Do The Lakers Miss The Machine?

[Fafnir]

Kobe has been a great player over his career, but am I the only one thinking that he is finally starting to age and has lost quite a bit this year?

I think you are right on.  We've seen the last few games Kobe try to put everything on his back and shoot his way to wins like he used to and it just is not happening anymore, he is not on the level of Wade or LeBron, that was evident in the Heat game.  If he was smart and a good team mate he would defer to his team mates more.  It'll be interesting to see how he handles this part of his career because his selfishness will not make it pretty if he doesn't put his ago aside.

you would think that after his team mates, especially Gasol and Artest, bailed him out in game 7 last year, that he would have no problem deferring to them. I guess not. How many shots have Bynum and Gasol gotten lately? Not nearly as many as they should be getting.

The reason that the Lakers are struggling is that Pau Gasol has played very poorly on the offensive end. They're trying to run their offens through him and its not working right now.

Kobe see this and goes into hero mode.

They still have Bynum and Odom down low, and going away from Gasol is not going to help get him on track.

When Gasol isn't getting position for entry passes, turns the ball over, and holds the ball before passing it out passively its tough to keep going to him.

Bynum doesn't look ready at all, and Odom is Odom. He's never really been a go to scorer, he is not comfortable in that role.

I think Kobe would do better to play within the offense, but the Lakers have severe problems when they can't play off the post. Kobe no longer can create the same sort of looks and they don't have a PG to set up anything else.

Unless Bynum gets back to his play early last year the Lakers are unlikely to make the Finals. If they do the Heat/Celtics will wax them severely.

[JHTruth]

The key to the Lakers has always been their 3 bigs. Kobe IMHO is really secondary to those guys. Add in the pathetic status of Fisher and Artest, and you have a perimeter squad that sucks right now. Without Pau, Odom, and Bynum playing well they are just not that good. Right now they look closer to the Kwame/Smush era than the Repeat champs. They need both Pau and Bynum to pick it up considerably or they can kiss their 3-peat hopes goodbye.

[housecall]

After the lost to the Spurs an ESPN reporter said,"they looked old and confused".Tonight will tell us if that statement might be closer to the truth when they play the Hornets on a back to back.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

The key to the Lakers has always been their 3 bigs. Kobe IMHO is really secondary to those guys. Add in the pathetic status of Fisher and Artest, and you have a perimeter squad that sucks right now. Without Pau, Odom, and Bynum playing well they are just not that good. Right now they look closer to the Kwame/Smush era than the Repeat champs. They need both Pau and Bynum to pick it up considerably or they can kiss their 3-peat hopes goodbye.

How much can the bigs do if they can't get the ball? 12 shots combined?

[LakersFan_33]

I'm not nearly as down on the Lakers as some of you are, and many Lakers fans for that matter. Yes, Kobe lost us the game last night. You all know he and the Lakers step it up two levels for the playoffs.

While I don't like it (don't get me wrong, I hate it), 2/3 of our losses were to San Antonio on the road and Miami...I can somewhat stomach it [a little easier]. One of the biggest reasons for our struggles is easily Gasol's decline. The past 2 seasons, I've hardly ever seen someone as consistent as Gasol. Once Bynum moves back to the starting lineup, he'll improve. Lakers have a relatively easy January - I expect them to hit their stride sometime within that month.

[Who]

I'm not nearly as down on the Lakers as some of you are, and many Lakers fans for that matter. Yes, Kobe lost us the game last night. You all know he and the Lakers step it up two levels for the playoffs.

While I don't like it (don't get me wrong, I hate it), 2/3 of our losses were to San Antonio on the road and Miami...I can somewhat stomach it [a little easier]. One of the biggest reasons for our struggles is easily Gasol's decline. The past 2 seasons, I've hardly ever seen someone as consistent as Gasol. Once Bynum moves back to the starting lineup, he'll improve. Lakers have a relatively easy January - I expect them to hit their stride sometime within that month.

Yeah, I wouldn't be at all concerned about the Lakers.

They weren't exactly a regular season powerhouse last season either.

They are still, by far, the frontrunner in the West.

[hpantazo]

I'm not nearly as down on the Lakers as some of you are, and many Lakers fans for that matter. Yes, Kobe lost us the game last night. You all know he and the Lakers step it up two levels for the playoffs.

While I don't like it (don't get me wrong, I hate it), 2/3 of our losses were to San Antonio on the road and Miami...I can somewhat stomach it [a little easier]. One of the biggest reasons for our struggles is easily Gasol's decline. The past 2 seasons, I've hardly ever seen someone as consistent as Gasol. Once Bynum moves back to the starting lineup, he'll improve. Lakers have a relatively easy January - I expect them to hit their stride sometime within that month.

not to mention that for a team that is supposedly struggling, your record is still quite good.

