Laker bench.

• SQ_Crazies

  

  http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/columns/story?id=5046191
  
  Looks ugly.
  
  They're so bad Phil gave the starters the day off Tuesday but made the bench player go through a "rigorous" practice. Then they came out and sucked again.
  
  Question though, who is the leader for the Lakers? Wouldn't you think you'd want Kobe to step up and say we're all practicing Tuesday. He's been saying they need to get better, practice what you preach Kobe. It's been said that perfect practice makes perfect, you ain't having a perfect practice when your 5 best players aren't there.
  
  And yes, we are talkin' bout practice.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  And just because I think it's a funny coincidence, LeBron said this tonight:
  

  “Mo played great. I think the practice that we had (on Tuesday) really helped and not only his aggression, but helped everybody’s. We were really in tune yesterday and we brought that energy today.”

  And he plays on the best team in the league.
  
  And he made the call on the last play that got the Cavs the lead tonight, and they executed perfectly and he finished strong. That's a leader.
  
  Kobe can't just go out and play well and bitch after the game, he's gotta step up and actually be a leader or they're in serious trouble. People talk about turning it on and off, but even Pau Gasol doesn't think they can do that.
• BR1986FB

  I didn't read the article but on one of these sites (Yahoo, etc) they were questioning whether the Artest signing was a "mistake."
• hoops23

  

  Ron Artest has been questioning himself as a Laker recently too..
  
  He recently said that "Trevor Ariza is a better player than me at this stage in our careers".. I know he's catching a lot of heat in LA, but I don't think it's really his fault. He wasn't brought in to score 20 a game like he did in Houston. He was brought in to defend other stars.. Though, he hasn't really done much of that either.
• Swamp Fox

  Paul Gasol is a good player but not a leader. The Lakers are the Lakers. When the key games are in front of them, they will come locked and loaded. I think Lebron and the boys can win, but the Lakers will be a major roadblock and the Cavs will simply have to meet the challenge. Of course, we aren't absolutely sure that these two teams will even be around for the Finals. Sports are sometimes funny that way.
• Nate

  For some reason, I see the Lakers not making it to the NBA Finals. Call me crazy but I think someone is going to upset them before.
• 2quik4u

  

  Playoff basketball is completely different
• 2quik4u

  

  SQ_Crazies wrote: And just because I think it's a funny coincidence, LeBron said this tonight:
  

  “Mo played great. I think the practice that we had (on Tuesday) really helped and not only his aggression, but helped everybody’s. We were really in tune yesterday and we brought that energy today.”

  And he plays on the best team in the league.
  
  And he made the call on the last play that got the Cavs the lead tonight, and they executed perfectly and he finished strong. That's a leader.
  
  Kobe can't just go out and play well and bitch after the game, he's gotta step up and actually be a leader or they're in serious trouble. People talk about turning it on and off, but even Pau Gasol doesn't think they can do that.

  A leader isn't supposed to fail and finish third with the best team in the world.
• sleeper

  

  Kobe sucks bro, let it go.
• Emmett Brown

  

  Kobe is washed up. He is what 32 and can't even jump anymore. He can still shoot lights out, but thats it.
• jordo212000

  

  Cavs fans talk so much noise. It's kind of funny really. I'm no fan of other team, I just can't help but get a chuckle when Cavs fans start needling Laker fans. What exactly has King James and the Cavaliers won that warrants this kind of talking?
• Big Red Monster

  Kobe is washed up?
• Emmett Brown

  

  Big Red Monster wrote: Kobe is washed up?

  no not really
• cview

  The inferiority complex some Cavs fans have is mind numbing.
  
  The Cavs have such good chemistry they got bent over and fucked for two straight weeks by a team whose star turned on his coach about a week earlier.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Hmm. I guess I don't have a valid point..
  
  "Playoff basketball is totally different"
  
  Wow. Duh. It's BETTER, that spells doom for the Lakers. Even Gasol doesn't think teams can turn it on and off. If you're relying on being one of those teams, your own players better fucking believe they can do it.
  
  And you know what warrants me saying this? All the douche bag Laker fans that have said far crazier shit than any of us Cavs fans have the past few years. Fuck the Lakers, can't wait to watch them crash and burn and Kobe throw the best starting 5 in the NBA under the bus and say it isn't good enough.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  And as far as Artest goes, I wish I knew where the old thread was from last year when they signed him. I told everyone it was a mistake. Laker fans laughed at me. I just sat back and laughed, I probably even said see what happens.
  
  Every LeBron fan knows that the worst way to try and guard him is to be physical with him. He struggled as much against Ariza as he did anyone in the league, you need a quick, athletic guy to just stay in front of him. Not a guy that tries to abuse him and is supposed to be the strongest guy in the league and then gets ABUSED by LeBron in the post when they play. Plus he can't shoot for shit and that's hurting the Lakers in a big way. I knew that move was going to fail miserably, and it has. Not saying they can't still win the title, but they were definitely better with Ariza.
  
