Lakers wont win 70 this year

The World Famous LayupDrill Rumor Mill
12/20/08

Well, all the talk of Los Angeles possibly winning 70 games can be silenced now. Not only did Kobe’s crew lose two games in a row, but Laker fans should be alarmed in how they lost both games that would raise concern. Sitting at 21-5, they still have nothing to worry about regarding making the playoffs of course, but the gap between the champs and the Lake Show is wider than I expected. The Christmas Day game will be very telling for Los Angeles, and if you can have a “must win” this early in the season, the Lakers have it. Magic Johnson called out the Lakers this past weekend, as the LA Times reported yesterday. Magic said in order to be the best, they will need to get tougher. I don’t know exactly how you can get tougher, either you are or you aren’t. But if they don’t do something different, Thursday may not be pretty.

Staying out west, reports out of Oakland say Don Nelson may not stick around to see the completion of his contract with the Warriors. Nelson recently turned to Keith Smart to be his defensive coach, citing he wants someone to focus on one of his weak spot areas. Unfortunately for Warriors fans, coaching has been his weak spot this year. With Baron Davis gone, and Monta Ellis still out, Golden State seems dazed and confused at times this year. Read more

Mutombo to choose between Celtics and Rockets

The World Famous LayupDrill Rumor Mill
12/18/08

When you are the best team in the NBA, you often get what you want on the court. Yet, Boston finds themselves in a bidding war for the services of a veteran big man off the court once again. Earlier this season, Boston was one of the teams looking to add Antonio McDyess to their roster, but McDyess decided to go back to Detroit. Now, Dikembe Mutombo is on the radar of the champs. Mutombo, who last played for the Rockets, is also very interested in returning back to Houston, and plans on making a decision on who he will join during the holidays.
- Boston Globe

Earlier this week word spread quickly over the internet about the Cavaliers expressed interest in trading for Shawn Marion of the Miami Heat. Reports state Cleveland may be thinking about this one again, and may pull out of any trade until after the All Star break. Much like the Celtics, Cleveland needs help in the front court, and they may opt to go after a power forward or veteran center instead of making the splash on Marion.

The LA Times is reporting Jordan Farmar and Phil Jackson sat down earlier this week to discuss his current role in the rotation. Farmar, who was used as the focus of moving the fastbreak for the Lakers at the start of the season, has seen that diminish. and he isn’t happy about it. No word on the outcome of the meeting, but with the memories of the Celtics running right through the Lakers point guards last year, is there any doubt LA may look for defensive help before the playoffs?

Amare ready to be a free agent

The World Famous LayupDrill Rumor Mill
12/3/2008
It looks like there is trouble brewing in the desert these days. In case you haven’t heard, Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudamire made comments in a recent ESPN.com interview voicing his displeasure with how the Suns were using him, and stating he was looking forwarad to the summer of 2010, where he will be free agent. The East Valley Tribune reports today that Amare has not backed down from those statements, and while he has not ruled out a return to Phoenix, Stoudamire will definitely be paying attention to where fellow free agents Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh go.

Another big man voicing his beef with the media was the Lakers center Andrew Bynum. Bynum, who had a solid game in the Lakers stunning loss to the Pacers yesterday 118-117, was the centerpiece of the Lakers unit that pushed the lead to 15 points in the 4th quarter. Bynum stayed on the court, after the Pacers began the comeback, and cut the lead in half. But after head coach Phil Jackson inserted the rest of the starting lineup in the game, the Lakers defensive intensity vanished. After the game Bynum stated how he didnt understand why the second unit was pulled so early in the 4th, when they were the ones that had control of the game. Stay tuned…

The Rumor Mill would not be complete if we didn’t give the latest update in the Stephon Marbury soap opera. Marbury reportedly was offered a buyout in the range of $15 million dollars by the Knicks management. Marbury, who had offered to take a buyout of $17 million, which is $1 million dollars less than what he has remaining to be paid on his contract this year, was angry at the Knicks offer, and stormed out of the meeting, according to NY Newsday. I wish someone would pay me $15 million dollars to not work for them anymore…..

The Best Head Coaches in the league

Leaders of the New School
The Best Head Coaches in the League
A LayupDrill.com Exclusive

The role of head coach in the NBA is one that is often thankless and underrated. When everything goes well, the players get the praise. When things go bad, management fires the coach. Now of course there is always exceptions to the rule, those coaches whose reputations alone make them bigger than the team they work for. Looking back at this past season, and ahead to the 2008-09 season, LayupDrill.com assesses every teams leaders, from the best to the worst. You might be surprised that the worst teams in the NBA don’t necessarily have the worst coaches.
Read more

The Zach Randolph Watch Begins

The Zach Randolph Watch Begins
The World Famous LayupDrill Rumor Mill
11/13/08

Mike D’Antoni and the New York Knicks seem determined to make some moves before the Holidays. Though Knicks management continue to say they are not ready to waive Stephon Marbury, NY Newsday is reporting that the Nuggets, Cavs, and Bulls have all expressed interest in Randolph. Zach, who up until arriving in New York, was a 20 and 10 guy, is only 27 years old, and his best is yet to come. Read more

Marbury eyes San Antonio as new home

The World Famous LayupDrill Rumor Mill
11/12/08

Benched point guard Stephon Marbury has made it known that if the Knicks release him, and the San Antonio Spurs indicate they wanna sign him, he would be more than happy to go there. Marbury, who could help Timmy and company give an added scoring punch off the bench, could thrive in an environment, where he is not the expected to be the first, second, or third option. Being in a smaller market, and in a culture created by Gregg Popovich where you are expected to win, all could bode well for Steph. Read more