Lakers Vs. Suns (Pre-Game Hype)

[Skumbag]

Could the Lakers be positioning themselves to be matched up against us in the playoffs on purpose? Its starting to look that way. I would love this as a way to solidify our last season's playoff victory.

Thoughts?

 

[azirish]

With the way the Mavs and Spurs have been playing, most opponents think that the Suns are the most vulnerable of the top three teams.

The Suns' repuation is much like that of a great curve ball pitcher has in baseball. Everyone respects a great fast ball pitcher who can simply overpower hitters, but guys without a great fast ball have a lot less margin for error and can get pounded when just slightly "off".

The Suns have to hit their outside shots. Even with Amare, the Suns can't just attack the basket because they lack the size to play that kind of game. Opposing coaches keep telling their guys that all they have to do is get back on defense and stay with the shooters. Playoff teams always think they can do that and blame themselves when the Suns win.

Always. Lottery teams admit that the Suns are just better, but even after three years, playoff teams continue to act as if the Suns success is just a fluke.

 

[D-Dogg]

The Lakers are a one and done team in the playoffs this year...doesn't matter anymore.

 

[mathbzh]

With the way the Mavs and Spurs have been playing, most opponents think that the Suns are the most vulnerable of the top three teams.

The Suns' repuation is much like that of a great curve ball pitcher has in baseball. Everyone respects a great fast ball pitcher who can simply overpower hitters, but guys without a great fast ball have a lot less margin for error and can get pounded when just slightly "off".

The Suns have to hit their outside shots. Even with Amare, the Suns can't just attack the basket because they lack the size to play that kind of game. Opposing coaches keep telling their guys that all they have to do is get back on defense and stay with the shooters. Playoff teams always think they can do that and blame themselves when the Suns win.

Always. Lottery teams admit that the Suns are just better, but even after three years, playoff teams continue to act as if the Suns success is just a fluke.

I am not really sure about that. I think teams have more respect for the Suns. But they know what to do against us. They know that when we are on fire there is not much to do to stop us. But they also know that if we don't hit our outside shots we are vulnerable. So they just have to TRY " to get back on defense and stay with the shooters"... and actually they know it is not so easy.

 

[ndjmc]

Bring IT!!!

Could the Lakers be positioning themselves to be matched up against us in the playoffs on purpose? Its starting to look that way. I would love this as a way to solidify our last season's playoff victory.

Thoughts?

Do they really want this? I mean they cant play with the Suns. They start out hot and swinging, punching away untill they are exposed for the 1 and a half (Kobe and Parker) dog and pony show they are. They would get slapped right out of the building. 5 games...gotta give Kobe 1 at least in la la land...

 

[Phxchris1989]

The Lakers are a one and done team in the playoffs this year...doesn't matter anymore.

 

[az1965]

Do they really want this? I mean they cant play with the Suns. They start out hot and swinging, punching away untill they are exposed for the 1 and a half (Kobe and Parker) dog and pony show they are. They would get slapped right out of the building. 5 games...gotta give Kobe 1 at least in la la land...

Odem was big on offensive boards last playoff and a key contributer. He has been hurting lately. But, I still believe even with Odem healthy, that this series ain't going seven games this year...

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

honestly, it's just tough living in lakerland during a suns-lakers series. last year was incredibly difficult having to have back-to-back LA series go 7 games each. just couldn't ever escape it.

 

[NativeSun]

"honestly, it's just tough living in lakerland during a suns-lakers series. last year was incredibly difficult having to have back-to-back LA series go 7 games each. just couldn't ever escape it."

Totally agree. I've had to deal with Laker fan all my life. Even when we are so much better than them, we still manage to drag out any playoff series against them. I would rather play the Clippers or Nuggets.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I can concur with the two previous posts. Seriously, I'm just hoping that if we play the Lakers this year, we actually do what a 2 seed SHOULD do to a one man-7 seed and end that %$it in 5 games, MAX.

