Do player's get soft when they play in L.A.

[butter17]

http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/player?id=3967089
I was listening to steven a smith today on espn and i totally disagree. He said that players become soft when they come to L.A.( A.K.A LA LA land). Where is he getting his information from. L.A. is title town, if players where soft we would not be winning championships. Since the lakers moved to l.a. they have won nine nba championships, Since the dodgers moved from steven a's city (NEW YORK) they have won five world series championships, the angels one world series, if you want to take it to the college level, UCLA has eleven national titles in basketball and USC has nine national titles in football does that sound soft to you. I think players play just as hard in L.A. as they do anywhere else. L.A. should be offended by people from the east coast calling us la la land and hollywood. Steven a smith also said that pittsburg is a hard working town, you can't be soft going to pittsburg. He also said that bill cowher looked pittsburg but he only won one championship in fifteen years. I haven't seen one soft team win a championship ever.So is it about toughness titles or both .If the answer is both how in the world are we considered soft.

[Anklebreaker702]

It's weather envy Butter, that's all it is. They hate on L.A. then move there when they get tired of shoveling snow. I agree with you I have never seen a soft team win a title EVER!! We lost last years Finals for being soft & went against Boston both times this years & let them hang (you feel me)? In that interview he (Stephen A) also said he loves L.A. & all but............. yeah that but is I can read between the lines & see that you are going to hate after that but. I'm a Steelers fan & all that toughness about Cowher was true but It only brought 1 title as you stated & about 4 AFC Championship losses. Yet those teams were considered tough, So what does that make us. Wilt had only won 1 title before coming to L.A. Kareem only 1. Bob MaCadoo 0. Mychal Thompson 0. Shaq 0. Rick Fox 0. Glenn Rice 0. Mitch Richmond 0. They all came here & won multiple rings except Wilt who lost 2 Finals in Game 7's or he would have gotten 3 here & Richmond retired after he got his 1. So if L.A. is soft, every other city is softer!

Good Topic!

[DEEP3CL]

Stephen A probably worded his thoughts wrong, living in LA has nothing to do with a guy becoming laid back so to speak. Some guys never won anything until they got to LA. Bob McAdoo won his first set of rings he as a Laker, and he was considered a selfish loser every where he had been.

I can see if he was questiong a guys work ethic by saying he doesn't work as hard since he got to LA but that wasn't the case. Saying the city itself makes guys soft is false and stupid.

[butter17]

Problem is, we are hated everywhere. L.A is the most hated city in the country. But everybody and they momma wants 2 move here. I love my city and i wouldn't trade it for nothing in the world.

[butter17]

2 ME IT'S UP 2 IF HE'S SOFT ARE NOT.

[milesfides]

It's an unfair judgement on the city of L.A., but I think softness, at some level, is a fair and warranted judgment on this team.

The Lakers might be considered soft because we had injury prone guys like Luke and Mihm, or mentally weak guys like Kwame or Smush Parker or even Odom, or inexperienced guys because our team was pretty young and undeveloped for the past few years. The fact that we had all of these things - injury-prone, mentally weak, inexperienced players, is a good pace to start.

But the reality is that we got outmuscled last year in the playoffs, lost a huge lead in one game, and got our asses handed to us in another.

While some may try to pin the softness on the finesse big man in Gasol or the perimeter-oriented big man in Odom or the inexperienced and developing big man in Bynum, I think the real softness is mental toughness as a team. We have to play together, with each other, for each other, at all times, whether we're up or we're down, no matter what the score is, no matter the situation - to win.

Every player must have the desire to do what's necessary to win. When every player plays his role regardless of the circumstances, collectively, that's toughness.

KG was the same player on the Celtics as he was on the twolves (arguably better on the twolves). Why weren't the twolves so tough? Because in a word, they weren't as good (including the coaching).

Toughness is also more than the physical. Teams can be physical, but physical teams don't always win championships. Frequently, they don't - as the ugly physical Knicks and the Heat from the previous generation attest to.

In a word, I think it's accountability. Each player must be responsible for doing their roles.

