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Well, the NBA world's a-flutter with speculation over the possibilities involving Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.  LA's been named as a destination for both, amply fueled by Matt Barnes announcing that Dwight told him he wants to play with the Lakers, and apparently Chris Paul recognizing that the Knicks are a no-go, and now the Lakers are his team of choice.



Now, if NOLA were to bite on a deal with Gasol as the centerpiece, then it would be a possibility... but my gut tells me that it's going to be an either/or deal.  Not both.  Either way, I kinda think I'd prefer a Howard/Gasol/Bryant key three rather than a Howard/Bryant/Paul.
Don't get me wrong: the latter would be a pretty awesome set of players to possess.  Even in fantasy basketball that threesome would be nigh on impossible to possess... but it's just that I like what Pau Gasol brings to the court, and I think paired with Howard LA's D becomes pretty much impenetrable - and the other end of the floor would be awesome as well. 
Offense: Kobe would pretty much have to be solo-teamed.  Same with Howard/Gasol.  How do you defend that?
There's less overlap with the skillsets of Howard/Gasol/Bryant than Howard/Bryant/Paul (and far less than a certain threesome that dwells on the Eastcoast).
Add to this, there is Chris Paul's knee - a concern that would have to hang over him like the Sword of Damocles... questionable knees are one helluva bane for a point like Chris Paul.

The addition of Jason Kapono adds fuel to this all: he's the perfect kick-out shooter for either a slashing CP3 or beastly D12.  Need more?  Andrew Bynum's said he "wants his own team".  Every day that seems more and more likely.
If it comes to a choice between the two, gimme Dwight.
Exciting times to be a Laker fan...

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News out that the Lakers have signed former UCLA sharp-shooter, Jason Kapono.  In the scale of what's expected to take place across the NBA landscape (and in LA in particular... hello Mr Howard?), it's a minor move - but one I like.  Kapono's a great shooter - and that's something that LA desparately need.  With whoever LA end up on on the floor with, there will be open looks for guys shooting from range.  Over the past few seasons, the big issue has been actually *having* a guy who can hit those open looks... career 43.7 3pt shooter.

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The LA Lakers schedule for the 2011/12 season looks like this (back-to-backs in blue, back-to-back-to-backs in red):
December
Sun 25 vs Chicago
Mon 26 @ Sacramento
Tue 27 vs Utah
Thu 29 vs New York
Sat 31 vs Denver

January
Sun 01 @ Denver
Tue 03 vs Houston
Thu 05 @ Portland
Fri 06 vs Golden State
Sun 08 vs Memphis
Tue 10 vs Phoenix
Wed 11 @ Utah
Fri 13 vs Cleveland
Sat 14 @ LA Clippers
Mon 16 vs Dallas
Thu 19 @ Miami
Fri 20 @ Orlando
Sun 22 vs Indiana
Wed 25 vs LA Clippers
Sat 28 @ Milwaukee
Sun 29 @ Minnesota
Tue 31 vs Charlotte
no comments

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Very close. The 2011/12 NBA season kicks off in but a few, short weeks - and NBA fans are experiencing a veritable myriad of emotions as the lockout ends, and the NBA begins again. The months of wheeling and dealing in the trade-season will be crammed into the space of a few weeks.

I thought I'd ask a few of my NBA colleagues within the Bloguin Network what they felt about the coming season... 3 questions:

1. What's your general feeling about the upcoming season? A cramped, manic schedule starting Christmas Day...

2. Discuss your team... what's the Yuletide season hold for you?

3. Predictions: MVP, Eastern Champ, Western Champ... and NBA Champion* (surely we'll need an asterisk this season???)!

Away we go...

College Wolf, T-Wolves Blog

1) Relieved. I'm just glad there is going to be a season. If not, there would have been a plethora of unanswered questions for pretty much every team in the league (except the Bobcats, no one cares about them. And screw Michael Jordan.) Unfortunately I expect a "sloppy-ish" season that will probably have more injuries and bad play than usual; but a shortened season is better than no season.

