Hoffa The Great's Blog

Storylines and Rumors from another Laker off-season.
Hoffa The Great :: about 1 month ago :: 170 views

     It's hard to believe that we are a year removed from last summer and the debacle that was the Lakers Soap Opera of '07. Kobe seems content (for the time being) and at least on paper, the Lakers look poised to make another long playoff run in pursuit of championship number 15. It has also been a little less than a month since the Finals ended, and, to avoid getting off on a rant, I'll stick to the off-season story lines (though I will say that I love how analysts and reporters can so easily call something "physical defense" instead of calling it what it is). As far as this season goes, I'll break down each story one at a time.

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We have controversy! But should there be?
Hoffa The Great :: 3 months ago :: 140 views

     It's the early morning hours following the no-call that has gotten nothing but attention since it was made at the end of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. Was there contact? Certainly. Was it a foul? Yes. I now that, if the situation were reversed, I'd want the Lakers to get that call and be upset if they didn't. Though it wouldn't have even been a continuation, but a two shot foul (LA was over the limit) in which Brent Barry could have tied the game and the Lakers would have a second or so to win the game had it been called. It was a bad call, but it was hardly the only bad call during the game. First of all, Derek Fisher's shot hit the rim and bounced out of bounds off of Robert Horry just before that. That should have given LA a new shot clock with San Antonio's only option being to foul. The wrong call was made. Lamar Odom's block on Tony Parker after a fast break that was called goaltending looked awfully clean. It was very reminiscent to Tayshawn Prince blocking Reggie Miller in the '04 Eastern Conference Playoffs. It looked like the wrong call was made. J. A. Adande of ESPN also brought up another great point for all of the Spurs fans screaming bloody murder this morning.

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My biggest query about NBA (and sports) history...
Hoffa The Great :: 8 months ago :: 408 views

Over the years, I have heard countless people, players, analysts, etc. basically bow down and hand the title of single greatest player in NBA history to the same man. Though a lot of the older players may put up a fight, the general consensus is that Michael Jordan was the greatest player ever. He's even been handed the title "greatest athlete of the 20th century" by media outlets such as ESPN. It has also been the subject of quite a few throwdowns as of late, which, in turn, is the impetus behind this very blog. This has always baffled me. Granted, I've always had a problem with Jordan, in part, I'm sure, due to Chicago knocking my beloved Lakers out of the ‘91 NBA Finals (which, I still stand by the argument that if the Lakers had been healthy, and not dealing with injuries to their leading scorer, Byron Scott, and leading rebounder, James Worthy, the series would have ended up differently). I have also always contended that he was product of a media savvy David Stern (explain later if you‘re willing to bear with me). There are holes in my blind hatred. For some reason, maybe it's my devotion to Nike, but I've always had a soft spot for Jordan shoes, and, to a slightly lesser extent, some of the clothing. I own my fair share of shoes from the Jordan line (truthfully, it's more than my fair share), and haven't slowed much in my buying. All of this to the amazement of my family and friends, but I digress.

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The ever changing face of LA...
Hoffa The Great :: about 1 year ago :: 599 views

