The Return of Bynum

Photo courtesy of ESPN

On the day before New Years, L.A. Lakers center Andrew Bynum returned with a furry. Back from a four game suspension, the 24 year-old center scored a game-high 29 points, en route to the Lakers 92-89 win over the Denver Nuggets.

Lakers stars Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol each added 17 points to help the purple and gold win.

The bench, after having such an important role against the New York Knicks, played rather poorly.  In total,  the second unit only mustered 16 points.

The Lakers are now 3-2 after an 0-2 start.  L.A.'s offense has performed well, but it is the defense that has made more of an effect.  The defense has kept opposing teams under 90 points in 4 of the 5 games played so far this season.

Denver is getting an immediate rematch against the Lakers. The teams face each other tomorrow, this time in the Nuggets home court.

Lakers' Bench Comes Up Big

Steve Blake might actually be worth keeping. He played how we expected him to play last season.

In last night's 99-82 victory over the New York Knicks, Blake scored 11 points – 9 coming off of three-pointers – with three assists. Fellow bench players Ron Artest (Metta World Peace) and Jason Kapono each racked up nine points.

In a big game against a good team, the bench had a good night. Kapono was exceptionally efficient, going 3-3 from the field with two of those field goals coming from beyond the arch.

Matt Barnes also did pretty good off the bench – going 3-6 for 7 points. Troy Murphy did not have that much off an impact, only scoring 4 points.

Next game is on Saturday Dec. 31 against the Denver Nuggets. It will be Andrew Bynum's first game back from the suspension. It will be a good game to see how he comes back.

The 2011-2012 Lakers

Boy, do the Lakers suck. I mean, they lost to Sacramento! I can't even remember when was the last time they lost to the Kings. Must've been back when the Kings had Chris Weber.

This year's Lakers are one of the worst squads since 2007. Its bench is depleted – who do they have, Ron Ar... – uh – Metta World Peace? Troy Murphy is a journey-man bust. Josh McRoberts is no Lamar Odom. The Steve Blake project turned out unsuccessful.

The starting lineup is also hard to look at. Outside of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, nobody deserves to be starting – Bynum is out serving his four-game suspension.

Derek Fisher, God bless his soul for trying, is too damn old to be playing any amount of significant minutes. He's 37 years-old guarding young, fast point guards (Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans). Just wait until he starts facing other fast PGs like Brian Westbrook and CP3.

Devin Ebanks also should not be starting. This guy was not even on the roster for the majority of the last season, and now he is starting! Goes to show you how horrible this squad is.

Expect more of the terrible play that you saw result in the 1-2 start. Kobe cannot do it all. Gasol cannot do enough to cover the lack of talent. Unless the Lakers make a move for another impact player, Dwight Howard, they are not going to do anything this season. (That's what the Odom trade was for, to make cap room for Howard right?)

Sorry for the Neglect

Hey ya'll how are we doing? Again, sorry for not posting. I have been pretty busy this summer, writing for the Ramblin' Fan website and basic summer activities.

Blogger side note: I also spent plenty time with my girlfriend, but we recently parted ways, leaving me with extra time on my hands.

But now I'm back, yet again. However, I do write for SB Nation's Turf Show Times website so my posts will not be so frequent. But you guys are more than welcome to follow my shit over there as well.

Glad to be back & into the swing of things!

Mavs Did It!! Lebron's stupid!

We all know by now that the Dallas Mavericks are the 2010-2011 Champions. PF Dirk Nowitzki deserves his long-awaited title, as well as PG Jason Kidd and the rest of the cast.

Best of all, they were all classy – with the exception of a couple comments by the rowdy guard Deshawn Stevenson.

Miami's Dwayne Wade took the loss with class, shaking the opposing team's hand afterwards.

Lebron, on the other hand, no class whatsoever! He bolted straight to the locker rooms after the loss, as we have seen in his previous losses.

This dude is an outright sore loser! He can't take a loss like a man. Wade took his loss like a man, this guy should do the same; especially if he wants to continue being Queen...err I mean King James.

