Kawhi for MVP imo. Westbrook and Harden get flashier stats, but the impact Kawhi has on both ends of the floor is unparalleled. That last sequence in Rockets game was ridiculous. Also Bogut literally broke his leg in his first minute with the Cavs. Really unlucky guy with injuries.
It's the typical Spurs year. Playing excellent basketball, while being in the shadows of a more flashy team. I wouldn't be surprised, if they managed to win a chip. Kawhi is insane.
The way the Laker family trust ownership is set up means this debacle gets handled inhouse or else. Per Ramona S/ESPN the "Trust" has the right of first refusal if anyone wants to cash out. Even if say, Phil Anschutz with his approx 25%, were to be persuaded by some of the brothers (with each having 11%) the deal would still stall out per that Trust setup. Johnny is 60 and Jimmy 57. You might think those guys would take the alternative (sell their yearly earnings from Lakers in a package for a ten year period) and head back to Malibu for mai tais and hookers. Reportedly that "yearly earnings" is about $10 mill per family member. WTF? How much is enuf? Doc Buss always had his sheit tight and the franchise just rolled with him.
have a feeling that Simmons and Embiid aren't actually injured and Sixers shut them down for this year for ping pong balls
Steve Kerr learned huge lesson from last year, not pushing it for regular season. Cavs are pretty much doing same, lost 5 out of 7?
Magic & Pelinka passing the Kool-Aid around. FFS we got enuf yakkin and testifying. What we want is: Randle - Boogie - P.George Lonzo Ball - Jimmy B.
With all the talk about the Warriors and Cavs on a daily basis by media and fans the Spurs are just sitting in the corner, taking care of business and smiling like a cat with the canary in its mouth. No pressure at all since no one is really expecting them to make it to the Finals. That can be scary for the rest of the NBA come playoff time indeed.
With LA out indefinitely I somehow doubt they have a realistic chance to pass the Warriors - with him I'd say it's a tie.
But, but.. Magic said we gotta think BIG. We be the Lakers. At least Earvin & Pelinka are on the clock now and we'll see how BIG looks in real time. First they gotta figure out what to do with Jimmy & Johnny come 15 May. Jeannie and Janey have Jerry & Jesse on their sides (reportedly) so maybe a buyout is doable. (Lot of Busses aren't there? lol) Local AM radio guys on both big networks have little good/bad to say on a personal level about Pelinka. He apparently had been a prick to media in general, much like his guy Kobe. Now he has to smooth it out and treat media/fans like we actually matter. We really don't but....appearances count?
Breaking out some Robert Parrish. The Chief. One of the coolest centers/people I've watched thru these years. The guy was just calm, collected and INTENSE. Grown Man. Chief brought it every nite. Great jump shot and just ripped balls off the boards with that big reach. Classy Act.
What do you think he's going to say? "Think small"? The Lakers name means jack right now. Winning has to come first before FAs are going to be interested, and that's going to take time.
Serious? I wanna check your Laker credentials....LOL. Tell that to local products Kanye Westbrook & Paul Pierce. Magic runs an empire already, Rob P. is tight with Kobe, Jeannie B. runs a $3.6 bil franchise. They got the hookups beyond the playing careers. Don't believe the current hype/Haters spiel "...no one cares where they play anymore". That's bunk. How many players in all sports live around here? Nice to be doing their business with their peers and mentors, poolside and in the sun - Beverly Hills Hotel style. Some things just don't change. Location. Location.
Notice how I said "right now"? If we were in a position to win basketball games then that Lakers name and location could put us over the edge with free agents, sure, but it's not going to get us contending for top tier free agents right now.
OK, but get ready for changes. Pelinka's comments about the current players on the floor lead some to believe it's time to find more motivated players and, if they're also big-name Talent, that's good too. I hear Magic & Pelinka openly questioning the up/down attitudes of this crop of young guys. You don't want to doubt Magic's intensity when it comes to b-ball. His FO acumen in the NBA? That's the big question but, as Luke told people last week when relating a Magic-comes-to watch-practice story: "He tells me to talk to a player about this/that and I say - "Me tell him? You're Magic Johson FFS -you tell him." LOL...