Lakers Thread

[Bruce]

Personally, I'd like to see Odom play a little bit better though, and give some osrt of an All-star performance this season. And also Radman, put up better numbers. Then maybe move on from the shaq trade and dump kwame brown.

[J J]

Actually, I'm having more fun watching a good LAKERS game than a good KOBE game, can't wait for the Lakers-Pacers game

Are you saying there is no chance they will get the 5th seed? Of course they do.

[benji]

Nice result from the Lakers tonight with an especially good effort coming off the bench. Andrew Bynum has really impressed me this season and in some ways I wish he was getting 30-38 minutes every game. The kid is basically averaging 10 pts and 10 rbs in about 24 minutes (granted he does foul a bit) and I'd just love to see what kind of productivity we could get out of him with more time on the court.

http://www.knickerblogger.net/stats/2008/Lakers.htm

17.5 p/40 and 16.2 r/40, 21.9 PER Second in the league in rebounding.

Farmar and Radman also been hot. 55% and 59% from the floor.

Turiaf, Mihm, Evans all been solid reserves.

The team was average because it didn't have any stud players outside of Kobe. Now, they have Kobe and Bynum...with Odom, Farmar, Radman all playing at a fairly high level. Plus a bunch of players who are not stinking it up.

The team turns it over too much and isn't forcing enough turnovers if they have a major flaw.

They've gone from 7th on offense to 12th. 25th on defense to 9th.

[TheMC5]

Anyone else seen the trade news? Lakers get Ariza from Orlando for Evans and Cook.

Looks like a solid deal for both team. Cook was not needed on LA, and Ariza gives them another good young player who's extremely athletic, which LA lacked at the wing positions outside of Kobe. Not sure how Evans will fit in with the Magic, though, but the clincher for Orlando was certainly to get some front court help. And with Cook's sooting ability, they get another guy to help space the floor to free up room for Dwight down low, which has worked really well for them so far this year.

[Its_asdf]

Oh god no. My favourite player is now on one of my least favourite teams... This is a sad day for Its_asdf indeed.


Oh well, Ariza wasn't getting any playing time under Van Gundy anyway. Before Ariza got injured last season he was good for about 10 points a game with a good mix of rebounds and steals in very limited playing time.

[Bruce]

Hey people,

Exchanging Cook Evans or Ariza does not look like any of them would make any good impact on either team at all. This seems to me like it is a move to simply clear out roster space. It may be possible that a Kobe trade is looming, or simply something as simple the Lakers wanting Odom to play PF.

[TheMC5]

medertz, I have to disagree. Though it's not a blockbuster by any means, I think it's a solid move for both teams. It was well known Orlando was looking for some front court help, and Ariza gives LA a dimension they didn't have from the wing positions before. Dude is a steal/block machine, and a pretty solid defender. I think all guys could contribute to their new teams. Though it is possible that it's a harbinger of more trades to come for the Lakers. But I'm still not convinced Kobe's heading anywhere just yet.

[[Q]]

Oh god no. My favourite player is now on one of my least favourite teams... This is a sad day for Its_asdf indeed.

dude, i felt the same way. my heart just sunk when i read the headlines.


makes sense for the Lakers because they get an extra 2+ million off their books and at the same time dump that garbage Cook and get a similar player in Ariza (but slightly better than Mo)

Orlando however gets yet another 3 point shooter, but not much of a "big man" which they need. The Orlando GM should be fired.

[TheMC5]

The Orlando GM should be fired.

As a general rule, GM's of teams sitting on a 9-2 record, who just handed the league's only remaining previously undefeated team it's 1st loss, don't tend to get fired.

[[Q]]

we'll see where they go with Cook in the mix. you obviously haven't seen this guy play much.

[TheMC5]

we'll see where they go with Cook in the mix. you obviously haven't seen this guy play much.

I agree that Orlando's made some odd moves recently, i.e. the Lewis signing. But it seems to me that the logic behind acquiring Cook was that they needed another big body with Battie out for the season, and surrounding Dwight with shooters seems to be pretty effective so far. And Cook can certainly shoot, though he is garbage at pretty much everything else. I certainly don't see this trade being the downfall of the Magic by any means.

[SpaceFlare]

I personally think the Lakers got the better of the deal, they basically upgraded Mo Evans by giving up Mo and Brian Cook for Ariza. Ariza is the athletic swingman off the bench that the Lakers could certainly make good use of.

Did anyone watch the Pacers-Lakers game? I was VERY impressed with Jordan Farmar. Bynum played well too.

[LakersRule24]

I feel sorry for the Magic will now have to put up with Cook. Mitch really outdid himself this time.

[---]

medertz, I have to disagree. Though it's not a blockbuster by any means, I think it's a solid move for both teams. It was well known Orlando was looking for some front court help, and Ariza gives LA a dimension they didn't have from the wing positions before. Dude is a steal/block machine, and a pretty solid defender. I think all guys could contribute to their new teams. Though it is possible that it's a harbinger of more trades to come for the Lakers. But I'm still not convinced Kobe's heading anywhere just yet.

Doesn't make sense to me. Orlando needs a big, but they got a poor mans Ariza (SF) and a 6-9 shooting guard in Brian Cook. Let's be serious, Brian Cook is not a post player.

The Lakers got rid of Cook, who was nothing more than a tall guy who can stretch the defence and score, and do nothing else.

They also exchanged Trevor Ariza lite for Trevor Ariza.

Makes no sense for Orlando, but a good trade for the Lakers IMO.

[dada]

Well Bynum got the start tonight and he didnt do too badly for himself. in about 28 minutes or so he got 17 and 10 with 4 blocks. Not bad at all. Farmar also had a good game with 18 pts if my memory serves me well. Just a couple things to be optimistic about. Bynum in the starting lineup is something I want to get used to seeing.

[TheMC5]

Let's be serious, Brian Cook is not a post player.

They didn't bring him in for post offense though, just as a big body to guard other big bodies. He's certainly stronger than Turkey-glue and Lewis, which is all they really need from him, along with shooting. And his shooting will fit right in with Orlando's system. As I said before, the Magic have been doing pretty well for themselves with a bunch of perimeter guys around Dwight.

[Indy]

Bynum completely owned Jermaine yesterday and made him his bitch. If I were the Lakers I wouldn't trade Bynum for JO straight up.

The Pacers actually played pretty well in that game though, the Lakers just shot the orange off the ball.

[J J]

Good trade for the Lakers...it's nice seeing some kid own a pro in his prime.

[Bruce]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakerep22nov22,1,2083315.story?track=rss&ctrack=2&cset=true

It says here that rumors are running that the fakers could acquire webber. Then trading away evans and cook looks better, bec LA gets another sweet shooting big man to replace cook. (at the same time, just as soft). I wouldn't want to see odom and webber start together though. That would be one of the weakest front court on defense.

[Carmo]

I doubt Webber would start if he came in. But he would certainly extend an already fairly deep bench.

[benji]

LA gets another sweet shooting big man to replace cook.

Are they really the same though?

Cook has taken 80% and 74% of his shots as jumpers the last two years and shot 51.5% and 52.4%. Webber has been 47% and 60%, while shooting 34.0% and 35.4%.

[J J]

The big difference between them is how Webber can make plays for his teammates and is excellent at passing from the post, thus, makes the "deep" bench more effective.

[J J]

Wow, Kobe's taking over the 4th! xD

[Isaiah]

i noticed kobe doesnt attack the paint really aggressively anymore these days.

[J J]

He fell inlove with his jumpshot, who wouldn't?