How am I the biased one when everyone was predicting the Lakers go for 70+ wins this year by adding Howard and Nash and basically out-talenting every other team in the NBA? I was one of the few people questioning the mix of players because I know how Kobe plays and that is "my way or the highway". I am not saying that Kobe is a bad player or the stem of their problems. What I am saying is that running a Kobe-centric offense, where Kobe is dominating the usage stats, is stupid with the team they have, because it reduces the effectiveness of every single one of their other players. Even 80% Howard is one of the best players in the league, but he needs to get consistent touches in the post. Gasol has regressed due to injury and fatigue, no doubt, but he's still a guy that will produce if fed the ball, but when he's only getting a handful of shots a game, he's never getting into rhythm. Moreover, you have the best facillitating PG in the NBA to get these guys those touches but because another guy on the team needs 25 shots a game, it just doesn't work that way. Then you have a guy like Artest who still thinks he's an offensive threat taking undeserved touches away from the post players. The system is a mess, and most of that is due to having two weak-willed coaches who are basically deferring to Kobe's decision-making out there. PJ was the only coach who ever put Kobe in his place, cutting his minutes and touches and running an offense that put the Laker mismatches (then Gasol, Odom, and Bynum) in favorable situations.
I agree with the weak willed coaches part. That's all I agree with. Howard had plenty of touches today, but kept getting striped and turning the ball over. More over when they did run s n roll the defense was aggressive, forcing Nash to hit the bigs outside the key towards the arc. Howard has no clue how to operate there, and all gasol does is turn right the **** around and look to pass, at which point it's either gonna be a horrible shot clock scramble or a Kobe shot (he made 60% today). Kobes shot making and defense led the Lakers comeback. The defense collectively tightened up during the fourth, and Chris Paul took some long jumpers which missed. Lakers got killed by some bad bounces and that Dwight foul, and had a chance to snatch the game. If Kobe didn't put up such an amazing performance that wouldn't have been possible
Who says I'm a Lakers fan? And when was I unclassy? And how does that even excuse what was said? Esp this day and age one shouldn't throw around the word rape like its funny, cuz it ain't
emo Kobe <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Thoughts of self doubtAm I done? Is this how my career will end?? I REFUSE to give in to these thoughts. <a class="hashtag" action="hash" title="#strongwill">#strongwill</a> <a class="hashtag" action="hash" title="#countonchallenges">#countonchallenges</a></p>— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) <a href="https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/287468448076951552" data-datetime="2013-01-05T07:59:53+00:00">January 5, 2013</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kobe was great playing the passing lanes. Kobe was great offensively. Kobe was not great or even "good" at stopping Paul. Not complex.
He's definitely gone. Even Nash has probably seen enough. I just hope the trade isn't another gift for the Lakers. With so many flat performances, hopefully Pau's value is sliding and whatever trade happens doesn't make the Lakers much better.
He just started, and ESPN actually wrote an article about his first tweet. lols. One of the most overrated first tweets ever ... Something like, "Hey guys, what's up, I'm on twitter.
Wow, I just saw someone post that the Lakers will have to win 32 of their next 50 games to make it to the 8th seed...
Pau has been so bad it's almost like he's just trolling us and tanking it intentionally. Really killing my fantasy team, too.
Pau is just not being used correctly at all... and its pathetic...He deserves to play as the primary post player, just like Randolph is in Memphis. Howard should play like Mark Gasol, picking his spots to work in the post. Basically bad coaching has destroyed this team from the get go...First they fired a guy that had a decent offensive system for a guy that supposedly has a better offensive system. Now everyone has realized that DAntoni is a garbage coach that has rode on the coattails of Nash(in the prime of his career) and tried to mold players to fit within his system of playing basketball...That is his biggest flaw and it is something that will never be changed...They shouldve brought in Phil Jackson...It seems like DAntoni can be the 2nd coach that they fire this year...The Lakers mgmt is really bad and i think it starts with Jim Buss. Anyways...doesnt really matter...I like them imploding like this...and i really honestly dont see them getting any better.
DAntoni has him shooting 3's...lol...that is pathetic coaching...Pau was just dominating Olympic play...and even commanded doubles by team USA...this just means that the Coaching is really bad...mgmt is worse...and they have a really talented team that can...
That's because he's spending wayyy too much time on defense. I mean, that's 30 minutes that could be spent on something else.
if the lakers miss the playoffs they'll somehow "Beat hte odds" and jump from the 12/13 lotto spot to the first
