458 replies to this topic

[ZB1224]

Also I like how in the last couple of games it has been Kobe guarding Westbrook and Irving. He's done a very good job of them too. His on ball defense is still exceptional.

[thatlookseasy]

Also I like how in the last couple of games it has been Kobe guarding Westbrook and Irving. He's done a very good job of them too. His on ball defense is still exceptional.

What do you think about the Lakers giving Bryant more responsibility on D?
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8844744/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers-take-more-important-defensive-role-mike-dantoni-says

I mean I realize they need to do something, but is the goal here to wear out Kobe by March? He's clearly the best defender they have against good ball handlers, but the last time the Lakers won a champ Kobe was playing 34 minutes/ game in a slower offense. This is a move you make in the playoffs, not before the all star break

[ZB1224]

What do you think about the Lakers giving Bryant more responsibility on D?
http://espn.go.com/l...ke-dantoni-says

I mean I realize they need to do something, but is the goal here to wear out Kobe by March? He's clearly the best defender they have against good ball handlers, but the last time the Lakers won a champ Kobe was playing 34 minutes/ game in a slower offense. This is a move you make in the playoffs, not before the all star break

Well I think that it is a bit bitter sweet. Kobe is still a top on ball defender. He can lock people down, or at the very least hold his matchup under their season average. The problem with Kobe's defense is that he tends to play safety when playing off ball. Kobe absolutely loves challenges, and for some reason when he's guarding off ball against players like Danny Green he tends to forget about them. I think that everyone realizes that fact so Mike D'Antoni has decided to give him the assignment of guarding the best perimeter player.

Now this is where it gets a bit bitter. Kobe is already playing 39 minutes per game and had a stretch where he hit 40+ way more often than not. There is no way that Kobe will be able to score 30 ppg and play lockdown D on his opposing matchup. D'Antoni will have to limit his minutes a bit more (which is hard to do since Meeks has been awful). I'd be pretty comfortable with Kobe at 35 mpg and a decreased role on offense. Obviously Kobe needs to be our main option on offense as he's one of the greatest ever on that side of the court (and having his most efficient season), but we need to be spreading the ball around anyhow. It seems like Dwight is kind of like Shaq in that he isn't very active on D if he isn't getting touches on offense (true to the saying, "If you feed the big dog, he will guard the yard. If you don’t feed him, he’s just going to walk around and get bored...").

So with saying all of that... I think that it's a good idea, but the Lakers still need to bring in another defensive guard to take some pressure off of Kobe on defense so that Kobe isn't worn out by the playoffs. No one else has the responsibility of being the main offensive option AND guarding the best player on defense throughout the regular season... and there is a reason for that.

[ZB1224]

Lakers win again against a tough Bucks team. So far the experiment of having Kobe guard the team's best offensive player is working. Kobe has now held Kyrie Irving to 15 points (7/15) and Brandon Jennings to 12 points (4/14 shooting).

The biggest thing, however is how Nash and Kobe got Dwight involved early and often. Dwight finished with 31 points on 14/18 shooting, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks... he only turned it over 2 times. Dwight wasn't going up against scrubs either... he was going up against Larry Sanders, Samuel Dalembert, and John Henson, all whom are + defensive players. I said it last game and I'll say it again; Dwight is pretty close to 100% right now. He is moving so much better, jumping higher, dunking everything and looks like the Dwight we thought that we were getting. The Lakers still have to get more contributions from their bench, but perhaps the return of Pau Gasol and Steve Blake will help that (more so Gasol). I'm hoping that D'Antoni keeps starting Clark at PF next to Dwight (gives Dwight much better spacing and improves our defense so much since he's very active) and brings Pau off of the bench... probably won't happen, but I can dream, right?

[C47]

I feel like Kupchak and MDA need to make a call on Earl Clark. Do they believe his play the last few games is an anomaly, or do they see performances like this on a regular basis. If it's the latter then I think you have to move Pau ASAP. Dwight and Pau just don't work together, that much is obvious. Also, I'm not buying that Dwight won't be in L.A. next year. Winning cures all, and now that the play on the court has improved, the team seems to have much better chemistry. Everyone is giving high fives down the court, communicating better, and frankly, just playing more like a team. Call me naive, but I don't see Dwight walking away from the chance for the Lakers to be his team in another year, let alone the extra guaranteed money, and millions in endorsement escalators from being in Los Angeles.

