Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

[bateman11]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

I couldn't agree more. Kwame is playing great along with Luke. I wonder who will start now with Odom out for a while. Everyone will have to step up, I would like to see Vlad get more involved on offense.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

Christmas day game: avenged.

I like how the Lakers have snapped some winning streaks this year. I wonder what Odom's status is.

This team has surprised me in so many ways:
1. Kobe's play- unselfish, yet aggressive. He is right in the thick of the MVP race.
2. Luke Walton has played a wonderful second fiddle to Bryant.
3. Mo Evans has done more with very little than I have ever seen out of any player.
4. Sasha's play of late has left me literally speechless. I remember how low I thought of him as a player just a month ago, but he has been as valuable as any Laker these past two weeks.
5. The Lakers' overall depth. I had no idea they would be this potent from top to bottom. Bench guys like Cook, Bynum, Farmar, Radman, Evans the list goes on.

I wouldn't be surprised if they won 50 games this season [they reached 25 tonight], and Kobe got his first ever MVP.

P.S., I can't help but to worry about the Rockets. They are lurking, and have quietly won 25 games without Yao. T-Mac looks healthy again, and they are the team that I see competing for the fourth seed.

[WTF]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

Farmar has probably impressed me the most, when he gets the minutes. He's literally a Big Shot Bob type player in a small PG body. He's an unbelievable shooter, and normally hits the shots RIGHT when you need him.

Overall, I'm impressed with Kobe, and impressed with the Lakers overall thus far.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

Let me back off my Kobe praise a little. I think I was just influenced by this game against Miami (which at times, he reverted back to ill-advised Bryant). There have been games where he has really shined, mixed in with some games where shot selection has been terrible. If he plays like he did tonight, for the rest of the season, then I can't see how they don't win at least 50.

[stephenyoungchoi]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

the lakers are not a smart team..... it frustrates me so much because whenever they have a lead or are about to blow the game open they make so many mistakes that kill them. like tonites miami game they were up 9 then evan for some reason doubles 'tione at the 3 point line and leaves posey open for a 3.... then i think they miss layups on other end and turn over, give up another 3 and the game is tied.... it happenes in like 90% of all the games this year. the lakers just can't hold leads because of their low basketball iq as a team..... it would probably take me 2 pages to list all the boneheaded stuff they do, but if you watch the games you should know....
overall though i am excited about their season so far... would never have thought they would be 25-13 w/ this team.... but if they want to advance in the playoffs they need to cut down on their stupid mistakes....

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

I agree with the mental lapses. Especially on the defensive side i.e. defending the pick and roll. They will not go very far until they learn how to defend that. But their depth, the fact that Phil Jackson is there, and the Bryant factor leads me to believe they will be ok in the long run.

[bateman11]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

Very impressed with this team. Need to play smarter though. And yeah our pick and roll defense is horrible.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

Well it's good to know the Lakers have beaten all of the elite teams of the West (Spurs twice now).

[WTF]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

Definitely a really good win for the young Lakers. And MAN did Kobe throw down hard off the alley all over Duncan...

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

Definitely a really good win for the young Lakers. And MAN did Kobe throw down hard off the alley all over Duncan...

Not just once, but twice he dunked hard over Tim. He doesn't get up as often as he used to, but it's exciting to know that he still has that in his bag of tricks.. and his knee seems to be back to almost full strength.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

If Kupcakes rebuilding plan comes to fruition, the Lakers are going to be sick.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

If Kupcakes rebuilding plan comes to fruition, the Lakers are going to be sick.

I think a lot of people [including myself] need to have their crow for thinking Kupcake was completely inept as a GM. The roster has really REALLY panned out.

I absolutely hated the Bynum pick, but it looks like he'll be a top five center next year. In that same draft he also picked Ronny, truly a genius pick, at the time I actually believed Ronny's pick was a much better one than the Bynum one. He picked Jordan this year, which as turned out to be a hell of a pick. He found Smush whom has given the Lakers some nice production for 700,000. The list goes on.. Sasha's play has finally resembled that of a sharp-shooter [the Sasha pick was the source of my dislike for Kup].. He absolutely ripped off the Pistons, and got Mo Evans for some African dude who will probably not see the NBA for years, Luke Walton looks like he's going to be a vital cog in the Lakers rotation for years to come, Radman hasn't created any kind of log jam [although Odom and Brown are hurt] and he's been an asset off the bench along with Cook [another Kupcake pick]. I definitely didn't think this roster was capable of what they've accomplished last season in the playoffs, and this season winning 26 games.

The only blemishes for Kup, is perhaps acquring the cake-thief for Butler. Although as it's been stated many times before, Butler didn't really have a spot here for the type of money he was going to command.

I don't think Mitch's plan is on track, because he signed Radman.. so this is pretty much the team that they're going to have to roll with for at least next season. After Brown's contract is up, is when you might see a change. Although Brian Grant's contact is up this season, so does that change anything?

[bateman11]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

We don't need Brian Grant. Tonight we need a win since we are playing the worst in the league.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

Lakers are sucking. 24 needs to live up to his name and take his team out of this losing streak.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Official Lakers 2006-2007 Thread

From the OC Register:
The Lakers haven't announced it yet, but the word is Phil Jackson has agreed to a five-year contract extension that includes a provision for moving into the front office at the appropriate time.

Owner Jerry Buss is hopeful the Zen Master will be able to attract marquee players in his new role once he leaves the bench. That also sounds like a reduced role for Mitch Kupchak.

Interesting.. If true, glad that PJ will be coaching for a bit more. I really hope Bryant can get a ring, and I don't see him getting one without Jackson.