Kobe, Fisher: The only sure things

[Elano]

The starting lineup remains far from the final product, with Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher the only sure things amid a rash of injuries and ineffectiveness.
It's so confusing that Coach Phil Jackson sounded like one of his favorite guys to quote, Yogi Berra, when asked who will start in the opener Tuesday against Houston.

"It'll probably be the lineup I'll probably start on Friday [in an exhibition]," he said, pausing. "But you can't guarantee that I'll guarantee that."

The first unit will probably look something like Bryant, Fisher, Kwame Brown, Ronny Turiaf and Luke Walton, which might not be the best news for those five.

The starters have been badly outplayed in exhibition games, the latest proof coming Tuesday when the Utah Jazz stormed out to a 26-6 lead.

Lamar Odom is out at least the first few games, limiting Jackson's options, but the battle at center between Brown, Andrew Bynum and Chris Mihm has been somewhat narrowed, Jackson said.

"I think 'Drew's shooting the ball well and averaging much more, but he's playing a ton," Jackson said.

"I think Kwame has had a couple good games. Chris has had one game where he's played well. You could probably say right now Kwame and 'Drew are pushing each other."

As such, Mihm played power forward at practice Wednesday, perhaps a sign of where he'll be fitting into the rotation.

To a man, the starters have struggled, including Bryant, who followed up a seven-turnover game Sunday against the Clippers with a four-for-16 shooting effort against Utah.

"I don't know what to say to explain it. I really don't," Jackson said. "It just looked like his legs were dead. His shots were flat."

Said Bryant: "You have off-games every once in a while. That's what pre-season's for, is kind of to get those kinks out. "

Walton grew up in San Diego and owns a home in Rancho Santa Fe, which has left him as attached as anybody to the news of the wildfires throughout San Diego County.

"The people staying in our house tried to get in [Wednesday] morning, but the National Guard was standing there with guns, saying, 'No one's allowed in yet,' " Walton said. "It's hard to see that. There were also fires down in some of the poorer neighborhoods, where you've got to think some of those people must not have had fire insurance. A lot of families probably lost everything. It's very sad, but hopefully we'll start rebuilding and the city will be all right."

Bryant appeared in numerous categories in the annual survey of NBA general managers.

In addition to being picked to finish third in MVP voting behind LeBron James and Tim Duncan, 11% of general managers would pick him to be the cornerstone of their franchise. James (59%) and Orlando center-forward Dwight Howard (15%) finished ahead of him.

Bryant was chosen the player that forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments, receiving 35% of the vote. Steve Nash received 15%.

Twenty-three percent of GMs said Bryant was the best on-ball defender, second only to San Antonio forward Bruce Bowen (46%).

Eighty-nine percent said they'd want Bryant taking the last shot in a game.

Finally, in the bigger picture, every GM thought the Phoenix Suns would win the Pacific Division.

Bryant hurt his right wrist after Jazz center Mehmet Okur struck him in Tuesday's game. Bryant said Okur was "doing that European move where you stick your leg out when you take the shot and try to draw the foul. It came down on my wrist the wrong way." . . . Jackson continues to use a cane four months after undergoing hip-replacement surgery. He declined to divulge when he would stop using it. "That's my secret," he said, smiling. "I'm not letting you know."

[GangstaBoogy]

Opening night line-up

Coach: Phil Jackson
Kwame Brown
Ronny Turiaf
Luke Walton
Kobe Bryant
Derek Fisher


Line-up after the trading deadline

Coach: Rudy T
Andrew Bynum
Tyrus Thomas
Lamar Odom
Ben Gordon
Derek Fisher

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

LOL@anyone who thinks Kobe is getting traded this year...lotsa' funny people post here.

Edit:
LMAO...I just noticed BabyG didn't even include Deng in his Bulls trade scenerio.

[GangstaBoogy]

LOL@anyone who thinks Kobe is getting traded this year...lotsa' funny people post here.

Edit:
LMAO...I just noticed BabyG didn't even include Deng in his Bulls trade scenerio.

The Bulls aren't trading Deng. They wouldn't trade him for Garnett and they're not trading him for Kobe...


ANAHEIM -- Reading between the lines and the rhetoric and the speculation around the NBA, it now seems to be a matter of when, not if, Kobe Bryant will be traded.

There he was Tuesday night, in Lakers purple and gold, revving up the Honda Center crowd during an exhibition game against the Utah Jazz. As always, "Ko-BE! Ko-BE! Ko-BE!" was the most popular player in the building.

But will Bryant be wearing the same uniform when the Lakers open the 2007-08 regular season next week? A report in one New York tabloid Tuesday said not to bet on that one, "even if L.A. must accept an inequitable return" because "that's how repugnant he supposedly has become to the owner's senses."

