Lakers actual odds and scenarios... Part 1

   The LA Lakers have been a great Franchise for many years, but with the Kobe era looking like an ending sooner than later...  This upcoming seasons roster looks like a Mavericks Franchise team snagging individual talent and prospects from everywhere. Chris Kaman (Mavericks) here. Nick Young (76ers) there. Jordan Farmar (Euroleague stud) back here in purple and gold, and Wes Johnson (Suns). there. With Elias Harris and Marcus Landry (Summer League and D-League) also being signed as decent young players who could possibly learn to contribute. 

   So Young, Hill, Farmar, Harris, Blake, Sacre, and Meeks looking like the bench once Kobe is back, which is soon in terms of the NBA schedule. I consider Nick Young, Jordan Hill, and Jordan Farmar pluses off the bench with their last NBA seasons being each of their best... Except Nick Young who scored 10.6ppg for Philly off the bench mostly in 23.7 minutes of action). He averaged over 18ppg for the Wizards one year and maybe being around Kobe and Pau and Nash will rub off on his shot selection and open looks. 

   I recently saw the Lakers bench rated 27th, out of 30 teams of course. You mean the 4th worse bench in the NBA? That was last season. With a whole different roster. I think there are at least 7-8 teams with less talent off their bench...  Detroits a great starting five with Drummond and Monroe and Josh Smith with Jennings and likely Billups at SG. What's that bench.... Let alone looking at the Bobcats, Nets, Magic, Hawks, Jazz, Suns, and Raptors weak benches this upcoming year. Much different than last year. 

   Isn't Kobe looking healthy and on pace for a October-November comeback? If he can bring a roster of Odom, Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, and Luke Walton team to a playoff team, then he can get a decent to legit roster there again, even at this age. He hasn't failed us yet in terms of competing. That in itself, along with future Hall Of Famer Pau Gasol logging a large portion of his minutes back at Center where he belongs should improve his production as well. Though 14 Ppg, 8 RPG, 3.5 assists a game and a block aren't shabby. I think he'll improve or put up the same but in about 4-6 mpg less. Exactly as Duncan did sliding over from PF to C. 

   But with Kobe starting sooner than later, I have a feeling Wes Johnson will fit that SF spot well with Nash, Kobe, Gasol, and Kaman (all-star level Center, offensive guy, brings a nice starting five. And if Kobe misses 10-15 games, Nick Young is a very capable scorer and back home in LA. That would deplete the bench, and it's possible he starts with Kobe playing Small Forward. All are possible. Gasol could end up the starting Center bringing Kaman off the Bench and Hill starting at Power Forward, strengthening the bench. 

 

BENCH UNIT(w/Last years numbers and role or skills):

Jordan Hill, (6.7ppg, 5.6rpg, 15.8mpg)

Nick Young (10.1ppg, create own shot))

Jordan Farmar (17, 4 and 6 in Europe)

Steve Blake (3pt specialist)

Jodie Meeks (3pt specialist)

Robert Sacre (High iQ backup Center)

Elias Harris (Stretch four... tBD)

Marcus Landry (3 and D and hustle)

Compared to last years Jamison, Clark, Marcus Morris, That Goudelock guy that shoots every time and rookie Sacre, with Meeks and Blake. Id definitely say they've improved a step, maybe even two. 

Why? Well, Young is a legit Sixth Man of The Year type player in that role if he's happy and has a green light from D'Antoni. He fits very well. Wes Johnson could really fit well too as a more traditional small forward. Jordan Hill was great before his injury (now healthy) and Farmar who I truly believe will surprise many fans and that has me sold. Add in Meeks, Blake, Harris, Sacre, and they are looking like more of a middle of the pack type team... Like 15-20 bench production. Add Kobe will have minute restraints possibly and the bench gets more minutes. We all know Kaman and Gasol will start, but likely will pull Kaman and roll Gasol to Center at the. 6 minute mark to insert a Hill or Young or Farmar (who can guard two guards alright; D'Antoni ran Blake and Nash together a ton. Two guards on the floor has sorta become the norm lately in the NBA.

