For the past two years, we've spent a lot of time and money on this kid and have had Kareem coach him and work on his game. So now, the Lakers can't part ways with them 'cause they don't want the satisfaction of another team reaping the benefits of all the progress and time we've put into Bynum. Why we keep making him out to be the future of the franchise is beyond me. He's a #10 draft, and is nothing to go crazy about. Kobe may have been #13, but he was special. As was LeBron, as were some of the other prodigy's that came into the league. We keep talking about him being dominant in the future, but KG, Howard, Shaq were all light years ahead of him at his age. Yeah okay so he's 19 and 7'1, that's the ONLY reason everyone is so crazy about him. He's weak sauce, mark my words, you guys are be like "Damn, illmatic was right about dude." And if we acquired Kidd in the trade, Scottie Pippen would have came aboard also now that Wade is most likely out for the season and the Heat are no longer contenders. We're talking about Jason ******* Kidd here, who cares about his age, the guy is averaging 14.3/8.0/8.7 this season. Not too mention he's one of the best defensive point guards ever. This is such a big mistake, another one we've let pass by. Laker management is going to regret this, just watch. All thanks to our untouchable piece Bynum, unbelievable. We'll never get anywhere with players that play wack ass defense like this. Jason Kidd and Scottie are two of the best defensive players in the past 10+ years. Add that to Kobe, and have Lamar improve his defense, and we're right there with some of the best defensive teams. I'm so pissed off right now. Earlier in the season, I used to look forward to the Laker games so much. But now I don't care......if the players don't care to play to defense, or to win, then why should I? Why should I be such a Laker fanatic when these chumps are playing the laziest basketball ever. We lost to the Portland Trailblazers AGAIN, who were on the second night of back-to-back after playing a late game against Utah the previous night, we were playing at HOME, and after a 1 week All Star break, and we STILL LOSE. Yet, we are the team that comes out a step slower and no desire to win. That's freaking disgusting. We've lost the last 5 games at home, and in our current 6 game losing streak, FIVE of those guys we've had the lead in the 4th quarter at one point. What does that tell us? This team has no heart minus Kobe, Sasha, and Turiaf and the team doesn't do whatever it takes to get the W anymore. Kobe is going to get real fed up soon and just say to himself, "Why am I busting my ass and killing myself night in and night out when no one is putting in the hard work with me?" Lamar Odom is a joke, a couple losses ago before the All-Star break he made a comment that said "We're a young team, it's good to get these losses out of the way early in the season." Eary in the fucking season? We've played 50 games now moron, this isn't November or early December anymore. That crap is unacceptable.
WOW... have some faith bro. I'm upset we didnt get Kidd but thats no reason to give up on the Lakers which is what it sounds like to me. Bynum is ONLY 19! give the kid some time he will continue growing into his body he's already pretty strong and being that tall and able to catch the ball is a rare thing we are spolied having had shaq in his prime we crticize too much as Laker fans we expect the best without waiting that's not gonna happen.
I disagree. The Lakers definitely should've made a push for Jason Kidd, but Bynum and Bryant are the only players I would label "untouchable." It's not so much that he's "the next big thing," but Bynum's a rare commodity in the league these days. Similar to the way the Clippers were very keen on Livingston because he was a versatile PG with great vision, the Lakers are just acknowledging that there are very few teams who have a young low post presence. The difference between those 2 however, is that Bynum's shown some great improvement this season and so there's a lot more reason for being optimistic.
You do realize the Lakers would be without a center if they traded Bynum to the Nets right? The Lakers would still have to include Kwame Brown in the deal to match Kidd's salary. You really want to see Briank Cook and Ronny Turiaf splitting the minutes at center? You also have to keep in mind Bynum barely played any highschool basketball. He's relatively knew to the game, but just look at the progress he's made from last season to this one. If Bynum was made available, you can get a better player or players coming in than Jason Kidd. There's a reason why teams want Bynum, the kid is a legit talent.
