Winning an NBA title is no easy task. In the last 20 seasons, only 6 franchises have won the championship. That same ratio holds true for the entire span of NBA history, because in 60 NBA seasons, only 18 franchises have had the privilege to hoist a championship banner.
Fortunately for you, the Lakers have had their share of titles. However, the past does not equal the future or present. We as fans have a tendency to think that winning NBA titles is our birthright when actually the complexion of the league has changed dramatically.
Almost every championship caliber team has had at least one player that transcends the generation and lives in the annals of the Hall of Fame. Our Lakers team has one of those players.
These championship teams have also tended to be great defensive teams. Sure, there have been a few that weren’t noted for their stellar defense, but we can certainly say that a top defensive team has a much greater chance at a title than an average defensive team. Right now, our team is displaying the effort on defense that will bring in many more wins than losses. The team defense is accented by Kobe Bryant, who is playing defense at a level that will win games and win him the defensive player of the year should he continue at this pace. The rest of the team has followed his lead. Still, they have a lot of room for improvement, and that’s the good news.
Most championship teams have successful half court offenses. Because defense tends be a championship trait, typically the top tier defenses will force a half court set. This doesn’t mean that a run and gun style such as the Mavericks or Suns cannot win a title, it just means they must be able to manufacture points in the half court set against top defensive teams such as San Antonio. The Lakers have a great half court offense in the triangle. This offense requires good passing and off the ball movement to be successful. The Lakers have recently committed to becoming proficient at both of those qualities this season.
From a structural point of view, the Lakers are playing a style of basketball that gives them an opportunity to compete for a title. The true question isn’t if they can do it, the true question is will they? Competing for a title also requires health. In 1989 and 2004, the Lakers did not win the title primary because of injuries during the championship series.
Assuming the Lakers miraculously avoid health issues, their next concern will be consistent play from key individuals. There’s no doubt that players like Lamar, Farmar, or Bynum have the ability to shine. Once the season matures and the Lakers are heading into the playoffs, all of those players must consistently have terrific games for the Lakers to have a shot. Bynum must become the low post threat, even against the top big men in the game. Farmar must be able to defend while he also penetrates the opposition’s defense. Lamar must remain healthy and continue his excellent play that we’ve seen lately. In short, everything must come together perfectly and we need these players to continue to make big strides as the season continues.
Finally, championship teams have a special mentality that brings everyone together for the common goal. We have some players who aren’t likely to fit that mold, but we also have some key players that will cause this to happen. Every championship team has leadership from the bench as well as the court. The Lakers now have both of those ingredients, and it simply doesn’t get any better than Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant, and Derek Fisher.
In this upcoming road trip, be mindful to watch the team dynamics. The Lakers will do things well and will do other things not so well. This is to be expected. Instead, watch for the ingredients of a championship team. Do they stay on a defensive attack strategy throughout the game? Do they keep their poise? How do the key role players play against a top team? How challenging is it for the team to create easy scoring opportunities in the half court set? How does the team respond to adversity?
These are all questions that will help us know if our team has what it takes.
Kupchak Takes Responsibility
Lakers Pre-Season Progress Report
Fourth quarter takes stuffing out of Lakers
USA Takes Gold
Derek Fisher takes it slow and steady
With this squad, the lakers are not even close. We don’t have any consistant low post play and our perimeter defense is subpar. we are one round and out again…
This current team will not get us a new banner on Staples Center. let’s be realistic. We can beat any team on the NBA in the regular season, but when it comes to the playoffs we might beat and pass the first round but not much beyond that.there is no way we have a championship caliber team now.
Maybe next season with many free agents on the market we might get somebody to help Kobe if he stays, but now, this is very unlikely.
Sorry guys, just a reality check.
If we had a Rodman type defensive monster (without having to give up LO) and a motivated Kwame Brown/grown up Bynum, then yeah, we’d have a shot. But I agree with you, Phantom.
Please fellas. Have a little faith in the Lakers. This team resembles the Chicago Bulls of the mid-90s. I think they can win it all.
this team is great and I believe they can go really far if they play their heart out
yeah right xtro…are you really mitch cupcake?
