Playoff predictions

[TheStig]

Shakes wrote:

TheStig wrote:

Kobe has stepped it up as of late but we all knew Kobe was a pure scorer. This didn't come out last week out of nowhere. I didn't get a chance to catch the game but I am still just not a fan of him or his game.

I think now's not a good time to say Kobe is just a pure scorer when he's averaged 7 rebounds and 8 assists in the Suns series. To me that's what was impressive about his play, in the past sometimes he hits some tough shots but you could always get him to keep taking them until he started missing, against the Suns they played him pretty much perfectly but he picked his shots and passed the ball when he didn't think he could make it.

I really feel bad for the Suns, finally get past the Spurs and run into the Lakers playing well. I thought they could get hot 4 nights and steal the series but I should never have relied on Amare rebounding the ball. Amare had 21 defensive rebounds for the entire series. Channing Frye had 24 in the last three games.

Kobe has always been solid all around but lets not take these numbers too far, they are against the suns. Its not like there was a lot of defense or boxing out in that series. Kobe was nowhere near or 8 assists and rebounds a game in the last series and won't be in the next.

 

[houheffna]

Kobe has always been solid all around but lets not take these numbers too far, they are against the suns. Its not like there was a lot of defense or boxing out in that series. Kobe was nowhere near or 8 assists and rebounds a game in the last series and won't be in the next.

Right, but he consistently outrebounded your max player Amare...

 

[TheStig]

houheffna wrote:

Kobe has always been solid all around but lets not take these numbers too far, they are against the suns. Its not like there was a lot of defense or boxing out in that series. Kobe was nowhere near or 8 assists and rebounds a game in the last series and won't be in the next.

Right, but he consistently outrebounded your max player Amare...

For one series.

Amare is only my max player because his strengths and weaknesses fit perfectly with Noah and the rest of the team.

 

[houheffna]

Man that one series was the WCF! Max players should step their games up.

 

[Shakes]

Amare's lack of rebounding was the difference between a 4-2 Lakers victory and a 4-2 Suns victory. The Lakers would have lost games 5 and 6 if the Suns even came close to breaking even on the boards. Amare had 8 rebounds total in 79 minutes of play. There's just no excuse for that, people will say that the Lakers have such a good front line, but Channing Frye managed to grab boards and he's known as a soft jump shooter.

I really thought Amare showed he's not a guy you can rely on to put in the effort required to win when it matters. I don't really care if he's a good fit with Noah and we don't "need" him to rebound. All I know is that if it comes down to a key defensive play at the end of a playoff game I wouldn't want him on the floor. We should be paying the max for a guy we'd want to offensive/defensive sub out? Man that's pretty tough to stomach.

 

[pinkizdead]

amare needs to go to a team with a rebounding center and sf. to some extent we are that team, but i really dont like amare's effort on the defensive end. plus his injury history and persona make him far less than a max.

on a completely unrelated note(cause i'd rather have kobe and amare) amare at a max extension might be more likely to live up to his contract than kobe at 30 million. kobe is not better than jordon, and he's really not going to be worth his contract at 35.

 

[houheffna]

What the heck type of argument is that? Good grief...are you hungover now?

 

[pinkizdead]

i was yesterday. kobe isn't a 30 million dollar player. i dont think he's likely to live up to his contract. he's good, but he's not 30 million good. amare may be worth 20 milion MAY be.

 

[TheStig]

Shakes wrote:

Amare's lack of rebounding was the difference between a 4-2 Lakers victory and a 4-2 Suns victory. The Lakers would have lost games 5 and 6 if the Suns even came close to breaking even on the boards. Amare had 8 rebounds total in 79 minutes of play. There's just no excuse for that, people will say that the Lakers have such a good front line, but Channing Frye managed to grab boards and he's known as a soft jump shooter.

I really thought Amare showed he's not a guy you can rely on to put in the effort required to win when it matters. I don't really care if he's a good fit with Noah and we don't "need" him to rebound. All I know is that if it comes down to a key defensive play at the end of a playoff game I wouldn't want him on the floor. We should be paying the max for a guy we'd want to offensive/defensive sub out? Man that's pretty tough to stomach.

I didn't get a chance to watch the series so I can't really comment.

