Lakers don't make the playoffs?

Exactly Zagstuh.

In the East, you can make the playoffs with a 500 record or even worse.  In the West, you can't.  Clearly, the teams in the West are still superior to all but maybe 2-3 teams in the East. 

Lakers on the other hand want to fight for HCA as they play better at home...so that is division.  They also want to ensure a playoff spot which means, at least 10 games above .500.

Not only is the East non-superior to the West but I also think no one in the West is a hands-down favorite; so anyone can beat anyone.  Whereas in the East, there is CLEAR discrepancy between talent of the teams.  Miami and Bulls for example are far superior to 10-12 teams in the East.  Whereas OKC may be superior to 4-5 teams in the West.  This makes a huge different when it comes to your overall record; both highs and lows.  I think OKC is #1 but in reality; a ton of teams can beat them in a 7 games series; as it stands right now.  Whereas if you look at Miami; the only potential upsets may be Atlanta and Bulls....  No one else comes close and neither of those teams will do so easily; if at all.

Lakers don't play better at home.  Teams just get jobbed at the Staples Center.  Boston is in way better shape than LA.  Why do you think they are trying to sign Kenyon Martin, Rasheed Wallace and Gilbert Arenas?  The BIGGEST reason why they will get beaten up in the playoffs again is because Mike Brown SUCKS.  Word.

Lakers don't play better at home.  Teams just get jobbed at the Staples Center.  Boston is in way better shape than LA.  Why do you think they are trying to sign Kenyon Martin, Rasheed Wallace and Gilbert Arenas?  The BIGGEST reason why they will get beaten up in the playoffs again is because Mike Brown SUCKS.  Word.

You're right Crotch.  Every one of our 11 home wins was due to suspect ref'g, more foul shots to Lakers, playing no defense, Kobe hoisting shots, and what else can we thrown in there?  Luck.  That's right, EVERY team that comes into our place is due to lose except the Pacers and Bulls where the refs favored those teams.  Stick to your wrestling analogies and leave the facts to grown folks.

Then you have the lowly C's who barely avoided another meltdown vs. Cavs last night.  Of course, they have a losing record WITH Rondo and a winning record WITHOUT him.  Guess that house isn't built right either.  Maybe Bradley should be starting when Rondo gets back.

And with your opinions you represent the green flag so deservedly well, LOL.

You can tell the fans of big markets...sometimes they just make no sense.  And as much as I like to give Lakers crap..this time it is a Boston fan talking out of his arse....

Lakers are 11-2 at home and 2-7 on the road.  I think it is safe to say that they play better at home.  Most teams that rely on offense more than defense (which I believe is true of Lakers), play better at home.

Cs are 6-6 at home and 4-4 on road.  They can play on the road when they are a good defensive team.  It is interesting how they play better without Rondo though.  That kills me....  I love that laugh; its great.  As I'm not only a Laker hater...I hate the Cs too.  LOL

At this point in time, I'd rather be the Cs can they can suck and still advance in playoffs....whereas, Lakers can't.  But...Cs could miss the playoffs and Lakers won't.  So I guess either team could suck.

Absolutely none of the records mean anything right now because it is still a season in progress.  I personally don't think the Celtics have a chance because the players are too old and the Celtics gave up Perkins who was critical to their defense, but anything can happen.  Yes it's possible for the Lakers to miss the playoffs, but both Wade and Lebron could get injured and cause the Heat to miss the playoffs as well.  Right now the Lakers have played well at home and not so well on the road, but the season is early and they can correct the problems. Every one knows that Mike Brown made the playoffs and the finals with much less then what he has now.  We will see what the Lakers will do, but in the mean time the Lakers-Haters are really sounding stupid right now because they are basing all of their opinions on ONE - THIRD OF THE SEASON 

 

Boston is just getting warmed up.  The Lakers have peaked.  Keep watching, boys.  Paul Pierce is giving the league an education in leadership.  Celtic-Mania is getting ready to kick into high gear.  Word.

Your run of beating up on patsies like Raps and Wiz is coming to an end sport.  You haven't begun to play teams with .500+ records.  Delusion is a biatch.

Delusion is a biatch.

Yeah, but it's all that the Celtics fans have this year!!

This is why I can't stand these boards and why Lakers fans are impossible to talk basketball with.  You're just as blinded by love as the haters are by hate.  As I told Bam.... two completely opposite sides of the spectrum.  There can be no in between with you guys.

Come on Go... I'm the exception.

Your run of beating up on patsies like Raps and Wiz is coming to an end sport. You haven't begun to play teams with .500+ records. Delusion is a biatch.

Some of these eastern teams have played some ridiculously easy schedules.

While teams out west like the Lakers, Spurs, and Mavs seemingly play a diffrent playoff team every night.

It will balance out.

The Eastern teams will start getting more challenges other than the Wizards 4 or 5 times.

The Western teams will start getting some schedule breaks.

