every time they whistle him for a foul. I have no idea why the refs pick on Pau Gasol so much, but maybe it's their way of trying to even things out.
Because it's just not fair when the Lakers can bring Odom, Trevor Ariza and Vujacic off the bench. Mitch Kupchak gave up Brian Cook and Maurice Evans for Ariza, and just like many of you thought, it's just a matter of time before Kupchak is named NBA executive of the year.
Ariza is supposed to be a very good defender, but he was the offensive spark early on against Portland, and if he's going to be successful from three-point range, who needs Vladimir Radmanovic? Sorry, sometimes it's just hard to picture him a Champ.
The Champs are deep, all right, which should make it so much easier to play back-to-back games, which usually takes its toll on the best of teams. The Champs have seven of those before the first of the year -- two coming on the road against New Orleans, but no sweat.
A year from now, everyone a little heavier from making the banquet circuit, and not so starved for a title, maybe it will be a bigger struggle. It always is to repeat as Champs.
But right now the Champs look absolutely unbeatable.
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