Looking at the WC standings, the Lakers seem likely to miss the playoffs

[konex]

Who in the top 8 can they pass? Maybe Portland because their bench is as bad as LA's?

Wow, this would be an ugly stain on the careers of Kobe, Dwight and D'Antoni

[Money 23]

konex curse, Lakers win a ring

[Derrick]

Damit konex

[Bandito]

So does that mean Kobe will win his sixth ring!

http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/9500000/happy-sponge-future-wives-of-spongebob-9518085-1024-768.jpg

[rmt]

They'll pass MIN (which has a lot of injuries) and probably POR. I think it'll be a toss-up with UTA.

[1987_Lakers]

They will finish with the #7 seed, #6 at best.

[KG215]

They're 2.5 games out of the 8th spot with 50 games to go. It might just be a tad too early to say they won't make the playoffs.

[Mr. Jabbar]

Theres nothing to stain in Dantonis career though...

[ispin69]

No, the konex curse would be that they make the playoffs.
Nothing he said was about NOT winning it all.

[MMM]

So if the Lakers miss the playoffs or are an early exit does that likely mean an end to Kobe's playing career. I can't see him sticking around on a non contender despite him still having gas in the tank.

[Pushxx]

The Lakers will make the playoffs. If I were a betting man, I would bet a lot of money on that.

[Whoah10115]

They're 2.5 games out of the 8th spot with 50 games to go. It might just be a tad too early to say they won't make the playoffs.



Just sit back and enjoy the drama.

[Mrofir]

The Lakers are either going to turn it around and be somewhat of a contender, or theyre going to miss the playoffs altogether. I don't really think it matters who is ahead of them in the standings. If, after 50 games and they're 2 games under .500, and they "click" or "trade" and suddenly win at .700 clip the rest of the season, they'd end up approx 12 games above 500, easily good enough to get in. The question is if they click at all. As currently constructed I think they are stuck where they are.

[konex]

If Portland can't even lose to Miami... :cry:

[The Nets]

Wont count the Lakers out until they are 100% finished, they do need to start winning after that OKC game(no matter the outcome of this game). Two easy home games against Cavs and Raptors, if they win both by 20 they'd be right back into the race.

[JBrizzy]

I don't think they're gonna make the cut at this rate.

It's not just the team chemistry. It's the injuries too.

Even if they did make the playoffs they would get a bad seed and get bounced by one of the top teams. This season is a write-off unless they somehow trade their way out of this mess.

[konex]

Lakers 4 game homestand is basically the season.

Even if we make a trade later, this season is lost if we can't go at least 2-2, maybe 3-1.

All those teams except Miami are beatable if we play smart.

5 games out is a deep hole and we can't afford to drop many more home games.

[joeyjoejoe]

Too much talent so they prob make it but wont make it out of the first

[MMM]

Too much talent so they prob make it but wont make it out of the first

How do they have too much talent???

Dwight Howard is not 100% and that was before his shoulder injury
Gasol has plantar fasciitis and has been a shell of himself
Nash has missed most the season but even now you can see that he has regressed a notch or 2
Kobe is still great offensively but his game has slipped on defense
and they have no bench at all.

That doesn't sound like a team that has too much talent, they are a team that is what their record says they are.

[KG215]

Wont count the Lakers out until they are 100% finished, they do need to start winning after that OKC game(no matter the outcome of this game). Two easy home games against Cavs and Raptors, if they win both by 20 they'd be right back into the race.
Yeah, um, a 20 point win isn't worth two wins.

[KG215]

Lakers 4 game homestand is basically the season.

Even if we make a trade later, this season is lost if we can't go at least 2-2, maybe 3-1.

All those teams except Miami are beatable if we play smart.

5 games out is a deep hole and we can't afford to drop many more home games.
:wtf:

So right now OKC is beatable for the Lakers but the Heat aren't? They might prove you right tomorrow, and beat the Thunder, but I'm not following your logic on this.

