They would have won it.
I also have to apologize to Mitch Kupchak, yeah he traded Shaq for a bag of peanuts, but he has made nice some nice moves lately. Not re-signing Smush Parker, trading Cook and Evans for Ariza and now this. Not to mention that he didn't trade Bynum when pretty much everyone in LA wanted him gone, and now looked how that worked out.
Fish
Kobe
Lamar
Gasol
Bynum
I would not have Gasol and Bynum in at the same time. I think we should give Bynum the start when he is fully healthy, put Ronny in the starting lineup as our power forward. That way when Bynum needs rest we'll have a very capable backup. What you guys think? Should Bynum and Gasol both be starting?
Originally posted by Lord Evolution
I would not have Gasol and Bynum in at the same time. I think we should give Bynum the start when he is fully healthy, put Ronny in the starting lineup as our power forward. That way when Bynum needs rest we'll have a very capable backup. What you guys think? Should Bynum and Gasol both be starting?
You have to start them both, no question. Our interior defense improves straight away with 2 great shotblockers (maybe im being kind to Gasol but he averages nearly 2 a game). Also our offense will run much smoother with Gasol at the high post and Bynum in the low block, Gasol has that mid range game that will open up some space for Bynum to work as he matures and improves. Lamar didnt give us that threat from mid range and good defensive teams like the Spurs, Pistons and Boston could just clog the middle and take Bynum out of his rhythm. Now he has space to operate and improve, at the rate he is learning he should be looking great by the playoffs.
Lamar now becomes the 4th and sometimes (if Fish or Farmar is on) the 5th scoring option, thats perfect for Lamar because scoring is the only thing he cant do consistently. Everything else (Rebounding, defense and playmaking) he does well and consistently.
Every player on the Lakers benefits from playing with Gasol for one reason or another, he is a great passer for a big man whether its throwing lobs to Bynum, Kobe or Ariza. Or finding Fisher, Farmar, Vlade or (i cant believe im gonna say this) Sasha for a wide open three. You have to play him as many minutes as possible at either PF or center. Bynum cant go 48 minutes yet so keep him fresh and run the more experienced Gasol plenty at center, he will eat most back up centers for breakfast anyway.
I cant belive how good this trade is for the Lakers, we may not win a title this year but we have a real shot now and many more if we can stay healthy.
Im sad to see Crittenton go, he will be a very exciting guard in the NBA. I had hoped to see him and Bynum develop as a nice tandem for the future, but this is a great move and at minimal risk. Sorry Kwame you have all the tool to be a superstar player but something is obviously missing, i'd even bring him back for cheap if he doesnt get picked up in free agency. He is a useful defender in the low post.
Great day to be a Laker fan, Myth i know as a Blazer fan you must be pissed but our teams are going to have some great battles in the playoffs for years to come so im looking forward to some trash talking if you're still around here.
Evo, how you like our front office now? Peace brotha! 😄
I love Sasha, I can't believe how underrated this guy is. He hits big shot after big shot yet every Lakers forum I go too, no one is talking about him. Fact of the matter is, he is our second best shooter on the team and our most reliable 3 point shooter. If Kobe isn't taking the game winning shot, I want it to be Sasha, that is how much I have came to trust him. He's more than just a shooter though, "the machine" is also a pretty nice defender and I've seen him actually driving the lane this season. He has brought us back in a few games this season, and helped us extend leads. He is an important part of the puzzle and I hope we don't trade him.
I would have liked to keep JC but we already have Fish and Farmar running the point with Sasha playing some point guard sometimes as well. He will develop into one of the leagues top point guards but I have a feeling Farmar will too. I'll miss him but I would rather have seen him go than Farmar.
I also hear rumors that this deal opened the door for a Kidd deal involving Lamar and Farmar. That would be a horible move. Kidd can't shoot and both Farmar and Fish have nice strokes. I think were a better team with both of them. Instead we should pursue Artest, I'd be willing to trade Odom any day.
Man, the Blazer game today makes me sad. We could have won in regulation if Outlaw knocks down both free throws. Then we have the ball with under 24 seconds in OT and Jack starts driving with about 15 seconds left and gets a turnover. He doesn't always make the best decisions. We would have jumped up to 8th, but instead fall back to 10th. I want to cry.
Thats all part of the "growing up" period that all young teams and players have to go through, the Blazers have already shown that they can play with any team and as they gain experience in closing out tight games it will benefit them in the long run. I love the team they have right now (probably my 2nd fave in the league) and when the big fella gets back next season they will already have young players that have some quality experience to go with him.
Some of the elite in the west like the Spurs and Suns are getting older and the window for contention is shrinking, the Suns have made some terrible financial decisions and the Spurs (even though they will play better in the playoffs) are running out of times where experience will trump talent. The Blazers have built a very talented team that works hard defensively and plays together and they will start to peak as the elite teams are on the downswing.
Keep your head up Myth, there is alot for Blazer fans to be happy about. Wasnt long ago that you had Darius Miles and Zach Randolph as the faces of your franchise, i'd definitely call that progress.
Shaq to Suns! Please let it become official. I don't think he will help them get a championship, and even if they win it, Nash will have an asterisk (*Could not win championship without Shaq). But you add that Shaq has already declined, can't run, and has a contract that will decimate the teams ability to prepare for the post-Nash era, and I am a happy man.
Kool- I think this goes with those financial decisions you were talking about.
Wow, Shaq to the Suns. This could actually be alot of fun in the playoffs, we all know what kind of shape Shaq is in but he can still read the game and if you surround him with shooters and finishers he might be able to help. Then again to find the open man you have to command a double team and i havent seen Shaq get doubled in a while.
Of course the financial ramifications are terrible for the Suns unless Shaq retires next season. Shaq is only going to miss more and more games as he gets older and 20mill is alot to pay for a player than is out for most of the season.
At the very least if we meet the Suns in the playoffs the TV networks can hype up the Shaq vs Kobe thing, maybe even the Shaq vs Bynum element might generate some more interest.