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The game thread is locked, which was the last chance to chime in one this, the end of the active season.

So, this thread seems missing. Reflecting on the season.

It was obviously a disaster. I could say a lot of pieces didn't fit together, but at the end of the day, this team had its starting five for like what... fifteen games maybe?

I have to say, Dwight seemed like the worst piece in all of this. His attitude was never really all that great, and he certainly wasn't a game changer at any point in the season really aside from a few good games. But he was injured too. But his ft shooting... man... what a hinderance when it mattered. Shaq was right, he did actually hit them when it counted... mostly.

It was a tough season to swallow. We all knew this was a veteran team, but even still, the number of injuries this year was out of hand. They made the playoffs, but that was it. Pretty much a write-off year.

What sucks about this year isn't that they didn't do much (which was pretty sad, honestly) but that we'll likely never know what this team was even capable of since the likelyhood that Mitch stands pat this offseason is virtually nil.

There's no one on this team you can't point a finger at. It just didn't work. What a waste of a season, only to likely have to watch a new group begin from scratch next year.

Vent away.

My feelings on this year...

Disaster of a season

We can't pin all of it on injuries,we underachieved plain and simple in the RS but I had a little bit of hope in the last stretch...we had after all,the 2nd best record in the west over the last 40 games

And then Kobe's injury happened....at that point I was just dissapointed and disgusted
With the chemistry issues,injuries,JB death ,coaching debacle,it's safe to say it was a nightmare of a season...only thing missing is Dwight bolting

Want to get over this bad taste in my mouth as soon as possible....waiting for some good news for once

What a mess this season has been, I've never known any team in any sport to have as many injuries as this, it really was just one injury after another topped off by the worst one of all right at the end. Now I guess we just wait and see what happens with D'antoni (he needs to go) Dwight and the rest of the roster....

Jakay wrote:The game thread is locked, which was the last chance to chime in one this, the end of the active season.

So, this thread seems missing. Reflecting on the season.

It was obviously a disaster. I could say a lot of pieces didn't fit together, but at the end of the day, this team had its starting five for like what... fifteen games maybe?

I have to say, Dwight seemed like the worst piece in all of this. His attitude was never really all that great, and he certainly wasn't a game changer at any point in the season really aside from a few good games. But he was injured too. But his ft shooting... man... what a hinderance when it mattered. Shaq was right, he did actually hit them when it counted... mostly.

It was a tough season to swallow. We all knew this was a veteran team, but even still, the number of injuries this year was out of hand. They made the playoffs, but that was it. Pretty much a write-off year.

What sucks about this year isn't that they didn't do much (which was pretty sad, honestly) but that we'll likely never know what this team was even capable of since the likelyhood that Mitch stands pat this offseason is virtually nil.

There's no one on this team you can't point a finger at. It just didn't work. What a waste of a season, only to likely have to watch a new group begin from scratch next year.

Vent away.

You've created a dangerous thread my friend. The Haters will be out looking for sigs.

Please do not say anything stupid. The haters are lurking. You been warned guys.

In other news.

Disastrous season. So many things have gone wrong.

Tons and tons of little things to be upset about but two things stand out above all else.

I can deal with Nash being injured. Sorry Nash! We hardly knew ya. You could have become an instant Laker legend but it's quite clear you don't have enough left in the tank to make it happen. A long and very happy retirement awaits you!

I can deal with Pau being soft and slow! Still love you Pau but it's clear your days as an elite NBA player have passed you by. Your jersey will deservedly hang in the vaunted Laker rafters! Job well done sir!

Dwight Howard! I know we didn't see the real D12 this year! The question remains will you be able to return to your former glory or is what we saw from you this year going to be the best of you going forward? Honestly, I don't really care one way or the other. It would be an awesome story if you got your body right and returned next season better than ever proving all the haters wrong! I know you can do it if you up your mind to it but if it doesn't happen I won't cry.

The rest of the guys, the Artests, the Blakes, Meeks, Morrises, etc you guys are not even NBA players so whether you return or not means nothing to me. Good luck in your endeavors!

The two things that really had a huge impact on me this year were the passing of Jerry Buss and Kobe's injury.

With Jerry's passing we move into a new era of Laker ownership. For better or worse. And with Kobe's injury we also make a transition to a new era. I believe deep down Kobe will be back and be close to his former self but it seems very possible we'll never get another deep playoff run with our favorite player playing as we know him to be able to play.

