Seriously, what the is wrong with the Lakers?

[xellos88330]

They open the Grammy road trip looking like they are putting the pieces together finally and then they 2 bricks in a row. This seems to have been the trend for their season.

I am awefully concerned about the Lakers because that is the team the Spurs were supposed to beat the piss out of in the WCF, but it is looking more and more like the Lakers won't even meet them there.

So LakerNation, what exactly is wrong with the team? Is it chemistry? Pieces aren't fitting into the system properly? I personally do not believe that the Lakers are "coasting" because Kobe Bryant is ultra compe ive. He can't stand losing. Neither can Fisher.

Is there something fundamentally wrong with the Lakers this year? B2B champions with largely the same core, should be able to repeat that dominance during the regular season right? I keep expecting them to right the ship after a couple solid wins, but then they sink it within the week.

So for those of you who watch every Lakers game, what is wrong with the team when they are on the court?

[William Hung]

Pau: fatigued
Kobe: bone on bone
Bynum: just "doesn't know man"
Phil: doesn't give a because this is his last season

[NRHector]

they are older than the Spurs

[HarlemHeat37]

- Their size advantage on offense is being negated by the fact that Kobe is the only playmaker on the perimeter + the fact that they have horrible perimeter shooters..opposing teams aren't hesitating to focus more down low, allowing their mediocre shooters to beat them..the Lakers' best shooter(Blake) is scared to shoot..

- They get virtually nothing from 2 of their 5 starters(Fisher, Artest)..

- They are only able to play 1 style of tempo, due to the lack of versatility on the roster..this could change when Matt Barnes returns, since he's a hustle/energy players, and the Lakers' bench played better when he was in the lineup..

- Their perimeter D is mediocre, which puts their bigs in bad position on D..Artest is still a good defender, but Kobe roams, in an effort to conserve some energy for the playoffs, while Fisher/Blake don't give anything on D..

- They are slow, which obviously affects them in numerous ways, but particularly the movement on offense..Fisher and Artest are very limited players, they don't allow the Lakers' offense to cut/slash/play off-ball to it's maximum potential..

- Gasol has regressed heavily from the last few seasons and earlier in the season..this is a guy that was easily a top 10 player in the NBA the last 2 years, and now, he gets outplayed a lot of the time..

A lot of their problems are fixable though..

[Koolaid_Man]

Yaaaawwwnnnnnn

[InRareForm]

Quick Backcourts expose this team easily, I think Thunder last year in playoffs was a microcosm preview of this of things to come.

Pau has regressed/is tired (lol)

Kobe is older, while he has it superstar hot streaks, he doesn't have that explosion that made defenses get frustrated a lot. Now it seems teams are using their athletiscm to swipe the ball away or get better position on him.

overrated bench, they miss barnes.

[InRareForm]

LakerHater Porn thread btw

[xellos88330]

Yaaaawwwnnnnnn

Of course the dumb shows up. In case you haven't noticed, this is a thread asking REAL Laker fans and frequent watchers their input on things the Lakers could do to improve. Are you seriously that re ed? Besides, I wouldn't even want to troll Laker fans. The Lakers are doing a uva better job than I ever could.

Now go back to bed before luva finds you awake and beats you again.

[NRHector]

Of course the dumb shows up. In case you haven't noticed, this is a thread asking REAL Laker fans and frequent watchers their input on things the Lakers could do to improve. Are you seriously that re ed? Besides, I wouldn't even want to troll Laker fans. The Lakers are doing a uva better job than I ever could.

Now go back to bed before luva finds you awake and beats you again.

[xellos88330]

- Their size advantage on offense is being negated by the fact that Kobe is the only playmaker on the perimeter + the fact that they have horrible perimeter shooters..opposing teams aren't hesitating to focus more down low, allowing their mediocre shooters to beat them..the Lakers' best shooter(Blake) is scared to shoot..

- They get virtually nothing from 2 of their 5 starters(Fisher, Artest)..

- They are only able to play 1 style of tempo, due to the lack of versatility on the roster..this could change when Matt Barnes returns, since he's a hustle/energy players, and the Lakers' bench played better when he was in the lineup..

- Their perimeter D is mediocre, which puts their bigs in bad position on D..Artest is still a good defender, but Kobe roams, in an effort to conserve some energy for the playoffs, while Fisher/Blake don't give anything on D..

