Lakers suck

[SoopaSooner]

Even with Nash and Gasol I don't see their defense getting much better. They are going to have to make a trade. Gasol probably being the old man out.

 

[playmakr]

They will have to become an above average road team just to make the playoffs.

They have tons of road games left.

 

[NickZepp]

Lakers are basically the same yeam last year, but a little older.

 

[playmakr]

Lakers are basically the same yeam last year, but a little older.

And a lot worse at the FT line.

 

[bocabull]

Talk to us in March. The Lakers are implementing a point guard centric offense with no point guard. They're losing games by single digits shooting in the mid to low 40% range.

There is nobody on this team right now to get people the ball in their spots. When Nash comes back that shooting % jumps to the 50% range like his offenses always have and those single digit Ls turn into Ws.

''They did it to themselves,'' Millsap said of the 9-12 Lakers. ''Our defense was pretty good, but they had no ball movement and that made it easier on us just to try to load up, keep them out of the paint and let them fire up some 3s.''

 

[SilliSooner]

Talk to us in March. The Lakers are implementing a point guard centric offense with no point guard. They're losing games by single digits shooting in the mid to low 40% range.

There is nobody on this team right now to get people the ball in their spots. When Nash comes back that shooting % jumps to the 50% range like his offenses always have and those single digit Ls turn into Ws.

''They did it to themselves,'' Millsap said of the 9-12 Lakers. ''Our defense was pretty good, but they had no ball movement and that made it easier on us just to try to load up, keep them out of the paint and let them fire up some 3s.''

I agree, that by playoff time they'll be a very tough team. The problem will be that by then Kobe will have logged so many minutes carrying the load, he'll have no legs left.

Their bench, which used to have some reliables, notably Lamar Odom, has no one to give them scoring.

 

[SoopaSooner]

So the plan is to outscore everybody? That didn't work with the Suns and won't work in LA. Their defense is BAD. Any guard worth his salt has abused them. They gave up 54 points in the pant just last night.

 

[bocabull]

The hope is that once the offense gets cooking they will build some nice leads to rest Kobe and have him fresh for the final 5 minutes. You're correct at his current pace the odds of him wearing down are high.

 

[bocabull]

So the plan is to outscore everybody? That didn't work with the Suns and won't work in LA. Their defense is BAD. Any guard worth his salt has abused them. They gave up 54 points in the pant just last night.

Well obviously every team that has won a title in basketball history had a plan to outscore the other team. There have been many successful formulas to accomplish this goal.

Lakers formula is to get FG% around 50% which will decrease the number of easy buckets they allow on the defensive end. We have no idea how successful it will be until Nash comes back.

Let's not kid ourselves that a team with Kobe, World Peace & Howard is completely incapable of playing defense.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

Even with Nash and Gasol I don't see their defense getting much better. They are going to have to make a trade. Gasol probably being the old man out.

Well those two certainly aren't going to ramp up the defense.

 

[SoopaSooner]

Well obviously every team that has won a title in basketball history had a plan to outscore the other team. There have been many successful formulas to accomplish this goal.

Lakers formula is to get FG% around 50% which will decrease the number of easy buckets they allow on the defensive end. We have no idea how successful it will be until Nash comes back.

Let's not kid ourselves that a team with Kobe, World Peace & Howard is completely incapable of playing defense.

Kobe and MWP are not the defenders they once were.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Talk to us in March. The Lakers are implementing a point guard centric offense with no point guard. They're losing games by single digits shooting in the mid to low 40% range.

There is nobody on this team right now to get people the ball in their spots. When Nash comes back that shooting % jumps to the 50% range like his offenses always have and those single digit Ls turn into Ws.

''They did it to themselves,'' Millsap said of the 9-12 Lakers. ''Our defense was pretty good, but they had no ball movement and that made it easier on us just to try to load up, keep them out of the paint and let them fire up some 3s.''

As the resident Laker optimist, I wish I shared your confidence Boca.

Just not seeing it. I believe the offense will be more efficient with Nash because right now they are struggling to score points. Nash will provide many more easy points, IMO.

The defensive issues are too great to overcome, IMO. Rival PG's are shredding the defense, because LA has no one to keep them from penetrating. Nash/Blake won't remedy that. What I see from watching LA most every night is D-12 is drawn constantly to help a beaten defender. When he slides to contest the shot, no one rotates on the back line, and you get layup after layup, or open jumpers on the kick out.

The only solution I see is to ship Gasol and get at least 2 athletic wingmen, or blow the entire thing up and decide who you build around. I just don't see LA being much more than a playoff team with an early exit.

As someone else said, Artest & Kobe aren't the defenders they once were....

On a footnote, thew bench hasn't been bad at all. Both Meeks & Hill have proven to me they can help this squad. Jamison is still who he has always been. Potent scorer, but liability everywhere else....

 

[playmakr]

Lakers lose in Cleveland.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Lakers lose in Cleveland.

WOw!!!! Just watched the Presser with D'Antoni. Let me just say if Stoops had to face the LA media, he would probably choke someone.