I'm glad this season is over. Hopefully Kobe returns next year but it's highly unlikely he'll be able to play at the level to which we've become accustom to. I don't care. 70% Kobe is better than anything else our team threw out onto the court this year!

Brown - guy was in over his head from jump

Dantoni - should've never been hired for the job and should be fired from it even if it takes Dwight making that a condition

Ebanks - they should have waived him after the DUI

Clark - pleasant surprise for a slew of games, but he hit a wall hard like a rookie, and he needs to be in a gym all summer getting in reps

Morris - don't bring him back, he can't even dribble straight

Duhon - waive him out right, nothing else to say

Blake - he was the second best pg on the team (Kobe first) and I would love to see him bring that confidence back but for the love of god man learn to actually build your body up so you don't miss chunks of every year; he's the opposite of an iron man like Fish was here

Hill - just get healthy, love his hustle and energy, glue guy to have, and could probably start

Meeks - cut bait or make the third string G, he isn't a shooter, he isn't a scorer, he isn't a defender, and he isn't even SG size; a black Sasha without the length or height

Glock - hopes he gets a new contract and stays in the league

Sacre - needs to spend a year in the NBDL

Jamison - great signing, you can't ask for anything moe than what he gave for the cost of 800k, would love to have him back in a set role next year instead of being yanked around

Pau - love his 3 year run when he first got here, hated his 3 year run since. I believe he has game left but its at C. Ideally he would retire a laker, but he's just not lifer material in the court and at his cost. He can't defend his spot or score from it efficiently in the new nba and isn't even top 10 at his position. Hope he gets sent somewhere he can be useful

Nash - no secret, hated him in this team. He ally didnt earn the check, didnt do the job of pg, couldn't defend any perimeter spot, couldn't run the O and keep the bigs involved, couldn't handle the rock vs pressure, and he missed so many games away from Phoenix. Is why Cuban didnt want to pay him, he was scared he would break down, and he did which led to an oversized workload on Kobe. Hes not a top 15 pg in the league anymore and it showed, so I hope we either trade him, bench him, or he retires.

Metta - probably the second guy on the team I'm most happy with this year. Wasnt always pretty, but he always gave his all. Always played hard. Pau went down and he guarded PFs like Dirk, Zach, Boozer, Aldridge one on one without help and despite having a pelvic injury. He came back from surgery in 12 days to help the team make the playoffs, and he was just over worked an doer extended by Dantoni which caused his fizzle. Would not be against him coming back on a smaller deal and bench role, but if he doesn't opt out for that he has to be amnestied as he isn't worth his current money or a starting 3 anymore.

Dwight - I hope he returns, but I get every reason that would make him say no. I think he can win a ring as Kobe's second.,I think he can grow and develop more just by getting in the gym and getting his old strength back. I also think he's clearly shown more even Ina down year than Bynum ever did. Hope he doesn't just walk for nothing but oh well we gave up nothing for him and insured we weren't the ones to make the decision Phili is stuck with.

Kobe - easily one of his most heroic seasons since his 81pt year, he carried this team and a bunch of sorry ass scrubs, hobbled masses, and inept coach to over 500 out west and in the playoffs. He willed us there and it was glaring how much we needed Kobe to do everything, how much he was the best on this team at everything, and it just can't be that ay. Respect the fact he went out like a lion that GS game, and like Nike says I have no doubt he will show us again

Jerry - RIP and thank you

Jeanie and Jim - you got big shoes to fill so learn to work as a team like Jerry and Jerry did p


Mitch - take out the clip and reload, don't rebuild, but reload. Use that vet min to go after Nate Robinson. G after Nick young and Kyle Korver. Go try and bring Barnes back after he was ran off by Mike Brown. Kick the tires on Odom if he's willing to take the min. Evaluate Delonte mentally. This team needs some damn perimeter skills because it was inept without Kobe there to break defenses down, without his scoring and driving without a pick, and without his ability to play such a minute and work heavy load. We need a new perimeter, we need a starting pg, starting SF who can actually score the ball, and we need a stretch 4 in this league to start along Kobe and Dwight so that they actually have guys who will play their role night in and out like Fhser, Fox, Shaw, and Horry did for Kobe and Dhaq

Duhon didnt live up to the expectations

pp34thetruth_ wrote:Duhon didnt live up to the expectations

Yep!! That was our problem...

