Game Thread 9: Lakers vs. Nuggets

I hope that's really the case.

Boston lost again today against the Pacers.

 

i guess your right in feeling that way as its the begining of the season, but any later on it would be inexusable, well maybe thats a bit strong, but it just wouldnt be good. i dont like when good teams get off to bad starts and make a habbit of it, thus not living up to their potential. i dont think that this team will let that happen, but i just dont think any game versus one of our top competetors should have such a large score margin. nuggetts will remember this come palyoffs or the next time we face them, and they'll have the confidence knowing they can whoop our butts

 

Last game doesn't mean anything in the big picture. From what I understand, Phil sat the starters for the majority of the 4th anyways, which was why the Nuggets pulled away so much. That in the fact that we're without our 2nd best player, who just happens to be one of the best players in the league. They beat us without Pau? Good for them. How about we play them at full strength without Chauncey Billups, and we'll see what the final score ends up being.

 

We didn't win every game against Denver last year, I really see no reason to worry at all. We just toasted the Suns who had the best record in the league.

 

We've gotten blown out last year too at full strength. We're 7-2 without Pau which is pretty solid.

Phil is still flawed, I don't agree with the minutes he distributes to Fisher. Even so I think we'll be ok.

 

i'd have to agree with you on that one

 

I hope the unusually meager time being given to Shannon doesn't make him wanna leave us next season or when his 2 yr contract runs out.

 

Yeah that's exactly what I am thinking. That is definitely on Phil.

Even if we win another title Shannon could leave the way he's being treated.

 

I doubt it. Next year he will have every opportunity to win the starting PG job.

I also have no idea why the hell he isn't seeing minutes over Farmar/Sasha. I'm starting to think it's because we are show casing the two for a potential trade? Either way, I expect Shannon's minutes to increase when the 2nd half of the season starts.

 

Honestly, who else is Shannon going to get a good chunk of minutes with? I think he'll be grateful to the Lakers for giving him a chance, knowing that he's likely to get more minutes as the year goes by. Plus, I'd say Fisher is probably gonna call it quits after this year. He's 36 years old and I don't think he's got that much left in the tank. If he does, that's gonna open it up for minutes for him next year, maybe even the starting PG spot if they don't offer Jordan a contract.

 

I hear Fish wants to play 1 more year. He'll probably resign next year for the vets min, I'm guessing.

Jordan is as good as gone. He has no future on this squad.

 

If Fish returns next year, I would hope it's in a reserve role, that way we can get Shannon in the picture. As long as he stays, I think he's going to be the future starting PG for us. He's the ideal triangle PG. He's long, athletic, defends well, and can knock down the open looks that he's given. Beyond that, he's also getting better and better each day. If we don't retain him, I'll be very depressed.

 

If he doesn't return then I hope it's because we used our MLE on someone like Raymond Felton...

But honestly I don't see any reason why Shannon wouldn't return. He's been playing very well for us, and if you produce and play hard, Buss will give you a paycheck. Plus he loves LA!!!