2) There are still a ton of things that remain to be done with the Timberwolves. How will Derrick Williams and Ricky Rubio fit with the team? And what about new coach Rick Adelman? How do all our guys get rotational minutes and steady playing time? Will Kahn make some more mores? Something needs to happen, as we've still got too many guys that could make an argument for playing time, and positional logjams all over the place. I'm not worried about Rubio's play nearly as much as some "experts" this past off-season, and just can't wait to see him on he court doing his thing and leading our team. I've still got high hopes for him and his unrealized potential.

3) Durantula4MVP
EC = Bulls
WC = Thunder
Champions = Thunder*

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Jeff Fox, Hoops Manifesto

1. I like the shortened, "cramped, manic" schedule. Should be action packed with little down time.

2. As a long-time Phoenix Suns fan (since the late 80s – word up to KJ, EJ, Chambers and the crew), I'm expecting basketball Santa to put coal in my stocking this year. But as long as they don't ship Steve Nash out of town (especially not to South Beach), I'll be happy enough.

2. MVP – Kevin Durant, Eastern – Miami, Western – Lakers, Champ – Miami (excuse me – I need to go vomit now).

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Ezra, The Purple & Gold Blog

1. When a good friend of mine text me that the new season is starting on Christmas, I thought he was just playing a mean joke. Of course, that didn't stop me from looking it up online. Sure enough, everyone is saying the NBA is back. I thought 66 games isn't bad at all. It's definitely better than the 54 games back in '99. General opinion on a shortened season says the younger teams will benefit more. But that all depends upon how much they prepared themselves for a lockout season.

2. Mike Brown mentioned in the Lakers press conference last week that he's planning on using a lot of the regular season games as practice games to help the players learn the nuances of his playbooks. That's really not something they can avoid this season considering there are more than 200 plays (as I heard) in his offensive book alone and that there will be only 2 pre-season games scheduled for each team in the NBA before the official season starts. So there really isn't a whole lot of practice time at all. But we should get an idea on how much the Lakers want to win this year on opening day.

3.
MVP: Kevin Durant
East Champs: Miami Heat
West Champs: Lakers
NBA Champs: Lakers

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Rob (Brumbygg), With Malice

1: I'm just doing the happy dance that we have a season at all! I think the 66 game season makes it meaning and not just a sprint to the playoffs, but keeping your guys fresh is going to be a big challenge. Injuries that might normally cost a few games in a suit could now mean 6-10 out of uniform and that could have a big impact of playoff hopes.  

2: First off, the Celtics have to sign some players! Big Baby isn't coming back and I'm not convinced we'll see Jeff Green in... well, green. I am genuinely excited by the talk of the CP3/Rondo trade, but I'm also excited by talk of Santa Claus coming to my house on Christmas Eve - and it doesn't mean either of them are going to happen. I think the condensed schedule is going to hurt Boston and while we'll make the playoffs, we need to be very lucky with injuries as well as Doc managing minutes effectively for us to go close.  

3: Miami to win the East and Dallas to set up a re-match of lasts season's final. Miami to get LBJ a ring.

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Andre Purtell & Mookie Schiralli, The Fantasy Dudes

Q1: So, the protracted process that was the lockout, leads to a contracted NBA season. As a fan, what's to like?
Perhaps the only silver lining on the clouds which shroud the approaching 66-game NBA season exist in fact due to (rather than in spite of) its brevity.

Ponder this: year after year we are told that the real season starts when the playoffs begin. Veteran teams rest their players during the dog days of the regular season, holding out those gaffer-taped bodies in preparation for the "real season" to commence.

This time around, with the shortened regular season, each game takes on an increased importance in the final standings. The lesser number of games reduces the likelihood of injuries, as much as it reduces the likelihood that players sit out with minor injuries, "just in case".

On the other hand, this make-do season provides some negatives. Whoever wins it all will have an asterisk firmly affixed to their title, in much the same way as the San Antonio Spurs' 1999 NBA Finals victory was tainted.

The nature of the schedule means that teams will need to be ready on the fly, with little time to acquaint themselves with new teammates or opponents. Whilst veteran squads may have an advantage due to the shorter schedule (due to their experience and lessened chance of injury), conversely the increased number of games per week will mean that young squads with unity under their collective belt like the Oklahoma City Thunder suddenly have a much better shot at things.