Seriously, reading the rest of these comments made me think “wtf.. what website am I really on?” Haven’t you learned to always shoot for the moon? There’s always hope for miracles, and this team hasn’t showed us if they’d be great throughout the whole season/pre-season. But as of yet, so far so good. So keep that negativity out of here. Everyone knows that this Laker team played poorly last season. But it’s a whole new season, all new hopes. And this is the NBA. This is “where amazing happens”. Right? We do have the greatest player on the planet + a good supporting cast + one of the greatest coaches of all time. So just keep faith.
dude your dreaming!!! a good supporting cast???wtf??? what team have you been watching? we will go as far as kobe will take us with this team, which is the first round playoffs and go home.
Lakers are a elite team when healthy and you’ll see
i agree w phantom!
supportng cast very weak in defense, and that is where we are going to lose important games!
sorry, we need at least 1 great defensive player
our offense is ok, as long as kobe plays
stop dreaming
Don’t we have a Rodman type player in Turiaf?
I agree. I hope for the best but lets be realistic, this team isnt championship caliber. For one, if you look back at all championship teams, they all had veterans, experienced players. NO ONE other than Kobe and fisher has even had a taste of the second round or beyond the playoffs. It takes veterans and consistent play to win titles. Sadly enough, other than KB and fish, we dont have either from anybody else. This team has yet to play consistent, the beatings to the suns and jazz and horrible loss at home to hornets proves that. Its going to take atleast a couple of years for this team to really contend. The talent is good, but still needs time to grow.
We will 3-peat again!!
I agree with r3demption..wtf site is this? thelakersnation or bashthelakersnation?
until otherwise proven, Lakers are the #1 team in the L and can take anyone in the playoffs.
The lakers are a good team when healthy. But they are not as good as the Spurs, Mavs Rockets. Those teams are much better defensive teams than the Lakers (particularly SA, Houston). Thats what it really comes down too. Yes the Lakers have a good offense, but can they shut down another team when they are having an off night on the offensive end? Its defense that wins championships. Look at the teams that have won in recent years; Spurs-hands down the best defensive team in the last 8 years with the best defensive player (two best defensive players actually); Detroit-second best defense, Miami- great defensive team with Posey and Mourning, thats who won the title for them; Lakers (00-03)- could shut down anyone when they put the effort into it.
^^Spurs never shut the Lakers down last season. both Houston and Dallas choked in the 1st round while a sorry team Cavs team topped the Pistons, another defensive monster.
Man these comments are making me sick! Im sure all of you are watching the same team i am at least i hope. Some of you still cant see what this team is capable of achieving when this team is healthy. They are the best of the best and they will prove this week. This team is stronger, faster, smarter, and has more will power than any team we’ve had since 99-00. Those two teams are fairly similar.
PG:Harper
SG:Kobe
SF:Rice
PF:AC
C:Shaq
Bench: Fisher,Horry, Fox, Shaw
They werent deep but they were deep in experience. They knew how to win and how to compliment each other. None of them were a defensive stopper but they stopped teams by playing team defense. Their success came from failures.
PG:Fisher
SG:Kobe
SF:LO
PF:Ronny
C:Kwame
Bench: Farmar,Java,Sasha,MO,Luke,Vlade,Bynum,Mihm and im not counting coby and cook for good reason.
This team is better than any team we have had in the past season. The problem with the past seasons was that they were still young and injured to the bone. For the first time we have the team that Mitch and PJ envisioned they built. The ball is moving easier, the pass are precise, they are fighting for every second of the game until the clock reads 00:00. For the first time kobe should feel at easy. He does not have to force anything, they are playing so well that the offense will do it. Easy baskets, lay ups, dunks, wide open looks have been coming at will. For the first time kobe is actually shooting close to 50%. He has NEVER shot over 50% for a season. This season he will accomplish that. When this team is 100% for the first time this season this week, they will beat the best and silence the critics.
Don’t kid yourself by listening to the media. Let your eyes be your truth.
^good post
Actually he is better than Rodman. Rodman’ skills Started with rebounding and ended with defense. Ronny is the complete player. He has a jumpshot, he can finish at the basket and has a post moves as well.
Active and physical defender. He brings the same passion Rodman had.
