WMC 12/13: Mercy kill. (0-4)

Gatsby needs to heal NOW. Can't really gauge how we REALLY are until he runs the point for this offense.

Kobe has done what he can in replacement. But Kobe is not a natural PG. That's not his game.

Sorry, I need to vent:
I tell you, I can deal with the occasional loss here and there, and even the sticker where the team just doesn't show up, but it's a day later and this latest loss is still pissing me off, more so than the previous ones. I guess the reason is the previous game against Denver was such a good game played by the Lakers that it almost had me thinking maybe they had it figured out, they've turned it around and now's the time to go that winning streak everyone is waiting for. Ha, silly me! Then they turn around and crap their pants against a team that's not even close to .500. And the frustrating thing is this isn't the first time they've done it.
They played dominantly against Detroit, then laid an egg against Utah, they played spectacular during Bickerstaff's tenure winning 5 out of six games by an average margin of 13 points, then turned around and faltered to Sac town, destroyed Dallas, then a few days later forgot to show up against Indiana, and then this latest fiasco against Orlando right after playing probably their best game of the season thus far.
I don't know, maybe I'm expecting too much too soon? Maybe the theory "need time to gel" is proving its case? Maybe blame Howard's FT shooting? I will agree that some games this season were lost due to poor FT shooting and not just on Howard's part, but the fact is, Shaq was a famously bad FT shooter yet those Laker teams still found ways to win. I know the consensus around here and the league is wait until Nash is back and see how they look, but I refuse to rest my hopes of this team getting better on the shoulders of a 38 year old Nash. A still good 38 year old, but nonetheless it's only 1 player. I agree with Worthy when he said the defense and effort is a problem. Until corrected it will continue to be a major problem. When you have arguably the best 2 guard in the game today, the best defensive center in the game, a top 10 (when he's wearing his big boy pants) PF/C in the game, a slower yet still defensively strong SF, plus a bench that's starting to find its groove, this back and forth play great then play horribly is inexcusable. The Lakers have SHOWN they can dominate. They've done it several times this season already.
I still believe they can get to that point with or without Nash, but for pete's sake, these guys are getting paid millions of dollars, give us fans what we're waiting for.
Ok I'm done....for now.

Anyone remember the time when we thought we wouldn't need a WMC thread?

Still couldn't accept that we lost to the worst team in the league at our own stadium in front of our own fans.

This Orlando Magic team is really garbage in the league yet we're humiliated and embarrassed by them. Unbelievable.

Just re-watched that last 7 minutes. The 1st shot was uncontested...then there was a bogus foul on Kobe on an Afllalo missed layup, then every shot we had a hand in their face. Seriously the Magic just made EVERYTHING. Stepback 3s from 28 feet, contested catch and shoot from 28 feet, I know Big Baby was semi-open Js but what the hell its Big Baby he isnt some prolific jumpshooter. Just not our night, this Magic team was making jumpers that whole stretch. Ridiculous shooting. You rotate over to cover the shooters the middle was open for Vucevi for few layups and dunks.

One time Jamison comes over and blocks a guy at the rim but was not able to finish the posession off

From what i notice in that video ^^^ is that MWP is a terrible defender and kobe is always looking for help on D.

Damn 35 in 7 minutes? This just proves that it's our defense that's the issue and not our offense. We're scoring enough points and if we can just hold the opposing team down to less than 100 we shouldn't have much trouble winning games. With MDA as our coach it doesn't look like the defense will improve that much altogether, but I'll wait until Dwight returns to 100% and Nash returns to give Kobe some rest before I really write this team off defensively. The potential is there, the effort isn't.

Magic just beat the 1st place Warriors

kenzo wrote:F*** this. Im taking a break from Lakers b-ball for the rest of the year. Im not staying up till 6-7 am to watch this pathetic "thing". Come back Steve... bye Pau.

I feel you on this man ... getting up at 3:30 am to watch this garbage against the Magic ... I will watch the games on the evening when back from work for a while ( that's the good thing with ILP , you can (re)watch the game when you want).

I'm sure not getting up at 2.am to watch the Rockets and Hornets games

JGC wrote:Anyone remember the time when we thought we wouldn't need a WMC thread?

Not realy ... but i remember Metta talking about breaking Bulls record

Gasol can heal all he wants, he is just a terrible fit and unable to adjust.

We have suffered defensively for years because of his soft play and awful athleticism. its time to trade him for a PF that fits the bill. An athletic stretch 4 or a defensive beast. Pau is the worst of both worlds...slow and un-athletic on defense and not able to run or stretch the floor on offense.

itll be a cold day in hell if we win it all this year

The Los Angeles Lakers have recalled center Robert Sacre from the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League.

Starting at center for the D-Fenders’ first three games of the season, Sacre averaged 7.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 27.0 minutes.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... m_D_League Wand is at 80% Charge.

Great news that Sacre is back! The bench will have some energy again.

If Gasol's knees are really hurting, the Lakers should just rest him. Right now he's giving us nothing. Jamison and Hill are more than capable of filing in at the 4. Also we need to get Kobe and Dwight's minutes down to around 33-36, no more. I think part of the poor play at the end of games is fatigue on their end. MDA is running them for whole quarters.

Juronimo wrote:If Gasol's knees are really hurting, the Lakers should just rest him. Right now he's giving us nothing. Jamison and Hill are more than capable of filing in at the 4. Also we need to get Kobe and Dwight's minutes down to around 33-36, no more. I think part of the poor play at the end of games is fatigue on their end. MDA is running them for whole quarters.

Hill gets PT. Ebanks gets PT again. Showcasing Ebanks. Telling the league how effective Hill can be when he plays.

Methinks rumors will start about Pau, Hill + Ebanks package.

Destroyed by Greg Smith.

Exactly.

31 shots by Kobe? For real? Is this 2007?

icencream27 wrote:31 shots by Kobe? For real? Is this 2007?

yep, expect the same tomorrow too....he has a milestone to brake

Kobe got us back in the game with that 3, then he took us right out with that last shot.

8-10. nothing more needs to be said.

This team isnt worth getting angry about. They cant execute on either end and are slow as hell in getting up and down the court.

Hopefully Mitch can make some magic happen.

1. unforced turnovers
2. dwight make a damn free throw
3. bunch of bad foul calls
4. who the hell is that generic 2k looking dude that torched the team

F this team, pissing away a 17 point lead.