The Lakers' Season after Starting 1-4

Kanter eating up Lakers inside

commentators asking are we gonna see movement or is Kobe gonna dominate the ball? 12-2 Jazz run, bad Kobe jacking /missing shots.

When Kobe scores 30 or more this year the Lakers are 1-9. Tonight LA scored 110 points, hit a tremendous % of their threes (15 for 28), got 17 offensive rebounds and still lost to Utah 117-110.

Defense? Non-existant. And there wasn't even any hack-a-Howard tonight as Dwight only went to the free throw line twice (1 for 2).

Kobe shooting 9 for 24 didn't help, and that poor shooting, even though he had 34 points (0 rebounds, 3 assists - all he did was shoot), was one of the reasons for LA's demise tonight. Kobe shoots 37.5%, rest of the Lakers shoot 50.8%. Antawn Jamison, filling in for Gasol was useless, yanked after 16 unproductive minutes on 1 for 6 shooting, 3 points.

poor Lakers they are 9-12, Mettaworldidiot was benched for most of 4th as D'Antoni tried Meeks at 2 with Kobe at 3.....maybe it worked on offense, but I don't see any trademarks of D'Antoni's offense, to his credit I don't see team running floor and shooting within 8 seconds, but what is his offense? Kobe jacks shots at will and they threw alot of crosscourt passes that got intercepted leading to turnovers. Defensively they have regressed under D'Antoni, the commentators including Big Game James Worthy were ripping their defense, Big Al playing with back spasms didn't even have to carry them as again were alot of wide open looks on perimeter and easy baskets down low off backcuts and ball movement.

I said this point earlier in thread, I don't understand how you can have Howard, Metta and Kobe on the floor together and be this bad on defense, add in a Gasol or Jordan Hill and why is this defense so bad? it shouldn't be like this, not this bad defensively.

cowens/oldschool wrote:poor Lakers they are 9-12, Mettaworldidiot was benched for most of 4th as D'Antoni tried Meeks at 2 with Kobe at 3.....maybe it worked on offense, but I don't see any trademarks of D'Antoni's offense, to his credit I don't see team running floor and shooting within 8 seconds, but what is his offense? Kobe jacks shots at will and they threw alot of crosscourt passes that got intercepted leading to turnovers. Defensively they have regressed under D'Antoni, the commentators including Big Game James Worthy were ripping their defense, Big Al playing with back spasms didn't even have to carry them as again were alot of wide open looks on perimeter and easy baskets down low off backcuts and ball movement.

I said this point earlier in thread, I don't understand how you can have Howard, Metta and Kobe on the floor together and be this bad on defense, add in a Gasol or Jordan Hill and why is this defense so bad? it shouldn't be like this, not this bad defensively.

Well, Kobe's 34, Metta's 33 and Dwight may still be a bit tentative in his moves following his back surgery. He certainly hasn't looked as quick on defense this year as in past years.

steve3344 wrote:When Kobe scores 30 or more this year the Lakers are 1-9. Tonight LA scored 110 points, hit a tremendous % of their threes (15 for 28), got 17 offensive rebounds and still lost to Utah 117-110.

Defense? Non-existant. And there wasn't even any hack-a-Howard tonight as Dwight only went to the free throw line twice (1 for 2).

Kobe shooting 9 for 24 didn't help, and that poor shooting, even though he had 34 points (0 rebounds, 3 assists - all he did was shoot), was one of the reasons for LA's demise tonight. Kobe shoots 37.5%, rest of the Lakers shoot 50.8%. Antawn Jamison, filling in for Gasol was useless, yanked after 16 unproductive minutes on 1 for 6 shooting, 3 points.

if Jamison played I didn't see him

steve3344 wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:poor Lakers they are 9-12, Mettaworldidiot was benched for most of 4th as D'Antoni tried Meeks at 2 with Kobe at 3.....maybe it worked on offense, but I don't see any trademarks of D'Antoni's offense, to his credit I don't see team running floor and shooting within 8 seconds, but what is his offense? Kobe jacks shots at will and they threw alot of crosscourt passes that got intercepted leading to turnovers. Defensively they have regressed under D'Antoni, the commentators including Big Game James Worthy were ripping their defense, Big Al playing with back spasms didn't even have to carry them as again were alot of wide open looks on perimeter and easy baskets down low off backcuts and ball movement.

I said this point earlier in thread, I don't understand how you can have Howard, Metta and Kobe on the floor together and be this bad on defense, add in a Gasol or Jordan Hill and why is this defense so bad? it shouldn't be like this, not this bad defensively.

