Laker Lover

long post, but its from a laker lover forever...

how old was jordan when he 'got it' and began making his team better? I think kobe learned this past season. Look for Kobe to surpass Jordan as the greatest ever (save the center position, because you cant compare). D-wade? he'ss amazing, but take shaq out of the heat, replace with a normal center and Miami does NOT make it past cleveland or detroit.

yeah, sure lakers are in LA with celebs, movies, hotties, hollwood, the west, etc. etc. but they are a great franchise. Over the years, its been the environment as much as the GMs making smart/genius moves. Lakers are the most admired sports franchise in the world. The most love gets the most hate. thats the way it is... and remember, negative haters are always louder. There are much more of us laker lovers in the clubs, online, etc.

as a laker lover, its rough wattching them loose, but i still love them. I grew up watchiing magic, worthy, kareem playing the fundamental game, using the one on one hero game when necessary - they had a great balance. and they rarely talked shit. Next year is gonna be great...

kwame - awesome, other GMs/teams are scared of his potential, especially in he context of LA and phil and the triangle. He is almost there and is going to excel. watch kwame to be like shaq soon, but an onviously slightly smaller yet quicker center. Kwame will start and be a mostly monster center. he will show some more growing/learning pains, but will gain his comfort and settle in and gain much respect and love this season.

Bynum - the next great center for the ages. being trained in a long-term context by kareem and magic. yes, magic is in there too on this project. imagine when Bynum is bullked up like kwame, with kareem's knowledge and his own quickness. Bynum is going to play a lot more this coming season, with mihm being gone.

Odom - he's the next pippen. pippen is going to continue to be an assistant coach for the lakers. Odom is familiar with the triangle, with Rad on the team give Odom another person to pass to and help to work with Odom's inside game while kobe is on the weak side, whom Odom and Rad for that matter can lob to :)

Kobe - ahh. i just love to watch him play. his is a fine tuned, extremely skilled and able baller, almost there... still young. this past season will be remembered as the season he learned. Watch him to have unprecedented combination numbers, with so much pressure taken off of him.... scoring, assists, rebounds, steals. Kobe is an AMAZING street player, he knows all the tricks... kobe is a great player with a center (shaq) focused offense. remember what he said... no one will ever be able to feed shaq as well as him. but kobe, just like jordan is perfect for a true triangle offense with a good (not dominant) center... like kwame, with tall players at all positions, save the point guard. Now, with the self-declared second part of his career, the bet is yet to come...


Radmanovich - despite his history and what other people complain on the radio (am570, vick! feeling you!) Rad is much better than people think and is capable and NOT one dimensional. A tall (6'10") 3 point specialist is ideal. He can drive and he will become a better rebounder.

Smush - will stay a laker for a long time, he will learn, kobe will take him under his wing and will become the perfect match for another point guard on the team like farmar. A great 1-2 punch. Smush is so close to developing the three, can be that agressive, slightly tall, slamming, showtime point guard. Once he learns the triangle, completely, smush will become much more capable and effective.

Again, Kwame is young and hasnt really had a home where he can trust. Lakers are the org for him and treating him as such. a slight project that will pay off huge this next season.

This past season, LA could have gotten past the suns - honestly, it ould have gone either way. It was that close. They could have certainly gotten past the Clips and proved they can be effective against Dallas. I am glad we didnt get tim thomas or peja. I think Rad is a great acquisition. Look for LA to get to the west finals next season if they dont meet the Spurs - who wont forget being embarrased by Dallas.

I think, in the east it will be Miami, Chicago, Detroit or Cleveland (maybe). If LA does get to the finals, I think they have a great shot.

Appreciate all who read this long post, but i've been reading these forums for quite some time and had to speak up for the silent majority... the Lakers are the best. period.