Los Angeles Lakers Guarantee 2013 NBA Playoffs

Los Angeles Lakers one of the most storied franchises in American sports history are currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the NBA playoff picture. Despite one of the best rosters in the NBA the Lakers are fighting to sniff the NBA playoffs. As NBA fans and media question the Lakers ability to turn things around over the later portion of the season Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash remain confident of a NBA playoff appearance. When discussing the issue in a recent Sports Illustrated interview Kobe Bryant said "It's not a question of if we make the playoffs. We will,” Bold statement by the NBA's worldwide spokesperson as #24 has never been a individual short on confidence or will. Seeing the glass more than half-full is the way Bryant has always viewed life in the NBA.  After Bryant's playoff guarantee fellow teammates Nash and Howard were asked about the statement and responded "Yeah, I guarantee it, too," Nash said and Howard responded with "I'm not going to sit up here and say, 'No, we're not going to make it,' " Howard said. "We got to have faith, and if we don't, we're not going to make it, but I believe that we're going to turn this around and we're going to be great."

The Lakers currently sit 3 1/2 games behind the James Harden led Houston Rockets and sit 4 1/2 games outside of 7th place Utah Jazz. Los Angeles Lakers 27-29 are 7-3 over their last 10 games and starting to click on the court. Howard seems to have his explosive bounce and first step back after a nagging shoulder and back injuries. While a lot of media focus surrounding the NBA's best big man remains on what he will do during the upcoming off season. General Manager Mitch Kupchak is confident that Howard is the center piece and future of the Los Angeles Lakers. With the NBA trade deadline passed and gone Howard seems more inclined to stay in Los Angeles. The relationship between Howard and Kupchak is based on trust "He just told me to trust him, so I’m going to trust him and go out there every night, play as hard as I can" Howard said.

 

Now with chemistry starting to mesh and injuries to Nash and Howard on the mends the focus for the Lakers is making the playoffs. Trust is no longer a issue as the Lakers stars are starting to align, the only issue is timing. Do the Lakers have enough time to make a true run at the NBA playoffs, with 26 games remaining in the 2012-2013 season? The passing of Owner Dr. Jerry Buss gives the Lakers a sense of urgency to live up to the legacy and tradition started by the late owner who quoted the reason he bought the Lakers was to surpass the Boston Celtics. The day after his passing the Lakers dismantled the Celtics in his honor and a NBA Championship in 2013 places the franchise at 17 Championships tying the Celtics.  Dr. Buss will be truly missed.....

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NBA Mid-Season Report: Wild Roller Coaster Full of Injuries

     If you been following the NBA this season it has been a roller coaster of high-fives and disappointments . Golden State Warriors have been a great example of the NBA ride I am determined to point out. Riddled with injuries (Andrew Bogut) Mark Jackson's club has been to the top of the mountain and now heading into the All-Star break losing five games in a row the Warriors have essentially turned back into pumpkins at the stroke of midnight. Los Angeles Lakers front office has been horrible, terrible, implorable down right ugly. First the disrespectful firing of Mike Brown, the shady under cut move to dismiss the great Phil Jackson to hire the Big Apple destroyer in Mike D'Antoni. Then the injury bug started spreading around like the plague in the Lakers locker room down goes Nash, then D. Howard and now Gasol ouch! Karma from the Zen Master?

     In the Eastern Conference Brooklyn Nets started off hot in their new surroundings appearing to emerge as early  NBA Finals contenders and are now looking like a simple NBA playoff team. While making the playoffs is a great stride for the Nets franchise Joe Johnson, Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace weren't assembled to be a mere Eastern Conference playoff team they were meshed together to challenge the Miami Heat. Boston Celtics bit the injury bug hard Rondo partially torn right knee ACL out for the season, then the "Brazilian blur" Rondo's point guard replacement Leandro Barbosa goes out with a torn left ACL. This after the Celtics proved they had enough heart to survive without Rondo on the court winning seven contest in a row.

