NBA Playoffs Thread

For the record, my support of Tirico was based only on his criticism of Bynum. Any suggestion he made that Bynum's elbow was representative of/damaging to Phil Jackson's legacy is, of course, ludicrous.

 

Given their current situation, not sure why anyone would want to be the next Lakers coach (other than the obvious paycheck one). Following the legend Phil Jackson with an ancient rotation of over the hill geezers, no young stars, soon facing a huge rebuilding job in front of a fan base accustomed to almost nothing but unbroken success. That job is the virtual definition of "set up to fail."

Have no idea who it'll be, but I'd bet the farm he'll be gone within a couple years.

 

Or we could get a repeat of 20 years ago, when the Lakers fell in the second round to Phoenix after three consecutive Finals appearances. They were written off as "OLD!!!!!" at an average starter age of about 30-31, and had one more run in them.

This team is a year from a complete age-related collapse as far as title contention goes. They ran into a Dallas team that asserted itself, and is very well-coached. Depending on the commitment level this offseason, the Lakers just might have one more deep run in them.

Guarantee Kobe will let everyone know just how hard they need to work in the coming months (insert stupid Colorado-related joke here). And unlike the Shaq Lakers, they will listen.

And when it is over, Bynum is a pretty solid piece to build around. He has had some injury issues, and needs to grow the hell up. But he can be a very good NBA center for the next decade.

With the same caveat that every single player really carries: "Provided he stays healthy."

 

I heard Tim Floyd threw his name in the ring.

I think it'd still be fairly attractive position for most guys. They're not going to fall off the face of the earth like the 2005 Lakers or the 1999 Bulls. As for the rebuilding that will certainly need to be done in a few years, LA will obviously remain a fairly attractive place for free agents, so a coach should realize that there's always the chance for a fairly quick turnaround, if there were down seasons (although that guy might not survive the down years, as you said).

It will be an interesting hire because outside of Phil, Buss has resisted going for the big names. I guess Rudy would be considered one. But the other hires: Westhead taking over for McKinney (didn't have much choice with that one), an unheralded Riley taking over for Westhead, Dunleavy, Pfund, Magic (that did happen, even if I've erased it from memory), Del Harris, Rambis. Seems like Shaw would be the choice, unless they do want to scrap the triangle. Then...Rick Adelman? Riley? Coach K?

And perfect comparison Piotr. A lot of people definitely thought they were done after '90, especially when they started off slowly under Dunleavy. And I'm still convinced that if Magic hadn't retired, they would have had a great chance of going back to the Finals in 1992, after they signed Threatt to be the backup, who was about 75 times better than Larry Drew/Tony Smith.

Or maybe it will be like the Bulls after the 1995 fiasco against Orlando. Yeah, Kobe's got a ton more miles on his legs, but when Jordan was Kobe's age now, 32, he'd won "only" three titles.

They need some tweaks, not an overhaul (their cap situation probably prevents that anyway), no matter what the Magic man says.

 

OKC, NO, Dallas and maybe Memphis will be strong teams next season in the West with only OKC and Dallas probably being teams capable of winning it all. That's not exactly an insurmountable task to edge out these teams for the Lakers if they can regroup.

Then, who knows what the Lakers can pulloff in free agency in the next few seasons?

 

A living cinch to be a disaster.

Please, folks, tell me again how classy the Lakers are . . . especially off yesterday afternoon's pathetic (hell, disgusting isn't too strong) display of bad manners and worse focus.

 

Who's been raving about how classy the Lakers are?

 

That Bynum thing was one of the worst things I've witnessed on the NBA court in 40+ years. Just gutless, hitting a guy who's defenseless. Way to be a tough guy Mr. Bynum on someone who's smaller than you were in 6th grade. Those guys are frauds; always picking on a little guy to show their "toughness." As someone who's been Barea-sized my whole life, this is not the first time I've ever seen this (and big guys who do this are rarely prepared to back it up).

 

We're all agreed on Bynum's shot (although I think you might be a bit harsh, qt, as far as one of worst in 40 years).

But there's no doubt the league's changed. Imagine this happening today:

Dick Stockton barely raised his voice. Heinsohn, who probably sported a green erection after watching the replay, calls it a strategy.

 

Worst thing you've seen in 40 years? Cmon, it was bad but it happened far more than people are willing to remember before you weren't allowed hard fouls in the NBA

 

Jesus.

I've heard so many people overplay how awful and disgusting Bynum's cheap shot was. Yes, it was a cheap shot. Yes, he should be suspended for multiple games. But c'mon. Let's not pretend the 1980s NBA didn't exist. Bynum wouldn't have made a top 50 highlight reel from the cheap shots in the 80s. Or probably the 90s.

But it happened now, so it's THE WORST EVER!!!!