Lakers Thread

[Bruce]

Maybe an LA born punk, who wants to talk about the LA Lakers, from a Lakers fan point of view.

[Jackal]

Maybe it's because the Lakers (this is a Lakers thread, right?) are in the Finals...?

So...why is it wrong to bump a topic when it's in relation to the topic at hand both on the boards and in real life?

I best shutup before I get called out for some good ol' backseat moderating.

[Fresh8]

So fellow Lake Show fans, what's your predictions for the season?

The Western Conference is killer and I'm going to be really following how Lamar Odom plays this season. Hopefully he plays well as a sixth man and wins Sixth Man of the Year.

I'm going to say the Lakers will win it all this year. This is the year we win it all. However, thats me talking with purple and gold in my veins.

[jonnyboy261]

yea i agree.
i think we have a really good chance this year. maybe we can even win 60 games. seems like a lot but its only 3 more wins than last year!

[[Q]]

So fellow Lake Show fans, what's your predictions for the season?

The Western Conference is killer and I'm going to be really following how Lamar Odom plays this season. Hopefully he plays well as a sixth man and wins Sixth Man of the Year.

I'm going to say the Lakers will win it all this year. This is the year we win it all. However, thats me talking with purple and gold in my veins.

watched the Lakers preseason game vs Utah. Phil was not there and Kurt Rambis took the reigns. they started Pau, Odom, Ariza, Kobe, and Fish. Bynum did look very rusty and turned the ball over quite a bit. he lost the ball a lot fo 2nd defenders coming from behind.

Ariza's looking very good. he was one of my favorite players on the Magic and when he came to LA, he got hurt so Laker fans couldn't experience the athleticism he brings.

Gasol played only 1 quarter if that.

Utah looked strong even without Boozer. Deron Williams was tearing Fisher & Kobe up.

[Fresh8]

i think we have a really good chance this year. maybe we can even win 60 games. seems like a lot but its only 3 more wins than last year!

If we can get to 60 wins this season, I will be really happy however I'm anticipating a very very big year from the West so perhaps 52-55 wins will help us get a top 2-3 seed? Who knows.

they started Pau, Odom, Ariza, Kobe, and Fish. Bynum did look very rusty and turned the ball over quite a bit. he lost the ball a lot fo 2nd defenders coming from behind.

I will give Bynum some more time to get back into it. I'm keen to see how he and Pau plays. I'm not sure if Pau can play the 4 for extended periods for the whole season and still be effective. And I wonder if Bynum minds being 'as Phil called it setting picks and rebounding player'. Bynum said his aim is to score 20 a game but Jax said that he should be concentrating on other things first. I hope Bynum gives us some more oomph in the interior defensive department...

Ariza's looking very good. he was one of my favorite players on the Magic and when he came to LA, he got hurt so Laker fans couldn't experience the athleticism he brings.

I loved the trade for Ariza last season and when he went out with that broken leg was it? I was pretty much shitting myself because I didn't think the Lakers were less likely to win it all without him. If we had Ariza for the whole playoffs and he was in fine form in the Finals, I'm pretty sure he would have made a difference. Perhaps we wouldn't have won but we could have made it a tiny bit closer... perhaps someone could have stopped (or slowed) Paul Pierce.

Ah well, won't take too much out of preseason games... as long as the full team is healthy by opening night, we should remain optimistic. We're in for a big season Lakers fans.

And Qballer, good to talk to you again.

[[Q]]

but there's also a lot of expectations this year after losing in the finals, so i will assume the odd man out (Odom) will be traded by the trade deadline if things don't go as well as they planned.

[Fresh8]

I'm hoping they don't trade him. I actually don't think they will, seeing that it's his last year anyways. However, I guess there is the argument of 'getting something back' rather than just letting Odom walk at the end of the season.

I'm quite positive that Odom will perform well whether he is starting or not. My main concern is how Bynum and Pau play together and whether we are going to play as a stronger defensive squad this season.

[BiGrEd819]

Pros
Bynum+Gasol=shit load of tip-ins(twin tower effect)=ownage
Bynum+Gasol=impossible to double team anyone on the laker team=ownage
Bynum+Gasol=better look for shooters=higher fg%=ownage

Cons
Bynum+Gasol=SLOOOW transition game(however most players in the team are young and agile)
Bynum+Gasol=foul palooza=shaq effect=frustrating ass game to watch

But most importantly everyone must remember the core of the lakers team will continue to improve regardless given their youth. kobe 29-30, bynum 21, ariza 22, farmar 21, vujacic 25, gasol 27, odom 28.

think about it... you have 4 kids in the core of the team and they were able to comptete against veteran players at the highest level.

[Andrew]

think about it... you have 4 kids in the core of the team and they were able to comptete against veteran players at the highest level.

True, but they also have a couple of All-Star calibre veterans in that core including arguably the best player in the league in Kobe Bryant. At this point, I don't think Kobe, Gasol or Odom are bound to get any better than they already are, at least not skillwise. Arguably they could improve mentally as they become older and craftier but otherwise I'd say they've already realised their potential.

