The UGLY: PART THREE of the Lakers WIN over NETS 3_1_16

If it wasn't for a turned ankle earlier this season, 

"Roy Hibbert is the ONLY LAKER to start and play in every game," would be something STILL ringing in our ears during every Laker broadcast.



Wasn't Roy Hibbert sort-of plan "D?"  E?  EFF?

Mitch Kupchak got straight Effed by Larry, unless the plan was to SUCK all along

Kevin Love had already signed a contract with the CAVS, Greg Monroe went to the Bucks, LA to LA?  Well, we ALL know what happened there.  SO the Lakers looked to capture a player, off the scrap heap, with an expiring contract that might have added benefits resulting from the fact that Hibbert IS in a Contract Year after his agent, David Falk, landed him a multi-year deal (4 yr, 60M) in 2012.

Larry Bird wanted to dump him and he found a taker in a Laker, Mitch Kupchak.  The cost?  A second round pick.  So, it was amusing to think that after the Lakers gave up their 2019 2nd rounder that writers and fans of all kinds actually BELIEVED that ROY might be traded to a Playoff Team this year?  AND..for what?

If he is not playing anywhere near his best year or two in Indiana and the Lakers gave up a pick for ROY; what would any playoff team even want with Hibbert, let alone give up anything beyond a burger and fries.

This trade back-fired.

OR...

Did it?

Many fans and no doubt certain key pieces of the Lakers Brass have been eyeing and aiming for firmly resting in the bottom three for increased odds at landing pick 1, 2 OR 3 in the upcoming draft.  They would not have a chance at the pick at all if they win too many games.

How could a better roster in 2015-16 with the addition of 2014-15 6th man Lou Williams, journeyman Brandon Bass, a healthy Julius Randle and Kobe Bryant, second year guard Jordan Clarkson and top pick D'Angelo Russell be worse than last year's record-worst 21-61?

ANSWER: ROY HIBBERT



The play of the TEAM with HIBBERT on the floor swings to the negative and here is why:









The Lakers somehow managed to WIN in spite of the BAD (Byron Scott) AND the UGLY (Roy Hibbert).  It took a career high 39 points from D'Angelo Russell and Brook Lopez fouling out to escape with a dub.

Didn't Hibbert have 14 points?  YES.  Yes he did.  IN the prior 10 games he was averaging THREE POINTS on 40% shooting.  Every dog has his day and a broken watch is "right" twice a day.

This does NOT mean Roy Hibbert should play, let alone START.

If what Byron Scott is telling US is TRUE, which is that they are "trying to win games," and that he is all about playing the young guys...

WHY?  WHY is it that Roy Hibbert (who will be LUCKY to have an NBA contract next year) STARTS and PLAYS in EVERY Laker game?

FROM the standpoint of "Entertainment" Watching a Zamboni go up and down the ice is not only MORE Entertaining, it MOVES faster as well..



BY playing this ONE player THIS gives the Lakers the BEST ODDS at LOSING every game.

Watch the games, the video footage and go check the stats yourself.

This has never been about "starting Tarik" over Roy, this is about NOT playing ROY.  

Yet..

the Lakers keep ROLLING with ROY ...

The depth of the Tank starts at the top (JIM BUSS) and is sinking all the way down to depths never seen in LA LA Land

Karma, they say, is a REAL BITCH, Mitch_ the basketball gods

-chauncey

Los Angeles Lakers Roy Hibbert: a double-double waiting to happen ?

I was at a gas station in Glendora, listening to the radio when Mitch Kupchak came on the air waves to discuss the newest acquisition by the Los Angeles Lakers, Roy Hibbert.  I was a bit speechless but much like watching a train wreck I could not "turn away" so I listened to what the Lakers GM had to say.


"Getting a rim protector (Roy Hibbert) and a force in the paint is something we  have not had. I think he'll be challenged to have a really good year going into a free agent year. I think he feels that the last year or year and a half in Indiana didn't go as well as he'd like. And he wants to get back at playing at a very, very high level and make the all-star team."

