When a team plays a zone defense the open man has to take the three point shot(didnt you see the Olympics?). The Lakers dont have three point shooters so the zone will be very effective. When you have the most dominant force in the NBA and very possibly the history of the NBA on your team the normal rules of basketball simply dont apply. But the Lakers will be sorry when they realize they should have tried to get Eddie Jones out of the deal instead of Caron Butler. Three point specialists are a must have. The Spurs went out and got themselves one after they lost to the Lakers due to lack of outside shooting.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">When a team plays a zone defense the open man has to take the three point shot(didnt you see the Olympics?). The Lakers dont have three point shooters so the zone will be very effective. When you have the most dominant force in the NBA and very possibly the history of the NBA on your team the normal rules of basketball simply dont apply. But the Lakers will be sorry when they realize they should have tried to get Eddie Jones out of the deal instead of Caron Butler. Three point specialists are a must have. The Spurs went out and got themselves one after they lost to the Lakers due to lack of outside shooting.</div> What I'm saying is that the Lakers had Rush and Fisher...and neither started last year. Who else hit the three? George missed threes the whole year. The Lakers were still successful. Now...you say that when you have Shaq, the rules are different. Well...Duncan is pretty dominant, also...so why did the Spurs have to go get a shooter? Bruce Bowen is a great three-point shooter. If three point specialists are a must-have, then the Kings should be winning rings. There are more important things than shooting threes...like defense, passing, team chemistry, unity, etc. The Lakers can rely on Rush shooting threes...and Atkins can shoot the three, also. How about Cook? He was hitting threes pretty well, in fact. But really, no matter what the Lakers do...fail or succeed...they will always be considered an incomplete team. They could go to the WCF this season and still be considered weak just because they didn't win the rings...so I'm getting used to the critics and ESPN already.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Tribute to H2O:</div><div class="quote_post">When a team plays a zone defense the open man has to take the three point shot(didnt you see the Olympics?). The Lakers dont have three point shooters so the zone will be very effective. When you have the most dominant force in the NBA and very possibly the history of the NBA on your team the normal rules of basketball simply dont apply. But the Lakers will be sorry when they realize they should have tried to get Eddie Jones out of the deal instead of Caron Butler. Three point specialists are a must have. The Spurs went out and got themselves one after they lost to the Lakers due to lack of outside shooting.</div> Have you watched any Laker pregames? We have about 4 guys off the bench that can hit the 3 consistently. Brian Cook for one, probably the most improved. Luke Walton at the top of the key, he will hit it every time. Kareem Rush is always up for hitting some threes. Odom also has the range and Butler can hit the three too. We are stock piled with three point shooters. You are basing defense on last years teams and not this years. Eddie Jones is a joke and a choke, I am loving Caron Butler now after seeing him play. He is a good player with ten+ years left in him. Eddie Jones is loosing his shot. It's sad when people base there arguments on old facts and don't know what there tlaking about.
This game will be great. Two totally changed teams, two superstars(Kobe, Carmello, my favs). And lets not forget the most exciting PF in the game, Kenyon Martin, facing off againts the long, athletic and dynamic Lamar Odom. I can't wait for this game. - Epic
I hope odom and Chris mihm have a great game. They're on my fantasy team so I'm rooting for them! Don't ask why I got chris mihm, he was the best center available in the late round plus Vlade is injured so Mihm will get all his minutes. I hope Mihm isn't fluking his preseason performance.
I'll take the Lakers by 4. This team has showing that they can play great together. This game will be amazing. Lakers will take this one. Especially cause its @Staple Center
The Lakers by 6 While the Nuggets will be impressive with K-Mart and Melo playing side by side,the new look Lakers will pull out the win.it will be a very highly well played game between the 2 teams.
This game may be close,but I see the Nuggets winning they are just a flat out better theam then LA is this year.Yeah you can make the comment that nobody would be able to guard Kobe,but I know of a defensive speacialist,Greg Bucker,who could at least make Kobe work for his points. It seems to me the Nuggets have a much better frontline then the Lakers,and that will only benifit the Nuggets guards. Another thing is Lakers fans are giving T.Brown way to much hype,yes he showed he can play in pre-season games but is this guy really ready to make an impact playing good minutes in the NBA?Not to mention he'll have a hard time playing against the Nuggets backcourt. I say Nuggets by 7.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Silky Smooth:</div><div class="quote_post">This game may be close,but I see the Nuggets winning they are just a flat out better theam then LA is this year.</div> What are you basing your argument on? Just by how the rosters are shaped out with Kenyon Martin being added to their team, and their new star-studded lineup? Any fanbase in this league should know all about that and that's our Lakers of 2004. Arguably had the best rotation the game has ever see, but when it came down to chemistry, gelling together as a unit in the NBA Finals, it never happened. Team chemistry is what makes things happen, and if a team doesn't have that mentality, you can basically throw the season out the window. To stick to the thread's content, not only will it be Election Night with myself pulling for John Kerry to drown Bush and his administration, it's gonna be Laker night at my house doing the same old rituals that I've done these several years. Getting fired up before each and every game, and marking my couch as my territory sitting alongside my dad watching the game for 48 minutes. I'm going with the Lakers by a comfortable 10 point margin. We all know Kobe's capabilities, we know he'll get his scoring opportunities as they come, but I believe Lamar Odom will step up big time to make this a statement game for himself. Every Laker fan knows Lamar's been struggling this preseason, and I firmly believe in front of 19,000 Staple Center fans he'll do wonders. If we as a team can go out and at least hit 50% and higher from the field, each contribute a fair share of rebounding in each and every category throughout, committ less turnovers, acheive better ball movement, and consistently use our transition to our advantage, then there shouldn't be any problems whatsoever. LA by 10.
