Laker Fans are nuts

by leeroyjenkins on Feb 7, 2008 2:18 PM PST

This was from today's Chad Ford Chat:

"Audel Del Toro, Los Angeles: With a healthy Andrew Bynum in the Lakers lineup and the addition of Pau Gasol is there any team in the West that can compete with the Lakers?"

Seriously? How about Phoenix, Dallas, SA, NO, for starters?

You'd think the above is a whacky way of thinking, but it's not. Gleeful Laker fans are infesting every forum I post on except this one with this sort of talk.

It's Pau freakin' Gasol. PAU GASOL. Nobody knew who he was three years ago, now he's suddenly the piece that puts this Laker team above teams who've been a factor the past few seasons, namely SA, Dall, and Pho? C'mon now. Thinking Gasol is your final piece to a title run is as crazy as thinking Andrew Bynum, who's had one decent half a season under his belt (13 ppg, 10 rpg), is the game's best new big man. It's insanity. Laker fans need to calm down and remember that they're currently 5th seed in the West and in danger of becoming 6th.

To conclude, the Lakers are not the scariest team in the West. Furthermore, I believe that a Laker-bashing diary is always welcome here.

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L*kers fans are the worst

hands-down the worst. You're darn right that a L*ker-bashing diary is always welcome in these parts, and because you're clearly one of us, I'll even forgive the typically mortal oversight of actually spelling out the name of our hated enemy. LA fans rival only Red Sox fans in downright obnoxious coming-out-of-the-woodwork bandwagon-fandom.

Yeah, the L*kers are unstoppable all right -- the second coming of Showtime. Let's see how Gasol integrates into a brand-new offense, how Odom handles being the fourth banana when Bynum comes back, how Bynum's reinsertion -- if it happens -- affects on-the-court flow, and how a defense that can charitably be described as mediocre handles playoff basketball. I feel like Denny Green has the best possible response to this: "If you wanna crown them...." But I think they are exactly what I think they are, and that's a second-round team, tops.

In fact, I hope they go on a winning tear, get the number one seed, and face a little-team-that-could squad that just barely snuck into the playoffs. And that team just refuses to roll over and play dead, and as "BEAT L-A! BEAT L-A!" chants peal to the rafters of the Garden, Roy crosses over Kobe a la Jordan against Russell and buries the final nail in the L*kers' playoff coffin. Set, match, ballgame. Would be the happiest moment of my life.

by BlazersOrBust on Feb 7, 2008 2:32 PM PST 0 recs

Hoh Brah

You sound like one OSU fan. They would gladly lose every game of the season, as long as they won the the Civil War. My supreme happiness involves championships.

"I knew a guy who was dyslexic. He was also cross-eyed. So everything came out right." Tummler from Gummo (1997)

by tominhawaii on Feb 7, 2008 2:54 PM PST up 0 recs

You forget to mention

That it would be a sweep.

by jscot on Feb 7, 2008 3:14 PM PST up 0 recs

The West is stacked!

Utah is playing hot right now, i wouldn't want to go up against them. Spurs always turn it on come playoffs, and Dallas always has enough pieces to compete. Chris Paul and friends could make some noise, along with Denver or Golden State.

I predict 3 out of the 4 series go to game 7 in the west coast first round

Travis Outlaw drops the sledgehammer on Daequan Cook for a dunk so vicious, it's illegal in 48 states.

by BlazerBandit on Feb 7, 2008 2:35 PM PST 0 recs

Geez, no way!?!

L*ker fans are nuts, I never would have thought. They are the most self hating, loathsome souls in the league. I agree, they are definitely right up there with Bo Sox fans on the obnoxious/bandwagon radar. In fact, my friend is starting to root for the Celtics in the East, even though he has been a lifelong Blazer fan, because he started rooting for the Red Sox during the WS year of '04. And believe me, he is catching a world of excrement from me for it. There is room in one's heart for only one team in each league, or else you are a fan of the game, which while fine and dandy, is inexcusable if you claim to be a die hard.

They are like a vampiric Kobayashi - Classic Dave on the Knicks, 2/1/08

by Rodendridge on Feb 7, 2008 2:55 PM PST 0 recs

The league (aka David Stern) gets what...

he wants, and he wants Shaq vs. Kobe in the Championsh... er Western Conference Finals. Therefore, Suns vs. L@kers it shall be in the NBA Fina... er Western Conference Finals.

