Game Thread: Sunday, Mar 23

[eatyourchildren]

^^ yup, lakers on the predictable drop where they belong. they have peaked

Wow, I didn't realize the Lakers could peak without Gasol and Bynum!


R510: They needed a zonebuster, and the only one they had that was consistent was Kobe in the post. Watching the game, I was fine with Kobe backing down Azu even though he was bricking his turnarounds. He created good plays on other possessions because of that backdown threat.

[NBA on NBC]

JDawg you need to calm down. You guys lost a regular season game with a depleted roster, it's not like you lost the championship. If anything, this is helping the Lakers get even more better before the playoffs start. Their learning how to play very well without Bynum and Gasol, once they come back the Lakers will be SCARY in the postseason. (obviously)

[eatyourchildren]

JDawg you need to calm down. You guys lost a regular season game with a depleted roster, it's not like you lost the championship. If anything, this is helping the Lakers get even more better before the playoffs start. Their learning how to play very well without Bynum and Gasol, once they come back the Lakers will be SCARY in the postseason. (obviously)

Exactly. We fought tooth and nail against a team thats all of 4 games behind us. Not exactly like losing to the Knicks.

If we get Gasol and Bynum back, and we still lose like this, THEN maybe its time to panic.

[JDawg]

: http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p34/ ... 488ng0.jpg

check out this great D by Fish.

Odom points at Jax and tells Fish to guard him.

the shotclock was WAYdown...Kobe has two guys in the corner.

Odom helps Vlad in case of the drive.

So, when the Clock is down, it makes PERFECT sense to elave the shotoer room.....ER NOT!!!!

Between Fish, Vlad and Walton,

I think you can open up a brothel. Just COME rihgt in....we'll service you.

[FNQ]

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R510: They needed a zonebuster, and the only one they had that was consistent was Kobe in the post. Watching the game, I was fine with Kobe backing down Azu even though he was bricking his turnarounds. He created good plays on other possessions because of that backdown threat.

W's dont play zone for extended periods anymore. They play an extreme form of help defense...

While the Lakers definitely needed the low post presence, I assumed it would have been Odom, despite how he played early on. Especially when Biedrins got yanked off the court in Q3.

Just surprised the Lakers kept going at Buke like that... since Buke couldnt guard Kobe off the dribble.

[Seattlesun]

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I'm dying to see our teams meet healthy in the playoffs.

i dont think its gonna happen this year because even if bynum gets back, it will not be in time to work him in. unfortunate for the lakers.

that being said, if the lakers are indeed the better team they will win anyway. just as the suns beat the lakers a couple years ago even though amare was out.

[eatyourchildren]

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i dont think its gonna happen this year because even if bynum gets back, it will not be in time to work him in. unfortunate for the lakers.

that being said, if the lakers are indeed the better team they will win anyway. just as the suns beat the lakers a couple years ago even though amare was out.

Obviously a baiting post.

Suns were always the more talented team the past 2 years. Even without Amare, you had the 6th man of the year, a NBA 1st D player, and a DPOY candidate alongside Nash. So please don't use the Amare thing.
Kobe had Lamar Odom, but was held down by Kwame Brown and Smush Parker as his starting C and PG.

This year, the Bynum injury was very unfortunate. But hopefully, Lakers v. Suns doesn't happen until at least the 2nd round. By then, Bynum should be a productive player again. I think Kobe is hungrier this year than Shaq (not in the food sense, in the trophy sense).

[Seattlesun]

[quote="eatyourchildren"][/quote]

i dont believe you can work a player in during the playoffs, just because i have never seen it done.

my thing with the lakers is that Pau came in and essentially took the shots bynum was getting with some added shots due to his superior talent. so, would not any impact bynum brings not just take away from the impact of pau? its something i'm very curious to see

[eatyourchildren]

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i dont believe you can work a player in during the playoffs, just because i have never seen it done.

my thing with the lakers is that Pau came in and essentially took the shots bynum was getting with some added shots due to his superior talent. so, would not any impact bynum brings not just take away from the impact of pau? its something i'm very curious to see

If PJax starts both of them, whatever impact taken away from Pau is more than made up for in defensive presence and the addition of another post threat. If anything, this makes Kobe that much more dangerous. If you give Kobe the ball on the wing and he starts backing his guy down in preparation for his turnaround fadeaway, what do you do as the opposition? Do you send the double and risk an immediate alley-oop play? Or do you live the results of a Kobe iso fadeaway?