Ouch. Is Jerry Buss that angry at the Kobester?

Perhaps, but it's more likely Bryant will be playing for the Lakers until at least mid-December, one team insider said Tuesday, because of the contract status of one player the Lakers are interested in acquiring.

Though the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks also have been mentioned prominently in recent trade speculation, most signs point to the Chicago Bulls as the most logical destination for Bryant.

Nobody knows what is or isn't going on behind the scenes, but Bryant has the leverage of a full no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he essentially can choose his next team. He also has an opt-out clause in his contract after two more seasons, so the disenchantment he expressed publicly in the offseason has to be taken seriously.

There is no urgency to trade Bryant now. The team can sift through potential offers and move him before the February trading deadline, if the Lakers aren't in serious playoff contention at the time, or it can wait until after the season. The team certainly can't wait any longer than that and risk losing him to free agency without any compensation.

And if the Bulls are the most logical suitor — and all indications are that Bryant would love to play in Chicago, where Michael Jordan became a star — a deal could happen by December.

The Bulls reportedly have made star forward Luol Deng untouchable, so the Lakers made it known they wouldn't agree to a deal unless the incoming package includes center Ben Wallace, a choice between guards Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich, and others.

But when the Chicago Tribune reported that Bryant wants to play with Wallace, it meant the Bulls would have to change the package to perhaps include Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah, forward Andres Nocioni and a first-round pick.

Word is the Lakers are very interested in Nocioni, a former Argentine star who averaged 14.1 points and 5.7 rebounds for Chicago last season. But by rule, he can't be traded until after Dec. 15.

There also has been speculation in Chicago the Bulls want to find out how good this team will be before making a major trade.

So it looks as if Lakers fans will be able to cheer Bryant for at least a few more weeks.

But it doesn't look as if this marriage can be saved. Bryant alienated almost everyone in the organization by complaining in the offseason about the team not doing what it takes to improve — he wanted Jason Kidd as a teammate last season and Kevin Garnett this season — and Buss supposedly is hurt that Bryant already has forgotten how staunchly the team supported him during his legal ordeal in Colorado a few years ago.

And it certainly didn't help Bryant's attitude when Buss recently told the assembled media in Hawaii he would definitely consider trading his superstar.

If it's not Chicago, it still might be Dallas, but Mavericks owner Mark Cuban insists Dirk Nowitzki will not be part of the package. Would a deal centered around Josh Howard and Jason Terry get it done? Not likely.

And forget those silly Phoenix Suns rumors last week. Sure, Raja Bell, Amare Stoudamire and Leandro Barbosa would make the Lakers a better team, but there's no way they would risk being embarrassed several times a year by making a trade with the Suns. Why do you think Shaquille O'Neal went to Miami instead of Dallas?

But, rest assured, Kobe Bryant is out of here. It's just a matter of time.

In the interim, the rumors continue to swirl.

"Obviously, people are tuned into it, but it can only be a drumbeat for so long and then it kind of fades," Coach Phil Jackson said before Tuesday night's game, insisting the trade speculation is not a distraction for his team. "But it's still there. It's in the background."

Until the day Kobe puts on another uniform.

[7even]

fuck that... I liked the dallas rumors better

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

LOL@anyone who thinks Kobe is getting traded this year...lotsa' funny people post here.

Edit:
LMAO...I just noticed BabyG didn't even include Deng in his Bulls trade scenerio.

The Bulls aren't trading Deng. They wouldn't trade him for Garnett and they're not trading him for Kobe...


ANAHEIM -- Reading between the lines and the rhetoric and the speculation around the NBA, it now seems to be a matter of when, not if, Kobe Bryant will be traded.

There he was Tuesday night, in Lakers purple and gold, revving up the Honda Center crowd during an exhibition game against the Utah Jazz. As always, "Ko-BE! Ko-BE! Ko-BE!" was the most popular player in the building.

But will Bryant be wearing the same uniform when the Lakers open the 2007-08 regular season next week? A report in one New York tabloid Tuesday said not to bet on that one, "even if L.A. must accept an inequitable return" because "that's how repugnant he supposedly has become to the owner's senses."

Ouch. Is Jerry Buss that angry at the Kobester?

Perhaps, but it's more likely Bryant will be playing for the Lakers until at least mid-December, one team insider said Tuesday, because of the contract status of one player the Lakers are interested in acquiring.

Though the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks also have been mentioned prominently in recent trade speculation, most signs point to the Chicago Bulls as the most logical destination for Bryant.