You heard it here first. Actually, you've probably either heard it elsewhere or thought it already.

The Portland Trailblazers... where dynastic happens.

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Feb 7, 2008 2:56 PM PST 0 recs

Doncha Know It!!

Where do the true laurels lie? Can it be more meaningful than "show me the money" or "show me the championship ring"?

The Championship only means what it means as filtered through the commercialized agendas of the powers that be.

But, then again...Next year...why not us?

by ladygonegrey on Feb 7, 2008 11:53 PM PST up 0 recs

Enjoy the journey.

I like that fans of Lakers invade all sites as the German army in the Russian steppe. I´ll let them have fun and I´ll wait. Already will come General Winter.

I like Brandon Roy, whatever planet he comes from. (Bill Walton?)

by amlmart1 on Feb 7, 2008 2:57 PM PST 0 recs

You crack me up

I got to the middle of this sentence and I just started giggling like a schoolgirl at an NSYNC concert because I knew exactly who wrote it. Good stuff, I hope you're right.

by BlazersOrBust on Feb 7, 2008 3:06 PM PST up 0 recs

I'm not advocating the behavior mind you

but I think the L*kers will be very scary when Bynum returns, that said can anyone compete with them? Absolutely, your list was right on, any of these teams could beat a L*kers team with Bynum, I'd also add Utah if they keep playing like they have been... but I do think it would be a legit series for any of these teams to beat them, and our enemies to the south could potentially come out on top IMHO.

by drawingjeremy on Feb 7, 2008 4:07 PM PST 0 recs

And no matter how many times they reenact it,

The South always looses, the way they are supposed to.

I'm not stubborn, just obstinate

by T Darkstar on Feb 7, 2008 4:12 PM PST up 0 recs

er,

loses. With the way I spelled it, you'd think they got pantsed by the Globetrotters.

I'm not stubborn, just obstinate

by T Darkstar on Feb 7, 2008 4:13 PM PST up 0 recs

One more thing:

Even before the Gasol trade the L*kers were in the midst of a great season. The reason of course is that Bynum became a legit player. I will say I take great pleasure in the realization that it's probably dawned on Kobe that he could have had this level of play all along, never missing a beat, becoming one of the true dynasties in the history of the game if he and Shaq just could have gotten along. It took Kobe years to grow up, and now he'll have a final few runs at contention before he ages into obscurity. I love this reality, he (& they) earned their years of mediocrity despite Bryant's level of play thanks to his selfishness. The closest they got to dynasty were those first few years that Shaq and Kobe were teamed up... with a center like that Kobe can accomplish a lot, w/o one... well Kobe tries to accomplish a lot, alone. So, they're good, they're very good, they in my opinion are contenders, but the current situation only puts a band-aide on years of self-induced mediocrity and that has to sting for someone who tasted significant success so early, especially with the conscious or unconscious self-realization that "I did this to myself." Enjoy your final runs Kobe, because it's all you have left.

by drawingjeremy on Feb 7, 2008 4:14 PM PST up 0 recs

well, that and

his millions, and hall of fame in the future I suppose, but I'm trying to look at the Blazer glass as half full here and I know that someone who has a drive to be the best, could have had a much more illustrious career but shot himself in the foot has to consider this from time to time and it must just eat him up inside.

by drawingjeremy on Feb 7, 2008 4:17 PM PST up 0 recs

I was going to bust you on this

but you already did. I think you are the only person that I regularly agree with on BE.

Anyhow I was just going to mention that Jordan didnt win his first title until his 6th season in the league, which is like 9 Kobe seasons. I see Kobe as an MJ type player who has a lot of longevity. At least he is finally playing the game the right way. I have to admit that the Lakers are pretty fun to watch when they are firing on all cylinders.

by jonestr on Feb 7, 2008 5:48 PM PST up 0 recs

Yeah when I read through the post

I said to myself... "Jeremy, is that really all Kobe will have left? Nope, he'll have more than that." You raise a good point about Jordan and Kobe's likely longevity. However I'm inclined to think that between the likelihood of injuries beginning to creep in and three additional years in the NBA (in which you get more beat on than you do in college ball) that come 33-35 Kobe will cease to be as dominant a force as he now is... plus if he wins an additional title or two and thinks he may begin to be a "lesser" player he may decide to go out on a high point after say 15 seasons or so. We'll see, he is in great shape and I could see him continuing to go. You are right that he is playing the right way now (most of the time). They are fairly fun to watch, but I feel so dirty...

