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What are you talking about? Every serious basketball fan in America has been admitting this since the all star break.
Granted they didn't really look like champions at times last postseason, this year it's pretty obvious they just aren't the same team they were last year.
The offense is significantly worse. Artest has brought in a much needed defensive stopper, but he pretty much negates those positives with his horrendous shooting and ball stopping ways on offense. The most alarming thing I see is a lack of heart, hustle, and drive. Watching the Lakers in Game 4 it was pretty disheartening to see them consistently getting beat to loose balls and rebounds. You could tell they had given up midway through the 3rd quarter. There is something peculiar about this team, it's almost as if they enjoy being pushed to the brink. They don't want to exert the effort they need unless they absolutely have to. The problem is they aren't as good as they were last year and playing this game is bound to backfire on them at some point.
I'm still going to root for this team and hold out hope that they will find that extra gear and motivation at some point during the playoffs, but deep inside there is a gut feeling that this team just doesn't have it this year.
What are you talking about? Every serious basketball fan in America has been admitting this since the all star break.
Nice analysis.
This years Lakers reminds a bit of 08 Spurs. A battle tested team that's worn out due to long consecutive playoff runs and an ailing star (Manu then, Kobe now).
They also have no bench.
Your frontline is so strong however, it's gonna be tough for any other team in the West (all have undersized frontlines by traditional standards) to knock you guys off. I hate the way the Spurs match up with them.
Don't see the Lakers beating the Cavs or the Magic, though.
Last edited by Otaku; 04-25-2010 at 11:59 PM.
Artest and Fisher are the biggest reasons for the offensive futility. Kobe also lately. If he was playing at his level from even last year, we would be fine. Unfortunately he looks like a micros of the player he once was.
Hard to win games when your players just can't shoot. Its as simple as that.
Good, cuz they ain't gonna be there.
Any Laker fan who didn't see this coming either doesn't watch the games or is just a complete homer. This team has some major problems. Our backcourt sucks. Kobe is getting washed up fast and is nowhere near what he used to be and Fisher is absolutely ing atrocious in every way. Our bench has been getting progressively worse for the past couple of years because of all the cost cutting moves we have made in that area. The Fisher and the bench problems I expected before the season. I knew it was just a matter of time before those things came back to bite us. I was just hoping we could hold it off for one more year. The Kobe situation is a disappointment though. Hopefully next year he can get his fingers healthy he can have a couple more good years but I don't know anymore. He has just lost so much athleticism. He is constantly getting his shots blocked.
In other words, saw the Spurs game and is now currently ting pants.
Thanks for your valuable insight
Spurs certainly don't have a snowball's chance in of winning a championship, based on how they look now, either.
Sad to say, this is the east's year. I was sort of counting on the Suns to make some noise out of the west, but I'm not entirely sure who out of the Suns, Lakers, or Utah will represent the West this year.
In any case, I can't see either of those teams beating the Magic or Cavs.
Please. If we go the Spurs are the only team that's come out of the West in like a coon's age. And they're more or less intact from their last ringage.
How I wish. I love our perimeter depth, but the frontline leaves something to be desired. Blair is a great energy guy and rebounder but is too small to really pose any kind of problem to Gasol or Bynum. And unlike the Thunder, the Spurs don't have the athletes to make up for their lack of size inside. They'll get killed on the boards against the Lakers. Duncan is the only legit bigman on the Spurs and he can't handle Bynum/Gasol by himself.
If the Lakers can't win it all i'm going for the Spurs or Magic. Or Jazz.
Really, anyone but the Thuggets, Cavs, and Divas in Green.
How the might have fallen, eh. Lakers and Spurs certainly enjoyed a consistent iron-clad dominance over the past decade. Sad to see that both teams have somewhat fallen from their past glory.
If not the spurs, I secretly go for the "Fakers" every year just out of mutual respect for our Western co-dominance of years late. Obviously there is healthy rivalry-induced trash talk over the regular season, but I secretly respect the team (after the Spurs, of course).
Even if the Spurs somehow managed to make it to the Finals (not happening), we'd be absolutely unequivocally demolished inside by Howard. We have literally no size, we were going into panic mode about potentially facing the Lakers first round due to Bynum coming back.
Right now, I'm seeing Spurs extending a series against the Suns to 6, at best. Ginobili has shown phenomenal offensive inconsistency for the second straight game. If he doesn't prove that these two games have been mere anomalies rather than regression towards the mean, Spurs are in for a 2nd round exit.
If Lakers don't make it far..I'm rooting for West teams.
That's why I said: "if we go"...in other words if OKC or Utah dispatches us, it's cake work for you until the Finals. Even then only Boston is mentally equipped to end you.
Agreed, there's a strict tier-based protocol that goes on in terms of determining who one "roots for" in the playoffs. If not your team, then your arch enemy (paradoxically, or maybe it's just me). If not your arch enemy, then your conference.
I hope either Orlando, Phoenix or Cleveland to win the championship if the Spurs are done.
Once the Lakers are no longer eligible, I'll see the Suns at O & 42 and then rest my head. It's inconsequential thereafter.
Have the Lakers ever gone out in the 1st round as the defending champs?
You're more like the last to admit, GayAndAbused
Never count the Lakers out until they're done, especially after last year. That said, the fact that Sasha and Walton aren't contributing added to Ron's offensive woes doesn't bode well for LA moving forward. Shannon Brown's also got to stop chucking if the Lakers are going to be making another run.
You're more like the last to admit, GayAndAbused
Cubby, you magnificent bas . Things not looking so rosy for either of our teams, eh? I'd still rather be in your shoes. You got a bunch of wet behind the ears kids nipping at your heels, but they can't win outside of their own arena. If it gets to a Game 7 in LA, it'll be so loud, so much pressure, they'll wet their pants 'n you folks will advance. My Suns, on the other hand, basically have to win their Game 5 to have any chance to beat a hobbled Blazer team. It just shows that if you play sweltering defense, anybody can beat the Suns (sadly).Once the Lakers are no longer eligible, I'll see the Suns at O & 42 and then rest my head. It's inconsequential thereafter.
Hey, Mori, I ain't that magnificent. Just special & important (tee, hee).
Nope, not rosy at all. Though I was shocked when you guys lost Game Four. Portland has always been lethal for both of us so you best be careful, take your time and do it right.
Kobe's on the rag again for us. F'in guy. A PITA. & we don't have the refs babysitting us for some damn reason. It's been like that with the refs since about a month back. I have no confidence in this series.
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