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Jeff Lamp on Potential NBA Lockout

April 28, 2011 by 1 Comment

National Basketball Player’s Association’s Jeff Lamp on Potential NBA Lockout

By Seth Rubinroit

With the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement set to expire on June 30, 2011, there have been concerns that there will be a lockout during the 2011-2012 season. Billy Hunter, the Executive Director of the National Basketball Player’s Association (NBPA), was quoted in July as saying, “I’m preparing for a lockout right now and I haven’t seen anything to change that notion.” However, Jeff Lamp, a career counselor for the NBPA, believes that an agreement can be reached.

“I do not think that it is inevitable,” Lamp said about a NBA lockout. “It is hard to say. I do know that they are probably fairly far apart right now. But, as we get closer to the collective bargaining agreement running out, I think they will get closer and closer. I do not think anyone wants to see any kind of a work stoppage.”

As it stands, the league is claiming that teams are losing money, and is calling for changes to help the teams return to profitability. The NBPA is mostly content with the current system.

“I think the Player’s Association feels that they have a good system in place, and I do not think they are very anxious to see that system change very much,” Lamp said.

After playing as an All-American at Virginia, Lamp played six NBA seasons for four teams: the Portland Trailblazers, San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Lakers.

Lamp was a member of the Lakers during the Showtime Era, winning an NBA Championship in 1988. He has noticed several changes in the NBA since he played.

“Back in the Showtime era, there were a few teams that had a lot of really good players. The Celtics, Detroit, and the Lakers had a lot of great talent,” Lamp said. “These days, the Lakers have a lot of great role players, and two or three superstars in Kobe, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum. In the NBA now, you have one, two, maybe three superstars and a lot of role players.”

Lamp was asked who would win in a matchup between the 1988 Lakers and the current Lakers team.
“It is hard to say. These guys are so big and athletic, and especially with the current Lakers, they are so long,” Lamp said. “It would have been a great matchup. I am a little prejudiced because I think our team was one of the greatest teams put together, and I feel fortunate to be a part of it. I wish we could go back in time and play it.”

These days, Lamp enjoys mentoring up-and-coming basketball players. He worked at the NBPA Top 100 Camp, and is involved with the NBPA’s Career Development Program. He also helps the basketball players at Stoneridge Prep High School, where basketball agent Angela Hagen was recently named the athletic director, and former UCLA Director of Basketball Operations Joe Hillock was named the head coach.

“We try to help them become as good basketball players as they can,” Lamp said. “But what we really want is for them to be prepared for life when they are not on the court.”

Filed Under: Seth Rubinroit Tagged With: , ,

WEEKEND NOTES

April 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I understand Laker fans are used to winning and panic has set in after the team’s Game 1 loss to the Hornets; but in the post season you have to beat a team four times, not once….

And I can’t imaging this New Orleans team defeating the Lakers without David West….

Without him, they’re small and easier to exploit; unless you ignore your post players, fire up low percentage shots and make no adjustments while they continue to run the high pick-and-roll….

Unfortunately for the Lakers, that’s exactly what they did and result was a richly deserved loss….

With Pau Gasol taking only nine shots and Andrew Bynum seven, the Lakers played right into their hands and didn’t take advantage of their size advantage….

And why did Bynum play only 26 minutes? He did have some early foul trouble, but for God’s sake they can’t win without him….

In those 26M, Andrew had 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks; almost all on his own….

I was hopeful Phil Jackson would order his players to get Bynum the ball in the post and play him big minutes once the playoffs began, so this was not a good sign….

More on the Zenmaster….

I know he’s retiring after this season, but someone should inform Phil his retirement begins AFTER the playoffs, not before. The way he sat and refused to make a single adjustment was shocking….

Someone needs to nudge him on the bench to make sure he’s awake….

Without West, Chris Paul is New Orlenas’ only threat. Thus, it would make sense to concentrate on him and force his teammates to win the game….

