[Stranger]

I have lost all interest in the Lakers, and B-ball in general. Ever since I started skating and now playing hockey - I AM OBSESSED!!

That said, very disappointing in the Kings end of season. But the last 5 years have been pretty spectacular to watch.

I left SoCal to attend Uni in the Midwest, and we had an outdoor rink in the winter. Bought myself a pair of hockey skates and totally got into the sport. It was my exercise 3+ nights per week, and sooo very relaxing. I really miss it.

PS. When I was in High School ever extra penny I had went to buying Kings, Dodgers, Rams & Laker tix... but that was when we had Magic and Showtime. Ahhh, that was a fun time in sports history.

[Hacksaw]

True that Stranger. We had it great as youth / young men. Except for the Rams moving it's been good a lot.

This Dodgers TV thing, and the passing of Jerry Buss / Chick Hearn has changed the Lakers and diminished their ability to right the ship.
imo, as much greatness as Phil Jackson bestowed upon us, him having conflict with the logo and forcing him out was the deathblow the Lakers may never recover from. And that was on Dr Buss' watch.
Kupchack is good but he is no Jerry West. Look what he's doing in Oakland.

[Hacksaw_64]

Pray for the #1 pick. Simmons wants to stay in purple and gold....

[snackdaddy]

True that Stranger. We had it great as youth / young men. Except for the Rams moving it's been good a lot.

This Dodgers TV thing, and the passing of Jerry Buss / Chick Hearn has changed the Lakers and diminished their ability to right the ship.
imo, as much greatness as Phil Jackson bestowed upon us, him having conflict with the logo and forcing him out was the deathblow the Lakers may never recover from. And that was on Dr Buss' watch.
Kupchack is good but he is no Jerry West. Look what he's doing in Oakland.

My concern is the Buss kids running the team into the ground and never bringing them out of it. They're totally run into the ground right now. But the hope is after Kobe retires they will have money to pair some all stars with the rookies and maybe they get one more top 3 pick next year. Then maybe they can rebound and be a contender again.

But the way they've handled things lately doesn't give me confidence. Jim Buss appears to have something personally against the best coach they've ever had. I actually have more faith in Jeannie to bring the team back than I do Jimmy. He's picked some pretty bad coaches. And he's damaged the reputation his father built for so many years. I wish he'd say something stupid like Sterling and gets forced to sell.

[Hacksaw]

snack. Jimbo is not a stupid guy. All of Doc Buss's kids are sharp in what they do, but the edginess and riverboat gambler approach of the businessman, investor, chemist, philanthropist and late owner of the team was unparalleled in the NBA and cannot be matched by all his offspring combined. Forget all the babe's he was nailing into his late 70's, he had a sense about things and a gamblers vibrato. He had a calculated feel and the balls to spend his jack on it.
Ask Paula Abdul about that. Good idea Jerry !! Cheerleaders in short skirts at basketball games.
I really respected that owner. Not even the wealthy arrogant Jack Kent Cook of the 70's Lakers had the attention with the league, vision, or drive for greatness that Buss had.
The mighty Lakers were the kings of the league, but that my brothers is in the 'WAS' category now.

Sooooo, how is this going to get fixed?

KOBE NEEDS TO HANG THEM UP !!!!.. Enough already. And I really like the loyalty message the Lakers are sending and at an astounding price to boot. BUT, Kobe, as good as he still is, is tired. We need a new coach, new swag and to move forward. We are stuck in the past and we are going to be left in it until the team turns over. Kobe is that stuck part.

Some kind of beat-down was happening (when Buss passed) by the NBA. The CP3# deal, Odom, and a feeling of piling on the wounded bad boys. And then the Clippers seemed to get handed our lost players and spotlight. They are balling right now.

After KB 8-24 is off the books, (and god bless him for what he did bring), it will bring a new culture to the Lakers. I still believe in Mitch but the team is a rudderless ship with the remaining Buss's at the helm. Wish Gentlemen Jerry, Zeke from Cabin Creek ,was still our navigator.

[Hacksaw]

Kobe's final tour can't end soon enough..

[Elvis]

[Stranger]

Chick Hearn, Vin Skully... these are people who such a huge part of my youth.

[TSFH Fan]

[snackdaddy]

Well, looking at the standings as of today I think there's better than a decent chance the Lakers can keep that top 3 protected pick. Sooner or later they have to give it up but you want it be in the teens or 20's. That means you had a better season. Right now they're in full rebuild/tank mode. And thats fine. Just don't trade that pick and don't blow it by picking the wrong guy. I still think Russell will be pretty good one day. He just needs to learn some things. Russell, Randle and Clarkson are a nice young core, but they need to pick it in the next year or two. A couple of all star vets wouldn't hurt. And they need a better coach. Scott is serving his purpose right now as they're losing a lot. That helps them keep the pick for another year.