A weak team, a team that's not tough, gets taken out of their game plan. When we stop executing our offense, that's weakness. When we allow a run by the other team to freeze our execution, that a lack in toughness. When we're not hitting free throws, that's lacks toughness. When shooters aren't hitting open shots, that's lacking toughness. When we get crushed on the glass and don't defend, that lacks toughness.

Because that's what happens when a weak team faces adversity. What happens when we miss a few shots, or commit a few turnovers, or miss a few defensive assignments? If we lose confidence, in ourselves and each other, that's a lack of toughness.

And that's why to me, this team is at times, soft.

If you look at championship teams, they weren't tough because they were bigger or stronger or more physical or because they had more thugs. It was because every player fulfilled his role, regardless of the circumstances, and this toughness, this ability to be a steady, functioning machine, was most apparent when facing adversity (ability to overcome deficits) or handling large leads (no mercy, going for the throat).

I know that Kobe, when we're down, still believes we can come back and win the game. I also know that when the opponent is down, Kobe wants to stick a dagger in them. I believe Fisher feels the same way, partly because he's been on championship teams and knows the character and mentality of a tough team.

Everybody else, I'm not so sure. As a team, we need to be more consistent, relentless.

[incontrol__]

Good stuff. Welcome back miles. Good to see you around again.

[dingclancy]

Not soft. Just mellow.

[butter17]

It's an unfair judgement on the city of L.A., but I think softness, at some level, is a fair and warranted judgment on this team.

The Lakers might be considered soft because we had injury prone guys like Luke and Mihm, or mentally weak guys like Kwame or Smush Parker or even Odom, or inexperienced guys because our team was pretty young and undeveloped for the past few years. The fact that we had all of these things - injury-prone, mentally weak, inexperienced players, is a good pace to start.

But the reality is that we got outmuscled last year in the playoffs, lost a huge lead in one game, and got our asses handed to us in another.

While some may try to pin the softness on the finesse big man in Gasol or the perimeter-oriented big man in Odom or the inexperienced and developing big man in Bynum, I think the real softness is mental toughness as a team. We have to play together, with each other, for each other, at all times, whether we're up or we're down, no matter what the score is, no matter the situation - to win.

Every player must have the desire to do what's necessary to win. When every player plays his role regardless of the circumstances, collectively, that's toughness.

KG was the same player on the Celtics as he was on the twolves (arguably better on the twolves). Why weren't the twolves so tough? Because in a word, they weren't as good (including the coaching).

Toughness is also more than the physical. Teams can be physical, but physical teams don't always win championships. Frequently, they don't - as the ugly physical Knicks and the Heat from the previous generation attest to.

In a word, I think it's accountability. Each player must be responsible for doing their roles.

A weak team, a team that's not tough, gets taken out of their game plan. When we stop executing our offense, that's weakness. When we allow a run by the other team to freeze our execution, that a lack in toughness. When we're not hitting free throws, that's lacks toughness. When shooters aren't hitting open shots, that's lacking toughness. When we get crushed on the glass and don't defend, that lacks toughness.

Because that's what happens when a weak team faces adversity. What happens when we miss a few shots, or commit a few turnovers, or miss a few defensive assignments? If we lose confidence, in ourselves and each other, that's a lack of toughness.

And that's why to me, this team is at times, soft.

If you look at championship teams, they weren't tough because they were bigger or stronger or more physical or because they had more thugs. It was because every player fulfilled his role, regardless of the circumstances, and this toughness, this ability to be a steady, functioning machine, was most apparent when facing adversity (ability to overcome deficits) or handling large leads (no mercy, going for the throat).

I know that Kobe, when we're down, still believes we can come back and win the game. I also know that when the opponent is down, Kobe wants to stick a dagger in them. I believe Fisher feels the same way, partly because he's been on championship teams and knows the character and mentality of a tough team.

Everybody else, I'm not so sure. As a team, we need to be more consistent, relentless.

Good point miles, but the way (steven a.) puts it LA AKA LA LA LAND AKA HOLLYWOOD makes players soft, and i just hate when people use the words LA LA LAND OR HOLLYWOOD when it comes 2 our city. 2 me that is disrespectful.

[Anklebreaker702]

^^ Especially when it comes to Lamar, he had his "laid back" attitude long before he came to L.A.

