Laker Report: They Have to Be Trying to Improve, Right?

emplay · Site Staff Joined: 15 Apr 2001 Posts: 25550

Here's my latest at HOOPSWORLD.com

link

Enjoy!
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Salary Cap Strategist and Columnist at Bleacher Report and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/EricPincus

DaggerInTheHeart · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 2:04 am Post subject:

Good read, Eric hopefully something is done ( and fast ).

ALbino · Star Player Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1270

God I hope they're working something. Heck, anything. Even if it's just trading an expiring contract for a 2nd rounder.

AL.

MrLaker83 · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 2:16 am Post subject:

Great read eric!

Im on the same page with you, I hope they are working on something!

Ank · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 2:16 am Post subject:

Dude. I love you. You treaded carefully enough to show you knew what was probably gonna happen, while also giving little hope to people who didn't read the clues. I shop at that store too,and you can find good stuff there. Perfect article. Perfect. you really managed to write two articles. One for those who don't know what's going on and one for people who do.

emplay · Site Staff Joined: 15 Apr 2001 Posts: 25550

Ank - word - and thx
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Salary Cap Strategist and Columnist at Bleacher Report and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/EricPincus

DaggerInTheHeart · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 2:21 am Post subject:

I love shopping in K-Mart.

A Mad Chinaman · Star Player Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 6148

Interesting Read, Eric

"Despite the fact that the Hawks have won just four road games all season, why is it hard to anticipate a Laker win?"

** They do not have a good record, though they recently defeated the mighty Detroit Pistons?!?! Even the Shaq/Kobe Laker teams have lost some awful games, but hopefully this team realizes that they cannot relax against anybody. Shouldn't they?

"Although a 42-40 record is an eight game improvement over last season's debacle, most experts set 45 as the number of wins likely needed to make the playoffs."

** I think that PJ will be coaching differently after the All-Star Break since (hopefully) he used the previous games to teach the Triangle and various player combinations to see how they react to pressure.

"LA is most likely to finish at either the seventh or eighth seed."
Their goal should be between 6th or 7th that would avoid facing San Antonio & Dallas in consecutive series if they were seeded 5th - the likely position that the Clippers would wind up with.

"Should the Lakers continue to play so inconsistently"
** It is hope that PJ will settle on a working lineup, substitution pattern and who are his "crunch time" players. With PJ being more active and set, hopefully this will limit the inconsistencies and they will be winning the close games. If they had won just 3 to 4 of the games that they should have won, they would be in 6th/7th place at this time.

"Kupchak stated he felt the team could make the playoffs as is, but did acknowledge that it would probably take a move for the team to have any significant post-season success."
** Correct assessment for the Lakers to be a championship team. That is not a realistic goal for this season, next season - however.

"with injuries to Aaron McKie"
** What exactly the status of McKie, will he be back after the All-Star Break and/or soon after? If not, would they waive him to get somebody like Derek Anderson - available since he has been replaced by Alston at PG?

"Lakers have no intention to trade Odom at this deadline, unless a very short list of players becomes available. Be certain to know that every name on that list will be participating in the All-Star Game on Sunday night."
** Everyone admits that he has the talent to a perennial All-Star.

"The players considered to be available in trade are Slava Medvedenko, Devean George and Aaron McKie."
** Maybe they are awaiting for a player like Artest (OMG - that name comes up again?!?!) at a price that SacTown would be satisfied like an epiring contract with players that they would immediately waive because they see this year as a lost season and the Lakers would have seen that RonRon hasn't blown up mentally.

"That said, none are necessarily likely to garner what the Lakers would want in return."
** Agreed. Maybe the can get a lottery pick to chose Duke Reddick as the needed shooter - though one would ask what happened to Von Wafer who has a similar reputation of being a hot-shot shooter?!?!

"The Lakers have been a relatively conservative organization."
Not necessarily so, they don't do moves that just improves the team marginally - they are looking for players that will make a dramatic change. Bynum is a good example of this. Sasha/Smush have the potential to be like the Pistons' Billips in the very near future and wouldn't it be sad that we gave up on them too early.

