We will start with my beloved Lakers and the rich talent that now suits up for them. So to state the obvious, D12 and Steve fricken Nash automatically elevate the Lakers to contender status. Not only is Steve fricken Nash one of my all time favorites, but he is the perfect compliment to Kobe Bryant. I have read countless articles on ESPN with the majority of the experts questioning the effectiveness of Nash paired with Bryant for the next 2 seasons. Kobe dominates the ball and he won't give that up. Nash has to have the ball in his hands 75% of the time for him to be effective. Kobe only thrives when he can isolate and face up defenders. Kobe is not going to play second fiddle to Nash pick and rolling with Pau and D12. All interesting points in there own right, and coming from experts to get paid to form opinions I can't really discount these thoughts. But here's the thing about Kobe Bryant that nobody wants to talk about. Name 1 All Star NBA point guard that Kobe Bryant has ever played with during his 17 year career? Patiently waiting! Still waiting! Come on seriously I am still waiting! Simple answer is there never was one. You could argue Nick VanExel in his limited time playing with Kobe, but he was just a hired gunner. Hey what about Ron Harper in their first run to the title in 2000? Ron Harper was well past his prime and was more of a Phil Jackson lead guard who simply ran the Triangle. So with that being said, Kobe Bryant if anything is a student of the game. Kobe Bryant works harder on his game, conditioning, health, and mental strength than anyone in the game today. And most importantly Kobe has 5 rings with a real chance to get to 7 when his contract runs out.
ESPN rank Kobe at #6 in their player rankings this summer. He jumped 1 spot from the summer before. Kobe is still 1 of the best players in the game. Kobe with Nash means he can now run in the post, catch and attack on the wing, or even still he can wait on the wing while Nash is pick and rolling with Pau who happens to be the best passing big man in the game. Kobe's options just got ridiculously infinite and he knows this. Then you throw in the fact that D12 is the best pick and roll big man in the game and can cover up the Lakers suspect defense by himself, and you have to think Mike Brown will come up with something that creates sheer havoc on every team in the league. Did I mention Steve fricken Nash is still a %50 FG, %90 FT, and %40 3pt shooter? Nash looks up and instantly has the most talent he has ever played with. And oh by the way when the game gets tight and fans dread the expected Kobe on 2 or 3 defenders for the last shot, do you really think he won't throw it out to Steve fricken Nash who will be wide open. Better yet, teams won't leave Nash open and will be reluctant to double off of D12 or Pau, and instantly Kobe has a one on one opportunity without having to be 2 or 3 guys. Call me crazy but I don't see how teams are going to leave Nash, or D12 or Pau for that matter. Defensively is where the Lakers will have the most needed improvement if they are to get to the finals. With that being said I am willing to bet after the past 2 years that MWP will be coming into the season with a severe chip on his shoulders that will bring him back to Indiana Ron with the Defensive Player of the Year type intensity. And oh yeah the bench which was terrible last year now has a 20ppg scorer in Jamison, a young shooter in Meeks, a rugged physical young guy in Jordan Hill, a developing athletic Ebanks, and solid if not spectacular Steve Blake. All the bench has to do is score which they could not last year and now they have guys that can do that. I really like Meeks coming in at the 2 which allows Kobe to stay in the 33 to 34 minutes per game range. Meeks is a solid defender and stretches the floor well. Jamison will see time with the starters and Mike Brown will utilize him in a similar way that Phil Jackson used Lamar Odom.
So what is the ceiling? I believe the Lakers will get past OKC in the Conference Finals and will compete for the championship. I believe the Miami Heat will be there waiting and like the series going 7 games with the winner decided by whomever has home court advantage. Yes I know that is cheesy and I took the easy way out, but honestly Miami as much as it pains me to say this, is that good. Lebron showed me something this past year and it was something that I had not seen from him thus far in his career. He had a look about him that didn't come until midway through the series with the Pacers. Indiana was physically beating down the Heat, Wade was not himself, Bosh was obviously out, and something turned on in Lebron' head. As the great Bill Simmons would say, Lebron went into F... you mode. He literally said there is not one guy that can stop me from doing what I am going to do, and I am going to destroy you. After that point nobody knew what to do with him. The Celtics valiantly tried to contain him as Garnett and Rondo were super human, but Lebron would not be undone. By the time he rolled into the Finals against the NBA darlings from OKC, Kevin Durant had no chance. And herein lies the biggest question of them all. Why can't Lebron do what he did all the time? As a Laker fan I hope he doesn't figure it out, but this year will be telling and I believe will mark what his career will be defined by.
