I understand that with this loss, many may be feeling down and many may be wondering what direction this team is going in. I mean, how could we have started the season off with such a high note, and then have it blow right back into our faces? Sure, it would be great if we continued to play at a high level, but with the return of Kobe Bryant, it changes a lot of things and alters the chemistry. Ultimately, the Lakers are most definetly a better team with Kobe, but they just have to slowly move him back into things. Remember, the last time Kobe played with this team was in game 7 of the NBA Playoffs against the Suns. That means that he hasn't been a part of the Laker's training camp, preseason, and etc. The squad is used to playing without Kobe, so having him back changes things drastically considering he is a high level superstar. The key is to be patient. We must let the team gel before we can see how far this team can really go
If we keep playing like we have in the last three games (second half of the Minnesota game was pure chaos, we only won because they suck even more), I'm saying lottery, because as of right now, there are a lot of teams that are hungrier than the Lakers.
i really hope so... because if this is what were gonna look like for the whole year... id stop looking forward to watching their games
It's not the time to panic, but it is the time to make a change we've all been waiting for, moving Smush to the bench. He was miserable again last night for the Lakers. He missed 4 straight baskets early on, three of them were wide open 3 point shots, and he was getting beat off the dribble by Flip Murray or Billups. Smush ruins the flow of the offense and has become a liability on both ends. The Pistons were basically daring him to shoot the ball from behind the arc and didn't pay much attention to him. The main gripe with Smush is his defense is a product of his offense. When he can't get the ball through the hoop he doesn't put any effort into defense. PJax needs to anchor to the bench for a week and give Smush a reality check on where he's at with the team and his career in the NBA. Last night the Lakers got back into the game when Farmar came off the bench. He was in an 0-11 shooting slump, but last night he produced 9 points on 4/8 shooting and 5 assists in just 21 minutes. When Farmar's on the court the Lakers offense runs a lot smoother because the players know Farmar will find the open man. Farmar has a better understanding of basketball and knows how to manage a team. He's also more aggressive on defense than Smush has been. He's going to struggle defending in the post, but Bynum just needs to be ready to slide over send those shots into the front row. I know Kobe had a weird game for us last night. He wasn't shooting the basketball, but did anyone notice him get hot towards the end of the game? He got the look in his eyes and was making some insane shots. The baseline spin move, fadeaway jumpshot over Prince was vintage Kobe. I give him one more week and then he'll be at full strength again. His timing is off on his jumping, but in another week he should have his legs back and I'm predicting he starts going off for 27 to 30 a night shooting a high percentage.
listen. no one is playing great bball right now. 1 week into the season says nothing about who will ball when it counts.
<div class="quote_poster">Swish15 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The answer is simple. Trade Kobe to the Magic for Pat Garrity and Grant Hill.</div> Hmm...that's seems about even. BTW i posed this same question in a different thread, what's everyone think about Kobe initiating the offense like he did in the Phenoix series? Sure, he'll lose shot attempts, but he'll be getting a higher APG. It worked against Pheonix..
<div class="quote_poster">authentiq Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Hmm...that's seems about even. BTW i posed this same question in a different thread, what's everyone think about Kobe initiating the offense like he did in the Phenoix series? Sure, he'll lose shot attempts, but he'll be getting a higher APG. It worked against Pheonix..</div> I want Farmar and Odom initiating the offense and Kobe getting his points by moving without the basketball. It's just too, much to ask of Kobe to run the offense and then guard the opposing teams best player.
Who is pancing? We're only 4-3 and we're not even a top tier team. Winning streaks are bound to end just as losing streaks are. 7 games into the season isn't time to panic especially when we have won 4 of those. When we start losing moe than we win, that is the time to panic. Kobe also is just starting to warm up into the season.
I agree with shape. Smush deserves a spot on the bench! Get farmar in the starting lineup. Im tired of seeing smush mishandle the ball and throw bad passes or air 3 pointers.
Another thing to note is that we're missing two of our better big men in Kwame and Mihm. Bynum looked mad sluggish in last nights game. He barely put his hand all the way up to contest a shot.
