Jim Buss, son of Jerry Buss of the NBA Lakers, has chosen
the coach that he seems to favor - the 41 year old former
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown.
Mitch Kupchak, General Manager for the Lakers
did have a voice in this decision but not evidently
the final say nor was Kobe Bryant consulted.
The elder Buss seems to be fading further and
further into the background on these decisions.
Miami's LeBron James was under the watchful
eye of Mike Brown for 5 years and LeBron says
"I think the Lakers got a great coach with Brown
and in Cleveland we had not earlier been having
success but under his coaching, he gave us
success and it started with his defensive concepts.
He definitely helped me become who I am today".
Brown guided Cleveland to the 2007 NBA Finals
and two trips to the Eastern Conference finals.
Brown was the NBA's Coach of the year after
leading the Cavaliers to a league-best 66-16 record
in 2008-09. He helped guide Cleveland to an
NBA-best 61-21 mark in 2009-10. He was analyst
for ESPN this season and served as an assistant
coach with the Indiana Pacers for 2 seasons before
he went to Cleveland. He also was assistant with
the San Antonio Spurs for 3 seasons and the Washington
Wizards for two. After playing for 2 seasons at the
University of San Diego, he began his career with the
Denver Nuggets. First as a video coordinator and later
as a scout. Never though, has he played for the NBA.
He has continued climbing steadily through the coaching ranks.
On a personal note, Mike Brown was born March 5, 1970
in Columbus, Ohio and attended high school in Wurzburg,
Germany. College was in Mesa Community College and
the University of San Diego. He has a wife, Carolyn and 2 sons.
We are not really 'replacing' Phil Jackson but instead, we
are giving a younger man a chance now to "strut his stuff".
Evidently there is quite an ungodly sum of information on facebook
to find out more about this new younger Laker coach.
Babs Wells
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Short Clips from this NBA Lakers Writer:
As we all sigh with a bit of relief from
the onslaught our Laker team seemed
to take the last four games of play,
we go into a near dormancy now for awhile.
By the end of October we should look
alive once again but until then, I see that
former Laker star, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
is feeling rather slighted by the Lakers
for not erecting a statue of him outside
Staples Center. He claims he had to
drag Walton and Lanier up and down
the court for 48 minutes and states he
is not a happy camper right now still
waiting for his statue to be erected too.
Statues of Lakers guards Magic Johnson
and Jerry West are there and now even
the late announcer, Chuck Hearn, who
joined Kings great Wayne Gretzky and
boxer Oscar De La Hoya in what is
known as the Star Plaza in front of the
12-year old arena. Kareem is a member
of the Hall of Fame and with Johnson
won five NBA championships during the
showtime era of the 1980's. He is leading
scorer in the history of the league with 38,387
points during his 20 seasons. He remains
a frequent visitor to Staples Center and was
special assistant coach to Andrew Bynum,
(Laker center) as well as mentor to Drew.
John Black (Lakers spokesman) said that
no set plans have been recently made for
doing another statue, however one for Kareem
will absolutely be the very next one done and the
organization has already expressed this to him.
In many peoples' recollection, Kareem is the
greatest player who ever lived." Somebody had
to go first, some one else second and another
third. But we value him and what he's done
for us greatly". John Black has told reporters.
Patience I guess is the key word here and
we will be very glad when a statue is right there
for all to view, Kareem, & please know we do care.
Babs Wells
the onslaught our Laker team seemed
to take the last four games of play,
we go into a near dormancy now for awhile.
By the end of October we should look
alive once again but until then, I see that
former Laker star, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
is feeling rather slighted by the Lakers
for not erecting a statue of him outside
Staples Center. He claims he had to
drag Walton and Lanier up and down
the court for 48 minutes and states he
is not a happy camper right now still
waiting for his statue to be erected too.
Statues of Lakers guards Magic Johnson
and Jerry West are there and now even
the late announcer, Chuck Hearn, who
joined Kings great Wayne Gretzky and
boxer Oscar De La Hoya in what is
known as the Star Plaza in front of the
12-year old arena. Kareem is a member
of the Hall of Fame and with Johnson
won five NBA championships during the
showtime era of the 1980's. He is leading
scorer in the history of the league with 38,387
points during his 20 seasons. He remains
a frequent visitor to Staples Center and was
special assistant coach to Andrew Bynum,
(Laker center) as well as mentor to Drew.
