Whats even funnier is that if you visit boards like LakerTalk, they were all happy that Shaq left and have these stupid little signatures like "See ya Fat Guy!". Now half of them have turned on Kobe and are whining as they realize how sorry their team is now. It's just amazing how they can turn on someone like Shaq just because he demanded a trade only because it was clear they wanted him out in favour of Kobe. I'm just glad that he got a nice ovation during that game at Staples in December, cause judging by these message boards you'd think they would have booed him.
Man the Lakers have lost 6 games in a row.. remember last year people were blasting TMac for losing so many games in a row and many people stated that would never happen to Kobe since he is such a fierce competitor but it is and he has much better help than Tmac had. Kobe / Odom / Butler / Mihm is still better than TMac / JHoward and junk. J
and a 19 game losing streak is still a touch more significant than a 6 game slide. Don't go overboard.
they are almost out of it baby another ass whupping this time to the nuggets puts them 5.5 games out of the final playoff spot. the worst thing (Well best thing for me) about this defeats is that the lakers just have this mentality about them now that they will lose the game 7 straight when it matters the most actually they went from having the 8spot to being now 5.5 games down the 19 game streak by the magic last year happened at the begining of the season and pretty much sealed their fate...... i enjoy this more because the lakers were teased with having a decent team till reality just smacked them upside their head
We have to root for them to lose the lottery. I think they are hit and sunk and have been since Jerry West left the scene. All they have now is a puppet GM who is right up there with Weisbrod, Zeke, and Nash in the race for worst GM in the league.
Amazing... they're on a 7 game losing streak, are 6 games away from the 8th playoff spot, and have no chance of making it.... ... and they STILL make the front page of ESPN.com's NBA section... just disgusting. -- droxford
They need to get rid of their GM. I don't fault him for the Shaq trade - that was the owner's idea - but the way Kupchack handled Gary Payton last off-season hurt their chances of landing big-name free agents w/o overpaying. I was rooting for them to make the playoffs, though. That way, they won't get a first-round pick and will remain stuck on the mediocrity treadmill.
I agree. What was the point of getting rid of Payton? It's not like they were going to be running the triangle offense anymore with Rudy in as coach. It also doesn't make the franchise look good having him sign for the MLE and then trading him to the Celtics.
Once again a Rudy lead team was in the playoffs when Rudy was at the helm. Rudy has to leave and the team slides out of the playoff picture.
I think Rudy bailed out at just the right time. They had played their 30 or so home games, and all the easy teams. The brutal schedule ahead might have played a role in Rudy's desicion.
I don't know about you, but I'd do that deal again in a flash if I were Kupchak. They got Mihm out of the deal, that alone made it worth it. Stop and think about who they'd be playing at the 5 right now without him. Divac and Grant pretty much didn't play this year. Slava is more of a finesse PF than anything, and has never averaged more than 5 boards a game. Cook is a similar guy. Neither could defend a parked car. Is having Payton (36 y/o, 12 pts, 6 assists this season) for one more year really all that more important than having a servicable center that's both 7-foot and 25 years old? Add Atkins to the mix, and this really isn't much to harp about. Evan
I concur. Even though i'm not a fan of Mihm since his college days, they had to be very desperate after Vlade went out. If only they knew now they wouldn't of made that deal so they could get a #1. If there were only a way Vlade could lure Peja to LA. They could turn around in a hurry. But i don't see the cap space.
