If we want to win a championship

[Blackryder45]

I've heard a ton of complaining ( asking for firing and trades)
So I ask what must we do REALISTICLY in order to still win this ship.
I think our issues are fixable and below are the list.

1) dantoni NOT coaching to our strenghts like he said he would. (Not enough low post touches and HILL -4mins? Really!)

2) open up the blinds and realize this team is not built for run and gun. ( But it is built for championship. There is a horrible mis conseption going on at the moment that only run and gun can win?? Miami won it once the last three titles have been won by half court teams, so why not play to your strength instead of playing to your weakness?

3) I love the way Kobe has gotten started BUT he needs to start inside out like the days with Shaq. ( it's not that Dwight gonna score every point it's more he gets a automatic double team and kicks out making the whole game easier, especially for our bench that can't create on their own).

4) The reason I wanted Phil back was one reason, only coach I seen able to criticize Kobe and get him to share the ball. ( Dantoni I'm glad you can pick on Pau when you put a system that doesn't play to his strenghts, smh but I going to need you to grow some COHONES/BALLS and tell the mamba he needs to pass the damn ball inside first.

5) Pau needs to play with better effort !!! ( I know they not getting you the ball down low but you still have to give max effort on both sides. Hell my little sister puts up more effort than that.

6) Dwight, already love what I'm seeing from big man but he has to realize he is a bonified superstar and can't be like Bynum, if they not trying to get you the ball fight for position and DEMAND the damn thing. ( That's what separate the good from the great. Look at Kobe)

7) I swear the only thing wrong with this team is managing egos, not only players but coach too. Everyone one has to be ready to give a little

[zhuya]

You should be a coach of this team man, you really hit it on the head with this tread! I'm really worried about this team with D'antoni in charge, all i hear from him is "we'll be fine once Nash comes back". What does that tell you about him as a coach, you've got Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant, MWP playing like Ron Artest, Jamison, etc. and you need Nash to beat the Kings or the Grizzlies?!
We're relying on a 38-year old Nash to carry us, and we don't even know when he's coming back to stop this disaster, and who's to guarantee that he doesn't get injured again, what then?

[Lakersfan2483]

It is going to take a lot for the lakers to win it all this year because of the coaching changes that have taken place, new systems being added, lacking the proper personnel for the system, injuries to key guys. Luckily the Lakers still have a few months to develop better chemistry and work out their issues.

[marferrer]

Shoulda hired Phil... IMO

I dont give a fcuk to those who'll say "the ship has sailed with Phil"

If they really wanted to win the ship, Phil is and always will be the right man esp with 2 7ft players anchoring the paint. Triangle is the best fit.

If someone will bring up "Pau sucked when Phil was still in charge" there is a thing called trading. And it's not like Phil can't motivate and use him to his strengths.

Lastly, why focus on Nash pick and roll skills? Why hire a coach like D'Antoni just for the sake of using Nash? Can Phil not do it right? I don;t think Phill will be as dumb as MB in forcing Nash to play like Blake. He'll let him be in charge of some plays in the game. If we wanted Dwight to be as effective as Shaq, we should have hired Phil!!!

Phil's history with good centers is respectable (Shaq 00-04, Pau 08-11) He brought the best of each in those years. He could have done it with D12 too...

Lastly, to defend D'Antoni, I don't think also that he's as dumb as MB. He can adjust some things in the offense and use D12 and Pau effectively.

I just really think that Phil is the right fit for the team.

[LakersIn5]

wait for nash to comeback

[PurpleLynch]

Eric Thomas would say:-U don't wanna succeed as bad as you wanna breath,u just kinda want it... Anyway they must play as a whole being(and it will happen with time) and watch that damn ispirational video ...but we fans have the moral duty of support this team,with more intensity in the losses!

[handle]

wait for nash to comeback

Nash will help a lot, but it won't be enough.

[midwestlaker75]

There must be adjustments made...Including by D'Antoni. I liked the way the looked under Bernie than I do under D'Antoni so far. But I do understand that it is a work in progress. D'Antoni must adjust his style a bit to accomodate for the bigs, Something other than his brief stretch with Shaq he's never had.

I am encoraged by the play of Meeks and Jamison, And once Nash & Blake returns hopefully that won't be the end of playing time for Morris. And then maybe the bench will stabilize. But especially in the last two games touches for the bigs are the problem.

[shep33]

Nash will help a ton. But our spacing still sucks on offense, and our bench is not good.

[duane v]

I dont think this team will in a championship this season, but the goal should be....................

"If we want to keep Dwight Howard this summer we should__________________________"


I'll let you fill in the blanks

[mOrphosis]

Ok...so Brown obviously needed to go. Despite the arguments for or against bringing Phil Jackson back, the team now has D'Antoni, but that has yet to create the immediate spark needed to get the team to perform to its capabilities and expectations. Pau Gasol is not the problem to a point where he needs to be traded...that is short-sighted rotisserie thinking.