Ronny>Rodman
Let’s be realistic,the Lakers nowhere were they need to be plus the FO needs to get some help for KB/LO.Another GO-HARD player should get them out of the 1st round but with this squad,NOOOOOO.In order for them to be true contenders get O’Neal or Artest immediately so they can learn this system and be comfortable trying to build some chemistry.If not wait ’til next season and see who’s availble.I feel we should get O’neal before NJ(who will NEVER win a championship see’ns though the Lakers killed that dream 4years ago).
Look at the Cavs, it just took 1 superstar and 1 or 2 roll players to get them to the finals.
In 2004, the Pistons won with a core group and none of them were All-Stars at the time.
True but they played as a one body team(chemistry) and destroyed the Lakers(Shaq out of shape).The Cavs went to the finals because they were LIKE DAT on offensive rebounding and pounded the Pistons but couldn’t do the same to the Spurs(experience the factor there).GET O’NEAL NOOOOWWW or Artest if your trying to win Championships.O’neal will not win anything in NJ in any year.
We need Artest
your talking about the east. the west is a whole kind of different monster. the cavs in the west = lottery
no team in the West is a lot better than us. and are you serious? have you seen JO so far? he sucks! no way in hell do we trade Lamar OR Bynum plus 4 plus other guys plus picks for him. he’s worth only half of his 20 mill paycheck. and no, we don’t need Artest. we’re loaded at SF, LO>Artest, and Artest is stupid and always gets himself suspended and whatnot. we are past the 1st round already this season. we should just stick on this path the FO is taking cause it looks like it’s working.
trading for JO puts us back even more and Artest has about 3 other teams he’d rather be on that would LOVE to have him. we don’t need either due to cost and depth at their respective positions.
When the Lakers beat the Spurs (the champ’s) then they will give all you doubters something to think about.Dont forget that last year they beat them 2 times and they lost to them by just a few points in the other 2 games.You people dont seem to understand that just the presence of Kobe alone is enough to give us a decent chance over any team in the league.Now we have a full and healthy squad so i expect the Lakers to beat the boring a$$ Spurs.And then they will give Houston a loss at home to pay them back the favor, im mostly concerned with Detroit for now!!!
We need a monster player in the defense end. Artest, I agree is a nutcase, so then who else could be?
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANNA BE REALISTIC, WELL IMA BE REALISTIC….THE TOP BEST TEAMS IN THE LEAUGE
NO SPECIFIC ORDER
1. SPURS
2. PISTONS
3. CELTICS
4. DALLAS
5. ROCKETS
6. UTAH
7. SUNS
8. LAKERS
9. DENVER
10. I DONT KNOW WHO WILL GO HERE
hahahahahahaha Are you people in LA this dumb? So you think your your 3-2 team can win a ring? Wake the {Profanity isn't allowed on theLakersNation.com -- Please go back and edit your comment. Thank you.} up. The Lakers suck ass. Your on your way to win six titles! Keep dreaming. This has to be some of the dumbest crap I have ever read. Really your team is full of garbage and have played a soft first five games. phhhhh yeah and Ron Artest is really going to put you over the top. Ohhhhh my god!
I know Jerry West and all the Lakers organization has internet access so they can actually read these comments. Mr. West, your a genius and a very smart man when it comes to re-making a roster into a championship team. You obviously know going through our current roster of players, 1-15, that we are a very deep team with decent talent and we are stacked at every position with quality 2nd tier players. Only you have the knowledge and know how to transcend this team into a championship contender all in the same season.
Unfortunately when you left, you took your magic wand with you, because Mr. Kupchak apparently either lost his, doesn’t know how to use it, or like he states, doesn’t even have one. I agree with him that we have a good, I rather say “decent” team, but we have many quality players who can be moved to bring in veterans or other players that can take us to the next level so I cannot understand why moves aren’t being made. Everyone keeps talking about this years team being better than the previous ones and going farther into the playoffs but if I’m not mistaken, we’ve had almost the exact same roster for 3 seasons now. If memory serves me correct, the outcomes have been the same and are getting worse every season as we progress with this current roster.
I speak for myself and hopefully for all of the Laker Nation that you can come back before the trade deadline and clear everything up with Kobe and the Laker organization and make some bold moves that are desperately needed to become that championship team again that you built. I’ll take this as an early Christmas present coming from a die hard Laker fan…. GO LAKERS!!!!!
