Lakers Thread

[Patr1ck]

The Lakers are still deeper, but both teams are completely different from a year ago. I think they both have a shot at the playoffs, and it would be awesome if they went up against each other in a series. It would make a great story.

[NovU]

Bledsoe, Mo, Billups, Paul... lolz. Stacked, also there is Foye.

The Lakers I think are going to suck this year but still the better team than the Clippers at the moment. But with time, that's gotta change as Kobe ages and the Clippers surround Paul with better supporting casts.

[Andrew]

Kobe has a sprained wrist, nothing too serious.

Kobe Bryant has a sprained right wrist from his fall last night, but he did practice and is OK. Getting treatment after practice.

[[Q]]

Blake got a T for hanging on the rim to not "Bogut himself". thanks ref.

[AMenace]

I'd be looking out for the Clippers this season, as they seem to have made some great additions this offseason, Paul, Billups, Butler, and in the preseason game they beat the Lakers easily despite Paul playing 24 minutes and sitting out the 4th quarter... One team to look out for.

[Main Bounce]

lol, then someone pls change this thread to LA Clippers thread

[kAmilli LakeShow]

Nah, we still LA royalty, let em win a playoffs series first. I like their stacked backcourt roster-wise, but as soon as DeAndre sits on the bench - they are incredibly small, Bynum was doing big-time work on em, Pau would too but he wasn't on the floor at that time. Bench just got a taste of the game, it wasn't even a regular season game

[Patr1ck]

It was obvious that the Clippers were trying to make a statement, but I think tonights game will be a different story, at least score wise.

[Andrew]

Bryant out of preseason finale with wrist injury

The Los Angeles Lakers say Kobe Bryant won’t play in Wednesday night’s preseason finale because of an injury suffered in the team’s first preseason game against the Clippers.

The team says Bryant is being listed as day-to-day. The Lakers say an MRI revealed that Bryant had torn a ligament in his right wrist.

The Lakers face the Clippers again on Wednesday night.

They open the regular season at home against the Chicago Bulls on Christmas Day.

[Patr1ck]

Not good, not good at all. I hope he recovers quickly.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

Yeah, i knew with Kobe's history just because he says nothin is too serious - it could mean he broke that wrist, haha.

LMFAO at Clippers commentator, on Ron Artest : "He spend the summer changing his name, shoulda spent it changing his game". BURN

[Fresh8]

0-2 but I think by end of season we will still be a top 4 seed and contend for the championship. It's going to take time for this team to gel with new teammates, new coach, new system.

[koberulz]

They might scrape into the four, possibly, but unless they make a roster move they're not contenders.

[Andrew]

0-2 but I think by end of season we will still be a top 4 seed and contend for the championship. It's going to take time for this team to gel with new teammates, new coach, new system.

It is early on and there have been champs in years gone by that have had poor starts, but that's awfully optimistic. You made a similar "quote me in June" type prediction last season and that was a better roster that was still swept in the second round. Maybe they make a move or they do play better than the sum of their parts and are able to seriously contend (at least being a top four seed is more plausible, though) but at this point, on paper, I'm guessing that making the WCF will be overachieving, let alone making it to the Finals or winning it all.

[NovU]

2 of 10 best bigs, and Kobe. The roster looks respectable, just not as stacked as before.

[123rockstar]

Is this really true? This is really bad.

Meet Kobe Bryant’s Mistress and Playboy Model Jessica Burciaga [PHOTOS] -by http://www.hoopdoctors.com

[shadowgrin]

As benji said, the only thing left for Kobe now is to beat Tiger Woods or Wilt's scoring record.

[Andrew]

Gotta hand it to Kobe. Always finding a new way to inspire jealousy and hatred.

[Axel The Great]

I guess that's where Kobe one ups Jordan; Kobe's mistress is hotter than Jordan's fiancee.

[Fresh8]

0-2 but I think by end of season we will still be a top 4 seed and contend for the championship. It's going to take time for this team to gel with new teammates, new coach, new system.

It is early on and there have been champs in years gone by that have had poor starts, but that's awfully optimistic. You made a similar "quote me in June" type prediction last season and that was a better roster that was still swept in the second round. Maybe they make a move or they do play better than the sum of their parts and are able to seriously contend (at least being a top four seed is more plausible, though) but at this point, on paper, I'm guessing that making the WCF will be overachieving, let alone making it to the Finals or winning it all.

I know I made a similar prediction last year but last year the team was complacent. The team is actually hustling this season (so far) and what I love about Coach Brown is that he is holding every player accountable. I know that a lot of people are saying that we got Odom traded for nothing. It was a terrible deal because we got nothing in return but if you think about it, it does free up minutes and touches for Andrew Bynum. The team's season is dependent on him. It's time that his investment start paying some dividends!

My reasons for the team contending remains the same as before when I've said that Coach Brown was a good hire (even though I was gunning for Shaw but looking for the positives in a 'negative' situation). The Lakers have a big frontcourt with, arguably, the best C-PF starting duo. Coach Brown will instill a defensive culture into a team that looked lethargic on that end of the floor for the past 2 seasons. Coach Brown will also try and get the most out of Bynum/Gasol, which was particularly attractive to me. And a bonus is that Kobe is looking very very fit right now after those knee and ankle procedures. Before the season I said that Kobe could surprise many and win MVP. I hope that he is a contender at least.

So I stand by my prediction. Lakers to be a top 4 seed and contend for the title.

[shadowgrin]

Kobe already got Tiger Woods and Magic Johnson beaten:

http://www.businessinsider.com/kobe-bry ... en-2011-12

I knew those Laker Girls can't resist The Black Mamba's mamba.

it does free up minutes and touches for Andrew Bynum. The team's season is dependent on him. It's time that his investment start paying some dividends!

Then he gets injured.

Again.

[Andrew]

I know I made a similar prediction last year but last year the team was complacent. The team is actually hustling this season (so far) and what I love about Coach Brown is that he is holding every player accountable. I know that a lot of people are saying that we got Odom traded for nothing. It was a terrible deal because we got nothing in return but if you think about it, it does free up minutes and touches for Andrew Bynum. The team's season is dependent on him. It's time that his investment start paying some dividends!

It also weakens the bench, which will be particularly noticeable if Bynum once again goes down with an injury.

[koberulz]

Also of concern is the loss of Brown, which a lot of people seem to be overlooking and again, weakens the bench. Other than Artest, we basically don't have a bench, and even having Artest there means starting Ebanks.

[Fresh8]

I know I made a similar prediction last year but last year the team was complacent. The team is actually hustling this season (so far) and what I love about Coach Brown is that he is holding every player accountable. I know that a lot of people are saying that we got Odom traded for nothing. It was a terrible deal because we got nothing in return but if you think about it, it does free up minutes and touches for Andrew Bynum. The team's season is dependent on him. It's time that his investment start paying some dividends!

It also weakens the bench, which will be particularly noticeable if Bynum once again goes down with an injury.

Also of concern is the loss of Brown, which a lot of people seem to be overlooking and again, weakens the bench. Other than Artest, we basically don't have a bench, and even having Artest there means starting Ebanks.

Yeah, we have massive holes at SF and PG but I have been happy with Troy Murphy and McRambis filling in Odom's shoes. They don't offer what Odom offers but in some regards, they have been huge positives for the Lakers this season.

And agreed Andrew - that is why I said season is dependent on Bynum.

[shadowgrin]

that is why I said season is dependent on Bynum.

So you're basically saying the Lakers are fucked then this season for depending on a player who in the last four seasons only managed to record one season where he played 60+ games?