The 2007-08 Los Angeles Lakers thread

[Donald]

Originally Posted by Gee!

What the......

Ok.. How old was Bynum when he got drafted? 17? 16? lol.. And how old is Mayo? Did the guy get held back a few years or something? I wouldnt doubt it, he doesnt seem to be all that bright.. Isnt this Bynum's 3rd season in the league? Man, thats crazy.. And odd..

Bynum was 17 when he was drafted, hence his jersey number being 17.

[Donald]

Outstanding article here.

Once the roster had been determined in training camp, Phil Jackson gathered his players for a meeting at the Lakers hotel in Hawaii. All around the room, they were required to stand one by one, give their name and say something about themselves.

And so, the rookies, Javaris Crittenton and Coby Karl, rose, and and the old returning champion, Derek Fisher, and finally, the most famous man in the room climbed to his feet.

“Hi, I’m Kobe Bryant and I want to win a championship.”

For a moment, it had to draw the air out of the room. After all, this was the tension that hung over the franchise like an anvil.

“That’s all he said,” Jordan Farmar said by phone Thursday. “That’s all that needed to be said.

“Listen,” Farmar said, “they don’t care what else happens here, except us raising a banner. This isn’t about getting through the first round of the playoffs, it’s about winning championships. That’s how it was at UCLA. Coach (Ben) Howland would chart our goals in the preseason and it would be: Win all of our games, win the Pac 10 and win the national title.

“They don’t hang any banners at Pauley Pavilion except national championships. And that’s the mentality with the Lakers. We are not here for stats. We are not here to get paid. We are here to win now. That’s the sacrifice we are all making.”

I freaking adore Jordan Farmar. Holy crap his attitude is fantastic. It's like Kobe Lite. Say what you want about Kobe, love him or hate him, but the guy just burns inside to win. I remember him crying on the bench after the SA game that knocked us out of the playoffs...sitting there crying. Some gave him grief, but I thought it was great...it was like he was a little boy whose puppy just got killed. Losing hurts.

Jordan is a little clone of him with the lines above and calling the gym his "laboratory." Ariza seems to be that hard worker too. Bynum has fully embraced hard work. Fish is a workout machine as well, he and Kobe work out quite often together. And Kobe is happy right now with winning and hard-working teammates.

[abomb]

Originally Posted by Donald

!

Every Lakers player currently on the active roster is working to make the team better. Hell, even "Practice Sasha" is showing up now.

[Donald]

Lakers completely destroy the Jazz. I mean destroy. The game was over after the first quarter ended. The bench urinated away a 30 point lead to start the fourth quarter, but it was never in doubt. Nice to rest the starters for Sunday's game...that's a good thing.

Nice revenge for a bad loss we took up there where we just didn't come to play. Kobe was deadly, Bynum was nails, Ariza is just a great addition to this team. The fast triangle is a thing of beauty. And Kwame even came back so that adds some much needed depth.

Let's go beat those freaking Celtics now!!!! GET THOSE BASTARDS!! Oooh, I hate the green bastards soooo much.

[TheHopToad]

So through 29 games the Lakers are 19-10. Does that sound familiar? Yep, same as last year. End result: 42-40, #7 seed.

Come talk the "Lakers are great" smack in April when they tank it again. Although to be fair, I do think they'll win 43 games this year.

[Donald]

Originally Posted by TheHopToad

So through 29 games the Lakers are 19-10. Does that sound familiar? Yep, same as last year. End result: 42-40, #7 seed.

Come talk the "Lakers are great" smack in April when they tank it again. Although to be fair, I do think they'll win 43 games this year.

Completely different scenarios. Last year they had a cake schedule at the outset, this year they have the leagues toughest schedule so far. In fact, every single statistic that matters is different for the Lakers last year and this. Average margin, efficiency, bench scoring, starter minutes, etc. The Lakers of last year didn't even show up in the Hollinger type ratings. This year they show up in the top 4, over and over again.

This is this year...that was last year. There is no Smush Parker out there anymore.


So Toad, hop on along...there's nothing for you here.

[Renz]

I never thought I would see an NBA team wear shorty-shorts again. Reminds me of the Daisy Dukes we wore when I played.

[dogpoo32]

Originally Posted by Renz

I never thought I would see an NBA team wear shorty-shorts again. Reminds me of the Daisy Dukes we wore when I played.

That was awful. I need to wash my eyes.

[Donald]

Uhm...awful display.

Please stop losing to the frigging celtics!!

Freaking MENTAL block man...so dumb.

[Brian in Mesa]

I hate the Celtics.

[TheHopToad]

Nice unis...I kept looking for Magic and Kareem.

[abomb]

Originally Posted by TheHopToad

Nice unis...I kept looking for Magic and Kareem.

That was the best thing I've seen in some time.

Ariza looked just like Coop. Bynum had me thinking he was Magic.

[Gee!]

Who was the genius that decided it was cool to wear the short shorts yet wear the baggy jersey at the same time?

Laaaaaaaame!

Magic didnt wear a baggy jersey..

[Donald]

Originally Posted by Gee!

Who was the genius that decided it was cool to wear the short shorts yet wear the baggy jersey at the same time?

Laaaaaaaame!

Magic didnt wear a baggy jersey..

The whole thing was dumb. One of those, "good on paper" ideas.

[Gee!]

Originally Posted by Donald

The whole thing was dumb. One of those, "good on paper" ideas.

No doubt.. Its like when the Suns, or any team for that matter, decides to go retro and wears the old school unis but have em baggy.. Do it right or dont do it at all..