have a very capable squad

[midnightpulp]

This is not the worst roster of all-time. They beat a decent Atlanta team, who were undefeated at home, and ground out a win against Houston on the second game of a back-to-back. Sure, Houston was missing Howard, but it was still a good win.

Breakdown of the Lakers' roster:

Jordan Hill - proving to be a capable big who can rebound, decent finisher, and can hit the midrange J off the pick and pop.

Carlos Boozer - terrible defensively, yes, but seems reinvigorated and can rebound and score near his former all-star level at times.

Wes Johnson - Labeled a bust. But he's got nice length and quick hands. If the Lakers take some time and actually develop him, he could become a solid 3. Hell, he's already much better than dead weight like Matt Barnes.

Jeremy Lin - dropped 15 and 10 when he was allowed to run the offense. His numbers were shit tonight because Byron thought it a good idea run Kobe at the point.

Bench:

Ed Davis - monster on the boards. Gutsy, hard working player that does all the gritty things.

Nick Young - Can light it up at a moment's notice. Easily the Lakers best all-around perimeter scorer.

Wayne Ellington - Solid 2 guard who is shooting 57% from the field. Should give the Lakers some more offense boost when he returns from grieving his father's death.

The other scrubs (Ronnie Price, Jordan Clarkson, etc are garbage and not worth mentioning).

In a vacuum, this is a 35-38 win team, especially considering the fact it is being led by an all-time great. If said all-time great (Kobe Bryant) does not lead this team to at least that win total, I think it'll be devastating to his legacy and the oft repeated quote, "Kobe needs stacked teams to win," will hold more merit than ever.

Right now, Kobe is a fringe top 10 player, but leading the worst roster he's ever played with (which isn't THAT bad compared to the rosters of teams like Orlando and the 76ers) to a respectable win total could vault him into the next tier of players (7 though 10, depending how he does it). If he doesn't, then Kobe tumbles into the tier inhabited by the Karl Malones and John Havliceks.

[Splits]

This year's squad is definitely more talented than last year's. Pau got them 27 wins. That's the benchmark

[spurraider21]

If Kobe can't win with this...

[Bynumite]

- Non-existent bench outside of Swaggy P when he gets hot
- Wes Johnson, Hill and the chink shouldn't be starters in the NBA
- Black coach
- OP is a faggot

[Clipper Nation]

Pretty clear that the cancer is holding this team back. -14 with him on the court, +4 without him.

[Cry Havoc]

- Non-existent bench outside of Swaggy P when he gets hot
- Wes Johnson, Hill and the chink shouldn't be starters in the NBA
- Black coach
- OP is a faggot

:lmao Davis is solid off the pine

:lmao Plenty of teams win 50 games with no bench

:lmao Still trying to defend Kobe

[midnightpulp]

- Non-existent bench outside of Swaggy P when he gets hot
- Wes Johnson, Hill and the chink shouldn't be starters in the NBA
- Black coach
- OP is a faggot

:lol Quit talking down your roster so you'll have built in excuse if Kirbs fails to exceed at least 30 wins.

- Ed Davis is nearly averaging a double-double off the bench, in 23 minutes.

- Jordan Hill is putting up 14 and 10, while trying his hardest to be the sole paint anchor.

- Lin just dropped 15-10 on Jeff Teague.

- Boozer can still put up some good numbers.

- And Swaggy can be lights out. He willed the Lakers to victory tonight on the road.

This is a 35 win team. Anything much below that, and Kobe's legacy is deep fried.

[hyhy]

There's still Xavier henry right? Wasn't he putting up numbers last season? What happened?

[Venti Quattro]

There's still Xavier henry right? Wasn't he putting up numbers last season? What happened?

He plays Kobe's position

[HI-FI]

Bynumite already semen shielding Kobe.

[midnightpulp]

:lmao Davis is solid off the pine

:lmao Plenty of teams win 50 games with no bench

:lmao Still trying to defend Kobe

Ed Davis is better than any shitty big we have coming off the bench (I like Baynes' work ethic, but he just doesn't have the motor and athleticism like Ed Davis. And :lol Errors). Love to have him.

