2011 NBA Playoffs thread...

[1inStripes]

I would say more than likely Brian Shaw is the coach next year, unless they can get Rambis out of a Minnesota.

[7teen]

I have to disagree with the "tear down and rebuild" CoeburnCane. You have Kobe around still and I feel the Lakers will want to maximize what they can out of his remaining years. I agree that there needs to be some moves made. I like Fisher, but he needs to be used off the bench. Heck, I like all the players the Lakers have, but I'm afraid the team has just grown bored and they need to infuse someone in there that has the hunger to win a title. Kobe will always have that I feel, but the other corps guys of Gasol, Bynum, Fisher, Odom, and Artest didn't seem to have that fire this playoffs.

I love the idea of the Lakers moving a few pieces to land Dwight Howard simply for the fact that he doesn't have a title and will hopefully have some added fire to win one if he joins Kobe and the Lakers. I feel that Gasol and Howard would work better than Bynum and Howard.

The Lakers have a ton of guys locked up with contracts, but I think the best move would be to cut ties with Artest somehow, trade Bynum off (and perhaps Odom as well), and then find a way to land a younger PG and Howard. I would love to see the Lakers land a sharp shooter from beyond the arc as well. Steve Blake didn't quite cut it this year (sorry PVFan)

[CoeburnCane]

I completely understand your points 7teen, but Kobe's only gonna be around for 5-6 more years, tops. It's time to start building to have a championship-ready team by the time he's gone. Howard's a great start to that, especially if you can pair him with a Chris Paul or another elite perimeter player.

I'm also thinking more long-term in saying tear it down and rebuild it. You can be in the top 5-6 of the West and threaten in the playoffs the next few years with Kobe and maybe get one more run out of that...but as a fan, I would rather see the Lakers have a team ready to compete for titles even w/o Kobe. I mean, if it could be pulled off, imagine a starting 5 in 5-6 years of:

PG - CP3, or John Wall
SG - a 2011 draft pick--maybe Nolan Smith or DeAndre Liggins?
SF - Rudy Gay (another guy who folks have thought the Lakers may go after)
PF - Griffin or Love
C - D. Howard

Build a solid bench behind those 5 and I think that's a solid, athletic lineup that's exciting to watch, and could compete for a title. And in the best of scenarios, if you tear down and rebuild, that would be the lineup. Not saying it's 100% realistic, but with the money that LA can throw around--it's not impossible either.

[Biggin]

Gay is signed thru 2014, just signed a big extension this year

[CoeburnCane]

Gay is signed thru 2014, just signed a big extension this year

I know, but that doesn't mean he can't be traded for by LA.

[Biggin]

For who? Gay is Memphis' superstar, he is their franchise player. LAL would have to give up a ton of get him, and they really dont have it to give up if they trade for Howard.

[MikMo]

Don't think Deandre Liggins could cut it as a shooting guard in LA. Hell of a defender, though, but just not a consistent scorer. Joe Crawford went to the Lakers when he left KY and he was a hell of a better shooter than Liggins...Joe is just a mainstay of the D-league now.