- They are slow, which obviously affects them in numerous ways, but particularly the movement on offense..Fisher and Artest are very limited players, they don't allow the Lakers' offense to cut/slash/play off-ball to it's maximum potential..

- Gasol has regressed heavily from the last few seasons and earlier in the season..this is a guy that was easily a top 10 player in the NBA the last 2 years, and now, he gets outplayed a lot of the time..

A lot of their problems are fixable though..

Thanks! From what I saw from the Spurs/Lakers matchups thus far, I definitely picked up on the bolded part. I didn't realize there were that many more issues though. That team has a lot of work to do after the ASB.

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

Yaaaawwwnnnnnn

My thoughts exactly Too Kool

[Def Rowe]

It's a smoke-screen to make other teams feel more confident when they face the Lakers in the playoffs.

[Koolaid_Man]

Of course the dumb shows up. In case you haven't noticed, this is a thread asking REAL Laker fans and frequent watchers their input on things the Lakers could do to improve. Are you seriously that re ed? Besides, I wouldn't even want to troll Laker fans. The Lakers are doing a uva better job than I ever could.

Now go back to bed before luva finds you awake and beats you again.

YAAAAWWWWNNNNN AND PISS....

[xellos88330]

It's a smoke-screen to make other teams feel more confident when they face the Lakers in the playoffs.

Isn't that counter intuitive? Why would they want to face a confident team in the playoffs? I have always been a firm believer that morale is a dangerous thing in compe ion. I would think the Lakers would love for the NBA teams they face in the playoffs feel like they have no chance in . Makes better sense right?

I don't think it is a smokescreen man.

[TD 21]

- Their size advantage on offense is being negated by the fact that Kobe is the only playmaker on the perimeter + the fact that they have horrible perimeter shooters..opposing teams aren't hesitating to focus more down low, allowing their mediocre shooters to beat them..the Lakers' best shooter(Blake) is scared to shoot..

- They get virtually nothing from 2 of their 5 starters(Fisher, Artest)..

- They are only able to play 1 style of tempo, due to the lack of versatility on the roster..this could change when Matt Barnes returns, since he's a hustle/energy players, and the Lakers' bench played better when he was in the lineup..

- Their perimeter D is mediocre, which puts their bigs in bad position on D..Artest is still a good defender, but Kobe roams, in an effort to conserve some energy for the playoffs, while Fisher/Blake don't give anything on D..

- They are slow, which obviously affects them in numerous ways, but particularly the movement on offense..Fisher and Artest are very limited players, they don't allow the Lakers' offense to cut/slash/play off-ball to it's maximum potential..

- Gasol has regressed heavily from the last few seasons and earlier in the season..this is a guy that was easily a top 10 player in the NBA the last 2 years, and now, he gets outplayed a lot of the time..

Excellent analysis.

To be succinct, they're old, slow, running on fumes and limited. If they can't overwhelm teams inside, then they really can't win any other way. Barring a catastrophic injury, I'm not going to entirely rule them out, but I'd go as far as to say that I'd be surprised if they, not only won the championship, but got past the Spurs. Not shocked, but surprised.

I still think the Lakers end up with the 2 seed, but if they don't, having to win three rounds against one good - very good team and two great teams without home court is asking way too much. Even with home court, I don't think the Mavs can beat them, but they'll probably push them as hard as they've been pushed by anyone in the West since the arrival of Gasol. That series will probably take a lot out of the Lakers, so that when they do make it to the Spurs, they're in trouble before it even begins. Similar to the '08 Spurs going into the Conference Finals.

About a month - month and a half ago, I was still giving them the benefit of the doubt with respect to "who should be the favorite to come out of the West?". I said they should still be considered co-favorites. Not anymore. They should be a clear second to the Spurs.

[Stringer_Bell]

They're an aging team with no depth, they are bound to struggle on the road in b2b against quality opponents. Odom can't save them forever, I hope they're able to make a blockbuster trade so they can't make any excuses.

[DazedAndConfused]

3 time Finalists and repeat NBA champs get a pass during the regular season. I understand that Spur fan knows nothing about this since his team has never once even made repeat Finals appearances. It's OK, pay attention and learn. The Lakers are not interested in burning themselves out to get a good regular season record. They are confident they can win on the road, and their record over the last 3 years has shown they have every right to be.

