Perhaps a premature thread, I have seen a couple of Laker fans seeing they kind of hoped the Lakers lose the series so Mitch could improve where we are weak. Having been blown out by the Thunder (8th seed, tying the series 2-2) the Lakers have a lot to worry about. But, where ARE the Lakers weak, what needs to be done, and who is to blame? 1. Point Guard problems I have been saying this since last season, and I repeat it again. Derek Fisher sucks on the basketball court. It seems every PG in the league has career nights against us. I rather have a PG who gives the opposing guard a hell of a time than one who makes a three pointer here and there. It would serve us if Mitch doesn't resign Fish and instead tells him to pack his bags, or even give him an assistant coach position, and sign a PG that can produce. MLE or a trade would work fine. A PG that I see us signing with the MLE is Luke Ridnour. Definitely a step above DFish, can hit the three, and is actually productive with the ball. Trades could include expiring contracts such as Sasha's to obtain a player like Kirk Hinrich, or even Ray Felton. This NEEDS to be the main issue addressed this offseason. 2. KOBE, KOBE, KOBE As much as I hate to admit it, our superstar is a main reason to our un-success. And now the guy wants to play in the World Championships with all that mileage on him, and all those injuries?? The front office needs to tell him 'no, you are not allowed to play' and ask him to get that surgery. If not, I wouldn't mind trading him if his failures continue. 38 FG% isn't going to cut it. Laker fan first, Kobe fan second. 3. Feed the ball to Bynum, and realize he's the future Why aren't we giving the ball downlow? PJax always TALKS about it, but nothing seems to be getting done. There is NO ONE on the OKC Thunder that can cover Bynum, yet he is RARELY getting the ball down-low. We keep feeding the ball to Pau, whose numbers look good, but he hasn't been as effective as Bynum. This leads me to my fourth point. 4. Pau, TOUGHEN UP This guy had everything figured out last year. No one was calling him soft again. He was playing the best basketball of his career. Kobe owed his last ring to Pau Gasol. Yet, this year, he's been playing softer than EVER. Perhaps a reason for this is that Bynum gets in his way?? If that's the case, sorry Pau, Bynum is integral in our success. See your way to the door. 5. Realize that EVERYONE is replaceable This team is designed to win championships, yet we don't look like a championship team. Hell, we look like prima donnas out there. The only ones that seem to want it are Andrew Bynum and Ron Artest (despite his shooting woes, Artest is the one playing the hardest on the Lakers, even if he isn't playing well). Everyone is tradeable, even Kobe Bryant, who looks more human than ever. 6. DEPTH Remember the Bench Mob? Where did they go? The Lakers would do good to get some young guys who aren't playing much on other teams and trying them out. Sasha Vujacic has been terrible since the 2008 Finals, Farmar doesn't want to play defense, and Shannon Brown is just looking for highlights. Josh Powell is nowhere NEAR what Ronny Turiaf brought to the team, and DJ Mbenga?? Well, he's out when his contract's up. Honestly, I would love to see Adam Morrison get some more minutes. 7. Box Out At center, we have the 7'2" Andrew Bynum, at power forward, the 7'0" Pau Gasol, at small forward the 6'10" Lamar Odom, yet 6'1" opposing guards are getting rebounds? When I was playing basketball for the first time in the second grade, the first thing I learned was 'box out when the shot goes up, then go get the ball.' This elementary fundamental of the game is lost in our big men. They stare at the ball and hope it comes to them. Unacceptable that we aren't the #1 team in the league with the size and athleticism we have. 8. No Heart, No Game What happened to that team that would fist pump, pound their chest, jump in the air, and dive to every lose ball?? I haven't seen it all year. With Trevor Ariza, did our entire heart leave as well?? This team has a lot of work to do in the offseason, regardless if we win or not. Front office needs to re-evaluate every member of their clientele and decide who REALLY wants to win NOW. Because, frankly, Laker fans are growing restless, games are losing their flair, teams are catching up, and we don't seem to care. Do I want our team to lose in order to learn a lesson? Yes and no. A champion needs to know what it's like to fail, and I thought that the 2008 Finals would fulfill that requirement, but apparently not. Other teams want it more than us right now, like the Cavs, Magic, and even the Thunder. Sure, we play every game to win and as a Laker fan, I want to see my boys hoist up the trophy every year, but an upset and a loss may just be the wake up call the Dr. Buss and Mr. Kupchak need to change these "champions" into CHAMPIONS.
