LAKERS LAKERS Thread

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by rube, Dec 16, 2015.

  1. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

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    i think Kobe is going to rethink the retirement thing and go for a few more rings
    If he can keep playing at the level he is right now I wouldn't blame him if the right situation was out there
    That would be one helluva weapon off the bench for a team close to winning
     
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  2. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    You don't know Kobe at all, do you?
     
  4. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    easy to forget just how great magic was...

     
  5. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

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    and you have him on speed dial :dreamer:
     
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  6. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Nah, but I know good and damn well that he ain comin off nobody's bench Lol

    That's a :dreamer: 4real
     
  7. jpldodgers

    jpldodgers DSP Legend Staff Member Moderator

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    I think Kobe's been playing good because he's having fun and enjoying his last ride. I'm confident he'll stick to his word and retire. He knows the Lakers are in rebuild mode and it's time for the young guys to take over next year.
     
  8. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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  9. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

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    I don't doubt he probably will retire, but to think that the man wouldn't be thinking about it probably isn't accurate either
    How many times do we see the most competitive of athletes try again after they leave?
    And he hasn't even left yet
    I don't doubt his days w the Lakers are done for sure but given his recent consistent play its not hard for me to imagine him going for that last chance or two with say the Spurs...and I wouldn't blame him at all
    He always wanted that 6th ring and to think he's resigned to retirement without considering this scenario...idts
    And tell me a playoff team that wouldn't want him
     
  10. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Fact; instead of an old Kobe being open to accepting a lesser role in his 20th NBA season, he literally told Lamarcus Aldridge that Aldridge could come and be " his Pau ".
    His approach is pretty well established in these regards, I believe Kobe would come back and fuck up the Lakers' rebuild before he'd try to latch onto some other team and win a ring in a lesser role, that would shock anybody that's followed his career.
    To him, playing in a lesser role just doesn't bring the same credibility, so ( in his mind) what's really to gain?
    He told either Wilbon or Stephen A. ( can't remember which one...racist) that he wouldn't hang on be that guy.

    So I doubt Kobe will be looking to go out like Shaq did, he's long said it, it means something to him to play for 1 team.
    Believe what we've witnessed here lately is just that Kobe has a bit more magic in his dying breath, one last spell.
    Either that or the Minnesota game maybe mattered a bit more to him because of KG's silly ass runnin around like a crazy man on opening night, celebrating like the TWolves had won the championship.
    I could see that being incentive for Kobe to bust out some shit with KG watching, to show KG who's who again.

    And perhaps he used the Pelican game to tune up for a last stop in San Antone that he's said has always mattered to him.
    Wouldn't surprise me if at this point he were just looking at dates like " OK, I don't really give a shit about this team/player, but I'm bringin it next week against ___ ", just basically saving all he has left for games he cares about.
    IMO, if Kobe chases anything it'd be an earlier date than Shaq's in regards to his statue being erected outside Staples.
    If Kobe plays elsewhere, he automatically disqualifies himself from the conversation with Magic, and LA is home to him, so that would be a blow to his legacy.
    Being the greatest franchise's greatest player should be enough, let's not get caught up in his last magic spell, he's done.
     
  11. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

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    I get your point and I'm not saying it happens I'm just saying he's thinking about it
    And it was Jordan he was emulating not Magic or Shaq he cares about
    I sort of hope he goes for it because in the end who the fuck cares what everyone else thinks?
    And when did he ever do what people said he should do?
    No question he would have to adjust his approach but it looks to me like he has found some facsimile of the player we knew
    He loves Pops and admires the Spurs organization openly so I guess we will see next year
     
  12. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    tbh i could see kobe coming back in this scenario...
    devil is right about that competitive fire (see brett favre)
    not many remember joe montana being told by several doctors to retire
    his back was so bad that a bad hit could leave him paralyzed for life
    he had much to live for; his wife, kids, a hall of fame career (and a shit ton of money)
    but he chose to come back and play for kc :chief:
    he even said "football is what i know, what i love; i want to keep playing, i'm going to keep playing"
    now granted it was coming off the bench, but that craving to compete -- that fire -- was still there

    Lakers would fire Byron Scott for Luke Walton
    by Dan Feldman | NBC Pro Basketball Talk — 8 hours ago

    The Lakers reportedly view the rest of the season as a tryout for Byron Scott. Unless Warriors assistant Luke Walton wants the job. Then, Scott is out.