Well, Kobe's 34, Metta's 33 and Dwight may still be a bit tentative in his moves following his back surgery. He certainly hasn't looked as quick on defense this year as in past years.

it seems hes getting stripped of the ball more than ever too

News keeps on getting worse for the team on the left coast.
Maybe we can expect Nash around the beginning on the new year.
The bone in his leg has healed, he has had nerve damage from the freak way that he was stepped on.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8735515/report-steve-nash-los-angeles-lakers-says-likely-2-more-weeks

Steve Nash's delayed return to the Los Angeles Lakers has more to do with nerve irritation in his lower left leg than the fracture he suffered, sources told Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Latest rumor is Gasol for Josh Smith.

bob

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AS MUCH AS i'VE disliked the Lakers over the years, especially as they've neared the Celts 17 NBA championships, I've also admired them greatly. It wasn't just the players who made the Lakers great. It was the rock solid organization, much like the Celts under Red and Walter Brown and then Danny and Wyc. Now I actually feel sorry for them. The players are still very, very talented. However the organization doesn't deserve to wash their jockstraps after a game. Such a difference from Jerry to Jim Buss. The Lakers problems all devolve to one man - Jim Buss. He makes one wrong decision after another and it costs the Lakers. Is anyone surprised that the Lakers D has taken a wrong turn under coach D'Antoni?

By the way, my son and daughter-in-law had a baby boy at 5:11 this morning. So now I've got three grandsons and two sons, enough to field a bball team in a few years.

worcester wrote:AS MUCH AS i'VE disliked the Lakers over the years, especially as they've neared the Celts 17 NBA championships, I've also admired them greatly. It wasn't just the players who made the Lakers great. It was the rock solid organization, much like the Celts under Red and Walter Brown and then Danny and Wyc. Now I actually feel sorry for them. The players are still very, very talented. However the organization doesn't deserve to wash their jockstraps after a game. Such a difference from Jerry to Jim Buss. The Lakers problems all devolve to one man - Jim Buss. He makes one wrong decision after another and it costs the Lakers. Is anyone surprised that the Lakers D has taken a wrong turn under coach D'Antoni?

By the way, my son and daughter-in-law had a baby boy at 5:11 this morning. So now I've got three grandsons and two sons, enough to field a bball team in a few years.

worcester,

Congratulations on filling out your back court. I'm assuming your sons will be "the bigs".

Happy Days, happy days, happy days...


bob


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worcester wrote:AS MUCH AS i'VE disliked the Lakers over the years, especially as they've neared the Celts 17 NBA championships, I've also admired them greatly. It wasn't just the players who made the Lakers great. It was the rock solid organization, much like the Celts under Red and Walter Brown and then Danny and Wyc. Now I actually feel sorry for them. The players are still very, very talented. However the organization doesn't deserve to wash their jockstraps after a game. Such a difference from Jerry to Jim Buss. The Lakers problems all devolve to one man - Jim Buss. He makes one wrong decision after another and it costs the Lakers. Is anyone surprised that the Lakers D has taken a wrong turn under coach D'Antoni?

By the way, my son and daughter-in-law had a baby boy at 5:11 this morning. So now I've got three grandsons and two sons, enough to field a bball team in a few years.

Congrats worcester!
I hope he is a healthy and happy little guy.

Thanks TJ and Bob, Yes he's a happy camper. Baby Ben. Another Celtic jersey to buy for Christmas.

bobheckler wrote:Latest rumor is Gasol for Josh Smith.

bob

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bob,

I haven't heard any "real" rumors of Pau for Josh Smith.
I am not too sure either team would make that trade at this point.
Maybe in a few weeks after they have heard what other offers are out there.

Josh would help the Lakers with defense and athleticism, but he doesn't fit the 'stretch 4' pf that would work better for D'Antoni's offense.

worcester wrote:AS MUCH AS i'VE disliked the Lakers over the years, especially as they've neared the Celts 17 NBA championships, I've also admired them greatly. It wasn't just the players who made the Lakers great. It was the rock solid organization, much like the Celts under Red and Walter Brown and then Danny and Wyc. Now I actually feel sorry for them. The players are still very, very talented. However the organization doesn't deserve to wash their jockstraps after a game. Such a difference from Jerry to Jim Buss. The Lakers problems all devolve to one man - Jim Buss. He makes one wrong decision after another and it costs the Lakers. Is anyone surprised that the Lakers D has taken a wrong turn under coach D'Antoni?

By the way, my son and daughter-in-law had a baby boy at 5:11 this morning. So now I've got three grandsons and two sons, enough to field a bball team in a few years.

