Well, well, well. We finally got to see what all this Jack Johnson fuss has been about. In a season that has been absolutely dismal, even for us long-suffering Kings Fans, it was nice to have something that we could all be enthusiastic about here in the spring. That never happens with Kings fans. Jack Johnson got his official welcome to the NHL by being “pin-wheeled” by a Canuck pretty early on in the game. Nice to see Thornton come to his aid, but it was especially nice to see that Johnson was willing to get physical to protect himself as well. I think with all the talk about the tremendous skills that he has, people tend to forget that he’s still a defenseman. He even got into that little shoving episode with a Canuck after receiving what Jim Fox kept referring to as 'the cold shoulder.’ I guess what this means is, he’s no sissy, folks.
All things considered, I was trying not to get too excited about the whole thing. After all, we’re talking about a guy who signed a contract just days ago and was thrown onto the ice to make his NHL debut with all of one practice under his belt. I was surprised to see how much ice time he got, especially on special teams. Anyway, it didn’t take long to realize that he looks like he’s going to be a good one. He definitely looks like what I would call a playmaker, a creator, a facilitator if you will. Anyway, I wonder if the Kings have already determined which Stanley Cup contender they’ll trade him away to in a few years. This will, of course, have to be done if the Kings are going to continue with their “40 year long, 5-year rolling, continuous rebuilding plan.” It’s the only rebuilding plan of its kind in any sport. Nobody does rebuilding like the Kings. Nobody. Maybe that should be their marketing tag line for next season. And the next season. And the season after that….
The future does look bright for the Kings though. They’re going to be a lot of fun to watch next year. Question; is anyone on the Kings as exciting to watch as Dustin Brown? If your answer is anything but ‘yes’ you’re wrong. He’s soooo damn fast. He’s got big-time scoring capability and he’s one of the top hitters in the league. This guy knocks someone on his ass at least once a game. And it’s always a real crowd pleaser of a hit, too. Not one of those grazing hits that Patrick O’Sullivan was dishing out last night. You could almost see the target skate away with a grin on his face after receiving a mighty O’Sullivan blow. Anyway, Camalleri is awesome. Frolov continues to frustrate since he still hasn’t lived up to his potential (he’s the Kings’ answer to Devean George). Yet his numbers have improved. Kopitar has superstar potential, and Visnovsky is one of the good young defensemen in the NHL. All we need is a goalie. Wait a minute! Maybe that should be the Kings marketing tag line for next season and every season going forward.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Canucks at Kings - March 29, 2007
I really know nothing about hockey... That's probably going to quickly become apparent. I just don't want you to don't think I watch hockey all the time and am a complete idiot. Just the opposite is true. I watch a game, maybe once every two years and I am a complete idiot... I'm also usually at game with one of those $18 huge beers, not sitting at home watching on TV sober.
So here are a few observations:
Jack Johnson: Having the same name as one of my favorite surfers/film makers/musicians (Yes in that order) has got to be a plus. What if he becomes famous, like Crosby and then we'll have two people who are huge in their respective sports/businesses with the EXACT same name? What two other people could compare to this?
He also looks kinda like Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite). I pictured his post game press conference like this:
Reporter: So Jack, what did you do with all the time off before you made your debut for the last couple months?
JJ: I told you! I spent it hunting wolverines with my uncle in Alaska!
Reporter: Did you shoot any?
JJ: Yes, like 50 of 'em! They kept trying to attack my cousins, what the heck would you do in a situation like that?
Reporter: What kind of gun did you use?
JJ: A freakin 12-gauge! What do you think??
As for his game performance, he looked quick, aggressive, and didn't do anything stupid. I'm pretty sure that's all you can hope for in your first game. The cheap shot by Bulis was kind of interesting. I expected this young tough kid to get up and start swinging. In fact the old adage of prison seems like it would apply here. First guy that gives you any crap, you stand up for yourself and beat the crap out of him. I only really say that though because I don't have plans of going to prison or the NHL...
I learned a couple things about hockey tonight:
1) It was determined by power play goals. This seems like the case in a lot of games I have watched. How hard is it to go through a game without getting put in the penalty box? It's such a HUGE advantage, it's like giving up free points almost. I don't know what the stats are, but it seems like MOST of the time someone scores when they have a man advantage. Is it that tough to stay out of the sin bin? (Do they still call it that?)
