WHOO!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't care if you guys don't care, but this is pretty big news in LA and for those interested in the NBA. XD

Not again!

I knew he'd be back. I wonder if the LA fans will give him a chance to build a team, or will they expect too much next year?

I'm callin it right now.

Next year. 1st or 2nd round playoff exit.

06-07. Serious championship contenders. In the top 4 seeds in West.

SA in 6 or Detroit in 7

:)

I could see a playoff berth next year, but 2 years to the top? Tall order, given how good the West is. Seattle gave SA a real run in their series this year. Sacto and LA were weak. LA picks up a great coach, then needs real players.

They'll do it in a few years, though.

I'll go SA in 5 or 6. Great team players. If Detroit gets going, I could be wrong.

There is way more talent on the Lakers than was seen last season. I could see Caron Butler becoming as high a scorer as Kobe, and being one of the top rebounders. In the last 10+ games of the season, C-But averaged over 25 ppg. Kobe and him have some real chemistry going together.

Lamar Odom is THE most versatile player in the game. He can post up, shoot a 3, shoot midrange, layup, drive, push transition (IMAGINE a 6'7 guy with ballhandling skills as well as he does...scary), dish, and run as point forward. I watched the Phil Jackson news conference today where they announced that he was coming back. I totally agree with what Phil said. He imagines that Kobe will have his best years of his entire career in the next two years, and Odom will become a Scottie Pippen-like player. The Lakers already have some great championship role players, and really, all they need to contend are the main players to play well (Odom, Butler, Kobe), 1 more big player, and 1 more roleplayer. I don't remember exactly what it is but we have a lot of expiring contracts coming off in 06-07 so we could search for a big name player in the offseason.

WIth that said, Pistons will win 1st and 2nd at home, lose the third. Who is your team LGM? (hometeam)

Good post X.

I personally think its going to work out great. I see alot of negativity coming from the NBA analysts, though. They're Saying Phil and Kobe arn't going to magically form a good enough relationship in order for things to work, that Kobe won't let Phil do his thing, and run the ream like hes supposed to, and basically Kobe is going to carry all the personality traits that made things fall apart in the first place. I think if they put everything behind, and just move foward things will work out great and the talent on that team will start speaking for its self. However, if thoes things don't fall into place between Phil and Kobe, then the Lakers arn't going to have a chance, regardless of the fact of how much talent and potential they have. If Kobe can put his arrogance out of the picture, then I imagine everything will probably fall into place to a point where they can become a top contening team.

I think Phil made a good decision just to come back to the game, his appearance will naturally bring alot of marketing and publicity not only to the Lakers, but to the rest of the NBA. Which can be an extremely important variable next year considering all the talk and possibilites of a lock-out.

Last edited: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 at 3:08:32 AM

Kobe is a great player, great talent, and there are some pieces in the Lakers organization that make them a threat. But until Kobe is willing to learn how to play the game to be able to win without shaq, then this is not going to help an otherwise average team.

Kobe needs to accept and learn from Phil how to make everyone around him better. That's what michael was able to do, that's what shaq, timmy d, larry bird, magic, you name it, all of the great's make everyone around them play at a higher level and involve them in the game. Until Kobe learns how to do that, he's just another Bernard King.

Memphis

I really appreciate what you are saying. I have seen too many people call Kobe a "ball-hog", and "needs to learn how to involve his teammates more." I come from LA, and as you probably can tell, am a Laker fan, so I watched almost all the games this season. The fact was, he passed plenty. His teammates though, did not do their job by knocking down their shots. Kobe picked up almost all of his turnovers from bad passes, or simply the players fumbled the pass, and it was not Kobe's fault. I love how I have seen people say "Kobe needs to learn from Ray Allen" when in fact Kobe averaged more assists than him with worse teammates.

I agree with you on what you're saying that Kobe needs to accept and learn from Phil. I have no doubts that Phil is going to implement a system that will let him become the next MJ - in a sense, leave a prophecy to be fulfilled - and Phil reallyw ants to see Odom flourish ala Scottie Pippen. Kobe will benefit from the discipline.

Phizzle was yo hometeam ma nizzle?

Minnesota T-wolves baby!! And they had an awful year and alot of that due to whiners on the team. Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell, even Troy Hudson. But KG is one of the most unselfish players in the NBA. I hope the negative attitude of the others didnt wear off on him too much. He's even a classy guy and people in Minneapolis love him. It will be an interesting year for the Twolves as well.

Bernard King... Tennesse man. Bad knees, great player.

Good point about great players making others better. Was always a pleasure to watch Michael, Bird, and Magic stoke up the rest of their teammates.

And it was not just for the sake of being a "team guy" that they did it. It is smarts. A team goes up to the next level when two or three good players start working together.

It's almost like seeing a sixth player come on the court when the good chemistry starts. Notice how the Spurs made the Pistons look a man short in the second game, for example? One man was always open and the Pistons always seemed to be missing one man to pass to on offense.

That said, I am not sure why Jackson would do this??? I still think Kobe is a solo man and won't change. He's not into chemistry. He had chemistry with Shaq but he fought it the whole time, didn't he?

So who will be the great threesome? Like Rasheed-Wallace-MyDyess/Prince for the Pistons or Duncan-Parker-Bowen/Ginobili for the Spurs. Kobe and....

Kobe and Odom make up the MJ and Pippen. Odom really just needs to develop his defense to make him eerily similar to Scotty. They both score around the 18's, put up high rebound numbers, double-digit rebounds nearly every night, and Lamar although his assists weren't as high as Scottie's was probably the Laker's best passer.