Did you people notice it was most of the Kobe fans (not Laker fans), who are bashing our Laker squad and saying they can’t compete. Again I see to you Kobe fans, this is a LAKER FAN SITE. If you are not a Laker fan or do not have have faith in the Lakers, then GET OUT AND DO NOT RETURN. Go praise Kobe at his site.
Yes, I think the Lakers can compete and go far in the playoffs. If Cleveland and Utah (and no Utah is NOT THAT GOOD despite what reports say) can go far in the playoffs, then I know this Laker team can. Defense is ALWAYS key.
As a Laker fan, I am praying that Sacramento continues to falter and realize that they have to dump Artest for expiring contracts. I am hoping that Geoff Petrie realizes this and see’s our Kwame expiring contract of $9M after this season as attractive. Kwame can easily be traded for Artest for a one for one trade. Both contracts are about the same (as a matter of fact Kwame makes slightly more than Artest). Artest is a great defender and could contribute to this Laker team.
Lakersfirst,
You can be a kobe fan and a laker fan also. when the lakers FO cant or wont make the right moves in bringing veterns, you cant just sit by and say nothing. The FO is dropping the ball on Kobe’s window to win another championship…
Its so sad that someone who claims to be a Laker fan first can write that he believes in this Laker team and think they can go far in the playoffs when the exact same team has faltered twice in the 1st round of the playoffs two years in a row yet still state in his comments that he would like changes made to the roster “Kwame for Artest” straight up to better the makeup of the team. “Don’t contradict yourself buddy.” We’re all Laker fans here too and want better players also not for the sake of KOBE but for the Lakers in general. Our current roster doesn’t suck, they’re just very mediorce and inconsistant and their not winners. Take off your beer goggles and then you’ll prolly see what I’m talking about Mitch!
You guys can’t with with this team. Just realize it.
JoJo is still waiting for Jordan, Pippen, and BJ Armstrong to come out of retirement
For all you gamblers out there, take Lakers tomorrow vs Spurs. Spurs won’t cover, Lakers always play them tight. Only one free pick a week, thank you come again!
We have the greatest player on our team but he still wants out of LA. So we’ll never win a championship because Kobe is always thinking negative thoughts about our city. So f*** him
Thats a nice write up but you can be more talented, athletic, deeper, and quicker but still go nowhere. Look at the Suns and the Spurs. Suns are better all around, but Spurs have one thing the Suns dont, experience winning. This team is nothing like our championship team in 00-02. Those guys pre 2000, went through battles in the playoffs, EVERY SINGLE one of those guys on that team had playoff experience, they were veterans, who knew how to win games. This team has no experience, other then getting beat in the first round. This team is way too young to really compete for a title. They have the ability but not the experience. They have yet to play consistently. Other than Kobe theres not much consistency. We have what it takes, dont get me wrong, thats why we can beat teams like the Spurs and the rest of the elite on a given night, but consistency and experience in play is what wins playoff SERIES and we have yet to prove that. We can gain it as the season progresses, but this team is just too young to really contend.
I like the optimistic view but you have to look at things not just from a Lakers fan point of view but also from a basketball fan point of view. Chick Hearn was and probably is the greatest of Lakers fans but he placed constructive criticism where it was due, he pointed out the good and the bad, and everyone should do the same.
Its amazing how you can just bash people and prove nothing about the points youre making.
Utah not a good team? 50+ wins in the western conference and beating the Rockets in the playoffs. The team ball they play and their talent in williams, boozer, okur, kirilenko, and the rest. Thats a good team. Did you not see who cleveland played in the playoffs?? Injured teams Nets and Wizards and how poorly the pistons played. Theres a reason why they got demolished in the playoffs not one game was even close.
You say defense is key and the Lakers can go far in the playoffs but currently this season they DO NOT even crack the top 20 in team points allowed, we rank 23rd in the league, giving up 102ppg. Thats not a good defensive team.
If Artest does come to the Lakers, that changes everything, but until that happens, this team doesnt have it.
I love the Lakers and I do think we have the talent to compete but this team is too young and lack the right experience to compete.
BEC WELL SAID.
We need veterans. Hopefully next season with free agency we can maybe get couple. This season I hope Lakers beat the Suns on the first round, That would make me happy. I do not expect this team getting pass the second round, unless we get very, very lucky with the end of season seeding. ANd of course we all hoping kobe will stay.
