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Memo Menos 1.13.03 The LAKERS have a modest streak working, with 4 wins in a row and 7 of their last 9. But there isn’t too much to crow about given the nature of the opponents. Indeed, the world champs were even with the hapless MIAMI HEAT last night at the half. It was only a great 3rd quarter that ensured a win against this bottom feeder. And, if the LAKERS are going to mount any kind of run which puts them back on a competitive level in the DALLAS and SACRAMENTO NBA, then SHAQUILLE O’NEAL is going to have to get more than 4 rebounds in 34 minutes of play (especially against mediocre centers). O’NEAL finished the game with 15 points, 5 assists and no blocks, to go along with his meager rebound total. Meanwhile, the rest of the LAKER squad, other than KOBE have begun to show signs of life. SUMAKI WALKER had his second decent game in a row, with 8 points, 16 rebounds, an assist and a block. RICK FOX scored 12. And KAREEM RUSH put up 11 points. RUSH is looking more and more comfortable playing meaningful minutes. It’s going to take SHAQ getting near 20 in rebounds and blocks, 3 of the support crew to get into double figures, and KOBE to do his thing if this team is going to have a chance to compete for a 4th title. KOBE continued a remarkable stretch during which he set a 3-point record with 12, then notched his 5th triple double of the season, and Sunday scored 36, with 4 steals, 4 assists and 3 rebounds. The schedule toughens now, with games in New Orleans Wednesday and Houston on Friday. Wins there could allow the LAKERS to draw towards a .500 record against the CLIPPERS and GOLDEN STATE. Memo Meños 1.8.03 If the LAKERS ever pull themselves off the mat and make it into the playoffs, it will be January 8, 2003 when the season turned around. On that date the team, which had been shooting 3-pointers like the Sisters of Mercy, set franchise records for 3-pointers made, 17 and for 3-point shooting percentage, 53%. In the process, the LAKERS beat a formidable SEATTLE SUPERSONIC team, led by the fiercely competitive GARY PAYTON, who are also desperately trying to make the playoffs. But the real story on this night was the performance of KOBE BRYANT. Not known for his outside shooting, although certainly a competent marksman, KOBE put on a clinic of 3-point shooting which will be memorialized in the record books. He made a record 12 3’s, he shot 12 for 17 from behind the arc, and at one point made 9 in a row. It was an amazing performance from VRYANT, who has dazzled so many times before. But never like this, from distance. KOBE finished with 45 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a blocked shot. It was a superb game, one that had the crowd, as well as the opponents shaking their heads in disbelief. GARY PAYTON was in awe: "I’ve seen MICHAEL JORDAN do that. I’ve seen CHUCK PERSON do that. He was just in a zone.." Actually neither JORDAN nor PERSON had 3-point nights near the previous record of 11, held by former LAKER DENNIS SCOTT. PHIL JACKSON commented "That was perhaps the greatest streak shooting I’ve ever seen in my life." Perhaps? Which begs the question-why, again, are we so concerned about keeping young, in his prime KOBE BRYANT within the offense? Structure an offense around him. Let him run free, there’s no telling what he can do. SHAQ finished with 20 points, and was mostly a spectator in this one. His rebound and block total was not sufficient if the LAKERS are going to keep this streak going. SHAQ finished with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks for a meager total of 7 in the "controller" stats. It is the opinion of this reporter that the combined number needs to be near 20 each game for the LAKERS to keep on winning. In another key stat, FOX and FISHER were in double figures with 10 and 13 respectively. ROBERT HORRY, the other "axis of evil" player only scored 3. He has got to do better! Memo Meños 1.6.03 It was as if Saturday never happened. Just as the LAKERS couldn't get closer than 9 points in the 4th quarter in Phoenix, the SUNS couldn't close the gap in Los Angeles, losing 109-97. It's hard to say what the win really means, other than it is one step closer to the team pulling even. A goal post on the road to the 4-peat is to have as many wins as losses by the All-Star break. The team is now 14-20, still 6 games below 500. But they did win this must game, and the shooters returned to Staples. KOBE and SHAQ were awesome, but it was the 11 points from RICK FOX, and the 9 from ROBERT HORRY, as well as the 8 from DEREK FISHER that made the difference. There's no reason why each of those guys can't get 10 a game. JACKSON ought to demand it. Of course it didn't hurt that SHAQ had 16 rebounds and 4 blocked shots to go with 36 points. If he gets 20 in the combined categories of rebounds and blocks, it's my bet the LAKERS can't lose. KOBE was brilliant at times on his way to 31 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot. How they get into the playoffs, and then get by DALLAS and SACRAMENTO is another story altogether, but in the new dawn of 2003, we'll take it one win at a time. Memo Meños 1.5.03 It was supposed to have been a must win. As ludicrous as that