Lakers were embarrassing.

[SportsChic]

then why so much LeClown and Heat love would be MY question. let's face it, if that isn't evidence of totally selling out for titles what else can you reasonably call it...?








CL67

Easy CL.


By the way the Wisconsin Badgers thank the probation prone Buckeyes for letting us get away with 4 B1G losses to another Rose Bowl.

 

[RobBase]

Lakers are the Yankees/Red Wings of basketball. Bought a bunch of championships. Can't win without throwing a ton of money at Phil. Their legacy took a major hit last night. jmo.

 

[jayviabay]

Lakers are the Yankees/Red Wings of basketball. Bought a bunch of championships. Can't win without throwing a ton of money at Phil. Their legacy took a major hit last night. jmo.

Its obvious that you are media educated and dont know much about the history of the lakers. I can understand that being you are not a fan of the team. the lakers won before phil and will continue to win after him.

Have you ever looked up the percentage of the Lakers making the playoffs? its the best in American sports history, bar none!! Do some research before opening your mouth son... Im just sayin...

 

[RobBase]

Its obvious that you are media educated and dont know much about the history of the lakers. I can understand that being you are not a fan of the team. the lakers won before phil and will continue to win after him.

Have you ever looked up the percentage of the Lakers making the playoffs? its the best in American sports history, bar none!! Do some research before opening your mouth son... Im just sayin...

I'm just saying the current era Lakers took a hit to their legacy last night. I grew up during the Magic/Jabbar vs. Bird vs. Jordan vs. the Bad Boys era. I have much respect for the Lakers of that era.

 

[jayviabay]

^THIS.

I'm curious. WHY is Howard a MUST sign? If it's one thing that guy just proved, it's that he's a MUST walk......hell cut him if you must. He has no heart, no offensive moves, can't hit FTs, and pretty much QUIT yesterday. He wanted to get tossed. He gave no effort, and pretty did the same for most of the season. I do not understand this thought process that you MUST have a guy like Howard to win, when all the best teams in the league don't have real centers. Howard doesn't fit the Lakers style of play, he isn't mature enough to handle being the guy in LA, and you won't be able to put any pieces around him for about 2 years. What's the point?

These are words right out of my mouth but I'm hoping BRS is right about, the right coach could help him progress into a franchise player

 

[Retroram52]

Yea so we took a hit last evening. We took a hit in '74-'75 and in '84-'85. But the difference between the Lakers and other teams is the Lakers know how to rebound to elite status after they take a hit. Other teams stay in their valleys because they do not have the rich heritage of knowing how to win and win championships. State what you will, the Lakers will return to the pinnacle once again.

 

[jayviabay]

I'm just saying the current era Lakers took a hit to their legacy last night. I grew up during the Magic/Jabbar vs. Bird vs. Jordan vs. the Bad Boys era. I have much respect for the Lakers of that era.

The hit didnt happen last night... It happened when Dr. Buss could no longer win his battle with cancer and his son took over. I grew up in the same era, and I believe we have been the same lakers up until the last couple of years

 

[Louie26]

At first I thought, "Shane should stick to NCAA," then I remembered how much big money in college programs seems to dominate there.

Then I thought, "Shane should stick to high school sports," then I remembered how much boosters and even AAU or sometimes agents influence the game on that level as well.

I don't even know if the kids' YMCA league is safe for your mindset. Perhaps you should settle on the idea that if your team ain't doing everything legal it can to win, especially when it comes to spending, then maybe you just like supporting losers.

 

[LAKERSUSCBAM]

One thing and we were talking about no one pulling a Bynum and then Howard goes and makes an ass of himself. That boy seriously needs to grow up.

That's what I was looking not to see and it happened....gotta seriously question if this guy has what it takes mentally to withstand the battles down low, rise to the occasion when chips are down, and impose his will. Frankly, saw none of those things in the series -- obvious to see that a leader he is far from it. Question is if he's worth the $118 mill Lakers would offer and can he be relied on when the chips are down as they were after Kobe got hurt?? Not so sure....then again when he is 100%, at least his skills are better than most centers today.