Nobody knows what is or isn't going on behind the scenes, but Bryant has the leverage of a full no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he essentially can choose his next team. He also has an opt-out clause in his contract after two more seasons, so the disenchantment he expressed publicly in the offseason has to be taken seriously.

There is no urgency to trade Bryant now. The team can sift through potential offers and move him before the February trading deadline, if the Lakers aren't in serious playoff contention at the time, or it can wait until after the season. The team certainly can't wait any longer than that and risk losing him to free agency without any compensation.

And if the Bulls are the most logical suitor — and all indications are that Bryant would love to play in Chicago, where Michael Jordan became a star — a deal could happen by December.

The Bulls reportedly have made star forward Luol Deng untouchable, so the Lakers made it known they wouldn't agree to a deal unless the incoming package includes center Ben Wallace, a choice between guards Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich, and others.

But when the Chicago Tribune reported that Bryant wants to play with Wallace, it meant the Bulls would have to change the package to perhaps include Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah, forward Andres Nocioni and a first-round pick.

Word is the Lakers are very interested in Nocioni, a former Argentine star who averaged 14.1 points and 5.7 rebounds for Chicago last season. But by rule, he can't be traded until after Dec. 15.

There also has been speculation in Chicago the Bulls want to find out how good this team will be before making a major trade.

So it looks as if Lakers fans will be able to cheer Bryant for at least a few more weeks.

But it doesn't look as if this marriage can be saved. Bryant alienated almost everyone in the organization by complaining in the offseason about the team not doing what it takes to improve — he wanted Jason Kidd as a teammate last season and Kevin Garnett this season — and Buss supposedly is hurt that Bryant already has forgotten how staunchly the team supported him during his legal ordeal in Colorado a few years ago.

And it certainly didn't help Bryant's attitude when Buss recently told the assembled media in Hawaii he would definitely consider trading his superstar.

If it's not Chicago, it still might be Dallas, but Mavericks owner Mark Cuban insists Dirk Nowitzki will not be part of the package. Would a deal centered around Josh Howard and Jason Terry get it done? Not likely.

And forget those silly Phoenix Suns rumors last week. Sure, Raja Bell, Amare Stoudamire and Leandro Barbosa would make the Lakers a better team, but there's no way they would risk being embarrassed several times a year by making a trade with the Suns. Why do you think Shaquille O'Neal went to Miami instead of Dallas?

But, rest assured, Kobe Bryant is out of here. It's just a matter of time.

In the interim, the rumors continue to swirl.

"Obviously, people are tuned into it, but it can only be a drumbeat for so long and then it kind of fades," Coach Phil Jackson said before Tuesday night's game, insisting the trade speculation is not a distraction for his team. "But it's still there. It's in the background."

Until the day Kobe puts on another uniform.

If the Bulls aren't trading Deng, Lakers aren't sending the best player on the planet to them...LOL. Even if they WERE sending Deng, we still wouldn't make that deal.

[GangstaBoogy]

LOL@anyone who thinks Kobe is getting traded this year...lotsa' funny people post here.

Edit:
LMAO...I just noticed BabyG didn't even include Deng in his Bulls trade scenerio.

The Bulls aren't trading Deng. They wouldn't trade him for Garnett and they're not trading him for Kobe...


ANAHEIM -- Reading between the lines and the rhetoric and the speculation around the NBA, it now seems to be a matter of when, not if, Kobe Bryant will be traded.

There he was Tuesday night, in Lakers purple and gold, revving up the Honda Center crowd during an exhibition game against the Utah Jazz. As always, "Ko-BE! Ko-BE! Ko-BE!" was the most popular player in the building.

But will Bryant be wearing the same uniform when the Lakers open the 2007-08 regular season next week? A report in one New York tabloid Tuesday said not to bet on that one, "even if L.A. must accept an inequitable return" because "that's how repugnant he supposedly has become to the owner's senses."

Ouch. Is Jerry Buss that angry at the Kobester?

Perhaps, but it's more likely Bryant will be playing for the Lakers until at least mid-December, one team insider said Tuesday, because of the contract status of one player the Lakers are interested in acquiring.

Though the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks also have been mentioned prominently in recent trade speculation, most signs point to the Chicago Bulls as the most logical destination for Bryant.

Nobody knows what is or isn't going on behind the scenes, but Bryant has the leverage of a full no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he essentially can choose his next team. He also has an opt-out clause in his contract after two more seasons, so the disenchantment he expressed publicly in the offseason has to be taken seriously.

There is no urgency to trade Bryant now. The team can sift through potential offers and move him before the February trading deadline, if the Lakers aren't in serious playoff contention at the time, or it can wait until after the season. The team certainly can't wait any longer than that and risk losing him to free agency without any compensation.

