Lakers: Official LA Lakers vs Sacramento Kings game thread

[whitemamba]

Wow, people are really underrating the West this year just because the Lakers made a couple lateral moves, tbh....

makes sense tbh, we staaaaaaaacked

[ElNono]

you gotta love how ElNono is jocking the Heat and Thunder now b/c of his visceral fear and hatred of the Lakers.

I'm here to talk basketball, tbh... after all, it's not like I wasn't right bout dem Lakers & Grizzlies last season...

[ElNono]

Then again, it's too early to tell... as I always say, by the ASG break we'll know who has a legitimate shot. I just don't buy the west is a two horse race. I can excuse Ace since he's used to the leastern conference where there's basically no compe ion, but the west is definitely going to be interesting, IMO.

[DeadlyDynasty]

and thinking the Clippers or Nuggets are going to make any serious noise this year. The Clippers have a nice bench (which means precisely in the playoffs) and the Nuggets are a team full of betas

[Ace]

Then again, it's too early to tell... as I always say, by the ASG break we'll know who has a legitimate shot. I just don't buy the west is a two horse race. I can excuse Ace since he's used to the leastern conference where there's basically no compe ion, but the west is definitely going to be interesting, IMO.

Nice regular season teams but not going to do much in the playoffs.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Nice regular season teams but not going to do much in the playoffs.

Exactly. Barring major injury, the West is undoubtedly a 2-horse race between LAL and OKC.

[Raven]

Spurs won't have that number one seed this year and I was referring to the idiots who think the Lakers are not serious contenders. IMHO it's a two race between Heat/Lakers OKC with a slight shot at the finals.

i heard that one before tbh..

[ElNono]

Well, I disagree for a number of reasons. First of all, the notion that the bench doesn't matter because of the playoffs is simply misguided, IMO. Both OKC and Miami had good benches providing good depth last season, and they relied on them on a nightly basis. But I think it's even more important for old and slow teams like the Lakers. One could argue the Lakeshow simply ran out of gas last season, and that was a short season. Plus if the West turns out to be compe ive and the Lakeshow is really vying for the 1st or 2nd seed, then there will be pressure to play the starters more due to the abysmal bench.

As far as the Clippers, I personally like what they've done. They got rid of low IQ chuckers like Mo Williams and Nick Young, and replaced them with a floor general in Grant Hill and good role players around him (Lakerfan should remember Matt Barnes as being one of the few good bench players last season). To that you have to add the natural progression of a legitimate star like Blake Griffin. Their main concern will be to stay healthy (especially CP3 and Griffin), and the subpar coaching staff.

I also think people are sleeping on Denver. This is a team that took the Lakeshow to 7 games last season and added a very, very solid piece in Iguodala. They've been always fairly well coached and while I'm not 100% sold Gallinari and McGee are going to shine every night, they should still be able to play with anybody.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Wrong.

[DeadlyDynasty]

The Clippers, Nuggets, and Spurs are all fluffers--especially the Clippers--that franchise was built on fluffing up their compe ion. 2 of those 3 will fluff and buff the Lakers and OKC spiritedly in the WCSF, before getting knocked out.

[Raven]

The Clippers, Nuggets, and Spurs are all fluffers--especially the Clippers--that franchise was built on fluffing up their compe ion. 2 of those 3 will fluff and buff the Lakers and OKC spiritedly in the WCSF, before getting knocked out.

not sure if a franchise that has been swept in the secound round while losing for 40 points should be the one to talk.. considering you had to use the refs to get past the first round..

[Malik Hairston]

ElNono and the majority of the posters here rode the West teams during the entire playoffs, claiming Miami would struggle to defeat any West team in the Finals after beating "weak" East teams..look it up, they all reiterated these predictions throughout the post-season..

The West has an abundance of teams that are unable to play a style of play that fits in the playoffs..as I said last year, teams like Indiana are better playoff teams than teams such as the Nuggets, and they proved it by being Miami's 2nd most difficult opponents..

Denver doesn't play defense and doesn't even have an all-NBA player on their team..the Clippers' and Spurs' have PGs as their best players.. none of these teams are able to display defense at a consistent level..

mentioning Utah..

Miami is the favorite, Lakers and Thunder are legit contenders..Celtics, Spurs and Clippers are darkhorse long shots..

[Ace]

i heard that one before tbh..

regular season

You must be new

[DeadlyDynasty]

not sure if a franchise that has been swept in the secound round while losing for 40 points should be the one to talk.

Neat 2011 smack...since you're going there, not sure if a team who lost to an 8th seed (and a franchise that had 0 playoff wins in its history) should talk.

To answer your hallmark grey-esque post, I can "talk" about any of those 3 teams, and be well within my right.

[DeadlyDynasty]

regular season

You must be new

rofl...you can already tell this guy fits the cheguevara/Technique/Rummpd profile of Spurfan. Since he's whined about the officials, his posts also echo the vaginal ramblings of CryHavoc

[Raven]

Neat 2011 smack...since you're going there, not sure if a team who lost to an 8th seed (and a franchise that had 0 playoff wins in its history) should talk.

To answer your hallmark grey-esque post, I can "talk" about any of those 3 teams, and be well within my right.

not sure why anyone thought we would have passed with two of three bigs injured tbh.. i'm just sayin' wait for some hoop that actually matter then talk..

