Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

[FloydNDLAL]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...de-with-suns/1

Steve Nash to the Lakers giving them a legitimate point guard. Want thoughts on this move. Do you like it? Does it make them immediate title contenders? What happens to sessions?

I think it defiantly makes the Lakers contenders again. Steve Nash is still playing at an all high, and one of the best Shooters in the NBA today.

[Drewski]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

Andrew Bynum just had a career year with the least talented version of the Lakers that has hit the hardwood over the last four seasons, will be working with Steve Nash as the facilitator of a lifetime, and will have a serviceable bench with the addition of Antawn Jamison and return of Jordan Hill (and possibly more to come). Now, more than ever, he is primed to step into his own. Despite all of this, rampant speculation that the Los Angeles Lakers are feverishly pushing to swap Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard is lurking around every corner. Seeping from every "source". While Dwight Howard may be the ultimate "end game" for the final act of the Kobe Bryant era, here are five reasons to be excited that being stuck with Andrew Bynum as the worst case scenario is just another reason the Laker fans should be ecstatic with the off-season Mitch Kupchak has put together.

1. He is coming off of a career year.

For a year where his PER (22.9) ranks second in centers only behind Dwight Howard (24.2 PER on 20.6 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 2.1 bpg), Andrew Bynum (18.7 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 1.9 bpg) showed just how dominant he can be. Entering a season sans Lamar Odom, reigning sixth man of the year, it was difficult to envision where the lost production was going to be distributed (no offense Troy Murphy and Josh McRoberts). Pau Gasol was coming off of a terrible playoff performance and whenever Kobe Bryant has the responsibility heavily placed on his shoulders, he generally turns into "I'm going to shoot us into being a contender" mode. Andrew Bynum, meanwhile, worked his way into the role beautifully, and the big man who many were hoping could become a solid third option quickly proved to be the second scoring option for the Lakers (and at times efficient enough to beg the question as to why he wasn't the first option). Only one power forward / center scored more total points (raw) than Andrew Bynum last season. Any guesses on who? No, it wasn't Dwight Howard, but teammate Pau Gasol. Pau ended the season with the most points for players qualified as playing the power forward / center position, coming in at 1129, while Bynum tallied up 1123 points. While many felt Mike Brown struggled at utilizing Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum together, clearly they were both still able to be productive when sharing the court. It was far from synchronized offensive beauty watching the two bigs lumber about the floor, but for a team that was devoid of consistent offensive talent outside of their top three (Kobe, Pau, and Andrew), they were still able to put up the highest offensive output between two bigs in the NBA. Outside of offense, Bynum was also a rebounding machine. His 11.8 rpg, partnered with his 18.7% total rebound percentage, push him into elite rebounding territory. Finally, his true shooting percentage of .594 (4th highest amongst bigs) is another indicator of just how great of a season he had for the Lakers. Andrew Bynum's 2011-2012 was a campaign that can be built upon as he begins to enter his prime. Laker fans should be celebrating a great season from Bynum.

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[Drewski]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

Friday night, August 10th, Mitch Kupchak was a man of few words. He paid his respects to Andrew Bynum, the center who made this all possible. He pieced together a few words to say about the other, less fragile, parcels being Fed Ex'd, and there were no words left for him. Dwight Howard's ear to ear smile while holding his freshly tailored Lakers jersey did the rest. It was finally over. A journey for the Lakers' front office that began with the trade for Pau Gasol, had finally come to its concluding chapter. Today, only Pau and Kobe remain standing from the opening chapter. Two NBA titles, a sweep at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, and a sad whimper while flailing against the new “model” team Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round, and this is what has been produced: Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard. The rest of the league may be moving to a new era, with a new batch of superstar talent dispersed throughout the land, but the Lakers had one last act of defiance as Kobe begins his final act. The franchise that put all of it's egg into the Kobe Bryant basket and let Shaq out of the purple and gold uniform wasn't ready to let Kobe be forgotten in the changing of the guard. Not yet. Not with a generational talent that he is, who is still one of the most committed to not only the franchise, but the game of basketball.

