Zach Lowe: Lakers lottery bound 2013-14

[Slava]

Los Angeles Lakers

Oh boy, was there a lot of Lakers schadenfreude among rival execs in Las Vegas — and a lot of confusion about why the Lakers are bothering with Chris Kaman/Nick Young types instead of going into full-blown tank mode.

I keep hearing from L.A. fans assuring me this is a playoff team. Really? Take a look at the Western Conference: The Clippers, Spurs, Thunder, Grizzlies, Rockets, and Warriors are locks, barring catastrophic injuries. That's six spots. Denver still lurks, Portland fattened up its bench, Minnesota and New Orleans are both going for it, and Dallas has shown it's hard to win fewer than 40 games with a healthy Dirk Nowitzki and even a so-so supporting cast.

News flash, Lakers fans: Kobe is coming off one of the worst late-career injuries a player can suffer, and this defense was a giant sieve anytime Howard hit the bench last season. This looks like a lottery team banking on free agency for salvation, only it's not quite bad enough to get true lottery value.

Grantland

Also says this:

Howard was one of the league's most efficient post-up scorers in both 2010-11 and 2011-12, shooting about 50 percent on post-up shots each year, per Synergy Sports. He fell off to about 45 percent last season, but for a guy who draws so many fouls — largely because he can't hit free throws — that is considered acceptable. His turnover rate from the block climbed too high in Los Angeles, but that should reverse itself if Houston surrounds him with adequate shooting.

Can someone with access to synergy stats give a points per possession for Dwight's post ups?

[desertlakerfan]

News flash, Lakers fans: Kobe is coming off one of the worst late-career injuries a player can suffer, and this defense was a giant sieve anytime Howard hit the bench last season. This looks like a lottery team banking on free agency for salvation, only it's not quite bad enough to get true lottery value.

This was my worry when we got nothing for Dwight or Metta. That's two starters gone only to be replaced by low salary 1 year deals like Kaman, Young, Farmar and Johnson. We're not good enough to contend, but too good to completely tank. It's a bad spot to be when there's a solid draft class coming up, but I'll still end up watching and cheering them on this season.

[crazyeights]

You tank when you realize it can't be done. We have until the trade deadline to officially begin tank mode. If we come to find out that Kobe, Pau, Nash have one final push in them, then we hope that new chemistry and younger legs is enough to make some sort of difference and hopefully take down a top seed in the process.

Look if the lottery were the only way to win, then the Clippers would be the GOAT.

[dockingsched]

while i understand the desire by some for the lakers to go into full-tank mode, realistically i can't take that direction seriously while kobe is on the team. full-tank mode necessitates the end of the kobe era, and thats a hard pill to swallow. anyone that thinks the lakers can go into full tank mode with kobe still on the roster is crazy.

[semi-sentient]

Remember last off-season when the Lakers were a lock to reach the Finals?

Yeah, there's no reason to take anyone serious when it comes to making predictions. None of us know what's going to happen, but on paper this team is exceptional offensively and that's good enough to get a decent seed in the playoffs. Our defense is what will prevent us from advancing once we get there.

[stunnar0b]

Our offense will definitely be better then last year but our defense will take a huge ****. I say we're for sure in the lottery, even with a prime Kobe we we a lottery team one year see the year Bynum got drafted.

Here's to being one of the worst teams in the nba next year

[Tylerfisher51]

We aren't in tank mode!!!im so sick of people saying this!!

[gotokyo]

Wait.

So he calls this Lakers team w/ Kobe, Pau and Nash a lottery bound team based on how difficult the west competition is. But then goes on to say Dirk (coming off major surgery) all by himself was nearly good enough to make it in the playoffs?



Well who can argue with that logic?

[leeprettyp]

Wait.

So he calls this Lakers team w/ Kobe, Pau and Nash a lottery bound team based on how difficult the west competition is. But then goes on to say Dirk (coming off major surgery) all by himself was nearly good enough to make it in the playoffs?



Well who can argue with that logic?

This!!! But I'm starting to used to the Lakers bashing and hate. I hope our guys use this underdog POV as fuel for the fire. I also wish Kobe would come back and play at a high level like last season. I'm not saying we should be considered favorites because we're not but man can we at least play the 1st 25 games of the season before we just flat out say we stink. I actually like the off-season moves so far, and if we can grab a defensive player at the PF position (maybe odom) and another wing defender we can surprise some people. Its a reason why we play the games.

[BEazy]

Mitch getting our team younger with 1 year vet min contracts is something that not a lot of GMs can do. I hope they keep writing us off. Surprise season!

[DEEP3CL]

News flash to "writer guys"......first off they've never picked up a ball on a serious level, and secondly youth was the Lakers main weakness. They addressed that depth in key spots. Third I'm not super sold on Golden St, they lost too many key pieces and they have NO backup for Cotton Ankles Curry. And it's no way in hell teams like Portland, Minny, and New Orleans will out play the Lakers.