So there you have my simple and brief 2012/2013 finals prediction along with a little Laker analysis. If you are reading this now shaking your head thinking this guy and his Lakers can he be serious? My answer is simple, yes and hell yes! More importantly being a Laker fan and a basketball junkie is what keeps me balanced. As I have written in some earlier posts, it has been a tough year for me personally. I continue to be amazed at how faith in God, and faith in what will be motivates me. Basketball has always been my outlet to process and understand how life works. This past week I lost someone that was a part of my entire life. My grandfather Shorty passed away on September 28th, 2012 at the age of 95. Shorty was literally an American hero and typified the life of a man who lived almost a 100 years. He fought in WW2 as a tail gunner in a B-26 Marauder. He put in 20 plus years for the Air Force, and retired from civil service and then again from Boeing. He spent 64 years married to his beloved Hank until she passed away in 2008. He helped raise 4 daughters who themselves had 8 children who have since had 10 children of their own. I have grown up always being the one kid who had living grandparents. And now I am the same kid whose grandparents are gone. I spent the past week helping the family where I could, I spent the final day of Shorty's life by his bedside along with my mother and my aunt. We prayed over him, we told stories, we shared very personal moments. I found myself obligated to help my mother and aunt deal with the process by being strong and taking on the responsibility of finally pulling the plug when the time came. I watched as life slowly left Shorty without pain, without movement, without fear. Within 7 minutes Shorty was gone. As I stood there hand in hand with my mother and aunt, I said a little prayer to myself. I have never been that guy to pray, and more specifically don't think I ever knew how. It didn't matter that day because all I had to say was what I was feeling. I asked God to accept Shorty into Heaven knowing his flaws and the mistakes he made over his lifetime. I asked for forgiveness for any pain Shorty may have inflicted. I asked that Shorty be able to take his seat next to Hank and let him watch over Mary and Donna that day. I then asked for the strength to continue on and be that support system for the family. At the end I said Thank YOU! I know right! One of the more seriously confused times in my life and I say Thank You to God! Like I said I never did really know how to pray! And here is where it gets interesting. I spent the rest of the day with my wife, mother and aunt. We ate breakfast at 1pm at a local Pancake House. We talked about all kinds of things, from kids to school, to when we can plan the funeral. In that time while I was eating my corned beef and french toast, I could feel something inside me. Something telling me that This to shall pass! That phrase was something my grandmother use to tell me when I would have life struggles. She was basically telling me we will all be okay, and it was now her turn to take care of Shorty.
All in all it has been one emotionally charged week. I am still standing knowing that This to shall pass. I am incredibly blessed with a loving and supportive wife that never lets me get too low. I am even more blessed to have a beautiful daughter that reminds me every day how good life is. Equally amazing my son that challenges me to be creative and loves so openly. The hardest part was my son's relationship with Shorty. See he was the only great grand child that actually wasn't intimidated by Shorty. One of my favorite memories is continually watching Ryland walk right up to Shorty and give him a kiss right on the old man's lips without a concern in the world. I could never write in words the amount of good times we had as a family with Shorty and Hank. A part of me is gone now and I have accepted the course of life. Shorty lived through history that our kids are learning about in school and that is one of the coolest things I will take with me.
God bless you Shorty! You helped to create a pretty darn awesome family and that sir is priceless!
As always hit me with a comment or thought. I know I tend to be inconsistent with my posts, but I always love to hear what you think about them anyway.
April 25, 1917 to September 28, 2012
