<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">^^^ I believe that individually, they did recieve quality players in return for Shaq. Problem is, can they p;lay together as a cohesive unit? I know I'm going to catch flack from Laker fans, but I don't think the Lakers are even going to make the playoffs this season.</div>Well the entire starting frontcourt of Miami was sent to the Lakers. All three of them making a good run in the playoffs last year. They've played together, so I dont see a big problem with Cohesiveness. I just depends on how well Kobe plays with the unit. But Kobe can play with anyone. IMO. He'll make the adjustments needed. The guy is already workin out with them in the gym. Its the pg postion that Im a bit worrisome about. But, we just have to see how Rudy makes adjustments as the season progresses. I really feel the Lakers are playoff bound this year. The rumor is Malone will be back in Purple in Gold, so I see him guarding Garnett, Duncan, and Yao. It will be a fun season for us Laker fans. I really do believe we will give the West a run for their money. But I guess, we have to let the play do the talking.
I completely disagree with the Cavs being a loser this offseason. They lost Boozer, who is a good player (not great), and gained a guy in Drew Gooden for nothing significant and he is someone who I believe has a lot more upside, even if he hasn't showed it. It's not unrealistic to think he could cover Boozers 15/10 from last season, and perhaps even better it. They have also bolstered their frontcourt depth by adding Robert Traylor and Anderson Varaejo, and look like adding Keon Clark or Jake Tsakalidis to solidify the centre position. In addition to this, they have improvement to come in LeBron and added sharpshooter Luke Jackson through the draft, and again traded smartly to get Eric Snow. And if we're talking merely trade winners and losers, then the Cavs have had a big win IMO. They gained a guy in Gooden who has star upside, and a veteran leader in Eric Snow, and didn't give up much to get either. Might put this in the NBA forum too, I reckon it's more relevant there.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheNextJordan8:</div><div class="quote_post">OOh poor little dumbass doesnt know what hes saying. PAIN!!??? Where?? HAHA.</div> You know where...The pain of all those laker fans not having anything to be happy about. Jack won't even go to the games..... Just watch my friend.... Kobe is no MJ. He will have to have a MJ season to make the lakers even playoff contenders. Didn't you watch the finals this year? Didn't you see Kobe making all of those mistakes. He couldn't even read the defense. Lets seee...i'm getting double teamed, maybe i should pass the ball? Naaa...I'm kobe i'll put up tons of shots and miss all of them. If that same Kobe returns for this season....Poor...Poor..Lakers. BTW...there is no <font color="Red">EDIT </font> reason to start cursing! Its all friendly fun.... <font color="Red">no cursing AllNet</font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">what a stupid statement by both of you how can you guys say the lakers traded off their playoff spot. we in fact got better and are going to beat you off the dribble and on the fast break we are the new sacramento kings except a lot better once karl malone signs that veterans leaugue minimum well see who traded there playoff spot off, or we might just see who traded there western conference championship spot off for an NBA CHAMPIONSHIP SPOT.</div> You are not the new Sacramento Kings, they don't only run the floor very well they have lights out shooters who can destroy you. Lakers don't have many spot up shooters at all. Kobe is the only one I would worry about If they were facing my team. Chucky Atkins can shoot the ball but isn't as consistant as he used to be. You also mention about beating teams off the dribble and running the fast break. Chucky Atkins is no longer really quick, he can still run but run a fast break? no. The Heat players the Lakers traded for can certainly run the break (Odom and Butler) but there is no Wade to get It going. L.A will be a pretty good fast break team but not anywhere near as good as you expect. Karl Malone is a question mark, how effective will he be this season? coming off an injury like this at his age, being able to play good basketball will not be easy. You also need to factor in the way Shaq opened things up for Kobe and many of the Laker players, that will no longer be there. Kobe will be getting double, tripled teamed every single play. Basically what we all saw in the finals. How he can cope with that is another an unknown question.
bottem line is miracles will have to start to happen in La for the Lakers to make the playoffs. EVEN with Kobe.
Another winner from the trade was Phoniex now with Nash who will make running the floor with Marion and Stoudemaire a breeze!
Regarding the Lakers, admittedly, they had a tough off-season However, for those who say "why trade Shaq?", the answer is because we had to make a choice: Shaq or Kobe. We chose Kobe, as I'm sure the majoriy in here would have. Their relationship deteriorated to the point where they could no longer co-exist. If the Lakers held onto Shaq, the laker lineup would probably look something like: C Shaq PF Medvedenko SF Walton SG Rush PG Payton The two best players in that lineup are on the decine of their careers as well, oppose to current trio of Odom-Kobe-Butler who are still very young. I'm not saying the Lakers had a good offseason. However, they cut their losses and made the best out of a bad situation. There is no second guessing on my part. It was a bad offseason, but they made all the right choices IMO
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Regarding the Lakers, admittedly, they had a tough off-season However, for those who say "why trade Shaq?", the answer is because we had to make a choice: Shaq or Kobe. We chose Kobe, as I'm sure the majoriy in here would have. Their relationship deteriorated to the point where they could no longer co-exist. If the Lakers held onto Shaq, the laker lineup would probably look something like: C Shaq PF Medvedenko SF Walton SG Rush PG Payton The two best players in that lineup are on the decine of their careers as well, oppose to current trio of Odom-Kobe-Butler who are still very young. I'm not saying the Lakers had a good offseason. However, they cut their losses and made the best out of a bad situation. There is no second guessing on my part. It was a bad offseason, but they made all the right choices IMO</div> Thank you! Nice to hear some realism regarding the Lakers. I find it annoying when people suggest the Lakers will be better because they no longer have Shaq, as if they upgraded their roster and as if Kobe can now elevate his game so much that they will actually be better. Be realistic, they made the right decision. It is time to rebuild, and fortunaltely, they will continue to have a fun team to watch next year. I bet there are some folks in New Jersey that wish they could say the same.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Supersonic:</div><div class="quote_post">I completely disagree with the Cavs being a loser this offseason. They lost Boozer, who is a good player (not great), and gained a guy in Drew Gooden for nothing significant and he is someone who I believe has a lot more upside, even if he hasn't showed it. It's not unrealistic to think he could cover Boozers 15/10 from last season, and perhaps even better it. They have also bolstered their frontcourt depth by adding Robert Traylor and Anderson Varaejo, and look like adding Keon Clark or Jake Tsakalidis to solidify the centre position. In addition to this, they have improvement to come in LeBron and added sharpshooter Luke Jackson through the draft, and again traded smartly to get Eric Snow. And if we're talking merely trade winners and losers, then the Cavs have had a big win IMO. They gained a guy in Gooden who has star upside, and a veteran leader in Eric Snow, and didn't give up much to get either. Might put this in the NBA forum too, I reckon it's more relevant there.</div> Very well said. If anything the Cavs were winners this offseason. The may have lost Boozer but gained Gooden who is just as good. I must say, I am very impressed with the Cavs offseason.