I think the Lakers are almost getting truly Hated on now for thinking they can make the playoffs. Nobody is saying they are winning the NBA title from the smart Laker fans.

And to World Peace getting amnestied, his 12.5 low PER speaks for itself. His defense was legit but his offense is so bad and out of synch it doesn't outweigh the good on defense. He's not Shane Batter. 

Who thinks the Lakers have slander articles written about them just out of Kobe and Laker hate? Who thinks we aren't being objective? Nobody said we are gonna win the ship. 

Tracy McGrady Retires

T-Mac w/the Knicks

   It's true. T-Mac, Tracy McGrady, is done with the NBA officially retiring today.  The 6'8'' probable future First Ballot Hall Of Famer, phenomenal career as an individual goes down as one of the best Shooting-Guards and scorers to play the game... period. I just hope his lack of post-season success will always haunt him and give the fans a reason to not vote him into the HOF.  But we forget, T-Mac is a now 34 year old man with no legs, knees, or ankles, and 16 NBA seasons under his belt to boot.  Sure, he still was efficient the last 2 years in limited minutes.  We also forget how amazing he was as a player;  in Toronto, scoring 32.1 points a game in Orlando, and teaming with Yao in Houston to consistent 50+win teams and playoff births, consecutive years running in the mid 2000-2010 decade. One problem was McGrady always put it on himself, especially in Houston with a superstar, Yao Ming, complementing him down low, (along with solid teammates like Scola and Battier), but no matter what it was "all T-Mac's fault" when they failed to win in the first round each year, and he let the press put it on him.  That takes heart.

   The NBA will truly miss T-Mac, whom I consider a very underrated player overall.  People seem to forget just how damn good he was in his 20's.  People also forget he's had a big, long career playing for the Raptors at age 18, coming out of high school to be a lottery pick.  By age 20 he was a solid starter, and at 21 he won most improved player in his first year at Orlando putting up 26+ppg and all around great play, even on the defensive end.  

   He's led the NBA twice in scoring, two consecutive years, with 32.1ppg  in 2003 and 28+ in 2004. How many players have won the scoring title 2 years in a row? Well you can count them on one hand. Blessed as an amazing scorer with boosting athleticism and talent, but he also had a very high basketball IQ and could play both ends of the court.  Not only was he counted on to lead your team consistently every single night, but he could be penciled in for 20+points, 5+assists, 1-2 steals, 1 block, lot's of free throws, 1 or 2 "wow plays", and a chance to win.  James Harden would love to have a career that resembles Tracy's, aside from not winning an NBA Championship that is...

   Seven time All-Star, two time All-NBA 1st Team, three time All-NBA 2nd team, and two time All-NBA 3rd team, and 2001 Most Improved Player of the Year Award.  Throw in 2 time NBA Scoring Champion, and we have ourselves a First Ballot Hall of Famer in our hands. But he never "carried a team to the 2nd round", and I wonder how much that will affect things.

But T-Mac speaks for himself.  Just take a look at his career numbers:  

    -19.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks              -44%FG, 34%3FG (32.7 minutes)

Not many players have "Career Numbers" like that, and had he gone to college for a year the numbers would be even better. There's not many players that are 6'8'' agile, athletic, high IQ Shooting Guards that can do a bit of everything, including run the point and defend multiple positions as well as play 1, 2 or 3.

For Iphone/SmartPhone's that don't Show the video of T-Mac's career MIX:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DwxncygNms

   Tracy McGrady should go down as one of the best shooting guards to play the game, a first ballot HOF'er, and should be remembered lastly as a Rocket.  I will miss the years of him lighting up my lLakers for 40 points on opening night!  Good look in China T-Mac!

  His 16 seasons of All-Star level basketball (well maybe 12 seasons) make you a top 50 player of All-Time possibly, it's all up to the fans now. I hope others agree with me. I know there wasn't the "team success" even though there was (just not in getting a ring, but winning consistently he did).

   That winning and getting to the playoffs consistently, along with his career stats and obvious skill and flare watching him the past 16 years we have been spoiled.  The last 16 seasons an influx of amazing shooting-guards like Kobe Bryant; Grant Hill, Jerry Stackhouse, Michael Finley, Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Joe Johnson, Steve Smith, and many others I excluded spoiled us all.

