Heat is on Mbenga
D.J. Mbenga may or may not be back in Lakers’ practice gear when training camp commences in October. So, the unrestricted free agent center wisely is exploring his options. Mbenga worked out this week with the Miami Heat and according to a report by the Miami Herald, Mbenga was impressive…
August 22, 2008, 8:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
The work is paying off
The 18 months of long, arduous and often painful rehabilitation work that guard Shaun Livingston has put in, seems to be paying off. Not only is the Clippers’ former first-round draft pick playing regularly in full-court, five-on-five pickup games at noted personal trainer Tim Grover’s…
August 22, 2008, 8:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Knicks Add to Front Office Staff
According to the NY Times: John Gabriel, a former N.B.A. executive of the year with the Orlando Magic, has joined the Knicks’ revamped front office and will assume a major role in rebuilding the roster after seven straight losing seasons. Donnie Walsh, the team president, appointed Gabriel as…
August 22, 2008, 7:45 PM ET from KnickerBlogger.Net
Who’s he?
The mere appearance of Kobe Bryant in public during the Beijing Olympics has caused such a stir, attracting throngs of autograph seekers and camera-toting followers, that Bryant’s Team USA teammates jokingly have said they avoid going out with him in public. But apparently, Bryant’s…
August 22, 2008, 7:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
USA Basketball Game 7: USA 101 - Argentina 81
The United States now only has to defeat Spain on Sunday to win the Gold medal, and after defeating a mostly Manu Ginobili-less Argentina, the United States’ worst result will be a Silver Medal. But you know darn well that they did not come here to win Silver, so Sunday’s re-match…
August 22, 2008, 7:30 PM ET from KnickerBlogger.Net
Kobe’s best game
Maybe Kobe had trouble adjusting to the time change in China. It took him a half-dozen games to hear the alarm clock. For those of you who didn’t get up at 5 a.m. to watch USA toy with, then destroy Australia, here’s what you missed: Rebound, outlet, dunk … Steal, transition,…
August 22, 2008, 7:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Brown returns to Hornets
It might have been an intriguing training camp matchup - Trevor Ariza competing head-to-head with Devin Brown. Both the 23-year old Ariza and the 29-year old Brown are hardnosed, spare-no-feelings swingman, who take pride in their defensive abilities. Like every NBA team, the Lakers have a master…
August 22, 2008, 7:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Happy Birthday Mr. Bryant
On Aug. 23, the kid isn’t a kid anymore. Kobe Bryant (wasn’t he just a high school phenom?) is turning 30. That’s 52 in basketball years. He says he feels younger than he did a few years ago, which is a weird thing to say. It would be nice to see him celebrate with a gold medal. I…
August 22, 2008, 7:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Alma mater honors Jackson
Is there a doctor in the house? Actually, there are a number in the Lakers’ organization. Besides the team’s medical staff, there is the team owner, Jerry Buss, who has a Ph.D in physical chemistry from USC. Now, another doctor has joined the fold, although in essence, he was there…
August 22, 2008, 6:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Encounter with Team USA
US distance runner Kara Goucher got a really, really up close and personal look at the USA basketball team. She’s been writing a column in the Duluth News Tribune about her Olympic experiences. One of those columns ended up as fodder for Deadspin, the irreverent sports website. She…
August 22, 2008, 6:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Team USA getting “little” respect in China
Kobe is “Little flying warrior.” Lebron is “Little Emperor.” Tayshaun Prince is “Little Prince.” The Chinese basketball fans have given NBA players nicknames that have very little to do with the fact that they are more than a foot taller than the average Chinese…
August 22, 2008, 6:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Why not Shaun?
Going into training camp in October, it would appear that the Lakers’ backcourt is crammed past capacity. Locked in for jobs are Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic. Battling for jobs will be Coby Karl, Joe Crawford, Dwayne Mitchell and Sun Yue. But as crowded as the…
August 22, 2008, 5:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Kobe Bryant loves America
Kobe Bryant has won over a billion fans in China, and you can add Rush Limbaugh to his list of admirers. Last week, Kobe was interviewed by NBC’s Chris Collinsworth about patriotism. He talked about his feelings when he first received his USA uniform: The Wall Street Journal reports that…
August 22, 2008, 5:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Checking the want ads
Not that the Lakers need any more bodies to cram into their crowded backcourt closet. But there is a glut of unemployed guards hoping to gain employment before the 30 NBA teams convene for training camp in the fall. The best of the bunch is restricted free agent Ben Gordon of the Chicago Bulls.…
August 22, 2008, 5:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
The work is paying off
The 18 months of long, arduous and often painful rehabilitation work that guard Shaun Livingston has put in, seems to be paying off. Not only is the Clippers’ former first-round draft pick playing regularly in full-court, five-on-five pickup games at noted personal trainer Tim Grover’s…
August 22, 2008, 5:00 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Who’s he?
