Here is a good topic to discuss... Are the Lakers good enough to substain an injuiry to one of their big 4, O'neal, Bryant, Payton, Malone, to win the title, or even contend for the title. Injuries are a big part of the game and the Lakers are clearly showing they are slowed when one of their big "dawgs" goes down. Minnesota, San Antiono and Sacramento have shown they can win, and win big with injuries to key players. So the question stands... Can the Lakers contend with one of their big 4 down.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purehoops:</div><div class="quote_post">Here is a good topic to discuss... Are the Lakers good enough to substain an injuiry to one of their big 4, O'neal, Bryant, Payton, Malone, to win the title, or even contend for the title. Injuries are a big part of the game and the Lakers are clearly showing they are slowed when one of their big "dawgs" goes down. Minnesota, San Antiono and Sacramento have shown they can win, and win big with injuries to key players. So the question stands... Can the Lakers contend with one of their big 4 down.</div> It Depends on which one of the big 4 it is. If it is Malone, they already showed that they have trouble winning w/out him, but i think they could still make a strong run in the playoffs..if it is Payton then i think they will be alright..If it is Kobe, they still have Shaq, Malone, and Gp(if they stay healthy) so I think they are fine there, and w/out Shaq, I think they are done for. Sacramento will beat them if they Dont have Shaq and/or Malone
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Q Rich3:</div><div class="quote_post">It Depends on which one of the big 4 it is. If it is Malone, they already showed that they have trouble winning w/out him, but i think they could still make a strong run in the playoffs..if it is Payton then i think they will be alright..If it is Kobe, they still have Shaq, Malone, and Gp(if they stay healthy) so I think they are fine there, and w/out Shaq, I think they are done for. Sacramento will beat them if they Dont have Shaq and/or Malone</div> I agree. But I think the Lakers without Malone will be alright. Because if you remember, back in 2002 the Lakers had a power forward named Samaki Walker, and Robert Horry was his backup. And the Lakers still won the championship. Plus, if something bad does happen to Malone, Slava will definitely be ready as his replacement. He's already proven himself that he can both score and rebound. I feel with a lineup of Payton, Bryant, and Shaq, they can still be serious contenders for the title. If Payton somehow gets injured, Fisher won't have a problem because he was already the starter before Payton arrived. But I feel if Kobe or Shaq aren't healthy enough, or somehow get seriously injured, the Lakers are finished.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree. But I think the Lakers without Malone will be alright. Because if you remember, back in 2002 the Lakers had a power forward named Samaki Walker, and Robert Horry was his backup. And the Lakers still won the championship. </div> Ahh but its a different time... The 3 opponets, Kings/Spurs/Wolves, all have Power fowards that have gotten better (suprising at it sounds) than they were a few years ago. Lakers still have no match for Duncan, and Sacarmento have a backup PF/C in Brad Miller (depending on how it plays out) who really no drop off from Webber and Divac. Of course its pretty obvious the Lakers chances drop tremendously without Shaq. He is the key. I was thinkin more along the lines up if one of the other 3 are out.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purehoops:</div><div class="quote_post">Ahh but its a different time... The 3 opponets, Kings/Spurs/Wolves, all have Power fowards that have gotten better (suprising at it sounds) than they were a few years ago. Lakers still have no match for Duncan, and Sacarmento have a backup PF/C in Brad Miller (depending on how it plays out) who really no drop off from Webber and Divac. Of course its pretty obvious the Lakers chances drop tremendously without Shaq. He is the key. I was thinkin more along the lines up if one of the other 3 are out.</div> With all the true facts you've given me, looks like we need Malone desperately to return to 100% form. Becuase just as you've said it, it was a different time, Garnett, Duncan, and Webber/Miller have all gotten better, (if Webber returns healthy) and the power forward position is a key position in the Western Conference. I'm still very confident however that once the playoffs begin, the Lakers will make a huge push.
