I guess Kobe's new teammates will let Kobe be his individual self and keep looking at the positive sides of him... unlike Shaq.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jesseca328:</div><div class="quote_post">Are you serious if they didn't respect KB they wouldn't have showed up for training a few weeks earlier then what is spected. </div> He meant the previous squads, not this one... At any rate, Kobe is 26 years old. This is now an appropriate time to take on a leadership role. He's probably the hardest worker in the league so he's already a good leader by example (on the court and in the gym). If he becomes/remains socialable, then I don't forsee any problems with regards to respect.
T-Mac always lacked the work ethic to become a winner. Kobe does not. He knows he can win with this team. He knows he can carry it too.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting trenchteam:</div><div class="quote_post">T-Mac always lacked the work ethic to become a winner.</div> You know what, there is no proof of that. But I'll let it go because we don't want this to be another "vs" thread.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">You know what, there is no proof of that. But I'll let it go because we don't want this to be another "vs" thread.</div> Doc Rivers has said that many times... (back on topic)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Doc Rivers has said that many times...</div> Doc Rivers also felt that he had won enough games that he shouldn't have been fired. Tmac lead them to those wins, so Doc couldn't have hated his work ethic that much. Doc also said that Tmac could be the best player to ever play the game. Nobody says that about a lazy player. Just to get back on topic, what seed do you guys think the Lakers will get this year? (list teams above the Lakers in your answer).
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">Just to get back on topic, what seed do you guys think the Lakers will get this year? (list teams above the Lakers in your answer).</div> http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25459 Those were the playoff predictions. I started, but I kind of based mine on a healthy Vlade... I'm very optimistic. I just believe that the only competition that the Lakers have this year in the Pacific is the Kings...the Suns won't go very far...but the Kings may run into a road block with a few problems if someone like Webber gets hurt (Ostertag will start in place of Miller, who'll move down to PF...but Ostertag is worthless...and hurt).
With that attitude, Kobe will get an urgency to score more and he'll think he should carry the team..well, he'll take 30 shots a game and become like iverson and the sixers. Iverson took all the shots and missed a bunch every game. Kobe will be rocking pantyhose on his arm like iverson this coming season because his arm would be too sore since he would be bricking and shooting too much. This would give a negative effect to the lakers since they would rely too much on Kobe. Just look at the sixers..Kobe's fg% is gna drop and without an established big man lakers cant rely on shaq to get rebounds anymore..someone's gna make a book called "The Rise and Fall of the Lakers" real soon.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting drm2dnk:</div><div class="quote_post">With that attitude, Kobe will get an urgency to score more and he'll think he should carry the team..well, he'll take 30 shots a game and become like iverson and the sixers. Iverson took all the shots and missed a bunch every game. Kobe will be rocking pantyhose on his arm like iverson this coming season because his arm would be too sore since he would be bricking and shooting too much. This would give a negative effect to the lakers since they would rely too much on Kobe. Just look at the sixers..Kobe's fg% is gna drop and without an established big man lakers cant rely on shaq to get rebounds anymore..someone's gna make a book called "The Rise and Fall of the Lakers" real soon.</div> It's not the same situation that's in Philly. Kobe has better scoring options that AI had. Iverson had to put up a lot of shots for the sixers to have a chance of winning. Kobe will take the majority of the shot because he's their best scoring option, but I doubt if he'll take 30 a game.
"The Lakers have our head coach but we have Tracy Mcgrady" What the hell is that supposed to mean we have Kobe and youre coach haha. And anyways back on to topic about youre previous post. Do you have something against kobe?? All you do is bash on him do you see any of us coming and bashing on yao ming (the sissie) and Tmac (the unsuccessful ballhog) in the rockets forum???. So dont do it in the Lakers forum. And whats all this hatred on Koboe for?? please look at Tmac then try talking about Kobe and comparing them because you wont be able too. Why?? Because one is at a much different and higher level than the other. Not a whining baby that wants out of his team because he cant take the challenge of making his team better.
haha we'll see who'll be whining at the end of the season ..kobe will be begging for shaq to come back and cover him
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting drm2dnk:</div><div class="quote_post">haha we'll see who'll be whining at the end of the season ..kobe will be begging for shaq to come back and cover him</div> never gonna happen. kobe will prove the haters wrong, with the help of the team of course.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting drm2dnk:</div><div class="quote_post">haha we'll see who'll be whining at the end of the season ..kobe will be begging for shaq to come back and cover him</div> drm2dnk Are you done yet? Everything you're saying is ridiculous. Go jump back on the McGrady/Houston bandwagon and head on over to the Rockets' forum.