Hmm, this is a tough call. Both teams have a pretty good lineup. I'll have to say the Lakers by a close one.
Ask yourself one question Lakers fans. And be realistic when answering this question how are you guys gonna produce points in the paint against the Nuggets? you have no legitimate post up scoring options against that Nuggets frontline. The only way, you guys will produce anything close to inside points is by using Kobe continuiosly in post up situations against the Nuggets smaller perimeter players but then that will just take aweay from Kobe's overall ablities because Kobe feels alot more comfort out on the perimeter taking his man off the dribble then in the 15 foot to low block area playing with his back to the basket. So the only other way this Lakers team can produce points in the paint is by pushing the tempo. But thats playing right into Denver's hands cause they will be the best fast break team. Iam not trying to Knock the Lakers or their fans. And this is the NBa anybody can pull out a win on any giving night. But the Lakers are based on a uptempo style, which means they play the same style as the Nugget's.But the Nuggets play it alot better. And when the game slows down in the halfcourt they have more ways to find ways to produce points in the paint. So odds are on Denver pulling out the win. Melo, Martin, Nene, & Camby are going to clean up in the paint & on the backboards against that Lakers frontline. And 9/10 the team that wins the battle of the paint wins the game.
Well, since Los Angeles has no rebounding presence and no post game (although I don't see it as bad as alot of others do), I guess we are done for the year already. Call Buss and trade everyone. Wait. Sacramento was in the 20's in rebounding last year...but they made the playoffs. Utah was just under the Kings, but pulled down an average of 4.6 boards more against their opponents per game...yet didn't make the playoffs. Hold the phone, Buss! In other words, you don't have to have Shaq or Garnett to win. Otherwise, the Lakers would've won championships every year since 1996. Also, don't take away Grant's ability to play the four. He's very capable of scoring 12 PPG and 10 boards this season. But this battle will never be won, until the Lakers win a championship (it would probably take a three peat)...and then, when this happens, I'll be asking everyone else, "What happened?"
I dont think the lakers will win,i dont think the lakers will get as far as i hope if kobe keep ball-hoggin as he did in the pre-season the only time he passed the ball was when a player was down court or he picked up his dribble, and i also hope odom plays better then he did in the pre-season thus far i have not been impressed at all, and also other players need to have confidence in their shot and stop passin the ball to kobe if they are open (just like malone n payton last year they relied on kobe n o'neal to much)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kbplaya14:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont think the lakers will win,i dont think the lakers will get as far as i hope if kobe keep ball-hoggin as he did in the pre-season the only time he passed the ball was when a player was down court or he picked up his dribble, and i also hope odom plays better then he did in the pre-season thus far i have not been impressed at all, and also other players need to have confidence in their shot and stop passin the ball to kobe if they are open (just like malone n payton last year they relied on kobe n o'neal to much)</div> How is Kobe Selfish, he has been causing turnovers by trying to get the balls to other team mates hes passing so much. Did you even watch the lakers game or are you basing it on his stats. Hell 1/2 the games he wasn't he the leading scorer. Also players having confidence in themselves? Brian Cook, Grant, Vujacic, Rush, Luke? You don't think there shooting threes with confidence. Cook has been nailing 3 pointers like Chamberlain did women. Your crazy, your like saying the exact opposite of what happen in the preseason games hahaha.
I find it funny that guys are saying that our preseason was terrible...yet, the Lakers haven't had a winning preseason record since 1996 or so. So, in that case, does the preseason mean anything? If you say yes, then read above. If you say no, then stop judging Kobe about his preseason performance.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Billa_Bong:</div><div class="quote_post">Cook has been nailing 3 pointers like Chamberlain did women.</div>
Kobe ball hoggin in the pre-season? 9 minutes and 2 points for Kobe in a blowout pre-season victory for the Lakers and Kobe is ballhogging? Where do you get your information?