If we said no Bynum for KG, why the hell would we do it for Kidd? Everything else I agree on. I like seeing you bash Lamar, I haven't seen that in awhile, I feel like I'm the only one who voices their opinion on him. I'm still waiting for someone to tell me why he's labeled as untouchable. The guy is a joke of a player, he'll never be anything more than a role player. Not only that, but he's mentally stupid, like you said. I'm high on Bynum, last year he came into the league all flab, now he's almost a solid rock. He's only 19 and he has such a soft touch around the basket. This kid is progressing at a very fast rate, the only reason he's fading now is because he's the only C we've got. He needs a rest, the minute load is too heavy for his body right now. Like Shape said, he's a legit talent. The Blazers have always played us pesky, I came into the game expecting a loss, unfortunately.
As far as I'm concerned, Bynum and Bryant are untouchable. Teams want Bynum because he's a hard to find, tall, and still developing player. He's talent will rise as the years progress and many teams could build around him like they did Shaq, its that simple.
You guys bring up some good points, I'm just frustrated, I don't know what to believe anymore. I don't know whether to believe that when Kwame, Mihm, Luke, and Vlad come back, we'll be back to our old ways. It's just we've passed up on so many good players....KG, Artest, Gasol, Kidd, we need to make some changes or something. I still can't believe we've lost 6 in a row.
Very understandable, as of last night I was sure we were going to make some kind of deal because we're in a free fall right now. I think this offseason and how Bynum trains is going to decide a lot on how we feel about this kid going into next year (reportedly training with Kobe, Garnett and Dwight), so I have a lot of hopes for him. Maybe I'm buying to much into the hype? I just see something special in him. I think him averaging 20, 10, and 2.5 is so easy to see. He reminds me of a Jermaine O'neal/Elton Brand type of big man. If he can develop a mid range jumper, which he has the touch for, he can easily be our future.
I'm right there with you as far the frustration is concerned. Seriously, I'm pretty sure the guys I play pick-up with play better defense than the Lakers right now. I think part of the blame for the team's play should fall on Kobe. I know he's trying to be a leader and all of that, but part of being a leader in my opinion is to criticize your team in times like this, in order to light a fire under your teammates. I'm not advocating bashing them, but some light criticism is in order to motivate the team. They'll listen to him both because they look up to him and because of the ensuing media frenzy.
I've seen Kobe yell at his teammates plenty of times on the court, he can't do much more than that. Maybe he should go MJ on them and call them "f*gs" and punch someone? I'm all up for him decking Lamar.
<div class="quote_poster">yodawgsup Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm right there with you as far the frustration is concerned. Seriously, I'm pretty sure the guys I play pick-up with play better defense than the Lakers right now. I think part of the blame for the team's play should fall on Kobe. I know he's trying to be a leader and all of that, but part of being a leader in my opinion is to criticize your team in times like this, in order to light a fire under your teammates. I'm not advocating bashing them, but some light criticism is in order to motivate the team. They'll listen to him both because they look up to him and because of the ensuing media frenzy.</div> I'm up for that. But i honestly odn't think Kobe can do that. He cares way too much about what people think about him. The media will spur something up about how he can't deal with the situation and how he's pointing fingers when, as a leader, he should shoulder the blame for this team's free fall. I don't know, but they'll think of something. He really needs to stop caring and kick someone's ass.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Our two major problems since last year are Smush and Odom. Smush a street player that has no defense at all and its a waste of position while playing defense. The guy almos picks on his own teamates in the defensive end. He only looks to shoot and never looks to pass the ball unless its 5 seconds left and Kobe is next to him. He causes for Bynum, Turiaf to get in foul trouble because allows the oppenent drive by him. Secondly, Odom (Oh!dumb) he has not heart, no husstle and no initiation in leading the team. Once again Phil left him with the bench players to facilitate the team while Kobe is in the bench and next thing you know -Lakers are down by 11 points. Unbelievable! We need start Farmar or Sasha at pg. Secondly once the offseason comes trade both Smush and Odom for legit players. The way things are going, I predict (if lucky) an 8th seed in the playoffs and elimination in 4 by the Mavs.
You know, there is a reason why Smush is starting in front of Sasha and Farmar, he is the better player. Phil is a smart man, I don't think you, and other Laker fans, should be telling us that Smush shouldn't be the starter. He's the best PG we've got right now, that's why he's starting. If that wasn't the case, Phil would change that.
