Lakers Thread

[Patr1ck]

Not only his numbers, but he is looking really sloppy on the court this year.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_t ... akers.nba/

They did a really good job, also asking why is Pau playin power forward in Mike Brown's new system?

[shadowgrin]

Because he's actually a PF?

[Andrew]

Not only his numbers, but he is looking really sloppy on the court this year.

Aside from any issues with Brown's system and Kobe averaging the second highest amount of field goal attempts per game in his career (per 36 or otherwise), it may be that he's still a bit distracted by the whole situation with the cancelled Chris Paul trade and the lingering prospect of being traded for Dwight Howard. From the couple of Lakers games I've seen, I'd have to agree that he hasn't looked quite as sharp outside of a few sequences here and there, he's certainly not himself at the moment.

[Stress Fracture]

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2012/01/23/20120123_thebeat_lakers.nba/

They did a really good job, also asking why is Pau playin power forward in Mike Brown's new system?

It's his natural position, even when he was still at Memphis. He only plays C when McRoberts/Murphy is on the floor.

[JBoom_LALALAND]

Man, I am looking forward to the adjustments in the next game against the clips.. wish they can win this one for their anxious fans...

[Patr1ck]

Pau Gasol continued to express his frustration over a lack of touches near the basket Tuesday, suggesting the Lakers don't utilize their interior players fully.
...
Brown said Gasol's ability to facilitate plays and score from mid-range is a key reason why he finds himself near the perimeter. He pointed to Gasol's 10 assists in the Lakers' loss to Indiana on Sunday for proof.

http://www.ocregister.com/sports/gasol- ... akers.html

[Jackal]

There is so much wrong right now, it's painful to watch. I've caught every game this season and these are my observations.

The "traditional" NBA offense Mike Brown is running isn't for this team. The reason the Lakers were so succeful in the past is because even though the team "belongs" to Kobe Bryant, the offense was played through Pau Gasol. Once Gasol disappears, the chances of them winning does too. The triangle was amazing because of that. You had Pau in the post, cutters cutting to the basket & Gasol finding player y who in turn found an open player x. If the defense did it's job, Gasol would use his talents & score for himself.

Watching Gasol now...you see him waiting. He seems almost hesitant...after waiting for the cutters (which don't always present themselves) it's late in the shotclock he's all the way out on the perimeter and he hoists up a shot. The offense just isn't using him properly. He's way too skilled to be playing this far out. In that regard I think Brian Shaw would've done a much better job utilizing the bigs instead of letting Bryant have free reign.

Bynum isn't a game changer offensively. He's got skill, he's a pretty damn good big man (compared to others) but he's a second tier big. (Howard being tier 1) He gets flustered when doubled, can't pass out of them well at all & isn't anywhere near as skilled as Gasol is.

Mike Brown is supposed to be a defensive guru, but the team plays extremely sloppy. Either they're too old, or they just haven't bought in. Kobe blows a lot of defensive assignments which lead to Andrew picking up silly fouls. It's pretty annoying, more annoying is watching Bryant be annoyed. (Also amusing.)

I can't wait to have Blake back because watching Morris play literally makes me cringe. I'm usually all for Laker rookies/sophmores to get playing time (I like Ebanks) but Morris just makes my head hurt. He's much too busy dribbling to the 14-15 mark of the shotclock & the offense just stagnates. There are possesions when the bigs don't even touch the ball.

They will do all right, they've got enough talent to do all right...but winning it all isn't in the books this year. It's frustrating to watch Gasol being wasted though. I'm used to Kobe hoisting shots and being all badass with some of the impossible shots he makes, I'm used to Andrew hooking his defender with his elbows & getting passed them, I'm used to Fish's rainbow 3's & Matt Barnes' tough nosed attitude...Gasol though, he's being utilized completely wrong.

And a facepalm to the person asking why Gasol was playing PF.

[123rockstar]

Metta World Peace just dropped a 3 to lead the Lakers 89-84. As Chris Smoove used to say, it was a Slaaaaash

[kAmilli LakeShow]

LMFAOOOO, my bad, i meant "POINT forward", what a giant facepalm. Mike doesn't use his post up ability much, that's what i meant. Sorry for a typo

[Fresh8]

I feel the need to remind everyone that Pau has been playing with an injured shoulder. Everyone loves to talk Kobe and his sore wrist but everyone forgets Pau and his shoulder.