And Swaggy is basically equal to a 37 year old Manu.

[RsxPiimp]

Yeah, no they're not...OP is reaching

[RsxPiimp]

There's still Xavier henry right? Wasn't he putting up numbers last season? What happened?

He's not 100%. Fell off the depth chart as a result.

[DMC]

With the 2013 roster results, anything is possible I suppose.

[Clipper Nation]

All this semen shielding and excuse making by Kirbystan... isn't he supposed to be "the new DK"? Where's all the confidence in your boy?

[midnightpulp]

Yeah, no they're not...OP is reaching

They are if Kobe doesn't shoot 35% on 10-28 shooting. The Atlanta game should be his blueprint on how to play every game this year. And if you saw tonight's game, he almost gave it away with his incessant chucking in the 4th. When he passed and worked within the offense, the Lakers were getting great looks.

[Venti Quattro]

Love Kob but he shouldn't have to shoot 30 shots per game. He made a conscious effort in 2006 not to shoot that much and that roster had the two worst players ever in Smush and Kwame. Their defense still sucks but maybe he can help the team by helping them gain confidence offensively.

[Robz4000]

Ed Davis is better than any shitty big we have coming off the bench (I like Baynes' work ethic, but he just doesn't have the motor and athleticism like Ed Davis. And :lol Errors). Love to have him.

And Swaggy is basically equal to a 37 year old Manu.

Diaw > any Laker big

[midnightpulp]

Diaw > any Laker big

He's a starter right now, though.

[ElNono]

Better team: This season's Lakers or Smush-Kwame-Odom Lakers?

[Robz4000]

He's a starter right now, though.

They've been starting Bonner with Splitter out. Tonight was an exception (:lol Daye or Errors on Love)...

[Clipper Nation]

Better team: This season's Lakers or Smush-Kwame-Odom Lakers?

Odom's a better alpha than Swaggy P, so I'll go with the second one.

[scanry]

Despite Kobe's chucking, he's actually on pace to match Michael's FGA in 2002 tbh.

[RsxPiimp]

They are if Kobe doesn't shoot 35% on 10-28 shooting. The Atlanta game should be his blueprint on how to play every game this year. And if you saw tonight's game, he almost gave it away with his incessant chucking in the 4th. When he passed and worked within the offense, the Lakers were getting great looks.

Wesley Johnson shouldn't average 32 mins for any team. He wouldn't even get off the bench in Philadelphia:lol Boozer is garbage, Sacre is garbage and Scott depends on a journeyman like Ronnie Price to defend the games best PG when Lin is being lit up:lol

If the team was healthy from the get go, I'd give them a chance. But the hole is too deep now especially in WC.

I dont disagree with your assessment on Kobe's chucking though. He almost cost the Lakers another win tonight.

[Baseline]

Bryant is an abomination and everybody knows it. Oh, except for Laker fans.

He's played 12 games, his team has lost 9 of them. He's taken more shots than anybody in the league (by far), and he's shot 50% in only one game.

Basketball is a team sport, right? This is a fact that has not yet occurred to K. Bryant.

[unforeseen]

They need to win to give up the 1st round pick to Phoenix.

[illmatic]

^ Just as long as it's in the 6-12 range I'm cool...Although I'd prefer 6.

[IronMexican]

In what world is Boozer even considered slightly above average? I cringe whenever I see him pull up for that over arched mid range shot from straight away.

[spurraider21]

at halftime, Houston was up 2.

in the 2nd half, Kobe shot (i shit you not) 4-17 from the field... and the Lakers won the half by 8 points

[Sean Cagney]

I was thinking about this the other night and yes they do have some players there and can get some wins when healthy. They are not the worst team out there by any means. Do I think they will make the playoffs probably not, but they will beat some teams this year and sneak up on you on any given night.