    So says a notable Lakers rumormonger Stephen A. Smith of ESPN LA:

    "I’m hearing he’s gone if Luke Walton wants to come in and take the job next season, that if he wants to do that, that obviously they would move beyond the Byron Scott era and bring in Luke Walton, that Luke Walton, however, as much as he loves the Lakers and California, may not find that to be an attractive job unless they position themselves to acquire somebody like a Ben Simmons. That is what I have heard. I have also heard that it’s very, very possible that Jeanie Buss is going to keep her word and fire her brother Jim Buss – thank the good lord – and that Mitch Kupchak may very well not be safe as well. How definitive that is remains to be seen. But that is the chatter in NBA circles."

    Walton played for the Lakers, and Kobe Bryant still respects him. Though Kobe will retire after the season, his endorsement could still carry weight – especially as it speaks to players’ perception of Walton.

    The Golden State assistant impressed while filling in for Steve Kerr as acting head coach. He has already been linked to the Knicks and Suns, and he could get other offers.

    If the Lakers keep their top-three-protected first-round pick, they’d have an intriguing job with D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, a promising rookie, matching rights for Arenas-provision-limited Jordan Clarkson and tons of cap space. If the Lakers lose their pick, the job would look a lot worse. Either way, staying in California and leading one of the NBA’s premier franchises could appeal to Walton.

    It’s this interest that makes me believe Scott’s “tryout” is little more than a courtesy for a former player who helped the Lakers win championships. If they’d fire Scott for Walton, how many other replacements would warrant dumping Scott? My list would be long enough to ensure he gets canned.

    As far as Jim Buss, his deadline for turning around the team or losing his job has been a source of contention. But even Jeannie, who gives him less time than he gives himself, said he had until the summer of 2017.

    Lakers fans might have to settle for exercising one one of their demons.​
     
  13. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    It's also Jordan that Kobe wanted to be better than, not just emulating, hence #24, and playing with 1 team is one of the few things that Kobe actually has over Jordan.
    However, Kobe getting a 6th or even 7th ring as the 2nd or 3rd guy ( more likely) won't put him ahead of Jordan.
    But you cannot discount him wanting a solid Laker legacy, Jordan is king everywhere...except LA.

    But I mean that was Kobe telling Aldridge that Aldridge could come and be his sidekick...the same Kobe that was coming off a bunch of season ending injuries in a row and going in his 20th season no less.
    His convictions are clear, in Kobe's mind, if he can't be the man and compete for a title then he might as well retire rather stick around and get his ass whooped nightly/watch his career stats fall on a %/per game basis, the latter matters a ton to him.
    He literally told an interviewer that he wasn't sticking around to average 17ppg...which he would if he hopped onto a contender because he's not good enough to carry a huge load and win.
    To him, he started as an alpha and he's gonna finish as an alpha.
    So if he went back on his word, or even if he were just thinking about it as you said, it'd have to be a shock because he knows where he is in his career.
     
  14. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

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    eh I don't look at the retire thing as his "word"
    thats a lot deeper thing imo
    and i don't see anyone whipping his ass lately
    when he said he was retiring he looked and played like he was finished
    the man is entitled to change his mind
    that said id give it less than a 10% chance of being seriously discussed
     
  15. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Lakers can get Luke...if Phil doesn't get him 1st and the Knicks currently have the opening...
     
  16. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    The only team he's going to be able to carry a huge scoring load with is a losing team...again, lets not get carried away over a handful of games.
     
  17. Gebbeth

    Gebbeth DSP Legend

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    Magic was unreal. Plus he won 5 during a time the NBA had less teams and deeper talent on each team across the board. Plus he battled that guy named Bird for years.

    He's still the best player of all time in my book. Screw Jordan. Magic could do it all and against much better competition.
     
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  18. LAdiablo

    LAdiablo descarado

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    not getting carried away at all
    he's still better than 95% of bench scorers if he decided he wanted to adjust
    no way he's Kobe in his prime or even close but he can certainly still play and have value in the league if he chose to
    nobody has the right to tell him otherwise
    lets see how the rest of this season goes because if he gets his sea legs back...anything is possible
     
  19. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Sea legs...if Kobe makes it through this season without having a season ending injury, I'd celebrate..that's how far he's fallen.
    My scope is wider than these handful of games or even the rest of the year, the man's body is broken down, as it should be 20 years in ( 22 or 23 years if you count the amount of playoff games he's played in).
    You're giving it a 10% chance.
    Personally, I'm giving it 0%.
    He's got his film crew following his every step this season, his wife and kids are flying all over to take it all in, everything points to this being it.
     
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  20. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    Luke will reportedly finish the year with GSW, so the current opening wouldn't seem to matter
     

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