Lakers Thread

[Fresh8]

Kwame's key to playing better appears to be his confidence boost. I guess Mihm getting injured has been beneficial for the team! I wonder how Kwame will play once Chris returns though...

Also, you guys think Lakers can get to 45 wins? All they need to do is win all but 2 games in the final stretch. I'm really hoping LA can split the two games against the Suns just for a confidence boost and to know that they can beat them... especially if we are playing them in them in the first round.

[Fresh8]

Seattle SuperSonics coach Bob Hill said he would like to put aside all the questions and rumors about his relationship with Los Angeles Lakers guard Smush Parker, with whom he supposedly has a contentious relationship.
When Hill was at Fordham University, he recruited Parker, who at the time was at the College of Southern Idaho.

Hill said they had a father-son relationship that at times was strained because Hill tried to get the academically challenged Parker pointed in the right direction.

After sitting out one year, Parker averaged 16.5 points and 4.5 assists his sophomore season, and on the advice of agents decided to turn pro.

Hill said he told Parker he was not ready for the NBA. He said he told Parker that if he came out, he was likely to be taken in the second round.

Hill said friends in the NBA called him and asked him about Parker. He said he told them that he was not ready, but if he waited he could one day be a lottery pick.

When Parker was not drafted, Hill says Parker’s agents told Parker and reporters that Hill was bad-mouthing him, the reason he was not drafted. He signed with Cleveland as a free agent after the draft.

Hill said he met with Parker before the Sonics played in Los Angeles on March 12, and he said he felt the two ironed out their differences.

“All the New York papers wrote it, and then Smush bought into it and I had to get him straight on that,” Hill said. “I would really like to put a close to all this because I know Smush, I love Smush, I know what Smush went through. I am so proud of him.”

- Interesting article!

[dada]

Interesting read .

[Fresh8]

That explains to me why he's been a surprising player... not many people knew how good he'd be but when I read this article and how the coach labelled him as a possible loterry pick.. i was like 'wow'

[dada]

Kwame has his hands full today with Yao but I cant complain cuz its not lack of effort but just great play by the big man. Kobe got it goin as well so this should be a fun game to watch. Maybe both will go for 40+.

I cant help but imagine what Kobe would be able to do with Yao on his team. T-Mac just doesnt seem to be the perfect fit for that guy.

[Jackal]

I cant help but imagine what Kobe would be able to do with Yao on his team. T-Mac just doesnt seem to be the perfect fit for that guy.

What makes you think Kobe is? He couldn't pass to one dominant center, what will he do with an occasional dominant center on his way to becoming a dominant center?

The whole point was that Kobe would be the man. Now he's the man. Stop pondering when he'll get some help. With that contract, the best you'll get is Lamar Odom's. Not Amare's, LeBron's & Yao's.

[dada]

Well he won 3 rings with a dominant center so...
For the most part of their time together Shaq averaged 27-28 ppg so its not like he wasnt getting numerous opportunities.

Even when T-Mac and Yao are both healthy and playing the Rockets dont look overly impressive. Yao isnt the type to demand the ball on every possession so I think he and Kobe could get along.


Anyways, Kobe has caught fire in the 3rd quarter, has been hitting crazy shots. 36 pts so far.

edit: Ok it is now a blowout. I'll go do my homework.

[Jackal]

Well he won 3 rings with a dominant center so...

That wasn't really the point I was trying to make.

For the most part of their time together Shaq averaged 27-28 ppg so its not like he wasnt getting numerous opportunities.

Let's see if you can decipher what it is I'm trying to say by reading trying to answer the following question:

Would Kobe Bryant score 81 points with a dominant center?

Even when T-Mac and Yao are both healthy and playing the Rockets dont look overly impressive. Yao isnt the type to demand the ball on every possession so I think he and Kobe could get along.

Basically all you're asking for is a person that stands in the middle, rebounds & lets Kobe be a superstar. Thing is, Yao is a superstar. Kobe doesn't seem to do too well with that concept.

Anyways, Yao in LA isn't happening so pointless to even continue about it. Besides, I'd be repulsed if he did go to LA.

[dada]

For the most part of their time together Shaq averaged 27-28 ppg so its not like he wasnt getting numerous opportunities.

Let's see if you can decipher what it is I'm trying to say by reading trying to answer the following question:

Would Kobe Bryant score 81 points with a dominant center?

Probably not but he would still be as dominant on the court. Those 81 points doesnt define Kobe as a player and I enjoyed his game just as much even before the outburst, I wouldnt really care if he didnt get that number.

Even when T-Mac and Yao are both healthy and playing the Rockets dont look overly impressive. Yao isnt the type to demand the ball on every possession so I think he and Kobe could get along.