Since Derek Fisher has no chance guarding him, you’d think Big Chief Triangle would have his team prepared with Plan B….

They run the high pick-and-roll every time down the floor and when Fisher gets picked, it leaves a Laker big man on him; meaning you can already put at least two points on the scoreboard….

After they got lay-ups, dunks or wide open CP3 jumpers about 10 times in a row, I was waiting for Jackson to make a simple adjustment; double team Paul as soon as he crossed halfcourt, thus making him pass the ball BEFORE the high screen comes….

That forces one of his teammates to handle the ball and make a play, of which none of them are capable….

Instead, the Zenmaster slept soundly on the bench while the Hornets ran the high pick-and-roll for 48 minutes….

Not a single adjustment made the entire game….

Yes, it was a bad loss, but I still believe the Lakers will bounce back, win Game 2 and take the series in five.

This might be just the wake up call they needed….

But if they continue to ignore their post players and make no defensive adjustments on Chris Paul, a different kind of wake up call will occur; at their luxury vacation suites in Jamaica about a week from now….

I realize Carmelo Anthony played horribly and the Knicks should have gotten the ball into Amare Stoudemire in the final minutes, but the final 30 seconds convinced me again these games might not be on the level….

With 21 seconds remaining and the Knicks ahead by one point, they threw the ball into Carmelo; who was fighting for position….

After receiving the pass, some corrupt official called him for an offensive foul; setting up Ray Allen’s game winning three-point shot….

Watching the replay, there was no foul committed; simply two players competing in the final seconds of an NBA playoff game….

To call an offensive foul there was criminal and brought back memories of Tim Donaghy….

I guess there’s a reason David Stern covered up the story and swept the truth under the rug….

Calls like that in game so hotly contested makes me believe the contests are rigged….

Just an awful, disgusting, criminal call at the worst possble time….

The Celtics miss Kendrick Perkins and without Shaq or Jermaine O’Neal healthy enough to replace him the Celtics are in trouble….

If they manage to get past the Knicks, they’re going out quickly against the Heat in Round Two….

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WHY THE 1980′S WAS THE GREATEST ERA OF THE NBA

March 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

After writing the other day about how much Dwight Howard has improved, the old Superman showed up in Miami last night. Sure, the Magic made a remarkable comeback to win, but Howard was disappointing….

When the ball went into the post, Dwight hesitated, allowed the double teams to arrive and either forced a bad shot or passed the ball out too late….

This was vintage Howard, something which I believed was a thing of the past….

Someone asked me a week ago what I thought Dwight would have been back in the 1980′s. My answer: He would have either been a power forward or a second level center….

In 2011 he’s the best center in the NBA, but in the Golden Era he would have been in trouble….

With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Robert Parish, Bill Walton, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bob Lanier, Patrick Ewing, Ralph Sampson, Moses Malone, Jack Sikma, Alvan Adams, Artis Gilmore, Bob McAdoo, Dan Issel, Bill Laimbeer and others in the NBA, Howard would have had an extremely difficult time….

Hell, Joe Barry Carroll and Rik Smits had better post moves than Howard, and they were taller than him….

In those days, not only did you have to be big, you also had to be skilled with your back to the basket. If you didn’t have a variety of post moves, you were going to be embarrassed….

Looking at that list, Howard would not have been a Top-10 center back then; because Kareem, Parish, Walton, Hakeem, Lanier, Ewing, Sampson, Malone, Gilmore and McAdoo were all better players….

So I guess I was wrong about Howard being a second tier center in the 1980′s; he would have been thrid tier….

But in 2011 he dominates the league and is a certain Hall-of-Famer….

I know I sound like an old fart, but the NBA was so much better back then. Better teams, better players and more entertaining basketball….

Not only did you have that incredible group of centers, you also had an unbelievable list of players in their primes….