Let's think of it this way. The first call was hooking. OK I understand, the guy blew buy you (taking you out of the play) so you compensated by wrapping your stick around his waist to keep him from having a man advantage for that one play. Now, you get whistled for it and the other team has a man advantage for another 2 minutes (An eternity in hockey!). I just don't get it. It's not like you're going to get away with anything, the refs see most of the blatant stuff. I noticed it and I don't even really know the rules!
2) They didn't seem very far apart in skill (other than at goalie), from a novice's point of view. But the Canucks seemed to play together well. Watching NHL hockey while sober for the first time ever, I realized that it's a TEAM game. I actually really, really, really enjoyed this. The Canucks used their anticipation of each other's moves to create angles, shooting lanes and space for each other. When played well it's a really fun game to watch sober. I should have been exposed to this sport before I was of drinking age...
3) We really need to start picking a GOTW (tm) that is in HD. Someone once said that watching HDTV on my tv was like seeing in 3-d. Watching standard def television on my HDTV is like watching it through 10 screen doors, in a smoke filled room... with a blindfold on.
So here are a few observations:
Jack Johnson: Having the same name as one of my favorite surfers/film makers/musicians (Yes in that order) has got to be a plus. What if he becomes famous, like Crosby and then we'll have two people who are huge in their respective sports/businesses with the EXACT same name? What two other people could compare to this?
He also looks kinda like Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite). I pictured his post game press conference like this:
Reporter: So Jack, what did you do with all the time off before you made your debut for the last couple months?
JJ: I told you! I spent it hunting wolverines with my uncle in Alaska!
Reporter: Did you shoot any?
JJ: Yes, like 50 of 'em! They kept trying to attack my cousins, what the heck would you do in a situation like that?
Reporter: What kind of gun did you use?
JJ: A freakin 12-gauge! What do you think??
As for his game performance, he looked quick, aggressive, and didn't do anything stupid. I'm pretty sure that's all you can hope for in your first game. The cheap shot by Bulis was kind of interesting. I expected this young tough kid to get up and start swinging. In fact the old adage of prison seems like it would apply here. First guy that gives you any crap, you stand up for yourself and beat the crap out of him. I only really say that though because I don't have plans of going to prison or the NHL...
I learned a couple things about hockey tonight:
1) It was determined by power play goals. This seems like the case in a lot of games I have watched. How hard is it to go through a game without getting put in the penalty box? It's such a HUGE advantage, it's like giving up free points almost. I don't know what the stats are, but it seems like MOST of the time someone scores when they have a man advantage. Is it that tough to stay out of the sin bin? (Do they still call it that?)
Let's think of it this way. The first call was hooking. OK I understand, the guy blew buy you (taking you out of the play) so you compensated by wrapping your stick around his waist to keep him from having a man advantage for that one play. Now, you get whistled for it and the other team has a man advantage for another 2 minutes (An eternity in hockey!). I just don't get it. It's not like you're going to get away with anything, the refs see most of the blatant stuff. I noticed it and I don't even really know the rules!
2) They didn't seem very far apart in skill (other than at goalie), from a novice's point of view. But the Canucks seemed to play together well. Watching NHL hockey while sober for the first time ever, I realized that it's a TEAM game. I actually really, really, really enjoyed this. The Canucks used their anticipation of each other's moves to create angles, shooting lanes and space for each other. When played well it's a really fun game to watch sober. I should have been exposed to this sport before I was of drinking age...
3) We really need to start picking a GOTW (tm) that is in HD. Someone once said that watching HDTV on my tv was like seeing in 3-d. Watching standard def television on my HDTV is like watching it through 10 screen doors, in a smoke filled room... with a blindfold on.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Lakers vs. Warriors - March 25, 2007
I know this is supposed to be game of the week and the very first post I totally ignore the game and start thinking about the last 5 games... I don't have any excuses but I gotta let it out:
Portland : 116-111 (OT)
Minny: 109-102
MEMPHIS : 121-119
NO/OK/whatever: 111-105
Golden State : 115-113
What the hell??? We're giving up over a hundred points to the "Monta Ellis All Stars"? How did Monta Ellis score 31 points on 6-time all-defensive team member Kobe Bryant? Kobe was busy jacking up 33 shots! I don't think Kobe 's a bad defender, but I think he's human, he can't be all offense and all defense for the game. When Kobe scores a gazillion points and it works for us, the other guys at least have to step up and play defense in his stead.
