I know its still early in the season... but lets put this up for discussion: Have the Lakers finally turned the corner on the way to being a contender in the Western Conference? Currently the Lakers share the honours for the best 10 game record with the Spurs and Pistons, two of the NBA's premier teams. The Lakers finally seem to be getting the triangle (if only in stretches) and they certainly seem to play hard every night. In fact, with a little luck and some better decision-making the Lakers could have had a much better record having lost a lot of games in the penultimate quarter. My opinion: I don't want to be pessimistic. But the Lakers are still an injury or a bad stretch of games by Kobe away from not making the playoffs. If either Kobe, Odom, or even Smush get hurt the Lakers would be in big trouble as it is. With their current lineup they can press most teams, as the have shown so far... but I still get the feeling that the Lakers surprised some teams in their recent stretch of wins.
I think "contender" is a little premature. But they have a pretty good shot of making the playoffs, which is better than I would have put them at the beginning of the year. I think they'll end up with the 6th, 7th, or 8th seed.
No. The lakers still have Mihm, Kwame/Cook, and Smush as starters. Lamar Odom is still an inconsistent player. Next question.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">No. The lakers still have Mihm, Kwame/Cook, and Smush as starters. Lamar Odom is still an inconsistent player. Next question.</div> As for the Lakers turning the corner? I wouldn't say they have, well at least just not yet. The day they turn the corner will be the day when they become a perennial playoff team. The state they are in as of now they could very well back the Playoffs but next season they wouldn't be a lock because as of now and probably the next two seasons they will be battling for the 6-8 seed in the Playoffs. That of course is only if they continue to go at the pace they are at right now which is surround Bryant with mediocrity. However, they are heading in the right direction. They have become a much better team, Kobe is no longer taking 35+ shots and he is gaining more and more trust in his teammates and at the same time his teammates are finally starting to understand the triangle. This pace they are going at right now will not last forever but they will definitely be in contention for the final Playoff spot against Denver.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I think they could grab the 6th or 7th. I'm still not sold on the Clippers.</div> I agree. The Clips are too good to be true. Same with the Warriors.
