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J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:05 pm
by dockingsched
http://lakers.ocregister.com/2011/01/21 ... ell/47296/Count Jerry West among those who are tired of hearing about the Lakers’ porous defense.
The Lakers legend told a group of automobile dealers in Irvine the reason the team can’t seem to hang onto leads because they are “getting long in the tooth.”
“If there’s a loose ball now, how often do they get it?” West said.
The Lakers have 10 players 30 years old or older — Theo Ratliff (37), Derek Fisher (36), Joe Smith (35), Kobe Bryant (32), Ron Artest (31, Lamar Odom (31), Matt Barnes (30), Steve Blake (30), Pau Gasol (30) and Luke Walton (30).
He added that “the reason you ‘can’t play defense’ is because you can’t!”
West said Thursday that he doesn’t expect the current lineup to be “good for much longer. … You can keep a car running for a long time by changing the tires, etc. You can’t change a player’s tires.”
Does West think the Lakers will pick up their third consecutive NBA title this season?
“I think Boston is a very dangerous team,” he said. “I would not want to play them every other night.”
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:10 pm
by crimsonkb24
LA is too old, but Boston is dangerous. Makes sense Mr. West.
LA just doesn't play D in the regular season on a consistent level. Out of those 82 games, maybe 10 are great defensively. Last year was no different. I can remember on great reg. season game vs Denver, in which Ron completely shut down melo in the second half. But other than that, they really don't bother playing D.
Why ? I don't know, but als long as they pick it up come playofftime, I'm not worried about that end.
But I also fear Boston in a 7 game series. Homecourt wins in this series imo, so we really have to get a win streak going again
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:36 pm
by The Skyhook
Age doesn't stop Boston from playing defense. Boston has KG consistently barking orders on the defensive end. Our leader on the other hand respects very few players on the defensive end. How often do you see Kobe close out on his matchup in time or even at all? You have got to think that could rub off on the other guys.
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:42 pm
by dub81
Boston plays great team defense not individual defense.
They know when exactly to double team, switch, etc.
It's really fun to watch. And what they lack in talent they make it up in heart.
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:48 pm
by chefy
"Lebron has surpassed kobe"
The Logo trying to light fire on Laker's lazy a$$es IMO
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:08 am
by DEEP3CL
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:24 am
by Wavy Q
DEEP3CL wrote:
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:28 am
by Dalakerbox
My love for this team has not blinded me. He speaks the truth. The difference between us and Boston is that with them defense is a TEAM concept where as we heavily depend on Kobe Ron and drew not too mention Nate Rob is tougher than Pau. Sorry if it's seems as if I'm hating but our play and actions recently is making me sour on some of our crew. btw no threepeat you heard it here first
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:29 am
by Dalakerbox
Get us some freaking young legs please
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:30 am
by Anklebreaker702
Lol. We are old.
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:41 am
by semi-sentient
West is full of ****. He's just making excuses for these clowns, and like everyone else, the first thing that popped into my head was the Celtics. This year the have the #2 defense in the league and here are the ages of their top 8 rotational players:
Rajon Rondo (24)
Ray Allen (35)
Paul Pierce (33)
Kevin Garnett (34)
Glen Davis (25)
Shaquille O'Neal (38)
Marquis Daniels (30)
Nate Robinson (26)
Now let's go back to 07-08 and see how old the top 8 rotational players were on one of best defensive teams ever:
Ray Allen (32)
Paul Pierce (30)
Kevin Garnett (31)
Rajon Rondo (21)
James Posey (31)
Kenrick Perkins (23)
Eddie House (29)
Tony Allen (26)
But we're too old to play defense? Please. We just don't know how to play defense is all. Guys are constantly looking lost out there or completely out of position trying to help out when they shouldn't be. On top of that, when has Phil ever really stressed defense? We've always been an offensive-minded team with defense being somewhat of an afterthought.
Edit: If West is saying this just to get guys fired up then he should just come right out and say what he means and stop beating around the bush with this "old" nonsense. Just tell it like it is. Call out the players for not knowing what they're doing as well as the coaching staff for not putting a premium on practicing defense.
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 12:44 am
by LA Forever
Motivation. West knows what he's doing.
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:36 am
by joe.linnen
our team is fine we can turn it on int the post season as alwayz, the reg. season itsn a race all 30 team will get to the end at the same time. lets just get the top seed in the west and call it a damn good navy day...lol
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:47 am
by chefy
LA Forever wrote:Motivation. West knows what he's doing.
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:47 am
by Dalakerbox
joe.linnen wrote:our team is fine we can turn it on int the post season as alwayz, the reg. season itsn a race all 30 team will get to the end at the same time. lets just get the top seed in the west and call it a damn good navy day...lol
Problem is I don't believe the have that on/off switch anymore. Regular season does matter, this team used to take the regular season serious. I for one am nervous
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 1:56 am
by joe.linnen
Dalakerbox wrote:joe.linnen wrote:our team is fine we can turn it on int the post season as alwayz, the reg. season itsn a race all 30 team will get to the end at the same time. lets just get the top seed in the west and call it a damn good navy day...lol
Problem is I don't believe the have that on/off switch anymore. Regular season does matter, this team used to take the regular season serious. I for one am nervous
I learned that once teams get older they have to take thier time in the reg. season. The Lakers could've went for 60+ wins last season but we rested players for the post season. I think Kobe and pau can get verybod pumped for the post season. I think we can hit the ground running one the post season starts
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 2:26 am
by CowsMoo
chefy wrote:"Lebron has surpassed kobe"
The Logo trying to light fire on Laker's lazy a$$es IMO
LA Forever wrote:Motivation. West knows what he's doing.
West is taking a page out of Phil's book.
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 4:00 am
by b shaw20
The reason the Lakers of recent years and especially this one dont play defense is not because they are too old or they physically can't. It's simple really. They don't have to.
They are too good offensively and the fact that most nights they can just outscore opponents is good enough for them. Boston struggles to find consistent scoring at times and they realize that if they want to win and be a true contender, they must hang their hat on D.
The fact that Kobe does not choose to lead this team by setting an example is a primary reason why we don't have a D mentality. D is hard work and like a dude that wins the lotto, you wouldn't work for a living because you would not have to.
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 5:09 am
by DubaLakers
LA Forever wrote:Motivation. West knows what he's doing.
I hope that's what it is.
Re: J. West: Lakers too old to play defense
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 6:01 am
by Edrees
LA Forever wrote:Motivation. West knows what he's doing.