And if the Bulls are the most logical suitor — and all indications are that Bryant would love to play in Chicago, where Michael Jordan became a star — a deal could happen by December.

The Bulls reportedly have made star forward Luol Deng untouchable, so the Lakers made it known they wouldn't agree to a deal unless the incoming package includes center Ben Wallace, a choice between guards Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich, and others.

But when the Chicago Tribune reported that Bryant wants to play with Wallace, it meant the Bulls would have to change the package to perhaps include Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah, forward Andres Nocioni and a first-round pick.

Word is the Lakers are very interested in Nocioni, a former Argentine star who averaged 14.1 points and 5.7 rebounds for Chicago last season. But by rule, he can't be traded until after Dec. 15.

There also has been speculation in Chicago the Bulls want to find out how good this team will be before making a major trade.

So it looks as if Lakers fans will be able to cheer Bryant for at least a few more weeks.

But it doesn't look as if this marriage can be saved. Bryant alienated almost everyone in the organization by complaining in the offseason about the team not doing what it takes to improve — he wanted Jason Kidd as a teammate last season and Kevin Garnett this season — and Buss supposedly is hurt that Bryant already has forgotten how staunchly the team supported him during his legal ordeal in Colorado a few years ago.

And it certainly didn't help Bryant's attitude when Buss recently told the assembled media in Hawaii he would definitely consider trading his superstar.

If it's not Chicago, it still might be Dallas, but Mavericks owner Mark Cuban insists Dirk Nowitzki will not be part of the package. Would a deal centered around Josh Howard and Jason Terry get it done? Not likely.

And forget those silly Phoenix Suns rumors last week. Sure, Raja Bell, Amare Stoudamire and Leandro Barbosa would make the Lakers a better team, but there's no way they would risk being embarrassed several times a year by making a trade with the Suns. Why do you think Shaquille O'Neal went to Miami instead of Dallas?

But, rest assured, Kobe Bryant is out of here. It's just a matter of time.

In the interim, the rumors continue to swirl.

"Obviously, people are tuned into it, but it can only be a drumbeat for so long and then it kind of fades," Coach Phil Jackson said before Tuesday night's game, insisting the trade speculation is not a distraction for his team. "But it's still there. It's in the background."

Until the day Kobe puts on another uniform.

If the Bulls aren't trading Deng, Lakers aren't sending the best player on the planet to them...LOL. Even if they WERE sending Deng, we still wouldn't make that deal.

Don't be so sure about that Nik Kupchak. Keep in mind we sent Shaq to Miami for Butler, Odom, Grant, and a draft pick when Dallas was offering us Nash, Walker, Howard, plus Washington's draft pick.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^At that point, no one knew Nash would break into a "superstar" in Phoenix's system...But either way, Kobe right now is still in his prime...Shaq wasn't. No one is trading Kobe unless a team can offer their whole roster...Our management said the same thing...Common sense should prevail over media frenzy...PeACe

[$Eg2$]

^^^ Ric Bucher says different NIK 


Oh Yeah Fuck Ric Bucher by the way 

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

LOL@Ric Bucher, Mr. "Kobe told me he's not gunna suit up!"...biggest piece of shit ever.

[GangstaBoogy]

^At that point, no one knew Nash would break into a "superstar" in Phoenix's system...But either way, Kobe right now is still in his prime...Shaq wasn't. No one is trading Kobe unless a team can offer their whole roster...Our management said the same thing...Common sense should prevail over media frenzy...PeACe

What the fuck are you talking about moron? When that deal was offered Nash was already a 2 time All-Star. Walker was already an All-Star. Josh Howard was loaded with potential, and we would've had a lottery pick. But we sent him to Miami for Caron Butler, Mr. Inconsistant, and even took on Brian Grant's huge contract (we didn't even push hard for Wade). If we couldn't get Wade for Shaq then we're certainly not getting a "whole roster" for Kobe. Prime or not its not happening. Hell Iverson got traded for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and 2 draft picks.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^At that point, no one knew Nash would break into a "superstar" in Phoenix's system...But either way, Kobe right now is still in his prime...Shaq wasn't. No one is trading Kobe unless a team can offer their whole roster...Our management said the same thing...Common sense should prevail over media frenzy...PeACe

What the fuck are you talking about moron? When that deal was offered Nash was already a 2 time All-Star. Walker was already an All-Star. Josh Howard was loaded with potential, and we would've had a lottery pick. But we sent him to Miami for Caron Butler, Mr. Inconsistant, and even took on Brian Grant's huge contract (we didn't even push hard for Wade). If we couldn't get Wade for Shaq then we're certainly not getting a "whole roster" for Kobe. Prime or not its not happening. Hell Iverson got traded for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and 2 draft picks.

