Lakers in the News 8/05/15: Kobe 'absolutely' believes Lakers will be playoff team this season

 
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lakersfreak
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 11:53 pm    Post subject: Lakers in the News 8/05/15: Kobe 'absolutely' believes Lakers will be playoff team this season

Kobe 'absolutely' believes Lakers will be playoff team this season
by espn.com

Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant believes that his team will "absolutely" make the playoffs this season in the hyper-competitive Western Conference.

The Lakers won just 21 games last year and missed the postseason for the second straight year -- the first time that's happened since 1976.

"We have talented players in their respective positions," Bryant said in a phone interview with Yahoo Sports Tuesday. "We have some really young players. How exactly will the pieces of the puzzle fit? We really don't know.

"We are going to [training] camp trying to piece this together just like every other team does," he said. "We have to figure out what our strengths are, figure out what our weaknesses are. And every time we step on the court we are going to try to hide our weaknesses and step up to our strengths."

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/13379179/kobe-bryant-absolutely-believes-los-angeles-lakers-playoff-team-season
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 11:55 pm    Post subject:

Can D'Angelo Russell Shine In Kobe's Shadow?
by Daniel Knott - lasportshub.com

The No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft has the hopes of an entire city on his shoulders.

While it is certain that the 6’5″ point guard has the physical talents to make an impact this season, it’s not yet certain that he will mentally be able to handle the demands of playing in the post-Kobe era.

In his freshman campaign with Ohio State, Russell averaged 19 points, five assists, and just under six rebounds per game.

Impressive numbers for a the McDonald’s All-American.

The fan base has already been energized by Russell’s summer league exploits, despite a lot of Summer League reaction that wasn’t typical of championship city or fan material.

But these accolades may not be enough to silence the doubt that has been expressed about the organization over the last four seasons – even if they are the Lakers.

http://lasportshub.com/2015/08/04/dangelo-russell-lakers-season/
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:27 am    Post subject:

Let's get it, Kobe!
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:34 am    Post subject:

Well, that's great for Kobe and for the Lakers pop media image, but it's unconvincing to me and most Laker fans I know.

He's lost the ability to convince us he has the ability to deliver season-long impact.

He's lost credibility, because he has been proven wrong about the Lakers making the playoffs for the past three consecutive seasons. I'll trust my personal gauge of Laker chances more than his; every fan owes it to himself/herself makes that his/her own assessment too.
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:36 am    Post subject:

Of course Kobe will say that. But I do think that the chances of making the playoffs is greater this year, relatively speaking, than the past 2 years. Still I don't think we'll make it, but the hope is we will hang around the 8-9th spot (and if we miss the playoffs, like Clev. the basketball gods will gift us the #1 pick).
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:36 am    Post subject:

With Byron as coach?

Maybe with Tom thibs I dunno bout Byron
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 6:00 am    Post subject:

THE TRADE AND COIN FLIP THAT FOREVER CHANGED THE NBA
by David Funk - allfunkedup.sportsblog.com

Sports fans often reminisce about trades and deals especially when it involves their teams. Good or bad, it can sometimes take years to see who the true winners and losers are in all deals - if there are any. It's always the losing side of the deal that we remember. There are also those deals that are better off not being made.

Then there's those very select few that impacted their respective sports for the better.

In 1920, the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees that forever changed the fortunes of two franchises. We all know how that turned out for both teams, but it was a deal that also saved a sport from its darkest days at the time when the Black Sox scandal gave the game a negative image.

It was the immense popularity of Ruth in the 1920s that catapulted Major League Baseball to heights never seen before while helping erase the game's negative image from the Black Sox scandal.

One such move in the NBA over 50 years later saved the league from dying what could've very well been a slow death.

http://allfunkedup.sportsblog.com/posts/2945475/the-trade-and-coin-flip-that-forever-changed-the-nba.html
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 6:00 am    Post subject:

Kobe has thought a lot of things in the past that never came true
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 6:02 am    Post subject:

Remembering Chick Hearn, the Michelangelo of broadcasters
by Bruce Newman - si.com

Editor's note: This story titled, "From High Above The Western Sideline," originally appeared in the April 9, 1984 issue of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. SI.com is republishing the story to honor legendary broadcaster Chick Hearn, who called 3,388 consecutive Lakers games from 1965-2002 before passing away at 85. Today marks the 13-year anniversary of his death.

