Except Shaq led his team to the NBA finals in Orlando. Closest Cousins has gotten to playoffs is his television set.
Not alone. Actually, not even close to being alone. Orlando had a hell of a run of luck in the draft. Still was a coach killer, franchise killer, world class talent, world class asshole as a youngin.
No one did it alone, even Jordan. I wasn't the biggest Shaq fan. Always thought he could been much more dominant with more of a killer instinct.
Yeah, that's true, it just seemed as if you were forgetting about all-world Penny, Ho Grant, a Nick Anderson who used to drop 40-50pts on any given night, Dennis Scott, etc. Shaq did leave some on the table, more dominant than Boogie of course, but Boogie has the edge on him when it comes to pure skills, kid usually shoots between 72-78% from the FT line, hits threes, has legit handles, he's a bad boy. Needs guidance, not unlike Shaq did. Not sure if Luke is the man for that job, but again the rumors are that LAL is gonna move the draft pick and Boogie's really the only star out there that's attainable. Certainly can't see Bird dealing with LAL/moving George.
Hooooooooly shit, D'antoni looks like he might be the Rockets next coach Lol Dwight could probably stop pretending the Rockets are an option if it happens
As a Fresno St fan and season ticket holder George would be my #1 choice easily. He's as talented a player in all phases not named LeBron. Plays D, shoots the 3, shoots 80% plus from the line and gets his share of rebounds. Still only 26 and seems like he's been around a long time. All that and no attitude adjustment is necessary. George gets it.
What I'm finding so far is that LAL fans who hate Dwight's pussy ass ( which is just about every LAL fan I encounter) are willing to give Boogie an opportunity because at least he's not a pussy like Dwight. Lol I'm seeing that sentiment conveyed without even the mention that Boogie's a major step up from Dwight in regards to actual talent, but perhaps that's just a given, it's just funny. I'm sort of in line with that thinking, I like for my centers to be prickly, to be assholes to a degree. Kareem could be a real asshole back in the day, Shaq was an asshole, Bynum was an asshole...throughout the history of the game...asshole big>nice guy big. Olajuwon left the game having turned his persona around, even he was a guy who would kick major ass, would fight anybody at the drop of a dime, both teammates and the opposition as a young guy in the league. All that being said, Boogie's one of the best charity guys in the league and players do like him, his thing is he sometimes has problems with authority. But LAL has a lot of respected figures around the org that can talk him down in these times, so perhaps LAL is fortified enough in this regard? Perhaps LAL is a place for him to truly blossom? It's hard to have it both ways..not wanting a pussy like Dwight with LAL, but then not willing to give an asshole like Boogie a chance either. But I'm not 100% on board with it myself. However, if Boogie weren't an asshole he wouldn't even be available...and to be frank I'm not sure if these reporters that are bringing his name into play even have it on good authority that Boogie is available. SAC is somewhat of a rival, so I imagine they're gonna want more than just the #2 pick if he is, they're gonna want to feel like they won the trade. I also have reservations about them trading a Simmons within the division, and SAC should have reservations about trying to add a Simmons because he's not going to want to be there, but if he does accept the move he might be a real problem for LAL in the future. I'd feel much more comfortable if it were Ingram going to SAC. TBH
Love George, excellent player. However, I would be shocked, I repeat shocked, if Larry Bird helped the Lakers out like that. He'd probably ask for every young player we have, leak to reporters that the Lakers are willing to send them all to Indy and fuck up team trust, and then send George to Boston. Lol That said, perhaps George will be LAL's 1st target as far as a trade goes? Not sure about that either because LAL has a long history of preferring to trade for great big men that are already developed. Should be interesting.
Vlade can be our Larry. We need ex Lakers out there as GM's to help facilitate trades. Boogie is bar none the best center and only true center superstar left in the game... AND he can play in the modern fast paced NBA game with his advanced dribbling skills, fleetness, and that great jumpshot. And he's a beast down low with an attitude to boot. Whats not to like? That he has no respect for blowhard authoritarians that just blow hard because of the title they have been given and not because they really have any fire inside the tank? Career loser coaches like actors pretending to be real? Boogie is real. Real recognize/respects real. And it cant stand fake passing itself off as real to gain some sort of manufactured 'respect'. Boogie probably respects the hell out of Vlade, just not some loser coach who comes in talking hard but carries a limp stick.
Loved the whole post, but you knocked me out with the opening. I was just thinking the same thing while typing about Bird in Indy and the Celtics. Celtics have had " agents " around the league helping them...hell yeah Vlade should be ours! And Shaq's a minority owner there. They need to help us out here
Whiteside is cool too, with his character issues or whatever, but he probably needs to fall behind Boogie in the order of options. Gonna pay for a big man with character issues, might as well initially shoot for the one that can't be Hack-a-Shaq'd out of the game completely.
They should seriously think of dropping 10 million a year on Phil Jackson so he can be close to Jeannie and coach home games and LA based games. Then they can hire Derek Fisher to coach games outside of the Pacific division.
No Bogie. If you think Kobe's presence stunted the young players' development, Bogie's unstable nature would be an even bigger problem and might introduce some bad vibes. To me, it seems like a huge risk.
