Are the Los Angeles Lakers in turmoil?

• SQ_Crazies

  

  Bryant also took and missed the final shot, a 20-foot jumper that could have tied the game with :01.2 remaining.
  
  "That was my shot,'' Bryant said. "You give that to me 10 times, and I'll make it nine times.''

  That's the difference between Kobe and LeBron fans--and everyone says LeBron doesn't care about winning and Kobe does lol. It isn't necessarily your shot every time Kobe, you have to make the right play.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  "The last two games [in Miami and Charlotte] we didn't play with the sense of urgency to compete,'' Bryant said. "Today, we did. We played really, really hard. We just missed some things defensively, execution wise. We didn't win the game, but I saw what I needed to see. If we play with this kind of effort, it will be hard for anyone to beat us four times in a series.''

  "It's a different situation for me with Kobe here. In the past, I was always the second option, or first option [offensively],'' he said. "I'm still trying to find way on this team. I'm going to find my way. All this is practice for me now. It's a new style of play. I have to master my role.''

  "You have to utilize your big man,'' Gasol said. "It's important to do that on a consistent basis. I'm not discouraged. We just can do things a little differently. We have the means and the players to do it differently.''

  Admit it Sage, the Zen master has to take over--they aren't on the same page AT ALL and Kobe needs to be taking less shots and help the team win. Too much talent being wasted when he shoots so much. Too many wasted possessions.
• Sage

  

  Man, this seems like it's the equivalent of porno to you. You seem really excited.
  
  Gasol did this last year when it was 2-2 in the WCF. How did that turn out again?
• SQ_Crazies

  

  It's March, not the Western Conference Finals...and Kobe was much better last year.
• Sage

  

  It's a 3 game losing streak. Had Kobe sent that game into overtime and the Lakers would've won, I doubt anybody would be bitching. Especially Pau Gasol, who is pretty fucking soft. That's what he does.
  
  Again, people were saying the exact same thing last year.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Again, not in March after losing 3 games.
  
  They said it during the playoffs when they were rolling through teams anyways.
  
  And again, because Kobe was way better last year.
• Sage

  

  The Lakers weren't rolling through teams. They had just came off a 7 game series with the Rockets that were without T-Mac and Yao Ming. They were 2-2 against a Denver Nuggets team that many said were tougher than the Lakers and had the Lakers' number.
• jpake1

  

  Yeah I don't remember the Lakers rolling through teams last year. The Cavs did that the first 2 rounds. The Lakers were winning hard fought series, but not exactly rolling through them.
  
  As a fan, I would like to see Kobe get his teammates more involved. But I'd also like to see his teammates bust their tails even if Kobe isn't making them better. They have the tendancy to not play hard at times when Kobe is being Kobe. You can't do that, no matter how frustrated you are. You keep comments in house as well.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  And I mean if you REALLY want to bring up the past, if that's what you really want to talk about, I remember last year when the Lakers got swept by the Bobcats--and everyone was like yeah, whatever. Cavs lose a few to them this year and now all of a sudden we should watch for them in the 1st round? Also, there was so much put on how you performed against the top teams in the regular season last year (because the record favored the Lakers, that's the only reason it was so important), but now you guys have taken up the, "regular season doesn't matter" attitude. Wonder why? Oh, it's because that argument doesn't favor you anymore--and it really favors the Cavs.
  
  But that history isn't any more relevant than yours.
• jpake1

  

  ^Good post SQ. I constantly brought up that point to Cavs fans last year when several fans seemed pretty darn confident they would be champions. Most Cavs fans on the site, at that time, also ignored the stats like Laker fans are right now. That is one thing that is a concern for me when it comes to the Lakers-- they aren't playing very well against the top teams. It's almost the same case, however I think it's a bit different. The Lakers are coming off a championship, when they Cavs were not. Past champions have shown us that they don't put forth their best effort in the regular season. I'm not sure if the Lakers are one of those teams. We'll see though.
• Sage

  

  You really can't be this fucking stupid, can you? I mean, I'm asking this as a serious question, because, you just have a knack for increasing the ceiling to the house that houses your stupidity.
  
  Number One - The Lakers are the defending champs. They're going to get a team's best shot night in and night out. Games against the defending champs mean more than they do to the defending champs. Just the way it works. Also, you have to look at how we're losing these games. Despite a shellacking in Denver back in like October, and getting waxed on Christmas Day, we haven't lost in a way that shows teams are a step above us.
  
  Look at our roster. Do you seriously thing we lack the talent to win a title? Not saying we're heavy favorites--but c'mon man.
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_NBA_Playoffs
  
  We were a 3 seed, and we RickRolled everybody.
  
  The fact is, everybody on our roster has won a ring, with the exception of Ron Artest. They're PROVEN. We're a team of vets who have been there and done that. The fact remains--games won't mean the same to them until the playoffs. The Lakers have all but admitted it.
  
