The terribly mediocre Lakers

Foxy42

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Sportsbstn

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At some point they are going to trade Lonzo to Siberia. Lonzo needs to be a hell of a lot better player than average for him to last in LA with his dad.
 
Ed Hillel

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Sportsbstn said:
At some point they are going to trade Lonzo to Siberia. Lonzo needs to be a hell of a lot better player than average for him to last in LA with his dad.
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At some point he’s going to be banned from the arena, right? That’s when the real fun begins.

#CoachLavar
 
Sportsbstn

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DrewDawg said:
My hashtag wasn't good enough for you???
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You have to be able to work Gelo into the hashtag. Remember Gelo is a starter and key piece on the Lakers according to dad. Same kid who wouldn't even be a real talent at UCLA.
 
Sox Puppet

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Wow, thank goodness the Celts apparently didn't even think of drafting Lonzo. Even if Tatum had not been in the draft, picking Lonzo would have been a disaster in Boston. Can you imagine the media covering Lavar?

In all seriousness, why on earth would LeBron want anything to do with this tire fire?
 
bosockboy

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Sox Puppet said:
Wow, thank goodness the Celts apparently didn't even think of drafting Lonzo. Even if Tatum had not been in the draft, picking Lonzo would have been a disaster in Boston. Can you imagine the media covering Lavar?

In all seriousness, why on earth would LeBron want anything to do with this tire fire?
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Yes Lavar might be ruining getting LeBron out of the East.
 
shaggydog2000

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Foxy42 said:
We knew it was coming.....Lavar rips Walton apart:

“You can see they're not playing for Luke no more," LaVar said from the spa resort in Birstonas where he is staying while his two youngest sons get ready to make their professional debuts. "Luke doesn't have control of the team no more. They don't want to play for him."

Also all Lonzo needs is his brother and LeBron...

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/21991857/lavar-ball-says-los-angeles-lakers-coach-luke-walton-lost-team
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I love the bolded. He doesn't need to be in the locker room. He doesn't need to be in LA. He doesn't need to be in North America. The man can take the locker room's temperature from a spa in Lithuania. He is truly both omniscient and omnipotent.
 
DJnVa

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It's on Lonzo now. The team has talked to Lavar and it doesn't stop him. Lonzo needs to do it now. No matter how much he loves his dad, he needs to be his own man.
 
Red Averages

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Exactly. Can’t think the players or coaches like this.

As a non-Laker fan I’m loving the tire fire so please continue to let it breathe.
 
Sprowl

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Go Lavar Go
Go Far Away

Apparently Lithuania isn't far enough.
 
oumbi

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No, no. He should not go away quite yet. As noxious and obnoxious as Lavar is, given the media's unquenchable need for views and clicks, they will continue to cover the opinions of a player's father as if they carried weight and insight.

As mentioned above, this is not good for the Laker team or brand. That is all good by me.

Let Lavar continue to behave like the uncultured and self-absorbed ass that he is. The Lakers suffer and I am happy.
 
nighthob

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bosockboy said:
Yes Lavar might be ruining getting LeBron out of the East.
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I can’t decide which is funnier, LeBron and Paul George refusing to sign with the Lakers because of Lonzo (because you just know that that ends in the Boogie Man joining forces with Big Baller Brand) or LeBron making signing in LA conditional on it being a sign & trade for Lonzo.
 
Average Game James

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nighthob said:
I can’t decide which is funnier, LeBron and Paul George refusing to sign with the Lakers because of Lonzo (because you just know that that ends in the Boogie Man joining forces with Big Baller Brand) or LeBron making signing in LA conditional on it being a sign & trade for Lonzo.
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We would then get to hear Lavar explain how LeBron feels threatened by Lonzo’s greatness, and that’s why he wanted him gone. I mean, I guess we are talking about the same guy who said he’d beat MJ 1-on-1, but it would still be hilarious to hear. And you have to think Cleveland is probably at or near the bottom of the list of markets he wants his son to end up...
 
amarshal2

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bosockboy said:
The bigger problem probably won’t be them falling past 5, but actually getting the top pick.
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Wins - # of teams
10 - 1
11 - 1 (Lakers)
12 - 2
13 - 2
14 - 1
15 - 3

They’re a short winning streak away from being outside the bottom 5. I think the 6+ is the bigger concern.
 
