2010-11 Back-to-Back NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers Thread

Originally posted by kray28:

Originally posted by LA9erFan:

Originally posted by StOnEy333:
Can we just start basketball season already?

Seriously.

I think the Lakers are going to get off to a rough start. Not having Bynum means that Odom starts, and there's no one to tie together the bench. Our two best bench guys after him are new, so there's going to be an adjustment period. And on top of everything else, Kobe's still recovering from the knee surgery and may not be himself for the first month or so.

The 2008 team with the Fish-Kobe-Vlad-Lamar-Pau starting lineup made it to the Finals with no Bynum at all.

There are several wrinkles in play now:

1. Everyone's a bit older.
2. Kobe's going to start slow with the knee.
3. Ron's needs to start getting the Tri now.
4. Bench is completely different with Blake and Barnes.
5. Early schedule is somewhat challenging.

But I think we will survive it fine and have a strong record as well.

True. I'd add...

6. This team's won back-to-back titles and has nothing to prove in the regular season.

I think that's a big factor when determining regular season wins. In 2000, we won 67 games and then got the title against Indiana. The next two seasons we only won 56 & 58 games, and yet still got it done in the postseason. In 2009, we won 65, and that dropped to 57 last year.

I just think it's hard (and probably counterproductive) for a team to go balls out for 82 games when they've come off of a title. It's very possible that their Give-A-s**t-O-Meter is pretty low in November & December.

This squad is easily more talented than the two previous teams though. My biggest worry is Kobe's health/regression, because he's still the sun that everyone else orbits around.

[ Edited by LA9erFan on Oct 13, 2010 at 13:28:10 ]

Artest Given Key To Las Vegas
Oct 13, 2010 7:12 AM EST

Lakers forward Ron Artest was honored by Las Vegas on Tuesday night with a key to the city.

Artest received the honor in recognition of his work with Xcel University and efforts to raise awareness about mental health issues.

Oct. 12 was officially named "Ron Artest Day," and the ceremony was conducted by Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Wolfson at the Mirage Hotel.

"I've been doing a lot of charity things, and I think they kind of like it," Artest explained. "I was totally surprised. I heard something about it a couple of months ago and I was trying to give it to [Derek Fisher]. Fish could take my place or Kobe [Bryant] or somebody.

"That's what comes with winning and doing good things and being a Laker."

Streaming link for tonight's game:

Lakers vs. Kings Preseason Game 3

Originally posted by LA9erFan:

True. I'd add...

6. This team's won back-to-back titles and has nothing to prove in the regular season.

I think that's a big factor when determining regular season wins. In 2000, we won 67 games and then got the title against Indiana. The next two seasons we only won 56 & 58 games, and yet still got it done in the postseason. In 2009, we won 65, and that dropped to 57 last year.

I just think it's hard (and probably counterproductive) for a team to go balls out for 82 games when they've come off of a title. It's very possible that their Give-A-s**t-O-Meter is pretty low in November & December.

This squad is easily more talented than the two previous teams though. My biggest worry is Kobe's health/regression, because he's still the sun that everyone else orbits around.

To be fair, the 57 wins were enough to win the West, and the Lakers coasted a bit after building up a pretty big conference lead.

Also the Lakers ran into serious health issues last season and they were spread out throughout the season:

1. Kobe with the finger, ankle (which actually caused him to miss games) and then the knee.
2. Pau with two missed stretches thanks to his hamstrings.
3. Ron with his "fall" and concussion.
4. Drew with yet another injury (strained Achilles tendon) later in the season.

Basically, if 4 out of 5 starters miss significant time and you still win 57 and the conference...I'd say you did damn well. That being said, Kobe singlehandledly won at least 7 of those games with his clutch play. (And 7 games was the difference between the 1st and the 8th seed in the West).

Fully healthy, I think the Lakers would have won 65 plus games last year at teh very least.

Originally posted by kray28:

Originally posted by LA9erFan:

True. I'd add...

6. This team's won back-to-back titles and has nothing to prove in the regular season.

I think that's a big factor when determining regular season wins. In 2000, we won 67 games and then got the title against Indiana. The next two seasons we only won 56 & 58 games, and yet still got it done in the postseason. In 2009, we won 65, and that dropped to 57 last year.