by drawingjeremy on Feb 7, 2008 6:57 PM PST up 0 recs

True

I just see him having a lot of longevity due to his offseason training. The only other person I have heard of with similar habits is Lance Armstrong. I suppose that Eddy Merckx had similar habits and personality traits, but i doubt there are a lot of cycling nerds who would pick up that reference.

I have heard the theory of the prep to pros and the extra burden in places on you. I think McGrady is the poster child for this argument as he seems to be constantly battling injuries and he seems to never get enough sleep as his eyes are always drooping (I had to get in a cheap shot somewhere.). Garnett is another good example, but Kobe didnt really start playing AI like minutes until they blew the team apart in the short lived Rudy T era. In short I think he has a little more in reserve than a (sometimes) post player like Garnett, or a guy like McGrady who had a scenario like Kobe did, but for a longer period of time.

I agree about feeling dirty about not hating the Lakers with an all consuming passion. It feels weird, but since I live out of state I dont take a lot of crap for it. Also, who on the roster really boils your blood if you dont hate Kobe. Lamar Odom was pretty sweet for the Heat in his brief time there. Luke Walton is a stand up guy with a high basketball IQ. I liked Farmar at UCLA. I have nothing against Bynum and was pumped when he got in that battle with Shaq his rookie year. Derek Fisher was the lone likeable Laker during their late 90's early 2000's run.

I need a guy like Rick Fox who I can really turn my hate on to. Come to think of it I cant really think of anyone I really dislike in the league. Maybe JR Smith, but that is about it. I must really be a sucker for the NBA hype machine.

by jonestr on Feb 7, 2008 8:22 PM PST up 0 recs

As a guy gets older

that intensive training can actually lead to things breaking down. The body reaches the point where it just can't stand up to it anymore.

Lance Armstrong trained really, really hard, but it was always perfectly timed to peak for the Tour. He never really competed in any of the other big races during the season. There's a big difference between training to peak for a three week event once a year and training to maintain a high level of fitness over a season that is six months long.

I'm not saying Kobe will break down early, just that it is possible that really intensive training could contribute to a breakdown, rather than prevent it.

by jscot on Feb 8, 2008 12:42 AM PST up 0 recs

Lamar

is actually a pretty easy guy to hate on cause he seems like such a jerkoff.

As for McGrady I've always just assumed he was sporting the chinese eyes cause he is blazed up all the time.

In all seriousness though, I have to agree with most of what you two are saying about the L*kers.

Something about the Fisher situation kind of bugs me though. I know he had to make the move out of Utah for family health concerns, and everyone has to respect that. Even so I tend to get the nagging feeling he bailed out on the Jazz to get back to his old championship team. It is possible that it just gets on my nerves as a Blazer fan, I can admit.

lickety-brindle

by Billy Ray Bates on Feb 8, 2008 4:04 PM PST up 0 recs

Give us some credit

Pau Gasol was the best player on a surprise 50 win grizziles team 3+ years ago, maybe even longer as I remember walking into the library at OSU and thinking "The Grizz?(I liked to shorten words back then.) who would have thunk it?" Now I have been out of college for at least 3 years, so I say that I, and most of the dedicated fans here, knew of Pau 3 years ago.

As an aside. My friends and I like to play a little game of "Name ten" every now and again. The game is that one person names an nba team and you have to name ten players for that team. You'll be straining your brain trying to think of Marcin Gortat. If that sounds too easy for you then up the ante to name 11 or 12. Do it. It is pretty fun for an nba nerd.

by jonestr on Feb 7, 2008 5:31 PM PST 0 recs

I certainly knew Pau 3 years ago

Which was before the "Zach trade rumors", once they hit there could hardly be a Blazer Blog reader who didn't know who Pau Gasol was. I was a big proponent of trying to get that trade made, though it was probably just rumors created by a fan based on the desire of both teams to trade and the numbers working fairly well.

by drawingjeremy on Feb 7, 2008 6:59 PM PST up 0 recs

I hope it eats him alive!

