CelticsStrong
Around the League => Around the NBA => Topic started by: Kane3387 on January 07, 2013, 01:25:39 PM
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”A league source told the Daily News that the Lakers stars got into a heated exchange following a New Year’s Day loss to the 76ers, and Bryant went for a low blow – referencing and agreeing with Shaquille O’Neal’s criticisms of Howard being soft. Howard was restrained from going at his teammate, according to the source, and there have been rumblings from the center’s camp that he’s been unhappy with Bryant since earlier in the season. Three days after the altercation, following a disheartening loss to the Clippers, Howard complained about the lack of chemistry on the Lakers. It was a comment seemingly directed at Bryant, who is averaging a league-high 22 shots despite playing with three potential Hall of Famers. “Look at the difference between our team and (the Clippers),” Howard said. “They just play together. They share the ball. Everybody’s excited when something happens. “(Chemistry) is something we have to do to get better,” Howard told reporters in L.A. “We have to play like we like each other. Even if we don’t want to be friends off the court, whatever that may be, when we step in between the lines or we step in the locker room or the gym, we have to respect each other and what we bring to the table.”
Kobe can't HELP but clash with lead players he feels are underperforming. He couldn't co-exist with Shaq, constantly takes subtle shots at Pau, and now seems to be going after Dwight.
His obsession with chasing the ghost that is Michael Jordan has consumed him. He cares only for a sixth ring and his legacy. He will stop at nothing to make sure he is justifiably comparable to his Airness when his career is over.
It looks like in doing so he could push Howard right out the door. If things don't turn around soon I think the Lakers will seriously consider trading Howard before the deadline. I believe this because the West is tough and LA is sitting at 11th in the West. They basically have no shot at HCA in the first round and might miss the playoffs entirely. Howard will get all the blame if this happens b/c Kobe is invincible in LA.
http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2013/01/07/sheridan-dwight-phil-jax-could-both-end-up-in-brooklyn/
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Story's already been debunked. It was a verbal argument that's already over.
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Normally, I wouldn't agree with Kobe.
But, who was it that managed to "restrain" Dwight? If it was Pau and Jordan Hill, that's one thing. If it was Steve Nash and Steve Blake, maybe Kobe has a point.
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Debunked?
I don't know, denied certainly.
The idea that the Laker locker room could keep anything quiet doesn't strike me as likely so I don't believe it.
I'm sure they've had an awful lot of "verbal encounters" though. Kobe has to blame someone who isn't him for the defensive woes of this team.
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Big shock.
Kobe can't get along with a star big man that many would say is the better player at this point.
The only star he has ever got along with (but complains about to the media) is the quiet, underrated Gasol.
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Debunked?
I don't know, denied certainly.
The idea that the Laker locker room could keep anything quiet doesn't strike me as likely so I don't believe it.
I'm sure they've had an awful lot of "verbal encounters" though. Kobe has to blame someone who isn't him for the defensive woes of this team.
Right, maybe I spoke too soon.
Its all a crap sandwich.
The New York Daily News broke the story, it was linked to by Chris Sheridan, and rebuffed by a columnist from RealGM, then picked up by ESPN.
That's like eating a gordito wraped around a KFC Double-Down.
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That's like eating a gordito wraped around a KFC Double-Down.
Ay caramba!
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This all playing out in my dream scenario.
Kobe/Howard lakers implode.
Howard leaves the Lakers and go to the place that would hurt them the most, the Celtics.
Howard begins to play like the top big man in the league again.
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I am starting to get excited about the idea (that I made up) of the Lakers deciding to go all in with Howard, and trading Kobe to Brooklyn, where he can reunite with Phil.
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This all playing out in my dream scenario.
Kobe/Howard lakers implode.
Howard leaves the Lakers and go to the place that would hurt them the most, the Celtics.
Howard begins to play like the top big man in the league again.
As long as he doesn't leave the team behind when things get sour, and do all that "loyalty" thing again, I'm on board.
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The real point is that this team might actually miss the playoffs and literally implode before our eyes.
Their next three games are @Rockets, @Spurs, and OKC. They could easily lose all 3 and be at 15-21 and potentially 13th in the West with only five games to play before mid-season literally hits.
If this team was to miss the playoffs, it would HAVE to be the most disappointing team in NBA history right?
Update: Both Howard and Gasol are out indefinitely. No way they win any of these next three games without the two bigs.
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8821787/injured-los-angeles-lakers-dwight-howard-pau-gasol-indefinitely
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Then, there's this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCNUZnFcycQ
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Big smile on my face over here.
