Real Deal

Sell high, I guess?

Would you stop throwing temper-tantrums about "what OTR stands for" and "the rules being stretched" all the time? That's getting so damn annoying. You came in here, stated you were happy to see the Lakers lose. I played your role, and then I laid all of your claims to rest with facts. Observations, or stats? You're the one sitting in here telling people Kobe is getting old, and that it's evident in the way he plays...yet he's shooting over 46%, putting up over 28 points per, turning the ball over less (or as much) than he did when he was winning championships with Shaq, and doing it all with a tear in his shooting index finger, two dislocations, an injured hamstring and back spasms, something no other player in the NBA could probably do. If you want to talk about being ridiculous, there it is. We lost a game. We're still the best team in the NBA, stats say we're an excellent defensive team, Kobe is still an MVP candidate, and there's nothing you can do about it.

Don't even reply, because there's nothing to discuss. I've got about ten times more where that came from, so don't end up like Diesel and get embarrassed thinking you know more about this Lakers team than I do. I don't discuss baseball with you, just like you shouldn't act like you know more about this team.

Good post. And this is with Bryant practically gimped for half the season, and Gasol missing 17 games so far.

Please, please read this entire post. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Uh, Kobe didn't play LeBron all game because he's barely able to play to begin with. I don't know if you've been watching the NBA at all this season, but Bryant was laying on his back with spasms just the other night, and he's been doing more with his off-hand than he ever has. Now let me educate you a little more, since I feel like this is my job. Kobe's shot chart against the Cavs, Clippers, Mavs and Spurs (recent games with injury): http://i50.tinypic.com/29m2jiw.jpghttp://i45.tinypic.com/qrgruo.jpg http://i46.tinypic.com/2qxqex5.jpghttp://i45.tinypic.com/zv33mc.jpg Now, because you obviously don't watch Lakers games, maybe these will help. Do you see anything repetitive in those four shot charts? No, you don't. They are completely different. Bryant has been shooting from everywhere on the floor, a lot in two of those games, and much less in the other two, from the perimeter, the paint, the post, and everywhere else on the floor. Stating that he's been getting pushed into forcing long jumpers every game is inaccurate, and it proves to me you are pulling whatever you can out of your hat just to rile up Lakers fans. Big no-no if you're going to discuss THIS sport with me. You want to know what "old man" Bryant did last night? He started the first half going 8-16 from the floor. He went into the locker room, got hit on the hand on a foul that put him at the line for two free throws (this was around the 7-8 minute mark in the third), and he started bricking everything since...up until the old man hit two frees, then a jumper, to tie the game up at 87 before Gasol failed to connect on both of his free throws, and Ron Artest ruined a rebound by hooking Varejao. Would you like to know what he did in that Dallas game? Kobe is the guy that hit the go-ahead shot that put the Lakers up for good, with 28 seconds left in the game, after shooting just one shot in the first half (which is uncharacteristic of him to begin with). He has hit three game-winners as well, most in the league. The old man you're telling us about... According to allowed eFG%, Artest is the better defender at both the two and the three, primary and secondary positions. In fact, at the three, Artest is allowing an eFG% of just 42.2%. Without looking at many other players, I can say that's probably one of the best in the league. 2009 Rockets opponent FG%: 44.4% opponent 3PT%: 35.7% Houston steals per game: 6.68 Houston defensive rebounds per game: 32.5 LA blocks per game: 4.33 points allowed per 100 possessions: 104.0 2010 Lakers opponent FG%: 43.6% opponent 3PT%: 31% LA steals per game: 7.62 LA defensive rebounds per game: 33.3 LA blocks per game: 4.98 points allowed per 100 possessions: 101.3 Better do your research next time, sir. LMAO...so he does when he's on the same side as Gasol? In the triangle offense, huh? 12-15 feet spacing, and he gets in the post? Ever seen the triangle actually set up on the floor? Do you know what it looks like? Would you like to tune in to a Lakers game and watch how many screens Gasol sets for Bryant? Want to explain how a screen sits Bryant in the post position? Do you even know what you're saying? No need to.

