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Nash Vegas
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Joined: 01 Sep 2012
Posts: 7239
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 Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:22 pm Post subject: Article (Shelburne): Lakers can Finally Stop Pretending |
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Kobe and Lakers can finally stop pretending
| Quote: | It may have been fascinating to watch Kobe play on this awful Lakers team, but it was not fun. There were nights you marveled at him trying to carry the franchise as he once did on much springier, younger legs. There were other nights you cringed as he jacked up 20 or 30 shots and missed far too many.
But his talent, his insatiable competitiveness, his enormous id was lost on a team like this. The Lakers are going nowhere this season. They never really were. Steve Nash was ruled out for the season before it started. Rookie Julius Randle broke his leg on a freak play in the first game of the season. The Lakers' entire reason for being evaporated before the season was a week old.
What were they building? What were they working toward? Very few of the players on this season's team will return. So what good is developing a culture?
But at some point, Kobe's path diverged from the one the Lakers must travel. They both knew it. Once Randle went down and Nash was lost for good, the franchise needed to shift its focus to the future. To see what Jeremy Lin could really give them, what young point Jordan Clarkson had. And to see if they could acquire the things rebuilding teams need -- draft picks, cap space and players with a chance to flourish with playing time.
Kobe tried to enjoy the good moments he still had left -- the night he passed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list, the game against LeBron in L.A. He let himself be cheered and hugged by opponents who weren't sure if they'd ever play against him again. He let nostalgia exist without objection. It almost felt like his farewell tour began a few months early.
But the longer all this went on, the harder it was to watch. Kobe may have found ways to deal with it, but this wasn't fun or meaningful or worthwhile. He wasn't going to be able to keep fooling himself or anyone else for much longer.
So when day finally broke, it came as more relief than revelation.
This season and all its pretense is over. Kobe can stop trying to play along. So can the Lakers. |
http://es.pn/1C8FVMK
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Last edited by Nash Vegas on Mon Jan 26, 2015 4:14 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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yinoma2001
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Joined: 19 Jun 2010
Posts: 119487
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:24 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, never thought someone like Ramona would do an article like this. She's the Kobe + FO lover/spinner and even she's turned now...
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Don Draper
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Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 28460
Location: LA --> Bay Area
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | He was sore all over, with the sort of generalized pain that becomes a syndrome and then a downward spiral. |
Not sure what that quote even means...
Anyways, after writing all of this is Ramona going to go hop onto 710 and tell us to buy tickets? |
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CaliRyderX
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Joined: 13 May 2009
Posts: 404
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| yinoma2001 wrote: | | Wow, never thought someone like Ramona would do an article like this. She's the Kobe + FO lover/spinner and even she's turned now... |
She's just telling it like it is. |
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venturalakersfan
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Joined: 14 Apr 2001
Posts: 144466
Location: The Gold Coast
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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I am not sure what they are pretending to do?
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RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023. |
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Don Draper
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Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 28460
Location: LA --> Bay Area
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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| venturalakersfan wrote: | | I am not sure what they are pretending to do? |
Ramona has to keep up the facade that tanking wasn't the plan all along. |
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venturalakersfan
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Joined: 14 Apr 2001
Posts: 144466
Location: The Gold Coast
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Don Draper wrote: | | venturalakersfan wrote: | | I am not sure what they are pretending to do? |
Ramona has to keep up the facade that tanking wasn't the plan all along. |
I don't think it was the plan all along, I think it was just one possibility with the way they constructed the roster. If things had broke for the positive, I think 40 wins would have been the alternative.
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RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023. |
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LoyalLakerfan44
Star Player
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Posts: 3219
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 3:33 pm Post subject: Re: Article: Lakers can Finally Stop Pretending |
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| Nash Vegas wrote: | Kobe and Lakers can finally stop pretending
| Quote: | It may have been fascinating to watch Kobe play on this awful Lakers team, but it was not fun. There were nights you marveled at him trying to carry the franchise as he once did on much springier, younger legs. There were other nights you cringed as he jacked up 20 or 30 shots and missed far too many.
