*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (3 Viewers)

[Britney Spears]

drummer is to basketball as jim11 is to politics?

I've never read any of the politics threads here, but if 80% of Jim's posts are about Cliffs gonads, then I'd say that's an appropriate comparison.

 

[drummer]

drummer is to basketball as jim11 is to politics?

I've never read any of the politics threads here, but if 80% of Jim's posts are about Cliffs gonads, then I'd say that's an appropriate comparison.

It's Skrubs on Ferris' gonads. Try to get your trolling correct.

 

[Britney Spears]

drummer is to basketball as jim11 is to politics?

I've never read any of the politics threads here, but if 80% of Jim's posts are about Cliffs gonads, then I'd say that's an appropriate comparison.

It's Skrubs on Ferris' gonads. Try to get your trolling correct.

Whatever, it's teste related.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

This L is straight up on #24. Killed them today.

Gotta give the coaching a close second. Toronto has no one that can defend inside. Johnson played about 5 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. Davis has no hope of stopping Gasol or Howard. Gray at least has the size but is slow and would have been on the bench with foul trouble right away. What do the Lakers do? Jack up outside shots (led by Kobe of course). They few times Gasol did get the ball, he scored with ease. Did they not see what Boozer just did to them? Cousins? How many pick and rolls was Nash in today? 2? 3? Only one I really recall ended in a Gasol dunk. Kobe sure didn't do much of a job slowing down Calderon.

 

[drummer]

drummer is to basketball as jim11 is to politics?

I've never read any of the politics threads here, but if 80% of Jim's posts are about Cliffs gonads, then I'd say that's an appropriate comparison.

It's Skrubs on Ferris' gonads. Try to get your trolling correct.

Whatever, it's teste related.

Of course. Always appropiate when dealing with FFA Laker trolls.

 

[Popinski]

This L is straight up on #24. Killed them today.

Gotta give the coaching a close second. Toronto has no one that can defend inside. Johnson played about 5 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. Davis has no hope of stopping Gasol or Howard. Gray at least has the size but is slow and would have been on the bench with foul trouble right away. What do the Lakers do? Jack up outside shots (led by Kobe of course). They few times Gasol did get the ball, he scored with ease. Did they not see what Boozer just did to them? Cousins? How many pick and rolls was Nash in today? 2? 3? Only one I really recall ended in a Gasol dunk. Kobe sure didn't do much of a job slowing down Calderon.

I only saw the box score and just assumed it was Nash mainly defending him. Was it actually Kobe covering him for significant parts?

 

[Balco]

This Lakers team is pretty bad. Have to wonder what they do at the deadline. Wonder if they talk to the Nets in a Howard for Brook Lopez and change swap. Although not sure if Brooklyn can afford to sign Howard to an extension.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

This L is straight up on #24. Killed them today.

Gotta give the coaching a close second. Toronto has no one that can defend inside. Johnson played about 5 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. Davis has no hope of stopping Gasol or Howard. Gray at least has the size but is slow and would have been on the bench with foul trouble right away. What do the Lakers do? Jack up outside shots (led by Kobe of course). They few times Gasol did get the ball, he scored with ease. Did they not see what Boozer just did to them? Cousins? How many pick and rolls was Nash in today? 2? 3? Only one I really recall ended in a Gasol dunk. Kobe sure didn't do much of a job slowing down Calderon.

I only saw the box score and just assumed it was Nash mainly defending him. Was it actually Kobe covering him for significant parts?

He started the game (when the Raptors got up big) and finished the game on him. Obviously not every possession but quite a few. A simple screen, Kobe would get lost and Calderon would make an open jumper. Sometimes they tried to hide Kobe on Fields (8/11).

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

This Lakers team is pretty bad. Have to wonder what they do at the deadline. Wonder if they talk to the Nets in a Howard for Brook Lopez and change swap. Although not sure if Brooklyn can afford to sign Howard to an extension.

Agree they're bad, but I don't see why if you're an old non-playoff team why you'd deal Howard and not one of Gasol,Kobe,Nash.I think Gasol's most likely to go if they do make a move.

 

[Zaxxon]

This Lakers team is pretty bad. Have to wonder what they do at the deadline. Wonder if they talk to the Nets in a Howard for Brook Lopez and change swap. Although not sure if Brooklyn can afford to sign Howard to an extension.

