I'm just wondering - does anybody know what the hell the plans are for the Lakers? I mean they have a solid team, no doubt, but unless they pull the trigger and maybe take a gamble, they are NOT going to win anything for a long time. I know Phil wants to win a title, and I'm damn sure that's Kobe's goal as well. But look at the players around Kobe. It's mediocre. This team is not going to do anything in the West. I say 6th seed tops, but even if they get 6th seed it's probably another 1st round exit to either Phoenix or San Antonio. The core is very mediocre, and outside of Kobe and Odom, the rest of the team is average for their position. Sure, Bynum has potential, but we won't really get to see him show his stuff for another 2 years. Kwame has potential too, but who knows? Mihm is solid, but nothing spectacular. The PG situation is not good - Smush is alright but he's not your stereotypical PG, Williams hasn't played in the NBA for a couple years, and Farmar is just a rookie. Radmanovic can shoot, but he's one-dimensional. Luke Walton is a good high-energy guy off the bench, but he's nothing special either. Evans is alright I guess.. Sasha is D-League material (the only reason he's playing is because of lack of guard depth on this team). I mean this team needs to go out and take a gamble, and bring in another guy. This team is going to be solid for a while, but they aren't winning ANYTHING with this lineup. What are the plans for the near-future?
i think odom has been a flop they should look at trade him for a guy like jason richardson or something!
No Odom will not leave.^^To me Odom is underrated. He is a good all-around player. He has good passing for his size,could crash the board,can handle well,has a good jumper, can hit the three. Phil is trying use his him as Pippen in the triangle.Smush is decent knida a 2 gaurd though. Like maybe and Iverson type player. Hes fast can steal the ball extremely well. Can hit the 3,vertical leap is excellent,Kwame still has haters in Washington so who could blame him,Kwame is your avereage PF. Mihm is a sissy when it comes to the paint trying to score just not agressive enough. maybe a decent veteran that can play center that will be a decent backup for Mihm while Bynum is developing . BUt myabe getting a littlw more decent center maybe like Magloire would help
The reason they dont want to trade lamar is because they want to see what him and Kobe are capable of producing together. This was only their second year together yet they almost had a 50 win season and were a game away from advancing to the semis (the only reason they didnt was lack of expirience past kobe and lamar).
PiN0Y - In order to be competitive for a championship, a guy like Jamaal Magloire is not going to save them. That's my point. Kobe is obviously staying, but everyone thinks/wants Odom to stay. But if you don't trade Odom, the Lakers have no decent trading assets, except MAYBE Bynum, and that's only if other GM's are actually sold on this kid. He's lightyears away. Unless they take a gamble and package Odom with a future pick and another player or 2, this team is going nowhere. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jlongstreth @ Sep 3 2006, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The reason they dont want to trade lamar is because they want to see what him and Kobe are capable of producing together. This was only their second year together yet they almost had a 50 win season and were a game away from advancing to the semis (the only reason they didnt was lack of expirience past kobe and lamar).</div> Lamar Odom is a terrific all-around player, no question. But he is not good enough. Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom aren't doing anything without a better supporting cast. I mean come on, other than Kobe/Lamar they have Radmanovic (one-dimensional), Brown (arguably the biggest bust off all-time unless he improves now), Mihm (average center), Parker (not a real PG, overrated), Evans (ehh), Farmar (has a nice future but he's still just a rookie), Williams (hasn't played in the NBA for a couple years), Bynum (lightyears away), Walton (solid and brings energy but he'll never be more than a solid role player), Cook (take away his 3-pt shot he's a D-Leaguer), and Turiaf (prior heart problems.. but i do like him). Face it, this team's supporting cast sucks. I wish it were different, but it is what it is.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Sep 3 2006, 06:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Sasha is D-League material (the only reason he's playing is because of lack of guard depth on this team).</div>I RESENT THAT COMMENT SIR !!! :ranting:
You know, I was blindfolded for some time, believing that the Lakers roster was not mediocre. After a while, after Kupchak announced that he would not be making any more deals in the offseason, I found out that the roster is mediocre. Luke Walton is a good bench player. Sasha is not very useful and is not unique at all. He can hit an open shot but off the bench they need some guys who are all-around and experianced. they should have nabbed Bobby Jackson, I don't know why they couldn't pull the trigger. Vladmir will provide some size in the perimeter and will hit open shots and bring opposing big men to the outside, leaving the paint open for smush to pass to Kobe. I think we'll see that happen often this season. Kwame better play much better. Chris Mihm, he needs to get replaced. He is not aggressive. As for Lamar, i will continue to believe that his game will produce more from experiance, and like we all said, judging from his late season and post season performances, he should be more aggressive.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wolverine30 @ Sep 3 2006, 11:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>i think odom has been a flop they should look at trade him for a guy like jason richardson or something!