The Lakers: what's their issues and are they fixable?

[DD]

Not gonna lie, I''ve probably only watched about 18 total minutes of Laker basketball this year. That being said...how bad is it?

[Clipper Nation]

Depth: outside of fluke shooting from Meeks and Duhon, you basically have no bench whatsoever, which is very bad considering that your core is mostly geriatric by NBA standards...

Chemistry: Kobe (surprise surprise) has started shit with damn near everybody and has already gotten one coach fired on the year... now Dwight's started up the crybaby act and has one foot out the door...

Defense: the Lakers suck at it, and that ain't changing when Nash comes back...

That's the main problems with the Lakers, really.... apparently they didn't learn their lesson from 2004 that you're better off with a team that fits and has chemistry than just slapping big names together and cheaping out on the rest of the roster...

[HI-FI]

hopefully they aren't fixable. i consider any season where Lakers or Patriots lose to be a good season.

tbh, i haven't watched much of their games and my basketball takes aren't that great, but I've watched Kobe being Kobe, meaning everyone is still standing around while he focuses on breaking the All Time Scoring record. His Defense is finally being exposed for how bad it is.

the issue with Pau is interesting, he looks mentally checked out. I could be wrong, but I think he's had it with Kobe and the organization. Not sure what Nash can fix, obviously his D is bad and he is what...39...He's a great shooter and passer but not sure a guy his age can have a massive impact.

[midnightpulp]

Not fixable with the current roster. The Lakers simply get out hustled, out quicked, and out run by younger, deeper, more athletic teams. Aside from Dwight's freethrows, it's the primary reason they've been terrible in the 4th quarter and closing out games. The Lakers flat out look exhausted near the game's end and typically can't hold off an opposing team's run. Without the insanely hot 3 point shooting lately, the Lakers probably lose their last two games by over 20 points each.

Best move would to be con some idiot GM into giving up a young core for Gasol (throw in slow ass World Peace in the package as well. Despite him shooting well lately, this isn't the system for him). If Mitch can get some young, hungry athletes on this team, they could be quite scary.

[DAF86]

D'antoni's system isn't good for this group of players. Is retarded to play SSOL (or a very fast paced offense) having two quality centers and old farts as 5 of your 6 main rotation players. Yeah, they're scoring points but if they were playing at a more suitable pace for this core they would be giving a better effort on D which is clearly the biggest problem of all, if they fix the defense they will start winning.

[Splits]

O'Antoni is so desperate for a win that Kobe has played 43 minutes each of the past two games. Both losses. That's basically all you need to know.

[ElNono]

There's a reason Phil wouldn't touch this roster with a 10 foot pole...

[pookenstein]

The real problem for the Lakers is Stern and his stupid 3 second rule.
If he took that away, at least on the offensive end, it would allow Dwight to park under the rim all the time. Kobe could have his 30fga and if you generously say he makes ten of those, Dwight should very well be able to get around eight offensive boards a night. With the putbacks and his usual rate of about eight to ten fga he could easily average 18fga.
Problem solved.
Everbody would be happy.
Do it Stern.

[racm]

Consistency on defense. Dwight Howard has been posting good defensive numbers but is otherwise a liability, as his inability to hit a free throw makes him useless in the fourth quarter.

Kobe demanding his. Regardless of whom is on the roster, the "Black Mamba" eats first, second, and third. Sure, he's more efficient now that he's cut back on his long twos and he's picking his 3s better, but all the same he's still the first option.

Everyone else has either checked out, don't know what to do, or simply suck. The first group includes Pau Gasol, the second group includes Steve Nash in the Princeton, and the third group includes everyone else.

[Latarian Milton]

the real issue is they got some player who thinks himself bigger then the team

[thunderfan]

Not fixable with the current roster. The Lakers simply get out hustled, out quicked, and out run by younger, deeper, more athletic teams.

This.

[Raven]

Pau for Ilyasova would be a start.. Artest for sefolosha would be another. Perhaps Howard for Ilyasova and Sefolosha would be even better... The roster right now just doesn't have any sense with that coach and that is not fixable. Also triangle with Nash and Kobe makes no sense either.. So only trades can help them.

[thunderfan]

Pau for Ilyasova would be a start.. Artest for sefolosha would be another. Perhaps Howard for Ilyasova and Sefolosha would be even better... The roster right now just doesn't have any sense with that coach and that is not fixable. Also triangle with Nash and Kobe makes no sense either.. So only trades can help them.

Sam Presti wouldn't invite Ron Artest to play for OKC if he agreed to play for free.

[Raven]

Sam Presti wouldn't invite Ron Artest to play for OKC if he agreed to play for free.

I know, it is just to say what type of players ould make that team decent and which should be gone.

[irishock]

Depth: outside of fluke shooting from Meeks and Duhon, you basically have no bench whatsoever, which is very bad considering that your core is mostly geriatric by NBA standards...

Chemistry: Kobe (surprise surprise) has started shit with damn near everybody and has already gotten one coach fired on the year... now Dwight's started up the crybaby act and has one foot out the door...

Defense: the Lakers suck at it, and that ain't changing when Nash comes back...

That's the main problems with the Lakers, really.... apparently they didn't learn their lesson from 2004 that you're better off with a team that fits and has chemistry than just slapping big names together and cheaping out on the rest of the roster...

To be fair the Heat did that, and they went to the Finals 2 years in a row. The Lakers just didn't know that they don't have a LeBron James on their roster.

[Mugen]

same as the last couple of seasons tbh. Lack of quickness and athleticism on the perimeter. Inept coach and an aging superstar unwilling to adjust his game to maximize the talents around him.