I wanted to believe this but had my doubts.  Didn't Roy Hibbert struggle and have problems with the team (Management) in Indiana? (I asked myself)

"Isn't Roy Hibbert a slow-moving and stiff Big Man who is primarily know for defense and doesn't DO a whole lot else?" (self)

Wait a minute... DEFENSE.  Riiiiiiight...

SOMETHING the Lakers have sorely been lacking, especially in the paint and around the rim..

Roy, after all does pride himself on being a defensive-minded protector of the basket.

OK, well, maybe this CAN help the Lakers after ALL. (the fanatic says to himself)

Roy Hibbert, at the time of this trade, had one-year left on his deal.  He was willing to forgo approx $2.2M in salary kicker to leave Indiana.

The Lakers traded a "future draft pick and cash" for the rights to Hibbert.  That future pick ends up being a second round draft pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.  If you are a Lakers fan then you already know the kind of GOLD they have discovered over the year in round two; the most recent of which is starting guard Jordan Clarkson.  We shall see about Anthony Brown who is finally seeing some PT of late..

Incidentally, that second round pick that was traded to Indiana?  THAT PICK was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, about two weeks later, for 

 Rakeem Christmas 

"Now, it's still possible that Indiana could send Christmas to play for its D-League affiliate, the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Mad Ants....But Even if Christmas is in the D-League, he'll be earning NBA money.  The Pacers reportedly signed him to a 4-year, $4.5 million deal with the first two years guaranteed." 

{source: Mike Waters_syracuse.com 7/24/15}

And THAT is precisely where Mr. Christmas has been, in the D-League, averaging 15.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks.  

Speaking of BLOCKS.

Roy Hibbert complained profusely, back in 2013, when he DID NOT win the DPOY (Defensive Player of the YEAR).  In fact, he came in tenth.  Paul George, a teammate of Hibbert at the time, was voted ahead of him.  Roy also did NOT make ANY ALL-DEFENSIVE teams that year.  He averaged 11.9 Points, 8.3 Rebounds and 2.6 Blocks.  This (12-13)was one of his best years and certainly the one with the most blocks per contest.  Indiana, as a team, also led in points allowed per possession.

Hassan Whiteside who currently leads the NBA with 3.8, Anthony Davis is second at 2.5 and Hibbert is eleventh with 1.6.

Not really sure if the Lakers are reaping any true defensive benefit by having Roy in the game.  







 In the video clip you will see that he is not anywhere NEAR the rim he claims to want to protect. At 7-2 he has a tendency to make himself smaller by NOT standing erect and using his arms up high, whether he is defending out front OR down low. He often times LOWERS his arms in almost Tyrannosaurus Rex fashion:

cue the t-rex dance pic.twitter.com/lqjE0Kmnow

— nick pants (@nick_pants) January 12, 2016

You have perhaps heard that a player IS a "double-double waiting to happen."  The Los Angeles Lakers have a few of those guys:

Larry Nance, although only has THREE, is really on the cusp of getting to that level with regularity.  And by regularity I mean not only achieving the results but by also getting increased playing time for his efforts.

Julius Randle is currently tied with LeBron James and Lamarcus Aldridge with 13 on the year.


Tarik Black?  Dude needs PT.


Roy Hibbert on the other hand?

He might be a double-double of another kind.  Remember that "cash" portion in the trade that brought him here?  Well, rumor has it, Larry Legend's favorite burger joint is Bub's Burgers and Ice Cream.  So, in order to sweeten the pot, the Lakers threw in a year's worth of Bub's BIG UGLY burgers.  Rumor also has it that the "Big Ugly" is inspired by Big Roy.  We could never confirm nor deny any of these so-called rumors which are said to be as viable as when ESPN says, "sources say..."

would you trade Roy Hibbert for THIS?

     With Hibbert racking up 6.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks at the tune of 15.6 Million Dollars this season it is safe to assume that the Lakers may have to spend considerable cash to unload him which may include a lifetime supply of "double-doubles."  Some people might suggest that if Big Ugly, errr, Roy could capture a double-double with fries then the Lakers should take the deal.  And THAT, my friends would be an absolute upgrade for that sack of potatoes.

The ONLY one smiling in THIS is Larry Bird

Eff You, LARRY!

In other news...

Roy Hibbert contemplates the new twitter handle:

 Roy Meets Bench