</div>Dont be retarded...Odom is not a flop.He was taking time to learn the triangle offense last season and after the all-star break he was averaging a double double and there were alot of nights where he was maybe 1 or 2 assists from a triple-double.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Sep 3 2006, 10:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm just wondering - does anybody know what the hell the plans are for the Lakers? I mean they have a solid team, no doubt, but unless they pull the trigger and maybe take a gamble, they are NOT going to win anything for a long time. I know Phil wants to win a title, and I'm damn sure that's Kobe's goal as well. But look at the players around Kobe. It's mediocre. This team is not going to do anything in the West. I say 6th seed tops, but even if they get 6th seed it's probably another 1st round exit to either Phoenix or San Antonio.The core is very mediocre, and outside of Kobe and Odom, the rest of the team is average for their position. Sure, Bynum has potential, but we won't really get to see him show his stuff for another 2 years. Kwame has potential too, but who knows? Mihm is solid, but nothing spectacular. The PG situation is not good - Smush is alright but he's not your stereotypical PG, Williams hasn't played in the NBA for a couple years, and Farmar is just a rookie. Radmanovic can shoot, but he's one-dimensional. Luke Walton is a good high-energy guy off the bench, but he's nothing special either. Evans is alright I guess.. Sasha is D-League material (the only reason he's playing is because of lack of guard depth on this team).I mean this team needs to go out and take a gamble, and bring in another guy. This team is going to be solid for a while, but they aren't winning ANYTHING with this lineup. What are the plans for the near-future?</div>We are going to be just fine...Last season we won about 45 games with this "mediocre" team. Now,we have added more pieces to the team such as Vlad Rad,Maurice Evans,Jordan Farmar etc. So we just got better.With andrew Bynum developing,Kwame Brown improving alot since his Wizards days and working on his jumpshot over the offseason and Ronny Turiaf and Smush Parker training everyday over the summer with Kobe,this Lakers team will be revamped and will be one of the teams to beat next season. Not to mention our coach is Phil Jackson and we have the best player in the league Kobe Bryant...the Lakers will be alright.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (LakersFan247 @ Sep 3 2006, 07:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Dont be retarded...Odom is not a flop.He was taking time to learn the triangle offense last season and after the all-star break he was averaging a double double and there were alot of nights where he was maybe 1 or 2 assists from a triple-double. We are going to be just fine...Last season we won about 45 games with this "mediocre" team. Now,we have added more pieces to the team such as Vlad Rad,Maurice Evans,Jordan Farmar etc. So we just got better.With andrew Bynum developing,Kwame Brown improving alot since his Wizards days and working on his jumpshot over the offseason and Ronny Turiaf and Smush Parker training everyday over the summer with Kobe,this Lakers team will be revamped and will be one of the teams to beat next season. Not to mention our coach is Phil Jackson and we have the best player in the league Kobe Bryant...the Lakers will be alright.</div> The Lakers will be alright - yeah that's my point. They'll be alright, but they are not going to be a championship contending team with this roster. It just baffles me that Kupchak isn't looking to make any more deals. This team just simply will not get the job done with this roster. And yeah, the Lakers improved a little bit this summer, but are you telling me Dallas didn't? Houston? Phoenix.. plus Amare is back. Denver? San Antonio is still there. The Clippers are improving still. You are going to have to put up a good fight to be the best team in LA, let alone a championship contender. Bottom line, Kupchak needs to do his job and do whatever he can to get this team another title.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wolverine30 @ Sep 4 2006, 02:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>i think odom has been a flop they should look at trade him for a guy like jason richardson or something!</div>What are you on???? I'll only say this once so listen up DON'T SMOKE CRACK :no3: Now what exactly do you all think the lakers can do? They dont have the money to get anyone good, they cant trade odom or *gasp* Kobe and no-one would want Kwame. They tried to get the best they could with Radman. I think they are moving in the right direction. Remember Kobe and Odom are still young!!! Give Bynum his 2 years and maybe they'll have some cap room to move up the standings. I think they are doing alright! :beerchug: If you want a mediocre team doing nothing look at my beloved Sonics! They drafted ANOTHER project centre and signed NO-ONE new. Here comes the lottery again!! :brickwall:
