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By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor As the editor of this newspaper I urge my columnists to take a stand on issues. I don’t tell them what stand to take, but merely let readers know their position. Readers have their opinions and want to compare them to yours. But today I find myself unable to take the same advice. Kobe Bryant has signed a two-year, $48.5 million contract with the Lakers and as the wisdom of the Lakers’ move is debated nationally I can very clearly see both sides of the issue. Fir...
By Bosmat Eynav Sports Columnist Matt Barnes is one of the strongest defensive players in the NBA, excelling through his entire career with his determination, efficiency, his blocking abilities, mental resilience and mostly by how much he cares about his friends. With his strong will, he is there for them at any cost. The Clippers' forward from UCLA will be there for his team members even when he has to sacrifice himself, his money and his time in the game. He's truly extraordinary....
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor My head is spinning as I leave Staples Center Sunday night. There are so many Laker topics to discuss. The Lakers have just beaten the Detroit Pistons, 113-99 and fans are celebrating as if an NBA championship has been won. They’re so happy because they get free tacos since the opponent didn’t score 100 points. On the last two possessions the Pistons miss shots and the crowd reacts as if the Lakers will get extra points in the standings. But here’s the reali...
By Bosmat Eynav Sports Columnist Much has been said in the past two weeks about a certain controversial step taken by 'Doc' - the Los Angeles Clippers coach. To remind you, when the Clippers are playing on their home court at Staples Center he went ahead and replaced all the Lakers' banners with photographs of his team. This clear and obvious move does not justify the media's strong responses. The way I see it, it's like a father's intention to make his son believe in himself... that's how Doc c...
Los Angeles D-Fenders have hired former Laker Luke Walton as a player development coach, it was announced by team President/CEO Joey Buss. "We are very excited to add Luke to our staff," said Buss. "His championship experience will help build upon the winning culture that has been established with the D-Fenders. His extensive and successful NBA career will allow him to instill the work ethic it requires for our players to reach the NBA." "Luke has been a consummate professional throughout his ca...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Bill Sharman was one of the toughest men I’ve ever known. Also one of the nicest. When he became a Hall of Fame player with the Celtics stories were told that he used to help old ladies across the street from Boston Garden, then get into three fights during the game. “He never stood still on the court,” said Bob Cousy, his Celtic backcourt partner. “So he was impossible to guard. And in an era when few guys played defense, he did.” It was a different era then....
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Bill Sharman was one of the toughest men I've ever known. Also one of the nicest. When he became a Hall of Fame player with the Celtics stories were told that he used to help old ladies across the street from Boston Garden, then get into three fights during the game. "He never stood still on the court," said Bob Cousy, his Celtic backcourt partner. "So he was impossible to guard. And in an era when few guys played defense, he did." It was a different era then. A...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Staples Center in Los Angeles is the only NBA arena shared by two teams. The Lakers have been superior for many years but the Clippers are regarded as the better team this season, and they're flexing their muscles. Coach Doc Rivers has decided to have the Lakers' championship banners and a tribute to their retired great players covered up for clipper home games. That doesn't include the opening game of the new season Tuesday night because the Lakers are the home...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor Glenn Rivers played basketball at Marquette University where Al McGuire was the coach. I remember he was Glenn Rivers at the time so I recently asked him where "Doc" came from. "Al McGuire," he replied. He paused for a moment, then completed the answer. "He couldn't remember my name." That was a long time ago but the nickname has stuck through Rivers' NBA playing and coaching careers. And now Doc has arrived to heal what's been ailing the Los Angeles Clippers. Sp...
By Mitch Chortkoff Sports Editor I went to Media Day at the Lakers’ training facility Saturday and the Clippers’ facility Monday. Get ready. Practice has begun and we’ll have NBA basketball until April followed by the playoffs that go into June. The Lakers will play an exhibition game at Staples Center Sunday at 6 pm against the Denver Nuggets. Annually this is the best time for me because nobody has lost a game yet and they all think they’re going to do well. But we know some teams won’t d...
Can Rivers Deliver a Clippers’ Championship? This is new territory for all of us. Frankly, getting used to it is quite an adjustment. The Clippers were laughed at or merely ignored for as long as I can remember, with the exception being an occasional season. The Lakers won 16 NBA championships and ruled Los Angeles. Now a season is approaching where the Clippers appear to have not only the better team but a better-functioning organization. But in true Clipper fashion, a first round playoff e...
Ex-Laker Jamison Joins Clippers The Clippers continued to build a deep and talented roster this week by signing veteran forward Antwan Jamison. After playing for the Lakers last season Jamison became a free agent. He is expected to take Lamar Odom’s place in the Clippers’ plans as a reserve on the front line. Jamison will be in his 15th NBA season. He signed a one-year contract for $1.4 million, a low number by NBA standards. That’s the same amount he played for last season. Jamison had diffe...
Good Laker News: Mark Madsen Is Back There’s been a lot of negative news about the Lakers in the recent past. The team hasn’t done much in the playoffs the last three years, Kobe Bryant has been injured and Dwight Howard has left to play for Houston. But here’s some good news. Mark Madsen is back. Madsen was the Lakers’ first round draft choice in 2000. The 6-foot-8 forward from Stanford was a member of two Laker championship teams although he didn’t play a lot or compile impressive statistics....