This is a "competitive nature" out of control. The want of recognition as the "best", even among your Team Mates! Pick the Biggest and Best one to challenge, with the only option of "Take Me" or "Take Him"! It Seems like "roid Rage"! Kobe wanted to be "The LA Show". The Team coulda been a Dynasty, instead Kobe is a legend. Shaq will be back, on the opposing Team. I want to see this.

"Lenny Suckerpunch NEVER bet on me!" - Elizabeth "The Lizzard" Lowblow

by Lizzy Lowblow on Feb 7, 2008 5:34 PM PST 0 recs

I can't blame Laker fans

For being excited. They got him for nothing at all. However, I think he'll be more like an Odom-level disappointment when he's not the main focus of an offense-- especially when Bynum comes bck healthy.

But he won't get in the way of Bynum and he gives them another proven weapon. I just think he's super soft, sucks at defense but can get help side blocks, and was given superstar money without being a superstar. Money aside though, he can help a team. I just don't think he'll help all THAT much, just like Odom. He'll have great games mixed with disappearances. That's how he was all this year as the star of a team, and I'd imagine it'll be worse as a supporting player.

The real key to the Lakers going far is how healthy Bynum is when he comes back. If he's himself, he'll be a handful for the Spurs and Shaq and the Suns. If he isn't, I think the Lakers have looked just above average without him and Gasol is definately on the lower end of the good centers in the West.

It's not really that Bynum is so good by himself, but having an athletic big that can rebound and block shots and you can't leave alone just helps Kobe and all do their jobs a lot easier. Gasol, on the other hand, has to be fed and fed to do jump hooks, which interferes with the Kobe-centric offense more.

It could work though. Like I said, I totally get why Laker fans are so excited and he WILL help the team. But having Bynum come back healthy is a lot bigger deal than The Swarthy Spaniard.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Feb 7, 2008 6:03 PM PST 0 recs

Hey I'm not saying they aren't solid

I'm just saying that thinking they are the standard out West is crazy talk.

by leeroyjenkins on Feb 7, 2008 6:17 PM PST up 0 recs

I agree with that

They are just another GOOD team out of 10 good teams. I'm just sayin' that I don't blame those fair weather Faker fans for being excited. It's a steal of a deal.

But yes, thinking this puts them over the top is silly. No one will claim Laker fans are the most knowledgable in the NBA. Just the least faithful.

Most importantly, I don't think this move affects our 10 year window at all. LMA over Pau, Oden over Bynum, Roy better for a team than Kobe (but not as good individually, of course), and then you got Rudy, Webster, Outlaw, and whoever else we keep over their role players. WE WIN HUZZAH YAY!

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Feb 7, 2008 6:30 PM PST up 0 recs

I'd put them in the top 5 in the west

once Bynum is back. I definitely do agree that it won't effect our 10 year window much. I think in a few seasons from now we'll be able to do a number to most any team in the league. I think that in the west Utah will be a team to watch out for in a few years from now (and I suppose if Minny is in the dog house for another season or two they are amassing a lot of "future"... we know it can take some time, but they are adding potential pieces, another hot draft or two and they could actually become a player down the road too.

by drawingjeremy on Feb 7, 2008 7:05 PM PST up 0 recs

sounds about right

I dont want to see what this team looks like with a training camp under their belt. With Gasol passing and potentially being a good teammate and Bynum developing so fast (dude is a month older than OJ Mayo. weird). Odom going back to his role of being a facilitator and sometimes scorer like he used to be. If this team gels it is ridiculous. I know everyone thinks rain city has the inside track on FA over the next few years, but I have been to LA and the weather is really nice and all the girls look disturbingly the same. I can definitely see a spot up shooter who signs for the MLE or less doing a lot of damage with this crew. Assuming Radmanovic doesent do it all for them.

I dont think they have a title in them this year, but this team is one to watch out for if they dont have the ego flair ups like they used to. I cant wait for some Blazers v Lakers next year. It will be like 3 super bowls, Tour De Frances, and a Hannah Montana concert all mixed into one. (Hannah Montana is for the kids. Settle down adults.)

by jonestr on Feb 7, 2008 8:35 PM PST up 0 recs