yeah, please.. trade lamar. he gets on my nerve...
all the effort that kobe has done is useless.. because he didn't even touch the ball at the end. in fact, he never became a decoy too.
they shud;ve done the high pick towards the end since it had been working for them the last 2minutes. errr...
sorry loss for the lakeshow.
Kobe is KOBE... the clutch game winner.. why didn't he have the last shot??
questionable phil... again..
LAMAR left tayshaun open for the three, and he made an airball at the other end.. what kind of a luckless person is that..
... Kobe is Kobe...
can't wait for the return of KoByNuM
Lamar should be traded b4 the trade deadline! What a waste of god given physical ability...There's no desire like Kobe has or any superstar making that kind of money. I don't care what kind of personal issues (family or otherwise) he has. Leave that stuff off the court and give it all you've got. If you're the #2 option, you are relied upon to compliment Kobe night in night out...you ONLY score 6 pts?? I am disgusted by that kind of effort. Mitch....save us the from this inconsistant clown.......TRADE HIM NOW!!!!
To "Gunner" who says trade Kobe so his teammates have "enough confidence to shoot at the end". What the hell kind of rationale is THAT? Kobe had 11 turnovers, includind some that came from PASSING the ball FOOL!!
Lamar is THE poster boy for INCONSISTENCY! Wish Kupchak had traded Odom for Kwame because Caron has something Odom doesn't - shooting skill! Odom made a bad defensive play at the end leaving the 3pt guy WIDE open then compounds his mistake by airballing the next Laker possession!
Kwame Brown..you are under ARREST for STEALING large sums of money from your employer! I really can't believe this man can LEGALLY earn more than $50K a year playing professional basketball!? WHY, WHYYYYY!!!!? Frankly, I really can't see why he gets more than 10 minutes a game. He can't shoot. He makes few FTs. His rebounding is mediocre. His passing skills non-existent! Anyone know of any decent big men recently retired whom the Lakers can pay for half a season and CUT Kwame?
Yea Kobe's turnover's didn't help but man Lakers get blown out without his big second half and he scored about 18 over his career average against Detroit.
Lamar leaving Prince open for the 3 (and what balls, huh; usually, home teams play for the tie at home and the win on the road) symbolizes what type of mind set he plays with.
Inspite of being a 9 year vet, he committed the cardinal sin expressed time and time again by Stu Lance: never leave your man for the open 3.
If Lamar had stayed with Prince-and inspite of the offensive rebound-worse case scenario: tied ball game, Lakers' ball with 7 seconds, last shot, and overtime if the shot is missed.
The problem?
LO (a 9 year vet) once again had a mental lapse.
And it manifested itself a second time (via guilt as a result of leaving his man wide open for that 3) with his airball.
With a win, the Lakers would have started their 9 game road trip 2-0 (with a win at Detroit, the Lakers would have beaten Toronto) with a off day on Saturday to prepare for the Wizzards.
With the lost, they potentially could start the roadie 0-2 as a result of LO's mental lapse and their day off on Saturday could be depressing.
Yes Kobe and Ronnie missed a free throw during the last 2 minutes of the game; yes the Lakers gave up three or four offensive rebounds during the
Piston's last three or four baskets.
But in the end, we lost out on a chance to shoot the last shot to win-or at least play 5 min OT-because of LO.
I have said it before and I will say it again: the Lakers will never win a NBA championship with LO/Kwame/Luke (VladRad shot seems to have returned).
Man, I'm depressed.
This is the worse loss of the season (and we just made Detroit's season).
With a win, who knows what kind of road trip this could have been.
Sad.
No...I just put that in there so I could get the Hillary line in there. This is a Lakers' blog. So, I think I have to say something about the Lakers to get a nonbasketball post in.
Where did that star on Lamar's head go??????? WOW what a night for our 15 million dollar man. 7 points, another missed rebound and a sweet running airball jumper. He is absolutely terrible. Trade him for Kidd or Kidd's crazy ex-wife, or even Kidd's son. JUST TRADE HIM PLEASE, HE IS UNWATCHABLE.....
I keep writing the same criticism of PJ because he continues to make the same bad judgment call in every loss. He may have nine rings, but he is a stubborn as a mule.
For the 4th time in as many losses, he continues to fool himself that his starters are closers. They're not. Not against San Antonio. Not against Dallas. Not against Cleveland. And again, tonight, not against Detroit. Hel-looooo! Anybody see a pattern here? Coach! Wake up out of your old man's nap on the bench!
For what it's worth, Stu Lanz called it tonight as well. When there are only a few short seconds left, and you inbound the ball, you have your shooters on the floor. What did PJ do tonight? Left his shooters on the bench again. Lamar had only taken 4 shots the entire night at that point. Hel-looooo again! Think the guy had his shot going? Yeh, right!
Sure, it shouldn't come down to this. But sometimes it does. Sorry! You play Kobe 47 minutes on the first game of a 9 game road trip and don't give #24 and his mates their best shot at saving the game? BAD COACHING!
Yeh, too many turnovers, too few rebounds. But too many bad personnel decisions, even with a depleted roster. I was hoping the disappointment I felt when Phil signed his extension was misplaced. Sometimes I'm happy when I'm wrong. Now, I'm unhappy that I was right. Uggghhh.
You obviously haven't been reading the blog lately. I checked the stats, and
LeBron has actually been MORE of a ball hog than Kobe this season. Did
you even watch the Cleveland-Lakers game? Kobe took 21 shots and handed
out 6 assists. LeBron took 32 shots and handed out 4 assists. Guess who won
the game?
Of course, if Kobe had taken 32 shots and the Lakers would have won, then
you'd be foaming at the mouth about what a ball hog he is.
So reportedly the big hangup in the Dallas-New Jersey-Portland three way is that
Thorn doesn't think Travis Outlaw is a good enough player to get back as the
centerpiece of a trade for Kidd. Also, Thorn didn't like the idea of having
to take back a big multi-year contract in Jerry Stackhouse and pay him off.
With how Lamar played tonight, I decided that maybe the Lakers should try to
help them out by making it a four-way trade. Maybe Thorn would prefer Lamar
Odom as the centerpiece of a trade for Kidd. I worked up a few trades in the
trade machine just to work off steam. Note that these trades mostly involve
the exact set of players that were going to be involved anyway, it just sends
Lamar to the Nets and fishes a couple of good young players out of the deal.
Variant #1: http://tinyurl.com/2p4se2
Lakers send out Odom & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye, and Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #2: http://tinyurl.com/2fw4z4
Lakers send out Odom & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, DeSagana Diop, and Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #3: http://tinyurl.com/36ygmr
Lakers send out Odom, KWAME, & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, DeSagana Diop, Jason Collins & Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #4: http://tinyurl.com/23rsye
Lakers send out Odumb, Krummy, & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye, Jason Collins & Jerry Stackhouse.
Or, if Jersey wanted both Diop and Frye for themselves, but would prefer Odom
over Outlaw, then this might work for me:
Variant #5: http://tinyurl.com/3covqb
Lakers send out Odom & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, Jason Collins, and Josh McRoberts
And since the Lakers would be treating all these teams so kindly by taking the players
they didn't want and giving up a guy who's one of the top rebounders in the league (and
possibly a vast expiring contract as well), the Lakers should get somebody's draft pick
in the deal as well (probably New Jersey's)
Obviously, I know it won't happen. It's just venting after Lamar and Kwame blew
a chance for the Lakers to beat a good team on the road (and not for the first time
this season).
Here we go again !!!.How many times Lomar Odom has to screw us up before somebody say enough is enough.We should have traded him three years ago,he is a a bad news and a loser and he does not belong here with this team,he does not have a heart and he has shown it time after time after time,please Kupcheck do something.
Should we start with the Lamar for J. Kidd trade talk? Why not? Lamar is obviously too inconsistent who is just not as good as people make him out to be. I figured:
Lamar/Crittenton/Kwame/1st round draft pick for Jason Kidd would work just fine with the Nets. Hate to give up on Crittenton so soon but there might not be another way.
So reportedly the big hangup in the Dallas-New Jersey-Portland three way is that
Thorn doesn't think Travis Outlaw is a good enough player to get back as the
centerpiece of a trade for Kidd. Also, Thorn didn't like the idea of having
to take back a big multi-year contract in Jerry Stackhouse and pay him off.
With how Lamar played tonight, I decided that maybe the Lakers should try to
help them out by making it a four-way trade. Maybe Thorn would prefer Lamar
Odom as the centerpiece of a trade for Kidd. I worked up a few trades in the
trade machine just to work off steam. Note that these trades mostly involve
the exact set of players that were going to be involved anyway, it just sends
Lamar to the Nets and fishes a couple of good young players out of the deal.
Variant #1: http://tinyurl.com/2p4se2
Lakers send out Odom & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye, and Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #2: http://tinyurl.com/2fw4z4
Lakers send out Odom & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, DeSagana Diop, and Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #3: http://tinyurl.com/36ygmr
Lakers send out Odom, KWAME, & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, DeSagana Diop, Jason Collins & Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #4: http://tinyurl.com/23rsye
Lakers send out Odumb, Krummy, & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye, Jason Collins & Jerry Stackhouse.
Or, if Jersey wanted both Diop and Frye for themselves, but would prefer Odom
over Outlaw, then this might work for me:
Variant #5: http://tinyurl.com/3covqb
Lakers send out Odom & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, Jason Collins, and Josh McRoberts
And since the Lakers would be treating all these teams so kindly by taking the players
they didn't want and giving up a guy who's one of the top rebounders in the league (and
possibly a vast expiring contract as well), the Lakers should get somebody's draft pick
in the deal as well (probably New Jersey's)
Obviously, I know it won't happen. It's just venting after Lamar and Kwame blew
a chance for the Lakers to beat a good team on the road (and not for the first time
this season).
Nice point Rick. Why are Lamar and Kwame even out there with 4 seconds left? 5 on 5 is better then 5 on 3. Kobe and Fisher looked like they wanted to do a Code Red on Lamar after the game. I hope they do it.
I told a fellow Laker fan at work today:
The key to a Lakers' victory?
LO must match the scoring/rebounding/defense/intensity of Detroit's frontline.
LO?
6 points.
Sad.
