Fakers only 5-5 in their last 10 games

[Celtics17]

Barring serious injury the Lackers are definitely coming out of the West. They did win the title last year and to this point look like the 2nd best team in the league, right behind the Cavs. I wont say that they improved their roster with the addition of Artest but they are still strongly favored to win the title again.

The thing is though, if we are healthy then we are the best team in the league and by quite a bit. There are a lot of ifs there though and unfortunately having a completely healthy C's squad at anytime this season is looking less and less likely. Time will tell but I still say that if we are healthy then we take banner 18 at L.A.

[Drucci]

The 10-8 record of the Laker is more concerning for them than their 5-5 record as of late, if you ask me.

They have played A LOT of home games so far and the second half of the season is full of road games for them. So, if they don't figure how to win on the road again, they are in trouble.

Anyway it's always fun to see the Lakers lose, especially to the Raptors, a team that we beat easily every time. They have the worst defense in the league and two soft big men, and the Lakers lose to them on a missed buzzer beater by Kobe. Gotta love it.

[Drucci]

By the way, do you think Gasol and Bynum will get fined for the comments they made about the refs and the calls at the end of the game?

“It was a questionable call,” Gasol said. “I don’t think I pushed him at all. My arm was on his back but I never pushed him. A tough call at a critical part of the game.”

Jackson didn't comment on the final foul called against Gasol, saying he hadn't seen it, while Bynum said it was tough.

"Great players, they stop going to the basket, because they don't normally call that." Bynum explained. "The Melos, D-Wades, Kob. That's why they take jumpshots at the end of the game and everybody wonders why they don't go to the rim. Normally, you don't get that call."

I have the feeling they won't get fined because they are not named Rasheed Wallace, and it would be unfair, considering the fines Sheed took for comments that weren't more "polemical".

[Who]

LA also won the championship last season, and has effectively only upgraded their roster.

As far as I'm concerned they're the best until they're beaten or they implode.

Defensively they upgraded their roster, Artest has really hurt their offense.

Additionally Kobe is banged up and a year older, that's not a recipe to get better...

If you switched the names Artest with Wallace and Garnett/Pierce with Kobe, the same goes for the good guys.

I dunno, I hated it last year when Lakers/Cavs fans bagged on the Celtics. I think we ought to extend the same courtesy to other teams.

I wasn't bagging on them, I just don't think they "upgraded" all too much. They kept the same team, and switched a better fit young SF for an older more defensive SF.

Meanwhile Kobe/Fisher got older, I still think the Lakers are coming out of the west.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the Lakers matchup against some more contenders before deciding if they're improved or not.

The offense has declined just as much, if not more, than their excellent defensive improvement.

It's hard to tell whether they've improved or not ... but they're definitely more vulnerable against certain matchups.

The question is how many contenders are able to take advantage of that. Cleveland clearly is. Orlando isn't. San Antonio doesn't appear to be. Boston is up next.

[Who]

It's a pity that the West is so weak at the top of their conference.

I'm gaining a lot of faith in Portland's ability to win the West next season.

[Greenbean]

Every team, no matter how good, will have its ups & downs during the regular season.  When you have 5+ months of regular season games, you'll hit some bumps.

As Heinsohn said, it's January and "rubber room time".

true but we as a fan base also need to stop comparing our team's success and flaws to other elite teams success and flaws. If we are a championship caliber team, which we are, then we can't downplay or say, hey the Lakers arent playing to well so it's not a big deal that we arnet. Or, Orlando, L.A, and Cleveland arnet too athletic so why should we try to upgrade our bench?
Thats just not a winning mentality. We should want to put our team in the best position to win as possible, no matter what other teams are doing

True but we will ALWAYS use the Lakers as a benchmark for our success just as i am sure their fan base does to us. It's just the nature of a rivalry.

You get a TP though for your name.

Can you create other accounts as King Geedorah, Viktor Vaughn, and Zev Love X please?

[moiso]

I've noticed that Kobe has been quite the ballhog in that stretch.  I see games when he takes over 30 shots and Gasol gets around 11, and Bynum and Odom get like 5.  There is no need of that with the Lakers current roster.  I thought Kobe figured out last year that the team is better when he does a little less.  It's going to make it easier for the Celtics to beat them in the finals if he keeps playing this way.  It's a lot easier to guard one man than 5 guys.

[Bankshot]

I've noticed that Kobe has been quite the ballhog in that stretch.  I see games when he takes over 30 shots and Gasol gets around 11, and Bynum and Odom get like 5.  There is no need of that with the Lakers current roster.  I thought Kobe figured out last year that the team is better when he does a little less.  It's going to make it easier for the Celtics to beat them in the finals if he keeps playing this way.  It's a lot easier to guard one man than 5 guys.

Kobe is a ballhog by nature.  He will pass and look like a team player for a while, but then he reverts back to his real self.  Funny how he would ballhog at a time when he has an injured finger.  You'd think he'd let his teammates carry some of the load.

[GreenFaith1819]

Well, I'm glad to see LA lose, just like everyone else here, but I really hope they can keep themselves together at least long enough for me to see us play them in the Finals.

I certainly don't want to play anyone else to win Banner 18.