Clippers, Lakers Game To Begin NBA Season The Lakers and Clippers will oppose each other on the NBA’s opening night, Tuesday, October 29 in a nationally televised game at Staples Center. Tipoff will be at 7:30 pm, LA time following the season’s first game at 5 pm between the Chicago Bulls and defending champion Miami Heat in Miami. Doc Rivers will be making his debut as Clippers’ coach after leaving the Boston Celtics. This will begin the NBA’s 69th season....
Stillwater Runs Deep Movement In Water Runs Deeper Sports Columnist Let’s take a deeper look at the health and well being of our NBA players. The fact that Bryant, Gasol, Nash, Blake, World Peace and Hill were injured before the playoffs began raised a red flag to me. This is not about age. Consider that Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are all beyond 30 were major contributors in the playoffs. It’s all about being mindful and using the best methods to prevent inj...
Lakers May Be Doomed Until 2014 It’s portrayed as stunning that Dwight Howard rejected the Lakers, with their grand history, and selected the Houston Rockets as his new employer. But it’s really not a surprise if you’re aware of the Lakers’ recent steady decline. They haven’t gotten very far in the playoffs for the last three years. New owner Jim Buss hired the wrong coach, Mike Brown, fired him and hired Mike d’Antoni over Phil Jackson, another poor decision. Howard says he asked the Lakers...
Rivers Or Garnett: Did Clippers Choose Correctly? Chris Paul is staying with the Clippers for five more years. Doc Rivers is the new coach and a popular choice. All is well, or is it? If it came down to a choice between Rivers and Kevin Garnett, did the Clippers make the right decision? We won’t know until next season’s playoffs. Here’s where we are. There was plenty of media speculation in recent weeks that the Clippers were trying to hire Rivers and acquire Garnett in a blockbuster trade...
Rivers Becomes Clippers’ Coach Glen (Doc) Rivers had three years and $21 million remaining on his contract to coach the Boston Celtics. But when it became obvious the Celtics were going to enter a rebuilding phase next season Rivers wondered if he wanted to be a part of that plan. He had coached the Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship, and other than Phil Jackson he would be the highest profile coach available if he sought to escape his Boston contract. Rivers was granted permission to d...
Remarkable NBA Final Gets My Mind Working During the years I traveled with Laker teams I covered the NBA Finals 10 times. There were many memorable games and etched in my mind was winning a championship in Boston Garden, at last conquering the Celtics. When we flew home there were several billboards in West Los Angeles. The words were ‘The Lakers have never beaten the Celtics in the NBA Finals.’ The word never had a line drawn through it. Now we’ve had an NBA Finals that will rank with the great...
Before debating the merits and deficiencies of Vinny del Negro, let’s remember the Clippers have a long history of replacing coaches. It’s the way they solve problems. I wish they’d notice that stability is something to cherish in professional sports. There were Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda with the Dodgers, about 20 years each, the players knowing there was no doubt about who was in charge. There were Phil Jackson and Pat Riley in the NBA, and the players knew what was expected. Do it right...
In October, after the Lakers had signed Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, they began training camp labeled as the hottest story in the NBA. The franchise with 16 NBA championships was seemingly in position to win another. A colleague of mine, Howard Beck, who writes in New York, said the Lakers were a bigger story there than the Knicks or the defending champion Miami Heat. But on Sunday night at Staples Center, the Lakers’ disastrous season ended with a first round playoff sweep at the hands of t...
It was all there for the Clippers – the opportunity of a lifetime. After playing in the shadow of the Lakers ever since they moved to Los Angeles in 1984 the Clippers had at long, long last overcome their misery. They won 56 regular season games, beat the Lakers in all four meetings, won their first Pacific Division championship and drew sellout crowds for every home game. Meanwhile the Lakers floundered, barely made the playoffs and then lasted only one round, losing four straight games to t...
For two years Chris Paul has been a model of what every NBA franchise would like to have. Actually he’s been that guy much longer. But I’m only talking about his time in Los Angeles as the dynamic point guard of the Clippers, who badly needed his leadership following countless mistake-plagued years as an underdog franchise. Paul played brilliantly, ignoring the Clippers’ past problems and never talked about leaving when he became a free agent. But he’s a free agent now. Why would he leave?...
Clippers’ Coach Deserves A New Contract It’s customary for pro sports owners to evaluate their coaches at the end of each season. The day after the National Football League season ends a half dozen or so head coaches are usually fired. Some baseball managers get fired too and basketball coaches are in danger of becoming unemployed, particularly if their teams don’t make the playoffs. The NBA regular season ended only a few days ago but already we know Doug Collins at Philadelphia and Mike Dunla...
It’s An Uncertain Future For Kobe, Lakers There are two questions on the minds of local sports fans today. Where does Kobe Bryant go from here? And where do the Lakers go from here? Each day since Bryant suffered a completely ruptured Achilles tendon against Golden State last Friday there’s been speculation about his future with the team. Bryant will be paid $30 million next season whether or not he’s able to play but the Lakers could save $80 million if they send him away via the NBA’s amnesty...
