Official Los Angeles Lakers Thread

[insanefishpossay]

Originally posted by podstock
Finally, someone who sees what I see.

if you're bigger than everyone else, of course you can "power" your way in and score dunks

put me up against anyone who is shorter than me and weighs less than me, and I'll beat that person.

So, just because you're bigger than everyone else doesn't make you the most dominant ever.

The best center in the past 2 decades is Akeem Olajuwon

-- he could shoot a mid-range jump shot, and his "Dream Shake" was to die for. As a matter of fact, Olajuwon hit that shot time after time when the Rockets blew out Shaq's Orlando Magic. And yes, that may have been Shaq's rookie or sophomore year in the NBA

-- he played defense. Unlike Shaq, Akeem played defense ALL the times, not just when he felt like it.

-- he could shoot free throws fairly ok. Wasn't a Reggie Miller shooting 90%....but also wasn't a Shaq shooting 34% in the playoffs or 45% in regular season.

If Olajuwon had more talent on his team, he'd have won more than 2 titles. The other "stars" on his team were journeyman Kenny Smith, Robert Horry, etc....


Now, look at Shaq...

1. Where does he shoot his shot?
A: from 7 foot and inside. He HAS NO ability to shoot outside of that area.

Kareem could shoot the mid-range sky hook
David Robinson could shoot the mid-range shot
Patrick Ewing, also.......

but Shaq never ever did anything in his life, outside of powering his way to shoot layups.

HELL, I could do that too, if you put kids up against me.

And how can you be the most dominant, when, in close games, the coach takes you out b/c you can't shoot 50% from the free throw lines?

The Lakers are smartly NOT giving Shaq the maximum on a new contract. Wait out the next 2 years that he is under contract.

If Shaq goes elsewhere, he will be paid about $15M (he gets $27-$30M right now with the Lakers), b/c that's the rules of the NBA.

Why pay Shaq a new 5-yr contract at $30M, which is what he demands, when you know that other teams, by league cap rules, CANNOT pay Shaq more than $20M?

That's not to say that Shaq can't go to New York, and be "compensated" an extra $10-15M via movies, endorsements, etc.

The future is Kobe, plain and simple.

Who would you rather have?

1. a 25-year old getting into his prime, who spends his summers working out in the gym every day (and of course, having sex with various females)? Someone who wants to do everything he can to be the greatest ever to play the game?

or

2. a 32-y/o who has said he spends his summers doing his own thing (rap music, movies, buying more cars, etc), and that he will work out on "company time" --- i.e. he will use the regular season to get himself into shape? Someone who refuses to get help from his free throw guru this season, even when he was shooting 25% for an extended period of time?

Wow, I was expecting for you to go on the defensive, and for me to have to put together a post like that, lol. At least we can agree on Shaq :)

[cardbuyer66]

I love the east, I'll jump on the Pistons bandwagon. LETS GO Pistons. Ill put bets that the Pistons win atleast 2 games, or I'll bet they win the series if I get some nice odds and for a card I need

[Rockman]

OMG POD, SHAQ JUST MADE A FADE AWAY FROM LIKE 7 FEET 1 INCH AND GOT FOULED. WHO WOUDA THUNK IT. lol atleast it was out side his box.

anyway the score is 14-14 so far and if I do say so myself the Lakers are playing pretty bad. To many turnovers and to many bad shots. Oh well.

[cardbuyer66]

Pistons will surprise many...anyone want to bet? Ill take Pistons +6 for the game (real spread is 7.5)

[podstock]

sure, the Pistons could surprise many

esp. when farking Kobe is shooting fallaway 23-footers with 2 men on him

that's not good defense; that's Kobe ball-hogging!

If I am covering you 30-foot from the basket, and you chuck up a shot and miss, did I play good defense, or were you stupid enough to shoot a 30-footer?

cannot believe how pathetic the 1st quarter was.

No ball movement at all, with Kobe basically ball-hogging

[stalking_WOLF_21]

the pistons are doing what they should do and has done all season.
cause turnovers

[cardbuyer66]

Game one to the Pistons. I'll take a chance here and say I think the Pistons will win the series, and Im willing to take bets on it

[minew_m]

cardbuyer66- Are you looking to be cards or cc?

[cardbuyer66]

cards preferably, do you have any autos or GU to put up? I have a lot of Marbury GU, and I may have an Auto of Battier but im not sure. Ill PM you about this possible bet

[minew_m]

Kep, sounds great!