How would you guys fix this team? We're simply playing uninspired basketball. It's disgusting. 1) Bench Bynum I would go with last years' starting lineup that got us to the Finals. Fisher, Kobe, Vlad Rad (or Luke), Odom, and Gasol. We know we can produce with this lineup. The past week or so, Bynum has look completely uninterested. It seems as if he is fed up with not being a focal point of the offense. To start the season, he was keying in on defense and performing well. That is what we wanted from him, but he has complained about his playing time and complained a lot about no calls this year. I think we can make him the focal point on the second unit, while improving our starting lineup. We've seen what Odom can give us when he started for Gasol this year (17 and 12). 2) Let the Bench Do Their Thing Don't restrict Farmar and Ariza to the triangle. Let Farmar run a fast-paced offense. We've seen how good he can be when he can get out and run. It might be hard with Bynum out there, but if we were to slow it down we could pound the rock to Bynum on the block and let him work. If he is doubled he can kick it out to Farmar or Sasha or hit a slashing Ariza. Our defense will suffer in the fast-paced offense, but our defense blows to begin with. It can't get much worse. 3) Actually Coach Phil needs to improve as a coach this year. His job is to get the players motivated and he hasn't done that minus the first 8 or so games of the season. If a player is slacking off, pull him. If he is pouting, bench him. If he is hot, leave him in the game. Light a fire under their ass, Phil. It shouldn't be so fucking difficult. Also, work on defense in practice. It's fucking pathetic that we can't defend a simple pick and roll. Come on Phil, earn that $10 million/year. 4) Hound Kobe to Play Smarter We've seen what Kobe can do in the mid-range and on the block. He is quicker and stronger than a lot of people that defend him, so put him on the block and let him work his man down there. If that isn't working, he's got a beautiful mid range jumper that he can use. Enough with these pull up 3's or long J's. They aren't helping us out at all. Usually they break any flow that we had on offense. Come on Kobe, you're a veteran you should be playing smarter than that. I don't think it is anything major that needs to be fixed, I just think we need some motivation. Hopefully the loss to the Heat will motivate us. We can't afford to lose many more games that we should be winning if we want home court throughout.
So youve went from "Bynum must close out games starting NOW" to "Put him in the 2nd unit" within a week...just want to make sure you realize that
I agree with you on this but not the tactics that you think should be used. The paint is already too crowded with Bynum and Pau (unless you bench Bynum like you want) for Kobe to do as much slashing to the hole. I have more of a problem of WHEN he shoots those long shots. 18 seconds left on the clock and you are jacking up J's with no ball movement and possibly nobody underneath to go for the rebound?!? Fuck that. That said the Lakers dont have problems scoring so the thing im much more concerned about is his defense... He is gambling for steals WAY too much!! He leaves our bigs sitting there with their dicks out in the breeze. If he didnt gamble so much our bigs would be in much better position to help without getting the foul
I agree with all of Mamba's points. Bringing Bynum off the bench is interesting. First of all, Lamar's play has been underwhelming (actually horrible) this entire season. My guess is, he just doesn't fit coming off the bench. He doesn't have chemistry with the second unit for whatever reason, even though it is the most opportune role for him since it means he gets more touches. Why it hasn't worked out is beyond my comprehension, but this is Lamar Odom we're talking about, he doesn't make sense. His best game this season was against the Knicks, which is ironic, since it's the only game he started. Bynum has been up and down for most of the season. He tends to slack off if he isn't getting his touches. Bringing him off the bench wouldn't be a bad idea. He has always had great chemistry with Farmar, and not playing with Kobe/Gasol means more touches for him offensively. Not to mention: Farmar, Sasha, Ariza, Powell (?), Bynum is a dominant second unit. On Mamba's second point, I've never understood why Phil started to implement the triangle offense to the second unit. Like Mamba said, let them do their thing. They were most effective when he allowed them to just play their game instead of restricting them to the triangle offense. Is it a coincidence that the bench has dropped off recently? Phil Jackson's coaching has also drawn my ire. I'm not going to go into it because I've already commented on it numerous times. I like Phil the coach for this team, and I wouldn't have anyone else in his position. I just want him to make some adjustments, that's all. As for Kobe, he just needs to play better plain and simple. He seems disinterested, unmotivated, and no offense, but his play has been pretty horrible. Besides a game or two, I have not been impressed with Kobe at all this season. I believe, actually I know that he will turn it on later on down the stretch (Kobe usually doesn't start beasting until after the allstar break), but still, play smarter basketball and lead by example. His lethargic defensive play this season has rubbed off on other, and I'm disappointed because as a leader, he should be stepping up defensively to set an example for the rest of the team. My theory for Kobe's play is that he is just uninterested. He just played basketball in the biggest stage of the entire world, the Olympics, and won a gold medal only about a month or so before the season started. The regular season, to him, probably means even less than it did before after what he experienced in the summer. Not to mention, he already has won three NBA championships... But the bottom line, long story short, this team just has to wake up and start playing like they give a damn, long story short. There's way too much talent on this team to be playing as shitty as we have this past entire month. Wake up, and start earning your paycheck.
I'm starting to advocate bringing Bynum off the bench as well, but even then, I'd much rather see Bynum on the court than Lamar to close out games. Lamar just doesn't cut it in crucial situations, plain and simple.
You mean improve? The team's play currently is obviously not cutting it. If there are things to improve this team, you do it.
Exactly! On a side note... everyone is saying that one thing Kobe has over LeBron is his jumper... But if you watch the Cle games... LeBron jumper has improved by a noticeable extent. He can know pull up or fade away against a tight D with the ball swishing the net... D*mn.
Very good point. I honestly think Wade will replace Kobe this year on the NBA All - Defensive team as the 2-guard.
Kobe is struggling with his 3-point shot this season, it's not just about him playing poorly or jacking up shots when he's taking less 3-pointers per 36 minutes. I've mentioned this before but I think the pinkie might have caught up to him there; not sure.
