The Lakers Nation

1. Podcast: Voice of the Nation - Episode #6 - The Voice of the Nation Podcast with Andrew Rafner (varsityoptimism) and David Brickley (DBricks) will guide you through the capillaries and ventricles of the Lakers Nation. Andrew and D are joined by Chris Manning (LD2k) to talk about the offseason so far, the true meaning of the Olympic Basketball and the newest member of the NBA: [...]
2. Culture as part of the game - Las Vegas Sun: Kobe Bryant leaves the Thomas & Mack Center court after a FIBA Americas basketball game and speaks Spanish to his wife, Vanessa, whom he calls Mamacita, and two young daughters. In Italian, he instructs his kids to begin eating, mangia, and playfully cusses out U.S. national team assistant coach Mike D’Antoni. He writes [...]
3. Kobe Uses DeLorean to Sell Nike McFlys - This is awesome. I added some pictures (click more to read the entire post). Back 2 The Future + Kobe = Nike McFlys… Gizmodo: As you already know, today was the launch of the limited-edition Marty McFly-inspired Nike Hyperdunk sneakers. 350 pairs were sold almost instantly (some are now for sale in eBay for as much [...]
4. Posey wants Lakers, Lakers willing to go full MLE to land him?! - Sounds like there is mutual respect on both sides. I would, once again, LOVE to have James Posey on this Lakers squad… Hoopsworld: Sources close to the situation contend James Posey would love to be a Laker and that the Lakers are willing to go the full exception to land him.
5. Avery’s Free-Agent Preview - Now before you begin reading this, I am not an NBA analyst and do not completely understand how the cap works. I will try to keep it somewhat short as I try to go through the Lakers current situation and possible future plans for the off-season. Currently, for the next season 2008-9, the Lakers owe [...]
6. 82games: Reviewing the calls - LAL/SAC Game 6 2002 WCF’S - I thought this is VERY interesting. Recently, during the finals, there were the reports that the “assumed” 2002 Western Conference Finals were “fixed.” While I’m happy the basketball world for the most part doesn’t believe in this “fixing,” this also obviously struck up a very controversial debate. Recently, 82games.com wrote up an insane article on how [...]
7. July 9: Lakers start their pursuit for Artest? - Interesting stuff. Sounds like the Lakers will potentially make a move for Artest… InsideSocal: The Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat are expected to be among the teams interested in obtaining Ron Artest from the Sacramento Kings once the NBA’s dead period ends July 9. Kings general manager Geoff Petrie figures to receive plenty [...]
8. Farmar headed to Korea - Jordan Farmar is going to head out of the USA to put on basketball clinics for kids! Great stuff… KoreaTimes: Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar is scheduled to meet fans and put on a basketball clinic to teach skills and share tips on how to become a better player.
9. It’s all good news for Bynum! - Very excellent news to hear! Now do your job, Mitch. And sign him! O.C. Register: Andrew Bynum did indeed receive medical clearance from doctors Thursday and will begin training in earnest by mid-July. His agent, David Lee, said the Lakers center did not have any pain or swelling in his surgically repaired left knee and will [...]
10. Lakers’ Derek Fisher Joins Sparks’ Broadcast Team - Pretty cool news. Glad to see Fisher bringing his personality outside of the Lakers and into the broadcasting booth. Very cool, make sure to check out the tv broadcasts and also check out the very exciting Sparks! Our Sports Central: Three-time NBA champion and Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Derek Fisher is using the off-season to be [...]

Forum Blue and Gold

1. Fast Break Thoughts
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3. Draft Thoughts
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5. Who Can You Draft At #58?
6. Fast Break Thoughts
7. Your 08-09 Laker Roster
8. There’s Got To Be A Morning After
9. Lakers/Celtics Game 6 Chat
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Lakers.com BasketBlog

1. Kobe Nominated for Two ESPYs - The ESPYs gather top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments and saluting the leading performers and performances.” –ESPN Press Release This year’s 16th annual ESPYs awards features 37 categories, but there are two that Lakers’ fans should focus on–Best Male Athlete & [...]
2. Player Capsule: Kobe Bryant - Contract Status: Under contract As the Lakers ascended to the top of the Western Conference standings in 2007-08, Kobe elevated his status as the NBA’s top player, winning his first Most Valuable Player Award in what was arguably his best season to date. While Bryant began the regular season with a 45 point assault against [...]
3. Player Capsule: Derek Fisher - Contract Status: Under contract While the internal improvement of the Lakers’ younger players and the trades for Gasol and Ariza certainly boosted team morale amid an injury-riddled season, Derek Fisher’s steady leadership and lethal outside shooting were instrumental in helping L.A. reach the NBA Finals. Returning from stints as a Warrior and Jazz, the [...]
4. Player Capsule: Pau Gasol - Contract Status: Under contract Gasol’s mid-season trade to Los Angeles not only re-energized Kobe and the and the entire Lakers franchise, it also resulted in arguably the best overall play of the Spaniard’s career. While Pau’s numbers in L.A.—19 points and eight rebounds per game—were virtually the same as his stat line in Memphis, Gasol [...]
5. Player Capsule: Lamar Odom - Contact Status: Under contract Perhaps no Lakers player benefited more from Bynum’s growth and Gasol’s arrival than Lamar Odom. Misplaced as the team’s second scoring option behind Bryant for most of his Lakers tenure, the team’s suddenly bolstered offensive weapons allowed Lamar to slide into a much more comfortable role as a third scorer. On [...]
6. Player Capsule: Andrew Bynum - Contract Status: Under contract Prior to his season-ending knee injury on Jan. 13, Bynum was well on his way to having a breakout season, garnering league-wide acclaim after his eye-popping 28 point, 12 rebound performance in the Lakers’ Christmas Day victory over the Suns. In 35 games—25 of which he started—Andrew averaged over 13 points and [...]
7. Player Capsule: Jordan Farmar - Contract Status: Under contract After a productive rookie, Farmar came into training camp before last season in the best shape of his life, ready to show off his new-and-improved game. Jordan played in all 82 games, averaging nine points and three assists as the leading scorer off the bench for the Lakers. Specifically, the UCLA [...]
8. Player Capsule: Sasha Vujacic - Contract Status: Restricted free agent After years of being labeled an “11:00 a.m. shooter” by teammates and coaches, Vujacic finally provided the long range shooting proficiency the Lakers thought they were getting when they first drafted the guard nearly four years ago. In 18 minutes of play, Sasha averaged a career-high nine point per game, while [...]
9. Player Capsule: Ronny Turiaf - Contract Status: Restricted free agent During stretches last season, Turiaf was arguably the Lakers’ most reliable player off the bench as the forward-center averaged seven points and four rebounds in 19 minutes of play. However, after Bynum went down with injury, Ronny was forced to play as an undersized center until the team traded for Gasol. [...]
10. Player Capsule: Trevor Ariza - Contract Status: Player option exercised Acquired in the November trade that sent Maurice Evans and Brian Cook to Orlando, Ariza blossomed as a backup small forward for the Lakers before breaking his foot shortly after the New Year. After coming to the Lakers, the L.A. native averaged almost seven points and four rebounds per game while [...]