Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 10:30 am  |  34 responses

Kobe Bryant: Top Seeds in the West ‘Not Realistic’ for the Lakers


Noting the drastic (and damaging) roster changes the Los Angeles Lakers have undergone this season, Kobe Bryant is managing expectations about what the team can accomplish prior to the Playoffs. But he continues to insist that they’ll be a dangerous foe once the postseason rolls around. From the LA Times: “Maybe the Black Mamba was playing possum, but Kobe Bryant all but conceded the top two spots in the Western Conference, saying the Lakers have endured too many alterations in the off-season to be atop the West. ‘Because of the changes in the players and so forth, you just can’t come out of the gates and fight for a 1 seed or a 2 seed,’ he said. ‘That’s just not realistic, but we want to build and get better and go into the playoffs with momentum.’ The Lakers are 13-9 overall and a dreadful 2-7 on the road. They have an opportunity to improve the latter with a six-game trip beginning Friday in Denver. Though they may falter on the road and remain in the middle of the playoff pack, Bryant didn’t seem overly concerned looking ahead to May. ‘I don’t know too many people that are comfortable playing us, know what I mean?’ he said, smiling. He hoped the Lakers could snare some momentum over the next couple of months, gradually improving as the regular season winds down. ‘If you figure things out going into the postseason and you get a good rhythm, that’s what you want, especially in a short season,’ he said.”

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  • Pearl Posted: Feb.2 at 10:35 am
    Waiting for D12 trade to save the season. Fire Mitch and Jim Buss. We need Jerry West back without chains.

  • Nikki Posted: Feb.2 at 10:48 am
    Whatever ur smoking I want some! Dwight Howard is not the answer we just need a freakin point guard there is no way in hell the lakers are gonna get rid of 2 of the best 7 footers in the league. We just need a point guard plain and simple

  • Red Posted: Feb.2 at 11:00 am
    He won’t go there he’s going to the Mavs. Oh and great mindset Kobe!

  • TC Posted: Feb.2 at 11:05 am
    No doubt we ain’t top three at the moment.

  • robb Posted: Feb.2 at 11:52 am
    Kobe’s just being realistic. I’m still mad the Lakers couldn’t get CP3, Howard would help a lot but a PG is the weakest link. Sessions or even Arenas would be a nice improvement.

  • Kobe Bryant Top Seeds in the West 'Unrealistic' for the Lakers - NBA Lakers Breaking News - LA Lakers NBA News Blog Posted: Feb.2 at 12:10 pm
    [...] Kobe Bryant: Top Seeds in the West 'Unrealistic' for the LakersSLAM OnlineNoting the drastic (and damaging) roster changes the Los Angeles Lakers have undergone this season, Kobe Bryant is managing expectations about what the team can accomplish prior to the Playoffs. But he continues to insist that they'll be a dangerous … [...]

  • Jake Posted: Feb.2 at 2:12 pm
    Jim Buss isn’t worth his weight in horse sh*t. I guess when your dad is such a powerful and successful owner you feel the need to make your own mark on the franchise…. As for Kup, he is a great GM but he needs to learn a thing or two about building for the future instead of the right now. Start Goudlock for the regular season. He scores more than Fish and at this point that’s what they need. When teams collapse on him he can kick it out to Kobe or dump the ball into Gasol and Bynum for easy buckets. with his 3 point shooting prowess, you know teams are going to send guys out after him which will open space in the lane. Sign Gilbert Arenas and bring him in as a 6th man, make Fish a role player, cut or trade Steve Blake. Problems solved…for now. I think the best course of action long term would be to get rid of Pau Gasol for maybe a J.J. Hickson or Michael Beasley(spelling)type player, a couple draft picks and some cash that can compliment Bynum and isn’t afraid to get hit. Develop his mid range jumper and the Lakers have a solid front court for the next 6-7 years.

  • LakeShow Posted: Feb.2 at 2:28 pm
    Jake, your all over the place, but I agree with you on a couple things. 1. Yes, Arenas should be signed. Yes he should also be a 6th man. I think Derek Fisher should still start, but play no more than 15-25 mins a night. IMO it would be stupid to cut Blake because he is the only true PG on the team. Goudelock is a shooter. Darius Morris has a pea for a brain and Arenas and Fisher have never done traditional pg play making duties. You cut the pea brain and keep the other 4 and use them as PG’s and 2 guards. Your going to need to go small, but who isn’t nowadays. That’s the best the Lakers can try and do for now.

  • jake Posted: Feb.2 at 3:00 pm
    I’m just a very frustrated laker fan lol… I dunno what to think of fish honestly. He’s like the mini version of Robert Horry. Worthless for half the game and then he bails the team out at the end.

  • LakeShow Posted: Feb.2 at 3:09 pm
    Haha. Believe me, I feel where your coming from. Don’t be too frustrated though. They are a good team right now, and with the right simple changes they can become very legit.

  • LakerNation Posted: Feb.2 at 3:18 pm
    DFish has to come to reality and retire, he cant gaurd no one and couldnt for a while. We need a point gaurd for sure and i dont think Arenas is a good fix for us. Get through this season as painless as possible and hunt down deron williams next year. Keep Bynum trade artest and gasol for Carmelo Anthony. Could keep the franchize winning and kobe can pass the torch over to Melo or deron. It will never happen but a fan can wish.

  • LP Posted: Feb.2 at 3:20 pm
    Kobe: “75 Million dollars seems unrealistic, Vanessa…..you wasn’t with me shooting in the gym……”

  • Sean B Posted: Feb.2 at 3:25 pm
    Who would trade for Ron at this moment? And there is no way Kobe would pass the torch off just like that…he’s hanging onto it for as long as he can.

