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The acquisition of Ron Artest is a good sign since we will not have T-ARIZA and LO back in a LAKERS uniform this season so I believe that we are still a team to contend with considering that RON is averaging 17 points per game and bring along a hard nose defense to our system. Now its all for the rest to step up. One player I believe will have a good season will be Adam "AMMO" Morrison. With LO and Ariza gone AMMO will have a hayday in playing time and he needs to show up what he got since his career is on the line and Phil has great faith in him. Overall LA is fine we just need to sign a free agent just to strenghten more our team. If we can get Drew Gooden then we are set to go. I hope Mitch can come up with something special so that we can start preparing to defend our crown. For me Gooden is really a good pick if we can get him.

This doesn't deserve a thread on it's own, but I'll comment.


It's no secret I got love for Ron Artest's game and he's one of two players (other being Andre Miller) that I watched and knew was going to make it into the NBA.

They've both exceeded my expectations.


Don't be surprised if Artest is revealed to be better than ppl give him credit for.

The DPOY is his if he wants it bad enough, I know he has what it takes if it's asked of him to become a beast of a perimeter defender.

He's one of the reasons why I'm going to pay attention to what our boys do next season.

The Lakers vehicle is off cruise control so anything can happen now.


I hope everyone's in shape by the regular season.

It's time to re-enforce the notion that WE ARE THE BEST.


-Lebron challenged the title last year.
-The Magics tried and failed.
-Houston was fiesty.
-The Nuggets almost had it.
-Utah didn't stand a chance.
-The Spurs got upgraded.

It shouldn't matter what happens in the off-season.

A team with Kobe, Pau, Ron, and Andrew is an all-star 4 player unit waiting to happen.

LO would be the icing on the cake.

Did I mention Phil Jackson is a HOF-level head coach?


Phil's got a team to work w/ now, it's ours to lose.

Kobe's got a solid supporting cast now, it's ours to lose.


We're going to stay on top and make you feel it.

I can take the heat.

"Banging against LA is just an exercise in futility."


Hate me. Hate us. You're just fueling the fire, baby.

I love it.

Haters don't even know what hate is.

wholly freaking crap... the spam artist drops and in depth post.... yes this was worth the thread after all.

You guys are totally under estimating what LO brings to your team. Does the guy take games off during the regular season absolutely but come playoffs he can make a break a series. Sure you gain Artest but you lose Odom and Ariza. Plus there aren't any free agent catches left.

kobe can guard roy, don't worry.

Edit: Ron Artest and Andre Miller were one of two college players I watched and knew were going to make it in the NBA. (typo!)

96 Til Infiniti wrote:kobe can guard roy, don't worry.

word.

Well if LA doesn't resign LO I think they are in a very tough spot. Artest has the type of offensive game that has potential to mess up a good team's rhythm. He is also not the DPOY type defender he used to be. He is still a good defender but no where near that level anymore. As far as I'm concerned, I think he could either make the Lakers marginally better(with LO back) or he could blow up in their faces with his sometimes emotional black hole offense. Good chance for both and an intriguing situation for when the season starts.

One thing LA has going for them with Artest though is Phil. If anyone can get the most out of Ronnie, it's him.

Without LO we probably have the worst bench in the league.

If you guys can't sign LO I am sure that money gets spent on improving that bench. Sasha, Walton, and Farmer just aren't going to do it.

We've got the best starting 5 in the league when healthy, and I don't think it's close especially if Drew can re-gain pre-injury form. However, this is what our depth chart looks like as of now

Fish/SBrown/Farmar
Kobe/Sasha
Artest/Luke/Ammo
Pau/Powell
Drew/Mbenga

That's assuming we cut Yue and don't re-sign LO or a replacement big (which I'm praying isn't that case, and I don't think it will be). But that's a horribly thin line-up. One of our biggest advantages last year was our versatility and depth, and LO was a huge part of that. With out current roster, the only reserve I have any faith in is Shannon (and Luke to a certain extent). But with LO, even with our deficiencies at PG, backup SG, and backup C, we have the best team in the league.

