With Gasol and Bynum both banged up, do you look at LA as seriously?

[PHXSportsFan4]

Bynum and Gasol are both nursing injuries but both are expected back by playoff time. Assuming both will be in the Lakers lineup for the playoffs, do you still look at them as seriously? I'm not saying anyone would take them lightly but do you think they are as dangerous as they would be if both guys were totally healthy and not coming off any injuries? Bynum has been out for quite a while now and it's not like he is going to come back and be 100% right off. He's going to need some time to get back into the flow of things and all. Gasol should be back soon so he might not need as much time to get going again.

 

[arwillan]

Gasol will be 100% healthy come playoff time. He was only supposed to miss 3 games. With a Healthy Gasol and no Bynum, i still take the lakers very seriously and i still consider them contenders. If Bynum is able to come back and play well, it only adds to their chances even more.

 

[SirStefan32]

Any team that has Kobe Bryant has to be taken seriously. In addition, Gasol will be 100%. We don't know what Bynam is gonna look like, but Lakers are going to be dangerous.
Don't get me wrong, I think we can beat the Lakers, but to not take them seriously would be idiotic.

 

[TJ]

 

[mojorizen7]

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Too many Laker threads. The other Laker thread went for days then wound down........now we've got another that'll consist of the same banter, eventually winding up in a two man argument and eventually wind down..........
Bynum is this,no he's not,Bynum won't be back,yes he will, Bynum will be a factor, no he won't, Gasol can't play defense,yes he can.....blah blah.
http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=108888
http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=107120
I like our chances against ANY team in the league besides the PISTONS in a seven game series.

 

[arwillan]

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Too many Laker threads. The other Laker thread went for days then wound down........now we've got another that'll consist of the same banter, eventually winding up in a two man argument and eventually wind down..........
Bynum is this,no he's not,Bynum won't be back,yes he will, Bynum will be a factor, no he won't, Gasol can't play defense,yes he can.....blah blah.
I like our chances against ANY team in the league besides the PISTONS in a seven game series.

i agree that we have at least a decent chance in a series against everyone but the pistons. Hopefully we can win the game against them this week. we need to make some sort of statement.

 

[mojorizen7]

i agree that we have at least a decent chance in a series against everyone but the pistons. Hopefully we can win the game against them this week. we need to make some sort of statement.

Yeah we have no answer for Rasheed Wallace and/or Antonio McDyess on the floor together. Shaq becomes irrelevant against Detroit.
Hopefully the SUNS get a chance to watch a lot of film on our previous meetings and find a way to defend them. We've got some new weapons now & obviously we're a better team today than 2 weeks ago but R.Wallace and C.Billups are a BAD matchup for us. I'm glad they play in the East.

 

[arwillan]

Yeah we have no answer for Rasheed Wallace and/or Antonio McDyess on the floor together. Shaq becomes irrelevant against Detroit.
Hopefully the SUNS get a chance to watch a lot of film on our previous meetings and find a way to defend them. We've got some new weapons now & obviously we're a better team today than 2 weeks ago but R.Wallace and C.Billups are a BAD matchup for us. I'm glad they play in the East.

yeah, rasheed is a very tough cover. we definitely miss shawn marion on that match up. Marion was the only sun who could stay with him in the post and perimeter. Last game Rasheed was hitting every single fall away shot, though. i doubt he'll do that every single game to us. Billups is another story. He can abuse nash with his size pretty badly. Unless nash can step up his D and keep Billups from getting hot, we'll be in trouble there. I'd prefer nash to overplay billups and make him drive into the lane on shaq and amare. we just have to stay at home on prince and hamilton in the corners because they can really bury teams with their shooting. I don't worry too much about mcdyess anymore. He is basically a jump shooter now, so either amare or shaq can stick with him. We just have to keep him off the boards. Our bench would really have to step up in a series with detroit. Skinner would have to keep mcdyess off the boards, and our perimeter players would need to slow down stuckey and hayes. Truth be told, our chances aren't all that great in that series. If we were Dallas, they would be like golden state....match up nightmare

 

[pokerface]

I take the Lakers more seriously than this thread

 

[Darth Llama]

If someone doesn't like this topic, the easy answer is to just not read this thread. That being said, and being that the Lakers are my favorite team, I'll weigh in.

Are they contenders with Bynum and Gasol this year? Yes they are. Are they a lock for the title? Absolutely not.