PS: the Lakers have the most overpaid and softest (physically and mentally) front line (LO/Luke/Kwame) in the NBA.
Man, the guilt LO/Luke/Kwame must feel as a result of letting their team down.
If the Lakers have a bad 9 game road trip, trades will be made after the season ends (I don't care if Drewski returns and we win the title; the front office will not forget the poor play of our front line when he was hurt).
I've been trying to post this but it keeps getting spam-bounced, so I'll try to
break it up into several posts:
Reportedly the big hangup in the Dallas-New Jersey-Portland three way
is that Thorn doesn't think Travis Outlaw is a good enough player to get
back as the centerpiece of a trade for Kidd. Also, Thorn didn't like the idea
of having to take back a big multi-year contract in Jerry Stackhouse and
pay him off.
With how Lamar played tonight, I decided that maybe the Lakers should try
to help them out by making it a four-way trade. Maybe Thorn would prefer
Lamar Odom as the centerpiece of a trade for Kidd. I worked up a few
trades in the trade machine just to work off steam. Note that these trades
mostly involve the exact set of players that were going to be involved
anyway, it just sends Lamar to the Nets and fishes a couple of good young
players out of the deal.
Variant #2: http://tinyurl.com/2fw4z4
Lakers send out Odom & Karl
Lakers get Travis Outlaw, DeSagana Diop, and Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #3: http://tinyurl.com/36ygmr
Lakers send out Odom, KWAME, & Karl
Lakers get Travis Outlaw, DeSagana Diop, Jason Collins & Stackhouse
Variant #4: http://tinyurl.com/23rsye
Lakers send out Odumb, Krummy, & Karl
Lakers get Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye, Jason Collins & Stackhouse.
Or, if Jersey wanted both Diop and Frye for themselves, but would prefer
Odom over Outlaw, then this might work for me:
Variant #5: http://tinyurl.com/3covqb
Lakers send out Odom & Karl
Lakers get Travis Outlaw, Jason Collins, and Josh McRoberts
And since the Lakers would be treating all these teams so kindly by taking
the players they didn't want and giving up a guy who's one of the top
rebounders in the league (and possibly a vast expiring contract as well),
the Lakers should get somebody's draft pick in the deal as well (probably
New Jersey's)
Obviously, I know it won't happen. It's just venting after Lamar and Kwame
blew a chance for the Lakers to beat a good team on the road (and not for
the first time this season).
The FAULT all falls on PHIL but most of you will defend him
YOU CAN
NEVER NEVER NVER NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NVER NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NVER NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NVER NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NVER NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NVER NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER
ALLOW AN UNCONTESTED 3 POINT SHOT WHEN YOUR UP BY 2 WITH SECONDS TO PLAY
IF A COACH CAN'T GET THIS INTO THE PLAYERS HEAD ......
HE'S NOT A COACH
LTLF:
The Lakers-I believe-are gearing up for the summer of 2009.
Kwame's 9 mil come off the books this summer (money for Drewski).
LO's 14.5 mil come off the books next summer (money for a true power forward).
9 mil this summer + 14.5 mil next summer + playing with KB24 and Drewski =
true power fowards (Chris Bosh, anyone) lining up to play with those two to create a trio that will win championships.
What say you?
The mistake LO made wasn't giving up the board- that was a long rebound he really didn't have much of a chance to corral. But leaving Prince open, even with the natural inclination to help on the drive, was a big ol' blunder. Can't do it.
And what happened? Kwame Brown embarrased the Lakers. This guy can not catch a ball, finish a play or do anything except play position D sometimes. He let wide open guys go to the lane and dunk. Fumbles any passes and just fundamentally breaks down a offense all by himself.
Then Lamar Odumb embarassed me tonite too. Defensive Rebounding and then letting people shoot the 3 to beat you.
WOW.
And I am really tired of having last second plays where Kobe doesnt get the ball.
Whose great idea is it not to get Kobe the last shot of the game?
How come he can't ever even touch the ball?
It startles me that over the last years it's so damn impossible to get Kobe the ball to shoot a game winning shot. I'd take Kobe from 35 then Odom in the clutch all day everday.
It's embarassing.
I hate the Lakers are never ever creative to give Kobe the ball in the clutch to win a game.
We know who the clutch shooters are on this team. EITHER FISH OR KOBE.
GET ONE OF THEM THE SHOT FOR GAME! Odom has missed numerous times.
Why can't the Lakers have inbounds plays like the Suns to get Kobe an open look for game?
Bell inbounds to Amare. Bell then sets a back screen for Nash because Nash's defender did not expect the inbounder to be a screener.
THIS IS SMART BASKETBALL TO GET YOUR BEST PLAYER A LOOK!
why oh why does our staff never do anything creative to get Kobe a good look?
this game was at Detroit. The Lakers are short-handed. It took a miracle to beat them. It hurts, but it bodes well. Remember, this is a YOUNG team, and they will learn from this.
Let's calm down guys. I don't think any of us expected to win this game entering tonight. Our guys fought hard and we almost beat one of the best teams in the league. We lost because of bad execution and bad decision making by not having at least one other shooter on the floor. Let's hope we can bring the same type of effort against Toronto tomorrow.
Here Phil did it again, in my opinion, he has attitude problem, if Lakers can't win this game, so what?, next game,...the goal is to make the playoffs, who care,? you look at Lakers team and you can tell that they're not well-trained. All he cares is to talk to the media because he thinks he right. When the media ask Phil about the improvement of Bynum this season., he answered." Dollars are green ,....", Bynum is playing good because his contract is up, this is a slap to the face of Lakers organization and Buss. He means that Jim Buss is lucky to pick Bynum. Last season, Luke's contract was up, why did Phil say same thing to Luke's performance ? When Phil signed 2 years extension, i did not watch Lakers games as usuall, i can't stand this guy anymore, but i will come back 3 years from now. If Phil is self-respected man he should resign, Lakers pay him 12 mil a year, don't tell fan that they don't have money to sign player, to pay luxury tax. Phil only deserves 3 mil a year .
You said:
"Just watched the last sequence again. Fish, Kobe, Ronny, Sasha, Jordan would have made it impossible to double. Phil was asleep at that wheel."
You cannot have Lamar or Luke choking out there. It just cost the Lakers 2 games!!
4 seconds left you MUST go for the shooters.
Phil gambled on Lamar... even designed the play for him!!!
Lamar wont rebound and he wont guard the 3 pointer either!
Xodus:
You may have expected us to not win tonight.
However, there are those of us here on this blog who believe:
With Kobe, anything is possible.
Lamar should not have allowed the 3.
Period.
Pistons should have done no more than tie the game.
Period.
Lakers would have had the last shot.
Period.
If Lakers miss the last shot: overtime.
Period.
Stop with the excuses (I've dealt with them for 3 years and I'm tired of them).
You said:
"Just watched the last sequence again. Fish, Kobe, Ronny, Sasha, Jordan would have made it impossible to double. Phil was asleep at that wheel."
You cannot have Lamar or Luke choking out there. It just cost the Lakers 2 games!!
4 seconds left you MUST go for the shooters.
Phil gambled on Lamar... even designed the play for him!!!
Lamar wont rebound and he wont guard the 3 pointer either!
Kwamika, Lamara and Lukana are Jackson's fav five with Smush and Cook Jackson keeps wanting to prove his dumb players can win with a great coach and a ballhog!
>>>And these teams would want Lamar because..... ????????????
He's still one of the top rebounders in the league. Maybe you could show the
opposing team's GM video of one of his good games. Just don't tell them that
he only does it one game out of 3 or 4.
passionate Laker fan,
>>>true power fowards (Chris Bosh, anyone) lining up to play with those
>>>two to create a trio that will win championships.
>>>What say you?
It's a nice dream, but maybe not as simple as that.
It would be possible to free up a bunch of space for summer2009, but to do
that they'd have to let Ariza & Turiaf go. Just to use example numbers, if you
sign Turiaf and Ariza for a MLE each and resign Drew starting at 10 million,
then add that to the Lakers existing contracts and they're right around the
salary cap. So do Turiaf, Ariza,and Drew sign for half of what their worth
out of the goodness of their hearts? Or does Bosh sign with the Lakers
for an MLE because he wants to make movies?
Change the f'n offense, and take the damn ball out of Kobe's hands, he's not a playmaker.
Before we know it, Phil will convince us all that Lamar isn't an impact player, and then we'll be stuck with the one or two year payoff of Jason Kidd that won't even bring a title and then it's all for nought.
Bottom line, get Lamar going. Titles come few and hard between, work the margins, and don't force Lamar to take a game-winner when he hasn't taken a shot for how many quarters?
That's Lamar fault, that he hasn't shot, but Phil blew this one, I"m sorry.
In looking at this game, it made me think that with Bynum and Ariza, the Lakers
are capable of beating Detroit in a 7 game series. In fact, if it came down to
that, they may well sweep them.
I'm starting to think that if the Lakers are at full health for the playoffs, there are
a few teams that would challenge them, but that they are capable of beating
every team (except maybe Boston, I'm still on the fence there).
Kwame has lost his mind, and Kobe, Phil, etc. need to cut him loose. The guy can't even catch the ball, we don't need that. I'd rather suck than defend this guy. I can help him, but what I've noticed from the Lakers lately is that the're a bunch of losers, don't accept help, and the result is that we continue to drive Kwame down the abyss, when he is worse at catching passes by the day, but if you give him an excellent person to shoot the shit with, guess what he's clears the issues out and plays with the tenacity that he has the potential to get going.
A.K.A. don't ever mess with me because i will school you thanks
At least Vlad can hit a three. Who knows if Vlad is clutch? Phil will never play Vlad on the last play. Unlike Phil's love affair with Luke "You complete me man" Walton.
On the final Detroit basket, Billups got past his man, Lamar came over to cover him, and Billups passed out to Prince for the shot, right? (I was listening to the game, so correct me if the details of the play are wrong:)
1) Who was covering Billups? Fisher? Why has no one put any blame there?
2) Lamar is supposed to let one of the top guards in the league get to the basket uncontested? Coming over to help out was the right decision on his part.
This points out a weakness that has been there all season, but has been masked somewhat by Bynum's presence in the middle. The Lakers perimeter defense, including Fisher, is mediocre. That needs to improve for them to be contenders, even with Bynum in the middle. Ariza helps somewhat, but he isn't the cure-all either.