"Lakers aren't going to mortgage their future unless they are completely convinced that this theoretical imperfect player will succeed in the triangle offense under the tutelage of Phil Jackson."
** That's the way it should be

"Not a run in 2007 or 2008, but actually in 2006."
** PJ has the ability to make a team that can beat teams that is focused on 1 or 2 star players. With Cook, DGeorge and Mihm starting to show some consistently to produce on offense - with Brown, Sasha, Bynum and others providing defense - combined with Zen Master's savvy, we might witness some magic during the playoffs. Since the Lakers have shown that they can focus on teams that catch their attention and play very competively/if not win (i.e. Dallas). Of course, I always look at a glass half-filled, as oppose to half empty.

Eric, again good read and look forward to other people's opinion

Colby Briant · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:05 am Post subject:

Great work Emplay. One of your best reads ever.

Personally I dont like shopping at K-Mart. Never have. lots of punks there with bad attitudes.

orido86 · Starting Rotation Joined: 08 Jul 2003 Posts: 283

filipensses · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:45 am Post subject:

filipensses · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:57 am Post subject:

There's something I don't get it: why the Lakers guaranteed Brown's third year? If his contract had a team option, they could wait as much as they wanted, they'd have nothing to lose and maybe something to gain in 2007 (who knows what could happen by then?)...I still don't understand what the Lakers would gain from signing Brown's 3rd year NOW.
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"A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it's not open." - Frank Zappa

BigE32 · Star Player Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 8518

Thanks again, emplay. I enjoy reading your articles.

emplay · Site Staff Joined: 15 Apr 2001 Posts: 25550

I can only assume it was a condition of the deal - sign with us and once Yao and Amare extend - we in turn will guarantee your third year.
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Salary Cap Strategist and Columnist at Bleacher Report and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/EricPincus

filipensses · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 5:23 am Post subject:

KingKobe · Star Player Joined: 27 Dec 2001 Posts: 3550 Location: UCLA

We signed the third year for Kwame Brown????????

wtf!? He sucks! And now?

I was almost getting used to the idea of waiting 2 years for a good player (Kirk H at least), but now instead were getting another year of Brown?!

That's the worst move ever.

EDDIE GRIFFIN IS TWICE THE PLAYER KWAME IS FOR HALF THE MONEY!!!!!!

...........I've defended the guy before but that fire Mitch wagon is looking mighty comfortable.

How is Kobe gonna bring LA another championship? With Kenyon Martin?........yeah....great, the spurs are just shaking I'm sure......
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*Warning: The preceding post may have contained sarcasm and/or irony.

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LAL25 · Starting Rotation Joined: 03 Jun 2002 Posts: 885

The answer to your question, emplay, is...probably not.

targetman · Star Player Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 5503

KobeButler · Franchise Player Joined: 14 Nov 2004 Posts: 10179

iml84myd8s · Starting Rotation Joined: 06 Aug 2005 Posts: 598

KobeButler · Franchise Player Joined: 14 Nov 2004 Posts: 10179

is their a reason why you cant just tell us the details emplay? Like you said, it could either happen or not happen. Whats the risk of just giving us the lowdown?
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Pain is temporary, at the end of pain is success...

Dennis_D · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:17 am Post subject:

LAL25 · Starting Rotation Joined: 03 Jun 2002 Posts: 885

Dennis_D · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:43 am Post subject:

20,000 · Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:44 am Post subject:

I personally don't mind K-Mart. I think there are bad attitudes there, but every once in a while you find a really good store to shop at with some good deals.

OK, metaphors aside, while I am not a K-Mart fan, his toughness is something the Lakers are really lacking. For all the talk there is here about Smush and Sasha (and Chucky before them) just letting opposing PGs slash to the basket uncontested, how much of that would continue to happen if the opposing PG knew there was someone back there who would be very willing to lay out some pain if they kept trying it? I see K-Mart as that person, and very willing to do it.

But I have a question. How does one gauge who would be good for the triangle offense? Is Martin a good passer? Can he grasp offenses? Does anyone have his contract to see how long it lasts and how bad it is? What would it take for the Lakers to make that trade (just numbers-wise)? Then we get into what the Lakers would offer and what Kiki would take.

Eric, your signals are not very subtle. Why the change in heart this time and frank openness?
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Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying...'I will try again tomorrow.'