[Thebesteva]

My nigga Midnight snorting all kinds of coke before making this thread

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view2/3729655/scarface-coke-scene-o.gif

[spurraider21]

My nigga Midnight snorting all kinds of coke before making this thread

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view2/3729655/scarface-coke-scene-o.gif


at halftime, Houston was up 2.

in the 2nd half, Kobe shot (i shit you not) 4-17 from the field... and the Lakers won the half by 8 points
:lol team carrying him

[Thebesteva]

:lol team carrying him

I know if Kobe facilitated the ball more, this team is definitely a 25-30 win team. But the fact we're even debating about winning 30 games for 1 of the 2 greatest franchises in NBA history is ridiculous and a subtle trolling job by mid.

I dont give a fuck if tomorrow Lebron, Dwight, Carmelo, Duncan, etc all come to the Lakers. They will not win with Jim Buss at helm, this guy is a moron. Every single move is worst than the last one, I am hoping Buss family sells the Lakers.

[namlook]

In a vacuum, this is a 35-38 win team, especially considering the fact it is being led by an all-time great. If said all-time great (Kobe Bryant) does not lead this team to at least that win total, I think it'll be devastating to his legacy and the oft repeated quote, "Kobe needs stacked teams to win," will hold more merit than ever.

Right now, Kobe is a fringe top 10 player, but leading the worst roster he's ever played with (which isn't THAT bad compared to the rosters of teams like Orlando and the 76ers) to a respectable win total could vault him into the next tier of players (7 though 10, depending how he does it). If he doesn't, then Kobe tumbles into the tier inhabited by the Karl Malones and John Havliceks.

:lol I know you aren't this clueless.

Just a troll...W/L record with a roster filled with bench players at this point does not tarnish Kobe's legacy when he is 36 with a repaired achilles which is a devastating injury that retires players.

[scanry]

Who you fooling mid? Talent wise, they're only slightly better than the 76ers. That's it. I would be very surprised if they end up winning more than 20 games tbh.

[midnightpulp]

:lol I know you aren't this clueless.

Just a troll...W/L record with a roster filled with bench players at this point does not tarnish Kobe's legacy when he is 36 with a repaired achilles which is a devastating injury that retires players.

It will.

These are the kind of situations that define players, maybe even more than winning a championship. Lebron stepped up in '07 and led a similar shitty roster to the NBA Finals. Tim Duncan led an unheralded roster in '03 to the NBA championship. Same with Hakeem in '94.

Now, I'm not asking for miracles. 35ish wins is all Kobe needs with this squad to prove he can lead.

If not, he joins Karl Malone and Dr J. in that 3rd tier of greats.

[scanry]

It will.

These are the kind of situations that define players, maybe even more than winning a championship. Lebron stepped up in '07 and led a similar shitty roster to the NBA Finals. Tim Duncan led an unheralded roster in '03 to the NBA championship. Same with Hakeem in '94.

Now, I'm not asking for miracles. 35ish wins is all Kobe needs with this squad to prove he can lead.

If not, he joins Karl Malone and Dr J. in that 3rd tier of greats.

Lebron, Duncan & Hakeem were in their prime in the years you've mentioned. Kobe's a gloried role player at the moment. Having him as a first option is just dumb on the part of the coach. It's like asking Vince Carter to lead the 2013-14 Mavs team tbh.

[007nites]

Best case scenario for the Lakers is 38-44.

[Chillen]

Kobe looked awesome last night and Nick Young has helped but people are getting delusional. They have 3 wins and lots of basketball left to be played, I doubt they make the playoffs in the West despite some signs of promise recently and they are far from being a contender. This team actually reminds me of MJ's Wizards back in 2002, except with Kobe leading.

[Clipper Nation]

Kobe's a gloried role player at the moment.
So no different than his prime?

[scanry]

So no different than his prime?

2000 maybe, but in 2001 & 2002, he was a beta.

[Killakobe81]

If Kobe can't win with this...

The real reason for this bullshit thread ...
not worst team in league with Swaggy back but still worst. In West and bottom 5 in league.

[Killakobe81]

Best case scenario for the Lakers is 38-44.

Lol no they won't 30 wins would be a miracle

[Killakobe81]

It will.

These are the kind of situations that define players, maybe even more than winning a championship. Lebron stepped up in '07 and led a similar shitty roster to the NBA Finals. Tim Duncan led an unheralded roster in '03 to the NBA championship. Same with Hakeem in '94.

