37 replies to this topic

[leor_77]

I'm kind of in a Lakers haze right now - It's hard for me to analyze things because of how bad we're playing, but if I'm not mistaken, we've usually been very bad at the end of games, especially when the game is close, and we've been bad since that Dallas playoff series that ended our championship run. Against that same Dallas team, we should have absolutely won games 1 and 3 (and by the way, I bet Dallas wouldn't have played so well if they were playing from behind, instead of front-running). Also, we all know about OKC, and how we should have won games 2 and 4.

One thing is for sure, is that Kobe has been just miserable at game winners since that 09-10 season - Kind of to the point, where I know that he's not going to make the shot. All in all, though, we just flat out suck at the end of close games, and it shouldn't be that way with veteran players. Veteran players should know what it takes, and win those games. Part of why I was excited about Nash coming here was that I thought that he would stabilize our offense late in games, and you saw a glimpse of that against GS this year...But overall, it's just very disappointing, and very puzzling, how a veteran team can continue to suck at winning close games.

Edited by leor_77, January 18, 2013 - 12:39 PM.

[gque24]

#1 - refs cheat
#2 - wait too long to let Kobe go off (Nash doesnt need to run the offense as much)
#3 - D12 is a liability
#4 - Dumb plays always down the stretch especially on defense end within 3min mark

[bfc1125roy]

Last night Nash was getting trapped and waiting till 9 seconds were left on the shot clock for Kobe to have to do something. The offense was just awful. Instead we should have been finding a way to get Howard open or at least give Kobe the ball earlier.

Also there was no defense on LeBron.

[fido]

The Lakers are so bad at all levels of the game.

[Hollywood]

D'Antoni

[fido]

Absolutely Hollywood, D'Antoni being the coach is a giant reason why as well.

The guy is awful, still shocked they chose him over Phil. That decision will go down as one of the worst in the history of the franchise.

[Nak]

Because Mike D'Antoni refuses to sit Howard in the crunch time.

[Mr Terrific]

Because Dwight Howard smiles too Gottdamn much

[Windu]

Coaching

Pau Gasol

[leor_77]

I'm not ready to put it all on MDA, simply because we also sucked at close games with Brown and even Phil, in his last year.

[Windu]

PJ - 11

MD - 0

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

I love Steve Nash, but to me it seems like he's shying away from the ball. Like Ramon Sessions did frequently. It's like he's scared to take shots away from Kobe. You're the point guard and the ball should be in your hands. This leads to Kobe going straight up isolation and taking alot of contested jump shots. Dwight being a poor free throw shooter makes it nearly impossible to go to him down the stretch of games.

[Ham]

Nash got shut down in the 4th yesterday cause he couldn't run high P&R affectively due to perfect hedging and switching defense from the Heat.

Edited by Ham, January 18, 2013 - 01:38 PM.

[fido]

Pau Gasol is not why the Lakers are bad at the end of games.

Dude, you need Ritalin or some kind of sedative. Pau isn't the root of all problems with this team, jeez.

[Ham]

As soon as Pau checked in, Lebron drived to the basket like 4 times in a row lmfao. It was pretty sad. Every player knows the basket is free when Pau is playing defense nowadays.

[bfc1125roy]

I mean Pau obviously isn't the worst player on our team. DJO, Sacre, and Duhon are pretty bad too.

But honestly his production is just mind-blowingly low. I understand if his points were to go down because of our superstar roster, but besides the 12.2 ppg, he's averaging 42% shooting and 29% from 3. WIth all the open jumpers he gets that should be higher. Plus he has the opportunity to play in the post with the second unit a lot of the time but he doesn't take advantage of it.

And don't even get me started on the defensive end. Last night LA was holding up ok with Howard in the game, but once he went out LeBron attacked the rim fearlessly because he knew Pau couldn't do anything. The Lakers lost a lot of momentum with him in the game. His defense has never been outstanding, but at least in 2008-2010 he put in some effort, I don't see any of that anymore.

I would trade him now, he's clearly on the decline. His age is part of it, but really we see the type of effort he puts in for Spain. It's his mindset, and it's hard to change a veteran's mentality suddenly unless he gets a change of scene. Minnesota maybe?

[Windu]

Every player knows the basket is free when Pau is playing defense

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

As soon as Pau checked in, Lebron drived to the basket like 4 times in a row lmfao. It was pretty sad. Every player knows the basket is free when Pau is playing defense nowadays.

Have you ever watched LeBron James on a consistent basis? He's the best player in the world and an absolutely bull when it comes to driving to the rim. Nobody can stop him. Only thing we should've done is give him some space and make him shoot jumpers. Even then his jumpshot has improved leaps and bounds over the years. He's a 40 percent 3 point shooter.

[Piston Honda]

And if the Lakers trade Pau, who exactly do they rely on when Dwight is on the bench? Sacre? Lakers are stuck with him like it or not.

[Windu]

And if the Lakers trade Pau, who exactly do they rely on when Dwight is on the bench? Sacre? Lakers are stuck with him like it or not.

ANYONE is better than Pau