Clippers Claim Chauncey Billups

The Los Angeles Clippers have claimed former New York Knicks guard Chauncey Billups off of waivers. Billups was released Friday by the New York Knicks through the new amnesty clause that was introduced in the new NBA’s labor agreement.

The (Arguable) Takeover of Los Angeles

As the Lakers rolled off eight straight wins to open the season—the best start in franchise history—speculation in LA began to run more rampant than Lindsey Lohan in a Bolivian cocaine farm:  Is this the greatest Lakers squad of all time?  If not, where do they rank among the greats?  While it’s obviously too early to say with any certainty, speculating on their place in pantheon of Laker’s history is exciting nonetheless.  In homage to the Laker’s 8-0 start (for now, we’re going to overlook that loss to Denver on Thursday night) and in an attempt to find their rightful place in history, let’s take a look at some of the greatest teams to don the purple and gold:

1972 Lakers:

This LA team recorded a franchise best 69-13 regular season record, including a 33 game winning streak; the longest in NBA history.  A smart, physical team with the veteran leadership of a 33-year-old Jerry West (25.8 PPG; 9.7 APG) and a 35-year-old Wilt Chamberlain (14.8 PPG; 19.2 RPG; 4.3 women per night) and the firepower of a young Gail Goodrich and Jim McMillian, this team was probably the best regular season Lakers team of all-time.  The only other Lakers team in the discussion…

2000 Lakers:

A memorable Lakers team for a few of reasons: Shaq was in his prime (30 PPG; 14 RPG; 3 BPG), a 21-year-old Kobe was coming into his own, Glen Rice was the perfect knockdown shooter to compliment the inside-outside attack of Shaq and Kobe and, of course, this season marked the beginning of the Phil Jackson era with Lakers winning their first title since Magic retired.  Despite one of the best regular season performances ever, the playoffs proved to be more difficult for the young team.  After posting a 67-15 record, they started the postseason 11-8 and practically handed Portland game seven of the Western Conference Finals before surmounting a 17-point fourth quarter deficit on a unforgettable run capped by a Kobe-to-Shaq alley-oop that nearly brought the Staples Center roof down (Probably the second loudest moment in Staples history, behind game six of the ’02 West Finals when Big Shot Rob collectively murdered the hopes and dreams of everyone in Sacramento).  That game has to be the best Lakers game I’ve ever seen that wasn’t on ESPN Classic, heightened by the fact that, thanks to a pitiful Eastern Conference, the Western Finals were effectively the NBA Finals… a truth reinforced by an effortless sweep of the Pacers after battling through the loaded West.

1987 Lakers:

Let me take you back to 1987 Los Angeles:  Showtime is in full-effect.  Magic is averaging 24, 12 and 6 on the way to his first MVP trophies (regular season and finals).  James Worthy is becoming a star in his own right and Michael Cooper (the sixth man) is about to become the defensive player of the year.  Pat Riley and two pounds of hair gel are pacing the sidelines. Seemingly, the only weakness is a 39-year-old Kareem hobbling up and down the court managing to pull down less five boards a night despite being 7’2” and logging over 30 minutes a game.  But Magic, realizing the Lakers couldn’t defend or rebound inside, decided the only option was to outscore the other team and proceeded to annihilate opponents to the tune of 117 points per game.  Today, it’s hard to imagine a 65 win team averaging 117 points a game.  Unfathomable, really.

2001 Lakers:

Almost the inverse of the 2000 team, this Lakers squad struggled with complacency issues after winning their first title. They finished the regular season at 56-26 before coming together for one of the best playoff runs of all time: they won their first 15 playoff games in sweeps of Portland, SacTown and San Antonio, respectively.   Endued with a little too much confidence after butchering the West (the best conference that year by far) they fell in game one of the finals to a severely under-matched Sixers team (as Iverson exploded for 48) before easily winning the next 4 games.  Not only did this team have two of future hall of famers playing some of their best basketball (Shaq averaged 30 points and 15 rebounds in the playoffs while Kobe went for 29.4 points, 7.3 boards and 6.1 assists), they also had a deep supporting cast, featuring some of the greatest role players of all time: Horry, Fisher, Harper, Grant, Fox, and Shaw.  Add their ability to gel when it mattered and they have to be in the G.O.A.T. discussion.  They were playing so well in May and June; I don’t think the ’96 Bulls would have gotten them.  Especially considering Luc Longley would have been guarding Shaq.