Agree with Long Time Laker Fan that Phil's end-of-game planning lacked reason with Kwame/Odom out there. Where's Sasha and Vlade? Isn't this EXACTLY the time there value to the Lakers is most important? One of you need to follow PJ to his Toronto hotel room and MAKE this point ABUNDANTLY clear! Damn, we could have had Byron Scott for LESS THAN HALF the dollars we pay Jackson!!
As for Kwame, I think this road trip is make/break for him. If he continues to look like a D-League guy, the Lakers need to cut him as soon as Mihm gets healthy and they re-sign Dbenga!
As far as trade...J. O'Neal still wants out of Indiana and he and Lamar's salaries are comparable. We don't need Kidd. We need COMPETENT big men!
It's truly amazing how the human brain or rather its memory function can be so weak with some people. Not too long ago many posters here were praising Odom for his warrior mentality playing hurt against Phoenix and declaring him a "keeper" for this team. It is one thing to be dissapointed that he is not playing his best basketball right now, but another thing is to call him dumb, retarded and unskilled. Everybody should look to get their act together first (and at least try to use their brain) before pointing fingers. Remember, everytime you point your finger at somebody else three fingers point back at you!
Now, with regard to a trade for Kidd, somebody should talk to the guy who is in charge of USA Basketball for this year's Olympic team (Colangelo, I guess) and tell him to encourage Rod Thorn to do the nation a favor and trade Kidd to the Lakers, so that these two can play together making them unstoppable at the Olympics. Maybe that can convince Thorn to take back Brown, Walton/Radmanovic, Farmar, Mihm and a couple of picks.
LTLF,
I KNOW.... I KNOOOOOOW you didnt just say the Lakers would be able to sweep the Pistons in a series? ahahahahahaha!
lololololol....
There is one thing to be a Laker fan. And another thing to be crazy! I'll just assume you are just frustrated now because that is just crazy.
And if you watched the game, you would see the Pistons didnt do anything that game AND still beat us. They played a BUNCH of their scrub players extended minutes. We shot TWICE as many free throws as them. The Pistons were coasting all game and playing like they always knew they could come back and beat us. In the Playoffs, the Pistons will play that suffocating D all game on Kobe.
yea, we can beat the pistons. But sweep them? Dont be delusional.
I'm not sure this Laker team will be the same this year. Even when Bynum gets healthy, when will his timing come back? He wont be the same. And then we STILL have Kwame Brown and Lamar Odom. These guys lose games for you.
LakerSeth,
"Once again, why weren't three pt shooters like Sasha and Jordan Farmar on the court for that last play, Mr. Jackson?"
Because they were only down by 1; you don't need a three-point shooter. Turiaf and Odom were good choices because of their inside games, not Kwame, though.
Was that really a goal tend on Billups layup by Turiaf???
Kwame did a nice job helping Kobe get free from the Piston defense. A good adjustment from years past.
Not to concerned, some good things from this game:
1. Overcoming a 17 point lead in one of the toughest places to play in the league.
2. Kobe looked like he had more lift in his legs.
3. With Bynum and Ariza out, we showed we can compete at a high level, on the road, with one of the best in the east.
GUNNER -
Glad to see you made it back, just in time for the dog days and as we begin the long roadie missing our second best player and second best defender.
Stick around, it will get interesting when we get healthy!
Bigger disappointment, Lamar or Kwame. A number one pick that everyone right away didn't have the goods. Or a guy everyone says is the prototype and has tons of potential but all he's ever done is fall short of expectations. Both having great physical attributes but both lack the basketball IQ and toughness to be winners. Sadly for Laker fans we don't have to worry about whose a bigger disappointment. We have them both.
Some times you get lucky and the player you pick up is smart and can actually play the mine boggling game of BB. Problem there is guys like Lamar and Kwame, some or no talent, tall, but just plain brain dead, I mean these two don't even probably know the teams they are going to play day in and day out. They are two idiots period, if they didn't have the NBA where do you think these two would be right now, they just might be able to wash and wax your car and that would really be reaching for it.
Nobody wants these two so the heck with the cap and just cut them, if either one of these guys are on the lakers next year this 40yr plus laker fan will start following the Celtics and I really hate the Celtics but at least they no what to do with dogs
.
I'm with a lot of the guys here who are finding this game encouraging. To go into Detroit with as many key injuries as we have, down two starters, have the horrendous half we had against a hot-shooting Piston team, and STILL have a chance to win it in the end isn't just remarkable, it's darn well confidence-building. I hope we can recover enough to put up a huge effort tonight.
And as far as Phil's end-of-game roster being devoid of shooters, you've gotta understand, it's not always a great idea to put in a bunch of cold 3-point shooters who've been sitting on the bench. Had they been playing the previous couple of minutes, maybe, but there are worse things than having the ball in Odom's hands at the end of the game, particularly if there's room to drive to the basket.
Let's face it, we (posters on the blog) are nothing but a bunch of Monday Morning Quarterbacks. Regardless of who missed the last shot, it would prove our "theories": KOBE -- He's a gunner; SASHA -- He can only make shots in practice; FISHER -- He's too old; VLAD -- Space cadet; WALTON -- B-ball IQ doesn't equal good player; and so on. Of course, if any of them make the shot, they are gods for a day.
Please do not diss on Lamar Odom for missing the game winning shot. He took the initiative but failed. Detroit is too good of a team to give Kobe a wide open look for a shot. At least, Lamar has the guts to shoot the ball unlike Luke who'd rather pass it back to Kobe instead of taking the clutch shot. He took the shot, he missed, yet he accepted the responsibility. Let's forget this game and move on. Go Lakers!
Given that most of the prognosticators on this board picked this game as a loss, I'm not too saddened by it. It was completely winnable. True, the way that we lost leaves a sour taste, but the positive to take away is the lakers didn't wilt in the face of large deficit. Last year the game would have been garbage time by the middle of the 3rd.
these quotes from lamar show why he will never amount to 'winning' basketball:
""I kind of knew that was the look I was going to get," Odom said. "I just shot it too fast. But I'm telling you, that's the shot I would take 100 out of 100 times"
Umm--after you miss that shot that badly, you should never tell us you would take it 100% of the time..all the time...you are 6'10 by the way....try playing near the hoop more.
""We all crashed the boards and it bounced out to the three-point line," Odom said. "It just bounced right back to Tayshaun. You can't kick yourself in the head. You just move on."
no, you shouldn't just move on....learn from it.....only people content with losing just say 'lets just move on'....try and improve for god's sakes...
How are the Lakers one of the best rebounding teams in the league, but when we actually need a rebound, their heads are up their butts. I felt like I watching Game 6 against the Suns. Can someone please take the brain of Walton and insert into Lamar. PLEASE. I have never seen such talent without one ounce of basketball IQ. If we can somehow complete that, the lakers would have the greatest basketball player of all time. Seriously Lamar, you are 6 10. Why the hell are taking 19 foot jumpshots you idiot. I've seen you play, you can get to the basket whenever you want. Drive the damn lane and see what happens. Maybe you get a call, but dont take a jumpshot. You are not Kobe. And Kobe throwing up his hands after the game. Maybe your team isnt in this situation with your 11 TO's.
Pls. don't blame Lamar Odom. He is just Lamar. not an all star. he is just a second rate player. he will never grow because he is now a VETERAN not a rookie. so Odom will never be an all star. LAKERS FANS DON'T DREAM ITS OVER.
can we revisit the off-season trade that almost happened with the Bobcats?
I think Gerald Wallace is better Pippen than LO.
Or we can wait on Artest. May be we'll be able to sign him at MLE
Who knows?
I, did not see the game last night I was @work it is a good thing I didn't see it. It would have been disappointing it's time to move to the next game i'm sure the lakers have moved on from the lost as disappointing as it is to them espcially Kobe who wants to win all the time,however all the guys who has been struggling since Drew went down with the knee injury need to work on the weaknesses in their game to improve them such as making shoots when it counts.
Vlad and Luke both shoot a good percentage on 3's. Vlad 40% and Luke 37%. Luke is a better shooter overall 45% to 42%.
>>>Who knows if Vlad is clutch? Phil will never play
>>>Vlad on the last play. Unlike Phil's love affair with Luke "You complete me man" Walton.
LOL.
Truth of the matter is that the Lakers didn't need a 3-pointer to win last night. But again,
I would have gone with 5 shooters. I'd have used Vlade for the "big screener" instead of Kwame,
and had Sasha, Kobe, Fisher, and Lamar on the floor (or maybe Farmar instead of Sasha, since
Jordan had a better shooting night). I'd have had Lamar there only for crashing the boards for
a putback, but I'd have let any of the other four drive and shoot.
BTW, I'm not hatin' on LO or Kwame. When you look at the replay, you will see why Detroit has the rep of being such a good defensive team. They didn't double Kobe outright to keep him from getting the ball. They filled the passing lanes so even though he would have been open for a shot had he the ball, there was no way to actually get the ball to him.
It looked like a sagging man-to-man/zone hybrid type defense. Brilliant! Brilliant!
Since they weren't all the way at Kobe, the defenders all had less space to cover on the ensuing rotation, and they could dictate who took the last shot. They chose to let Odom shoot. They were right.
Plus, give Kobe credit. Usually, like last year, Kobe would have Bogard-ed his way to the sideline, taken the ball from LO, and ran his own play to take the last shot himself, defense be damned. But, this time, as well as last time, and every other time this season except that one 44-shot game, he let it develop they way it was going to develop and put his faith in his team mates. Even though they have yet to come through (except Fish of course), he's still trusting them and guiding them and letting them learn to succeed in those situations.
>>>can we revisit the off-season trade that almost happened with the Bobcats?
>>>I think Gerald Wallace is better Pippen than LO.
Yeah, unfortunately it was the Bobcats who blocked that trade, not the Lakers. And both
the Bobcats AND the Lakers would have benefitted -- the deal was Lamar to New Jersey,
Richard Jefferson (24 ppg this season) to Charlotte, and Wallace to the Lakers. Heck,
the Lakers would even have been better if they'd have dropped Wallace out of the deal
and swapped Odom for Jefferson. He's not as good a defender or rebounder, but you can't
knock a consistent 24 points per night.
