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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2012
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
"I have three sons and I always tell them that if you want to call yourself
them that if you want to call yourself big, then you have big shoes to fill. Anybody who calls himself big has big shoes to fill. Right now, he's off pace. He has to get him on pace if he wants to call himself big."
- anaquille O'Neal on Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Times
The former Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson led the team to 5 NBA championships.
NBA.com
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q: What college did Shaquille O'Neal go to?
A: LSU
ESPN.com
THE MORNING BREW Lakers complete massive overhaul in the offseason
The Los Angeles Lakers are locked and loaded for the upcoming NBA season and are serious NBA
NBA season and are serious NBA championship contenders. The Lakers traded Andrew Bynum to the Philadelphia 76ers and brought in arguably the league's best center in Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic. The Howard drama lasted forever, but he is now ready to team up with Kobe Bryant and the newly-acquired point guard Steve Nash to form this dynamic trio.
Nash, the future Hall of Fame point guard, will be in his 16th season in the league, and he is likely to retire after playing out his three-year contract worth $27 million in Los Angeles. Throughout Nash's career as the Phoenix Suns starting point guard, his many accolades include a two-time MVP award and eight All-Star appearances. The only crucial part missing on Nash's exclusive resume is an NBA championship.
The projected starting lineup for the Lakers is the following: Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard. These five projected starters for the Lakers combine for 33 All-Star appearances and eight championships (Kobe in the lead with 14 All-Stars and five championships).
The Lakers' bench is highlighted by Antawn Jamison, Jodie Meeks and Jordan Hill. The veteran Jamison will be able to come in and stretch defenses with his ability to shoot from the perimeter. Meeks is an explosive guard who can score in a variety of ways, and Hill is a center who can come in whenever Howard needs a breather or gets
in foul trouble. Howard is battling a bad back and wasn't supposed to be ready to play until December, but it looks as if he'll be able to play for the season opener.
Although this team looks unreal on paper, it must develop chemistry if the队 wants to get past some of the other elite Western conference teams (Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Suprs) in the playoffs. Kobe doesn't have to take 30 shots a game. The Lakers are more balanced and the ball will be in Nash's hands a good amount, too.
Nash is one of the best pick-and-roll players in the league and will be able to keep opposing defenses off balanced. When running the pick-and-roll, Nash will have multiple options such as being able to drive to the basket, throwing the "alley-oop" to Howard, pulling up for a jumper if his defender gives him too much space, kicking the ball out to Gasol for an 18-foot jumpshot (that will most likely be wide open) or kicking it out to an open three-point shooter.
If none of these options are available, which is not likely unless they are facing a great defensive team, then Nash can give it to Bryant on a post-up and let him go one-on-one. Once the chemistry for this队 is in-sync they will be very dangerous, and Nash will likely put up some gigantic assist numbers.
This new Lakers team cannot be selfish in order to be great this season, and I don't think they will. Kobe's scoring should decrease from the past few seasons because of the additions of Howard and Nash. Look for his shooting percentage to go up, however, because Kobe will not have to force contested shots or shoot over double teams as much.
This year Kobe should be able to make more plays in the role of a facilitator when he gets the ball. Kobe has always and will always continue to be a scorer first, but he will have to give the ball up more and let the two other superstars and role players display their talent. Being a facilitator is something Kobe is not necessarily known for, but his adjustment to be more of a facilitator is crucial for the team's success. I think Kobe will accept his role and not care about how many points he ends up with each game as long as the team gets a win.
It's also essential that the trio (Kobe, Howard and Nash) get the role players more involved. This will help the role players' confidence and will play a huge factor in how much they produce when coming off the bench. If one of the stars is being double-teamed, struggling in the game or in foul
trouble, a role player can come in off the bench and be able to step up and fill in what ever role is needed.
The Miami Heat are the favorites to repeat and win the title in the 2012-2013 season. The Lakers are the favorites to play the Heat in the NBA Finals because of the off-season All-Star acquisitions. However, the Thunder are not just going to lay over for the Lakers. They are now dangerous because even though they are still a young team, getting to the Finals last year showed the potential this team has. Kevin Durant is the league's best pure scorer, and the Thunder feature a talented trio in James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Durant. This season features three or four dominant teams, and fans are excited for the season to get underway.
This week in athletics
Edited by Stéphane Roque
Thursday
Women's Tennis
Friday
Women's Tennis
All-American Championships
All day
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Vomen's Soccer
West Virginia 4 p.m. Lawrence
Brickyard Collegegate All day Macon, Ga.
Women's Tennis
Women's Tennis
William and Mary Tournament All day Williamsburg, Va.
All-American Championships
All day
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Saturday
Cross Country
Cross Country
Haskell Invitational
8:30 a.m.
Lawrence
Football
Kansas State 11 a.m. Manhattan
Women's Swimming
Rice
12 p.m.
Houston, Texas
Women's Volleyball
Baylor
6.30 p.m.
Lawrence
Women's Tennis
All-American Championships
All day
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Brickyard Collegiate All day Macon, Ga.
Wilson Tamhi
William and Mary Tournament
All day
Williamsburg, Va.
Williamsburg, Va.
Men's Golf
Women's Tennis
Sunday
WF Women's Soccer
Wake Forest
12 p.m.
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Women's Tennis
William and Mary Tournament
All day
Wilmsburg, Va.
Men's Golf
Monday
Women's Tennis
All-American Championships
All day
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Brickyard Collegiate All day Macon, Ga.
Women's Tennis
All-American Championships
All day
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Tuesday
Women's Golf
Prices- New Mexico
State University Inviational
All day
Las Cruces, N.M.
Women's Tennis
All American Championships
all day
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Wednesday
Women's Volleyball
Oklahoma
7 p.m.
Norman, Okla.
Women's Golf
Prices. New Mexico
State University Inuvialu
all day
Las Cruces, N.M.
KANSANCLASSIFIEDS
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785-864-4358
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JOBS
$BARTENDINGS $300day. No experience necessary. Training available. 800-965-6520 Ex10, 108.
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textbooks
JOBS
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HOUSING
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Pets under 60 lbs OK!!
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Call Dan 785-556-0713.
PARKWAY COMMONS
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HOUSING
See availability on our website:
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nawkchalk
4. BR, 2 B at 1912 Vermont Street, Avail. Now! Only $800 per month! Small Pet Friendly,1175 sq. ft. All appliances including washer and dryer included. Private off street parking. Near new Dillons! HomesForLake.org or 785-841-7300 x719.
FOR SALE
2009 VESPA S50. Excellent condition.
Low miles. Comes with jacket and
helmet. 1500 785-865-3738.
Designer Pre-Holiday Sale
Bark Heck and Terry Sucilet awarding
wild decorations, fully decorated Christmas
trees, ornaments, accessories, and
forums. This is all holidays, Christmas
through Valentine's, additional home
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Sat. Oct. 6, 7am in close,
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
COLLEGE SKI & BOARD WEEK
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