NBA: Lakers vs Hawks presented by the scent of .500

[Reck]

I did not get the sense my boy DPG was saying Lakers sweep those games. He said Lakers are playing better and their schedule is soft. He never said we gonna go 22-0. I think he expects .600 ball while Jazz may play less than .500 so Lakers squeak in ...

I do admit, for some strange reason DPG overrates us a bit the past 2 seasons ... that being said Lakers making the playoffs is not some great leap. Lakers have played better than the 3 teams ahead of them the past 17 games ...

Of course not, that would be silly to think.

DPG is underestimating those teams badly though.

[Killakobe81]

Just got out of work, checked my phone, and saw the final score. Must've been a good one. Should I read through this thread, or can I safely assume that at least 80% of the posts were people crying about the officiating/Stern?

There is some of that DD ...
But some weird emotions on both sides. Some Laker fans getting ahead of themselves ....and some Spur panic around these parts.
For some strange reason even though Clips have been busting our ass and Spurs have the big men for us to matchup with when Pau returns I would rather face CLips than OKC or SAS I just dont trust teh CLips in the playoffs and they have the tiest coach of the top 5 West teams ...

[whitemamba]

just got back from this game, ing sick.. got a chance to sit next to the World Peace Family, in gang of baboons tbh. Kobe is the greatest SG in the league tbh! everyone else can suck it long and suck it hard

[DeadlyDynasty]

I have $50 that says Golden State misses the playoffs.

[Killakobe81]

I have $50 that says Golden State misses the playoffs.

Doubtful. I would take it but I dont make internet bets. I say Jazz fall out. Warriors may end up 8th if Lakers make a big run ... but mostlikely they hold 6th ... lots of home games.

I would bet El that $50 if I were you he is calling Gstate to sweep the last 2 games this season with the Lakers ...

[td4mvp2k]

I have $50 that says Golden State misses the playoffs.

U have lost alot and now U want lose more...

[DeadlyDynasty]

Doubtful. I would take it but I dont make internet bets. I say Jazz fall out. Warriors may end up 8th if Lakers make a big run ... but mostlikely they hold 6th ... lots of home games.

I would bet El that $50 if I were you he is calling Gstate to sweep the last 2 games this season with the Lakers ...

I'm not even offering odds (which I believe I'm en led to at least 2-1), despite the fact the GSW is 6th seed and has a long home-stand coming up

[LkrFan]

Leonard can put Kobe on lock.

Spurs got enough weapons to put them away even with Parker not 100%.

That Memphis 8th was illegitimate tbh.

. This is how I spell foul trouble: L-E-O-N-A-R-D. Pop ain't stupid.

Spurs have a great RS team. If their weapons were so potent, what happend against the Acne Bunch last year?

Your 3rd point proves that we didn't rape Memphis by taking Pau off of their hands.

[midnightpulp]

You guys roll with Cory Joseph and Nintendo Colon (no TP, or at best, a gimpy <100% TP) and you think 8 won't repeat itself? Especially considering we get back Pau? K

Every time Pau and Dwight play games when they're on the same roster, it's been a trainwreck. They can't co-exist. Only way that's possible is if Pau is Dwight's primary backup and plays 8-10 minutes per game, which we know ain't happening. These last 5 games from Jamison has been better than anything Pau has been able to produce this year at the PF spot. D'Antoni's system requires a PF who can shoot the 3. In that system, Pau can really only be effective at center. And since Dwight can play 40 minutes per game, he won't see much time there.

Quit invoking Pau. He doesn't make the Lakers better.

[DeadlyDynasty]

I have $50 that says Golden State misses the playoffs.

No takers? going once....

[Reck]

. This is how I spell foul trouble: L-E-O-N-A-R-D. Pop ain't stupid.

Spurs have a great RS team. If their weapons were so potent, what happend against the Acne Bunch last year?

Your 3rd point proves that we didn't rape Memphis by taking Pau off of their hands.

I'm sorry did you just compare the Lakers to the Thunder? Oh guy

And not that I'm making excuses but both Duncan and Manu were injured to some extent (not 100%)

[Killakobe81]

Every time Pau and Dwight play games when they're on the same roster, it's been a trainwreck. They can't co-exist. Only way that's possible is if Pau is Dwight's primary backup and plays 8-10 minutes per game, which we know ain't happening. These last 5 games from Jamison has been better than anything Pau has been able to produce this year at the PF spot. D'Antoni's system requires a PF who can shoot the 3. In that system, Pau can really only be effective at center. And since Dwight can play 40 minutes per game, he won't see much time there.

Quit invoking Pau. He doesn't make the Lakers better.

Yes he does even when he was playing like crap, even if he just improves our bench that is pretty dumb to say. his passing, length and just hispresence helps on offense ...defense and transition well not so much but Jamisonis not a great defender either.

[DeadlyDynasty]

going twice...

[midnightpulp]

Every time Pau and Dwight play games when they're on the same roster, it's been a trainwreck. They can't co-exist. Only way that's possible is if Pau is Dwight's primary backup and plays 8-10 minutes per game, which we know ain't happening. These last 5 games from Jamison has been better than anything Pau has been able to produce this year at the PF spot. D'Antoni's system requires a PF who can shoot the 3. In that system, Pau can really only be effective at center. And since Dwight can play 40 minutes per game, he won't see much time there.

