Lakers Thread

His example of the 70s and their eight different champions isn't a good one as it was kind of a Dark Age for the league, with its fair share of turmoil and before its explosion in popularity.

What do you mean DARK age? LOL. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

It is kind of interesting that there seems to be more competition from small market teams and teams with "tighter" budgets. What I think should be revisited though is the lottery. I think that playoff bound teams should also have a small chance at the lottery. I really hate all this tanking business.

Playoff bound teams aren't included in the draft lottery unless a lottery team had traded their pick to a playoff team.

You want competition, stop the NBA from having more than half of the league teams participate in the playoffs.

You mean skip to the semis? That's disrespectful.

I'd rather have the league giving equal chances at lottery to all non-playoff teams regardless of record.

Niiice win over the Kings, Thomas was absolutely killing them in the third. Cousins is so easy to rattle, damn. Wesley Johnson becoming a solid defensive player thanks to that athleticism.

Kobe back on Sunday, wonder how the team will look, he's a bit of a ball stopper so I'm intrigued.

Cousins is so easy to rattle, damn.

Did that happen again in tonight's game? Part of reason why I find the Kings an interesting team to watch despite their sheer awfulness. I don't think he's gonna pan out to be the dominant big man anytime soon that some people dreamed of.

Nothing of the CP3/Thomas handshake sort, just his constant grumbling & stare downs.

I don't think so either, guy isn't mature enough. Drummond on the other hand...nice!

Nothing of the CP3/Thomas handshake sort, just his constant grumbling & stare downs.

Yup, I was exactly referring to that. Whenever I watch him I get the feeling he gives up on plays too early and too often sorta like Bargnani on loose balls. I don't know if it's due to his limitation with basketball IQ or awareness but there's definitely feels to his game that he needs to be more focused and spend less energy on grumbling, complaining and thinking too much.

I really didn't like D'Antoni's move tonight. I thought Xavier should have stayed in the game. Inserting Kobe is ok but should have replaced somebody else.

I really didn't like D'Antoni's move tonight. I thought Xavier should have stayed in the game. Inserting Kobe is ok but should have replaced somebody else.

ditto. kobe looked a bit unsure if his shot at first and/or was really looking to fit into the system adn facilitate more

Of course all Lakers fans would want the return of "THE GOAT" to be on a winning note, but damn, Amir Johnson just went all out. Being born and raised in LA, I am really starting to hope the Lakers can flip Nash for him. Too bad the Raptors was supposed to have just traded Gay in a package that bags them Vasquez. Adding another high value PG in an already crowded PG rotation.

I don't like what D'Antoni said in the press conference. Unless I heard it wrong, he said they were going to ride Kobe throughout the season.

From what I saw of the game, Kobe really slowed their offense down. He couldn't keep up with the ball movement and forced a lot of his actions. Oh well, gotta get your feet wet before you dive in, I guess.

I think you might need to rethink your assumption about what D'Antoni's goal might be.

It isn't championship or bust?

And yet another point guard is injured. Steve Blake is out at least 6 weaks with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. I wonder who they'll start at 1, Meeks, Kobe?

That's what Kupchak alluded to, he expects Meeks/Kobe/Xavier to do the ball handling in Steve's absence. Real bummer there, Blake was playing some sweet basketball.

During the Lakers/Thunder game last week, they showed a somewhat amusing clip of Jeff Van Gundy interviewing Kobe before the game. JVG asked Kobe if he could still be the best player on a championship team and Kobe rolled his eyes and said "Of course!", an "Are you serious?" expression on his face. Classic Kobe, one has to appreciate his candour.

Still, with the way he's been playing so far in his return, it's a valid question. Granted, it's early days, but right now he's not performing anywhere close to his usual standard. He's not getting to the free throw line as much, he's shooting 40% from the field (13% from downtown) and while he's dishing out a shade under 7 assists a game, he's also committing six turnovers per contest. Again, early days, but right now he definitely doesn't look like the best player on a championship team.

However, if he still seems himself as one, that could be a problem for the Lakers moving forward. Any pitch they make to a top free agent is basically going to boil down to "Take less money and play second fiddle to Kobe in the twilight of his career". They can talk about the prestige of the organisation, the honour of being a Laker and all that, but I don't think that's going to get the job done. Perhaps the late Dr Buss could've sold that line, but I'm not sure that his son can. The Lakers may just have resigned themselves to mediocrity (or worse) in the near future.

Kobe's the Tank Commander.

Again, early days, but right now he definitely doesn't look like the best player on a championship team.

However, if he still seems himself as one, that could be a problem for the Lakers moving forward.

Replace Lakers there with Bulls and we could be talking about Derrick Rose regarding his recent comments.

During the Lakers/Thunder game last week, they showed a somewhat amusing clip of Jeff Van Gundy interviewing Kobe before the game. JVG asked Kobe if he could still be the best player on a championship team and Kobe rolled his eyes and said "Of course!", an "Are you serious?" expression on his face. Classic Kobe, one has to appreciate his candour.

Still, with the way he's been playing so far in his return, it's a valid question. Granted, it's early days, but right now he's not performing anywhere close to his usual standard. He's not getting to the free throw line as much, he's shooting 40% from the field (13% from downtown) and while he's dishing out a shade under 7 assists a game, he's also committing six turnovers per contest. Again, early days, but right now he definitely doesn't look like the best player on a championship team.

However, if he still seems himself as one, that could be a problem for the Lakers moving forward. Any pitch they make to a top free agent is basically going to boil down to "Take less money and play second fiddle to Kobe in the twilight of his career". They can talk about the prestige of the organisation, the honour of being a Laker and all that, but I don't think that's going to get the job done. Perhaps the late Dr Buss could've sold that line, but I'm not sure that his son can. The Lakers may just have resigned themselves to mediocrity (or worse) in the near future.

Spot on. Kobe's not going to stay this bad but it's farfetched to think they can build a real contender under current situation unless the Lakers are willing to go Nets' Proky. It's just not going to be that easy. "We're the Lakers, come and play for us for honor." is bullshit talk, only thing they will be playing for is Kobe while they get a real paycut. Prior to Kobe's deal, the Lakers positioned themselves nicely for "2 max players + then some" on top of Kobe. That turned into "1 max player + very little" thanks to Kobe & his lol-paycut. That just is not a championship outlook.

They've got ~$40M in cap space, with cap holds renounced, had Kobe not signed that fat extension. Could've turned out like the Heat back in 2010 with all that money to spend.

Replace Lakers there with Bulls and we could be talking about Derrick Rose regarding his recent comments.

True. I don't see how that's relevant to a conversation about the Lakers, though.

Kobe commited less turnovers ("just" 4) last game. From what I've seen it will still take a while for him to get back to where he was before the injury...

Replace Lakers there with Bulls and we could be talking about Derrick Rose regarding his recent comments.

True. I don't see how that's relevant to a conversation about the Lakers, though.

True but I find the similarities interesting. Both stars on a decline, one because of age and the other one because of injuries.

Kobe Bryant is expected to miss six weeks with a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau in his left knee, the team announced Thursday.

Everyone who plays point guard for the Lakers seems to be cursed this season.