Lakers Thread

When you have a chance to get the best center in the league by letting go of your talented but injury prone big man, you do it.
No doubt.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot.

Bynum for Howard - yes.
Bynum PLUS Gasol for Howard - NO

Like C-Webb said, all the divorce thing would make Kobe play better. 48 and 40.

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Kobe amazes me with his ass whooping 39.5% usage % this season, the most by anyone in the history of mankind. But he's also having probably the best season of his career if not close second.

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7428 ... s-shooting

The Black Mamba showed it off Tuesday night versus the Houston Rockets. Driving the lane but stuck with no room to shoot, he tossed the ball off the bottom of the backboard, caught it and laid it in.

Who says Kobe doesn't pass the ball?

"I should get an assist for that," Bryant said Wednesday from his car. "It's an intentional pass to oneself, so it's an assist. That way people can't say all I do is shoot."

Yes, but Kobe, with your right wrist swollen like a miniature Macy's float, wouldn't this be a good time to pass on a few--

--"I've shortened up my follow-through," he says.

Yes, but Kobe, according to ESPN research, you have the highest "usage rate" -- that's the number of possessions a player uses per 40 minutes -- in the NBA. In fact, your usage rate (38.9) would be the highest in the 3-point era of NBA--

--"Yeah," he says. "And I also have five rings."

Shut up haters. Haters be owned.

i don't want no first round exits anymore

The Lakers haven't exited the playoffs in the first round in five years. They exited in the first round in 2006 and 2007, and failed to make the playoffs in 2005. Prior to that, a conference semis appearance and three straight titles. They've won two championships in the past four years, and been runners up once during that period as well.

What the fuck are you whinging about?

What the FUCK is your problem? 5 years ago is not 10, 15 or 30. My point, which you would have caught if u weren't such an ass looking for something to comment on was - with Kobe leading the way, scoring 40's like he did from 2005-2007 - Lakers were NOT successful. Kobe was, but Lakers were not. Of course, this team is much better, but still, if we get like a 3-5 seed - we can be out in the first round, looking at how competitive some "bad" teams got recently.

PDub's point makes sense, but what i'm afraid of is Kobe gettin hurt at a tough stretch. Those losses can pile up, we can be looking at .500 record this year. So many things have to go right for us to contend this year.

Looking at all these recent wins - it's cool, of course, but the BIG PICTURE isn't that great

"I should get an assist for that," Bryant said Wednesday from his car. "It's an intentional pass to oneself, so it's an assist. That way people can't say all I do is shoot."

That's only fair if we retroactively apply it to Moses Malone, along with the resulting triple doubles.

Back to back to back 40+ point games. First time since 2007. Kobe is looking a lot healthier and it's translating well on the scoresheet.

He is also the 'most experienced' player to do this in NBA history. Kudos

What the FUCK is your problem? 5 years ago is not 10, 15 or 30. My point, which you would have caught if u weren't such an ass looking for something to comment on was - with Kobe leading the way, scoring 40's like he did from 2005-2007 - Lakers were NOT successful. Kobe was, but Lakers were not. Of course, this team is much better, but still, if we get like a 3-5 seed - we can be out in the first round, looking at how competitive some "bad" teams got recently.

Do you know how Kobe performs during the playoffs? Know what, his support cast in 2005-2007 was mediocre. You know that. That's why he scores 40. And 81 at one point.

You call Minnesota, L.A. Clippers, Utah, Portland bad teams?

They're bad teams for the simple fact that Kobe has more rings than all those teams combined.

FACT.

They're bad teams for the simple fact that Kobe has more rings than all those teams combined.

FACT.

Do you know how Kobe performs during the playoffs? Know what, his support cast in 2005-2007 was mediocre. You know that. That's why he scores 40. And 81 at one point.

You call Minnesota, L.A. Clippers, Utah, Portland bad teams?

