I'm so glad we got Kurt Thomas!

[aka_USAPA]

I thought the Thomas trade was a desperate move.

[SouthernFried]

Thomas should have played a LOT more.

And like I've been saying since the last series...so should have Barry. Pop finally seeing the light that so many of us have been yelling "Play ing Barry!!"...looks like has come too little too late.

And you know why Duncan was soooo ing tired at the end? He had no ing help. THAT is why we brought Thomas in...to help Tim. And Bull that he'd do a worse job than Oberto on Odom. Thomas is a damned good defender.

No...whoever said POP has coached this year terribly, is right. Taking Bowen out and letting Kobe go on his biggest tear of the series..dumb Pop. NOT playing Barry when Fin and Manu are stinking it up....Dumb Pop.

Not letting Thomas help Timmy on the boards....dumb Pop.

Christ, BARRY was the next best rebounder...with 5. Oberto couldn't even outrebound our bench point guard.

Gimme a break.

[rascal]

1) Thomas can't guard anyone in this series. When the Spurs traded for him I worried about his lack of mobility when combined with Duncan. I hate that it actually came to fruition.

2) Thomas has two rebounds in 23 minutes in this series. If he had shown any rebounding ability when going up against this slender, long and quick team, perhaps this thread would make more sense.

Yes, Thomas plays like a robot. And is as quick as one.

[Deuces88]

Thomas played well against a quick David West. Actually, West couldn't really drive with Thomas on him because Thomas could always stay in front of him. If he can stay in front of West, he can stay in front of Odom. Start Thomas!

[Mr. Peabody]

the best part is you gave up your first rounder for him. considering where TP and Manu were drafted; hahaha

Manu was drafted at the end of the second round.

[Groktar]

I thought the Thomas trade was a desperate move.

I thought most of the midseason trades were. So many already aging teams shipped out their young talent for guys past their prime. All season long people were talking about how the West wasn't going to get easier anytime soon, but then all of the powers for the last 4-5 years go nuts and sacrifice their futures.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

That's all well and good, but we've been fine on the boards all year until this bloody game!

I agree that Thomas should've played the 2nd Q after we gave up 5 O boards in the 1st. He is too slow to guard Odom or Gasol for long periods though.

[kace]

Oberto couldn't even outrebound our bench point guard.

Gimme a break.

....... sad but true

[manufor3]

WTF would you know about beating the suns?

[pad300]

Thomas was brought in to guard Shaq and Bynum ...

The expected Laker starting line-up at the time of the trade was

Bynum
Gasol
Ariza/VladRad/Walton
Kobe
Fisher

with Odom coming as 6th man, swiching in for Gasol or Bynum...

That's a lineup you can play Thomas against

Thomas guards Bynum
Duncan on Gasol
Finley on the SF
Bowen on Kobe
Parker on Fisher

As it is, the lakers are almost playing small-ball, because Lamar Odom is a tweener SF/PF, and Gasol is "lightweight" for a C, he's much more of a pure PF.

[gmartin02]

WTF would you know about beating the suns?

Lakers all time playoff series record against Phoenix: 7-4

Sure they lost the last couple of years to Phoenix (with Smush Parker & Kawame Brown), but that is a very small part of the "big picture" - I guess I am older than many of you (been watching/listening to the Lakers since 1970 - 9 NBA championships, 16 Finals appearances since I became a Lakers fan)

P.S. Lakers all time playoff series record against San Antonio: 7-3 (soon to be 8-3) - no wonder Spurs fans hate the Lakers so much (jealousy)

[Say-Townbball]

useless thread.

it's all about matchups.

Whoever brought up Elson should become a Sonic's fan. I'd take Thomas over Elson and Rasho COMBINED. Granted, Thomas isn't very quick but at least he has balls.

Elson and Rasho= too soft.

[E.O.A.O.]

Too bad you got him for free. Send Barry back to Seattle.