Agree they're bad, but I don't see why if you're an old non-playoff team why you'd deal Howard and not one of Gasol,Kobe,Nash.I think Gasol's most likely to go if they do make a move.

Plus Kobe has a no-trade clause.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

This Lakers team is pretty bad. Have to wonder what they do at the deadline. Wonder if they talk to the Nets in a Howard for Brook Lopez and change swap. Although not sure if Brooklyn can afford to sign Howard to an extension.

Agree they're bad, but I don't see why if you're an old non-playoff team why you'd deal Howard and not one of Gasol,Kobe,Nash.I think Gasol's most likely to go if they do make a move.

Move all three of them. They aren't going to be much better, if any, next year.ETA: By three, I mean Gasol, Nash and Howard. No one is going to touch Kobe and his bloated ego/contract.

 

[tommyGunZ]

This Lakers team is pretty bad. Have to wonder what they do at the deadline. Wonder if they talk to the Nets in a Howard for Brook Lopez and change swap. Although not sure if Brooklyn can afford to sign Howard to an extension.

Agree they're bad, but I don't see why if you're an old non-playoff team why you'd deal Howard and not one of Gasol,Kobe,Nash.I think Gasol's most likely to go if they do make a move.

Move all three of them. They aren't going to be much better, if any, next year.ETA: By three, I mean Gasol, Nash and Howard. No one is going to touch Kobe and his bloated ego/contract.

LOL. Toronto would trade their entire roster for Kobe for the simple fact that they might be able to lure more than 3000 fans into the building.

 

[Britney Spears]

Question: Why is the perception that Gasol/Howard cannot work, when Gasol/Bynum worked very well at times?

 

[hxperson]

This Lakers team is pretty bad. Have to wonder what they do at the deadline. Wonder if they talk to the Nets in a Howard for Brook Lopez and change swap. Although not sure if Brooklyn can afford to sign Howard to an extension.

Agree they're bad, but I don't see why if you're an old non-playoff team why you'd deal Howard and not one of Gasol,Kobe,Nash.I think Gasol's most likely to go if they do make a move.

Move all three of them. They aren't going to be much better, if any, next year.ETA: By three, I mean Gasol, Nash and Howard. No one is going to touch Kobe and his bloated ego/contract.

LOL. Toronto would trade their entire roster for Kobe for the simple fact that they might be able to lure more than 3000 fans into the building.

The Raptors have A LOT of problems. More than perhaps 95% of most NBA teams. Fan attendance is not one of them.

 

[tommyGunZ]

This Lakers team is pretty bad. Have to wonder what they do at the deadline. Wonder if they talk to the Nets in a Howard for Brook Lopez and change swap. Although not sure if Brooklyn can afford to sign Howard to an extension.

Agree they're bad, but I don't see why if you're an old non-playoff team why you'd deal Howard and not one of Gasol,Kobe,Nash.I think Gasol's most likely to go if they do make a move.

Move all three of them. They aren't going to be much better, if any, next year.ETA: By three, I mean Gasol, Nash and Howard. No one is going to touch Kobe and his bloated ego/contract.

LOL. Toronto would trade their entire roster for Kobe for the simple fact that they might be able to lure more than 3000 fans into the building.

The Raptors have A LOT of problems. More than perhaps 95% of most NBA teams. Fan attendance is not one of them.

I stand corrected - just looked at the attendance figures. Very surprising. New respect for Toronto hoops fans.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

This Lakers team is pretty bad. Have to wonder what they do at the deadline. Wonder if they talk to the Nets in a Howard for Brook Lopez and change swap. Although not sure if Brooklyn can afford to sign Howard to an extension.

Agree they're bad, but I don't see why if you're an old non-playoff team why you'd deal Howard and not one of Gasol,Kobe,Nash.I think Gasol's most likely to go if they do make a move.

Move all three of them. They aren't going to be much better, if any, next year.ETA: By three, I mean Gasol, Nash and Howard. No one is going to touch Kobe and his bloated ego/contract.

LOL. Toronto would trade their entire roster for Kobe for the simple fact that they might be able to lure more than 3000 fans into the building.

