KINGS
NBA 2014-2015 Season Discussion
- Thread starter Captain Clark Terrell
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Pop is not afraid of ruffling a few feathers if he of a mind to. He had many Lakers fans up in arms a few years ago when he said, in response to the Lakers' acquisition of Pau Gasol wthout having to give up Lamar Odom, something like, "that trade needs to be investigated". A lot of fans were pissed about that statement. I wasn't one of them. Pop and Phil Jackson are cut from similar cloth; neither is afraid to say what is on their minds no matter what. That is why I take what Pop says about Kobe as gospel.
BTW, I loved the thing about Lamar. Most (other than Lakers' fans) people were upset about the Lakers' getting Pau alone, but, as Pop pointed out, the real problem for the rest of the league was that we got Pau AND kept Lamar.
Keep in mind, Kobe didn't ask for that salary. The Lakers org offered it in order to ensure he wouldn't leave, not for more money, but for an opportunity at another ring. Had he opted to enter free agency, he would have had to accept a lesser salary to sign with any other team.
How has his contract "hurt the Lakers tremendously"? The team still had enough cap space to sign another max player despire Kobe's salary.
And I disagree with you, the Spurs would sign a player for $48 mil IF they thought that player could be an integral part of another championship.
If the Lakers were in the east they'd have a shot at an 8th seed, but in the west there is no way this side of a miracle that an 8th seed will happen for them. The roster is jut too weak. [/quote]
I certainly hope you aren't blaming Kobe for the Lakers poor roster. Even LeBron or KD would have a nearly impossible job trying to get this ragtag bunch into the playoffs in the west.
Yeah, I think both Howard and Harden are losers at their core. Could be wrong but don't think so.
Kings always appear to have a bunch of young talent on the roster and not much good veteran leadership or coaching. Golden State used to be this way too and look at them now.
Spurs pay 48 million for 36 year-old Kobe? No. Kawhi? Sure.
What cap space? 8 million?
Why is Kobe so beyond reproach in your eyes...? It's amazing.
But results will speak for themselves looks like.
What cap space? 8 million?
Why is Kobe so beyond reproach in your eyes...? It's amazing.
But results will speak for themselves looks like.
In your original comment on the subject you expressed skepticism about the Spurs' willingness to sign a player for 48 mil...you didn't put any age parameters on that player. However I STILL disagree with you. If the Spurs had a chance to sign a player they felt was the key to another championship, they'd do it in a heartbeat even if that player was a 36 year old.
Again, they'd be fools not too. BTW, using your reasoning, the Spurs should already have dumped both Timmie and Manu.
(sigh) Before the season started, the Lakers had enough cap space to sign a max player along with Kobe's contract. Why the frack do you think we were trying so hard to sign Melo?
Because most of their contracts are expiring after this season, the Lakers will again have the space for a max contract this coming off season.
He's not, you simply have not come up with any valid criticism except that he's shooting too much this season. Most of the stuff you've come up with is pretty easily rebutted or explained.
And I ask again, how has Kobe's contract hurt the Lakers tremendously, as you wrote?
"Results"? The results this season for the Lakers will be a 10th or lower spot in the west, or do you think it's possible for this roster to get an 8th seed in the west?
And then some. Aside from Kobe, they have like $11M in salary obligations for next season, plus a $9M option on Jordan Hill that they will presumably exercise. So that's $25M for Kobe, $9M for Hill, and another $11M, totalling $45M. Presumably a top-5 pick, so let's call it 50. Isn't the cap projected to go up to something around $80M? They have a good chance to be a significant player in the West next season.
Leaving my Suns with a pick in the 20’s from the Nash trade. Fair enough, considering how little Nash contributed to the Lakers, but a real bummer from my perspective.
Nash wanted his money.
Generally gblews:
- Tim and Manu took less money to maintain consistency. Spurs exemplify team ball, not hero ball, and that's my cup of tea. It isn't everyone's I realize that.