I think Orlando has the best starting five in the league. Gooden could be a decent asset problem is can the guy stay healthy. Now if you can do a sign and trade for beasley can could help out with the depth problem a bit.

SApuro_ wrote:I think Orlando has the best starting five in the league. Gooden could be a decent asset problem is can the guy stay healthy. Now if you can do a sign and trade for beasley can could help out with the depth problem a bit.

Not even close

Fish<<<Nelson
Kobe>>>>>>Vince
Artest>Lewis, or at least equal
Pau>>>>>>Bass or whoever they'll start at PF
Drew<Dwight, but not by as much as you'd think IF Drew gets back to pre-injury form.

^^ if kobe is >>>>>>>>> vince

then dwight is >>>>>>drew

Teppler wrote:Well if LA doesn't resign LO I think they are in a very tough spot. Artest has the type of offensive game that has potential to mess up a good team's rhythm. He is also not the DPOY type defender he used to be. He is still a good defender but no where near that level anymore. As far as I'm concerned, I think he could either make the Lakers marginally better(with LO back) or he could blow up in their faces with his sometimes emotional black hole offense. Good chance for both and an intriguing situation for when the season starts.

One thing LA has going for them with Artest though is Phil. If anyone can get the most out of Ronnie, it's him.

Good points, man.

Although the Artest timebomb could happen, I won't allow it to happen as long as I'm here.


With the "True Warrior" upgrading his perimeter skills this offseason (passing, shooting, dribbling) while getting stronger and faster, the league could very well tremble in fear.

The Triangle Offense isn't rocket science, I have faith that Artest can learn/understand the gist of the offense in due time.

I'm not even worried about Artest - he's like Rodman to me.

Er, what Rodman meant to Phil during MJ's comeback from retirement 3peat. ('96-'97-'98)


If he doesn't figure things out, worse case scenario is that he produces what he produced for the Rockets' last season and bring a serious defensive intensity to this Lakers team.

Because Kobe doesn't want to be the bad guy.

And I'm not going to run support for the boys forever.

Artest can lead by example like KG did for the Celtics during their 07'-08' run.


Good luck, I know you can do it.

Gerald3Wallace wrote:^^ if kobe is >>>>>>>>> vince

then dwight is >>>>>>drew

Starters: Wash

Dwight >>> Drew
Nelson >>>> Fisher
Lewis = Artest
Kobe >>> Carter
Gasol >>>> Bass


Bench: Lakers (if Lamar resigns with us)

Pietrus <<< Lamar Odom (if he signs)


Coaching Staff: ORL < LAL

Fans: Lakers

Verbal wrote:

Gerald3Wallace wrote:^^ if kobe is >>>>>>>>> vince

then dwight is >>>>>>drew

Starters: Wash

Dwight >>> Drew
Nelson >>>> Fisher
Lewis = Artest
Kobe >>> Carter
Gasol >>>> Bass


Bench: Lakers (if Lamar resigns with us)

Pietrus <<< Lamar Odom (if he signs)


Coaching Staff: ORL < LAL

Fans: Lakers

The disparity between Kobe and Vince is far greater than that between Fisher and Nelson and especially Dwight and Drew. People seem to forget what a monster Drew was becoming before he was injured (both years).

Also, I think Vince is highly overrated. He can still score, but I think Hedo is a superior player at this point in their careers, and Hedo was certainly the better fit for that team. If you thought Dwight didn't get enough touches last year (which is absolutely true), just wait till VC is on the perimeter.

we should bring Ron Ron off the bench and have luke start. so we can have the depth off the bench and just play Ron Ron in the fourth when it counts. good idea?

Ron ROn can give you 17 points no problem. But he'll do that on 39% shooting.(and plenty of ball hogging)

do you guys think kobe will take more of the offensive load if lo isnt signed because we wont be as deep as last year artest can cover the best player on the other team and kobe can save his energy for offense