<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>LA Lakers Archives - The Utah Statesman</title> <atom:link href="https://usustatesman.com/tag/la-lakers/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://usustatesman.com/tag/la-lakers/</link> <description>USU's Student Newspaper</description> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2016 04:02:57 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1</generator> <image> <url>https://usustatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cropped-screen-shot-2017-10-19-at-4.33.29-pm-32x32.png</url> <title>LA Lakers Archives - The Utah Statesman</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/tag/la-lakers/</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Legacy picks and what the NBA all-star game really means</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/legacy-picks-and-what-the-nba-all-star-game-really-means/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Thomas Sorenson]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2016 04:02:57 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[all-star]]></category> <category><![CDATA[all-star weekend]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Draymond Green]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Golden State Warriors]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category> <category><![CDATA[LA Lakers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[LaMarcus Aldridge]]></category> <category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Zach Randolph]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://usustatesman.com/?p=22004913</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Draymond Green, the multi-dimensional forward of the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors, is averaging nearly 15 points per game, as well…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/legacy-picks-and-what-the-nba-all-star-game-really-means/">Legacy picks and what the NBA all-star game really means</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Draymond Green, the multi-dimensional forward of the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors, is averaging nearly 15 points per game, as well as 9.5 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks. </p> <p>He leads the team in both rebounds and assists this season while also making over 40 percent of his 3-point shots. That versatility has allowed him to lead the league in triple-doubles with eight, including three in a row in the beginning of January. His impact extends far beyond the box score, though. </p> <p>Defensively, Green is a terror, strong enough to guard players like Zach Randolph and LaMarcus Aldridge in the post yet nimble enough to switch onto guards like Tony Parker and Kyrie Irving. He has almost single-handedly created the concept of a “playmaking-four” and it is his capability to receive the ball on a pick and roll and make the correct decision that has made the Warriors’ offense so lethal. </p> <p>Reigning MVP Stephen Curry bends the defense, but Green shatters it. In a very real sense, Green’s playmaking is changing the way basketball is played. And yet – despite being one of the best players in the league so far– Green will not be starting in the NBA all-star game next month.</p> <p>A lot of the finger-pointing has been aimed at Kobe Bryant, who was the leading vote-getter and will start for the Western Conference, but has had a negative player efficiency in what clearly has been the worst season of his career. Unless we want to highlight a player’s ability to dribble the ball for 15 seconds before jacking up a contested shot that doesn’t touch the rim, there’s no reason Bryant should be participating in a game in 2016 that showcases the league’s best players. Bryant’s inclusion is the definition of a “legacy pick.”</p> <p>My dilemma with the NBA all-star game, though, isn’t legacy picks, nor our perception of what makes a player an all-star. How do you decide between a hyper-productive role player or a lead dog who has to carry the burden for his team every night but is less efficient? Even fan-voting, Zaza Pachulia, a career-backup, nearly made it into the starting lineup primarily because of the Twitter support of Vine star Hayes Grier, which is probably the most Millennial sentence ever typed. </p> <p>The problem is with our definition of the all-star game itself. It is a meaningless exhibition, so we allow fan voting and legacy picks, yet we treat it as much more, handing out contract bonuses or determining Hall of Fame worthiness based on appearances in the game.</p> <p>This incongruity doesn’t extend to the rest of all-star Weekend, though. We all know Mason Plumlee isn’t one of the four best dunkers in the league, but nobody had a problem with his participation in the dunk contest last year. </p> <p>It’s supposed to be a fun weekend that reminds the sports world to watch the NBA now that football season has ended. The Rising Stars challenge highlights some of the exciting young players in the league and even shines a spotlight on foreign players. The 3-point contest allows players to feel what it’s like to be Steph Curry every night. Those Saturday-night activities are a fun celebration of basketball that build toward the all-star game. Unfortunately, the climax of the weekend always leaves us a little bit confused.