LOL nope. For a team that has been terrible for years, they have a great fanbase.

 

[Balco]

This Lakers team is pretty bad. Have to wonder what they do at the deadline. Wonder if they talk to the Nets in a Howard for Brook Lopez and change swap. Although not sure if Brooklyn can afford to sign Howard to an extension.

Agree they're bad, but I don't see why if you're an old non-playoff team why you'd deal Howard and not one of Gasol,Kobe,Nash.I think Gasol's most likely to go if they do make a move.

Move all three of them. They aren't going to be much better, if any, next year.ETA: By three, I mean Gasol, Nash and Howard. No one is going to touch Kobe and his bloated ego/contract.

For better or worse, I think Kobe remains as a Laker. Think he would be a fantastic number 2, he just needs to realize it.The only way Gasol gets traded is if Howard agrees to an extension (which I put at 25%). If Howard bolts, they need Gasol, and he only has 1 year left on his contract.Not sure what team could possibly want Steve Nash and his contract that runs through his age 41 season. That leaves Howard as the only player who can fetch players to help the Lakers rebuilding process. They could get more at the deadline than during a sign and trade in the offseason, IMO. Probably can do a 3 teamer. I mentioned Brook Lopez, but they should also be able to get a couple more pieces.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

This Lakers team is pretty bad. Have to wonder what they do at the deadline. Wonder if they talk to the Nets in a Howard for Brook Lopez and change swap. Although not sure if Brooklyn can afford to sign Howard to an extension.

Agree they're bad, but I don't see why if you're an old non-playoff team why you'd deal Howard and not one of Gasol,Kobe,Nash.I think Gasol's most likely to go if they do make a move.

Move all three of them. They aren't going to be much better, if any, next year.ETA: By three, I mean Gasol, Nash and Howard. No one is going to touch Kobe and his bloated ego/contract.

For better or worse, I think Kobe remains as a Laker. Think he would be a fantastic number 2, he just needs to realize it.The only way Gasol gets traded is if Howard agrees to an extension (which I put at 25%). If Howard bolts, they need Gasol, and he only has 1 year left on his contract.Not sure what team could possibly want Steve Nash and his contract that runs through his age 41 season. That leaves Howard as the only player who can fetch players to help the Lakers rebuilding process. They could get more at the deadline than during a sign and trade in the offseason, IMO. Probably can do a 3 teamer. I mentioned Brook Lopez, but they should also be able to get a couple more pieces.

If Kobe can't slow down his hero ball when he has Nash, Gasol and Howard out there, I highly doubt he'll ever take a backseat to anyone. Nash is the same guy he was last year that almost took a putrid Suns team to the playoffs by himself. The problem is that he isn't being allowed to run an offense and there is no one on LA to push the ball with. I think he'll still be a good at 41. At absolute worst, he is a money shooter of the bench that'll gave you a solid 15-20 minutes as backup. I would really love to see the Raptors make a play for Gasol. Give up Bargnani and Davis for him. I'm not sure what other team would really be a better fit for him or who else would be interested. Howard makes the most sense to trade but he is probably going to be a ##### about where he wants to play and really limit what LA can get in return. I'd think they'd get a better return trading him at the deadline. I'd really like to see Kobe sit out a few weeks to see what the Lakers look like with Nash running the offense.

 

[drummer]

 

[Britney Spears]

This Lakers team is pretty bad. Have to wonder what they do at the deadline. Wonder if they talk to the Nets in a Howard for Brook Lopez and change swap. Although not sure if Brooklyn can afford to sign Howard to an extension.

Agree they're bad, but I don't see why if you're an old non-playoff team why you'd deal Howard and not one of Gasol,Kobe,Nash.I think Gasol's most likely to go if they do make a move.

Move all three of them. They aren't going to be much better, if any, next year.ETA: By three, I mean Gasol, Nash and Howard. No one is going to touch Kobe and his bloated ego/contract.