And I hope they are nice and healthy, just like us.

Man for Man and player for player, we have two talented teams, but I like our depth and when we play Celtics Basketball, we can beat anyone.

Imagine that if you will - not one, but TWO Finals loses to Boston in 3 years....lol, now that would make LA implode I believe.

Maybe then we'd see some Celtics LoveFests on ESPN.

[RAcker]

To this thread I'll just say that we'll see them on Sunday and find out where everybody is.

[jdpapa3]

I've noticed that Kobe has been quite the ballhog in that stretch.  I see games when he takes over 30 shots and Gasol gets around 11, and Bynum and Odom get like 5.  There is no need of that with the Lakers current roster.  I thought Kobe figured out last year that the team is better when he does a little less.  It's going to make it easier for the Celtics to beat them in the finals if he keeps playing this way.  It's a lot easier to guard one man than 5 guys.

Kobe is a ballhog by nature.  He will pass and look like a team player for a while, but then he reverts back to his real self.  Funny how he would ballhog at a time when he has an injured finger.  You'd think he'd let his teammates carry some of the load.

I think you are seeing a little bit of what happened to us last season. Everyone wants "more". More shots, more money, more press. Simmons talked about it a lot in his book and I am starting to see some quotes from their guys about not getting enough touches and things of the like.

[moiso]

I've noticed that Kobe has been quite the ballhog in that stretch.  I see games when he takes over 30 shots and Gasol gets around 11, and Bynum and Odom get like 5.  There is no need of that with the Lakers current roster.  I thought Kobe figured out last year that the team is better when he does a little less.  It's going to make it easier for the Celtics to beat them in the finals if he keeps playing this way.  It's a lot easier to guard one man than 5 guys.

Kobe is a ballhog by nature.  He will pass and look like a team player for a while, but then he reverts back to his real self.  Funny how he would ballhog at a time when he has an injured finger.  You'd think he'd let his teammates carry some of the load.

I think you are seeing a little bit of what happened to us last season. Everyone wants "more". More shots, more money, more press. Simmons talked about it a lot in his book and I am starting to see some quotes from their guys about not getting enough touches and things of the like.

Yeah, i read the book too, and I believe it could have happened with the Celts last year.  The thing with the Lakers is that because Kobe is jacking up so many shots, every one else is actually getting less.  They are so talented, Kobe would be smart to share the load so he can head into the playoffs in one piece with some legs left.

[Bankshot]

I've noticed that Kobe has been quite the ballhog in that stretch.  I see games when he takes over 30 shots and Gasol gets around 11, and Bynum and Odom get like 5.  There is no need of that with the Lakers current roster.  I thought Kobe figured out last year that the team is better when he does a little less.  It's going to make it easier for the Celtics to beat them in the finals if he keeps playing this way.  It's a lot easier to guard one man than 5 guys.

Kobe is a ballhog by nature.  He will pass and look like a team player for a while, but then he reverts back to his real self.  Funny how he would ballhog at a time when he has an injured finger.  You'd think he'd let his teammates carry some of the load.

I think you are seeing a little bit of what happened to us last season. Everyone wants "more". More shots, more money, more press. Simmons talked about it a lot in his book and I am starting to see some quotes from their guys about not getting enough touches and things of the like.

Didn't that happen with the young guys on the Celtics though?  Kobe is an 11 or 12 year vet.  I don't remember anyone on the Celtics taking 20 or 30 shots a game.

[Drucci]

By the way, do you think Gasol and Bynum will get fined for the comments they made about the refs and the calls at the end of the game?

“It was a questionable call,” Gasol said. “I don’t think I pushed him at all. My arm was on his back but I never pushed him. A tough call at a critical part of the game.”

Jackson didn't comment on the final foul called against Gasol, saying he hadn't seen it, while Bynum said it was tough.

"Great players, they stop going to the basket, because they don't normally call that." Bynum explained. "The Melos, D-Wades, Kob. That's why they take jumpshots at the end of the game and everybody wonders why they don't go to the rim. Normally, you don't get that call."

I have the feeling they won't get fined because they are not named Rasheed Wallace, and it would be unfair, considering the fines Sheed took for comments that weren't more "polemical".

It looks like they won't get fined... Sheed really is the scapegoat of the league and the referees.

[Fafnir]

By the way, do you think Gasol and Bynum will get fined for the comments they made about the refs and the calls at the end of the game?

“It was a questionable call,” Gasol said. “I don’t think I pushed him at all. My arm was on his back but I never pushed him. A tough call at a critical part of the game.”

Jackson didn't comment on the final foul called against Gasol, saying he hadn't seen it, while Bynum said it was tough.

"Great players, they stop going to the basket, because they don't normally call that." Bynum explained. "The Melos, D-Wades, Kob. That's why they take jumpshots at the end of the game and everybody wonders why they don't go to the rim. Normally, you don't get that call."

I have the feeling they won't get fined because they are not named Rasheed Wallace, and it would be unfair, considering the fines Sheed took for comments that weren't more "polemical".

It looks like they won't get fined... Sheed really is the scapegoat of the league and the referees.

Rasheed directly challenges the league, the Lakers take an olique approach.