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Big shock.
Kobe can't get along with a star big man that many would say is the better player at this point.
The only star he has ever got along with (but complains about to the media) is the quiet, underrated Gasol.
And he repeatedly and publically dumped on Gasol often enough.
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Big shock.
Kobe can't get along with a star big man that many would say is the better player at this point.
The only star he has ever got along with (but complains about to the media) is the quiet, underrated Gasol.
And he repeatedly and publically dumped on Gasol often enough.
Yeah. It's not like he hasn't taken shots Gasol just won't fire back.
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Big shock.
Kobe can't get along with a star big man that many would say is the better player at this point.
The only star he has ever got along with (but complains about to the media) is the quiet, underrated Gasol.
And he repeatedly and publically dumped on Gasol often enough.
Yeah. It's not like he hasn't taken shots Gasol just won't fire back.
That's what passes for "getting along" in Kobe's world.
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As much as I like to see the Lakers losing and struggling, I'm a bit averse at seeing them in the lottery. That could re-energize the franchise in a big way next season.
I'd rather they sneak in to the playoffs and get embarrassed there.
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As much as I like to see the Lakers losing and struggling, I'm a bit averse at seeing them in the lottery. That could re-energize the franchise in a big way next season.
I'd rather they sneak in to the playoffs and get embarrassed there.
I don't mind. I am hoping to see Kobe spend the rest of his career in NBA no-mans land. The 9th seed in the West.
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Big shock.
Kobe can't get along with a star big man that many would say is the better player at this point.
The only star he has ever got along with (but complains about to the media) is the quiet, underrated Gasol.
And he repeatedly and publically dumped on Gasol often enough.
Yeah. It's not like he hasn't taken shots Gasol just won't fire back.
That's what passes for "getting along" in Kobe's world.
So true.
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Can't say it's much of a surprise that Kobe and Dwight don't get along all that well. Their personalities and approaches to the game couldn't be any more different.
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I'd laugh hysterically if Dwight signed with the Mavericks this off-season
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This thread puts a big smile on my face. ;D
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Bogus rumor reported by a Brooklyn beat guy. Sour grapes much?
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Bogus rumor reported by a Brooklyn beat guy. Sour grapes much?
Ahhhh...what you call sour grapes some call whine.
Me, I like to think of it as a wine of a different kind because it temps my Laker hating pallet just like the finest wine could.
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Bogus rumor reported by a Brooklyn beat guy. Sour grapes much?
I think the bogus rumor is it being called a bogus rumor...you actually fell for that?
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Story's already been debunked. It was a verbal argument that's already over.
Yup. Just another media debacle being taken out of proportion.
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If they implode I won't shed a tear.
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I am starting to get excited about the idea (that I made up) of the Lakers deciding to go all in with Howard, and trading Kobe to Brooklyn, where he can reunite with Phil.
Kobe and MWP for Joe Johnson and Gerald Wallace.... Does this make the Lakers a better or worse team?
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I'd laugh hysterically if Dwight signed with the Mavericks this off-season
The thing (that I hate) is if Dwight wants to leave and sign elsewhere, he will be going to an absolute skeleton of a team. I unfortunately doubt he does it...
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I think the Fakers need Deron Williams to really make it implode with style...
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I'm not so sure there isn't something to this. Kobe feels the best way to motivate is to harass and be critical. Tough Love is his motto. Dwight won't respond well to that in my opinion. He's an AAU baby and has always been coddled.
I could definitely see Kobe saying, "Shaq was right. You are soft." in an effort to get the big man to play angry. Kobe doesn't play to have fun. He plays to win. He plays angry and furious. He's a lot like KG in that way. It's why KG always calls Howard a clown.
There are certain type of personalities that can play together and can't. Rondo and KG are perfect b/c they are wired very similarly. They would not work well with Howard, just like Kobe can't b/c he's just not serious enough for their taste.
I could see Kobe trying to get Dwight mad in an effort to get him to play dominant. I think it will back fire though. Dwight's body isn't ready. It's not recovered enough yet for him perform like he has before the injury.
