nixluva wrote:MDA and Hill likely have put all that WAY in the past. Hill has finally established himself and besides that comment was exaggerated anyway.

Lakers look solid offensively spacing the floor but they have to really work on their D. I don't think they have enough perimeter defenders to be great defensively. I mean if you have guys like Duhon, Meeks, Nash, Blake... you're gonna have issues defending the perimter.

CrushAlot wrote:

nixluva wrote:MDA and Hill likely have put all that WAY in the past. Hill has finally established himself and besides that comment was exaggerated anyway.

Lakers look solid offensively spacing the floor but they have to really work on their D. I don't think they have enough perimeter defenders to be great defensively. I mean if you have guys like Duhon, Meeks, Nash, Blake... you're gonna have issues defending the perimter.

I don't think it was exagerated for Hill. Knicks won 29 games that year, started 1-9 and the mantra was the Knicks were trying to get into the playoffs. Hill as the 7th pick somehow couldn't buy a minute on the court that year until he got to Houston and started his career.

Uptown wrote:Hate to admit it because I hate the Nyets, but a healthy Lopez will make them a tough out....

You have to make Lopez play D and get him in foul trouble. If he's just able to be out there and not forced to play D, he'll float and just be an outlet for jumpers of drives. He's such a skilled offensive player. Also you've got to have a defense that has discipline and makes good rotations or else he'll kill you.

Uptown wrote:Hate to admit it because I hate the Nyets, but a healthy Lopez will make them a tough out....

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:Kobe manages his own substitution...

3 fouls in the 2nd quarter and he stays in?

Czar was questioning it too...Going to be an interesting year in LA...

nixluva wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:Kobe manages his own substitution...

3 fouls in the 2nd quarter and he stays in?

That's not that big of a deal for players like Kobe that have earned the right to stay in. It's early on in the season and a competitive game. The Lakers are trying to make up for early losses, so in this case I don't think it's that crazy. Kobe knows his team needs him to run the offense without Nash and Blake. He's basically playing the Melo role from last year.

CrushAlot wrote:

nixluva wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

holfresh wrote:Kobe manages his own substitution...

3 fouls in the 2nd quarter and he stays in?

That's not that big of a deal for players like Kobe that have earned the right to stay in. It's early on in the season and a competitive game. The Lakers are trying to make up for early losses, so in this case I don't think it's that crazy. Kobe knows his team needs him to run the offense without Nash and Blake. He's basically playing the Melo role from last year.

He waved off his coach when he wanted him to come out with 2 fouls early in the second quarter. Kobe got really hot but also got his third foul. D'Antoni comes in with a rep as a non authoritarian/players coach and he is coaching the ultimate alpha dog. Game 1 and this happens. It may not be something to panic about but if Kobe is the guy runnning things how do you run that great Nash offense?

You really think that's a problem? You have 2 players that can run the offense and that's a problem? Even Kobe won't want to play 48 mins a night running every possession. Don't be ridiculous. Besides it only helps Nash to not have to carry the offense major minutes. It's a win win, not a negative.