Click on the RFSN TV tab
8:00pm CST - Mike Brown
8:15pm CST - Rick Carlisle
Showing posts with label Lakers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lakers. Show all posts
Watch Mavs vs Lakers pregame press conference with Mike Brown and Rick Carlisle
Playing in the Red: The New NBA
The new agreement was supposed to level the playing field by requiring a much higher luxury tax for teams over the salary cap. What has happened is the plane between contender and non-contender has grown exponentially. At the start of the 2012-13 season, the number of teams with a legitimate chance of winning it all is few and far between. Struggling franchises are finding it hard to attract top free agents and additional revenue streams to compensate for increasing their payroll. The original thought that low salary cap teams will be the go-to destination if a superstar wants to make big money was totally wrong. Lebron is not going back to Cleveland, Dwight is not going to Charlotte, and Chris Paul is not requesting a trade to Milwaukee. The NBAPA forgot that teams have low salaries for a reason; the owners don't want to spend the money.
The league on the other hand is different situation. David Stern and company have decided to help the big market teams get bigger. Recently, the league office allowed teams to place advertisements on game jerseys. An ad on a Knicks or Lakers jersey will be quadruple the price of an ad on a Timberwolves jersey. The Knicks and Lakers also have local TV deals that help balance financial spreadsheets. They also have merchandise sales blow smaller market teams out of the water. The bigger the market, the bigger luxury tax you can afford to pay.
To Mark Cuban's credit he knew this was going to happen before the new agreement was signed. There are reports that he wanted to have a hard cap, meaning that a team can't go over the cap and pay a luxury tax. Imagine the parity of the NBA if that was true. Instead of 5 teams with a chance to win, there would be 20. Cuban has made a good decision to let the dust settle. For the first time his franchise will operate under the cap which gives him great flexibility to do anything. His new challenge is to play the cap game and win another title using the flexibility to his advantage. He already has proven the other way works.
Video: Philadelphia 76ers introduce Andrew Bynum
Andrew Bynum gets formally introduced to 76er media and fans today. "In the Net W/ Mattman" 08/11/12
The second edition of "In the Net W/ Mattman," a completely unfiltered, unedited, and unscripted NBA talk show hosted by yours truly!
You're silly if you don't listen:
You're silly if you don't listen:
Listen to internet radio with The OpinioNation Network on Blog Talk Radio
STEVE NASH IS A LA LAKER; 3 YEARS $25 MILLION
Words are only words...right. After Steve Nash gave a radio interview saying that he was "old school" and thought it would be to hard to wear a Lakers jersey, he will now join the team next season.
Nash, a two-time NBA MVP, will replace Ramon Sessions who opted out of his final year to pursue free agency. This will definitely help the Lakers stay title contenders in the Western Conference.
Nash turned down a lucrative deal from his home country Toronto Raptors of $36 million for the same 3 years. Lakers acquire Nash through sign and trade with Phoenix using a trade exception from Lamar Odom's deal.
Nash was also being pursued by his old team the Dallas Mavericks, NY Knicks, and Miami Heat also.
Nash, a two-time NBA MVP, will replace Ramon Sessions who opted out of his final year to pursue free agency. This will definitely help the Lakers stay title contenders in the Western Conference.
Nash turned down a lucrative deal from his home country Toronto Raptors of $36 million for the same 3 years. Lakers acquire Nash through sign and trade with Phoenix using a trade exception from Lamar Odom's deal.
Nash was also being pursued by his old team the Dallas Mavericks, NY Knicks, and Miami Heat also.
NBA Playoffs Round 2
Despite early exits from Utah and Dallas, the playoffs have gone as expected. We started with 16 and now we are down to 8. As we move to the second round, teams to watch are the Thunder, Pacers,and the Clippers.These young teams are built to win now and in the future. With and least 1 or 2 superstar and a wealth of talent on the bench, they can easily be crowned this years champions. With such a compact season, these young guns are primed mentally and physically to challenge anyone for the championship. Its hard to watch and at the same time hate to see the old guys struggle to compete with the next generation of superstars.Take a good look now because I suspect that we are about to see the a new NBA Champion!- Royce Fisher, RF Sports Radio
MWP, Ron Artest, Gets 7 Game Suspension
Well the hammer has fell...Metta World Peace, Ron Artest will miss 7 games due to his overly excited elbow to the back of James Harden's head this past Sunday. These means the entire first round of the playoffs and $348,000 lost. Ironically, if the Lakers survive round 1 they will play the Thunder next.
Video: What should happen to Metta World Peace (Ron Artest)?
In case your cable or satellite bill is somewhat behind, the player formerly known as Ron Artest elbowed Thunder 6th man James Harden in the back of the head. Metta World Peace has been open about his struggle with anger management and social disorder since his infamous "Malice in the Palace" incident that made him a house hold name. Now that the deed is done, what should his punishment be? 5 game suspension? 2 game suspension? What do you think?
{leave your comments below}
{leave your comments below}
Kobe returns to take on Spurs
ESPN NBA Kobe Bryant will play Friday night
Lakers went 5 - 2 in the 7 games that Kobe missed. Andrew Bynum emerged as the go-to guy in that stretch. Will Kobe buy into feeding Bynum the ball?