Quit invoking Pau. He doesn't make the Lakers better.

Jamison is having his best month as a Laker, which not-so-coincidentally came after Pau went down. The Lakers are also experiencing their best month record wise, as well. But, no, their recent success has nothing to do with Pau's absence. The Lakers simply "figured it out."

[DeadlyDynasty]

off the board...

[midnightpulp]

Yes he does even when he was playing like crap, even if he just improves our bench that is pretty dumb to say. his passing, length and just hispresence helps on offense ...defense and transition well not so much but Jamisonis not a great defender either.

I'd agree with that if D'Antoni can figure out a way to tweak the rotation so Pau gets 20 minutes plus at center, which I don't see happening because when Dwight isn't on the floor, the Lakers are about the worst defensive team in the league. Aside from a few good games, Pau has been terrible at power forward this year under D'Antoni.

And Jamison doesn't need to be a good defender. Remember who's coaching the Lakers? D'Antoni's system values offense from that spot more than defense. And Jamison's stretch 4 offense is more valued in that system than Pau's low post offense and interior defense.

[td4mvp2k]

off the board...

cant do it cuz its a sure loss on you

[ElNono]

I would bet El that $50 if I were you he is calling Gstate to sweep the last 2 games this season with the Lakers ...

I put money only on the Spurs, and already bet my allotted amount. Sig bets, etc are all fair game though, if you want to go for that.

[td4mvp2k]

No takers? going once....

my kids have to eat man

[Budkin]

At the beginning of the season... who the would have thought the Lakers would be celebrating getting to .500 in March?

[Thebesteva]

The belief is cute.

I guess when you been getting the kicked out of you all season, a few unimpressive wins against terrible/average teams are enough to generate false hope.

There is no chance this team wins anything this year, there's no chance this team deserves to even be in the WCF's. However, they are going to be better than just missing the playoffs or getting the kicked out of them, UNLESS they face OKc first round.

You said yourself the Lakers might even upset the Spurs. First off, I had very low expectations for this season after the Lakers fired Mike Brown. I even made a thread on LG and said this team might miss the playoffs, and every1 was laughing their asses off. Now it seems like a serious possibility. However, this team is starting to click at the right time after facing tons of injuries.

[midnightpulp]

There is no chance this team wins anything this year, there's no chance this team deserves to even be in the WCF's. However, they are going to be better than just missing the playoffs or getting the kicked out of them, UNLESS they face OKc first round.

You said yourself the Lakers might even upset the Spurs. First off, I had very low expectations for this season after the Lakers fired Mike Brown. I even made a thread on LG and said this team might miss the playoffs, and every1 was laughing their asses off. Now it seems like a serious possibility. However, this team is starting to click at the right time after facing tons of injuries.

I was just giving you some playful when I said your belief is cute. I know you're not a dumb homer Lakers fan who thinks this team has a '95 Houston Rockets like run in them.

But I do somewhat disagree they're starting to "click," insofar as evolving from a mediocre team into a playoff threat/darkhorse. I don't think the Lakers are really playing all that much better now than when they were 8 games under .500. I believe the odds are now working in the Lakers favor and they're finally winning some close games. Earlier in the season, the Lakers couldn't buy a late 4th quarter run or hold a team off. You can say they improved their 4th quarter play (which I think they have, but only marginally), but down-to-the-wire games can also be a crap shoot. And the Lakers have been rolling 7s lately.

I simply can't buy a team that has "figured it out" and is starting to click would get down 20 to the Bobcats, eek out a one point win at Detroit (yeah, the Spurs lost to them too), lose by 20 to Boston, give up 125 points to the Clippers, and be in dogfights with Portland and the Hawks at home. A few bounces go the other way, and the Lakers are looking at .500 record over the last month.

The Lakers are playing with the same kind of inconsistency that typically defines lower seeded teams. Look great one game, average the next, crappy the next, great again, and so on.

That said, as I've stated before, I do think the Lakers present some matchup problems to the Spurs, mainly on the offensive glass where the Spurs have been getting hammered this year, and if Kobe can summon some of his vintage defensive form, he could frustrate Parker, much like Thabo did last year. In addition to that, the Spurs would definitely feel the pressure in needing to beat the Lakers to avenge '04 and '08, so there's some psychological factors at work that could come into play.

Definitely not the best first round draw. On paper, the Spurs should win that series in 6 max. But as the saying goes, "Games aren't played on paper."

[BobaFett1]

I want the Lakers to make the playoffs

Because they are gonna get swept

^this^

[DPG21920]

No, you listed them as terrible teams and a sure win for the lakers which is all assumptions by you. I merely pointed otherwise.

You came in here without knowing your facts straight. You're basically banking on the Lakers winning all these games against the upcoming teams just based on how they have done On years prior. You have to throw all that out of the window. There are no guarantees this year.

You just have a problem admitting you're often wrong about things.

Wrong.

[Fabbs]

Missed the 4th. Just checked the box. I take it Kirb got gifted those freebies?

Try not to make it too obvious, Herr David.

Same here.
96-95 ATL and Kirby gets two gifts??? with 33 seconds left.
Any non Kobists see the play?