<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>DALLAS — Good news all around from the land of the limping and losing Lakers, even though none of the news really qualifies as great news for them. Pau Gasol was off crutches and standing on his own, reporting he was feeling “much better” and even wandering onto the practice court to take some short, flat-footed shots. Not that it changes the fact that he’ll probably miss two weeks, but it’s a good indication for him just that the swelling was down enough for him to wear an untied shoe on his left foot. Trevor Ariza finally got out of his walking boot today after a CAT scan showed sufficient healing in his broken foot. He was cleared to begin running on the elliptical machine, but Phil Jackson said Ariza still won’t be back in action in the regular season Andrew Bynum has had no adverse reactions to the light treadmill work he began last week, which is important because there was some concern that he would have pain or swelling that might set him back. There remains some hope Bynum will get back in early April.</div> http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2008/03/...za-bynum-gasol/
We have to be the most cursed team in the NBA. Injuries killed our season last year and they're severely hurting us again this year.
That's true, but the thing is is that I don't want to lose too much ground in the playoff race. Remember, this isn't the East. Losing 3 or 4 straight can take you from #1 to #6 in a heartbeat.
I just don't see Kobe letting that happen. He realizes that a championship is in reach; I can see him willing his team out of a rut.
I don't foresee Kobe letting them lose, but no matter how great he is, we need some contributions elsewhere. Odom HAS to step up right now and help Kobe out, otherwise this could be a long couple weeks while we wait on Pau or Bynum to return.
i am worried that we might not even make the playoffs. :-( and when we get in, the teams that go far usually are on the roll... and we are limping in
Well, Gasol and Bynum should each be returning around the same time. That gives us roughly what, 2ish weeks with a healthy roster in tact? I'd think that'd be enough time to make up ground, get a better seed and get some chemistry going as well. One thing though, no matter what seed you get out West this year, your road to the Finals is going to be brutal. The only difference between a 1 seed and a 6 seed this year will be the homecourt advantage. No matter what seed you are, it's going to be a brutal route to the Finals, with some long series likely in store for you.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DooBee @ Mar 17 2008, 10:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>i am worried that we might not even make the playoffs. :-( and when we get in, the teams that go far usually are on the roll... and we are limping in</div> We'll make the Playoffs. Come on. The Lakers have KOBE "MOFuKen Black Mamba" Bryant. No damn way we miss it. I'm actually not too worried if we dont take 1st seed. Facing Denver or Golden State is pretty damn dangerous at this point.
It's like I said, regardless of what seed you get out West, the trip to the Finals is going to be difficult. That's just the nature of the beast this year. There will be no pushovers in the playoffs like there have been in years past because there's probably going to be eight 50 win teams.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DooBee @ Mar 17 2008, 10:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>i am worried that we might not even make the playoffs. :-( and when we get in, the teams that go far usually are on the roll... and we are limping in</div> Not exactly true, teams just get hot at the right moment. Like the Miami Heat.
Damn, sounds like we can only trust Gasol to be back within reasonable time. This sounds like Marvin Harrison all over again.
The Colts would've lost to the Chargers either way I've been saying all along that the injury is more serious than it appeared to be and that Bynum was behind schedule.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Mamba @ Mar 18 2008, 11:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The Colts would've lost to the Chargers either way I've been saying all along that the injury is more serious than it appeared to be and that Bynum was behind schedule.</div> It's not just about losing, but if Andrew's not ready or doesn't know his role he could hurt his team like Harrison did. That's the reason for the comparison.
Drew didn't really have a role in the first place, though. He garnished most of his points off of offensive put backs and dunks. He really didn't have set plays, so I think he'll be able to slide back in with no problem at all. I'd like for us to run him as the second option in the playoffs, though. If he is capable of handling it health wise, giving him more touches than Gasol is easily a no brainer.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Mamba @ Mar 18 2008, 11:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Drew didn't really have a role in the first place, though. He garnished most of his points off of offensive put backs and dunks. He really didn't have set plays, so I think he'll be able to slide back in with no problem at all. I'd like for us to run him as the second option in the playoffs, though. If he is capable of handling it health wise, giving him more touches than Gasol is easily a no brainer.</div> The problem lies in whether or not he can even come back for the first round. How "convenient" that he's out until precisely the April 18-19 weekend. Sounds like we might even be rushing him back, which is what happened to MH. Not that I care about MH though, just to clarify. It seems like a similar scenario.
