As the resident Laker "fan" here, I'm opening this thread up so you guys can rub it in. I'm over the loss, because LA just simply wasn't good enough this year. I can accept defeat to a better team. By no means do I think LA should change much, other than trying in vain to upgrade their depth. You have 10 bench players combined with Kobe and Shaq. It's amazing to think that Kobe and Shaq were able to win 3 rings with 10 guys who rode their coattails for so long. SA was the better team this year, and clearly deserved to advance. It'll be interesting to see what route LA takes. Do they panic, and trade Kobe or Shaq? Does Phil leave? Does Shaq retire? Does LA get pissed about losing, and just go full bore towards re-loading for 1 more title run? IMO, this all depends on Jerry Buss. Shaq's huge contract + Buss avoidance of the lux tax pretty much resulted in this watered-down LA roster. I hope LA signs a decent vet with the MCE, and is able to sign some vets at the min as well. Guys who just want rings, and are willing to play for cheap.
Yeah, I guess you could say I am eating crow too since I picked LA to win. But, all through my life I have said any team with Willis on it would never win the title, I may be having to eat some MAJOR crow in a few weeks.
LA is still in pretty good shape, but they really have to improve at the 4 spot. They still have the 2 of the best players in the game and are not that far off. The key is getting that hungry veteran to take less to win a title like J.Howard or K.Malone. The sales pitch is, you will be the 3rd option on a contending team and have a chance to get a ring. Thats how the 80's Lakers team got guys like Bob McAdoo to come play for less than market value. Karl Malone or or Howard really would push the Lakers back to favorites in the west. I really thought the Lakers should have kept or picked up a guy with a huge upside like Grizzard or Collins just for potential. Letting guys like Keon Clarke,Marshall, and Nailon sign for mle on other teams really put them behind in terms of repeating. Dr.Buss really don't care about luxury takes as long as they're winning.
Nope, not trying to rub anything on anyone here. What the Lakers have accomplished so far, and their latest 3 championship rings, are undeniable, acknowledged & respected ( by me atleast ) What i want you guys to hear is, please learn to be a bit humble. Not every team in the league has the grace of having two top three players playing now, and for whatever their team has accomplished so far, that's quite an achievement on each team perspective ( well. maybe not for the Clippers, but it's not the fault of the fans, Sterling is just too CHEAP as human being and team owner ) I'm sure that the Lakers would do their best to reload this summer ( though they only have limited resources ), 'cause Kobe and Shaq talents are too precious to be derailed by mismanaging the roster again. Hope for a great rivalry in the future ( atleast till Shaq calls quit & Yao (perhaps) starts to dominate ) Cheers !
What do you think he did last offseason? Buss wouldn't allow the Lakers to add anyone, because they had to re-sign Devean George. Buss is a tight-wad with his money. And he paid the price, no pun intended, this season. It's time he step up to the plate, now that LA has been eliminated.
Actually, I don't think the Lakers "supporting cast" was that bad. People always say the Lakers has only two players. But those role players always killed people in the past. I think they (Horry, Shaw, Fisher, Fox, etc.) are just getting older and declining while the young kids haven't caught on yet. And the other teams are getting better. Every championship team goes through that stage. That's why it's so hard to win more than 3 in a row.
kidrock8 - Thanks for stepping up and being a good sport. However, as leebigez and others have pointed out...a healthy Fox and a solid MLE signing like Juwan Howard and next season will be entirely different. Personally, I don't see the Lakers taking the $5.3m team option on Horry for one more season. There's your MLE $ without going over the LT level. BTW, with the new $ flowing into the NBA from Yao Ming, I'm not convinced the LT will be invoked. And on the subject of Buss being a tightwad - he may not have to pay Phil his $10m/season next year if Phil hangs it up. And Cleamons is much much cheaper.
Has anyone see a team completely melt down on the defensive side like LA did yesterday? They could not get any stops whatsoever! Tony Parker drove by that cry baby Fisher as if was stuck in cement. Kobe was playing defense like Francis. Shaq has never been that good on the defensive side I think. It was a constant layup drill and the Lakers could do crap to stop it. And personally I think Shaq has maybe a year or two left at the most. HEHEHE
The Lakers, like other NBA Champs, are the champs until someone knocks them off. Prior to last night's game, I thought they would take the series. You have to treat them like a vampire...drive a stake through their heart. San Antonio did that, and that makes me believe they will be the champs this year.