I agree he has been lackluster in the playoffs. I though he'd step it up, he was really looking good at the end of the year. At the end of the year he looked like he belonged with the other big free agents but has quickly dropped to that second tier. With Rose, Deng and Noah, I still take him over anyone in that second tier. The rest of our guys can cover his rebounding issues and he covers up and gives us a legit front court scorer. I'd be a little worried giving him 5 yrs but I'd do it before Boozer/JJ/Lee.

 

[houheffna]

i was yesterday. kobe isn't a 30 million dollar player. i dont think he's likely to live up to his contract. he's good, but he's not 30 million good. amare may be worth 20 milion MAY be.

If Amare is worth 20 mil, than Kobe, who is another level from Amare as far as talent, consistency and effort, deserves 30 million...and would get it from the Lakers if the league CBA allowed him to.

 

[pinkizdead]

25. not 30+

 

[RC_Skinny22]

Kobe is a player who makes you a contender by himself. Amare not. So Kobe would deserve at least 10 million more.

 

[TheStig]

Bullseye wrote:

Kobe is a player who makes you a contender by himself. Amare not. So Kobe would deserve at least 10 million more.

No he doesn't, did you black out after shaq left and before Gasol got there? They certainly weren't contending for anything more than mediocrity.

 

[TheStig]

houheffna wrote:

i was yesterday. kobe isn't a 30 million dollar player. i dont think he's likely to live up to his contract. he's good, but he's not 30 million good. amare may be worth 20 milion MAY be.

If Amare is worth 20 mil, than Kobe, who is another level from Amare as far as talent, consistency and effort, deserves 30 million...and would get it from the Lakers if the league CBA allowed him to.

Neither of them are worth what they are going to get.

 

[houheffna]

No he doesn't, did you black out after shaq left and before Gasol got there? They certainly weren't contending for anything more than mediocrity.

I take it from this comment that you spent 1984-1990 in a coma yourself. Jordan won nothing by himself. Nothing...so calm that down. He needed a HOFer too. Let's not forget that, without Pip, Jordan never even came close to a title.

So I agree with Bullseye on this one. Kobe at 31 is worth 30mil if Jordan got it at 34...15 years ago...no question.

Neither of them are worth what they are going to get.

What??? Kobe isn't worth a max extension? Is that what you are saying?

 

[pinkizdead]

i'd take jordon at 34 before i'd take kobe at 31.

 

[Shakes]

TheStig wrote:

I agree he has been lackluster in the playoffs. I though he'd step it up, he was really looking good at the end of the year. At the end of the year he looked like he belonged with the other big free agents but has quickly dropped to that second tier. With Rose, Deng and Noah, I still take him over anyone in that second tier. The rest of our guys can cover his rebounding issues and he covers up and gives us a legit front court scorer. I'd be a little worried giving him 5 yrs but I'd do it before Boozer/JJ/Lee.

My impression is that we're really in trouble if we can only get a second tier guy. Boozer, JJ and Amare all struggled to make an impact at various times in the playoffs. That's why my preference is for Lee if we can't get one of the top 3 ... none of these guys are going to get us to where we need to be, so may as well take the one who will probably come at the best price.

 

[houheffna]

i'd take jordon at 34 before i'd take kobe at 31.

Some would, some would not. That is my point. Kobe right now is every bit as good as Jordan at 34...take your "homer hat" off for a second for crying out loud.

 

[TheStig]

Shakes wrote:

TheStig wrote:

I agree he has been lackluster in the playoffs. I though he'd step it up, he was really looking good at the end of the year. At the end of the year he looked like he belonged with the other big free agents but has quickly dropped to that second tier. With Rose, Deng and Noah, I still take him over anyone in that second tier. The rest of our guys can cover his rebounding issues and he covers up and gives us a legit front court scorer. I'd be a little worried giving him 5 yrs but I'd do it before Boozer/JJ/Lee.

My impression is that we're really in trouble if we can only get a second tier guy. Boozer, JJ and Amare all struggled to make an impact at various times in the playoffs. That's why my preference is for Lee if we can't get one of the top 3 ... none of these guys are going to get us to where we need to be, so may as well take the one who will probably come at the best price.

Eh, I don't think Lee is the answer either. I'd rather have Amare, he is the best scorer out of that second tier and would give us the most dynamic front court in the league.

 

[Shakes]

TheStig wrote:

I don't think Lee is the answer either.

I don't think Lee is the answer, but the point is none of the guys are. May as well pick the one who leaves you with the most cap space left for more moves.