Lakers

[Donuthole]

Originally Posted by HuskyFreeNorthwest

You wasted your 1,000th post in the Lakers thread on that. Sad.

Shhhhh. He thinks he's the one baiting us.

[smokymountainrain]

The silence from Laker fans after a solid win is deafening.

Pau with a near triple double (and 20-20) and 5 blocks, five guys scoring between 13 and 21 points, playing defense, spreading the ball around and excellent play from the bench.

I can honestly say that Laker team was fun to watch.

[FN Phat]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

The silence from Laker fans after a solid win is deafening.

Pau with a near triple double (and 20-20) and 5 blocks, five guys scoring between 13 and 21 points, playing defense, spreading the ball around and excellent play from the bench.

I can honestly say that Laker team was fun to watch.

Maybe the Lakers team is more Pau's than Kobe's.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

The silence from Laker fans after a solid win is deafening.

Pau with a near triple double (and 20-20) and 5 blocks, five guys scoring between 13 and 21 points, playing defense, spreading the ball around and excellent play from the bench.

I can honestly say that Laker team was fun to watch.

hooray.

Zzzzzzzz.

[TripletDaddy]

Since there has been an apparent pent-up demand for Laker info:

Bynum out for Utah game, Kobe unlikely

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...,4995625.story

Kobe not clairvoyant

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw...,4979728.story

[smokymountainrain]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

hooray.

Zzzzzzzz.

Apparently you feel different than the frenzied crowd at the game last night and the folks as ESPN who thought it was worthy for a lead story on Sportscenter. But then I guess those fans who fight traffic and pay to go to the games are the diehards - one can't expect a casual fan like yourself to get excited about a couple of important wins heading into the AS break.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

Apparently you feel different than the frenzied crowd at the forum last night and the folks as ESPN who thought it was worthy for a lead story on Sportscenter. But then I guess those fans who fight traffic and pay to go to the games are the diehards - one can't expect a casual fan like yourself to get excited about a couple of important wins heading into the AS break.

What were die hard Lakers fans doing at the Forum last night?

Are the playoffs here yet?

[smokymountainrain]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

What were die hard Lakers fans doing at the Forum last night?

Are the playoffs here yet?

Whatever they were doing there, they seemed excited about what was going on. I can say that I didn't see anybody sleeping.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

Whatever they were doing there, they seemed excited about what was going on. I can say that I didn't see anybody sleeping.

The Forum is actually now used primarily by some revivalist Church so what you saw was likely a pentecostal experience of some sort.

At any rate, if they were at the Forum last night, then by definition they were not watching the game, which means they can in no way be classified as die hard fans. Wrong venue, wrong event.

[TripletDaddy]

Jax hates touching people before games

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...3583656.column

Kobe is not an idiot

http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakers...ed-lineup.html

LA hopes to avoid Utah in first round

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...,3556110.story

Not one media member wants to see them play Oklahoma City in the first round -- much, much too sleepy of a town. Nobody wants them to play Utah again (just did it a year ago and, despite laudable changes in certain beverage laws, I'll pass).

[Surfah]

It's not a big deal, but I think Kobe should have been on the bench the other night against SA. It kind of bugged me when they said he was there but getting treatment.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Surfah

It's not a big deal, but I think Kobe should have been on the bench the other night against SA. It kind of bugged me when they said he was there but getting treatment.

Same against Portland. He stays in the locker room to get treatment.

I don't like it, either. I said such to Junkie in the middle of the game. He needs to be out there cheering and such. These are the small things that make good leaders great.

They can set up a stim machine to his ankle near the bench.

[Surfah]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

Same against Portland. He stays in the locker room to get treatment.

I don't like it, either. I said such to Junkie in the middle of the game. He needs to be out there cheering and such. These are the small things that make good leaders great.

They can set up a stim machine to his ankle near the bench.

Again, absent. I don't like this at all.

No Kobe. No Bynum. No problem.

