L.A. Lakers 08-09 Season (official thread)

[OCBucksFan]

Originally Posted by schwab

Yep

I held out hope for awhile, but probably not this year.

I need to look myself, but who is eligible to leave? This team is as young as good teams get. [citation needed]

Odoms contract is up at the end of the year. I believe next year Kobe can opt out of his contract as well. I expect Kobe to opt out in order to get a maxed out deal.

[schwab]

Originally Posted by OCBucksFan

Odoms contract is up at the end of the year. I believe next year Kobe can opt out of his contract as well. I expect Kobe to opt out in order to get a maxed out deal.

Since we didn't trade Odom when we possibly could have, I am lead to believe we sign him back up. I love it when he comes off the bench. He seems to fit what we need, when we need it. He has owned it since Bynum got hurt.

Kobe will retire as a Laker. I see no other viable option. For the Lakers, I mean. EDIT: I know you didn't imply he would leave, just leverage for more money. Can't blame him.

EDIT: Are these the only question marks? This team is loaded.

[OCBucksFan]

Originally Posted by schwab

Since we didn't trade Odom when we possibly could have, I am lead to believe we sign him back up. I love it when he comes off the bench. He seems to fit what we need, when we need it. He has owned it since Bynum got hurt.

Kobe will retire as a Laker. I see no other viable option. For the Lakers, I mean. EDIT: I know you didn't imply he would leave, just leverage for more money. Can't blame him.

EDIT: Are these the only question marks? This team is loaded.

Yeah, Bynum got a contract this year, I think Gasol has 2 years remaining, Sasha, Ariza, Farmar, and Walton all recently got deals. Fisher has no desire to leave, in fact he did everything in his power to get back to LA. The two guys they picked up in the Vladrad trade will probably be released for cap space.

And as for your Kobe edit, he's not just leveraging for more money, it's a move to make sure he doesn't end up in a trade anytime soon. He'll sign for another 6, meaning when he's done he'll be 37, maxed out deal, not bad, and sadly, that will probably be it for his career.

[schwab]

Originally Posted by OCBucksFan

Yeah, Bynum got a contract this year, I think Gasol has 2 years remaining, Sasha, Ariza, Farmar, and Walton all recently got deals. Fisher has no desire to leave, in fact he did everything in his power to get back to LA. The two guys they picked up in the Vladrad trade will probably be released for cap space.

And as for your Kobe edit, he's not just leveraging for more money, it's a move to make sure he doesn't end up in a trade anytime soon. He'll sign for another 6, meaning when he's done he'll be 38, maxed out deal, not bad, and sadly, that will probably be it for his career.

BEST CASE SCENARIO: Maybe this time next year LA could make a run at MJ's Bulls. 72-10 is nasty. If the Black Mamba wants the marginal fans to lean his way, he needs to win the NBA Championship this season, giving him 4. And then take down that single-season team-record record next year at 73-9 on the way to his second straight NBA title. And then win another. LeBron is what stands in his way. And a lot of luck.

I did say best case scenario, not that it would ever happen, Cavs lurkers.

[muffler dragon]

Originally Posted by schwab

I did say best case scenario, not that it would ever happen, Cavs lurkers.

As an aside, I must admit that though I have been a Lakers fan since '79, Lebron holds a special place in my heart. It's hard for me to not want success for the Cavs and him.

[OCBucksFan]

Not so much Lakers related, but...

There's 2 teams playing in Staples Center and the Celtics will not win there in the regular season.

Grats Clippers.

[fourteenandoh]

i asked BB for a suns/lakers bet. lakers -11.5

should be easy money for y'all

[OCBucksFan]

Didn't realize Nash was out tonight, man, talk about a skeleton crew for the Suns. Overall, good that the Lakers got to rest the starters for a good portion of the second half. I always hate our garbage time though, it seems like it's all about Sasha trying to inflate his stats instead of just slowing down to the game, running the clock and putting the opposition out of their misery, instead, it's everyone running up and down trying to toss in three pointers. Bleh, either way, I ain't complaining.

[schwab]

LAKERS: Lakers Gameday | 02/26/09 | Lakers 132, Suns 106

Bryant's Lakers beat Shaq's Suns 132-106

LOS ANGELES(AP) Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal got together for the first time since sharing MVP honors at the All-Star game. It was no contest, especially without Steve Nash.
The Los Angeles Lakers scored 70 points in the first half and rolled past the Nash-less Phoenix Suns 132-106 Thursday night for their sixth consecutive victory.
Bryant had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers, while O'Neal had 12 points and seven rebounds for the Suns, who trail first-place Los Angeles by 15 games in the Pacific Division.
The good feelings shared by Bryant and O'Neal during All-Star weekend in Phoenix continued in their seventh career head-to-head meeting. Bryant put his left arm around O'Neal and thumped him on the chest with his right fist before tip-off after teammate Luke Walton hugged O'Neal.
O'Neal was warmly received by the crowd at Staples Center, where the Lakers improved to 27-4 and have won four in a row.
Lamar Odom had 23 points to lead the Lakers and Pau Gasol added 16 points and nine rebounds.
Leandro Barbosa and Alando Tucker, who started in place of Nash, led Phoenix with 18 points each, and Jason Richardson added 13. Alvin Gentry fell to 4-2 as interim coach.
The Suns had won four of their previous five games since the All-Star break, but they played without All-Stars Nash and Amare Stoudemire, putting them at a decided disadvantage before the game even started.
Nash is day to day with a sprained right ankle suffered Tuesday night against Charlotte, while Stoudemire could be away up to eight weeks after having eye surgery last Friday.
The Suns fell to 2-4 this season without Nash in the lineup, and 6-17 in games without him since the 2004-05 season.


Cont..

[OCBucksFan]

Worst first half of a Lakers game I have seen in a long time.

[schwab]

That's alright. Nuggets win, I like me some nuggets. No team can beat LAL in a best of 7.

[muffler dragon]

Second worst shooting night since moving to LA, and only losing by 11 to Denver.

Color me not worried.

[OCBucksFan]

Originally Posted by muffler dragon

Second worst shooting night since moving to LA, and only losing by 11 to Denver.

Color me not worried.

Yeah, that was just a strange game, neither team played well and just some easy shots were missed. Meh, a loss is good every once in a while, get the Lakers refocused.

[OCBucksFan]

And the Lakers forget how to play defense. Gah

[OCBucksFan]

Sloppy game, you're not going to win when you send the other team to the line 42 times.