Comments on: Preview & Chat: The Washington Wizards http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/12/05/preview-chat-the-washington-wizards/ 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: Kurt http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/12/05/preview-chat-the-washington-wizards/comment-page-2/#comment-586350 Kurt Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:46:47 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1441#comment-586350 Bucks preview post up Bucks preview post up

]]> By: 81 Witness http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/12/05/preview-chat-the-washington-wizards/comment-page-2/#comment-586348 81 Witness Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:09:21 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1441#comment-586348 Dr Ray, While you are correct regarding the "hold onto the lead" line-up, Luke was not the answer. His inability to slash the lane, rebound, and play adequate defense almost cost us the game against the Wizards. I would like to see Bynum, Powell, LO, Sasha, and Fisher work together. You have our 3 best rebounders on the team plus a shooter and a floor general. Dr Ray,

While you are correct regarding the “hold onto the lead” line-up, Luke was not the answer. His inability to slash the lane, rebound, and play adequate defense almost cost us the game against the Wizards.

I would like to see Bynum, Powell, LO, Sasha, and Fisher work together. You have our 3 best rebounders on the team plus a shooter and a floor general.

]]> By: Craig W. http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/12/05/preview-chat-the-washington-wizards/comment-page-2/#comment-586346 Craig W. Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:20:55 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1441#comment-586346 drrayeye, Good to see you back. Your idea about a 'hold 'em' squad is a great one for Kurt to use as lead thread. We really haven't discussed this aspect of the game as a separate group of individuals - just 1st team and 2nd team. This concept does fit the way Phil might manage a team and would be fun to talk about. I like your idea about using Walton to slow down and stabilize a 'hold 'em' unit, but he would be out of his depth against a GS type of squad. Kobe and Ariza should probably be the base and Gasol/Bynum would be used depending on the bigs we are playing against. Actually, I would like to see Powell paired with Gasol to provide flexibility and toughness - maybe we should try this in the 2nd qtr before adding it to any endgame scenario. drrayeye,
Good to see you back.
Your idea about a ‘hold ‘em’ squad is a great one for Kurt to use as lead thread. We really haven’t discussed this aspect of the game as a separate group of individuals – just 1st team and 2nd team. This concept does fit the way Phil might manage a team and would be fun to talk about.

I like your idea about using Walton to slow down and stabilize a ‘hold ‘em’ unit, but he would be out of his depth against a GS type of squad. Kobe and Ariza should probably be the base and Gasol/Bynum would be used depending on the bigs we are playing against. Actually, I would like to see Powell paired with Gasol to provide flexibility and toughness – maybe we should try this in the 2nd qtr before adding it to any endgame scenario.

]]> By: Samy http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/12/05/preview-chat-the-washington-wizards/comment-page-2/#comment-586345 Samy Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:07:50 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1441#comment-586345 Why is it that I get the feeling that some of these "lakers-fans" sound like Celtics fans just smashing in Boston highlights of last year....? Why is it that I get the feeling that some of these “lakers-fans” sound like Celtics fans just smashing in Boston highlights of last year….?

]]> By: PeanutButterSpread http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/12/05/preview-chat-the-washington-wizards/comment-page-2/#comment-586323 PeanutButterSpread Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:05:22 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1441#comment-586323 never forget: Boston Finals 24. It should be ingrained in every Laker players brain, if not permanently tattooed across their heads until they win the championship. Seriously, blowing big leads again, especially after blowing the lead in game 4, I thought the team would have learned a lesson … it’s a good thing we’re early in the season but we’ve already done this losing big leads thing 6 times out of the 16 times we’ve played. That’s not a good trend, even though it’s early in the season, but that’s precisely why it’s a bad thing. It is early in the season and if we start losing big leads early in the season, it’s going to be a hard habit to shake. Not trying to be chicken little, but still … I hate close games and I hate blown leads. It’s a sign of lazy defense, lazy offense, bad teamwork and I put that blame on the bench mob for letting up too quickly. Hopefully this trend will reverse asap, for the sake of the team and the health of the fans :) never forget: Boston Finals 24.

It should be ingrained in every Laker players brain, if not permanently tattooed across their heads until they win the championship.

Seriously, blowing big leads again, especially after blowing the lead in game 4, I thought the team would have learned a lesson … it’s a good thing we’re early in the season but we’ve already done this losing big leads thing 6 times out of the 16 times we’ve played. That’s not a good trend, even though it’s early in the season, but that’s precisely why it’s a bad thing. It is early in the season and if we start losing big leads early in the season, it’s going to be a hard habit to shake.

Not trying to be chicken little, but still … I hate close games and I hate blown leads. It’s a sign of lazy defense, lazy offense, bad teamwork and I put that blame on the bench mob for letting up too quickly.