I love Odom. Man, I am growing convinced he's the most important player on this Lakers team. Gasol was big again. Though he had some silly turnovers. Farmar put together another nice game. He really should start over Fisher. Fisher is now a liability at both ends of the floor. He needs to run with the 2nd unit as his leadership is really the only thing he has left to offer this team. Sasha played decent again as well. If we can continue to get this kind of production out of the bench we should run through the playoffs.

[TripletDaddy]

MMM and I were at a "Welcome to Kindergarten" meeting at City Hall...for parents with new Kindergarteners this year. It was basically an hour-long power point snoozefest with about 4-7 minutes of interesting info magically interspersed between slides filled with minutiae contained in the printed handouts each of us was given out in the lobby.

After finishing a crossword puzzle I realized that the game was going and I had failed to Tivo. I texted junkie for the score. He said the Lakers were up by 20 late in the 3rd. yawn.

Seriously, I don't know what is wrong with me, but this is the most boring pointless regular NBA season that I have ever experienced. With this roster, it should be exciting, I guess. I am having a tough time sitting back to ENJOY THE RIDE. When the Lakers lose silly games, it doesn't matter. When they have a solid week like this week, it also doesn't matter. The playoffs can't get here soon enough.

Now we go into All-Star weekend and I see that the NBA is already promoting Kevin Durrant and his attempt to win another game of HORSE. That should really go a long way in getting me interested in the second half of the season.

There has to be some new area of focus to get me to care about these regular season games.....kind of like the tacos at each home game. Some oddball statistic or trivial occurrence that might take place in each game....it would force me to care. But what?

[HBCoug]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

There has to be some new area of focus to get me to care about these regular season games.....kind of like the tacos at each home game. Some oddball statistic or trivial occurrence that might take place in each game....it would force me to care. But what?

Have you considered looking at PERs to draw ridiculous conclusions? I heard somewhere Chris Paul had a better rookie season than Magic Johnson. We have stats to support this!

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by HBCoug

Have you considered looking at PERs to draw ridiculous conclusions? I heard somewhere Chris Paul had a better rookie season than Magic Johnson. We have stats to support this!

The obsession with stats has never enthralled me and the PER argument is a great example. I have noticed a lack of PER discussion on CUF...my guess is that our resident Jazz fans save it for cougarboard or a jazz board, places that eat that sort of stuff up.

Pow is having a great week. Where was Pow when the Lakers were getting their ashes handed to them in Boston 2 Finals ago? The same Pow that couldn't hit the side of a barn and was getting bullied in the paint. In fact, where was Pow this year in both games against Cleveland? Same story. Pow wants the ball more, but then he fades when playing physical teams that bang him around. Of course he will dominate against the Jazz....nobody is going to stop him. Vs the Spurs, Duncan sat for what seemed to be lengthy stretches of the game. Pow had nobody to bother him.

The Lakers beat 3 teams this week....none of which are serious contenders for a title. A nice accomplishment but still lots of work to do.

Farmar is also having a nice week, which should be good for his confidence.

[smokymountainrain]

What scares me most about the Lakers right now is that whenever a star player goes out, teams sometimes learn to win in other ways...This Laker team, in these three games, has stepped it up defensively. Now you add Kobe and they keep holding teams to less than 90 points, that can't be good for the rest of the league.

[Surfah]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

What scares me most about the Lakers right now is that whenever a star player goes out, teams sometimes learn to win in other ways...This Laker team, in these three games, has stepped it up defensively. Now you add Kobe and they keep holding teams to less than 90 points, that can't be good for the rest of the league.

When Kobe and Drew come back the Lakers need to continue doing what they've been doing in their absence. They need to trust the offense. Make their cuts. Crash the boards. If they did that they'd steamroll every single team because they are by far the most talented team in the league. The problem is that they defer way too much to Kobe and iso way too much for him. They all turn into spectators and just watch expecting Kobe to do the miraculous every time he touches the ball.

Drew needs to get more aggressive. He has flashes in games, but if the offense doesn't go through him he mails it in. He needs to motivate himself and remain active on the floor regardless if he's getting his touches in the post. He needs to find other ways to be productive without the ball. I don't know that he'll ever recover from his two knee operations. Even before his hip injury, he seemed to be slowing down quite a bit to me. I worry about his long term health and productivity.