Take a look at San Antonio and the better teams around the league...
They bring 3-4 guys off the bench who could be legit starters in the NBA.
We just don't have that.
Clark and Hill are borderline at this point.
And Jamison and Blake are your traditional vet bench players.
But then we have Pau and Nash who still have skills but are at the stage of their careers when the probably should be coming off the bench too...
So we obviously need dump some bench talent and upgrade our starting 5.
Amnesty MWP, explore trade options for Pau... But maybe, if you think he'll be agreeable and come back strong, you approach him about an extension at a realistic rate.
I think we should try to extend Kobe too. I think a big free agent signing is a pipe dream.
Either Nash knows he can go or he knows he can't... That's probably a situation that has to work itself out. I think Nash is the kind of guy that if he can't go, he won't just collect a paycheck.

I just find it humorous that Ebanks was still getting DNPs. Guy must have serious attitude problems.

If anything, Duhon lived down to all his expectations.

Gek wrote:I just find it humorous that Ebanks was still getting DNPs. Guy must have serious attitude problems.

This confuses me too... My personal suspicion... I think he might have a serious alcohol problem... His skin doesn't look good and his face looks puffy. He might be in treatment.

WVU is good at turning out alcoholics.

I'd take this season as a learning lesson and move on if everyone from the coach and the front office to Kobe, Dwight to Sacre do not repeat the mistakes. Everything that could have gone wrong has done exactly that. If we can get a coherent offense and defensive scheme from game 1 next season with some hunger on part of the players we will be fine.

This roster is a mess and actually does need a complete rebuild... Dwight or no Dwight doesn't change that...

Pau/Nash are finished. Metta probably is gone.. Kobe off a season-ending injury may not be ready to go when the season starts... zero young promising players on this squad... eh Goudelock..?? Morris is trash. Clark is a glorified scrub who had a few decent games and started out of necessity not because he earned it.

Needs an infusion of young guys with upside..

kblo247 wrote:Brown - guy was in over his head from jump

Dantoni - should've never been hired for the job and should be fired from it even if it takes Dwight making that a condition

Ebanks - they should have waived him after the DUI

Clark - pleasant surprise for a slew of games, but he hit a wall hard like a rookie, and he needs to be in a gym all summer getting in reps

Morris - don't bring him back, he can't even dribble straight

Duhon - waive him out right, nothing else to say

Blake - he was the second best pg on the team (Kobe first) and I would love to see him bring that confidence back but for the love of god man learn to actually build your body up so you don't miss chunks of every year; he's the opposite of an iron man like Fish was here

Hill - just get healthy, love his hustle and energy, glue guy to have, and could probably start

Meeks - cut bait or make the third string G, he isn't a shooter, he isn't a scorer, he isn't a defender, and he isn't even SG size; a black Sasha without the length or height

Glock - hopes he gets a new contract and stays in the league

Sacre - needs to spend a year in the NBDL

Jamison - great signing, you can't ask for anything moe than what he gave for the cost of 800k, would love to have him back in a set role next year instead of being yanked around

Pau - love his 3 year run when he first got here, hated his 3 year run since. I believe he has game left but its at C. Ideally he would retire a laker, but he's just not lifer material in the court and at his cost. He can't defend his spot or score from it efficiently in the new nba and isn't even top 10 at his position. Hope he gets sent somewhere he can be useful

Nash - no secret, hated him in this team. He ally didnt earn the check, didnt do the job of pg, couldn't defend any perimeter spot, couldn't run the O and keep the bigs involved, couldn't handle the rock vs pressure, and he missed so many games away from Phoenix. Is why Cuban didnt want to pay him, he was scared he would break down, and he did which led to an oversized workload on Kobe. Hes not a top 15 pg in the league anymore and it showed, so I hope we either trade him, bench him, or he retires.

Metta - probably the second guy on the team I'm most happy with this year. Wasnt always pretty, but he always gave his all. Always played hard. Pau went down and he guarded PFs like Dirk, Zach, Boozer, Aldridge one on one without help and despite having a pelvic injury. He came back from surgery in 12 days to help the team make the playoffs, and he was just over worked an doer extended by Dantoni which caused his fizzle. Would not be against him coming back on a smaller deal and bench role, but if he doesn't opt out for that he has to be amnestied as he isn't worth his current money or a starting 3 anymore.

Dwight - I hope he returns, but I get every reason that would make him say no. I think he can win a ring as Kobe's second.,I think he can grow and develop more just by getting in the gym and getting his old strength back. I also think he's clearly shown more even Ina down year than Bynum ever did. Hope he doesn't just walk for nothing but oh well we gave up nothing for him and insured we weren't the ones to make the decision Phili is stuck with.

