The Wonderful Association of The Wizard of Oz

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-19-2011, 02:20 AM

The Wizard of Oz Press Conference

Coach "Wiz", which Lakers we will see?
"Read & react. The Triple Post Offense is the way. We have to play as flow, in continuous movement and in perfect harmony with the game. We have to feel the game, read it, and find the weaknesses of the opponent."

It seems a treatise on zen
"It is. Basketball is a mind game, and the mind can do great things."

Ron Artest has the mind to play in the Triple Post Offense?
"Sure. It 's only a matter of time. The Triple Post Offense is not an easy game to understand and assimilate. It's about putting yourself totally at the service of the team. Even Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have had difficulty accepting the Triangle at the beginning. Then they understood. And won."

To win. You are a rookie-coach, are you able to take the NBA title with the Lakers?
"I can answer this question only in June."

You took the Lakers in the final stage of their great cycle. So you are planning to rejuvenate the team?
"I have a one year contract with the Lakers and my target is to win the NBA title this year. If the Lakers make a long-term project with me next year, certainly the team will be rejuvenated."

Rejuvenate or rebuild?
"Rejuvenate. Until Kobe will play in the Lakers, this team will always be competitive for the NBA title."

Coach "Wiz", are you saying that Kobe Bryant is irreplaceable?
"Kobe Bryant is irreplaceable."

The Lakers fans are skeptical about your head-coach role
"They have every reason to be skeptical. I'm a rookie coach with no experience in NBA. But the Lakers are not only a rookie coach: the Lakers are players, are medical staff, warehouse workers, secretaries, drivers, responsible for statistics, cooks, gym assistants. The Lakers are a big family and this big family has already demonstrated the ability to win. I am just one more member."

What is the biggest problem in Los Angeles?
"The problem is that is big. Exaggeratedly big. Los Angeles is vast and it's difficult to create a community. I'd like to create a community around in the Lakers. Everything must be shared, everyone needs to know to be part of a great project. Winning together the NBA title. Winning and share with community."

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-19-2011, 08:29 AM

LOS ANGELES LAKERS 2010-11
#	NAME	POS	AGE	HT	WT	SALARY
15	Ron Artest	SF	31	6-7	260	$6,322,320
9	Matt Barnes	SF	30	6-7	226	$1,765,000
5	Steve Blake	PG	30	6-3	172	$4,000,000
12	Shannon Brown	G	25	6-4	210	$2,149,200
24	Kobe Bryant	G	32	6-6	205	$24,806,250
17	Andrew Bynum	C	23	7-0	285	$13,700,000
45	Derrick Caracter	F	22	6-9	275	$473,604
3	Devin Ebanks	SF	21	6-9	215	$473,604
2	Derek Fisher	PG	36	6-1	210	$3,700,000
16	Pau Gasol	F-C	30	7-0	250	$17,823,000
10	Trey Johnson	G-F	26	6-5	218	$762,195
7	Lamar Odom	F	31	6-10	230	$8,200,000
50	Theo Ratliff	C	37	6-10	235	$854,389
1	Joe Smith	F-C	35	6-10	225	$1,352,181
4	Luke Walton	F	30	6-8	235	$5,260,000

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-19-2011, 08:39 AM

November 2010 LA Lakers Schedule

DATE OPPONENT
----------------------
November 2010

3 @ Utah
7 vs Atlanta
9 @ New Orleans
12 @ Orlando
23 vs Milwaukee
26 vs Sacramento

Coach 'Wiz' says: "Too many games opening, I would rather more practice"

Los Angeles, CA - Three trips in nine days across the U.S., from Utah, going to Louisiana and Florida, interspersed by the home game against the Atlanta Hawks. Utah, Atlanta, New Orleans, Orlando: these are the first four games of the Lakers season that will open on November 3rd at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City against the Jazz. "I would have preferred a schedule with fewer games in the first few weeks - says Coach "Wiz " - 'cause we have yet to find the right set of team and we need to train, but the timing now takes 3 long and difficult travel in just 9 days. Well, we will adapt to".

