The Saga Continues

Kelly Dwyer from Yahoo Sports might have made it popular to have a man-crush on "The Machine."

But here at ATA, we all know we were the first.

Once again, another Sasha video brought to you by Lakers-fan.com

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One More Thing, Vujacites.

Now I know, I know this Lakers flavor on ATA needs to end soon. I mean it has to end soon no? Especially considering that the NBA Season has now concluded. I just had to make one more comment, just because its so much fun supporting a player who really shoots too damn much for his own good. So, I was looking through the NBA Draft results and came across this article:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-lakers27-2008jun27,0,1934112.story

In it, Mitch Kupchak talks about his draft pick Joe Crawford. He seems decent, considering it "slipped" so low. But in reality, this Laker's team is so deep that he really has no place, especially if last year's draft pick, China's Sun Yue, comes over to the United States next season. Here's a clip:

So anyways, the real point of this post is because I wanted to highlight how free agency begins at 9 P.M. tomorrow. Mitch Kupchak knows this too. He's a good GM. Here's what Mitchie said about Sasha:

They are particularly interested in re-signing Sasha Vujacic, a restricted free agent.

"I intend to contact him at 9:01 on Monday night," Kupchak said.

Then pray tell
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE DOING AT 9:00 PM???

Mitch better be on that horse by 9:00 PM.
Thanks to loljocks.blogspot.com for the picture.

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I Wish the Lakers Were Still in it.... So I Could Watch More of the Machine.

Lakers? Celtics? Some could care less. Some just want to see basketball. Some don't like watching blowouts. Some just hate it when superstars sulk on the bench and give up. Some also hate it when regular stars act like they're 2 years old and pretend to be injured so they can get their diapers chagned in the locker room. Some just want to see Sasha Vujacic because they are girls and they think he looks so adorable. And then some just think that the Machine is AWESOME.

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A Step Closer to the Championship

(Boredom awaiting the Celtics-Pistons game spawns this post)


A standing ovation with a mere 5-point lead and nearly 2 minutes to play left in the 4th is perhaps jumping the gun. I'll admit, as a cynic, maybe my Lakers faith was stalled a bit. I'll admit I was scared of the Spurs. But the Spurs never came closer after that. And it was goodbye to the defending champs.

Deep down, I knew the Lakers would go on to win this one. They had to. Spurs feeling confident with a 17-point lead? Not in our home! The Lakers wanted the win, and they wanted it bad. Even Farmar stepped it up last night and turned on his game, scoring 8 points, including 3 consecutive baskets. And who else better than Sasha to seal an already-made deal with a 3-pointer at the buzzer? (I am told that my bias would not be in effect if he was on the opposing team, I would hate his guts. I am also told that he made a lot of Lakers gamblers very happy, increasing the point spread to over 5. But I know nothing about this, so I'll stop here. I'll consider it a preview of what's more to come from The Machine. I'm telling you, one of these days he's going to hit a game-winning 3 in the playoffs.) Congratulations to the Lakers for winning the Western Conference championship and moving on to the finals in perhaps one of the toughest conferences yet! Can you believe that just earlier this year, Mr. MVP himself was demanding a trade? Though we must be careful what we wish for, let's hope for a Lakers-Celtics rivalry resurrection to top off this fairytale story! If Kobe is the modern-day Magic, then who is Larry Bird? Is it even fair to make this analogy?

Before I get ahead of myself, Boston has to step on the fingers of Detriot as they struggle to hold on. But if the Celtics continue to follow in their pattern of playoff games this season, we might expect another game 6 loss and third 7-game series for Boston. Stay tuned.

On an end note, as a follow-up to my previous Sasha-inspired post, did you happen to catch that smack to babyface by Ginobili?

Sasha should've ripped Manu a new bald spot. Personally, I think he needs new methods (besides growing his hair long) in his intimidation efforts. I vote for tattoos.

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I admit, I love "The Machine" as well

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These guys are classic. You gotta love it when creativity and sports make love. What`s not to love about the Machine! My POOT my POOT!

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Why I Love Sasha Vujacic

While I will agree that this is perhaps a predictable debut blog entry coming from me, I’ll spare you all the mushy details about how I first took notice of his oh-so-cute boyish good looks. This time, it’s about the talent, the talent that you could sense within him over these past few years that is finally blooming. It’s about the not-so-pesky little Slovenian you all love to hate. It’s about “The Machine!” Even as I am writing this, I can feel all the skepticism, but it’s time that I step up and defend my man once and for all.

