BREAKING NEWS!! : Gary Payton agrees to sign with Lakers!!!!

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: BamBam215
Lakers will be unstoppable whether or not they get malone now. Last season was a joke because Fisher could not D up on ANY other younger guards, hence we were whooped by the likes of Bulls, Warriors, etc. We now have three of the five positions locked down. THere's no way any team can compete.

what's with all this "we" talk?
are you Mark Madsen secretly posting on AT with a gay handle?

 

[First]

LOL, anyone else remember the ATer's here saying how the Lakers would never get Payton....

Anyway, the Lakers don't need to change a thing about this team with Kobe, Shaq and Payton on the floor (screw Malone). All the Lakers need to do is work with the rookies and develop the second year veterans and it's all over (assuming the Spurs don't sign Kidd or someone nearly as good).

 

[wyvrn]

Ok Lakers are going to be good. But there is a chance egos could ruin it, like has happened in Dallas and Portland. But going into the season if they get malone and payton, you have to make them #1. The other three:

Dallas
Nowitzki is a top ten player with plenty of upside left, Nash and Finley are all-star calibre. If they get Mourning, they have a legit all-around center for the first time in their history. Van Exel, Najera, Howard, Bell, and LaFrentz form a solid bench.

Sacramento
Peja, Webber, Bibby, and Jackson make this an intriguing team. Their bench is very deep, but if Webber can't stay healthy they are not going to advance in the playoffs.

San Antonio
The big question is who will they sign. They need a starting center or PF to help Duncan. It looks like PJ Brown or Brad Miller might be viable alternatives, but neither is dominating. Duncan and Parker form a good one-two punch, with Ginobili and Rose interesting 3rd and 4th scoring options. They also need to resign Claxton.

 

[masterxfob]

Anyway, the Lakers don't need to change a thing about this team with Kobe, Shaq and Payton on the floor (screw Malone).

i agree, screw malone! but the thing is, we need him or another big man that can keep defenders honest.

All the Lakers need to do is work with the rookies and develop the second year veterans and it's all over

you know the rookies will hardly see any playing time at all, there's just not enough minutes to go around.

(assuming the Spurs don't sign Kidd or someone nearly as good).

if the lakers sign both payton and malone, the spurs have no chance of a repeat. the spurs would have no chance with a man to man defense, 2-3 zone defense might work, but zone defenses in general kinda suck.

 

[BamBam215]

Originally posted by: manly

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

comparing them to the blazers is an apples to oranges comparison.

True, but there's still some validity to the general question of whether these two would make the Lakers unbeatable. The 2000 Blazers were better (primarily depth) than the Lakers, but they ultimately choked because they didn't have a go-to guy in the crunch. Even now, Wallace is their only superstar, but he's not somebody you can feel comfortable entrusting the franchise to.

Anyhow, obviously adding Malone & GP would seriously improve this Lakers team. But the question is will it result in 75 regular season victories, and an unblemished 16-0 playoffs run? Or for unforeseen reasons, would this dream team falter and underachieve? Of course, most people would expect something closer to the former. But we won't know until they start playing the games.

I know this is the NBA and baseball is completely different, but nobody expected the Yankees to lose in 2001 or get blown out by the Anaheim Angels last year. Personally, I'll be less interested in watching Malone and GP ride the backs of Shaq and Kobe for easy rings, and I'm a Lakers fan.

no disrespect to baseball but baseball has to do with luck + skills. most of your scoring will be relied on other people besides yourself. in basketball, it's heavily tipped towards skill to win the game, hence it's a lot easier to predict the outcome of a series.

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: Evan Lieb
All the Lakers need to do is work with the rookies and develop the second year veterans and it's all over (assuming the Spurs don't sign Kidd or someone nearly as good).

Isn't that an oxymoron? Second year veterans?

 

[BamBam215]

Originally posted by: mss242
Some people like BamBam identify with their fav sports franchise a little too much. Notice how many times he used 1st person PLURAL in the above posts. Obsess much?

read into the lines a little too much? jealous much? must be a kings/spurs fan much?

 

[Imported]

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: Evan Lieb
All the Lakers need to do is work with the rookies and develop the second year veterans and it's all over (assuming the Spurs don't sign Kidd or someone nearly as good).

Isn't that an oxymoron? Second year veterans?

Well they can't be second year rookies now can they?

