If this Lakers’ season were a new movie, what would you call it? “Escape Plan?” Oh, wait D-12 already did that. “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2?” Or maybe “Prisoners,” to describe the Lakers fans and perhaps Bryant, himself. As the Lakers prepare to start the 2013-2014 season without veteran 5-time NBA champion and [...]
October 25, 2013
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Blogs, R.S. De France
Dwight Howard chose to sign with the Houston Rockets over the summer. He did not, however, almost sign with the Dallas Mavericks. Following shoot around on Monday at the Toyota Center, Howard was asked if his free-agency decision came down to two teams—the Rockets and Mavericks. “No,” he said, according to the Star Telegram‘s Dwain [...]
October 22, 2013
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Blogs
Mike D’Antoni has jokes. There wasn’t much to laugh about for the Los Angeles Lakers last season and after losing Dwight Howard to the Houston Rockets, that’s sort of true today. Then, you know, there’s the whole Kobe Bryant still being injured thing. Reasons to smile aren’t exactly banging Los Angeles’ door down. Still, Magic [...]
October 17, 2013
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Blogs
Things change in the NBA all the time. Preseason basketball is often considered meaningless because, well, it is. It’s supposed to be a time for star players to work through rust, fringe players to secure roster spots and coaches to nail down rotations. And in many ways, that’s what it is. But it’s also a [...]
October 15, 2013
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Power Rankings
Halfway thru the 2013 NBA preseason, the Los Angeles Lakers look better than many expected even playing without 5-time NBA champion and 15-time All-Star Kobe Bryant. Thru four games, the Lakers are 2-2 against Golden State, Denver (twice), and Sacramento. Playing without 17-year Lakers guard Bryant, the Lakers clearly lack an identity. But, credit Coach [...]
October 15, 2013
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Blogs, R.S. De France
So, yeah. This happened. The Los Angeles Lakers are in China as part of the NBA’s Global games schedule, a trip that’s proved dangerous to their roster’s well-being. Practices haven’t been particularly grueling, and outside of some jet lag and presumed trouble adjusting to the time difference, no reports of basketball-related injuries have been sent [...]
October 14, 2013
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Blogs
In case Dwight Howard didn’t know, Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers have fans all around the globe. Think of it as an extended entourage. You mess with the Lakers or Kobe in the states, and you’ll inevitably feel the worldwide wrath. Superman officially knows what I’m talking about. His Houston Rockets journeyed to [...]
October 11, 2013
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Blogs
The NBA is supposed to be fun. A lot of people understand that. Others don’t. Those people, the overly serious and belligerently antagonistic ones, won’t want to see what follows. This mark’s the inception of The Hoop Doctor’s PG-13 NBA Power Rankings, where almost anything goes. Language may sometimes not be suitable for those reading at [...]
October 8, 2013
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Power Rankings
Magic Johnson is an optimist. Either that, or he’s completely delusional. Success is a way of life for the former Los Angeles Lakers great. Though he’s faced his share of adversity over the course of his life, triumph is just assumed. Winning isn’t just a verb for Magic; it’s a state of mind. He snagged [...]
October 7, 2013
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Blogs
Dwight Howard is the king of free throws. Blind free throws, that is. Superman challenged Houston Rockets teammate James Harden to a blind free-throw shooting contest according to a report from the Houston Chronicle and brought to us by ESPN.com. Howard apparently defeated Harden, hitting on 8-of-10 from the line with his eyes closed. “I [...]
October 3, 2013
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Blogs