<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">They could have done something memorable. The Lakers could have checked their egos at the door, won 70-plus games and given us a season for the ages. They could have marched through May and June, sharing the ball, sharing their joy and waking us up to just how good NBA basketball can be. They could have done what Jerry West's Lakers did. They could have been Showtime Revisited, like Magic Johnson's Lakers. But this season, despite their arrival into the NBA Finals, there has been no Magic and very little magic. Too often these Lakers have acted less like champions and more like grumpy old men. Sure, there have been moments. The 18-3 start. The late-season sprint that ended with Kobe Bryant's miracle shot in Portland that gave the Lakers the Pacific Division championship. Derek Fisher's fallback, four-tenths-of-a-second hoist that beat San Antonio. But this season has been more manic than memorable, more dispiriting than uplifting. It has been a karmic catastrophe. </div> <font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Steve kelley and the Seattle Times.</font>
If not for injuries, the Lakers could have gelled alot easier, thus enabling them to end the season with a better record. But half the roster got injured, so they didn't really gel until just before the playoffs. There have been plenty of exciting moments this season, from Kobe's game-winners to complete domination during some stretches. The Lakers are inches away from winning the title, so this season has definitely been a success!
Yeah, it's been another awful year for the Lakers. They won there division, their undefeated at home in the playoffs and their in the finals for the 4th time in the last 5 years. I don't know how we can forgive them for doing this to all true lakers fans.
Yeah, lets just forget all about the injuries to 3 of the starting (and starring) five. Oh and don't take into consideration Kobe's legal battle. Yeah. The Lakers were just standing around, pissing the season away. Man, why's everybody gotta hate on the Lakers?!
I think the point being made is the same point Charles and Kenny make, the Lakers feel they can just "turn it on" and win. That's cool because because they can, but imagine if they would play to their potential from the start. Remember how the "REAL" Dream Team didn't take it easy on anyone? Beat people to the point where there was NO THOUGHT WHATSOEVER that they could be beat? There was no conspiracies, no lucky shots, no "if this person were healthy" arguments.
This is always been discussed with the Lakers. They don't the way they can in the regular season and think they can turn it on when the playoffs come around. They will be considered one of the best franchise of all time but this Lakers team will never be considered one of the greatest all time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DarkCloud:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, it's been another awful year for the Lakers. They won there division, their undefeated at home in the playoffs and their in the finals for the 4th time in the last 5 years. I don't know how we can forgive them for doing this to all true lakers fans.</div> Yeah Like you said they won the Pacific and went undefeated in the playoffs and Probably going to win the championship. Isn't that what fans want? To win a Championship? Well thats what I want. I not sure why this is an awful year for the lakers.
THey didnt even have a chance to to be considered one of the best all time, lets look at what has happened: <ul> [*]Kobe's Trial [*]Malone's Injury [*]Turmoil between Kobe and Shaq [*]Turmoil between Kobe and Phil [*]Turmoil between GP and Phil [*]Kobe's injuries [*]and the other little things we dont hear about. [/list] I know if none of this happened we would of been the best team in the league, and one of the best all time.