But his talent, his insatiable competitiveness, his enormous id was lost on a team like this. The Lakers are going nowhere this season. They never really were. Steve Nash was ruled out for the season before it started. Rookie Julius Randle broke his leg on a freak play in the first game of the season. The Lakers' entire reason for being evaporated before the season was a week old.
What were they building? What were they working toward? Very few of the players on this season's team will return. So what good is developing a culture?
But at some point, Kobe's path diverged from the one the Lakers must travel. They both knew it. Once Randle went down and Nash was lost for good, the franchise needed to shift its focus to the future. To see what Jeremy Lin could really give them, what young point Jordan Clarkson had. And to see if they could acquire the things rebuilding teams need -- draft picks, cap space and players with a chance to flourish with playing time.
Kobe tried to enjoy the good moments he still had left -- the night he passed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list, the game against LeBron in L.A. He let himself be cheered and hugged by opponents who weren't sure if they'd ever play against him again. He let nostalgia exist without objection. It almost felt like his farewell tour began a few months early.
But the longer all this went on, the harder it was to watch. Kobe may have found ways to deal with it, but this wasn't fun or meaningful or worthwhile. He wasn't going to be able to keep fooling himself or anyone else for much longer.
So when day finally broke, it came as more relief than revelation.
This season and all its pretense is over. Kobe can stop trying to play along. So can the Lakers. |
http://es.pn/1C8FVMK |
Well written my feelings exactly. |
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yinoma2001
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Joined: 19 Jun 2010
Posts: 119487
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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Ramona is going Chad Ford on us.
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JayLida
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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Who cares what she says. Most of the so called fans on this board say more disrespectful things about Kobe as if he never gave the Laker fans everything he had for the past 19 seasons. Your only as good as your last game Kobe. It sucks because as a true Laker fan I would never do the same. I didn't point fingers are call for retirement when Magic went down the way he did and then came back only to flame out and retire for good.
Nor did I ridicule Kareem when he was a shell of himself in years 15 thru 20+ We all should thank are lucky stars to have been able to cheer for such legends, yes that includes the villian Kobe Bryant. SMFH!
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Winning is all that matters!! |
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Oliver Reed
Star Player
Joined: 28 Sep 2014
Posts: 2626
Location: Globo Gym
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| DON'T STOP.........PREEEEEETENDING!!! |
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angrypuppy
Retired Number
Joined: 13 Apr 2001
Posts: 32754
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Whoa... we're not making the playoffs? |
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thurloly
Franchise Player
Joined: 14 Nov 2008
Posts: 23930
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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Pretend to do? Pretend to do what? We, fans, can see it all. We are not idiots  . |
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ReaListik
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Joined: 08 Jun 2008
Posts: 6568
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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Don't understand the article whatsoever. Hard to read through the drama queen-esque writing.
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Jordan-esque
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Joined: 19 Aug 2005
Posts: 10265
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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| thurloly wrote: | Pretend to do? Pretend to do what?
We, fans, can see it all. We are not idiots . |
Lakers can finally stop pretending that fans are idiots.
Let's win guys! 8th seed playoffs - we're looking at you!
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Goldenwest
Star Player
Joined: 28 Nov 2009
Posts: 2802
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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| venturalakersfan wrote: | | Don Draper wrote: | | venturalakersfan wrote: | | I am not sure what they are pretending to do? |
Ramona has to keep up the facade that tanking wasn't the plan all along. |
I don't think it was the plan all along, I think it was just one possibility with the way they constructed the roster. If things had broke for the positive, I think 40 wins would have been the alternative. |
I have to somewhat agree, with everyone healthy (Nash playing limited minutes, Randle, Kobe), they had a chance to get into the playoffs. I think that's what they were hoping for. |
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Laker_Town
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Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 25604
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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Jim and Jeannie saying this was a playoff team was offensive. Ramona acting like shes telling the fans something they don't know is even worst.
She's worst than that hack Beto, I speak Spanish, Duran. |
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Don Draper
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Joined: 21 Feb 2008
Posts: 28460
Location: LA --> Bay Area
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Laker_Town wrote: | Jim and Jeannie saying this was a playoff team was offensive. Ramona acting like shes telling the fans something they don't know is even worst.