>>>Or we can wait on Artest. May be we'll be able to sign him at MLE
I'm thinking that's actually a possibility. I think it would take the Lakers getting to the
Western Conference Finals. If they make it that far, Artest would think he was the missing
piece that could take the Lakers all they way. So if it came down to taking an MLE from
the Lakers or a contract starting at 10 million a year with a rebuilding Sacramento, he
might go for the ring instead of the cash.
"Plus, give Kobe credit. Usually, like last year, Kobe would have Bogard-ed his way to the sideline, taken the ball from LO, and ran his own play to take the last shot himself, defense be damned."-FearlessWhackJob
That's a great point. We're a team this year. Kobe is the leader.
LO will always tease the fans, he will always have a good to great games against the lower echelon of the league (i.e. knicks, Memphis, nets etc.). He does not have the ability to step up consistently for the big teams (i.e. Spurs, Pistons, Dallas etc.).
That is who he is, he will never get better (9 year veteran), if you look up his career stats he has plateaued, he is happy have an NBA career period, and earning a paycheck doing what he loves, however if anyone this that he has a passion for NBA championship your wrong. He belongs on a team like (bucks, Griz’s, Hawks) and let him enjoy his career and quietly retire.
However, KB and (maybe Fish) have a white hot passion for a championship and the FO needs to do whatever is required to fulfill that passion because those types of players do not come along to often. The NBA unfortunately is full of LO types and as a fan we should truly appreciate and respect that passion.
He will never be Pippen to KB, the fans and the FO need come to grips with this fact, and either enjoy him for what he is or trade him for someone who had that type of passion.
Greeting's Laker Nation,and eveyone that post on this blog I did not see the game last night I was working It's a good thing I missed it.
Oh well time to move on from the lost,and not hang on it to long I agree with the blogger who, said we would not sweep the pistons.
They are to good a defensive team for us to sweep them in the playoffs unless some of the laker players bring their "A" game into the playoffs.
1} There's Kwame who feel life isn't fair,because we laker nation and the organization expect to much from him.
2) There's Luke who have been playing on a gimppy ankle,and as a result have not been playing well.
3) There's Chris who has not played much,because of an ankle injury also,but when healty is a descent player.
4) Laker turn overs,and missed shots is an issue we all know that teams get their points off of turn overs and missed shots.
And at times our lakers do not want to play defense when it counts the most I want too make it clear I belive in our laker team.
They can win against the pistons if they set their hearts,and minds to do so,but sweep them not @ this time.
Greeting's Laker Nation,and eveyone that post on this blog I did not see the game last night I was working It's a good thing I missed it.
Oh well time to move on from the lost,and not hang on it to long I agree with the blogger who, said we would not sweep the pistons.
They are to good a defensive team for us to sweep them in the playoffs unless some of the laker players bring their "A" game into the playoffs.
1} There's Kwame who feel life isn't fair,because we laker nation and the organization expect to much from him.
2) There's Luke who have been playing on a gimppy ankle,and as a result have not been playing well.
3) There's Chris who has not played much,because of an ankle injury also,but when healty is a descent player.
4) Laker turn overs,and missed shots is an issue we all know that teams get their points off of turn overs and missed shots.
And at times our lakers do not want to play defense when it counts the most I want too make it clear I belive in our laker team.
They can win against the pistons if they set their hearts,and minds to do so,but sweep them not @ this time.
The only thing I would possibly fault Lamar for is not driving to the basket. The lane was open, he could have skipped to the bucket and either drawn a foul (remember he was obviously pushed in the back on his missed rebound attempt on the other end, and the refs knew that) or could have just dunked it.
No one has ever, in his whole career, stopped a Lamar dunk other than Lamar himself.
Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky are contributing writers to ESPN The
Magazine and ESPN.com, and co-authored Fishing on the Edge, the autobiography of 2003 Bassmaster Classic champion Mike Iaconelli, bass fishing's bad boy. While both grew up in St. Louis without NBA
basketball, Andrew became a die hard Lakers fanatic after moving to L.A. to attend USC. That he managed to find a job requiring him to obsess over his favorite team, the same activity that prompted him to waste time while working other jobs, is pretty incredible. As for Brian, his baptism into pro hoops fandom has been provided by the "All Lakers, All The Time" citizens of Los Angeles. Beats the hell out of covering the Bucks.
Blogs
Subscribe to this Blog What is RSS?
I'm saving myself the heartache by watching the debate...I still flip the channel from time to time...
Posted by: Rhon Salmon | January 31, 2008 at 06:08 PM
BIG WIN IS WHAT IM EXPECTING
Posted by: Kobi Bryan | January 31, 2008 at 06:11 PM
please trade lamar odom because he cannot do anything when it mattters. very pissed.
Posted by: Kelly | January 31, 2008 at 07:12 PM
yeah, please.. trade lamar. he gets on my nerve...
all the effort that kobe has done is useless.. because he didn't even touch the ball at the end. in fact, he never became a decoy too.
they shud;ve done the high pick towards the end since it had been working for them the last 2minutes. errr...
sorry loss for the lakeshow.
Kobe is KOBE... the clutch game winner.. why didn't he have the last shot??
questionable phil... again..
Posted by: lamar_airball | January 31, 2008 at 07:18 PM
Damn..............very disheartening.......:(
Posted by: henry | January 31, 2008 at 07:21 PM
LAMAR left tayshaun open for the three, and he made an airball at the other end.. what kind of a luckless person is that..
... Kobe is Kobe...
can't wait for the return of KoByNuM
Posted by: lamar_airball | January 31, 2008 at 07:21 PM
OH GOD LAMAR.
the loss was on him. too many "missed" rebounds.
he didn't even LOOK at kobe during the final seconds...
Posted by: | January 31, 2008 at 07:22 PM
trade lamar n luke for a better, more consistent F... please...
Posted by: lamar_airball | January 31, 2008 at 07:23 PM
Jackie Johnson is looking seriously beautiful tonight!
HI JACKIE!
Smile...
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | January 31, 2008 at 07:30 PM
TRADE KOBE FOR LEBRON PLEASE!
AT LEAST WE KNOW HIS TEAMMATES ARE GOING TO GET ENOUGH SHOTS IN THE GAME TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO SHOOT AT THE END.
Posted by: Gunner | January 31, 2008 at 07:31 PM
CWEBB TO KOBE: "F-U"
I GUESS CHRIS WEBBER MADE A GREAT DECISION CHOOSING THE WARRIORS. HE KNOWS WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR IT MEANS FOR OLD SIDE SHOW KOB.
DON'T EXPECT KIDD TO BECOME A PART OF THIS SIDE SHOW EITHER!
Posted by: Gunner | January 31, 2008 at 07:38 PM
Lamar should be traded b4 the trade deadline! What a waste of god given physical ability...There's no desire like Kobe has or any superstar making that kind of money. I don't care what kind of personal issues (family or otherwise) he has. Leave that stuff off the court and give it all you've got. If you're the #2 option, you are relied upon to compliment Kobe night in night out...you ONLY score 6 pts?? I am disgusted by that kind of effort. Mitch....save us the from this inconsistant clown.......TRADE HIM NOW!!!!
Posted by: | January 31, 2008 at 07:40 PM
KOBE'S TEAMMATES HAVE CONFIDENCE BUT THEY DONT HAVE TALENT....
Posted by: joetoronto | January 31, 2008 at 07:41 PM
the great AK has mentioned my name. life is good.
Posted by: mcfly | January 31, 2008 at 07:44 PM
To "Gunner" who says trade Kobe so his teammates have "enough confidence to shoot at the end". What the hell kind of rationale is THAT? Kobe had 11 turnovers, includind some that came from PASSING the ball FOOL!!
Lamar is THE poster boy for INCONSISTENCY! Wish Kupchak had traded Odom for Kwame because Caron has something Odom doesn't - shooting skill! Odom made a bad defensive play at the end leaving the 3pt guy WIDE open then compounds his mistake by airballing the next Laker possession!
Kwame Brown..you are under ARREST for STEALING large sums of money from your employer! I really can't believe this man can LEGALLY earn more than $50K a year playing professional basketball!? WHY, WHYYYYY!!!!? Frankly, I really can't see why he gets more than 10 minutes a game. He can't shoot. He makes few FTs. His rebounding is mediocre. His passing skills non-existent! Anyone know of any decent big men recently retired whom the Lakers can pay for half a season and CUT Kwame?
Yea Kobe's turnover's didn't help but man Lakers get blown out without his big second half and he scored about 18 over his career average against Detroit.
Posted by: Ken | January 31, 2008 at 07:48 PM
AK/BK
LA Times, AP reported that the Pistons have now won 9 straight from the Lakers including the 3 straight games in the finals.
Does the Laker win last December 16th not count?
Posted by: Vman | January 31, 2008 at 08:05 PM
Vman,
Double check. I think it's 9 straight in Detroit.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | January 31, 2008 at 08:09 PM
I'm voting for Hillary Clinton! She has experience, plus I heard she's a Lakers fan, too.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | January 31, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Mike, Hillary a Laker fan? Are you serious?
Posted by: Vonislav Waferdenko | January 31, 2008 at 08:24 PM
AK
AK
"The Pistons have won nine straight over the Lakers, including three games to win the 2004 NBA finals."
Direct quote in the LA Times. Doesn't mention "in Detroit" and it's not implied in the previous paragraph.
It's not earth shattering but it's a TO for the AP. It's been a night of turn overs.
Posted by: Vman | January 31, 2008 at 08:27 PM
Lamar leaving Prince open for the 3 (and what balls, huh; usually, home teams play for the tie at home and the win on the road) symbolizes what type of mind set he plays with.
Inspite of being a 9 year vet, he committed the cardinal sin expressed time and time again by Stu Lance: never leave your man for the open 3.
If Lamar had stayed with Prince-and inspite of the offensive rebound-worse case scenario: tied ball game, Lakers' ball with 7 seconds, last shot, and overtime if the shot is missed.
The problem?
LO (a 9 year vet) once again had a mental lapse.
And it manifested itself a second time (via guilt as a result of leaving his man wide open for that 3) with his airball.