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-19-2011, 10:19 AM

Los Angeles Lakers 88 @ Utah Jazz 74
EnergySolutions Arena
Salt Lake City, UTAH
November 3rd, 2010

Lakers made a good debut in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City, UTAH - A good implementation of the Triple Post Offense, added to a very tough defense, have allowed the Los Angeles Lakers to storm Salt Lake City 88-74 in NBA debut of Coach Wizard of Oz. After a balanced first quarter, L.A. took the reins of the match in the second, reaching the 53-38 advantage. "Up to that point we were perfect - says a beaming coach 'Wiz' - then we relaxed mentally and skillfully Utah is back in the game. " The Jazz hits a 12-2 run back to -3 in the fourth quarter (65-68) thanks to Paul Millsap efforts (18 points, 14 boards); but here the Lakers made two crucial three point shots with Artest and Odom, directing the game in the L.A. way. The final nail in the Jazz coffin is put by Kobe Bryant with an hanged 25-foot triple with 1:20 left (74-83). "Needless to look at it, those triples saved us - admit The Wizard of Oz - but we were good at creating the conditions for those shots. I am very satisfied about the implementation of the Triple Post Offense, although we are only at the beginning of our adventure."
Kobe Bryant was the Mvp with 24 points and 5 assists, but Lamar Odom has also played a great game: 18 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 7/10 from the field. Gasol scored 15 points with 12 boards. The Jazz (fatal 1/13 behind the arc) had very little by Kirilenko (9 points) and have allowed only six minutes to promising rookie Derrick Favors.

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-20-2011, 03:06 AM

Yes, Coach The Wizard of Oz has convinced skeptics

Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Lakers debut in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz was especially The Wizard of Oz coach debut on an NBA bench. Yes, we were impressed. There were many doubts about this coach in his first pro experience, but the Lakers seemed a team immediately in his hands. The coach, intelligently, didn't upset anything. Use the Triple Post Offense like Phil Jackson, never call time-out (like PJ), starting with Bynum and Gasol as a backcourt but ends up with Odom and Pau (like PJ) and enters the second lines in the second quarter (as all the coaches). But there is a difference: Coach "Wiz" never mix the starters with the benchers. He has two separate and empowered battalions. Fish, Kobe, Artest, Gasol and Bynum. Blake, Brown, Barnes, Odom, Ratliff. Only in the last 5 minutes of the last quarter the starting five backcourt change (from Gasol-Bynum to Odom-Gasol). We're just beginning. But it is a good start.

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-22-2011, 02:11 AM

Atlanta Hawks 90 @ Los Angeles Lakers 85
Staples Center
Los Angeles, CA
November 7th, 2010

Lakers unexpected lost against the Hawks in a nightmarish night for Bryant

Los Angeles, CA - When Jamal Crawford stuck the three point shot for the 83-87 with 0:25 left, the Los Angeles Lakers have realized their loss. The expected opening at the Staples Center is transformed into an unexpected defeat against the Atlanta Hawks with a unique nightmare night for Kobe Bryant, who finished with 7/29 from the field and only 15 points.
"When Kobe misses the first shots is eager to retrieve his mistakes and if he stumbles on a day like this, successive shots become successive errors. He knows that he can't take 13 shots in a quarter. He wasn't in rhythm with the game - says coach 'Wiz' - but today the entire starting five was not in connection with the game." Kobe started with a terrible 2/13 shooting in the first quarter, but in the second the Lakers began to take control of the match thanks to second lines: Blake, Brown, Barnes, Odom and Ratliff signed a 16-6 break leading L.A. to +12 (67-55). Shannon Brown has starred in the second quarter, Theo Ratliff in the third (he finished with 13 points and 7 rebounds in just 11 minutes!), but when coach The Wizard of Oz has revived the starting five in the last period, Atlanta remounted dragging the game to a final rush. "Today our bench was better than our starting five - coach 'Wiz' admits - but we are all part of one team and this team has lost a game that could win. But I'm not worried. Losses like these are healthy, allow us to highlight our major defects.
Jamal Crawford not only scored the winning three point shot but was also elected MVP of the game with 21 points and 7 assists, well supported by Josh Smith (16 points, 14 rebounds).