That, and durability, if he continues to play reckless basketball (such as Allen Iverson). That seven-season difference isn't as much as I thought, though. A total of 4,000 points is less than two seasons for Bryant (it's two 24-25 PPG seasons). Assuming Bryant goes two seasons longer than LeBron, he may keep the higher total.

Deadline is today, everyone. Let's get some more entries turned in!

Just a quick bump. Our wins against .500 teams: Atlanta Hawks Oklahoma City Thunder (3x) Houston Rockets (2x) Memphis Grizzlies New Orleans Hornets (2x) Phoenix Suns (2x) Miami Heat Utah Jazz Dallas Mavericks (2x) Orlando Magic 16 of our 32 wins are against teams over .500, which isn't bad at all, given the fact that Gasol has missed 17 of the 42 games we've played, Artest has missed five, and Kobe is playing with a mangled hand and back spasms. Even better, we are in first place in FG% allowed, first in 3PT% allowed, ninth in forced turnovers, second in rebounds, and eighth in steals. Our defense is ranked second in the league, points per 100 possessions allowed. On the other hand, our offense is tenth in the league, down from third over the last two seasons, and it has a lot to do with Kobe and Gasol not being able to stay healthy. Most every loss is either because of Kobe's mangled hand (him shooting poorly) or Gasol being out of the game due to the two hamstring injuries (both legs). At the end of the day, if the Lakers are healthy, they are the best team in the NBA, and to be honest, I'm not sure if it's something I'd find myself debating about.

I'm not sure how much success they can have in the playoffs, but I know one thing is for sure: if Charlotte gets home court advantage against anyone in the first round, they will more than likely win that series. So, yes, that means a fourth seed. Is it possible? Probably not. Boston, Cleveland, Atlanta and Orlando will more than likely occupy those top four, but just to make things interesting, the Cats are only four losses behind the Magic right now, and five from the Hawks. Seems like a stretch until you realize it's not even February, and Charlotte has won nine of their last ten games. Those nine wins include victories in Cleveland and Miami, and they toppled the Spurs, Suns and Heat in Charlotte. On the downside, seven of their next eight games are on the road.

...and yes guys, it's really him, not the spammer. Welcome to the site, bro. Great to have another Thunder fan on board. Do you see your family in Oklahoma? You should hit up a Thunder game. I drove past the Ford Center on Tuesday and decided I needed tickets SOON, haha.

This is why I wasn't really happy about the tons of home games we had to start the season... 1/21 - @ Cavaliers 1/22 - @ Knicks 1/24 - @ Raptors 1/26 - @ Wizards 1/27 - @ Pacers 1/29 - @ Sixers 1/31 - @ Celtics 2/1 - @ Grizzlies Three back-to-backs, eight consecutive road games, 12 days. Even worse, in March, we have four home games packed in there with 11 on the road, including three back-to-backs, all on the road, and a five-game road trip as well.

LOL, Positive Pete to the rescue. I'm sure Bosh will drop 30 on us, don't worry.

So trade one of the few players on your team that plays both offense and defense? I don't get this. If they are truly looking to deal Iggy, it's to wipe out the contract...and that means they probably won't get anything out of him. And THAT means they might as well rebuild.

It is a huge win for Cleveland, and I consider it a huge loss for the Lakers. Thing is, most of the people that do get involved with Lakers fans are those who only show their faces at the end of losses. They never discuss Lakers basketball until then, and that's why it's annoying and uncalled for. I know people don't like a lot of Lakers fans. If many of them saw me posting at TLN, they'd realize I don't, either. That doesn't make it right to turn into a smart ass and post unnecessary remarks in gameday losses, like Diesel (one of our banned members) used to do all the time. If members want to discuss the Lakers, they can do it. If they want to be happy about a loss, they can talk about it. They don't need to go any further than that, though. The Sixers have lost 28 games this season. I don't go in each game topic and laugh about it, just because I don't like a few Philly fans. In fact, I've discussed topics in a mature manner with them, including those about Dalembert, Iverson returning, Eddie Jordan, and many others...what members should be doing here. And you already know this isn't me swinging at you, just a clarification.