With a win, the Lakers would have started their 9 game road trip 2-0 (with a win at Detroit, the Lakers would have beaten Toronto) with a off day on Saturday to prepare for the Wizzards.
With the lost, they potentially could start the roadie 0-2 as a result of LO's mental lapse and their day off on Saturday could be depressing.
Yes Kobe and Ronnie missed a free throw during the last 2 minutes of the game; yes the Lakers gave up three or four offensive rebounds during the
Piston's last three or four baskets.
But in the end, we lost out on a chance to shoot the last shot to win-or at least play 5 min OT-because of LO.
I have said it before and I will say it again: the Lakers will never win a NBA championship with LO/Kwame/Luke (VladRad shot seems to have returned).
Man, I'm depressed.
This is the worse loss of the season (and we just made Detroit's season).
With a win, who knows what kind of road trip this could have been.
Sad.
Posted by: passionate Lakers Fan | January 31, 2008 at 08:29 PM
Von,
No...I just put that in there so I could get the Hillary line in there. This is a Lakers' blog. So, I think I have to say something about the Lakers to get a nonbasketball post in.
Rule, rule, rule!
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | January 31, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Passionate,
Think about it. Think about how many times Lamar has left his man and his man has hit a 3 to win the game. I knew it was coming.
Posted by: troy | January 31, 2008 at 08:38 PM
Lamar couldn't guard a poster of a player, this guy is just just just ahhhh i wish he would just go away.
Posted by: pk-in-the-mesa | January 31, 2008 at 08:44 PM
Where did that star on Lamar's head go??????? WOW what a night for our 15 million dollar man. 7 points, another missed rebound and a sweet running airball jumper. He is absolutely terrible. Trade him for Kidd or Kidd's crazy ex-wife, or even Kidd's son. JUST TRADE HIM PLEASE, HE IS UNWATCHABLE.....
Posted by: E-Dog | January 31, 2008 at 08:50 PM
I keep writing the same criticism of PJ because he continues to make the same bad judgment call in every loss. He may have nine rings, but he is a stubborn as a mule.
For the 4th time in as many losses, he continues to fool himself that his starters are closers. They're not. Not against San Antonio. Not against Dallas. Not against Cleveland. And again, tonight, not against Detroit. Hel-looooo! Anybody see a pattern here? Coach! Wake up out of your old man's nap on the bench!
For what it's worth, Stu Lanz called it tonight as well. When there are only a few short seconds left, and you inbound the ball, you have your shooters on the floor. What did PJ do tonight? Left his shooters on the bench again. Lamar had only taken 4 shots the entire night at that point. Hel-looooo again! Think the guy had his shot going? Yeh, right!
Sure, it shouldn't come down to this. But sometimes it does. Sorry! You play Kobe 47 minutes on the first game of a 9 game road trip and don't give #24 and his mates their best shot at saving the game? BAD COACHING!
Yeh, too many turnovers, too few rebounds. But too many bad personnel decisions, even with a depleted roster. I was hoping the disappointment I felt when Phil signed his extension was misplaced. Sometimes I'm happy when I'm wrong. Now, I'm unhappy that I was right. Uggghhh.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | January 31, 2008 at 08:51 PM
Gunner,
You obviously haven't been reading the blog lately. I checked the stats, and
LeBron has actually been MORE of a ball hog than Kobe this season. Did
you even watch the Cleveland-Lakers game? Kobe took 21 shots and handed
out 6 assists. LeBron took 32 shots and handed out 4 assists. Guess who won
the game?
Of course, if Kobe had taken 32 shots and the Lakers would have won, then
you'd be foaming at the mouth about what a ball hog he is.
lame.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 31, 2008 at 08:55 PM
I have Confidence and Experience!!!!!!
Posted by: KARL MALONE | January 31, 2008 at 08:57 PM
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
So reportedly the big hangup in the Dallas-New Jersey-Portland three way is that
Thorn doesn't think Travis Outlaw is a good enough player to get back as the
centerpiece of a trade for Kidd. Also, Thorn didn't like the idea of having
to take back a big multi-year contract in Jerry Stackhouse and pay him off.
With how Lamar played tonight, I decided that maybe the Lakers should try to
help them out by making it a four-way trade. Maybe Thorn would prefer Lamar
Odom as the centerpiece of a trade for Kidd. I worked up a few trades in the
trade machine just to work off steam. Note that these trades mostly involve
the exact set of players that were going to be involved anyway, it just sends
Lamar to the Nets and fishes a couple of good young players out of the deal.
Variant #1: http://tinyurl.com/2p4se2
Lakers send out Odom & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye, and Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #2: http://tinyurl.com/2fw4z4
Lakers send out Odom & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, DeSagana Diop, and Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #3: http://tinyurl.com/36ygmr
Lakers send out Odom, KWAME, & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, DeSagana Diop, Jason Collins & Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #4: http://tinyurl.com/23rsye
Lakers send out Odumb, Krummy, & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye, Jason Collins & Jerry Stackhouse.
Or, if Jersey wanted both Diop and Frye for themselves, but would prefer Odom
over Outlaw, then this might work for me:
Variant #5: http://tinyurl.com/3covqb
Lakers send out Odom & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, Jason Collins, and Josh McRoberts
And since the Lakers would be treating all these teams so kindly by taking the players
they didn't want and giving up a guy who's one of the top rebounders in the league (and
possibly a vast expiring contract as well), the Lakers should get somebody's draft pick
in the deal as well (probably New Jersey's)
Obviously, I know it won't happen. It's just venting after Lamar and Kwame blew
a chance for the Lakers to beat a good team on the road (and not for the first time
this season).
~
~
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 31, 2008 at 08:59 PM
Here we go again !!!.How many times Lomar Odom has to screw us up before somebody say enough is enough.We should have traded him three years ago,he is a a bad news and a loser and he does not belong here with this team,he does not have a heart and he has shown it time after time after time,please Kupcheck do something.
Posted by: Tony | January 31, 2008 at 09:01 PM
Should we start with the Lamar for J. Kidd trade talk? Why not? Lamar is obviously too inconsistent who is just not as good as people make him out to be. I figured:
Lamar/Crittenton/Kwame/1st round draft pick for Jason Kidd would work just fine with the Nets. Hate to give up on Crittenton so soon but there might not be another way.
Posted by: dcerros | January 31, 2008 at 09:01 PM
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
So reportedly the big hangup in the Dallas-New Jersey-Portland three way is that
Thorn doesn't think Travis Outlaw is a good enough player to get back as the
centerpiece of a trade for Kidd. Also, Thorn didn't like the idea of having
to take back a big multi-year contract in Jerry Stackhouse and pay him off.
With how Lamar played tonight, I decided that maybe the Lakers should try to
help them out by making it a four-way trade. Maybe Thorn would prefer Lamar
Odom as the centerpiece of a trade for Kidd. I worked up a few trades in the
trade machine just to work off steam. Note that these trades mostly involve
the exact set of players that were going to be involved anyway, it just sends
Lamar to the Nets and fishes a couple of good young players out of the deal.
Variant #1: http://tinyurl.com/2p4se2
Lakers send out Odom & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye, and Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #2: http://tinyurl.com/2fw4z4
Lakers send out Odom & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, DeSagana Diop, and Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #3: http://tinyurl.com/36ygmr
Lakers send out Odom, KWAME, & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, DeSagana Diop, Jason Collins & Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #4: http://tinyurl.com/23rsye
Lakers send out Odumb, Krummy, & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye, Jason Collins & Jerry Stackhouse.
Or, if Jersey wanted both Diop and Frye for themselves, but would prefer Odom
over Outlaw, then this might work for me:
Variant #5: http://tinyurl.com/3covqb
Lakers send out Odom & Karl & get Travis Outlaw, Jason Collins, and Josh McRoberts
And since the Lakers would be treating all these teams so kindly by taking the players
they didn't want and giving up a guy who's one of the top rebounders in the league (and
possibly a vast expiring contract as well), the Lakers should get somebody's draft pick
in the deal as well (probably New Jersey's)
Obviously, I know it won't happen. It's just venting after Lamar and Kwame blew
a chance for the Lakers to beat a good team on the road (and not for the first time
this season).
~
~
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 31, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Nice point Rick. Why are Lamar and Kwame even out there with 4 seconds left? 5 on 5 is better then 5 on 3. Kobe and Fisher looked like they wanted to do a Code Red on Lamar after the game. I hope they do it.
Posted by: E-Dog | January 31, 2008 at 09:04 PM
Troy:
I told a fellow Laker fan at work today:
The key to a Lakers' victory?
LO must match the scoring/rebounding/defense/intensity of Detroit's frontline.
LO?
6 points.
Sad.
PS: the Lakers have the most overpaid and softest (physically and mentally) front line (LO/Luke/Kwame) in the NBA.
Man, the guilt LO/Luke/Kwame must feel as a result of letting their team down.
If the Lakers have a bad 9 game road trip, trades will be made after the season ends (I don't care if Drewski returns and we win the title; the front office will not forget the poor play of our front line when he was hurt).
Posted by: passionate Lakers Fan | January 31, 2008 at 09:07 PM
dcerros,
If the Lakers are giving up both Kwame and Lamar, then they need to get
back some size from New Jersey in the deal...
Kwame Brown, Lamar Odom, and either Javaris Crittenton or a draft pick
for
Jason Kidd, Jason Collins, and Malik Allen
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 31, 2008 at 09:11 PM
I've been trying to post this but it keeps getting spam-bounced, so I'll try to
break it up into several posts:
Reportedly the big hangup in the Dallas-New Jersey-Portland three way
is that Thorn doesn't think Travis Outlaw is a good enough player to get
back as the centerpiece of a trade for Kidd. Also, Thorn didn't like the idea
of having to take back a big multi-year contract in Jerry Stackhouse and
pay him off.
With how Lamar played tonight, I decided that maybe the Lakers should try
to help them out by making it a four-way trade. Maybe Thorn would prefer
Lamar Odom as the centerpiece of a trade for Kidd. I worked up a few
trades in the trade machine just to work off steam. Note that these trades
mostly involve the exact set of players that were going to be involved
anyway, it just sends Lamar to the Nets and fishes a couple of good young
players out of the deal.
