|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
iml84myd8s
Starting Rotation
Joined: 06 Aug 2005
Posts: 598
|
 Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:08 am Post subject: Considering the Hornets, are the Lakers really that far off? |
|
|
Considering the Hornets, are the Lakers really that far off?
Considering the history of the Lakers franchise, the success of the head coach, (arguably) the greatest player currently in the game, the capability of the starting five, the experience on the bench and the number of 1st round draft picks on the bench... are the Lakers really that far off?
Is it NOT possible that one of the greatest franchises, one of the greatest coaches and one of the greatest players of all time, can turn this team into a contender rather than a .500 ball club?
If the Hornets can beat the Lakers, Spurs, Mavericks, Heat, Rockets, Timberwolves, Kings, 76ers, Clippers, Grizzles and maintain the 6th seed in the playoff race, why can’t the Lakers do the same or better?
Are players the problem? Are the coaches the problem? Is the division the problem?
Considering the Hornets, the Lakers really don’t have anything or anyone to blame but themselves because they have enough to get it done already.
Hornets (forced to relocate to a different state)
Division (toughest in the NBA)
Spurs, Mavericks, Grizzles and Rockets
George Shinn (arguably one of the worst owners in the NBA)
Jeff Bower (1st year with the Hornets)
Byron Scott (forced out of New Jersey)
Starting Line-up
Chris Paul (rookie)
Kirk Snyder (1-year of NBA exp)
Desmond Mason (maybe the worst jump shot in NBA)
David West (2-years of NBA exp)
PJ Brown (36-year old power forward)
Bench (young and not well-known players)
Speedy Claxton (5' 10")
JR Smith (riding the pine)
Rasual Butler (3-years of NBA exp)
Aaron Williams (journey man)
Moochie Norris (journey man)
Jackson Vroman (1-year of NBA exp)
Bostjan Nachbar (3-years of NBA exp)
Arvydas Macijauskas (rookie)
Brandon Bass (rookie)
Lakers (a top NBA historic franchise)
Division (average in the NBA)
Suns (no Amare), Clippers (historically a joke), Kings (falling fast), Golden State (?)
Jerry Buss (arguably one of the greatest owners in sports history)
Mitch Kupchak (5 seasons – 2 Div Titles, 3 Conf Titles & 2 NBA Titles)
Phil Jackson (9 Championships)
Starting Line-up
Smush Parker (journey man)
Kobe Bryant (arguably the greatest player currently playing)
Lamar Odom (former Olympian)
Kwame Brown (former 1st overall pick)
Chris Mihm (arguably a top 10 or 15 center currently playing)
Bench (young with experienced players)
Sasha Vujacic (6’ 7” – 1st rd draft pick)
Devean George (3 Championship Rings)
Brian Cook (2-years of NBA exp – 1st rd draft pick)
Luke Walton (2-years of NBA exp)
Aaron McKie (veteran)
Andrew Bynum (10th pick in the draft)
Stanislav Medvedenko (5-years of NBA exp)
Ronny Turiaf (rookie)
Devin Green (rookie)
Von Wafer (rookie) |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
wolfpaclaker
Retired Number
Joined: 29 May 2002
Posts: 58344
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
The thing is - We aren't trying to become the Hornets.
We are trying to become a champioinship team. The Lakers don't play to be good, they play to be great.
So that's why noone is even remotely satisfied with the prospect of getting a low playoff seed.
However if we make the playoffs this season, I think it's a movement in the right direction and there was some improvement in certain areas. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
iml84myd8s
Starting Rotation
Joined: 06 Aug 2005
Posts: 598
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
| wolfpaclaker wrote: | The thing is - We aren't trying to become the Hornets.
We are trying to become a champioinship team. |
I'm still learning, but doesn’t the 6th seed typically resemble a team that is better than an 8th seed?
| Quote: | | The Lakers don't play to be good, they play to be great. |
And this should have been so obvious to me... I'm such an idiot for not catching on to this.
| Quote: | So that's why noone is even remotely satisfied with the prospect of getting a low playoff seed.
