Lakers aging before our eyes?

[Rummpd]

The rest of the league has been alerted to the blood in the water in Lakers Land. There's a formula to downing the defending champs with a starting lineup comprised of five players all over the age of 30 -- :lol force them into mistakes with your athleticism and then run like the Dickens because they won't catch up.

"They ran the ball down our throats today, so Oklahoma will do the same thing tomorrow," Bryant said, referring to the disparity in fastbreak points which was the Thunder's biggest strength against L.A. last year.


When the Lakers settled down, increased their level of execution and valued each possession with the same intensity and desire that Kevin Durant & Co. were playing with, they advanced and carried that with them the rest of the playoffs.


But can they achieve that level of focus with the playoffs so far down the road, with the All-Star game not even in the books yet?


http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/columns/story?id=6029228


So much for the spin that the LAL will be definetely be a potential dynasty for years to come as even some bad teams are runnning them to the ground. Moreover, the Spurs are also an aging team but at least they have integrated younger potential stars like Hill/Neal or Blair into their top 8-9 players.

It is also exactly how Popovich will probably try to attack the LAL in the playoffs if the two teams meet; by keeping the Spurs running more at them on breaks, and in the halfcourt having them run numerous pick and rolls. They will also need to have Parker, Manu, Hill all drive the lane and when they cannot penetrate easily kick it out to the three point shooters and continue the type of beautiful ball movement seen last night and many times over the first half of the season. The Spurs recharged offensive firepower, along with the Spurs improving defense, are the reason SAS at the halfway mark is a true threat to win the West over the still rightfully favored Lakers.

However, how in the hell is Bynum over 30?:lol He may be carrying too much weight for those knees but he is not old, but this LA ESPN writer apparently has not caught on that Odom went back to the bench a few weeks ago?)

[LAL DOB by nba.com player profiles: Artest 11/13/79
Bynum 10/27/87
Kobe 8/23/78
Fisher 8/9/74
Gasol 7/6/80
Odom 11/6/79 ]

[Koolaid_Man]

I agree with you...but we still takin that shit come June..then the lockout will preserve Kobe for one more year....as we go for the 4peat...lol

[Giuseppe]

I smell skunk.

[Rummpd]

Tonight will be a good test for the LAL if they bounce back and beat the Thunder, the Clips loss will not look so bad; but if the Lakers lose or do not pick it up in the near future the perception will continue they seemingly have lost something so far this year - that they may not be able to get back by the playoffs. The LAL have a stout stretch on their schedule coming up the next week and half or so (see the espn article linked to above for those games) and I am sure they will try to make a statement that they can start beating good teams more often.


The Lakers play about half the back to backs of the Spurs the rest of the way and the Spurs have several more road games so they could also still get back in the race for the top seed, but if they fall 8-9 games behind, Spurs will definetely get the top seed.

It would be foolish to write off the LAL no matter what their record is (or will be going into the playoffs), but they simply are not that impressive so far this year.

[Giuseppe]

Hey, listen, Doc, if you guys can come back from The Skunker to lead the league at the midway point anything is possible. Change is needed. You guys changed. You signed a rapist in Neal.

[Rummpd]

Hey, listen, Doc, if you guys can come back from The Skunker to lead the league at the midway point anything is possible. Change is needed. You guys changed. You signed a rapist in Neal.

The Neal situation was a "he said/she said" that was never proved; and led to acquital. (See below) LOL remind me when Neal ever settled a civil suit unlike a certain famous Laker* ?


http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2005-03-02-bryant-settles_x.htm

http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/stories/110405acc.html

[Giuseppe]

LOL remind me when Neal ever settled a civil suit after his acquital unlike a certain famous Laker?

Don't be so defensive.

If Neal hadn't raped you'd a never got him. You were very fortunate, her bent over the sink vomiting, your Neal behind her, bustin' that coochie, withstanding.

[Fireball]

it would be foolish to write off the lal no matter what their record is (or will be going into the playoffs), but they simply are not that impressive so far this year.

+1

[Ashy Larry]

it's a good thing that playoff ball is slow, gritty and ugly ......

