A Tale of Two Larrys

Last night's loss to the Spurs was a rough one; and it shows how much this team depends on Anderson Varejao for defensive tenacity. He actually has the ability to bother Tim Duncan (which Drew Gooden does not) and helps free up other guys to rotate on the perimeter. But, when Manu gets hot, Manu gets hot.

What I really want to talk about is the resurgence of Larry Hughes in the last two games. I'm still skeptical, given that I was one of the fools who picked up Larry on my fantasy team after his 36 point game against Indiana earlier this year, only to have him go a dominant 4-15 in the next game. Larry is just in a zone right now where he's making some outside shots, and that's nice to see. It's always good to have someone besides LeBron shooting well. What I like about Larry's current resurgence, though, is that he's finally seemed to recognize what his game is: an inside-out game. Larry, to put it bluntly, is 100 times the player when he is using his inside game (namely his ability to get to the hoop and draw contact) to set up his outside game (mostly rhythm jumpers). He's not good when he plays outside-in because he's not normally a great shooter.

The thing that has always made Larry and the Cavs an odd fit is that Larry has of late (by which I mean post-injury in 2005) tried to model his game after Ray Allen and Michael Redd, the two players the Cavs were also looking at in the 2005 offseason. Which is not something I think the Cavs, or LeBron, really want him to do. One of the things that's quite striking about Larry is that he's actually better when LeBron is playing the point. If you look at his first 28 games as a Cav back in 2005, before the injury, LeBron was doing most of the ballhandling (occasionally Eric Snow did) and Larry was free to roam around and play off the ball. That's what happened the last few nights -- LeBron started taking over the point once Larry got hot and ultimately ended up distributing the ball to Larry.

What's the point? Well, for now, it may be that the Cavs are really best off with LeBron running the point and Larry playing off the ball (at least until Larry's current hot streak subsides). It's been fun to watch the last games and see what it's like when the Cavs have a legit second option. I'd still like to see us trade expirings for, say, Redd, a big man, or a PG this offseason (and figure that LeBron will start planning his exit strategy if Ferry messes this up) but for the time being, I think the Cavs need to do whatever they can to keep Larry in the zone (who ever thought I would say that?)

The other thing to note is probably my favorite thing about the Cavs: as Dan Labbe of the Cleveland Plain Dealer pointed out today, nobody gives them a chance except Cavs fans. When we get Andy and Boobie back, and if we can make one of these rumored Jarrett Jack or Kyle Lowry trades, that'll be, I think, enough for this postseason. Then, I think it's go time -- with 35 M in expirings, Ferry really will be under the gun to re-sign Andy and Boobie and then make a splash. I'll have my fingers crossed.

I Am Devean George, Hear Me Roar!

UPDATE: The Jason Kidd deal is not done, because Devean George refuses to consent to being traded!

From ESPN.com:

"The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant is the only player in the league with a specific no-trade clause in his contract, but league rules dictate that it's a right George also possesses because he's on a one-year contract (worth $2.4 million) and because Dallas would have Early Bird rights to re-sign him this summer.

If such a player is traded, Bird rights are not traded with him. So league rules compensate for this by requiring George's consent in any trade."

Or, as one of my law professors put it, "I just read about J. Kidd - the deal is so complicated it probably required several law firms."

Heckled by fans angry at his perceived selfishness, George responded admirably by shooting 0-11 from the field and 0-2 from the charity stripe in 33 minutes in a 96-76 Dallas win. This looks like a winner all around!

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

Or, in this case, are you smarter than your average Western Conference GM?

About two weeks ago, the Lakers traded Kwame Brown's $9M expiring contract, Javaris Crittenton, and 2 first-round picks for Pau Gasol and a second-round pick. Last week, the Suns traded Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks for Shaquille O'Neal. Now, the Mavs are reportedly trading Devin Harris, DeSagana Diop, Jerry Stackhouse, Devean George, Maurice Ager, 2 first-round picks and $3M cash for Jason Kidd.