Tony C

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DrewDawg said:
It's on Lonzo now. The team has talked to Lavar and it doesn't stop him. Lonzo needs to do it now. No matter how much he loves his dad, he needs to be his own man.
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Yep. And it's not like I'm watching post-game conferences, but isn't time for reporters to start taking this on -- i.e., asking Lonzo why he let's his dad run down his teammates and his coach and his team? Asking him when he's going to be adult enough to stand up against him?
 
lostjumper

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Tony C said:
Yep. And it's not like I'm watching post-game conferences, but isn't time for reporters to start taking this on -- i.e., asking Lonzo why he let's his dad run down his teammates and his coach and his team? Asking him when he's going to be adult enough to stand up against him?
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After reading Lonzo's tepid response to the question about his coach, a wonderfully delicious idea just popped into my head. What if Lonzo is every bit the egomaniac that his father is? I mean, maybe the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. For the last year people in a bunch of situations have asked why Lonzo's doesn't tell his Dad to shut up or come out in support of his teammates and coaches when Lavar rips them. But maybe it's not just Lavar spewing crap. Maybe Lonzo truly believes everything his father says. That his coach is crap, and that he's being held back by his teammates. That he is the best basketball player to ever live and nothing bad is ever his fault.

Really, it explains so much about him since he came into the spotlight. It also means the trainwrecks are going to be fabulous to watch for years to come!
 
Red Averages

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Pretty sure LaVar is finally getting blackballed. Agree with all of the above on Lonzo not stepping up though. He's in a tough spot though - 20 years old, are you going to effectively disown your father or defend your team?
 
DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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What a shitty situation for this kid.

We don't know LaVar Ball but given what we do know about him, it may be asking a lot to expect his kid to get him to shut up (Lonzo says as much during the interview). As far as the rest of the interview goes, while Lonzo doesn't give Walton a ringing endorsement my take is that he was just trying to give standard answers to get done with a line of questions that clearly made him uncomfortable.

Its easy to criticize the kid for not stepping up and trying say something to (or about his dad) but if you have ever been around any situations similar to this (star athlete kid, controlling parent) you know its not that easy.
 
BigSoxFan

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DeJesus Built My Hotrod said:
What a shitty situation for this kid.

We don't know LaVar Ball but given what we do know about him, it may be asking a lot to expect his kid to get him to shut up (Lonzo says as much during the interview). As far as the rest of the interview goes, while Lonzo doesn't give Walton a ringing endorsement my take is that he was just trying to give standard answers to get done with a line of questions that clearly made him uncomfortable.

Its easy to criticize the kid for not stepping up and trying say something to (or about his dad) but if you have ever been around any situations similar to this (star athlete kid, controlling parent) you know its not that easy.
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Yup. And even seasoned corporate execs need training with the media. It’s not easy to answer all these questions, especially when the reporters are constantly looking for a “gotcha!” answer. I feel bad for Lonzo and his brothers.
 
E5 Yaz

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Rick Carlisle goes off on ESPN's role in this

"Printing an article where the father of an NBA player has an opinion that is printed as anything like legitimate erodes trust. It erodes the trust that we've built with ESPN, and our coaches are upset because Luke Walton does not deserve that.
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Carlisle was asked if he were suggesting that ESPN should determine which news to publish based on what coaches will like.

"I'm saying that they should look at their sources and do a better job of determining whether they have any merit or any validity. Or are they just blowhard loudmouths?" Carlisle said. "That's what I'm saying. You got that?"
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http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/21996383/dallas-mavericks-coach-rick-carlisle-rips-espn-giving-lavar-ball-platform
 
InstaFace

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"[for Walton] to have to deal with these kind of ignorant distractions is deplorable."

Wow, Rick. Way to not pull your punches.

I did think it would take longer for them to go to the "revoke media credentials of anyone who interviews him" hammer, and even then I figured it'd just be the Lakers doing so, not other teams.

It is pretty f*&^ing ridiculous that ESPN keeps deciding that interviewing that guy - who isn't a participant in any sports league in any way and never has been - is worthy of the full attention of their platform. Perhaps not surprising, but still ridiculous.
 
Ed Hillel

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Totally agree with Carlisle, but I think it would only be fair for ESPN and others to see it through for the rest of this season. The offseason is the best time for self-reflection.
 
