I’m not at all sold on Simmons for multiple reasons and really wish we had signed DeMar…

Well this ain’t good, LBJ and ???? Are we off our high? We need Bard and Monk to show up every night not just 1 outta 5? Still have a chance.

Nope. One man army.

What’s funny is what we’re seeing – if we leave out the part full of injuries and replacement players – is probably what the front office saw that made them sign all these guys. Thankfully, we’ve identified that we were wrong on DJ and Baze and maybe Wayne but spot on with Monk, Reaves, Melo, Dwight, Avery, and even THT and Russ, although awkward fits. They’re finding ways to win. Sunday’s game could be a big step ahead if we can win. It’s a statement game against the team we want to replace in the standings.

Wins are wonderful things 🙂

Man, I love the title of this post. Right on, DJ.

That was as bad as it gets, DJ. At one point, I felt like Vogel needs to give him the night off. But that would be counter-productive as it will affect his psyche. Does Ben Simmons come to mind? In fact, buried in this whole thing about Westbrook is Anthony “Ant” Edwards’ futility as well. He was 0/6 from the three-point range and had 8 turnovers. James Harden commits a lot of turnovers but as long as the Nets win, nobody cares.

I am not insinuating Westbrook should get a free pass for such carelessness. One would only hope he will be able to restrain himself a bit. But nights like this are bound to come, just hope it doesn’t end up in a loss. So, I will take the win and run. However, I will not watch the replay as it left me a bad taste. You feel me?

Wow! We have 2 consistent players. Westy (is what he is) and LBJ! Everyone else on the team shows up one in every five games! Monk might be an exception? Sure AD is out, but that don’t mean a thing if he can’t play.

They only had one guy to stop too, and he wasn’t good enough.

Exactly, DJ. That’s exactly what is tearing up us apart as fans. We haven’t have a chance to see how well they can play together. And until then this is going to be a divisive issue. I, for one, I am going to stay optimistic until we are officially out of the playoffs. It doesn’t mean I like what I am seeing right now with the team.

Hardly any at all. That’s the issue but also the thing that we don’t have a guarantee they’ll make it work well enough. Hard to get pull the plug without seeing though.

The problem with the ‘you can’t blow it up until you see it’ approach is by the time the Lakers see it, the trade deadline will have passed and any opportunity to salvage this season will be gone and we will face the same dilemma this summer with Russ. While it will be easier to trade him then, we will have wasted this season as LeBron’s championship window gets smaller.

It’d be sad if it weren’t so predictable

Merry Christmas, DJ. Best wishes to you and your family.

Me too Deej, that doesn’t mean we can’t feel disappointed, find the excuses trotted to be ever more ridiculous, or critique the team. Right now they stink.

Those “3 point specialists” tend to suck as soon as they get paid. Look at Bertrans and Harris. Two former Tom obsessions – been trash since the ink dried on their overpriced deals. Anyone with a pair of eyes should’ve known Westbrook was nothing but counting stats. Not since Corey Maggette has anyone put up bigger numbers that contributed less to winning. Over half the time he can be counted on for errant passes, blown easy shots, and other boneheaded plays that do more for the opposition. As for Bron, be thankful we got one outta him, and even that will forever be asterisked. Had he and streetclothes had to play a full season, they likely woulda limped through the bubble too. HE. AIN’T. THAT. GUY. NO. MORE. Remember when Lebron and a buncha scrubs could win you 60+ consistently? Like Westbrook, plenty decent stats, but lotta bad, forced passes and blown shots he used to make in his sleep. The “Wow” plays are done, he gets his shot blocked regularly, and the impact is in plain site in the w/l column for everyone short of those who refuse to see it. Trade him? By all means. End the unholy alliance with Klutch. Thanks for the one (accidental) ring. Don’t let the door hit ya as you all get the hell outta LA. I really hope Jeanie or whomever owns the team when the times comes, doesn’t put him in the rafters for his 4 years of merc service.

Funny thing is we experienced Racism for the first time in my White Life. I knew before and then Racism is BAD thing! Even slightly.

Not sure we can hold on until AD gets back? THT and IT were beyond awful! They were 2-24, why you be shooting??

I will counter with FIVE POSITIVE THINGS:

1. LeBron James Mindset. No quitting in LeBron. Even after hurting his ankle, he just keep on trucking and trying to win. His comments after the game were for the team to stick together during the tough times. Long as we have LeBron, we have a chance.

2. Trevor Ariza’s Play. While he’s not the solution to all of the Lakers’ problems, Ariza has looked great. Hasn’t missed a shot, has played well, and seems in pretty good condition for being out so long. He definitely will be a huge help going forward.

3. The First Half. Yes, the Suns shot terribly and yet they won the first half but this is the kind of half the Lakers can build on. Without AD, they hung tough with the team that has the best record in the league. The truth is the same as we saw in the first three games of the series against the Suns last season: When healthy, the Lakers are still the better team.

4. Dwight clearing H&S Protocols. There’s no question in my mind that we could have won the game against the Grizzlies or the Suns had we not been handicapped by DeAndre Jordan, who recorded a -76 points net rating last night. Replacing him with Dwight tomorrow night should start a long string of DNP CD for DJ until he is traded or waived.

5. Lakers dodged a season ending disaser as LeBron James appears to be OK after landing on another player’s foot when driving to the basket. That LeBron says he will be fine is the best news of the day. This team, not matter whom we add, will live and die on how well LeBron plays. Anybody thinking James is washed has not been watching games.