<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">t was time for the Lakers' annual reality check. General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Coach Phil Jackson spoke to about 900 season-ticket holders Monday night at the team's annual "town-hall meeting" and fielded questions on topics that included Andrew Bynum and Kevin Garnett, a definite nod to the future instead of the present. Audience members were slightly less enthused than a year ago, perhaps because the product they're paying to watch is on a 3-8 slide, far from the 11-3 run they were witnessing at the time of last season's meeting. Questions were e-mailed ahead of time by season-ticket holders, pre-screened by Lakers officials and answered by Jackson and Kupchak for about 75 minutes at Staples Center. The second question of the night drew enthusiastic applause from the audience: Is Garnett in the Lakers' future? Neither Kupchak nor Jackson answered it directly, citing league tampering rules, although Kupchak did eventually say that, generally speaking, "You've got to trust myself and Dr. [Jerry] Buss that we'll do everything to get a top player." Garnett is not a free agent, but he can opt out of his contract after next season. Season-ticket holders also were concerned about the progress of Bynum, who started the season with better-than-expected statistics but has tailed off significantly since January. "We want to see Andrew age," Jackson said. Kupchak said teams inquired about Bynum more than any other member of the Lakers in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline in February. "We're very high on him and we'd like to see him grow old in L.A.," Kupchak said. Of free-agent-to-be Luke Walton, Kupchak said, "He's in our plans and we have the resources." Jackson also acknowledged the team's languid defense, saying he would turn more often to Ronny Turiaf, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic in the playoffs, if necessary.</div> Source: LATimes
Wow you guys have town hall meetings for the lakers????...lol....I think that's actually pretty cool, but I've never heard of something like this...
Just like a few years ago, the main problem with the Lakers isn't personnel -- it's health. Add a veteran or two, and fix up the defense, but the main pieces are pretty much there to be a very good team. I think Laker fans really underestimate the talent they have on their roster when everyone is available.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Neither Kupchak nor Jackson answered it directly, citing league tampering rules, although Kupchak did eventually say that, generally speaking, "You've got to trust myself and Dr. [Jerry] Buss that we'll do everything to get a top player."</div> ^ that's laughable
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I think Laker fans really underestimate the talent they have on their roster when everyone is available</div> ^^^I agree....I thought they were going to make a serious run for the west early in the season when they were healthy and everyone was clicking.
why would raptors give up ford?, and hasnt JO just said he would like to retire as a pacer? jeez anyway if kg does go into on the market then i dont see what we could offer the wolves that would be better than other teams offers. i think we can get a top player if mitch and buss put alot of good, hard work into it, but i dont think we can aquire a player of KGs caliber. i think we should try to sign mo williams in the offseason, rid ourselves of smush, aquire a defensive power foward that can make a big difference in rebounding and shot blocking, and trade odom for a scoring center that can give us quality points, rebounds and defense. considering these needs, which players would you guys find to be the most suitable and the most realistic (in terms of us being able to aquire them).
<div class="quote_poster">AKIRA Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">why would raptors give up ford?, and hasnt JO just said he would like to retire as a pacer? jeez anyway if kg does go into on the market then i dont see what we could offer the wolves that would be better than other teams offers. i think we can get a top player if mitch and buss put alot of good, hard work into it, but i dont think we can aquire a player of KGs caliber. i think we should try to sign mo williams in the offseason, rid ourselves of smush, aquire a defensive power foward that can make a big difference in rebounding and shot blocking, and trade odom for a scoring center that can give us quality points, rebounds and defense. considering these needs, which players would you guys find to be the most suitable and the most realistic (in terms of us being able to aquire them).</div> The defensive player = Gerald Wallace
More from the Townhall Meeting (courtesy of Emplay): <ul> [*]PJ on poor team defense [*]Keys to stopping the Suns [*]KG [*]Radman's snowboarding incident [*]PJ on trading Bynum for an experienced PG [*]Luke's future on the team [*]Three draft picks [*]Sasha's role: slow down Steve Nash [*]Iverson at the trade deadline [*]Kobe's defense [*]Kobe Bryant "Witch Hunt" [/list] http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_21664.shtml
Went ahead and read the article. A lot of interesting stuff in there, and the thing that caught my eye was the draft. I'm just wondering if they have a player in mind that they'd like to utilize the picks to trade for. And I must put this quote in here for sheer hilarity purposes, cause it's classic Phil. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> "A defensive stance is a little bit like a bear taking a crap in the woods."</div>