For this reason you have to move Pau. I'm not even talking about a blockbuster three team deal bringing back another star either. I would much rather see Pau sent out in order to bring in several reliable bench players. I honestly would love a package centered around Derek Williams to play SF/PF and Barea to backup Nash, or maybe see if you could get some young athletic legs who can shoot from a team like Cleveland. Either way, I like what I've seen out of the Lakers the last couple of games, defensive effort has been 100 times better (no surprise with Dwight back, and obviously back is getting stronger), and the chemistry on the floor from the starters has led to much easier baskets. Still a long way to go, and tomorrow night will be a huge test, but I won't be shocked if this team can go on a run and make things interesting down the stretch. Not saying they'll make the playoffs, but it wouldn't shock me....

[ZB1224]

I feel like Kupchak and MDA need to make a call on Earl Clark. Do they believe his play the last few games is an anomaly, or do they see performances like this on a regular basis. If it's the latter then I think you have to move Pau ASAP. Dwight and Pau just don't work together, that much is obvious. Also, I'm not buying that Dwight won't be in L.A. next year. Winning cures all, and now that the play on the court has improved, the team seems to have much better chemistry. Everyone is giving high fives down the court, communicating better, and frankly, just playing more like a team. Call me naive, but I don't see Dwight walking away from the chance for the Lakers to be his team in another year, let alone the extra guaranteed money, and millions in endorsement escalators from being in Los Angeles.

For this reason you have to move Pau. I'm not even talking about a blockbuster three team deal bringing back another star either. I would much rather see Pau sent out in order to bring in several reliable bench players. I honestly would love a package centered around Derek Williams to play SF/PF and Barea to backup Nash, or maybe see if you could get some young athletic legs who can shoot from a team like Cleveland. Either way, I like what I've seen out of the Lakers the last couple of games, defensive effort has been 100 times better (no surprise with Dwight back, and obviously back is getting stronger), and the chemistry on the floor from the starters has led to much easier baskets. Still a long way to go, and tomorrow night will be a huge test, but I won't be shocked if this team can go on a run and make things interesting down the stretch. Not saying they'll make the playoffs, but it wouldn't shock me....

I see zero reason why Earl Clark can't continue to play at a high level. I'm not sure he's going to have too many more "Clark-sanity" type of performances, but if he can average 10 ppg, 10 rpg, 2 bpg, spread the floor and play good help D + on ball D that will be a huge upgrade over Gasol. Pau is very skilled still, but he's not fully healthy, he has declined a bit, and his defense on PF's is really poor. He can guard post players pretty effectively with his length, but when he's asked to guard most PF's he just gets destroyed. I am on board with trading Pau for 2-3 key role players. I think that Minnesota makes a ton of sense. Derrick Williams, and JJ Barea would be a good start, but there would need to be a 3rd team involved for salary cap purposes. I wonder if there would be any chance of getting Derrick Williams, Barea, and Ben Gordon from Charlotte? Gordon is a key role player for the Bobcats (very key), but they aren't winning with him and he's not in their future plans imo.

[CarolinaPride5]

Brandon Jennings said nobody has ever played defense as good as Kobe did on him last night... Kobe came out and set the tone and was active in looking for Dwight. It resulted in Dwight being engaged the rest of the game and FINALLY looked like the dominant center he was in Orlando.

He'll need to do the same thing Thursday against Miami. Those guys have size/rebounding issues so if Dwight plays with the right mind set we should be able to beat them..

[thatlookseasy]

Gasol for Boozer. You got Dantoni, fug defense and just score more than anyone else. Plus Boozer is great in the high post unlike Gasol

[ZB1224]

Gasol for Boozer. You got Dantoni, fug defense and just score more than anyone else. Plus Boozer is great in the high post unlike Gasol

Still holding out hope for Josh Smith + Anthony Morrow. Probably not likely, but it'd give Atlanta that true C and allow Horford to slide back over to PF.