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-24-2011, 02:56 AM

Los Angeles Lakers 103 @ New Orleans 96
New Orleans Arena
New Orleans, LO
November 9th, 2010

An incredible Bryant (48) taketh New Orleans. "He was otherworldly!"

New Orleans, LO - From 7/29 shooting to 48 points in a few hours. Kobe Bryant has immediately atoned for his sins against the Hawks pulling out an incredible performance for the Lakers victory in New Orleans. "He was amazing - it's the comment by coach The Wizard of Oz - I was expecting a super performance after the 7/29 shooting against Atlanta, but I couldn't imagine something like this. He didn't attempt to score, simply the points came to him naturally. He didn't force anything, he has taken all the right shots. And he scored them all. It 'was one of the best individual performances i've ever seen, perfectly inserted in the Triple Post Offense."
48 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 20/31 from the field (with 4/8 behind the arc) are the Kobe Bryant incredible numbers against New Orleans. And he doesn't stop here. The "Black Mamba", indeed, provided the assist for the Artest bucket that bring L.A. to +4 with 1:41 left and scored the jump shot from the corner for the 94-100 with 1:01 left. Then Gasol finished the game with a fade-away shot against David West (20 points) with 0:24 left (96-102).
"It 'been a very difficult game because New Orleans is a very tough team and never gives up - coach says' Wiz' - Kobe was otherworldly, but the Derek Fisher defense on Chris Paul was also important: 'Fish' constant pressing has forced CP3 to 10 turnovers". Chris Paul (22 points, 6 assists) was nevertheless crucial to bring the game in balance until the final minutes, but against the Lakers' defense has had to invent incredibile shots to do it.

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-25-2011, 08:51 AM

Los Angeles Lakers 90 @ Orlando Magic 96
Amway Center
Orlando, FL
November 12th, 2010

No Disneyland in Orlando for the Lakers, Turkoglu signing the second defeat of the season

Orlando, FL - The last stone on the Lakers tomb was put by Hedo Turkoglu, a bucket with a foul by Gasol and the free throw made for the 94-88 with 0:48 left. A 2+1 action that allows Orlando to keep his unbeaten record (4-0), while The Wizard of Oz' team runs into the second defeat of the season just four games since the beginning.
"We're just at the beginning - says coach 'Wiz' - but well begun is half done. And we have not started well. I'm the new kid in town and I had put in a prior a not so well start." In the first half the Lakers had put in enormous difficulties the Orlando Magic; a tonic Andrew Bynum (20 points, 7/13 from the field, 8 boards at the end) had loads of foul Dwight Howard who had four penalties to start the third quarter.
"And here we made our greatest sin - continues The Wizard of Oz - trying earnestly Howard to commit his fifth foul, without focusing on all other aspects of the game." While the Lakers are concerned about the fifth foul of Howard (19 points, 12 rebs, 4 steal despite the fouls problem), Orlando began to weave her web, thanks to Jason Richardson (18 points), Gilbert Arenas (18 points, 12 assists), Brandon Bass (10) and, above all, Hedo Turkoglu (22 points), deadly tactical weapon and decisive for the Magic victory in the last period.
"I take full responsibility - he admits, "The Wiz" - I haven't understood anything against Turkoglu. He changed from one role to another, continually. In the same action was both point guard, both forward and center. It 'been a hallucinogenic trip and when we woke up the game was lost."