[Witch-King]

This might be a little off-topic, however as much as I hate on the Lakers, I'll still admit that Andrew Bynum is a good player -- maybe not a 6 time NBA All-Star like Jermaine O'Neal, however he is a great young talent and he and Gasol are certainly an intimidating combination as far as Centers are concerned.

Kobe's not that bad either, lols -- though as far as the rest of the Western Conference is concerned I'm really hoping that the other top 5 teams in the Western Conference can really give the Lakers a run for their money this next upcoming month. The last thing I'd want to see is the Celtics face the Lakers in the post-season, though teams like the Thunder, Mavs, Jazz, heck, even the Spurs finished with as good as or a better record than we did at the end of last year's regular season. The Lakers were only 7 games better than us last season.

[Fafnir]

I'm not nearly as down on the Lakers as some of you are, and many Lakers fans for that matter. Yes, Kobe lost us the game last night. You all know he and the Lakers step it up two levels for the playoffs.

While I don't like it (don't get me wrong, I hate it), 2/3 of our losses were to San Antonio on the road and Miami...I can somewhat stomach it [a little easier]. One of the biggest reasons for our struggles is easily Gasol's decline. The past 2 seasons, I've hardly ever seen someone as consistent as Gasol. Once Bynum moves back to the starting lineup, he'll improve. Lakers have a relatively easy January - I expect them to hit their stride sometime within that month.

not to mention that for a team that is supposedly struggling, your record is still quite good.

Against the easiest schedule in the league so far. Its going to get much harder going forward.

[Tayo]

This might be a little off-topic, however as much as I hate on the Lakers, I'll still admit that Andrew Bynum is a good player -- maybe not a 6 time NBA All-Star like Jermaine O'Neal, however he is a great young talent and he and Gasol are certainly an intimidating combination as far as Centers are concerned.

Kobe's not that bad either, lols -- though as far as the rest of the Western Conference is concerned I'm really hoping that the other top 5 teams in the Western Conference can really give the Lakers a run for their money this next upcoming month. The last thing I'd want to see is the Celtics face the Lakers in the post-season, though teams like the Thunder, Mavs, Jazz, heck, even the Spurs finished with as good as or a better record than we did at the end of last year's regular season. The Lakers were only 7 games better than us last season.

^Lol, As much as I hate saying something like than as an 'evil villain' I'm really hoping that the Celtics can do well the rest of the regular season and in the post-season.

[Ersatz]

The reason that the Lakers are struggling is that Pau Gasol has played very poorly on the offensive end. They're trying to run their offens through him and its not working right now.

And the Lakers were great early in the year when Gasol was perhaps the league MVP for the first month. Now they are not so great when Kobe tries to take over. To me that confirms what I've thought for the previous two seasons: Kobe might be the Lakers' best player, but Gasol is by far their most important and most valuable.

But this is all hopefulness on our part. The Lakers will be awesome come playoff time, don't worry.

[Neurotic Guy]

Well, I hope the Lakers continue to struggle and find themselves clawing for life in the playoffs against strong opponents.  Perhaps the Thunder first, then Dallas and then SA. My wish, unlike others here, is for the Lakers to lose as early as possible. I don't care to play them in the Finals where anything can happen (like a Game 6 injury to our starting center). 

I am not more fearful of LA than SA, Dallas or Miami, but I loathe them and want that smarmy championship grin ripped from their smug faces.

[gar]

Kobe mean to machine. Machine go away. Now Kobe sorry. Machine like pat Kobe's butt say you MVP Kobe. Without Machine Kobe mad, yell at ref, no more Machine to yell at. Kobe get out of game.

[YouCantHandleTheTruth!]

Kobe mean to machine. Machine go away. Now Kobe sorry. Machine like pat Kobe's butt say you MVP Kobe. Without Machine Kobe mad, yell at ref, no more Machine to yell at. Kobe get out of game.

 

[vinnie]

I'm not nearly as down on the Lakers as some of you are, and many Lakers fans for that matter. Yes, Kobe lost us the game last night. You all know he and the Lakers step it up two levels for the playoffs.

While I don't like it (don't get me wrong, I hate it), 2/3 of our losses were to San Antonio on the road and Miami...I can somewhat stomach it [a little easier]. One of the biggest reasons for our struggles is easily Gasol's decline. The past 2 seasons, I've hardly ever seen someone as consistent as Gasol. Once Bynum moves back to the starting lineup, he'll improve. Lakers have a relatively easy January - I expect them to hit their stride sometime within that month.

not to mention that for a team that is supposedly struggling, your record is still quite good.

Against the easiest schedule in the league so far. Its going to get much harder going forward.

Exactly what he said. I believe that the Lakers have only played 7 games against teams with a .500 record or better, and are 2-5 in those games. In addition, their division is actually worse than the Atlantic this year. I don't think the Lakers make it to the finals this year.