The Lakers Are Soft
You probably wouldn’t disagree with the observation that the Lakers we’re seeing in the Finals don’t much resemble the team that dispatched the Nuggets, outlasted the Jazz and destroyed the Spurs. This team so far has been ragged, disorganized and above all … just soft.
Pau‘s lack of aggression has been well-documented by many, including his coach. But the rest of them? They let themselves just get bullied allover the place by the Celtics, especially their reserves. Case in point: Leon Powe running amok without so much as ever being put on his ass. No team worth anything would ever let that go down.
NBCSports.com has a story today entitled “Soft Lakers Better Grow a Backbone Fast,” and they’re right. From the story:
Poor Kurt Rambis. Now a Lakers assistant, he had to watch his team scatter rose petals through the lane for Leon Powe on that play when the opportunity BEGGED for someone in purple to do unto Powe what was done unto Rambis 24 years ago by Kevin McHale. A hard, dirty, lowdown, nasty foul that changed the tenor of the 1984 Finals in Boston’s favor. But no clothesline was forthcoming Sunday night. Not even a tomahawk across the arms that would have avoided a suspension but gotten the point across. Nothing.
Is there anyone on the Lakers’ roster even capable of sending a message? They just don’t seem like they have that “type” of guy on the team. There’s no Charles Oakley, no Laimbeer, no Robert Horry to put Steve Nash into the scorer’s table. And because they don’t have that guy, and unless they find him fast, they’ll get swept right out of the Finals.
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June 9th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Blue says:
I was surprised to see Lamar Odom throw the ball at PJ Brown’s chest when he was tryin’ to save the possesion while going out of bounds. There was a little bit of frustration behind that…but I think he’s more lucky that PJ didn’t knock him on his ass, but, hey, it’s gotta count for a little something.
I think they should send Chris Mihm out there to do some dirty work, i’m sure he’ll appreciate the PT, or Rambis can strap on the goggles and short shorts for a little payback! But seriously, the Laker team is pretty much Charmin soft!
June 9th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
fallinup says:
When capping the Finals…the lack of a tough front line for L.A. was the big smoking cigar. I thought Garnett would have a field day, but instead, it’s Garnett that’s been the consistent diversion while others step up. Game 1, you could point to PJ Brown giving quality minutes. Game 2, PJ was still for a tad but the show belonged to Powe. Anyone with a tough/quick move can get inside on the Lakers..and once you’re inside, who’s to fear??? Pau??? Vlad??? LOL..the Lakers made up for their lack of toughness with San Antonio because they played a lot faster. Boston can match up to Laker’s speed really well, and let’s face it…Boston had to put up with Detroit’s awesome front line in the last series…so they knew how to work.
I still don’t see anyone stepping up in the paint for the Lakers. And the lack of size and toughness will haunt them .
I remember watching Pau get manhandled with the Griz..and it won’t change until Bynum comes back next year. I still see the Lakers going in 6. Due to the lack of a tough front line.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Sam I Am says:
In respects to there being anyone on the team being capable.
I’d go with Ronnie Turiaf and/or Radmonavic
June 9th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
I think that the league has everyone shook that if they try a hard foul they’ll get T’d up at the least, suspended at the most. I mean, trying to fight through a screen will get you called for a foul now, so you gotta be mad careful.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
dh says:
so true fallinup, lakers need bynum out there. at least someone that won’t back down from anybody (ex. bynum didn’t back down from shaq 2yrs ago when shaq could’ve ate him).
i think they should start turiaf and spark the defense from the get-go. beside’s kobe and fisher, he seems like the only guy to not back down from a challenge.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Desrat says:
Ronney Turiaf is able to be that guy, except he knows there are things bigger than a chip, and he probably is not mean enough, but dude is big enough to be an enforcer.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Kudabeen says:
They don’t have that type of guy…Kobe may be willing, but they need him on the floor. The only intimidating big they have is Bynum…
Ronnie has in the past been more physical when required, but he is being yo-yo’d in and out of the line up. It was his two dunks that started the ball rolling for LA in the 4th. They could even dust off Mhim and play him next to Gasol and Odom to attempt to dominate the paint (ATTEMPT).
