Commander of Awesome;1470951 wrote:Even without tanking and better talent last season they barely made the playoffs. You think Kobe keeps them in the hunt and out of a lotto pick?

Tough to say because it's so hard to speculate at this point with the Lakers (remember how pretty much everyone had them penciled in for a top 2 seed in the West last year once they got Dwight?).

The teams behind the Lakers last year that could fight for a playoff spot are Minnesota and Portland. Unless another team steps up (Pelicans or Dallas), to answer your question I'm answering whether I think 1) Kobe, Pau, and Nash are enough and 2) whether I think management will blow it up, in which case I don't think Kobe is enough on his own, even if he shoots 28 times and scores 40 a game.

I don't have a good answer because I can see Kobe and Pau carrying them just as easily as them failing miserably. I'll be intrigued by what happens to them next year, but at the end of the day I don't care because F*** the Lakers.

lhslep134;1470992 wrote:Tough to say because it's so hard to speculate at this point with the Lakers (remember how pretty much everyone had them penciled in for a top 2 seed in the West last year once they got Dwight?).

The teams behind the Lakers last year that could fight for a playoff spot are Minnesota and Portland. Unless another team steps up (Pelicans or Dallas), to answer your question I'm answering whether I think 1) Kobe, Pau, and Nash are enough and 2) whether I think management will blow it up, in which case I don't think Kobe is enough on his own, even if he shoots 28 times and scores 40 a game.

I don't have a good answer because I can see Kobe and Pau carrying them just as easily as them failing miserably. I'll be intrigued by what happens to them next year, but at the end of the day I don't care because F*** the Lakers.

They're going to blow next year. Kobe is done man

lhslep134;1470992 wrote:Tough to say because it's so hard to speculate at this point with the Lakers (remember how pretty much everyone had them penciled in for a top 2 seed in the West last year once they got Dwight?).

The teams behind the Lakers last year that could fight for a playoff spot are Minnesota and Portland. Unless another team steps up (Pelicans or Dallas), to answer your question I'm answering whether I think 1) Kobe, Pau, and Nash are enough and 2) whether I think management will blow it up, in which case I don't think Kobe is enough on his own, even if he shoots 28 times and scores 40 a game.

I don't have a good answer because I can see Kobe and Pau carrying them just as easily as them failing miserably. I'll be intrigued by what happens to them next year, but at the end of the day I don't care because F*** the Lakers.

:thumbup:

I don't see Minn making the playoffs.

OKC, Clippers are in. Locks.

GSW I see as probably in. Denn I have to believe is in. Houston is in (unless Dwightmare takes over again and torpedoes the team. WTF happened to his defense last season?)SA is in. That's 6. Memphis is in, that's 7. Portland I see as a potential. Going to come down to Portland, LA, GSW, for me. I do think GSW have taken a step back this off season but I think they're in. Unless Curry gets injured which is a strong possibility.

1. OKC
2. SA
3. Mem
4. LAC
5.Houston
6.Den
7. GSW
8. Portland

My prediction for the west.

1: Houston
2: OKC
3: S.A.
4: clippers
5: GSW
6: grizz
7: pelicans
8: Lakers
9: nugg
10: mavs
11: Timberwolves
12: Portland
13: Sacramento
14: jazz
15: phx

From 6 to 12 anything is possible my opinion. The Nuggets will not be as good as they were last year and if Kobe is ready for the beginning of the season I don't think they will blow it up and I trust Kobe Pau in Steve Nash to make the playoffs

Commander of Awesome;1471000 wrote::thumbup:

I don't see Minn making the playoffs.

OKC, Clippers are in. Locks.

GSW I see as probably in. Denn I have to believe is in. Houston is in (unless Dwightmare takes over again and torpedoes the team. WTF happened to his defense last season?)SA is in. That's 6. Memphis is in, that's 7. Portland I see as a potential. Going to come down to Portland, LA, GSW, for me. I do think GSW have taken a step back this off season but I think they're in. Unless Curry gets injured which is a strong possibility.

