Monday, July 11, 2011

Laker notes in July

One question remains. Kobe Bryant
underwent a plasma-enriched bone
on bone procedure overseas and now
is still contemplating going out
on to the courts in Turkey this fall
playing hoops, being locked out of the
NBA. It would seem rather rash for this
consideration, I would think, to put
his body in jeopardy in any way, shape
or form. I would think that a
rest until the fall season is upon us
might be the best way to go.
Kobe's Dad coached the WNBA team
(Sparks) from August 2005 through the
2006 season, guiding them to two
playoff appearances. He then was
hired in March as an assistant to
Coach Jennifer Gillom. Gillom has
since lost her position and Joe
"jellybean" Bryant (father of Kobe)
has been hired to take over as Coach.
The Bryant family is certainly
athletically talented, willing and
able to continue to give us some
basketball watching joy!
Good show!
Babs Wells

Monday, July 4, 2011

New Laker NBA staff considered

New coach Mike Brown, began hiring his staff when he named
former Detroit Pistons coach John Kuester as an assistant,
Wednesday. It has been reported that Chuck Person, Ettore
Messina and Jim Boylen will also be hired as assistants.
The Lakers are soon expected to announce the hiring of
Quin Snyder as an assistant coach. Snyder, a former
University of Missouri coach, was the Philadelphia 76'ers
director of player development last season.
Four free agents were at the mini camp, namely:
Bobby Brown, Gerald Green, Bobby Simmons
and D.J. Strawberry. Normally, Mitch Kupchak would pick
several top performers to play in the summer league,
but with a lockout such as we find ourselves in now it
figures to be quite awhile before they will be together
under one roof.
We also have heard rumors that player Kobe Bryant has
undergone an overseas procedure on his ailing arthritic
knee that has not required surgery in hopes it may well
be all he might be needing for more ample flexibility
and strength to play ball and go running up and down court.
Not wanting a more permanent closure for our Lakers,
negotiator Derek Fisher has been spending many hours
in attempts for compromise to pacify all parties concerned.
We can only hope.
Babs Wells

Saturday, July 2, 2011

NBA LOCKOUT

Even with Ron Artest attesting to a change of
his name, preferably to Metta World Peace,
it seems minds could not come together enough
to prevent the NBA lockout on June 30th at 9:00
p.m. and thus some changes are in the offing.
Apparantly being an enthusiastic fan was not
enough. Appreciating our Lakers for their games
left out profit for the owners. Commissioner
David Stern said "The goal here has been to make
the league profitable and to have a league
where all 30 teams can compete".
Despite a three hour meeting Thursday and a
final proposal from the players-which NBA
leaders said would have raised average player
salaries to $7 million in the sixth year of the
deal- the sides couldn't close the enormous
gulf between their positions.
"The problem is that there is such a gap in terms
of the numbers, where they are and where we are, we
just cannot find any way, it appears, to bridge that
gap." Union Chief Billy Hunter said.
All league business is officially on hold, starting
with the free agency period that would have opened
today. The NBA's summer league in Las Vegas already
has been canceled, pre-season games in Europe were
never scheduled, and the players might have to decide
if they want to risk playing in this summers' Olympic
qualifying tournaments without the NBA's help for
securing insurance in cases of injury.
Meanwhile, the newest faces lining up as possible
Lakers are: point guard: Darius Morris, Forward: Ater
Majok and shooting guard: Andrew Goudelock.
At least for a few seconds time they are wearing
Laker uniforms and hope to be welcomed but it almost
seemed that they were all dressed up with no place to go.
With this latest labor impasse, general manager Mitch
Kupchak and the newly hired coach, Mike Brown will cease
to have any contact with them. The Lakers cannot sign their
draft picks and cannot allow them inside their practice
facility or place them on their summer league with this
turn of events causing a lockout.
A settlement will have to be handled cautiously and soon.
This is indeed quite a predicament to be in, Lakers'
negotiator, Derek Fisher feels. We can only sympathize
with this ourselves and hope it will all work out for
benefit to both sides.
Babs Wells