Lately, the media has fallen in love with the Lakers for whatever reason. The addition of Gasol and the emergence of Bynum has put them as a contender, but they are just one of many in my opinion. As a Laker fan myself, I'm not fully convinced we have a title in the works this year. Honestly, I like our chances better next year then this year. Why? Because while the Lakers have played well through adversity, it just seems like everything is going against them this season. They have to go through the established great teams like the Spurs and the Suns, and they have to deal with newly emerging teams like the Hornets and to a lesser extent, the Rockets.

They might get everyone back, but I am not too confident they can go all the way unless everyone is healthy. I'm not the least bit worried about integrating Bynum into the system with Gasol, that's the easy part, the concern is rather or not Bynum will play tentative and scared after suffering such a horrendous injury. Gasol should be fine, and Kobe has proven he can play through pain, but without Bynum's presence in the paint, a title is a tall order.

I'm not quite sure who's going to win the title this year to be honest, but I haven't seen a team yet that I'm willing to crown already.

 

[arwillan]

If someone doesn't like this topic, the easy answer is to just not read this thread. That being said, and being that the Lakers are my favorite team, I'll weigh in.

Are they contenders with Bynum and Gasol this year? Yes they are. Are they a lock for the title? Absolutely not.

Lately, the media has fallen in love with the Lakers for whatever reason. The addition of Gasol and the emergence of Bynum has put them as a contender, but they are just one of many in my opinion. As a Laker fan myself, I'm not fully convinced we have a title in the works this year. Honestly, I like our chances better next year then this year. Why? Because while the Lakers have played well through adversity, it just seems like everything is going against them this season. They have to go through the established great teams like the Spurs and the Suns, and they have to deal with newly emerging teams like the Hornets and to a lesser extent, the Rockets.

They might get everyone back, but I am not too confident they can go all the way unless everyone is healthy. I'm not the least bit worried about integrating Bynum into the system with Gasol, that's the easy part, the concern is rather or not Bynum will play tentative and scared after suffering such a horrendous injury. Gasol should be fine, and Kobe has proven he can play through pain, but without Bynum's presence in the paint, a title is a tall order.

I'm not quite sure who's going to win the title this year to be honest, but I haven't seen a team yet that I'm willing to crown already.

Nice post, couldn't agree more.

 

[PHXSportsFan4]

If someone doesn't like this topic, the easy answer is to just not read this thread. That being said, and being that the Lakers are my favorite team, I'll weigh in.

Are they contenders with Bynum and Gasol this year? Yes they are. Are they a lock for the title? Absolutely not.

Lately, the media has fallen in love with the Lakers for whatever reason. The addition of Gasol and the emergence of Bynum has put them as a contender, but they are just one of many in my opinion. As a Laker fan myself, I'm not fully convinced we have a title in the works this year. Honestly, I like our chances better next year then this year. Why? Because while the Lakers have played well through adversity, it just seems like everything is going against them this season. They have to go through the established great teams like the Spurs and the Suns, and they have to deal with newly emerging teams like the Hornets and to a lesser extent, the Rockets.

They might get everyone back, but I am not too confident they can go all the way unless everyone is healthy. I'm not the least bit worried about integrating Bynum into the system with Gasol, that's the easy part, the concern is rather or not Bynum will play tentative and scared after suffering such a horrendous injury. Gasol should be fine, and Kobe has proven he can play through pain, but without Bynum's presence in the paint, a title is a tall order.

I'm not quite sure who's going to win the title this year to be honest, but I haven't seen a team yet that I'm willing to crown already.

That was a great, very un-biased post. I typically don't care much for LA fans of the Dodgers or Lakers mainly because many of them are often biased and arrogant but I think you hit the nail on the head and you answered my question. Maybe I worded it wrong but I was basically just seeing whether people look at the Lakers as a question mark or as a scare in the west considering they are a bit banged up with Bynum being out, Gasol now out for a bit, and Kobe playing through an injury.

 

[nowagimp]

If bynum had not gone down with what appears to be a very serious injury, I would consider the lakers the favorite for the title. they would be too deep, and too talented. Without bynum, the lakers low post game is not as potent and they are not as good a rebounding or defensive team. The lakers with a healthy gasol are still a serious contender, but I think the pistons or celts are better teams. Since I dont believe bynum will come back strong this year(I dont listen to PJ's public relations blabbering), I would say that they can come out of the west still, but the suns have a good shot to do the same as shaq is playing down low now(as opposed to high post) and shooting 58% while dominating space in the middle. Next year, the lakers will be a very strong team with a healthy bynum, and the blazers will be too young even if oden comes back strong. the lakers balkl movement is really good right now, they will be one of the most fun teams to watch. I dont believe the spurs can make it out of the west, so the finals will likely be very entertaining.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

I think everyone in the national media and some of our laker fan friends vastly over rate Gasol. He is a nice regular season player, but he will disapear come playoff time on schedule.

