[:: LAKERS 2014 THREAD | POLL: Who Should Coach Next Year? ::]

[アミーゴ]

He's actually pretty good I wouldn't mind him at all

Problem is, he's probably going 1 overall.

 

[cash money 1999]

i still think if used correctly zach lavines potential is crazy

 

[sea manup]

 

He's actually pretty good I wouldn't mind him at all

Problem is, he's probably going 1 overall.

lets hope that he does go 1 overall, and we do end up drafting him 

 

[アミーゴ]

i still think if used correctly zach lavines potential is crazy

That's why I wrote that article lol.

 

[pmatic]

I'm falling in love with Gary Harris more and more in the 8-9-10 range. I don't think he'll be a star or anything, but a productive two way starter. Maybe something along the lines of Wes Matthews. Or Arron Afflalo when he was with the Nuggets and didn't focus so much on offense.

 

[cash money 1999]

gary harris is legit , some random comments bill simmons said made me checkout a few of his games a little bit more closely....very nice productive player

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

Reading that kupchak interview made me realize that we truly suck

 

[jab step]

I blame Steve Blake for missing that 3 in OKC.. He was WIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDDDEEEEEE OPEN

No one remembers because the outcome was a 4-1 OKC win, but I felt in that series the Lakers controlled most of the games. OKC didn't look that great and I knew they'd lose against Miami in the finals. The Lakers played at a snails pace and really focused on going inside, which was the right strategy. They just constantly ran out of gas at the end of games allowing OKC to go on these ridiculous comeback runs. Scoring was such a struggle with that team. Game 1 was a blowout victory for OKC and I chalked that up as them being ridiculously well rested on top of being young, while the Lakers stupidly were coming out of a 7 game series, with little rest. Games 2-4 the Lakers controlled most of the way, and basically choked at the end. We had no scorers besides Kobe. 

That series was ours 

. Wouldn't have won the championship that year though. 

 

[pmatic]

I don't know about "controlled", but they were definitely in three of the games in the middle of the series, but just didn't pull the games out.

I still remember after getting beat down the first game, Pau and Bynum were just sitting and talking on the bench all depressed as everyone else walked back to the locker room after the buzzer.

Sessions had to **** in his shorts at the worst possible time.

 

[jab step]

I don't know about "controlled", but they were definitely in three of the games in the middle of the series, but just didn't pull the games out.

I still remember after getting beat down the first game, Pau and Bynum were just sitting and talking on the bench all depressed as everyone else walked back to the locker room after the buzzer.

Sessions had to **** in his shorts at the worst possible time.

What I mean by controlled is it was at the pace the Lakers wanted. OKC couldn't run and their athleticism/youth weren't at full display till the end of games. The series was played for the most part the way the Lakers wanted. 

Weren't the Lakers up in most of the games by the fourth quarter as well? OKC would just go on their typical 10-0 or 8-0 runs in like a minute that would knock the wind out the Lakers. 

 

[pmatic]

Very true.

And the NBA did everything they could to give us game three of that series.

 

[Johnny_Cakes]

I feel good, guys. If we have a bottom five record I like our chances of the NBA gifting us the top overall pick.

 

[mosk33toe]

Mike D'antoni basketball is not winning basketball. It is a shame that he is getting a pass for this season due to the injuries. I'd rather get a new coach than a top pick, because I know we aren't going to win **** with Mike D'antoni.

Everyone talks about his revolutionary offense, that's great it is "revolutionary" but it can also be replicated. Why can't we find a coach who can "replicate" his offense, yet still preach defense!

Point blank he doesn't know anything about defense, I also coach basketball and I wouldn't say i'm a defensive guru or anything, but there are times I watch the defense and I just can't understand what he is doing. The constant switching, the endless mismatches, the lack of proper rotation, its so bad.

Whatever happened to him bringing in a defensive guy.

