Lakers...Is there any hope?

[epicSocialism4tw]

Over the offseason, there was plenty of heated discussion on this board over whether or not the Lakers would survive without Shaq. I think that it's become obvious that they are far worse off without him.

They might not even be the best team in Staples Center anymore. Bryant may be a good player, but this team is seriously lacking leadership. He continues to put up decent numbers, but his teammates are not doing much of anything. It is up to him to get them involved.

If the Lakers make the playoffs this season, they will have serious problems defending the post and clearing out the lane on drives and for rebounds. This will make things very difficult for Bryant. Either he will score 35-40 a game and rise to Jordan's level of play or he will become frustrated like he did against Detroit in the Finals. He does not have Shaq anymore to draw defenders and isolate Bryant on the perimeter one-on-one. Chris Mihm will not be a threat to anyone in the playoffs.

The Lakers only hope is to run everyone out of the gym. To push the ball even after made baskets and free throws. Basically to turn into the old Mavericks but with only Bryant and not a big three that put it up from the outside off of draw-and-kicks. As has been proven in the past, that aint playoff basketball.

[-Slap-]

The only discussion was everybody telling you that Dallas didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of acquiring Shaq. It was funny watching you pout like a jilted teenager when that's exactly what happened.

[epicSocialism4tw]

The only discussion was everybody telling you that Dallas didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of acquiring Shaq. It was funny watching you pout like a jilted teenager when that's exactly what happened.

I think that in retrospect that Lakers fans would have been better off had LA traded shaq to Dallas. Jamison would be there right now as well as Stackhouse, the #5 pick (which turned into Devin Harris), and maybe even Walker. I would take any of those three vets over Odom (well, Walker is a toss up).

Shaq was not traded to Dallas because the Lakers organization fears the Mavericks. Simple as that. Cuban is making waves. The Mavs have changed the NBA in some ways. The Mavs are building a large inter-state fanbase due to their perinneal competitiveness and style of play. The Mavs are now "showtime." Great fun to watch and a team full of guys who are pretty family safe (by NBA standards). Their management will always ensure that they are competitive. If you look at Dallas' roster, you will see a young team who will be competitive as they are for the next 5-6 years and beyond with the young guys Daniels, Howard, Harris, Podkolzin and Mbenga.

It looks like it will take them a while to recover from this one, while Dallas will continue to be competitive.

[The Big E]

The Lakers could be an entertaining team, but they're too soft in the middle, giving up lots of offensive rebounds. It should help if they can get Malone to return and get Vlade playing, but they're also about 100 years old combined.

The thing that's annoying about Shaq is that he's come out all fit and motivated, as expected. Had he been that way the past three seasons, he probably would've been paid by Buss and not traded. Had he stayed in LA, he surely would've come in out of shape as usual this year.

I don't really care that much what happens to the Lakers, and I'd like to see the Clippers do better. I guess you could call me a fair-weather Laker fan, but that's only because I am. Like many people here, I grew up somewhere else, so I'm not some die hard fan. When they're winning and going to the finals it's fun to follow them. However, I grew up in Arizona as a big time Suns fan hating the Lakers, so I can easily ignore them if there's nothing special going on.

[-Slap-]

The Mavs are now "showtime."

"Showtime", as coined by Magic Johnson, means Championships.

The Mavs don't know Showtime from Shinola.

[-Slap-]

The thing that's annoying about Shaq is that he's come out all fit and motivated, as expected. Had he been that way the past three seasons, he probably would've been paid by Buss and not traded. Had he stayed in LA, he surely would've come in out of shape as usual this year.


This is exactly why Red Sox fans hated Roger Clemens. He was fat and out of shape the last couple years in Boston, then he goes to Toronto, gets motivated, and promptly wins back to back Cy Youngs.

[epicSocialism4tw]

"Showtime", as coined by Magic Johnson, means Championships.

The Mavs don't know Showtime from Shinola.


The obvious observation is that the Mavs literally have not won a championship. The other obvious observation is that for the past 4-5 seasons, the Mavs have supplied the league with the most entertaining basketball (along with the Kings).

Anyway, this was about the Lakers.