[Mel_13]

Don't be so defensive.



Ironic.

[Frenzy]

The lakers are pretty much the aging porn star. Yeah you WERE hot....yeah a lot of ppl wanted you. Do you got one last good ride in ya? Maybe...

But do ppl want to see you in action. No. The only thing drawing crowds is your name.

[TheMACHINE]

The rest of the league has been alerted to the blood in the water in Lakers Land. There's a formula to downing the defending champs with a starting lineup comprised of five players all over the age of 30 -- :lol force them into mistakes with your athleticism and then run like the Dickens because they won't catch up.

"They ran the ball down our throats today, so Oklahoma will do the same thing tomorrow," Bryant said, referring to the disparity in fastbreak points which was the Thunder's biggest strength against L.A. last year.


When the Lakers settled down, increased their level of execution and valued each possession with the same intensity and desire that Kevin Durant & Co. were playing with, they advanced and carried that with them the rest of the playoffs.


But can they achieve that level of focus with the playoffs so far down the road, with the All-Star game not even in the books yet?


http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/columns/story?id=6029228


So much for the spin that the LAL will be definetely be a potential dynasty for years to come as even some bad teams are runnning them to the ground. Moreover, the Spurs are also an aging team but at least they have integrated younger potential stars like Hill/Neal or Blair into their top 8-9 players.

It is also exactly how Popovich will probably try to attack the LAL in the playoffs if the two teams meet; by keeping the Spurs running more at them on breaks, and in the halfcourt having them run numerous pick and rolls. They will also need to have Parker, Manu, Hill all drive the lane and when they cannot penetrate easily kick it out to the three point shooters and continue the type of beautiful ball movement seen last night and many times over the first half of the season. The Spurs recharged offensive firepower, along with the Spurs improving defense, are the reason SAS at the halfway mark is a true threat to win the West over the still rightfully favored Lakers.

However, how in the hell is Bynum over 30?:lol He may be carrying too much weight for those knees but he is not old, but this LA ESPN writer apparently has not caught on that Odom went back to the bench a few weeks ago?)

[LAL DOB by nba.com player profiles: Artest 11/13/79
Bynum 10/27/87
Kobe 8/23/78
Fisher 8/9/74
Gasol 7/6/80
Odom 11/6/79 ]

wow..people who play in the NBA get older. Thanks for that piece of knowledge. I thought time stood still for them. :rolleyes

[TheMACHINE]

The lakers are pretty much the aging porn star. Yeah you WERE hot....yeah a lot of ppl wanted you. Do you got one last good ride in ya? Maybe...

But do ppl want to see you in action. No. The only thing drawing crowds is your name.

and even when the Spurs were hot, noone still wanted to see them.

[jjktkk]

I smell skunk.

Giuseppe's well, thought out, replys to all posts now. A 2nd enstein in the making.

[Venti Quattro]

I set trends.

I'm a trend-setter

lmcontrollinao!

[Giuseppe]

Giuseppe's well, thought out, replys to all posts now. A 2nd enstein in the making.

You've nobody to blame but yerselves & the Suns.

tee, hee.

[Venti Quattro]

You've nobody to blame but yerselves & the Suns.

tee, hee.

Giuseppe with the goods. Let us proceed.

[Cry Havoc]

You've nobody to blame but yerselves & the Suns.

tee, hee.

lol last season forum.

[baseline bum]

Eh, they're 8-2 in their last 10 and on pace to win 59 this season. The only reason the media is killing LA this year is because the Spurs are on a 70-win pace.

[jjktkk]

Giuseppe with the goods. Let us proceed.

How would you explain Giuseppe to other Laker fans not on ST, without laughing?

[BUMP]

Eh, they're 8-2 in their last 10 and on pace to win 59 this season. The only reason the media is killing LA this year is because the Spurs are on a 70-win pace.

Yeah exactly. The Lakers are actually in pretty good shape, it's just that for once, there's another team in the West who's stepping up to the plate in the regular season.

I still pick LA to win it all cause they're the champs and have the same pieces from last year. But the Spurs definitely got a shot if they play defense.

