Lakers back in form?

YouTube · by **Andrew** on Mon Jan 13, 2003 4:21 pm

A 106-81 victory gives the Lakers their 4th straight win and places them in 9th place in the West at 17-20, 2.5 games behind the Timberwolves. Are they back in form, or do they just have an easy schedule right now? Kobe seems to be playing the best basketball on the Lakers' roster, Shaq's latest effort was a 15 point, 4 rebound performance (though he did have 5 assists), not quite his usual self. I've noticed his numbers have been lower as of late.

So, charging back or flash in the pan?

by **Clinton** on Mon Jan 13, 2003 5:02 pm

I think the schedule has something to do with it, but they are certainly showing signs of their usual form. Kobe and Shaq are sharing the load, the role players are hitting their shots and they are getting the wins. I think it is all starting to come together again, but they won't get back to their best until after the allstar break.

by **randy allen** on Mon Jan 13, 2003 8:15 pm

are the lakers on their way back? it doesn't matter if the lakers are on their way back, they will win the championship

YouTube · by **Andrew** on Mon Jan 13, 2003 8:58 pm

Well, that's the point, if the playoffs started tomorrow, or the Lakers finished the season with their current winning percentage, they wouldn't even be competing for the championship.

by **randy allen** on Tue Jan 14, 2003 1:17 am

yes but what is the point of saying 'if' the playoffs started 2morrow when they don't

by **Eugene** on Tue Jan 14, 2003 2:13 am

Well, Randy, let me put it to you this way.

If the Lakers are not back in form, and play the same kind of basketball that they played the first third of the season, how can they be expected to compete, much less win, against the Mavericks and Kings or any other powerhouses in the west and east?

It does matter if the Lakers are back in form, because you and I both know, Lakers in championship form are not only one of the best teams in the league, but one of the best in the history of the league. As it stands, they are fighting for the eighth spot in the east, and nothing so far has made me believe that they are likely to beat the Kings in a five game series.

But they are starting to gain momentum. As Clinton has said, the easy schedule had something to do with it, but that's how any team gains momentum. Besides, a win's a win regardless of who you play against.

by **ningtong88** on Tue Jan 14, 2003 10:56 am

Kings and Nets both had a better record then Lakers last year, but Lakers beat the sh*t out of both of them, and they will be the Champ. this year as long as they get into the playoff.

by **scubilete** on Tue Jan 14, 2003 11:02 am

I don't think there's any reason for the Lakers not to make the playoffs this year. At the beginning of the season sure they were bad, but Shaq was not in shape, now they will take the command and sure they don't have to finish in the first or second spot to make a good run for the championship.

by **Brave Sir Rubin** on Tue Jan 14, 2003 11:16 am

i think that it's all about home court advantage...the lackers will get into the playoffs...no doubt...but if they don't get home court advantage then they surely won't reach the finals...they will never win with teams such as the Kings and "Cubans" having home court advantage over them...

from the button of my heart...i see a Kings-Mavs 7 game west finals...the winner of that series will go on and ost probebly win the finals if it's not against Boston, Indy, or Philly...since these teams have solid defence and big men that can stop sac town's and dallas's shooters...

but still...the west is less competative, but defenatly has the stronger teams this year...

by **randy allen** on Tue Jan 14, 2003 5:47 pm

[/quote]Boston, Indy, or Philly[quote]

umm, nets?

by **randy allen** on Tue Jan 14, 2003 5:50 pm

Boston, Indy, or Philly

umm, nets?

by **Boyk** on Tue Jan 14, 2003 6:44 pm

Brave Sir Rubin wrote:i think that it's all about home court advantage...the lackers will get into the playoffs...no doubt...but if they don't get home court advantage then they surely won't reach the finals...they will never win with teams such as the Kings and "Cubans" having home court advantage over them...

from the button of my heart...i see a Kings-Mavs 7 game west finals...the winner of that series will go on and ost probebly win the finals if it's not against Boston, Indy, or Philly...since these teams have solid defence and big men that can stop sac town's and dallas's shooters...

but still...the west is less competative, but defenatly has the stronger teams this year...

the LAKERS didnt have homecourt against the kings or spurs the last 2 years in the conference finals, so what diff will it make this year, and i aint really worried about the mavs beating the lakers, coz of well, that amazing comeback and becuase of the one-sided record the lakers have over them, dallas have only beaten them three times or sumfin.........LOL

by **Clinton** on Tue Jan 14, 2003 9:23 pm

but if they don't get home court advantage then they surely won't reach the finals

They don't need home court advantage.

the winner of that series will go on and ost probebly win the finals if it's not against Boston, Indy, or Philly

None of those teams have any chance of beating the Lakers, Kings or Mavs in a 7 game series. They would be lucky not to be swept. The only East team that has a chance in the finals is the Nets.

by **benji** on Wed Jan 15, 2003 10:04 am

or the Hornets...and you could make a case for the Pacers or Sixers...