 

[BamBam215]

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: BamBam215
Lakers will be unstoppable whether or not they get malone now. Last season was a joke because Fisher could not D up on ANY other younger guards, hence we were whooped by the likes of Bulls, Warriors, etc. We now have three of the five positions locked down. THere's no way any team can compete.

what's with all this "we" talk?
are you Mark Madsen secretly posting on AT with a gay handle?

sorry if i've been a laker fan since i was 4-5 yrs old. maybe i feel like i have a closer tie with my home team than those of you who have probably been cheering for a lost cause.

 

[nitsuj3580]

Originally posted by: BamBam215

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: BamBam215
Lakers will be unstoppable whether or not they get malone now. Last season was a joke because Fisher could not D up on ANY other younger guards, hence we were whooped by the likes of Bulls, Warriors, etc. We now have three of the five positions locked down. THere's no way any team can compete.

what's with all this "we" talk?
are you Mark Madsen secretly posting on AT with a gay handle?

sorry if i've been a laker fan since i was 4-5 yrs old. maybe i feel like i have a closer tie with my home team than those of you who have probably been cheering for a lost cause.

I love when people make this retarded, "why do you say We, you're not on the team" comment.

I'm the same with my hometown university. Been going to Syracuse b'ball/football games since I was 4-5 and always refer to them as "we" when talking about Cuse sports. These teams wouldn't excel if it weren't for the fans and in that sense, WE can feel like part of our hometown team. Why do you think people refer to the crowd as the 6th man in b'ball for the home team? It's a huge advantage and can have a big effect on the game.

 

[Lager]

Now trade Derek Fisher for Steve Kerr.

 

[Storm]

Awesome pick-up for the Lakers, but its a ton of pressure for them to win.

Most recently who would have thought the Lakers would have stunk of the beginning of the season and subsequently lost in the playoffs?

Who thought Webber would get hurt same goes for Dirk?

Sh!t happens all the time in the NBA, sometimes you just never know. Going to be an interesting season thats for sure.

 

[prodigy]

Lakers look SCARY next season. :Q

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: BamBam215

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: BamBam215
Lakers will be unstoppable whether or not they get malone now. Last season was a joke because Fisher could not D up on ANY other younger guards, hence we were whooped by the likes of Bulls, Warriors, etc. We now have three of the five positions locked down. THere's no way any team can compete.

what's with all this "we" talk?
are you Mark Madsen secretly posting on AT with a gay handle?

sorry if i've been a laker fan since i was 4-5 yrs old. maybe i feel like i have a closer tie with my home team than those of you who have probably been cheering for a lost cause.

lol i say "we" as well...and i was a lakers fan since i was in the womb man..since my mom watched the lakers while she was pregnant....so i beat you to it man..

WE will be a pretty crazy team...

who bids for the first team to go undefeated?..hehe jk.....it'll be really tough next year to beat US..oops did i say that again..hehehehehe


i crapped in my pants, puked, went deaf, no voice coming out of my mouth, jumped up, all @ the same time when i saw this in the sports headlines.... :Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q:Q

 

[supesman]

I just want J Kidd and Zo on the spurs, let the lakers have their GP and K Malone. If the spurs and lakers both get their respective two players....I can't wait for the playoffs next year!!!!

 

[iamme]

If the Lakers get K. Malone and Payton.......anything short of winning a championship will be a failure.

 

[AUMM]

i hate malone, hopefully he doesnt go to the lakers

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: supesman
I just want J Kidd and Zo on the spurs, let the lakers have their GP and K Malone. If the spurs and lakers both get their respective two players....I can't wait for the playoffs next year!!!!

i definitely agree

me = lakers fan...

you = spurs fan...

good luck to the fans for their respective teams! aha this is great...

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: supesman
I just want J Kidd and Zo on the spurs, let the lakers have their GP and K Malone. If the spurs and lakers both get their respective two players....I can't wait for the playoffs next year!!!!

and yet another Finals that takes place in the 2nd or 3rd round of the western playoffs.


The amount of leadership the lakers have now is unbelievable. We'll see if that translates into outstanding team play tho. Too many generals and not enough privates isn't always a great recipe for success.

If anyone can make it gel tho its most likely the zenmaster.

