What's ailing the Lakers?

Mmmm.. I'd have to disagree. We have a good (not great) record against the west. Remember - the west is really tough this year. And nobody has played more Western teams than the Rockets. Here's some stats on our performance against Western teams. Also, remember that stats don't tell all - other teams may not have had to play against Dallas, Phoenix San Antonio, and Utah as much as we have.

       

 

Anybody see the Blazers game tonight? For the Lakers to allow them to shoot 60%, my guess is the team almost had to quit on PJ. It's amazing enough for the Lakers to lose this game at home, but the Blazers' box score stats on offense are crazy. Very anxious to hear from anyone that saw the game.

 

A young blonde female hotel conciegre must be sacraficed to the Black Mamaba. This will ale his appetite and Lakers will win again.

 

Here's the strange truth: Phil Jackson is a great offensive coach, but he isn't a particularly good defensive coach. And for the Lakers to win, they've got to click on all cylinders offensively. That tends to happen a lot when you've got Kobe on your team and you're running the triangle to perfection. Sounds a lot like the Suns, and they are in fact a lot like the Suns in that respect ... except that they're actually much worse defensively (and the Suns are deeper and more talented).

 

On the contrary, PJ is a good defensive coach. He won 6 titles in Chicago with a suffocating defense. The Shaq/Kobe titles with the Lakers were an exception to the rule because those teams were so awesome on offense. But last season and this season, the Lakers were again at their best when they played tough team defense. The squad they have now must assert themselves on D or they aren't very good at all.

 

actually those lakers teams werent shabby on defense either, the problem is that PJ has no good defense players on this current laker team. Kobe can play good defense, but i've always thought his All D team nods were a joke more on rep and good team defense than actual personal ability.

those chicago teams:jordan,pippen and grant 3 great defense players and then rodman one of the best defense players ever

those la teams: shaq (not a great defender but deterred penetrators), fox, horry, harper, fisher, george, kobe, grant, ac green

there isnt a single good defender on this laker team outside of kobe and he cant do everything, you can coach defense but i dont think pj is a defensive coach in a riley,pop jvg type where he can turn a mediocre defender into a respectable team defender.

12 out of the last 16, 6 in a row? wow i know injuries have hurt this team but for the most part its all been minor players during this stretch. Walton would be the only solid contributer that they had lost. they need to make a trade or denver just may catch up to them if the nugz can get their act together

 

Harper also played for the bulls didnt he? Damn I wonder how many points those Championship Bull teams used to hold opponents to.

 

I was quite impressed with Kwame's play before his injury, even more so with Luke Walton... they will be a good team again when those two get back.

 

But Kobe is MVP and has the will of a tiger and the heart of a champion and the penis of a rapist and blah blah blah!

Luck Fakers!

 

When Kobe wins, he's considered a basketball God.

His fire, his drive, his passion, his "never give up" mentality. His aggressiveness, his clutchness, his basketball IQ, EVERYTHING.

Every media member would say "arguably the best player in the game" when talking about Kobe Bryant.

How does such a great player, injuries or not, manage to let his team have 2 6+ game losing streaks in the same season, so close to each other?

Everyone was talking about this guy's leadership. How he's so good. Where is it that now? Why can't this guy pull his team together?

It's certainly not all on Kobe, but a lot of it should be. That is ridiculous. You are right Tigermission1, the Lakers are absolutely pathetic.

 

good post

 

I'm very happy that they've slipped to the 7th playoff spot and I sincerely hope they stay at 7 or lower.

Hate 'em.

 

*paging Zboy*
havent heard from him in a while but earlier in the season kobe was a cold blooded assasin and tmac was "heartless"...meanwhile tmac puts the rockets on his shoulders to guide his team to a winning record without yao while kobe crumbles without odom. I guess Kobe had to learn the hard way how much easier his life was with shaq...

 

Yup, i still remembered when T-mac's Orlando Magic having 0-18 records all those Kobe fans were saying kobe's will, his fire, his drive, his passion, his "never give up" mentality. His aggressiveness, his clutchness, his basketball IQ, EVERYTHING wont let his team to 0-18 records. Then Kobe's lakers 1st season without shaq ended the season with records like 2-18(couldnt really remembered the exact numbers) and now 0-6, 0-7 records! I guess is all because of kobe sorry a$$ed teammates and nothing to do with kobe's will etc. whereas T-mac was because he lacked heart, passion, fire etc etc.

But i hope lakers stayed at 7th seed so they will face either suns or mavs in the 1st round playoffs. It could be one hell series!

 

Shady and Tiger are right-on. The Lakers are a joke. They have lost 19 of 26, and 13 of 16.

Kobe in not a leader, despite his great talent. Guys just don't want to follow him and don't like to play with him. He's a selfish baby, and you never know when he's going to quit on you (Game 7 vs. the Suns last year).

As long as Kobe is the focal point of the Lakers, they won't sniff a championship. Not even Phil Jackson can get them beyond the first round with Bryant leading the ship.

The last 3 years have been tough for Kobe Apologists. The rest of us, however, haven't been surprised in the least. "I told you so" would be the phrase that fits.

 

They're losing because Stern is on a witchhunt to destroy Kobe. God knows the NBA wants to see the Lakers out of the running each and every year.

Evan

 

Actually, some of the Kobe haters were surprised earlier this season when he finally seemed to "get it" in trusting his teammates and the Lakers were winning. I, a life time Phil critic, even chimed in to say that I had some new respect for Phil Jackson in being able to get the young players to overachieve.

Guess we were all wrong, which is great news for us Lakers haters.

 

Where are all the Phonie Kobe lovers who bashed T-Mac for not being a leader and not having that "killer instinct"? Where's the "new Kobe" who is a leader, who makes his teammates better, who can win games byhimself, who can walk on water?

I love seeing phonie 24 and his team continuing to lose. Nothing sweeter than seing two (kobe and phillip) of the phoniest, most arrogant, self centered people in the league failing!

Parrrrrapapaaaaa, I am lovinnnnn it!!!

 

Does this not also apply to St. Phil? The coach deserves most of the blame when the players "quit" on him, right? Seriously. Aren't great coaches supposed to get the most out of players whatever the circumstances? Why isn't St. Phil able to get Kwame, Bynum, Smush, Cook etc to perform at their best? I could dissect them and go on and on! Also, his statement about the NBA being on a Kobe "witch hunt" is so stupid and laughable I still can't believe he said it. He directly questioned the integrity of the league office and only got fined $50,000. He should have been stuck with the entire $100,000 by himself.

Mr. Crankypants has fallen a couple of notches this year. Anybody that still worships St. Phil as the perfect NBA coach is deluded. He's had a stellar career but the tank might be on empty. The team has choked on the triangle this year and St. Phil has no alternative offense. Does this mean he's too "stubborn" to adjust his coaching to the players? (Have we heard that before?) Is it "fair" that he gives Kobe special treatment over the other players? (Heard that one too).

I sure wanted to see it but I missed last nights game.