Post Up: Kobe passes Kareem

And Hornets rookies make me smile.

Happy Friday! Honestly, where do these weeks go? How is it almost December? Yikes. Gotta keep this short tonight and by short I mean like 500 words or less. I’ve got the Raptors game against the Heat (Shout out to you Eboy and Cheryl!) tomorrow evening and shootarounds for both teams tomorrow morning. Game days are damn long as is and I usually only see the Raps for shootaround so it’s going to be even longer this time.

Can’t complain though. Love the Heat team and what they are doing in the early goings of this season. I’m looking forward to watching Chalmers, seeing the reaction Jermaine O’Neal gets from the fans here in Toronto who loved him so very much and also, of course, watching Dwyane from my courtside media seat for the first time.

Hornets rookies getting it done against Phoenix tonight, hey? That 110-103 victory was fun to watch. Okay, Peja’s seven threes (and 13 rebounds!) and the team’s 25 offensive rebounds certainly helped, but damn. Love seeing the rooks get some burn. Darren Collison’s huge three to nail the coffin shut on Phoenix was fantastic, especially when he all but floated to the bench, chest puffed with pride while Chris Paul was the first Hornet to bounce up off of the bench and show him some love, looking so very nice in his grey/purple suit combo.

Collison logged 32 minutes in the start, finishing with 15 points and five assists. Even more important than his numbers was the poise that he showed in understanding that he will never be able to fill the shoes Chris Paul entirely electing instead, to stand tall on his own and help lead his team to the victory.

Collinson’s fellow rook, Marcus Thornton was able to score at will, dropping in 19 points in his 20 minutes of playing time and the Hornets got the huge victory against Seve Nash’s Suns.

In the loss, Jared Dudley continued to impress for the Suns, scoring 17 points off of the bench, including five three-pointers. Nash finished with 13 points and 10 assists, Amare Stoudemire added 23 and Channing Frye had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Jazz took down the Spurs, 90-83 as Deron Williams had 21 points and 10 assists, Carlos Boozer scored 18 to go with 11 boards and five assists and Paul Millsap added 20 off of the bench. Duncan scored 21 for the Spurs as George Hill scored 18 in the loss while the Spurs were without Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

The Lakers/Bulls game. Really, what is there to say? The Lakers are stupidly, insanely good with Pau Gasol. In his first game back this season, he didn’t need any time to adjust and the team didn’t have any hiccups trying to reacclimate him onto the court. Pau finished with 24 points and 13 boards while Kobe had a bad shooting night, finishing just 7-for-20 from the floor.

Yeah, pretty quiet night from Kobe. Just 19 points. To go along with nine rebounds and eight assists. 19 points, three more than the 16 he needed to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for second all-time on the Lakers leading scorers list. J. West is the only guy to overtake, for Kobe to be at the top.

Loved that so much. Can’t believe it’s been 14 years. Can’t believe I’ve been watching for all of them. Pretty wild. The Lakers came out in the third and dominated, going up by 20 and owning the game the rest of the way through. My favorite part was in the fourth, when the camera panned to Kobe and Fisher sitting on the bench, telling jokes, laughing their faces off. After 14 years, coming in as rookies together, their journeys saw them reunited in LA for their fourth ring and the search for five.

I’m glad they’re still having fun.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Catch you here Monday morning.

ps, Noah makes me smile. Love the energy he’s playing with every single possession.

