Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by therealdeal, Jun 20, 2016.

Page 5 of 520
  1. gcclaker

    gcclaker Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    8,993
    Likes Received:
    20,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Wherever I am at the moment...
    Offline
    We should be right there...close but not yet maybe a slot or two down. Why? Our young core will still require to develop some cohesiveness amongst themselves and there will be games where inexperience will cost us. We do not have that closer to lean when things are in the balance. We don't even know who that is. Randle? Russell? Larry David?

    The things I demand this coming season is that we look like a unit most of the time, that we are competitive in all games...in all aspects and not lay down like pooches. There will be some lopsided losses but it should not be as disturbingly numerous.
     
    gcclaker, Jul 2, 2016
    #81
    therealdeal likes this.
  2. gcclaker

    gcclaker Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    8,993
    Likes Received:
    20,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Wherever I am at the moment...
    Offline
    ...of course. I would like to be surprised and an obvious big middle finger response to the dips that have been clowning us the last few seasons.
     
    gcclaker, Jul 2, 2016
    #82
    tada likes this.
  3. southbaylakers72

    southbaylakers72 - Rookie -

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2014
    Messages:
    609
    Likes Received:
    259
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    El Segundo, California
    Offline
    Was just thinking this myself. Wes Johnson (ugh). Since this is the place for optimism - here is mine for the moment.

    Lakers now have the workings of a balanced team for the first time since 2011. And the promise of a great coaching staff (Walton and B. Shaw) who know how to win - Phil's way. We still have room to add another small piece to this team. Who can we get for the Vet's minimum? Or should we sign Meta again ...

    D'Russ (PG)
    JC (SG)
    Mosgov (C)
    Randle (PF)
    Deng (SF)
    -----------
    Williams (SG)
    Nance (SF)
    Black (C)
    Ingram (SG/SF/G)
    Huertas (PG)
    ???
    ???

    Looks like we need a Power Forward or a Vet or two....Luke Richard Mbah Moute? If we could somehow squeeze him in.

    Pre-Season 2016-2017 Western Conference Power Rankings (assuming Durant stays in OKC)

    1. Warriors
    2. OKC
    3 Spurs
    4. Crippers :(
    5. Memphis
    6. Portland
    7. ????
    8. ????

    Non-playoff teams Teams on the rise - Wolves, Lakers, Sacto, Phx.

    Playoff teams on decline: HOU, DAL...

    Lakers are realistically at best 10th. Possibly as high as 8/9.
     
    southbaylakers72, Jul 2, 2016
    #83
    tada likes this.
  4. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    36,404
    Likes Received:
    60,578
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Offline
    We're going to be capable of running random teams out of games due to shots falling enough and the athleticism and size of our roster 1- 12 (??) Seems that way to me.
     
    LTLakerFan, Jul 5, 2016
    #84
    ZenMaster and trodgers like this.
  5. LTLakerFan

    LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    36,404
    Likes Received:
    60,578
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    So Cal
    Offline
    The 7-foot-3 wingspan of Brandon Ingram had caught Russell off guard.

    "I was curious if he blocked it," Russell said after Summer League practice on Wednesday. "He was like, 'Yeah, I blocked it.' I was like, 'You were nowhere near me!'"

    Deja vu with Kobe talking about playing against Durant last year. "I forgot how long the (sucker) is". Something like that.
     
    LTLakerFan, Jul 6, 2016
    #85
    Cookie, Battle Tested20, trodgers and 1 other person like this.
  6. trodgers

    trodgers Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    12,124
    Likes Received:
    18,496
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Professor of Humanities
    Location:
    Orlando
    Offline
    In the days leading up to Free Agency, I made a list of things I thought the team still needed, from a personnel POV. Here it is.

    Starting Center
    Depth at G/Wing
    Defense
    Outside Shooting
    Facilitator
    Shooting at the 5
    Defense at Wing
    Veterans

    Honestly, we have not just addressed but, in my view fixed, all of these issues except defense at the wing. Now, maybe Ingram and Brown can deliver; maybe they can't. Ticking nearly every box on the list, however, is amazing. Kudos, Mitch. Calderon also adds 16 games, 8 starts, and 500 minutes in the playoffs.
     
    trodgers, Jul 6, 2016
    #86
    LTLakerFan, lakerjones, Toklat and 5 others like this.
  7. Toklat

    Toklat - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    2,168
    Likes Received:
    5,517
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I'm staying away from that WMC thread..lol the kind of off season we have had, I would feel very unappreciative trying to scrape up something to complain about. Good job Mitch.
     
    Toklat, Jul 7, 2016
    #87
    therealdeal and LTLakerFan like this.
  8. Doc Brown

    Doc Brown - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2014
    Messages:
    2,571
    Likes Received:
    11,517
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Doctorin'
    Location:
    Hill Valley
    Offline
    Who would have thought Ater Majok would have so much trade value? Calderon and 2 second round picks.....