Variant #1: http://tinyurl.com/2p4se2
Lakers send out Odom & Karl
Lakers get Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye, and Jerry Stackhouse
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 31, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Variant #2: http://tinyurl.com/2fw4z4
Lakers send out Odom & Karl
Lakers get Travis Outlaw, DeSagana Diop, and Jerry Stackhouse
Variant #3: http://tinyurl.com/36ygmr
Lakers send out Odom, KWAME, & Karl
Lakers get Travis Outlaw, DeSagana Diop, Jason Collins & Stackhouse
Variant #4: http://tinyurl.com/23rsye
Lakers send out Odumb, Krummy, & Karl
Lakers get Travis Outlaw, Channing Frye, Jason Collins & Stackhouse.
Or, if Jersey wanted both Diop and Frye for themselves, but would prefer
Odom over Outlaw, then this might work for me:
Variant #5: http://tinyurl.com/3covqb
Lakers send out Odom & Karl
Lakers get Travis Outlaw, Jason Collins, and Josh McRoberts
And since the Lakers would be treating all these teams so kindly by taking
the players they didn't want and giving up a guy who's one of the top
rebounders in the league (and possibly a vast expiring contract as well),
the Lakers should get somebody's draft pick in the deal as well (probably
New Jersey's)
Obviously, I know it won't happen. It's just venting after Lamar and Kwame
blew a chance for the Lakers to beat a good team on the road (and not for
the first time this season).
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 31, 2008 at 09:14 PM
Just watched the last sequence again. Fish, Kobe, Ronny, Sasha, Jordan would have made it impossible to double. Phil was asleep at that wheel.
Posted by: Vman | January 31, 2008 at 09:16 PM
While I'm at it, here are some more Lamar trade ideas:
Lamar to Milwaukee for Villanueva, Gadzuric, and Jake Voskuhl
Lamar to Chicago for Tyrus Thomas, Joe Smith, and Viktor Khryapa
Lamar to Indiana for Jeff Foster & Marquis Daniels
other ideas?
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 31, 2008 at 09:25 PM
LTLF,
And these teams would want Lamar because..... ????????????
How about Lamar to the moon for some cheese.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | January 31, 2008 at 09:32 PM
The FAULT all falls on PHIL but most of you will defend him
YOU CAN
NEVER NEVER NVER NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NVER NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NVER NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NVER NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NVER NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NVER NEVER NEVERNEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER
ALLOW AN UNCONTESTED 3 POINT SHOT WHEN YOUR UP BY 2 WITH SECONDS TO PLAY
IF A COACH CAN'T GET THIS INTO THE PLAYERS HEAD ......
HE'S NOT A COACH
Posted by: YOU EVER NOTICE | January 31, 2008 at 09:36 PM
The Hall of Fame call for papers and proposals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
anyone ready to write a dissertation on the following subject?!
From Luke Walton's Basketball IQ to Lamar Odom's Versatility: the PR effect between Hip Pointer and Shin.
Posted by: Zin Master | January 31, 2008 at 09:54 PM
LTLF:
The Lakers-I believe-are gearing up for the summer of 2009.
Kwame's 9 mil come off the books this summer (money for Drewski).
LO's 14.5 mil come off the books next summer (money for a true power forward).
9 mil this summer + 14.5 mil next summer + playing with KB24 and Drewski =
true power fowards (Chris Bosh, anyone) lining up to play with those two to create a trio that will win championships.
What say you?
Posted by: passionate Lakers Fan | January 31, 2008 at 09:57 PM
im still shocked with the way we lose... that hurts big time =(
Posted by: look lonely | January 31, 2008 at 10:07 PM
The mistake LO made wasn't giving up the board- that was a long rebound he really didn't have much of a chance to corral. But leaving Prince open, even with the natural inclination to help on the drive, was a big ol' blunder. Can't do it.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | January 31, 2008 at 10:25 PM
I went to the game tonight.
Cheered my azz off in front of weak Detroit fans.
And what happened? Kwame Brown embarrased the Lakers. This guy can not catch a ball, finish a play or do anything except play position D sometimes. He let wide open guys go to the lane and dunk. Fumbles any passes and just fundamentally breaks down a offense all by himself.
Then Lamar Odumb embarassed me tonite too. Defensive Rebounding and then letting people shoot the 3 to beat you.
WOW.
And I am really tired of having last second plays where Kobe doesnt get the ball.
Whose great idea is it not to get Kobe the last shot of the game?
How come he can't ever even touch the ball?
It startles me that over the last years it's so damn impossible to get Kobe the ball to shoot a game winning shot. I'd take Kobe from 35 then Odom in the clutch all day everday.
It's embarassing.
I hate the Lakers are never ever creative to give Kobe the ball in the clutch to win a game.
We know who the clutch shooters are on this team. EITHER FISH OR KOBE.
GET ONE OF THEM THE SHOT FOR GAME! Odom has missed numerous times.
Why can't the Lakers have inbounds plays like the Suns to get Kobe an open look for game?
Bell inbounds to Amare. Bell then sets a back screen for Nash because Nash's defender did not expect the inbounder to be a screener.
THIS IS SMART BASKETBALL TO GET YOUR BEST PLAYER A LOOK!
why oh why does our staff never do anything creative to get Kobe a good look?
Posted by: Korey | January 31, 2008 at 10:34 PM
again the dumb bone head Lamar cost us another game .
Posted by: thomas | January 31, 2008 at 10:41 PM
this game was at Detroit. The Lakers are short-handed. It took a miracle to beat them. It hurts, but it bodes well. Remember, this is a YOUNG team, and they will learn from this.
Posted by: jeffgrotke | January 31, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Watching "Lost" didn't exactly reduce my frustration.
Posted by: troy | January 31, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Let's calm down guys. I don't think any of us expected to win this game entering tonight. Our guys fought hard and we almost beat one of the best teams in the league. We lost because of bad execution and bad decision making by not having at least one other shooter on the floor. Let's hope we can bring the same type of effort against Toronto tomorrow.
Posted by: Xodus | January 31, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Here Phil did it again, in my opinion, he has attitude problem, if Lakers can't win this game, so what?, next game,...the goal is to make the playoffs, who care,? you look at Lakers team and you can tell that they're not well-trained. All he cares is to talk to the media because he thinks he right. When the media ask Phil about the improvement of Bynum this season., he answered." Dollars are green ,....", Bynum is playing good because his contract is up, this is a slap to the face of Lakers organization and Buss. He means that Jim Buss is lucky to pick Bynum. Last season, Luke's contract was up, why did Phil say same thing to Luke's performance ? When Phil signed 2 years extension, i did not watch Lakers games as usuall, i can't stand this guy anymore, but i will come back 3 years from now. If Phil is self-respected man he should resign, Lakers pay him 12 mil a year, don't tell fan that they don't have money to sign player, to pay luxury tax. Phil only deserves 3 mil a year .
Posted by: bluesky | January 31, 2008 at 10:55 PM
i'll trade lamar for sean williams, get a real power forward from the nets
Posted by: haha | January 31, 2008 at 10:55 PM
You said:
"Just watched the last sequence again. Fish, Kobe, Ronny, Sasha, Jordan would have made it impossible to double. Phil was asleep at that wheel."
You cannot have Lamar or Luke choking out there. It just cost the Lakers 2 games!!
4 seconds left you MUST go for the shooters.
Phil gambled on Lamar... even designed the play for him!!!
Lamar wont rebound and he wont guard the 3 pointer either!
Posted by: Angela | January 31, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Xodus:
You may have expected us to not win tonight.
However, there are those of us here on this blog who believe:
With Kobe, anything is possible.
Lamar should not have allowed the 3.
Period.
Pistons should have done no more than tie the game.
Period.
Lakers would have had the last shot.
Period.
If Lakers miss the last shot: overtime.
Period.
Stop with the excuses (I've dealt with them for 3 years and I'm tired of them).
Posted by: passionate Lakers Fan | January 31, 2008 at 10:59 PM
You said:
"Just watched the last sequence again. Fish, Kobe, Ronny, Sasha, Jordan would have made it impossible to double. Phil was asleep at that wheel."
You cannot have Lamar or Luke choking out there. It just cost the Lakers 2 games!!
4 seconds left you MUST go for the shooters.
Phil gambled on Lamar... even designed the play for him!!!
Lamar wont rebound and he wont guard the 3 pointer either!
Posted by: Angela | January 31, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Lakers should take it seriously to trade Lamar for anything , even a taco, man I am sick of seeing his dumb plays
Posted by: tom | January 31, 2008 at 11:05 PM
LOL "Lamar to the moon for some cheese"...
Posted by: Acjunglist702 | January 31, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Xodus,
I was there and watched the game.
I can honestly say that the Pistons tried to give us the game.
TERRIBLE substitution patterns and everything.
We just couldnt close.
Posted by: Korey | January 31, 2008 at 11:10 PM
omg bad loss but still we didn't deserve that win -- the refs were giving us many calls - even i had to admit that during the game...
anyways tomorrow we'll come back pumped and beat the raptors..
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: David Whang | January 31, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Korey,
I agree, we SHOULDN'T have lost this game, I'm just providing some perspective. We blew that game no doubt.
passionate Laker fan calm down a bit buddy. No one's making excuses, we blew the game.
Posted by: Xodus | January 31, 2008 at 11:24 PM
Kwamika, Lamara and Lukana are Jackson's fav five with Smush and Cook Jackson keeps wanting to prove his dumb players can win with a great coach and a ballhog!
Posted by: Staples 24 | January 31, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Rick Friedman,
>>>And these teams would want Lamar because..... ????????????
He's still one of the top rebounders in the league. Maybe you could show the
opposing team's GM video of one of his good games. Just don't tell them that
he only does it one game out of 3 or 4.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 31, 2008 at 11:34 PM
The only reason it was close is Luke was not in the game.
Posted by: Tiki | January 31, 2008 at 11:36 PM
passionate Laker fan,
>>>true power fowards (Chris Bosh, anyone) lining up to play with those
>>>two to create a trio that will win championships.
>>>What say you?
It's a nice dream, but maybe not as simple as that.
