Lakers in the News 8/12/15: Kobe must go away for Lakers to move forward

[lakersfreak]

Kobe must go away for Lakers to move forward
by Jeff Miller - ocregister.com

His career, much like his game, has been worthy of imitation, from his signature shot – a textbook-form mid-range jumper, off the backboard no less – to his nickname, which doubles as a nod to the completeness of a dynamic player and the complete absence of a dynamic personality.

Come on, “The Big Fundamental” makes Tim Duncan sound almost as square as that backboard itself.

But the moniker has fit him for the past 18 strikingly efficient seasons and worked well again in July when Duncan, with a single sentence to a San Antonio newspaper, announced he would be returning for a 19th season, a decision trumpeted by NBA observers and embraced by the Spurs and their fans alike.

Compare that to Kobe Bryant, who, last week, sent heads shaking around the league and shudders reverberating throughout Laker Nation by suggesting he might not retire. At least not as soon as most of us had expected.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bryant-677081-lakers-season.html

[lakersfreak]

VIDEO: Jordan Clarkson Throws Out The First Pitch At Dodger Stadium
by Serena Winters - lakersnation.com

It was Lakers night at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, as the Dodgers faced off against the Washington Nationals. Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and led the Laker Girls with the famous “It’s time for Dodger baseball” welcome prior to the game.

Clarkson warmed up for over 10 minutes prior to taking the mound and it payed off.

http://www.lakersnation.com/video-jordan-clarkson-throws-out-the-first-pitch-at-dodger-stadium/2015/08/11/

[lakersfreak]

Larry Nance, Jr. excited to be drafted by the Lakers, calls them 'the best franchise in history'
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

It's fair to say that most people were surprised when the Los Angeles Lakers selected Larry Nance, Jr. out of Wyoming with the 27th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. However surprised they were though, it was still not probably as shocked as Nance himself, as he detailed to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders:

http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2015/8/11/9133423/la-lakers-larry-nance-draft-interview

[lakersfreak]

Kobe Bryant in the Mix for 2016 Rio Olympic Team
by Chris Sheridan - sheridanhoops.com

Kobe Bryant has a chance to be a member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team, even though he is not attending Team USA’s minicamp this week, USA Basketball Executive Director Jerry Colangelo told SheridanHoops Tuesday.

“If he had a great year, it would be a great story for him to try to close out his career by winning a gold medal,” Colangelo said.

Bryant and Colangelo actually discussed the possibility in June during an NBA/USAB sponsorship conference in New York. Colangelo made no promises or guarantees, but made it clear to Bryant that if he is able to compete at a high level during the 2015-16 season, the door will be open for him to return to Team USA.

http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2015/08/11/exclusive-kobe-bryant-in-the-mix-for-2016-rio-olympic-team/

[lakersfreak]

My Sophomore Crush: Jordan Clarkson
by Kaveh Jam - hardwoodparoxysm.com

With the the NBA offseason in its slowest stretch, we’re taking this week to look at the players we love who are headed into their second year in the league. For most, if not all, of these players, expectations are either sky high or at rock bottom. And at the end of the year, what we know about them will likely be far removed from what we thought headed into this season.

When Jordan Clarkson redshirted his first season at Missouri, the team’s plan was to convert the 6-foot-5 wing scorer into a prototypical point guard. His playmaking skills had expanded and warped into an all-encompassing floor attack that focused largely on driving penetration or occasional pull-up three’s. At his size, there were whispers whether he would be better suited to playing out on the wing instead. Despite being far from ordinary, he began to blossom at the position.

He arrived in Los Angeles without a clear understanding of exactly how the Lakers would utilize him. After a restricting start to the season, he was turned loose after the All-Star break and instantaneously displayed the shifty athleticism and scoring the Lakers were in dire search of. Flashes of potential became more frequent, such as the 30-point, 7-assist game at Oklahoma City in late March. One after another, the performances began to highlight the innate scoring and slashing prowess.

http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/2015/08/12/my-sophomore-crush-jordan-clarkson/

[Cha*n]

Lakers Sign Chris Daniels


Chris Daniels (#21) of the Erie BayHawks

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed center Chris Daniels, it was announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Daniels, a 7-0, 265 pound center out of Texas A&M Corpus Christie (2008), was selected in the first round (9th overall) of the 2011 NBA Development League Draft by the Erie BayHawks. In five D-League games this season, Daniels is averaging 16.2 points (.517 FG%), 11.4 rebounds and 2.20 blocks in 32.2 minutes.

The 2007 Southland Conference Player of the Year as a junior at Texas A&M Corpus Christie, following his senior season in 2007-08, Daniels went abroad and has played internationally in Korea for each of the past three seasons (2008-11).

http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/111209_daniels_camp_sign.html

[Wino]

[Love&Peace]

[cathy78]

[Shaber]

[gumby]

Had to click the link just out of curiosity.

Wow. He actually gets paid to write that? No wonder the OC Register sucks and is always a threat to go under.

Totally uninformative article.

Bye.
_________________
"This trophy removes the most odious sentence in the English Language. It can never be said again that 'the Lakers have never beaten the Celtics.'" -Dr. Jerry Buss (1985) R.I.P., 33 x M.V.O.

[K28]

[TDRock]

"Go away"?

Rude.

[fontana3d]

I think what he meant Kobe needs to retire after this season so the Lakers can rebuild properly.

[TDRock]