Rest of the article here

[Rule of Two]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

I really hope they give the keys to Steve Nash and let him run the offense. Kobe needs to quit chuckin' if the Lakers want to win it all. We all know Kobe wants ring #6, but can he handle deferring?

It shall be an incredibly interesting season, that much is sure.

[ImaGamer_OS]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

Kobe has a couple seasons left and if he wants ring #6 he will need to play a role that he isn't accustomed too - just like he did with Team USA. The team became LeBron's and Kobe played his role. If Kobe can adjust, he can equal Jordan with ring #6 and even push for a seventh.

[ImaGamer_OS]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

Can't wait for the season to start!

Visit this link for some Black Mamba love.

[Caveman24]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

After thinking about it I love our roster this season. Young,Wesley,Farmer will all give us young legs. Something that was needed in the earlier part of the season. I think we played good as hell after the all-star break. If Nash,Pau can somehow stay healthy while Kobe recovers. I think we have a real shot at an 6th-8th seed.

[Vni]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

I don't love the roster but I think it's better than last year. Got younger on the wings, faster and better defensively at the point with Farmar. I hope Nash and Farme shares the minutes at the point. Nash shoudn't be playing more than 25 minutes.

The offense started to look good with Horns last year I hope they keep up with it. It's definately the way to go especially having Pau at center and shooters on the wings. Young might not be the most efficient players in the world but at least he's happy to be in L.A. and to play along Kobe. I personally think Kaman should come off the bench and Hill be the starting powerforward. Would allow for more speed in transition and also it will be tough for either of them to guard the small and athletic power forwards of todays league.

The addition of Rambis gives me hope on the defensive end that it will be way better than last year. We had glimpse last season of Ice defense on the p'n'r by the lakers so that's a start.

[Caveman24]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

Yes our team was night and day after all-star break. When Mike D didn't coach the starters after all-star break you can see the difference. It was pretty much let Kobe run the offense for the starters and Pringles run the bench. It worked really well.

What people have to realize is last season Nash-Kobe-Artest-Pau-Dwight didn't even play 20 games with them all starting together. The injuries killed this team. I liked Pringles rotations after ASW but then he went back too same ole same when we was in the 9th place. If Pringles can get his rotations in check I think we will be ok.

[Vni]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

What I really dislike about D'Antoni's rotation is that he has them set in the stone and he will not adapt them despite who's on the floor on the other team resulting in huge missmatches and breaking favorable first quarter momentum. Like when Randolph and Marc Gasol are still on the floor you don't sub Jamison at the 6th minute mark like you always do. You wait till at least one of them go on the bench. Especially when everything is rolling for your team. That was frustrating.

I really don't like his coaching, I really don't. He does a good job with the bench though I give him that. Even though he put Jamison in the dog house for a long stretch for no reason. It's even more wierd since Jamison is one player that really suited his weak system.

[Caveman24]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

I hated his rotations as well. I will give him credit after ASW they improved alot. I hope after Kobe injury he can tone it down on everyone minutes. He will just be our hold over coach. I can't see him making it past this season. Without any major injuries I think we can make the playoffs.

[Caveman24]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2013/0...be-a-good-fit/

Thoughts?

[Vni]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

I think that's a lot of chuckers in one team lol.

But at this point they can give him a one year deal for all I care.

[Caveman24]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

Well we should have been had him honestly. When we had CP3 the Dwight deal was done along with a deal of getting Beasley. I like him but he has ALOT of growing up too do. Plus living in LA won't help his smoking problem ha.

[24]

Re: Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

Beasley would be a great addition to the team especially if we could get him for the minimum. I think in the right Scenario he could be a fantastic player. He has all the talent in the world, he just doesn't have it mentally. I believe the Lakers would be able to fix his problems. Plus if he won't run into any problems with the law in LA involving Marijuana