The radio hissed and emitted strange chuffing noises as it warmed up, then made a high-pitched meowing sound. Except for the phosphorescent glow of the radio dial, the room was completely dark.

...sshhhhhwopwopwop...is now stop-and-go all the way to the 605 interchange where there's a disabled...yeeeeoowooooo...but Mom Taylor's radio ministry cannot help you find Je-e-e-ezus without your prayers and your donations. Pray to God. Send the money to Mom...yeeeeeeeeeaaaaayuh...backed up all the way to the Harbor Freeway...rrrrrffffffzzzzzzzz....

The radio fluttered and woofed and then stammered crazily as if it were possessed by a demon that was trying to clear its throat. Then came a clear and resonant voice: "From high above the western sideline of the Los Angeles Forum, the world's most beautiful sports theater, hello again, everybody, this is Chick Hearn."

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/08/05/chick-hearn-los-angeles-lakers-magic-johnson-pat-riley
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 6:43 am    Post subject:

Dudes, the question he was asked was "Can this Lakers team make playoffs?" and he answered "Absolutely".

Can we make playoffs? Absolutely. Will we? Not certain.

There is a difference and some here already are willing to crucify him for misquoted stuff.

Then again - it's BSPN, so...

See here for the full transcript: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/q-a--kobe-bryant-talks-retirement--playoffs-and-life-after-basketball-141155813.html
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Drifts
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 8:17 am    Post subject:

is that the pain killers talking?
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 9:04 am    Post subject:

Drifts wrote:
is that the pain killers talking?


He's being misquoted.
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:15 pm    Post subject:

Well the glass half-empty crowd certainly weighed in. Personally, I came away from the interview feeling hopeful and excited about the upcoming season.
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2015 12:40 am    Post subject: Re: Lakers in the News 8/05/15: Kobe 'absolutely' believes Lakers will be playoff team this season

lakersfreak wrote:
Kobe 'absolutely' believes Lakers will be playoff team this season
by espn.com

Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant believes that his team will "absolutely" make the playoffs this season in the hyper-competitive Western Conference.

The Lakers won just 21 games last year and missed the postseason for the second straight year -- the first time that's happened since 1976.

"We have talented players in their respective positions," Bryant said in a phone interview with Yahoo Sports Tuesday. "We have some really young players. How exactly will the pieces of the puzzle fit? We really don't know.

"We are going to [training] camp trying to piece this together just like every other team does," he said. "We have to figure out what our strengths are, figure out what our weaknesses are. And every time we step on the court we are going to try to hide our weaknesses and step up to our strengths."

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/13379179/kobe-bryant-absolutely-believes-los-angeles-lakers-playoff-team-season
Kobe, himself, is the most strategic factor in determining the Lakers' success this season.

If he is able to play 25-30+ minutes for 60+ games, he will address the needs at SF and as The Closer. If he is injured for most of the season, many holes in this upcoming roster will be exposed.

If The Black Mamba is not the closer, are Lou Williams or Clarkson the closers?

If Swaggy P is again wasting a roster spot because he is not making shots (his only useful skill, the holes at SF and the closer are again exposed.
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2015 6:09 am    Post subject:

I think it's refreshing to some extent to hear Kobe offer a greater degree of honesty about the team's chances than usual. There's some positional talent and questions about how it all plays together. I personally don't give the Lakers much chance at all next Spring to contend for a playoff slot, but who knows how good they'll be, just as he says - who know indeed.
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2015 6:11 am    Post subject:

ChefLinda wrote:
Well the glass half-empty crowd certainly weighed in. Personally, I came away from the interview feeling hopeful and excited about the upcoming season.


