I’m getting good at watching Lakers basketball.
I was doing some school reading during the start of the game and it didn’t take me long to figure out what I was about to see.
The Lakers started out sharp and jumped to an early lead, but eventually focus waned, and soon the Rockets were holding about a 7 point lead.
I used to want to rip my hair out during those stretches, as if any lead under 35 in the 1st half of an NBA game is insurmountable or something.
“Whatever,” I said, as I flipped over to watch my DVR’d Sons of Anarchy episode that had just wrapped up taping. (This was about half way through the second quarter). “I’ll watch this and come back during the Lakers come-back and see what happens from there.”
I watched Sons while “watching” the game on my Twitter feed via my BlackBerry (the 21st century is truly a crazy place). I turned in right when Blake hit those two threes to cut the Rockets’ lead right before the end of the 3rd quarter.
“I knew that Steve Blake signing was a good one!!!” I screamed, as if a 30 second sequence had validated the spending of millions of dollars.
That’s the beauty of the first game of the season. Wild predictions based on 48 minutes of action. After watching the entire fourth quarter… here’s some opinions on the Lakers early campaign.
Next: Shannon Brown and Lamar Odom
Shannon Brown is apparently really good. As in “Most Improved Player” good.
I live in Ohio, and a lot of my friends are Cavs fans. When the Lakers acquired Shannon Brown and he went on to win a title, I always joked that the Cavs (whom drafted Shannon Brown in the 2006 draft) would never win a title due to the “Curse of Cannon Brown.”
Four falls later, and it’s actually looking like it could be a legitimate curse.
I’ve always liked Shannon’s game, but there were plenty of times where he’d make me put my face in my hands. The player I saw Tuesday night? A player that appears to have added an outside shooting touch to his other-worldly athleticism, and that’s a scary proposition to the NBA. Especially in a season where Kobe’s minutes will be limited for the stretch run, the emergence of Shannon Brown could be a game-changer for the Lakers.
One of the best basketball (and just life in general) follows on Twitter —former Bulls scout Clarence Gaines–tweeted an article about Brown during the game. It was written by the LA Times’ Mike Breshnahan detailing the amount of work Shannon Brown put in on his own this summer back in Illinois. Being around a player like Kobe Bryant, I’m sure the work ethic has rubbed off, but it’s crazy to think that two years ago Shannon Brown was a “throw-in” in a trade involving Vladimir Radmonovic and Adam Morrison.
Has Lamar Odom found his nirvana?
I would have kids with Lamar Odom. I really would. Just seems like a genuinely nice guy, and people have always moaned about what he can’t do, rather than simply standing in awe out of all of the things he can do.
Lamar brought the whole package last night. The best beat-writer in the NBA, OC Register’s Kevin Ding, even had a Tweet that he was taken back by how much effort Lamar Odom was putting in last night.
It really makes you wonder–outside of Kevin Durant–I think this summer’s World Championships helped Lamar Odom the most. People had always expected Lamar to be an alpha-dog–and some people just aren’t built for that or aren’t ready. Up until a few year’s ago–I don’t think Lamar Odom would have stepped up to the challenge of being the veteran leader of a young Team USA squad. While he clearly wasn’t the alpha dog, all one has to do is gleam the gushing quotes of anybody involved with USA basketball to see the calming effect he had on his teammates. Odom has turned into a true professional, when early in his career, people would have simply laughed at that idea. (ARE YOU READING THIS, MICHAEL BEASLEY? THERE IS STILL HOPE).
It makes you wonder–after the life Odom has had, now that he is married, a 2-time World Champion, a FIBA gold medalist, successful on and off the court–has Odom found his nirvana? Because, I haven’t seen Odom maintain intensity throughout the game like that…. in… ever?
There was a lot of talk about Kobe and Pau taking the summer off of basketball, and with Ron Artest loving the spotlight, and Andrew Bynum being hurt… Odom quietly coasted under the radar this summer, which is remarkable considering he was the starting center on the first US team to win at the World’s since 1994.
I don’t feel there’s anybody in the league who can guard Lamar Odom when he’s firing all pistons. And if, for whatever reason, it took until the age of 30 for all the pieces to fall into place for the Candyman, then, that would be what we call a “game-changer.”
Next: Steve Blake and that Bieber Kid
How did Justin Bieber get to rock Phil Jackson’s NBA Championship game?
Look, I love Jeannie Buss, but seriously–what the hell? She’s baby-sitting Phil’s ring, and some Canadian pop-star comes up and asks to rock it–and she says yes?
I hate that I know the name Justin Bieber. I hate that I can picture that fruity little comb-over does. I am proud to say that I’ve never heard a song of his–but it drives me crazy that I know him.
I wish Ron Artest would have thought Justin Bieber was stealing Jeannie’s ring and he would’ve choked him out. Only because I would watch that video every day for the rest of my life.
Speaking of the rings, did you hear how every one of them has a piece of the Game 7 basketball in them? That’s pretty cool.
Steve Blake was a really good signing.
Derek Fisher is a Laker Legend and will have his number retired one day by this organizaton.
Fisher obviously has his defensive struggles, and with Kevin Martin/Aaron Brooks/Courtney Lee all capable of doing things to Fisher that could land them in Pelican Bay, it was still crazy to see Steve Blake finishing the game while Fisher cooled his heals on the bench.
Obviously, Blake’s accuracy from out-side is why the Lakers brought him in, but it speaks volumes about the light that Phil Jackson sees Blake in to let him close the game out. Expect to see a lot of big things out of Steve this year.
I try not to bash former Lakers, especially one with two rings, but do you think Jordan Farmar will see the problem with his me-first thinking when he’s trudging up and down the court in Minnesota during a February game against the Timberwolves? In a game that doesn’t have anything other than lottery implications? If you’re somebody like Jordan Farmar–wouldn’t you want to hang around in LA and do your part to help a squad like the Lakers’ win? Rather than chase personal glory and end up watching play-off games from your couch?
People baffle me.
Next: The Joys of Being a Lakers Fan
Lastly, how good is it to be a Lakers fan?
I mean, really? I don’t think I did anything more than subtle fist pump when Blake hit the go-ahead three as time wound down. I really didn’t. It’s just something that I expected at the time. There was never a doubt in my mind that the Lakers were winning that game, and everybody on that court knew it–even the team in red.
The Lakers have been on a remarkable run these last few years–and while history gives us no indication the Lakers will ever slow down–it’s important that we as fans take a time to really soak in this golden era.
That said, I think I’m going to take the Los Angeles Lakers to defeat the Boston Celtics in six games for the 2010-2011 NBA Title.
– Follow me on Twitter: @fictionaldj