[Fresh8]

I agree with Andrew. Kobe is, arguably, has just hit the wrong side of his prime. I'm not saying he's going to have a drastic decline but as Andrew said, don't expect him to improve by much. Odom and Gasol would both be in similar situations.

With that said though, I am excited to see how Andrew Bynum and Jordan Farmar improve over the next few years.

[[Q]]

watched them take on the Kings last night. not much from Kevin Martin with John Salmons & Quincy Douby jacking up horrible shots. Odom did come off the bench and seemed to be in the zone for a while uncharacteristically looking for his shot early. but then he reverted back into the unselfish Lamar Odom and started doing crazy spin moves and abusing the mismatches he had with the Kings bench and started looking for teammates.

[Fresh8]

Just wanted to make a note to fellow Lakers fans: Quite lucky that Kobe only needs 'an icebag' for his knee. I was quite worried that it was a more serious injury.

[[Q]]

well I was watching that game on tv and it didn't look too bad. it was a mild hyperextension and he should be out for a week max.

i am considering going to their preseason game in Anaheim today.

[Fresh8]

Go to the game Q! And tell us all about it.

[Fresh8]

Coby Karl got waived today. I thought it was going to be Josh Powell. Just thought people would want to know. No more Karl v Karl when LA plays the Nuggets.

[Andrew]

Perhaps the Nuggets could pick him up now.

This article asserts that with Bynum healthy, the Lakers are the favourites this year.

[Fresh8]

Well, I think a lot of people feel that the Lakers could be deemed as favourites.

Just got to point out that Pau Gasol averaged like a bit over 10 points in 18 minutes a game at 65% shooting during the preseason. Bynum tore it up in the last game. So those two might need a lil bit more time to gel a bit more but things are looking good in LA.

As long as Bryant and Gasol stay as fresh as they can all season, and yes, if Bynum is healthy; Odom plays well off bench and Fisher and Farmar man the point; LA seems as legit contenders.

As for favourites, I think I still got Boston a lil bit ahead in my books. Mission for LA is really to get out of the Wild Wild West.

[Andrew]

It's difficult to argue that, the Lakers are in tremendous shape. If they don't come out of the West I'd say they're at least going to the Conference Finals. I just don't know about them being a sure thing with Bynum returning as they had an even more imposing foursome in 2004 and that didn't work out. Obviously there were other issues on that team but all the same, I think the Celtics deserve a bit more credit than a lot of people are giving them.

There's a couple of Lakers game on ESPN Australia in November, even though I'm not a Laker fan I'm looking forward to seeing how they fare with all four players healthy and in their lineup.

[[Q]]

Coby Karl is garbage. he does not deserve a spot over Powell imo. Powell is hard working and his offensive rebounding is ridiculously good. better than Ronny Turiaf. they are similar players but he fits well into ronny's spot from last year. Powell is also a better shooter than ronny and i wonder ehy he's rated so low in NBA Live.

[Fresh8]

I can see where you're coming from. And as a Laker fan; I can say that although I'm happy people call my team favourites to win the title, I am a little annoyed because they haven't done anything together yet to justify that 'praise'. They haven't earned the tag of favourite as a team with Bynum.

I feel it's a tiny bit ignorant to say that Bynum makes them favourites. If they said the Lakers are favourites because they got to the Finals last year; I think that sounds better. But all in all at the end of the day, it's still the same deal I guess.

Andrew, good to hear a few games on pay tv... The X will feel my passion when I urge him to watch a few games with me at the pub during lunchtimes

And Andrew, don't you love how the Lakers and Celtics are back in prominence together?

EDIT:

Coby Karl is garbage. he does not deserve a spot over Powell imo. Powell is hard working and his offensive rebounding is ridiculously good. better than Ronny Turiaf. they are similar players but he fits well into ronny's spot from last year. Powell is also a better shooter than ronny and i wonder ehy he's rated so low in NBA Live.

Acutally, now that you mention Ronny... another good reason for Lamar coming off the bench. As a good rebounder, we have an able rebounding forward to replace Ronny in the second unit.

[Andrew]

Honestly, I'd prefer the Bulls were back atop the East. It's great to see the rivalry renewed though and I really enjoyed the 2008 Finals. Even if there's still an imbalance between the conferences I like that there's a favourite to win in both conferences and the fact that those two teams are also the two winningest clubs in league history makes it special too.

[Fresh8]

The Bulls' time will come though. Perhaps after the Celtics, Lakers die down. History may repeat itself

Anyways, season opener today! I'm stoked!

[Fresh8]

Two big wins to start the season. Only 80 games left now.

[GuCcI08]

thanx to tha trade and piston's perfect game. lakers will go 7-1. lookin forward to game in detroit ^^ i wonder who's gonna be tha next team to beat tha lakers xD