**LA LAKERS THREAD** Sitting on 17! 2023-2024 offseason begins

[had pants]

 

[darthska]

 

[darthska]

I would argue that this is the most frustrating time I've ever been through as a Lakers fan.
- The 80s was arguably our best time.
- The 90s, we weren't a championship threat, but we were fun as hell.
- 00s? Young Kobe, prime Shaq. 3 rings in 4 tries.
- Late 00s going into the 10s? Prime Kobe (in my opinion). 2 rings in 3 tries.
- 20s: Started w/ a ring, but now we have no direction, no identity.

In fact I would argue that along with someone who is in the conversation of GOAT, we have arguably the hardest star/franchise player in the league to build around. List everyone who is considered a star and/or franchise player when they're at their best. Luka, Giannis, Tatum, Lebron, Steph, Zion, Jokic, Embiid, Kawhi, (actually I think it's just as hard to build around Kawhi, but I don't think he's genuinely injured half the time he says he is, but that's a different convo.)

AD, I honestly believe he's the hardest to build around, ON TOP of our inept FO.

C CP1708 , tupac003 , other older heads?

 

[Rockabilly Zombie]

That’s accurate. We’re on middle ground right now. The ownership doesn’t know which way to go. I miss the good ol’ days

 

[Brosizzlew30.23]

I would argue that this is the most frustrating time I've ever been through as a Lakers fan.
- The 80s was arguably our best time.
- The 90s, we weren't a championship threat, but we were fun as hell.
- 00s? Young Kobe, prime Shaq. 3 rings in 4 tries.
- Late 00s going into the 10s? Prime Kobe (in my opinion). 2 rings in 3 tries.
- 20s: Started w/ a ring, but now we have no direction, no identity.

In fact I would argue that along with someone who is in the conversation of GOAT, we have arguably the hardest star/franchise player in the league to build around. List everyone who is considered a star and/or franchise player when they're at their best. Luka, Giannis, Tatum, Lebron, Steph, Zion, Jokic, Embiid, Kawhi, (actually I think it's just as hard to build around Kawhi, but I don't think he's genuinely injured half the time he says he is, but that's a different convo.)

AD, I honestly believe he's the hardest to build around, ON TOP of our inept FO.

C CP1708 , tupac003 , other older heads?

Back in the 80s, 90s, 00s, you never had to say "Season starts tomorrow"

It's actually quite easy to build around Bron and AD if you really think about it.

But Dr. Buss and West, Jeanie and Rob sure aren't.

 

[grittyman]

I would argue that this is the most frustrating time I've ever been through as a Lakers fan.
- The 80s was arguably our best time.
- The 90s, we weren't a championship threat, but we were fun as hell.
- 00s? Young Kobe, prime Shaq. 3 rings in 4 tries.
- Late 00s going into the 10s? Prime Kobe (in my opinion). 2 rings in 3 tries.
- 20s: Started w/ a ring, but now we have no direction, no identity.

In fact I would argue that along with someone who is in the conversation of GOAT, we have arguably the hardest star/franchise player in the league to build around. List everyone who is considered a star and/or franchise player when they're at their best. Luka, Giannis, Tatum, Lebron, Steph, Zion, Jokic, Embiid, Kawhi, (actually I think it's just as hard to build around Kawhi, but I don't think he's genuinely injured half the time he says he is, but that's a different convo.)

AD, I honestly believe he's the hardest to build around, ON TOP of our inept FO.

C CP1708 , tupac003 , other older heads?

Been a fan since the Showtime era, so I think that put me in the old head category

Def have seen a lot more good days than bad as a Lakers fan… the good being pretty obvious….and the bad, well let’s see:
- End of the Showtime era, Kareem retirement, injuries, Magic’s HIV announcement
- Post Shaq trade, watching Kobe spend/waste a few years of his prime playing with Smush, Mihm and the like
- Post Pau/Kobe Achilles, watching a broken KB struggle to the finish line….B Scott coaching “man up” philosophy…Jim Buss…Jordan Hill, Boozer “holdat”, Swaggy P, etc
- Twilight of LBJ career, injured AD, revolving supporting cast, etc…

Is this my most frustrating time as a Laker fan? No. I’ve seen far worse and more frustrating days for sure. But IMO the discourse around the team is at an all time low… from stuff like the countless number of clickbait posts and articles, Twitter spaces going up after every loss “we are doomed!!”, there’s some guy I saw online who seemed to have a large following and I want to say he literally posts before every game stuff like this is the most important game of the season, or tonight is a MUST WIN, etc.

I guess what I want to say is I think that some fans have an unhealthy relationship (obsession) with the team and it contributes to this funky vibe surrounding the Laker franchise. I’ve disconnected from a lot of it…I watch the games, come in here to post a little bit and I don’t really find myself being that frustrated at all. We’re at the end game for the LBJ Laker era… the direction to me is riding it out until the end and hitting the reset button. There is no rebuilding around AD I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s traded or leaves via free agency in the near future.

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

- Post Pau/Kobe Achilles, watching a broken KB struggle to the finish line….B Scott coaching “man up” philosophy…Jim Buss…Jordan Hill, Boozer “holdat”, Swaggy P, etc

There is absolutely nothing worse than this. Not even close

 

[moonman818]

Jordan Hill era

 

[CP1708]

We've certainly had the highest highs of any team in the league. 17 Finals runs since 1980.

But our lows.......