[butter17]

^^ Especially when it comes to Lamar, his "laid back" attitude long before he came to L.A.

GREAT POINT ANKLEBREAKER MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY

[TonyMontana]

Ya it must be the sunshine or the hot ass women or better yet the nightlife or the beach and the pretty bunnies all over SoCal.
Ya I can handle that, I wouldnt mind being called soft when Im sitting there rolling down P.C.H with my top down on my droptop while I got a pretty honey next to me 3 in the morning while coming back from a rooftop lounge in San Diego and she tells me lets go to the beach and go skinny dipping while the East Coast is 10 below zero.
Or better yet, going to a Stingree meeting Russel Crowe and taking tequilla shots with him and then walking down to On Broadway and listening to Paul Oakenfold shredding on the turntable.
How about getting up early in the morning and hitting the surf and then the next day going up to Mountain High and Shred the slopes.
Oh and did I mention Vegas is 3 hours away.
Ya I think we are soft living in LA LA Land.
Im cool with that.

[Anklebreaker702]

Oh and did I mention Vegas is 3 hours away.

C ya when ya get here TM

[butter17]

Ya it must be the sunshine or the hot ass women or better yet the nightlife or the beach and the pretty bunnies all over SoCal.
Ya I can handle that, I wouldnt mind being called soft when Im sitting there rolling down P.C.H with my top down on my droptop while I got a pretty honey next to me 3 in the morning while coming back from a rooftop lounge in San Diego and she tells me lets go to the beach and go skinny dipping while the East Coast is 10 below zero.
Or better yet, going to a Stingree meeting Russel Crowe and taking tequilla shots with him and then walking down to On Broadway and listening to Paul Oakenfold shredding on the turntable.
How about getting up early in the morning and hitting the surf and then the next day going up to Mountain High and Shred the slopes.
Oh and did I mention Vegas is 3 hours away.
Ya I think we are soft living in LA LA Land.
Im cool with that.

That's a beautiful thing T.M.

[TonyMontana]

Oh and did I mention Vegas is 3 hours away.

C ya when ya get here TM

How about Tabu Club Rain Rehab Poetry IBAR Jet oh and did I mention Lace at Palms Casino.
Oh and lets not forget Winner winner chicken dinner and Double downs.

Ya it must be the sunshine or the hot ass women or better yet the nightlife or the beach and the pretty bunnies all over SoCal.
Ya I can handle that, I wouldnt mind being called soft when Im sitting there rolling down P.C.H with my top down on my droptop while I got a pretty honey next to me 3 in the morning while coming back from a rooftop lounge in San Diego and she tells me lets go to the beach and go skinny dipping while the East Coast is 10 below zero.
Or better yet, going to a Stingree meeting Russel Crowe and taking tequilla shots with him and then walking down to On Broadway and listening to Paul Oakenfold shredding on the turntable.
How about getting up early in the morning and hitting the surf and then the next day going up to Mountain High and Shred the slopes.
Oh and did I mention Vegas is 3 hours away.
Ya I think we are soft living in LA LA Land.
Im cool with that.

That's a beautiful thing T.M.

You want more.
How about no matter how rich or poor you are you can always go back to your old neigborhood Long Beach or Norwalk or Stanton and meetup with your old friends and go over their house for a House party and have some bomb ass Carnie Asada while chillin with some hot ass Latina dancing to some Salsa and Merengghe.
How about our beautiful beaches and Mountains, how about all the Homies Driving up to you on their lowriders and giving you love and props even though your not in a Lowrider.
How about all the titles we have won and all of best sport franchises in Socal.
The Lakers, The Dodgers, The Angels, The Padres, The Chargers, The Raiders, UCLA, USC THE DUCKS.
Oh and did I mention were 2 hours away from Mexico.

Its sucks to be in La La Land. Really it does but you know what, I WOULDNT WANT TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE.