sounds in game 33 of an 82 game season for the 3-time world champions, but that's where we're at folks. The LAKERS had put together 2 lackluster wins over TORONTO and DENVER, for a mini-win streak, and it was a new year, and the team was coming off a 5-day rest and regroup, and things were going to be different. No such luck. The LAKERS lost to the PHOENIX SUNS 107-93, and it was never really that close. KOBE BRYANT had 37, along with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. The assists number is pretty remarkable, given that the rest of the team is shooting the ball like they are serving penance rather than playing sport for a living, on a 3-peat championship team. Even SHAQ missed a couple of chippies in the 1st quarter. ROBERT HORRY, who was supposed to benefit the most from the rest went 0-4. Let's delve a bit deeper on that, shall we. This is the same ROBERT HORRY who has not 3, but a fistful of championship rings. The ROBERT HORRY who was the 3-point specialist at Houston, before coming to the LAKERS, and the ROBERT HORRY who is known for his clutch long range shooting. The Sacramento dagger was no fluke. So, how is it that ROBERT HORRY plays 22 minutes and gets only 4 shots? He should be scoring in double figures, every game. You can't get to double figures only taking 4 shots! I don't necessarily blame HORRY. It's the damn offense. It sucks! It has always sucked. It is designed to get SHAQ the ball, and if he's got 3 guys hanging off him then there's got to be 2 guys open for easy looks. The problem with that is the easy looks this offense generates are usually 3-point shots, or long range jumpers. And this LAKER team has no shooters. RICK FOX, DEREK FISHER, DEVEAN GEORGE, SUMAKI WALKER, even ROBERT HORRY are not great shooters night in and night out. And the environment on the team, given SHAQ'S stated displeasures (once again he grumbled to the press about the 3-point shooting last night) is apparently not a warm a fuzzy place, conducive to developing shooters. Which brings me to the real point-can't coach JACKSON do anything to stop the bleeding. It is painful to watch. After all, he has essentially the same group of guys that have dominated the league for 3 years. He is reputed to be the best coach of all time. And he has SHAQ shooting nearly 70% from the free throw line. So let's see it, PHIL. Do something! Start KAREEM RUSH, TRACY MURRAY, and MARK MADSEN along with your two horses. Instruct KOBE to take all the shots one game. Change the damn offense! It's not working! Do something. Play a total zone defense. How about a full court press? Maybe a public reprimand of O'NEAL might make everyone feel about the same size again. You've got to do something. How about abandoning the idea of involving everyone in the offense, and just running 2-man game stuff with KOBE and SHAQ. It has worked for JOHN and KARL and the UTAH JAZZ for, what, 50 years. Surely it ought to work with KOBE and SHAQ, they are oodles better. Who could possibly stop them? Please, somebody, do something. JACKSON has gotten around to calling timeouts now that things are bad. It used to be he would let the team climb their way out of holes. Not anymore. But timeouts, and an angered expression now and then are not enough. How about motivating these guys? Or perhaps the supporting squad needs some emotional mending given the thrashing they are taking in public from SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, who by the way, cared so much about the team that he had surgery 2 months late, popped his mouth off all summer, and then came back 13 games into the season out of shape and still a step or two off his game. He finished with 25 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks last night. Despite the 4 blocks, SHAQ is not a defensive force on the court. He doesn't seem to control either the offensive end or the defensive end of the basketball court. The SUNS 20 year-old rookie, AMARE STOUDAMIRE, fresh out of high school scored 17 on the big guy, shooting 55% and grabbing nearly as many rebounds, 8, as SHAQ'S 9. I think if you are the self-proclaimed team leader, and if you have the balls to dis your teammates to the press, then you can leave a better game than that on the floor. Particularly when your playing against a high-schooler and you are the biggest force in the league, maybe in the history of the sport. SHAQ, and PHIL have got to stop the bleeding, or this team isn't going to make the playoffs. It's crazy, but it's true. And given that the squad is basically healthy, and intact from the one that won it all last year, it's got to be the leadership and the coaching. What else could it be? Doesn't SHAQ always say it's "his team"? And doesn't the buck stop with the coach? It sure did with DEL HARRIS. And he's long gone. There's still time PHIL, still time to earn the megabucks and the accolades you've been collecting for these past 3 years; still time to prove that you are as good as RED, or as good as everyone thinks you are. There's still time to really "earn" a world championship. But, with game 34 tonight of an 82 game season, time is quickly running out! Sound off: Send us your comments/complaints!
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