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-25-2011, 10:12 AM

Gasol was injured in training. Coach 'Wiz' fined by the NBA for inappropriate statements

Los Angeles, CA - The 31 years old spanish PF Pau Gasol was injured during the Lakers' last training session. The former Barcelona had an adductor inflammation that will shape its upcoming games. "Pau will heal in about 20 days - it's the opinion of trainer Gary Vitti - and I suggested to the coach 'Wiz' to use him as little as possible in the next games, only if absolutely necessary. Pau needs to rest and shouldn't unduly strain the adductors. But he is available and doesn't need to stop."
Meanwhile, coach The Wizard of Oz has been fined by the NBA for his comments after the game against the Orlando Magic. The 'Wiz' had compared the Turkoglu way of playing as the effect of a hallucinogenic trip for the Lakers.

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-25-2011, 11:35 AM

Milwaukee Bucks 84 @ Los Angeles Lakers 100
Staples Center
Los Angeles, CA
November 23th, 2010

Lakers shoot down the Bucks to dispel the controversy in the first home win of the season

Los Angeles, CA -A return to victory against Milwaukee takes a bit 'of peace in the Laker HQ after the defeat in Orlando, the Gasol injury and the fine that the NBA has done to coach 'Wiz'. L.A. started with Odom in the starting five in place of Gasol and after a balanced first half, the team of the Wizard of Oz took over the game in the third period with a partial of 27-19.
"It was a game that we couldn't miss - it's the coach's comment - but we are not yet ready to compete for the title. In the first half we struggled to develop the Triple Post Offense, we were still wearing the rust of defeat in Orlando."
From the middle of the third quarter the Lakers are literally dragging the entire audience exploded in the Staples Center, thanks to spectacular conclusions in transition. Kobe Bryant (25) has inflamed the Lakers fans with three shots behind the arc that broke the game, along with the initiatives by Shannon Brown from the bench (16). But the real star has been Lamar Odom who has well replaced Gasol with 18 points, 8/12 from the field and 11 rebounds. Bucks have had a great Andrew Bogut (28 points, 14 rebounds, 13/16 shooting), but the 2010 surprising rookie, Brandon Jennings, has not been seen (12 assists but only 8 points and a terrible 3/15 to shooting). "We have a problem with continuity - coach 'Wiz' admits - We are not able to be the true Lakers throughout the game, but only for a part of it. Every week that passes we must increase our dose of real Lakers and decrease the minutes of the 'preseasonal Lakers' ".

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-26-2011, 04:16 AM

Sacramento Kings 112 @ Los Angeles Lakers 110
Staples Center
Los Angeles, CA
November 26th, 2010

November rain: another unexpected defeat officially opens the Lakers crisis

Los Angeles, CA -Another defeat. The nth. And this time came against a lower ranked teams like the Sacramento Kings who arrived at the Staples Center dominating the game in the last quarter where they scored the monstrosity of 42 points. Tyreke Evans (21 points, 9/11 from the field), Jason Thompson (21 points, 15 boards, 10/16), Marcus Thornton (22 crucial points despite the 7/27 shooting) and rookie DeMarcus Cousins (14 points, 9 rebounds, 7/9 from the field) have literally feasted against the Lakers' defense and against the coach 'Wiz' crazy experiment in the last quarter, putting Odom center and Barnes power forward.
"It 's been a terrible mistake - admits The Wizard of Oz - a desperate move to try to stem their impetuosity. The Sacramento Kings have a lot of all around players, lots of forwards capable of playing both under and outside. It's a team that I would never meet in a playoff game seven."
Still without Pau Gasol (on the bench due to an adductor inflammation), the Lakers are literally collapsed in the last quarter, finishing even at -13 with 2 minutes left. Then an insane Steve Blake (18 points with 6/10 for three) has staged an impressive show, scoring five consecutive triple and dragging L.A. to -3 with 20" left, acquiring also a three point shot for the tie. But he missed it. "It 'was a rainy November for us - says coach 'Wiz' - now let's bring some 'sun in December." Three wins in six games bring the Lakers to seventh place in the Western Conference officially opening the crisis in Los Angeles.