 

[Ranger X]

Originally posted by: supesman
I just want J Kidd and Zo on the spurs, let the lakers have their GP and K Malone. If the spurs and lakers both get their respective two players....I can't wait for the playoffs next year!!!!

Zo is not the same player he once was. I can't see him playing more than 30min a game.

 

[First]

Originally posted by: Ranger X

Originally posted by: supesman
I just want J Kidd and Zo on the spurs, let the lakers have their GP and K Malone. If the spurs and lakers both get their respective two players....I can't wait for the playoffs next year!!!!

Zo is not the same player he once was. I can't see him playing more than 30min a game.

That's not a fact, we'll simply have to wait and see about that (though it wouldn't surprise me).

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP

Originally posted by: supesman
I just want J Kidd and Zo on the spurs, let the lakers have their GP and K Malone. If the spurs and lakers both get their respective two players....I can't wait for the playoffs next year!!!!

i definitely agree

me = lakers fan...

you = spurs fan...

good luck to the fans for their respective teams! aha this is great...

Can you imagine this matchup in the WCF next year:

Lakers: Kobe, Shaq, Payton, Malone, whoever

Spurs: Parker, Kidd, Duncan, whoever

Jesus...H...Christ

 

[arcain]

Anyhow, obviously adding Malone & GP would seriously improve this Lakers team. But the question is will it result in 75 regular season victories, and an unblemished 16-0 playoffs run? Or for unforeseen reasons, would this dream team falter and underachieve? Of course, most people would expect something closer to the former. But we won't know until they start playing the games.

Nobody knows right? Better to try with some stars, then to try with some mediocre players.

There will always be some whiners out there "Ahh, their chemistry is going to suck now" when they add a couple of good players. Or when the add a couple of mediocre players, "Ahh, why didn't they try to get Payton?"

I figure the GM is going to get bitched out one way or another, and if I were in his shoes, I'd go for the stars.

 

[BamBam215]

Originally posted by: arcain

Anyhow, obviously adding Malone & GP would seriously improve this Lakers team. But the question is will it result in 75 regular season victories, and an unblemished 16-0 playoffs run? Or for unforeseen reasons, would this dream team falter and underachieve? Of course, most people would expect something closer to the former. But we won't know until they start playing the games.

Nobody knows right? Better to try with some stars, then to try with some mediocre players.

There will always be some whiners out there "Ahh, their chemistry is going to suck now" when they add a couple of good players. Or when the add a couple of mediocre players, "Ahh, why didn't they try to get Payton?"

I figure the GM is going to get bitched out one way or another, and if I were in his shoes, I'd go for the stars.

lakers GM has finally taken a step forward in the right direction this year in making it a top priority to fill the PG and PF position. remember when lakers kept on drafting and signing SG? kobe plays for most of the 48 minutes anyways. no one could ever understood why the lakers had so many SG.

i personally think the signing of GP and KM will not be too much of a conflict on existing team chemistry. remember that phil jackson is also in on this. even if kupchak knows diddly squat, phil knows his stuff.

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

On paper the Lakers look like a good team but I question how well they really will do.

 

[NewSc2]

Originally posted by: Evan Lieb

Originally posted by: Ranger X

Originally posted by: supesman
I just want J Kidd and Zo on the spurs, let the lakers have their GP and K Malone. If the spurs and lakers both get their respective two players....I can't wait for the playoffs next year!!!!

Zo is not the same player he once was. I can't see him playing more than 30min a game.

That's not a fact, we'll simply have to wait and see about that (though it wouldn't surprise me).

Originally posted by: DanTMWTMP

Originally posted by: supesman
I just want J Kidd and Zo on the spurs, let the lakers have their GP and K Malone. If the spurs and lakers both get their respective two players....I can't wait for the playoffs next year!!!!

i definitely agree

me = lakers fan...

you = spurs fan...

good luck to the fans for their respective teams! aha this is great...

Can you imagine this matchup in the WCF next year:

Lakers: Kobe, Shaq, Payton, Malone, whoever

Spurs: Parker, Kidd, Duncan, whoever

Jesus...H...Christ

Spurs would not hang onto Parker if Kidd signs on. I think the Lakers with Kobe and a healthy Shaq with a decent team could beat Kidd and Duncan with a decent team (although it will of course be close), but Kobe, Shaq, and Payton definitely have the 1-up on the number 2 NBA team. Kobe, Shaq, Payton, Malone? unheard of