For better or worse, I think Kobe remains as a Laker. Think he would be a fantastic number 2, he just needs to realize it.The only way Gasol gets traded is if Howard agrees to an extension (which I put at 25%). If Howard bolts, they need Gasol, and he only has 1 year left on his contract.Not sure what team could possibly want Steve Nash and his contract that runs through his age 41 season. That leaves Howard as the only player who can fetch players to help the Lakers rebuilding process. They could get more at the deadline than during a sign and trade in the offseason, IMO. Probably can do a 3 teamer. I mentioned Brook Lopez, but they should also be able to get a couple more pieces.

One thing we've learned is that NBA teams are always willing to step up and make a terrible trade to help LA out. I wouldn't rule out anything.

 

[tommyGunZ]

This Laker fan wants them to do nothing. Maybe trade Pau, but only if there is value in return - do not just dump his salary.Otherwise, let Dwight and Pau get healthy, and give the core longer to gel and learn the offense. The NBA isn't fantasy basketball. You can't just pick all stars and expect them to immediately win championships, especially when 3/4ths of the All Star core have been hurt.

 

[the moops]

You can't just pick all stars and expect them to immediately win championships

This is true. However, you also don't expect them to 6 games under .500 at the halfway point.

 

[Popinski]

This L is straight up on #24. Killed them today.

Gotta give the coaching a close second. Toronto has no one that can defend inside. Johnson played about 5 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble. Davis has no hope of stopping Gasol or Howard. Gray at least has the size but is slow and would have been on the bench with foul trouble right away. What do the Lakers do? Jack up outside shots (led by Kobe of course). They few times Gasol did get the ball, he scored with ease. Did they not see what Boozer just did to them? Cousins?

How many pick and rolls was Nash in today? 2? 3? Only one I really recall ended in a Gasol dunk.

Kobe sure didn't do much of a job slowing down Calderon.

I only saw the box score and just assumed it was Nash mainly defending him. Was it actually Kobe covering him for significant parts?

He started the game (when the Raptors got up big) and finished the game on him. Obviously not every possession but quite a few. A simple screen, Kobe would get lost and Calderon would make an open jumper. Sometimes they tried to hide Kobe on Fields (8/11).

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

This Laker fan wants them to do nothing. Maybe trade Pau, but only if there is value in return - do not just dump his salary.Otherwise, let Dwight and Pau get healthy, and give the core longer to gel and learn the offense. The NBA isn't fantasy basketball. You can't just pick all stars and expect them to immediately win championships, especially when 3/4ths of the All Star core have been hurt.

Can you expect them to make the playoffs?

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

You can't just pick all stars and expect them to immediately win championships

Who said they were expecting a championship immediately?How bout the playoffs? Too much to ask? Or were expectations set lower than that immediately?

 

[Britney Spears]

This Laker fan wants them to do nothing. Maybe trade Pau, but only if there is value in return - do not just dump his salary.Otherwise, let Dwight and Pau get healthy, and give the core longer to gel and learn the offense. The NBA isn't fantasy basketball. You can't just pick all stars and expect them to immediately win championships, especially when 3/4ths of the All Star core have been hurt.

I would expect that roster to immediately win championships or at least contend. Boston won the year they assembled the big 3. The Heat lost in the finals (and were viewed as a failure) the year they got James & Bosh. On the surface, the Lakers have a great fit in terms of talent with stars that are willing to be afterthoughts on offense (Nash & Gasol), and a backstop to cover for the poor aging defenders around him. Shoot, even Artest is a former DPOY. They are just doing a terrible job is managing that talent & injuries have compounded the problem.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

This Laker fan wants them to do nothing. Maybe trade Pau, but only if there is value in return - do not just dump his salary.Otherwise, let Dwight and Pau get healthy, and give the core longer to gel and learn the offense. The NBA isn't fantasy basketball. You can't just pick all stars and expect them to immediately win championships, especially when 3/4ths of the All Star core have been hurt.

Lots of teams overall haul their cores with a less talent and they "gel" much better. Their problems are from a gross misuse of talent caused by coaching and hero ball.

 

[simmonjm]

Serious question how much better would the Lakers be right now if they had kept Mike Brown?

 

[EYLive]

Serious question how much better would the Lakers be right now if they had kept Mike Brown?

Probably -5 games in the win column.

