Game 10: Los Angeles Lakers (2-8) @ Phoenix Suns (5-4)

[bwgood77]

I'm not gonna lie, we've had a pretty soft schedule to start the year. Even our next 4 games are not too difficult. Plus we don't have a single back to back anytime soon so we can play our guys 40 mins if we wanted to without worrying about game next day.

This probably means our schedule is gonna be a bitch in the second half of the year with better opponents and more back to backs.

That's good. It gives us a chance to learn to play together with new pieces and have more chemistry when we get to the tougher parts of the schedule.

I just wish Kobe was playing tonight. They are much worse with him in the lineup shooting like 30% on high volume.

[jcsunsfan]

Both Kobe and Payton Manning retire this year.

[spanishninja]

I'm not gonna lie, we've had a pretty soft schedule to start the year. Even our next 4 games are not too difficult. Plus we don't have a single back to back anytime soon so we can play our guys 40 mins if we wanted to without worrying about game next day.

This probably means our schedule is gonna be a bitch in the second half of the year with better opponents and more back to backs.

That's good. It gives us a chance to learn to play together with new pieces and have more chemistry when we get to the tougher parts of the schedule.

I just wish Kobe was playing tonight. They are much worse with him in the lineup shooting like 30% on high volume.

and there's absolutely nothing trivial about beating teams we're supposed to beat. That's a starting requirement for any team thinking about going to the playoffs.

[Saberestar]

Roy Hibbert said he will play tomorrow night against the Phoenix Suns despite the broken nose

https://mobile.twitter.com/Lakers_Examiner/status/666127142418120704

[bwgood77]

I'm not gonna lie, we've had a pretty soft schedule to start the year. Even our next 4 games are not too difficult. Plus we don't have a single back to back anytime soon so we can play our guys 40 mins if we wanted to without worrying about game next day.

This probably means our schedule is gonna be a bitch in the second half of the year with better opponents and more back to backs.

That's good. It gives us a chance to learn to play together with new pieces and have more chemistry when we get to the tougher parts of the schedule.

I just wish Kobe was playing tonight. They are much worse with him in the lineup shooting like 30% on high volume.

and there's absolutely nothing trivial about beating teams we're supposed to beat. That's a starting requirement for any team thinking about going to the playoffs.

Yeah, some complaints in the past have been that we lose to some teams that are bad. We haven't lost to a team under 500 this year.

[Revived]

Roy Hibbert reportedly not playing tonight due to a broken nose. Suns should win by 30


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He apparently broked his nose. He broked it.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Lakers_Examiner/status/666126458239107072[/tweet]

[NTB]

Is he playing or not???

[Saberestar]

Is he playing or not???

Yes, with a mask. That is what he said after the game against Pistons.

[gaspar]

What did you think of the guys who closed out the game against Denver? I know it was bench clearing time but it was ugly stuff. I reckon it did more harm than good in some ways. No real flow established, so those guys wouldn't have got much confidence.

Also can anyone recall when we last turned the ball over 20 times and won by 20+ points?

Against the Kings 2 weeks ago

LINK

[jeff2020]

Won't be able to watch as I will be at Monday night football but go Suns! Should be another step in creating some confidence for our young team.

[Jdiddy701]

Roy Hibbert and Kobe sucks.. I hope they both player. Bums


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[Saberestar]

Markieff Morris (knee sprain) is questionable for tonight's #SunsVsLakers. Ronnie Price (concussion) remains out. Kobe Bryant is out for LA.

https://mobile.twitter.com/paulcoro/status/666317493070270464

[LukasBMW]

If the Lakers had simply kept Dwight Howard and traded away Kobe instead of giving Kobe that absurd last huge contract, they would probably still be a top 5 team in the NBA.

Giving Kobe that last big contract completely screwed their franchise. It's kinda hilarious.

That's a large price to pay just to make sure Kobe finishes his career as a Laker.

[bwgood77]

If the Lakers had simply kept Dwight Howard and traded away Kobe instead of giving Kobe that absurd last huge contract, they would probably still be a top 5 team in the NBA.

Giving Kobe that last big contract completely screwed their franchise. It's kinda hilarious.

That's a large price to pay just to make sure Kobe finishes his career as a Laker.

Well Dwight was a free agent who chose to leave. And how are they top 5 with him? He's been injured a lot and who else would they have?

In other news, the Suns should take care of these next two home games because after that they play 9 of 11 on the road.

[SunsRback4Good]

Not sure about top 5 team in the league as Dwight is incapable of leading a team all by himself. They'd need a few all star players alongside Dwight to be top 5.

[SunsRback4Good]

If the Lakers had simply kept Dwight Howard and traded away Kobe instead of giving Kobe that absurd last huge contract, they would probably still be a top 5 team in the NBA.

Giving Kobe that last big contract completely screwed their franchise. It's kinda hilarious.

That's a large price to pay just to make sure Kobe finishes his career as a Laker.

Well Dwight was a free agent who chose to leave. And how are they top 5 with him? He's been injured a lot and who else would they have?

In other news, the Suns should take care of these next two home games because after that they play 9 of 11 on the road.

Why does the league hate us so much to give us 9 out of 11 road games? Damn NBA, you brutallllll!

[LukasBMW]

If the Lakers had simply kept Dwight Howard and traded away Kobe instead of giving Kobe that absurd last huge contract, they would probably still be a top 5 team in the NBA.

Giving Kobe that last big contract completely screwed their franchise. It's kinda hilarious.

That's a large price to pay just to make sure Kobe finishes his career as a Laker.

Well Dwight was a free agent who chose to leave. And how are they top 5 with him? He's been injured a lot and who else would they have?

In other news, the Suns should take care of these next two home games because after that they play 9 of 11 on the road.

Reports were that Dwight was thinking about resigning with the Lakers but didn't because Kobe told him in the free agent presentation meeting that he was going to play 3 more years and finish his career in LA. This was the nail in the coffin for Howard to leave.

True, Howard has been injured, but if the Lakers shipped out Kobe and made a commitment to Howard that summer, I'd bet they would have attracted more talent by now.

[LukasBMW]

If the Lakers had simply kept Dwight Howard and traded away Kobe instead of giving Kobe that absurd last huge contract, they would probably still be a top 5 team in the NBA.

Giving Kobe that last big contract completely screwed their franchise. It's kinda hilarious.

That's a large price to pay just to make sure Kobe finishes his career as a Laker.

Well Dwight was a free agent who chose to leave. And how are they top 5 with him? He's been injured a lot and who else would they have?

In other news, the Suns should take care of these next two home games because after that they play 9 of 11 on the road.

Reports were that Dwight was thinking about resigning with the Lakers but didn't because Kobe told him in the free agent presentation meeting that he was going to play 3 more years and finish his career in LA. This was the nail in the coffin for Howard to leave.

True, Howard has been injured, but if the Lakers shipped out Kobe and made a commitment to Howard that summer, I'd bet they would have attracted more talent by now.

Also, we got 4 draft picks (2 first and 2 second rounders) for Nash. I'd imagine the Lakers could have gotten a contending team to fork over 2 or even 3 first rounder for Kobe.

Cap space
Picks
Dwight Howard (before he became injury prone)
No Kobe to scare people away
=
A very attractive team for players.

[PackSuns]

If anybody has a link to the game please PM me.

[bwgood77]

If anybody has a link to the game please PM me.

You may want to post this after the game starts, because links are not up until a few minutes after tip off.