John Black (Lakers spokesman) said that
no set plans have been recently made for
doing another statue, however one for Kareem
will absolutely be the very next one done and the
organization has already expressed this to him.
In many peoples' recollection, Kareem is the
greatest player who ever lived." Somebody had
to go first, some one else second and another
third. But we value him and what he's done
for us greatly". John Black has told reporters.
Patience I guess is the key word here and
we will be very glad when a statue is right there
for all to view, Kareem, & please know we do care.
Babs Wells
Monday, May 16, 2011
Lakers coach choices
Well, the list has been compiled unless another curve is thrown at us. See below for the names and info about these men that may be the very next chosen coach.
Rick Adelman is their #1 choice at the moment. His local ties run deep. He was born in Lynwood CA, attended High school in Downey CA & became a standout in Loyola. He knows how to deal with super- stars and is a taciturn & a players coach. He was head coach of the Sacramento
Kings & Portland Trail Blazers, in addition to the Golden State Warriors & Houston Rockets. He coached Clyde Drexler, Chris Webber, Yao Ming & Tracy McGrady. He seems to be the favorite at the highest level with his experience, successes & balanced demeanor.
Another candidate and a man very well liked is Larry Brown. The only thing that could possibly hold him back is the fact it is doubtful he would care to coach beyond 2 or 3 more years. So long term coaching could be a good reason for not quite the consideration we'd wish for.
Kurt Rambis is another very good candidate to coach the Lakers, having been on the Laker coaching team with Phil Jackson before. He is currently with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is amiable, very able and already well known amongst our players so in that sense it would be a very good fit.
Jeff Van Gundy, formerly with the New York Knicks, is currently acting as sports announcer. He is the brother of Orlando Magic coach, Stan Van Gundy & the son of longtime college and high school coach Bill Van Gundy. Jeff is extremely intense and driven with passion for the game. He seems to have everything you'd want in a candidate. Jeff would make an ideal pick as coach for the Lakers.
Chuck Person's name has become one that is brought up around the locker room as well. He is the Lakers assistant and is moving up the coaching ladder on radar of a couple of teams seeking a head coach. He will be getting his shot somewhere and is expected to interview with the Lakers but the timing might not be right this time around.
So the candidates names are in the pot and the choices will have to be made to allow us to settle down and get acquainted with a brand new Laker coach choice, having said our good bye's to Phil Jackson. It will be a transition to be sure for us all to wrestle with but it will happen all the same and we must cozy up to it and get with the program set about ourselves as well as to learn the habits and new voice for coach. Study them well..these candidates.
Babs Wells
Friday, May 13, 2011
Lakers notes of interest:
Kobe Bryant made the All-NBA first
team and Pau Gasol is a second-
teamer. The league announced that
this now makes the sixth consecutive
season for Kobe and the ninth time in
his career. Bryant averaged 25.3 points.
5 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He was 5th
in the league in scoring. Unfortunately though, Kobe
has told reporters that he feels this
past year has more or less been a wasted
year out of his life. Mitch Kupchak, General
Manager, and Laker coach Phil Jackson
completed two days of exit for this retiring
coach, with interviews after the earlier
than expected ouster Sunday from the playoffs.
Kupchak's busy season is now just starting and
his "to do" list is already being formulated.
First and foremost, he will be meeting with the
owner Jerry Buss and his son, Jim, to sift
through the 2010-11 season and try to figure
out just what went wrong & what to do about it.
They also must make a decision about hiring
a successor for Jackson. Rick Adelman's name
has been mentioned. He was recently let go
by the Houston Rockets. Kurt Rambis, now
coaching the Minnesota Timberwolves is a
good consideration as is Byron Scott, a former
Laker who is coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Mentioning the loss of getting to try for the
Championship, Kupchak said "If there is a silver
lining to losing, you do get hungry again".
