Game Thread: Lakers Vs Nuggets Dec 30, 2014

[DJ Fieri]

Great game!!!

 

[DJ Fieri]

Ok guy's I get Jaime Maggio.

NSFW!!!

 

[wildturkey]

Snapped a 7-game losing streak. Kobe gets his trip dub, we go 10-22, and onward we go. We still have the fifth spot in the draft order nailed down but its tenuous. Later.

Technically if the season ended today, LA could fall as low as 7th. Keep in mind the lottery is for the first 3 picks, not just #1. So if LA has the fifth worst record, the way the weighted system works is its possible two teams below them could still win a Top 3 spot. To absolutely guarantee LA gets a top 5 pick, LA would have to finish the regular season with the 3rd worst record in the league.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Ed Davis suffered a broken nose in the game and still closed it out.

 

[Retroram52]

Ouch. I am amazed he was able to see. My eyes would be watering up to beat the band.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Technically if the season ended today, LA could fall as low as 7th. Keep in mind the lottery is for the first 3 picks, not just #1. So if LA has the fifth worst record, the way the weighted system works is its possible two teams below them could still win a Top 3 spot. To absolutely guarantee LA gets a top 5 pick, LA would have to finish the regular season with the 3rd worst record in the league.

That's no guarantee either. Some years ago, Boston had the 2nd or 3rd worst record but ended up drafting 6th or 7th. Boston fans were pissed.

 

[Retroram52]

I believe the NBA's system for determining draft order has some major flaws in its design. They should just go back to the old-school days just like every other major sports league. Simplify it to let wins-losses record of a given team determine the order of draft selection.

 

[trojanfan12]

I believe the NBA's system for determining draft order has some major flaws in its design. They should just go back to the old-school days just like every other major sports league. Simplify it to let wins-losses record of a given team determine the order of draft selection.

I agree. The theory behind it was sound, but in practice, it hasn't worked. The idea was to prevent tanking, but that hasn't happened. In fact, you could almost make an argument that it has made tanking worse because teams are trying to make sure they get into the bottom 3.

 

[Retroram52]

That's spot on TJF12. The system actually encourages tanking because of its design.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Kobe put on a basketball clinic last night, it was a very Vino performance. Other than late turnovers and a few missed FTs the Lakers played a perfect game. Johnson and Price were lights out.

 

[Retroram52]

This new facilitator role for Kobe really unleashes the Lakers present roster and fosters development of a number of issues the Lakers have turning weaknesses into strengths. He just needs to stick to it and it will eliminate his fatigue he mostly gets when he trys to carry the team by fighting through so many double teams and playing too many minutes. If teams know now that Kobe is going to pass off instead of playing hero ball, they won't revert to the double and triple team so much especially down the stretch when hero ball is often the most predictable.

 

[trojanfan12]

This new facilitator role for Kobe really unleashes the Lakers present roster and fosters development of a number of issues the Lakers have turning weaknesses into strengths. He just needs to stick to it and it will eliminate his fatigue he mostly gets when he trys to carry the team by fighting through so many double teams and playing too many minutes. If teams know now that Kobe is going to pass off instead of playing hero ball, they won't revert to the double and triple team so much especially down the stretch when hero ball is often the most predictable.

Last night Kobe dished out 11 assists and still managed to be the leading scorer. Obviously, he's not going to be getting triple doubles every night, but if he can average 20-25 ppg on 10-15 shots with 7-10 assists per game, the Lakers will be much better for it and fatigue won't be as much of a problem.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

I agree with both of you. I think Price's confidence was key last night, when he first became the starter he was much more timid. Not sure if Johnson and Price can keep making shots at such a high percentage but if more players start shooting better then it will discourage those double teams even more. Having a big who can pick and pop opens up the lanes more too, Boozer was doing this effectively and played surprisingly good defense at the end of the game. As much as people like to say Kobe settles too much, I see Lin and Nick Young settling for mid-range fadeaways just as much. Got to penetrate (that's what she said).

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

Ed Davis suffered a broken nose in the game and still closed it out.

The dude is a beast.

 

[Inimical]

If i wasnt as inebriated as i was last night i might have actually noticed Kobe had such a great game.

 

[Retroram52]

Inimical, how did that happen?

 

[Black Adam]

If i wasnt as inebriated as i was last night i might have actually noticed Kobe had such a great game.

hehe, inimical? soused? say it ain't so...

i'm guessing he's REALLY tyin' a bag on at a New Year's party somewhere...