Originally posted by ESPN.comThe Lakers (32-37) committed a season-high 27 turnovers in losing their eighth straight game -- their second-longest losing streak since they moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1960.
How about that? From the NBA Finals to the NBA Lottery. And somewhere in Miami, Shaq is laughing all the way to the playoffs. There's gonna be a lot of soul searching in Los Angeles after this season's over.
Originally posted by It's FalseHow about that? From the NBA Finals to the NBA Lottery. And somewhere in Miami, Shaq is laughing all the way to the playoffs. There's gonna be a lot of soul searching in Los Angeles after this season's over.
In addition to head coach searching, free agent searching, lottery pick searching... and hopefully GM searching.
As much as I've enjoyed witnessing Kobe stumble-bumble and be humiliated like this (he was due for a lengthy ego-bruising on the basketball court), let's not get carried away here and be fair.
- Their second best player, Lamar Odom, is injured. And even still, not only is Odom playing out of position, but he needs the ball to be effective and he ain't getting it. Too much of a clash with Kobe to work well, so far.
- Kobe himself isn't 100% (ankle injury from earlier).
- These young players, who seem much more comfortable running, are trying to run the one of if not the most difficult-to-learn set of offensive set plays there is. Laker defense this year has been abysmal so they had to play what I call "Suns ball" to keep up.
- It really seems like this team quit when Rudy T did. I know some people believe that they're tanking on purpose to get a higher draft pick, but that's another story altogether.
- Say what you will about Shaq, his ego, his weight, or whatever. He was and is still the best center in the NBA. When you lose that and not get equal amount of talent in return, you're not going to be as good. And really, folks, do you honestly fault Doc Buss for siding with the much younger, yet-to-peak Kobe? Shaq's already 32, he only has so much left in the tank and boy does he have a frightening contract.
- Most importantly, these are the Los Angeles Lakers. The Yankees of basketball. How often are they down and out? They'll be back somehow, someway, someday. Book it.
How long will they be down and out? I say a few years. I can not see many free agents (mid to high level) wanting to play in LA because of the fact that Kobe is such a ball hog and a prima donna. The Lakers are going to have to grossly overpay for someone decent to come there and seel that person on Kobe. Right now, as a free agent, I would rather play with Shaq.
And count me among those who thought LA should have done a sing and tradw with KOBE and kept Shaq and signed him long term. Mark Cuban would have given up his first born to get KOBE. I would rather have 5 more years of Shaq than 10 years of KOBE.
They better hope they strike gold in the lottery.
I think you're an asshole. No, no, let me correct that, an immature asshole. Which is fine, except that you're marrying my daughter and I'm afraid that my grandchildren are gonna be little assholes.
I went 6 and 2 in the first round. Shockingly good for me East: Nets vs. Celtics: Boston in 7 Pistons vs. Iverson: Philadelphia in 6 West: Lakers vs. Spurs: Los Angeles in 7 Kings vs. Mavs: Dallas in 7. Sorry Zed