This team as it is structured is horrible, their defensive is atrocious, and the offensive is bipolar. There are pieces of this team that can help us next year ie. Henry, Young, Meeks, Farmar, Blake, Pau, Johnson, and Kobe however I have officially jumped to team tank, just so we can get rid of Mike D'antoni.

And I know Mike D'antoni has been quick with his funny quips and I commend him for keeping a sense of humor in this season, but come on, I don't need our season to be a sort of comic relief. Try something new, obviously with all the injuries you can't run your offense, how bout slowing the game down to save your team's energy! It is no coincidence that the 3rd quarter we get killed, these guys are exhausted!

D'antoni is constantly trying to fit a square peg into a circle hole, and i've had enough of it! Laker management please get a new coach I beg of you all! A coach who isn't a specialist in anything, but a well rounded coach! Our last two "specialists" haven't done ****!

Finally, Go Lakers!

 

[CP1708]

 

[essential1]

Kurt Rambis is the defensive guy. Just like he was for Phil Jackson...

Perhaps a bad defense is because we have bad defensive players. We got guys who battle who may battle themselves to an average defender but there are no good defenders on this team.

 

[mosk33toe]

Kurt Rambis is the defensive guy. Just like he was for Phil Jackson...

Perhaps a bad defense is because we have bad defensive players. We got guys who battle who may battle themselves to an average defender but there are no good defenders on this team.

Do you think if we had defensive players that this team would be drastically better defensively?

You don't think it has a lot to do with your defensive schemes?

 

[CP1708]

You don't think it has a lot to do with your defensive schemes?

So, you are upset because Kendall Marshall, Nick Young, Pau Gasol, Robert Sacre, Ryan Kelly, Jodie Meeks and Wes Johnson aren't locking teams down?????


Real question, have you watched any games this year, or naw?

 

[mosk33toe]

So, you are upset because Kendall Marshall, Nick Young, Pau Gasol, Robert Sacre, Ryan Kelly, Jodie Meeks and Wes Johnson aren't locking teams down?????


Real question, have you watched any games this year, or naw?

Real question, can you not be a douche for a second? You think I go on a website that specializes in shoes, in the sports and training forum, and on a specific Thread about the Lakers and not watch the games? Really?

Yes I am upset that Kendall Marshall, Nick Young, Pau Gasol, Robert Sacre, Ryan Kelly, Jodie Meeks and Wes Johnson aren't locking teams down.

Real question, has every team Mike D'antoni coached team had bad defensive players?

When will the excuses end. What was last years excuse?

What is this love affair with this inept coach? He can't coach defense, if you argue otherwise then you are the person who hasn't watched Lakers games or NBA games for that fact. If you think we can do anything with this coach then you must not subscribe to reality. Defense wins championships, you don't have to be the best defensive team, but you have to play it and even if we had Pippen, GP, Hakeem, Kobe, and Lebron, this coach wouldn't know how to use it.

Mike D'antoni is a gimmick coach always will be, and the Lakers won't do **** unless he gets fired.

::awaiting condescending remark::

 

[had pants]

Courtesy of Lakers reporter Mike Trudell, an interview with Mitch Kupchak went online this morning on Lakers.com.

Kupchak provided some insight on the current state of the Lakers as well as the future of the team.

On the Lakers “tanking”:

“I’ve been here over 30 years, and it’s never something that’s been discussed or talked about.”

Kupchak noted that while expectations vary from season to season, the main goal is to win games. Kupchak put it best when saying that ownership would never say, “It’s best to lose” and that it is the worst message you can send to a franchise, coaches, players, and it’s fans.

Although, he added that there are some teams that know realistically they will be a sub-.500 team, but it’s important to realize that is different from tanking which he defined as purposely telling the coach to lose, which is “unacceptable”. Kupchak also said “rebuilding is another matter.”

Something to note, Kupchak said “coaches are defined by their record.” Very interesting to say the least.