1. OKC
2. SA
3. Mem
4. LAC
5.Houston
6.Den
7. GSW
8. Portland

My prediction for the west.

That's a good top 8 right there. I'm not sure what to expect from Denver after replacing Karl with Shaw and losing Iguodala. Minnesota has a lot of talent but I've never seen a team so continually ravaged by injuries (except us?).

Should be a battle for the 7-8 seed. If Kobe isn't done, as CP58 thinks he is, I mean the Lakers have to be right there, right?

Lakers lineup, even with a healthy Kobe just isn't very good. I don't think there's any way they sneak into the playoffs. They're toast.

Pelicans in the playoffs, gsport? That's bold.

1. OKC
2. Spurs
3. Memphis
4. Rockets
5. Clips
6. GSW
7. Denver
8. Portland

Some of you are placing too much value on AI. No one player makes or breaks the Nuggets, they do everything by committee....which is a strength and a weakness. Strength because if one player goes down or is lost via trade/fa it doesnt kill them, but at the same time when its crunch time they have no go to star type player

Chris Mannix from SI making some intriguing points...if D-Wade is washed up, does Lebron want to spend the next 4 years (after this season) in Miami with a broken down D-Wade? Or does he want to return home and play on a team that has virtually every starting spot locked up, with 2 all-stars (Kyrie and Bynum) and 2 potential all-stars depending on how Bennett and Waiters turn out?

Hb31187;1471058 wrote:Some of you are placing too much value on AI. No one player makes or breaks the Nuggets, they do everything by committee....which is a strength and a weakness. Strength because if one player goes down or is lost via trade/fa it doesnt kill them, but at the same time when its crunch time they have no go to star type player

Agree..AI is mehhh to me. Losing him won't be too bad a loss for Denver.

Hb31187;1471058 wrote:Some of you are placing too much value on AI.

Sorry but I don't put any stock into anything you say. As far as I'm concerned, you and FW are the only posters on this site that I automatically disregard whatever their post says, regardless of content. You've made too many idiotic and "speaking out of your ass" type posts.

Because I'm feeling especially douchey today, I went back through the NBA 2012-2013 thread to find examples of what I'm talking about.

Hb31187;1310881 wrote:hardens body of work averaging like 13 3 n 3 career? Yeah I bet Jennings has that down. He must be top 25

Hb31187;1311040 wrote:Your slobbing of Harden is just as pathetic. We provided statistics comparing the 2 players, and Jennings clearly has better numbers and they are almost exactly the same age. You've just been watching too much ESPN and theyve been telling you how amazing he is and you eat it up.

Hb31187;1311105 wrote:1. You're gonna use Hollingers PER as a focal point of your argument. Sounds like a solid backing for you


3. Body of work tends to factor into determining how good a player is. I understand how hard that is to grasp for you

(referring to Josh Howard signing with MN)

Hb31187;1321077 wrote:I dont think hell be anything out of the ordinary. But id bet hell get 10 and 5 or somewhere in that range

Hb31187;1351311 wrote:Jr smith ... and one ofthe best shooters in the league.\

(referring to Lin being voting in, while ignoring the fact that Harden was selected not voted)

Hb31187;1374077 wrote:jeremy Lin was the leading vote getter for a while in the WC. really doesn't mean much

Hb31187;1389833 wrote:Lebron is a good defender, in short spurts and when he wants to be. Usually spends his time guarding someone who is not an offensive threat so he can cheat off and help though.

(talking about Marc Gasol)

Hb31187;1432837 wrote: Im not knocking him at all, but he had a woefully average season, unless some of you watched a lottttt more Grizzly games than I did

(about Lebron’s defense)

Hb31187;1432934 wrote:lol he guarded rose at the very end of games after playing a non offensive threat the whole game snd DRose having to carry his team. congrats. Lawson would eat him up, Westbrook, Paul, ect. He's quick....for a Sf

Hb31187;1434797 wrote:I mean nothing serious happened in the 80s/90s.when bball was physical.(dirty by todays standards)

Hb31187;1444995 wrote:LeBron didn't change how he played at all though, just lucked out and formed a super team lol.

