Lakers in the off season

[Fresh8]

Kobe's performance this year was the worst possible thing he could do to the Lakers. By hogging the ball and making it the Kobe Show, the rest of the Lakers have no trade value. If he had swallowed his pride and let the rest of the team play more, GMs would see some potential in the other Lakers and possibly trade. But there's little chance of that now, thanks to Kobe.

Well you obviously don't watch any basketball games do you? I guess Kobe was passing to himself when he got 6 assist (that's more than Billups, T-Mac, KG, J-williams to name a few) per game?

I cannot deny that Kobe could make a bit more passes... his shot selection is a bit stuffed. It all comes with experience and maturity as the 'man.' Next season shall prove to us if Kobe can be a leader.. we'll see. He'll be training full time agin this offseason to catch up on his two years of out of form balling and get back into shape. He needs to know and learn how to handle suffocating defences aimed at him and when to pass and when to shoot. Then we will se his full potential.

[TheFranchiseKing]

I agree with Jae, Boozer for Odom is not a good trade. The lakers really need a PG but the problem is I don't think Kobe will let a PG run the offense. He wants to do way too much.

I think he will learn, he has to, as sick and talented as this guy is he insists on hoisting up 3's 4 feet behind the line with 2 defenders on him. This is bad when they are only down 6 and there is 3 mins left.

It is not good judgment.

Do you all really think Phil and Kobe will co-exist if the do not win? The fighting will start right over.

[J@3]

There wasn't any real fighting until after Phil retired I don't think. What it looked like from the outside was that Shaq and Phil had a great relationship, and because Shaq was having problems with Kobe at the time he might've been kind of influencing Phil's opinion a bit. With the fact that Shaq was deemed indespensible and Kobe had this rape thing looming that might've been part of what provoked Phil to come public about his thoughts on Kobe. Either ways, there's so many good PG's in the draft if they can't find at least one to get the job done I'll burn down the STAPLES center.

[maes]

It wasn't a Kobe-Shaq feud with people taking sides, it was Kobe vs Everybody fued, PJ included.

After reading PJ's book, would you want to work with someone like this? Would you want to go to a team where your future paychecks will be determined by this guy?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/b ... 2/jackson/

[J@3]

Phil's an adult he should be able to deal with this kind of thing.

[TheFranchiseKing]

Either ways, there's so many good PG's in the draft if they can't find at least one to get the job done I'll burn down the STAPLES center.

HAHA Call me. I will drive in from Hollywood and Help!!!

[furious1]

After reading PJ's book, would you want to work with someone like this? Would you want to go to a team where your future paychecks will be determined by this guy?

Ten thousand dollars says you didn't read PJs book.

The book isn't a Kobe bash, the media just makes it seems that way to sell papers.

In the book you never read Phil blames himself and Shaqs inability to defend the pick and roll for the loss to Detroit (which led to the breakup of the team). In the book you never read Phil also bashes Shaq and Payton as much as Kobe. In the book you never read Phil recalls a time when Tex Winter told him he refused to work with Shaq anymore because he was "uncoachable".

Try and read the book next time instead of looking at what some writer form SI says about the book before you use it to make an argument.

P.S. Most players in NBA want to play in LA and with Kobe. If you knew anything about the NBA you'd know that as well.

[Andrew]

I've read Jax's book, and while you are correct it does criticise Kobe's attitude and supports the suggestion that he was indirectly responsible for the changing of the guard this past offseason. I agree it's not a book written to bash Kobe, but it doesn't spare him from criticism.

[furious1]

Yes but he also doesn't spare Shaq, Payton, Mitch , Jerry or himself from criticism.

I'm Just tired of all these people who make statements like "after reading Phil Jacksons book..." when they obviously haven't read the damn book themselves.

[Andrew]

Indeed he doesn't spare them. But it's understandable that the parts about Kobe Bryant are referred to more frequently given the arguments over his involvement in the rebuilding of the team, and yes, the continued changing of his once-wholesome image.

[Goldberg]

This thread has changed from what the Lakers should do in off-season to a Lamar is good or suck debate and a Phil-Kobe debate.

What if they keep Lamar and Phil stays retired or go coach elsewhere... what else could they do other than the OBVIOUS which has been mention by almost everyone so far?

[Andrew]

They need to find a way for Odom to be more effective without having the ball in his hands so much, or find an offense where Kobe can still be effective but let Odom have the ball in his hands more often. The front office needs to find a coach who will be firm but fair with Kobe and they need to back that coach.

Obviously Kobe is going to have an impact on front office decisions but they can't make moves just to please him. They need to put their foot down, he's signed long term for a lot of money. They are within their rights to be a little more firm with him, ask for his co-operation and patience and can do safely.

Getting a good point guard in the draft sounds like a good idea, I can't say who because I haven't been following this year's prospects as closely as a lot of you have been, though if Kobe's going to have the ball in his hands a lot of the time do the Lakers really need a playmaking point guard ie one who is going to handle the ball most of the time, averaging 6, 7 assists per game and running the offense?

[Boyk]

averaging 6, 7 assists per game and running the offense?

No, if kobes gonna have the ball alot, then they need a ron harper type point guard(not tryin to compare, but it would prolly fit best).
especialy if phil comes back and they run the triangle for Kobe, but we'll see.

[J@3]

I think the purpose behind having a good playmaking point guard would be just so we don't have Chucky Atkins syndrome. Which basically means that he's so intent on getting his shots that he's just going to throw it up every time he gets the ball. Whereas a guy who's pass-first would look for a better option. It might not sound like too much but it's got to be worth a good 9 or 10 shots a game that could be better placed.

[Goldberg]

Through out history, Lakers have always won with a strong center and loss when they had a weak one. Chamberlein, Jabbar, O'Neal, and what was his name of the guy in the 50s...

So my question is, following on tradition, who is the big center in the NBA (other than O'Neal) the Lakers should go get?

[J@3]

I think with the way that the NBA is now as far as big men goes it's probably better to find another system to work with. They don't have to go and get a superstar big man (if Sit says Yao I will murder someone) someone who's solid on D and can grab alot of rebounds would be nice at this point I think. I'll keep saying Dalambert until someone else signs him.

[Boyk]

yer i agree, dalembert would prolly be a perfect fit for what we need.

[Drex]

Fuck off, Lakers fans Dalembert should stay in Philly

[J@3]

yeah Iverson always needs new teammates to not pass the ball to.

[air gordon]

dream on. dalembert's a restricted FA so philly can match any offer if they choose AND lala's cap is almost $70 mil for next year.

probably atlantta's the biggest threat to pry him away from philly- they are desparate for a big man and have A LOT available cap space (~$20 mil)

[Strike Freedom]

Atlanta can use Bogut.. won't they?

[Andrew]

Through out history, Lakers have always won with a strong center and loss when they had a weak one. Chamberlein, Jabbar, O'Neal, and what was his name of the guy in the 50s...

George Mikan, the league's first marquee player.

[Drex]

yeah Iverson always needs new teammates to not pass the ball to.

That would be an old teammate not to pass the ball to Nah, Iverson always finds Dalembert for some alley-oops...

[air gordon]

Atlanta can use Bogut.. won't they?

yep they sure can use that and a pg

depends on how the lottery balls bounce....

[J@3]

PG might not be such a problem if Lue can continue mistaking himself for Allen Iverson like he was towards the end of the season.