lakerevolution wrote:Anybody besides me sense that the Draymond/KD dustup was like a sign that the Warriors' best days are behind them? Kobe and Shaq's beef reached its height after the Threepeat, when superstar egos and injuries and the mental strain of being champions for so long was taking its toll. Contracts, rumors, changes in the wind . . it all spells a new day for the Melo-less Rockets and the upstart Lakers. Blood in the water. Yes, the Dubs are still the most dangerous team in basketball, but now there are mental and physical cracks in their armor. Time to attack.
lakerevolution wrote:Why. Why join the Lakers when LeBron is there and we're looking to build a young core. I like KD, he's a modern great, a HOF scorer and a rugged son-of-a-bitch. But c'mon. Do we want to win this way?
3Peatkb24 wrote:lakerevolution wrote:Why. Why join the Lakers when LeBron is there and we're looking to build a young core. I like KD, he's a modern great, a HOF scorer and a rugged son-of-a-bitch. But c'mon. Do we want to win this way?
"Do we want to win this way?" - Yes, whatever it takes to win I am for it. It still amazes how some Lakers fans are glad we lost in 2004 because Malone was on the team. Had we won in 2004, Kobe would've had 6 Rings tied with Michael and his GOAT talk would be much higher. To me 2004 is the most disappointed I have ever been as a Laker fan other than 1984 because we had no business losing to the Pistons. That same Pistons team was down 3-2 to the freakin Nets in the Semi-Finals that year. We beat the Spurs (Duncan/Parker/Gino/Pop) and Wolves (Garnett) who both had HCA. If any Finals was rigged it was that one and my step-dad even agrees. Pistons shot twice as many FT's as well. So if we add Durant and have to win that way I will take it. A Championship is a Championship
KobeMVP888 wrote:3Peatkb24 wrote:lakerevolution wrote:Why. Why join the Lakers when LeBron is there and we're looking to build a young core. I like KD, he's a modern great, a HOF scorer and a rugged son-of-a-bitch. But c'mon. Do we want to win this way?
"Do we want to win this way?" - Yes, whatever it takes to win I am for it. It still amazes how some Lakers fans are glad we lost in 2004 because Malone was on the team. Had we won in 2004, Kobe would've had 6 Rings tied with Michael and his GOAT talk would be much higher. To me 2004 is the most disappointed I have ever been as a Laker fan other than 1984 because we had no business losing to the Pistons. That same Pistons team was down 3-2 to the freakin Nets in the Semi-Finals that year. We beat the Spurs (Duncan/Parker/Gino/Pop) and Wolves (Garnett) who both had HCA. If any Finals was rigged it was that one and my step-dad even agrees. Pistons shot twice as many FT's as well. So if we add Durant and have to win that way I will take it. A Championship is a Championship
That Pistons team was healthy and was a well oiled defensive machine, a 24 second clock possession by possession thing of beauty that was clicking on all cylinders by the time we played them, produced 4 all-stars and went on a 7 year deep playoff run and is one of the most underrated teams of all-time. They played team basketball like the 1969-70 Knicks, 1976-77 Blazers and 2013-14 Spurs, to name a few) Meanwhile, the 2004 Lakers were malcontent after Kobe's 2003 summer, were old (Payton, Malone, Fox - Shaw and Horry gone), injured (Malone) and had an otherwise mediocre roster. We got to the Finals by luck (.4 and then Minny injured in the WCF).
The modern NBA is a tough nut to crack. I get Rev's point though. It would give us greater satisfaction to watch our young core grow into champions to win a chip, but I don't see us as being the Spurs of yesteryear or the Warriors of today in that regard, never mind the Chowds and Sixers of today. Yes, I would welcome a trade for AD and KD signing here to get back on top. It might feel a little dirty and weird, but none of those guys will ever be Kobe anyway. BTW, it ain't gonna happen.
lakerevolution wrote:Karl Malone was a shell of his 1990s Utah self by the time we got him. He had issues with playing on the same court as Magic after the HIV thing. By all accounts he's not a great guy from a personality standpoint.
KD on the other hand has just now settled into his prime years and he hasn't had to carry half of an entire team and deal with ballhogging diva PGs like RW for a couple seasons. He's (almost) more desirable than LeBron at this point . . but in coming to the Lakers next season, he'd be taking tons of minutes from Ingram, Hart, Kuzma etc. Maybe Jeannie, Magic and Rob want to "win now" so badly that they're willing to ditch the one-year guys and maybe a youngster or two to pair KD, LeBron and one other star in an attempt to grab the throne back.
One thing is for sure: The LeBron signing has definitely put the Laker organization back in the driver's seat as the pre-eminent destination for fame and glory. Guess we can't be mad at that.
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