<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> As for the Lakers, I do agree in Kobe you have an all-around elite basketball player. Ge can give you the numbers and the defense. He is a guy who thinks the game on a high level and can hit the toughest shots. I love his game, I feel like I could go there and really help them go to the next level as far as create a lot of open looks for the shooters and run the point if needed. Also, I played there when I was first in the league and would love to return and help them get back to dominating in the NBA.</p> Hmm, a team I favor? Thats a tough one as I would be honored to play for any team in the NBA, but I would have to say my dream team to play for would be the Lakers, Phil Jackson is a guy that I would want to play for. He has the triangle offense which I enjoy and he has a strong philosophy on teamwork and not to mention playing for the city of Los Angeles would be fantastic. Thank you!</p> Several people asked why Doug thinks the Lakers will be a top three team….</p> I think they will be one if they get the situation under control, meaning the fans have heard some things from Kobe that they really didn’t expect to hear from him and need to be reassured he does still have the desire to play there and to win. Also, they will need to add a few pieces to get the core stronger and deepen the bench some and I think that once the season gets underway things will again go back to the norm as far as the Lakers being a competitive team that wants to win. I also don’t feel Kobe meant any thing against the team or management or the fans he wants to win and each and every player out there wants to win, and he sees changes being made all around him and wants the Lakers to make a few to get better and stronger. That’s all, I’m sure he is proud of the organization and the city but he also knows this is a business and winning is what matters.</p> Thank you all for the questions, keep them coming!</p> </div></p> Source: MVN</p> </p>
San Antonio Dallas Phoenix Utah (last three in no particular order) </p> Houston Denver LA</p> Now that's the West. It's not inconceivable that LA ends up better than Houston, Denver, and even Utah. Still not a top 3 team.</p> No team in the east may be as good as these teams - maybe the Bulls if Gordon and/or Deng take one more step up, Miami if they get back to their level of play from two seasons ago, Detroit (though they're looking on the decline) if Sheed can step it up, or Cleveland if they become a team, or Boston if they gel.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane)</div><div class='quotemain'> It's not inconceivable that LA ends up better than Houston </p></div> LA better than Houston?</p> </p> INCONCEIVABLE!</p>
Houston's a heck of a good team and on the rise. They need Yao, IMO, to advance in the playoffs. LA was crippled by injuries themselves.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dark Hero)</div><div class='quotemain'>Is he on drugs or somenthing the Lakers might be lucky enough to even make it to the playoffs.</div></p> Who are the teams in the west who'll beat them out?</p> </p> </p>
Is he completely crazy? I think the Lakers have pretty much proven over the past 2 seasons that one player can't make your team a contendor.
I have no dilusions that the Lakers are contenders. But rather the West may not be so strong as to keep the Lakers out of the playoffs, or even from achieving a pretty good seed.</p> They're clearly no better than 5th best in the west, and probably 10th best overall.</p> LeBron proved what one player can do in a single playoff game. Kobe has had streaks of games with remarkable scoring numbers, unlike LeBron. It's hard to say "never" though the deck is stacked against them.</p> </p>
I guess Rick Fox slapped his head too hard or something. </p> Seriously though, I would take the Spurs, Suns, Mavs, Rockets, Jazz, Warriors, and Nuggets over them.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bacon Smeller)</div><div class='quotemain'>Wasn't Christie with the Clippers last year?</div> He played 7 games with them last year.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Legacy)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bacon Smeller)</div><div class='quotemain'>Wasn't Christie with the Clippers last year?</div> He played 7 games with them last year.</p></div> </p> So he retired again?</p>
i wouldn't be surprised if this was just Christie trying to kiss the Lakers' ass so he could get on the team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'>i wouldn't be surprised if this was just Christie trying to kiss the Lakers' ass so he could get on the team.</div> This is exactly what I was thinking. I heard he was making a comeback, so this might be his attempt to kiss the Lakers' ass so they'll give him or look or something. Or maybe his wife was just bored and wanted to make Doug Christie look like a dumbass for whatever reason.</p> Anyways, realistically, we'll probably be the 7th seed of the West next season, baring any major injuries of course. Dallas, Phoenix, and San Antonio are pretty much locks to be 1-3. Our best case scenerio is getting into the chase with Houston, Denver, and Utah, and maybe hope to land the 4th-6th seed, but chances of that happening are slim to none. Like I said, we will probably end up as the 7th seed, or worse case scenerio, the 8th seed. I don't really see us missing the playoffs, but I definetely wouldn't be surprised if we did</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bacon Smeller)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Legacy)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bacon Smeller)</div><div class='quotemain'>Wasn't Christie with the Clippers last year?</div> He played 7 games with them last year.</p></div> </p> So he retired again?</p></div> More like he got kicked to the curb again. LOL. </p>