We coulda' gotten Wade, dipshit...Refrain from calling people a moron when you're clearly on a whole level under everyone in this section on the intelligence scale. Back then, Dallas' offer wasn't that much better. Odom was coming off a breakthrough year as a 4 in the east and was a much better prospect than Josh Howard. Caron Butler had great potential to be an all-star. We had Gary Payton at the point guard. Nash was regarded a borderline all-star back then...Antoine Walker was considered a joke and an inconvenience to have on your team after the Celtics got rid of him...Not to mention, Brian Grant was supposed to be a very serviceable big, which we desperately needed.. no one knew that would be the year he broke down...Now, revisiting the trade, yes, the Dallas package looks nicer...But still, back then Odom and Butler looked more enticing compared to Nash and Howard...PeACe

[GangstaBoogy]

^At that point, no one knew Nash would break into a "superstar" in Phoenix's system...But either way, Kobe right now is still in his prime...Shaq wasn't. No one is trading Kobe unless a team can offer their whole roster...Our management said the same thing...Common sense should prevail over media frenzy...PeACe

What the fuck are you talking about moron? When that deal was offered Nash was already a 2 time All-Star. Walker was already an All-Star. Josh Howard was loaded with potential, and we would've had a lottery pick. But we sent him to Miami for Caron Butler, Mr. Inconsistant, and even took on Brian Grant's huge contract (we didn't even push hard for Wade). If we couldn't get Wade for Shaq then we're certainly not getting a "whole roster" for Kobe. Prime or not its not happening. Hell Iverson got traded for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and 2 draft picks.

We coulda' gotten Wade, dipshit...Refrain from calling people a moron when you're clearly on a whole level under everyone in this section on the intelligence scale. Back then, Dallas' offer wasn't that much better. Odom was coming off a breakthrough year as a 4 in the east and was a much better prospect than Josh Howard. Caron Butler had great potential to be an all-star. We had Gary Payton at the point guard. Nash was regarded a borderline all-star back then...Antoine Walker was considered a joke and an inconvenience to have on your team after the Celtics got rid of him...Not to mention, Brian Grant was supposed to be a very serviceable big, which we desperately needed.. no one knew that would be the year he broke down...Now, revisiting the trade, yes, the Dallas package looks nicer...But still, back then Odom and Butler looked more enticing compared to Nash and Howard...PeACe

So we coulda gotten Wade but we didn't? Shut the fuck up. Stop talking to me with all these coulda/woulda/shoulda/ifs

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^At that point, no one knew Nash would break into a "superstar" in Phoenix's system...But either way, Kobe right now is still in his prime...Shaq wasn't. No one is trading Kobe unless a team can offer their whole roster...Our management said the same thing...Common sense should prevail over media frenzy...PeACe

What the fuck are you talking about moron? When that deal was offered Nash was already a 2 time All-Star. Walker was already an All-Star. Josh Howard was loaded with potential, and we would've had a lottery pick. But we sent him to Miami for Caron Butler, Mr. Inconsistant, and even took on Brian Grant's huge contract (we didn't even push hard for Wade). If we couldn't get Wade for Shaq then we're certainly not getting a "whole roster" for Kobe. Prime or not its not happening. Hell Iverson got traded for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and 2 draft picks.

We coulda' gotten Wade, dipshit...Refrain from calling people a moron when you're clearly on a whole level under everyone in this section on the intelligence scale. Back then, Dallas' offer wasn't that much better. Odom was coming off a breakthrough year as a 4 in the east and was a much better prospect than Josh Howard. Caron Butler had great potential to be an all-star. We had Gary Payton at the point guard. Nash was regarded a borderline all-star back then...Antoine Walker was considered a joke and an inconvenience to have on your team after the Celtics got rid of him...Not to mention, Brian Grant was supposed to be a very serviceable big, which we desperately needed.. no one knew that would be the year he broke down...Now, revisiting the trade, yes, the Dallas package looks nicer...But still, back then Odom and Butler looked more enticing compared to Nash and Howard...PeACe

So we coulda gotten Wade but we didn't? Shut the fuck up. Stop talking to me with all these coulda/woulda/shoulda/ifs

Moron, the only thing you ever do is speak off of ignorance...Pat Riley made a statement following the trade that said he woulda included Wade in the Shaq deal if the Lakers pushed harder for it...So you really think that we're gunna trade Kobe to a team and not get their best player in return knowing that? LMAO!

[WestCoasta]

fuck Kobe

ungrateful little fag