Strange as it may seem, all has been eerily quiet with the sideshow that has been the Lakers off-season recently. With reports that it was Charlotte, not Boston as originally reported, that drug their proverbial feet and blocked the chances of KG landing on the left coast, it makes me wonder what MIGHT have been said between Kobe and Jordan. I'm not a **** "insider" like Ric Bucher or anything, but I'd bet large sums of money that they talk, even with Jordan running the show in Bobcat land. I'm not alleging tampering, but I've got to believe that they speak in general terms regarding life and basketball. Maybe I'm being paranoid and reading too far into it, it just seems odd to me that they wouldn't have spoken AT ALL this summer, with all of the crap that's been going on. That, coupled with the fact that Indiana STILL wants far too much in return for O'Neal, it seems as if the roster is set for this season. So what does that mean? Kobe's "no comment" responses, at least to me, indicate that he, along with the rest of us, is still waiting for the Lakers to do something worthwhile. While he (supposedly) liked the moves they HAVE made--signing Derek Fisher and re-signing Mihm and Walton--he also has to be furious at the thought of Garnett going East for a bunch of garbage. You're right, I'm obviously biased, but come on. Al Jefferson is nice, and he's young, but he isn't the player that Lamar Odom is. Andrew Bynum is full of potential and Kwame Brown has an appealing contract. Throw in a few things here and there to make it work, and the deal could get done. So why didn't it? We all know McHale HATES LA, and at the risk of beating a dead horse (don't tell PETA), I think it has as much to do with that as anything else. Yes, Mitch Kupchak is incompetent; and yes, the Buss' DO make it harder for him to do his job, but this is all about McHale helping out Bean Town. What was so great about what Boston gave up? A dunker, an expiring contract, draft picks and a young player with potential. The Lakers were giving up a YOUNGER 7 footer with potential in Andrew Bynum, a player with potential and All Star talent already in Lamar Odom, and an expiring contract in Kwame Brown. I'm sure there was more to the deal, but that was the big part of it. It's a better deal for Wolves, but it wasn't the deal that helped out McHale's Celtics. So we now have a "quiet" Kobe (yes I got off on a tangent there, but I found my way back), speaking volumes with his silence. Of course he still wants out. He wants to win and isn't going to put his faith in a bunch of guys that haven't done anything. I'm sure spending time with Coach K and the rest of the guys with Team USA has done a lot to help curb his mood and attitude, but he still wants to see results, and how can you blame him? I honestly believe that LA has enough talent to contend, and have stated that before, but I'm not the one that matters here. Kobe is the reason that the Lakers won more than 10 games last season, sold the merchandise that they did, and why people pay ungodly amounts of money to sit courtside at Staples. He is the one that matters here. Has he backed off? No. He stated that he was misinterpreted (how, only he knows), and that he is now handling things internally. In the Sunday conversation, when asked how he would describe his attitude towards the Lakers, he said, "it's the team I play for", in a less than enthused tone. Does that mean that LA is shopping him? I hope not, but, as I said, I'm not a league insider. Or does it mean they came to an understanding? A, sort of, "give this season a chance," thing. A, "We think we may have something strong here, and want to prove it to you," point of view. It makes sense, especially after the "we'll see what happens" comment he made to the LA Times. Phil Jackson is getting up there in age and has talked retirement. Maybe the Lakers make another run at Krzyzewski to appease Bryant, which they already tried once. Word is that he has been well received coaching the team in Vegas, and you KNOW Kobe still wants to play for him. And assuming that they can't move Kwame and his contract, they will have a nice chunk of money to deal with after next season. Either way, we aren't far from the Lakers opening training camp and putting an end to the summer of discontent. How it will be looked at down the line, only time will tell. But as far as right now, I'd almost prefer some noise to all of this silence.

Mitch boggles the mind...
Hoffa The Great :: about 1 year ago :: 785 views

So the Lakers sign Derek Fisher. Good move or bad? Only time will tell. They have needed a defensive minded guard who can shoot, so I get it from that standpoint. But they need a consistant post presence far more than another guard at this point. Bynum, though he is full of potential, hasn't been consistant enough at this stage (I know that he'll only be 20 next season). And Kwame Brown flat out sucks. He has stone hands, and, when the sun shines on a dog's **** and he DOES catch the ball, he either turns it over or misses a two-footer. As I have stated before, Caron Butler(whom Kobe was close with) is leaps and bounds ahead of this hunk of garbage and Mitch GAVE him to the Wizards. But I'm getting off track here. I know it's unlikely, but this seriously seems like a signing that would set up a big deal. I don't know if it's for O'Neal or (hopefully) Garnett, but there just seems to be a vibe that something is brewing. Why else sign Fisher? It's an obvious attempt to keep Kobe, as they are tight and have the same agent. It makes sense from the standpoint that the Lakers would try and help along a young pg, but they have TWO. Why would LA need to groom 2 point guards for the future? I know that a KG deal is HIGHLY unlikely and almost impossible when you factor in the contracts and McHale's hatred for LA(which further proves what a horrible GM he is, balking at a chance to improve the future of his franchise because he dislikes a team that OWNED him in the 80's), but that is the only deal that makes sense for LA. Kobe has reportedly stated that the deal would keep him in Laker Gold; and he would be the perfect Robin to 24's Batman. Other than that, LA should hold form. They were 26-13 and had the 3rd best record in the league last year before injuries hit. I know it sounds like biased Laker mumbo-jumbo(and it kind of is), but I honestly believe that if they can stay healthy, they have the ability to do some damage and compete for the title. Do they have enough? Probably not, but if they can compete and progress, they are only a couple of years away from being a legit contender.

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