Derek Fisher returns to Staples Center to face Lakers; Bynum and Kobe Comments
This will not be Derek Fisher's first time returning to LA to face the team that drafted him in 1996. Fisher spent two of his 16 seasons in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors. Every other season he has donned the purple and gold. Ironically, his return in 2005 propelled Derek to a career high 29 points. His return now after being traded to the Rockets, then bought out, and now joining the best team in the west in Oklahoma City is different.
Fisher is nearing the end of his NBA career and the move to remove him from the Lakers was purely a salary cap play. A new salary cap that Fisher, president of the NBAPA, spent the entire off season debating with NBA owners to end a lockout with a shortend 66-game schedule. Although the Lakers brought Fisher back last time he left, this feels final.
Last week after the Lakers beat the Mavs handily in Dallas I asked Andrew Bynum about not having Derek on the roster. He said he was happy the he ended up with a contender like the Thunder and how fitting it would be for Derek to hit the big shot to win a playoff series over the Lakers. Well all know that is very possible with Fisher's history of hitting the big shots.
Kobe echoed the same sentiment, but with his competitive bravado intact. "I'm happy for him...but he better not try to guard me. I'm sure he will put an elbow in my back, but that's just the type of competitor he is." He went on to say that his return to LA would be "emotional". Fans will respond with emotion as well. Lamar Odom's return came with a standing ovation from Laker Nation, Fisher should be the same.
More importantly for the Lakers is to get the win regardless of who is on the court for the Thunder.
Fisher is nearing the end of his NBA career and the move to remove him from the Lakers was purely a salary cap play. A new salary cap that Fisher, president of the NBAPA, spent the entire off season debating with NBA owners to end a lockout with a shortend 66-game schedule. Although the Lakers brought Fisher back last time he left, this feels final.
Last week after the Lakers beat the Mavs handily in Dallas I asked Andrew Bynum about not having Derek on the roster. He said he was happy the he ended up with a contender like the Thunder and how fitting it would be for Derek to hit the big shot to win a playoff series over the Lakers. Well all know that is very possible with Fisher's history of hitting the big shots.
Kobe echoed the same sentiment, but with his competitive bravado intact. "I'm happy for him...but he better not try to guard me. I'm sure he will put an elbow in my back, but that's just the type of competitor he is." He went on to say that his return to LA would be "emotional". Fans will respond with emotion as well. Lamar Odom's return came with a standing ovation from Laker Nation, Fisher should be the same.
More importantly for the Lakers is to get the win regardless of who is on the court for the Thunder.
Kobe Bryant on Lamar Odom, "I hope they don't unlock that mystery. I know how to use him..."
"He comes to a team that's pretty much set. It's hard for him to find his niche and the fans, they don't really understand what he does or how he can do it."
The fans expressed their feelings for Lamar's troubled season with boo's.
"I hope they don't unlock that...unlock that mystery. I know, I know how to use him and use his skill set and this, that and the other, but with this team and the roster that [they] have being pretty much set its tough for him to find...to find his groove."
"It's tough because like I said they have their niche, they have their run, they have their execute, they have their group of core guys and Lamar is not a player you just plug in. I mean you feature him. Like we featured him terms of his ball handling and post up ability and things like that."
- Roc, RF Sports Radio
RF Sports Radio 10:30pm CST TONIGHT "Why did Peyton choose Denver?"
Don't miss tonights show @ 10:30pm CST - RIGHT HERE
- Why did Peyton choose Denver?
- What will happen to Tebow?
- Damage control in Miami, San Fran, and Tennessee
- Preview: Mavs vs Lakers
- Hines Ward retires?
- Your calls and comments
Drinking Games: Lakers vs Clippers
Here is a list of 5 great drinking games for tonight's Lakers vs Clippers preseason match-up
- Alley-Oop - Take a shot every time Chris Paul throws an alley-oop dunk to Blake Griffin. Be warned, this could be a long night
- Star Gazer - Take a shot every time they show a celebrity in the crowd. This is only for people with a high tolerance level
- Say My Name - Take a shot every time the broadcast mentions "Dwight Howard" or "Lamar Odom". Depending on the score late in the game, this may get you trashed.
- I'll Pass - Take a shot every time Kobe passes the ball. Great game for light drinkers.
- I'm too old for this - Take a shot every time Chris Paul makes Derek Fisher look like father time. This is also for high tolerance level drinkers. Enjoy and drink responsibly.
Chris-Paul-goes-to-the-Clippers; The-Audacity-of-the-NBA
Wow. So Chris Paul can go to LA as long as he does not become a Laker? Something smells...ESPN Report
Y! Sports Report
Would Phil Jackson come back to coach Lakers with Howard, Paul and Bryant?
Phil Jackson has accomplished enough to retire forever from the game of basketball. But, doesn't the idea of having Dwight Howard and Chris Paul change his mind? Phil has had the luxury of coaching the best players in the NBA during their peak. From Michael and Scottie, to Kobe and Shaq, and even Kobe and Gasol have all been champions with Phil. You have to imagine that the idea of another pairing of Chris Paul and Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant could arguably be the most talented team Phil could coach.If you are the Lakers organization then you have to be on board with Jackson returning. Gutting the team for Paul and Howard is an all in move. If your going all in then go with a proven coach, not Mike Brown. Phil could only coach the home games and the playoffs if health is an issue. Phil ultimately will have the final decision. If he wants to come back nothing could really stop him. Is Dr. Buss really going to tell Phil Jackson and Laker Nation that Mike Brown is better?
[Leave Your Comments Below]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)