Not another Laker footnote but worthy of mention
here anyway sports fans, is that 38 year old T.V.
sports anchor from Chicago, was found dead
in his Atlanta hotel room, where he was staying
while covering the Chicago Bulls-Atlanta Hawks
NBA playoff series. Daryl Hawks worked for WMAQ-TV
since 2008. No known cause for death has been reported.
More tidbits will be entered into this column from
time to time during the summer months, so stay tuned.
Babs Wells
team and Pau Gasol is a second-
teamer. The league announced that
this now makes the sixth consecutive
season for Kobe and the ninth time in
his career. Bryant averaged 25.3 points.
5 rebounds and 4.7 assists. He was 5th
in the league in scoring. Unfortunately though, Kobe
has told reporters that he feels this
past year has more or less been a wasted
year out of his life. Mitch Kupchak, General
Manager, and Laker coach Phil Jackson
completed two days of exit for this retiring
coach, with interviews after the earlier
than expected ouster Sunday from the playoffs.
Kupchak's busy season is now just starting and
his "to do" list is already being formulated.
First and foremost, he will be meeting with the
owner Jerry Buss and his son, Jim, to sift
through the 2010-11 season and try to figure
out just what went wrong & what to do about it.
They also must make a decision about hiring
a successor for Jackson. Rick Adelman's name
has been mentioned. He was recently let go
by the Houston Rockets. Kurt Rambis, now
coaching the Minnesota Timberwolves is a
good consideration as is Byron Scott, a former
Laker who is coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Mentioning the loss of getting to try for the
Championship, Kupchak said "If there is a silver
lining to losing, you do get hungry again".
Not another Laker footnote but worthy of mention
here anyway sports fans, is that 38 year old T.V.
sports anchor from Chicago, was found dead
in his Atlanta hotel room, where he was staying
while covering the Chicago Bulls-Atlanta Hawks
NBA playoff series. Daryl Hawks worked for WMAQ-TV
since 2008. No known cause for death has been reported.
More tidbits will be entered into this column from
time to time during the summer months, so stay tuned.
Babs Wells
Monday, May 9, 2011
Goodbye Phil
Phil, You have been an exemplary coach and as a remaining
Laker fan I hate to see you depart the role but truly
understand your reasoning. Life takes its' toll on us as
individuals and even as a full working team.
We tried our best and we were defeated.
So as your exit from the team is near,
we wish we could send you off with glee instead
of the type of exit Dallas has placed upon our plate.
Having to be in a losing stretch these last games has
been humbling to say the very least and having some
of our players ejected unceremoniously only adds to
the anger and feelings of loss. Certainly, when Ron Artest
was escorted off the court and later Lamar Odom too,
it hurt our pride and hurt our image but it is all part and
parcel of the game itself. We have met our Waterloo
and the title is Mavericks. More determination, more
drive, more continuity, more complex plays and more
energy displayed as they drove us to the losing corner.
We can hold our heads up high all the same knowing
we have won Championship titles two years in a row
prior to this particular one and Phil has won 11 of them.
He has earned his retirement certainly and we bid him
God Speed with Better health and happier days ahead.
Kobe Bryant has grown up actually underneath the tutoring
of Phil Jackson so it may be difficult for him probably to
entertain thoughts of being coached by another.
Derek Fisher has been with Lakers, Clippers, Utah and
back again with the Lakers team so has accomplished his
goals on the courts and for his family. Andrew Bynum
has undergone pain and surgeries and learned patience
along with it all so to consider now, as a young player still,
being either kept on as a Laker or perhaps even being traded.
We feel so close to each man on the Lakers team that it does
almost seem like family to us who watch with keen interest
to see their accomplishments plus wail at their losses.
We never ever tag them losers though, for in our hearts and our
minds they stand tall and bright and most likely always will.
As assistant, Brian Shaw is one contender that is a consideration
for coach replacement. We will have to wait out during the off season to see what Mitch Kupchak, Lakers General Manager has to say .
