The Lakers just blew out NOH in New Orleans on a back to back. Much to my surprise, they are actually a legit team this year and will be very much in contention for the top 5 seeds in the west. This west is crazy this year, 10 teams have a .500 record or better, with 7 of that 10 with a .600 or better. Even with as well as we are playing now, I don't like our chances of making the playoffs this year. thoughts?
It was only a matter of time before the Lakers started winning again. The triangle takes a couple years to master and the addition of Derek Fisher along with the emergence of Bynum has definitely been a big part of the Laker resurgence.
The lakers were a legit team last year as well, only because of injuries as well as kobe's ego and selfishness led to their melt down late in the season as well as playoffs. If i were not wrong, they have been shooting over 50% for the past 4-5 games in a roll!
Phil Jackson lost a lot of credibility with me when he managed to lose with Shaq, Kobe, and Malone. He stuck so close to the triangle, refused to give Payton the offense, and in the end it cost them. He is slowly gaining back some points... With me anyways
I can't believe the replacement of Smush Parker can make such a big difference. The Heat are now trying to trade Parker after just signing him on this summer. Bynum is a beast - the shocking thing is that he just turned 20. I know everybody has Howard in their sights, but he is something to reckon with. With their recent trade for Trevor Ariza, they now have a very balanced team of Centers/Forwards in Brown/Bynum/Odom/Turiaf/Walton/Ariza/Walton. In the back court they have Kobe/Farmer/Fisher. That's a very athletic team that is still very young. I think if there were to be a rematch this year against Phoenix, they can actually beat them in 6. They have made me a believer after I watched two of their victories against them so far.
I think most of the credit should go to Derek Fisher. He's not my favorite but the guy is a natural born leader and it seems like wherever he goes winning seems to follow him like a virus that's contagious. Derek Fisher is the reason why the Lakers are having the success that they are having and why the Jazz suck so bad.
Credit the additions of Fisher and Ariza and an improved Andrew Bynum for transforming what was one of the league's worst defenses last year into a top ten defense this year. The Lakers have never had trouble scoring, they just couldn't guard anyone. Not anymore. This team is legit.
and Kobe wanted to be traded from this team? Wow..I bet he is not thinking about that now. They probably are missing one more piece to be a serious threat in the West again. Who would have thought that the Lakers are closer to contention then we are at this point.
Their team is very well constructed, they can contend for the western conference finals right now, and if bynum ever becomes a double-team threat in the post, they are going all the way. They have the deepest bench in the league.
I disagree with you on that I don't thing they don't need another piece. This team is loaded with talent at all 5 positions. Just looking at their bench, all of them could possibly start for another team. There is Farmar, Ariza, Kwame, Turiaf, Radmonavic. Then there all very good bench players like Vujacic, ****tenton, Mihm, and C.Carl. Bottom line: They are very deep and talented at all positions.
I just don't this bunch doing much. I don't know why, but i just don't. This isn't based on any objective evidence, just a gut feeling. Granted, they are playing really, really well right now. But will it last, post-Shaq history says that no, it won't.
Key is, they are not just beating teams, they are significantly outplaying them. I watched the NOH/Lakers game last night, and it was almost no contest at all. They are a very young team that is growing in leaps and bounds. I don't know if they will contend or not, but they are certainly a team that we are going to have to reckon with. Fisher is their oldest player, then the next in line is Kobe and Odom, with both not even 30 yet. The rest of their core is 26 or younger. It has been extremely amusing for me because I was watching the whole debacle unfold over the summer, half expecting the team to implode. Their only gap in team is PF and its not even that big of a gap since Odom can adequately take up the role. They have Turiaf as a taller version of our Chuck Hayes and other role players like Ariza who plays with a very high basketball IQ. Kobe has been playing torrid so far this season, and that's really a function of him playing through his groin and shoulder injuries throughout the season. When he breaks out of his funk, I think the Lakers will surprise a lot of people.
I agree, they are playing really well right now. But like you say, they are still young, so that makes me wonder if they can sustain it. I still don't see them beating the Suns, for example. I can't see them stopping the PHX pick and roll consistently over a series. The last time they played, I thought it was a little silly that the JVG and co., were saying the Lakers were better than the Suns. They'll have to prove that in the playoffs, IMO.
Is that why Ariza wasn't a starter in Orlando? Turiaf would not make the rotation on any team other than the Lakers. I have no doubt that VladRad would be able to start on most sub .500 teams.. Jordan Farmar is nothing more than a future backup pointguard, he is a poor-mans jason terry, nothing more. Coby Karl, Sasha Vujacic, Kwame and Chris Mihm are you serious? get off the pipe.
Turiaf is not a smart player, he is a fouling maniac that swings wildly on every shot, and he bites for every fake.. he is also too weak for the PF position, he is just not strong enough and often gets bodied by even the much shorter players.. his jumpshot in inconsistent and he is a weak finisher. No way in hell turiaf would be a starter on any team in the league, we win more games when Odom is our starting PF and Odom is almost non-existent on the defensive end but he is our best PF atm.
The lakers are playing well but I don't think they are tuff enough mentally to substain this type of play especially when they get tested.They will fold when they get challenged and a lot of has to do with kobe bryant. The lakers are not strong enough, they are really kind of a soft team.