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Tags: Darren Collison, Jared Dudley, Joakim Noah, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Marcus Thornton, New Orleans Hornets, Pau Gasol, Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash

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http://www.mynameinblue.blogspot.com Hisham

Kobe’s probably gonna get that Laker record this season. he only needs about 1000 more right? Which is pretty insane. I still don’t like him though, haha
http://www.mynameinblue.blogspot.com Hisham

He’ll get it if he doesn’t get hurt.
http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Eboy

Holly, hope you enjoy the game and the up close view of Dwyane. I would like to wish the Raptors good luck….but I can’t so I’ll wish them good health instead! I’m envious!!!!!
http://hoopmixtape.ning.com/ Simon S.Y Lawy

@Holly, Kobe score 21 point in the game
http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

The lakers look much better just by having this dude in the lineup and bringing lamar off the bench.
Anand

He needs somethin like 3,000 points to overtake Logo.. Did anyone else feel like Kobe was just fake-laughing to eff wid the cameras trained on him???
Vish

yeah about 1010 more to go for Kobe…I think he should get it this season given that he scores 2000+ points for the last 4 consecutive seasons…cannot believe its been 14 years.
http://slamonline.com/ niQ

I was surprised at how Pau was able to get right into the game right away. I mean, he just came back from an injury and he scored most of their points in the first quarter.
http://fjkld.com Jukai

Pau Gasol is one of those players whose value doesn’t show up in his stats. His passing, movement, energy, spacing, it’s all invaluable.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Deron Williams is quite nasty. Just in case y’all weren’t aware of that.
http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

Wow its dead today. Nice.
http://fjkld.com Jukai

I just want to state that I had no idea there was an extra ‘i’ in Ginobili’s name… I’ve been spelling his name Ginobli for seven f*cking years. Why have none of you corrected me?
http://slamonline.com Brad Long

Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward of all time, but Pau is the best in the L right now. I don’t really think that’s debatable anymore.
Bruno

utah won at SA after a long damn time
http://fjkld.com Jukai

Brad: Dirk wants to have a talk with you.
BennieBravo

once kobe gets the record haters will be like “he only got it cus hes a ballhog” or “jerry west is still better.” but we all know kobe is the better player and winner than west. and as for the actual scoring record, you have to tip your hat off to kobe when he gets it. he is defiantly one of the greatest, and to be that consistent for so long you have to recognize his work ethic as one of if not thee best.
jumpman3224

The Lakers were unbelievable last night, I can’t remember a team that presents so many matchup issues and has so many players that can sustain a run with their star on the bench or having a bad shooting night.
http://fjkld.com Jukai

BennieBravo: I don’t think anyone debates that Kobe is a better player than West right now.
Teddy-the-Bear

Andrew Bynum must be angry… 11 points 4 rebounds while Gasol puts up his season numbers.
http://slamonline.com Brad Long

Dirk is the best European player of all time, but I just don’t really think about him as a “traditonal” pf. I guess if I was getting really specific I’d say he’s the best perimeter oriented pf by far, but I prefer my 4′s to be most comfortable down low and still be able to stretch defenses on the outside when needed, not vice versa. Matter of taste, I suppose.
http://slamonline.com Brad Long

Teddy:Bynum had 8 rebs. He’s fine.
http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

Dirk is a great but not in the discussion as best ever as far I’m concerned. Malone and barkley are both above him as well as mchale probably.
http://www.manutd.com Z

Brad Long, that’s crazy talk. Dirk, Bosh, Duncan and KG are still better than Gasol. He’s excellent but c’mon now, he’s not the best 4 in the game.
http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

Oh sh*t my bad no one said dirk was best ever. I take it back.
http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

Kg is not even close to being better than gasol that’s ridiculous.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Right now, it’s Gasol is pretty close to the best in the League. I still think Dirk is better than him because I remember how Dirk used to ABUSE him when Pau played for Memphis. I mean, it wasn’t even fair what Dirk did to him.
KG is still struggling to get back from injury, Duncan is on his last legs. Bosh might be better than Gasol, but I’m not sure. Amare is close too.
I think Gasol is right behind Dirk and even with Bosh given the first 10 games.
But, that could change.
http://slamonline.com Brad Long

Z, if you polled every GM and coach in the league and asked them if they need a power forward this season and they could have anyone they wanted who would they pick first, I’m confident Pau would be way out in front on that poll, with Dirk in second. Timmy and KG have both had better careers than Pau so far, but Pau is in his prime, those two are on the back end. But sure, it’s crazy talk.
http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