The Lackers aren't the same team that was on the court at the end of last year, let alone two years ago. They've lost talent, and the biggest problem is they've lost depth (which the Mavericks and Kings have plenty of) which is why I consider the Lackers vulnerable and unlikely to four-peat (rather than pointing to their current struggles), the team has been cutting costs and it may come around to bite them this year. Then we will see if the Lackers should be considered the real deal for the next few years to come.

by **scubilete** on Wed Jan 15, 2003 10:39 am

I do believe the Kings came really big this year with the addition of Jimmy Jackson. However, the lakers still have a chance to get someone that can add some scoring to their roster, I agree they look weak this year but nobody knows what can happen in a 5 or 7 game series.

Fisher was the one giving those extra points for the Lakers against Phily in the Finals 2 years ago. Fox did a good Job last year, I think someone will come up with some extra points to get the Lakers back in track,

by **benji** on Wed Jan 15, 2003 2:57 pm

I doubt it, I think the cost cutting and the fact that losing brings out the worst in people, will spell doom for the Lackers this year. Especially since they will most likely have to go through Sacramento or Dallas or both to get back to the Finals. They might even have to go through Phoenix, San Antonio or Portland as well. You (not you scubilete) can blab all you want about how the Lackers took down all those teams (cept Dallas) in 2000 (Sac/Pho/Por), 2001 (Por/Sac/SA) and even 2002 (Por/SA/Sac) to get to the Finals. But those aren't the same teams and this isn't the same Lackers team. If the Lackers make the playoffs, everyone will taste blood and go at them harder than ever, if they somehow make it to the West Finals, they may be too beat-up to keep going. Every year the Lackers have looked weaker and weaker (as all "dynastys" except the true one have) and the Lackers can no longer rely at stellar Shaq/Kobe backed up by top role players. When you have real depth and end-to-end talent you can beat anyone who has less. There's a reason the Bulls lost the game Jordan scored 63pts in. There's a reason the Pistons eventually overpowered the Celtics/Lackers, and then there's a reason the Bulls did the same to the Pistons. There's a reason only one teams gone more than three years in a row without having to change things up. Without some "miracle", the Lackers time has come.

by **Clinton** on Wed Jan 15, 2003 9:56 pm

or the Hornets...and you could make a case for the Pacers or Sixers...

Not the Hornets. I'll give you the Pacers, only because they have Artest to TRY and stop Kobe and Brad Miller and the other O'Neal to TRY and stop Shaq. They also have a lot more scoring off the bench than the Lakers, but who doesn't. The Sixers on the other hand only have Iverson as Van Horn chokes in the playoffs and the other TMac showed what he can do against Shaq a few years back.

by **benji** on Thu Jan 16, 2003 4:32 am

It was last year when the Lackers and Nets played with MacCulloch starting.

The Hornets have the best post players in the East, and their depth is nearly unmatched. Plus pretty much everyone can score. The Lackers would have a hell of a team beating them. Same with Pacers and Sixers. Sixers have tons of depth and defense. Van Horn's effect on the Sixers is seriously underrated, because unlike New Jersey he is not the primary scorer. They've added Kenny Thomas now to improve their post positioning. Plus, we get back to the fact that the Lackers are nowhere near the team they had even last year, let alone 2000.

by **scubilete** on Thu Jan 16, 2003 7:44 am

I agree with you Ben, the Lakers are still the Champs, that's why everyone will look for them to beat them. Also, that's why I said they still have a chance to get someone who can score to their roster, I admit they need something else better than what they got in order to win. However like I said, some of those guys can come up and surprise us, or maybe Webber & Nowitzki will get injured and won't come back til next season, :lol:

. I know that's dreaming but there's nothing bad about dreaming.

by **Clinton** on Thu Jan 16, 2003 2:21 pm

Van Horn's effect on the Sixers is seriously underrated, because unlike New Jersey he is not the primary scorer.

True, but he is still inconsistent and lacks effort.

by **benji** on Thu Jan 16, 2003 2:42 pm

Not from what I've seen so far this season.

by **Clinton** on Thu Jan 16, 2003 2:56 pm

Maybe you have only seen the games where he has performed well. There has been plenty of poor shooting nights and he has been sitting out the 4th quarter of tight games. Larry Brown has prefered to go with Skinner, Thomas or Coleman.

by **Clinton** on Thu Jan 16, 2003 3:08 pm

Another win for the Lakers against the Hornets 90-82. Big game for Kobe with 36 points, 11 boards and 4 assists. Shaq had 23 points and 11 boards. Lakers record now at 18-20, they are on a 5 game win streak.

by **Brave Sir Rubin** on Fri Jan 17, 2003 3:06 pm

Maybe you have only seen the games where he has performed well. There has been plenty of poor shooting nights and he has been sitting out the 4th quarter of tight games. Larry Brown has prefered to go with Skinner, Thomas or Coleman.

well.........prove that point...i don't recall van horn having a very bad game this year... he sits on the bench the 4th becouse brown needs bigger and more phisical players most times..but van horn has proved that he can play under preasure (ex. yesterday's game)

You will never see Van Horn not being on the court in a game ending play that requires shooting...

by **Boyk** on Sat Jan 18, 2003 4:22 am

even though shaq is back, i think that kobe has been the main reason that the lakers have turned it around, and coz the other players are hittin there shots, anyway, hes played so awesome
kobe is leadin that team right now, but come playoff time, it will be shaqs team again

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