However if we make the playoffs this season, I think it's a movement in the right direction and there was some improvement in certain areas. |
I’m not so smart, but didn’t you just contradict yourself? If you think it is a move in the right direction by making the playoffs and the Lakers make the playoffs, then you would actually be remotely satisfied even if it is a low seed. After all, it only takes an 8th seed to make the playoffs.
So does this remotely satisfy you or not? Or perhaps a move in the right direction is not satisfing to you at all. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sodapoppenski
Star Player
Joined: 24 Apr 2005
Posts: 7364
Location: Washington, DC
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:41 am Post subject: |
|
|
The Hornets have a better bench than us, and underrated players in West
and Snyder. Clearly Paul is phenominal for a rookie. Brown has been
solid virtually all of his career and has slipped less than most might expect.
We clearly have the best player on either squad in Kobe.
Injuries all of last year made the Hornets look far worse than they were.
Fact is, even with all that, they're playing above what they have on paper
and coaching and CP3 are big reasons.
What you have to remember is that the triangle takes awhile to set in.
That's not to say we couldn't be sitting prettier right now, just not drastically
so with our given roster.
As Wolf said, it's not the Hornets we should be worried about - nor is it the
short-term things like what seeding we get in the playoffs.
Making the playoffs, IMO, is in fact something we need. If we can get into
the playoffs and make at least a strong showing (not get swept or owned
in the first round), that's mentally a step-forward going into next year.
But the priority should be getting back to championship contention, and
alot of fans need to realize that may take a couple years before that plan
is into high-gear. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wolfpaclaker
Retired Number
Joined: 29 May 2002
Posts: 58344
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
iml84myd8s:
You missed my point.
I don't think competing with the Hornets or trying to match them should be a goal.
Them making the playoffs doesn't satisfy me longterm. But it shows that they have made some improvements and need to keep improving.
If you are saying we need to pass the Hornets and get that 6th seed, I agree. But I really don't think we should be comparing rosters. The only rosters we should be comparing ourselves to (for the longrun) is SA, Det and Phx. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sodapoppenski
Star Player
Joined: 24 Apr 2005
Posts: 7364
Location: Washington, DC
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
It's kind of like how the Spurs, Kings and a handful of other teams built
their teams around the eventual goal of beating a Shaq-led Laker team
just a few years ago.
In the long run, our strategy needs to be to build a team that matches up
well against and is designed to beat out the West's elite teams.
That's what Wolf was trying to get at, and I agree. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
iml84myd8s
Starting Rotation
Joined: 06 Aug 2005
Posts: 598
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:15 am Post subject: |
|
|
| wolfpaclaker wrote: | iml84myd8s:
You missed my point.
I don't think competing with the Hornets or trying to match them should be a goal.
Them making the playoffs doesn't satisfy me longterm. But it shows that they have made some improvements and need to keep improving.
If you are saying we need to pass the Hornets and get that 6th seed, I agree. But I really don't think we should be comparing rosters. The only rosters we should be comparing ourselves to (for the longrun) is SA, Det and Phx. |
I think we both feel the same way. I too am not suggesting the Lakers are only competing with the Hornets. I was just considering the fact that the Hornets are playing far better than the Lakers. This is happening with their relocation to a new city, a new coach, a new system, a new roster (half the guys are gone from last year) and a new GM.
Point is the Lakers should be playing far better than a team such as the Hornets. That brings up a lot of questions. I was just speculating to see what everone's thoughts were to these questions. Bottom line is the Lakers organization, as a whole, are underachieving this year except for Kobe. This includes Phil Jackson based on the current status of his team. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wolfpaclaker
Retired Number
Joined: 29 May 2002
Posts: 58344
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:19 am Post subject: |
|
|
^
Well Lamar as well as a few other players told Phil they felt the team was underachieving
They have literally thrown away some 7 odd games in the last minute or so. Take those 7 games away and the Lakers are a whole different team and standing.
So experience should make them better. But they still should be looking to make trades. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Sage_10
Star Player
Joined: 24 Dec 2005
Posts: 6668
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
| The Lakers are losing because they are executing bad defense. Plain and simple. That is the problem of half the teams in the league. They don't play tought defense thereby allowing teams to run them up with points. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