If Kobe wasn't scoring crazy points we'd be saying "We should be POUNDING the Memphis 's (Memphii?) of the league, and Kobe should be getting rested up for the playoffs". Kobe scoring between 43-65 points is great, fine. No one else was getting it done, LO and Luke are not totally 100% for some of these back to back and road games, no big deal. The problem is that we can't play defense.
PJ supposedly authorized this scoring binge. Zen master being what he is, I think he's doing it to light a fire under the other guys. I really hope it works. I hope this is some master scheme to get the likes of Smush to pull their collective heads out of their collective asses and start playing some hard nosed basketball (collectively). If Kobe is taking 30 shots in a game, Kwame better be using that stored energy to pop out on the high screens harder and recover faster on defense. I can't really blame LO because I think his shoulder is hurting him and Kobe scoring a lot is helping Odom get back into shape (He actually did really well in this game). Luke is actually doing his thing: rebounds, great passing, hustle plays and making a good percentage of his shots.
So in summary:
The splinter asses (Anyone on the bench or not named LO, Luke or Kobe ) need to get their act together and play better defense.
Kwame needs to wear some of those old school 5 fingered baseball mitts on both hands and line the outside with rubber and stick-em...
Portland : 116-111 (OT)
Minny: 109-102
MEMPHIS : 121-119
NO/OK/whatever: 111-105
Golden State : 115-113
What the hell??? We're giving up over a hundred points to the "Monta Ellis All Stars"? How did Monta Ellis score 31 points on 6-time all-defensive team member Kobe Bryant? Kobe was busy jacking up 33 shots! I don't think Kobe 's a bad defender, but I think he's human, he can't be all offense and all defense for the game. When Kobe scores a gazillion points and it works for us, the other guys at least have to step up and play defense in his stead.
If Kobe wasn't scoring crazy points we'd be saying "We should be POUNDING the Memphis 's (Memphii?) of the league, and Kobe should be getting rested up for the playoffs". Kobe scoring between 43-65 points is great, fine. No one else was getting it done, LO and Luke are not totally 100% for some of these back to back and road games, no big deal. The problem is that we can't play defense.
PJ supposedly authorized this scoring binge. Zen master being what he is, I think he's doing it to light a fire under the other guys. I really hope it works. I hope this is some master scheme to get the likes of Smush to pull their collective heads out of their collective asses and start playing some hard nosed basketball (collectively). If Kobe is taking 30 shots in a game, Kwame better be using that stored energy to pop out on the high screens harder and recover faster on defense. I can't really blame LO because I think his shoulder is hurting him and Kobe scoring a lot is helping Odom get back into shape (He actually did really well in this game). Luke is actually doing his thing: rebounds, great passing, hustle plays and making a good percentage of his shots.
So in summary:
The splinter asses (Anyone on the bench or not named LO, Luke or Kobe ) need to get their act together and play better defense.
Kwame needs to wear some of those old school 5 fingered baseball mitts on both hands and line the outside with rubber and stick-em...
Lakers vs. Warriors - March 25, 2007
Well, this certainly wasn’t the kind of game that inspired the Game of the Week Club. But, you can’t argue with the fact that this was, if nothing else, one of the most anticipated regular season games in a very long time. I doubt anyone watching believed for one second that Kobe wasn’t going to try to continue the streak. I’m not talking about the Lakers’ winning streak either. Apparently we’re not allowed to talk about that, which wasn’t mentioned nearly enough during the telecast. Kobe’s 50+ point scoring streak, on the other hand, was brought up by Stu Lantz and company 6,427 times. I counted. The great thing about Kobe’s streak is that it contributed directly to the Lakers’ success this past week. The Lakers needed every one of those 230 or so points. His field goal and free throw percentages during the scoring streak far exceeded anything anyone else on the team could’ve put up. So the fact that he’s taken so many shots is easily justified. In fact, when he started so hot against the Warriors that it appeared the score was 9 to nothing before the opening tip-off, I think everyone was cool with the fact that he had shot the ball on every touch of the opening minutes. Hell, even the Warriors had probably conceded the 50-point game to Kobe at that point. At the three-minute mark of the first quarter, the first thing that went through my head was not whether he would get to 50, but how quickly he would get there, and whether or not 60 was in the cards. However, once he cooled off a bit and started clanging 3s, it was obvious that he wasn’t going to get to 50. My thoughts then turned to whether or not Kobe would ease up, recognize that this wasn’t his night, and not allow the scoring streak to get in the way of the more important streak. He didn’t. But the Lakers won anyway.
