NBA 2K13: Why did the Lakers disappoint?

[mpac]

IMO, they disappoint due to team chemistry, Kobe injury and coach don't know how to utilize both Dwight and Pau, when playing together.

2k-wise they are contenders, but IRL they wont be unless they respect each other and play with fitting roles.

[Melbournelad]

Quote: Originally Posted by Eaglerock562

Another thing that needs to be mentioned is that the Lakers tried this formula before back in the 2003-04 season when they signed Gary Payton and Karl Malone. Malone suffered his biggest injury of his career shortly into the season and Payton did play all 82 games but was not as effective as he was expected to be. Even though they did get to the NBA Finals, they were embarrassed and dismantled by a younger, hungrier and more team oriented Detroit Pistons, who I might add are the most recent team to win a championship without a "superstar" player. So the formula didn't work in the 2003-04 season and 9 years later, the Lakers tried it again and once again injuries and having chemistry issues came to a head. Instead of Malone, it was Nash, who missed the most games of his career in a single season this year and other then several games it was Howard taking Payton's place playing most of the season, but again expectations were not met. With Gasol undergoing and having successful surgery it was reported today, he will need 12 weeks (3 months) then he will be cleared for basketball activities. One would think that him having surgery might make it a long shot that a team would be willing to make a trade for him without seeing how he responds after the surgery, but one thing the Lakers can't do prematurely is trade him without having Howard signed. At least with Gasol you know since he is under contract that he is going to be here, but if Howard was to leave and you trade Gasol, you've lost both big men and left with what? Jordan Hill and Robert Sacre? No disrespect, but that right there would call for Jim Buss's head on a stick and probably Kupchak's job. The Lakers are going to be without a doubt salary cap strapped this off season. They will not have much to offer free agents other then the chance to play along side Kobe, Howard, Gasol, Nash and at best a chance to win a ring. Now that would appeal to those free agents who have been in the league long enough and have made a good amount of $$ that they aren't driven by the almighty dollar rather they are driven by wanting to win a ring now. Looking at the free agents coming up this summer here is a list of possible players the Lakers should target... Point Guards - Daniel Gibson, Jarrett Jack, Nate Robinson Shooting Guards - J.J. Redick, Kyle Korver, Gary Neal, Randy Foye, Nick Young Forwards - Lamar Odom, Mike Dunleavy, Chase Budinger, DaJuan Blair, J.J. Hickson Centers - Chris Anderson, Joel Przybilla

You really think for Jarrett jack, J.J Hickson, J.J Redick, Randy Foye or Kyle Korver is going to come and play for us for less than 2 million? Because all we have to offer is the mini MLE.

[Narigo1]

1. Injuries
Dwight came back to quickly from his back injury and wasn't quite himmself at the beginning of the year. Steve Nash had various injuries throughout the season. Gasol, Blake, and Artest was injured and then finally Kobe torn his achillies at the end of the season

2. Defense
People like to point out that D'Anoni was the main issue why their defense wasn't good but ouside Dwight and Artest they didn't have an capable defenders. Nash, Jamison, Meeks are bad defenders. Heck even Kobe was very inconisstent on defense this year.

[Facts]

As a non-Laker fan surround by "Greatest Team Ever Assembled" Claimers back in Aug.-Sept., the Lakers did not disappoint. Took them til the last day to make the playoffs and then they got swept. lol

[Vni]

Props to you guys for discussing Lakers without trolling/insulting/hating. Refreshing.

[DirtyNeedles]

I had to watch and listen about this train wreck the entire season.

1. Injuries - everyone was injured at some point and time and the players didn't get to gel because of that. What do you expect with all the old players you signed. I remember they got rid of Fisher because he was old and when they signed Nash everyone was like this is the best back court of all time! It's funny because fisher is younger than nash!

2.) Dwight bitching about not being #1 option. When he finally realized he would only be robin if kobe was around he actually played better.

3.) Coaching

[Phreezy P]

* 7th Seed

[Grey_Osprey]

I don't think they disappointed. I think people had too high of expectations for this teamConsidering the age of the team, lack of athletism, lack of defensive mentality (you have to want to play D), etc, etc, etc. Honestly, I thought they were the 4th or 5th best team in the west when healthy, let alone when hurt and all the other distractions/hoopla surrounding this team.

But the misery gets even better. They are in a serious mess salary cap wise. If they sign Howard to the max deal, they will be somewhere around $100M in payroll for next year. With the new CBA rules, they will have to pay around $80M in taxes. Plus, the new CBA has non-monetary penalities too, such as a smaller mid-level exception, no bi-annual exception, cannot receive a player in a sign and trade transaction, and a few other restrictions. They could be looking at a scenerio where they can only resign their own players and offer league minimums.