Somewhere, the Lakers must be giggling. Or, as Hollinger puts it, falling over with laughter. Not only did they land an All-Star 7-footer who averages 19 and 9, they also sent their Western Conference rivals into a self-destructive panic that culminated in the dismantling of two Western Conference contenders! I'm not sure I've ever been more excited about two trades that did not involve the Lakers. R.I.P., Suns and Mavs.

Why are the Suns and Mavs, two Western Conference powers with smart management, suddenly panicking? Personally, I like to think it's because they've looked at the Lakers roster, realized that the future belongs to LA, and decided "Screw it. If we're going to win, we have to win NOW." And thus they are mortgaging the future for aging stars in a last-gasp attempt to make a run.

In fact, it isn't even fair to call Shaq and Kidd "aging stars" - they are aged stars! Both have maybe two serviceable years left in the tank. I am glad to see Shaq on a good team again though. Watching him lug his fat ass around Miami on a 9-40 team was getting a tad depressing for the most dominant center ever to play the game. Yes, including Wilt - Shaq dominated in an era with stronger, bigger, faster players, and Kareem was a skill player more than a power player.

Let's put it this way - when the Lakers traded for Gasol, my first reaction was...well, my first reaction was, "PAU GASOL? WE GOT PAU GASOL?!?" After seeing the trade, I thought, "wow, two first-rounders...a hefty price, but we had to do it." Now, Dallas is giving up two first-rounders...AND the best player in the deal...AND the third and fourth best players in the deal...AND $3M in cash? Are you kidding me? Did Rod Thorn just keep asking for more, getting more and more excited as Cuban didn't shoot him down?

Let's put it another way - this trade fails the "who scares you more?" test. Basically, ask yourself this question: in an important playoff game, you're facing one of the players in this deal. Who scares you the most? For me, the answer is easy. Devin Harris. Harris scares me 100 times more than Jason Kidd. Harris is quick, crafty, and explosive. He'd eat the Lakers point guard alive. Kidd is bigger, and a better passer, but he can be left open on the perimeter and is not looking to score. In fact, Kidd might not even be the second scariest player in this deal - Stackhouse terrifies me, because he has that killer instinct.

Eric made the point that the Mavs are essentially facing the same decision that the Spurs made about three years ago - do we go with our young, talented, quick point guard, or trade him for an aging Jason Kidd? The Spurs chose to keep Tony Parker. The Mavs choose to go with an (even older) Kidd, while also sending over their prize Sixth Man and their backup center, 2 picks, and cash. Let's just say there's a reason the Spurs are the smartest team in basketball.

Even if the Mavs resign Stackhouse in 30 days, they're now stuck with Dampier at center with no big men to back him up (Brandon Bass?). Given that Kidd can't guard anyone, it'll be a close call whether Damp or Shaq picks up more fouls per minute this year. My money is still on Shaq, because his size causes refs to blow whistles even when he goes straight up, but it's close...

Anyway, let's hope these trades keep on coming. Hey San Antonio, isn't it about time you made a major move? Everyone else is upgrading! I hear you might be able to get Jermaine O'Neal and Mike Dunleavy for Manu, Parker, and a pick.

Rejuvenation

Big win in Orlando tonight, and an entertaining game - lots of scoring, lead swings, and a solid final result. Pau is a perfect fit in the triangle, with his passing and ability to hit the elbow jumper, and it seems that Lamar can fit in with this team also. He's playing a Marion type of role now, floating, hitting the occasional shot, driving when there are lanes, rebounding the ball - and honestly, I think he likes it that way. The big test will be seeing how the Lakers adjust to Bynum's return.

The most entertaining thing about watching this team lately, though, is Kobe Bryant's rejuvenation. In the games since the trade was announced, he's gone to another planet. Kobe hasn't tried to just dunk on people since around 2004, in his streak of 40-point games, and at points the season just after Shaq was traded. Practically speaking, it's just too tiring to try to pull off those kind of moves all the time. (If it weren't so tiring, we'd see LeBron dunking 30 times a night - I honestly think he can get to the rim anytime he wants to.)