  • LakerNation Posted: Feb.2 at 3:28 pm
    Hey Artest still got some gas left in his tank, u must aint see him in that clippers game. Plus it would be a package deal WorldPeace and Gasol. We could pull it off, and Kobe just trying to get six rings to tie MJ. He will call it quits after that trust me.

  • LakeShow Posted: Feb.2 at 3:53 pm
    LakerNation, your wrong and unrealistic about everything.

  • LakerNation Posted: Feb.2 at 4:00 pm
    you are absolutely right lakeshow, no one on this blog is being realistic we’re just pumping out a whole bunch of what-ifs and opinions. Nothing serious….. pipe down.

  • vctmac Posted: Feb.2 at 4:20 pm
    ^^ LakerNation/LakeShow
    The lakers are done.
    kobe is gna shoot as much and whenever he gets the oppurtunity throughout the season, and jus wait untill he gets to the playoffs its gna increase. no one is can or will fill the 3 for the lakers. world peace is a hassle and matt barnes? ill stop at tht for the 3.
    they have no backup shooting guard. jason kapono is not gna do what vujacic did for u guys earlier, atleast not on the defensive end. and a bunch of rookies at the 2. point guard? now unless arenas is signed,thers no offense from an old fisher to and unexperienced goudelock or morris not sure about the rookies. pau gasol and bynum will do what they can but kkobe got give up the rock. is kobe gna do tht? i dnt rlly think so. i dono bout the risk on signing gil who has a history with kobe soo “sign jr smith when he get back from China and bring d-will from NJ to LA.”

  • LakerNation Posted: Feb.2 at 4:30 pm
    I shooting for D-Will from NJ as far as the PG, other positions dont matter we straight no issues with Center- Bynum, PF- Gasol, SF-who cares, SG- of course KOBE….

  • golakeshow Posted: Feb.2 at 4:54 pm
    What the? this is the starting roster at the trade deadline: PG- williams, SG- Kobe, Center- Howard, forward- gasol Forward- barnes.

  • shutup Posted: Feb.2 at 5:12 pm
    Artest has some left in the gas tank? I watched the Clippers game he can go out there and be a distraction while having utterly no impact on the game except shooting ill-advised jumpshots while playing dirty

  • jake Posted: Feb.2 at 5:15 pm
    Is it just me, or is typing in abbreviations really annoying? Anyways, I would hate to see williams on the lakers. He’s not worth the price to pay and he can never make up his mind about if he was to be on the team he’s on. Id much rather develop goudelock at a good price and get 3 or 4 good players that aren’t screaming to be a superstar. Dwill,kobe,pau would be too much.

  • Red Posted: Feb.2 at 5:29 pm
    Lakers suck, they aren’t getting Howard either.

  • BE.water Posted: Feb.2 at 5:35 pm
    Darius Morris is Hot garbage. D League his A$$!

  • Exile Posted: Feb.2 at 5:42 pm
    Coach Brown, the loss of Odom, age and a overall depleted bench means the Lake Show will not win this year.

  • LakeShow Posted: Feb.2 at 5:56 pm
    BE.water, tell me about it. I heard someone say something along the lines of him being the best PG on the Lakers and I almost threw up. Even Fishers decrepit ol’ a$$ is 10xx better than him. He’s worse than Smush Parker. Ya’ know how I feel about Smush…

  • Kobe Bryant: Top Seeds in the West ‘Not Realistic’ for the Lakers Posted: Feb.2 at 6:36 pm
    [...] Noting the drastic (and damaging) roster changes the Los Angeles Lakers have undergone this season, Kobe Bryant is managing expectations about what the team can accomplish prior to the Playoffs. But he continues to insist that they’ll be a dangerous foe once the postseason rolls around…. Get the full story here. [...]

  • BETCATS Posted: Feb.2 at 8:31 pm
    I’d say sign Arenas. I dont get why they havent done it already to be honest.

  • Gametimeweezy Posted: Feb.2 at 10:51 pm
    I’m thinking they could have kept Shannon Brown for the same amount they are going to sign Gilbert. Maybe that’s why they haven’t made that move yet? I could be wrong I have no idea what they actually make but I mean it shouldn’t be too far off.

  • Andy Posted: Feb.3 at 12:56 am
    Forget Gilbert. Lakers should go after Sessions.. Dude can play n is just rotting away on the bench on the Cavs bench

  • Carrlos lyles Posted: Feb.3 at 10:06 am
    He is right the lakers are going to be hell come post season.

  • Carrlos lyles Posted: Feb.3 at 10:06 am
    He is right the lakers are going to be hell come post season.

  • kiddaa magazine Posted: Feb.4 at 1:46 am
    The Lakers just beat Denver and its possible a big trade is coming. Any team with Kobe can possibly win a title. Right now OKC looks tough but its a long season and anything can happen.
    Bynum and someone else need to step up for Lakers. But GOAT is till Kobe.

  • kiddaa magazine Posted: Feb.4 at 1:49 am
    His name is not Artest its Metta World Peace just like Kareem Abdul Jabaar was not Lou Alcindor. Respect the name change. I saw a great interview with Metta when he was Ron at http://www.downmagazine.biz He is also a rapper and a good one.

  • jsmallz Posted: Feb.4 at 4:10 pm
    Dwight is not the answer for everything. Him going to the lakers? The way its sounds they get rid of all big men or whats left to just have one? An aging kobe bryant to be gone in at five max…then no point guard. Nots not winning a title thats just moving coast to coast so he can not win right away. If dwight wants a chip abd you want to look at best choices to predict where he could go to actually be in it to win. Just look at teams that have a very solid point guard and can afford him free agency. What i dont get is why if he wants to leave orlando he doesnt just buy out the rest of the contract.Whats left on it is absolutely nothing to what he has already

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