When you think about the history of the Lakers, you think about greats such as Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant. As the Minneapolis Lakers, the franchise won 5 championships in 6 seasons.
The West/Chamberlain Lakers won another NBA championship in the early 70's.
From 1979-1992, Magic Johnson's Lakers appeared in the Finals 9 times in 12 seasons, winning 5 championships within 10 seasons.
From 1999-2004, the Kobe/Shaq Lakers appeared in the Finals 4 times, winning 3 straight championships in that span. 14 NBA championships, most wins in history...makes the Lakers a pretty good franchise, right? Historically, yes. But the problem is when we try to lump in the current Lakers with the rich history of this franchise. Simply because they wear Laker jerseys, everyone is making these guys out to be the next NBA Champion just because they're getting some wins, hitting some shots, getting other teams to miss shots. and playing some bull basketball.
This current Laker team is no championship contender. Kobe Bryant, as good as he is, is the same Kobe Bryant who has failed to win anything since 2002. He repeatedly goes on scoring barrages, makes highlight reels, gets to the hoop whenever he wants, but the fact is he can't succeed on the NBA's biggest stage without a Shaq type of player. Tim Duncan, unlike Kobe, can win regardless of who you put around him. Kobe need other stars to win championships. Tim Duncan makes everyone around him good and makes All-Stars out of players. Tony Parker for instance...not a star by any means when he entered the league, averaging 9.2 PPG on 41.9% shooting. Malik Rose and Steve Smith outscored TP in his first year. Or how about Manu...7.6 PPG on 43.8% shooting. Parker and Ginobili have been the 2nd and 3rd best players behind Duncan in all 3 championships this decade, and Duncan has taken single digit scorers shooting in the low 40's percentage-wise, and has made them into All-Stars. Kobe has not done the same for any of his teammates. He's too selfish, too much of a ballhog, that's why he scores so much. How good can a career 45.4% shooter REALLY be when you look closely? Not very.
The fact is that Kobe's teammates just happen to be in the right place at the right time when Kobe draws so much attention on the floor. This is basically a team of scrubs. Odom's FG%, PPG, and RPG numbers are down from last year. Bynum's FG% and RPG are also down from last year. Derek Fisher's FG% and PPG are down from last year. Even Pau Gasol's FG% and PPG are down from last year. Why are people saying that this year's Laker team is better than last year's? Because the numbers certainly don't say so. I always hear about how the Lakers bench is so great..but then I look and they have a two man bench..Farmar and Ariza. Call Odom a bench player if you want but he isn't. Luke Walton isn't a starter. And why does Walton get so much credit? He's a 41% shooter averaging 4.6 PPG. Farmar is a 42% shooter averaging 7.4 PPG. Ariza seems to be the only consistent bench player. But the rest of these scrubs such as Walton, Farmar, Vujacic, they just happen to be in the right place at the right time 3-4 times during the season, ESPN replays the one highlight so many times that it appears they're doing more than they really are. Those guys aren't .
Seriously, I could go out there and do the same bull . How hard can it be to be left open for a jumper while Kobe is driving to the hoop with 3 defenders on him? Further, how hard is it to hit an open jumper in that case? Not hard at all. I'm sick of hearing "Vujacic for three!" and the crowd roaring when he didn't do but just stand there while Kobe did all the work. Same goes for Walton and Farmar. It's not as good a team as everyone would like to believe.
Lastly, Pau Gasol....I never see the guy create his own offense. It seems that his job to rebound Kobe's missed shots and put them back in and all of a sudden he's an All-Star for doing so. Again, how hard is it to stand on the floor while Kobe does all the work?
This team, like the 2006-2007 Mavs, are just making their shots, getting bull calls (Such as Kobe's non-call push on Chris Paul), and pretty much catching most teams on their off nights.
Look how stupid this looks when you try and lump the current squad into the history of Laker success
Elgin Baylor
Jerry West
Wilt Chamberlain
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Magic Johnson
Shaquille O'Neal
Kobe Bryant
Imagine throwing in the top three scorers of this year's Laker team to that list. Do Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum really belong in that list? I don't think so. The Lakers are not the favorites for the championship this season. Nor were they the favorites last season. That's why I didn't come on here and trash talk last season after Boston won, because Boston was supposed to win. No reason to trash talk if they were supposed to win. And I'm not trash talking this year's Laker team either...this isn't a team that's supposed to win a championship or anything, so why trash talk if they're just going out there and doing what they're supposed to do which is not win the championship. The Lakers will go 59-23, lose in the WCF's, and go home, with no reason to trash talk, etc. after the Spurs eliminate them.
Just when i though you couldnt possiblly be any dumber....you go and do something like this.....
AND TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF!!
Excellent post!
we need this guy on ESPN,can u imagine their faces when SD drops the bomb that lakers are overrated.
You waste a LOT of time typing...
Players PPG could be down because the trust thier teammates? Thus allowing more opportunities for others and less for the individual. It's hard work to keep a group of talented skilled players happy, so sharing the ball is essentially a must.
Overall a spiteful post I might add
SD, I ing love you! I was waiting for a thresd this awesome since you came back.
So you love the taste of Mamba juice on your taste buds eh? Figures.
Your pretty foolish to say that Duncan made Manu and Parker. Parker a great penetrating point guard no matter how you look at it. Duncan or NOT. Manu a good slasher with SG-like skills right up there with the best of them.
The closest thing we have to matching one of them not named Kobe is prolly Farmar, he has some of the attributes of a Tony Parker but hasn't had to play starter from his rookie year so his development is a little slower.
Ginobili was arguably the best player on Argentina, there was no Duncan there was there? Never seen Parker play for France but I imagine he prolly would be their best player to. Who else does France got? Ronny Turiaf LOL
Duncan as great as he is didn't make these guys. Timmy realizes Gino and Parker very talented and can make plays consistently, making TD's job easier, and theirs. Id pass them the ball too if I knew they could do the things they do, it's not rocket science...
Until last year, Sasha, Farmar, Odom, Bynum no one gave a about. Sasha was still a TOTAL bust, Farmer was a second year project, Odom was a headcase, and Bynum was just 7 feet tall...The 3 youngn's in that group improved as players, when you improve you can produce, when you produce, the star player passes you the ball.
Sasha is still a bust who played decent during his contract year.
Yes, but not a TOTAL Bust... in players in their contract years.
Odom is probably doin the same thing
Mamba Juice would probably be a Venom, so no thanks
I really can't wait until SD and Rogue have their first argument.
Wow, SD made an intellegent post. How is this possible?
intelligent my ass this guy is still a ing re
complete .... this is what the OP is.... a hater
Turiaf diaw batum pietrus noah... some young guys with potential
So where the is Dr House? lol
ing your girlfriend
this thread isn't about lakers or the playoffs
Yawn .
or a homer
Wow I didnt know Noah was a Frenchman...I knew he was something wierd tho. haha.
Parker still the best of that bunch tho followed by Diaw
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