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Dec 18, 2015

When Will We Be Competitive Again?

Dec

by Lakers2015 at 7:42 PM (2,181 Views / 1 Likes)

Obviously nobody saw 4-22. Even the most pessimistic fan didn't see that. Many thought we'd see a much improved basketball team with some of the additions, vets and rookies, and that they'd be fun to watch and being able to at least be competitive again in the West. Has not happened. Obviously a lot of that goes on Scott and his inexplicable rotations, lack of a defensive scheme, lack of continuity on offense. Still there are some glaring holes on the roster that need to be filled. How far away is this team from being competitive and potentially be back in the postseason?

Dec 14, 2015

Shaq Eligible For Hall Of Fame in 2016.

Dec

by Lakers2015 at 7:19 PM (1,391 Views / 2 Likes)

7 Comments

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Basketball players will now be eligible for the Hall of Fame four years after they retire, which creates the potential for Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming to headline a powerful class of 2016.

This is one of the new rules for the Springfield, Massachusetts, shrine. The previous requirement was that a player be retired for five full seasons. Because of the enshrinement calendar, that meant players would be out of the game for six years before they could be inducted.

O'Neal, a four-time NBA champion and one of the game's most dominant centers, and Yao, the No. 1 pick of the 2002 draft whose success was a catalyst for basketball's growth in China, both retired after the 2010-11 season.

In other changes, the Hall shut down its ABA committee. Hall chairman Jerry Colangelo said the group has served its purpose. Another change was to allow the women's screening committee to name four finalists...
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Dec 14, 2015

Mitch Kupchak gives update on the state of the Lakers, D'Angelo Russell, Kobe Bryant and more

Dec

by ElginTheGreat at 5:57 PM (17,015 Views / 4 Likes)

141 Comments

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak held a live discussion on the current state of the franchise, hitting every major point of a disappointing season. Lakers sideline reporter Mike Trudell moderated the Lakers Voices chat, taking questions from social media as Kupchak went over a wide range of topics, including Kobe Bryant, the new core, Byron Scott's performance and more. His biggest focus was on D'Angelo Russell and a group of young prospects he is "very encouraged" by.

Mitch reiterated that the development of Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and Russell remains an area they want to continue focusing on, but that there's also importance in balancing Kobe Bryant's final season. "Knowing that you're not going to get into the playoffs, and knowing that Kobe's not going to be here a year from now, it makes you want to focus, as a manager, on the young...
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Dec 11, 2015

Larry Nance Jr. Rookie Diary (Players Tribune)

Dec

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/wp-content/uploads/1-AP_799542571783.jpg

by therealdeal at 10:49 AM (1,421 Views / 5 Likes)

11 Comments

link

This is NBA Rookie Diaries, a series where rookies take you inside their first year in the league. From adjusting to the professional game to navigating locker room culture, these rookies tell it like it is. In his debut diary, Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. checks in from three cities on a recent road trip.

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November 30th: Flight to Philadelphia

Roy Hibbert thinks it’s funny to mess with me. It started during a flight from Sacramento after our first road game. I’m not a fan of flying. Any bumps whatsoever, and my mind starts playing tricks on me. So it was our assistant coach Larry Lewis’ birthday and I was about to stand up with the rest of the rookies to sing “Happy Birthday” when we hit a bit of turbulence. He saw me grip the armrest like the plane was going down. No way I was getting up after that. But he essentially forced me to stand up, pulling the “vet”...
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