Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

[stalking_WOLF_21]

that's what happens when you get big name players

look at portland they had so many above average players and every body including my self thought they were going to be in the playoffs and win it all is was wrong just as you were with the lakers

[minew_m]

They need to defend Parker. Payton can't defend him and it's obvious. They should put Kobe on him, but then he'd be too tired on the offensive end and he's probably gonna complain again. What I would do is put Fox on Parker. Parker is a lot quicker than Fox, but Fox can deny him the ball. Anyone remember what he did to Peja? Peja had one of his worst games of the season when Fox guarded him.

The problem isn't really with Shaq and Kobe when you look at it. They have won three championships together. And won with a lot less than they have now.

As for Shaq's FT shooting, I can take it. He's shooting 66% from the field. 2 out of every 3 shots he makes. I'd rather have that. They may be all around the paint but they aren't easy shots. Try making some hook shots when your double teamed or pushed half the time. Kobe on the other hand needs to make his free throws to compare to Shaq. He's shooting 39% from the field and 29% from three point land. If it weren't for his foul shots I'm not sure where they'd be. Also I really don't see why foul shots are an issue. The Lakers and Spurs miss about the same amount (Duncan and Parker can't really shoot all that well either from the foul line).

[stalking_WOLF_21]

yeah i think fox would have trouble going through picks that the spurs love doing

[minew_m]

It's worth a shot though. It's better than haveing Parker score 30 a night on Payton.

[podstock]

Originally posted by minew_m
They need to defend Parker. Payton can't defend him and it's obvious. They should put Kobe on him, but then he'd be too tired on the offensive end and he's probably gonna complain again. What I would do is put Fox on Parker. Parker is a lot quicker than Fox, but Fox can deny him the ball. Anyone remember what he did to Peja? Peja had one of his worst games of the season when Fox guarded him.

No no, there is absolutely no way Fox can guard Parker, even if Parker had a broken leg.

Fox can guard Peja b/c Peja is not that fast, and can't create off the dribble. Peja relies on his teammates to set screens for him.

If you watch the Kings play, you will see that the Kings always have 1 player on the right hand side of the key, and 1 on the left hand side - their job is to set screens for when Peja comes to their side.

Peja cannot create off the dribble. On the other hand, Parker can - that's his strong point.

Now, if you give Fox back his 4 years, then yes, Fox would have the quickness to keep up with Parker...now, at age 35 or so, and out for 1 year with a broken foot, he's not going to slow down, much less stop Parker.

As for Shaq, it's not his shooting from the field that is a concern.

As you well know, games b/t 2 good teams are usually close in the last 5-7 minutes of a ballgame.

What does that mean?

If you intentionally foul Shaq in the 4th quarter (but not under 2 minutes to go; otherwise, the Lakers can choose whoever they want shooting free throws - aka Kobe), you are GUARANTEED that Shaq at best will make 1 of 2 free throws, and the probability is VERY HIGH that Shaq misses both free throws.

So, let's say, at the 5 minute mark in the 4th quarter, Spurs have 6 possessions, and Lakers have 6 possession.

Let's say every possession of the Lakers results in someone intentionally fouling Shaq (say, the 12th man on the Spurs bench).... that means that Shaq shoots 12 free throws.

Well, this year, Shaq is shooting 49% free throws, and in the playoffs, it's about 35%. So, with 12 free throws, let's give Shaq the benefit of the doubt, and say he shoots 50%. That's 6 points.

Now, the Spurs have 6 possessions as well...with the lack of defense shown by the Lakers, it's highly likely the Spurs will score on 4 of their 6 possessions. So that's 8 points,.

There you have it in a nutshell: 8-6 Spurs.

See my point? All the Spurs need to do is keep the game close into the 4th, then roll out their 10th, 11th, and 12th guys to play Shaq - that's a total of 18 fouls the Spurs can give.

Shaq has PROVEN, GAME AFTER GAME, this year, that he makes 35-45% free throws.......

doesn't take a genius to figure out the Spurs can win, even if they play really badly.

Shaq has declined so badly, that it is incredible.

You know it, I know it, and every Lakers fan watching knows it.

For the last 4 years, Shaq has put on more weight, has gotten more and more out of shape, and his free throws have gotten more and more worse.

He's still big, but he's no longer dominant.

You cannot be considered dominant, when the other team can foul you, and you most likely won't make any of your free throws.

If I play against Shaq right now, I can beat him.

How?

I foul him intentionally every single time (assuming there's no rule for fouling out)...

then, when it's my turn to have the ball, I can shoot from the outside (Shaq never defends the outside shot) or if he does, by chance, move outside, I can dribble right past him.

This is Kobe time; this is Kobe's game, and Phil Jackson has got to stop emphasizing that Shaq gets the ball.

Come back and tell me differently when Shaq can hit 55% free throws.

You have no case when Shaq shoots 33% free throws.

If you've ever play any basketball, you know that shooting 33% from the free throw line is almost impossible to do.

You'd have to be SERIOUSLY BAD player to do that.

I haven't played basketball since I graduated from college (over 8 years ago)....but if you put me on the free throw line right now, cold, without me warming up, I could out-shoot Shaq from the free throw line.

My dead grandmother could make 3 out of 10 free throws.

You have no case in support of Shaq when he makes 3 free throws in 15 attempts.

Do like me, and shake your head, and focus on baseball.........

it's not over, and sure, the Lakers can win

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and I can get a date with the hottest supermodel (whoever she is at this moment) for Friday night.

[minew_m]

Well you can also do the same on the other end. Foul Duncan. He shoots about 50% from the FT line. Hell even foul Nesterovic who's shooting 17% from the line in the Playoffs. He shot in the mid 40% range in the regular season. Both teams can't shoot foul shots equally. If the Lakers were smart, they could do the same and foul the Spurs men and win!

[stalking_WOLF_21]

that wouldn't be smart the lakers only have so many big man if you get one or two on foul trouble it wouldn't help at all.

The only reason they foul shaq is because he'll make every almost everything he shoots if nesherovic gets fouled all the time WHY he only scores 5 or 6 pionts per game

[minew_m]

When your in the penalty you can foul Rasha. It doesn't even have to be a big man to foul him. Stick in Walton or Cook. Once he touches the ball just hack him and make him go to the line and miss the shots.

[stalking_WOLF_21]

if he ever gets the ball in the 4th duncan gets it unless some is wide open

[stalking_WOLF_21]

and besides if put in cook and walton who do you have to back them up????