Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

[minew_m]

Originally posted by podstock
are you SERIOUS?

in the 2000-2003 years, SHAQ SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT HIS SUMMERS ARE FOR HIM.

SHAQ SPECIFICALLY HAS STATED HE USES THE 1ST HALF OF THE NBA SEASON TO GET INTO SHAPE.

Yes, this past off-season, he did hire a trainer and did appear in camp in shape....

you know why this happened?

B/C SHAQ IS NEARING THE END OF HIS CONTRACT, AND WANTS ANOTHER 5-7 YEAR CONTRACT FOR $27-30M EACH YEAR

Kobe improves EVERY year; Kobe works out in the offseason religiously...not just so he can make more money, but b/c he wants to be considered the best ever.

Why doesn't Shaq have this desire that Kobe / Jerry Rice have?

Shaq does want to get better. I don't remember Kobe working out as much as he did this summer either. He never came into a season in this great condition before. His contract is comming up to an end too so that could be a reason.....

[podstock]

Originally posted by minew_m
Shaq does want to get better. I don't remember Kobe working out as much as he did this summer either. He never came into a season in this great condition before. His contract is comming up to an end too so that could be a reason.....

do you go to the following websites:

www.latimes.com
www.ocregister.com
www.dailynews.com

these are the sites for newspapers covering the LA Lakers

I read this site daily

That's how I follow the events of Kobe, Shaq, etc... in regular season and in off-season

that's how I know Kobe works out in the offseason

a player doesn't automatically improve year to year without working on his game in the off-season. There are exceptions - Michael Jordan used to say he never practiced in the summer

[minew_m]

I don't usually don't go to those sites, but may start now, lol. I usually just go to espn.com and nba.com for my news. I know for sure that a player doesn't improve automatically. I also play basketball and during the summer I take shots every day and do some conditioning. There are some athletes that say they don't practice in the summer and are still good --- those are the ones I despise, lol!

[podstock]

2/28/04:

I was at work, so didn't get a chance to see the Lakers beat the Wiz (damn, I hate it when my colleagues blurt out the score!)

I have it taped, so I'll be watching it later -

Needless to say,

Kobe got a triple double
Shaq got 29 points

it was a close game until the Lakers blew them out in the 4th quarter.

Slava also played his best game in a few weeks.

not much to say for now

Lakers play NJ Nets tomorrow at 3 pm PST

Lakers are atrocious in 2nd game of a back-to-back; but the Nets also played Sat night, so that oughtta help out a bit.

Lakers play 4 road games (Washington being the 1st. If they beat NJ tomorrow, Lakers have a chance to go 4-0. Surprisingly, Utah beat Sacramento at Arco yesterday, so, Lakers are now back to within 5 games.

I do not think Lakers will catch Sacramento...but Spurs will be missing Duncan for the next 5 games, including Sat night's home game vs the Nuggets.

Lakers have a shot at the #3 spot, which means they won't have to meet the Kings until the West Conference Finals.

And they still have a shot at the #2 spot, which MN occupies

[minew_m]

One of the best players at the end was Luke. Went 4-4 with 9 pts. He's gonna be a great player! Overall the Lakers shot darn good. It wasn't televised here so I had to watch the play by play on the computer!

[skyracer3]

The game was close until 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter. It went from a 5 point lead to a 18 point lead in a span of like 3 minutes..Shaq had some MONSTER dunks towards the end of the game, and walton hit a couple shots down the stretch.

BUT espn.com has an article about gary payton not very happy right now, and may consider leaving after this season:

Payton Frustrated

[podstock]

Originally posted by minew_m
One of the best players at the end was Luke. Went 4-4 with 9 pts. He's gonna be a great player! Overall the Lakers shot darn good. It wasn't televised here so I had to watch the play by play on the computer!

I agree with you!!

I cannot believe how much Phil Jackson is using Luke at critical moments in the ballgame

If this game can improve on his midrange jumpers, he's gonna have a 12-15 year career.