It would be possible to free up a bunch of space for summer2009, but to do
that they'd have to let Ariza & Turiaf go. Just to use example numbers, if you
sign Turiaf and Ariza for a MLE each and resign Drew starting at 10 million,
then add that to the Lakers existing contracts and they're right around the
salary cap. So do Turiaf, Ariza,and Drew sign for half of what their worth
out of the goodness of their hearts? Or does Bosh sign with the Lakers
for an MLE because he wants to make movies?
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 31, 2008 at 11:41 PM
If Phil Jackson isn't going to coach, fire him.
Kobe 25 shots tonight, 12 turnovers, Lamar Odom 5 shots, 3 turnovers.
Change the f'n offense, and take the damn ball out of Kobe's hands, he's not a playmaker.
Before we know it, Phil will convince us all that Lamar isn't an impact player, and then we'll be stuck with the one or two year payoff of Jason Kidd that won't even bring a title and then it's all for nought.
Bottom line, get Lamar going. Titles come few and hard between, work the margins, and don't force Lamar to take a game-winner when he hasn't taken a shot for how many quarters?
That's Lamar fault, that he hasn't shot, but Phil blew this one, I"m sorry.
Posted by: Critical Beatdown | January 31, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Tiki,
>>>The only reason it was close is Luke was not in the game.
I don't know about that. Were you even paying attention to Rad's poor excuse
for defense? Even on a gimpy ankl, Luke is better than that.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 31, 2008 at 11:45 PM
A positive thought to take from tonight's game...
In looking at this game, it made me think that with Bynum and Ariza, the Lakers
are capable of beating Detroit in a 7 game series. In fact, if it came down to
that, they may well sweep them.
I'm starting to think that if the Lakers are at full health for the playoffs, there are
a few teams that would challenge them, but that they are capable of beating
every team (except maybe Boston, I'm still on the fence there).
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | January 31, 2008 at 11:48 PM
Kwame has lost his mind, and Kobe, Phil, etc. need to cut him loose. The guy can't even catch the ball, we don't need that. I'd rather suck than defend this guy. I can help him, but what I've noticed from the Lakers lately is that the're a bunch of losers, don't accept help, and the result is that we continue to drive Kwame down the abyss, when he is worse at catching passes by the day, but if you give him an excellent person to shoot the shit with, guess what he's clears the issues out and plays with the tenacity that he has the potential to get going.
A.K.A. don't ever mess with me because i will school you thanks
kwame can play, stop making him the focus
Posted by: Critical Beatdown | January 31, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Long Time Laker Fan,
At least Vlad can hit a three. Who knows if Vlad is clutch? Phil will never play Vlad on the last play. Unlike Phil's love affair with Luke "You complete me man" Walton.
Every team knows Luke, Kwame and Odom will choke.
Posted by: Tiki | February 01, 2008 at 12:30 AM
here is a relive of the game, for those that want to study the tape like I do, so we can be informed laker fans:
http://broadband.nba.com/cc/playa.php?content=lpintl&url=http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/nbacom/lp_archives/20080131_675.asx&gid=675'
Posted by: bigal | February 01, 2008 at 01:56 AM
KOBE....consistent from day 1 up to now, FG% and everything....
Other lakers, consistently refusing....LOL
Posted by: | February 01, 2008 at 03:27 AM
On the final Detroit basket, Billups got past his man, Lamar came over to cover him, and Billups passed out to Prince for the shot, right? (I was listening to the game, so correct me if the details of the play are wrong:)
1) Who was covering Billups? Fisher? Why has no one put any blame there?
2) Lamar is supposed to let one of the top guards in the league get to the basket uncontested? Coming over to help out was the right decision on his part.
This points out a weakness that has been there all season, but has been masked somewhat by Bynum's presence in the middle. The Lakers perimeter defense, including Fisher, is mediocre. That needs to improve for them to be contenders, even with Bynum in the middle. Ariza helps somewhat, but he isn't the cure-all either.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | February 01, 2008 at 06:20 AM
Agree with Long Time Laker Fan that Phil's end-of-game planning lacked reason with Kwame/Odom out there. Where's Sasha and Vlade? Isn't this EXACTLY the time there value to the Lakers is most important? One of you need to follow PJ to his Toronto hotel room and MAKE this point ABUNDANTLY clear! Damn, we could have had Byron Scott for LESS THAN HALF the dollars we pay Jackson!!
As for Kwame, I think this road trip is make/break for him. If he continues to look like a D-League guy, the Lakers need to cut him as soon as Mihm gets healthy and they re-sign Dbenga!
As far as trade...J. O'Neal still wants out of Indiana and he and Lamar's salaries are comparable. We don't need Kidd. We need COMPETENT big men!
Posted by: Ken | February 01, 2008 at 06:24 AM
Once again, why weren't three pt shooters like Sasha and Jordan Farmar on the court for that last play, Mr. Jackson?
Posted by: Laker Seth | February 01, 2008 at 06:33 AM
It's truly amazing how the human brain or rather its memory function can be so weak with some people. Not too long ago many posters here were praising Odom for his warrior mentality playing hurt against Phoenix and declaring him a "keeper" for this team. It is one thing to be dissapointed that he is not playing his best basketball right now, but another thing is to call him dumb, retarded and unskilled. Everybody should look to get their act together first (and at least try to use their brain) before pointing fingers. Remember, everytime you point your finger at somebody else three fingers point back at you!
Now, with regard to a trade for Kidd, somebody should talk to the guy who is in charge of USA Basketball for this year's Olympic team (Colangelo, I guess) and tell him to encourage Rod Thorn to do the nation a favor and trade Kidd to the Lakers, so that these two can play together making them unstoppable at the Olympics. Maybe that can convince Thorn to take back Brown, Walton/Radmanovic, Farmar, Mihm and a couple of picks.
Posted by: jma | February 01, 2008 at 07:10 AM
LTLF,
I KNOW.... I KNOOOOOOW you didnt just say the Lakers would be able to sweep the Pistons in a series? ahahahahahaha!
lololololol....
There is one thing to be a Laker fan. And another thing to be crazy! I'll just assume you are just frustrated now because that is just crazy.
And if you watched the game, you would see the Pistons didnt do anything that game AND still beat us. They played a BUNCH of their scrub players extended minutes. We shot TWICE as many free throws as them. The Pistons were coasting all game and playing like they always knew they could come back and beat us. In the Playoffs, the Pistons will play that suffocating D all game on Kobe.
yea, we can beat the pistons. But sweep them? Dont be delusional.
I'm not sure this Laker team will be the same this year. Even when Bynum gets healthy, when will his timing come back? He wont be the same. And then we STILL have Kwame Brown and Lamar Odom. These guys lose games for you.
The Lakers aren't sweeping anyone.
Posted by: Korey | February 01, 2008 at 07:16 AM
LakerSeth,
"Once again, why weren't three pt shooters like Sasha and Jordan Farmar on the court for that last play, Mr. Jackson?"
Because they were only down by 1; you don't need a three-point shooter. Turiaf and Odom were good choices because of their inside games, not Kwame, though.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | February 01, 2008 at 07:22 AM
Was that really a goal tend on Billups layup by Turiaf???
Kwame did a nice job helping Kobe get free from the Piston defense. A good adjustment from years past.
Not to concerned, some good things from this game:
1. Overcoming a 17 point lead in one of the toughest places to play in the league.
2. Kobe looked like he had more lift in his legs.
3. With Bynum and Ariza out, we showed we can compete at a high level, on the road, with one of the best in the east.
GUNNER -
Glad to see you made it back, just in time for the dog days and as we begin the long roadie missing our second best player and second best defender.
Stick around, it will get interesting when we get healthy!
Posted by: MJCMAN32 | February 01, 2008 at 07:23 AM
odom=schleprock
Posted by: dave m | February 01, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Bigger disappointment, Lamar or Kwame. A number one pick that everyone right away didn't have the goods. Or a guy everyone says is the prototype and has tons of potential but all he's ever done is fall short of expectations. Both having great physical attributes but both lack the basketball IQ and toughness to be winners. Sadly for Laker fans we don't have to worry about whose a bigger disappointment. We have them both.
Posted by: AndyN | February 01, 2008 at 07:57 AM
SUX!
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | February 01, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Some times you get lucky and the player you pick up is smart and can actually play the mine boggling game of BB. Problem there is guys like Lamar and Kwame, some or no talent, tall, but just plain brain dead, I mean these two don't even probably know the teams they are going to play day in and day out. They are two idiots period, if they didn't have the NBA where do you think these two would be right now, they just might be able to wash and wax your car and that would really be reaching for it.
Nobody wants these two so the heck with the cap and just cut them, if either one of these guys are on the lakers next year this 40yr plus laker fan will start following the Celtics and I really hate the Celtics but at least they no what to do with dogs
.
Posted by: pk-in-the-mesa | February 01, 2008 at 08:07 AM
I'm with a lot of the guys here who are finding this game encouraging. To go into Detroit with as many key injuries as we have, down two starters, have the horrendous half we had against a hot-shooting Piston team, and STILL have a chance to win it in the end isn't just remarkable, it's darn well confidence-building. I hope we can recover enough to put up a huge effort tonight.
And as far as Phil's end-of-game roster being devoid of shooters, you've gotta understand, it's not always a great idea to put in a bunch of cold 3-point shooters who've been sitting on the bench. Had they been playing the previous couple of minutes, maybe, but there are worse things than having the ball in Odom's hands at the end of the game, particularly if there's room to drive to the basket.
Let's face it, we (posters on the blog) are nothing but a bunch of Monday Morning Quarterbacks. Regardless of who missed the last shot, it would prove our "theories": KOBE -- He's a gunner; SASHA -- He can only make shots in practice; FISHER -- He's too old; VLAD -- Space cadet; WALTON -- B-ball IQ doesn't equal good player; and so on. Of course, if any of them make the shot, they are gods for a day.
Posted by: Marty | February 01, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Please do not diss on Lamar Odom for missing the game winning shot. He took the initiative but failed. Detroit is too good of a team to give Kobe a wide open look for a shot. At least, Lamar has the guts to shoot the ball unlike Luke who'd rather pass it back to Kobe instead of taking the clutch shot. He took the shot, he missed, yet he accepted the responsibility. Let's forget this game and move on. Go Lakers!
Posted by: xtro | February 01, 2008 at 08:46 AM
The good: We lost by one point.
The bad: We lost by one point.
