Comments on: Building a Champion: Redux http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/ A Lakers Blog. Thoughts, reflections, and the odd rant on the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA (even the Clippers). Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:18:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Warren Wee Lim http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-542941 Warren Wee Lim Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:12:14 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/#comment-542941 JD Hastings - LOLz man. adb - moving Luke is next to impossible with that 6-yr contract of his... Renato - that might be Phil's strategy for the playoffs until Bynum gets his groove back, possibly in the WCF if we get that far. However, I would insist that Ariza gets the start if he's ready. JD Hastings – LOLz man.

adb – moving Luke is next to impossible with that 6-yr contract of his…

Renato – that might be Phil’s strategy for the playoffs until Bynum gets his groove back, possibly in the WCF if we get that far. However, I would insist that Ariza gets the start if he’s ready.

]]> By: tony starks http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-542689 tony starks Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:57:30 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/#comment-542689 respect on an excellent post. Also I gotta agree with the enforcer argument. We need our own Charles Oakley patrolling the front lines. Someone to complement kobe's tenacity. respect on an excellent post. Also I gotta agree with the enforcer argument. We need our own Charles Oakley patrolling the front lines. Someone to complement kobe’s tenacity.

]]> By: Elyse http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-542424 Elyse Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:58:49 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/#comment-542424 I was talking about the road to the finals for the western teams vs eastern teams with my father and he compared it to the 70's Lakers teams. He talked about how every year they would waltz through, losing maybe a game here and there, and then have to meet up with these battle tested eastern conference teams that had developed a strong sense of belonging, confidence, and toughness. As good as Boston is, I can see how that *could* happen again. Whoever comes out of the West (and I surely hope it is the Lakers) will have been tried, measured, and I think have suprememe confidence. I don't know if it is necessarily a disadvantage to that western conference team. I was talking about the road to the finals for the western teams vs eastern teams with my father and he compared it to the 70′s Lakers teams. He talked about how every year they would waltz through, losing maybe a game here and there, and then have to meet up with these battle tested eastern conference teams that had developed a strong sense of belonging, confidence, and toughness.

As good as Boston is, I can see how that *could* happen again. Whoever comes out of the West (and I surely hope it is the Lakers) will have been tried, measured, and I think have suprememe confidence. I don’t know if it is necessarily a disadvantage to that western conference team.

]]> By: J.D. Hastings http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-542402 J.D. Hastings Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:39:39 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/#comment-542402 Open letter to the Portland Trailblazers: Dear Portland Trailblazers, Please don't try hard tonight. What's the point? Lose a few games, get a higher draft pick. I'm sure the new better-player-than-you'd-have-otherwise-drafted won't take YOUR minutes. They'll take Steve Blake's minutes. And the ladies in the L.A. night clubs will be in much better moods if the Lakers win handily. MUCH better moods. Sincerely, J.D. Hastings Actually, while I'm here, Open letter to the New Orleans Hornets: Dear New Orleans Hornets, Please lose. What the Hell, man? You guys are harder to put down than Michael Myers on PCP. If you guys went against a family of hungry, rabid bears I get the impression you'd find a way to pull out a victory (not that outscoring the bears would be difficult as they have lousy handles, but you know what I mean). Seriously, LOSE A COUPLE GAMES ALREADY. You're freaking me out. Sincerely, J.D. Hastings Open letter to the Portland Trailblazers:

Dear Portland Trailblazers,

Please don’t try hard tonight. What’s the point? Lose a few games, get a higher draft pick. I’m sure the new better-player-than-you’d-have-otherwise-drafted won’t take YOUR minutes. They’ll take Steve Blake’s minutes. And the ladies in the L.A. night clubs will be in much better moods if the Lakers win handily. MUCH better moods.

Sincerely,
J.D. Hastings

Actually, while I’m here, Open letter to the New Orleans Hornets:

Dear New Orleans Hornets,

Please lose. What the Hell, man? You guys are harder to put down than Michael Myers on PCP. If you guys went against a family of hungry, rabid bears I get the impression you’d find a way to pull out a victory (not that outscoring the bears would be difficult as they have lousy handles, but you know what I mean). Seriously, LOSE A COUPLE GAMES ALREADY. You’re freaking me out.