Most important of all, it's time for NBA Fantasy Drafts!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 
With the impending probability that the lockout is over (only the nuts 'n' bolts of the deal yet to be fully worked out), the NBA announced that they'll run with a 66 game season beginning on Christmas Day.  It's going to be a hellaciously manic schedule, with back-to-back-to-backs, and manic travel around the country (oh... and Canada too).

Some of the details, as laid out over at The Crossover Chronicles:

Each team will still play four games against other teams within its division -- a total of 16 games. The difference comes in the other in-conference games and the non-conference games. Each team will play two non-division opponents within its conference four times and the others it will play just three times.

Four of those eight remaining in-conference matchups will be 2-home, 1-away while the other four will be 1-home, 2-away.For inter-conference games, each team will play three teams twice (once home, once away), and the other 12 once (six at home, six away only). 

There's also the possibility of back-to-backs in the second round of the playoffs.
This is going to be wild: team fitness and health is going to be paramount, and my early gut feeling is that it's going to favour younger teams... but the mental aspect of quickly letting go of "last night" will be something vets will do better. 
As soon as this CBA's finalized, teams are going start frantically scrambling through a very short free agency  period.

Bring it on!!!

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Lamar Odom's always been a player I've enjoyed watching, guy seems to just glide on the court.  LO's often described as LA's "X-factor", and rightfully so.  When he's at his best, the Lakers become nigh on impossible to beat. 
So... thought I'd share with you a vid-clip I think's cool - LO chillin'.  Just a dude living life.  Loved the urban reality, and the feel of it that despite his status, Odom's just a guy.

Enjoy.  I did.



#Alwayson

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So I've been reading the 5 on 5's, looking at ESPN snippets discussing who is to blame, and listening to people employe by the NBA work like Nazi propagandists in a effort to make this look like something inevitable.  If there is one thing we CAN say about the lockout, it is that this was most certainly inevitable, and that the writing has been on the wall for some time.
There are plenty of reasons why we're here at this juncture at this time: crazy player salaries, stingy owners, poor management by the NBA, crazy acts of negotiations by players, rigging the league so big markets have more success and the list goes on. 

So who is most to blame in getting to this point; the lockout to end all lockouts?

5. The agents...
The agents are the satan-on-the-shoulder that whispers in the ear of every young, impressionable, naive player who has just finished a college career with no degree and a desire to "cash in".  Long gone are the days when a Patrick-Ewing-type would stay, get his degree, and know that coming out the other side he'd still be ok. 
Now-a-days players think in "drive thru" terms: gotta get paid and gotta get paid now. Talk about short-sighted and self-indulgent, saying things like "my window is closing", "I have to try now or it'll never happen" and half the guys saying it are 19 years old... Sorry but they're getting these "scripts" from very artful directors - their agents.  Agents used to provide conscience, counsel, and legitimate protection for their clients.  Now, player advocacy has become completely ludricrous - like a union demanding a pay increase because another union just got one; the problem is a snowball and it's been gaining momentum since BEFORE the last lockout. Also remember, the NBA makes a cut from the agents... but we'll get onto that later.

4. The superstars and hacks who manage to get paid like superstars.
Ridiculous contracts, refusing to play, pure unprofessionalism, Mariah Carey diva-like behaviour. This is your modern NBA superstar.
The superstars have created a situation where they can issue demands knowing that as long as they go to the correct market, the NBA won't stand in their way. See Anthony, Carmelo; James, LeBron; Bosh, Chris; Stoudemire, Amare for examples. Whilst everyone has aspirations and dreams (see Allen, Ray returning home to Massachusets) players still have a professional obligation to meet: they are an employee of a company and have to be professional. Otherwise, if we are serious, the company should be able to fire them, terminate the contract, and sue for damages. See Curry, Eddy and the inability to go on a diet.
I'm surprised that, in such a litigious society as the US, this hasn't happened already.
But either way, if the league is to rise from the ashes, the players have to be on the same page and want to play regardless of where it is. Plain and simple.

