I know it is consensus opinion that the Lakers will be a team of mediocrity incarnate but upon reflecting, their lineup looks very impresive.
Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Vlade Divac
I also firmly belive it is Karl Malone's intention to sign with the Lakers soon...
Plus the handful of scrappy yet good players they got from Boston, Chris Mihm most notably, and the collection of up-and-comming role players such as Karem(sp) Rush and Luke Walton, and I see a team that may end up like the Kings, or at the very least the Mavericks. They could be a fairly diffucult team to beat
I'm interested in your thoughts especially Kori becasuse you tend to be a voice of moderation. Anyway am I justified to feel a little nervous after glancing at this roster?
I think the Lakers will be better than people think. I don't think they will contend for the le, but they aren't going to be horrible.
Their division isn't strong: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings. If the Kings falter, the Lakers could easily win the division and end up with the third playoff seed.
They'll be a much different Lakers team than everyone is used to, obviously, but I don't think Kobe will let them become a "bad" team.
It does not matter how good they are they need to get past the top 3 teams Mavs Kings and Wolves.
I don't see it happening.
I think they could beat the mavs
I think mavs lost alot in nash
point guards run the o
time will tell
You willing to bet cash on that?
what terms?
Mavs go further than the spurs this season for $100.00 Bucks kori holds the cash,
that has nothing to do with the lakers beating the mavs
but I will make that bet
when does kori get the money?
all star break?
end of the week?
right before playoffs?
one sure way to make money in the world
nash is not there to help coach their point guards this year
nash gets alot more respect then aj
nash puts up big numbers and young guns respect him
by the way I want mailman even if he does sign with the spurs
I will go on record with that
I agree, I think the Lakers will be OK next season. And I like what they're doing, as they prepare for the future (rebuilding) while not trying to slip into the lottery. A feat that is VERY difficult to do, but it can be done (see: Indiana Pacers).
Overall, the Lakers will have a complete lineup, with the Vlade Divac pickup being HUGE for the Lakers for next season. But I don't see them surpassing the Kings, Wolves, or Spurs. I see them as being on par with the Mavs and Denver, and I have a sneaking su ion that the Suns will be good next year as well.
I think the Lakers will be really good this season!!!
They got some new young players!!! Without Shaq they are totally different!!!!
Why should the Fakers be any better than the Raptors?
Ok, Rudy T. has Sam Mitc 's edge.
Ducks The bet has everything to do with the topic.
if your that stupid to think the Spurs will go further than the Mighty Mavericks it shows how far up your ass your head really is,...oh ,,, Wait OMG....maybe we are posted in the wrong topic. What topic was the Bet topic? sorry to the rest of you.. my bad Dawgs
A lot of people have the Lakers as low as 7th/8th with the possibility of missing the playoffs. I find that sort of ridiculous, not when you know Kobe is going to go 30-6-6 or even 30-7-7 season, and not when the Lakers have so many good role players that are versatile and can pass (Odom, Butler, Vlade, and Walton are all very good passers and role players). Mihm provides much needed depth at the 5, and if Malone comes back to battle with KG and Duncan, I really don't see any reason why the Lakers can't finish between 4th and 6th seed in the West, with the possibility of a 3rd seed if the Kings falter during the season again or if Peja is traded for less than an All Star.
Only the Twolves and Spurs are clearly better, with the Kings probably being better as well, but not as guaranteed. There's no reason to believe the Mavs or Nuggets are better than the Lakers when Kobe is better than any player on both those teams and when they have comparable role players, coaches, and 2nd option (Odom).
mouse this is the thread about the bet
are you trying to get out of it now?
the spurs will go further then the mavs
also I still think the lakers could beat the mavs
The Sterns and Twolves match up very favorably vs the Lakers now.
No worries, Snaq's act had tired in Los Angeles and the Lakers are probably one to two years away. But they could still be a factor.
BS. The Lakers are done.