The media is going to jaunt this stuff out all season, I don't listen to them because more than 85% of the time they're wrong. I mean those guys are just like the high school floozy chic we've all seen on campus, raving and getting excited about any new dude she ain't pulled the panties down for.

I don't buy just because Portland " fattened up its bench", that they're going to be way better than us. Hell LaMarcus Aldridge wants out in the worst way but he's being classy about it. Denver lost Karl, yeah B.Shaw will be or do ok but they lost Iggy and Brewer and who in the hell knows how Gallo comes back. I'd rather take Kobe's injury than the one Gallo has. Hell he was already unathletic to begin with, now he has to rehab a knee ? And knee rehab takes 2 years max.

So while the Warriors may be one of the so called locks to get in, I see the Spurs taking a step back too. And OKC will struggle without a pure 3rd scorer unless they get lucky as hell with the Jackson kid stepping up. And Houston isn't surrounded with the shooters the media has pegged them with.

Being real about it the only spots that's for sure locks is 1 and 2 and that's going to be between Memphis and the Clips, I see OKC 3rd. But that's about it, I think injuries will tap one of the elites...you can bank on that.

And that's going to have an impact on how the rest plays out. But we're not a lottery team.

[Lost Angel]

i dont mind being the underdog for once


also--if we suck, we'll suck badly. i don't mind being in the lottery this year. i know it sucks cause Kobe is almost done, but if there is any year to be in the lottery, then this one is it.

[Tylerfisher51]

i dont mind being the underdog for once


also--if we suck, we'll suck badly. i don't mind being in the lottery this year. i know it sucks cause Kobe is almost done, but if there is any year to be in the lottery, then this one is it.

yea but we won't suck

[PandGneverfold]

Sounds like sour grapes to me. Mitch did an excellent job this off season. Clowns thought once howard left no one would want to come here at all. Mitch has rounded this roster out fine considering what he had to work with. Without the locker room distraction here we should be fine. I'm looking forward to an exciting season. **** the naysayers.

[Slick Southpaw]

you people who think the lakers are somehow contending this year will be in for a rude awakening.

utterly rude awakening.

We will be tanking indirectly because of our roster in comparison to other teams in this brutal western conference.

you guys will know soon enough.

Just dont forget a lot of you are deluded enough to think this roster can compete.

It cannot. That grantland piece is on point. Mark my words.

[dAdo dA dEvil]

... i'm starting to like how they count us out ...

... wait till we drop the surprise this season ... ^_^

[dockingsched]

you people who think the lakers are somehow contending this year will be in for a rude awakening.

utterly rude awakening.

We will be tanking indirectly because of our roster in comparison to other teams in this brutal western conference.

you guys will know soon enough.

Just dont forget a lot of you are deluded enough to think this roster can compete.

It cannot. That grantland piece is on point. Mark my words.

i think "the people" that you are attacking that think the lakers are going to contend exist solely in your head.

[trevor0333]

News flash to "writer guys"......first off they've never picked up a ball on a serious level, and secondly youth was the Lakers main weakness. They addressed that depth in key spots. Third I'm not super sold on Golden St, they lost too many key pieces and they have NO backup for Cotton Ankles Curry. And it's no way in hell teams like Portland, Minny, and New Orleans will out play the Lakers.

The media is going to jaunt this stuff out all season, I don't listen to them because more than 85% of the time they're wrong. I mean those guys are just like the high school floozy chic we've all seen on campus, raving and getting excited about any new dude she ain't pulled the panties down for.

I don't buy just because Portland " fattened up its bench", that they're going to be way better than us. Hell LaMarcus Aldridge wants out in the worst way but he's being classy about it. Denver lost Karl, yeah B.Shaw will be or do ok but they lost Iggy and Brewer and who in the hell knows how Gallo comes back. I'd rather take Kobe's injury than the one Gallo has. Hell he was already unathletic to begin with, now he has to rehab a knee ? And knee rehab takes 2 years max.

So while the Warriors may be one of the so called locks to get in, I see the Spurs taking a step back too. And OKC will struggle without a pure 3rd scorer unless they get lucky as hell with the Jackson kid stepping up. And Houston isn't surrounded with the shooters the media has pegged them with.

Being real about it the only spots that's for sure locks is 1 and 2 and that's going to be between Memphis and the Clips, I see OKC 3rd. But that's about it, I think injuries will tap one of the elites...you can bank on that.

And that's going to have an impact on how the rest plays out. But we're not a lottery team.

I guarantee Portland & MN finish ahead of the Lakers, any team relying on Wesley Johnson playing a significant role isn't going anywhere but the lottery.

[gotokyo]

I think the Lakers are contenders this year.


Come at me bro!

[Puffthemagic]

I dont get it...are we suppose to bash our team...no.. I think most of us are happy that we have players that want to be here, and hope they give us an honest level effort.