- Yes with that roster if they played smart and were coached well, they could well get the 8th seed. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen though--very competitive.
- If the Lakers had the money, why did they fail to attract any help? Why did Pao leave? Why did Howard leave?
- I understand--you're a diehard Lakers and Kobe fan, and that's okay. Doesn't make your perspective (or mine) the gospel truth.
Shocked that Houston beat Dallas--statement game to be sure.
Generally gblews:
- Tim and Manu took less money to maintain consistency. Spurs exemplify team ball, not hero ball, and that's my cup of tea. It isn't everyone's I realize that.
- Yes with that roster if they played smart and were coached well, they could well get the 8th seed. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen though--very competitive.
- If the Lakers had the money, why did they fail to attract any help? Why did Pao leave? Why did Howard leave?
- I understand--you're a diehard Lakers and Kobe fan, and that's okay. Doesn't make your perspective (or mine) the gospel truth.
Shocked that Houston beat Dallas--statement game to be sure.
From what I have read, the cap isn't expected to be quite that high so we won't have as much spending power as you suggest, but it will be significant.
That pick!
(although, given what we knew back then, I still think the trade was a very good idea.That is the one most fans are hoping returns to us if the Lakers finish with one of the 5 worst records in the league. I hate to use the "T" word, but the best thing for the franchise and it's near future is a horrible record this season.
These days, the elite free agents choose where they go based more on where they can most likely win a championship. With Nash's frailty and Dwight leaving, we derinitely didn't have that look, even with Pau. And also, you know, D'Antoni...
IMO, Dwight left because he didn't want Kobe breathing down his neck about his intensity and desire to win a championship. Winning a championship, I believe, is "important" to Dwight, it's just not THAT important. He didn't want to be in a situation where there was player who "outranked" him -- a player to whom he might have to answer. Even though he has only been to one Finals (and gotten his ass kicked there), Dwight sees himself on the same level as, say, Tim Duncan -- I know,
. But that is how he came across here. He went to the Rockets looking for a team where he could be the "boss". He wanted a team of guys who had not doneanything in the league and who would look up to him, the way Kobe, Duncan, LeBron, and others who have accomplished muhc much more than he. Also, he left because of the high expectations here. We want rings, not just a "fun" season. Dwight also left because of D'Antoni and I couldn't blame him for that.
IMO, Pau left because of D'Antoni and because the roster looked so bad. He has intimated that he might have stayed if we had signed Melo.
I know. You thought it was all because of Kobe, right? Because of those BS ESPN articles by Henry Abbott. And it is easy to believe that stuff because of all the things you think you know about Kobe. Most of those things probably are things you're read in articles written outside of L.A.
Here's the thing, because the Lakers and Kobe are such a popular talking point among NBA writers, we see lots nationlly published articles, most of them critical of Kobe or the Lakers' org (lately). Writing a Lakers/Kobe "hit" piece is guaranteed to generate hits, both pro and con. Much of what is written outside of L.A., about the Lakers and Kobe, is inaccurate, slanted and many times outright lies or negative speculation presented as fact. So, if you you are quoting info from some article, especially if it's from ESPN, I'm likely to call you on it or at least ask you to explain.
No other team or player in the league gets this type of treatment. But a lot of it comes from winning the way the Lakers have over the years.
That's just like me saying you want to blame everyone but Kobe. I do believe he's a big--not the only--reason why the Lakers failed to attract any marquee players or keep Howard (Duncan? ), both due to his alpha dog personality and huge contract extension.
Upper level mismanagement of the new coach hire at that time is also partially to blame, of course. Jackson's return might have resulted in a massaging of egos and molding of a team then including Howard into a contender, you never know. D'Antoni was a piss-poor choice.
And "don't shoot threes" Scott is likely not the solution to their coaching problems either. Especially when Kobe will play hero ball and shoot the 3 anyway, as he did against the Nuggets twice to eventually lose the game...
I know--he makes it, he's the Mamba, the greatest finisher in the game. He doesn't, it's because his teammates weren't playing hard or effectively.
