Lakers Thread

[Stress Fracture]

Why in the world is Matt Barnes rotting on the bench?

[Fresh8]

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?

I don't think we are fucked because I think he will be fine healthwise. But *touch wood* if he goes down with an injury, then it would be tough for us to get past OKC in the WCF. That's the only real team I am worried about in the West. But I do think we will make the Finals and contend for the championship.

Can't wait to see the full team in action.

Why in the world is Matt Barnes rotting on the bench?

I think he had an injury at start of season and Ebanks was playing fairly well so he is being rewarded by Coach Brown. Expect to see Ebanks' minutes dwindle though as Barnes is healthy again.

[123rockstar]

Why in the world is Matt Barnes rotting on the bench?

wow... Coach Brown must have been reading this... instead he started Barnes today against Denver.

Speaking of which, that was a really close game. Andrew Bynum had an awesome debut game!!! So cool. Happy New Year everyone!

[Andrew]

Pretty impressive way for Bynum to get back to business. Near triple double for Kobe as well.

[Stress Fracture]

Just watch the game highlights. Bynum had so much improved! Nene can't just stop him.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

Kobe din't play well against Nuggets, but was a good playmaker, letting everyone get into rhythm. I was and will stand by my man Andrew Bynum. We don't need Dwight, we just need him to stay healthy. Honestly, i'm more impressed by Drew than Dwight when i see them play. Bynum really uses his height and strength well.

Lakers play REALLY well, actually, and i'm starting to like Coach Brown. Metta plays well, bench, while less talented, finds the way to hit that 3 or to make that hustle play. Defense improved drastically, and that hold everyone accountable part? That's the best thing i see this coach do. When Kobe goes 1 on 4, he will call a timeout and talk to Kobe. When we miss an assignment - he will call a timeout and point out the flaws. I never understood Phil Jackson's system of letting guys play thru almost everything. I have seen it do more harm than good, especially last 2 years in LA.

Best part of it all. I see Lakers HUSTLE. McRoberts FTW. Honest to God, i don't remember this since that time we won the chip in 2008. If they keep this up - i see us creeping into the Finals to shock the world, honestly. problem is, just 1 injury can destroy all this. And it doesn't even matter to who, if it's someone in a 9-man rotation - we are fucked

[Andrew]

I was and will stand by my man Andrew Bynum. We don't need Dwight, we just need him to stay healthy. Honestly, i'm more impressed by Drew than Dwight when i see them play. Bynum really uses his height and strength well.

Changed your tune a little there.

[koberulz]

Best part of it all. I see Lakers HUSTLE. McRoberts FTW. Honest to God, i don't remember this since that time we won the chip in 2008.

Say what?

If they keep this up - i see us creeping into the Finals to shock the world, honestly.

They've spent two days trying to hand a win to Denver. They were a Danilo Gallinari layup away from succeeding both times.

[Andrew]

That's probably one of the worst games you'll ever see from Kobe: 16 points on 6/28 shooting, six turnovers and nothing happening in crunch time. Hitting the 28,000 point mark is about the only thing to celebrate in that one.

[koberulz]

He was in full-on "I'm scoring 50 whether it helps the team or not" mode pretty much all night, until the last couple of minutes where he moved into "I'm going to single-handedly attempt to win this game whether it helps the team or not" mode.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

Best part of it all. I see Lakers HUSTLE. McRoberts FTW. Honest to God, i don't remember this since that time we won the chip in 2008.

Say what?

If they keep this up - i see us creeping into the Finals to shock the world, honestly.

They've spent two days trying to hand a win to Denver. They were a Danilo Gallinari layup away from succeeding both times.

Come on now, if Kobe shoots just slightly better - we winning these games and you know that.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

I was and will stand by my man Andrew Bynum. We don't need Dwight, we just need him to stay healthy. Honestly, i'm more impressed by Drew than Dwight when i see them play. Bynum really uses his height and strength well.

Changed your tune a little there.

Haha, yeah, that was mainly cuz of Bynum's dumbass last season not taking a surgery in time, costing us a chip. I was speaking when i was hottt with anger XD

[koberulz]

Come on now, if Kobe shoots just slightly better - we winning these games and you know that.

Sure, assuming by 'slightly better' you mean 'a lot better', as well as 'less', and you take for granted that the team as a whole will throw the ball away less just because Kobe's shooting better. Not to mention that Kobe didn't shoot better, so it's really irrelevant.