I’m boggled because this years 07-08 team is pretty much identical to last years 06-07 team and pretty close to the 05-06 team the year before yet their suppose to better this year than the teams we had the previous two years???…Hmmm……..We pretty much got no where the last 3 years with the same squad. F/O needs to grow some marbles and make a move. The following list shows the players we keep and the players that need to take a hike:
Keep:
Bryant
Fisher
Odom
Walton
Turiaf
Mihm
Evans
Farmar
Radmonovic
Send them packing ASAP:
Bynum
Brown
Cook
Vujacic
Crittenton
Karl
Like I said, our current roster doesn’t suck, it just needs a little tinkering. A great GM can take the players that I listed not needed and get some veteran leadership or a great player because they have a lot of promise and cap relief to go with them. I say mortgage the future which won’t be for another 5 years until Bynum or Crittenton can make an impact and invest in the present for at least another 8 years winning 4 titles out of the 8 at least. GO LAKERS!!!!!
Xtro, your closer to the truth than some losers I know on here and here is why…the guys who say the lakers have no shot are the same guys who said ship LO and Bynum for JO. Who would make that trade now? The same guys who said Fish will not help that much, and the lakers have no bench. We have one of the deepest teams coming off the bench with Mihm, Bynum, farmar, Walton, Vlad, etc…These same losers say the only hope is if kobe shoots 30 times a game….and as we have found out we win more times when kobe shares the ball and not Hogs the ball. Perhaps these people do not understand that basketball is best played as a team than a one man show…I think kobe is finding that out and learning that right now I just hope some here would learn with kobe.
Another SMH post.
Crap. Close to the 05-06 team?
05-06
PG:Smush
SG:Kobe
SF:LO
PF:Kwame
C:Mihm
Bench:Farmar,Sasha,cook,luke,Jim Jackson,George,bynum
06-07
PG:Smush
SG:Kobe
SF:Luke
PF:LO
C:Kwame
Bench:Farmar,Sasha,MO,Cook,Vlade,Ronny,Bynum,Mihm
07-08
PG:Fisher
SG:Kobe
SF:LO
PF:Ronny
C:Kwame
Bench:Farmar,Java,Sasha,MO,Luke,Bynum,Vlade,Mihm,Cook
Its not whats on paper. Words tell **** about this team. I cant believe people want to break apart a team after first weeks and after they blow out the suns. You would be stupid if Mitch was to tinker with this team right now. You must be even more retarded than Bucher to compare this team to last years.
Why in the hell would you get rid of bynum? You are paying him rookie money for a guy who is producing a double double on a nightly bases. Kwame, just let him play out his contract, ur going to get nothing for him. 9m off ur belt. No one is going to take cook expect the bobcats. Sasha, is just as hard to move. Trade JAVA?! You wanna trade the future star of the Lakers. One third of the future Laker trio of Bynum, Farmar and Java. Plus his contract isnt even worth moving. Moving Coby Karl is just as heartless as trading Derek Fisher.
5 years? Bynum has been in the league in three years and right now he took Amare to school. That man can become a All star this year with his number so far. Java is better than any rookie we have had since Kobe. Yeah i said it. This team is built like the spurs. They will battle, grow and fight with each other. The team will be complete next season with the addition of one free agent. That will be the team for the years to come.
Drake and Phantom,
Although it seems like the same team, you’re both missing one key element. It’s simple addition by subtraction. We got rid of Smush Parker and that makes all the difference in the world. Smush was dead last in all but one category for starting point guard stat last year.
Silo….don’t come on this website crying and begging for changes at the end of the year when the Lakers lose in the first round again. I’m a Laker fan who is looking at the real picture even when things are going good. Of course you can’t bash the Lakers right now because their playing well but in the end this is the same team that will give us the same result. Jordan was dominant even at 39 so Kobe has at least 8 more dominant years in him. Plug JO in the lineup with Fish, Bryant, Odom, and Mimh and people will take us seriously this year. Bryant will make JO better because he can finish around the basket and he’s a presence in the low post. I’ll take Bryants prime over whatever you think Bynum and Crittenton will become which I think will be good but not great for both players. I cheer for the present, and for the present I want savy experienced veterans who can get the job done. Someone is gonna come out and be great every three or four years so it’s not like Bynum is the last of the coming of great players to be. You too are a front running drunk Laker fan with beer goggles on who cheers for them when they win and will whine when they start losing. Were so deep we can afford to give up Crittenton and Bynum and get someone great for them. I’ll take Farmar for the the next 8 years with Kobe. Who cares if they become great when we can get someone great now whos already proven. You want to cheer for a young rebuilding squad whos keeps losing, move to Minnesota cause this is LA and we only play for the championship.
