LAL need to trade for McGrady

[23]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bornindamecca

Bottom line: The Celtics imposed their physical will on the Lakers on both sides of the floor, and I don't think Tracy is the piece needed to negate that. Bynum, Ariza and an improved defensive focus from 1-12 is the medicine I'd prescribe.

This is also your excuse for Odom disappearing? Tracy can't stop the Celtics in any form but Ariza can. How'd that work out for Orlando?

[Bornindamecca]

Said it before, I'll say it again. If you're going to give me a Rocket to change the outcome against the Celtics, I'll take Battier.

[23]

Quote: Originally Posted by ex carrabba fan

It's all about this year though. I'll take my chances with a healthy [mentally + physically] Odom over an injury riddled Mac. He won't even be 100% this year.

Exactly, ec not carrying an entire team

...but put him on a squad where he doesn't have to do everything like playmaker, scorer, double team man, pick and roll ball handler, create a shot man for the team we have a different story

[Bornindamecca]

Quote: Originally Posted by KDRE_OS

This is also your excuse for Odom disappearing? Tracy can't stop the Celtics in any form but Ariza can. How'd that work out for Orlando?

First off, Ariza is improving in every category right now. Secondly, within his role Ariza makes defensive plays regularly, as well as hustle plays all over. Call me crazy, but I think that's really important for what the Lakers are trying to do.

[23]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bornindamecca

Said it before, I'll say it again. If you're going to give me a Rocket to change the outcome against the Celtics, I'll take Battier.

Yeah man, that worked well against Utah and in Memphis where they never won a playoff game at all.

[Bornindamecca]

Quote: Originally Posted by KDRE_OS

Yeah man, that worked well against Utah and in Memphis where they never won a playoff game at all.

I'm not saying trade Battier for Kobe, HAHA! Why are you going to extremes? Houston isn't good enough to benefit from a role player like Battier, but the Lakers are. Put Bowen on Houston and he won't bring them a championship, but within Pop's scheme, surrounded by talent, he's an indispensable piece.

Same for Battier with the Lakers. I don't feel the same way about Tracy because he doesn't hustle and defend in the way that great role players do, and he's not even a great foul shooter. The Lakers have all the contested pull up jumpers they need.

The Lakers are good enough offensively that they only need to lock a team down for one quarter to beat them handily.

[23]

Oh I get it, McGrady is a great role player....

If Kobe couldn't stop Pierce, how could Ariza? If Battier was hardly existant against the Jazz how would he outclass the celtics? He's really the spot up jumpshooter who only stands in the corner.

[ex carrabba fan]

It's not about one person stopping another though. Nobody could guard Allen, Rondo, K.G. either. It's about overall team defense. C's had it, Lakers didn't.

Basically stop discussing last year, IMO it's pointless, and talk about this year since that's the point of the thread and is relevant. This year, NO, I would not really see a need for trading away Odom for an unhealthy Mac.

If Mac was healthy, yeah I might think about it longer.

[Bornindamecca]

Quote: Originally Posted by KDRE_OS

Oh I get it, McGrady is a great role player....

Where did you get that from? I'm saying that McGrady is not a role player. He's a major puzzle piece, and the Lakers don't need that. They need their supplemental pieces to be better at defense and physical play.

[Bornindamecca]

Quote: Originally Posted by KDRE_OS

If Kobe couldn't stop Pierce, how could Ariza? If Battier was hardly existant against the Jazz how would he outclass the celtics? He's really the spot up jumpshooter who only stands in the corner.

Again, you're talking offensively, as if the Lakers ever stopped the Celtics, lol. With Bynum healthy, they have more of the interior pieces necessary to compete in a very physical game. Now they need to get their perimeter players on the same defensive page by the time the playoffs start. If they do that, they have a great chance at winning a ring. If Shane were on the Lakers, I think he'd be a great supplemental piece to increase the Lakers' defensive success.