[LONGTIME]

Lakers 4 game homestand is basically the season.

Even if we make a trade later, this season is lost if we can't go at least 2-2, maybe 3-1.

All those teams except Miami are beatable if we play smart.

5 games out is a deep hole and we can't afford to drop many more home games.

:oldlol: LA beating OKC with their current shit roster.

[KG215]

:oldlol: LA beating OKC with their current shit roster.
They may beat OKC. I just don't understand how he can think the 27-8 Thunder are beatable right now, but the Heat who are 3-5 in their last 8 games aren't.

[The Nets]

They may beat OKC. I just don't understand how he can think the 27-8 Thunder are beatable right now, but the Heat who are 3-5 in their last 8 games aren't.

I dont understand that either, the Heat aint even a 50 wins team this year. OKC looks way better to me, especially the Lakers will be more shorthanded when they play OKC than Miami.

[Micku]

How do they have too much talent???

Dwight Howard is not 100% and that was before his shoulder injury
Gasol has plantar fasciitis and has been a shell of himself
Nash has missed most the season but even now you can see that he has regressed a notch or 2
Kobe is still great offensively but his game has slipped on defense
and they have no bench at all.

That doesn't sound like a team that has too much talent, they are a team that is what their record says they are.
No way.

Their starting five should've been more than enough talent to make it the playoffs despite the fact Howard and Gasol are hurt. Even when Howard is hurt, he is still a rebounding beast and could 17-19 ppg. He isn't a game changer like he was in Orlando, but still elite.

Gasol isn't being used right, and looks a bit lost out there just shooting jumpers. He is still a big body and could get you rebounds.
MWP is having his best year ever since he put on a Laker uniform.
Kobe having his most efficient year on offense, not good on defense.
Nash since coming back has been great for the Lakers.

Their bench is bad, but they are better than last year, where they had the worst bench production, and they are not the worst in the league this season. That's Portland.

They do have better talent than what their record portray. Which is why it's so amazing to watch them lose. Even though they play no defense, they aren't the worst defensive team in the league. The Blazers, Rockets, Warriors, Nuggets aren't good defensively either yet they are all doing better than the Lakers.

Their starting five, and some of their adjustments coming off the bench, should've been more than enough for them to have a winning record. Especially with Kobe and Howard playing together. Them having this talent and still lose is the one of the stories of the year.

[LONGTIME]

They may beat OKC. I just don't understand how he can think the 27-8 Thunder are beatable right now, but the Heat who are 3-5 in their last 8 games aren't.

I don't either. I just don't see the Lakers winning being so short handed like they are. Only way the Lakers win is if KD and Westbrook play like garbage and Martin plays like he did against the Wizards.

[KG215]

I don't either. I just don't see the Lakers winning being so short handed like they are. Only way the Lakers win is if KD and Westbrook play like garbage and Martin plays like he did against the Wizards.
Well, it's the NBA so I won't say a win isn't possible. I will say this, the last two games I've noticed a lot better energy and effort by the Lakers; and if there's something OKC is known to do from time to time is come out asleep the first quarter or first half of games, and dig themselves an early double digit deficit. I could see something like that happening tomorrow night.

[joeyjoejoe]

How do they have too much talent???

Dwight Howard is not 100% and that was before his shoulder injury
Gasol has plantar fasciitis and has been a shell of himself
Nash has missed most the season but even now you can see that he has regressed a notch or 2
Kobe is still great offensively but his game has slipped on defense
and they have no bench at all.

That doesn't sound like a team that has too much talent, they are a team that is what their record says they are.

This team was built for win now mode and were clear favs to go all the way, players being under utelised and ofcourse one doing the opposite is hurting the team and the only dude whos had the balls to say it is dwight, its not like kobes playin with smush and kwame out there

[konex]

Their starting five, and some of their adjustments coming off the bench, should've been more than enough for them to have a winning record. Especially with Kobe and Howard playing together. Them having this talent and still lose is the one of the stories of the year.

