2012 Los Angeles Lakers Thread

[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.lakersground.net/viewtopic.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.

[C47]

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.

We've got one buried in the Bobcats forum, but KT will throw a hissy fit for sure if it gets bumped...

[C47]

Hey Joey Crawford.....fug you.....

[ZB1224]

The refs have been extremely bias toward the Heat this game. Even my Laker-hater friends are pointing it out... sad. Kobe has played some of the worst basketball that I've seen him play, but he's heating up in the 4th.

[C47]

Yea Crawford seems to have a personal vendetta against the Lakers when he officiates their games. Granted, this game wouldn't be close if L.A. had took care of the ball in the first half....

[C47]

Oh look! Another touch foul on the Lakers....