    Majok (trade value) >>>>>>> Dwight or Pau. Great pick Mitch!!!!
     
    Doc Brown, Jul 7, 2016
    #88
    Weezy, LTLakerFan, therealdeal and 1 other person like this.
  9. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    10,684
    Likes Received:
    31,788
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    La La land
    Offline
    I'm optimistic that we can double our win totals from last year. Win somewhere between 32-35 and we are back on the right track. Even 30 wins would be huge progress, but I think we can do a little better than that. If we can add a superstar like Westbrook to that mix the following year we could really make some noise to get back to contention sooner than later depending on how quickly Ingram, in particular, develops.
     
    lakerjones, Jul 7, 2016
    #89
    therealdeal likes this.
  10. gcclaker

    gcclaker Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    8,993
    Likes Received:
    20,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Wherever I am at the moment...
    Offline
    Doubling down 2016's record is what I am reasonably expecting as well. The last two years have been throwaways to build a new foundation.
     
    gcclaker, Jul 7, 2016
    #90
    therealdeal likes this.
  11. Daloyalfan18-Brandon

    Daloyalfan18-Brandon - Rookie -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    741
    Likes Received:
    1,019
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    South Carolina
    Offline
    I was VERY optimistic about our team every year going back to the disaster of 12-13 and every year I was disappointed so I'm keeping my expectations down. However, I do believe that if everything goes well for us this team could win as many as 45 and sneak into the playoffs.
     
    Daloyalfan18-Brandon, Jul 8, 2016
    #91
    LTLakerFan and therealdeal like this.
  12. gcclaker

    gcclaker Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    8,993
    Likes Received:
    20,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Wherever I am at the moment...
    Offline
    Brandon Ingram...
     
    gcclaker, Jul 8, 2016
    #92
    Juronimo, LTLakerFan, ZenMaster and 1 other person like this.
  13. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    28,019
    Likes Received:
    75,599
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    folks seem excited to be here.

    zoobs (obviously), but timo, luol, jose, ingram, JC on the re-sign, people seem like they want to be playing for the lakers. i think luke has a lot to do with this. in any case, yay.
     
    abeer3, Jul 8, 2016
    #93
    LTLakerFan likes this.
  14. Doc Brown

    Doc Brown - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2014
    Messages:
    2,571
    Likes Received:
    11,517
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Doctorin'
    Location:
    Hill Valley
    Offline
    I love our draft picks. That is all.
     
    Doc Brown, Jul 8, 2016
    #94
    lakersyunowin, therealdeal, ZenMaster and 5 others like this.
  15. OX1947

    OX1947 - Lakers MVP -

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2016
    Messages:
    8,276
    Likes Received:
    17,604
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    In the next 3 years, when Ingram fills out and grows another inch or so, he will be nasty good. That kid can ball man. You can see it. Between him and Simmons, those two might have a shot at being the new lebron and durant of the future.
     
    OX1947, Jul 8, 2016
    #95
    LTLakerFan likes this.
  16. alam1108

    alam1108 - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    13,585
    Likes Received:
    37,190
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Laker Land
    Offline
    2017 Champs.
     
    alam1108, Jul 8, 2016
    #96
  17. gcclaker

    gcclaker Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    8,993
    Likes Received:
    20,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Wherever I am at the moment...
    Offline
    Liking the camaraderie and chemistry between the young ones. We did not even have Clarkson and Randle there. They still have to learn to play together after being relegated to observers during the 24 Farewell Tour. It will be clunky though they are an intelligent, focused quintet who should figure it out.
     
    gcclaker, Jul 8, 2016
    #97
    LTLakerFan, lakersyunowin, trodgers and 1 other person like this.
  18. KareemtheGreat33

    KareemtheGreat33 - Lakers MVP -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    11,714
    Likes Received:
    23,769
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Brow-beater
    Location:
    Las Islas Filipinas
    Offline
    Nice nice, we deserve it after three years of crap and enduring the worst coach in the history of western civilization
     
    KareemtheGreat33, Jul 9, 2016
    #98
    Juronimo, LTLakerFan and sirronstuff like this.
  19. sirronstuff

    sirronstuff - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    31,602
    Likes Received:
    76,895
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Your time is running out Ham
    Location:
    Laker Purgatory
    Offline
    The kids looked pretty interesting last night.... but we appear to have the Center position manned with 3 capable bodies. Veddy Nice.

    [​IMG] [​IMG] :Block:[​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2016
    sirronstuff, Jul 9, 2016
    #99
    Toklat, LTLakerFan, lakersyunowin and 1 other person like this.
  20. therealdeal

    therealdeal Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    28,475
    Likes Received:
    62,061
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    [​IMG]
     
    therealdeal, Jul 9, 2016
    #100
    gcclaker, LTLakerFan, trodgers and 1 other person like this.
Page 5 of 520

Share This Page