[Ace]

Well, I disagree for a number of reasons. First of all, the notion that the bench doesn't matter because of the playoffs is simply misguided, IMO. Both OKC and Miami had good benches providing good depth last season, and they relied on them on a nightly basis. But I think it's even more important for old and slow teams like the Lakers. One could argue the Lakeshow simply ran out of gas last season, and that was a short season. Plus if the West turns out to be compe ive and the Lakeshow is really vying for the 1st or 2nd seed, then there will be pressure to play the starters more due to the abysmal bench.

As far as the Clippers, I personally like what they've done. They got rid of low IQ chuckers like Mo Williams and Nick Young, and replaced them with a floor general in Grant Hill and good role players around him (Lakerfan should remember Matt Barnes as being one of the few good bench players last season). To that you have to add the natural progression of a legitimate star like Blake Griffin. Their main concern will be to stay healthy (especially CP3 and Griffin), and the subpar coaching staff.

I also think people are sleeping on Denver. This is a team that took the Lakeshow to 7 games last season and added a very, very solid piece in Iguodala. They've been always fairly well coached and while I'm not 100% sold Gallinari and McGee are going to shine every night, they should still be able to play with anybody.

Lakers will coast all season long and as will Miami, both will turn it up in the playoffs. Clippers and the Nuggets are deep but they are regular season teams.

[Raven]

regular season

You must be new

i may be new, but even newbies know that regular season decides the seeds..

[DeadlyDynasty]

i may be new, but even newbies know that regular season decides the seeds..

and that's worked out great for you guys lately

[DPG21920]

Well - if you are one of those "win it all or else that means you are terrible and should not be spoken about" types, sure - it has not worked out. But being one of 4 teams left with a legit shot to make it to the finals is a pretty damn good thing and the regular season helped that.

[Ace]

i may be new, but even newbies know that regular season decides the seeds..

Seeds haven't meant much and the last two years should taught you that. 1st Seed

[Raven]

and that's worked out great for you guys lately

you seem to be missing the point... the point is that none is an idiot for debating about something as untrivial as as is a WCF since the past says something different and while one team has not shown any kind of dominance the other one has been absolutely horrible.

[LkrFan]

Well, I disagree for a number of reasons. First of all, the notion that the bench doesn't matter because of the playoffs is simply misguided, IMO. Both OKC and Miami had good benches providing good depth last season, and they relied on them on a nightly basis. But I think it's even more important for old and slow teams like the Lakers. One could argue the Lakeshow simply ran out of gas last season, and that was a short season. Plus if the West turns out to be compe ive and the Lakeshow is really vying for the 1st or 2nd seed, then there will be pressure to play the starters more due to the abysmal bench.

IMO, Miami's bench didn't really click until the playoffs. Bosh was ailing and missed a few games. Their bench played well and it carried over in the Finals against OKC. Agreed, to an extent about the Lakers running out of gas - specifically our bigs. Bynum for being a lazy ass MFer and Pau for all of the games he played from the previous season + playoffs + Olympics. When our bigs went limp, there went our chances of getting past OKC - especially with at the time, our only true advantage being a then 32 year old Kobe trying to carry the team. Sessions the bed, Artest's stupid elbow cost us as well because he was balling right before that incident.

As far as the Clippers, I personally like what they've done. They got rid of low IQ chuckers like Mo Williams and Nick Young, and replaced them with a floor general in Grant Hill and good role players around him (Lakerfan should remember Matt Barnes as being one of the few good bench players last season). To that you have to add the natural progression of a legitimate star like Blake Griffin. Their main concern will be to stay healthy (especially CP3 and Griffin), and the subpar coaching staff.

I'm not sold on the Clippers. Sure they added G Hill but being that Griffin will and moan about his touches and due to his immaturity, will he listen to a savy vet like Hill when the chips are down? I doubt it. Then I'll envoke DOK's theory: teams with PGs as their best player typically don't win championships (Detroit Pistons being one of the rare exceptions). They added Barnes (who did for us last year in the playoffs) and fatass-unfocused Lamar Odom. Mo Williams will be a huge loss for them. He was instant offense for them. And then you have their inept coaching staff. I actually trust Mike Brown more than Del Negroid (believe it or not).

I also think people are sleeping on Denver. This is a team that took the Lakeshow to 7 games last season and added a very, very solid piece in Iguodala. They've been always fairly well coached and while I'm not 100% sold Gallinari and McGee are going to shine every night, they should still be able to play with anybody.

Denver is this year's X-factor. I love what they did in getting a true leader in Iggy to go with Gallo, and McGee. I'm not sweating them too much because I believe now that we have someone that will actually hustle on defense (D12), we won't see many breakout games for McGee and Faried like last year versus Bynum and Gasol. Plus I don't trust George Karl.

I think that the Lakers will be 2nd or 3rd seed. I don't think it is necessary to get the 1st seed. I think we will start off slow as the guys get used to playing with one another while learning a new offense (again for the 2nd straight season). We'll have our iden y by the ASG. Meanwhile, I expect teams like SA, OKC, Clippers and even Denver to be rolling while we figure it out. But make no mistake, once we begin to figure out how to use Howard and Nash with Kobe/Pau the Lakers will be a force to be reckoned with. I don't want them to peak early only to fizz out again. It's a marathon - not a sprint.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Well - if you are one of those "win it all or else that means you are terrible and should not be spoken about" types, sure - it has not worked out. But being one of 4 teams left with a legit shot to make it to the finals is a pretty damn good thing and the regular season helped that.

But the more talented team moved on last year, so HCA meant absolutely for you. We won't even mention 2011.

[LkrFan]

Seeds haven't meant much and the last two years should taught you that. 1st Seed

The Gds