Archive

Are the Los Angeles Lakers in turmoil?

  • hoops23
    Serious question, because I've been seeing things that lead me to believe that they are.. At least a little bit..
    While the discussion began in strategy, Bryant interjected his thoughts about desire.

    "We were working on some of the principles and [Bryant] brought up a notion of determination," Jackson said. "There's a willfulness that you have to have in this game and there's also a flexibility and the willfulness carries the day most of the time, about 80 percent of the time. There's strategy and then there's getting the job done."

    When asked if his message to his teammates was well received, a stoic Bryant said, "I don't give a [expletive]. ... It was received."

    Bryant spent the approximately 20 minutes the practice session was open to the media sitting on a bench near the entrance to the gym, isolated from the rest of the team, who sat on a row of chairs near half court. Bryant had the hood of his sweatshirt pulled over his head and stared at his cell phone the whole time except for a brief conversation with reserve forward Josh Powell, who approached him.
    -- http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=4972450

    Imo, if Kobe really wanted to get his message across, he'd actually try to re-create some of the chemistry that seems lost within this team, not sitting alone on a bench while the rest of his teammates are with each other..

    I also believe Pau made mention after the Charlotte game about how the ball stops moving during certain parts of the game.. As did Phil Jackson, who seemed kind of critical of Kobe's 2nd quarter, where he tried to iso himself for much of the period, ignoring the triangle plays that were called..

    Then, there seems to be issue within the triangle offense as a whole, as Ron Artest, Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown have been said to be out of place and not running it efficiently.

    Then you have this :)



    Kobe idolizing what LeBron has with his teammates and knowing he'll never be that close with his. Just not who Kobe is, which I think ultimately hurts him and the chemistry of some of his Lakers teams.
  • Swamp Fox
    The Lakers are normally in turmoil, but it doesn't matter. I think they thrive on it. Unfortunately for their opponents, turmoil isn't enough to beat them. If anyone can, it will be the Cavs.
  • pkebker
    Kobe is a very selfish player. Back when he and Shaq had that big fued, I was definitely on Shaq's side, because Shaq is a much better teammate than Kobe
  • Pick6
    Where is Skyhook!?! Its no fun talking about the Lakers without someone to argue with lol.
  • wildcats20
    Simple answer, no.

    They don't care about the regular season, everything will come together for the playoffs.

    That being said, they need to do something or they won't be the 1 seed out West.


    And do we really need another thread about this??? See "Lakers Fans," it's virtually the same thing.
  • just_a_swimmer
    I would have to say no too. They will be fine come play-off's. Mark it down.
  • thedynasty1998
    Kobe has been the same person for his entire career, so it's not that big of a deal.

    He just needs to work himself back into the offense and get his shot back. I don't think the Lakers are as good as last year, but they are probably still the "favorite" heading into the postseason.
  • cview
    LTrain23 wrote:

    Then you have this :)



    Kobe idolizing what LeBron has with his teammates and knowing he'll never be that close with his. Just not who Kobe is, which I think ultimately hurts him and the chemistry of some of his Lakers teams.
    Yeah, I bet Kobe is jealous of the Cavs' halfcourt circle when his teammates gather like this.



    You're reaching man. They'll be fine come postseason I think. Teams don't generally repeat so I won't be surprised if they fail but they've been there and done that, so the regular season doesn't mean what it does to teams like the Nuggets, Cavs, or Magic.
  • jhay78
    I've heard/read quotes from Kobe after games, where reporters keep asking him "What are you going to say to your teammates to get them motivated?" or something to that effect. It always seems to be like he's the only one playing hard or playing defense.

    If I were a teammate, that crap would get old after awhile
  • sleeper
    I don't think they are in turmoil, but I also don't think the #1 seed in the West is a lock at this point.
  • jpake1
    Things aren't running as smoothly as many predicted. But it's LA-- drama was created in that area. I still think they win a championship because I think they get their stuff together, but as of right now, I'm not seeing a team that's ready to repeat. There is definite chemistry issues right now. Kobe, as the leader, has to get this team where then need to be. We'll see if people can drop their egos so they can raise that trophy.
  • SQ_Crazies
    No. It's March 8th. They're in no turmoil, they won the title last year--they aren't going to fall apart because of a bad 3 game stretch.

