Miami at LA Lakers

[The Artesticle]

Every game should mean something to them.... you don't keep winning championships by taking things lightly. It's not like they have been playing spectacular, I don't understand your theory on not caring about games just because the title is in "our" possession.

 

I find it hard to believe as a team they walk into this game thinking ya we don't really care if we win or lose it means nothing if we don't protect our home court against a team that hasn't won anything. You would assume as champions they would come out strong and remind everyone that yes they are still the champs, it's really not the best game to take a backseat in IMO.

The Kobe/Shaq Lakers did the same thing during the three peat years... It happens when you make it to the Finals and play into June the last three years straight.

 

As for the team as a whole, obviously there are issues. Pau played terrible basketball, as did pretty much the whole team. But I expect them to step up when it counts. The Lakers were dominated by Cleveland in similar fashion last year on Christmas. The Lakers lost 7 of their last 11 games heading into the playoffs last year. The Thunder came out of nowhere and made LA look foolish in the first round. The same people proclaiming LA done and not championship material last year are probably the same people doing it now. Regular season means nothing when you've won 2 straight championships.

 

Now I am not guaranteeing that LA pulls off a three peat, or that we are that much better than Miami/Boston/San Antonio. I just know that there is an extra gear that this team turns on when it actually matters, and they definitely will play much better when postseason starts. As for whether or not they are going to win the championship? Nobody can know that, but when the Lakers are playing their A game, they are right up top with the best in the league.

 

That is basically all Lkr is trying state. And if you think this reasoning is BS then all you have to do is look back to last season and see the evidence to back up our claims.

[magicbalala245]

Something Lakers should [expletive]ing watch

 

[Nitro]

Hmm, the Heat can beat a good team...who woulda thunk?

[Flash]

Go talk to Cleveland's Finest. He'll tell you all about winning in the regular season and how important beating the Lakers in LA on Christmas is.

 

It's just one game I agree. But lets not act like this isn't an impressive win by Miami and pretend the Lakers didn't care about this game.

[Poe]

The Lakers aren't playing championship basketball, which is very odd considering how long the majority of these players have been together.

 

The Heat are a brand new team, and 31 games in they are already looking like a lock for the finals.

 

 

I don't doubt Phil and Kobe's history and their ability to turn things around. At this very point in the season though, the Heat, Celtics, Mavericks, and Spurs are better than them, and that's not something I could say the past two seasons.

 

There needs to be a change IMO. Perhaps starting Bynum will do the trick, perhaps Matt Barnes should start over Ron Artest, or perhaps LA needs to make a serious trade, or maybe just a small but impacting tweak. I don't think "getting serious" is the entire source of the issue.

Edited December 26, 2010 by Poe

[magicbalala245]

^ The Heat are anything but a lock Boston is not a lock either but it will be both teams in the ECF they way both are playing and depending who has HC could go ways on who wins that series.

Edited December 26, 2010 by magicbalala245

[Nitro]

The Heat are a brand new team, and 31 games in they are already looking like a lock for the finals.

 

Huh? I've watched all but maybe 5-6 of the Heat's games this season, and there is no way they should be regarded as a better team than the Celtics yet, who they WILL have to go through just to get to the Finals. The only time in the last 15 or so games that the Heat have faced an elite defense, their half court offense looked like it did to start the season...and that offense will NOT get it done in the post-season against the Celtics. The Celtics have an equally smothering defense, a lot less roster holes, a lot more depth, more experience, a better coach and a more efficient half-court offense. I am not saying the Heat won't get to the Finals, but the team right now would not beat the Celtics in a 7-game series.

[The Regime]

The Lakers aren't playing championship basketball, which is very odd considering how long the majority of these players have been together.

 

The Heat are a brand new team, and 31 games in they are already looking like a lock for the finals.

 

 

I don't doubt Phil and Kobe's history and their ability to turn things around. At this very point in the season though, the Heat, Celtics, Mavericks, and Spurs are better than them, and that's not something I could say the past two seasons.

 

There needs to be a change IMO. Perhaps starting Bynum will do the trick, perhaps Matt Barnes should start over Ron Artest, or perhaps LA needs to make a serious trade, or maybe just a small but impacting tweak. I don't think "getting serious" is the entire source of the issue.

 

Trade Artest for an athletic wing player who can shot the three and defend. If that doesn't happen I certainly wouldn't mind Barnes starting over him. At this point the Lakers really need someone who can knock down shots. Barnes is also a underrated defender so this change wouldn't hurt us so much defensively. However, I just don't see Artest contributing much off the bench.

Edited December 26, 2010 by Confidence

[Built Ford Tough]

It's just one game I agree. But lets not act like this isn't an impressive win by Miami and pretend the Lakers didn't care about this game.

 

Who's pretending that this wasn't an impressive win for the Heat? They absolutely dominated the Lakers, Wade was blowing by Kobe all game long, James dropped a triple double and Bosh was the best big man on the floo (which is supposed to be the Lakers biggest advantage over the Heat). Their defense was incredible and they were absolutely clicking on offense. Nobody is acting like this wasn't an amazing performance for the Heat.

 

The only thing that guys like lkr are saying is that people were saying the same things at this time last year after Cleveland beat the Lakers by 20 on Christmas. I agree that the Lakers did care about winning this game and it is foolish to say that this is "just another loss" because guys like Kobe and Jackson definitely wanted this game, but at the end of the day, this is one game. Just because the Heat dismantled the Lakers today doesn't mean that they would walk through them in the Finals (should they meet). It would still be a very competitive series.

 

That is basically what some Laker fans like lkr are saying in this thread. Really, what is wrong with that?

