2012 Los Angeles Lakers Thread

[ZB1224]

LA will bounce back in 2014. But they will not compete for titles again until the Kobe era is over. This offseason is PIVOTAL to the direction of the franchise. Tough coaching and personnel decisions.

I agree with you, but disagree with you at the same time.

I'm not sure that we will compete for a title next season unless we are somehow able to get younger, more athletic, and better defensively. Hopefully you aren't implying that Kobe is to blame. Kobe has played his heart out this season and is basically playing all 48 minutes during this last stretch. Dwight is looking closer to 100% (but still not quite there yet), but other than that we in pretty bad shape. This season has been completely derailed by injuries. I can't really think of another season where a top tier team suffered so many injuries. Nash has been hurt half the season, Blake was hurt 1/3 of the season, Hill has been out since early in the season, Kobe is beat up, but still playing, MWP just has surgery and has been out for a couple of weeks, Pau has been out half the season, and Dwight has been recovering from major back surgery all season. Despite the age of this team I don't think that anyone could have objectively predicted that we'd have this many injuries to the core of the team.

I still have hope that we'll make the playoffs, but even my hope doesn't have me thinking that we are anything other than a 1st round exit :/ I just hope that we can tool up for next season and put some talent around a healthy core of Kobe and Dwight. I don't even know what to do with Nash or Pau. I don't just want to throw Pau away or anything. I respect him too much. Nash on the other hand? Meh, respect him, but he's not a big net positive to the team unless we bring back to Triangle... wonder if there are any coaches available that will run the Triangle ;)

[King Taharqa]

Hopefully you aren't implying that Kobe is to blame. Kobe has played his heart out this season and is basically playing all 48 minutes during this last stretch.

I wont blame him totally, but he deserves a lot of the blame. With the pieces you guys have there's no reason you should miss the playoffs. As leader of this squad, and the guy who gets most of the glory and praise when you win, he should take the brunt of the blame when you lose (just as LeBron did in 2011 and 2012 when the Heat lost no matter if it was his fault or not).

Kobe is 2nd in the league in TOs, he leads the league in attempts (even though he's not shooting close to 50% and all 5 of his rings came in seasons he didnt lead the league in attempts). Not to mention HE and HE ALONE chose to publicly call out teammates like Pau and Dwight early in the season. That creates "chemistry" issues that make winning harder. No one told him to do that, but he chose to. He's fighting hard here down the stretch, but early in the season when he was caring more about his personal stats and the losses were piling up there was no urgency then. It took him half a season to figure out to facilitate more and pass more. By then, it was too late.

[ZB1224]

I wont blame him totally, but he deserves a lot of the blame. With the pieces you guys have there's no reason you should miss the playoffs. As leader of this squad, and the guy who gets most of the glory and praise when you win, he should take the brunt of the blame when you lose (just as LeBron did in 2011 and 2012 when the Heat lost no matter if it was his fault or not).

Kobe is 2nd in the league in TOs, he leads the league in attempts (even though he's not shooting close to 50% and all 5 of his rings came in seasons he didnt lead the league in attempts). Not to mention HE and HE ALONE chose to publicly call out teammates like Pau and Dwight early in the season. That creates "chemistry" issues that make winning harder. No one told him to do that, but he chose to. He's fighting hard here down the stretch, but early in the season when he was caring more about his personal stats and the losses were piling up there was no urgency then. It took him half a season to figure out to facilitate more and pass more. By then, it was too late.

Meh, I would put some blame on him defensively, but that's about it. He's still one of the best on ball defenders in the NBA, but at times he doesn't even try play any help defense. I feel like he is saving his legs for offense since we have been so depleted this season. As far as him deserving a lot of the blame for missing the playoffs with the "pieces" we have. The team has been severely undermanned all season. All he has had is Dwight Howard and role players like Metta, Jamison, Meeks, and Clark since January. I'm not trying to be a Kobe apologist or anything, but try taking 2/3 of the team away from players like Durant, LeBron, Melo, etc and they probably are struggling to make the playoffs as well even as great as they are.

Can't really argue with a lot of the stuff you said in the 2nd paragraph. His turnovers have been costly for sure. As far as him leading the league in shot attempts.. can't really fault him for that. It's been Dwight, below average - average role players and him all season basically and that's it. Who else is going to shoot? Dwight Howard at 50%? Metta? Duhon? I do disagree that he cared more about personal stats than winning early on. I think that's a horrible misconception that people have about Kobe. He doesn't care about his stats nearly as much as winning. He does however want to be THE man (reason he helped push Shaq out of LA) and does want the glory. I know that you won't agree with what I am saying, but as a Lakers fan for the last decade or so I can say this with 100% certainty.

[ZB1224]

WELP!