No one in the LA media will talk about it but Dwight has cost us about 7 games on the ft line this year.

If D'Antoni was a coach who valued wins over feelings, we'd have a much better record. I wonder if he will bench Dwight late in a close game now that we really need wins...

[LONGTIME]

Well, it's the NBA so I won't say a win isn't possible. I will say this, the last two games I've noticed a lot better energy and effort by the Lakers; and if there's something OKC is known to do from time to time is come out asleep the first quarter or first half of games, and dig themselves an early double digit deficit. I could see something like that happening tomorrow night.

Yeah it's possible they beat OKC, and OKC can be their own worst enemy at times. But Miami hasn't exactly been tearing it up as of late, so I don't see why their so unbeatable but OKC is.

[Magic bird]

Playoffs without the Lakers? No way, too early to judge yet, They might be able to gain some momentum if Dwight and Pau were'nt actually injured!

[MMM]

This team was built for win now mode and were clear favs to go all the way, players being under utelised and ofcourse one doing the opposite is hurting the team and the only dude whos had the balls to say it is dwight, its not like kobes playin with smush and kwame out there

Yes, they were built for win now mode, just that Laker management did a poor job of adding to a team that has not been in contender status over the past 2 seasons. As for being clear favs, no team that has zero games under its belts can legitimately be called a clear fav. Finally, no Kobe is not playing with Smush or Kwame but this team is not constructed cohesively and its talent level has waned due largely to age and injuries.

[joeyjoejoe]

Yes, they were built for win now mode, just that Laker management did a poor job of adding to a team that has not been in contender status over the past 2 seasons. As for being clear favs, no team that has zero games under its belts can legitimately be called a clear fav. Finally, no Kobe is not playing with Smush or Kwame but this team is not constructed cohesively and its talent level has waned due largely to age and injuries.

Ok maybe clear favs was a tad much but i think most thought it would be either lal or okc from west in the finals, age is not the main problem as nash and kobe are playing pretty well atleast offensively and im not sure about the team not being constructed cohesively im thinking its more of a case of kobe being a little selfish with his fga clearly dwights unhappy and guys like mwp and gasol can be more productive with the confidence more touches brings

[Clutch]

Lakers are 5 games out of the 8th spot and they have OKC coming to town tonight.

Lakers ship is sinking fast :roll: :roll: :roll:

[AussieG]

Being where the Lakers are is the worst place to be in the entire league.. around or below .500.. if they get into the playoffs.. they'll probably be swept or have little chance of progressing.. but if they miss them.. they will not get a good draft pick.

It's the worst place to be year after year in that middle ground. This has only been half a season and already Lakers fans are thinking about offing themselves. :lol

And I don't even think Lakers own their own draft picks.. they traded them away?

[ShaqAttack3234]

I remember this being said about the '02-'03 Lakers. Shaq missed the start of the season and they went just 3-9 without him with the role players looking old and Kobe having to do everything. I know he had several triple double type games in a row and a 47 shot game during that stretch. Then when Shaq came back, he wasn't 100% and it showed a lot defensively while the chemistry was way off. That team was also 15-20 at this point in the season and started off 11-19. Then things turned around when Kobe had 13 straight 35+ including 9 straight 40+, Shaq was back to his prime form the last couple of months and Fisher and Fox both started making shots. They ended up with 50 wins and the number 5 seed, and were probably a Robert Horry 3 that rimmed out away from winning the title. This Laker team has more overall talent, and a bench that's about as bad. '03 Lakers had the 2nd lowest scoring bench, this Laker team was the 5th lowest scoring bench. But there are some differences. As far as the duos, '03 Kobe was even better than current Kobe and Shaq was not only outscoring current Dwight by more than 10 ppg, but actually outshooting him from the line 62% to 51%. The '03 team was also a team that had proven they could play together since they had just won 3 titles in a row, and oh yeah, they had Phil instead of D'Antoni, which I'd say is a bit of an advantage.

