Rummpd
04-06-2005, 10:36 AM
Posted on a Laker site we all know well this AM.
"On another site they said I did not have the guts to post this here - so here it goes.
Based on the Lakers recent implosion a plausible scenario of the future of the NBA:
It is the year 2012 and the NBA community is shaking it head. Despite the retirement of Duncan the indomitable Tony Parker (now married to Eva Longoria) and the elder statesman Ginobli plus 6 guys with names with 20 characters are on their way to another potential championship under PJ Carlisimo, who took over for Pop last year after faithfully turning down several other offers. Pop gave him the reins the day after Pop won his first championship sans Duncans. Scola has become a budding superstar as well as some Lithuanian whose name is hard to pronounce and a guy named Beno remaims the best back up guard in the game and increasingly takes over for the aging Parker at key points.
They are facing this year the revived NY Knicks with James, an aging Kobe, an aging KG and bits and pieces that Isiah has gathered around them. These 3 mega-stars despite their great past are not favored over the deeper, team oriented and defense minded Spurs who won 65 games this year steamrolling through the playoffs. Somehow, like the 2003-2004 Lakers the sum of these great players has not meshed fully expected and the great Garnett is now not as explosive to the rim, Kobe is a jump shooter. James is their one true super, super star and will he be enough? He has been supplimented in popularity by the great Wade who now wears 3 rings, 2 with Shaq and one by himself. Like Kobe he is no longer mentioned as potentially the greatest ever although his talents remain incredible. At this point, James is still 0 for 10 in the playoffs and many are comparing his career more to that of Charles Barkley, Ewing, Malone and other greats who just did not get it done. However, they will be a tough out based on the pride of one Kobe Bryant, the stubborness of Kevin Garnett and James still incredible skill.
Since moving Kobe who gave an ultimatum - LA has once again a lottery bound team, and has gotten several high picks and even Jason Kidd for a couple of years. But even that has not stopped the losing trend. Bringing in the peripatic Brown helped for a year or so, and they got to the semi-finals, but then he retired due to "burnout". Meanwhile, their cross town rivals the Clippers are celebrating their first division championship and appear ready to test the Spurs in the coming years along with Golden State of all teams.
What hurts the most is one usually does not see commonly Penny and Jack N. at the Lakers games along with their other cluster of aging LA wannabees. The Lakers have lost their luster, and tickets go at face value and many seats are empty again and again. Brad Pitt and his rat pack now attend the trendy Clippers games and the Clips are building finally their own downtown arena that has Hollywood abuzz.
Could it happen this way, yes will it = who knows?? However, 12/13 does not portend great things without a major turnaround, major new leadership and most of all some stability." :smokin
"On another site they said I did not have the guts to post this here - so here it goes.
Based on the Lakers recent implosion a plausible scenario of the future of the NBA:
It is the year 2012 and the NBA community is shaking it head. Despite the retirement of Duncan the indomitable Tony Parker (now married to Eva Longoria) and the elder statesman Ginobli plus 6 guys with names with 20 characters are on their way to another potential championship under PJ Carlisimo, who took over for Pop last year after faithfully turning down several other offers. Pop gave him the reins the day after Pop won his first championship sans Duncans. Scola has become a budding superstar as well as some Lithuanian whose name is hard to pronounce and a guy named Beno remaims the best back up guard in the game and increasingly takes over for the aging Parker at key points.
They are facing this year the revived NY Knicks with James, an aging Kobe, an aging KG and bits and pieces that Isiah has gathered around them. These 3 mega-stars despite their great past are not favored over the deeper, team oriented and defense minded Spurs who won 65 games this year steamrolling through the playoffs. Somehow, like the 2003-2004 Lakers the sum of these great players has not meshed fully expected and the great Garnett is now not as explosive to the rim, Kobe is a jump shooter. James is their one true super, super star and will he be enough? He has been supplimented in popularity by the great Wade who now wears 3 rings, 2 with Shaq and one by himself. Like Kobe he is no longer mentioned as potentially the greatest ever although his talents remain incredible. At this point, James is still 0 for 10 in the playoffs and many are comparing his career more to that of Charles Barkley, Ewing, Malone and other greats who just did not get it done. However, they will be a tough out based on the pride of one Kobe Bryant, the stubborness of Kevin Garnett and James still incredible skill.
Since moving Kobe who gave an ultimatum - LA has once again a lottery bound team, and has gotten several high picks and even Jason Kidd for a couple of years. But even that has not stopped the losing trend. Bringing in the peripatic Brown helped for a year or so, and they got to the semi-finals, but then he retired due to "burnout". Meanwhile, their cross town rivals the Clippers are celebrating their first division championship and appear ready to test the Spurs in the coming years along with Golden State of all teams.
What hurts the most is one usually does not see commonly Penny and Jack N. at the Lakers games along with their other cluster of aging LA wannabees. The Lakers have lost their luster, and tickets go at face value and many seats are empty again and again. Brad Pitt and his rat pack now attend the trendy Clippers games and the Clips are building finally their own downtown arena that has Hollywood abuzz.
Could it happen this way, yes will it = who knows?? However, 12/13 does not portend great things without a major turnaround, major new leadership and most of all some stability." :smokin