E5 Yaz

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Ed Hillel said:
... I think it would only be fair for ESPN and others to see it through for the rest of this season. The offseason is the best time for self-reflection.
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Is this sarcasm? There's no reason at all for them not to wake up and change direction immediately. What? They're going to worry about LaVar being mad at them?
 
Sprowl

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Ed Hillel said:
Totally agree with Carlisle, but I think it would only be fair for ESPN and others to see it through for the rest of this season. The offseason is the best time for self-reflection.
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... after the Lakers’ draft pick has conveyed ;)
 
Manzivino

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E5 Yaz said:
Is this sarcasm? There's no reason at all for them not to wake up and change direction immediately. What? They're going to worry about LaVar being mad at them?
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I believe Ed is saying that the fair thing for ESPN to do is continue to give LaVar a platform to badmouth the Lakers front office until the second after their pick conveys to the Celtics.
 
Buster Olney the Lonely

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InstaFace said:
It is pretty f*&^ing ridiculous that ESPN keeps deciding that interviewing that guy - who isn't a participant in any sports league in any way and never has been - is worthy of the full attention of their platform. Perhaps not surprising, but still ridiculous.
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I think Lavar played for the Jets, but maybe that’s your point. I don’t know.
 
E5 Yaz

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Manzivino said:
I believe Ed is saying that the fair thing for ESPN to do is continue to give LaVar a platform to badmouth the Lakers front office until the second after their pick conveys to the Celtics.
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Oh, of course ... carry on
 
moondog80

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I wish he didn't say that ESPN should back up the coaches because that's dead wrong and it hurts his credibility, but he's right that they shouldn't give Lavar Ball a platform if they want to be considered a legit news organization.
 
Red Averages

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This is the end for LaVar though. That's the takeaway - no more discussing him, no more interviews from Lithuania, its over. The blackball has been played and it's time to short LaVar. We can move on and the NBA can continue thriving. And the Lakers can continue to play for the #1 or #2 lottery ball.
 
The Mort Report

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Red Averages said:
This is the end for LaVar though. That's the takeaway - no more discussing him, no more interviews from Lithuania, its over. The blackball has been played and it's time to short LaVar. We can move on and the NBA can continue thriving. And the Lakers can continue to play for the #1 or #2 lottery ball.
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They most certainly don't want #2
 
the moops

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I think Carlisle needs to chill. His commenting on this only helps to make the story even bigger. Like it or not, Lavar and his kids are a story and will continue to be for the foreseeable future
 
Red Averages

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the moops said:
I think Carlisle needs to chill. His commenting on this only helps to make the story even bigger. Like it or not, Lavar and his kids are a story and will continue to be for the foreseeable future
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Completely disagree. He was putting the stake in place - this is the end of the line as far as reporting on this "blowhard" is concerned. The NBA coaches will no longer give access to any organization that covers him. Pretty clear statement even if he didn't explicitly use those words.
 
InstaFace

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the moops said:
I think Carlisle needs to chill. His commenting on this only helps to make the story even bigger. Like it or not, Lavar and his kids are a story and will continue to be for the foreseeable future
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Not if anyone covering them (aside from Lonzo) gets blackballed in their media access.

When anyone in that family other than Lonzo is actually a sports story, as opposed to an attempt to make an Ugly Kardashians reality show, they can cover it all they want. I like colorful personalities in my sports. But Lavar's opinions add about as much to my understanding or enjoyment of sports as the callers to the WEEI Whiner Line. Frankly, less.
 
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the moops said:
I think Carlisle needs to chill. His commenting on this only helps to make the story even bigger. Like it or not, Lavar and his kids are a story and will continue to be for the foreseeable future
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They really aren't much of a story anymore though, are they? Lonzo isn't the second coming of Magic, but rather a decent but limited rookie, and the other two are playing in a second rate league in freaking Lithuania. It wouldn't be too hard to stop giving them premium coverage.
 
joe dokes

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the moops said:
I think Carlisle needs to chill. His commenting on this only helps to make the story even bigger. Like it or not, Lavar and his kids are a story and will continue to be for the foreseeable future
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Lavar and his kids are a"story" in the same way that steaming hot urine is a "beverage."
 
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