I'm not sure this team can even turn it around as well as that team did, but given the preseason expectations and the talk of whether they'll make the playoffs, it reminds me a lot of that team in those ways, but there are also key differences as I said.

Still too early to determine whether they'll miss the playoffs, imo, but they'll probably lose the game vs OKC too. They need at least a couple of their big men back very soon.

[MMM]

Being where the Lakers are is the worst place to be in the entire league.. around or below .500.. if they get into the playoffs.. they'll probably be swept or have little chance of progressing.. but if they miss them.. they will not get a good draft pick.

It's the worst place to be year after year in that middle ground. This has only been half a season and already Lakers fans are thinking about offing themselves. :lol

And I don't even think Lakers own their own draft picks.. they traded them away?

If they make the playoffs then their pick goes to the Suns
and if they don't make it then it goes to the Cavs
or is it the other way around

[All Net]

Lakers are 5 games out of the 8th spot and they have OKC coming to town tonight.

Lakers ship is sinking fast :roll: :roll: :roll:

:(

[andremiller07]

I'm kinda torn on what I want to happend, them missing the playoffs would be fantastic and really embarrasing but at the same time I wouldn't mind watching them get trashed 4-0 on the biggest stage the playoffs.

The ultimate tho would be if Lakers keep dropping games and the Kings (2.5 games behind) finish above that would be to much tho.

[Clutch]

I'm kinda torn on what I want to happend, them missing the playoffs would be fantastic and really embarrasing but at the same time I wouldn't mind watching them get trashed 4-0 on the biggest stage the playoffs.

The ultimate tho would be if Lakers keep dropping games and the Kings (2.5 games behind) finish above that would be to much tho.
I agree with this. It will be funny as hell if they miss the playoffs but on the other hand I want to see them in the playoffs. As much as they struggle I think most of you guys would rather watch OKC-Lakers 1st round than let's say OKC-Blazers.

[andremiller07]

I agree with this. It will be funny as hell if they miss the playoffs but on the other hand I want to see them in the playoffs. As much as they struggle I think most of you guys would rather watch OKC-Lakers 1st round than let's say OKC-Blazers.

Yeap, just watching them have no answers and have their souls taken from them would be mightly satisfying. The Lakers remind me of a Heavyweight fighter who has taken to many hits, bad reflexs, solid offense but a huge case of a glass chin and I would love to see OKC/Clipper just tap that chin a couple times (it would only take 4 hits lol).

In the words of Rampage Jackson "I want to end the fight (series) by domination, him just getting blown out the water, him knowning he get smashed he got his ass whopped"

[Salazaar]

The Konex curse.. Portland beat Miami :lol So predictable..

[Rysio]

well if they make it lets just hope they get clippers in the first round. 4 straight home games. :banana:

[AirFederer]

They will make the play offs. D-12 is gonna beast.

[tmacattack33]

Playoffs without the Lakers? No way, too early to judge yet, They might be able to gain some momentum if Dwight and Pau were'nt actually injured!

But they are. And many teams are dealing with injuries, so it's no excuse. Especially for a "super-team" with four stars. They should be able to be a .500 team with just Kobe and Nash. But in reality they were just barely a .500 team with Kobe, Nash, Dwight, and Gasol.

[Rekindled]

I'm kinda torn on what I want to happend, them missing the playoffs would be fantastic and really embarrasing but at the same time I wouldn't mind watching them get trashed 4-0 on the biggest stage the playoffs.

The ultimate tho would be if Lakers keep dropping games and the Kings (2.5 games behind) finish above that would be to much tho.

if the lakers make the playoffs, it would mean they have turned it around and have went on a big win streak. At the point no way would they get swept in the first round.

[francesco totti]

They will go on a winning streak at some point.
right now they have a tough schedule too. They arent supposed to win clippers , spurs or okc even for playoff positions. but they need to win houston, portland, denver ..