Hopefully this trend will reverse asap, for the sake of the team and the health of the fans :)

]]> By: drrayeye http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/12/05/preview-chat-the-washington-wizards/comment-page-2/#comment-586322 drrayeye Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:51:18 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1441#comment-586322 This year, the Lakers are far ahead of my expectations. After all, their winning percentage is almost .900. They win by 2 against teams with a losing record when they might have lost by 10 or even 20 last year. They've won by 20 against teams that they beat by 5 last year. They've been built with redundancies against injury, but injuries have been minimal so far. The Laker 2nd unit has been much better this year at establishing leads, but no better at holding them. I'm not sure that the "closeout" unit needs to have the same players as the 2nd unit. Earlier in the game, the 2nd unit is there to increase tempo. In the end, it is to run the triangle offense, avoid easy transition baskets, and play good defense. Those are not the same skills. I have a hard time seeing either Sasha or Lamar as players to hold a lead, but good players to stage a comeback. Phil might want to expand the rotation beyond the current 2nd team specifically for "hold the lead" situations early in the fourth quarter. Luke is an obvious player for that "hold 'em" role--though there are others to consider as well. This year, the Lakers are far ahead of my expectations. After all, their winning percentage is almost .900. They win by 2 against teams with a losing record when they might have lost by 10 or even 20 last year. They’ve won by 20 against teams that they beat by 5 last year. They’ve been built with redundancies against injury, but injuries have been minimal so far.

The Laker 2nd unit has been much better this year at establishing leads, but no better at holding them. I’m not sure that the “closeout” unit needs to have the same players as the 2nd unit. Earlier in the game, the 2nd unit is there to increase tempo. In the end, it is to run the triangle offense, avoid easy transition baskets, and play good defense. Those are not the same skills.

I have a hard time seeing either Sasha or Lamar as players to hold a lead, but good players to stage a comeback. Phil might want to expand the rotation beyond the current 2nd team specifically for “hold the lead” situations early in the fourth quarter. Luke is an obvious player for that “hold ‘em” role–though there are others to consider as well.

]]> By: Brian http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/12/05/preview-chat-the-washington-wizards/comment-page-2/#comment-586306 Brian Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:46:54 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1441#comment-586306 Watching these last few games, I was reminded of something that was glaringly obvious last year - our 2nd unit is not reliable on the road. I had hoped things would change somewhat with LO and Ariza added to the reserves, but the same problems seem to be rearing up again with sloppiness and allowing big leads to slip away. We had the same problems last year. Watching these last few games, I was reminded of something that was glaringly obvious last year – our 2nd unit is not reliable on the road. I had hoped things would change somewhat with LO and Ariza added to the reserves, but the same problems seem to be rearing up again with sloppiness and allowing big leads to slip away. We had the same problems last year.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/12/05/preview-chat-the-washington-wizards/comment-page-2/#comment-586305 Aaron Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:10:03 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1441#comment-586305 And we were terrible the year after Shaq left and got a lottery pick, so add Bynum to that list. And we were terrible the year after Shaq left and got a lottery pick, so add Bynum to that list.

]]> By: Craig W. http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/12/05/preview-chat-the-washington-wizards/comment-page-2/#comment-586303 Craig W. Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:44:47 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1441#comment-586303 P. Ami, Very sage observation on KG and last year's finals - no change from the past. My issues with Lamar revolve solely around his ability to disappear/make bone-headed plays when the pressure is the greatest, not his talent or flow. He can be a danger to our team if he is on the floor during a very close endgame. He is old enough and experienced enough that I think his basketball character is set and Phil will be unable to change this. The problem is that he comes through some of the time, just not a high percentage of the time. I don't want him in line to get a pass in traffic or to pass into traffic when the game is on the line. Other than that I would like to have him on the floor. P. Ami,
Very sage observation on KG and last year’s finals – no change from the past. My issues with Lamar revolve solely around his ability to disappear/make bone-headed plays when the pressure is the greatest, not his talent or flow. He can be a danger to our team if he is on the floor during a very close endgame. He is old enough and experienced enough that I think his basketball character is set and Phil will be unable to change this. The problem is that he comes through some of the time, just not a high percentage of the time. I don’t want him in line to get a pass in traffic or to pass into traffic when the game is on the line. Other than that I would like to have him on the floor.

]]> By: LakerPauer http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/12/05/preview-chat-the-washington-wizards/comment-page-2/#comment-586300 LakerPauer Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:26:31 +0000 http://www.forumblueandgold.com/?p=1441#comment-586300 I think we also got a draft pick that we used for Farmar. So it was Farmar, Pau, and LO for Shaq. I think we also got a draft pick that we used for Farmar. So it was Farmar, Pau, and LO for Shaq.

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