The team as a whole played so poorly in both games they didn't deserve to win either of them. And again, it's Denver. DENVER. This Lakers team will not contend for anything. They'll make the playoffs, in all likelihood (though a couple of injuries might even put that out of the question), but whenever they come up against OKC they're going down in five.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

Come on man, i don't agree at all. first of all, it's beginning of the season. Many teams haven't even got into rhythm yet. We play good D, our shot is a bit off
but i think it's fair to say it's gonna come. We were a call away from beating Bulls, were tied in the game against nuggets with 3 mins left. I think, it speaks volumes about a team when it's best player isn't playin well, whole team is havin a mediocre night yet they are still in the game late in the 4th. Had a lot of games in 2 weeks, too. Not enough practice time. Let's wait till All-Star game standings, at least. I believe this team has potential to surprise folks in the playoffs.

[koberulz]

We play good D

If you say so.

We were a call away from beating Bulls

After the Bulls spent the entire second half bricking wide open shots, including several layups.

, were tied in the game against nuggets with 3 mins left.

Yes. We were tied with a team most people think will miss the playoffs with three minutes to go despite that team missing, again, several billion wide open shots. It's not like the Nuggets are a contender here, there's a fair number of people predicting them to finish in the bottom four.

I think, it speaks volumes about a team when it's best player isn't playin well, whole team is havin a mediocre night yet they are still in the game late in the 4th.

You missed the part where Denver were also playing like shit and aren't a playoff team.

Had a lot of games in 2 weeks, too. Not enough practice time.

That's not going to change.

Almost beating a lottery team does not make you a contender.

[Andrew]

Had a lot of games in 2 weeks, too. Not enough practice time.

That's not going to change.

Not to mention the same thing could be said for every team in the league.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

I don't know why you guys are so hard on the Lakers, for real. It's strange that Bulls and Nuggets couldn't make shots against us. Maybe give a little credit to our D? Why talk about a lottery team when we almost beat a title contender and were up by 6 with 47 secs left.

shit, look at Dallas. They are a much better team on paper, yet their start is horrible. Our starts isn't, it's mediocre, but it isn't anything to judge the whole season on.

Plus, we need practice time more than any team in the league. We changed our long-time coach, half of our offense and have whole different defense, for God's sake. We traded away our 6th man too. Of course it's gonna take more time to gel.

[Patr1ck]

Is anyone shooting well, though? I expected teams to shoot low percentages. Give the teams a month, maybe they will shoot higher percentages. The last shortened season had a record low fg % if that is anything to go by.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

Oh yeah, on NBA today i saw a stat for season so far, OKC average 90 points per game and LEAD the league in scoring. Is this true or a glitch?
BTW, Nuggets now are 4-2. So you sayin a lottery team is better than us this year?

[shadowgrin]

I don't know why you guys are so hard on the Lakers, for real. It's strange that Bulls and Nuggets couldn't make shots against us. Maybe give a little credit to our D? Why talk about a lottery team when we almost beat a title contender and were up by 6 with 47 secs left.

The Bobcats swept the Lakers during one of their championship seasons so what's your point?

[kAmilli LakeShow]

That is my point. What you read was in regards to Koberulz sayin that because we played average against Nuggets we can't do anything in the playoffs. Hell, we always have problems against Denver, Charlotte and Blazers, even Kings give us trouble a lot of times. But we don't meet them in playoffs, at least yet. It all comes down to match-ups and coaching strategy.

[NovU]

LA on the rise, Miami cries

Nuf said. WTF we arguing for.

[Fresh8]

LA on the rise, Miami cries

Nuf said. WTF we arguing for.

Everyone hates eachother.... we need World Peace

[Fresh8]

Good God did Bynum have a great game.... 21 points, 22 rebounds. I've never been a big fan of his as I haven't cared less but I called it when I said Coach Brown would bring the most out of him.

Kobe tried to make a statement after the last game. He could have had his first 40 points game since last March.

[koberulz]

I don't know why you guys are so hard on the Lakers, for real. It's strange that Bulls and Nuggets couldn't make shots against us. Maybe give a little credit to our D?

I'm not particularly inclined to credit the Lakers' D for teams missing wide open shots/layups, no.

Plus, we need practice time more than any team in the league. We changed our long-time coach, half of our offense and have whole different defense, for God's sake.

As opposed to all the other teams who have done the same thing, but will be perfectly fine?