 

[tommyGunZ]

This Laker fan wants them to do nothing. Maybe trade Pau, but only if there is value in return - do not just dump his salary.Otherwise, let Dwight and Pau get healthy, and give the core longer to gel and learn the offense. The NBA isn't fantasy basketball. You can't just pick all stars and expect them to immediately win championships, especially when 3/4ths of the All Star core have been hurt.

I would expect that roster to immediately win championships or at least contend. Boston won the year they assembled the big 3. The Heat lost in the finals (and were viewed as a failure) the year they got James & Bosh. On the surface, the Lakers have a great fit in terms of talent with stars that are willing to be afterthoughts on offense (Nash & Gasol), and a backstop to cover for the poor aging defenders around him. Shoot, even Artest is a former DPOY. They are just doing a terrible job is managing that talent & injuries have compounded the problem.

Agree with much of this. Changing coaching staffs and team philosophies two weeks into the season didn't help either.

 

[Moe.]

westbrook

 

[the moops]

westbrook

 

[ffldrew]

Nuggets with a hard fought OT win - nice scene of Westbook crying to the ref after the last play.

 

[ffldrew]

westbrook

and he did it another time in the game a few minutes after that

 

[Kev4029]

westbrook

I was at the game, it made for a little fun as the Nuggets were falling apart in the last 3 minutes. Booed him every time he touched the ball for the rest of the game. For those of you that don't know, Rocky does those half court shots every game. Takes typically probably 10 shots a game and makes a shot about every other game. For some awful reason its become a fan favorite thing, I think its awful. Rocky is pretty ####### cool though.

 

[drummer]

This Laker fan wants them to do nothing. Maybe trade Pau, but only if there is value in return - do not just dump his salary.Otherwise, let Dwight and Pau get healthy, and give the core longer to gel and learn the offense. The NBA isn't fantasy basketball. You can't just pick all stars and expect them to immediately win championships, especially when 3/4ths of the All Star core have been hurt.

I would expect that roster to immediately win championships or at least contend. Boston won the year they assembled the big 3. The Heat lost in the finals (and were viewed as a failure) the year they got James & Bosh. On the surface, the Lakers have a great fit in terms of talent with stars that are willing to be afterthoughts on offense (Nash & Gasol), and a backstop to cover for the poor aging defenders around him. Shoot, even Artest is a former DPOY. They are just doing a terrible job is managing that talent & injuries have compounded the problem.

Agree with much of this. Changing coaching staffs and team philosophies two weeks into the season didn't help either.

They will be changing it once more after the season. Unless Jimbo is really that stupid.

 

[Short Corner]

This Laker fan wants them to do nothing. Maybe trade Pau, but only if there is value in return - do not just dump his salary.Otherwise, let Dwight and Pau get healthy, and give the core longer to gel and learn the offense. The NBA isn't fantasy basketball. You can't just pick all stars and expect them to immediately win championships, especially when 3/4ths of the All Star core have been hurt.

I would expect that roster to immediately win championships or at least contend. Boston won the year they assembled the big 3. The Heat lost in the finals (and were viewed as a failure) the year they got James & Bosh. On the surface, the Lakers have a great fit in terms of talent with stars that are willing to be afterthoughts on offense (Nash & Gasol), and a backstop to cover for the poor aging defenders around him. Shoot, even Artest is a former DPOY. They are just doing a terrible job is managing that talent & injuries have compounded the problem.

Agree with much of this. Changing coaching staffs and team philosophies two weeks into the season didn't help either.

They will be changing it once more after the season. Unless Jimbo is really that stupid.

How long are they going to shell out $10M+/season before they cave to Phil?

 

[drummer]

This Laker fan wants them to do nothing. Maybe trade Pau, but only if there is value in return - do not just dump his salary.Otherwise, let Dwight and Pau get healthy, and give the core longer to gel and learn the offense. The NBA isn't fantasy basketball. You can't just pick all stars and expect them to immediately win championships, especially when 3/4ths of the All Star core have been hurt.

I would expect that roster to immediately win championships or at least contend. Boston won the year they assembled the big 3. The Heat lost in the finals (and were viewed as a failure) the year they got James & Bosh. On the surface, the Lakers have a great fit in terms of talent with stars that are willing to be afterthoughts on offense (Nash & Gasol), and a backstop to cover for the poor aging defenders around him. Shoot, even Artest is a former DPOY. They are just doing a terrible job is managing that talent & injuries have compounded the problem.

