Bleacher Report - Articles by Kirk Richardson

Los Angeles Lakers Not Running On All Cylinders

Kirk Richardson — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:56:42 -0500

Hey, Mitch. The holiday season is over. It's time to pull off the stocking cap, crawl out of that warm bed, and get to work. I'm not referring to taking down the tree and holiday lights. It's time to do a little after-Christmas shopping.

The Grinch came to town last night in the form of Chris Paul and stole all of the good cheer LA bestowed on its fans Dec. 25, when the team unwrapped Boston.

Last night, a classic car was exposed for all of its problems under the hood. Parts were missing, plugs burned up, and the engine was sputtering. Kobe Bryant was the only component that kept it in the show. Despite his heroics, the car stalled in the end. LA is clearly not running on all cylinders, and the future is a little smoggy.

The Hornets pretty much had their way with the Lakers, turning purple pride into deep bruises (literally and figuratively). Egos were dashed and bodies (Lamar Odom) were injured. Trevor Ariza, God bless his hustle, couldn't make a three-point shot to save his life; last night Mr. Hustle morphed into Dr. Clankenstein.

The Lakers looked like a pack of coyotes trying to chase down the Roadrunner all night. Paul defenders reminded at least one fan of matadors, waving at him as he raced by again and again. It was clear that no one on Phil's side could keep up with Byron's quicksilver point guard, and he shredded LA like a wood chipper goes through soft pine.

All of this should have awakened Mitch Kupchak from his long winter's nap. It's time for him to address what some have seen for more than a month. The Lakers need a backup point guard to chase the likes of Chris Paul. Heck, the guy doesn't even need to be a great marksman; just someone who can keep up with the quick little guys in the NBA.

One final thought for LA's GM, and I'm sure he was probably dreaming about it last night. Your trade value for Lamar Odom just plummeted last night. With a suspect knee (depending on the outcome of today's MRI), can you get a Shawn Marion-level play in return for LO? Me thinks not.

It's more likely that option is gone, and for better or worse, Lamar is a Laker through 2009. This could turn out to be a good thing, but the jury is still out.

It's just one game, for sure, but one game can be a harbinger. The forecast could be stormy if not gloomy should LA's GM not make an adjustment or two soon. Fine-tuning is needed, but for now, this classic is still in the running for best of show.

Will Short-handed Backcourt Be Lakers' Achilles Heel?

Kirk Richardson — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:17:39 -0500

Funny what effect a big win has in the sports business. After the Los Angeles Lakers dispensed with the Boston Celtics in La La Land on Christmas Day, talks of big trades and free agent acquisitions faded like a Venice Beach sunset. Winning big battles, at least temporarily, alleviates roster headaches. Unfortunately, it's not always a complete cure.

Call it a hunch, but I just have an uneasy feeling that the pain will return come playoff time. The Lakers seem content with their current crew and don't appear in any kind of hurry to sign a fill-in for Jordan Farmar, who is out for several weeks after knee surgery.

But what kind of player will Farmar be when he comes back in February or March? Heck, he wasn't exactly shredding the net before tearing up his knee earlier this month. In fact, looking back six months, Farmar had plenty of problems with the Celtics in last year's NBA Finals.

So, why not cook up a trade or lure a playoff-savvy free agent? The Lakers haven't had a lightning-quick point guard since Lue flew town; a pesky little backcourt player to counter the Pauls, Parkers, and Rondos come May and June. (By the way, I don't advocate bringing in a controversial player like Marbury, who might upset the team chemistry.)

It's just one guy's opinion, but the front office should be looking for a solid defender with good ball-handling skills; someone who is unselfish, but can knock down an occasional shot.

If LA does manage to repeat as Western Conference champion, and I think that is a good bet, it's likely that they will be facing Doc Rivers' feisty green leprechauns once again. This time, with Bynum back, it may not be solely the Celtics' big boys that inflict the damage. The Lakers' achilles heel could be a backcourt with one effective but aging point guard. Even better-than-average players need reinforcements.

Though Phil Jackson seems to favor big guards and would likely insert Bryant and Vujacic in the mix, at least one observer is not convinced that it's the perfect solution. There is something to be said for having a variety of weapons (so to speak) at your disposal, including a few "small arms" like Lue or Pargo.

With Jan. 1 just around the corner, maybe Mitch Kupchack should elevate adding this "dagger" to the Lakers' arsenal on his resolutions list. That could help the purple and gold slay all foes on the way to an NBA championship and make for a very happy New Year in Tinsel Town.