[kibaxx7]

I feel the need to remind everyone that the teams are just starting to have full practices together I think the Lakers are a little undervalued right now... just give them time, they will be much better by April and much more dangerous in the playoffs.

[JBoom_LALALAND]

Yes,I agree. It's difficult to adjust to have a new coach and system. In addition, the bench players are new. You lost Odom and others. Right now, focus is just play DEFENSE (esp. to threes) and a little bit of distribution. Last game, I think that's proper distribution. Kobe taking 17 shots. Pau taking 15 i think. Then bynum 6/11. Metta World Peace should drive more to the basket or cut. All the attempts he made was 25 feet away from the basket. He was 1/4 from three-point shots. But don't forget that he facilitated well ( 7 assists). Defensively,he is still one of the best. I think if they win against the Bucks, their confidence will be high and it's back to SHOWTIME again.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

I see you guys, and i would love for that comeback to happen. Still waiting for that All-Star break

[Fresh8]

I feel the need to remind everyone that the teams are just starting to have full practices together I think the Lakers are a little undervalued right now... just give them time, they will be much better by April and much more dangerous in the playoffs.

What I said a while ago.

[Patr1ck]

It's not like there was a lockout or they lost a key player or got a new coach and have their franchisers at 100%.

[NovU]

Another loss for the Lakers. Milwaukee beat the Heat a few nights ago and they were impressive. And they've done it again against the Lakers.

The Lakers don't look hungry anymore but perhaps spoiled. If Mike Brown fails to figure out the way to utilize all those superstars efficiently, the Lakers are going to be irrelavant again this season. They are out of playoffs picture at this moment. I wouldn't say surprising though.

[Stress Fracture]

Kobe really looks frustrated.

[Andrew]

I feel the need to remind everyone that the teams are just starting to have full practices together I think the Lakers are a little undervalued right now... just give them time, they will be much better by April and much more dangerous in the playoffs.

Will they be? They might, but it's not going to magically happen. If they can't sort out the issues with the system and best utilise the players they have available, there's no reason they couldn't remain around the .500 mark and end up with a low seed...or out of the Playoffs altogether.

[kibaxx7]

Well yeah, of course they need to sort out all those issues and play better, but IMO they will go the playoffs. As I said, they will be much more dangerous but I don't see them winning the trophy again.

[Andrew]

How and why will they be more dangerous? Just because it's the Playoffs? Just because they're the Lakers? As I said, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of them getting it together as the season progresses and looking like a bit more of a threat once the postseason comes around, but it's not a given, especially if they can't start winning on the road. Today was only their second road victory, against a sub .500 team; if they don't have homecourt in the Playoffs, they may not get out of the first round.

[Bruce]

What I hate most right now about the Lakers is how they look tentative on defense. I think they should get a hand on the faces of would be perimeter shooters and let the 7 footers get more settled in and around the paint. Anybody that gets past the perimeter defenders gets funneled in to the paint. Exactly like what they did before.

[Fluke32]

They only look tentative because most of the time, the Lakers are defending in transition, which shouldn't happen if they the players were in proper positions WHILE in their offensive Sets. After getting tired running up and down the court for Transition defense, they become duller defending in half court.

IMO, These offensive sets the Lakers are running are the key to their defense. IF they can't figure out how to dumb it down for the team to execute it more proficiently, I don't see them winning much more games at all.

This so called "Strong Corner" offense is so wide open, it's vulnerable to pass cuts and if the Lakers turn the ball over, they can't recover with only 1 big man to recover in transition. They should just run Post Isolations for Kobe and Hi-Low for Pau and Bynum. Those sets will have both Bynum and Gasol ready to defend the basket because they'd have to run for less space to cover the basket.

[JBoom_LALALAND]

Another loss for the lakers in Philly ... Do the lakers still have what it takes for another run?

[JBoom_LALALAND]

I think they need more depth in the point. Steve Blake should be there for the Lakers to win more games .... They need to be better in the road. They need to win next three games in the road ... vs. Boston,Vs. New york and Vs. toronto