The 2006-07 Los Angeles Lakers thread

[D-Dogg]

Difference is.. When people labeled Jordan that, he went out and proved them wrong.. Cant play defense? Next year went out and won defensive player of the year etc etc.. Kobe dont do that.. And Kobe is nowhere near the leader or competitor Jordan was.. If Kobe was that big of a competitor, he would become a better leader..

And no, I dont hate Kobe for beating my Suns cuz he rarely does (without Shaq )

Nope, Kobe is not the next coming of Jordan.. He has a long way to go other than hoisting up 81 points or back to back to back 50 point games..

Impressive

you forgot a "to back"

 

[abomb]

Against the Grizz tonight. Hopefully we see a couple of these;

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[Cheesebeef]

I don't disagree with what you've written, but make no mistake about it...Jordan was hated on before he won titles, and then after he won them he was deified. His persona has been sugarcoated (not really his career, as it is what it was) a great deal. He never was scrutinized to any degree that Kobe is...his every move questioned. He knocked Kerr the F out, was not a good teammate and had serious gambling and womanizing issues...if that were Kobe can you even imagine how he'd be raked over the coals?

sorry man, but being a womanizer/gambler and knocking out a scrub just isn't even in the same league as getting accused of rape, then throwing a guy under the bus which could have destroyed the guy's entire personal life and marriage, throwing blatant elbows at puny white boys repeatedly, having public hissy fits with not only Karl Malone, but his freaking parents, punching out Samaki Walker, and then the monster, holding a franchise hostage making it very clear he would walk across the hall unless they got rid of the most dominant player in the league and the best coach of all time. there's a reason Kobe's raked over the coals and MJ wasn't in the same regard - and hell, you think MJ wasn't raked over the coals for the gambling thing? It's all people talked about during the 1993 Finals versus the Suns and he said all the talk was what really drove him to his first retirement.

 

[TJ]

Kobe and the 5th wheelers lose to the worst team in the NBA at home

 

[D-Dogg]

Kobe and the 5th wheelers lose to the worst team in the NBA at home

One of the worst games I have EVER seen...just ridiculously bad. Worst shooting of all time...and these weren't tough misses...and incredibly sloppy.

Yuck...I just threw up in my mouth watching that game.

 

[D-Dogg]

holding a franchise hostage making it very clear he would walk across the hall unless they got rid of the most dominant player in the league and the best coach of all time. .

Except that part didn't happen. That summer all started in the preseason when Shaq yelled "pay me mothereffer" at Jerry Buss. Rolled downhill from there.

 

[abomb]

One of the worst games I have EVER seen...just ridiculously bad. Worst shooting of all time...and these weren't tough misses...and incredibly sloppy.

Yuck...I just threw up in my mouth watching that game.

They played a box, and I haven't seen that since high school. Other than that, I was able to raise up and get good looks at the basket. It just didn't go in for me.'

Wow, box and one in an NBA game.

 

[Renz]

I wasn't surprised that the Lakers lost last night. Games like that are inevitable with this team right now. When Kobe has an off night there is no one who can, or will, pick up the slack.

 

[Mulli]

Jordan wasn't scrutinized? Now, D-Dogg is making things up.

 

[D-Dogg]

Wow, box and one in an NBA game.

Yeah, the whole game. No reason to stop either as the Lakers all shot like Crap. Lamar had 3 freaking points...should have had a triple double but missed it ON THE POINTS.

Funny thing is, they came out hot...then all went ICE cold, missing layups, 8 foot shots, etc. It was gross.

Even had the lead at halftime...first quarter was great. Second poor. Third and fourth...eye-bleedingly horrible.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

As always, a few days late from the really good arguments. I have no problem with the Kobe comparisons with Jordan. The article comparing the two was well written.

Jordan's image should be just as bad as Kobe's. Gambling, womanizing, hush money, etc.

Kobe will never be considered better than Jordan, but it won't be for his lack of effort, talent, or determination. It will be lack of support from the media and the public at large.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Except that part didn't happen. That summer all started in the preseason when Shaq yelled "pay me mothereffer" at Jerry Buss. Rolled downhill from there.