Given that most of the prognosticators on this board picked this game as a loss, I'm not too saddened by it. It was completely winnable. True, the way that we lost leaves a sour taste, but the positive to take away is the lakers didn't wilt in the face of large deficit. Last year the game would have been garbage time by the middle of the 3rd.
Chin up guys.
Posted by: #4 | February 01, 2008 at 08:52 AM
these quotes from lamar show why he will never amount to 'winning' basketball:
""I kind of knew that was the look I was going to get," Odom said. "I just shot it too fast. But I'm telling you, that's the shot I would take 100 out of 100 times"
Umm--after you miss that shot that badly, you should never tell us you would take it 100% of the time..all the time...you are 6'10 by the way....try playing near the hoop more.
""We all crashed the boards and it bounced out to the three-point line," Odom said. "It just bounced right back to Tayshaun. You can't kick yourself in the head. You just move on."
no, you shouldn't just move on....learn from it.....only people content with losing just say 'lets just move on'....try and improve for god's sakes...
Posted by: laker32 | February 01, 2008 at 09:18 AM
Seriously, lamar has to go. He blew his coverage on the 3 and then he threw up an airball when he was wide open.
http://www.talk-sports.net/nba/sucks.aspx/Lamar_Odom
Posted by: | February 01, 2008 at 09:20 AM
How are the Lakers one of the best rebounding teams in the league, but when we actually need a rebound, their heads are up their butts. I felt like I watching Game 6 against the Suns. Can someone please take the brain of Walton and insert into Lamar. PLEASE. I have never seen such talent without one ounce of basketball IQ. If we can somehow complete that, the lakers would have the greatest basketball player of all time. Seriously Lamar, you are 6 10. Why the hell are taking 19 foot jumpshots you idiot. I've seen you play, you can get to the basket whenever you want. Drive the damn lane and see what happens. Maybe you get a call, but dont take a jumpshot. You are not Kobe. And Kobe throwing up his hands after the game. Maybe your team isnt in this situation with your 11 TO's.
Posted by: Brian | February 01, 2008 at 09:27 AM
Can we revisit the off-season trade that almost happened with Bobcats?
I think Gerald Wallace is better Pippen than LO.
Posted by: coolhair | February 01, 2008 at 09:37 AM
Lamar shoulda drove!!
The refs OWED us a foul. We blew it!!
Posted by: dan the man | February 01, 2008 at 09:41 AM
Pls. don't blame Lamar Odom. He is just Lamar. not an all star. he is just a second rate player. he will never grow because he is now a VETERAN not a rookie. so Odom will never be an all star. LAKERS FANS DON'T DREAM ITS OVER.
Posted by: Botsoy | February 01, 2008 at 09:49 AM
can we revisit the off-season trade that almost happened with the Bobcats?
I think Gerald Wallace is better Pippen than LO.
Or we can wait on Artest. May be we'll be able to sign him at MLE
Who knows?
Posted by: coolhair | February 01, 2008 at 09:50 AM
The blog's a little backed up today. No new thread and posts are a bit backed up.
Posted by: Xodus | February 01, 2008 at 09:55 AM
I, did not see the game last night I was @work it is a good thing I didn't see it. It would have been disappointing it's time to move to the next game i'm sure the lakers have moved on from the lost as disappointing as it is to them espcially Kobe who wants to win all the time,however all the guys who has been struggling since Drew went down with the knee injury need to work on the weaknesses in their game to improve them such as making shoots when it counts.
Posted by: LakerFan | February 01, 2008 at 10:00 AM
#4,
"The good: We lost by one point.
The bad: We lost by one point."
That's right!
SUX!
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | February 01, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Tiki,
>>>At least Vlad can hit a three.
Vlad and Luke both shoot a good percentage on 3's. Vlad 40% and Luke 37%. Luke is a better shooter overall 45% to 42%.
>>>Who knows if Vlad is clutch? Phil will never play
>>>Vlad on the last play. Unlike Phil's love affair with Luke "You complete me man" Walton.
LOL.
Truth of the matter is that the Lakers didn't need a 3-pointer to win last night. But again,
I would have gone with 5 shooters. I'd have used Vlade for the "big screener" instead of Kwame,
and had Sasha, Kobe, Fisher, and Lamar on the floor (or maybe Farmar instead of Sasha, since
Jordan had a better shooting night). I'd have had Lamar there only for crashing the boards for
a putback, but I'd have let any of the other four drive and shoot.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | February 01, 2008 at 10:10 AM
BTW, I'm not hatin' on LO or Kwame. When you look at the replay, you will see why Detroit has the rep of being such a good defensive team. They didn't double Kobe outright to keep him from getting the ball. They filled the passing lanes so even though he would have been open for a shot had he the ball, there was no way to actually get the ball to him.
It looked like a sagging man-to-man/zone hybrid type defense. Brilliant! Brilliant!
Since they weren't all the way at Kobe, the defenders all had less space to cover on the ensuing rotation, and they could dictate who took the last shot. They chose to let Odom shoot. They were right.
Plus, give Kobe credit. Usually, like last year, Kobe would have Bogard-ed his way to the sideline, taken the ball from LO, and ran his own play to take the last shot himself, defense be damned. But, this time, as well as last time, and every other time this season except that one 44-shot game, he let it develop they way it was going to develop and put his faith in his team mates. Even though they have yet to come through (except Fish of course), he's still trusting them and guiding them and letting them learn to succeed in those situations.
That is maturity in my eyes. That is a leader.
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | February 01, 2008 at 10:17 AM
coolhair,
>>>can we revisit the off-season trade that almost happened with the Bobcats?
>>>I think Gerald Wallace is better Pippen than LO.
Yeah, unfortunately it was the Bobcats who blocked that trade, not the Lakers. And both
the Bobcats AND the Lakers would have benefitted -- the deal was Lamar to New Jersey,
Richard Jefferson (24 ppg this season) to Charlotte, and Wallace to the Lakers. Heck,
the Lakers would even have been better if they'd have dropped Wallace out of the deal
and swapped Odom for Jefferson. He's not as good a defender or rebounder, but you can't
knock a consistent 24 points per night.
>>>Or we can wait on Artest. May be we'll be able to sign him at MLE
I'm thinking that's actually a possibility. I think it would take the Lakers getting to the
Western Conference Finals. If they make it that far, Artest would think he was the missing
piece that could take the Lakers all they way. So if it came down to taking an MLE from
the Lakers or a contract starting at 10 million a year with a rebuilding Sacramento, he
might go for the ring instead of the cash.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | February 01, 2008 at 10:24 AM
"Plus, give Kobe credit. Usually, like last year, Kobe would have Bogard-ed his way to the sideline, taken the ball from LO, and ran his own play to take the last shot himself, defense be damned."-FearlessWhackJob
That's a great point. We're a team this year. Kobe is the leader.
Posted by: Rocky | February 01, 2008 at 10:31 AM
LO will always tease the fans, he will always have a good to great games against the lower echelon of the league (i.e. knicks, Memphis, nets etc.). He does not have the ability to step up consistently for the big teams (i.e. Spurs, Pistons, Dallas etc.).
That is who he is, he will never get better (9 year veteran), if you look up his career stats he has plateaued, he is happy have an NBA career period, and earning a paycheck doing what he loves, however if anyone this that he has a passion for NBA championship your wrong. He belongs on a team like (bucks, Griz’s, Hawks) and let him enjoy his career and quietly retire.
However, KB and (maybe Fish) have a white hot passion for a championship and the FO needs to do whatever is required to fulfill that passion because those types of players do not come along to often. The NBA unfortunately is full of LO types and as a fan we should truly appreciate and respect that passion.
He will never be Pippen to KB, the fans and the FO need come to grips with this fact, and either enjoy him for what he is or trade him for someone who had that type of passion.
Posted by: ow | February 01, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Greeting's Laker Nation,and eveyone that post on this blog I did not see the game last night I was working It's a good thing I missed it.
Oh well time to move on from the lost,and not hang on it to long I agree with the blogger who, said we would not sweep the pistons.
They are to good a defensive team for us to sweep them in the playoffs unless some of the laker players bring their "A" game into the playoffs.
1} There's Kwame who feel life isn't fair,because we laker nation and the organization expect to much from him.
2) There's Luke who have been playing on a gimppy ankle,and as a result have not been playing well.
3) There's Chris who has not played much,because of an ankle injury also,but when healty is a descent player.
4) Laker turn overs,and missed shots is an issue we all know that teams get their points off of turn overs and missed shots.
And at times our lakers do not want to play defense when it counts the most I want too make it clear I belive in our laker team.
They can win against the pistons if they set their hearts,and minds to do so,but sweep them not @ this time.
Posted by: LakerFan | February 01, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Greeting's Laker Nation,and eveyone that post on this blog I did not see the game last night I was working It's a good thing I missed it.
Oh well time to move on from the lost,and not hang on it to long I agree with the blogger who, said we would not sweep the pistons.
They are to good a defensive team for us to sweep them in the playoffs unless some of the laker players bring their "A" game into the playoffs.
1} There's Kwame who feel life isn't fair,because we laker nation and the organization expect to much from him.
2) There's Luke who have been playing on a gimppy ankle,and as a result have not been playing well.
3) There's Chris who has not played much,because of an ankle injury also,but when healty is a descent player.
4) Laker turn overs,and missed shots is an issue we all know that teams get their points off of turn overs and missed shots.
And at times our lakers do not want to play defense when it counts the most I want too make it clear I belive in our laker team.
They can win against the pistons if they set their hearts,and minds to do so,but sweep them not @ this time.
Posted by: LakerFan | February 01, 2008 at 12:27 PM
The only thing I would possibly fault Lamar for is not driving to the basket. The lane was open, he could have skipped to the bucket and either drawn a foul (remember he was obviously pushed in the back on his missed rebound attempt on the other end, and the refs knew that) or could have just dunked it.
No one has ever, in his whole career, stopped a Lamar dunk other than Lamar himself.
Game over.
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | February 01, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Lakers are not going to win a championship. Kobe is too selfish and his me attitude will be the Lakers downfall!!!
Posted by: Steve | February 04, 2008 at 01:26 PM
Thanks laker32. That link to talk-sports is way out there.
Posted by: Jenna | March 30, 2008 at 12:54 PM