Kobe - easily one of his most heroic seasons since his 81pt year, he carried this team and a bunch of sorry ass scrubs, hobbled masses, and inept coach to over 500 out west and in the playoffs. He willed us there and it was glaring how much we needed Kobe to do everything, how much he was the best on this team at everything, and it just can't be that ay. Respect the fact he went out like a lion that GS game, and like Nike says I have no doubt he will show us again

Jerry - RIP and thank you

Jeanie and Jim - you got big shoes to fill so learn to work as a team like Jerry and Jerry did p


Mitch - take out the clip and reload, don't rebuild, but reload. Use that vet min to go after Nate Robinson. G after Nick young and Kyle Korver. Go try and bring Barnes back after he was ran off by Mike Brown. Kick the tires on Odom if he's willing to take the min. Evaluate Delonte mentally. This team needs some damn perimeter skills because it was inept without Kobe there to break defenses down, without his scoring and driving without a pick, and without his ability to play such a minute and work heavy load. We need a new perimeter, we need a starting pg, starting SF who can actually score the ball, and we need a stretch 4 in this league to start along Kobe and Dwight so that they actually have guys who will play their role night in and out like Fhser, Fox, Shaw, and Horry did for Kobe and Dhaq

Its funny you never say anything negative about Kobe or Dwight. I'll help you. Kobe's defense was the worst on the team. Howard had a terrible attitude, he cannot play screen roll to save his life, turns the ball over like a handicapped 2nd grader and has terrible hands, cannot shoot free throws, and played lazy defense most of the year.

Also, Nash was much better then Blake all season. Blake had a few good games...Nash had quite a few.

My ideal off season situation... Dwight goes to Hakeem and finally figures out what made Hakeem great... Hakeem played hybrid pf/c... Facing up much of the time and defended like a PF to allow his other big to perform down low... So Dwight develops a mid range, and quicker P&R game... Learns how to face up and maintain control of the ball and get's more comfortable at the line... 1000 free throws a day.
Resign him for the max.

We work out an extension with Pau in the 8M/yr range for 3yrs, voiding the last season on his contract... Pau stays off the Spain team, gets some rehab work done and gets some legs under him so that he can be our primary low post scorer.

Negotiate an extension with Kobe in the 10M/yr range for 3yrs, voiding the last season of his contract. He'll retire a Laker when he's comfortable with that decision. It's right to extend him and it saves us in the short term.

Amnesty MWP

Get rid of Duhon, Morris, Meeks (team option), Ebanks... Maybe get a trade out of them or picks or just salary help.

I think if you time everything right, you can get under the cap and be able to sign at least one free agent.

If you extended pau and kobe for around 20M for both, amnestied MWP, and waived anyone else possible, and wait to extend Dwight, you'll be between 40-50M.... Which, if the cap is around 60M should give us a little flexibility.

Take a run at CP3... Then when that inevitable fails, go for more realistic targets like maybe Calderon and Igoudala... Or Corey Brewer... Or...

Then fire MDA, give Phil some role in the FO and let him bring Pippen in to coach.... And exploit our interior superiority.

I am relief that our terrible season is finally over. Now we can look forward to the next season.

I guess I am less pessimistic than others. I don't think we need to completely reboot yet. To me, the only one who must go is MDA. He really miss use our bigs. Also, his swallow rotation was definitely running our older players into grounds while making the unused players not match ready when we needed them.

I know ppl want to amnesty MWP. But the problem is we can't get back a SF that is as good as him. Pau trading value has gone low after this series. I don't think trading him will even get us back a half decent PF. So I think the best way forward is to acquire some younger pieces to compliment our players next season. And in 2014 offseason, we can go for the big moves.

What I want to see this offseason:
1) MDA gone
2) Dwight resigns, gets healthy, improves his offensive skill
3) Kobe rehab ahead of schedule, ready to play at season opener (or before xmas the latest)
4) All other players (Nash, Hill, Gasol, Blake, Meeks) gets healthy
5) Clark matures as a player. While he is a pleasant surprise, he makes too many mistakes in defense. He has the tools to become a great one-on-one defender, just need to learn to be one.
6) Sign a more athletic PG who can shoot 3 at cheap (maybe give Delonte West a chance?)
7) Get rid of Morris, Duhon. Goudelock promoted to first team to backup Kobe.