Otherwise, the rest of the Lakers were just overmatched considering it was practically bench warmers vs starters. Not to mention the mismatch at head coach.

can't argue there especially at the coaching level

 

[Retroram52]

LAKERSUSCBAM: I hear you on Dwight. His physical acuity is all there but what maybe lacking is his mental toughness that Shaq eluded to in the pre-game yesterday on TNT. I think Dwight has been on the outside looking in this season because one thing that Dwight did not share with Kobe, Paul, and Metta is the knowledge of what it takes mentally to win a championship. I think, along with everything else this season, it has been bugging him deep down. When Kobe came into Staples Center yesterday you could just see the mental aspect of the game change albeit it was fleeting. And that is what Dwight is going to focus on, I surmise in his time away.

Afterall, Dwight was in the audience of Dr. Buss's memorial service and I know he was exposed to all the players that know something he doesn't and I believe he wants even though he'd probably not admit. The same could be said for Nash, Blake, and Jamison. It is one of the reasons the latter three always defer to Kobe. So maybe Dwight will come back to be taught what it means mentally to win a championship with the Lakers.

 

[rmilia1]

There isnt a team in the league that could ahve withstood the injuries the Lakers had this year and done any better than LA did. Now if you want to argue that they should have seen the injuries coming with Nash's age, Pao and Dwights hisotry of getting hurt and the excess time Kobe had to play to make up for the other 3 injuries then I wouldnt argue BUT the results werent terrible given the circumstances. Hell the Lakers could barely field a starting 5 yesterday.

 

[Retroram52]

Yea rmilia1: That was another component I eluded to on this thread. Granted every team must work through injuries but one thing is certain. Not every team has had this degree of injuries at this time of year as the Lakers did this year and the team still did quite well due in a large part to Kobe's massive mental toughness that permeated this team. When Kobe went down, you could see the effect ripple through the team even though they continued on and actually exceeded the expectations of where they placed in the playoffs. When more people went down, it was just too much to overcome. Like you stated, the Lakers barely fielded a starting five.

 

[TRIPLE 777]

HEAT MY SHORTS --GLAD YOU ARE BACK--U BUST ME UP,ALL THE TIME.

 

[LAKERSUSCBAM]

Retroram: good observation on Dwight and the allure of the Lakers heritage. Wanting something and actually going out and doing it, some times not easy to accomplish. The mantra is talk the talk and walk the walk. Not so sure that after a number of years in the league he'll all of a sudden become a different type player(mentality-wise).

I have a friend(former beat writer for the Lakers) who told me this morning that he spoke to Jerry West about the season. Even though Jerry is now a consultant with GSW, he'll still give his 2 cents about his former team. He believes that Dwight is not worth the contract staring in Lakers' face, that he is nowhere near polished for a guy with his size and athleticism, lacks an inner drive to win....you get the drift. When it comes from the "logo" he hasn't missed too often on personnel talent. Makes you wonder what Lakers would be getting with a guy that would have a fat contract.

 

[TRIPLE 777]

Yesterday was terrible for me but today I made improvements but still not a great day.

I took the Knicks today in the spread and took the under in that game. Would have gotten the under if they avoided OT but I went 0-2 there.

I made 3 bets in the Miami game. Took Miami for the money line/spread and also betted the O/U. Went 2-1 there

And my final bet was taking the over in the Warriors/Nuggets game so I went 3-3 today after going 1-4 yesterday

KS [BALLER 89.--SO DID I,I TOOK THE MONEY LINE AND THE HEAT COVERED THE LINE--NO PROLEM MON----GREAT WIN- BKS89,,[I WILL BE LAGHING MY WAY TO THE BANK.ON MONDAY--THE HEAT ARE JUST AWESOME.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

The injury excuses (while relevant) are starting to get Paul Bunyan level of mythical status.

The LAKERS had 2 pre-season top 10 Hall of Famer 1st team all NBA players.

Both played 76+ games. The team finished at .500 essentially despite having 40% of its starting lineup be first team all NBA elite level players in 76 games.