This just goes to show you how great those Russell led Boston teams were, and how great the Bulls were. It is so hard to maintain your hunger after just two in a row. The Lakers IMO were still the favorites, I mean when you have the two best players in the league, you're the favorite, but they just couldn't maintain.
ACtually, he did a really good job on Duncan, the rare times he guarded Duncan. The problem was that everytime Shaq had to guard Duncan, no Laker would bother to rebound... 90% of why Shaq doesn't guard his man on the perimeter is because LA gets zero rebounding from their PFs.
First off, you have to give the Lakers there due for the last 3 seasons. It was an incredible run. I also take my hat off to Kobe who said he could make excuses but the bottom line is that they were outplayed in the series. Even in the face of defeat, he was a great sportsman and humble. I've always thought the Lakers/Phil specifically were really arrogant so it was very satisfying to see them lose, but I have to admit they were gracious in defeat. That being said, I'm PUMPED!!! DOWN WITH GOLIATH! I mentioned this in another thread but while I felt a little sorry for some of the Lakers that were crying, I felt nothing but joy at seeing Derek Fisher's punk-ass sobbing like a baby.. I think the Spurs are set to win it all and then add a Jason Kidd or Jermaine O'Neal.. How amazing is that? I have never been a fan of the Spurs (since I'm a Rockets fan, obviously) but I have to give their organization/coaches/players credit for getting into this position. Tim Duncan is without a doubt the MVP and he put on a helluva show last night.
Shaq used to be an outstanding defensive force. Not quite a Hakeem, Ben Wallace or Mutumbo--but always one of the 5 or players with the most defensive impact. This honestly was where I thought he was weaker than I had ever seen him--weak slow uncordinated looking fouls. I don't know if he can get some quickness and conditioning back--but if he can that totally changes the Lakers interior defense. I don't know if it was the worst interior defense I have seen--the Mavs sure give up a lot of layups too--but it certainly was the worst Lakers playoff interior defense I have seen since Phil J has been there. I think with Shaq not being his old self, Fox out, and Horry looking like a shell of his old self defensively it totally changed things--that was the biggest difference on this year's Lakers teams. Uh, the Lakers got three in a row--the same amount of titles the Bulls were able to get in a row. Boston played in an era where they could swindle and horde all the best players in the league (the got Bill Russell for an ice capades event and a milk skake if I remember)--that will naver happen again. I think before everyone crowns the Lakers done for good and puts the Spurs on the way to 3 strait titles we should see the end of this season and next offseason. The Lakers still are the only team with two top 5 players--it isn't like they need a blockbuster--just a little better health and some upgraded roll players.
Sorry this is a bit off topic, but did anyone happen to see the extremely hot blonde girl sitting 2 seats down from Jack Nicholson? I already started a thread in the hangout on this but figured I'd mention it here. If so, please tell me who this was.. She was gorgeous!
Well, the worst thing LA could do is panic. They're actually in pretty good shape, they just need to make a few adjustments. 1. It's Kobe time - Looks like Father Time (as well as playing overweight for the past few seasons) is starting to catch up on Shaq. Don't get me wrong, Shaq still has a good 4 years left, and is still the best C in the league by far. But it may be time for him to pace himself a bit, especially during the regular season. In other words, it may be time to turn the keys over to Kobe. He's young, he's nowhere near his peak, and he's a Top 3 player. 2. Youth movement - Now, knowing Jackson (who shares the same disdain for young players that Pat Riley does), the Lakers will put a band-aid on the situation by picking up Pippen & Howard or Dale Davis in the off-season. But the long-term key for them is how they draft. I liked the Rush selection last year, and assuming they still have their #1, they need to make a similar splash with a big man. Learn from the Spurs, draft & trade shrewdly in order to retool, don't go chasing after a bunch of veterans.
Uh, why? How many titles have the Lakers got in the last 3 years. They should acquire players who can give then 2-3-4 years now (same time table as Shaq). They are the LA Lakers they always have extra draw for FAs down the line to put around Kobe's team. Guys like PJ Brown, a Davis brother, Malone, or perhaps Howard (thought he others are better) for the 4 spot, and a vet back-up guard (Barry, Best, KA) are exactly what they should go for.
I ate some crow and lost some money but it was all in good fun. The Lakers really need some depth. They were just too old and slow to keep up with the Spurs for a full series. Horry is a 3 playing the power foward, covering the second best center in the league playing power foward. The Lakers really need to address the 4 position and get some athletism at the 1 because Fisher can't keep up with the quicker guards in the league. They made a big mistake letting Lue go a few years ago.
