Los Angeles Lakers

A Historical Look At NBA Pre-Season Odds

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With another season fast approaching, we are reminded that most teams enter the season with optimism about their chances to have a successful season, if not necessarily win a title.  Sometimes the optimism comes from good planning and other times from pipe dreams.   I was wondering what was the most objectively optimistic time for each franchise entering a season.  To that end, I thought a nice objective measure of legitimate optimism would be pre-season odds to win a … [Read more...] about A Historical Look At NBA Pre-Season Odds

NBA Title Teams and Opening Night

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On opening night, the two presumptive favorites, Brooklyn and the Lakers, started the season with resounding thuds.  The Nets were easily handled by that Bucks, before bouncing back with a nice win in Philly.  The Lakers, on the other hand, were beaten by Golden State and then were steamrolled by Phoenix to start out 0-2.  These results got me wondering whether winning on opening night has any relationship to winning a title.  How worrisome is a losing start to eventual … [Read more...] about NBA Title Teams and Opening Night

Revisiting Magic’s Comeback

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I’ve been reading Jeff Pearlman’s great new book “Three Ring Circus,” which examines the Kobe-Shaq Era in Los Angeles from 1996-2004.  The book is fascinating in its subject but also touches on the pre-Kobe-Shaq times.  There is a short prologue on the 1995-96 Lakers, who were a decent team that happened to feature the return of a 36-year old Magic Johnson.  Magic’s comeback is a fascinating blip in NBA history.  The return is viewed as mostly forgettable because Magic did not get along with … [Read more...] about Revisiting Magic’s Comeback

Q&A With Jeff Pearlman on Three-Ring Circus, Kobe, Shaq, and More

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On September 22, 2020, Jeff Pearlman released “Thee-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty.”  Jeff is a prolific sports writer who has written books on the 1986 Mets, Walter Payton, the 1990s Cowboys, Brett Favre, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens.  On the basketball side, he wrote the well-received “Showtime” in 2013 about the Magic Johnson Lakers, for which he sat down with me for a fun interview.  The book was a fascinating and detailed account of … [Read more...] about Q&A With Jeff Pearlman on Three-Ring Circus, Kobe, Shaq, and More

Revisting Kobe & Shaq: How Many More Titles Should There Have Been?

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In the depths of the NBA off-season, fans and former players turn their thoughts to the what-ifs.  Specifically, last week, Kobe Bryant, speaking off-the-cuff at a convention in Las Vegas, expressed admiration for Shaquille O’Neal’s ability (“[t]his guy was a force like I have never seen”) but regretted that Shaq didn’t always work as hard as Kobe did.  Bryant opined that “I would’ve had f-------- 12 rings” if O’Neal would have been so dedicated to working hard. These statements woke Shaq, … [Read more...] about Revisting Kobe & Shaq: How Many More Titles Should There Have Been?

NBA 2013 Preview: Western Conference

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I had my Western Conference preview all set. Things were pretty simple and easy to predict. I had the Thunder winning the West and starting a dynasty. It made sense. They were a super-talented, well-coached team with smart management. Then the trade happened.  Suddenly the West is wide open. More analysis on the trade in the Rockets and Thunders blurbs below. As for the West, it’s incredibly competitive this year. The reason for this is all the smart, creative front offices are in the West. … [Read more...] about NBA 2013 Preview: Western Conference

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