[Giuseppe]

How would you explain Giuseppe to other Laker fans not on ST, without laughing?

He exists.

[dbreiden83080]

Well we'll have to deal with Laker idiot fans shit-talking nomatter what happens this summer. If the Spurs win, they'll go on the "So what you Can't repeat and all your titles have an * rant" IF the Lakers win they'' go on the "Lakers are the best franchise of all time bitches" rant

[Giuseppe]

Well we'll have to deal with Laker idiot fans shit-talking nomatter what happens this summer. If the Spurs win, they'll go on the "So what you Can't repeat and all your titles have an * rant"

Nope. If the Spurs ring, I'll cite it at once. No asterisk, no qualifying it. I'm better than that. A damn sight better.

+ It's my religion.

[ChrisRichards]

Not exactly rocket science. Lakers are highly dependent on Gasol's play and he's playing like cra lately. Its no surprise they are mediocre at this point.

[Rummpd]

Eh, they're 8-2 in their last 10 and on pace to win 59 this season. The only reason the media is killing LA this year is because the Spurs are on a 70-win pace.

The Lakers may well win 59 or more but they have also played the softest possible schedule so far and in reality are playing more like the 5-6 seed in the West and have benefitted by getting Bynum back and heading into a tougher part of their schedule (finally).

Time will tell if they are really improved and make a run at the Spurs for the top seed still. They play less back to backs than the Spurs but both teams have tough stretches ahead including meeting 3x (including the 2nd to last game of the season, which by the way is one of the few Lakers back to backs left other than the LAL- Thunder game tonight).

[baseline bum]

The Lakers may well win 59 or more but they have also played the softest possible schedule so far and in reality are playing more like the 5-6 seed in the West and have benefitted by getting Bynum back and heading into a tougher part of their schedule (finally).

Time will tell if they are really improved and make a run at the Spurs for the top seed still. They play less back to backs than the Spurs but both teams have tough stretches ahead including meeting 3x (including the 2nd to last game of the season, which by the way is one of the few Lakers back to backs left other than the LAL- Thunder game tonight).

There are plenty of examples of veteran teams who just can't handle the grind of an 82-game season every year but who are still nightmare matchups that kill in the playoffs. See the 95 Rockets, 01 Lakers, 05 Pistons, 07 Spurs, and 10 Celtics for some examples. They still have Bryant, Gasol, and Bynum, and are still going to do some damage in May at least.

[Giuseppe]

Hells/bells, if we "do some damage in May at least" that leaves you fine fellows & the WC in the shit.

[Rummpd]

There are plenty of examples of veteran teams who just can't handle the grind of an 82-game season every year but who are still nightmare matchups that kill in the playoffs. See the 95 Rockets, 01 Lakers, 05 Pistons, 07 Spurs, and 10 Celtics for some examples. They still have Bryant, Gasol, and Bynum, and are still going to do some damage in May at least.

No one is ruling out the LAL as they are still a very strong, well coached, and talented team; however to be fair remember how tested they were last year by the Thunder and a tip in by Gasol won them a key game - their margin of superiorty last year was not as strong IMO as many made it; and the Spurs are improved, as the Mavs (when healthy and if Roddy Beaulois can provide a spark) and the Thunder/Jazz and potentially others could potentially win a series against the LAL if they slip even a little bit. Yet if you go on Lakersground.net or other sites most LAL fans seem to still think it will be a cakewalk for the LAL in the playoffs.

Time will tell for the WC seedings and the playoffs, but right now happy to see the SAS team looking down on the LAL with a 6 game in the loss column margin.

[Killakobe81]

LOL i never put an asterisk on 99 why would i here ...best team wins. Spur fans arethe ones here whining about how "lucky" the Lakers are (mid, ahem) ... you win the title no excuses explanations or apologies necessary ...

[ezau]

The lakers are pretty much the aging porn star. Yeah you WERE hot....yeah a lot of ppl wanted you. Do you got one last good ride in ya? Maybe...

But do ppl want to see you in action. No. The only thing drawing crowds is your name.

Aging porn star? Nina Hartley comes to mind LOL