Off the top of my head, here’s the great ones I remember (outside of the centers): Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Dr. J, Charles Barkley, Kevin McHale, James Worthy, Dominique Wilkins, Sidney Moncrief, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Clyde Drexler, Alex English, Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Bernard King, Marques Johnson, Dennis Johnson, Mark Price, Gus Williams and Geogre Gervin….

I’m sure I’m forgetting a few, but when you combine my list of centers with that group, there’s no way the NBA in 2011 compares….

Not even close….

The ’80′s were, without question, the greatest era of the NBA….

Not only were the players better, but they knew how to play the game. They were as gifted and athletic as today’s guys, but so much more advanced fundamentally and mentally….

And when you combine great athletic ability with an understanding of how to play the game; that’s a potent combination….

There was a better flow to the game back then and teams actually ran offenses; with cutting, screening and unselfish play….

You have some of that now with the Lakers and a few other teams, but unfortunately the game has regressed to dumping the ball into the post and standing around or running the pick-and-roll….

Back then everyone seemed to run an efficient offense and used the fast break whenever possible….

After a missed shot, there would be a rebound, quick outlet pass and beautiful, fast break basketball….

And if the fast break wasn’t there, the half court basketball was a thing of beauty; with motion, unselfishness and five players working together….

Now, everyone stands around while someone goes one-on-one with the shot clock winding down. And the fast break is almost impossible because there’s usually two players standing near half court when a shot finally goes up….

And the coaching today is horrible….

On every possession, you have control freaks in suits holding fingers in the air; calling one of their silly, flow killing plays….

Just sit back, unleash that great talent and watch the greatest athletes in the world perform….

Okay, back to my Geritol….

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NOTES ON A SCORECARD

April 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment

When the playoffs began, the series which looked like an upset lock was San Antonio/Dallas. Sure, most people picked the Mavs, but I loved the Spurs for the following reasons:

1) San Antonio is finally healthy. When they have all their players, this team is capable of winning thier 5th World Championship since 1999.

2) Dallas has a history of early exits, in my opinion because Dirk Nowitzki is their best player. Much like Pau Gasol, Dirk is a great complimentary player who needs a superstar to win a title. Nowitzki is soft, doesn’t play defense and will never win a championship if he’s the lead guy.

In the Spurs closeout 97-87 win last night, Dirk shot the ball well, scored 33 points and didn’t get a lot of help from his teammates….

But he only had five rebounds and didn’t carry his team to victory….

The great ones dig in on defense, get to the free throw line, do the dirty work and find a way to win. Typical of Nowitzki, most of his points came from the outside and he only got to the free throw line six times….

I know Mark Cuban will blast the officiating and point out that his team shot only 15 free throws, compared to 31 for the opposition. Also, 27 fouls were called on the Mavericks and only 17 on the Spurs….

But that’s the type of team the Mavs are; soft, bad defensively and lots of jump shots….

Led by their leader, who is as soft as tissue paper and the #2 option on a championship team….

After the game, Dirk pondered his future and hinted he may opt of the final year of his contract, which pays him $21M. That might not be a bad idea, with the strike coming after next season and the owners determined to drastically cut salaries….

Sure, giving up $21M sounds crazy, but if he can get a five year deal for big money, he should do it….

The 2011 strike is going to be ugly and unless the players cave and accept a bad deal, the owners will be more than willing to lock them out for the entire season….

The owners are talking about a hard cap, meaning the elimination of the Bird rule and a 50% reduction in salaries. And they’re not going to give in….

In 1999 the players talked a good game about solidarity, but as soon as a few paychecks were missed they came crawling back and signed what Nick Van Exel called “a horses*** deal.”….

Unlike the baseball, NBA players have a history of being undisciplined, spending too much money, partying, supporting possees and knocking up women….

So when the paychecks stop coming, they’re facing bankruptcy and panic….

It will be fascinating to see how strong they are after next season, when they will either accept dramatic change or not get paid for at least a year….

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