[lakersfanatic]

it has to be the weather and the good looking men and women.. up lol.

he shouldn't have used soft cuz that's going to irk people on all sides lol. He should have said emotional.. yup.. it's accepted now.. hahaha

but i don't get how we became the most hated.... I think it's because not only is the game important to us.. it's putting on a show, the LakeShow! Like how shawn marion said it about a month ago before being traded.. people come to see the game but they really came to see the NBA SHOW! I spiced it up a little bit lol

[Danny Darko]

Jeez for a bunch of soft people we sure get taken to task for protecting the basket (see andrew vs crash & Ariza vs Rudy)

Stephen is a NY guy... he just thinks everything is soft that isn't NY... except the nicks and nets who are clearly tough guys and awesome.


One thing that is true: If you look at LA and say New Orleans vs. Minnisota.... there are things to do. In Minni aint nothing but focusing on your craft. Does that make us soft? Ask Ice Cube about LA and soft.

[magic1fan]

It's an unfair judgement on the city of L.A., but I think softness, at some level, is a fair and warranted judgment on this team.

The Lakers might be considered soft because we had injury prone guys like Luke and Mihm, or mentally weak guys like Kwame or Smush Parker or even Odom, or inexperienced guys because our team was pretty young and undeveloped for the past few years. The fact that we had all of these things - injury-prone, mentally weak, inexperienced players, is a good pace to start.

But the reality is that we got outmuscled last year in the playoffs, lost a huge lead in one game, and got our asses handed to us in another.

While some may try to pin the softness on the finesse big man in Gasol or the perimeter-oriented big man in Odom or the inexperienced and developing big man in Bynum, I think the real softness is mental toughness as a team. We have to play together, with each other, for each other, at all times, whether we're up or we're down, no matter what the score is, no matter the situation - to win.

Every player must have the desire to do what's necessary to win. When every player plays his role regardless of the circumstances, collectively, that's toughness.

KG was the same player on the Celtics as he was on the twolves (arguably better on the twolves). Why weren't the twolves so tough? Because in a word, they weren't as good (including the coaching).

Toughness is also more than the physical. Teams can be physical, but physical teams don't always win championships. Frequently, they don't - as the ugly physical Knicks and the Heat from the previous generation attest to.

In a word, I think it's accountability. Each player must be responsible for doing their roles.

A weak team, a team that's not tough, gets taken out of their game plan. When we stop executing our offense, that's weakness. When we allow a run by the other team to freeze our execution, that a lack in toughness. When we're not hitting free throws, that's lacks toughness. When shooters aren't hitting open shots, that's lacking toughness. When we get crushed on the glass and don't defend, that lacks toughness.

Because that's what happens when a weak team faces adversity. What happens when we miss a few shots, or commit a few turnovers, or miss a few defensive assignments? If we lose confidence, in ourselves and each other, that's a lack of toughness.

And that's why to me, this team is at times, soft.

If you look at championship teams, they weren't tough because they were bigger or stronger or more physical or because they had more thugs. It was because every player fulfilled his role, regardless of the circumstances, and this toughness, this ability to be a steady, functioning machine, was most apparent when facing adversity (ability to overcome deficits) or handling large leads (no mercy, going for the throat).

I know that Kobe, when we're down, still believes we can come back and win the game. I also know that when the opponent is down, Kobe wants to stick a dagger in them. I believe Fisher feels the same way, partly because he's been on championship teams and knows the character and mentality of a tough team.

Everybody else, I'm not so sure. As a team, we need to be more consistent, relentless.

great stuff miles. i was just about to start asking about you. reading your and deep 3 posts made me want to join the board.

[butter17]

Jeez for a bunch of soft people we sure get taken to task for protecting the basket (see andrew vs crash & Ariza vs Rudy)

Stephen is a NY guy... he just thinks everything is soft that isn't NY... except the nicks and nets who are clearly tough guys and awesome.


One thing that is true: If you look at LA and say New Orleans vs. Minnisota.... there are things to do. In Minni aint nothing but focusing on your craft. Does that make us soft? Ask Ice Cube about LA and soft.

Maybe the lakers need 2 start putting more players in the hospital 2 get respect.

[Danny Darko]

^^

Honestly I expected this kind of year or a house cleaning with regard to the penalties. All these other boards that bitch about or physical play are the same boards who chimed in after the final to laugh at us for being soft. Well.... you guys and the media made this monster, now shut up and get run over by it.