Hb31187;1454584 wrote:Are we really arguing about Spoel being a top 5 NBA coach lol?


I mean plug in damn near any competent coach with LeBron in his prime and this supporting cast and they will produce

Hb31187;1456476 wrote:LeBron has absolutely no killer instinct.

Hb31187;1464794 wrote: Pierce and (Gerald) Wallace are a wash IMO

(referring to the Nets)

Hb31187;1464987 wrote:And after one season they blow the team up

SportsAndLady;1471071 wrote:Chris Mannix from SI making some intriguing points...if D-Wade is washed up, does Lebron want to spend the next 4 years (after this season) in Miami with a broken down D-Wade? Or does he want to return home and play on a team that has virtually every starting spot locked up, with 2 all-stars (Kyrie and Bynum) and 2 potential all-stars depending on how Bennett and Waiters turn out?

I don't think he will stay in Miami. He's had his fun with his buddies, won titles, and got some pressure off his shoulders. So I think he leaves, but I have no idea where to.

Isn't the Lakers bench going to be pretty pitiful, though? Kobe will be solid, and they'll get some great performances from the other starters. But looking at their overall roster, it's obvious Kobe is going to have to play a lot of minutes to keep them competitive, and may end up leading to another injury.

friendfromlowry;1471083 wrote:Isn't the Lakers bench going to be pretty pitiful, though? Kobe will be solid, and they'll get some great performances from the other starters. But looking at their overall roster, it's obvious Kobe is going to have to play a lot of minutes to keep them competitive, and may end up leading to another injury.

I'd venture to say it will be similar or worse than last year.

Kobe did everything and they still had to make a crazy push to get the 8th seed. This might be the worst Lakers roster I've seen in my lifetime. It will rival the Smush Parker days. :laugh:

Automatik;1471121 wrote:I'd venture to say it will be similar or worse than last year.

Kobe did everything and they still had to make a crazy push to get the 8th seed. This might be the worst Lakers roster I've seen in my lifetime. It will rival the Smush Parker days. :laugh:

Think they were the 7th seed, Hou was the 8th.

Hb31187;1471058 wrote:Some of you are placing too much value on AI.

Sorry but I don't put any stock into anything you say. As far as I'm concerned, you and FW are the only posters on this site that I automatically disregard whatever their post says, regardless of content. You've made too many idiotic and "speaking out of your ass" type posts.

Because I'm feeling especially douchey today, I went back through the NBA 2012-2013 thread to find examples of what I'm talking about.

Hb31187;1310881 wrote:hardens body of work averaging like 13 3 n 3 career? Yeah I bet Jennings has that down. He must be top 25

Hb31187;1311040 wrote:Your slobbing of Harden is just as pathetic. We provided statistics comparing the 2 players, and Jennings clearly has better numbers and they are almost exactly the same age. You've just been watching too much ESPN and theyve been telling you how amazing he is and you eat it up.

Hb31187;1311105 wrote:1. You're gonna use Hollingers PER as a focal point of your argument. Sounds like a solid backing for you


3. Body of work tends to factor into determining how good a player is. I understand how hard that is to grasp for you

(referring to Josh Howard signing with MN)

Hb31187;1321077 wrote:I dont think hell be anything out of the ordinary. But id bet hell get 10 and 5 or somewhere in that range

Hb31187;1351311 wrote:Jr smith ... and one ofthe best shooters in the league.\

(referring to Lin being voting in, while ignoring the fact that Harden was selected not voted)

Hb31187;1374077 wrote:jeremy Lin was the leading vote getter for a while in the WC. really doesn't mean much

Hb31187;1389833 wrote:Lebron is a good defender, in short spurts and when he wants to be. Usually spends his time guarding someone who is not an offensive threat so he can cheat off and help though.