I just didn't like Phil's decision to rest Bryant for seven minutes in the fourth, and the Lakers were pressing late in the shot clock on a TON of shots in the third, and looked to Bryant to bail them out. That was my only problem with the offense, really...just nobody was trying to get open, and they were spectators more than teammates (with the exception of Farmar and Brown, actually). The defense was bad. Kobe held West very well, did good on LeBron, and I actually liked what Farmar was doing out there (a first)...but other than that, it was hard for me to watch. Shaq may have had his way with Gasol and Bynum, but Bynum needs to put more effort into it. Gasol is rail thin compared to Shaq, but at least he tries to play physical basketball. Trying doesn't mean a lot if you don't produce, though.

Uh, actually, he didn't get owned defending LeBron. He contested a couple of shots, making him miss on a strongly-contested three as well, after he caught fire. Stop watching SportsCenter highlights and looking at boxscores. Haha, nice to pick up one blocking foul, though...LOL did you see Kobe drop that jumper on LeBron's face? Guess that means LeBron is getting old... Houston was a terrific defensive team last season, but LA isn't this year? The Rockets were 4th, defensively, while this year's Lakers are currently ranked 2nd. No, Kobe doesn't post up with both of our seven-footers in the game. You're dead wrong. He takes the post when one is out. If you think he posts up with both in the game, you might need to read up more on the triangle offense. And don't call me sweetheart. I don't swing that way.

Kobe is looking like an old man? LOL...did you see the game? And, no, Kobe doesn't post up when Bynum and Gasol are both in the game. The only time Kobe posts up is when Odom is running the offense, Bynum or Gasol are out of the game, AND he's got a smaller defender on him (ex. West). Bryant was getting doubled, and stuck in corners, without posting up. It happened three consecutive times, at one point. Nobody comes out to defend LeBron at the three point line, which is why he's attempted 15-20 threes in his last two games, and why he has a career high in threes attempted per game this season. Yes, I watch my Lakers, every game. Since Gasol's return, Kobe has posted up 75% less. And the doubles put on LeBron, when they happen, have slowed him quite a bit. Refer to Houston and what they did to him last season sometime in February, and also check into the Magic's game against LeBron in two of the three games they played Cleveland last season.

Just imagine what Bosh does for that problem, and how much that opens up Bryant (or Bosh, or whoever they want).

Amare isn't the starting center for the Suns, and he plays the majority of his time at the four. Good way to sneak in an extra PF, though.

By the way, it's still a loss, doesn't matter when it happened. When was losing a good thing? There are no moral victories, and people will find this out if we end up losing home court advantage by one game.

They don't double because the Cavaliers are the best three-point shooting team in the NBA. They have Mo, Parker, West, Gibson, Moon and Ilgauskas, all who can make open threes at will. Teams won't double Shaq, either, even though he can still have his way with most centers in the NBA right now. Kobe saw a double every single time he touched the ball in the second half tonight. I didn't see a single double on LeBron until he hit the paint, which is just ridiculous if we're not sticking Bryant on him.

Yeah, my Firefox has been acting up quite a bit on Facebook, actually...lots of delayed loading, and the spell check is just ruined on the new version. I won't ever switch to IE, though...but I'm thinking about Chrome.

Nah, that reply was just mocking another from a football topic. I actually enjoy when people root against the Lakers, believe it or not. Otherwise, I would've opened up a Lakers board (like I had planned on doing) instead of OTR. How many times did we double LeBron this game? How many teams actually double him? Kobe is the better defender, has a better jumper and better post game. That, alone makes him better. Sticking Ron Artest on LeBron, out on an island, isn't proving much to me. Bryant would've lit Ron up for 50 if that happened last year against Houston.

Good job sucking, Ron. Kobe should've defended him, like he did both times last season. Ron is in way over his head. Houston played excellent zone defense against LeBron. It was never just Artest. Figures, though. Maybe Artest needs to go back to watching Shane Battier and the way he puts a hand in his assignments' faces and does what he can to stay in front of them, instead of flying past their shooting arm or gambling for a steal.

Shocked.