Uh-oh. New York just lost again. Deep breaths, Phil....!
), both due to his alpha dog personality and huge contract extension.Upper level mismanagement of the new coach hire at that time is also partially to blame, of course. Jackson's return might have resulted in a massaging of egos and molding of a team then including Howard into a contender, you never know. D'Antoni was a piss-poor choice.
And "don't shoot threes" Scott is likely not the solution to their coaching problems either. Especially when Kobe will play hero ball and shoot the 3 anyway, as he did against the Nuggets twice to eventually lose the game...
I know--he makes it, he's the Mamba, the greatest finisher in the game. He doesn't, it's because his teammates weren't playing hard or effectively.
Uh-oh. New York just lost again. Deep breaths, Phil....!
If you think this Lakers' roster is good, then I question your knowledge of basketball.That's just like me saying you want to blame everyone but Kobe. I do believe he's a big--not the only--reason why the Lakers failed to attract any marquee players or keep Howard (Duncan?
Kobe has set a standard, and if it appears to whomever the free agent is, that that standard is too high, then that guy probably should not be a Laker. Kobe's standard is, you play hard, practise hard, work hard, in order to win. No excuses.
Carmelo Anthony nearly decided to play for the Lakers this past off season. Had LeBron not made "going home" a thing, he probably would have signed with the Lakers and that would have kept Pau here.
Kobe's shot totals have always gone up in years where we haven't had the offensive fire power to compete. It's just that when this happens people seem to forget that it is not the way he has always played. In championship years, though he is the undisputed team leader, he has tailors his game to fit his teammates. Do you honestly think that Kobe could have won 5 championships taking 30 shots a game?
People who don't like Kobe for various reasons have no problems emphasizing perceived "negative" parts of his game while downplaying the great parts, but the one thing they never seem to be able to reconcile is those 7 Finals appearances and 5 Titles.
Oh? What's that you say? Timmie and the Spurs only have 6 Finals appearances? How could THAT be
No one is talking about how incredible it is for a 30 something year old to come back and play at this level after a torn achilles and a fractured knee. If this were any other player, that would be the hot topic. But it's Kobe, so lets talk about his shot totals and his contract.
Yes, it wasn't so much that I was against his hire, I just thought they should have interviewed additional candidates. It seemed that No ONE wanted Byron but the Lakers.
You're describing the reaction to LeBron here, not Kobe. Kobe gets critized when he misses and just for shooting. You watch, if the Cavs continue to struggle, the sports media (and many fans) will sart to point the fingers at LeBron's teammates (that's good, so maybe K Love comes to L.A.), and coaches. Kobe is he only player in the league who is expected to "make his teammates better" no matter who those teammates are. .
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KINGS!
Stephen Curry.
--Sran
--Sran
Oh yeah.
Kings...
Boogie still in beast mode though.
Kings...
Boogie still in beast mode though.
His USA experience this past summer really helped him--as it seems to help a lot of young players; he's playing the way everyone knew he could if he find the right balance between intensity and self-control.
--Sran
I was one of the doubters--then I remembered he's 24! Kudos to Coach K, regardless of Malone's quip about the USA team meaning nothing. Sure it's up to Cuz to seize control of himself, but environment matters!
Plus he's had to hold Malone back already! 1 technical in 14 games... on track for 5?
Oh and--SPURS!
Now my quandary--what team do I root for on Friday?
Plus he's had to hold Malone back already!
1 technical in 14 games... on track for 5?Oh and--SPURS!
Now my quandary--what team do I root for on Friday?
Interesting stat about Kobe and the Lakers: The Lakers are being outscored by 9.4 points per game. Kobe's +/- per game is -9.7. So the Lakers are actually scoring more than they're giving up when Kobe's on the bench, but are getting killed when he's on the court. How is that happening?
Ill-advised hero ball threes at the end of ballgames.
Well yesterday's game in particular then.
Spurs!!
Kings...
Kings...
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