timschochet
Footballguy
Lakers have fallen apart. Terrible collapse.
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Dr. Gobbler welched out on his bet from year ago in this thread (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter timschochet
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timschochet
Footballguy
Two losses in a row to teams that are injury ridden. Just awful.
Dr. Gobbler
Footballguy
Hey Kobe, maybe someone else should take the last shot for a while, you're stinking up the place!
Dave Baker
Damn glad to meet you
Big win for the Lakers. I finally saw a glimpse of what this team could be with an excellent point guard. It was the first time since Sessions arrival that Bryant figured out how to play off him. The book on Sessions remains that he's good at everything but great at nothing. Sounds pretty great to me. For those old-timers that might remember me, I've been called a pessimist many times here. But I always like to think I call them as I see them. And I'm optimistic now after watching last night's game, esepecially after reading some of Kobe's comments afterwards. Kobe seems to realize how much easier it will be on his game if he lets Sessions control the ball.
Sure, Bynum still needs to grow up. Brown's idea of offense is pathetic. MWP looks old. But Bynum is proving those of us who continued to sing his praise in the past correct, as he can be dynamic and easily the second best center in the game. Brown arguably has done a competent job without any time to practice a new system. And MWP still has the best hands in the game.
I still think David Stern is an idiot and needs to retire. His rejection of a trade when he had previously told the Hornets GM was his to make caused terrible consequences for the Lakers, Houston and worst off the Hornets. I said at the time that the trade with the Clippers made the value of the Hornets worse (several pages back). Nobody here agreed with me (via a post). Seems like I have been proven right.
But thanks to Kupchak, the Lakers have been patient and made the right moves. Hopefully the next dozen games will bear out my assessment, which is that the Lakers are ready to roll and might even be the third best team in the league by the end of the season (behind only Miami and Chicago), with a solid chance of winning it all.
Sure, Bynum still needs to grow up. Brown's idea of offense is pathetic. MWP looks old. But Bynum is proving those of us who continued to sing his praise in the past correct, as he can be dynamic and easily the second best center in the game. Brown arguably has done a competent job without any time to practice a new system. And MWP still has the best hands in the game.
I still think David Stern is an idiot and needs to retire. His rejection of a trade when he had previously told the Hornets GM was his to make caused terrible consequences for the Lakers, Houston and worst off the Hornets. I said at the time that the trade with the Clippers made the value of the Hornets worse (several pages back). Nobody here agreed with me (via a post). Seems like I have been proven right.
But thanks to Kupchak, the Lakers have been patient and made the right moves. Hopefully the next dozen games will bear out my assessment, which is that the Lakers are ready to roll and might even be the third best team in the league by the end of the season (behind only Miami and Chicago), with a solid chance of winning it all.
DaveGrumbles
Footballguy
Yeah I thought Gasol and Kobe had kind of an epiphany moment last night playing the pick n roll. There was a play last night where Kobe didn't make his cut off the pick and the ball sailed by him. Bad play, but I thought it was glimpse of where the Lakers are right now. They will need to find that timing and familiarity with this offense and Sessions to gain consistency. People make judgements about the offense, but it didn't have an engine without a true PG. Now you can see what an impact even a guy like Ramon Sessions can have on players like Bynum, Gasol, Kobe. Those guys have had to work so hard for their own shots for years and especially this season. Sessions is giving these guys easy looks and more importantly you can see the effect he's having on the bench that can now put points on the board by pushing the pace. It's too bad the Lakers couldn't make this move earlier in the year.
tommyGunZ
Footballguy
Agree whole-heartedly. It is amazing how much better this team can be with an above average pg like Sessions. I couldn't be happier with the way he's looked. It's startling, and really shows how washed up Fish has been for a long time. Sessions was a difference maker last night, as was Pau. When he's making those mid-to-long range jumpers, this team can beat anyone.
timschochet
Footballguy
They still have to clean up their defense though. Some of the easy looks Utah, Houston, and Dallas got were very troublesome. But I do agree there's reason for optimism.
Can we beat Oklahoma City's speed in a 7 game series?
Can we beat Oklahoma City's speed in a 7 game series?
timschochet
Footballguy
Watching last night's game, it's pretty obvious that Sessions has completely changed the entire nature of this team. The only problem with starting him is that the bench suddenly became as weak as always, allowing Portland to come back into it.
My conclusion: Brown needs to tweak his rotation so that it's extremely rare that both Sessions and Kobe are on the bench at the same time.
My conclusion: Brown needs to tweak his rotation so that it's extremely rare that both Sessions and Kobe are on the bench at the same time.
tommyGunZ
Footballguy
Still want DFish starting and playing 30 mins a game tim?