Like I’ve been saying Celts came through two of the three other top defenses in the league to get here. They are feeling free. There is no bigs pushing guys around and there is no Lidnsay Hunter stalking Rondo and crew…
LA’s D gives life to the other team’s role players.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
AY says:
There are two ways to interpret “soft”; mentally soft, or physically soft. A team like the dallas mavericks are not physically soft, but mentally soft: they fold when they’re down. Being mentally soft is difficult to remedy: if you’re fighting a battle against your own psyche AND the opponent, most of the time you’re going to lose. The lakers are physically soft but very resilient mentally, illustrated by:
a) their big comebacks against the celtics and the spurs
b) how they reacted to the jazz, a team that made every other team in the playoffs look soft physically
But there’s still a difference here; when the lakers played the jazz, they were not just “soft” as they are now. When turiaf bounced ronnie price’s head off the hardwood, it was the laker’s “maybe we’re not as tough as you, but we’re not soft” statement, and we have yet to have one of those. I suspect someone on the lakers will do something unsavory in Game 3, and we should have a series.
June 9th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
As a Laker fan it hurts to admit the front line is soft. I like the look of the line up with Ariza and turiaf. If Vlad and “the machine” aren’t hitting they are pretty useless. I think both will shoot better at staples.
Gotta hold home court
June 9th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
tealish says:
Lakers aren’t taking 3 of 3 at Staples. Be glad for 2, but we all know that won’t be enough. Celtics in 7. Order of wins from Game 3 to 7:
LA
BOS
LA
LA
BOS
How do I know? Just a regular genius is all.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
marvin says:
Turiaf is capable of being an enforcer if he wants to.
June 9th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Knicksinsix says:
everything comes back in style and once again you are gonna get called for a foul in Boston if you ain’t playing for Boston. I say that to say MAKE IT COUNT. It’s real easy to send a message. Too late now though, you would have to had done it in Game 1 or Game 2 the latest once you saw the ticky tack they were gonna call. They’ll let you get away in LA but when you go back to Boston. The only chance they got is to go at Pierce in Game six (if necessary) the way the Knicks used to go after Pippen. And can that Mbenga dude get some burn?
June 9th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Coach T-sun says:
I don’t think the lakers are soft they attacked the paint, and they just missed alot of shots inside it was 47-41 shot attempts in the paint Lakers, they failed to get away from the triangle which usually starts from the post and when they do pass it inside theypass out of it they shoot jumpers instead of driving or reversing the ball. A lot of it also is not playing in the moment the stage is too big for the THIRD YOUNGEST TEAM IN THE NBA. Phil’s done a great job making sure guys play hard, but sometimes they just get away from the moment. I am sure they’ll learn from it and play well tuesday
June 9th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
subrock says:
Pau gasol and Lamar odom must be one of the least intimidating front line in the league on the defensive end. That will not change during the entire series. All they can do is give turiaf some more minutes and hope that either pau or odom can go off and get some buckets.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
K Dizzle says:
Why do junk articles like this come out before the home team even loses a game? Whoever wrote this article better watch a playoff game and realize that a “tough” foul back in the day is a flagrant and ejection in ’08. Shoot, Ronny blocked a shot on Price and got tossed. Tough in ’88, ejection in ’08. PJ Brown tries to block Maxiell, catches some arm and gets a flagrant. Celtics lost one game all postseason, now some overzealous writer wants to say the sky is fallin cuz they held the homecourt.And I don’t want my team winnin greasy like Robert Horry’s cheapass tackle on Nash. We beat the Spurs and Jazz clean and they won their first 2 home games too so what’s the problem?
June 10th, 2008 at 2:37 am
the n@gg@you love to hate says:
@K Dizzle Oh lord another Horry foul against Nash the Suns would have won the series get that dick in the booty ass shit outta here the Suns were soft they were not going to win that series get over it Steve Nash is never going to win a Championship that’s just the facts jack!!!
@Coach T-sun Man you suck cok the Lakers are soft like a fag trying to fight his way out of paperbag!!
@subrock Yeah Odom and Gasol are soft that’s their resume!
June 10th, 2008 at 4:15 am
luckylester says:
There are people that will argue that the Lakers aren’t soft, and even those that will argue that Odom, Gasol, and Vlad aren’t soft – but those people are most likely drunk and shouldn’t be held accountable for their words. One this if for sure, nobody with half a brain cell is arguing that those two pillow fighters are tough.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:16 am
luckylester says:
And I meant, one thing is for sure….
June 10th, 2008 at 11:58 am
doc says:
I know Lamar “babies ass” Odom shouldnt even be in a article where we are asking is he soft.We’re past this stage.We should be asking is he a pussy.Gasol try out there but he too light in the ass so when he bang people tend to bang harder.Vlad I dont know about he gotta stick The Truth so he would get dominated regardless.