Lakers in the News 8/05/15: Kobe 'absolutely' believes Lakers will be playoff team this season

lakersfreak

Kobe 'absolutely' believes Lakers will be playoff team this season
by espn.com

Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant believes that his team will "absolutely" make the playoffs this season in the hyper-competitive Western Conference.

The Lakers won just 21 games last year and missed the postseason for the second straight year -- the first time that's happened since 1976.

"We have talented players in their respective positions," Bryant said in a phone interview with Yahoo Sports Tuesday. "We have some really young players. How exactly will the pieces of the puzzle fit? We really don't know.

"We are going to [training] camp trying to piece this together just like every other team does," he said. "We have to figure out what our strengths are, figure out what our weaknesses are. And every time we step on the court we are going to try to hide our weaknesses and step up to our strengths."

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/13379179/kobe-bryant-absolutely-believes-los-angeles-lakers-playoff-team-season

lakersfreak · Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 11:55 pm Post subject:

Can D'Angelo Russell Shine In Kobe's Shadow?
by Daniel Knott - lasportshub.com

The No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft has the hopes of an entire city on his shoulders.

While it is certain that the 6’5″ point guard has the physical talents to make an impact this season, it’s not yet certain that he will mentally be able to handle the demands of playing in the post-Kobe era.

In his freshman campaign with Ohio State, Russell averaged 19 points, five assists, and just under six rebounds per game.

Impressive numbers for a the McDonald’s All-American.

The fan base has already been energized by Russell’s summer league exploits, despite a lot of Summer League reaction that wasn’t typical of championship city or fan material.

But these accolades may not be enough to silence the doubt that has been expressed about the organization over the last four seasons – even if they are the Lakers.

http://lasportshub.com/2015/08/04/dangelo-russell-lakers-season/

Agent P · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:27 am Post subject:

Let's get it, Kobe!

Wilkes52 · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:34 am Post subject:

Well, that's great for Kobe and for the Lakers pop media image, but it's unconvincing to me and most Laker fans I know.

He's lost the ability to convince us he has the ability to deliver season-long impact.

He's lost credibility, because he has been proven wrong about the Lakers making the playoffs for the past three consecutive seasons. I'll trust my personal gauge of Laker chances more than his; every fan owes it to himself/herself makes that his/her own assessment too.

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119489

Of course Kobe will say that. But I do think that the chances of making the playoffs is greater this year, relatively speaking, than the past 2 years. Still I don't think we'll make it, but the hope is we will hang around the 8-9th spot (and if we miss the playoffs, like Clev. the basketball gods will gift us the #1 pick).

_________________
From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

999 · Franchise Player Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 20269

With Byron as coach?

Maybe with Tom thibs I dunno bout Byron

lakersfreak · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 6:00 am Post subject:

THE TRADE AND COIN FLIP THAT FOREVER CHANGED THE NBA
by David Funk - allfunkedup.sportsblog.com

Sports fans often reminisce about trades and deals especially when it involves their teams. Good or bad, it can sometimes take years to see who the true winners and losers are in all deals - if there are any. It's always the losing side of the deal that we remember. There are also those deals that are better off not being made.

Then there's those very select few that impacted their respective sports for the better.

In 1920, the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees that forever changed the fortunes of two franchises. We all know how that turned out for both teams, but it was a deal that also saved a sport from its darkest days at the time when the Black Sox scandal gave the game a negative image.

It was the immense popularity of Ruth in the 1920s that catapulted Major League Baseball to heights never seen before while helping erase the game's negative image from the Black Sox scandal.

One such move in the NBA over 50 years later saved the league from dying what could've very well been a slow death.

http://allfunkedup.sportsblog.com/posts/2945475/the-trade-and-coin-flip-that-forever-changed-the-nba.html

xxsicrokerxx · Star Player Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Posts: 2205

Kobe has thought a lot of things in the past that never came true

lakersfreak · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 6:02 am Post subject:

Remembering Chick Hearn, the Michelangelo of broadcasters
by Bruce Newman - si.com

Editor's note: This story titled, "From High Above The Western Sideline," originally appeared in the April 9, 1984 issue of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. SI.com is republishing the story to honor legendary broadcaster Chick Hearn, who called 3,388 consecutive Lakers games from 1965-2002 before passing away at 85. Today marks the 13-year anniversary of his death.

The radio hissed and emitted strange chuffing noises as it warmed up, then made a high-pitched meowing sound. Except for the phosphorescent glow of the radio dial, the room was completely dark.

...sshhhhhwopwopwop...is now stop-and-go all the way to the 605 interchange where there's a disabled...yeeeeoowooooo...but Mom Taylor's radio ministry cannot help you find Je-e-e-ezus without your prayers and your donations. Pray to God. Send the money to Mom...yeeeeeeeeeaaaaayuh...backed up all the way to the Harbor Freeway...rrrrrffffffzzzzzzzz....

The radio fluttered and woofed and then stammered crazily as if it were possessed by a demon that was trying to clear its throat. Then came a clear and resonant voice: "From high above the western sideline of the Los Angeles Forum, the world's most beautiful sports theater, hello again, everybody, this is Chick Hearn."

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/08/05/chick-hearn-los-angeles-lakers-magic-johnson-pat-riley

ZenMaster4President · Starting Rotation Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 966

Dudes, the question he was asked was "Can this Lakers team make playoffs?" and he answered "Absolutely".

Can we make playoffs? Absolutely. Will we? Not certain.

There is a difference and some here already are willing to crucify him for misquoted stuff.

Then again - it's BSPN, so...

See here for the full transcript: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/q-a--kobe-bryant-talks-retirement--playoffs-and-life-after-basketball-141155813.html

Drifts · Retired Number Joined: 22 Nov 2004 Posts: 28465

is that the pain killers talking?
_________________
"Now, if life is coffee, then the jobs, money & position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold & contain life, but the quality of life doesn't change. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

DancingBarry · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 9:04 am Post subject:

ChefLinda · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:15 pm Post subject:

Well the glass half-empty crowd certainly weighed in. Personally, I came away from the interview feeling hopeful and excited about the upcoming season.

A Mad Chinaman · Star Player Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 6309

70sdude · Star Player Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 4567

I think it's refreshing to some extent to hear Kobe offer a greater degree of honesty about the team's chances than usual. There's some positional talent and questions about how it all plays together. I personally don't give the Lakers much chance at all next Spring to contend for a playoff slot, but who knows how good they'll be, just as he says - who know indeed.

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119489

LakersMDGurl · Franchise Player Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 18015

A Mad Chinaman · Star Player Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 6309