A Pigskin Prognosticator's Prescription for What Ails the Oakland Raiders

Kirk Richardson — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:52:36 -0500

Coming down off of my silver-and-black-lined cloud, the view is clearer an evening after Oakland's somewhat improbable win over Tampa Bay. Though the upset and two-game winning streak left many feeling a bit more optimistic regarding the Raiders future, the consensus prognosis for the organization seems to be something like: showing signs of improvement but not out of the woods yet.

What will it take for Al Davis and Co. to get out of those woods if not make a full recovery in 2009? Here are a few potential remedies for the many maladies that afflict the once proud franchise.

Patient:

Oakland Raiders

Prescription:

1. Take two tackles in the upcoming draft and call me in morning. One mammoth earth-mover for each unit. Giant 6'5", 300-plus pound OT Eugene Monroe of Virginia should be available when the Raiders pick at No. 7. With luck, a player like Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh may slip into the second round.

2. Address receiving core deficiencies. This unit was anemic in 2008. Clean out Walker's locker and find a free agent who will show up for the majority of the games.

3. Implant a strong GM. It's time for Al to shore up the organization with another great football mind; someone like Bill Parcells might prove to be just what the doctor ordered.

4. It's time for a transfusion. Out with ineffective coaches and in with fresh blood. Look at the team's stats on D for 2008. It's hard to recover when your opponents are putting up 24 bloody points per game.

5. Don't fix what ain't broke. Hang on to Nnamdi Asomugha and other vital parts like Shane Lechler. Make sure budding star Johnny Lee Higgins remains a happy and healthy.

6. Transplant a linebacker with a nasty attitude. Trade one of the three promising running backs (preferably oft-injured Fargas) for a draft pick or proven player. While I love Howard's and Morrison's work ethics and attitudes, these guys could use a menacing the presence that rattles the opposing quarterback's knees, teeth, and composure.

7. Heal, rather than rub more salt, in old wounds. Hang onto Coach Cable and his strong player relationships. Give the team a chance to coalesce around a staff and provide some continuity.

8. Wheel Walter out of town on the waiver gurney. His quarterback rating as backup to JaMarcus Russell is a sickly 31.3. Michael Bush has a higher QB rating for goodness sake. (Hey, maybe Mike would like calling the signals better than clearing holes for DMac or Fargas.)

9. Don't look for another free agent casualty from any team in the AFC West. This seems to consistently backfire, burning the Raiders in the process. Maybe Oakland could salve its scorched free agent record by sending a few wounded warriors Kansas City's, Denver's, or San Diego's way.

10. How about a little good, old-fashioned bed rest? DMac and others need find a way to get and stay healthy in 2009. There were too many injuries in key positions this season, and it certainly slowed the Raiders' recuperation.

Critical Care:

Just a few weeks ago, many had given the silver and black up for dead; the team was on life-support by most accounts. But a promising finish to the 2008 campaign has proven that there are signs of life. Here's to making moves during the offseason that lead to a speedy recovery in 2009 and a healthy organization for years to come. Salud!

Crow Anyone? Reports Of Raiders Demise Premature

Kirk Richardson — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 08:41:10 -0500

The Raider Nation has had to endure the sports media's continuous stream of trash talking from the opening kickoff this season. From the Mike Ditka's long-winded, negative diatribe in Game 1 versus Denver through yesterday's editorials trying (unsuccessfully) to dig up old dirt with John Gruden, many of our so-called objective journalists have been on a nonstop Silver and Black attack.

Well, how about a little crow for dinner tonight sports journalists? Sure, the Raiders didn't make the playoffs again this season, but they did manage to knock Tampa Bay out of the postseason. It would be hard to argue that the team didn't improve by leaps and bounds in 2008. Oakland took several teams, including Buffalo and Carolina to the wire before losing. It suffered a few blowouts, but so did playoff-bound teams.

The whole demeanor of this organization has changed. Dare I say, Al Davis knew what he was doing when he sent Lane Kiffin packing and promoted Tom Cable? Maybe the old master still has a bit of genius left in him. Granted, Davis needs to hire a GM in the off-season, but he's on to something with the current coaching staff.

Sans experienced wide receivers, all that Oakland did was win its last two games of the season against decent ball clubs. No matter how much the media dislikes Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders, the team is headed in the right direction. Several pieces are in place and a few more will be added to complete the puzzle.

Give credit to Tom Cable, his staff, and especially to the players who never gave up; prevailed despite the onslaught of anyone who grew up despising the organization and its owner. It's not a perfect ending to this season's story, but I'll sure take it. Now how about that bird naysayers?