Emergency game thread. LAL @ LAC 12:30pm

[DEEP3CL]

Our main problem as everyone here knows is our defense. They make the simplistic ways of defending a play look like a pop quiz.

On screen action the very first mistake we make is not knowing how to make the switch. You have to know who the personnel is and how to switch it.

Too many times it seems like our guys don't know who they're guarding.

Our Bigs don't show and recover well and the guards constantly die on ball screens.

I know the team has a concept of playing screen roll but some times your system or concept breaks down and that's when film study kicks in and you can adjust to just stopping your man regardless of system concepts.

[Ballerhogger]

Seahawks Falcons game > this sorry ass game

Matt Ryan is carving the hawks.

[Slava]

I'm almost done with D-Lo. If we cam move him for a player of need then I'm down for it. His effort in games kills me...that half ass speed he plays at won't cut it.

When you have a team built like ours they need to have all rotation players playing at full speed,balls to the wall style effort.

We're not good enough to just go through the motions then hit the switch. Championship teams can do that because they know they have another gear their opposition can't get to.

I agree, I'm getting to that point as well. Dlo isn't doing anything out there that's benefiting the team. I feel like the whole Nick Young situation is still getting on his nerves and how half of the Lakers fans hate him.

I think its pointless to blame his half-assing effort on the Nick Young situation. That's been done, I'm not sure if he is carrying an injury or if Luke has been too soft on him considering how much Byron rode him last year but this dude really needs some tough love to perform.

[Slava]

The concern however seems to be that everyone from the front office down is settling for mediocrity, failure and lethargy. When you've missed the playoffs for 3 straight seasons, going on fourth, you need to be active making some trades and taking chances on undrafted dudes rather than hang on to washed up veterans like MWP, Calderon, Huertas etc taking up precious roster spots.

[DEEP3CL]

The only positive from the last 3 games or so is that Brandon is getting better and better. I expect for him to make an even bigger jump after the All Star break.

[Crooked-I]

All hell is going to break loose in Laker land when it becomes official we lose that pick. It's going to be entertaining to watch.

[myersia]

The concern however seems to be that everyone from the front office down is settling for mediocrity, failure and lethargy. When you've missed the playoffs for 3 straight seasons, going on fourth, you need to be active making some trades and taking chances on undrafted dudes rather than hang on to washed up veterans like MWP, Calderon, Huertas etc taking up precious roster spots.

Slava speaks the truth. . Idk how the hell Mitch can stand their and not do anything. We will be the Sacramento Kings if we keep this up. We need to focus on Brandon and his potential. He is a great kid, smart, great iq, and plays hard. He is our future. Everyone else can be put on the block and build from there.

[tugs]

Man, I didn't even think it was possible to suck this hard given the talent on this team.

[MrWaffles]

Tank fam.

Join me in this happiness!

[MrWaffles]

Man, I didn't even think it was possible to suck this hard given the talent on this team.

I mean.. les be serious now. We have no superstars. We have zero players who can play defense. We are young. We start two washed up vets. Our team basketball IQ is just terrible on both ends.

It should be obvious as to why we suck.

[Landsberger]

The only positive from the last 3 games or so is that Brandon is getting better and better. I expect for him to make an even bigger jump after the All Star break.

Beware the rookie wall. I agree he's playing better but from a shooting perspective there wasn't much room below him.

[MrWaffles]

I don't know what Mitch was thinking when he signed Mozgov and Deng to these contracts. I mean our highest paid player on the roster needs rest on back to backs? wtf?

You can thank Jim for that as well.

[aaron_gray]

[aaron_gray]

The concern however seems to be that everyone from the front office down is settling for mediocrity, failure and lethargy. When you've missed the playoffs for 3 straight seasons, going on fourth, you need to be active making some trades and taking chances on undrafted dudes rather than hang on to washed up veterans like MWP, Calderon, Huertas etc taking up precious roster spots.

Everything, especially complete rebuilds, takes time and luck. There are plenty of teams that will go a decade without sniffing contention and end up with nothing to show for it. The Lakers were absolutely destroyed by the Nash and Dwight trades, which should theoretically make this rebuild even longer. Right now, there appears to be a nice core group of 5 emerging in Randle, Clarkson, Russell, Nance and Ingram (might even add Black to the list). As these guys get older, they'll develop an identity and make less defensive mistakes.

The FO has actually done things to try and make this team competitive. We know Tier 1 free agents won't sign here (or even have meetings with the FO for that matter). Hell, Tier 5 free agents probably wouldn't sign here unless we significantly overpaid them. The only free agents that sign here are busts/vets looking for 1 year deals to showcase themselves for their next contract. Let's face it, Mozgov and Deng were quite obviously not signed to be part of the future. More likely, they were signed to accomplish the impossible mission of making the team competitive enough to satisfy fans who are used to appearing in the finals year in and year out.

The Lakers went all in and it blew up in their face. Unfortunately, despite the suggestion of 29 other fanbases, the league does not actually rig itself in favor of the Lakers, meaning they'll have to rebuild and retool like any other franchise would. They honestly have done that to the best of their ability. Like I've mentioned before, the FO has hit on a number of draft picks while trading cap space to try and recoup some of their lost assets (which is why Jose Calderon is actually on the roster). Just in terms of roster construction, you can't say that the FO hasn't done their part in trying to retool for the future.

[Crooked-I]

I think Ingram is going to be our best player in years to come. His work ethic is unreal. There was a game this morning, instead of going out and partying on a Saturday night in LA he goes to the gym after the Defenders game and gets shots up. Dude lives and breathes basketball. Those are the type of players that become superstars, I think we got someone special.