I think the team simply lacks chemistry. Too many players that would be first-option scorers on other teams, but have yet to find their complementary role to play within a cohesive team concept. Kobe, despite his attempts to show poise and leadership, really is not the poster child for for playing within a team concept. I think Dwight, behind the smiles, is quite political and shrewd in how he positions himself against Pau, a player that I think Dwight sees as a hindrance to his post game, instead of seeing him as a compliment to making the team unstoppable.

In all...the Lakers are suffering from a lack of chemistry and a lack of time to build that chemistry. The only way I see the Lakers competing for a title this season is they grind out the season to make a 7th or 8th seed, but have the kinks worked out to a point where they should have been to start the season.

If the Lakers are still flummoxed after Nash returns...stick a fork not only in this season, but the franchise, for the next 5-8 years. This season was built up so high on expectations...Howard, Nash, the new cable network...the franchise will struggle to regain its aura if the season is a disaster and Howard decides to bolt.

[duane v]

Ok...so Brown obviously needed to go. Despite the arguments for or against bringing Phil Jackson back, the team now has D'Antoni, but that has yet to create the immediate spark needed to get the team to perform to its capabilities and expectations. Pau Gasol is not the problem to a point where he needs to be traded...that is short-sighted rotisserie thinking.

I think the team simply lacks chemistry. Too many players that would be first-option scorers on other teams, but have yet to find their complementary role to play within a cohesive team concept. Kobe, despite his attempts to show poise and leadership, really is not the poster child for for playing within a team concept. I think Dwight, behind the smiles, is quite political and shrewd in how he positions himself against Pau, a player that I think Dwight sees as a hindrance to his post game, instead of seeing him as a compliment to making the team unstoppable.

In all...the Lakers are suffering from a lack of chemistry and a lack of time to build that chemistry. The only way I see the Lakers competing for a title this season is they grind out the season to make a 7th or 8th seed, but have the kinks worked out to a point where they should have been to start the season.

If the Lakers are still flummoxed after Nash returns...stick a fork not only in this season, but the franchise, for the next 5-8 years. This season was built up so high on expectations...Howard, Nash, the new cable network...the franchise will struggle to regain its aura if the season is a disaster and Howard decides to bolt.

well stated

[S & B Bleeder]

Ok...so Brown obviously needed to go. Despite the arguments for or against bringing Phil Jackson back, the team now has D'Antoni, but that has yet to create the immediate spark needed to get the team to perform to its capabilities and expectations. Pau Gasol is not the problem to a point where he needs to be traded...that is short-sighted rotisserie thinking.

I think the team simply lacks chemistry. Too many players that would be first-option scorers on other teams, but have yet to find their complementary role to play within a cohesive team concept. Kobe, despite his attempts to show poise and leadership, really is not the poster child for for playing within a team concept. I think Dwight, behind the smiles, is quite political and shrewd in how he positions himself against Pau, a player that I think Dwight sees as a hindrance to his post game, instead of seeing him as a compliment to making the team unstoppable.

In all...the Lakers are suffering from a lack of chemistry and a lack of time to build that chemistry. The only way I see the Lakers competing for a title this season is they grind out the season to make a 7th or 8th seed, but have the kinks worked out to a point where they should have been to start the season.

If the Lakers are still flummoxed after Nash returns...stick a fork not only in this season, but the franchise, for the next 5-8 years. This season was built up so high on expectations...Howard, Nash, the new cable network...the franchise will struggle to regain its aura if the season is a disaster and Howard decides to bolt.

Excellent and well thought out post.

I agree, EXCEPT for the Pau excerpt. He is a shell of his former self, and while he still has his moments, they are few and far in between now.


EVERYBODY, and I mean EVERYBODY goes at him hard if they have the ball, because they know good things will happen due to his defense being below average. He'll usually just throw both hands up, but is rarely aggressive in challenging a jump shot or dribble drive.

I've seen him get owned by PG's, SG's, PF's, and the slowest center in the league in Brook Lopez. Brook literally went around him and dunked, causing one of our other players to slide over and challenge the shot, resulting in a foul and 1.

He's done. Finished. Its Over.

It pains me to say that, because he was a integral part of our championship runs-but at this point he is TOO BIG of a liability on defense, and for those of you who KNOW thier basketball, you can see that one of our guys ALWAYS has to leave his man (Howard, for the most part) to help Pau with his assignment because he's either been beaten on the dribble badly, or looks lost.

This usually results in a foul, or an easy basket for the opposition. Sometimes both.

His offensive impact is well documented. He now lacks the aggressiveness he once had of taking the ball strong inside, and is an average (thats being nice) jump shooter with good passing skills.

If we dont trade him for some much needed bench players/PG/PF and free Dwight up to work inside, we will not win the title or come close to it this season.