NBA 2012: Running thread

Which, in some ways, is even more alarming. They're getting their butts kicked even when Kobe plays tremendously. So what happens when Kobe starts having some bad games?

And don't the Lakers have anyone else to contribute more minutes at the small forward spot? Metta Artest played over 38 minutes tonight. Sorry that team's in trouble if that guy is playing nearly forty minutes a night, he is washed up.

 

0-4.

If they manage to lose at home on Sunday to the Pistons, they have got serious, serious issues. A team relying on as many kids as Detroit shouldn't be able to come within 20 at the Staples Center if the Lakers are even half the team they think they can be.

 

What I do not understand about Mike Brown is that he's trying to implement a new offense.

He's trying to prove he belongs?

Fate dealt him LeBron, and I don't think there was a whole lot of new-age offensive scheming. It was pretty much let LeBron do whatever he wants to do with the kibbles 'n' bits around him. Then Brown comes to L.A. and has to follow the greatest coach in history and do something post-triangle era. Last year, Brown did fine just managing the team without causing too many waves.

But now it's Year 2 in L.A. He's not LeBron's bitch, and Jackson is long gone.

Now Mike Brown can finally "prove" to the critics that he has a wonderful, brilliant, elite mind for devising an offense, especially with Nash around. But it doesn't make much sense. There are too many old veterans on the team. Why are you trying to teach these guys something new? Just put the ball in Nash's hands and let him do whatever he wants.

Put that aside for a moment. The other pieces don't fit. Artest served his purpose 2 years ago but has checked out. Gasol doesn't seem like he wants to be there. I've never been sold on Howard (despite the numbers).

Even Kobe doesn't look like Kobe (despite the 30 a game so far). The miles are catching up -- last night the Lakers stole the ball and Kobe got the outlet, and he soft-kissed a layup. Nothing wrong with a layup, but a normal Kobe would've hammered that down. Killer instinct seems to be missing.

Lakers are in trouble.

 

Yeah, I thought he wouldn't stop till he passed Kareem. Not sure he's getting there.

 

Can't say I agree with this. Can't speak for the first two games (didn't see em), but Kobe sure as hell look like Kobe to me last night. I thought he was tremendous, not sure what more he could've done, it was the rest of that crew that was wretched.

Soft kissing a layup that the younger version might've slammed is something all aging players start doing to preserve the legs. Both count for two points, so who cares as long as it goes in. I don't see that as a valid knock on his performance at all.

 

Perhaps I was more focused more on the Clippers, who are younger, faster, more spry.

I don't think Kobe had a bad game. But he's starting to look like that 34-year-old with 50,000-mile NBA legs and knees combined with the fact his heart might not be into learning a new offense. Whatever it is, something seems amiss with him.

 

The new offense isn't fine. It's discombobulated. I don't put too much stock into the preseason, but they didn't win a single game. And now they're 0-3 in the real season. 11 games in the new system, 11 losses. Something's not right.

Put it another way: You've been reporting and writing for 10 years, and you love that style of reporting and writing. Now a new editor comes in and tells you to learn a new style of reporting and that you're going to start writing stories in a new way.

That's not going to crimp your style? Is your heart going to be fully into it right away?

 

One Kobe note: He still has the bum foot. Left arena on a walking boot, said after the game it felt like his foot was going to fall off. And Brown afterward said he played Kobe too many minutes. Including the entire second half. In the third game of the season. So now I fully expect Kobe to play 48 on Sunday, can't take a chance on going 0-4. Ladies and gents, Mike Brown.

 

Steve Nash has been diagnosed with a leg fracture, according to radio reports.

 

A non-displaced fracture, for what it's worth. So out a week then they see. Although this was the injury Stockton had before the 1992 Olympics and seems like he missed several weeks, maybe even a month of action.

The good news is when he does come back, Brown will ease him in by playing him 44 minutes a night.

Completely made-up Twitter rumor of the day was D'Antoni being eyed as a replacement. Hell, at this point I might take Randy Pfund over Brown.

 

Damian Lillard, ROY through two games!

 

Through one quarter, Brooklyn's defense looks as bad as feared. It's going to be a long season on the defensive side of the floor for the Nets.