Din't i just say all that? Like seriously, "This team is better [than in 2005-2007]". And oh look, i din't say BAD, i said "BAD". What i obviously meant usually underachieving, in one case because of injuries - Portland, or because they are Clippers- Clippers, LMFAO. Minnesota? 4-7 start is excellent! With that percentage they will obviously make it to playoffs, wink wink. Utah is a kind of team that can creep into the playoffs, give somebody a scare and go home anyway. Seriously, out of those teams only Portland or perhaps Clippers look like a good squad that can make a deep run

And btw, it's hilarious to see basketball fans actually try to calm down a Laker and Kobe fan XD I don't say stuff because i hate my Lakers, obviously, but because i'm afraid we might not win a chip for the next 5 years,

So who do you think is going to guard or should guard Kobe tonight? Billups? Butler? He'll probably want to go for 50.

So who do you think is going to guard or should guard Kobe tonight? Billups? Butler? He'll probably want to go for 50.

Butler probably, although Paul will for a while too, I'm sure.

Clipper game helped to prove a point. Why not post Bynum up for easy deuce over Evans, why not throw it in the post to Pau instead of Kobe gettin triple teamed on an outside shot? Honestly, just like Clipper commentators said "Lakers managment says - maybe we shouldn't trade Bynum and Gasol, they are so good together. But look at it, they are not even using them, maybe they SHOULD trade them"

Maybe they should trade Kobe and then they can actually use those two guys.

Maybe they should trade Kobe and then they can actually use those two guys.

I'm actually at a point where i think it might be good for the Lakers as an organization XD

And btw, it's hilarious to see basketball fans actually try to calm down a Laker and Kobe fan XD I don't say stuff because i hate my Lakers, obviously, but because i'm afraid we might not win a chip for the next 5 years,

Yeah, wouldn't that suck. Be much better being in Sacramento, where they don't have to deal with championship droughts of such absurd lengths.

Seriously, dude. Listen to yourself.

Hot damn! Kobe continues to have a great season. But he finally reached 40% usage as of now. I don't think the other superstars on the team are getting enough possesions to work with.

Maybe they should trade Kobe and then they can actually use those two guys.

I'm actually at a point where i think it might be good for the Lakers as an organization XD

I also think it would be intriguing scenario if the Lakers could trade Kobe. Except that Kobe still has a no trade clause in his contract. And the shear size of Kobe's contract makes the prospect of landing quality free agents extremely dfficult.

You are seriously thinking on trading Kobe?

And btw, it's hilarious to see basketball fans actually try to calm down a Laker and Kobe fan XD I don't say stuff because i hate my Lakers, obviously, but because i'm afraid we might not win a chip for the next 5 years,

Yeah, wouldn't that suck. Be much better being in Sacramento, where they don't have to deal with championship droughts of such absurd lengths.

Seriously, dude. Listen to yourself.

Oh yeah, cuz i am being such a bad fan wanting a stable success for my team, wanting it to be successful for more than just a decade and then spend a decade doing nothin significant. We, unlike many teams who would want to be in our situation, have PIECES to make it happen. We can do some moves and stay afloat for a longer time than we would in current state.

About trading Kobe, it's like FIFA, where i have my favourite players, but when they are 35 - their ratings drop, so i kinda have to trade them while they are still hot to get some good money back. Otherwise, i'm just stuck with a player whose rating is in 60's by like 3rd season gettin nothin in return. Kobe will probably be effective for like 3,4 more years, but then what? As was said, Kobe has a no-trade clause anyway, so it's just thoughts

If a team uses the amnesty clause on someone, can they resign him to another contract? (i.e. Give Kobe a 10-12M/yr contract instead of 20+M/yr)

No they cannot resign them.

It's funny because now people begin to question Kobe's shot selections and all that being possibly a team cancer because he's arguably having the most productive season of his career.

It's funny because now people begin to question Kobe's shot selections and all that being possibly a team cancer because he's arguably having the most productive season of his career.

I think it is not looking at Kobe like cancer, but the question of his body holding up to justify the $27M+ after this season and the $30M after that. If Kobe can curb the high TO number, arguably this might just be his best season ever. With that said, players of similar age and position as Kobe are starting to ride out into the sunset. Guys like VC and T-Mac are already relegated as bench players. It is just amazing how Kobe can drive himself that hard, even after 5 rings. But the question remains is can Kobe still take them to the finals, or can the Lakers restructure the team on a trade based on Kobe that will take them to the top. For me it is just about wondring out loud, more than wishing Kobe was traded this year.