   But if I had to rank their careers, Kobe is first and then T-Mac or RayRay are next on my list as whole careers.

What do you all think?  First Ballot Hall of Famer or not? Speak your mind....

Jason Kidd Retires...

Jason Kidd with Dallas as a champion in the NBA and in the Olympics....

The one we call Kidd has officially retired.  Yes, another great pass first, all around point guard chose to retire after a beautiful 16+year career and playing a solid final season with the Knicks at the age of 40. Who would of thought (not really) over the hill and playing in the NBA (especially as a guard) is nearly impossible and rarely ever accomplished, ever.   The triple double machine has been gone since he was 37 or so, but his ability to help teams win has shown obvious winning with Dallas and taking the Knicks farther than they have gone in years.

Jason Kidd came out of California and the Pac 10 to only be co Rookie Of The Year with some scrub named Grant Hill, while both were superstars, it’s quite a coincidence they both have just retired.  I smell assistant coaching for both, though Grant Hill is more of the TV broadcasting type, Kidd more the coach. Kidd was a one of a kind Point Guard when he came in the NBA as those Magic Johnson triple doubles were years gone.  But Kidd, a taller, 6’5” PG with a extremely high basketball IQ and great court vision passed the ball like a mini-Magic.

Drafted to Phoenix he was already a 15 point, 10+assist, 5 rebound, 2 steals per game kind of stud.  He’d turned into the best PG in the NBA at the time.  Then he was traded to New Jersey, a great place to be in 2001-2002. In Jersey he had Vince Carter playing next to him in his prime as well as Richard Jefferson the solid athletic forward and Kenyon Martin at his best (post surgery still), but Kidd took this team to the NBA Finals and ECF’s a few times with limited resources in a 5-6 year span.  Never to win it.  His last season in New Jersey, a PG at age 33/34 (considered quite old in NBA years) was playing better ball than ever…. many wondered how he could do it much longer, many thought he just needed to be in the right place surrounded by more talent.

Final year in Jersey: -14 points, 10.5 assists, 1.8 steals, with a much improving 3pt shot

Finally, Mark Cuban of the Mavericks decided to make a bold move trading a young, promising Point-Guard in Devin Harris (who did go to Jersey and become a 22ppg guy for a season only to fall off) along with a ton of other players to trade for Kidd and his massive salary.   The Dallas Mavericks have often been known as the city and team where stars go to die (and age)… but Cuban had a nice plan and built a great team. Kidd’s 3pt shot somehow became far improved, a top 20 3pt shooter in the NBA by percentage, knowing when and what to do.  Kidd kept up his passing and team play, only scored 9 or 10 a game, but with Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler, and great shooters to surround them all they were able to go all the way, beating the first year of Miami’s “Big 3 Lebron saga” in the finals with ease.

They were a true team, every player deserved it, especially Kidd and Dirk. Kidd will be in the HOF soon, but likely coaching on the sidelines in his career. 

12.6 points, 8.7 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 1.9 steals 

Those are career numbers over a 16(17?) year career.  Had he retired 3 years ago after his title win those numbers would be more like 14ppg and 10apg, but pay no mind to that.  Possibly the best rebounding PG ever (well 2nd to Magic) and simply one of the best pure PG’s to ever play the game.  And while I love and respect Nash, Kidd’s always been a great defender as well, making him a superior player to me (not the same shooter obviously). Jason Kidd might go down underrated if we think about his numbers from the Dallas title team and his 36 year old frame; or even this season at age 40 playing with the Knicks in the playoffs for 15 minutes a game.

If we remember the Kidd that played in Phoenix and showed how great he could become, and then took New Jersey to the finals on his back… to only fail multiple times.  Then adapting his game and style in Dallas knowing he’s not the same specimen physically and can’t put up 20 points when he wants to, but ran the offense and improved that ugly jumper out of college into a 40% 3pt shooter.  Winning the finals was past his prime but he still was the major key, just his IQ and presence.   RIP to the Kidd…  see you coaching on the sidelines soon.