Right now the Spurs aren't even on the Laker's radar. They've dispatched your team countless times in the playoffs, the real enemy is Boston and always will be.

Remember this, Phil OWNS Pop.

[Def Rowe]

Isn't that counter intuitive? Why would they want to face a confident team in the playoffs? I have always been a firm believer that morale is a dangerous thing in compe ion. I would think the Lakers would love for the NBA teams they face in the playoffs feel like they have no chance in . Makes better sense right?

I don't think it is a smokescreen man.

I just think a Phil Jackson coached team likes it when the opponent is jawing at the mouth all the time, in an immature fashion... and then becomes befuddled when the pressure is really on.

Bonzi Wells... J.R. Smith say hi.

[xellos88330]

My thoughts exactly Too Kool

Got no beef with you. Friendly advice though, I don't think Kools rep is something that you would want to coattail off of, unless you aspire to be as big of a dumb .

[024]

i dunno, it's actually pretty scary that they can play this poorly and still easily end up with the #2-3 seed in the WC.

[Koolaid_Man]

Got no beef with you. Friendly advice though, I don't think Kools rep is something that you would want to coattail off of, unless you aspire to be as big of a dumb .

YAAAAWWWWWWWNNN , PISS, and scratch my BALLS...

[HarlemHeat37]

Excellent analysis.

To be succinct, they're old, slow, running on fumes and limited. If they can't overwhelm teams inside, then they really can't win any other way. Barring a catastrophic injury, I'm not going to entirely rule them out, but I'd go as far as to say that I'd be surprised if they, not only won the championship, but got past the Spurs. Not shocked, but surprised.

I still think the Lakers end up with the 2 seed, but if they don't, having to win three rounds against one good - very good team and two great teams without home court is asking way too much. Even with home court, I don't think the Mavs can beat them, but they'll probably push them as hard as they've been pushed by anyone in the West since the arrival of Gasol. That series will probably take a lot out of the Lakers, so that when they do make it to the Spurs, they're in trouble before it even begins. Similar to the '08 Spurs going into the Conference Finals.

About a month - month and a half ago, I was still giving them the benefit of the doubt with respect to "who should be the favorite to come out of the West?". I said they should still be considered co-favorites. Not anymore. They should be a clear second to the Spurs.

I agree with most of this, but I don't think LA ends up with the #2 seed..they will end up at #3, or even #4 IMO, but probably #3..

I also won't count them out, but their positioning is one of the primary reasons I would be surprised if they win the le..it has only happened a few times in NBA history, where the NBA champion had to go through 3 straight series' without HCA, which is what it appears the Lakers will have to go through during these upcoming playoffs..

Also, like you said, their compe ion is much more difficult this year..the Mavs and Spurs are easily better than any West playoff team the Lakers have encountered since the Gasol trade, and even OKC is just as good as any of those other teams(not better, but just as good IMO)..

If an old LA team with a lot of mileage can go through 3 straight series' without HCA, and win the le, they would have definitely earned their place in history..

[#41 Shoot Em Up]

YAAAAWWWWWWWNNN , PISS, and scratch my BALLS...

[xellos88330]

3 time Finalists and repeat NBA champs get a pass during the regular season. I understand that Spur fan knows nothing about this since his team has never once even made repeat Finals appearances. It's OK, pay attention and learn. The Lakers are not interested in burning themselves out to get a good regular season record. They are confident they can win on the road, and their record over the last 3 years has shown they have every right to be.

Right now the Spurs aren't even on the Laker's radar. They've dispatched your team countless times in the playoffs, the real enemy is Boston and always will be.

Remember this, Phil OWNS Pop.

So you are not concerned at all with any of the potential weaknesses that other posters have mentioned at all?!?



Geez, ignorance must be bliss.

[DJ Mbenga]

offense. in the first 4 games of the road trip the lakers shot 38% from 3. since then its been something like 13 %. the problem is with long shots comes long rebounds. it might as well be a turnover cause that equals an easy layup for opponents. then comes the turnovers themselves. the lakers are their own worst enemies gifting the ball to the team. what good is it to barely win the paint when you get destroyed from the perimiter.