[smokymountainrain]

Originally Posted by Surfah

When Kobe and Drew come back the Lakers need to continue doing what they've been doing in their absence. They need to trust the offense. Make their cuts. Crash the boards. If they did that they'd steamroll every single team because they are by far the most talented team in the league. The problem is that they defer way too much to Kobe and iso way too much for him. They all turn into spectators and just watch expecting Kobe to do the miraculous every time he touches the ball.

You have to admit it would be very difficult for teammates to trust the offense, not defer way to much to Kobe, and become spectators when he's taking close to 25 shots a game, but ultimately, I agree with your main point - that if they can keep playing this way when he comes back, they would be nearly unbeatable.

[Surfah]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

You have to admit it would be very difficult for teammates to trust the offense, not defer way to much to Kobe, and become spectators when he's taking close to 25 shots a game, but ultimately, I agree with your main point - that if they can keep playing this way when he comes back, they would be nearly unbeatable.

I agree. And Kobe should shoulder a lot of the blame. But I have also watched enough of the Lakers to trust that Kobe will make the pass. The problem is most times the only passing option for him is to throw it out beyond the 3 point line where the other Lakers are all standing. To counter this they need to go into their offense much sooner. If they can initiate much earlier in the shot clock then they won't be forced into many situations where Kobe has to create one on one.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

What scares me most about the Lakers right now is that whenever a star player goes out, teams sometimes learn to win in other ways...This Laker team, in these three games, has stepped it up defensively. Now you add Kobe and they keep holding teams to less than 90 points, that can't be good for the rest of the league.

This encapsulates the enigma that is the Lakers......."whenever a star player goes out..."

Last night you had Pow, Artest, and Odom on the floor....that is still more star power than many other teams will ever have on their roster. Why does it take an injury for these guys to flip their switch? It is annoying, frankly.

Kobe takes lots of shots, but the team overall is comfortable with that. In the long run, their record indicates that they win much more than they lose with Kobe being Kobe. However, Kobe taking shots has nothing to do with Pow and Odom grabbing as many defensive rebounds as they have over the past 3 games. Same goes for Pow's blocked shots. Where was all of that on the road trip in games vs Toronto and Cleveland?

Odom's admission two weeks ago was an unfortunate yet candid breath of fresh yet troubling air.....the Lakers are cocky because, simply put, they literally can switch it on and off. Ultimately, I don't blame them. Last year after the championship, they were asked why they don't play they with high intensity all season long. The answer was quick and concise: because you would burn out and exhaust yourself. These guys are pacing themselves and really, quibbling over the lakers right now is pointless....they are the #1 seed in the west and one game off the pace for the best record in the NBA, so I am not sure how much trouble they are really in right now.

But there is something wrong that I just can't quite put my finger on.....for whatever reason, this season their apathy has become contagious. Generally a Lakers/Jazz game would have me pumped up....I'd be on the board posting and talking trash, etc.....but I just don't care that much for some reason. I didn't even watch the game, actually, because I was at a meeting. I don't know why I can't catch the bug...maybe when the weather gets warmer.

I am hoping to see the lakers focus on defense this second half. As you say, clamping down and keeping teams to 90 or so points would be a nice goal. Keeping the jazz basically in the 70s until the final minutes of the game, LO and Pow combining for around 40 rebounds.....yowza. This is all in Artest's first year, as well. He is still figuring everything out. What will happen next season when he has a full year under his belt? Lots of possibilities with this squad but it will all be a total w.a.s.t.e. if they don't produce in June. At least the expectation with these players is a ring or bust. They know the pressures of playing in LA which makes me inclined to think that these guys are pacing themselves, as opposed to simply not really as good as everyone thinks. But who knows....

[smokymountainrain]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

This encapsulates the enigma that is the Lakers......."whenever a star player goes out..."

Last night you had Pow, Artest, and Odom on the floor....that is still more star power than many other teams will ever have on their roster. Why does it take an injury for these guys to flip their switch? It is annoying, frankly.