Yeah, I'll take this over the "trade me" version of Kobe when he was younger. Much more mature and in a sense, content with where he is. More introspective now. I think this will be a memorable season even if we don't make the playoffs. I do see the team trending UP for the first time in a few years.
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2015 8:15 am    Post subject: Re: Lakers in the News 8/05/15: Kobe 'absolutely' believes Lakers will be playoff team this season

A Mad Chinaman wrote:
lakersfreak wrote:
Kobe 'absolutely' believes Lakers will be playoff team this season
by espn.com

Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant believes that his team will "absolutely" make the playoffs this season in the hyper-competitive Western Conference.

The Lakers won just 21 games last year and missed the postseason for the second straight year -- the first time that's happened since 1976.

"We have talented players in their respective positions," Bryant said in a phone interview with Yahoo Sports Tuesday. "We have some really young players. How exactly will the pieces of the puzzle fit? We really don't know.

"We are going to [training] camp trying to piece this together just like every other team does," he said. "We have to figure out what our strengths are, figure out what our weaknesses are. And every time we step on the court we are going to try to hide our weaknesses and step up to our strengths."

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/13379179/kobe-bryant-absolutely-believes-los-angeles-lakers-playoff-team-season
Kobe, himself, is the most strategic factor in determining the Lakers' success this season.

If he is able to play 25-30+ minutes for 60+ games, he will address the needs at SF and as The Closer. If he is injured for most of the season, many holes in this upcoming roster will be exposed.

If The Black Mamba is not the closer, are Lou Williams or Clarkson the closers?

If Swaggy P is again wasting a roster spot because he is not making shots (his only useful skill, the holes at SF and the closer are again exposed.


Kobe ass a closer will be a problem. The last thing we need is Kobe thinking he needs to carry this team. We have players who can carry the team. To be honestly i really have no idea what Kobe's role will be. Bryon in my opinion is not the best coach for this team or for Kobe. He is too much of a "yes" man as far as Kobe is concerned, will he reign him in?
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:34 am    Post subject: Re: Lakers in the News 8/05/15: Kobe 'absolutely' believes Lakers will be playoff team this season

LakersMDGurl wrote:
A Mad Chinaman wrote:
lakersfreak wrote:
Kobe 'absolutely' believes Lakers will be playoff team this season
by espn.com

Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant believes that his team will "absolutely" make the playoffs this season in the hyper-competitive Western Conference.

The Lakers won just 21 games last year and missed the postseason for the second straight year -- the first time that's happened since 1976.

"We have talented players in their respective positions," Bryant said in a phone interview with Yahoo Sports Tuesday. "We have some really young players. How exactly will the pieces of the puzzle fit? We really don't know.

"We are going to [training] camp trying to piece this together just like every other team does," he said. "We have to figure out what our strengths are, figure out what our weaknesses are. And every time we step on the court we are going to try to hide our weaknesses and step up to our strengths."

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/13379179/kobe-bryant-absolutely-believes-los-angeles-lakers-playoff-team-season
Kobe, himself, is the most strategic factor in determining the Lakers' success this season.

If he is able to play 25-30+ minutes for 60+ games, he will address the needs at SF and as The Closer. If he is injured for most of the season, many holes in this upcoming roster will be exposed.

If The Black Mamba is not the closer, are Lou Williams or Clarkson the closers?

If Swaggy P is again wasting a roster spot because he is not making shots (his only useful skill, the holes at SF and the closer are again exposed.


Kobe ass a closer will be a problem. The last thing we need is Kobe thinking he needs to carry this team. We have players who can carry the team. To be honestly i really have no idea what Kobe's role will be. Bryon in my opinion is not the best coach for this team or for Kobe. He is too much of a "yes" man as far as Kobe is concerned, will he reign him in?
Superstars such as Kobe, Lebron, DWade, Westbrook and a few others will always be hard to go against their wishes.

Usually Kobe (BScott), Lebron (Blatt), Westbrook (used to be Brooks), Dirk (Carlisle) and the few other have already have the actions already planned

Kobe being the closer is not the problem, if healthy. Kobe proved that the few times he was healthy, last year. The Truth proved/showed how it can be done - last year

Swaggy is not dependable
Williams is unknown
Clarkson/Russell/Randall are young players
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