[Doranku]

n!gga why you gotta make this thread after making one saying your curse will be broken? :facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

[daily]

At this time during the 2002-03 season the Lakers were 13-20, finished the season 50-32 at second place in the Pacific division behind the Kings.

It can be done.

[Clutch]

At this time during the 2002-03 season the Lakers were 13-20, finished the season 50-32 at second place in the Pacific division behind the Kings.

It can be done.
Lakers need to go 35-12 in order to finish with 50 wins. That's almost impossible to do considering they are hit by injuries,have a bad chemistry and an incompetent coach.

[konex]

At this time during the 2002-03 season the Lakers were 13-20, finished the season 50-32 at second place in the Pacific division behind the Kings.

It can be done.

The West wasn't nearly as good as it is now. If Lakers are going to make the playoffs, they will need to get much better AND get help from other teams

[Droid101]

Based on point differential, Portland will likely drop out and the Lakers will squeak in near the end of the season.

I can see a major injury drop GS, Houston, Portland or Denver. If an injury hits one of those teams, and all the Lakers' injuries go away (including Dwight finally being 100%) they'll make it.

Otherwise... yikes.

[Shepseskaf]

So if the Lakers miss the playoffs or are an early exit does that likely mean an end to Kobe's playing career. I can't see him sticking around on a non contender despite him still having gas in the tank.
Kobe wants the all-time scoring record. He'll stick around.

[Droid101]

Also, if we follow the super-teams from the last few years, you'll see a pattern.

Heat are okay but shaky first year, win title second year.

Clippers were okay first year, now they're looking like the best team in the league second year.

Lakers suck first year so far..... second year...?

[maybeshewill13]

Also, if we follow the super-teams from the last few years, you'll see a pattern.

Heat are okay but shaky first year, win title second year.

Clippers were okay first year, now they're looking like the best team in the league second year.

Lakers suck first year so far..... second year...?
OKC first year to the finals last year, second year this year = rings :bowdown:

[Droid101]

OKC first year to the finals last year, second year this year = rings :bowdown:
Westbrook and Durant have been playing together for five years.

[ihoopallday]

Westbrook and Durant have been playing together for five years.

I think he could just be a new fan. Probably started following OKC 3 years ago. No problem with that though. Always room for more basketball fans. :rockon:

[ihoopallday]

Also, if we follow the super-teams from the last few years, you'll see a pattern.

Heat are okay but shaky first year, win title second year.

Clippers were okay first year, now they're looking like the best team in the league second year.

Lakers suck first year so far..... second year...?

This LA team has too many players with finals experience. I wouldn't be surprised if they made a deep run.

[KG215]

Lakers 4 game homestand is basically the season.

Even if we make a trade later, this season is lost if we can't go at least 2-2, maybe 3-1.

All those teams except Miami are beatable if we play smart.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

Still can't believe you thought OKC was beatable for the Lakers right now. Lakers lost by 15 and it was much worse than that.

[Jyap9675]

Bulls dominated the 90s, Lakers dominated 2000s, some other team will dominate this decade. Simply put, the Lakers had their time..

[Jasper]

if the lakers make the playoffs, it would mean they have turned it around and have went on a big win streak. At the point no way would they get swept in the first round.
Majic said the same : They need to in 10 or so in a row to make the playoff's

They have to go lik 33 and 15 to even get the 8th seed....


I think they are out of it.

[Hank]

http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh600/Rodman2124/kobeclutch.gif

[Fudge]

They're lucky Portland and Houston lost tonight too.

[Jasper]

I do like all Laker fans and bandwagoneers' now saying that the Lakers need help on this board...


hummm


It wasn't so many months ago , when every Laker fan said they only need one super star to get another ring :D


I'm done talking about the Lackers....

Noise will soon be Howard only cares about his pay check and notority:sleeping