Official Whine, Moan, Complain Thread 19/20-CLOSED "WE CHAMPS!"

You know that the NBA was shown in other countries as early as the 1970s, right?

 

I come from a town in Australia where basketball is very popular. Not as popular as rugby (league) but close.
Australia was also feeding off the Jordan and Shaq wave that generated a lot of interest in the game from basketball cards to playing the game.

My first exposure to the Lakers was a basketball that my mum gave me as a child (in the 90s). It was Magic Johnson themed.
Years later, I became hard core fan of the Lakers due to Kobe and Shaq.

There were some people in my extended family that didn't like the Lakers, and being the maverick personality type that I am, I embraced the Lakers and Kobe even more because people I know tried to discredit Kobe's achievements etc.

One thing I will say about supporting the NBA outside of the States is that, it is not uncommon for Australians to have multiple teams (because of not having geographical and historical understandings about the USA as well as the NBA). For example, one could say they like both the C Bags and Mavericks etc. Fortunately for me, I am without a doubt a Laker fan (only). I do not like any other team but the Lakers, but still do admire many players across the league.

Australian basketball fans are also passionate to see our Aussies do well in the NBA. Many Australians have Ben Simmons (Philly) shirts. Not me personally because, I cannot stand the 76ers. But I am happy that Australia looks a good chance of getting a medal at the next Olympics. I would say my favourite Australian player is Joe Ingles.

 

Don’t be prickly and unfriendly now or we won’t let you coach after you retire.

 

this is why Kareem just writes books

 

And let's be real, a 35-23 FT difference isn't really a big deal. When you factor in that we're bigger and typically dominate the paint, it makes perfect sense. There are times where team's can really complain about officiating, this ain't one of them.

 

Ouch just sprained my shoulder patting myself on the back

 

Complaint, two less Laker games because of our gentleman's sweep. But hell I didn't want two more losses and a nervous game 7. Well done team.

 

^^^ times 3

 

When we’re on the verge of possibly adding #17 to tie C Bags, suddenly our Minneapolis championships don’t count. Stfu “experts”. Lets talk about how the majority of their championships came before the 80s.

Wait, I forgot, the 2008 counts as a four-peat right?

 

Then all of those C Bags championships before 1978 shouldn't count too, because of the ownership swap with the Buffalo Braves, right?

So, they're saying with their line of thinking:
Minneapolis Lakers (defunct) - 5
Buffalo Braves (defunct) - 13
Boston C Bags - 4
Los Angeles Lakers - 11

Green empire, losers, still. And from the looks of it, the chase for the great Buffalo Braves continues...

 

3 AWAY

 

i'm really not into the significance of the 17th ring, tbh. go watch highlights from when the C Bags and minneapolis lakers won the bulk of those rings. it's sort of the same sport. very few people who cared about those games are still alive and discussing them.

the lakers could lose this year and still be the nba's flagship franchise, as they have been basically since the mid-80s.

anyway, getting a 17th title isn't what's going to draw the next lebron here--it will be having won that 17th title recently and as part of a continuing tradition.

 

THAT'S A FACT, JACK...

It would certainly be advantageous to have recent success to leverage in addition to our legendary past. Of course racking up titles is great, but, up until now, all we could do is rest on our laurels.

 

yeah, i don't know if i was clear enough, but boston's 17th titles have kind of meant squat in terms of making things happen that build on the legacy. star players haven't wanted to go there; it's not really a destination nba franchise. miami, for example, has consistently drawn more interest from big names over the years. hell, houston has had more players sign or force trades there than boston.

the lakers have been fortunate enough to have both distant and recent success, and it's that continuity that keeps them at the top of the bin. when guys like greg monroe and lamarcus aldridge turned us down, they weren't impressed with our rings from the previous decade, much less 30-50 years ago.

 

Boston C Bags has won only one title since 1986. That's nearly 34 years ago. Remind me why they continued being mentioned in the same sentence as the Lakers again....?

 

right. they still have a fanbase because people's dads were celts fans, and that's a thing. but it hasn't translated to the players and agents--who are the ones whose decisions drive franchise success.

boston saved for years to bid on AD. the media felt it was their leprechaun-given right to obtain his services. then AD said: nah, going to the lakers.