I just think it's hard (and probably counterproductive) for a team to go balls out for 82 games when they've come off of a title. It's very possible that their Give-A-s**t-O-Meter is pretty low in November & December.

This squad is easily more talented than the two previous teams though. My biggest worry is Kobe's health/regression, because he's still the sun that everyone else orbits around.

To be fair, the 57 wins were enough to win the West, and the Lakers coasted a bit after building up a pretty big conference lead.

Also the Lakers ran into serious health issues last season and they were spread out throughout the season:

1. Kobe with the finger, ankle (which actually caused him to miss games) and then the knee.
2. Pau with two missed stretches thanks to his hamstrings.
3. Ron with his "fall" and concussion.
4. Drew with yet another injury (strained Achilles tendon) later in the season.

Basically, if 4 out of 5 starters miss significant time and you still win 57 and the conference...I'd say you did damn well. That being said, Kobe singlehandledly won at least 7 of those games with his clutch play. (And 7 games was the difference between the 1st and the 8th seed in the West).

Fully healthy, I think the Lakers would have won 65 plus games last year at teh very least.

Excellent counterpoints. I think that if the Lakers needed to win a few more games to win the West, they probably would have pushed a little harder and done so. And you're right that there were an unusual amount of injuries last year, but I don't know if that's a product of age. We're already off to a bad start in that department with Bynum and with Kobe working his way back from surgery.

It's still my perception though that this team has a habit of taking games off, for whatever reason. That's why I disagree with your 65+ games opinion. Had it been a goal of their's they could have easily done it, but I don't think it is.

It wouldn't surprise me at all to see us beating the crap out of teams in the playoffs though.

[ Edited by LA9erFan on Oct 13, 2010 at 16:15:36 ]

Sasha got knocked a concussion from a wayward Odom elbow yesterday. Here's what Phil Jackson had to say about the tests they ran afterward.

"Sasha says he's feeling pretty good actually. He doesn't have blurred vision. He doesn't see lights and they did find a brain when they went in."

Originally posted by LA9erFan:
Sasha got knocked a concussion from a wayward Odom elbow yesterday. Here's what Phil Jackson had to say about the tests they ran afterward.

"Sasha says he's feeling pretty good actually. He doesn't have blurred vision. He doesn't see lights and they did find a brain when they went in."

there ain't nothing like getting zinged by the coach

its all love in la la land

Does anyone agree preseason basketball is 20x better than postseason baseball?

Originally posted by socalfan21:
Does anyone agree preseason basketball is 20x better than postseason baseball?

NBA pre-season warmup is better than postseason baseball.

Originally posted by titan:

Originally posted by socalfan21:
Does anyone agree preseason basketball is 20x better than postseason baseball?

NBA pre-season warmup is better than postseason baseball.

thats coming from 2 guys who dont like baseball so thats why yall 2 come out with those ridiculous statements

Originally posted by FredFlintstone:

Originally posted by titan:

Originally posted by socalfan21:
Does anyone agree preseason basketball is 20x better than postseason baseball?

NBA pre-season warmup is better than postseason baseball.

thats coming from 2 guys who dont like baseball so thats why yall 2 come out with those ridiculous statements

Isn't that the point?

Anyway, game tonight at 7:30 vs. Denver.

Originally posted by FredFlintstone:

Originally posted by titan:

Originally posted by socalfan21:
Does anyone agree preseason basketball is 20x better than postseason baseball?

NBA pre-season warmup is better than postseason baseball.

thats coming from 2 guys who dont like baseball so thats why yall 2 come out with those ridiculous statements

I'm an A's fan and I do like baseball lmao

Originally posted by socalfan21:

Originally posted by FredFlintstone:

Originally posted by titan:

Originally posted by socalfan21:
Does anyone agree preseason basketball is 20x better than postseason baseball?

NBA pre-season warmup is better than postseason baseball.

thats coming from 2 guys who dont like baseball so thats why yall 2 come out with those ridiculous statements

I'm an A's fan and I do like baseball lmao

I can confirm his dedication to the A's.

Oh snap. Lakers on NBATV right now vs the Nuggets.

The Lakers rotation looks mightttyyyyy goood