Will the Los Angeles Lakers make the NBA playoffs?

[dave]

Nash and Kobe can't coexist properly

And also Nash is way out of his prime

I think Houston has that problem with Harden and Lin. Lin would be a much better player if he could have his own team, IMO.

 

[dave]

Why do you have to specify it's the NBA playoffs? Are there other playoffs they may be eligible for?

I'm kind of a nerd that way. I have to complete things. It's just a personal idiosyncracy.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Why do you have to specify it's the NBA playoffs? Are there other playoffs they may be eligible for?

Same reason you had to post this comment

 

[JimLeavy59]

On paper, yes.

But I don't believe Nash and Kobe can have great chemistry without one completely changing their playstyle.

Nash will turn into a spot up shooter if anything. Kobe wants the ball in his hands.

 

[Diivox]

I love Nash, but he's not the same 2-time MVP he used to be.

based upon what exactly? his FG% last season was tied for his career high. He's still a 39% shooter from the 3. Still managed 10.7 assists a game when the only decent player on that team last year was Marcin Gortat (who sucks now and has lost a ton of minutes to Jermaine freakin O'Neal). Really, the Suns had two plays last year: Gortat Pick and Roll, or Shannon Brown holds the ball himself and jacks up a 3. Organizationally, the Suns gave up on last season, they were resting guys on back to backs (and they missed the playoffs by like a game... which pisses me off... but i digress). His numbers were amazing for a team that didn't give a crap most nights.

There's just no reason to think he's over the hill. I'd spot ya if you said something like "we dont know how long it will take him to get back into shape / recover from the injury". But if its strictly because he's old... all he has to do is pass the ball.

pardon me for lifting from some Grantland article I read a while ago, but its true: "Steve Nash dribbles down the court. he thinks, oh, what should I do. pass it to kobe? pick and roll with Gasol? Maybe i'll just jack up a 3, because even if I miss, Dwight Howard is going to get the rebound..."

I think all the Laker schaudenfraude, as much as I am indulging in it myself, is just us getting our licks in while we can. We've never seen Kobe play with a competent point guard before (and thats the other thing: even "over the hill" Nash is still 10x better than anything the Lakers have put at the position in years). Gasol neither. Nash is also the one guy on the roster who actually knows what D'antoni is doing.

 

[Argath]

I think Houston has that problem with Harden and Lin. Lin would be a much better player if he could have his own team, IMO.

No he wouldn't, teams would double him all night. They would play him tight and force him left into a trap every time. Lin is good as that random guy who goes off for 20-30 once in a while and wins you 5-10 games not as a #1 scoring option for an entire season who you hope to ride to the playoffs.

 

[dave]

No he wouldn't, teams would double him all night. They would play him tight and force him left into a trap every time. Lin is good as that random guy who goes off for 20-30 once in a while and wins you 5-10 games not as a #1 scoring option for an entire season.

I think Lin could be a good #1 option ... maybe it's just me, but I think he could pull it off. In Houston, that will never happen. Lin and Harden need to be primary ball handlers. That backcourt won't work.

 

[Argath]

I think Lin could be a good #1 option ... maybe it's just me, but I think he could pull it off. In Houston, that will never happen. Lin and Harden need to be primary ball handlers. That backcourt won't work.

It will never happen on any team trying to be over .500 Linsanity is nothing more than media hype. Players like Lin are a dime a dozen in the NBA. Every team has the player who can throw up 20-30 randomly even the fucking wizards. Lin isn't consistent enough on offense and is down right atrocious on defense to be a #1 option anywhere

 

[Jmiles]

It will never happen on any team trying to be over .500 Linsanity is nothing more than media hype. Players like Lin are a dime a dozen in the NBA. Every team has the player who can throw up 20-30 randomly even the fucking wizards. Lin isn't consistent enough on offense and is down right atrocious on defense to be a #1 option anywhere

Exactly this, the only way Lin is number 1 on a team is if it is the Fort Wayne Mad Ants...

 

[stevsta]

5 and counting :kobe:

 

[DoubleDeuce]

.500 and counting :kobe:

Fixed

 

[ralaw]

No, the math isn't in their favor. This team is just terrible and hopefully D'Antoni is gone after the season.

 

[stevsta]

there is still time to get it together and some of these teams hovering around the 8-7 spot could easily get injured or cold and start dropping games. Until the lakers are mathematically out of the race they have a good chance to make the playoffs

 

[ralaw]

The problem is that every team ahead of them is better. Currently Denver is 20-16 and is the 8th seed. At that pace they will finish with around 45-50 wins. The Lakers will not win 45 games. I know it is still "early," but teams are who they are. At this point we know who the Lakers are. They aren't going to go from a 11th seed to all of a sudden being one of the top 2-3 teams in the West (record wise they would have to be to catch up).

(11) Los Angeles (15-19)
Games remaining: 48 (23 Home, 25 Away)
vs. +.500: 28, vs. West: 29

 

[stevsta]

The problem is that every team ahead of them is better. Currently Denver is 20-16 and is the 8th seed. At that pace they will finish with around 45-50 wins. The Lakers will not win 45 games. I know it is still "early," but teams are who they are. At this point we know who the Lakers are. They aren't going to go from a 11th seed to all of a sudden being one of the top 2-3 teams in the West.

Im not saying a top 2-3 team, what I am saying is that an 8 or 7 seed is not out of the question yet due to all the variables of injuries, hotstreaks, and coldstreaks. We are currently only 5 games behind the denver and 4 behind portland. It wont be easy for the lakers to waltz in but a trade or some health can propel this team into playing well and into that 8th spot.

 

[ralaw]

Doubtful, but even if they did it would be a quick exit. Either way I hope D'Antoni is gone after the season. I've never liked the dude's style.

 

[stevsta]

Doubtful, but even if they did it would be a quick exit. Either way I hope D'Antoni is gone after the season. I've never liked the dude's style.

sad to think we could have had phil jackson

 

[Argath]

sad to think we could have had phil jackson

Yea for home games

 

[DoubleDeuce]

The Lakers have yet to win a game in 2013.

I think the only reason they win games is so they can snap their stale losing streak and start a new fresh one

 

[Chrispy]

Would just like to say I was the first one to say "No", as of right now that is looking good