Allenp : two things. First bosh is only doing what gasol would do with less talent around him plus gasol is a much better passer. About Amare’ though, the guy shows zero aggressivness unless he has the ball when a shot goes up on offense he doesn’t even look at the glass unless its coming right toward him. The only time he goes hard is when he’s trying to score, he’s not trying to rebound and he’s not trying to defend or pass. He’s irking the sh*t out of me.
http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

Dirk is a better scorer but gasol is better everywhere else. Its a toss up between gasol and duncan though. Tim is sore and pacing himself so on paper gasol looks like he’s way better but I think its a lot closer than it seems.
http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

I’m glad Brad know what NBA GM’s are thinking. That kind of inside access is invaluable.
http://www.realcavsfans.com Anton

Delonte West on the block…anyone interested?
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Brad Long
You are horribly wrong. I would suggest that you go over to NBA.com and peruse the career stats for Gasol and Bosh.
We all know that both of them have played for bad teams at different points. What you’ll find is that Bosh has been putting superior numbers FOREVER.
Matter of fact, after checking the numbers, Bosh is better than Gasol right now.
http://slamonline.com Brad Long

I said I was confident, not that it was a fact, Tad. But yes, I do have Mitch on speed dial if needed. lol.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Matter of fact, Gasol is really benefiting from playing with an amazing player in Kobe.
When he’s been “the man” on a team, he has failed to produce franchise player numbers. Kobe is making Gasol right now.
Compare his numbers to Dirk, KG, and Bosh. There is no comparision. The triangle and Kobe are the best things to ever happen to Gasol in his life.
http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

Has gasol ever averaged less than 17 ppg like bosh has done twice? When gasol played on memphis under hubie brown ( who in case you forgot used a ten man rotation and limited everyones minutes) he put up 18 and 8 every year followed by 21 9 and almost 5apg. While blocking 2 shots every year.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Bryan
Bosh put up less than 17 his first two years in the league. And in his second year he was putting up 16.8, so he just missed the magical cut off of 17 ppg.He came into the league after one year in college. You’re better than that Bryan,.
Six years into the league, Bosh has carried his team as the franchise player better than Gasol ever did. Gasol’s last two years in Memphis, the two years with Hubie Brown if I’m not mistaken, he plaed 39 minutes and 36 minutes respectively. He’s only averaged 20 ppg twice in his career in eight years in the league.
Come on, it’s obvious. Gasol is a better passer. That’s pretty much where it ends.
http://myspace.com/brandnew Bryan

Magical..ha. He’s a better passer and post scorer. I think bosh is more physically gifted but I think gasol is a better basketball player right now it’s a close though so I don’t have a problem with your thinking bosh is better. But gasol was only 20 when he started out too so its not like there was a huge age discrepancy.
http://slamonline.com Brad Long

^LMMFAO. That’s a joke, right?
http://slamonline.com Brad Long

Allenp, defender of all things Iverson, is asking me to check the stats. I wonder if Hitler is wearing a heavy coat today?
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Brad Long
Exactly what does Iverson have to do this?
You brought up the fact that Bosh’s numbers are inflated because he’s on a crap team.
I pointed out that on a crap team, Gasol never duplicated Bosh’s numbers. I also noted that his best years statistically have come when he’s surrounded by talent, not when he’s asked to carry a team on his own.
And you bring up Iverson?
Cool, you keep doing you. Tell me this, your early season prediction that Bynum was clearly better than Chris Kaman, how’s that working for you?
http://slamonline.com Brad Long

No, I actually never mentioned Bosh in any way shape or form this morning. Who taught you how to fact check, Glenn Beck? Hannity? And while were comparing power forwards numbers on crap teams, lets throw Z-Bo in there too! Hey, he has the numbers!
http://slamonline.com Allenp