Honestly, the Suns were really two shots away (Byron Scott's wide open 3 at the end of Game 5 in 1993 when we already had to comeback from a 2-0 deficit in a best of 5 and TT's three that went in to force OT in Game six after having been down 3-1 last year) from having the dubious distinction of being the only franchise to lose in the first round as a #1 and #2 seed and both would have been to the freaking Lakers.

for the love of everything holy, especially since I still live in LA, can wwe just make short work of the Lakers or Clippers in the first round? I can't go through what I went through last year - like Ouchie said, you just can't escape it and the Myopians out here just make it that much worse.

 

[D-Dogg]

I can concur with the two previous posts. Seriously, I'm just hoping that if we play the Lakers this year, we actually do what a 2 seed SHOULD do to a one man-7 seed and end that %$it in 5 games, MAX.

Honestly, the Suns were really two shots away (Byron Scott's wide open 3 at the end of Game 5 in 1993 when we already had to comeback from a 2-0 deficit in a best of 5 and TT's three that went in to force OT in Game six after having been down 3-1 last year) from having the dubious distinction of being the only franchise to lose in the first round as a #1 and #2 seed and both would have been to the freaking Lakers.

for the love of everything holy, especially since I still live in LA, can wwe just make short work of the Lakers or Clippers in the first round? I can't go through what I went through last year - like Ouchie said, you just can't escape it and the Myopians out here just make it that much worse.

You should just be a Laker fan. Why don't you have any hometown pride?

 

[Cheesebeef]

You should just be a Laker fan. Why don't you have any hometown pride?

I do - my hometown is PHOENIX you MOMO!

I'd rather kill myself than be a Laker fan. You're one of the few intelligent basketball fans I know - most of my friends who love the team are completely clueless and only started caring abotu the team when Kobe went on his streak - complete and utter bandwagon crap.

 

[Chaplin]

The good thing is, if we DO face the Lakers in the first round, they are literally limping to the finish line right now. They only have a 2 game lead on the 8th seed (Golden St), and a 2 1/2 game lead on the 9th seed (Clippers). The Lakers SHOULD win their final two games, but if the Clippers beat them this week, things will get VERY interesting.

 

[LakeShowMan]

The way the Lakers are playing currently, it doesn't matter who we play in the playoffs. We'll be lucky to win a game.

I really hope I am wrong, but the fact is we haven't played well enough on defense, well enough on the boards, or crisp enough on offense to beat a good team in a 7 game series. Much less one of the best 2-3 teams in the league.

I just hope that the Lakers blow the whole thing up this offseason, and get Kobe some help.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

The way the Lakers are playing currently, it doesn't matter who we play in the playoffs. We'll be lucky to win a game.

I really hope I am wrong, but the fact is we haven't played well enough on defense, well enough on the boards, or crisp enough on offense to beat a good team in a 7 game series. Much less one of the best 2-3 teams in the league.

I just hope that the Lakers blow the whole thing up this offseason, and get Kobe some help.

The Lakers have little in trade pieces in order to blow the whole thing up.

 

[LakeShowMan]

The Lakers have little in trade pieces in order to blow the whole thing up.

I'd have to humbly disagree. Bynum has a good amount of value as does Odom. Even Kwame will be in the final year of his contract, as well as a couple other filler guys.

They will have the ability to do something, but they will have to relent from the view that they are willing to wait it out and build for the future.

 

[D-Dogg]

- most of my friends who love the team are completely clueless and only started caring abotu the team when Kobe went on his streak - complete and utter bandwagon crap.

Why do you think I'd rather post about the lakers on another team's board than post in the headnodding idiotvilles of laker-focused boards? It's easier to be frustrated by people who don't know details about the Lakers because they are fans of another team than people who don't know jack about the team that they "cheer" for.

