Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Good win for the Mavs. I'm not a fan of the team, but they played better than the Lakers and their winning the series (even with a Sweep) is no surprise.
As for the Lakers, they have to make some serious changes. This was Jackson's last game as coach and a good time to make the changes. Artest, Bynum, Fisher, and Odom need to be traded. Gasol must be evaluated to determine what the hell happened to him during the playoffs. Was it something other than physical problems and defensive schemes that hampered his performance? He didn't appear himself for some mysterious reason.
I'm not sure how it happens, but Artest appears to disrupt the chemistry of every team he plays for. He's a lousy offensive player and can't be counted on. Defensively, he occasionally makes some plays, but appears closer to playing the role of the intimidating thug more than anything else. He never seemed to fit the style of the Lakers. They need to get rid of his rampaging. ineffective arse.
Bynum is pathetic. I never liked him and after that last foul that got him ejected, I can see why. He's mediocre talentwise, injury-prone, and too lumbering of a player to fit the style of the Lakers. Far cry from the athleticism of a Shawn Kemp. Lakers don't need this lead-legged guy. Get rid of him and look for another Shawn Kemp.
It has always been a mystery to me why Odom has been on the team this long. "Listless Lamar" I call him. Very little emotion, seemingly no outward display of determination or intensity. He doesn't appear to be that good. He occasionally has his moments, but he has never been dominant. A poor man's Scottie Pippen. Once traded, he will fade away without much impact.
Fisher has had a good run, but his age is now a liability. Plenty of talented guards out there will be able to more than fill his shoes.
The bench players must be evaluated as well. Lakers need depth and they don't have that now.
Dude, seriously? You take what is given and never let up against championship quality team like the Lakers.
The Mavs did something I've rarely seen them do in the past, and displayed a killer instinct.
Running up the score <> intentionally trying to hurt opponents headed to the WCF.
I hope it was worth the Big Boot Stern is going to shove up their posteriors. Any Lakers fan not seriously concerned about what Stern might do needs to do their homework.
P.S. Where are all the conspiracy guys with their Lebron-Kobe match-ups?
Imagine an Atlanta OKC finals lol..
So how does la move forward? Kobe has the team locked into lux tax till 2014. He makes 25m, 27.8m, 30m. Pau is between 17-19m. Those 2 alone are getting paid almost as much as some other teams. They have 90m worth of payroll next year and they don't even have a full roster.
Mitch Kupchak will REALLY earn his money this off-season. Last's years acquistions of Matt Barnes and Steve Blake were abject FAILURES.
Ron Artest is no longer and effective NBA starter. Luke Walton no longer brings enough to the table to keep on the team.
The team is lacking is overall speed and quickness which the Maverics exposed.
There are also some obvioius personal and locker room issues that need to be worked out.
He's got to decide if the core of the team Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom are worth keeping together.
The challenge is can the Lakers get younger and quicker and still be an championship contender?
Also who coaches these guys? Between being in L.A. and the ego of Kobe Bryant it going take somebody that can get respect in the locker room, effort out on the court and a coach that can find a style of play on defense and offense that suits the team.
Since the Mavs have a history of choking in the playoffs I think the pressure is on the Mavs
Looks like that handled that pressure pretty damn good!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Did the Lakers or their fans always show class when they were dancing all over the rest of the NBA?
Any Lakers fan not seriously concerned about what Stern might do needs to do their homework.