Magic HIV
Fallout with Jerry West
Fallout with Shaq
Fallout with Phil
Kobe Achilles
Death of Jerry Buss
Ball over Tatum
Kobe and Gigi
Missing out on Kawhi
Magic stepping down

Most franchises wouldn't survive one of those much less almost a dozen.

But to have seen Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Shaq, Kobe, Pau, Bron, AD shine as Lakers and NBA leaders and not even include guys like

B Scott, Cooper, McAdoo, Van Exel, Eddie, Horry, Fisher, Rice, Malone, Payton, Odom, Bynum, Artest, Dwight, Nash, Randle, Ingram, DLo, Melo.........

We been spoiled.

But where we lack right now ain't star power. It's in the FO.

Jerry Buss + West + Riley + Phil + Mitch was always around for 30+ years. 2-3 elites for decades.

Jeanie + Rob + Rambii ain't nowhere close to that. And it hurts to even bring up, but losing Kobe hurts more than we let on. Kobe is this gen Magic. Imagine Kobe makin those future pitches to Tatum and Luka, like Magic was doin.

Until the FO is fixed, we won't get back where we belong. Sounds like Bron will want to run the Vegas team someday, meaning he may not be an option either down the road.

 

[grittyman]

For me I just look at things like this…

The “cream” of the crop in the west has gotten a little more separation from the rest of the pack…Houston and SA are bottoming out. There are 2 games separating 6th place from 13th with a lot of basketball left to play. Rumors starting to circulate about Utah having a fire sale, and I kinda suspect Minn will punt the season and make some moves for the future as well…so that’s 2 teams dropping out the 10 and I think LA and Portland are the ones who will get in, I have no idea what order these teams will finish. But IMO seeding doesn’t really matter this year, just get in and be healthy when it matters. Even with minor tweaks to the roster it would be hard for me to pick some of these teams to beat a healthy AD/LBJ led team 4 out of 7… but of course their availability is always the issue.

 

[grittyman]

We've certainly had the highest highs of any team in the league. 17 Finals runs since 1980.

But our lows.......

Magic HIV
Fallout with Jerry West
Fallout with Shaq
Fallout with Phil
Kobe Achilles
Death of Jerry Buss
Ball over Tatum
Kobe and Gigi
Missing out on Kawhi
Magic stepping down

Most franchises wouldn't survive one of those much less almost a dozen.

But to have seen Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Shaq, Kobe, Pau, Bron, AD shine as Lakers and NBA leaders and not even include guys like

B Scott, Cooper, McAdoo, Van Exel, Eddie, Horry, Fisher, Rice, Malone, Payton, Odom, Bynum, Artest, Dwight, Nash, Randle, Ingram, DLo, Melo.........

We been spoiled.

But where we lack right now ain't star power. It's in the FO.

Jerry Buss + West + Riley + Phil + Mitch was always around for 30+ years. 2-3 elites for decades.

Jeanie + Rob + Rambii ain't nowhere close to that. And it hurts to even bring up, but losing Kobe hurts more than we let on. Kobe is this gen Magic. Imagine Kobe makin those future pitches to Tatum and Luka, like Magic was doin.

Until the FO is fixed, we won't get back where we belong. Sounds like Bron will want to run the Vegas team someday, meaning he may not be an option either down the road.

Fixed that for ya buddy lol

 

[grittyman]

I remember someone asking recently why Jack doesn’t come to support these Lebron Lakers…now we know

 

[moonman818]

“his brain is gone” is a weird way of saying he has dementia or Alzheimer’s

 

[Lizakers]

I didn’t mind watching Kendall Marshall get 15 assists every night for a month.

Those days were rough for real
Ryan Kelly, Sacre, hibbert….

 

[Brosizzlew30.23]

For me I just look at things like this…

The “cream” of the crop in the west has gotten a little more separation from the rest of the pack…Houston and SA are bottoming out. There are 2 games separating 6th place from 13th with a lot of basketball left to play. Rumors starting to circulate about Utah having a fire sale, and I kinda suspect Minn will punt the season and make some moves for the future as well…so that’s 2 teams dropping out the 10 and I think LA and Portland are the ones who will get in, I have no idea what order these teams will finish. But IMO seeding doesn’t really matter this year, just get in and be healthy when it matters. Even with minor tweaks to the roster it would be hard for me to pick some of these teams to beat a healthy AD/LBJ led team 4 out of 7… but of course their availability is always the issue.

Agreed.

and we're gonna make the playoffs...

As long as we make a trade

 

[pmatic]

When D'Antoni had Steve Blake and Jordan Farmar on steroids that one season >>>

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

The MDA era was trash too . Teams would just let the Lakers have their fun in the 1st, maybe 2nd quarter and just completely destroy them in the 2nd half. Every single time. That was the first time I just stopped watching games

 

[darthska]

Been a fan since the Showtime era, so I think that put me in the old head category

My bad, bruh.

Be careful getting off the couch.

You schedule your colonoscopy yet?

 

[Korofi]

Earl Clark

 

[DLF]

If I’m the lakers, i trade Russ for KD or embiid.

 

[Korofi]

Jodie Meeks

 

[darthska]

Mihm? How we feel?

I... LOATHED... bruh.

 

[Rockabilly Zombie]

You guys are giving me hives with those names.

 

[frink85]

Mihm? How we feel?

I... LOATHED... bruh.

no Chris Mihm slander will be tolerated, dude did his best in very trying times.



one of my prized possessions

 

[pmatic]