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Doesn't matter. They will not win a title this year. "the Colorado Kid" Kobe-won Kenobi is not getting any help and they act like they should just be given a free pass to the finals because they are the Lakers.

They need to work out some kind of way to keep Ariza, Hes been solid all season...& Vaughn9 the LAKERS will win the ship this year.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 07:35 AM ET  05.27 by I'm Rick James

They need to work out some kind of way to keep Ariza, Hes been solid all season...& Vaughn9 the LAKERS will win the ship this year.

Nope not with the lacka dasical attitude they have on the court. The Rockets gave them all they could handel with out 2 of their big 3 players. The Lakers are on a sense of entitlement here and will get 2nd place should they get by Denver.

Looking at their salary situation they will be over the 100mil threshold if they decide to keep both Ariza and Odom as Bynum's new contract kicks in. This also means they will be paying at least 40 million in luxury tax to the league for the next couple of years. What's even worse Kobe can opt out after this or next season and command a long term salary that will guarantee to make the Lakers payroll the highest in the league for at least the next three years.

The combination of young Bynum and Ariza with Gasol's style of play easily negates what older Odom brings to the table so they have to let him walk. It's a pill to swallow but that will be the best thing to do from a financial and basketball perspective.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 07:42 AM ET  05.27 by Vaughn9

Nope not with the lacka dasical attitude they have on the court. The Rockets gave them all they could handel with out 2 of their big 3 players. The Lakers are on a sense of entitlement here and will get 2nd place should they get by Denver.

Lakers win the Denver Series and the title. Cleveland does not look like they are playing "lacka dasical attitude" as you put it but they are down 3-1 (not out series though) this is the playoffs some series get stretched. How many 7 games series did Boston have last year? and they were strecthed to 7 games by Atlanta and they won the title.

Ariza Stays the rest can go it would be nice to keep Shannon Brown on the cheap. I try to keep Odom too only if I cannot convince Artest to come on over if he comes Odom can go too.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:20 AM ET  05.27 by AO7

Lakers win the Denver Series and the title. Cleveland does not look like they are playing "lacka dasical attitude" as you put it but they are down 3-1 (not out series though) this is the playoffs some series get stretched. How many 7 games series did Boston have last year? and they were strecthed to 7 games by Atlanta and they won the title. Ariza Stays the rest can go it would be nice to keep Shannon Brown on the cheap. I try to keep Odom too only if I cannot convince Artest to come on over if he comes Odom can go too.

nope Pau is the A-Rod of the NBA Playoffs, he just disapears. Kobe can not do it all by him self. Either Cleveland or Orland will beat L.A. because L.A. thinks they have allready won the title and all of this is just a formality. I would not be suprised to see Denver beat them.

Ariza is gone. He has his coming out party this year and now teams are gonna want him more. The guy has size and athleticism. His defense is good and his offense has improved. When a guy is just making chump change and then gets a chance to get a bigger pay then you must take that bigger pay because it might not come again. Guys w/ money wants championships and always say that money has nothing to do w/ it. Guys making less is all about getting paid and championship if it will come w/ it.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 08:25 AM ET  05.27 by Vaughn9

nope Pau is the A-Rod of the NBA Playoffs, he just disapears. Kobe can not do it all by him self. Either Cleveland or Orland will beat L.A. because L.A. thinks they have allready won the title and all of this is just a formality. I would not be suprised to see Denver beat them.

Hate the Lakers much there vaughn9 ? Typical of a Spurs fan though.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 07:42 AM ET  05.27 by Vaughn9

Nope not with the lacka dasical attitude they have on the court. The Rockets gave them all they could handel with out 2 of their big 3 players. The Lakers are on a sense of entitlement here and will get 2nd place should they get by Denver.

You can't spell so your opinion doesn't matter.

I think the Lakers have a tough road ahead of them to win the championship this year, particularly starting with Denver. The issue in Denver is that Derek Fisher is having trouble guarding Billups and Kobe can't guard both Billups and Anthony at the same time.