When a child of ours errs, we work hard to get him/her back on
track and so it is with our team. We work harder and bring them
back to glory. That is what we all look forward to. Get the rest
you require, work hard on your triangle move. Get this act into
focus so that we are all on the same page. It is what we do.
So long for a little while and keep the faith. Que Sera Sera,
what ever will be, will be. See you next season then?!
Babs Wells
Laker fan I hate to see you depart the role but truly
understand your reasoning. Life takes its' toll on us as
individuals and even as a full working team.
We tried our best and we were defeated.
So as your exit from the team is near,
we wish we could send you off with glee instead
of the type of exit Dallas has placed upon our plate.
Having to be in a losing stretch these last games has
been humbling to say the very least and having some
of our players ejected unceremoniously only adds to
the anger and feelings of loss. Certainly, when Ron Artest
was escorted off the court and later Lamar Odom too,
it hurt our pride and hurt our image but it is all part and
parcel of the game itself. We have met our Waterloo
and the title is Mavericks. More determination, more
drive, more continuity, more complex plays and more
energy displayed as they drove us to the losing corner.
We can hold our heads up high all the same knowing
we have won Championship titles two years in a row
prior to this particular one and Phil has won 11 of them.
He has earned his retirement certainly and we bid him
God Speed with Better health and happier days ahead.
Kobe Bryant has grown up actually underneath the tutoring
of Phil Jackson so it may be difficult for him probably to
entertain thoughts of being coached by another.
Derek Fisher has been with Lakers, Clippers, Utah and
back again with the Lakers team so has accomplished his
goals on the courts and for his family. Andrew Bynum
has undergone pain and surgeries and learned patience
along with it all so to consider now, as a young player still,
being either kept on as a Laker or perhaps even being traded.
We feel so close to each man on the Lakers team that it does
almost seem like family to us who watch with keen interest
to see their accomplishments plus wail at their losses.
We never ever tag them losers though, for in our hearts and our
minds they stand tall and bright and most likely always will.
As assistant, Brian Shaw is one contender that is a consideration
for coach replacement. We will have to wait out during the off season to see what Mitch Kupchak, Lakers General Manager has to say .
When a child of ours errs, we work hard to get him/her back on
track and so it is with our team. We work harder and bring them
back to glory. That is what we all look forward to. Get the rest
you require, work hard on your triangle move. Get this act into
focus so that we are all on the same page. It is what we do.
So long for a little while and keep the faith. Que Sera Sera,
what ever will be, will be. See you next season then?!
Babs Wells
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Well, my friends, what we have here is a sticky wicket.
Home court advantage last Monday and again on this
past Wednesday, yet both games Dallas won.
Our Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom,
Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant worked their wonders
yet could not out run or out score the Mavericks.
We have to win the following 4 games straight or
goodbye to any illusions of a champion 3-peat
taking place for this particular time and team.
Losing Coach Phil Jackson will be hard to take
too, but he has earned his right for a retirement.
Yes, it would have been great if we could only
have sent him off with another win and yes, it
still is a slim possibility..but without a home
court advantage for right now and without our
largest fan urging us on..Jack Nicholson, who knows?
We can tip our hat however to another NBA player
today all the same. Clippers Rookie, Blake Griffin.
He just won the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy as the
2010-11 NBA Rookie of the year award. Congratulations!
No matter the team, we are always pleased for another
deserved player to be recognized and this young man
has earned the right of passage. While all of this was
taking place, back at Staples Center, our Lakers fell
behind in every single quarter of Wednesday's game.
1st. quarter: Dallas 26, Lakers 20. 2nd quarter. Dallas
51, Lakers 49. 3rd. quarter, Dallas 68, Lakers 62,
and so it went right up to the bitter end of 4th quarter,
Dallas 93 and Lakers 81. Adieu my friends, adieu, for
the L.A. contribution of this current debacle. But take
heed, hope never dies. Can we possibly win 4 games
do you think? Miracles can happen! 2011 Cinco de Mayo today
and on that note we sort of hold our breath to wait & see.
Babs Wells
past Wednesday, yet both games Dallas won.
Our Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest, Lamar Odom,
Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant worked their wonders
yet could not out run or out score the Mavericks.