</p> <p>As I mentioned, we discuss the game like it has value beyond entertainment, but treat it like it’s meaningless. So, let’s clarify. Like the NFL’s Pro Bowl this weekend, the all-star game next month is simply an exhibition. Nothing more, nothing less. There’s no need to attach any extra meaning to it in an effort to artificially create competition — looking at you, MLB.</p> <p>If the fans want to watch Bryant in one more all-star game, then he should play. If teenage-retweeters put Zaza in the game, so much the better. I want to see one-man fast breaks by Russell Westbrook, alley-oop dunks by LeBron James and half-court shots by Steph Curry. Let’s put aside the inane conversations, remember the game for what it is and spend a weekend celebrating the NBA.</p> <p><i>— thomas.sorenson@aggiemail.usu.edu</i></p> <p><i> Twitter: @tomcat340</i></p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/legacy-picks-and-what-the-nba-all-star-game-really-means/">Legacy picks and what the NBA all-star game really means</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>A Celtics view of Kobe Bryant</title> <link>https://usustatesman.com/a-celtics-view-of-kobe-bryant/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Joe Baraiolo]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 07 Dec 2015 01:11:20 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[All]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sports Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Boston Celtics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kobe Bryant]]></category> <category><![CDATA[LA Lakers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Larry Bird]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Los Angeles]]></category> <category><![CDATA[NBA]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://usustatesman.com/?p=22004343</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>When you grow up as Celtics fan, you learn to hate the Lakers around the same time you learn the…</p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/a-celtics-view-of-kobe-bryant/">A Celtics view of Kobe Bryant</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you grow up as Celtics fan, you learn to hate the Lakers around the same time you learn the alphabet. </p> <p>Most other NBA fanbases have a similar opinion, but when you’re born in New England, it’s tradition to hate the purple and gold. The rivalry goes way back to the ’50s, but for our generation, Kobe Bryant was our reason to hate the Lakers. Kobe was cocky, arrogant, and he seemed to think that he levitated above everybody else.</p> <p>He was also very good. Bounces always seemed to go his way, refs liked to protect him, and he has five rings. He was the perfect candidate to be the most hated player in the league.</p> <p>Kobe rekindled a seemingly dead rivalry when he entered the league in 1996. It’s a rivalry that started back in the ’50s and ’60s, where the Celtics won 11 NBA Championships in 13 years, with seven of the wins coming against the Lakers. The rivalry continued in the ’80s were eight of nine championships were either won by the Celtics or the Lakers. </p> <p>Kobe blessed our generation with the rebirth of the greatest rivalry ever. He allowed me to enjoy the same rivalry that my parents and grandparents saw decades ago. First it was Russell-Wilt, then it was Magic-Bird, and my generation finally got to enjoy a rivalry of our own in Kobe-Pierce.</p> <p>When I heard the news that he was retiring after this year, I couldn’t help but feel sad. As much as I hate him, I can’t help but respect him as a basketball player. He played the game with passion, grace and the perfect amount of flash. The night that he scored 81 points was the single greatest performance I’ve ever witnessed, but that’s just the type of player he was. He was an explosive scorer who could find a way to take over the game. If his team wasn’t playing well, he had the ability to go out and win the game on his own. </p> <p>Kobe had that killer instinct that was only ever seen before in Jordan. He didn’t beat you because he was better at basketball, he beat you because he wanted to win more than you. He would stop at nothing, even if it meant taking every shot for his team. That is what truly separated him from everybody else. He was a winner. That’s the type of player I love, and that is the type of player that everybody wants on their team. </p> <p>I still hate him with all of my heart, but I appreciate what he has done for the NBA and the world of sports. After 20 years, two numbers and one horrible rap album, it’s been a hell of a career. The NBA will never be the same.</p> <p><i>— Joe is a senior majoring in finance. He would like to point out that Larry Bird is still the best basketball player of all time. Any comments or disagreements can be tweeted @joefish_2 or emailed to joebaraiolo@gmail.com.</i></p> <p>The post <a href="https://usustatesman.com/a-celtics-view-of-kobe-bryant/">A Celtics view of Kobe Bryant</a> appeared first on <a href="https://usustatesman.com">The Utah Statesman</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> </channel> </rss>