Judge Smails
Footballguy
I may have to eat some crow about the Lakers this year. Whole new team with Sessions. Just a tremendous move by the front office.
timschochet
Footballguy
I love Fish and always will. When he made big plays in the playoffs and shut up the complainers (like YOU!) in previous years, that made me happy. I will never discount Fish's accomplishments on this team. But obviously, at the present time, they are a better team with Sessions. .
Monkeyface Prickleback
Footballguy
No doubt, they look amazing right now, getting owned on their own court by the Memphis Timbergrizzlies, I think it was. And the chemistry going on? Awesome! Kobe is definitely in synch with his coach and teammates.
timschochet
Footballguy
The Lakers looked terrible last night. They missed a whole bunch of open shots (especially Pau), played horrible defense, the bench was terrible, and there may be a problem between Kobe and Brown. Three issues really bother me:
1. The Lakers interior defense has been getting shredded more often than not in the last few weeks. I don't know what's going on exactly, but we're allowing easy looks to the basket, and also giving up offensive rebounds. They've got to find a way to fix it before the playoffs, or they will be short-lived.
2. Now that Sessions is starting, the bench is putrid. I don't understand Brown's rotations. Why are Blake, McRoberts, and MWP playing at the same time? That almost guarantees no offense. I'm going to repeat what I wrote a few days ago: there should never be a time when both Sessions and Kobe are off the court. There should never be a time when both Bynum and Gasol are off the court. By the time the playoffs begin I would limit the Lakers to a 7 man rotation: the 5 starters, plus Blake and Barnes.
3. Not sure what happened at the end of the game with Kobe last night. Neither Brown nor Kobe are talking. But there is no excuse to bench Kobe while there's still a chance to come back and win. Hopefully this will be resolved. If not, obviously it's a real problem.
1. The Lakers interior defense has been getting shredded more often than not in the last few weeks. I don't know what's going on exactly, but we're allowing easy looks to the basket, and also giving up offensive rebounds. They've got to find a way to fix it before the playoffs, or they will be short-lived.
2. Now that Sessions is starting, the bench is putrid. I don't understand Brown's rotations. Why are Blake, McRoberts, and MWP playing at the same time? That almost guarantees no offense. I'm going to repeat what I wrote a few days ago: there should never be a time when both Sessions and Kobe are off the court. There should never be a time when both Bynum and Gasol are off the court. By the time the playoffs begin I would limit the Lakers to a 7 man rotation: the 5 starters, plus Blake and Barnes.
3. Not sure what happened at the end of the game with Kobe last night. Neither Brown nor Kobe are talking. But there is no excuse to bench Kobe while there's still a chance to come back and win. Hopefully this will be resolved. If not, obviously it's a real problem.
B-Deep
Footballguy
f'n warmonger
Gr00vus
Footballguy
If only I had a stack of doom that the Lakers could play at the 3.
timschochet
Footballguy
And more drama for the Lakers tonight: Andrew Bynum benched for most of the 2nd half.
tommyGunZ
Footballguy
timschochet
Footballguy
Yeah, but what's with Bynum? The rest of the bench are on their feet cheering, and Andrew is just sitting there sulking like he doesn't care. I see problems ahead...
tommyGunZ
Footballguy
He'll get over it. He laid an egg tonight. He's got elite skills but not an elite motor. That's why I really hoped we'd deal him for that Hemi wearing #12 in Orlando.
EZD222
Footballguy
There are number of players in the NBA like that. Those players don't win championships. Good luck post Kobe with him as your center piece.
tommyGunZ
Footballguy
Agreed. Just makes you appreciate guys like Kobe even more. What's Kobe made, 250M in his career? Has 5 rings. Yet on a Tuesday night in Oakland he's out there playing as hard and with more energy and hunger than anyone.
If Bynum does not get it by now he will never get it. Some people just have a screw lose. Just can't reason with them. You think you did but 10 minutes later their mind is erased and back to crazy. Bynum is a buffon. A child. He even talks like a baby. Listen to him.
Such an underserving pissant.
Such an underserving pissant.
Beerguzzler
Footballguy
Yea I'm starting to lose faith that Bynum will ever grow up. He's dominant one game, then an idiot the next two. I wish Kobe would rub off on him more. I'm going to be sad to see Kobe retire in a few years. We more than likely wont see another dude like him.
Monkeyface Prickleback
Footballguy
B-Deep
Footballguy
If Kobe could learn to rub off more he would have avoided a lot of problems, i would not hold out for it now.
Cliff Clavin
Footballguy
DaveGrumbles
Footballguy
Kobe lauded for playing hard while Bynum is a 'head case' for forcing up one terribly bad shot? Seems like Laker fans will always hold the guy up to some silly standard on and off the court that is never expected of Kobe. If Bynum cries about a foul, sulks on the bench, takes a bad shot,...end of the world. Trade his ###! Because Kobe is such a pro and he would NEVER do such things. The benching was meaningless anyway...I figured Kobe's incredible shooting display took Bynum out of the game somewhere toward the end of the first quarter anyway.