We have to win the following 4 games straight or
goodbye to any illusions of a champion 3-peat
taking place for this particular time and team.
Losing Coach Phil Jackson will be hard to take
too, but he has earned his right for a retirement.
Yes, it would have been great if we could only
have sent him off with another win and yes, it
still is a slim possibility..but without a home
court advantage for right now and without our
largest fan urging us on..Jack Nicholson, who knows?
We can tip our hat however to another NBA player
today all the same. Clippers Rookie, Blake Griffin.
He just won the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy as the
2010-11 NBA Rookie of the year award. Congratulations!
No matter the team, we are always pleased for another
deserved player to be recognized and this young man
has earned the right of passage. While all of this was
taking place, back at Staples Center, our Lakers fell
behind in every single quarter of Wednesday's game.
1st. quarter: Dallas 26, Lakers 20. 2nd quarter. Dallas
51, Lakers 49. 3rd. quarter, Dallas 68, Lakers 62,
and so it went right up to the bitter end of 4th quarter,
Dallas 93 and Lakers 81. Adieu my friends, adieu, for
the L.A. contribution of this current debacle. But take
heed, hope never dies. Can we possibly win 4 games
do you think? Miracles can happen! 2011 Cinco de Mayo today
and on that note we sort of hold our breath to wait & see.
Babs Wells
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Now you see us, now you don't!!
What happened? We had the game and then we lost it.
Oh my, poor Kobe felt like hiding, I imagine. Loss of a
16 point lead has to hurt. Pau Gasol had a late foul on
Dirk Nowitski with only seconds left to play and we were
by then up by one. Dirk made 2 free throws which gave
Dallas the lead. Jason Kidd made one of two free throws
after a Gasol turn over & then Kobe missed a 3 pointer
right at the buzzer and we were victims of a game loss.
Game 2 of the best of 7 series is tonight at Staples Center
and then the game shifts off to be played in Dallas for game
3 on Friday and game 4 on Sunday. Game 5 (if necessary)
will be played at Staples Center on May 10. Kobe did score
30 points on 11-for-22 shooting in the first three quarters,
sinking 4 of 7 attempts from beyond the 3 point arc.
Kobe's 3 pointer right at the buzzer merely glanced off the
rim with no time left to redeem ourselves so cost us the game.
Perhaps, because it is still early in the playoff series, everyone
is playing nice for the moment. It is interesting, granted, that even
with this latest loss we can still allow for some fun but have
a better grip on the final score tallies. This is the moment of play
and this is the stage for winning. Lets' show them all how we do it.
On TNT tonight at 7:30, we will sit and watch our team and hope
upon hope they will not do a repeat of Monday's game of 96-94.
Like the newspaper print said today, "This is risky business"!
Babs Wells
Oh my, poor Kobe felt like hiding, I imagine. Loss of a
16 point lead has to hurt. Pau Gasol had a late foul on
Dirk Nowitski with only seconds left to play and we were
by then up by one. Dirk made 2 free throws which gave
Dallas the lead. Jason Kidd made one of two free throws
after a Gasol turn over & then Kobe missed a 3 pointer
right at the buzzer and we were victims of a game loss.
Game 2 of the best of 7 series is tonight at Staples Center
and then the game shifts off to be played in Dallas for game
3 on Friday and game 4 on Sunday. Game 5 (if necessary)
will be played at Staples Center on May 10. Kobe did score
30 points on 11-for-22 shooting in the first three quarters,
sinking 4 of 7 attempts from beyond the 3 point arc.
Kobe's 3 pointer right at the buzzer merely glanced off the
rim with no time left to redeem ourselves so cost us the game.
Perhaps, because it is still early in the playoff series, everyone
is playing nice for the moment. It is interesting, granted, that even
with this latest loss we can still allow for some fun but have
a better grip on the final score tallies. This is the moment of play
and this is the stage for winning. Lets' show them all how we do it.
On TNT tonight at 7:30, we will sit and watch our team and hope
upon hope they will not do a repeat of Monday's game of 96-94.
Like the newspaper print said today, "This is risky business"!
Babs Wells
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)