Excuse me, you’re right. That was Bryan. I apologize, I saw your name on the post above Bryan’s and unfortunately thought that was you in both posts. My mistake.
I didn’t bring up the crap team argument. Initially, I said Bosh might not be better than, but it was close. Then, I looked at Bosh’s stats, thought about how he CARRIED those Raptors teams, and decided that given Gasol’s inability to handle being “the man” on a bad team, I thought Bosh was an overall better player.
You disagree, cool.
The question I have, is what do my comments here have to do with the stats on Iverson? Have you actually checked his stats?
http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

I like how Pau has only played one game this season but that game has clearly shown he is better ‘right now’ than Duncan (who has had to play without Parker and Manu) and KG (who is coming off the first major surgery of his career).
http://slamonline.com Brad Long

As far as Bynum over Kaman, I’m still pretty damn confident in that assessment as well. Bynum avgs. 2 pts less on the defending world champions and 3 more rebs. per game and in every other statistical category they are virtually identical. Kaman is the first offensive option on the Clippers, while Bynum is the second on his team, not to mention that he plays with several mor accomplished players and one of the greatest offensive players of all time, so yes, I still strongly believe that Andrew Bynum is a better player than Chris Kaman.
http://slamonline.com Brad Long

“more”^ and should’ve mentioned that now Bynum will be third option with Gasol back and I’m sure we’ll all be conviced that because his stats go down over the next month that Chris Kaman is clearly better and I’m just a complete idiot for ever thinking otherwise.
http://slamonline.com Allenp

You’ve watched Lakers and Clippers games and based on watching the two players play, you truly think Bynum is a better center?
I strongly disagree.
http://slamonline.com Brad Long

Tad:Pau played great in the finals while making Dwight look very UnSuperman, then lead his team to the Euro Championship this summer while TD and KG were resting and rehabbing so, maybe I should’ve said that over the past calendar year I believe that Pau has been a better player than those two for the majority of that period of time. Sorry, I sometimes forget to be specific enough for some people’s taste. Does it cause non-Laker fans physical pain to admit that they have good players on their team and David Stern just doesn’t prewrap the Larry O’Brein every year in purple and gold?
http://slamonline.com Brad Long

Allenp:Based on…?
http://fjkld.com Jukai

A few comments:
1) I still say Dirk falls into the ‘top ten’ category of power forwards all time… but I also think that’s more because of the lack of talent that the league has produced at that position. You got Timmy, Malone, Garnett, Barkley, and Hayes undeniably at the top. Then you have guys like McHale, Pettit, McAdoo and company… all respectable stars… Then it gets a bit grey. I mean, you can argue a few deserve to be above Dirk (DeBusschere? Jerry Lucas? Hawkins?) but at the end of the day, Dirk probably deserves to be there. Please, no one mention Rodman or Kemp, thanks.
2) There’s a lot Gasol brings that, once again, wont show up on the stat sheet. That’s energy, movement, a spaced offensive game, hustle plays and a vocal leadership quality. Has Gasol’s game been helped by playing with Kobe? Oh yeah. But as we’ve seen, the Lakers aren’t the GREATEST without Gasol.
3) People don’t understand how much Tim Duncan has regressed. I’ve watched Timmy a lot… he put up 20-10-5-2-4 something against the Maverick, but that STILL ISN’T OLD SCHOOL TIMMY. His legs are really shot… Duncan was the only four I’ve seen to CROSS PEOPLE OUT. Now he mostly posts and stays under the basket.
4) It’s Dirk > Pau > Duncan > Bosh > KG > Amare. Incase anyone cares.
http://double-technical.blogspot.com Zee!

The Lakers theme song to the rest of the league this year should be “long kiss goodnight” by Biggie….. No shots, just sayin.

Post Up: Kobe passes Kareem

And Hornets rookies make me smile.

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