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

Haven't felt like this after a win in a looong time

We needed this win, in the WORST way.

Now let's build on this....please for the love of god!

we have the Pelicans and Suns next...we CAN build on this and get going



I BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

borri wrote:We needed this win, in the WORST way.

Now let's build on this....please for the love of god!

+1!!! This was awesome. Keep it rolling!!

great win, can't take any one or any game lightly anymore

Defense was great. Speficifically, Kobe on Westbrook, and Clark & Metta on Durant. Sure, Durant and Westbrook missed some open looks but for the most part the Lakers did as great a job as you could on those two superstars.

We won't shoot 55% percent every game; however, if our defense is consistently this good, we'll win most games...

dwighthowardsdad wrote:Defense was great. Speficifically, Kobe on Westbrook, and Clark & Metta on Durant. Sure, Durant and Westbrook missed some open looks but for the most part the Lakers did as great a job as you could on those two superstars.

We won't shoot 55% percent every game; however, if our defense is consistently this good, we'll win most games...

Exactly. While the Thunder are probably still the better team, today's validation of our latest team chemistry experiment should indicate success on the horizon...mainly because we have the talent to beat most teams easily. If they are all simply replicating the formula from the past few games, we should be experiencing some easy games against average opponents. Stay tuned...this just got even MORE interesting. There may just be light at the end of the tunnel...though that may be an oncoming train. Time will tell. Kobe, Good work. KEEP IT UP. PASS. Become an upgraded version of Jason Kidd...it's what this team needs.

Last game of the season is against the Rockets , a blowout win qualifies us for the playoffs ...

We upset the number 1 seed SAS in 6 ... beat the Grizz in 6 in the Semi Finals while the Floppers upset OKC in 7 ...

The battle of LA is on , we win Game 7 as Hack a Eandre and Ginger is in full effect ...

We meet the Heat in the Finals , Christina Bosh breaks his left leg by slipping in the pool while shooting for Maxim one week before the Finals ... we win the title in 6.

Good night

dwighthowardsdad wrote:Defense was great. Speficifically, Kobe on Westbrook, and Clark & Metta on Durant. Sure, Durant and Westbrook missed some open looks but for the most part the Lakers did as great a job as you could on those two superstars.

We won't shoot 55% percent every game; however, if our defense is consistently this good, we'll win most games...

Their "improved" defensive play has more to do with scrapping MDAs offense than anything else..... better floor balance when shots go up the last 2 games which leads to being in better position to defend the transition forcing the game to half court basketball and like I've been saying all along, our half court defense is not as bad as this coach has made it look...........it's all about the irresponsible floor balance and perimeter shooting by choice in the name of offense that was a HUGE issue for this team.

As long as PRINGLES stays out of the darn way and we actually have some off-ball player movement along with touches from the most "inefficient" part of the floor than this team has a chance to make a run and possibly make the playoffs............ but that's a huge if for an ego-maniac like Pringles.

revgen wrote:^Offense has nothing to do with it. We turned the ball over 18 times against the Jazz.

You're definitely right about our defensive intensity but you don't think our improved play has anything to do with offense??

So, the touches that everyone is getting doesn't energize the guys and make them more involved?

The floor spacing we're using now doesn't allow us to get back in transition easier?

Our ball movement doesn't keep the defense on their toes, more pressured, and making it harder for them to run freely on us?

Our spacing getting us offensive rebounds doesn't lead to less offensive opportunities for the opponent?

A lot of our "extra" TO's are Dwight getting stripped and Ron making terrible decisions on offense. If you remove those, we have 4-6 less TO's a game.

3 in a row

duhon and morris are now buried on the bench with blake back

3 win streak. Let's see what happens now, but I am optimistic.

Lets show we are on one and bring a great win for the Nash in his return to Cleveland.

Kobe and Nash at 35 and 34 minutes played.

puffyusaf#2 wrote:Lets show we are on one and bring a great win for the Nash in his return to Cleveland.

Kobe and Nash at 35 and 34 minutes played.

or in his return to phoenix, either way.

Lakers are starting to look like a Mike D'Antoni team, which is both a positive and optimistic thing as well as a negative and pessimistic thing. Mostly though their offense looks amazing lately, but they are still suffering from some of the worst defensive lapses possible, honestly though, if they can ratchet up their defense for a full 48, this team is starting to look very good all of a sudden.

I'm very encouraged. The offense looked crisp all game long. We're actually looking like a team out there with everybody working toward the same goal. Passing was fantastic, the ball & players moved; it was great to see.

I'm looking foward to this roadtrip.

Forward Three wrote:Lakers are starting to look like a Mike D'Antoni team, which is both a positive and optimistic thing as well as a negative and pessimistic thing. Mostly though their offense looks amazing lately, but they are still suffering from some of the worst defensive lapses possible, honestly though, if they can ratchet up their defense for a full 48, this team is starting to look very good all of a sudden.

the offense looks good, but it doesn't look like D'antoni offense, which is the best thing about it.

34 assists on 39 made baskets. pretty ridiculous.

Hey man 3 wins in a row. Who can complain about that?

steve blake looked good out there in limited minutes. can def be a better backup pg than morris or duhon. gotta get into game shape and he'll be solid. blake/meeks/clark/jamison lineup was pretty damn solid and he looked confident out there.

kobe hugging him at the end is always good to see. seems to help bring team together with his effort

therealdeal wrote:Hey man 3 wins in a row. Who can complain about that?

there's several posters who could, would and probably will.

Looking like the are rounding themselves together as a group so the upcoming road trip isn't as daunting or concerning as it would have been a week ago.