He just wants to be a Toys R Us kid... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJJ-ZLdrTwY ... and i need to learn how to embed vids
Actually his pronunciation is better than John Wall's. And when he says "We'll see you in China" "Women zai Zhongguo jian!" the last two syllables kind of sound like huojian which is Chinese for Rockets.
Ironically, Kobe talking about hanging around for 3 more years is likely to be a discouraging factor for Dwight re-upping with the Lakers. It's widely known that Kobe and DiAntoni don't have the best relationship with Dwight, so you make them part of the central pitch in the meeting? I'm more worried about Dwight going to Dallas than LA at this point.
I would like to know this also. Definitely would be a much bigger...sign...than any of the other things we have been discussing.
I think Howard gets an unfair rap for his lack of seriousness. I don't know what he is like off the court, but it is quite clear that this guy is plenty serious about his craft. You don't get to be an elite defender just being some jackass who can jump high. Need to know where to know positioning, rotation, opponent tendency, etc. Plenty of stuff that for which one needs to put in a huge amount of time and effort. He wasn't born defensive player of the year. Coincidentally, one guy who was sometimes unfairly labeled as "not serious enough about basketball" during his playing days was Kevin McHale. McHale was more jovial and happy-go-lucky than his basketball-obsessed and moody teammate Larry Bird. Bird was said to have felt that McHale wasn't fully committed and and kind underachieved. Kobe-Dwight is maybe kind of a version of Bird-McHale? The fact, however, is that McHale couldn't have all these post moves perfected without working on them.
All pitch angles aside ... you can either: 1) Spend 3 more years being the scapegoat for a declining Kobe or 2) Join a young group of guys who LOVE to play with and for each other Easy decision.
You know, and the reality is who cares? Hakeem was there because he's worked one on one with Dwight and is a mentor and likely a friend. Yao likely there "I got your back over here in China" acting as a team spokesman. Kobe is such a douche. What are the Lakers 'greats' doing to help him and his career? Nada.
After sifting through the last 30 pages for any info I missed.... 1. You people are crazy. 2. **** got weird. 3. I love clutchfans. 4. Spoiler
I think there was just too much stacked against LA and they went the wrong way about retaining Dwight, if that's what they really wanted to do. The fact the the media LA hype-circus never began is way more telling to me, after their meeting, than anything else. I feel that if they really had a shot, or wanted to keep him, that LA would be smeared everywhere at this point. The way that the Lakers handled this (who was at the meeting, retaining MDA, if the billboards indeed came down), I think a case could be made whether LA actually want Dwight back. Make a feeble attempt, the fans think you tried, and in the end you wasted a few bucks on some billboards. There is probably a very low percentage that is on the mark, but it wouldn't surprise me.
From what the insider on the lakers place said, their pitch was about cap space and free agency. No idea what that's meant to have convinced him of, Lebron James or something?
Factor in D'Antoni vs. McHale, Jim Buss vs. Les Alexander, and Morey vs. Kupchak and it becomes even easier. The *only* thing LA has over Houston is lifestyle. If Howard wants to win basketball games, he comes here. If he wants to make Kazaam 2: Electric Boogaloo, he stays in LA.
I havent driven by downtown in the last few days to see - I may head out that way later today But I did see a mobile truck billboard of the stay campaign yesterday in century city - so at least those were still around i can confirm that as of yesterday
I think this has alot to do with Adidas the #2 shoe company in China behind Nike. With Yao plus 300 million plus China Fans... Also Josh Smith has a contract with Adidas.. Could you Imagine them pairing up in Houston and in Commercials here and in China? also other endorsements? It's making too much sense...