  And for the record, Ron Artest has ALWAYS been overrated.
• 2quik4u

  

  SQ_Crazies wrote: And as far as Artest goes, I wish I knew where the old thread was from last year when they signed him. I told everyone it was a mistake. Laker fans laughed at me. I just sat back and laughed, I probably even said see what happens.
  
  Every LeBron fan knows that the worst way to try and guard him is to be physical with him. He struggled as much against Ariza as he did anyone in the league, you need a quick, athletic guy to just stay in front of him. Not a guy that tries to abuse him and is supposed to be the strongest guy in the league and then gets ABUSED by LeBron in the post when they play. Plus he can't shoot for shit and that's hurting the Lakers in a big way. I knew that move was going to fail miserably, and it has. Not saying they can't still win the title, but they were definitely better with Ariza.
  
  And for the record, Ron Artest has ALWAYS been overrated.

  did you break your back from trying to suck your dick?
• Nate

  2quik4u wrote:

  SQ_Crazies wrote: And as far as Artest goes, I wish I knew where the old thread was from last year when they signed him. I told everyone it was a mistake. Laker fans laughed at me. I just sat back and laughed, I probably even said see what happens.
  
  Every LeBron fan knows that the worst way to try and guard him is to be physical with him. He struggled as much against Ariza as he did anyone in the league, you need a quick, athletic guy to just stay in front of him. Not a guy that tries to abuse him and is supposed to be the strongest guy in the league and then gets ABUSED by LeBron in the post when they play. Plus he can't shoot for shit and that's hurting the Lakers in a big way. I knew that move was going to fail miserably, and it has. Not saying they can't still win the title, but they were definitely better with Ariza.
  
  And for the record, Ron Artest has ALWAYS been overrated.

  did you break your back from trying to suck your dick?

  Just because its the truth doesn't mean he's being an ass. If you are a Lakers fan and totally oblivious to the problems they are having right now, you really don't know basketball. Outside of Odom, the Lakers have very little on the bench. Ariza > Artest no doubt. I thought Artest would be a good pickup but not nearly as good as Ariza and unfortunately, he hasn't really panned out like they have wanted. If the Spurs stay where they are and get the 8 seed, they are going to put up a fight against the Lakers in the first round and it would be a fight as a Lakers fan I would be scared of.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Agreed Keebler. That is a scary team because of all the playoff experience and more importantly success. You can't sleep on Duncan, Manu has been playing as well as anyone lately and Hill has been playing well too.
  
  Would be an interesting match up, one I would pick the Lakers to win but wouldn't be surprised if the Spurs were able to have a chance in the end.
• Nate

  SQ_Crazies wrote: Agreed Keebler. That is a scary team because of all the playoff experience and more importantly success. You can't sleep on Duncan, Manu has been playing as well as anyone lately and Hill has been playing well too.
  
  Would be an interesting match up, one I would pick the Lakers to win but wouldn't be surprised if the Spurs were able to have a chance in the end.

  Absolutely. The Spurs are above average for an 8th seed. Manu and Parker give me this sneaky feeling that they will either push the Lakers to 7 games or even beat them. I wouldn't bet the farm on it but I just have a hunch.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Yeah, they got hit by some injuries and a few rough stretches and didn't end up with their best record this year but they're definitely an above average 8 seed.
• Footwedge

  Keebler wrote: For some rmason, I see the$Lakers not makifg it to the NBA Finals. Call me(crazy but I think someone is goeng to upset them before.

  There is nothing crazy about your post at all. To me, I'd be very surprised to see them in the finals. If nothing else, the law of averages are against them. 3 Finals appearances in a row? I truly doubt it. There is a "hunger" factor that isn't there either.
• Footwedge

  2quik4u wrote:

  SQ_Crazies wrote: And as far as Artest goes, I wish I knew where the old thread was from last year when they signed him. I told everyone it was a mistake. Laker fans laughed at me. I just sat back and laughed, I probably even said see what happens.
  
  Every LeBron fan knows that the worst way to try and guard him is to be physical with him. He struggled as much against Ariza as he did anyone in the league, you need a quick, athletic guy to just stay in front of him. Not a guy that tries to abuse him and is supposed to be the strongest guy in the league and then gets ABUSED by LeBron in the post when they play. Plus he can't shoot for shit and that's hurting the Lakers in a big way. I knew that move was going to fail miserably, and it has. Not saying they can't still win the title, but they were definitely better with Ariza.
  
  And for the record, Ron Artest has ALWAYS been overrated.

  did you break your back from trying to suck your dick?

  LOL.
• Fabio

  I was bored today and figured I'd compile these statistics about the Lakers and Cavs starting 5 and bench.
  
  The Laker's starting 5 averages a combined 74 points a game.
  
  The Cavs starting 5 averages 79 points a game.
  
  The Lakers second string averages 31 points a game 15 of those points are from Bynum.
  
  The Cavs second string averages 33 points a game, with Varejo and West being the leaders at 8-9 points. These averages do not count Z or Shaq (who was averaging 12 a game at the point of injury)
• Lovejoy1984

  

  Bynum is a starter ^^^