Shaquille O'Neal who?

[Joe Mama]

There is a minute left in the first half, and I believe Chris Mihm has 19 points and 8 rebounds for the Lakers. Add to that he's doing it against what was supposed to be one of the best front lines in the NBA (Denver). The score is 47-31 Lakers.

Maybe it was Kobe Bryant who made Shaquille O'Neal look better.

I'm joking of course.

Joe Mama

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Talk about nice play though. Last year I thought he had a lot of good showings, but lost faith by summer. Apparently I gave up a little to soon.

 

[DaFlogger]

Denver looks totally confused. Maybe it's the first game jitters...

 

[Joe Mama]

Well, Charles Barkley isn't a fan of the Denver Nuggets frontcourt. He actually did have some good points. He was saying that the players in the Nuggets' frontcourt are just too similar. He also said they are undersized.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

The Nuggets looked totally disoriented. They didn't pass the ball and took too many quick shots. Their lack of fast break points was remarkable considering their reputation, but Miller did not impress me at all.

Kobe's willingness to pass the ball was a real key to the Lakers offense. Who'd have thunk?

It will be interesting to see if the Nuggets continue playing like the Clippers.

 

[F-Dog]

Voshon Lenard has a torn Achilles' tendon--he's out for the season.

It looks like Dermarr Johnson might get a chance to start for the Nuggets...

 

[PhxGametime]

Wonder if there will be Joe Johnson for Nene rumors again?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Wonder if there will be Joe Johnson for Nene rumors again?

I still don't like it. Although I think Denver HAS to think about it.

 

[Joe Mama]

I still don't like it. Although I think Denver HAS to think about it.

given the ridiculous contracts these big men are getting I'm not sure it makes much sense to trade for Nene. He has not shown that he's really any better than any number of journeyman big men around the NBA.

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

Woohoo, torn Achilles! Courtney Alexander last year and now Lenard. Reportss of that injury always catch my attention, since I had the immense joy of experiencing one myself in July 2003. And no, I still haven't recovered fully, thanks for asking.

On to happier topics, I agree with Joe Mama about Nene. Nene just hasn't shown anything special, and I think Johnson has a lot more value right now.

 

[PhxGametime]

Cool because I'm going into College Basketball season to find a F/C

 

[Billythekid]

I think after tonight Laker fans remember who Shaq is and who Chris Mihm is.


To the Lakers of 2004 / 2005, a one man rabble of a team.

 

[Joe Mama]

I think after tonight Laker fans remember who Shaq is and who Chris Mihm is.


To the Lakers of 2004 / 2005, a one man rabble of a team.

Just remember that this is the Lakers team that was the only team to beat the Phoenix Suns in the preseason. I know it was just a preseason game, but I could easily see Chris Mihm going on this team's interior defense.

Joe Mama

 

[Billythekid]

Very true Joe.

The Lakers still own us, until we chalk up some meaningful wins against them.

I love when they play like they did tonight though.

 

[George O'Brien]

The Lakers are not an especially deep team and may have a lot of trouble this season with back to back games.

I suspect that teams are going to change how they defense the Lakers. Rather than trying to stop Kobe, they will simply pack the paint and stop everyone else. Unless Kobe can average 50 ppg, one guy can't do it all.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

ESPN rumor central has the Nuggets eyeing Casey right now since Leanord is down. Obviously we wont get Nene for him, but they have a ton of front court depth we might be able to nab a guy

 

[Joe Mama]

Francisco Elson would be the Phoenix Suns best big man other than Amare Stoudemire. I've been very impressed every time I've seen him play. I'm not sure what his contract situation is, but I would think about giving up CJ for him.

Joe Mama

 

[slinslin]

I don't think so.

Wasn't Elson close to being cut anyway but didn't want to go back to europe?

There is something about Elson I don't like at all. Maybe it was the incidents with KG in the playoffs. Elson isn't going to solve any of our problems and Casey in my opinion is more valueable.

A lot of teams would like to have another shooter and Casey could have a breakout year if he gets the opportunity.

The Nuggets really have nothing we'd want except probably Nene and MAYBE Skita. But I doubt they would just give up Nene for just Casey and Zarko and since we can't deal our own draft pick and Chicago's is worth way too much in my opinion I doubt anything can be worked out without another team being involved.

The Nuggets really don't have a lot of depth.

Their bench is Nene, Skita, Boykins, White, DeMarr Johnson, Buckner, Russell and one of those guys has to start with Lenard out now.

Is Elson even on the active roster?

 

[Quagmire]

What about Skita? Would we have to include Vujanic or a draft pick to get him? I would hope that we could get Nene if they ask for the Bulls pick. Either way we could also offer Jake or Lampe as a back-up center. Hopefully, a desperate Denver team will call us and offer a back-up PF/C for our third SG.

 

[slinslin]

Well in order to trade Casey for Skita we would have to include like Jake or Zarko so that's not going to do it unless the Suns have given up on Zarko completely.

 

[Joe Mama]

I have absolutely no interest in Skita. I like Elson. If he's healthy I do think he could really help the Suns. I'm not sure where his trade value falls. The Suns would probably want something more in return for CJ. I think they have given away all of their draft picks.

Joe

 

[elindholm]

If I'm not mistaken, the Nuggets did not pick up their fourth-year option on Tskitishvili for 05-06. That makes him an unrestricted free agent this summer. In the highly unlikely event that he came to Phoenix and looked good, it would be difficult for the Suns to re-sign him.

Jacobsen is not very good. We like him because he works hard and has been with the team for more than two years, but I guarantee that no opposing coach says, "Uh oh, they're putting Jacobsen in, now we're in trouble." The Suns would be lucky to get a halfway promising big man project for him.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Elson has a 1 year minimum contract right now.

I agree with the idea we will need to trade Casey for a big man project if we get the chance. Not only is there a good opporuntiy for that player to mean more to the suns this year, but by all accounts, Casey will not return next season. If we can get a look at someone else, might as well.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Well, Casey and Zarko for Skita and Elson works. I guess I wouldn't mind it. Zarko looks to be about the same level as Skita at this point, but is still a few years older I believe. Elson for Casey makes sense just from a depth chart perspective.

Skita for Casey works as well. Of course, the suns pick up an extra million in salaries. This one doesnt make much sense since Casey COULD come in and play some for us, even in special situations. I don't think we would trust Skita the same way. Especially when you consider both players would most likely be gone after the season (and Skita and Zarko duplicate each other).

 

[PhxGametime]

I really don't know Elson's game much (I don't really care for the Nuggets and I maybe have watched last year's games with them once, possibly a few twice - same as Nets ) but I was watching the Nuggets/Lakers game and he could really run (my magazine says he's an impressive athlete)...

I'll take Joe Mama's word, that he would fit well on team.