I don't think they'll contend... but I think, depending on what type of offense RudyT installs, that they could give the Spurs a tough matchup. For instance, if they morph into a Cassell-Robinson-Allen era Milwaukee team (ie - mid range jump shooting as a primary offensive weapon). It is the most effective form of offense against the Spurs defensive system.
Too early to tell though. But if I were the Lakers, I would be building my team in a way to counter the Spurs.
Lakers will not be terrible next year, but they'll have a tought time even being tops in thieir division - both the Kings and the Suns are going to be good next year. Nash is better than Chucky Atkins, Amare is younger and quicker than Vlade. Brad Miller is younger and quicker than Vlade, and Bibby is better than Chucky Atkins. Really, what the Lakers have that no other team has is Kobe, but I think he'll put up monster numbers (30-7-7 average sounds about right) but it will be indicative of him trying to do it all, which is exactly what he wanted, but he'll wind up like Allen Iverson - all stats and nothing to show for it.
Mavs will not recover from the loss of Nash. Pavel will turn out to be a bust ala Wang Zhi Zhi -remember him? Dampier will not fit into the Mavs system as well as Nelly hoped.
Spurs and Timberwolves in the West finals next year. Spurs and either the Pistons or the Heat in the Finals. Spurs win it all.
I think LA will be better than most people think, but they're definitely not contenders yet. Wolves and Spurs are both clearly ahead, but I don't even believe the Kings are that far ahead of LA at this point. If LA gets a legit PG before the start of the season than I'd even say they were equal to the Kings.
I don't honestly think they're anything to be scared about though. They'll give SA and Minny trouble for sure, but they're not ready to take back the le yet.
Getting a legit poing guard is a big concern, but that can wait. This is a rebuilding season, so we'll see what happens.
And since we're on the subject of Kobe, I'd like to point out that I don't think he'll put up big scoring numbers. I actually see his scoring output DECREASING with Shaq gone, but Kobe's other numbers could increase. I see Kobe as being more of a better all around player statistically, sort of like Magic Johnson. Averaging around 25-7-7, or something similar. I don't see Kobe winning any scoring les.
Chucky Atkins is going to surprise you. He is a much better player than most media know-nothings realize.
If the original deal with Boston including Marcus Banks had held up, the Lakers would have had an off-season for the ages.
As it went down, I can only grade it a B-. If we got Marcus Banks (NBA steals leader per minute last season as a rookie) to shore up our PG defense, it would have been one big man signing next summer and it is OVER for the rest of the league. Remember, we have Kobe (sans criminal charges) and he will be training, pumped and ready to kick ass and take names after having to defer to an out of shape and injury prone big man the last few years.
:kiss
It already is an offseason for the ages.If the original deal with Boston including Marcus Banks had held up, the Lakers would have had an off-season for the ages.
You traded Shaq, dumbasses.
Who the **** does that?
Anyone with half a brain trades a declining Shaq who demands $40M per until age 38, doesn't work out in the offseason, and doesn't rebound or play defense until the postseason, where he can only do those things with 2+ days of rest between games.It already is an offseason for the ages.
You traded Shaq, dumbasses.
Who the **** does that?
Not trading Shaq would have been stupider. But hey, I'm sure you'll find a way to say keeping a declining 33 year old Shaq at $40M per year would have been a smarter move. Especially when Shaq's toe disintegrates before his 35th birthday.
Damn, i'll take that Spurs/Mavs bet if everyone else on here is scared. You still game Mouse?
Shaq was unstoppable after the first round. Kobe wasn't. Here endeth the lesson.You call his bluff on the extension -- you're a bigger idiot than I thought if you think anyone is going to pay that to Shaq. You keep him for one more year at any rate.Not trading Shaq would have been stupider. But hey, I'm sure you'll find a way to say keeping a declining 33 year old Shaq at $40M per year would have been a smarter move.
But please, tell me how Divac is so much better than Shaq and how this would've been the best offseason in the history of sport if only the ChuckyBanks point tandem had become a reality.
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