    I do agree that they need to change some things if they want to win it all again, and that definitely starts with Kobe.

    Oh, and of course the Lakers aren't a lock for the #1 seed--we saw them lose 3 straight games, we saw the Cavs do the same not long ago. No one is locked into anything yet, plenty of ball to be played. IMO, I'm not sure LA as the 2 in the West would be a bad thing. Little motivation maybe? Don't see them getting #1 overall, and I know they can win on the road in the West.
  • 3reppom
    No. They do have some major issues with their current roster, and the same thing could have been said last year as well. But no team reaches the point of turmoil until the playoffs start.
  • krazie45
    No, aside from Artest's hair they're fine. There still isn't a team in the west that can compete with them in a 7 game series.
  • SQ_Crazies
    Kobe has to take fewer shots or they will not make the Finals.
  • 3reppom
    krazie45 wrote: No, aside from Artest's hair they're fine. There still isn't a team in the west that can compete with them in a 7 game series.
    Denver defiantly can because of their style of play, Dallas might be able to as well.
  • SQ_Crazies
    Don't say Dallas--I said they'd be a contender in the West before the trade deadline. Got laughed at and I think at the time they had the 2nd best record in the West--hilarious that I would get laughed at right? lol

    After the trade deadline--with which they got A LOT better, I said they'd be a team to watch for and still got laughed at.

    Not sure why not one believes in Dallas. They're going to be a tough out for anybody.
  • jpake1
    Who laughed at you? Didn't LTrain just disagree with you about the Dallas move? Dallas was a pretty good team that started to get hot, then got a lot better, and are on fire right now.
  • Sage
    I can't wait for the playoffs to start so the idiots will just shut the fuck up.
  • SQ_Crazies
    jpake1 wrote: Who laughed at you? Didn't LTrain just disagree with you about the Dallas move? Dallas was a pretty good team that started to get hot, then got a lot better, and are on fire right now.
    Laker fans.
  • Sage
    pkebker wrote: Kobe is a very selfish player. Back when he and Shaq had that big fued, I was definitely on Shaq's side, because Shaq is a much better teammate than Kobe

    That's why he's left every team he's ever played on on bad terms, right?
  • Footwedge
    Kobe Bryant is killing the Lakers. When he was out, the Lakers went 4-1. Now that he's back, they've gone 4 and 4. Pau Gasol has had it with Kobe's ball hogging and lousy shooting percetages from the field...just like yesterday.

    From Gasol.....

    http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/03/07/gasol-has-inside-perspective-on-lakers-recent-woes/
  • SQ_Crazies
    ^You can't ignore that, there are some legit issues with this team right now.
  • SQ_Crazies
    "Kobe is a great player, the best offensive player out there ... but at the same time, we need to find some balance with our interior game, develop it a little more, moving the ball and changing sides,'' Gasol said gingerly, knowing he was treading on sacred territory by questioning Bryant and the offense of coach Phil Jackson. "We need to get focused on that a little more, to find balance, to find some flow.''

    Gasol has grown frustrated recently by his lack of offensive opportunities. He was speaking Sunday after the Lakers had lost, 96-94, to the Magic in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.

    In the fourth quarter alone Sunday, Bryant took 16 shots and hit seven. Gasol made three of his four, yet three of those four shots came only after offensive rebounds from Bryant misses. His only other shot was a dunk off a Bryant pass. There was hardly any offense run through him in the fourth.
  • SQ_Crazies
    In these three losses -- in Miami, in Charlotte, in Orlando -- he took a combined 38 shots. Bryant, conversely, took 79 shots.
    Yeah, that can't happen.