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-26-2011, 07:06 AM

The Wizard of Oz didn't convince the skeptics

Los Angeles, CA - Ok, he's a rookie coach. Ok, he needs time. But the Lakers can wait? The first month of The Wizard of Oz as Los Angeles Lakers head-coach was a mixture of light and shadow. The team's record (3-3) is unsatisfactory, and after his excellent debut in Salt Lake City, the Lakers have shown a lot of discontinuity. And their coach has shown several technical limitations: 'The Wiz', in fact, has admitted to not having understood anything against Turkoglu in the Orlando lost game and the interchangeability of Sacramento Kings' players has put him in clear distress. It 's just a matter of time or The Wizard of Oz is unable to lead the Los Angeles Lakers? Lakers fans aren't happy with the course team record, but they seem to give to coach 'Wiz' time to acclimate. No "booh" got up from the Staples stands during the bloody last quarter against the Kings and this is a good sign from the exigent Lakers fans. But acclimatization time is running out and now coach 'Wiz' is called to give strong signals to prove that he can lead this team to the NBA title. Beginning with the next game away against Power Ranking leading team: the Chicago Bulls guided by the NBA rising star Derrick Rose.

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-26-2011, 07:35 AM

December 2010 LA Lakers Schedule

DATE OPPONENT
----------------------
December 2010

1 @ Chicago
17 vs Washington
20 vs Memphis
28 vs Toronto

'Wiz' says: "Simple month with few easy games"

Los Angeles, CA - A difficult trip to Chicago, then 16 days to prepare the easy home games against Washington, Memphis and Toronto. This is the month of December for the Los Angeles Lakers. "We have to put hay in the barn - comments The Wizard of Oz - I speak honestly and December is a simple month with few easy games. But don't misunderstand. Easy doesn't mean that Washington, Memphis or Toronto may not be able to beat us, but simply that they are lower ranked teams." Except for Chicago. "In the Windy City - continues 'The Wiz' - will be like a playoffs game. The Bulls are a serious title contender. They are young, they are energetic and the axis point guard-center Rose-Noah can do great things for Chicago". This month also gives to the Lakers more than two weeks without matches between the game against the Bulls and the one against Washington. "It will be an important month to train in the gym and to recover fully Pau Gasol from his adductor injury" says the rookie coach.

**The Wizard of Oz** · 04-27-2011, 03:57 AM

Los Angeles Lakers 96 @ Chicago Bulls 80
United Center
Chicago, IL
December 1st, 2010

An heroical Fisher drag the Lakers to a huge victory in Chicago

Chicago, IL - Forty minutes to sweep away all doubts. And to send a clear message: they are back. The Los Angeles Lakers over ran the United Center against the Power Ranking leading team Chicago Bulls, winning 96-80 without Pau Gasol, thanks to an exceptional performance by Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant. 'Da Fish' has not only scored 16 points with 7 assists and 7/10 shooting, but has mostly erased Derrick Rose, limited to 10 points with 3/8 and 7 turnovers. The first Rose field goal arrived only at the end of the third quarter. Incredible. "Derek was superb - coach 'Wiz' says - he is 37 years old and has canceled a superstar like Rose who's 15 years younger. In our most difficult game time he took the team on his shoulders dragging us to victory."
The Lakers, thanks to an impenetrable defense and timely interceptions, rose up to +15 in the third quarter (49-64), but Chicago back in the game with a fierce 24-13 break going back to -2 with 4:50 left (75-77) thanks to C.J. Watson and Luol Deng (22 points but 3/13 behind the arc). Here Derek Fisher took over the reins of the match: hits the crucial three point shot for 75-84, creates the assists for a wide-open triple by Kobe (77-87), and marks yet behind the arc for the final closure (78-90 with 1:44 left).
"The winners made winning plays - says The Wizard of Oz - and Derek is one of the great winners in the NBA history." Another one is Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba has erupted in the first quarter scoring 19 of 25 Lakers points with a tremendous naturlness, ended his game with 32 points, 11/21 from the field, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. "This is what happens when we play with continuity - concluded The Wiz - to win in Chicago is a great confidence boost."

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