If we somehow win this in the 4th, I will be very displeased with Byron. I don't know what he is doing.
This competing and gritting out wins has got to stop yesterday (hopefully we pull out a loss) If we lose this pick then Byron, Buss' and even Mitch should be on Shaqtin' the fool management addition. Never mind getting Javale McGee in a uniform, get him in the front office if we keep this up. Just lose big, this is the only year I have or want to be pro-tank as a Laker fan. So tank like thoroughbreds, tank like you mean it, swallow that pride, smart fans understand.
Well that's better. That was some clutch shutting it down there. It's all I ask, guys can play for 40 mins, just shut it down after that and don't run up and big leads.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Jeremy Lin is a big, big problem for the Lakers right now. He's balling out of his mind and he's going to win games for the team that they simply can't afford to...he's already done it a couple of times. I can't blame him, if he keeps this up this level of play it will mean millions more for him on his next deal. If I were Lin I'd be doing the same thing. The Lakers let this happen last year with Nick Young down the stretch. He went nuts, won games that the Lakers needed to lose, and made himself $$$ on his new contract. In doing so the Lakers shot at Jabari or Wiggins went down the drain. This year it's so important that they learn their lesson from last year and play Lin in limited minutes. Per-minute stats are a thing, and if he continues to perform efficiently he can still earn himself a fat pay day without killing the team in the process IF Byron is smart enough to keep him on the bench. Thus far though we have seen no indication that Byron understands what needs to be done.... or understands anything at all.
Not trading Lin and Hill was a mistake. But funny how Lin started balling after the trade deadline, gg.
If it's any consolation unpossibl, Denver did win tonight, so we did pick up another game on a team that is free falling during the end of the regular season. We need Orlando to string some wins together, and we'll be locked into that 4th spot. Again, I understand your concern; I'm still fairly confident we'll get our pick, and I'm not too worried about it, but Byron is making this more difficult than this has to be...
Denver winning tonight is great. Just looking at the box score of that game they played tonight and the players they have there is no reason why they should be as bad as they are. I certainly dont blame Brian Shaw for that because telling grown men to pay attention during film session and telling them to put away their phones is HS s***. These are adults who are getting paid real good money to work hard and pay attention. *Steps down from soapbox*
I'm not comfortable sitting in 4th, they should be competing for 3rd or even 2nd if it weren't for Byron. He's made some comments about wanting to see Black more and bench the vets, and hopefully that happens right away. The other thing I'll say: I had to miss tonight's game due to the end of the season banquet for the basketball team I coach. First game I've missed this year. Watching it on the DVR and I'm thinking I may need to do this for the rest of the season. It's so much less stressful to watch the game already knowing they got the L they needed. Its so frustrating watching guys who won't be Lakers next year kill the tank that it's not even enjoyable to watch. When I already know they lose though I can relax a bit more and appreciate how well Lin is playing and how far JC has come along this year. It's still annoying to see how foolish the organization is being, but Lin, Booz, etc are tolerable as long as they don't make us win. Still want to see Black out there though. Obviously I don't think I'll skip every game but this really is a nice change.
Plaschke article on fan support for the tank. From the fan perspective it's frustrating hearing Wayne and Sacre say they are going to keep trying to win even though they understand why they are hurting the franchise and fans if they do. For the players, yeah it has to suck knowing the fans want you to lose, but they want the loss so the team can win in the future. Personally I want them to go 0 for the rest of the season but lose every game by 1. I want good things for the franchise and its players but I cannot support individual players at the detriment of the franchise. Just won't happen. If Lin gets a few million less because he sucks down the stretch but it allows LA to keep the pick then thats a great thing for the franchise, city, and league. A good Lakers team means more money being made for all. However, Lin getting a few million more but costing the Lakers their pick I'm not cool with. That helps one person while potentially significantly damaging the franchise, city, and league. Ideally both sides get what they want, but if push comes to shove it would be absolutely insane for fans to support the individual players over the team. Knowing what's on the line players and coaches shouldn't be surprised.
Lose every game this way and I'll at least be satisfied with their effort. I would never want a player here who didn't want to win every night. If it were me I wouldn't give half a **** what the fans thought, I'm a professional and I have pride. I would never lose on purpose. Be mad at Byron, most of us are. The only thing he's operating on now is pride. I get you don't want to try to lose, I really truly do, but he shouldn't think about it that way. He should think about it like he's developing his future cast. Clarkson, Black, and Kelly should be playing 30 minutes a night. Ellington and Davis should be playing about 25 each. All the veterans who want to make money for themselves get 20 minutes to show their stuff and unless we go to overtime don't expect any more. The reality is WE as a franchise need to look out for ourselves first. I totally understand playing the veterans so they can prove they deserve a good contract, but that's only going to get them so much from me. If you can't show your NBA worth in 20 minutes... maybe you're not worth all that much? Guys like Ellington and Clarkson play with a ton of heart and I can respect that. The kind of guy who is playing hard on this awful, awful, historically awful team is the kind of guy who should be here when we turn it around.
Orlando is totally gunning for the lakers. shouldn't those guys be trying to win by now? they don't even have room to develop any more young players.
I haven't been able to watch the Charlotte game yet and don't know if I will, so I really came in to b***h about how we almost won again, losing by only 1 point, as I had a couple cell phone updates with us down good earlier in the game. But you have put it really well realdeal. That's why it is vitally important for Byron to get out of his own pride's way and not eff this up. There is absolutely ZERO to be gained by losing this pick because of feel good but meaningless wins. Just the opposite, EVERYTHING to be lost after this horrible season, 2 years running now. Well 3 actually with Dwight and Pringles and Kobe's ruptured achilles.
Update (3/4): Philly is playing in OKC (Loss) We play Miami (probably a loss; it better be) Denver is playing in Minnesota. Win-win situation, but I think the Nuggets will lose this one. This would result in 16 total wins for us, 14 for Minny.
