On November 06 2014 03:56 Ace wrote:
Damn, Kobe shot how many times? Like I said last year, Mike D'Antoni is a way, way, way better coach than people realize. Think some naysayers are starting to come around.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/an-nba-detective-story-who-in-the-lakers-organization-knows-theyre-tanking/

While this article is meant to be a joke, there is merit to the joke that Byron Scott was brought in to tank the season. He just doesn't know it. Kupchak doesn't mind Kobe shooting this much.

oneofthem

Cayman Islands24199 Posts

November 05 2014 22:03 GMT

#363

what the hell is lebron up to? yea bad games are expected at his age and mileage early in the season, but he sounds so defensive.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2014/11/lebron_james_message_cleveland.html

cLutZ

United States19574 Posts

November 05 2014 22:12 GMT

#364

Lebron is a mystery. Only Lebron knows what the fuck he is doing.

MassHysteria

United States3678 Posts

November 05 2014 22:35 GMT

#365

On November 06 2014 05:20 andrewlt wrote:

Show nested quote +

I've thought about this/discussed it actually. And the only thing that's worse than a franchise that is tanking on purpose is one that is tanking without even wanting to T_T

It could be one of the best-disguised tank jobs, or it could be that Kupchak and them are actually this bad at putting together a team. I would like to hope it is the first.

5 games into the season, we are hoping Nick Young comes back just so we can maybe win 20 games by the end lol.

edit: I mean it's like B.Scott was ported with ideas from 20 years ago..and start Ed Davis already!

oneofthem

Cayman Islands24199 Posts

November 05 2014 22:56 GMT

#366

makes too much sense not to be the case. they lose their pick if it's not top 5

RowdierBob

Australia13430 Posts

November 05 2014 23:34 GMT

#367

The Lakers aren't so much tanking as they are wandering in limbo. To me they're not a franchise that has the patience to rebuild through youth and the draft. They're signing middling vets to short term deals to maximize their chances of signing the big FAs each year.

Kupchak it seems is smart enough to make the team shit enough to pick up an additional asset in a high pick, which I assume they'll usr to trade for other big name players.

This is how I'm viewing their strategy. Theres no way they thought they actually had a decent team. If they did then some heads need to roll.

MassHysteria

United States3678 Posts

November 05 2014 23:54 GMT

#368

Good post yesterday for those who like reading the ombudsman: http://espn.go.com/blog/ombudsman/

edit: offtopic

oneofthem

Cayman Islands24199 Posts

November 05 2014 23:54 GMT

#369

this season with kobe on the team is their last opportunity to tank while maintaining fan interest. they lose a first round pick if it's not top 5. there's just no way in hell they are not tanking.

Jerubaal

United States7684 Posts

November 05 2014 23:55 GMT

#370

Lebron is actually Jesus and everything he does is part of the larger plan.

rabidch

United States20289 Posts

November 05 2014 23:57 GMT

#371

i didnt know mitch kupchak had the broken finger

MassHysteria

United States3678 Posts

November 06 2014 00:00 GMT

#372

On November 06 2014 08:34 RowdierBob wrote:
The Lakers aren't so much tanking as they are wandering in limbo. To me they're not a franchise that has the patience to rebuild through youth and the draft. They're signing middling vets to short term deals to maximize their chances of signing the big FAs each year.

Kupchak it seems is smart enough to make the team shit enough to pick up an additional asset in a high pick, which I assume they'll usr to trade for other big name players.

This is how I'm viewing their strategy. There's no way they thought they actually had a decent team. If they did then some heads need to roll.

Wandering in limbo can lead to accidental tanking, that's the problem. And they don't have to be the franchise to rebuild through youth and draft, which is different than saying they're not that type.
And signing vets like J.HIll and N. Young isn't bad. But that doesn't do anything in the long run.

You know what would make big FA want to some play in LA? If they knew they had I. Thomas and L. Stephenson on team-friendly contracts taking them through their prime. Instead they (stupidly) put all their eggs in the Carmelo basket hoping he would sign and by that time it was too late for Thomas.

No one doubts Kupchak is smart. The only thing we doubt is if he has free reign, which is unlikely. That could hinder him just as well.

I know some people enjoy reading the ombudsman on here and he had a good post yesterday fyi. http://espn.go.com/blog/ombudsman/

andrewlt

United States7702 Posts

November 06 2014 03:49 GMT

#373

Kupchak has done enough to get the benefit of the doubt that he knows what he's doing. I think he assembled a team that he knows will lose a lot of games even without him instructing them to tank. Kupchak is tanking on purpose. The coaches and players are not.

Doraemon

Australia14949 Posts

November 06 2014 04:27 GMT

#374

lol that call for lebron