Basically all you're asking for is a person that stands in the middle, rebounds & lets Kobe be a superstar. Thing is, Yao is a superstar. Kobe doesn't seem to do too well with that concept.

All I am asking for is a guy rebounding in double digitsm a couple blocks, a steal and putting up 20+ ppg. I dont care much if it takes away from the 35 ppg he averages right now, as long as they win games and rings. I dont know of any rule which states ithat if Kobe Bryant is the superstar then there cant be another one on the team. Maybe we should be looking closer at Shaq who even after being traded to Miami still demanded more touches. Maybe he just has an insatiable appetite for the rock at his age, who knows.

Anyways, Yao in LA isn't happening so pointless to even continue about it. Besides, I'd be repulsed if he did go to LA.

I'd be pretty happy if that happened but I myself know realistically it doesnt have much of a chance. Cant help but dream and trade for him in the game.

[Fresh8]

Good work by the Lakers for winning... and after seeing you guys argue about Yao. Personally, I wouldn't want Yao in LA. Once I did but think about it. If I want Yao to play awesome, I wouldn't want him being with the Lakers who already got Kobe. Furthermore, that's why I'm thinking that when Tmac comes back, Yao better be the number one option or it will be no good.

About Kobe and playing with a dominant centre... he just rerally needs to play with better role players, not another All-Star. Lamar and Kwame are doing awesome, the team needs a shooter or two and another big body to put them into the upper echelon of the Western Conference. But that's only my take on it.

EDIT: Just looked at the box score again and Kobe's tied Elgin Baylor for 22 40 point games this season!

[dada]

The way they are playing right now and if guys continue developing their games, they arent that far off from being a great team in the coming years. It helps that they got young talent.


Anyways, got to go.

edit: I wasnt really'arguing' was I?

[samson]

yeah another really soild big would make them ultimate.

i heard that aaron mckie played, and thats a good sign.

kutows for kwame and luke for dropping in 10 points tonite

[Fresh8]

^^ yeh then.. more like discussing.

And about the future, sometimes it's weird but people just don't realise how young the Lakers are...

[J@3]

Would Kobe Bryant score 81 points with a dominant center?

I just watched him score 40+ before half time vs Washington in 2003, with Shaq playing... so I find it hard to think that it couldn't happen.

[Jackal]

I find it hard to believe. Either Shaq would throw the ball to his head or Rick Fox would start smudging his gelled up hair against Kobe to get him out of the spotlight.

[TRUball]

EDIT: Just looked at the box score again and Kobe's tied Elgin Baylor for 22 40 point games this season!

Actually, he tied Baylor for the Laker record 23 games of 40+ points in a season.

[Fresh8]

Yeh, i watched NBA TV just then lol

it was 22nd last time. Well, i reackon hes gonna score 40 against Phoenix and overtake Baylor.

[Fresh8]

The cap-strapped Lakers might have found one of their first off-season targets in Rush, who spent slightly more than two seasons with the team before being traded to Charlotte in December 2004 for two second-round picks.

Jackson is comfortable with Rush, who knows the triangle offense, is a decent defender and, for better or worse, a streak shooter. Rush averaged 10.1 points with the Bobcats this season before falling out of favor.

"Kareem often expressed fondness of being back with the Lakers," said Rush's agent, Calvin Andrews. "If Phil's interested, we're interested. We'll take a look at it and see."

As long as Rush doesn't get injured if he gets signed in the offseason - like Vlade and Aaron... I will be happy! Hopefully, the Lakers look into picking him up.

[shadowgrin]

If Rush is signed, will it hamper the improvement of Smush?

EDIT

[Fresh8]

He's not being signed... and they play differnet positions anyway. Devean George's career with LA is probably over so if Rush was signed, he'd be replacing Devean at 6th man.

[EASE]

why is deveans career with l.a over????

[J@3]

6th man? You do realise what player plays his position...

[Fresh8]

^^ So? Doesn't mean he can't play at SF and SG as a sixth man right?

[dada]

He's kinda light for a small forward. I hope Devean stays, I really like him. If Rush comes then that would be great but if he doesnt I wouldnt really mind just cuz he has played there before and I wouldnt really be missing anything. I love when new guys come, its pretty refreshing and its good to see a new contributor.

[J@3]

^^ So? Doesn't mean he can't play at SF and SG as a sixth man right?

SG? Why have your 6th man play the same position as Kobe freaking Bryant he can't play SF, too small as dadamafia said and he's just a shooter, he's not exactly a guy you want to build your bench around. Teams like Milwaukee are talking about him as a 10th man replacement for Jiri Welsch, not your primary player off the bench.