  -----------------------------
  
  As for the Bobcats, I'd be concerned if the Lakers had to play them in the playoffs. I really would. But--THEYRE IN OPPOSITE BRACKETS SO THE ONLY WAY WE'LL FACE THEM IS IF THEY MAKE THE FINALS. And we all know the Bobcats ain't making no damn finals. SO THAT IS WHY LAKERS FANS AREN'T CONCERNED WITH THE DAMN BOBCATS. Should the Cavs fans be concerned with them? Yes, they should. Especially if it's a first round match up.
  
  But then again, nobody heeded my warning about the Magic last year, so. Whatever.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Lol yeah I don't understand the Lakers-Bobcats "worry" comment, SQ...the Lakers aren't worried about the Bobcats b/c they won't have to play them in the playoffs unless it's in the Finals.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  It's different because they know what it takes to finish it, but they certainly aren't the same team they were last year. The Cavs are set up to beat the Magic this year (assuming we get our bigs back, which we probably will) and I liked them against the Lakers last year. But this year, I REALLY like them over the Lakers. This is not the same Laker team, not the same Kobe. Ariza was a WAYYYY better player for them to have against LeBron than Artest. Our front court will absolutely not be dominated by theirs. It's a favorable match up for the Cavs this year.
  
  But I'm standing by what I said, if the Lakers don't pull themselves together (in other words, if Kobe doesn't step up and either start making shots or taking fewer and getting his teammates involved more) they won't make the Finals. Dallas and Denver are both stronger contenders this year than they were last.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  SportsAndLady wrote: Lol yeah I don't understand the Lakers-Bobcats "worry" comment, SQ...the Lakers aren't worried about the Bobcats b/c they won't have to play them in the playoffs unless it's in the Finals.

  The point isn't about whether or not they'd have to play them. The general consensus was "meh, the Lakers would kill em if it mattered". So why don't the Cavs get the same respect when we say that? I mean I know that Laker fans are literally the worst in sports when it comes to double standards but come on.
  
  
  Sage--
  
  I've consistently said that the Lakers have the most stacked roster in the league. So obviously I think they have the talent to win a title.
  
  And it's funny how you talk about getting a team's best shot every night--you don't think the Cavs do? After all they're chalk full of hype they haven't lived up to, they have the best player in the game, they've been on top of the East consistently now, they're unreal at home, they sell out your arena on the road. Don't give me that shit. You've lose some close games to some bad teams and then one close game to a great team and IMO, lost in a way that throws up a red flag. It was only one game, but the bottom line is Matt Barnes got under Kobe's skin and it hurt the Lakers. Teammates are frustrated, Gasol clearly is--that's as frustrated as he'll ever get unless he wants to get away from Kobe--he knows better than to be too critical of Kobe. Just admit it, they need to change some things.
  
  I love how you're freaking out, no one is saying they aren't still a contender or something--and a contender is all they were from the start.
• Sage

  

  Denver is basically the same team that the Lakers beat last year in 6 games. I'm not worried about the Nuggets.
  
  Dallas would be a battle, a battle which the Lakers could lose. No doubt about that.
  
  However, if we lock up this #1 seed (which isn't a given, because Dallas appears to be playing a collegiate schedule the rest of the way out), Denver and Dallas will have to go through each other. And we would have home court advantage.
  
  And LOL if you think Trevor Ariza is a better match up on LBJ than Artest.
• Sage

  

  No, the Cavs do not get a team's best shot like the Lakers do. They're just like every other elite team in the league. You do realize what beating the defending champs does for any team in any situation, right?
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Sage wrote: And LOL if you think Trevor Ariza is a better match up on LBJ than Artest.

  Are you kidding me?!
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Sage wrote: No, the Cavs do not get a team's best shot like the Lakers do. They're just like every other elite team in the league. You do realize what beating the defending champs does for any team in any situation, right?

  LOL once again, are you kidding me?!
• ytownfootball

  

  Sage you're a reasonable poster on the subject, but the Cavs get everybody's best shot, bank on it.
• Sage

  

  I'm sure they do, but not to the degree that the Lakers do. EVERYBODY not only sees the Lakers as a rival, but now they're also the world champs.
  
  Sorry, it's just a different animal than being one of the better teams in the league.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  No, it's not when you have LeBron on your team--because it's like the circus comes to town. They aren't just one of the normal elite teams either.
• Sage

  

  Your homerism takes you to a point of irrationality.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  LOL, MY homerism? Don't get me started on yours--at least the things I say make sense. They aren't just bullshit opinions supported by whatever argument sounds the best at a certain time.
  
  I hope Gasol quits on Kobe until he starts getting the ball because that's the only way the Lakers are making the Finals--and they better make it, because I can't wait to watch the Cavs turn Christmas Day into a 7 game series.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  It'll be 4 days of Christmas in June.
• 77Legend

  

  Until the Lakers are knocked out of the play-offs in a 7 game series, there is no need to worry, and no reason for all of this talk, and I am a Cavs fan. Compare the NBA Title Banners........