Actually, it started before that when Kobe refused to sign a contract extension that same summer which meant with looming FA, he'd be able to strong-arm the Lakers... just like he did... forcing them to make a decision between him and Shaq, which Kupcake did right after the season where his statement was everyone but Kobe is touchable and that's when Shaq blew up. If Kobe signs that contract extension as a true team player, maybe you'd have a point, but there was only one reason not to... he couldn't get more money from anywhere else... he didn't want to leave LA, so why not sign the extension? Because he was Buss' golden boy and he knew that he could force not only Phil, but Shaq out of LA.

 

[D-Dogg]

Because he was Buss' golden boy and he knew that he could force not only Phil, but Shaq out of LA.

He never wanted to force Phil out for starters...he was the first to want Phil in. I would want Shaq out, too, btw. And so would you, or anyone who he treated in the manner he did. Shaq isn't a cuddly ol' teddy bear. Kobe's no freaking saint by any stretch but I have a lot of respect for him remaining silent for so long until his Jim Gray venting session. Pick up Mad Game and catch a rundown of his experience with the Lakers from jump, which only got worse when Phillip had to baby Shaq's ego for the good of the team (and it was the right move because it resulted in three titles).

Nice take on exploring free agency though...it is strong arming now. Interesting.

 

[Renz]

Nice take on exploring free agency though...it is strong arming now. Interesting.

Kobe absolutely considered going to the Clippers, IMO.

 

[D-Dogg]

can we just put Mike Conley Jr. on the Lakers right now and just call it good?

Seriously...

 

[D-Dogg]

After a heartbreak vs. Houston, the Lakers really bounced back kicking the crap out of Sacramento. Beatifully played game.

Kobe put up 19 and 13 assists as something incredible happened, the rest of the team showed up! The bench PLAYED their asses off. Lamar was in foul trouble all night and hardly played, but Mo Evans returned with a vengeance after being out 6 games, and Cook came back as well. Luke is healing...Kwame dominated and is healing. Bynum kicked much ass. Farmar made history when he played for the D-League team this afternoon, and played for the Lakers tonight, scoring four or so in the Laker game in limited duty.

Let's turn this game into a trend...they actually played smart.

They can pretty much put a deathgrip on the 6 seed by beating Denver at Staples on Tuesday...

 

[Red Dawn]

Who's this Donald guy? Just what we need, another Laker fan on the board.

 

[D-Dogg]

Who's this Donald guy? Just what we need, another Laker fan on the board.

:highfive:

 

[abomb]

Cool pic of PJax;

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[abomb]

Found this on another board, re: what KB and RaRa were laughing about;

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:42 am Post subject:

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Kobe: " So Leandro was still available, but Mitch said: " Cook can help us more", so we got Brian"

Raja: " Stop it... Ha ha ha ... Kobe please... Cookie over Leandro... aaw ha ha... my side hurts...

Kobe: " And there was the time Tayshuan was on board..."

Raja: " Ha ha ... I can't take this...ha ha ..."

 

[D-Dogg]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baske...pr08,0,608595.story?track=mostviewed-homepage

Phil talks about the importance of having Kwame come back.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Found this on another board, re: what KB and RaRa were laughing about;

Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:42 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kobe: " So Leandro was still available, but Mitch said: " Cook can help us more", so we got Brian"

Raja: " Stop it... Ha ha ha ... Kobe please... Cookie over Leandro... aaw ha ha... my side hurts...

Kobe: " And there was the time Tayshuan was on board..."

Raja: " Ha ha ... I can't take this...ha ha ..."

But I thought Kupchak was a good GM? Or was that Donald who suggested that?

 

[D-Dogg]

Kupchak is just fine. Nobody said he was great, but the rumors of him being terrible are greatly exaggerated.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Kupchak is just fine. Nobody said he was great, but the rumors of him being terrible are greatly exaggerated.

Well, I guess you don't see a problem with having one of the top 5 players in the NBA and arguably the best coach in NBA history in their primes and a 7/8 playoff seed? For a guy who constantly harps about how only championships matter, you sure seem to be settling for mediocrity.

 

[SO91]

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.

I saw this on another thread, but felt it was probably better to ask here instead. There's no denying that Kobe is one of the best ever, and Phil is arguably the best coach in history, but realistically speaking, do you see the Lakers doing enough in free agency and the draft to make a run at a championship in the next 2 years? If I'm not mistaken Phil will be the coach for 2 more years. I've heard Phil say he wants to help Kobe win a championship, but as an outsider, I just don't see them improving enough to make that happen. What would it take for that to happen?