GAME#77 LAKERS VS SPURS 4/4/10 12:30PM ABC

[DEEP3CL]

The posters were so much better last year. Why are people going crazy and ripping hair out of their heads? Stop thinking we are done and even if we can' win it this year that doesn't mean we're done. Win or lose this season the team is going to be revitalized with new players.

Spoken like a real vet.........props to you Skyhook for living in reality and not panicking over every loss and trying to analyze "PG issues" or our "bench issues". Some here have to really start to understand what it takes to beat a team in a 7 game series. All those other teams will have to play the series of their lives to beat the Lakers. It's easy to come in a surprise a team on a one day situation but not over the course of a week and a half.

Phil is too good of a coach to just not know what he's getting in to, over his history he's always found a way to completely break down a team over the course of a 7 game series.

[Rust In Peace]

Spurs kicked the Lakers' asses so bad that they caused an earthquake in Cali.
Might as well hand the tropy over to Lebron cause the Lakers look DONE.

[The Skyhook]

The posters were so much better last year. Why are people going crazy and ripping hair out of their heads? Stop thinking we are done and even if we can' win it this year that doesn't mean we're done. Win or lose this season the team is going to be revitalized with new players.

It's the effort man it's just not there, and I don't think once the playoffs start it's going to change all the sudden, or else it would be less frequent. We don't have Diesel who could truly step it up in the playoffs by hitting a switch. Little defensive effort, no bench, weak at PG, not a good mix.

Yes there are problems. We all know this but look at those problems and think of last season. Same exact problems. End result Lakers are the 2009 NBA champions. Its not going to be easy for those guys.

You know that their bodies have gone through so much wear and tear over the past few seasons because they have gotten to the NBA Finals in the past 2 seasons. I would call that one hell of an effort. This is the 3rd season in the Lakers quest on being back to the NBA Finals. I think people underestimate what it takes to be back where they are today for the 3rd season in a row. The core hasn't really changed much either and its the same guys that are putting forth effort game after game to keep the fans happy and to be back where they know they can be. I feel like its time to lay of these guys a little.

[Edrees]

we didn't have the same problems last year. infact we didn't lose back to back games all year last year. not true of this year. we also won about 7 or 8 more games last year then we are going to this year.. how can you say its the same???! we also lost to the cavs twice this year and boston once, where last year we were 4-0 against them. Saying we have the same problems as last year is a joke.

[laka4life]

This game is being taken wayyy too seriously. Sometimes there are games that you need to look at and just notice are not going to mean anything. Reasons?

1. Kobe can get any shot he wants on this team, via the post or the perimeter. He won't shoot like that come playoff time.

2. Matt Bonner WILL NOT outplay Lamar Odom come playoff time.

3. Pau Gasol can score on TD at will. Dude can get his once and a great while, but he can't guard Gasol at all.

4. SApuro, you point out Bynum is brittle...okay fair enough. Pretty hypocritical coming from a team that is breaking down year after year. You have the walking infirmary with TD, Ginobili and Parker.

5. If Bynum does come back, we spank this team. They have not one person who can guard him.

6. We had open shot after open shot go clang clang. Don't count on that consistently.


The UTAH game showed me everything I needed to see. Kobe shooting 5-23 without Bynum still winning by 14.....boys were okay. We just need to rest up, get ready for Thursday, and get it rolling.

I echo the statements of DEEP, IamWorthy and Skyhook clearly and loudly: This team is not finished, we are not done, yada yada yada yada. our PG's sucked last year, it's no different. Our bench was booty last year. It's no different. As long as we have 24-AB-PG-LO-RonRon-Fish in the 4th, we are the best team in the league. Point blank. Gear up. That point gets proven 13 days from now

[RocketPower23]

The posters were so much better last year. Why are people going crazy and ripping hair out of their heads? Stop thinking we are done and even if we can' win it this year that doesn't mean we're done. Win or lose this season the team is going to be revitalized with new players.

Spoken like a real vet.........props to you Skyhook for living in reality and not panicking over every loss and trying to analyze "PG issues" or our "bench issues". Some here have to really start to understand what it takes to beat a team in a 7 game series. All those other teams will have to play the series of their lives to beat the Lakers. It's easy to come in a surprise a team on a one day situation but not over the course of a week and a half.