Right now, his passing eye is absolutely amazing.

you know, with all the injuries the Lakers went through this season, 3 folks benefited most:

Luke Walton
Kareem Rush
Brian Cook

Phil's playing these guys much more than he normally would.

Of course, on the other hand, Devean has shown that he can't handle being a starter just yet. His weakness is ball handling and stopping on the fly.

When Devean is able to set himself, and no one is near him, he is a very consistent shooter, even from 3-point line. But, play defense against him, and this game will:

1. fumble the ball and turn it over
2. throw up wild shots that almost break the back board

[podstock]

2/29/04: Lakers 100-83 over the Nets

wowowow!!

Lakers played the 2nd of a back-to-back, against a team over 0.500, on the road, and this is the result!!!!

holy farking cow!

I am at work, so will be watching this when I get home..

but, the game really wasn't close, as Gary Payton helped the Lakers to an early 9 point 1st quarter lead, and the Lakers cruised from there, as the bench players really did their job, with 42 points!

Kobe had a mere 11 points. He needed 4 more boards for a 2nd triple double in a row, but sat out the 4th.

Shaq only had about 17-19 points

Payton did most of his damage in the 1st quarter.

I cannot believe the defense (or is it the NJ Net's inept offense? or perhaps a combo) the Lakers displayed today!!

Lakers are now 2-0 on this 4-game road trip.

Next up is Tues at Atlanta (Kobe goes to court, and may make it back by halftime to play)

Wed is the 2nd of a back-to-back, this time at Houston, which has beaten Lakers soundly in the past 2 meetings this year.

If I were the Lakers, I'd have Kobe rest and go to Houston, rather than flying to play Atlanta after a heavy day in court.

If the Lakers cannot beat the lowly Hawks (who have no one, now that Shareef has been traded to Portland) with 2 freaking Hall of Famers, they deserve to lose.

[minew_m]

Originally posted by podstock
2/29/04: Lakers 100-83 over the Nets

wowowow!!

Lakers played the 2nd of a back-to-back, against a team over 0.500, on the road, and this is the result!!!!

I cannot believe the defense (or is it the NJ Net's inept offense? or perhaps a combo) the Lakers displayed today!!

If I were the Lakers, I'd have Kobe rest and go to Houston, rather than flying to play Atlanta after a heavy day in court.

If the Lakers cannot beat the lowly Hawks (who have no one, now that Shareef has been traded to Portland) with 2 freaking Hall of Famers, they deserve to lose.

I think it was a little bit of both good defense by the Lakers and poor offense by the Nets. I cannot believe I am saying this but the Lakers did far better on their foul shots. I belive the Lakers were something like 17-21 from the line while the Nets were only around 60%.
Shaq only played about 30 minutes and still grabbed down 14 boards. He should as Collins was on him. As for defense, the bench did quite well for the Lakers. Cook had 2 blocks, Grant had 2 steals and a block, and Devean George even had a block.
Great game for Kobe too. I was pulling for him to get a triple double in back to back games but Phil only played him a little over 30 minutes too. I guess after that Payton incident where he criticized Jackson for not playing him enough, Phil decided to listen and rotated everyone. Most of the bench even got around 20 min. a piece. I guess it was easy to do though since they had a lead throughout the game. They had a 27 point lead at one point.
Kobe should rest as they visit Atlanta. I think the Lakers will do jut fine in his absense. Rest up for Yao and the Rockets!

[podstock]

Agree with you, Minew

I cannot believe how incredibly well Steve Francis and the Rockets play vs. the Lakers --- they look like All-stars.

Francis even admitted he plays harder when the Lakers are in town.

Boy, the Rockets should fine Francis, b/c they are paying him a King's ransom, and he's not playing all out all the time?

If the Rockets play against everyone the way the play vs. the Lakers, they'd be in the #3 or #4 spot