 

[elindholm]

I'd have to humbly disagree. Bynum has a good amount of value as does Odom. Even Kwame will be in the final year of his contract, as well as a couple other filler guys.

No one wants Brown, but I agree that Odom and Bynum have value. Cook and Farmar could be useful pieces too. I could also see the Lakers getting something in a sign-and-trade with Walton.

The Lakers should have voided Radmanovic's contract when they had the chance. That signing was a huge mistake from the beginning. Heh, maybe a Radmanovic/Banks trade is possible.

 

[D-Dogg]

No one wants Brown, but I agree that Odom and Bynum have value. Cook and Farmar could be useful pieces too. I could also see the Lakers getting something in a sign-and-trade with Walton.

The Lakers should have voided Radmanovic's contract when they had the chance. That signing was a huge mistake from the beginning. Heh, maybe a Radmanovic/Banks trade is possible.

Cook has trade value but they like him far too much.

I want Brown. But he will be moved as an expiring K and will be very attractive because of that. Brown and Cook will be packaged.

Phil doesn't want to move Luke.

Mihm is still out there.

It is likely that Farmar will start next year.

Odom can be moved. If a legit PF and SF can be brought in for a Kwame/Odom/Cook setup, the Lakers can improve. Only if Mihm is there to backup Bynum though and someone else is brought in. Bringing Luke and Turiaf off the bench to backup the SF and PF spots. And Bynum has to get his head right, get aggressive and stop pussyfooting around. He's working out with Dwight Howard this offseason, so that's good.

Farmar/?
Kobe/Mo Evans
New SF/Luke
New PF/Turiaf
Bynum/Mihm or ?

That's the direction I'd go...it's got a lot of youth on it, but developing and talented youth and if you get solid players at the SF and PF (PF hardest to find) then they would be in good shape.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Why do you think I'd rather post about the lakers on another team's board than post in the headnodding idiotvilles of laker-focused boards? It's easier to be frustrated by people who don't know details about the Lakers because they are fans of another team than people who don't know jack about the team that they "cheer" for.

wow

 

[D-Dogg]

wow

You are surprised that I'd bash Laker fans? I'm not emboldened to fans; I'm down with the franchise.

 

[LakeShowMan]

No one wants Brown, but I agree that Odom and Bynum have value. Cook and Farmar could be useful pieces too. I could also see the Lakers getting something in a sign-and-trade with Walton.

The Lakers should have voided Radmanovic's contract when they had the chance. That signing was a huge mistake from the beginning. Heh, maybe a Radmanovic/Banks trade is possible.

Browns' value is the fact that he has an $8MM+ number and is in the final year. Those kind of contracts always have trade value, especially for that high of a number.

The only guy I don't want them to move is Luke. He is the most valuable Laker other than Kobe, as the offenese is 100X more efficent when he is in there.

Other than that, I am open to just about anyone being moved. Of course if we do move Bynum, it better be for a very, very good player.

 

[abomb]

Luke is a free agent, along with Mihm, McKie, Williams, Smush and Ronny.

(source)

What sucks is that even though Brian Grant's contract finally comes off the book, take that and the FAs above and with our 9 contracted players, we are already near the salary cap.

 

[elindholm]

Mihm will be a UFA and any team can offer him the MLE, which is the most he's conceivably worth, so he doesn't have any value in a trade. Why would anyone trade something of value to the Lakers for Mihm, when they can sign him outright instead?

Which big/bad contract players do you think the Lakers will target with Brown? Gasol? I don't see the Garnett for Odom/Brown/Bynum pipe dream happening, but I suppose it's possible.

 

[D-Dogg]

Mihm will be a UFA and any team can offer him the MLE, which is the most he's conceivably worth, so he doesn't have any value in a trade. Why would anyone trade something of value to the Lakers for Mihm, when they can sign him outright instead?

If the Lakers decide to move Brown, they would likely keep Mihm...Bynum seriously needs backup help. He's tissue soft.