Phil loves him, so you should too. If it’s anyone that has faith in Sasha, it’s Phil Jackson. So maybe he did refer to Sasha as “11 o’clock player.” But it is apparent that Jackson consistently puts his trust in him. As Sasha emerges as a reliable player, things are changing. He's confident. When the ball gets to Sasha, you can almost always expect he will shoot. And despite the occasional pleading for him not to take the shot, he's making a good amount of them. If he doesn't, it's okay, because you can just tell he knows he will make the next one. You need confident shooters. He gives 100% every time he steps out on the court in practice and 110% in games.

Defense. He’s everywhere. Even reputable players struggle with Sasha on guard, and I am convinced that, that is why they are forced to foul, and foul hard. Players get annoyed at Sasha because they see him as a little nuisance that, for some reason, they just can’t seem to get past. I will forever vow revenge on Carmelo for daring to intentionally choke poor little Sasha.

He’s “The Machine!” A nickname he did not, in fact, give himself, but rather, is called such for his amazing 3-point shooting abilities! This season Sasha shot 44% from the 3-point line. And if you can recall as well as I do, the games in which Sasha’s 3-point shot sealed the deal for a Lakers win: first back in 2005 in OT against the Jazz, Sasha put the Lakers in the lead making both free throws, then proceeded to secure the win with a 3-pointer. Last year again, against the Mavs, he not only shot his career high in points, but broke Dallas’ winning streak with a game-winning 3. Sasha has definitely saved the day before. And it’ll happen again – perhaps in these playoffs, he’ll have a chance to become the new Horry. Sasha can pull through when it matters the most.

The hair, the headband, the heart. With all of these components, Sasha is that player so loveable you can’t help but like. So he grew his hair to juxtapose his baby face. But he’s still cute. He wears a woman’s headband given to him by a Lakers girl. But he’s still cute. (And at least he doesn’t have to constantly slick his bangs to the side every time he goes to make a shot, i.e., Kyle Kutcher Korver.) That aside, Sasha brings the intensity to the court. The flame was always there, and now Sasha is on fire. Gradually he is becoming a valuable asset to the Lakers, a player not only looked to for comic relief, but as a necessity to the team. All in all, Sasha has proved to be able to get the job done when it counts. He'll continue to improve, and one day you will all embrace Sasha as a respectable NBA player with as much intensity as his bearhug "manhug" to Pau Gasol.

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Liveblogging: Lakers-Utah

Just as a disclaimer, I think the Lakers are going to win this one. And it is because I've been saying that it's over in 6 that I'm rooting for them to win. Otherwise I am completely unbiased. Now lets get on with it.

• The Cavs-Celtics game finally ended! For those of you who dared question me when I said Cavs in 7 all I have to say is this is why I run a sports blog and you don't! Just kidding guys! I'm kind of scared about game 7, but I'm rooting for the Cavs all the way so that I can feel like a genius.
• Lakers are starting the game really fast. This is a very nice change from the last Utah home games, where they would get lost on offense a lot.
• I never noticed before but Carlos Boozer's free throws have some amazing arc. I wonder if he shoots a lot better now and days.
• Man I can't get enough of this Laker offense, everything is so smooth.
  
• Lakers now up 24-12. Uh oh Utah. Utah just keeps on taking fade-aways.
  
• Man who else saw Pau almost lose the ball then pick it back up and try a little floater when vlad was wide open for a dunk. Give him the ball man! Vlad ended up tipping it in anyways. But still, where's the respect.
• Hubie Brown just said Kobe is averaging 33-7-7. What?? I haven't been following stats but those are dominating numbers. They all came really quietly...Is that a good thing or a bad thing?? I think it really shows me that the Lakers have truly become a team now.
• I can't wait for next year, when Vlad really gets integrated into the offense. This guy has a lot of potential, even though at times its really, really, really hard to see some times! But Phil agrees with me! He told me over lunch. That's why he's been starting Vlad for the last couple months.
  
• 2nd quarter 11:40, Korver misses a three. Who would you rather have Vujacic or Korver??? Sasha hands-down!!
• Did you know Sasha stole Vlad's nickname??? From wikipedia: "Was nicknamed "THE MACHINE" by Supersonics announcer Kevin Calabro, after his resemblance to NFL quarterback Joe Namath."
• I know you guys saw Korver hit a 3 right after I picked Sasha. And I KNOW you saw SAsha hit one right after!! Thank you, thank you....
• And there's Sasha taking it to the hole, 7pts!! 3 for 3 !!!
• Who else thinks that live-blogging is weird. Am I supposed to comment on every single play??
  
