New Album & The Beginning of Basketball Season

[Ron Party]

Unless the Lakers shake things up, this year's final will showcase the Spurs against the Celtics. Very intriguing match up, with the Spurs having home court advantage.

 

[Steve Williams]

sad but true Ron

any speculation on whom they will trade?
Blake
Barnes (but injured)
Shannon Brown
Fisher

 

[Ron Party]

One or more of those, plus at least one of the main 6, excluding Kobe, of course.

 

[Steve Williams]

That IMO leaves Artest vulnerable as he has been struggling with Gasol and Bynum but I don't see the latter 2 going anywhere. That would leave Odom as a starter

 

[Ron Party]

How 'bout Bynum, Artest and one of the bench players you mentioned for Melo?

 

[JackD201]

This trade talk is interesting. My question is, what exactly do the lakers need? I mean where is the inconsistency coming from? Is it execution or have the other teams simply figured them out? If its the former any trades might not lift them up, might even make things worse 40+ games into the season having some new guys having to learn their system. If it's the latter, then I can see how some wildcards could shake things up.

 

[Ron Party]

It is fun to play General Manager in the same way that for some it is fun to spend other people's money.

The Lakers have two holes in their roster: point guard and small forward. Any trades must address at least one, if not both, of those positions.

 

[Steve Williams]

I thought the Lakers should have dumped Bynum years ago when Kobe was on his case. Certainly nor the best center in the league but he us a giant under the net. If they got Melo, Gasol would play center which he did earlier but got very tired playing those extra minutes.

 

[JackD201]

Given Kobe can play 2 or 3 and Pao 4 or 5, would you say they needed someone that can break down defense or someone reliable to kick out to?

As far as point, are they having problems running the set plays or transition?

Sorry, I don't get to watch the games.

 

[Ron Party]

Someone to break down defense is, as I stated, one of the holes in their roster, i.e., point guard. They also need a small forward with an offensive game instead of merely being a catch and shoot guy like Artest (and Barnes).

The other hole in their game, and it is a huge hole, is their pick and roll defense. It has been a major problem for them for years now. They certainly are not unique in this regard; few teams defend the pick and roll well. The Lakers should watch tape of how the Celtics defend the pick and roll -- no team in the league defends the pick and roll the way the Celtics do ... not even close.

 

[jadis]

With one swing of the bat, like that Pau Gasol for Marc Gasol et al. trade, the Lakers can do the 3-peat once again. As a Celtic fan, I watch this with anxiety.

 

[jadis]

A good friend who follows the games opined that Phil Jackson's triangle offense did not rely on a Chris Paul-like point guard. It's swing, swing, swing till you hit the open guy who hits the basket in the mold of say Jordan, Pippen, Paxson. So far, LA had success in that form of offense and they did not have a true point guard to run the show. But at this point they one might really help them orchestrate things, but adjustments have to be made too.

 

[Ron Party]

22.7 seconds to go!

 

[Ron Party]

What an ending!

 

[jadis]

Wow. The Spurs are toughening up as the going gets tough. Rich Jefferson has come out of his shell, and with Manu healthy again with those crazy drives and penetration, the Spurs mean business. Tough veteran championship team. I've seen these kinds of endings even when Shaq was a Laker against the same core of Spurs player in the Western semis before. Exciting days ahead when these 2 meet this May/June.

 

[Steve Williams]

Sadly, I don't believe they will be meeting in May/June

I couldn't sleep all night with that ending

 

[Ron Party]

I'm watching the C's and the Mavs right now - great game. It struck me that Jason Terry is exactly the kind of player the Lakers need - a great shooter who can come off the bench and score.

 

[jadis]

Yeah, great game, Ron. Jason Kidd nailed the game winner. What a guy. I never expected him to take that key 3 point shot but kudos to him, he sank it. Too bad the C's lost this one after playing their hearts out.

I've always admired Terry as a shooter the first time I saw him as a Hawk. I told myself this guy could shoot with his eyes closed. LOL Yes, if the Lakers do get a shooter like him, that would certainly be a big big plus.

 

[Ron Party]

How 'bout Bynum, Artest and one of the bench players you mentioned for Melo?

Sportscenter just reported that the Lakers are in trade talks with Denver: Bynum (and possibly Artest) for Melo.

 

[JackD201]

That's scary! Well, in a good way for Lakers fans anyway.