we have 3 players in our starting lineup who have the physical gifts and talent to be stars. If their realised, we won't need any other people. Smush has the talent to be a lockdown defender.Kwame has the talent to be one of the best centers in the nbaOdom has the talent and potential to be the best player in the leagueIf smush stopped gambling and played on d like he did earlier on in the season, the shotblocking issue wouldn't be as much of a problem if we had defense at the 1. We also have turiaf who showed so much promise on defense at the world champs. His also a shotblocker, we could use him sparingly.Hopefully their talent is realised.edit: Btw, tex winter said this team can win 55 games. He's a realist and is known to be quite negative.I just wonder, what excatly do you want mitch to do?Who do we have to trade besides kobe and odom? Mihm? Cook? both coming off surgeries. To get a trade done both teams need to accept and mitch has been having problems doing so. He went after Al harrington but because our deal sucked Al is now in indy.This team will suprise everyone.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Sep 3 2006, 01:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm just wondering - does anybody know what the hell the plans are for the Lakers? I mean they have a solid team, no doubt, but unless they pull the trigger and maybe take a gamble, they are NOT going to win anything for a long time. I know Phil wants to win a title, and I'm damn sure that's Kobe's goal as well. But look at the players around Kobe. It's mediocre. This team is not going to do anything in the West. I say 6th seed tops, but even if they get 6th seed it's probably another 1st round exit to either Phoenix or San Antonio.The core is very mediocre, and outside of Kobe and Odom, the rest of the team is average for their position. Sure, Bynum has potential, but we won't really get to see him show his stuff for another 2 years. Kwame has potential too, but who knows? Mihm is solid, but nothing spectacular. The PG situation is not good - Smush is alright but he's not your stereotypical PG, Williams hasn't played in the NBA for a couple years, and Farmar is just a rookie. Radmanovic can shoot, but he's one-dimensional. Luke Walton is a good high-energy guy off the bench, but he's nothing special either. Evans is alright I guess.. Sasha is D-League material (the only reason he's playing is because of lack of guard depth on this team).I mean this team needs to go out and take a gamble, and bring in another guy. This team is going to be solid for a while, but they aren't winning ANYTHING with this lineup. What are the plans for the near-future?</div>the plan is to get better like all teams in the NBA. We miss the playoffs when shaq left and got in the following year, this is coming from a fan who's team hasn't won a championship in 20 yrs. we should be the one asking those questions...........what the hell is going on with the boston celtics, are they ever gonna win a ring ??? I luv it when other fans puts this kind of expectation to the lakers, that just shows you what kind of an organization they are. They miss the playoffs for one year and people start asking what the hell is going on with the Lakers, funny. :winkglasses:
Good topic CelticBalla, like you I don't see this team doing much in the near future. 1. They have Kobe, a superstar. Bigtime/young FA's are not hitting the market at the moment and many players don't want to play with Kobe and sacrifice their numbers. 2. They have Kobe, having Kobe keeps them in most games and this will win them enough games to stay around average keeping them out of the running for high impact rookies and high picks. 3. They don't have the players to make moves. The players the Lakers have don't attract a ton of interest around the league making impact deals a stretch.
I agree that they gotta make some big changes to be doing anything soon. Kobe and Odom are a lock, they need to change something if they want to start stepping up. But they are a future-built team, and I dont think the LAkers organization expects to be doing any big impact in maybe the next 1-2 years.They're playing safe right now and seeing where that takes them, then as this team matures then they will start to really penetrate the pussy of the NBA
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ELiiiTE @ Sep 10 2006, 08:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I agree that they gotta make some big changes to be doing anything soon. Kobe and Odom are a lock, they need to change something if they want to start stepping up. But they are a future-built team, and I dont think the LAkers organization expects to be doing any big impact in maybe the next 1-2 years.They're playing safe right now and seeing where that takes them, then as this team matures then they will start to really penetrate the pussy of the NBA </div> What can the Lakers do? They can't make big moves.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BCB @ Sep 10 2006, 09:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Good topic CelticBalla, like you I don't see this team doing much in the near future. 1. They have Kobe, a superstar. Bigtime/young FA's are not hitting the market at the moment and many players don't want to play with Kobe and sacrifice their numbers. 2. They have Kobe, having Kobe keeps them in most games and this will win them enough games to stay around average keeping them out of the running for high impact rookies and high picks. 3. They don't have the players to make moves. The players the Lakers have don't attract a ton of interest around the league making impact deals a stretch.</div>The Lakers are set to sign their two big free agents, OR, their one HUGE free agent in the 2007 offseason (or 2008 offseason, not sure)That's when the cap space really clears up.But, wait a minute.Who thought the SuperSonics would do so well in 2005?Who thought the Nuggets would win the Division Crown this year?The Lakers won 45 games last year. They could have won 50 games. With more experiance will come better play. That's just from the team last year alone. They've added savvy season veteran and defenders Shammond Williams and Maurice Evans. They added swingman Vladmir Radmonovic. They added a solid rookie point guard in Jordan Farmar. They have a good team now. The fact is they could win 50 + games this year. Kobe Bryant will continue to be the leader of this ball club, but this season I think we will all see Lamar Odom step up and give the team balance. The Bulls had depth in their runs. But their talent was Jordan and Pippen. The Lakers can add depth (with experiance and free agency signings in 2007) But the talent is already there with Kobe, and Lamar.