Phil is too good of a coach to just not know what he's getting in to, over his history he's always found a way to completely break down a team over the course of a 7 game series.

These issue that we have aren't just going to go away. Sure, we'll do our best to exploit other teams weaknesses, but as the Playoffs go on, we'll better team, more capable of exploiting our own weaknesses. Right now, I can't say I'm too confident going up against either the Cavs or the Magic. The Nuggets and Mavs might even pose a problem. The problems we're facing now aren't the same as last year. Around this time last year, we were finishing strong, this year we're fading. Our bench play was a bit more productive then it is now. Our three point shooting was more consistent. Kobe is clearly battling more injuries then he's letting on. Maybe he and the rest of the team can over come these problems, but when so many question marks start popping up, things start to get dicey. It's not about losing to the Spurs, we'll take them out if we have to face them, but what happens when we face the upper echelon of teams. Phil's been out-coached before, so while we should have faith in his abilities, when we have too many deficiencies, he hasn't been able to come up with a solution.

[DEEP3CL]

I don't know what to say to you KB8MVP, I mean I've been watching pro ball for over 30 years and I'm telling you now some of these problems guys here speak of is over exaggerated period. Like laka4life said the same problems existed last season.

If you're worried about the Mavs and Nuggets then that's you.......but I'm not worried. For example last years match up with the Nuggets, most people outside the Laker fan base think that series was controlled by the Nuggets. But that's a flat out lie, even when the games were going down to the wire I KNEW the Lakers would pull them out.

Dumb teams with panic type coaches and over emotional players don't win when you have all 3 elements combined. Denver had all 3 combined, I was even on here saying then they would lose the series. If they was so damn tough why in the hell did they get smoked on their own floor in a must win game they had to have ?

The Mavs,I'll give you the gist on them too........they lack the personnel needed to compete with the Lakers in a 7 game series. People rag on our bench but who in the hell do they bring off theirs at the positions they need to compete with the Lakers ? Jason Terry is a 6'1" guard..........is he going to help rebound ? Will he block shots ? Same goes for Barea also......another runt. They have no bigs that can play well over a critical 7 games.

Most will say this what I'm doing is being a "homer"........but I can call the Lakers weakness when needed, check the game threads over the course of the year. I've been on Bynum, Jordan and LO over the years. A homer sees no wrong with his team, yes we have our faults but it's not like all these other teams are built picture perfect. They all have issues, that's why you have the playoffs.

To exploit those issues, and Phil and his staff will exploit them just like last playoffs.

[H00PDREAMS]

Dudes COME ON! The Spurs were playing for a playoff spot! One that would keep them away from the Lakers in the first round. Uh Duh! Lakers were playing for pride I guess becuase I don't think they will catch the CAVs for homecourt advantage. So haters get over yourselves. Like I said before teams in the west are playing to stay alive. The Lakers are the top seed, best record, and champs. So step off!

[Edrees]

Lakers are playing for homecourt advantage over the magic dude. It's been mentioned 300 times. There's a pretty decent chance orlando comes out of the east. and we want home court against them like we did last year, it helped so much. Spurs are also guaranteed a playoff spot already basically. Both teams were battling for playoff positioning/home court. What the Spurs had to play for was more of a motivation yes but don't act like this is some meaningless game to the Lakers.

[H00PDREAMS]

Okay I just heard on ESPN that the Spurs had just clinched a playoff spot. So I took that as they weren't a lock for a seed yet. Uh wait they weren't man!!! Pop and Duncan both have been quoted saying every team in the west is fighting to avoid the Lakers! Not the Mavs, Blazers or Nuggets, the mutha trucking Lakers man!!! I mean every day in the west the seeding gets switched around! Everyone is right on each others back. Why you ask? To aviod Laker Nation mang!

I don't care if it was mentioned 300 times, that don't make it fact. And the fact is The Cavs are top seed and assuming gets you and I and everyone else who assumes in trouble. Why worry about a would be contender worry about the number one contender! It just makes sense.