And Phoenix (which is probably about to lose Steve Nash after this year, with no heir apparent) will sign-and-trade Brooks to the Lakers in exchange for WHAT, exactly??? Not saying it couldn't happen. Just want to know what the Lakers have to offer and why Phoenix wouldn't just give Brooks (a RESTRICTED free agent) a similar contract offer.
Have you been watching Kobe play this year? A year older or not it looks like that knee surgery he got has made a difference. If he continues to play like this they are going to be tough to beat.
There is a long, compressed season to finish. I have doubts we'll be seeing the same Kobe in the playoffs. Even if we do, I doubt the Lakers are contenders. They totally fall apart when Kobe isn't in the game. They aren't about to win 4 playoff series in that condition. Only way they can change things is to make a trade that takes them up a couple of notches.
I agree that he might break down with so many back to backs etc. but if he doesn't they are just as much a contender last year as they were this year. if Bynum keeps playing at a high level that plus McRoberts makes up for the loss of Odom. The west has a lot of good teams but no great ones so it is very possible that they can make it to the finals as currently constructed. I'm not saying they are the favorites at all but I do think they are in the convo even without a trade.
Its called fresh legs...any time that has been to 3 straight NBA Finals will look worn down when its trying to make it back there for a 4th consecutive season. Bynum has a bigger role, Pau and Kobe are rested, more Barnes, less Metta World Peace and Mike Brown's defensive system is getting it done...also Phil Jackson mailed it in last year, he really didn't want to coach but was forced into it toget the 3 peat by fans and his girfriend (owner's daughter)
The Lakers will play as well as Bynum can hold up his health. Their depth sucks horrendously, but that's 1 superstar and 2 all-stars if Bynum is healthy. On a side note, I bet the Lakers would definitely think about revisiting a 2-way Gasol for Scola/Martin trade if Bynum keeps playing well. Not sure about the Rockets though in the same situation.
Fresh legs? Rested? Kobe? You think he will have fresh legs averaging 36 mins, 23 FGAs and 28 points in this compressed season? No way. If the Lakers don't figure out a way to avoid collapsing without him on the floor, they are doomed. Last year, Odom came off the bench as facilitator but he's gone now. They need to turn the trade exception into gold somehow.
Bynum has turned into a monster. Jim Buss is having the last laugh now. The media look like clowns again. A Paul, Kobe, and Bynum show puts them above the Heat. They actually have a players around them. Nene was always going for the money and that meant staying in Denver. So the Rockets would've just gotten the third best Laker to try and compete. Stern did the Rockets a solid.
so why didn't you post all this in your lakers or blazers out of the west thread you made three days ago? http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=213370 in LALA land the sky is falling when they lose a game. the team bickers back and forth through the media. it's not all 'gellin.
Depends on their cap situation Bima, Sarver is pretty tight with his money, and has had major financial difficulty. If Signing Brooks to a big offer sheet puts them far into the Luxury tax land, why wouldn't they let him go? My guess though is AB comes back and takes the one year tender (for 2 months) and then is an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. DD
He was asking for names. I just gave him one that popped to my head. I do agree with DD that Sarver is tight and most likely wouldn't match a high offer and would probably to a S&T for a couple 2nd rounders. The point was LA has an $8.9 million TPE to add to this team that is already pretty good. I'm not for sure what their greatest need is right now. They could probably sign Pryzbilla for vet minimum to have another 6 fouls from a big for the playoffs. Somebody said Blake was garbage. Perhaps he is. He seems to be doing well right now. However, another PG that can defend and hit some 3 pointers may be what they could use. (Brooks doesn't fit the "defend" part.) Perhaps they could get Jameer Nelson for the TPE?????? Wouldn't that possibly make sense for both teams if Orlando is in the Deron chase?? Or Duhon and QRich?? There's plenty of options that will come available.
When I watch the Lakers I think we could get him for even less. Dragic Bud Scola (Not sure if the salaries match).
Considering he's been resting from early May to November (more time off than usual) then yea I'd say he's rested. Like someone else said the Lakers have more depth at PG, SF now so even though Kobe's playing a ton of minutes he doesn't have as many responsibilities now, Steve Blake handles the ball more and runs the offense and Barnes/Ebanks/MWP do more of the rebounding/defending all Kobe's gotta do is doing what he does best...score
I wouldn't say that yet, OKC is still better, the Lakers dont have an answer for Westbrook and Ibaka/Perkins can hold down Gasol/Bynum
I guess we have to disagree. They have less depth at PG this year (not that losing Shannon Brown hurt them much). If anything, they have less depth in the frontcourt because Odom is gone. Kobe is dominating the ball every bit as much as he ever did. Have you been watching the games? He's isoing, rebounding, turning the ball over and whining at refs like it's 2003. He has MORE responsibility now than last season, not less. Stu Lantz has mentioned on more than one occasion the Lakers have to stop going to Kobe so much. The condensed schedule will more than burn up the extra time off. The quality of play has already been impacted for the worse and things will decline going forward. Lakers aren't coming out of the West unless the trade exception is turned into a player that is better than what Odom was last year. Even with Z-Bo down, Lakers are still behind OKC, Portland, Denver and I expect the Clippers to pass them up as CP3 gets everyone on the same page.
And a 32 year old Odom exactly isn't lighting it up in Dallas so the Lakers dont miss him...Bynum is doing great and has made up for Lamar Odom's absense, Gasol's been Gasol the usual side kick, Murphy and McRoberts are averaging 5 rebounds a game from the backup PF/C position (thats pretty good actually). There's no "Triangle" to limit the PG play and thats why Steve Blake is having one of his better years of his career. Lakers still have Goudelock (Boobie Gibson 2.0) and Darius Morris sitting on the bench to use. Mike Brown is just giving Fisher some leash and an opportunity to see how he does before he goes to the rookies to play at the PG position...Fisher is shooting 8% from 3 point, averaging 4 points, 4.4 assists and almost 2 turnovers a game in 20 minutes, the rooks cant be any worse than that Kobe has a bigger responsibility when scoring, not so much on initiating the triangle that PHil Jackon stressed upon thats why he's taking more shots and Im fine with that. He is turning the ball over a lot because of the wrist injury but its something that the Lakers have to play through (just like his poor free throw shooting in 2nd half of 2010 and playoffs when the won the championship when he had an avulsion fracture in his finger)...Tony Allen is one of the better defenders in the league and he had an easy 11/22 FG gm last night. The Lakers are not done dealing yet, that TPE might come in useful later in the year when trying to go after a Point guard
And check about 2 posts above mine I said OKC is the better team as of now and I dont see LAL beating them to get of the West as currently constructed
And Portland and Denver are not better than the Lakers...just because they lost there on the road doesn't mean they're better. Heck even in 2009 and 2010 when the Lakers won the championship they lost in Utah, Denver, Portland and Charlotte...the usual teams does that mean they're better than the Lakers? LOL