I know, Laker fans think Gasol = Amare, but I am not going to conceed that, I think that is assinine.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Oh yes, I remember Gasol.

The Suns have one 7 games series sweep in the history of the franchise. It came against Gasol's Grizzlies.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Oh yes, I remember Gasol.

The Suns have one 7 games series sweep in the history of the franchise. It came against Gasol's Grizzlies.

Exactly, here is the deal, when you play in LA you get more hype than you are worth. Now I resepect Kobe as a player immensley, well deserved hype. But there was a time when Smush Parker was getting hype for god sakes. Where is Smushy now a days?

So do I thnk Bynum is over rated? Yes I do, I think he has a ton of talent, but if he played on the Bobcats he wouldn't be getting near the run he gets in LA. Gasol is the national media darling right now only because he plays in LA and his flaws have been hidden for years, I have watched him play every year in the playoffs and his team folds like a tortilla every year. Soon Laker fans will turn on him too, it's only a matter of time, until then those two will be over hyped.

I will say I do fear any team with Kobe. But Gasol and Bynum not so much.

 

[D-Dogg]

I think everyone in the national media and some of our laker fan friends vastly over rate Gasol. He is a nice regular season player, but he will disapear come playoff time on schedule.

I know, Laker fans think Gasol = Amare, but I am not going to conceed that, I think that is assinine.

Nobody has said that Gasol = Amare. Amare is the far better scorer. He's a top ten player, IMO.

Pau is a top 30 player in the league, however, but brings vastly different things to the Lakers that fit their offensive schemes. Neither can defend. Amare will outscore Pau, but Pau makes the total offense run better and does things to facilitate others. He is more important in the flow of the offense and forcing decisions by defenders than Amare...Pau isn't going to be asked to shoulder the scoring burden...Amare is. Amare isn't going to be asked to post up and hit the cutting player, or kick out for a three...Pau is. When Amare gets the ball, he's going to try and score....when Pau gets the ball he's going to see what the defense does and adjust; shooting is often his last choice, which works perfectly in the triangle.


Pau is no longer the focal point of an offense...Kobe is that. He's a second option. He doesn't face double teams every trip like he used to. His playoff performance in the past is irrelevant, because he's no longer the "man" on the team...he's now the "man's" right hand man. HUGE difference.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Nobody has said that Gasol = Amare. Amare is the far better scorer. He's a top ten player, IMO.

Pau is a top 30 player in the league, however, but brings vastly different things to the Lakers that fit their offensive schemes. Neither can defend. Amare will outscore Pau, but Pau makes the total offense run better and does things to facilitate others. He is more important in the flow of the offense and forcing decisions by defenders than Amare...Pau isn't going to be asked to shoulder the scoring burden...Amare is. Amare isn't going to be asked to post up and hit the cutting player, or kick out for a three...Pau is. When Amare gets the ball, he's going to try and score....when Pau gets the ball he's going to see what the defense does and adjust; shooting is often his last choice, which works perfectly in the triangle.


Pau is no longer the focal point of an offense...Kobe is that. He's a second option. He doesn't face double teams every trip like he used to. His playoff performance in the past is irrelevant, because he's no longer the "man" on the team...he's now the "man's" right hand man. HUGE difference.

Ah, well Shaq is no longer the focal point of the offense. He doesn't face double teams every trip like he's used to. Amare can't be guarded with everyteam's best defender because Shaq takes up so much space and energy.

Gasol has no chance of guarding Amare. We saw in Shaq's first game that the Suns had absolutely no problems scoring on the Lakers and this was before the Suns really got acclimated to playing with Shaq.

My guess is the Suns will consistently score 120+ points against the Lakers and the Lakers might win a game or two if they can manage to score 130. Of course, that will only happen if the Lakers are able to hit all of their jump shots since they're so soft in the middle.

 

[Trophytown]

We saw in Shaq's first game that the Suns had absolutely no problems scoring on the Lakers and this was before the Suns really got acclimated to playing with Shaq.

My guess is the Suns will consistently score 120+ points against the Lakers and the Lakers might win a game or two if they can manage to score 130. Of course, that will only happen if the Lakers are able to hit all of their jump shots since they're so soft in the middle.

You couldnt stop them (Lakers) either. IIRC the Lakers rolled you up the 2nd contest of the season and ran out to leads only witnessed only since the Detroit massacre. So the Lakers can outscore you......theyve proven it without Gasol and or Bynum in the lineup. And im not so sure you will CONSISTENTLY ring up 120 vs the Lakers when you cant even ring that amount vs the Sonics. Things will get tougher in the playoffs.