Without Shaq or Kobe we don't have a chance. I think the Lakers have enough to win if they lost Payton or Malone to injury.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">back in 2002 the Lakers had a power forward named Samaki Walker, and Robert Horry was his backup. And the Lakers still won the championship.</div> Robert Horry was still a good defender then, and the Lakers were fortunate to avoid having to play the Kings with a healthy Peja. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">Plus, if something bad does happen to Malone, Slava will definitely be ready as his replacement. He's already proven himself that he can both score and rebound. </div> Slava CANNOT, in ANY way, replace Malone. He's a streaky scorer who loses the confidence needed to make his shots when they're being contested, and the only rebounding that he's proven he can give is a decent total every other game, and that's only if there's no Shaq/Malone to garner most of the team's boards. And he can't defend. Western PFs will murder him.
<font face="Comic Sans MS"><font color="YellowGreen">Lakers are fourth place in the whole NBA but 2nd place in the Midewest, if it goes on like this the Lakers are making it to the playoffs but they cant challeng the Sacremento Queens or the Minnasota Timberwolves because we played them 3 times and we lost them everytime!</font></font>
No, the Lakers could not win the title if one of their main 4 went down with an injury. However.............let's take away 1 main player from every title contender: Dallas couldn't win without Nash San Antonio couldn't win without Parker Minnesota couldn't win without Cassell Sacramento couldn't win without Peja Houston couldn't win without Mobley Denver couldn't win without Carmello Memphis couldn't win without Bonzi The Lakers have taken their lumps. They have experience life without some of their main players so they will be prepared if somebody goes down. The Wolves and Kings have also had some injuries, and have had to deal with them. So I'm not concerned about the Lakers, because they will be fine!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting the MDE:</div><div class="quote_post">No, the Lakers could not win the title if one of their main 4 went down with an injury. However.............let's take away 1 main player from every title contender: Dallas couldn't win without Nash San Antonio couldn't win without Parker Minnesota couldn't win without Cassell Sacramento couldn't win without Peja Houston couldn't win without Mobley Denver couldn't win without Carmello Memphis couldn't win without Bonzi The Lakers have taken their lumps. They have experience life without some of their main players so they will be prepared if somebody goes down. The Wolves and Kings have also had some injuries, and have had to deal with them. So I'm not concerned about the Lakers, because they will be fine!</div> Houston can not win with out Mobley, Francis or Ming Minnasota cant win withouth Keving Garnet, Latrell Sprenwell or Sam Casell and.. ur right! SACREMENTO WILL SUCK WITHOUTH PEJA! they give all the credit to Mike Bibby but i give it to Peja cause his the one who makes all the shots (three pointers) too bad he lost the All-Star 3 pointer contest.. BUT WHO CARES!! HIS NOT A LAKER
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ANiMuS:</div><div class="quote_post">Robert Horry was still a good defender then, and the Lakers were fortunate to avoid having to play the Kings with a healthy Peja. Slava CANNOT, in ANY way, replace Malone. He's a streaky scorer who loses the confidence needed to make his shots when they're being contested, and the only rebounding that he's proven he can give is a decent total every other game, and that's only if there's no Shaq/Malone to garner most of the team's boards. And he can't defend. Western PFs will murder him.</div> I dont no who to agree with LoL, but Slava is a good improved player compared to last year but he is a dam ball hogg! People say that Kobe is a ball hogg but NOPE, he got 9 assist's in one quarter but he also shot 15 three pointers in a row and made them all., lol
The Lakers once played without Kobe, Shaq and Malone and they made a streak, wich is about like winning 3 in a row.. It is pretty obiuse that one of the Laker players are gonna miss some games because,.. FOR EXAMPLE if they play in Minnasota their gonna go to a Minniapolis resturant right, and they will put poisen in their food and stuff like that. The question is.. WHO WILL IT BE?
we definitely need Payton and Shaq for scoring yeah as XZibit23 said without kobe, shaq malone they made a streak so this shows Payton is inalienable. Without him there is no but a slim chance of winning no there s no chance of winning. What was is agaisnt the twolves when f4 were all on the court? Was it as we have expected? I dont think so ... Dont wanne insult Kobe fans but id actually think we could be better without him ... just a thought, sometimes it is true, of course not like always ... he s still a bit selfish but .. ok nevermind, i just think payton is most important for us, slava , rush, payton, and shaq would be really important for winning plus Kobe and malone when they're at their best ...
