Will the Lakers make the playoffs in 15-16?

kobe209 · Starting Rotation Joined: 10 Dec 2012 Posts: 922

Absolutely if kobe is healthy playing 60+ games

You have clarkson who is better and starting the whole year
Kobe playing full season healthy
A key role player in Randle coming back
New draft pick at #2
Key free agent is coming
_________________

IG: wywsabaywb

dabask11 · Star Player Joined: 27 Dec 2012 Posts: 1989

If we didn't have Kobe making 25 mil, I'd say we have a good chance. Unfortunately, our team has too many holes and not enough resources to fill them due to such a contract.

Given the landscape of the WC, I say acquiring a good free agent while developing a young rising team should be considered a success.

nickuku · Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 7:40 pm Post subject:

lucky to win 35
_________________
Don't let perfect be the enemy of good

venturalakersfan · Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 7:40 pm Post subject:

P.K. · Retired Number Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 29713

Sting · Starting Rotation Joined: 04 Dec 2014 Posts: 846

let's see.... Jordan, Alridge, Gasol could all go East and take out 3 teams in the process. Spurs could fall out in 2015. Dirk is again as well

only 2 teams I see rising are Jazz and Thunder

leaves
Warriors
Rockets
Thunder

if we peaked could be on the same tier of
Mavs, Jazz, Pelicans, Lakers

Wilkes52 · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 4:58 am Post subject:

The NOP needed a third season and significant help to make the playoffs even with Anthony Davis. He has some very decent (two all All Rookie award and others) help on the roster now, in making his first playoff appearance: Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Tyreke.

The Lakers are probably slowly walking a similar path back. It'll take more than a #2 pick to be playoff relevant again: more time, more help. Probably another guard, another healthy vet.

dmorans1 · Franchise Player Joined: 11 Sep 2012 Posts: 11669

Four Decade Bandwagon · Star Player Joined: 18 Jul 2014 Posts: 8149

Voted with my heart that they earn the 8th seed with 45 wins. I can be optimistic in May!

As others have said, it is too early to tell until we see how free agency works out. So many things have to go right for the playoffs to happen it does not seem likely. But just maybe....

If the Lakers can:
- fill the SF position with an impact player.
- add or re-sign a good mix of vet free agents. (certainly Rondo and possibly Love are not in that group IMO)
- young guys can develop and contribute as we hope they can. (Randle or drafted center ROY?)
- Kobe can embrace his role as mentor on about 20-25mpg instead of dominant Kobe playing 35mpg and shooting 20+ times. Can he stay healthy?
- finally good team chemistry on both ends of the floor.

Dreamshake · Franchise Player Joined: 05 May 2006 Posts: 13711

I doubt it but so much depends on what happens in free agency this summer. Do Gasol, Jordan, Green and Aldridge switch teams? What if they leave the conference? Do Duncan and Manu retire?

Barring injuries, I think the Warriors, Thunder, Clippers, Rockets and Pelicans are playoff locks. Add Memphis if Gasol stays.

governator · Retired Number Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 25076

We could certainly be like the Pelicans of this year. Good young players that will play hard (Mamba will make certain of it). I could see us sneaking into the playoff in the lower seeds

Kobe #6

lakurluv · Star Player Joined: 17 May 2010 Posts: 2529

The West is tough, very tough to say the least, but the Lakers will be able to sneak in as a lower seed. The talent level will be too high for them not to.

Either Okafor or Towns, preferably Okafor.
Randle and Clarkson. This makes for a promising future for the Lakers. I believe the biggest delima for the team will be to figure out exactly how they want to handle the guard spot for the future; truth be told if that's the problem it's not problem at all. Clarkson being a combo guard should be able to pair with any other PG/SG in the back court for a reputable future IMO.

Kobe should be moved to the 3 spot where his skill set can better suit his age at this point in his career. A formidable bench for the Lakers could bode really well, as most of the players got a ton of run this season and stayed competitive throughout the season.

Free Agency is Key, as I believe the Lakers will need to add a young athletic defensive wing player and a guard to shore up the back court. I'd like to see Brandon Knight as an option for the Lakers starting PG spot. If Tobias Harris is adequate at the SF spot, he should be a Lakers Target. Knight and Harris would make adequate FA pickups, but more importantly, the Lakers would still have room to sign a MAX Player.

av3773 · Star Player Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 3751

Assuming we go Okafor who I think is probably the most likely to contribute now, I won't be surprised to see the lakers hovering just outside the playoffs next year, which honestly would be a very promising sign...Okafor and Randle are both rookies so while I expect them to have some really good games I also expect them to be very up and down and be on the wrong side of the whistle...year after it's a whole new ballgame and depending on how FA goes we could be right in the thick of things

Kobe24MSU · Starting Rotation Joined: 28 Dec 2011 Posts: 487

Ziggy · Franchise Player Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 12712

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

I'm going to root for them to, but I think they will fall just a bit short. But unlike the last 2 years, we will feel much better bout the product and the future of the team.
_________________
From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

DrumR · Star Player Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 1336

Kobe healthy yes. No Kobe no. Someones gotta teach these kids how to win.

pio2u · Retired Number Joined: 26 Dec 2012 Posts: 54570

greenfrog · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 8:06 am Post subject:

Too many holes to fill and too much money invested in unreliable players. Like last season, bet the under.

kikanga · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 8:08 am Post subject:

^Yep.
I'm guessing 25 wins. If we sign a premier FA, 35 wins.
_________________
"Every hurt is a lesson, and every lesson makes you better”

greenfrog · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 8:09 am Post subject:

governator · Retired Number Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 25076

Team of the 80's · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 8:11 am Post subject:

You should do a new poll question after the FA period is over. Right now we have no idea who could be on the roster in Oct.

governator · Retired Number Joined: 28 Jan 2006 Posts: 25076

jodeke · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 10:11 am Post subject:

I think the team the organization will put together next season is going to surprise a lot of fans. I'll be surprised if we don't make the playoffs.
_________________
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.