Agree with much of this. Changing coaching staffs and team philosophies two weeks into the season didn't help either.

They will be changing it once more after the season. Unless Jimbo is really that stupid.

How long are they going to shell out $10M+/season before they cave to Phil?

Is D'Antoni the kind of coach you rebuild a team with? Your point is salient, but the Lakers and cash aren't much of problem hand in hand. The Lakers are in transition more at the core of who owns and runs it then they are at who is on the roster. Even then, they still manage to get players. Jimbo did land Chris Paul, who combined with Howard can make a heckuva team with Bryant, Artest, without even thinking of trying to fit Gasol anywhere. So it isn't about the money being that the Lakers make a lot of money. I dunno if it's even poor management by the FO. It's all about who Jerry Buss leaves the franchise with. Jeannie could pull players into the franchise too. But she sleeps with PJ. It isn't about the $$ in as much as who has the power when LA Jerrah kicks the bucket. The Laker franchise IMO is very unstable with Jimbo. Without Bryant he would not had been able to pull a Howard or anybody to come to LA. Forget Skrubs' posts about Bryant and the Lakers. Bryant is the glue that keeps this franchise together.

 

[drummer]

BTW, Gasol is Radmonovich Reloaded.

 

[Cliff Clavin]

Saw an interesting stat this morning:

Lakers 6-20 when Kobe has 20+ FGA. 11-3 when he has 19 or less.

The glue that holds the franchise together.

 

[Juxtatarot]

Bad news for Laker fans?

Phil Jackson is "almost [a] living lock" to become the front office face of the Seattle-bound Sacramento Kings, according to a source.While Jackson won't coach, he will mentor the franchise's coach following the move to Seattle.

 

[Abraham]

Varrejo (sp) out for the year.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Varrejo (sp) out for the year.

The Cavs really should have traded him while he still had value.On the plus side, Thompson and Zeller are developing well.

 

[Ilov80s]

He has been way under the radar, but have you guys seen Andre Drummond yet this year? Is a year or two away from being the best big man in the league. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1486751-grading-andre-drummonds-early-performance-with-the-detroit-pistons

Drummond is currently ranked 13th in the league in blocks, 17th in offensive rebounds per game, 33rd in overall rebounds and once he qualifies would be in the top three in field goal percentage... 15th in the league in player efficiency.OK, so you have absorbed those statistics. Pretty impressive, huh?Now get ready to have your mind blown. Drummond has done all of the above despite ranking 171 in the league in minutes per game at a meager 19.7.

His per 36 mins stats are impressive, 13 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 1.5 steals

 

[Good Posting Judge]

He has been way under the radar, but have you guys seen Andre Drummond yet this year? Is a year or two away from being the best big man in the league. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1486751-grading-andre-drummonds-early-performance-with-the-detroit-pistons

Drummond is currently ranked 13th in the league in blocks, 17th in offensive rebounds per game, 33rd in overall rebounds and once he qualifies would be in the top three in field goal percentage... 15th in the league in player efficiency.OK, so you have absorbed those statistics. Pretty impressive, huh?Now get ready to have your mind blown. Drummond has done all of the above despite ranking 171 in the league in minutes per game at a meager 19.7.

His per 36 mins stats are impressive, 13 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 1.5 steals

 

[drummer]

Saw an interesting stat this morning:

Lakers 6-20 when Kobe has 20+ FGA. 11-3 when he has 19 or less.

The glue that holds the franchise together.

Your problem is that you don't watch very many games of Bryant and/or only read stats that really don't explain anything. Somebody in this thread recently put up his shooting stats in a game, then I posted the rest of the team's. If you're gonna cherry pick stats for a baseless argument, with the usual piss poor Skrubs' analysis, at least use the math better. That's just one of your problems with the Lakers. I can list a whole grocery cart full of them, once the Super Bowl is over.

For Britney, I'm not grumpy at all. The 49ers won. Make that one more team that I root for going to the Big Dance.

ETA:

Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 34 points on 14-24 field goal shooting versus New York, the ninth straight game that he has scored at least 30 points

Lakers won that game.