What makes this team totally different…kobe shooting less, kove playing with the team, fish, improved bynum and farmar, no smush, another year of experience, HEALTHY PLAYERS….WE SEE A DIFFERENT TEAM BECAUSE THIS TEAM IS HEALTHY FOR A CHANGE… what hasn’t changed is some laker fans who want to get rid of quality talent for smush…
N8…..you are right about one thing with the addition of subtraction that can make a real difference. Build a package around Bynum and ship him out for JO because Indy just lost three in a row and like I said it before, they’re gonna keep losing and need to get something for JO. He’s a proven all-star not some potential player that we keep waiting on every year. Kobe will make him an even better player. We can get 20 and 10 from JO everynight with Kobe driving and dishing or lobying passes for dunks to JO and he’s only 28. You have too agree with me on that and Kudos about Smush, he’s a cancer.
5 years? Bynum has been in the league in three years and right now he took Amare to school. That man can become a All star this year with his number so far.
Thats what SILO wrote: Anyone think Bynums going to the all-star game this year?…****LMAO****…….
Tell the truth SILO, your Bynums paperboy huh, he told you to say that!!!!!
**FYI**….Topic of Discussion is “Do the Lakers have what it takes”
Of course not until we at least trade for JO. If Fisher can make that big a difference to the PG position for us this year where we really needed help, imagine what JO will do for us at PF. I’m gonna start a new website “TRADE BYNUM” while he still has potential where people keep thinking he’s gonna be this great player for some reason/
Um. Duh! Who doesnt *please dont use profanity* and whine when their team loses. Its part of being a fan. Hell, its what this website was built on in the first place. Changes. Remember? GETGARNETT.COM?! GETJO.COM!? Get Jo? You must be crazy. That man can barely get 10pts a game as a starter for a player who was a all star year in and year ever since he arrived in Indiana. Instead, Bynum is averaging near to a double double and is coming off the bench. BENCH MOB! BENCH MOB! You cant be the bench mob if you gut the bench! You cheer for the present and you want savy veterans? Hmmmmmm. Do you know how we had savy vets? They played with each other for 3-5 years and become that championship team. The only savy vet on the market right now is C-Webb. Every 3-4 years? HELLO WE ARENT A LOTTERY TEAM EVERY YEAR LIKE SOME HORRIBLE TEAMS LIKE THE HAWKS! ITS A VERY RARE OCCASION WHEN WE GET BUILD OFF TRADE PICKS! BYNUM COULD BE THE FIRST REAL LAKER BIG MAN SINCE GEORGE MIKAN! Every other Laker big man was traded to us. How can a team be to deep? Hell i dont wanna be the Celtics. House? Posey? Pffffffffff.lol.
You are right. I am pride swallowing, purple and gold wearing, jumping up and down for every win and bashing my closet door when they lose laker. Why? Cause I love my Lakers. Not Kobe. Not LO. Not Phil. My Lakers. Why the hell would we trade right now, unless its to get rid of cook or sasha. Every player we would trade for can or will be a free agent next season. This team is built for the now and for the future as well.
“You want to cheer for a young rebuilding squad whos keeps losing, move to Minnesota cause this is LA and we only play for the championship.”
That made me laugh. You sound like all those retards at KB24.com who claim they are all Laker fans except they are Kobe fans. Man, i will cheer if they are young, old, or crippled. I Love this team no matter what.
And no, this is not LA.
This is the LAKER NATION. WE ARE NOT JUST IN LOS ANGELES. WE ARE EVERY WHERE! ASK FATTY, IM SURE HE KNOWS.