How many other 2013 teams had 2 elite level max contract superstar players play that many games?? OKC is the only one I can think of.....

How many other teams in history had 2 first team all NBA guys play the entire season at at .500 level?? I would say hardly ever....

The injuries are a part of the game.

The injuries in the playoffs were definitely damaging and obvious for the post-season, but I am not sure injuries were the reason for the failure of a season overall.

Blaming the regular season on injuries seems like a cop-out.

Players that don't mesh and bad coaching had more to do with the failure of 2013.

 

[thehoorse]

The injury excuses (while relevant) are starting to get Paul Bunyan level of mythical status.

The LAKERS had 2 pre-season top 10 Hall of Famer 1st team all NBA players.

Both played 76+ games. The team finished at .500 essentially despite having 40% of its starting lineup be first team all NBA elite level players in 76 games.


How many other 2013 teams had 2 elite level max contract superstar players play that many games?? OKC is the only one I can think of.....

How many other teams in history had 2 first team all NBA guys play the entire season at at .500 level?? I would say hardly ever....

The injuries are a part of the game.

The injuries in the playoffs were definitely damaging and obvious for the post-season, but I am not sure injuries were the reason for the failure of a season overall.

Blaming the regular season on injuries seems like a cop-out.

Players that don't mesh and bad coaching had more to do with the failure of 2013.

 

[Big Red Slugs]

The injury excuses (while relevant) are starting to get Paul Bunyan level of mythical status.

The LAKERS had 2 pre-season top 10 Hall of Famer 1st team all NBA players.

Both played 76+ games. The team finished at .500 essentially despite having 40% of its starting lineup be first team all NBA elite level players in 76 games.


How many other 2013 teams had 2 elite level max contract superstar players play that many games?? OKC is the only one I can think of.....

How many other teams in history had 2 first team all NBA guys play the entire season at at .500 level?? I would say hardly ever....

The injuries are a part of the game.

The injuries in the playoffs were definitely damaging and obvious for the post-season, but I am not sure injuries were the reason for the failure of a season overall.

Blaming the regular season on injuries seems like a cop-out.

Players that don't mesh and bad coaching had more to do with the failure of 2013.

I absolutely HATE the injury EXCUSE, and it has reached a ridiculous level.

I unfollowed Mike Trudell's pansy ass yesterday because it's all he's talked about for a week straight. Mike D'Antoni talks about the injury excuse and lack of training camp more than he ever talked about defense, turnovers, or Kobe sharing the ball. Nash is his head cheerleader in that regard, both been working OT for the past few weeks on that drum to make sure MDA gets another shot. Ever single time a mic is in either of their faces, it's oh our injuries, oh our injuries. What kind of coach let's that shit go on forever like that? Pretty sure Pop would have cut that shit out a long time ago, told the team to sack up and carry on.

 

[lakersrule]

Blaming the regular season on injuries seems like a cop-out.

Players that don't mesh and bad coaching had more to do with the failure of 2013


Injuries were certainly a contributing factor along with other reasons. You can't just disregard the effect the number of injuries had on the outcome.

 

[Flauge]

Lakers disappointed. They underachieved. They sucked. I remember the CBS guys declaring the Lakers better than Miami. What a joke. And let's honestly break this down.. Why were the Laker fans so excited for this season? I never understood it.

Dwight Howard was not that big of an upgrade over Bynum. I know Bynum didnt play this year, but im talking about 2013 LA Lakers vs 2012 Lakers. And signing steve nash? really? A nearly 40 year old PG and a minimal upgrade at center... and all of LA gets convinced they are championship material? They barely got out of round 1 a year ago and managed 1 whole win in round 2.

LA is done. Finished. Implode the team.. start over. Find some sucker organization to work a trade with (that is your M.O.) and rob them blind. I'm not saying that last thing as an insult, quite the opposite, I'm very jealous of it. Start over LA. A 40 year old nash and injured Kobe... and aging Gasol and Ron Artest .. not going to get you anywhere. You had a great run. 2 titles 3 straight final appearances. Now it's rebuilding time. LA fans.. welcome to 1992 all over again.