The coach was asked some tough questions, and things got very heated. Someone asked him if he ever gets concerned when the ball starts in Kobe's hands, and ends in Kobe's hands, without anyone else touching it. He responded, "we do need to look at that, and make some adjustments there". The same reporter not backing off, asked, " is everyone besides Kobe not good enough"? Did you guys bring in Howard to watch Kobe shoot? The coach responded we need to get a better flow, with more people involved.....

He went on to add alot of coach speak about Nash coming back, etc.... At the end some reporter asked why the Lakers don't practice defense?? D'Antoni blew a gasket and accused the guy of lying on the team. The guy said you guys were on the court for almost an hour yesterday morning, and you didn't practice defense at all. D'Antoni then asked the guy, were you there?? I didn't see you in our film room. He then went all the way off and said now you are pissing me off!!!!! They immediately cut away and went back to the studio with Big Game James Worthy.....

Very entertaining television I might add. Worthy is now talking about Laker arrogance. No urgency on defense, not getting back at all, not rebounding, besides D-12, no energy, etc...... He says they keep saying how they will turn it around, and we see no energy/effort. It would be ok to lose without Nash/Gasol if they had energy/defensive effort, which they don't. Howard horrid from the FT line again. Is he worse than Shaq????

It will be interesting. Kobe expressed love for D'Antoni. We shall see. Everyone is thinking all will be solved with Nash returning. Color me not so sure.....

 

[playmakr]

WOw!!!! Just watched the Presser with D'Antoni. Let me just say if Stoops had to face the LA media, he would probably choke someone.

The coach was asked some tough questions, and things got very heated. Someone asked him if he ever gets concerned when the ball starts in Kobe's hands, and ends in Kobe's hands, without anyone else touching it. He responded, "we do need to look at that, and make some adjustments there". The same reporter not backing off, asked, " is everyone besides Kobe not good enough"? Did you guys bring in Howard to watch Kobe shoot? The coach responded we need to get a better flow, with more people involved.....

He went on to add alot of coach speak about Nash coming back, etc.... At the end some reporter asked why the Lakers don't practice defense?? D'Antoni blew a gasket and accused the guy of lying on the team. The guy said you guys were on the court for almost an hour yesterday morning, and you didn't practice defense at all. D'Antoni then asked the guy, were you there?? I didn't see you in our film room. He then went all the way off and said now you are pissing me off!!!!! They immediately cut away and went back to the studio with Big Game James Worthy.....

Very entertaining television I might add. Worthy is now talking about Laker arrogance. No urgency on defense, not getting back at all, not rebounding, besides D-12, no energy, etc...... He says they keep saying how they will turn it around, and we see no energy/effort. It would be ok to lose without Nash/Gasol if they had energy/defensive effort, which they don't. Howard horrid from the FT line again. Is he worse than Shaq????

It will be interesting. Kobe expressed love for D'Antoni. We shall see. Everyone is thinking all will be solved with Nash returning. Color me not so sure.....

Damn I wish I would have seen that. Would it be up on their team page later?

Also, Howard is a A LOT worse than Shaq at the FT line. The %'s may be the same, but Shaq made a good amount of them late with the game on the line. Howard has cost them a few wins already.

Things will get ugly LA if the play doesn't pick up. Surely Nash will help, but the major problems won't be fixed just by his insertion.

It's a long season though. I remember people clowning the Heat in December, or clowning Dallas early 2 seasons ago. But, this team just doesn't look right.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Irving is amazing

 

[coolm]

this game just further convinced me that Kyrie belongs on the All-Star team.

 

[playmakr]

Lakers are 1-11 when Kobe scores over 30.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Lakers are 1-11 when Kobe scores over 30.

You can see his frustration building. He is working so hard to get decent looks because no one else on the floor scares opposing defenses at all.

Barkley pointed out something last night I noticed earlier. D-12 is not close to the D-12 of old. This is a guy who once dunked a 12 ft hoop during a dunk contest. It is brutal seeing guys like Varreja(sp), Chandler, and so many no name bigs rising above him for rebounds. At least 5 times this season, he has caught the ball very low on the block, attempted to explode and dunk the ball, only to not be able to get above the rim. I have seen his power moves blocked more this yr than in his entire career.

Barkley said he might still be hurt, or we could be seeing the results of serious back injuries which may have permanently damaged his ability to explode and rise...... I guess time will tell.

At least when Nash returns, KB won't have to work so hard to get a good shot. Watching Duhon & Meeks trying to guard Felton last night was laughable. They had Kidd mic'd up, and he was on the bench telling Felton, go by him!!!!! Go by him!!!! I have watched the last 8 to 10 games the Lakers have played, start to finish. Every team's guards dribbled anywhere they wanted, mostly in the paint. Meeks and Duhon both play hard, but Duhon's on ball defense is laughable, and Meeks not much better.

I actually like Meeks off the bench as a 3 pt specialist. With Nash's ability to penetrate, he should get alot of open 3's, and he shown to be a very good spot up shooter.....

 

[bocabull]

Nash has to be loving this. Lets say after he comes back the FG % pops a couple points, the turnovers drop a couple, assists go up a couple, the combination of those things improves points allowed by a couple.

The chants of MVsteve will be raining down in Staples.