In the past few games, though, Kobe's suddenly become 25 again. He's dunking on people. He's zooming back downcourt in his airplane pose. He's spinning around (needlessly) when he hits an open man in the corner, just to add a little pizazz. Kobe Bryant is having fun again. He believes this team can win a championship, and he is just enjoying being on the floor.

When all of Kobe's toys get back on the floor, the serious work can start. For now, it's just playtime - and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Shaq, Kobe, and Tyronne Lue...is it 2002?

Much has been made about the Shaq-to-Phoenix trade, and I'm not sure there's a lot more to say that hasn't already been said. Like most other sports observers out there, I was stunned by the deal - I thought it was a joke at first - and have serious doubts about the wisdom of the trade for Phoenix. As a Lakers fan, I'm not sorry to see Phoenix break up its run and gun core. At the end of the day, I don't think either old Phoenix or new Phoenix can beat the Lakers in a 7-game series - so might as well bring in the Diesel and have some amusement, no?

The strangest thing is Phoenix's reasoning. So far, I've heard that they want to move Amare to the 4, want to improve their defense, and want to match up better with big teams out west. First, Amare is not better as a 4. He doesn't bang inside with centers anyway, so this doesn't save him any wear and tear. As a 4, he'll lose quickness advantages over slower centers, and Shaq will clog the lane so he won't be able to get all the way to the basket on pick and rolls anymore with a help defender only a few feet away.

As for improving defense, Phoenix might want to look for a long, quick, athletic forward who can guard multiple positions and disrupt opposing offenses. Someone like Scottie Pippen...or Shawn Marion! How does trading your best defender solve any defensive issues? And as for matching up - the best Phoenix can be now is a crappier version of the Nash-Dirk Mavs that never went anywhere. Diaw, Hill, Bell, and to a lesser extent Amare are all better transition players than half-court players too.

I expect Shaq to have a nice 10 games to make some people think things will be okay, and then go down with some injury. The Suns now are starting Nash (bad back), Hill (bad ankles and apparently a suspect appendix), Shaq (bad...everything), and Amare (surgically reconstructed knee). Good luck with that.

Tonight's loss to Atlanta was disappointing. The Lakers never seemed to have much energy and played like it was...well, like it was the second night of a back-to-back in the middle of a 9 game road trip against a below-average Eastern conference team. Not that that's a good excuse. There were definitely positives though - Lamar looked great and can obviously fit into this offense, Kobe continued to look extremely excited to play with his new toy (Bynum and then Gasol in the course of one season? This is the best Christmas ever for little Bean Bryant!), and Fisher remembered how to shoot. Then again, to balance it out, Sasha apparently can't keep track of the score, after a timeout, in the last 10 seconds of the game. Yay Sasha.

Watching the Lakers control a game with a one-handed Kobe kept bringing a smile to my face though. I would just sit there grinning when Pau caught a pass, then laid it in. Two things Kwame couldn't do! Amazing! He needs to be more aggressive in the post, but that will come.

Actually, the dynamic on the Lakers reminded me of what happens when a new guy comes to play with a bunch of friends - he doesn't want to shoot too much because he doesn't want to seem like a ballhog, but everyone else keeps trying to pass him the ball because they want to be nice. That led to more triangle offense than I've seen in months, a lot of nice ball movement, and tons of open shots. It also led to Pau looking like a white Lamar Odom at times - reluctant to shoot, and overpassing. At the end of the day, the Lakers just didn't have the energy to push a consistent 8-point lead to double digits, and it came back to bite them.

That, and the fact that Tyronne Lue is apparently allowed to set a moving chop-block to take out Kobe on the game-deciding play, and Joe Johnson is allowed to shove Fisher in the chest and get a foul called on the defender. Not that I think the officiating was bad on that play or anything.

My culture glides and attacks just like a vulture

PAU. If two months without Drew and Trevor were looking like forty years in the Sinai, this is waking up to find that God’s dropped wafers at your feet. Two weeks ago, Pau put up 21-18-8 with four blocks against the Lakers, held Bynum in check, and watched Kwame sink a game-winning free throw. Now he’s packing his bags for LA and thinking, “I wonder what kind of housewarming pie Kob’s gonna bake me ...” (Or, more accurately, “Bynum y yo: Altos. Fuertes. Campeones.”) Even Mark Kelman is nodding happily—Pau is now a fee simple, and there is NO possibility of reverter.