Kobe takes lots of shots, but the team overall is comfortable with that. In the long run, their record indicates that they win much more than they lose with Kobe being Kobe. However, Kobe taking shots has nothing to do with Pow and Odom grabbing as many defensive rebounds as they have over the past 3 games. Same goes for Pow's blocked shots. Where was all of that on the road trip in games vs Toronto and Cleveland?

I agree for the most part, but sometimes getting the ball more on offense translates to better effort in the "hustle" part of the game...rebounding, defense, etc.

But yes, that is only an excuse, and not a very good one. If Pau can block 5 shots when he's the focal point of the offense, he should be able to do it while watching Kobe jack up shots as well.

Odom's admission two weeks ago was an unfortunate yet candid breath of fresh yet troubling air.....the Lakers are cocky because, simply put, they literally can switch it on and off. Ultimately, I don't blame them. Last year after the championship, they were asked why they don't play they with high intensity all season long. The answer was quick and concise: because you would burn out and exhaust yourself. These guys are pacing themselves and really, quibbling over the lakers right now is pointless....they are the #1 seed in the west and one game off the pace for the best record in the NBA, so I am not sure how much trouble they are really in right now.

The Lakers are not in trouble. Period. I think it's only an issue because as a fan you want to see a team play to their full potential for 82 games rather than flipping the switch when they think it's necessary. But does it really matter in the long run? Probably not.

[HBCoug]

Just grabbed this:



and this:





from Lakersstore.com. Now that we've beaten Utah I think it's safe to rock Laker apparel again.

[TripletDaddy]

kobe officially out of the All-Star game. Thank goodness. more rest for his ankle.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/K...ar-game-021110

[falafel]

Originally Posted by HBCoug

Just grabbed this:

Since when do the Lakers play in the MLS?

[Eddie Jones]

Originally Posted by smokymountainrain

The Lakers are not in trouble. Period. I think it's only an issue because as a fan you want to see a team play to their full potential for 82 games rather than flipping the switch when they think it's necessary. But does it really matter in the long run? Probably not.

Very true for the NBA. If this were the NFL I'd disagree since the playoffs are harder to get into and once there they are one and done. But in the NBA a sub .500 team can make the playoffs and the series are all best of 7. A team that can turn it on and off will do just fine over the marathon season and the marathon playoffs. Let's just hope they never decidee to turn the switch off once in the playoffs.

[HBCoug]

Originally Posted by falafel

Since when do the Lakers play in the MLS?

Yeah, it has a soccer flavor to be sure, but I'm a fan of Adidas stuff. Nike is really hit or miss with me. I've had a hard time finding Laker gear I like (especially hats). Not nearly as difficult as finding decent BYU apparel, but somewhat difficult nevertheless.

[TripletDaddy]

Why are All-Star uniforms always so weird looking? Does anyone have a favorite year for All-Star uniforms? The ones from San Antonio and Orlando were epic failures. yuck!

[TripletDaddy]

Shannon Brown on tonight's dunk contest:

There's one simple reason why Lakers guard Shannon Brown has refused sharing with anybody what's in store for tonight's NBA dunk contest.
"That wouldn't be possible because guys like to steal, man," Brown said. "If they take my dunk, then I have to think of something else."

http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakers...k-contest.html



I am actually a bit puzzled. If it were a contest strictly for jumping, then I could see all the buzz. But does he really do creative dunks? Most of his in-game dunks are fun because he jumps so high, not necessarily because he does much with the ball. I guess we will see tonight. I am interested in seeing what Kobe's role will be in this secret dunk. I wonder if Kobe will decide to dunk it himself at the last second?

Either way, Let Shannon Dunk!

[Surfah]

LO to start after the break and Drew to the bench?

http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog...fantasy,219132

Originally Posted by Phil Jackson

"My coaches are kind of pushing me in that direction, but I’m not ready yet to do that. We won last year with Andrew when he came back at the end of the season, going out there and playing the first quarter and starting the games. Even though he wasn’t 100 percent when came back off his injury last year, he still gave us a lot; he gives us a big front. So I have to measure that and see what’s going to happen with this team in the next couple weeks."