Congrants on the newborn...... !! Now you just need to fill out the bench !!

PS: I could NEVER feel sorry for the lakers or their fans. NEVER. Love to see them loose almost as I like a Celtic win. Even more than a Heat loss although the Heat are now a close second to LA on my short list. As you may recall my original "name" on BDC was beatLA but due to mustanggator I shortened it to just beat. The beat LA comes for the chant in the garden many years ago as the C's were losing late in game 7 of the east finals to Philly......the fans began to chant to the 76er's BEAT LA BEAT LA over and over. Still think it was about the greatest cheer for an opponent that I can remember sort of saying well we can't be there to do it so you guys do it for us!!

worcester wrote:AS MUCH AS i'VE disliked the Lakers over the years, especially as they've neared the Celts 17 NBA championships, I've also admired them greatly. It wasn't just the players who made the Lakers great. It was the rock solid organization, much like the Celts under Red and Walter Brown and then Danny and Wyc. Now I actually feel sorry for them. The players are still very, very talented. However the organization doesn't deserve to wash their jockstraps after a game. Such a difference from Jerry to Jim Buss. The Lakers problems all devolve to one man - Jim Buss. He makes one wrong decision after another and it costs the Lakers. Is anyone surprised that the Lakers D has taken a wrong turn under coach D'Antoni?

By the way, my son and daughter-in-law had a baby boy at 5:11 this morning. So now I've got three grandsons and two sons, enough to field a bball team in a few years.

hey worse congratulations thats great, enjoyed meeting/hanging with you at the first playoff party a few years ago, hope one of these days we can catch up again.

Lakers lose again, poor team has no depth, can't believe they haven't signed K Mart and Delonte West yet, what is Jim Buss waiting for? Team has no depth, starting point Chris Duhon had 2 points and 2 assists in 33 minutes, bench shot a woeful 5-18 form field....Kobe and Howard and Mettaidiot all did their job, they played well enough to win, but everywhere else is so weak. They're talking about getting rid of Gasol? right now they need him so bad. D'Antoni clueless, still no sight of his offense, he knows they don't have personel to run, every team beats them easily in transition, if they can't run his offense, what use is he? don't get me started on the defense!!!

cowens/oldschool wrote:Lakers lose again, poor team has no depth, can't believe they haven't signed K Mart and Delonte West yet, what is Jim Buss waiting for? Team has no depth, starting point Chris Duhon had 2 points and 2 assists in 33 minutes, bench shot a woeful 5-18 form field....Kobe and Howard and Mettaidiot all did their job, they played well enough to win, but everywhere else is so weak. They're talking about getting rid of Gasol? right now they need him so bad. D'Antoni clueless, still no sight of his offense, he knows they don't have personel to run, every team beats them easily in transition, if they can't run his offense, what use is he? don't get me started on the defense!!!

Duhon and Morris are absolutely killing the Lakers. Two point guards couldn't have done much of a worse job directing an offense then what Duhon and Morris did tonight.
If you watched tonights game, this is not at all Mike D'Antoni's offense.
When Dwight sets a pick for Duhon, he never goes to the basket, he goes toward the sideline and has to pass the ball.
Of course a team looks like they have no depth when two of their best 4 players are not playing and neither is Steve Blake.
The Lakers are 1-12 in games decided by 10 points or less.
I clearly see a 10+ point differential when Nash comes back compared to the historic ineptness from Duhon and Morris.
The Lakers cannot win games when they have 18 turnovers, miss FT's and get terrible guard play.

The point in trading Gasol is for depth.
They need 2 or 3 players that are a better fit.

I know you love to bash Kobe for every 9-24 game he has, but he was great tonight, as he has been almost the whole season.

I am very disappointed in the outcomes of these games.
It is getting embarrassing when they are such a punching bag on the court and in the media.
I will go on the record and say that I still expect the Lakers to play great basketball, hopefully in a few weeks.

Getting back to the point guards, I was so wrong about Darius Morris.
I thought he would turn into the Lakers back up this season.
He is clumsy and has no idea how to run an offense.
Is there really nobody in the D-League that could run an offense better then Morris for 12 minutes per game?

tj

I agree with everything you said and I said Kobe played well enough to win, that the loss wasn't on him. I agree that this offense doesn't look anything like D'Antoni, right now its Kobe carrying them doing whatever he wants....you'd think even without Nash there would be some semblence of a D'Antoni offense, but tonite I saw none of it. They are playing with no purpose on both ends, thats actually a kind statement considering the state of their defense. D'Antoni really has no clue how to coach any facet of defense....did you hear Big Game James rip the defense?

cow