Sometimes, you wonder if Kobe can see the forest through the trees. He might be turning on Dwight Howard already — you can see it — a crucial development since Dwight could simply flee to Dallas, Houston or Atlanta next summer. Howard's missed free throws are driving Kobe batty; he can barely hide his disdain on the court anymore. Same for Howard's trying-too-hard-to-be-jovial routine and a general impression that Howard doesn't live and die with the result of every basketball game. From what I heard, Kobe already played the "You don't know anything about winning championships!" card with Howard — during a scrimmage last week, when the second team beat the first team partly because Howard checked out (he wasn't getting the ball enough), followed by Kobe blistering him. That same week, Kobe needled Gasol publicly for not sucking it up with knee tendinitis, saying he needed to "put your big boy pants." The whole thing is strange.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8724362/the-kobe-question
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I'm not so sure there isn't something to this. Kobe feels the best way to motivate is to harass and be critical. Tough Love is his motto. Dwight won't respond well to that in my opinion. He's an AAU baby and has always been coddled.
I could definitely see Kobe saying, "Shaq was right. You are soft." in an effort to get the big man to play angry. Kobe doesn't play to have fun. He plays to win. He plays angry and furious. He's a lot like KG in that way. It's why KG always calls Howard a clown.
There are certain type of personalities that can play together and can't. Rondo and KG are perfect b/c they are wired very similarly. They would not work well with Howard, just like Kobe can't b/c he's just not serious enough for their taste.
I could see Kobe trying to get Dwight mad in an effort to get him to play dominant. I think it will back fire though. Dwight's body isn't ready. It's not recovered enough yet for him perform like he has before the injury.
Sometimes, you wonder if Kobe can see the forest through the trees. He might be turning on Dwight Howard already — you can see it — a crucial development since Dwight could simply flee to Dallas, Houston or Atlanta next summer. Howard's missed free throws are driving Kobe batty; he can barely hide his disdain on the court anymore. Same for Howard's trying-too-hard-to-be-jovial routine and a general impression that Howard doesn't live and die with the result of every basketball game. From what I heard, Kobe already played the "You don't know anything about winning championships!" card with Howard — during a scrimmage last week, when the second team beat the first team partly because Howard checked out (he wasn't getting the ball enough), followed by Kobe blistering him. That same week, Kobe needled Gasol publicly for not sucking it up with knee tendinitis, saying he needed to "put your big boy pants." The whole thing is strange.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8724362/the-kobe-question
I don't think the story is bunk because Kobe isn't a mean sonofabiscuit who will say/do whatever it takes so he gets to win, I think its bunk because 99.9% of the time, reporters over-inflate these stories in facts and in the way they portray the situation.
For instance, nobody posted about how "The Celtics Are Already Coming Apart" when KG and Powe got into a fistfight in an early practice. (Was it Powe or Perkins?)
Did Howard ever try to actually 'fight' Kobe? Doubt it. Maybe he went to yell at him, maybe Kobe did actually call him soft.
But at the end of everything, it seems a much more likely scenario that Kobe said something really mean and personal to howard, and Howard postured. Its not the type of thing that screams epic event to a teams' chemistry.
Self-edit: That's not what dissembling means, and I'm an idiot.
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Then, there's this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCNUZnFcycQ
This is hilarious LOL
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I don't think the story is bunk because Kobe isn't a mean sonofabiscuit who will say/do whatever it takes so he gets to win, I think its bunk because 99.9% of the time, reporters over-inflate these stories in facts and in the way they portray the situation.
For instance, nobody posted about how "The Celtics Are Already Dissembling" when KG and Powe got into a fistfight in an early practice. (Was it Powe or Perkins?)
Did Howard ever try to actually 'fight' Kobe? Doubt it. Maybe he went to yell at him, maybe Kobe did actually call him soft.
But at the end of everything, it seems a much more likely scenario that Kobe said something really mean and personal to howard, and Howard postured. Its not the type of thing that screams epic event to a teams' chemistry.
I think anything like this is important because we have already seen what happened with Shaq. Howard can bounce after this season. Cuban will be waiting. If things continue to go worse and this season in LA nosedives then who do you think gets the blame, other then the coach? Kobe or Dwight?
It's not going to be Kobe.
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I don't think the story is bunk because Kobe isn't a mean sonofabiscuit who will say/do whatever it takes so he gets to win, I think its bunk because 99.9% of the time, reporters over-inflate these stories in facts and in the way they portray the situation.
For instance, nobody posted about how "The Celtics Are Already Dissembling" when KG and Powe got into a fistfight in an early practice. (Was it Powe or Perkins?)
Did Howard ever try to actually 'fight' Kobe? Doubt it. Maybe he went to yell at him, maybe Kobe did actually call him soft.
But at the end of everything, it seems a much more likely scenario that Kobe said something really mean and personal to howard, and Howard postured. Its not the type of thing that screams epic event to a teams' chemistry.