Me and one of my buddies have been watching alot of Laker tape from last year, and trying to wonder exactly the same thing, what are the Lakers trying to do. At first we were just as baffled as people on here are, but after watching and looking at some of the free agent signings, what the Lakers are trying to do is actually very smart and could end up paying off in the next couple of years. Phil Jackson and Kupchak are doing what they can, and actually making this a good team that could pull off some upsets and make some noise come this postseason or next.Last year in the playoffs, I think we saw a coming out party for both Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom. Lamar Odom became more agressive, attacked the rim, and played with alot more assertiveness than we had seen previously. I think that will carry on to this year, with him facilitating the offense, much like Scottie Pippen did alot of in Chicago. He has the size, skill, dribbling, and passing to be a huge presence on offense, and think we will see that this year.Kobe Bryant showed he was willing to pass more, and had the confidence in his teamtes to get his teamates envolved to win games. I think that will carry on to this year, where he is more confident in the team around him, and more willing to pass the ball. Now that he is getting to be a better leader, that passes more and a better player, I think we are gonna see him using his skills to break down the opposing teams in Iso's and be able to attack more one on one since the other teams wont be able to double team him do to him actually passing the ball. Alot like what happened when Michael Jordan finally got confidence in his team in Chicago.Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom are gonna be the stars and the ones to be breaking down the defense with one on one in isolation plays much like Pippen and Jordan did in Chicago. The thing with Chicago, is that Pippen and Jordan had players around them that could hit the open jump shots and didn't allow other teams to just pack it in the paint, like Toni Kukoc, Ron Harper, and guys like this. That is where Vladimir Radmanovich and Smush Parker come into play. Smush and Vlad's decent shooting insures that the other teams won't just pack it in the paint, which causes hell on isolation plays that the triangle offense is built around. If they do, then Odom and Bryant are just gonna kick it out, and it's gonna be outside shots getting hit. As for downlow, they don't need huge offensive presences, much like the Bulls didn't. Luc Longely and Dennis Rodman, were decent at offense, but not the greatest. They were there mainly to clean up on the offensive boards, which I feel Mihm, Brown, and Bynum when he starts getting, can do. They will also be decent big men on defense, able to cause the other teams big men to have problems. I really think that this will be a much improved team this season, and we can see them making some noise come playoff time.I also think that with the Kobe Bryant we see come out this year playing team ball, using every option that team and offense has, we will see an even better Kobe Bryant than last year. He might not as much of a flashy scorer, or score 81 points or anything, but he will be better. I think this is gonna be an MVP year for Kobe Bryant.
thet's a thing with kobe's game. He passes to people who he trusts. He trusted guys like Horry, fisher and the like and he gave the passes up. This year we saw him and cook working together and kobe gave the ball up to him. It might be a flaw of his game but that's how kobe operates. Honestly all I want from kobe is to take smarter shots. I remember yelling on bbw why kobe was taking jumpers when the opposition was over the limit. Again, this might be another flaw in kobe's game but it's a flaw which can also lead us to victory. There is no-one is histroy who has more confidence then kobe bryant. You can see it in the shots he take. Double pumping faking to one side and then fading would be a bad shot for other players but kobe? Swish.I think the key factor in our chances is kwame. If he ever understood how to correctly use his body then we would have our legit 4 and a shot blocking guy with excellent post defense. I'm praying that kwame gets it together because our succes really depends on defense and he can be a defensive force if he wants to be.
