The Puzzle Is Complete: Lamar Signs With Lakers
Picture this: Western Conference Finals. The 67-win Lakers is facing the 64-win San Antonio Spurs.
The East is sporting the Orlando Magic against the Boston Senior Citizens. The consensus around the league is that the championship rests on whoever wins the West.
Yes, Odom’s Arms Are Really That Long.
The Spurs and Lakers are exchanging baskets. Artest checks Jefferson. Kobe schools Ginobli, followed by Tony Parker schooling our entire point guard rotation. Bynum is pounding Antonio McDyess down low, McDyess returns the favor with his 17-foot squishers.
Gasol and Duncan are playing to a draw. Everyone is exhausted. Time to call up the bench for some key minutes.
Lamar Odom stands up to check in, looking at Greg Popovich’s coaching staff visibly sulk. The Spurs? They respond with: Matt Bonner or a 63 year old (OK, 36) Theo Ratliff.
Matt Bonner Can Outrun Every NBA Superstar in His Sleep. When Matt Bonner Carries the Ball, It’s Not Carrying. Matt Bonner Might Not Look Up When he Dribbles, But he Doesn’t Look Down. OK, I’m Done.
Is the Lakers nation joyous that Odom signed to a 4-year deal (surely worth in the $30 something million range)? Yes they are. And examples (like the Spurs story) of the potential dominance of even the best teams of the NBA is why.
I myself am trying very hard not to say I told you Odom would not only sign, but get none of his added years demands (Explodes. Ah! I can’t help it! I told you so!).
Don’t Forget he’s a Poker Player: Jerry Buss Made the Perfect Bluff - He Pretended to Risk Odom to Gain Odom at the Rate he Wanted.
The Lakers will be so good if healthy, they should start experimenting in training camp. Is Odom’s three-point skills really as improved as the word on the street suggests? If so, why not have your starting lineup be:
Odom at point guard, Kobe at guard, Artest at small forward, Gasol at power forward, and Bynum at center? Tell me, who is Tony Parker or Rajon Rondo guarding in this scenario? Yeah, they might blow by Odom, but they already blow by the rest of the league, might as well make them pay on the other end.
This Fall, L.A….Gets….Crazier.
What about Ron Artest at power forward? Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown off the bench at the same time to turn the Lakers from long and strong bunch to a 7 seconds or less team? The possibilities are endless.
Perhaps the brightest thing about the Lakers signing Lamar Odom are the precious moments. How cool is our locker room going to be? Ron Artest will be there, saying crazy things, hanging out with his childhood friend Odom, who’ll be agreeing like he knows what Ron is talking about.
Kobe Knows True Crazy is Demanding Perfection Every Night.
On the other end, Kobe Bryant’s icy stare will tell you he’s mad and wondering why they only beat the Knicks by 17 points that night. Pau Gasol will obviously still have the Spanish news networks draped over him, as Sun Yue might even have China listening in.
Somewhere in all this, Sasha Vujacic will be sporting the headband of the day, and people will actually be paying attention to this at Headband Watch. You think I’m kidding, don’t you? Check the link: http://www.vujacic.net/headband-watch/
Yeah, it’s going to be a great season.
Artest looks big. Watch out.
Your Spurs matchup has two problems.
1 Ginobli is 6th man when everyone is healthy
2 Gasol playing Duncan as even thats laughable.
Spurs bench includes Ginobli, Hill, Blair, Old man Rat and Finley pretty well balanced for a second team.
However your Bonner marks are SOOO true. LOL
Your scenario is pretty dismissive toward Duncan, Ginobili and Jefferson.
Bonner?! Hopefully, come playoff time, Bonner won’t even be in the rotation. Ratliff will be used to knock Bynum on his ass and frustrate the young fella. You also forgot about Blair, Mahinmi and Haislip.
that is so hilarious.
Read Simmons on Artest and you might start getting sad. This may be the unapologetic UCLA fan in me but, Ariza was the better fit. Spurs look tough.