The 3rd will most likely be another person who they bring in through a trade - a big man - I think that there is definitely potential with Caron Butler but for the center/power forward they desperately need they will probably have to trade him.

Nice thread, Tha_X.

My hometeam is Seattle. I have to be partial to them, because I live near there, and the most famous guy in my small town is Luke Ridnour, their up and coming point guard. I met him when he was in 6th grade, and he's had celebrity status since he was in high school around here. (He has LIVED basketball since he was a kid, and his dad coached our high school team to state championships- 2 times with Luke.) He comes from a good family, and I've worked with his mom. Of course he's a major celebrity here.

That aside, I've always been a fan of Nate McMillian. He was a great role player. He's a quality coach, and I've been hoping to see him continue to do well. I was truly surprised at how well they did this year, and I hope they keep enough of their key guys to make another good run next year. I see the team approach as so important in the NBA now. Crowds of superstars don't do it. (You know about that, though, right?)

I'm not an ardent fan, but I do get into it.

Man X, you sure are a Lakers fan because there is no way that Kobe and Odom are MJ and Pip. No chance, no way, no how. MJ is the greatest player to date. It will take a long time for anyone to surpass his legacy. He won 6 championships with nothing else on his team but Pip. If you put Kobe on the Bulls instead of MJ I highly doubt they would have won even a single championship. Heck, Shaq almost took a worthless team, excluding the next huge star D. Wade, to the championship. That says a lot about the team player that Shaq is and Kobe is not. Odom can improve if used properly, that is if he can play a full season.

Don't sweat it though. I'm the same way with the Steelers.

One thing you can goof on MJ for is his GM skills. He made a mess of the Wizards here in D.C. On that note, pay close attention to the big body the Wiz sign this year. If they can get a more than adequate power forward they may contend. Finally!

P.S. Here's something to ponder. We don't know yet how long a person who came straight from high school will last in the league yet. There are two schools of thought. Do you expect a player to be in the league for a certain number of years or a certain number of minutes. This is the unknown and I'd imagine Garnett will be the model for this.

Last edited: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 at 6:54:52 PM

I think the Lakers three championships are greater then the Bulls six. Who did the Bulls haft to play? Karl Malone? The Bulls played in one of the weakest conferences in the NBA during that time. One of the main reasons they were such a powerhouse is because there wasn't much talent in the NBA else where during that time either. On the other hand, look who the Lakers had to play. They where in the hardest and strongest conference within the NBA during the time they owned everyone. There wave of excellence was right in the heart of the super-star era. The Spurs, with Tim Ducan and David Robinson, Sacremento with Chris Webber and Peja, the Mavericks with Dirk and Nash, the Timberwolves with Garnett. I mean come on?

I'm not trying to take anything away from MJ, he is obviously the best player to ever play the game. But he didn't win six championships just because...

@ applecore

Who...wha...weak conference...weak...

*thunk*

Smelling salts, I need smel...

O sry, I forgot. Besides Micheal, the only other person who dominated the Eastern Conference during the 90's was Spike Lee.

Kthxbye.

^Rogue

I don't know much about the NBA other than general knowledge before 2000, so I don't know what the Bulls exactly did look like. Phil is the one who said that Kobe can be the MJ and Odom can be the Scottie Pippen, not me. He said that we would try and our team after the 91-92 championship Bulls. I imagine that we will get Deron Williams from the draft, the 6'3 point guard from Illinois. Through free agency we will acquire Jerome James, a real banger down low.

Starting lineup would be PG: Deron Williams (Harper) SG: Kobe (MJ) SF: Odom (Pippen) PF: Jerome James (?, it would be a stretch to say Dennis Rodman), and C: Mihm (Longley)

Plus, the Lakers seems like they have always had all the luck on their side. Anything that is remotely possible, actually happens. I think we will definitely contend for a championship 2 season from now.
___________________________
On your other topic, the minutes is definitely what makes the difference. Of course just the wear and tear from traveling and constant working out for many years is going to hurt you, but if you only play 10 minutes a game its not going to be nearly as bad. A guy who plays 40 minutes a game for 5 years in the league is going to be a lot more worn than a guy who plays 10 minutes a game for 10 years IMO.

Kobe is no MJ, not even close. Why does he *look* like MJ? Because he grew up learning basketball on Jordan tapes.
Imitators never do better than second.
Anyone want to place a friendly wager on how the warriors do relative to the lakers?
Apps, that's crazy talk dude. The level of play overall in the NBA was buku better than then it is now. Flip on classic nba tv once in a while, watch cats make 15 foot jumpers. You think they are changing the rules because the quality of play is getting better?
Here's another way to look at it: Consider the quality and depth of talent that didn't win rings because the bulls were busy doing so. Many hall of famers. Now? A lot of "next jordans" running around, but no Jordans. Every year is a crap shoot..500 teams are making the playoffs.

Off the top of my head I remember the Knicks and Cavs being two powerhouses in the East back then. The Knicks had some great teams and never got a piece of the pie because of MJ.

Doh, just thought of another really good team. Remember how good the Pacers were with Miller, Schrempf and that center whose name I can't remember. Want another?The Pistons were darn good too. Hmm. I forgot that Bird, McHale and Parrish were still playing back then too.

Actually the above post brings up a good point. I agree the quality of play was better years back. My evidence is the glut of international players entering the league and not only playing well but playing great. Oh, and of course the Olympics kinda shed some light on the current state of American players as well. The offenive schemes and shooting abilities of those teams was fun to watch.

I'm not a huge NBA fan by any means. I prefer the NCAA where outside shooting and team ball is king.

Wow...they really want to make this a replicate of the Bulls. Scottie Pippen is set to become Phil's assistant.