Seriously you're going to brand me as just a hater based on me not thinking Kobe Bryant is not the MVP?  I didn't say he wasn't in the discussion.  I said he wasn't the MVP.  What does that even matter?  The team's struggling; don't get caught up in Kobe Bryant's individual greatness.  I'm not.  I said the team would still win the division and you still just cast me off as a hater.

Exactly. Kobe has been playing his arse off trying to keep the Lakers in games while they adjust to new players, new coaches and a new system. Sure, he should be in the MVP discussion, but he is not the MVP right now.

I've noticed, however, that over the past few games (maybe the last 3 or 4) he has been dialing it back a bit. For example, in their most recent game, he started off trying to get his teammates going. The rest of the team started slow, so he began shooting to keep them in the game. Then, the rest of the team found it's groove and he dialed it back and let them do the "heavy lifting". The end result was a blowout win (admittedly over a lousy team) and Kobe got to sit out the entire 4th quarter.

To me, that is exactly how Kobe should play. It's what MJ did (especially later in his career) he'd usually start out seeing what his teammates brought and he would adjust his number of shots to how they were performing.

Ironically, Kobe could actually increase his chance at the MVP by decreasing his volume of shots.

This is why I can't stand these boards and why Lakers fans are impossible to talk basketball with.  You're just as blinded by love as the haters are by hate.

Can't speak for others and I'm as capable of blatant homerism as any fan, but I do try to be realistic in my posts. Also, I see Laker fans accused of being delusional all of the time. Why is it delusional to have faith in a team and/or player that has earned that faith?

Boston is just getting warmed up.  The Lakers have peaked.  Keep watching, boys.  Paul Pierce is giving the league an education in leadership.  Celtic-Mania is getting ready to kick into high gear.  Word.     

More like delusional word - lol.  No the Lakers have not peaked even though they are probably not good enough to win a championship without some good luck.  Pierce and Rondo is the best that the Celtics have right now bro, but it's also all they got. Allen and Garnett are too far gone in decline that Ainge even said he would trade them if some one was dumb enough to take them off his hands - Thats not going to happen. Players like Garnett, Allen and Duncan would retire if they have any decency and let the gam belong to the young boys that can run. They had their day and now its time for them old geezers to get to steppin
   

Boston is just getting warmed up.

Something is terribly wrong with me. I was watching the Celtics/Knicks last night and I found myself pulling for the Celtics. WTH?!? I grabbed a thermometer.....no fever. I checked my shirt......still said Lakers. I looked at my hat......still said Lakers. Yet, I wanted the Celtics to win. Clearly, it's mental and I need help.

Seriously though, I really want, somehow, some way for the Lakers and Celtics to have one last Finals before both rosters have to be changed over. I don't think it will happen, but a guy can hope!!

71 out of 87 scored by the Big 3 last night. No bench to speak of. Last year that was the Heat, this year its the Lakers. The only difference is that this Big 3 is getting old in a hurry.

71 out of 87 scored by the Big 3 last night. No bench to speak of. Last year that was the Heat, this year its the Lakers. The only difference is that this Big 3 is getting old in a hurry.

Yeah, the Lakers bench has to improve somehow. Either the guys coming off the bench must start playing better, or they need to make some moves. Benches in the NBA are inconsistent by nature (better at home than on the road, etc.), however, the Lakers bench has become the poster child for inconsistency and their inconsistency seems to lean to more bad games than good. What's really tough about it is that the bench doesn't necessarily have to be THAT good. If memory serves, the Lakers bench was outscored by Utah's bench by around 30 points, yet the Lakers only lost by 10.

Leaning as heavily on the starters as they have had to will get the Lakers to the playoffs and might even make them a top 4 seed. However, it will NOT get them a championship or even to the finals.

Leaning as heavily on the starters as they have had to will get the Lakers to the playoffs and might even make them a top 4 seed. However, it will NOT get them a championship or even to the finals.


I agree. I still think they will be making some kind of a deal here soon. I can't imagine them standing pat for the rest of the season.

I agree. I still think they will be making some kind of a deal here soon. I can't imagine them standing pat for the rest of the season.

Yeah, I agree. It will be interesting to see what moves they make or are able to make. I've said all along that I think their area of greatest need is point guard, however, while it is still an area that needs to improve, I'm thinking that they need to try and make a move that will improve the bench.

Happened again last night. Lakers bench gets outscored by about 16 points, Lakers lose by 5 points. This in a game where they outrebounded the 'Sixers 55-30, including 21-8 on the offensive glass.

Really: TLF..Old Geezers, currently the Celtics are looking much younger than the "mash" Lakers, and thats with Kobe keeping them afloat. KG and Pierce are begining to take charge of a Celt run, soon as Rondo returns to playing form, the Celts will really begin to challenge the East leaders. Most knowledgeable NBA fans recognize, the Lakers continue to flounder, and be real Trojanfan 12, which player on the starting 5, are the Lakers ready to trade?? Laker posters continue believing in a fantasy world, but in reality the road problems should be...a wakeup call.  Go Big Green!! 

the road is the Lakers Achillies heel.