Overrated Mitch gets a lot of credit for bringing in big names but his (& the scouting dept.) inability to improve the bench these last couple of years is pretty inexcusable if i were a Laker fan. That coupled with the fact the last two coaches they've hired have no idea how to maximize their bench leads to heavy minutes for an old starting lineup.

A lot of Laker fans have been calling for Jimbo's head and can't say i blame them.

[Spurs9]

:lmao $100million roster and can't crack .5:cry0

[Bill_Brasky]

Baby Buss/Kupchak are the problem tbh, Lakers are imploding atm.

[O.J. Simpson]

To be fair the Heat did that, and they went to the Finals 2 years in a row. The Lakers just didn't know that they don't have a LeBron James on their roster.

What? Defense was never a problem for the Heat and chemistry issues were minor compared to the Lakers. God damn your takes are horrid.

[Clipper Nation]

To be fair the Heat did that, and they went to the Finals 2 years in a row. The Lakers just didn't know that they don't have a LeBron James on their roster.
The Heat's Big Three actually have had chemistry, have played defense, and have been surrounded by good role players... not comparable to the Lakers' mess at all....

[Spur_Fanatic]

D'antoni's system isn't good for this group of players. Is retarded to play SSOL (or a very fast paced offense) having two quality centers and old farts as 5 of your 6 main rotation players. Yeah, they're scoring points but if they were playing at a more suitable pace for this core they would be giving a better effort on D which is clearly the biggest problem of all, if they fix the defense they will start winning.

[DPG21920]

It's fixable IMO. If Dwight continues to get healthier and Nash can comeback/stay healthy they have enough to be very dangerous. Pau's health/fitness as well is an issue. There is no way I believe, despite some valid points above, that a team with this much talent can't figure it out. It's impossible unless it's due to injury or softer issues (Dwight not being able to stomach Kobe's b.s. or something like that).

[hater]

basically if a million things start going right and turn a 180, then lakers have a chance.

[ambchang]

I am surprised by the Lakers downfall. The system on offense should be extremely simple, Pau-Dwight hi-low post, Nash-Pau/Dwight pick and roll, Kobe isos, kickouts to Kobe/Artest/Nash, Dwight backdoor screens for alley oops, cross screens for Pau and Dwight, there are about a billion things this team can do, and unfortunately, we are seeing none of it.

On defense, the Lakers are not communicating, and Kobe publicly chastising his teammates for no apparent reason and refusing to take the blame further undermines the trust. Dwight is not falling in line as the supporting big man, and Kobe doesn't like it that he is no longer top dog. Just a bunch of egos clashing that leads to bad results.

[Juggity]

I am surprised by the Lakers downfall. The system on offense should be extremely simple, Pau-Dwight hi-low post, Nash-Pau/Dwight pick and roll, Kobe isos, kickouts to Kobe/Artest/Nash, Dwight backdoor screens for alley oops, cross screens for Pau and Dwight, there are about a billion things this team can do, and unfortunately, we are seeing none of it.


there are about a billion things this team can do, and unfortunately, we are seeing none of it.


unfortunately, we are seeing none of it.


unfortunately

[DMC]

Few issues:

1. Kobe isn't going to ever play team ball and this team is now built around that concept.

2. Neither Kobe nor Howard will follow Mike's instructions. The rest of the team other than Nash will be in limbo.

3. The team would certainly lose if they did follow Mike's instructions but they would win a few more games in the regular season.

4. No bench whatsoever.

[Mel_13]

Few issues:

1. Kobe isn't going to ever play team ball and this team is now built around that concept.

2. Neither Kobe nor Howard will follow Mike's instructions. The rest of the team other than Nash will be in limbo.

3. The team would certainly lose if they did follow Mike's instructions but they would win a few more games in the regular season.

4. No bench whatsoever.

140 million dollars just doesn't buy what it used to.

[Ace]

Turnovers and no team chemistry - Can be fixed with Nash's return and more time together
Hack-a-Dwight on one end and not able to get stops on the other- Obviously not much can be done about Dwight unless the rules change. MWP should be traded, he's just to slow on D and takes many bad shots.
Too much Kobe ball - not much needed to say there.

Nash coming back could help turn things around but without a trade, the Lakers perimeter D will never allow them out the West. Well having a coach who doesn't care for defense won't help.

[TrainOfThought5]

O'Antoni is so desperate for a win that Kobe has played 43 minutes each of the past two games. Both losses. That's basically all you need to know.

holy shit. I didnt know it was that desperate.

[baseline bum]

Nash coming back could help turn things around but without a trade, the Lakers perimeter D will never allow them out the West. Well having a coach who doesn't care for defense won't help.

But Kobe is too old and washed up to get anything good back in trade. Don't really see where LA goes tbh.

[ElNono]

But Kobe is too old and washed up to get anything good back in trade. Don't really see where LA goes tbh.

Plus Kobe has a no-trade clause :lol

[baseline bum]

Plus Kobe has a no-trade clause :lol

$30 million, 30 shots a night, and 34 years of age is enough of a no-trade clause alone; not sure why the snitch had to negotiate that second one into his contract.

[DMC]

$30 million, 30 shots a night, and 34 years of age is enough of a no-trade clause alone; not sure why the snitch had to negotiate that second one into his contract.

Preach it

[Richie]

Watching them vs the Cavs, Kobe is putting up good numbers on efficient shooting, but nobody else is involved. Kobe dribbles in to the post, hits an impressive turn around fade away jumper but everyone else is just standing around watching him.

It's actually ridiculous that they have such bad transition D. As soon as Kobe gets the ball they know he's shooting it, Metta and Duhon might as well be standing on their own free throw line in case he misses.