 

[drummer]

Just in case ANYBODY is wondering about the glue..

TORONTO — Yawn. The Lakers' snoozer of a season continued Sunday.

The Lakers faced a different challenge, a game starting at 10 a.m. Pacific time, and predictably failed, bleary-eyed and bumbling in a 108-103 loss to the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.

Dwight Howard was ejected before halftime, Kobe Bryant couldn't find the basket and the Lakers' defense was porous as usual.

It got worse when Bryant said he had dead legs. More ice baths were needed, he said, after the Lakers fell to 17-23.

"I've just got to rest my legs, man. My shot's just short," he said after scoring 26 points on dreadful 10-for-32 shooting. "That's on me. I'll take this loss on me, gladly. There's a lot of easy shots, a lot of them, that I should put down. And I will."

Bryant will have barely 24 hours to rest. The Lakers continue a three-game trip Monday in Chicago. Maybe Howard will finish that game after being tossed for a second time in four weeks.

He picked up a technical foul in the first quarter after arguing a non-call. Then he and Alan Anderson were each hit with a technical as they headed downcourt with 1 minute 18 seconds left in the second quarter.

Anderson appeared to be the aggressor, snarling at Howard while making contact with him, and the referees conferred for almost a minute to make sure they knew what they had just done. The decision stood. Howard stalked to the locker room, angrily.

He had never been ejected before his Dec. 26 dismissal for committing a flagrant foul on Denver forward Kenneth Faried. Now it's happening monthly.

"I don't want to talk about it, boss," said Howard, who eventually talked about it. "I didn't do anything to get ejected. [Anderson] pulled me. They called a double tech."

Howard, who had five points and two rebounds in 17 minutes, added, "We'll be fine. We'll get the game [Monday]."

The Lakers are now 5-13 on the road after failing to land any blows on their perennial punching bag, ruining a 25-6 record against the Raptors that included an 8-1 run since 2008.

The Lakers arrived at the arena 90 minutes before tip-off, at 8:30 a.m. L.A. time. They trailed by 16 in the first quarter.

Sleepy? Metta World Peace looked like it. He forgot he was supposed to reenter after a second-quarter timeout. He quickly threw off his sweats and sheepishly stepped onto the court.

Pau Gasol had 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting but didn't play great when it counted.

With the Lakers down seven and trying to make a comeback, Gasol's left-handed hook shot hit the side of the backboard with 2:03 to play. Then with the Lakers down six, Gasol failed to box out Amir Johnson, who rebounded Anderson's miss and scored on a layup with 1:02 to play.

Bryant, though, was supportive.

"We saw a steady diet of Pau in the post tonight, which I'm very, very happy about," he said. "We got a lot of easy things from him down there. We'll start seeing that more often."

Gasol wasn't so sure.

"We'll see what happens. Every game is a little different," said Gasol, a starter Sunday after coming off the bench Thursday against Miami. "I wish I had the answer and the certainty that things would happen a certain way, but I don't. We're searching, right?

"It's going to be a little more challenging when me and Dwight are on the court together, but I think if we can figure it out, it'll benefit everyone. And that's hopefully the point we'll reach sooner or later."

Bryant has been remarkably calm this season. He even said Sunday that all the blame should go his way from now on, claiming that unfavorable media coverage "creates a division."

"Everybody wants to know, 'What's the reason?' And whose fault it is, and this, that and the other. I'll just make it a little easier. Just point the finger at me. Let me take all that. This way, we don't have to worry about that as a team. I'll take the arrows … and we can try to figure out how to get out of this ditch."

What if Bryant helped create that ditch? His defensive assignment for most of the game Sunday, point guard Jose Calderon, had 22 points and nine assists for the Raptors (15-26), who shot 54.8%.

Almost every Lakers player was poor defensively. After Anderson blew past Gasol for a fourth-quarter layup, the 7-footer frowned, looked around and said, "Who's helping me?"

Of greater importance, will anybody help the Lakers. Anybody?

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

We are supposed to get something positive for the Lakers out of that article?

 

[drummer]

We are supposed to get something positive for the Lakers out of that article?

Am I posting it to make you feel good about them? In this FFA Skrubs thread?

 

[tommyGunZ]

Thx for sharing drummer.