Sincerely,
J.D. Hastings

]]> By: Renato Afonso http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-542343 Renato Afonso Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:59:15 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/#comment-542343 43. That's where we should use our depth... Throw Odom to the bench mob, get Bynum on the floor... 43. That’s where we should use our depth… Throw Odom to the bench mob, get Bynum on the floor…

]]> By: Craig W. http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-542311 Craig W. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:24:33 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/#comment-542311 I think the Gasol/Odom combo hurts us against NO and SA, not to mention Boston and Detroit. We need to get Bynum minutes in the post before the 2nd round - where he may need to start. I think the Gasol/Odom combo hurts us against NO and SA, not to mention Boston and Detroit. We need to get Bynum minutes in the post before the 2nd round – where he may need to start.

]]> By: Renato Afonso http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-542269 Renato Afonso Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:49:34 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/#comment-542269 Get Bynum coming off the bench and put Radmanovic in to spread the floor. Otherwise we will just have the lane filled with bodies and our inside game becomes useless... (Do you really want Odom jacking up threes?) Also, if money is NOT a problem, then there's no need to move anyone... but maybe we could draft a PG with more defensive awareness and skills (to actually start replacing Fish). Or maybe a defensive forward (a la Mbah a Moute). Ideally? Starting lineup: Fish, Kobe, Radman, Odom, Gasol Bench mob: Farmar, Sasha, Ariza, Ronny, Bynum Guys that make us really deep: Luke and Mbenga Of course every opponent is different and sometimes we'll need Luke to be on court and Ariza to stay out. Whatever it takes... Plenty to choose... Let the team gel... We'll be contenders every year for the next five (winning four, this year I don't believe it) ;) Get Bynum coming off the bench and put Radmanovic in to spread the floor. Otherwise we will just have the lane filled with bodies and our inside game becomes useless… (Do you really want Odom jacking up threes?)

Also, if money is NOT a problem, then there’s no need to move anyone… but maybe we could draft a PG with more defensive awareness and skills (to actually start replacing Fish). Or maybe a defensive forward (a la Mbah a Moute).

Ideally?

Starting lineup: Fish, Kobe, Radman, Odom, Gasol
Bench mob: Farmar, Sasha, Ariza, Ronny, Bynum
Guys that make us really deep: Luke and Mbenga

Of course every opponent is different and sometimes we’ll need Luke to be on court and Ariza to stay out. Whatever it takes… Plenty to choose… Let the team gel… We’ll be contenders every year for the next five (winning four, this year I don’t believe it) ;)

]]> By: adb http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-542235 adb Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:31:45 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/#comment-542235 #37, "should definitely win this game" is a phrase that has most Lakers fans skeptical given the past few games:) Great Post Reed. Keep up the good work. Warren (#34), I agree with your general assessment, but I do think Trevor is a great natural fit at the 3 spot. The general public is going to be surprised on how great of supporting player he is going become next year (with the safe assumption he is going to improve on his shot over the summer). The kid can flat out play and provides 2 things the Lakers are sorely lacking: 1. Great perimeter defense with a propensity for steals 2. His ability to cut correctly in the triangle and find his way to the basket Additionally, if you look at his shot......he has great form. He just needs to hit it on a consistent basis and that is something that can be easily worked on over the summer. I agree with you in regards to the glut of forwards we have on our team for the future. But rather than looking at LO has the piece to move (although, you can't ignore he has only 1 year left on his contract thereby making it a good scenario for the team in terms of a potential trade), I think the smart piece to move is Luke. And this is not b/c of his level of play this year....but more b/c how he fits less in the system given the other players around him. I think his lack of athleticism, consistent shooting, and speed makes him the odd man out in terms of improving the team. I also agree that we need another PG who can get to the hole and have the potential to play great D (i.e. Critt!). Be that as it may, this is talk all for next year. But getting back to what Reed says........this all points to a great future for the Lakers for the next 5 years (Although winning this year would be a great start to a budding dynasty)! #37, “should definitely win this game” is a phrase that has most Lakers fans skeptical given the past few games:)

Great Post Reed. Keep up the good work.