ESPNLA 710 Radio

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Developing Story:Earl Clark involved in a car accident after @Lakers practice. @DuranSports on the scene. Stay tuned: http://es.pn/RfXDFW

[ZB1224]

DOWN TO A 6 MAN ROTATION!

*unless Metta really does play 2 weeks after surgery

[C47]

He was walking around on his phone talking to police at the scene so unless he was calling his lawyer because they found a gram of coke on him he'll probably play....

[Kevin Greene]

LA will bounce back in 2014. But they will not compete for titles again until the Kobe era is over. This offseason is PIVOTAL to the direction of the franchise. Tough coaching and personnel decisions.

Meh, don't think Kobe being gone is really the pivot point on the Lakers competing for Championships.

Shyt hit the fan when Stern denied CP3 to the Lakers before the season started for no reason.

I know you understand how Kobe's game works. He doesn't need to make a basket for a shot to be effective.

Last game he was a horrid 6 of 19 or something like that but scored 25 because he understands on a shot when he has a reasonable expectation for freebie points at the line.

By contrast I think Griffin was like 8 of 18 but only scored 24.

No one will work harder then Kobe in the NBA to get a 6th title.

But this year Gasol has only played in 44 games and Nash just 50.

Move Gasol out and CP3 in for the entire season and even Antonni couldn't fug this up and 24 would defer to win ultimately I believe.

CP3 is an UFA next year, it'll be interesting to see how things work out.

[ZB1224]

Vintage Kobe performance tonight.

Vino essentially outscored the entire Hornets team in the 4th qtr en route to a 23 point (4th) qtr.

Pau was also HUGE in the 3rd qtr as he had a stretch of a few minutes where he just took over the game with his scoring and passing.

[Hawk]

didn't watch the game because...well...its the NBA afterall, but I hear several Seahawks were sitting court side. Would have watched just for that.

[ZB1224]

Kobe Bryant makes Lakers give it to Pau Gasol

By Melissa Rohlin

April 10, 2013,

During a timeout in Tuesday's game against New Orleans, Kobe Bryant had a talk with Pau Gasol.

"I basically told him, dude, especially when I'm not in the game, you just gotta go to the block and not move," Bryant recalled. "When I'm out there, I can slow the game down, call plays off, and just give it to him -- but if I'm not, then listen, you just gotta go to the block and not move. Just stand there."

Gasol reluctantly followed Bryant's advice.

"That's not my personality," Gasol said. "I like my team and my coaching staff to want me to be there instead of positioning myself there. But hey, it is what it is."

Bryant's instructions may have made Gasol a bit uneasy, but they worked.

Gasol finished with 22 points on nine-for-15 shooting and a team-high 11 rebounds in the Lakers' 104-96 win. Those numbers are a far cry from the 13.1 points (a career-low) and 8.1 rebounds that he has averaged this season.

Bryant knows Gasol as a four-time All-Star, as one of the most skilled big men in the game, as an agile and talented post-player who helped lead the Lakers to championships in 2009 and 2010.

With the Lakers in danger of not making the playoffs, Bryant apparently decided to put an end to all plans for Gasol but his own.

"That's my dude," Bryant said. "I know what he brings to the table. He's 2010 Pau."

That means no more threes. That means goodbye elbow. That means farewell to the passive facilitator role.

Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni apparently liked what he saw from Gasol and, according to Bryant, told the players during a timeout in the second quarter to stop "trying to do things on the perimeter" and dish the ball inside to Gasol.

At halftime, Gasol led the Lakers with 12 points and five rebounds. At the top of the third quarter, in a one-minute span, Gasol scored six consecutive points to erase the Hornets' biggest lead of the game and tie the score at 53-53.

Gasol has struggled with his role all season. At one point, he was even consigned to backup center.

Throughout the confusion, Bryant has consistently advocated for Gasol, insisting that he's an invaluable asset when used properly.

With four games remaining in the regular season, and the Lakers only 1/2 game ahead of Utah for the final playoff spot, Bryant has apparently decided to stop advocating and start commanding.

"It helps that Kobe, who has a lot of control over what happens out there, wants me to be there, and sees that it works, and is supportive," Gasol said.

[ZB1224]

The Big 3 of Kobe, Dwight, and Pau really played great tonight! Still annoying that we are struggling to beat scrub teams.

Kobe fugging Bryant was just sensational though!

Plays the ENTIRE game, 14/27 from the field, 18/18 from FT, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 4 blocks, 47 points. My god.

[Kevin Greene]

24 seems to be enjoying Gasol finally back and getting in shape.

These partners in crime know how to win in the Playoffs.

Now a game up on Utah with 3 to play for the 8th spot.

[Hawk]

only true haters could deny that Kobe is one hell of a player

[Kevin Greene]

Lakers win!

What news of Kobe's Achilles???????????