On the repeater tax penalty impacting roster decisions this year and in the future:

“You have to be out of the luxury tax in two out of five years to avoid a repeater penalty. If we stay in the tax this season, it will be three consecutive seasons as taxpayers.”

It’s important to note that Kupchak says ownership has NEVER been afraid to be in the tax. He then goes on to explain the rules of the tax, saying if your $30 million over the tax as a repeater, the bill will around $130 million, while if you’re only $1 million over, it will be near $2.5 million so it definitely makes a difference.

On the upcoming draft:

“One through ten is as good as I’ve seen in a long time.”

When comparing it to the 2003 draft, which included LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwayne Wade, he says that going into that draft, no one knew it would be that good but when you look back on it, it was a great draft. He says that he doesn’t know if this draft will be that way, but the potential of players one through 10 is very good.

He says they are scouting all players in the draft and groups them in the top five, top 10, etc. all the way up to 70. Once May/June come around, Kupchak says they will narrow their focus on particular players because they will know their draft position at that time.

On the 2014 free agency plan:

“Several years ago, we made a conscious decision to line contracts up for this coming year of free agency.”

The only payer on the books for next year was Steve Nash, which obviously changed with the extension of Kobe Bryant but says they will still have “significant” financial flexibility this summer, as well as next summer.

On the Lakers’ next star:

Kupchak says that in meetings with the front office and scouts, they will talk about if they got a certain players just like the public and fans do. While it’s all speculation at that point, the only thing they know for certain is that the rush starts at 9 p.m. on June 30th for free agency.

On Kobe Bryant’s extension:

“One of the premier free agents this coming summer was going to be Kobe Bryant. He’ll no longer be a free agent. We have acquired him.”

He notes that when looking at free agency this summer, they will look at what’s the best basketball and business decisions.

Also, Kupchak says that they will not only look at free agency, but at adding players through trades, while also weighing the option of waiting another year for a big acquisition.

On Pau Gasol’s status and future in Los Angeles:

“I think he’s had a great year. I do.”

Also goes on to say that Gasol is playing some of his best basketball and that he probably did not expect to play with the current group of players due to injuries. Under the circumstances, he thinks Gasol has done a great job.

As for Gasol’s future, Kupchak notes that he will be a free agent this year and that he sees no reason he can’t finish the season as a Laker. Says that he’ll have options to move on to other teams and that years/money will be a factor in his decision. Kupchak adds that he loves Los Angeles and the franchise and if he wants to continue to play here, the Lakers would love to have him.

The interview is a must-read for all Lakers fans. There is more from Kupchak regarding role players such as Xavier Henry, Kendall Marshall, and Nick Young, plus more on Gasol being an asset for other teams in the league.

http://lakernation.com/qa-mitch-kupchak-talking-to-lakers-com/

 

[CP1708]

What was last year's excuse????


He had a winning record after no camp, not his style of players, and Darius ******g Morris as his starting PG.

By the time the season ended, Kobe, Nash, Blake, Ron, Hill, Jamison were all hurt.


Man, learn what you're complainin about, Jesus Christ.

 

[grandtheftbike]

Can't pull the stats now, but wasn't mdas phx teams always around league avg in defense?

 

[CP1708]

Can't pull the stats now, but wasn't mdas phx teams always around league avg in defense?

Based on pace, with horrible defenders in Nash and Amary they were in the 11-13 range.

 

[grandtheftbike]

CP w/ the assist

 

[sea manup]

defensive anchor raja bell 

 

[CP1708]

Bottom line for all you people.

If you think Marshall, Sacre, Pau, Young, Kaman, Meeks, Kelly, etc should be locking teams down, you are not smart.

Period.

Not smart.

Those are NOT quality defenders. Hill and Wes are the two best on the roster. That's not good when they are your best two.


Get. A. Clue.


Phil, Pop, Sloan, Doc wouldn't get that group to do anything either, quit blaming coaching for half a roster playing poorly.


Unbelievable.