[magicbalala245]

Trade Artest for an athletic wing player who can shot the three and defend. If that doesn't happen I certainly wouldn't mind Barnes starting over him. At this point the Lakers really need someone who can knock down shots. Barnes is also a underrated defender so this change wouldn't hurt us so much defensively. With this move though, I just don't see what Artest would contribute off the bench.

 

Artest for Melo anyone just kidding but yeah as much as I loved Artest this year he is really killing us this year.

[*Swish*]

Artest for Melo anyone just kidding but yeah as much as I loved Artest this year he is really killing us this year.

He's still playing good defense even though he was better these previous years. And NO THANKS for Melo. He would totally destroy the Lakers' chemistry

[kingfish]

This game meant nothing no matter who won. Nobody took this game seriously except for Kobe and maybe Fisher, but Kobe only knows one way to play anyway. You could tell with the horrible defense and wide open shots that we gave all game.

 

Wait til we play Boston, we always show up against them. The last time we won on christmas was against them. I hate to say it but really those games are the only ones that matter, we know whos most likely coming out of the east.

[magicbalala245]

He's still playing good defense even though he was better these previous years. And NO THANKS for Melo. He would totally destroy the Lakers' chemistry

 

You would have to be foolish to say no to Melo. Instead of LeBron not worrying on defense he would have to stick on Carmelo and trust me on this Carmelo would make LeBron James work on offense and defense. If you ever seen the Cleveland vs Denver games Carmelo steps up to another level against LeBron. And are you kidding me a trio of Kobe, Gasol (whenever he decides to stop being a [expletive]), and Melo would be [expletive]ing deadly.

[The Regime]

Nicholas Batum and Gerald Wallace are both on the trade block. Make it happen Mitch!!!

[*Swish*]

You would have to be foolish to say no to Melo. Instead of LeBron not worrying on defense he would have to stick on Carmelo and trust me on this Carmelo would make LeBron James work on offense and defense. If you ever seen the Cleveland vs Denver games Carmelo steps up to another level against LeBron. And are you kidding me a trio of Kobe, Gasol (whenever he decides to stop being a [expletive]), and Melo would be [expletive]ing deadly.

... Totally true. But will the Lakers have the same great chemistry they developed along the years? Don't think so.

[magicbalala245]

... Totally true. But will the Lakers have the same great chemistry they developed along the years? Don't think so.

 

[expletive] that chemistry. If players really want to make something happen they will do it. People will said this exact same thing about the Boston Celtics when the Big 3 first emerge saying they don't have the chemistry that it takes to win a title. And what did they do... They won the NBA Finals. No doubt it would take some games for a trio of Kobe, Melo, & Pau to figure out each other but ultimately it would elevate the Lakers to another whole level.

[Cleveland's Finest]

ESPN's gonna have buttsex with LeBron over this for the rest of the season.

[Flash]

ESPN's gonna have buttsex with LeBron over this for the rest of the season.

 

http://analogkid.us/yabbfiles/Attachments/Sour_Grapes.jpg

[Cleveland's Finest]

The game was almost a replica of the Cavs/Lakers game.

 

Lakers up 7-2 to start, down 9 at the half, and then Heat control basically rest of game. I might be wrong but didn't the Cavs win by 16 too?

Edited December 26, 2010 by Cleveland's Finest

[magicbalala245]

The game was almost a replica of the Cavs/Lakers game.

 

Lakers up 7-2 to start, down 9 at the half, and then Heat control basically rest of game. I might be wrong but didn't the Cavs win by 16 too?

 

15 actually

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?id=291225013

[platoon793]

The game was almost a replica of the Cavs/Lakers game.

 

Lakers up 7-2 to start, down 9 at the half, and then Heat control basically rest of game. I might be wrong but didn't the Cavs win by 16 too?

Yeah, but there are differences. In the Cavs game, Cavs shot 53.5% while the Lakers shot 36.5%. In the Heat game, Heat shot 44.3% and the Lakers 40.5%. Yet, the Heat won by 16 and the Cavs by 15.

[Poe]

Huh? I've watched all but maybe 5-6 of the Heat's games this season, and there is no way they should be regarded as a better team than the Celtics yet, who they WILL have to go through just to get to the Finals. The only time in the last 15 or so games that the Heat have faced an elite defense, their half court offense looked like it did to start the season...and that offense will NOT get it done in the post-season against the Celtics. The Celtics have an equally smothering defense, a lot less roster holes, a lot more depth, more experience, a better coach and a more efficient half-court offense. I am not saying the Heat won't get to the Finals, but the team right now would not beat the Celtics in a 7-game series.

 

The Heat are 1st in the league in opponents PPG, 1st in opponent's FG% and 3PT%, 1st in average score differential, 1st in block differential, 5th in rebound differential, 5th in FG%, 4th in 3PT%, and 3rd in turnovers.

 

 

And the Heat have won 14 of their last 15 games, 12 of them being double digit victories. Average victory margin in that span has been about +14 ppg forcing opponents to score an average of about 86 ppg. This isn't a mere run either, and the Heat are still getting better.

 

 

The Heat are the best defensive team in the league already, and will maybe become the best defensive team of all time as far as I know. Add that with possibly the best trio of all time... let's just say "Finals Lock" is putting it lightly. A healthy Heat is a championship lock, and I've felt this way since the first game this season.

 

 

And Erik Spoelstra is a better coach than Doc Rivers.

[Cleveland's Finest]

Aren't the Celtics 2-0 vs. Miami this year?

[Warren2ThaG]

Aren't the Celtics 2-0 vs. Miami this year?

 

Nobody knows.... :)

[SRV]

Yea the Celtics are 2-0 against us.....they got us good. I just want to play them now that we have this run going, they beat us when we were that garbage team that everyone doubted.

 

The 9-8 teams compared to this team is like comparing the T-Wolves to the Celtics.

Edited December 26, 2010 by SRV