James' press conference after the game was terrible too. This stupid muthafucka insulted NBA fans by saying that he has a better life than them. This stupid, ignorant muthafucka. Of coarse he didn't say it in those words, but that's basically what he said. Oh yea, since then he has retracted his words, saying he is not better than anybody....yea right! Lebron, I have known you were an ignorant person ever since your Cleveland Cavs days, before ESPN kissed your ass to televise your "Decision."

I really hope you humble yourself, Lebron, I really do.

I bid you all farewell.

NBA Finals Game 5 Preview

The NBA Finals is well underway and the series is tie at 2 a piece. The winner of Game 3 has been typically the winner of the series (I heard it on ESPN or by the TV commentators, not sure). In that case, the Heat should be wrapping this up, right?

If Game 4 was any indicator of things to come, Miami's Lebron James is extremely exhausted. James scored 8 points the entire game – that's not exactly a 'Lebron' off-day.

Dallas' DeShawn Stevenson – yes the guy with Abe Lincoln tatted on is neck – said James "checked out" in Game 4.

Did James pull a Cleveland Cavalier? Recall what occurred last year in the Eastern Championship against Boston; James may or may not have quit on his team.

Either way, Miami is lucky they have Dwayne Wade because he literally carried the team with his 32 points. Chris Bosh gets a honorable mention because of his 24 points.

If James really is the "best player" in the league, why did he break down like this? Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki hasn't shut down like that, and he's supposedly the second best player in this championship series (some would argue Wade is better than Nowitzki).

Nowitzki has been the best player in these playoffs and will continue to dominate like he has this whole time.

Game 5 goes to the Mavs.

I bid you all farewell.

Been Gone for a Minute...

But now I'm back.

School was very tough this semester – journalism majors typically have to write A LOT. I have finally cracked into the core journalism classes and have been very busy writing a lot of material.

In Fact, you can check out my coverage of the Long Beach State women's tennis team here with the Daily 49er. I wrote – under the name "Eddie Perez"– around 14 articles covering the team's matches as well as a few match previews.

I also had to maintain another blog – relating to the women's tennis team – that you can also check out here.

But now this blog will be my main focus.

I bid you all farewell.

NFL Championship Weekend

Today is when the football conferences, NFC and AFC, find out who will be their respective champions

On the NFC side, the Green Bay Packers will go against the Chicago Bears in an old rivalry match-up.

I like the Packers to conquer the Bears.

Aaron Rodgers is a beast at QB for the Packers and has an exceptional group of receivers to throw to.

Green Bay also has a capable defense lead by corner Charles Woodson and LB Clay Matthews.

The Bears do have an adequate defense but their offense lacks game breaking potential.

Plus, you never know if Jay Cutler might revert to his former bone-head self.

On the AFC side, the Steelers go against the Jets.

Give me the Steelers to win this one.

Pittsburgh's defense is beastly. SS Troy Polamalu is a beast in the secondary.

Their linebackers are also an outstanding unit.

On offense, Big Ben is clutch, Mike Wallace is their deep threat, and Hines Ward is a dawg.

The Jets have a great defense but their offense is the weakness.

Mark Sanchez is inexperienced and can be iffy at times.

Pittsburgh will bring that out in Sanchez.

I bid you all farewell.

Rams New Offensive Coordinator

The St. Louis Rams made it official today; the team finalized a deal that makes former Denver Bronco head coach Josh McDaniels the new offensive coordinator.

Most thought Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo would go with a West-Coast guy, either Brad Childress, former Vikings head coach, or Bill Musgrave, the Falcons' QB coach.

I, for one, am shocked at the outcome of the new OC.

Recent reports have mentioned that Spagnuolo is a bit of a control freak, and said that he wanted to control all aspects of the team, including the offense.

McDaniels, known as a hot-head, would have not stood for that.

Regardless, this is an excellent move. All of McDaniels' offenses have produced favorably.

Just look at what he did with Kyle Orton. Orton piled up career highs with McDaniels at the helm.

And what about WR Brandon Lloyd. McDaniels made him into a Pro Bowler. Lloyd previously was a mediocre receiver with the San Francisco 49ers.

Given his success in the past, McDaniels can do wonders with the Rams' offense, with talent like QB Sam Bradford and RB Steven Jackson and with potential playmakers at WR with Mark Clayton, Donnie Avery, Danny Amendola, and Danario Alexander.

Hopefully it all works out.

I bid you all farewell.