She's worst than that hack Beto, I speak Spanish, Duran. |
The quality of fan she writes for is about ten tiers below even the most fairweather LGer. Just check out the comment section for that article. |
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rockets killer
Starting Rotation
Joined: 14 Jul 2014
Posts: 510
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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freaking Byron Scott. He is responsible for this.
Might not feel to good to read it. But it had to be written for the ages. |
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RG73
Franchise Player
Joined: 14 Jul 2001
Posts: 11508
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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| JayLida wrote: |
Nor did I ridicule Kareem when he was a shell of himself in years 15 thru 20+ We all should thank are lucky stars to have been able to cheer for such legends, yes that includes the villian Kobe Bryant. SMFH! |
Why would you have ridiculed him when in years 15, 16, and 17 he was 1st Team All-NBA twice (yr 15 & 17), All NBA 2nd team once (yr 16) and Finals MVP (year 16)? |
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Laker's Fan
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Joined: 27 Jun 2002
Posts: 12861
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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If Melo had signed with LA, Pau decided to stay with a shot of being decent, Randle not been hurt, maybe caught another break, its not beyond reason that the season could have been half decent. Perhaps even a 2nd round appearance.
But things went south quickly and in a big way......thankfully.
The long term ramifications of sticking around the middle would have trapped the Lakers. Now they will be lucky to win another 5 games, most likely keep their high lotto pick, have tons of cap flexibility going forward, and a clear rep of taking care of their stars.
That last point is important because LA will be asking guys nearing 30 who are up for their 2nd max deal to take one less year up front to join the team through free agency. Like Dr Buss before them, the Buss 'kids' showed the Laker Org honors its stars who partner in success.
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Austin Reaves keeps his game tight, like Kobe Bryant on game night. |
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tonman
Starting Rotation
Joined: 12 Jul 2014
Posts: 585
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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| JayLida wrote: | Who cares what she says. Most of the so called fans on this board say more disrespectful things about Kobe as if he never gave the Laker fans everything he had for the past 19 seasons. Your only as good as your last game Kobe. It sucks because as a true Laker fan I would never do the same. I didn't point fingers are call for retirement when Magic went down the way he did and then came back only to flame out and retire for good.
Nor did I ridicule Kareem when he was a shell of himself in years 15 thru 20+ We all should thank are lucky stars to have been able to cheer for such legends, yes that includes the villian Kobe Bryant. SMFH! |
get a grip. if you can't criticize every player on this team, you don't have a team. |
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misterrunon
Star Player
Joined: 19 Jun 2010
Posts: 1904
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Laker's Fan wrote: | If Melo had signed with LA, Pau decided to stay with a shot of being decent, Randle not been hurt, maybe caught another break, its not beyond reason that the season could have been half decent. Perhaps even a 2nd round appearance.
But things went south quickly and in a big way......thankfully.
The long term ramifications of sticking around the middle would have trapped the Lakers. Now they will be lucky to win another 5 games, most likely keep their high lotto pick, have tons of cap flexibility going forward, and a clear rep of taking care of their stars.
That last point is important because LA will be asking guys nearing 30 who are up for their 2nd max deal to take one less year up front to join the team through free agency. Like Dr Buss before them, the Buss 'kids' showed the Laker Org honors its stars who partner in success. |
byron scott would still be the coach, and the defense would be atrocious. we wouldn't make the playoffs - we wouldn't be better than the thunder or suns. |
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fiendishoc
Star Player
Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 8488
Location: The (real) short corner
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| yinoma2001 wrote: | | Wow, never thought someone like Ramona would do an article like this. She's the Kobe + FO lover/spinner and even she's turned now... |
How do you know it's not coming from the FO and/or Kobe?
Last edited by fiendishoc on Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:13 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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mykeinla
Star Player
Joined: 02 Nov 2012
Posts: 1148
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| Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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So we were pretending to be a bunch of losers all along?
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Nick Young would love to shoot Byron in the back, but there's a good chance he misses. |
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