Yeah, the season was plagued with injuries & drama...but winners always find ways to work through it. If anything, this season was a blessing in disguise. Consider this: if Kobe was healthy for the whole season, would Kareem have the confidence that he has right now? Nope. Kareem wouldn't have gotten the chance to start against teams like the Kings. He wouldn't have gotten the chance to stay in the game in crunch time. PJ wouldn't have had the faith in Kareem for the 4th quarter of Game 6 against the T'Wolves. Of course I would've loved to watch the Lakers go for 70 wins this season...but hey, we're in Hollywood...we live for drama.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post"> They will be considered one of the best franchise of all time but this Lakers team will never be considered one of the greatest all time.</div> Yawn. You're invited to the victory parade in downtown Los Angeles (on Figueroa); should be plenty of sunshine and beautiful L.A. women.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DarkCloud:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, it's been another awful year for the Lakers. They won there division, their undefeated at home in the playoffs and their in the finals for the 4th time in the last 5 years. I don't know how we can forgive them for doing this to all true lakers fans.</div> Laker haters were hoping that our season would go down in flames; people who pronounced Kobe guilty from day one; Malone haters; Shaq haters and the like. Sportswriters were practicing their use of language in order to capture the apocalyptic and tragic through the written word; but it hasn't happened, the Lakers have succeeded (so far) and the remaining games of the season will showcase their ability to overcome obstacles.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sartre2025:</div><div class="quote_post">Yawn. You're invited to the victory parade in downtown Los Angeles (on Figueroa); should be plenty of sunshine and beautiful L.A. women.</div> Mmm beautiful Latinas from L.A. :mrgreen: I wouldnt be that confident, I think Detroit is going to surprise a lot of people, but we will still win.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I know if none of this happened we would of been the best team in the league, and one of the best all time.</div> Do you think they could've at least tied the 72 - 10 record, realistically? (remember...... Pacers, Kings, Wolves, Spurs, Dallas)
Who the hell cares about their poor chemistry, which had no effect on the Lakers whatsoever, as their going to win a championship.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sabretooth:</div><div class="quote_post">Do you think they could've at least tied the 72 - 10 record, realistically? (remember...... Pacers, Kings, Wolves, Spurs, Dallas)</div> Yea remember how they started the season? Then Malone went down. We werent even completely gelled at the start, and we started hot. That gives me reason to believe if that no distractions, injuries, or anything else occured than we could of matched, possibly break that record.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">Yea remember.... possibly break that record.</div> There's two things that make me think that they wouldn't have broken the record. 1) Teams are alot different than they were when the Bulls made that run. The league itself is. 2) Pride. I know there were players that had it then, but it was unheard of (until it happened) that the Bulls could do that. Everyone, AND I MEAN EVERYONE (from the Magic to the Spurs) would have had their A game THAT day. If the Lakers had the attitude of "WE WILL BEAT YOU SO BADLY, THAT YOU CAN'T GO HOME FOR TWO DAYS" so to say, it might have been possible, but that was what we were talking about in another thread. The Lakers just "turn it on" and you CAN NOT DO THAT and expect to reach the feat that the Bulls did.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post"> <ul> [*]Kobe's Trial [*]Malone's Injury [*]Turmoil between Kobe and Shaq [*]Turmoil between Kobe and Phil [*]Turmoil between GP and Phil [*]Kobe's injuries [*]and the other little things we dont hear about. [/list] </div> That is a horrible list of excuses, litterally. Like Mel said, the true great teams find ways to win. I can't believe you put the "turmoils" on there. Whose fault is that? Its one thing to blame it on injuries but to blame it on turmoils is just ridiculous.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post"> I can't believe you put the "turmoils" on there. Whose fault is that? Its one thing to blame it on injuries but to blame it on turmoils is just ridiculous.</div> The Laker fans do have to admit that some of their problems were their own doing. The "turmoil" in the organization is not a good excuse to have problems. With all of these problems on a championship team, reminds me of the last dance in Chicago.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post"> <ul> [*]Kobe's Trial <<font color="red">No one to blame but Kobe for this one.</font> [*]Malone's Injury [*]Turmoil between Kobe and Shaq <<font color="red">Shaq's ego is usually to blame for a majority of their ills.</font> [*]Turmoil between Kobe and Phil <<font color="red"> Another clash of egos,Kobe wants it his way,Phil wants it his way. Egos abound.</font> [*]Turmoil between GP and Phil <<font color="red"> The Glove's ego rears it's ugly head.</font> [*]Kobe's injuries [*]and the other little things we dont hear about. <<font color="red">Most of which are caused by overpaid 32 year olds going on 12 acting like a total selfish ass.</font> [/list] </div> Other than injuries there is no excuse or turmoil. Everything thats happened they've brought it on themselves and none of it is a good excuse. They didn't live up to expectations because half of 'em are too ego driven to play solid team basketball. The injuries are a legit gripe but the rest of that is just mindless excuses.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">That is a horrible list of excuses, litterally. Like Mel said, the true great teams find ways to win. I can't believe you put the "turmoils" on there. Whose fault is that? Its one thing to blame it on injuries but to blame it on turmoils is just ridiculous.</div> You're right. The Lakers suck for not breaking the Bulls 72-10 record; I'll have to find some way to live with that when the Larry O' Brien trophy gets hoisted in air by Shaq, Karl, Gary and Kobe. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">Mmm beautiful Latinas from L.A. :mrgreen: </div> Latina, Persian, Indian, black and the all-too familiar Southern California blonde. . .diversity is good. :mrgreen: <font color="Red">Stop double posting.</font>