More thoughts:

Defense:

Look, Gasol may not be Ajax, but “softest big man in the league?” Somewhere, Dirk, Eddy Curry, and Brian Cook are all tapping their feet indignantly. Nobody is going to mistake Gasol for Ben Wallace, but he’s shown steady improvement on the defensive end since he came into the league. Presumably the reduced pressure to score and drop in the amount of time he spends wildly chasing errant Mike Conley 18-footers will help him focus on hunting down boards and staying tough on defense.

People forget just how many defensive assets the Lakers had this year. Bynum finally realized that he could wave that 90-inch wingspan around and scatter foes like the Hydra (subluxation of the kneecap isn’t as glamorous as being chopped to bits by Hercules ... but at least Bynum will get better). Ariza brought such a substantial defensive toolset that he could plausibly guard both Iverson and Melo. Kobe has stepped up his defense after spending the summer basking in sportswriter praise for playing defensive stopper for Team USA. Turiaf is undersized, but turning into a huge asset on defense, even against legitimate centers, though the wild tomahawk swings he takes at everything make him a foul magnet, albeit a stylish one. (I always imagine Kobe going over and pleading with him: “Ronny, just challenge the shot, you don’t always have to go for the block. We need you on the floor.” Ronny: “Fuck that! Without style, man is nothing. –Nietzsche (paraphrase).”) And I’ll cover Sasha later.

The Lakers don’t need Gasol to do anything except help out when quick guards beat Fish or Farmar off the dribble. And the length we have now is absurd: if I went to class one day and Bynum, Odom, and Gasol had sawed off their limbs and left them in a pile on one Aeron, it would take me a second before I realized it wasn’t a complete person. They’re that long. All men quake in the shadow of giants.

Also, a final thought: Spain has never been about defense, and you know what? It’s worked out ok. The pre-Spaniards folded like a cheap deck of cards against the Berber Muslims that swept the Iberian Peninsula in the 8^th century, but that didn’t stop them from spending several centuries fighting a series of bloody Reconquest wars. The Inquisition wasn’t about defending the One True Church from corrupting external influence ... it was about ROOTING OUT THAT INFLUENCE AND FORCIBLY CONVERTING IT! Spain in the imperial age meant the reckless, relentless offensive conquest of vast swaths of the new world, the rape and pillage of its people and resources, all driven by the galleon, the age’s most dramatic manifestation of offensive might. So when Pau gives up an easy two on defense and then drops in a sweet jump-hook on the other end, he’s not screwing up—he’s reenacting the history of his people. Hegel tells us that a first glance at History convinces us that the actions of men proceed from their needs, their passions, their characters and talents—but in Pau’s case, can we not say that his needs, passions, character, and talents proceed from History?

The Triangle:

Yeah, Pau doesn’t know the triangle. But he has a half-season to learn it before the playoffs, and with the Lakers as thin as they are, he’ll have plenty of practice. He certainly seems like an ideal triangle big man, though, with excellent court-vision and passing, a diverse set of low- and high-post moves, and quick decisionmaking. Can you honestly say that an untutored Pau is going to be worse off than Kwame after years of practice in Phil’s system? At least Pau can hang onto the damn ball.

Crittenton:

Farmar is the point of the future for the Lakers, and if you could only keep one, Javaris was obviously the right one to give up. Critt has been great in spurts this year, and if he can rein in his more irresponsible instincts without neutering his talent, the Lakers will eventually regret giving him up. The silver lining is that, with their season shot even before the trade, nothing is stopping Iavaroni from saying “Fuck it, I’m one-upping Nellie,” and trotting out a lineup of Warrick, Conley, Lowry, Juan Carlos, and Crittenton, which would make Bill Walton’s head explode. Of course, this would preclude ...

