I'm not being ignorant at all. I'm telling you that this year's teams are BETTER. EVERYONE as improved, at least on paper. And the Lakers have gotten worse. Will the Rockets be better? We'll see. But, do you think that Utah team would finish 2 games out of the playoffs THIS year if the teams play to their potential? Even THAT Utah team is much more improved. I'm not saying the Lakers won't make the playoffs, I'm saying the Lakers as they are currently constructed won't make the playoffs. Basically, every team that made the playoffs last year but Dallas and the Lakers improved. And Dallas is so good they'll probably still make the playoffs. Meanwhile, Portland is LOADED. They would have made the playoffs last year if they could have made those deals earlier in the season. And Utah is loaded as well. And New Orleans is coming in. That's why the Lakers will have problems without a big man.
Why is he being ignorant? The bottom line is that every Western Conference playoff team last year had good, low post big men. The one team who you could argue didn't have that was the Nuggets and if the Lakers next year are like the Nuggets of 03-04, then that's not good. Oh and try watching Dirk and Webber play next time you bash them. They have soft reputations but they are as skilled offensive big men as you will find in this league, not to mention they usually average at least 10 rebounds a game when healthy. Brian Grant will not do that.
The simplest way I put it, is like this, the Lakers roster is worse than the team Kobe would have had with the Clippers.
If they can get a serviceable center they should still be a playoffs contender next year. However, there is no way that they can compete with the elite teams in the West. But you know that Kobe will try to average 35 points per game next season regardless of whether he plays in the NBA or Colorado prision league.
<a HREF="http://www.nba.com/playerfile/lamar_odom/?nav=page">Odom Stats</a> <a HREF="http://www.nba.com/playerfile/chris_webber/?nav=page">Webber Stats</a> <a HREF="http://www.nba.com/playerfile/maurice_taylor/?nav=page">Taylor Stats</a> <a HREF="http://www.nba.com/playerfile/dirk_nowitzki/index.html?nav=page">Dirk Stats</a> <a HREF="http://www.nba.com/playerfile/kevin_garnett/index.html?nav=page">KG Stats</a> Odom rebounds better than Taylor, but not as good as Webber or Dirk or KG. If one discards the stats from 2003 - 2004 when Odom was in the East, his rebounding stats are probably average. A small aging center (Grant) and an underweight PF (Odom) put the Lakers at a disadvantage against bigger teams. In regards to comparing the Lakers to teams such as Dallas and the Kings.........they (Kings & Mavs) can make the scoreboard light up during the regular season, but struggle in the playoffs. The Mavs & Kings kept searching for ways to stop Shaq, now they have to figure out how to stop Odom & Butler. A much easier task than before.
Never said he was so I don't know why I am kidding myself on something I never said dude. Do you understand what conjunctions are and the difference between and and or?
What about defensively? How is Lamar Odom going to hold up in the paint in the West? Can he bang with the likes of Brand, Stoudemire, Duncan, Webber, Randolph, Garnett, Nowitzki, Gasol, and now Kmart? Odom will get eaten up by the bigs in the West. I don't see how you can deny the Lakers need for a stronger low post presence to bang around and do the dirty work.
It's actually PG: Payton/--------- SG: Bryant/Rush SF: Odom/Butler/George/(Fox) PF: Grant/Walton C: (Medvedenko)/Cook And that's assuming Medvedenko resigns. It's remotely possible they'll pull a trade (Butler?) with GS for Dampier, it's possible they'll give Vlade the MLE. Odom can not play PF in the West. He only got away with it in the East because 13 of 15 teams played small ball there last year. Here he's more likely to play PG than PF. I'd be surprised if Grant sees much time at center, too. They're overloaded with small forwards, and are shockingly light on defense. Payton, Medvedenko, and Odom are all swinging doors. Grant is simply outmatched by Western bigs. Bryant hasn't cared as much about defense as he did the first two championship years. Rudy certainly doesn't emphasis team D. Odom is effective as a creater, but is not really a guy that can do much without the ball. Ditto for Payton, only more so. Kobe will demand the ball 80% of the time on offense, which makes those two guys forgettable. Teams have figured out how to play Kobe. As good as he is, teams can make him go 10-30 from the floor by daring him to go 1 on 3 or 1 on 4. They know he'll do it, and he does. That hurt the Lakers all through the playoffs, and was a huge factor in the Finals. So what happens now when Kobe faces this? Who can really be the second weapon now that Malone and Shaq are gone? This team will be lucky to get the 7th seed in the playoffs unless they make a big move. Kupchak being who he is, that's not especially likely. Evan
Wait. You're arguing that Odom is a legit 4 in the West, but Dirk isn't? Are you Lamar's cousin? Evan
bingo! That is my thoughts too Look for Rudy to find another DIAMOND IN THE RUFF a Chuckie Brown or someone that won't be a star but will be SOLID Luke Walton really needs to hit the weights Big Nasty just abused him in the finals he cannot have that happen again and stay in the league perhaps their offense post presence will be a guard on defence. . alot of zone Rocket River
Because Grant and Mad Slav are both PF, Odom's a SF and Butler's a tweener (SF/SG). Looks to me like Rudy T should try to trade Butler + (sign + trade Malone?) and look for a center.
