The Optimistic Thread! (TRD's FREEDOM THREAD!)

v1n5anity · by **v1n5anity** on Wed Jan 09, 2013 9:00 pm

revgen wrote:
V1n5anity wrote:
revgen wrote:If we play defense like we did in the 4th quarter on a consistent basis, we'll turn this around.

Why does this team not show the sense of urgency from tip-off? I just don't understand.

Aynways, since this is the optimistic thread I'll add something positive by saying that Clark could be a useful bench player in certain matchups. He's honestly better than anything Ebanks has shown.

They showed that intensity from the tipoff against Houston to start the 1st quarter, then stopped playing defense for the rest of the game. Tonight, they played D in short spurts until the end of the game where they had a long stretch. It's about focus and intensity for 48 minutes.

I agree that Clark has shown more than Ebanks has in the last 2 years. I hope we see more minutes from him.

I missed yesterday's game, but you're definitely right about today. We had a long stretch in the 4th where we probably played our best D of the season. I just hope they figure out how to keep that intensity and focus up on the defensive end for the entire game -- and quick. Our window is closing.

lakersyunowin · by **lakersyunowin** on Wed Jan 09, 2013 9:12 pm

GoldenKnight wrote:Earl Clark

XXIV · by **XXIV** on Wed Jan 09, 2013 9:12 pm

Earl Clark, as well as the fact that we were able to make the game close despite not having 2 of our starters and our best bench player.

BDG · by **BDG** on Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:03 pm

Isn't this basically every game for the Lakers as of late?

Dig a deep hole then tighten up defensively in the 4th quarter and we almost come back and win?

It's very frustrating but I guess also a positive sign that we're able to do it in stretches.

Ariza3 · by **Ariza3** on Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:13 pm

basically they show some improvement in the 4th quarter and get the game close and then it doesn't carry over to the next game and 1st quarter there we suck

trodgers · by **trodgers** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 9:06 am

Doc Brown wrote:1.) Trade Pau + scraps for an athletic wing defender/shooter and stretch 4

2.) Sign Delonte

3.) Build some chemistry

4.) Sneak into the playoffs as the 6-8 seed

5.) Shock the world

ANYTHING...is possible!

therealdeal · by **therealdeal** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:08 am

If you can't find SOMETHING to be optimistic about from these last two games here's some help:

In the fourth quarter of last night's game we held San Antonio to only 23 points. We played swarming defense for probably 4 minutes and wreaked havoc on their offense.

Against a full strength San Antonio squad, missing key players once again, we came within one shot of Overtime/Winning the game. We can beat this team.

Earl Clark might not be an offensive genius, but he certainly can give us defense and rebounding. In the last two games without any of our rotation playing big men, he's given us a total of 22 rebounds.

Steve Nash in the last two games has given us 15/9.5/4 with a steal while shooting 55% and perfect from the line.

Metta World Peace has scored 24 points and 23 points in the last two games, helping take on that scoring dip without our big men. In the last two games: 23.5 points/ 7 rebounds/ 5 steals averaged. While shooting 53% from the field and 54% from deep.

He had SEVEN steals last night.

nickvanexel · by **nickvanexel** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:13 am

It's okay to be optimistic about actually found a potential good player on our bench. When we're gonna start using our bench better, chemistry will kick in...

therealdeal · by **therealdeal** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:14 am

Watching this team so far this season has been utterly frustrating. But the last two nights were what I was hoping for even if we lost both games.

I've seen more heart. I've seen more energy. I've seen them lock down defensively in stretches, something they haven't done ever. There's a ray of hope still for me and that's because I can see the wheels turning. Our team is like that car hanging off of a cliff in a movie. We're just about to fall off and the main character is mashing the gas pedal on the four-wheel drive. The wheels are turning and turning but we're still falling.

These last two games have given me hope that the wheels will catch and we'll be able to come off of this ledge. It's a slim chance, so slim that I can barely see it at times, but it's there. If this team can just capture what they had in that fourth quarter for TWO or THREE quarters a night, they'll win games. If they can get an entire game looking like last night they can make a run and make the playoffs. From there, we'll have to see, but it's possible. We've seen that this team can still make some noise. We saw last night against a VERY good team that our team can still do some GREAT things.