Now, I'm not asking for miracles. 35ish wins is all Kobe needs with this squad to prove he can lead.

If not, he joins Karl Malone and Dr J. in that 3rd tier of greats.

Lol Mid the historian defining legacies ...sure your biased Ass carries so much weight ...
Team still sucks

[Killakobe81]

Who you fooling mid? Talent wise, they're only slightly better than the 76ers. That's it. I would be very surprised if they end up winning more than 20 games tbh.

This ... Warriors who are good not great has busted our ass

[Clipper Nation]

2000 maybe, but in 2001 & 2002, he was a beta.
Horry was the beta of the Shaq/Horry Lakers, tbh.

[Medvedenko]

Unfortunately it's too late for Kobe to change his tune. I've been actually impressed with his play and movement this year compared to the 6 games he played last year. His incessant chucking is the downfall of this team. We all know that the guys need confidence and they'll only get it with Kobe deferring ala the Hawks game. Nick Young is a god send honestly as he doesn't give a F and will shoot his shots and at this point of the career he's more efficient than Kobe. The funny thing at 36 Kobe still demands a double team...just needs to find the confidence in his teammates. Also, from what I see the Lakers don't really run many plays, with High Pick and Rolls being their bread and butter. There is no over exaggeration of winning 2 games in a row, especially in a back to back, but it's a process to learn how to win again.

[Killakobe81]

Kobe has always struggled with shot selection he would be wise to eliminate the fade away jumpers over double teams or the multiple pump fake jumpers he takes and the defender didnt bite. Overall he has played well but when our team is weak he chucks even more bad shots.

That being said I dont want to win more games and the team still sucks ...

[313]

He plays Kobe's position
:lol

[Leetonidas]

They're still easily the worst team in the West imho

[Killakobe81]

They're still easily the worst team in the West imho

Tell that to Amb and Mid ...

[Malik Hairston]

Talent-wise, they're only better than Indiana, Milwaukee, Minnesota, maybe Orlando and Philly IMO..

Overall, factoring chemistry, experience and coaching, they are better than Philly, Detroit, Minnesota, Orlando, Indiana and Denver..on the same tier as the Celtics and Knicks IMO..

[midnightpulp]

:hat

Midnight is always right (except for my Chris Paul take :lol). Even if the Lakers go into tank mode in the 4th and throw the game, I'm still right. This isn't the worst roster in NBA history.

Or maybe I was wrong. It could be said I underestimated this team. They very well could be a 45 win team.

[DMC]

Predict Kobe's response if the Lakers win...

My prediction:

Kobe with the half grin and casual dismissal tone "I mean yeah... if we shoot 56% and 52 from 3 every game.. come on, you know me"

[Splits]

This Laker team sans-Kobe is SCARY good. I mean, taking the best record in the league to the woodshed???? Who could have thought? Amazing what these guys can do when the Cancer is benched.

[DMC]

:hat

Midnight is always right (except for my Chris Paul take :lol). Even if the Lakers go into tank mode in the 4th and throw the game, I'm still right. This isn't the worst roster in NBA history.

Or maybe I was wrong. It could be said I underestimated this team. They very well could be a 45 win team.
It doesn't matter how good you are for 3 quarters. It only matters if you win. If they don't win they are no better than the Sixers, who did win actually.

[Thread]

This Laker team sans-Kobe is SCARY good. I mean, taking the best record in the league to the woodshed???? Who could have thought? Amazing what these guys can do when the Cancer is benched.

I'll just bet they are.

[midnightpulp]

It doesn't matter how good you are for 3 quarters. It only matters if you win. If they don't win they are no better than the Sixers, who did win actually.

Thing is, will the call come down from Mitch and Jim to throw the game? Lakers can't win too many more games at this rate.

If the Lakers look lost in the 4th, then I suspect tank.

[lefty]

https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kU78zoah9N0IFkPi55A1wkAd9QA=/0x0:1061x707/730x487/assets.sbnation.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29635197/rodger.0.jpg