Well, good news, in another month we'll have real NBA basketball to talk about! For now, we just have a bunch of fans who have nothing better to do than hope. So how about we just hold off on the hostility for now and let the players decide on the court when the time comes. For now, all we can do is analyze the rosters and try to predict what these teams will be like. For the Lakers, I really don't see these predictions of winning the division and advancing far being anything more that over optimism. I know Kobe will have an MVP like year. Unfortunately for the Lakers, their front line is the weakest of any of the top 10 teams in the West. They will get badly out rebounded and dominated on the inside. They will run more, and shoot better, and have a fun wide open game. They will win some games, since Kobe can win some games by himself. They won't be playing championship basketball, but that's something that shouldn't be such a bad thing. They are in a rebuilding process, and obviously Vlade and Grant are not part of the long term solution. The Lakers should really be looking at how this year they can establish something that will help make them a contender again in two or three years. That's my opinion, not based on emotion, just looking at the roster.
I won't agree or disagree to stir up a debate, except for the fact that we are not in the rebuilding process. That's like saying that we won't even make the playoffs, which if anyone thinks that, they are wrong.
Isn't debate a good thing? At least if based on facts and analysis rather than emotion. I think they have a good chance to make the playoffs, at least as good of a chance as Memphis, Utah and Phoenix. That's what happens when you have a top four player on your team. Still don't see how that front line can hold up in the West.
I would rather debate an issue like that in one of the threads made for it, like the playoff prediction thread, or season prediction, ya know? However (because you knew I would debate this)...the front line doesn't have to have Shaq or Yao Ming to become successful. The best years for NBA big men were in the 90's, with Robinson, Ewing, Hakeem, Mourning, Shaq, Mutombo, and even Manute Bol (as far as shot blocking goes). Now, it's just Shaq, Yao, Big Ben and Jermaine... So, in that era...did the Bulls need a really good big man? How about the Sonics, who advanced to the Finals? The Blazers? Pistons? These teams were led by Jordan, Payton and Kemp, Drexler, and Isiah Thomas...they didn't need 7'1" centers that scored 24 PPG. Take Eddie Jones away from the Heat...that team probably wouldn't make the playoffs with just Shaq and Wade. Take away Odom from the Lakers...they probably wouldn't make it either. Would Houston make the playoffs last year without Francis? Nope...they snatched the 7th seed with Francis, Mobley and Yao. A big man isn't necessary in the NBA. Ben Wallace did great last year defensively. However, take away Tayshaun Prince, and the Pistons would've lost against the Pacers, and would've been torched by Kobe Bryant in the Finals, if they were to make it that far. But...a good perimeter defense, mixed with help from Rip, proved to be effective...and the presence of Sheed closed the passing lanes. Each player, be it that they're an All-Star or a scrub, does have some importance to the team, and if there is team chemistry, they'll be a tough contender.
Better front lines? I'll take the Lakers front line of Odom, Grant(Malone in November) and Vlade with Mihm as a backup against anybody in the West. Who is going to dominate them on the boards Nowitski? Webber? Stoudamire? I don't think so, maybe Garnet and Duncan but with Kobe bulked up to 230 there will not be a better rebounding guard in the league. I can see Kobe leading the league in Triple Doubles and making the Lakers the best rebounding team in the league.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting whatthef?:</div><div class="quote_post">I'll take the Lakers front line of Odom, Grant(Malone in November) and Vlade with Mihm as a backup against anybody in the West. Who is going to dominate them on the boards Nowitski? Webber? Stoudamire? I don't think so, maybe Garnet and Duncan but with Kobe bulked up to 230 there will not be a better rebounding guard in the league. I can see Kobe leading the league in Triple Doubles and making the Lakers the best rebounding team in the league. </div> You left out Caron Butler, who pulled down 4.80 rebounds a game last year in only 30 minutes per game...and he's an SF/G.