Darko and Kwame, Together at Last

One was born in South Carolina, the other in Novi Sad, but if kindred spirits exist in the NBA, Darko and Kwame have to be it. Darko will give Kwame the outlet for his frustration he’s been looking for since the Jordan days: namely, the Serbian language, with its rich lexicon of profanity and extended system of accentuation. Kwame will help Darko get a better perspective on regional variations in American barbecue, helping Darko more fairly evaluate Memphis’s mild, sweet sauces against the vinegar and hickory flavors that predominate in South Carolina. Will this translate to success on the court? I’d like to think so.

Odom

J.A. Adande went on record today in his chat that the Lakers “have” to move Odom now that they’ve pulled the trigger on Gasol. His somewhat counterintuitive solution was Anderson Varejao, who I don’t think gives the Lakers much that they don’t already have in Turiaf. J.A.’s argument was that with the offense running through the new Big 3, Lamar will “float,” lost without the rock in his hands. Isn’t it equally plausible that without any pressure to make his own offense, Lamar will be free to slink back to his natural small forward slot, create nightmarish mismatches for most of the 3’s in the league, snag the garbage boards he’s so good at getting, and occasionally taking it to the rack. With as much firepower as the Lakers will have, the frequent nights when Lamar doesn’t get it going offensively won’t hurt nearly as much, and what he does bring to the table almost every game—solid rebounding, meddlesome defense, and that weird star on the back of his head—will matter that much more.

Sasha

A few days ago, Justin wrote that he won’t be disappointed when Sasha leaves. Well ... SOME OF US WILL BE. His rise from the depths of the Laker bench—where he so inept that he couldn’t even beat out Smush Parker for playing time at the point—to the Sasha we’re seeing today—a valuable contributor with a lightning-quick stroke who can give you quick points off the bench and actually play a bit of defense against quick guards—has been dramatic and inspirational. To make the analogue of my Gasol argument: how could anyone from a country this beautiful fail to play beautifully?

What I like best about Sasha is that his shots feel like gifts. At Staples, when he gets a look at an open three the entire arena seizes up, caught somewhere between the expectation of convention failure and, as Obama might put it, the audacity of hope. He’s a bit player in the Lakers narrative, but lately, with some frequency, he’s been defying his own role. I expect Kobe to be transcendent, and he regularly delivers. And make no mistake: it’s watching players like Kobe that makes the time I invest in the game worth it. But Sasha’s successes seem no less pedestrian. Some people call it “managing your expectations”; I call it “letting the mundane seep into the ecstatic.”

Gasol to the Lakers!

GASOL TO THE LAKERS!

I haven't been this excited since...well, since the Gary Payton/Karl Malone signings. And yes, I remember exactly where I was when I found out.

The Lakers paid a hefty price for Gasol - I would have loved it if we could have only given away one first-round pick, instead of two, but still, there's no way to look down on this trade. If only Jerry West had still been the GM so we could speculate that he was getting back at McHale for his indefensible trade of KG to the Celtics for Al Jefferson and a pile of crap.

Fisher-Kobe-Odom-Gasol-Bynum is a scary starting five, and the best thing is, the Lakers now become one of the deepest teams in the league too with Farmar-Sasha-Walton-Vlad-Ariza-Turiaf off the bench. We can run with anybody, score with anybody, and hopefully bring a lot of energy to the floor. In fact, a month or so ago, I actually tabbed Gasol as the best possible trade for the Lakers because of his ability to play outside (necessary because Bynum will be our presence in the middle) and his fit into the triangle offense. At the time, I proposed Crittenton, Kwame, Mihm, and a pick for Gasol - so we paid a bit more - but this should make the Lakers contenders for the next 3-4 years to come. Real contenders. Gasol is 27, so hopefully entering his prime. Let's just hope he's healthy...

The other great thing? We swapped the rights to Pau's brother, Marc, in the deal. Marc for Pau - now that's a deal I like.

Pau, here's your new practice buddy, Andrew. Don't worry, we ditched the bum wearing the headband who couldn't play defense or shoot.