So now we're soft in the middle huh ? Hehehehe.......fine, man. Thats fine. Convince yourself so you sleep better at night. 2 post players that put up 55% or greater FG numbers and we're soft. Cool. I like it. We need more softness then.

 

[Covert Rain]

You couldnt stop them (Lakers) either. IIRC the Lakers rolled you up the 2nd contest of the season and ran out to leads only witnessed only since the Detroit massacre. So the Lakers can outscore you......theyve proven it without Gasol and or Bynum in the lineup. And im not so sure you will CONSISTENTLY ring up 120 vs the Lakers when you cant even ring that amount vs the Sonics. Things will get tougher in the playoffs.

So now we're soft in the middle huh ? Hehehehe.......fine, man. Thats fine. Convince yourself so you sleep better at night. 2 post players that put up 55% or greater FG numbers and we're soft. Cool. I like it. We need more softness then.

Shaq had zero knowledge of any plays on offense. Didn't know the defense rotation and we had zero plays in the offense built for Shaq. You can't even begin to imagine how bad that cascaded to the rest of the team. Spacing was horrid on both offense and defense. Guys didn't know where they should be and their rotations were messed up on defense.

The only way the Lakers can beat the Suns in a 7 game series to to play great "D". If your saying the Lakers want to get into a scoring match in a 7 game series and try and outscore the Suns 4 out of 7 then maybe you should ask Phil that. I guarantee he would say the Lakers don't want to get into a scoring match with the Suns.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

You couldnt stop them (Lakers) either. IIRC the Lakers rolled you up the 2nd contest of the season and ran out to leads only witnessed only since the Detroit massacre. So the Lakers can outscore you......theyve proven it without Gasol and or Bynum in the lineup. And im not so sure you will CONSISTENTLY ring up 120 vs the Lakers when you cant even ring that amount vs the Sonics. Things will get tougher in the playoffs.

So now we're soft in the middle huh ? Hehehehe.......fine, man. Thats fine. Convince yourself so you sleep better at night. 2 post players that put up 55% or greater FG numbers and we're soft. Cool. I like it. We need more softness then.

Exactly right and the "playoffs" is exactly when the true Gasol shows up.

Or do the laws of the playoffs only apply to teams outside of LA?

 

[D-Dogg]

Exactly right and the "playoffs" is exactly when the true Gasol shows up.

Or do the laws of the playoffs only apply to teams outside of LA?

Tree, care to make a guess what these two stat lines are?

MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
35.4 0.490 0.500 0.758 1.9 4.5 6.4 2.7 0.7 1.5 1.92 20.0

35.5 0.511 0.227 0.732 2.5 6.1 8.6 3.1 0.5 1.8 2.56 18.8

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Tree, care to make a guess what these two stat lines are?

MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
35.4 0.490 0.500 0.758 1.9 4.5 6.4 2.7 0.7 1.5 1.92 20.0

35.5 0.511 0.227 0.732 2.5 6.1 8.6 3.1 0.5 1.8 2.56 18.8

Knowing you, probably Gasol's regular season vs. his playoff numbers.

I know what my eyes have seen, the stats lie here.

 

[Trophytown]

Exactly right and the "playoffs" is exactly when the true Gasol shows up.

Or do the laws of the playoffs only apply to teams outside of LA?

Can you run off a list of names on those Memphis playoff rosters. And then once youve done that, can you tell me who the coach was of those Grizzlies teams ? After youve provided those lil details, can you tell us how those Grizzlies teams compare to the current Lakers squad ?

I do recall some years ago a player by the name of Glen Rice tried to lead a Hornets team to a title but failed. Only to sign with the Lakers a few years later and contribute in what would be his first World title. So, you see, a change of scenery can do wonders for a player especially if he doesnt have the pressure to carry the load anymore. The same can be said with Antoine Walker (formerly of Boston) and the Heat. Clyde Drexler (formerly of Portland) and the Rockets.

So you can harp on Gasol's past in Memphis all you want. Everything IS different now when youre playing along side the games greatest perimeter player. And Gasol couldnt have dreamed (this scenario) any better. Dont be surprised if he flourishes/thrives in this situation. He doesnt have to do the heavy lifting anymore.

 

[D-Dogg]

Knowing you, probably Gasol's regular season vs. his playoff numbers.

I know what my eyes have seen, the stats lie here.

Right...career regular season vs. career playoffs.

BTW, the playoffs is the top number.

Your eyes have never seen him as the second option, either. They are about to. I hope they can take it.