     Take a sharp look at this seasons NBA injury laundry  list and it reads like a who's who of the NBA or an All Star lineup. Derrick Rose*, Danny Granger, Anderson Varejao, Joakim Noah, Rajon Rondo, Pau Gasol, Mo Williams, Chris Kaman, Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups, Andrei Kirilenko, Andrew Bynum, Andrea Bargnani, Amare' Stoudemire, Kevin Love and more. All NBA players listed have missed significant time with injuries this season.

Hopefully the injury plague will come to an end after the All Star break. Unfortunately the roller coaster of rising and falling NBA teams will undoubtedly continue as playoff teams in both the Western and Eastern Conference are not etched in stone. I still believe Toronto and Philadelphia have an opportunity to slide into the 8th spot with Milwaukee Bucks currently on a down slide. While Kobe and the Lakers will not go quietly....

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NBA Off Season 2013...

The NBA Finals are over LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh have ushered in a new era ready to take the NBA to a new level. Now the shift occurs the "BIG BOOM" to the NBA 's new Miami Heat era has exploded and now there are casualties. NBA players are on the move and NBA franchises including the L.A. Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are creating tidal waves in free agency. As the casualties fall and NBA empires young and old are rebuilt to compete in the NBA's new market defectors have also changed sides. Ray Allen once a Boston Celtic general "the only player to shake the hands of Miami Heat players after game 7 in Miami" has agreed to a new deal in South Beach.


Steve Nash signs with rival Lakers creating a MVP back court with Kobe Bryant. Move puts Lakers into prime position to challenge OKC Thunder for Western Conference supremacy. Nash trade also keeps Bynum and Gasol in L.A. giving the "Purple and Gold" brass an opportunity to keep most of the Lakers "Boom or Buss" plans intact.


New York Knicks sign Jason Kidd believing the veteran point guard can help the trio of Carmelo, Chandler and Stoudemire mesh on the basketball court. Kidd says he signed to help with the maturation process of Jeremy Lin. Lin is currently being pursued heavily by the Houston Rockets.


Los Angeles Clippers are progressively moving forward during the off season adding Jamal Crawford and Lamar Odom two of the best sixth man in the NBA over the past 4-5 years. Clippers re-signed Chauncey Billups creating possibly the deepest roster in the NBA. Clippers are ready to challenge the Thunder this season youth, athleticism, veteran sharp shooting and excellent inside paint presence will keep the Clippers in the race in 2013.


Brooklyn Nets acquired Joe Johnson in a big trade deal keeping franchise "face" Deron Williams in a Brooklyn Nets uniform. The re-signing of Gerald Wallace plays a significant role in the movement of the Nets moving forward. Don't look now but Nets have enough pieces with Brook Lopez serving as a dominant presence to challenge to Miami Heat for the next several seasons.


 Ray Allen to Miami many "NorEasters" believe     Allen turned red coat and ran to the side of the enemy. Only issue the Celtics treated Allen like an after thought during his last season in Boston. Canceled trades to Memphis and bickering with team PG Rajon Rondo created a rift that could not be repaired. Kevin Garnett returned to Boston with a 3yr $34million contract while the Celtics offered Allen a 2yr $12 million contract big difference. Celtics shook hands with PG/SG Jason Terry prior to Allen's decision. Yes, Allen was offered more cash from the Celtics but something tells me this is personal and Allen wants to stick it to the Celtics.


Miami Heat made the landscape of the NBA shift to a new era. Franchises jumping on board and moving forward will have a chance to compete. Organizations not sitting on the sidelines will continue in mediocrity. Example Brookyln Nets in / Orlando Magic out...


So what are we to expect, what will be the next fall out as we turn to the next chapter in the NBA. Here's a few thoughts.


1.) Expect the Brooklyn Nets to vastly improve (automatic dark horse..)
2.) Boston Celtics v. Miami Heat rival will intensify (Bad Blood..)
3.) Western Conference Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, and Clippers one of these four teams are NBA Finals bound 2013...
4.) Dwight Howard the wait will continue, will he explode psychologically or will Orlando ship him out...


Note: Yes I know a NorEaster is a generally a term used for snowstorms duh....

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