BRONG
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
Been saying this over and over but super bandwagoners like GunZ and Sedork can't see through their purple Jabbar goggles (who they never once saw, btw). They will defend that dumb thug to no end.
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timschochet
Footballguy
Speaklng of Bynum, he has a sprained ankle.
BRONG
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY
We know. And besides his unfixable head, it's only a matter of time with the knees. Ticking time bomb that could've been the greatest sell-high ever.
tommyGunZ
Footballguy
The same Bynum who went for 19 and 10, and 25 and 13, on 68% shooting the last two games? That's the guy who you're saying is a total mess and is lost? And the "thug" you're talking about got 40 tonight, and happens to be a top 10 all time player?Apparently seeing Jabbar ruined your ability to analyze hoops, Chachi.
tommyGunZ
Footballguy
Yeah, he's got some issues. But I don't think he's a bad kid.
Monkeyface Prickleback
Footballguy
FIrst of all, we are talking about Bynum, not Kobe. HTHAnd throwing around selective statistics of different players
does nothing to prove your point. Which is what, btw? That Bynum is not an idiot? Sorry, he is.But since you bring up Kobe, let's go there. He just had his worst two shooting games of his entire career. But NO, OMG he put up 40 against the GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS TONIGHT!!!!@1! Also, he's not getting older, I swear!
Look, go on sucking Kobe's Golden State stat line teat all you want, it has nothing to do with the fact the Lakes are crumbling before your blind eyes.
Anyway, fact is Bynum is not what you keep wishing he could be. And he'll never be that guy. He's had more than enough time, yet you'll still defend your boy more than a little league parent. Of course, when he finally wears another jersey -- a day that cannot come soon enough -- you'll hate him and say it was a brilliant move by Mitch.
HTH
timschochet
Footballguy
The Lakers are obviously really struggling right now, especially on defense. They get lazy in games, and that leads to close outcomes which forces Brown to play the older vets like Kobe and Gasol more minutes. That's not good.
On the other hand, though, it's not the end of the world. I think this team is built to play very well in the playoffs, and that's all that matters. I like their chances against anyone not named the Thunder. Against the Thunder they will most likely lose.
In the offseason this team has got to get more depth, they need to release Artest and sign a new small forward. And they've got to improve the bench. They don't need any more superstars, but they do need to spend some money. If they can accomplish this, I still think Kobe's got 1 or 2 more championship runs in him.
On the other hand, though, it's not the end of the world. I think this team is built to play very well in the playoffs, and that's all that matters. I like their chances against anyone not named the Thunder. Against the Thunder they will most likely lose.
In the offseason this team has got to get more depth, they need to release Artest and sign a new small forward. And they've got to improve the bench. They don't need any more superstars, but they do need to spend some money. If they can accomplish this, I still think Kobe's got 1 or 2 more championship runs in him.
Monkeyface Prickleback
Footballguy
Yeah, he's got some issues. But I don't think he's a bad kid.
Always love the first hint of a backtrack. Short Corner
Footballguy
But wait, they just had two incredible wins over teams that more interestde in protecting their draft status.
And throwing around selective statistics of different players
But since you bring up Kobe, let's go there. He just had his worst two shooting games of his entire career. But NO, OMG he put up 40 against the GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS TONIGHT!!!!@1! Also, he's not getting older, I swear!
Look, go on sucking Kobe's Golden State stat line teat all you want, it has nothing to do with the fact the Lakes are crumbling before your blind eyes.
Anyway, fact is Bynum is not what you keep wishing he could be. And he'll never be that guy. He's had more than enough time, yet you'll still defend your boy more than a little league parent. Of course, when he finally wears another jersey -- a day that cannot come soon enough -- you'll hate him and say it was a brilliant move by Mitch.
JMon348
Footballguy
And throwing around selective statistics of different players
But since you bring up Kobe, let's go there. He just had his worst two shooting games of his entire career. But NO, OMG he put up 40 against the GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS TONIGHT!!!!@1! Also, he's not getting older, I swear!
Look, go on sucking Kobe's Golden State stat line teat all you want, it has nothing to do with the fact the Lakes are crumbling before your blind eyes.
Anyway, fact is Bynum is not what you keep wishing he could be. And he'll never be that guy. He's had more than enough time, yet you'll still defend your boy more than a little league parent. Of course, when he finally wears another jersey -- a day that cannot come soon enough -- you'll hate him and say it was a brilliant move by Mitch.
All time Laker steal list. Closing in on another!