The thing that’s great about a one-point game is that you can look back to any single play and see how that one play affected the outcome. Whether it be a Smush Parker steal, a Rony Turiaf put-back, or a Bynum block (which, by the way was ridiculous), they all had plays that directly affected the outcome of the game. By the way, speaking of anticipation and Andrew Bynum, am I the only one that looks forward to Bynum getting on the floor every game? I remember when Kobe was a rookie and the fans used to chant his name during garbage time in hopes of him getting in the game, because there was always a possibility you’d see something special from him if he did. This was slightly different from the Chuck Nevitt chants we used to hear from the Forum fans back in the 80s when they were hoping he would get in the game and the fans would be treated to seeing something very unnatural and awkward looking. Anyway, the anticipation of Bynum getting in the game for a big block or rebound and follow-up slam is something I can’t wait for during a Laker game. And I can’t wait until we get to see it every single night. Now, am I setting myself up for big-time disappointment when Bynum doesn’t pan out? Probably. But that’s alright. Right now, it’s worth it.
I loved Turiaf’s tribute to Shaq after he made a crucial lay-up late in the game (again, all plays in a one-point game are crucial – see previous paragraph). When Turiaf ran back to the defensive end of the court after the lay-up, he did so with both arms fully extended behind him, much like an Olympic ski jumper in mid-flight. It was the same way Shaq ran back down court after that famous dunk late in game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against Portland in 2000 that resulted in the Lakers run to a championship and the inhumane treatment of an innocent stack of towels in the tunnel leading to the locker room by Scottie Pippen. Anyway, Turiaf’s antics brought back a nice memory. Well, two nice memories if you count the image of Pippen knocking over the towels.
Well, here’s hoping the streak continues. And no, I’m not talking about Kobe’s streak of 40+ points per game – that is, unless it helps…
The thing that’s great about a one-point game is that you can look back to any single play and see how that one play affected the outcome. Whether it be a Smush Parker steal, a Rony Turiaf put-back, or a Bynum block (which, by the way was ridiculous), they all had plays that directly affected the outcome of the game. By the way, speaking of anticipation and Andrew Bynum, am I the only one that looks forward to Bynum getting on the floor every game? I remember when Kobe was a rookie and the fans used to chant his name during garbage time in hopes of him getting in the game, because there was always a possibility you’d see something special from him if he did. This was slightly different from the Chuck Nevitt chants we used to hear from the Forum fans back in the 80s when they were hoping he would get in the game and the fans would be treated to seeing something very unnatural and awkward looking. Anyway, the anticipation of Bynum getting in the game for a big block or rebound and follow-up slam is something I can’t wait for during a Laker game. And I can’t wait until we get to see it every single night. Now, am I setting myself up for big-time disappointment when Bynum doesn’t pan out? Probably. But that’s alright. Right now, it’s worth it.
I loved Turiaf’s tribute to Shaq after he made a crucial lay-up late in the game (again, all plays in a one-point game are crucial – see previous paragraph). When Turiaf ran back to the defensive end of the court after the lay-up, he did so with both arms fully extended behind him, much like an Olympic ski jumper in mid-flight. It was the same way Shaq ran back down court after that famous dunk late in game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against Portland in 2000 that resulted in the Lakers run to a championship and the inhumane treatment of an innocent stack of towels in the tunnel leading to the locker room by Scottie Pippen. Anyway, Turiaf’s antics brought back a nice memory. Well, two nice memories if you count the image of Pippen knocking over the towels.
Well, here’s hoping the streak continues. And no, I’m not talking about Kobe’s streak of 40+ points per game – that is, unless it helps…
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