I think anything like this is important because we have already seen what happened with Shaq. Howard can bounce after this season. Cuban will be waiting. If things continue to go worse and this season in LA nosedives then who do you think gets the blame, other then the coach? Kobe or Dwight?
It's not going to be Kobe.
Its going to be the coach, Gasol, and Mitch Kupchak. They won't blame Dwight, cuz Dwight's their best chance at staying a contender moving forward. He's their only chance.
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I don't think the story is bunk because Kobe isn't a mean sonofabiscuit who will say/do whatever it takes so he gets to win, I think its bunk because 99.9% of the time, reporters over-inflate these stories in facts and in the way they portray the situation.
For instance, nobody posted about how "The Celtics Are Already Dissembling" when KG and Powe got into a fistfight in an early practice. (Was it Powe or Perkins?)
Did Howard ever try to actually 'fight' Kobe? Doubt it. Maybe he went to yell at him, maybe Kobe did actually call him soft.
But at the end of everything, it seems a much more likely scenario that Kobe said something really mean and personal to howard, and Howard postured. Its not the type of thing that screams epic event to a teams' chemistry.
I think anything like this is important because we have already seen what happened with Shaq. Howard can bounce after this season. Cuban will be waiting. If things continue to go worse and this season in LA nosedives then who do you think gets the blame, other then the coach? Kobe or Dwight?
It's not going to be Kobe.
Its going to be the coach, Gasol, and Mitch Kupchak. They won't blame Dwight, cuz Dwight's their best chance at staying a contender moving forward. He's their only chance.
You underestimate the chances that Kobe pins this on Dwight. All the on-court bickering is between them two. Nash and Gasol aren't going to step up to him. Dwight will. And then at that point it becomes a battle of wills between the two of them.
No different then it was with Shaq. You're talking about two mega egos here. Before this season is done, and if things keep going the way they are, the media WILL make this a Kobe Vs Dwight situation.
Also if this continues then there is almost no chance Gasol isn't moved. LA will not just sit there and make no changes while the season goes down the toilet. They fired Brown after 5 games. They will move Gasol.
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I don't think the story is bunk because Kobe isn't a mean sonofabiscuit who will say/do whatever it takes so he gets to win, I think its bunk because 99.9% of the time, reporters over-inflate these stories in facts and in the way they portray the situation.
For instance, nobody posted about how "The Celtics Are Already Dissembling" when KG and Powe got into a fistfight in an early practice. (Was it Powe or Perkins?)
Did Howard ever try to actually 'fight' Kobe? Doubt it. Maybe he went to yell at him, maybe Kobe did actually call him soft.
But at the end of everything, it seems a much more likely scenario that Kobe said something really mean and personal to howard, and Howard postured. Its not the type of thing that screams epic event to a teams' chemistry.
I think anything like this is important because we have already seen what happened with Shaq. Howard can bounce after this season. Cuban will be waiting. If things continue to go worse and this season in LA nosedives then who do you think gets the blame, other then the coach? Kobe or Dwight?
It's not going to be Kobe.
Its going to be the coach, Gasol, and Mitch Kupchak. They won't blame Dwight, cuz Dwight's their best chance at staying a contender moving forward. He's their only chance.
You underestimate the chances that Kobe pins this on Dwight. All the on-court bickering is between them two. Nash and Gasol aren't going to step up to him. Dwight will. And then at that point it becomes a battle of wills between the two of them.
No different then it was with Shaq. You're talking about two mega egos here. Before this season is done, and if things keep going the way they are, the media WILL make this a Kobe Vs Dwight situation.
Also if this continues then there is almost no chance Gasol isn't moved. LA will not just sit there and make no changes while the season goes down the toilet. They fired Brown after 5 games. They will move Gasol.
The media will turn this into a Kobe V Dwight situation, but they'll still be able to play together.
The catalyst of the Kobe V Shaq saga wasn't their on and off court hostility. That had existed for years and they were still able to win chips together.
The real catalyst was Kobe feeling like he could do it on his own and didn't need Shaq. After that point, you get ultimatums. That's not the case anymore.
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I don't think the story is bunk because Kobe isn't a mean sonofabiscuit who will say/do whatever it takes so he gets to win, I think its bunk because 99.9% of the time, reporters over-inflate these stories in facts and in the way they portray the situation.
For instance, nobody posted about how "The Celtics Are Already Dissembling" when KG and Powe got into a fistfight in an early practice. (Was it Powe or Perkins?)