1982 Lakers:

In my humble opinion, the best Lakers team of all time.  They combined one of the best half-court scorers ever (Kareem) with the best open-court player ever (Magic) to form an unstoppable offensive force.  Depending on circumstance, they could bang you inside or push the pace.  Kareem averaged 23.9 from the block and a 22-year-old Magic came as close to averaging a triple double as anyone since Oscar Robertson (18.6 PPG; 9.6 APG; 9.5 RPG).  Add Norm Nixon (17.6 PPG; 8.0APG), Jamal Wilkes (21.1 PPG), Michael Cooper and Bob McAdoo and you’ve got one of the best six man rotations in the history of the Association.  Never again will we see a team with such a high level of versatility.  Never again will the best low-post scorer of all-time be paired with the best open-court passer of all-time.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime cosmic phenomenon, destined to be unparalleled forever.

So, what about this year?  Just being in the discussion with those teams is an achievement in itself.  The 2010-11 Lakers are a veteran squad who know how to win.  They have two superstars, two semi-stars and what is possibly the deepest cast of role players a Lakers team has ever had.  Coupled with the greatest coach in the history of professional sports and you’ve got a team in the thick of the argument.  Their ability to claim the “Greatest Lakers Team of All-Time” banner remains to be seen… but I look forward to the argument becoming more compelling over the next few months.

Win Ron’s Bling

Ron Artest is crazy.  We all know this.  He went charging into the Palace stands in 2004, admitted to getting drunk at halftime when he was playing in Chicago and has been the center of myriad legal controversy, including a 2007 Animal Services case for starving his dog.  When he signed with the Lakers in 2009, everyone seemed to think he was a walking time bomb; it was only a matter of time before snapped and strangled a reality TV star sitting courtside or picked up Phil Jackson’s high chair and flung it into the crowd.

Naturally, it was a huge surprise to see Artest fight back the crazy for an entire season, string together numerous brilliant defensive performances in the regular season and then cap it off with a huge playoff run (not only did he score 20 in game seven of the NBA finals, he hit the game winner in a decisive game five victory against Phoenix in the Western Conference finals).

Now, as he raffles off his championship ring for charity, it’s hard not to wonder if Artest has finally come full circle.  Has he really matured this much?  He’s gone from throwing cameras around at MSG to selflessly offering his championship ring to a worthy cause.  Sure, it still seems a little crazy… thousands of NBA players have fought tirelessly in pursuit of a ring, the pinnacle of the basketball achievement, and so many of them have fallen short, leaving their careers feeling incomplete.  Artest raffling off one of the most revered and sought after pieces of jewelry in the world is either crazy or hugely altruistic, but you can’t discount the amount of publicity generated for Artest’s charity (Xcel University), an organization created to “support mental health awareness and treatment for children”.

But there was one moment, watching the ring ceremony on opening night, as Artest first saw his ring—you could see his jaw drop and eyes light up—when you could tell he was regretting his decision.  I kept thinking he was going to grab Jack Nicholson as a hostage and run out of the Staples Center clutching the ring to his chest, all while muttering, “My precious…”

Alas, it seems Ron-Ron has calmed down a bit.  Last season saw him come into his own—as a person and a player.  Here’s to hoping the mature, philanthropic Artest stays around a while.  For a chance to win Ron’s ring, complete with a 3D sculpture of his face and a piece of the ball used in game seven, follow this link:  Ron Artest: Win My Bling Raffle