Warren (#34), I agree with your general assessment, but I do think Trevor is a great natural fit at the 3 spot. The general public is going to be surprised on how great of supporting player he is going become next year (with the safe assumption he is going to improve on his shot over the summer). The kid can flat out play and provides 2 things the Lakers are sorely lacking:
1. Great perimeter defense with a propensity for steals
2. His ability to cut correctly in the triangle and find his way to the basket

Additionally, if you look at his shot……he has great form. He just needs to hit it on a consistent basis and that is something that can be easily worked on over the summer.

I agree with you in regards to the glut of forwards we have on our team for the future. But rather than looking at LO has the piece to move (although, you can’t ignore he has only 1 year left on his contract thereby making it a good scenario for the team in terms of a potential trade), I think the smart piece to move is Luke. And this is not b/c of his level of play this year….but more b/c how he fits less in the system given the other players around him. I think his lack of athleticism, consistent shooting, and speed makes him the odd man out in terms of improving the team. I also agree that we need another PG who can get to the hole and have the potential to play great D (i.e. Critt!).

Be that as it may, this is talk all for next year. But getting back to what Reed says……..this all points to a great future for the Lakers for the next 5 years (Although winning this year would be a great start to a budding dynasty)!

]]> By: RVS http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-542203 RVS Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:19:33 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/#comment-542203 After watching the NOH ,SAS/GS, PHX/Nuggets games yesterday, i feel that Lakers will be better served remaining the third seed. That way they get to play Houston which will be a goof match up for us. We have the interior scoring which they lack. Looking at the way SAS and NOH are playing, I think we cannot climb up from 3rd. Houston also has gained a good lead on the 7th and 8th spots. Hence the Lakers -Houston match will be a reality and we will win such a series hands down... After watching the NOH ,SAS/GS, PHX/Nuggets games yesterday, i feel that Lakers will be better served remaining the third seed. That way they get to play Houston which will be a goof match up for us. We have the interior scoring which they lack.
Looking at the way SAS and NOH are playing, I think we cannot climb up from 3rd. Houston also has gained a good lead on the 7th and 8th spots. Hence the Lakers -Houston match will be a reality and we will win such a series hands down…

]]> By: Craig W. http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-542181 Craig W. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:01:43 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/04/01/building-a-champion-redux/#comment-542181 I am excited as everyone else about this Laker team. However, last summer I said next year would be our year and I am sticking with that opinion. drrayeye put it very well. We are currently a collection of players and not yet a team - it is a great collection - but not yet a team. We have seen Gasol fit in so quickly it is scary (thank Kobe for much of that) and we thing everything else will go as easily. I don't feel the Gasol/Bynum combination will take much adjustment to work, but it is the dominos that follow that move that concern me. I see Lamar's effectiveness slowing down as he adjusts to being farther from the hoop - also his defense will decline because he will have to defend smaller, faster players out front. I fee the Walton effect for Vlade when he goes to the bench. I fear Phil will give Luke Vlade's minutes in this situation and now our second team defense will be compromised. This is what I feel drrayeye meant by putting "Humpty back together again when Humpty was never together in the first place". I am excited as everyone else about this Laker team. However, last summer I said next year would be our year and I am sticking with that opinion. drrayeye put it very well. We are currently a collection of players and not yet a team – it is a great collection – but not yet a team.

We have seen Gasol fit in so quickly it is scary (thank Kobe for much of that) and we thing everything else will go as easily. I don’t feel the Gasol/Bynum combination will take much adjustment to work, but it is the dominos that follow that move that concern me. I see Lamar’s effectiveness slowing down as he adjusts to being farther from the hoop – also his defense will decline because he will have to defend smaller, faster players out front. I fee the Walton effect for Vlade when he goes to the bench. I fear Phil will give Luke Vlade’s minutes in this situation and now our second team defense will be compromised.

This is what I feel drrayeye meant by putting “Humpty back together again when Humpty was never together in the first place”.

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