This thread isn't about Kobe, so don't start with that

[youvalss]

I read so many comments on local sports sites, by people (Kobe fans, of course) saying that Kobe doesn't have any good players on his team and that he's the only player who can play there and that the supporting cast doesn't exist.
OK, I admit I'm a Kobe hater (as you probably know), but again - this thread is not about Kobe, it's about the players on his team. Is it me or the guys saying that are wrong? I mean, Kobe does have a very good supporting cast around him and you can't deny it. I'm just tired of reading comments like "If kobe had better players around him he would have had 3 more titles by now", or "If the Lakers make some trades, they'll have a chance to win a title".

What do you think?

[DC]

Nobody has said that since Pau has came to LA. Before then and after Shaq it was true

[youvalss]

Quote: Originally Posted by DCAllAmerican

Nobody has said that since Pau has came to LA. Before then and after Shaq it was true

People in my country write endless comments even on the Pau era. It's like Pau is Oberto and Bynum is Mihm. You have no idea how ridiculous those commetns are, and it never stops!

[HMcCoy]

On paper the Lakers supporting cast is hot. In reality tho...Odom and Bynum aren't meeting "on paper" expectations, Fish is getting older by the day, and Radmo, Sasha, and Walton are OK roleplayers at best. On the other hand, Gasol is a legit All-Star PF, Farmer has talent and more...the moxie to thrive under a demanding lead guy, and Ariza is just a year or so from being a really, really good player, IMO.

The Lakers could use an enforcer. As is, their cast is a wee bit overated...but more than enough for "the player we shall not name" to get a ring with.

[youvalss]

Get Yao, Garnett and Paul on the Lakers and those people would still say the Kobe's supporting cast sucks. It's just amazing how twisted these comments are.

[Bornindamecca]

Quote: Originally Posted by HMcCoy

On paper the Lakers supporting cast is hot. In reality tho...Odom and Bynum aren't meeting "on paper" expectations, Fish is getting older by the day, and Radmo, Sasha, and Walton are OK roleplayers at best. On the other hand, Gasol is a legit All-Star PF, Farmer has talent and more...the moxie to thrive under a demanding lead guy, and Ariza is just a year or so from being a really, really good player, IMO. The Lakers could use an enforcer. As is, their cast is a wee bit overated...but more than enough for "the player we shall not name" to get a ring with.

This is a great post. RIght now the Lakers have some GREAT pieces, but too many shooters and not enough physical players. They also don't have a SINGLE player on their team that can create his shot on the perimeter besides Kobe. Once he sits, they are just pass-pass-post. No penetrating PGs or creative SGs/SFs. With Bynum being so focused on offense, they don't have any bigs playing real D.

Because their shooters are very good, they may be able to win despite it, but their lineup has holes. This is not an ideal lineup yet. It's a good lineup, but without any real balance, because all of their best defenders are on the perimeter. Their size and shooting masks their softness.

[Cebby]

It's not summer 2007.

[Jasong7777]

I thought this was a thread that had been bumped.

[youvalss]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bornindamecca

This is a great post. RIght now the Lakers have some GREAT pieces, but too many shooters and not enough physical players. They also don't have a SINGLE player on their team that can create his shot on the perimeter besides Kobe. Once he sits, they are just pass-pass-post. No penetrating PGs or creative SGs/SFs. With Bynum being so focused on offense, they don't have any bigs playing real D. Because their shooters are very good, they may be able to win despite it, but their lineup has holes. This is not an ideal lineup yet. It's a good lineup, but without any real balance, because all of their best defenders are on the perimeter. Their size and shooting masks their softness.

"The Machine" usually creates his own shots and Fisher can do it whenever he wants. Farmar is another guy who's capable of creating his shots imo.
Anyway, if you could read some comments here you would think that the Lakers are Minnesota (minus Jefferson) plus Kobe.

[Bornindamecca]

Quote: Originally Posted by youvalss

"The Machine" usually creates his own shots and Fisher can do it whenever he wants. Farmar is another guy who's capable of creating his shots imo. Anyway, if you could read some comments here you would think that the Lakers are Minnesota (minus Jefferson) plus Kobe.

Giving time to exaggerations like that are silly. The Lakers are a first place team. Clearly they are better than Minnesota from front office all the way down to waterboy.

When you talk about Sasha, Fish and Farmer being able to create their shots, you're flat out wrong. They have no go to game. The closest is Farmar, who is developing, but he has a long way to go before he's even in the class of Bobby Jackson, let alone one of the "Microwave" type 6th men that other championship teams have had.

To put it in perspective, Dallas has Jason Terry coming off of the bench. That man can create his own shot. That's having bench depth.