Good post. In the offseason we need the following: 1. legit STARTING point guard 2. backup point guard 3. backup small forward 4. health (Kobe, Ron, Shannon) 5. some shooters Mitch has work to do.
Our size is an asset, and we are one of the top defensive teams in the league. Pau Gasol is the second best player on this team, and is key to our success, however, when it comes to winning, I think we need to look at what we can get for him. I personally like the two following trades: Pau Gasol Sasha Vujacic 1st rd. pick To NOH Chris Paul James Posey To LAL OR Ron Artest Pau Gasol Sasha TO CHI Luol Deng Kirk Hinrich Joakim Noah 2 1st Rd. Picks to LAL More pipe dream-y, but crazier things have happened. This way, no one gets in Bynum's way, we have that "heart" guy that we need in Noah, solid player in Deng, and starting PG in Hinrich. Also, picks are nice for the future. Chicago's Starting 5 PG Derrick Rose SG Ray Allen SF Ron Artest PF Taj Gibson C Pau Gasol (Ray Allen at SG due to cap space available. I think Allen is probably leaving Boston, and is well suited in Chicago. They need a shooter, badly). EXTREMELY solid team Lakers Starting 5 PG Kirk Hinrich SG Kobe Bryant SF Luol Deng PF Joakim Noah C Andrew Bynum 6th Man Lamar Odom On paper, looks like we got worse, but if you think about it, Bynum is more productive, you have a guy you can count on to block shots and rebound in Noah, Luol Deng is a solid starting SF who's more offensive minded (what this team needs), Kobe is Kobe, and Hinrich>Fisher. In order for our team to continue to be successful, Kobe needs to forego World Championships and REST. Unfortunately, Mr. Stubborn won't, and he may never be at top form again.
They aren't going to trade Pau. I love Bynum as much as the next guy, but his health is a concern. Pau is money, just needs to toughen up. Don't trade him. We don't need an all-star PG. We need a capable one. Steve Blake is going to be available...get him.
And why not the Chicago trade? That would give us the 17th pick in the draft this year, and a pick next year. We could probably pick up Eric Bledsoe, who is a project player, but is a PG, or we could look for an Ebanks or Hayward.
Because the Lakers aren't going to trade Pau Gasol. It is that simple. Go play NBA Live and make those trades, and then please, come back to reality.
Pau is not the reason we are struggling and those crazy trades won't work. Nor should one rely on trades, generally the off-season is much more straightforward.
And this team won't be picking Bynum over Pau either. Gasol got us through a title run and this year too, Bynum is just potential right now.
No. Bynum is more than potential, that is obvious by now. Bynum is just a health scare right now. Gasol and Bynum have more of a future impact on this team than Kobe, now. Kobe's time as a superstar is setting. He has conditioned his body so well in his career, now is when it is supposed to start paying off. It won't pay off if he doesn't rest when he does get injured.
Exactly. It is so important that he gets any necessary surgery this offseason and skip Worlds, yet he refuses to. Pau is skipping Worlds, and so is LeBron for that exact reason; your team comes first. Why can't Kobe follow suit? His shot is WAY off because of his finger (usually shoots over 50%, not the 38% garbage he's throwing up), getting beat on defense, and he's falling over a lot when he penetrates because his ankle gives out. PLEASE Mitch, Phil, and Jerry, grow some balls and tell the guy he's not allowed to play at World's, and to get that surgery.
But on to the point of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Don't you think we need to pick one over the other so the one can be more effective?? That is why I would LOVE to have Joakim Noah on this team. Bynum or Pau could be the offense, and Noah is the defensive guy who does the little things and the intangibles that, frankly, no one on our team is doing right now.
I've got a feeling Kobe isn't going to play in the Worlds. He can't be happy with how he is playing on the court right now.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-simers-20100425,0,3945859,full.column Kupchak asks Kobe to rest up this summer. About time.
Blake would be a solid pickup for you guys, he can setup an offense and hit the 3pt shot. He is not good in transition but that's not where the Lakers beat teams. He's a decent defender, there were times we'd actually have him guard Kobe for stretches and he'd do as good as anyone else on our team. Smaller quick PG's do give him problems so you might want to think about also getting a PG/backup PG who can defend those types. He already came back to us once after we traded him away so maybe you won't be able to get him
I doubt Mitch would pull off a trade as dramatic as trading Pau. I think at most, the most important player he's willing to trade is Odom. I don't think Kobe, Pau and Drew are going anywhere.