On the other hand, if they face Orlando in the Finals (inevitable) Gasol is going to have to get strong in the post or Dwight Howard is going to set an all time dunk record for a series.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 08:25 AM ET  05.27 by Vaughn9

nope Pau is the A-Rod of the NBA Playoffs, he just disapears. Kobe can not do it all by him self. Either Cleveland or Orland will beat L.A. because L.A. thinks they have allready won the title and all of this is just a formality. I would not be suprised to see Denver beat them.

Scottie Pippen was the A-rod of NBA playoffs before he became "Scottie Pippen" How many years has Gasol been on a playoff team? Every team playing thinks they have won the title already. Cleveland did up til last night. You sound like a soundbite from "Kenny, Ernie, and Charles"

They better keep Ariza... he came to the team as someone that only dunked and played some D.... now he's a much more complete player offensively and has further improved his D... he's been a great addition even if they gave up Maurice Evans to get him and weakened their depth at the 2 guard.

If the Lakers are to get rid of anyone, it has to be Bynum and Walton. Bynum is not giving them anything this post season. Odem is in the same conversation, but he really keeps that team afloat during stretches.

Sasha, Walton, and Bynum are garbage. I tried hard to convince myself otherwise, but no.

Keep Ariza and Brown at any price. Those two guys are great.

Sounds like a no-brainer to me. What do Mbenga, Powell, or Shannon Brown contribute? Problem solved.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 08:42 AM ET  05.27 by Guam Baller

Ariza is gone. He has his coming out party this year and now teams are gonna want him more. The guy has size and athleticism. His defense is good and his offense has improved. When a guy is just making chump change and then gets a chance to get a bigger pay then you must take that bigger pay because it might not come again. Guys w/ money wants championships and always say that money has nothing to do w/ it. Guys making less is all about getting paid and championship if it will come w/ it.

Agree-
when you're a younger player....who's never earned a big deal
you go for the $$$... cause you're an injur away from nothing
once you've had your payday- THEN you can find 'better' situations

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 08:51 AM ET  05.27 by AO7

How many years has Gasol been on a playoff team?

good point-
he did help the lakers get to the FINALS last year

- it's amazing how narrowly focused & short term memory some people have

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 09:41 AM ET  05.27 by jgb

good point-he did help the lakers get to the FINALS last year- it's amazing how narrowly focused & short term memory some people have

Thats why we call them haters...

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 08:25 AM ET  05.27 by Vaughn9

nope Pau is the A-Rod of the NBA Playoffs, he just disapears. Kobe can not do it all by him self. Either Cleveland or Orland will beat L.A. because L.A. thinks they have allready won the title and all of this is just a formality. I would not be suprised to see Denver beat them.

How has Pau disappeared? He's avg'd 18.3ppg/11.3rpg/1.88bpg while shooting 57%. And in the Denver series, he's avg 13 board and shooting 63%.

The players that seem to be MIA are Odom, Fisher, Bynum... or the rest of the Lakers minus Pau and kobe!!!

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 09:50 AM ET  05.27 by I'm Rick James

Thats why we call them haters...

No, you call them haters because you dont have the brain power to come up with anything else to call them.

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 09:50 AM ET  05.27 by Chi-Town Riddy

How has Pau disappeared? He's avg'd 18.3ppg/11.3rpg/1.88bpg while shooting 57%. And in the Denver series, he's avg 13 board and shooting 63%.The players that seem to be MIA are Odom, Fisher, Bynum... or the rest of the Lakers minus Pau and kobe!!!

bottom line is that with a Kobe/Pau nucleus-
for the next 2-3 years the Lakers will be able to compete for a title
It don't really matter WHO ELSE is on the team.

Ariza is a nice young all-around player that ANY TEAM would
love to have cause he can do all the necessary work-
defense, run, score a little -ala Tayshaun Prince-
the lakers aren't letting him go unless some team comes and
throws max-type $$ at him, which would be stupid- see Luol Deng
in which case- thanks but no thanks....you don't pay your 3-5th
best player THAT much $$

He'll be a Laker next year...Odom will be gone as he should be for being so inconsistent and Mbenga and Powell make no money and barely play. Keep Shannon Brown and Ariza, dump the rest.