Did Howard ever try to actually 'fight' Kobe? Doubt it. Maybe he went to yell at him, maybe Kobe did actually call him soft.
But at the end of everything, it seems a much more likely scenario that Kobe said something really mean and personal to howard, and Howard postured. Its not the type of thing that screams epic event to a teams' chemistry.
I think anything like this is important because we have already seen what happened with Shaq. Howard can bounce after this season. Cuban will be waiting. If things continue to go worse and this season in LA nosedives then who do you think gets the blame, other then the coach? Kobe or Dwight?
It's not going to be Kobe.
Its going to be the coach, Gasol, and Mitch Kupchak. They won't blame Dwight, cuz Dwight's their best chance at staying a contender moving forward. He's their only chance.
You underestimate the chances that Kobe pins this on Dwight. All the on-court bickering is between them two. Nash and Gasol aren't going to step up to him. Dwight will. And then at that point it becomes a battle of wills between the two of them.
No different then it was with Shaq. You're talking about two mega egos here. Before this season is done, and if things keep going the way they are, the media WILL make this a Kobe Vs Dwight situation.
Also if this continues then there is almost no chance Gasol isn't moved. LA will not just sit there and make no changes while the season goes down the toilet. They fired Brown after 5 games. They will move Gasol.
The media will turn this into a Kobe V Dwight situation, but they'll still be able to play together.
The catalyst of the Kobe V Shaq saga wasn't their on and off court hostility. That had existed for years and they were still able to win chips together.
The real catalyst was Kobe feeling like he could do it on his own and didn't need Shaq. After that point, you get ultimatums. That's not the case anymore.
Lol it's already happening.
Hypocrite Howard dragging Lakers down
This is the problem with bringing in clubhouse cancers, no matter the talent, size or potential behind the malignancy. This is why LeBron James became an even better player — an NBA champion — once he became a better guy. This is why the seductive power of the beautiful and the powerful is a siren song leading nowhere good if not counterbalanced by some character, some introspection, some maturity.
http://www.foxsportswest.com/pages/mobile_landing?nomsn=1full_args=01/07/13/Hypocrite-Howard-dragging-Lakers-down/landing&blockID=846023&feedID=7972
Amazing... I guess the expectations were just too high with "4 future HOFers" Howard isn't mentally tough enough to stay in LA for this. He never really wanted to be there in the first place because everyone said he was just trying to do Shaq.
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In case nobody posted this yet:
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BACQec2CUAEarIw.jpg:large)
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As much as I like to see the Lakers losing and struggling, I'm a bit averse at seeing them in the lottery. That could re-energize the franchise in a big way next season.
I'd rather they sneak in to the playoffs and get embarrassed there.
Yep, me too. They have a great infrastructure there. Great for developing those high risk / high reward type prospects. I'd be worried about them getting another Andrew Bynum with another late lotto pick like they did a few years ago. Some with talent they can mold, develop and turn into an extremely valuable player.
At least it's not much of an issue for now. Lakers aren't far from one of those late playoff seeds. I still expect them to get in.
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As much as I like to see the Lakers losing and struggling, I'm a bit averse at seeing them in the lottery. That could re-energize the franchise in a big way next season.
I'd rather they sneak in to the playoffs and get embarrassed there.
Yep, me too. They have a great infrastructure there. Great for developing those high risk / high reward type prospects. I'd be worried about them getting another Andrew Bynum with another late lotto pick like they did a few years ago. Some with talent they can mold, develop and turn into an extremely valuable player.
At least it's not much of an issue for now. Lakers aren't far from one of those late playoff seeds. I still expect them to get in.
Phoenix has their pick, non-lotto protected IIRC.
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As much as I like to see the Lakers losing and struggling, I'm a bit averse at seeing them in the lottery. That could re-energize the franchise in a big way next season.
I'd rather they sneak in to the playoffs and get embarrassed there.
Yep, me too. They have a great infrastructure there. Great for developing those high risk / high reward type prospects. I'd be worried about them getting another Andrew Bynum with another late lotto pick like they did a few years ago. Some with talent they can mold, develop and turn into an extremely valuable player.
At least it's not much of an issue for now. Lakers aren't far from one of those late playoff seeds. I still expect them to get in.
Phoenix has their pick, non-lotto protected IIRC.
Yes, I just read that in the other Lakers thread. The Pau + Dwight injuries.
So great, non-issue. No lotto pick for LA even if they fall apart.
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Has this been posted already?
https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/288389228960829442/photo/1 (https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/288389228960829442/photo/1)