• Matt Harpring is being a little overly aggressive now while guarding Kobe. I hope no one gets into a fight tonight..... Who am i kidding!!
• Derek Fisher cookie!!!!!!!!
• Derek Fisher assisst!!!
• Kobe dunk!!!
• by the way, when is Kobe ever going to do a one-handed dunk... the last one must have been when he dunked over Steve Nash two years ago.
• Lakers in 6?? What did I say??
• Time-out now, finally. Lakers 50 - Utah 35. This liveblogging is so much work. I hope 50,000 people read this.

• I just saw a commercial for the WNBA, featuring Candice Parker. I happened to watch the Women's final four with Tenessee. Anyone else?? I still cant believe the half time speech Pat Summit gave Candice Parker. She guilt tripped her into playing with her injury!
• Utah is in a zone now.. zones work well against teams who can't shoot. Zones used to destroy the Lakers when they had Smush Parker. I will stop there.
• Trevor Ariza is cleared to play??? Now they have a lockdown defender.. this will come in handy for them vs. the Spurs. Did I just? Yes I did.
• What is C.J. miles doing...Deron Williams must want to kill him.
• Derek Fisher cookie!!!!
• Back to the man-to-man they go. What did I say. What did I say?? If you didn`t realize. I like being right, alot.

• Back from halftime. First sequence for Utah, and Deron Williams pulls off one of the nicest passes I have seen this playoffs. I could have sworn it curved in the air.
  
• Deron Williams is finally turning it on. But that and1 with 9:45 ish was a travel, undoubtedly. It's just questionable as to whether the foul or the travel came first.
  
• On that note, I think Derek Fisher could beat up Deron Williams easily. Williams is pretty buff, but I think he has a pretty small frame. That's why he is so deceptively quick!
• I think the Lakers will have the most efficient offense in the leauge next year. They might not score the most, but they're ridicuolously efficient.
• I love Pau's intensity. And I love how his personality meshes with the Lakers. I would rather have him than Kevin Garnett.
• Utah has been complaining all game about fouls. And by 3:25 left in the 3rd quarter they're even! I can't believe the fans were chanting "refs you suck! refs you suck!" I wonder if they put that on the jumbotron. Outrageous!!
• with the hanging fade away at the end of the 3rd, Kobe Bryant is officially back. For a moment, Lebron and Chris Paul were the most exciting and most dominant. But today marks when Kobe officially returns. So many people would say Keving Garnett was the best player of the first half, Chris Paul the best of the second half and Kobe was number 2 throughout the year. So they gave the MVP to him for being consistently "2nd best." That's over and done with.
• Man, there's a lot less to write about when the game is a blowout. If Kobe doesn't come back in during this time out (9 min left) then we've already seen the last of him for the conference semis.
• Man, 9 point game! I spoke too soon. Kobe is back in, and Paul Milsap is a beast. He's 6'8 and 258. I didn't know they came that huge! Lebron James is listed as 6`8 and 240. Ron Artest: 6`7 , 246; Elton Brand 6`8 and
  
• Matt Harpring is being outrageously physical. Kobe too, but I didn`t think they allowed this much contact anymore!
• Kobe 3 pointer in Matt Harprings face around 4:50. In game 4 Kobe would have tried to do too much, too soon. But as I said at the end of the 3rd quarter. He is officially back.
• These refs are loving the Lakers and these Jazz CANNOT miss. Mehmet okur is one of the clutchest big men I`ve ever seen.
• Hate to say it but, Kobe Bryant got twin towered. By Kirilenko and Okur with 1min left. One of the best tandem blocks I`ve ever seen!
• Sadly, all of these clutch Utah plays are far from enough.
• AGAIN! Kirilenko! It makes no difference! But this must be fun as heck for Utah fans. At least for the next 15 seconds.
• This is some horrible endof game defense by the Lakers. But again. 12 seconds until the end of Utah.
  
• MY GOODNESS, Utah had 3 chances to tie the game with a 3 and make me eat my feet.
  

Well that`s the end! I`ll end by saying that I LOVE being right =). Till next time folks.

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