(talking about Marc Gasol)

Hb31187;1432837 wrote: Im not knocking him at all, but he had a woefully average season, unless some of you watched a lottttt more Grizzly games than I did

(about Lebron’s defense)

Hb31187;1432934 wrote:lol he guarded rose at the very end of games after playing a non offensive threat the whole game snd DRose having to carry his team. congrats. Lawson would eat him up, Westbrook, Paul, ect. He's quick....for a Sf

Hb31187;1434797 wrote:I mean nothing serious happened in the 80s/90s.when bball was physical.(dirty by todays standards)

Hb31187;1444995 wrote:LeBron didn't change how he played at all though, just lucked out and formed a super team lol.

Hb31187;1454584 wrote:Are we really arguing about Spoel being a top 5 NBA coach lol?


I mean plug in damn near any competent coach with LeBron in his prime and this supporting cast and they will produce

Hb31187;1456476 wrote:LeBron has absolutely no killer instinct.

Hb31187;1464794 wrote: Pierce and (Gerald) Wallace are a wash IMO

(referring to the Nets)

Hb31187;1464987 wrote:And after one season they blow the team up

Commander of Awesome;1471124 wrote:Think they were the 7th seed, Hou was the 8th.

Correct.

As of right now, I don't see the Lakers making the playoffs. They will miss the playoffs and win the lottery and then take Andrew Wiggins.

LMAO, that's a pwn job. I lol'd pretty damn hard about his idiotic Marc Gasol post.

Lol in HB's defense, you could probably do that to just about all of us (go back and repost idiotic posts).

I did Rep Lep though...ouch

SportsAndLady;1471173 wrote:Lol in HB's defense, you could probably do that to just about all of us (go back and repost idiotic posts).

That's the thing. A lot of us have said something stupid on here regarding the NBA, I'll openly admit I have. But doing so constantly and consistently is what separates HB. At first the Harden thing made me really anti-HB but that was only a singular topic so I ignored it (not to mention it was pretty much just gport and I against everyone else so I can't hold that against anyone here). But then I starting paying attention and more and more posts kept coming from him without any factual backing and full of blatant ignorance.

It's similar to how the Ubaldo/percentile rant made me wary of FW and then as I paid closer attention, I realized that it was worthless to even consider what he was saying. Not saying it's worthless to anyone else, just worthless to me.

SportsAndLady;1471026 wrote:Lakers lineup, even with a healthy Kobe just isn't very good. I don't think there's any way they sneak into the playoffs. They're toast.

Pelicans in the playoffs, gsport? That's bold.

Jrue holliday
Eric Gordon
Tyreke Evans
Ryan Anderson
Anthony Davis

I like that 5. All star pg, borderline all star in EG, and future all star in Davis. If healthy they could do some damage, or be the timberwolves

gport_tennis;1471218 wrote:Jrue holliday 43% FG
Eric Gordon 40% FG
Tyreke Evans 44% FG
Ryan Anderson 42% FG
Anthony Davis

I like that 5. All star pg, borderline all star in EG, and future all star in Davis. If healthy they could do some damage, or be the timberwolves

All shoot horrible % outside of AD, and all are pretty bad defenders. That's my concern with their team.

I chalk last season up for Eric Gordon as just never really getting into a groove. He is a career 45% shooter.

Half of Anderson's shots are 3's so his is a little bit lower than you'd think, but most of his makes are worth an extra point so that helps

Tyreke shot 48% last year and 45% the year before

Commander of Awesome;1471124 wrote:Think they were the 7th seed, Hou was the 8th.

Ahh derp.

Didn't they flip from 8th to 7th right at the end?


I don't like Kobe the person, but I feel for him. You know he can't be thrilled with that roster. Then you got him coming off that injury and he most definitely will be asked to "do it all." Tough load to put on a 35 year old.

gport_tennis;1471218 wrote:Jrue holliday
Eric Gordon
Tyreke Evans
Ryan Anderson
Anthony Davis

I like that 5. All star pg, borderline all star in EG, and future all star in Davis. If healthy they could do some damage, or be the timberwolves

Davis is a for sure future all-star? I don't believe that at all.