3. The owners and Billy Hunter.
I asked a friend last night at Basketball "Who is Billy Hunter?" "No idea... What's this in reference too, Biochemistry?"
An avid basketball fan, yet even he doesn't know who Billy Hunter is, and what he's currently doing. Because of Billy we have an almost unprecedented mess where we will soon see the "rookies" choosing to litigate against someone and that may actually turn out to be the NBAPA... seriously.
These guys signed deals, are dead broke and it's all because Mr Hunter was representing the top 5% not the other 95%.  Makes me think we need an "Occupy the NBAPA" movement because as many players have stated, and then been hushed up or shot down, most players just want to play!
The owners on the other hand are to blame for the protraction; they needed to meet and organise between themselves sooner.  They also need to realise that they're not all regulars on entourage, and this means that concessions must be made by the bigger markets.  Yes it is a business but the business model is flawed and you dont need an MBA to realise that.

2. The NBAPA.
As mentioned earlier they are starting to get just plain unreasonable. Jason Kidd is pretty much done now. Rookies are now unable to pay back loans they took out thinking they would be paid soon. Windows of opportunity are closing for veterans... and the NBAPA needs to be more democratic and realise that although a stand was needed, this process is now resembling a fake ultimatum that will actually harm the bargaining power of the players long term.
Fact is, if they were serious deadlines and decertification would have come in July or June - not now when the season should have already started.  Do you seriously think a snake like Stern doesn't see right through this? Let's also consider that now the NBAPA has openend itself up to a counter-claim for unnecessary protraction - which one would expect the NBA would win. So either way the solution will be... more mediation!!!!!! #%#@%@#%@!!

1. David Stern.
Supposed to have stepped down - hasn't.  2 lockouts now - say what?
Stern is a great money winner; the problem is his methodology is entirely unethical and immoral and he'll kill anyone he has too in that beautiful passive aggressive manner in order to get what he wants. Stern could have talked the owners around by this time; he could have also talked around the players.
The problem is, he's not being the Commissioner he's supposed to be; he's behaving like someone with their own interests at heart. Many things will come out of this new period we're entering; one should be Stern finally stepping aside. My only concern is for whoever steps in - the league is in ruin and in need of a complete overhaul. Heck, the NBA actually OWNS one of the franchises... that's never happened before. Meanwhile Stern sticks to his big markets, and makes sure that the money rolls in BUT only via certain avenues.
If all the people before are to blame then they are merely lunatics - Stern is the Joker pulling all the strings.

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With the NBA Players Association rejecting the NBA's latest CBA offering, one would think it's a desolute time.  But the request to have a sit-down before Wednesday's expiry date on that offer supplies a slight glimmer of hope.  Definitely not a bonfire - more like a 40 watt bulb - but it's there none-the-less.  If it was outright rejection of what's on the table, then the NBAPA would be looking to stand resolute.
With both sides of the negotiating table eyeing off the hardliners standing off to the wings for both ownership and players, it's becoming imperative for a deal to occur if they want to avoid...
a) Union decertification
b) The "scorched earth" CBA promised by Jordan, Allen & co.

All is not lost.

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Gotta love these NBA CBA negotiations (tongue firmply placed in cheek).  Really enjoying how acrimonious it's all getting.  And at the forefront?  Michael Jordan, hardline owner.  A guy who seems to believe that the players should just shut up and play... funnily enough, a bit over a decade ago this was the same guy at the heart of another CBA discussion - but this time on the other side of the fence.

Back in October of 1998, Jordan yelled at Abe Pollin (the then owner of the newly-minted Wiz),
"If you can't make a profit, you should sell your team!"

Now that the Tres Outlaw boot is on the other foot, Jordan's done a 180, and has become a resident pitbull for the hardest of the hardline owners, along with Paul Allen - that particular group is deadset against any deal that gives the players a modicum of balanced returns on the BRI.  They're interested in giving the players 37%.
Sheesh... really Michael?  Not only am I aghast at the temerity of a guy yelling abuse over wanting 63% only a decade ago, but just amazed that they don't seem to care an iota over whether we even get a "next" season. 
Is this the sporting equivalent of "Let them eat cake"?