Now these are the voices of the true die hard Laker fans. Honestly, who goes to a Laker fan site and starts bashing them when they’ve done better than before. These Lakers are looking better than they have in the past 2 seasons, so to us TRUE Laker fans, that means there is hope. True fans never stay down when it comes to their team. ESPECIALLY if the team is showing improvement. Yeah it may not be realistic on paper that our team can be contenders. But whose to say we cant get fired up about this squad? As the true Laker nation, “We Follow Because We Believe”. Thats the damn motto of this site! To us fans who stuck with the Lakers through their lowest points, we all know the only place to go is up. And that’s where the 07-08 squad is going. It’s no longer Kobe filling up the highlight reel. You see between the leg passes from Luke to whomever, Farmar cuts and dishes it out to Bynum for a monster dunk, a left handed layup around 2 defenders for L.O., a steal by Luke which then leads to a fast break by Fisher, and an occasional Kobe shot. Now can you tell me that isn’t improvement from the previous Laker highlights (which were 90% Kobe). Come on now, give this squad some credit and let them play. Of course we need more help, but what team says “no we don’t need more great players”. So all in all, win or lose, chip or no chip, the Lakers are playing much better basketball and finally gave their true fans some hope.
(Silo quote)….”…That man can become a All star this year with his number so far. Java is better than any rookie we have had since Kobe. Yeah i said it. This team is built like the spurs. They will battle, grow and fight with each other. The team will be complete next season with the addition of one free agent. That will be the team for the years to come.”
First off Bynum an all-star?? Not in the western conference or eastern…Yao Ming, Chris Kaman, and Marcus Camby are just a few who are clearly better in all aspects, more points, blocks, and boards. Tyson Chandler, Brad Miller, and Andres Biedrins are doing statistically better than Bynum too.
This team is not built like the Spurs. If it were we would be contending right now. Spurs have veterans and we have rookies and young prospects. Every championship team they had, they had experienced players from guys like sean elliot, avery johnson, and david robinson from their early titles to now with guys like bowen, horry, and finley.
Theyre not wasting Duncans prime years, like the Lakers are with Kobe. Dont even start thinking im way up Kobes a**, im not even a big Kobe fan, but i am a LAKERS FAN who wants this team to WIN AND WIN NOW, because we have a chance with Kobe. Winning resolves anything. When you have a player like Kobe, you must do whatever it takes to win, because these kinds of opportunites dont happen a lot. (Kobe will stay if we have a contender.) If we can make this team better by trading Bynum, I say ship his a** out, im not saying trade Bynum just to make a trade like LOandAB for JO, that doesnt make us better. But if we can get talented experienced veterans for Kobe by trading bynum i say trade him. Who knows how good Bynum can be but we do know how great Kobe is and we can win with Kobe, we just need more experienced players to help him and waste his prime years.
We wont contend this season but maybe next season we might have a chance to contend, only if we get some more veteran help on this team though.
Silo, your so pathetic its saddening. You should call Jerry Buss and ask for a job mopping the courts during timeouts or filling the gatorade bottles. The Lakers are a 7th or 8th seed at best so they are already floating around the other lottery teams. I can’t believe you said George Mikan “LOL”. How old are you 70? At least say Shaq because we’ve all seen him play. FYI…only five players can be on the court at one time and we have some much talent at every position if you even read my blog i wrote earlier so thats why we can afford to let some of these guys go. If you really read my blog you would see I said Kobe would make JO better and he would put up better numbers. Maybe you should start reading my blogs before you critique my opinions Mr. “I love the Lakers no matter what”. Did you read my blog of guys that we should keep and who we should get rid of Mr. Benchmob Benchmob. I never said gut the bench either. I feel like I’m writing to a blind 70 year old kindergarden kid! Just do your job and deliver Mr. Bynums paper and show him my blog.
PHANTOM
The FO has made some bad trades, yes, HOWEVER, KOBE IS TO BLAME FOR VETERANS NOT COMING HERE. KG is not here because Kobe publicly bashed the FO and made the Laker organization look bad. If you want veterans here, YOU DO NOT MAKE YOUR TEAM/ORGANIZATION LOOK BAD!! KG even said that L.A. wasn’t an option because of the Kobe situation. You can also thank Kobe for someone like Grant Hill not being here because he too stated the L.A. wasn’t an option because of the Kobe situation, again