The mere appearance of Kobe Bryant in public during the Beijing Olympics has caused such a stir, attracting throngs of autograph seekers and camera-toting followers, that Bryant’s Team USA teammates jokingly have said they avoid going out with him in public. But apparently, Bryant’s…
August 22, 2008, 4:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Kobe’s best game
Maybe Kobe had trouble adjusting to the time change in China. It took him a half-dozen games to hear the alarm clock. For those of you who didn’t get up at 5 a.m. to watch USA toy with, then destroy Australia, here’s what you missed: Rebound, outlet, dunk … Steal, transition,…
August 22, 2008, 4:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Hornets Off-season: The Return of Devin Brown
The Times-Picayune is reporting that Devin Brown, who last played in a Hornets uniform in 2006-2007, was signed by the Hornets last night. I like the signing, and the other day I actually thought about Devin and wondered if there was a chance he'd come back now that Jannero Pargo is…
August 22, 2008, 4:15 PM ET from Hornets247.com Blog
Brown returns to Hornets
It might have been an intriguing training camp matchup - Trevor Ariza competing head-to-head with Devin Brown. Both the 23-year old Ariza and the 29-year old Brown are hardnosed, spare-no-feelings swingman, who take pride in their defensive abilities. Like every NBA team, the Lakers have a master…
August 22, 2008, 4:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Red, white and blue Lakers
Who is the greatest Laker Olympian of all time? Shaq 1996 gold medalist Jerry West 1960 gold medalist Magic 1992 gold medalist Mitch Kupchak 1976 gold medalist Kobe Bryant 2008…
August 22, 2008, 3:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Alma mater honors Jackson
Is there a doctor in the house? Actually, there are a number in the Lakers’ organization. Besides the team’s medical staff, there is the team owner, Jerry Buss, who has a Ph.D in physical chemistry from USC. Now, another doctor has joined the fold, although in essence, he was there…
August 22, 2008, 3:15 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Encounter with Team USA
US distance runner Kara Goucher got a really, really up close and personal look at the USA basketball team. She’s been writing a column in the Duluth News Tribune about her Olympic experiences. One of those columns ended up as fodder for Deadspin, the irreverent sports website. She…
August 22, 2008, 1:45 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Team USA getting “little” respect in China
Kobe is “Little flying warrior.” Lebron is “Little Emperor.” Tayshaun Prince is “Little Prince.” The Chinese basketball fans have given NBA players nicknames that have very little to do with the fact that they are more than a foot taller than the average Chinese…
August 22, 2008, 1:30 PM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Ratliff returns to Philly
From Kate Fagan of the Philadelphia Inquirer: According to a source familiar with the situation, the 6-foot-10 Ratliff has accepted a one-year contract for the veterans’ minimum of $1.4 million. At Monday’s press conference to announce the signing of Andre Iguodala, Sixers President and…
August 22, 2008, 1:00 PM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Pre-pre-season rankings, now with 100% less logic
I rarely pay attention to preseason rankings, but seeing as it’s the middle of August without much happening in Pistonsville, I’m going to make an exception. So, Marty Burns of Sports Illustrated, what say you about the East? 1. Boston 2. Cleveland 3. Magic Bold! You bumped Detroit…
August 22, 2008, 12:45 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Olympic liveblog
As mentioned yesterday, I’m liveblogging the Olympic basketball semifinals for FanHouse. Come join me in watching USA (Tayshaun!) vs. Argentina (Delfino!).
August 22, 2008, 12:30 AM ET from Detroit Bad Boys
Why not Shaun?
Going into training camp in October, it would appear that the Lakers’ backcourt is crammed past capacity. Locked in for jobs are Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic. Battling for jobs will be Coby Karl, Joe Crawford, Dwayne Mitchell and Sun Yue. But as crowded as the…
August 22, 2008, 00:00 AM ET from Lakers: Locker Talk by Kevin Ding
Copyright © 2007 Michal Pelikán
|