Fan is short for fanatic and that's how I follow this team: with insane faith. Maybe foolishly sometimes, but you can't be a die hard fan if you don't die hard with your team.

therealdeal · by **therealdeal** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:20 am

One last thing. Here's the stats from San Antonio's Core guys:

Parker: 10/16 24 points/ 6 assists/ 3 rebounds/ 2 steals 6 turnovers
Duncan: 4/13 8 points/ 7 rebounds/ 5 assists/ 4 blocks
Ginobili: 6/14 (2/7 from Three) 19 points/ 8 rebounds/ 4 assists/ 1 steal

We made these three guys work pretty hard, specifically Duncan had fits which is surprising given our lack of interior players last night. Parker had 6 turnovers so while he scored, we actually made his play making more of a non-factor. Ginobili scored his points, but we made him miss from deep.

The ones that beat us were actually Spiller and Jackson. If we had just one of our bigs back (Howard) that'd limit Spiller's effectiveness and it would allow us to move Artest to Jackson which would have limited him.

khmrP · by **khmrP** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:26 am

^^^artest was on Jackson for those 3 of the 4 3's he hit. He just completly lost him, i.e. the the 3 at top of the arc where Peace ran into the paint for no reason when there were no other spurs in there yet and Jackson just runs into a wide open transition 3.

therealdeal · by **therealdeal** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:29 am

khmrP wrote:^^^artest was on Jackson for those 3 of the 4 3's he hit. He just completly lost him, i.e. the the 3 at top of the arc where Peace ran into the paint for no reason when there were no other spurs in there yet and Jackson just runs into a wide open transition 3.

True, but the point is if you take Artest off of Jackson, who guards Manu? Then who guards Timmy? Then who guards Tony Parker? You know what I'm getting at?

We have to hide Nash somewhere, preferably not on anyone who is a legitimate scoring option. Unfortunately we don't have enough competent perimeter defenders to get the job done. If Artest's sole assignment was to guard Jackson, I have no doubt he would put Jackson in a box and make him his b****. But Artest last night was leaned on, especially in our run, to be the disruptor. He's a great disruptor, but he's a better one-on-one guy.

khmrP · by **khmrP** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:37 am

therealdeal wrote:
khmrP wrote:^^^artest was on Jackson for those 3 of the 4 3's he hit. He just completly lost him, i.e. the the 3 at top of the arc where Peace ran into the paint for no reason when there were no other spurs in there yet and Jackson just runs into a wide open transition 3.

True, but the point is if you take Artest off of Jackson, who guards Manu? Then who guards Timmy? Then who guards Tony Parker? You know what I'm getting at?

We have to hide Nash somewhere, preferably not on anyone who is a legitimate scoring option. Unfortunately we don't have enough competent perimeter defenders to get the job done. If Artest's sole assignment was to guard Jackson, I have no doubt he would put Jackson in a box and make him his b****. But Artest last night was leaned on, especially in our run, to be the disruptor. He's a great disruptor, but he's a better one-on-one guy.

yea he was a good disruptor for sure, I harp on him but honestly everyone is getting lose on the perimiter

wcsoldier81 · by **wcsoldier81** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:39 am

khmrP wrote:^^^artest was on Jackson for those 3 of the 4 3's he hit. He just completly lost him, i.e. the the 3 at top of the arc where Peace ran into the paint for no reason when there were no other spurs in there yet and Jackson just runs into a wide open transition 3.

Story of this team for some seasons ... the perimeter players like Metta and Kobe are running/staying into the paint for no reason and the opponent wings are getting wide open three one after the other

therealdeal · by **therealdeal** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:14 am

khmrP wrote:
therealdeal wrote:
khmrP wrote:^^^artest was on Jackson for those 3 of the 4 3's he hit. He just completly lost him, i.e. the the 3 at top of the arc where Peace ran into the paint for no reason when there were no other spurs in there yet and Jackson just runs into a wide open transition 3.

True, but the point is if you take Artest off of Jackson, who guards Manu? Then who guards Timmy? Then who guards Tony Parker? You know what I'm getting at?