[Kevin Greene]

“What does it matter? What does he want, a cookie for that?”
—Kobe Bryant, responding to LeBron James‘ comments that what the Heat went through when the “super team” formed in Miami was much more pressure than what the Lakers have dealt with this season. The Kobe quote is via Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com.


https://twitter.com/...655590575493121

[thatlookseasy]

Still holding out hope for Josh Smith + Anthony Morrow. Probably not likely, but it'd give Atlanta that true C and allow Horford to slide back over to PF.

I suppose if Atlanta gets desperate. IMO Horford and Gasol would get in each others way on offense and would be a downgrade over Smith/ Horford on defense

[ZB1224]

I suppose if Atlanta gets desperate. IMO Horford and Gasol would get in each others way on offense and would be a downgrade over Smith/ Horford on defense

Well I don't see Smith resigning in Atlanta. He's had issues with the team and management for awhile now and he's all but demanded a trade.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/225624/Josh_Smiths_Agent_Meets_With_Ferry

I honestly think that Gasol as a center would still be very effective. I just don't think that he's going to work next to Dwight. I'm sad about that and I hope that I am wrong, because Pau was a key piece in helping Kobe and the Lakers go to back to back to back finals (winning 2 of them). I just feel that they (Dwight and Pau) kind of drag each other down. Howard has to play D on his guy and Pau's guy, as well as box out two guys. Pau is a liability defensively at PF as he's a lumbering 7 footer and everyone is much more athletic and typically stronger (kinda sad).

The way I see it is that Atlanta can trade Smith + fillers (like Morrow) for Pau and still be able to compete. Their defense would be brought down a small notch (Pau at C is above average defensively I'd say), but their offense would be better. Also Horford isn't necessarily a guy who has to be in the post to succeed... he's a fantastic mid range shooter who can also work down low. I think that they'd feed off each other.. it would also help with their huge size disadvantage (6-9 PF and 6-10 C).

[thatlookseasy]

Well I don't see Smith resigning in Atlanta. He's had issues with the team and management for awhile now and he's all but demanded a trade.

http://basketball.re...eets_With_Ferry

I honestly think that Gasol as a center would still be very effective. I just don't think that he's going to work next to Dwight. I'm sad about that and I hope that I am wrong, because Pau was a key piece in helping Kobe and the Lakers go to back to back to back finals (winning 2 of them). I just feel that they (Dwight and Pau) kind of drag each other down. Howard has to play D on his guy and Pau's guy, as well as box out two guys. Pau is a liability defensively at PF as he's a lumbering 7 footer and everyone is much more athletic and typically stronger (kinda sad).

The way I see it is that Atlanta can trade Smith + fillers (like Morrow) for Pau and still be able to compete. Their defense would be brought down a small notch (Pau at C is above average defensively I'd say), but their offense would be better. Also Horford isn't necessarily a guy who has to be in the post to succeed... he's a fantastic mid range shooter who can also work down low. I think that they'd feed off each other.. it would also help with their huge size disadvantage (6-9 PF and 6-10 C).

I just think Atlanta loses a lot of flexibility and athleticism swapping Smith for Gasol. Their swingmen arent good enough since Marvin Williams left (he wasnt that good but is better than what they got), and I'm not sure Horford will be effective guarding PFs full time. Smith also helps court spacing even though hes a mediocre 3pt shooter.

Its definitely a gamble for the Hawks, and its probably worth it if you're trading for the Pau we saw in the olympics this summer. But he has looked old and slow this year, maybe if a 3rd team gets involved and sends Atlanta a decent SF

Minnesota could probably put together a better trade package for Josh Smith, but idk if they will risk it if he wont commit long term

[ZB1224]

Great interview with Kobe today.

http://forums.lakers...ic.php?t=155628

A very interesting read imo.

[ZB1224]

Also Kobe Bryant got the most votes out of all of the all-stars this year. We probably need a Kobe thread... if only I weren't too lazy lol.