If PJax instead brings Bynum (and Farmar) off the bench, then it'll force the opposing defense into a dilemma. Do you keep some starters in and risk fatigue? Or do you let your bench play against one of the best benches in the League, now made better with Bynum?

I don't think either scenarios are going to be that difficult to work in. The whole question mark is squarely: What % is Bynum going to play at?

[HarlemHeat37]

that's the only concern I would have if i was a Lakers fan..

when Bynum is healthy, I don't see how he wouldn't fit into the offense..all he would need to do for the Lakers is feed off Kobe and Gasol, while playing solid D and rebounding..Bynum is definitely capable of all that..

the only concern I would have is if he can actually come back healthy and in form mentally and physically this year..if he can come back at a 100%, then Laker fans shouldn't have a concern with that..

[Seattlesun]

how well does bynum play without kobe in the game? the assumption is that bynum+gasol is going to be great but you make alot of sense in talking about bringing him off the bench. but if he needs kobe in there to produce off the bench, does that mean kobe basically has to play the whole game?

to me, it just seems like alot to be worked out and it seems like there wont be time to figure it all out. i guess it all depends on when bynum can actually get out there

[Sedale Threatt]

On paper, I don't see any reason why Gasol and Bynum wouldn't be able to form a harmonious partnership. From his shooting touch to his passing ability, Gasol's skill level is more than high enough to accomodate another big. Conversely, Bynum's shot blocking and rebounding is an ideal complement to Gasol's lackluster physical presence.

Most of the questions seem to be focusing on Bynum's offense. But defense is where Bynum can help this team the most. The Lakers already have more than enough firepower. What they need most is an anchor to protect the paint. It's up to him to make that his focus and do what's best for the team.

All that said, nobody really has any idea how it will all work out -- keep in mind that Odom will also have to spend major minutes playing out of position at the 3 -- because we haven't seen it yet. In the end, I agree that the lack of time to work out all the kinks will likely be our downfall.

But as much as I hate the idea of missing out on the title, it's not like they're the Suns or Spurs, pressing to accomplish what they can before their aging rosters become obsolete. This is one of the youngest teams in the league, and they should have a nice window to compete for more championships.

[eatyourchildren]

On paper, I don't see any reason why Gasol and Bynum wouldn't be able to form a harmonious partnership. From his shooting touch to his passing ability, Gasol's skill level is more than high enough to accomodate another big. Conversely, Bynum's shot blocking and rebounding is an ideal complement to Gasol's lackluster physical presence.

Most of the questions seem to be focusing on Bynum's offense. But defense is where Bynum can help this team the most. The Lakers already have more than enough firepower. What they need most is an anchor to protect the paint. It's up to him to make that his focus and do what's best for the team.

All that said, nobody really has any idea how it will all work out -- keep in mind that Odom will also have to spend major minutes playing out of position at the 3 -- because we haven't seen it yet. In the end, I agree that the lack of time to work out all the kinks will likely be our downfall.

But as much as I hate the idea of missing out on the title, it's not like they're the Suns or Spurs, pressing to accomplish what they can before their aging rosters become obsolete. This is one of the youngest teams in the league, and they should have a nice window to compete for more championships.

And if the Blazers are our main competition for the next 5 years, bring it on

[Sedale Threatt]

That's what I'm talking about. After all, it's not as if we don't have ample experience crushing their souls.

[dingclancy]

^^ yup, lakers on the predictable drop where they belong. they have peaked

[kobe#8]

This loss didnt hurt me nice comeback by our team, when our bigs are back whe will eat them in the playoffs no doubt..