We have to hide Nash somewhere, preferably not on anyone who is a legitimate scoring option. Unfortunately we don't have enough competent perimeter defenders to get the job done. If Artest's sole assignment was to guard Jackson, I have no doubt he would put Jackson in a box and make him his b****. But Artest last night was leaned on, especially in our run, to be the disruptor. He's a great disruptor, but he's a better one-on-one guy.

yea he was a good disruptor for sure, I harp on him but honestly everyone is getting lose on the perimiter

Yeah, but last night wasn't necessarily his fault. He was just doing whatever he could. Give us one of our bigs back, and things balance out better and that defensive surge at the end gets even stronger.

therealdeal · by **therealdeal** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:14 am

wcsoldier81 wrote:
khmrP wrote:^^^artest was on Jackson for those 3 of the 4 3's he hit. He just completly lost him, i.e. the the 3 at top of the arc where Peace ran into the paint for no reason when there were no other spurs in there yet and Jackson just runs into a wide open transition 3.

Story of this team for some seasons ... the perimeter players like Metta and Kobe are running/staying into the paint for no reason and the opponent wings are getting wide open three one after the other

Not optimism.

kobe2413 · by **kobe2413** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:39 am

i still believe in this team! count me in!

karacha · by **karacha** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 11:43 am

I like Clark. He is very energetic, long and rebounds extremely well. I think MDA can use him in his regular rotation to back up Ron/Kobe. If he doesn't give us points on a consistent basis, at least he'll play D and rebound, and that's huge for this team.

Also, I think our guys are playing with more passion now. This should be enough for the Lakers to sneak into the playoffs, if Pau and Dwight can be "infected" with this energy. Pau more then Dwight obviously. This kind of positive attitude also builds chemistry. Something we desperately need.

borri · by **borri** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:17 pm

If Clark puts together consistent consecutive performances at 50% of his offensive output against SAS and maintains his intensity and hustle defensively.....we've found another J. Hill here folks.

therealdeal · by **therealdeal** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:20 pm

^ Say that happens, which is possibly but unlikely (we could have another Ebanks on our hands as well). What's our rotation look like?

Nash/Duhon
Kobe/Meeks
Artest/Kobe
Gasol/Artest/Clark
Howard/Hill/Clark

Still not enough minutes...

borri · by **borri** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:25 pm

therealdeal wrote:^ Say that happens, which is possibly but unlikely (we could have another Ebanks on our hands as well). What's our rotation look like?

Nash/Duhon
Kobe/Meeks
Artest/Kobe
Gasol/Artest/Clark
Howard/Hill/Clark

Still not enough minutes...

IF that happens...and that's a pretty big IF, it can offer us some flexibility in terms of a Gasol trade. We can afford to do a big for small, which obviously usually is a bad thing. Now we have depth at the 4 and 5, with Hill and Clark at the 3 and 4.

therealdeal · by **therealdeal** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:31 pm

^ That's what I was thinking too actually. He doesn't have to give us a double-double honestly. If he can just come out with the same energy and passion he showed last night, even if he's not productive, that'll help us immensely. More than what Gasol is giving us right now.

That means we could trade Gasol for more 2/3 depth, maybe 1/2 depth.

Texas Lakers Fan · by **Texas Lakers Fan** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:35 pm

Last night gave me renewed hope for this season. Earl Clark was obviously terrific, but the fact that we even had a chance to tie the game with all those guys out Dwight, Hill, and Gasol speaks volumes. If we can win tommorow night against Oklahoma City then we could go on a long winning streak.

borri · by **borri** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:43 pm

Kobe should call Ron Harper and have him come in and teach Clark how to play smart defense, play the right angles.

Imagine if Clark can learn how to play smart D like Ron harper, we'd have a gem on our hands at the defensive end. His length and athleticism would give 2's fits.

Doc Brown · by **Doc Brown** on Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:14 pm

Texas Lakers Fan wrote:Last night gave me renewed hope for this season. Earl Clark was obviously terrific, but the fact that we even had a chance to tie the game with all those guys out Dwight, Hill, and Gasol speaks volumes. If we can win tommorow night against Oklahoma City then we could go on a long winning streak.

I think your username should be Spatula.

The Optimistic Thread! (TRD's FREEDOM THREAD!)

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