Defense wins championships...

[KOBE_PAUER]

OPTIMISTIC THREAD: Well, Lakers 2008 were rated as the best offensive team in the NBA and we failed in the Finals.
Now, the Lakers are horrible running their offense, but we have a great defense....So, If we are that good on defense, we are the main favourites right?

Pd: I never thought that Id miss Vujacic, but now we need a shooter who can hit a freaggin three pointer...

[Optms]

I'm quite impressed with the defense thus far, yes. I'm proud of the execution both on offense and the defensive side the Lakers ran last night down the stretch. The offense hasn't look quite up to par with pass seasons but I really believe that will come around. Of course probably not to the extant of last years comparison but the fluidity of running the triangle will improve I think. Oklahoma is playing better defense than I expected so you have to give them some credit.

[AceFresh]

Sad thing is we should be an offensive powerhouse we once were and be superlative defensively as well.


That won't happen when you have one of the worst starting PG's in the league..

[fareweatherfan]

We are playing tremendous defense and this is the main reason I am OPTIMISTIC about our chances of winning the chip this year. I, too, believe our offense will get better as our big three get more minutes together and we develop some rhythm.

Defense is why the Lakers will be the 09-10 champions.

[iamworthy]

Yes, defense wins championships but you still need a functioning offense. I dont know who should feel worst, us for the fact that we won the game in the style or OKC for letting that game slip away...I'll take the win A couple years ago the lakers couldnt win these grind it out games. We are pretty much playing a East Coast style of ball....Which I really dont mind, it just takes some getting use to. For our offense to click better I think we pretty much have to make Bynum our second option. Kobe and Gasol can always find their way to 20 pts but Bynum needs to be feed to get there. We have to turn this into the Big 3 (Kobe, Gasol, Bynum) and let everyone score when they can. Anyhow, Im not overly concerned with the offense right now but I think there is alot of room for improvement. As long as we can continue to play good defense our offense will come around.

[KOBE_PAUER]

Yes, defense wins championships but you still need a functioning offense. I dont know who should feel worst, us for the fact that we won the game in the style or OKC for letting that game slip away...I'll take the win A couple years ago the lakers couldnt win these grind it out games. We are pretty much playing a East Coast style of ball....Which I really dont mind, it just takes some getting use to. For our offense to click better I think we pretty much have to make Bynum our second option. Kobe and Gasol can always find their way to 20 pts but Bynum needs to be feed to get there. We have to turn this into the Big 3 (Kobe, Gasol, Bynum) and let everyone score when they can. Anyhow, Im not overly concerned with the offense right now but I think there is alot of room for improvement. As long as we can continue to play good defense our offense will come around.

I was thinking the same, but I dont know how our offense will come around, if D-fish and Artest cant buy a shot all season long. Our rivals will close the paint. Once again only Kobe can turn this. If Kobe returns as Black Mamba our offense will be great but....

[shannWOW]

If Ron Artest and Derek Fisher learn how to make their WIDE OPEN 3's and if Andrew Bynum passed the ball ONCE when he's triple teamed our team would almost be unstoppable if we still have the defense we have right now

[chefy]

true...but we need to execute on offense too


we gotta hit the shots we supposed to make

[Jase]

OPTIMISTIC THREAD: Well, Lakers 2008 were rated as the best offensive team in the NBA and we failed in the Finals.
Now, the Lakers are horrible running their offense, but we have a great defense....So, If we are that good on defense, we are the main favourites right?

Pd: I never thought that Id miss Vujacic, but now we need a shooter who can hit a freaggin three pointer...

I'd like Vujacic to harass Westbrook on D.....

[The Skyhook]

Defense is great but what good is it when you can't convert on the other end. Blown fast breaks were a big issue yesterday. I hate to go and just rag on the guy but it was obvious to all fans yesterday that Derek Fisher just doesn't have it in him anymore to make anything happen on the fast break. The worst part about it is that he always does it and he just doesn't understand that he costs us a possession.

[Dr Aki]

Defense is great but what good is it when you can't convert on the other end. Blown fast breaks were a big issue yesterday. I hate to go and just rag on the guy but it was obvious to all fans yesterday that Derek Fisher just doesn't have it in him anymore to make anything happen on the fast break. The worst part about it is that he always does it and he just doesn't understand that he costs us a possession.

and then he comes down and hits a transition 3 and we have to give him props for it

[slifersd]

Defense indeed wins championships, provided that your offense doesn't completely stink. Look, as good as our defense has been in the last two games, we still HAVE to have a decent offense to win the ring. Even the Celtics of 08, which was one of the best defensive team in recent history, could score 100 at will. We, on the other hand, can't get shoot 40% at home. We might be able to beat the OKC at home playing like this. But rest assured, when we face the Magic, Mavericks, Nuggets or Cavs, our incapability to put points on the board will come back and haunt us. Basketball is a two way game. Good defense can make up for bad offense, but it can't replace it.

Some of you guys think our offense will get better as the playoffs go on, I strongly disagree with that sentiment. We have had an entire season to tweek our offense to make sure it flows smoothly. And yet, at the end of the season, it is still incredibly stagnant. If the team can't figure out how to play together in an entire season, I doubt a couple of games in the playoffs will change that.

[Joe Kleazy]

Its to the point that watching fisher and artest shoot the ball, I missed trevor and the machine. NO not sasha.....the MACHINE!

[picc]

Great defense usually works for postseason teams because it leads to fast, easy offensive opportunities on the other end. Only problem is we have the worst fastbreak team in the playoffs, and no one who can advance upcourt in the time needed to capitalize on our defensive stops.

Remember Boston in 08, they had a great defensive team that helped their offense because they would stifle us, Rondo would blaze upcourt, and there were 3 point shooters in Pierce and Allen waiting on the wing to take advantage of the open shots. We don't have athletes, and we don't have shooters. Thus we can't capitalize as well.

[Kilroy]

Imma just say it...

Kobe's effectiveness on the perimeter on both ends of the floor has been masking Fish's ineffectiveness for years...

No, Fish is not the ideal starting point gaurd... He never was... He was a glue-guy and settling force... But as long as Kobe was as effective as he had been over the last few years, we didn't need that great a PG...

Now that Kobe is struggling on both ends of the floor... Fish is exposed.

Now we no longer just need to look for an adequate PG that can hit the open man and the ocasional open 3...
I think we need to start looking for a damn-good PG on both ends of the floor that is smart enough to get our system. Preferably someone with some youth that we can count on for the next 5 or so years...

We need a PG to pair with Bynum for our 'future' if we're still rolling with Bynum.

How do you do that with the pieces we have and our pay-roll? I have no idea.