With over a quarter of the season over, the Lakers are now 9-13. Heres the numbers.
In the last 22 games there was 5 things consistent with each win and loss. Everything else seems to have just as many wins and losses no matter if the outcomes were high or low each game. For instance we have won just as well when Dwight or Gasol’s rebounds and scores are high as we have with them having a slow day and just as many wins when we have less turnovers then our opponent and vice versa. The other 5 stats I found though go pretty much hand and hand with every win and loss and if Lakers achieve at least 4 of the desired 5 categories the game is won every time. The stats break down as follows:
-Lakers Bench needs to score at least 22 points
-Kobe needs to score no more than 27 points
-Lakers need to dish out at least 22 assists
-MWP needs to drain a minimum of 3 three-pointers
-Lakers need to attempt at least 77 field goals
Here is the last 22 games charted with each category:
And here are those stats broken down with their own win-loss records:
What this shows is obvious, Lakers defense is so beyond bad that in order for them to win they have to be a complete offensive juggernaut. So much so that our current wins average us winning by 17.2 points. The only way Lakers have won is when Kobe doesn’t take the game into his own hands and instead becomes a facilitator, keeping the ball moving and getting our bench (Hill, Jamison, Meeks) hot as well as Metta giving a good 3 performance. That is, to make up for Lakers HORRIBLE defense.
Only 2 options for success: 1. Lakers learn how to play defense together. Which seems like such an odd statement being that there are 4 defensive player of the year awards between Howard and MWP, and Kobe making the All Defensive 1st team so many times. But some how the grasp of defense with this team seems all but thrown out the window at this point. Especially with an offensive only minded coach. And 2. Nash’s return helps their offensive dominance stay consistent with his play making, sharp shooting and hopefully very increased amounts of assists. If Nash comes back as the Nash we know the Lakers will be able to out shoot the majority of the league without practically much defense and bring their wins back up, but here comes the next problem. Lets say their offensive machine is at its height every night when Nash comes back, there are still 6 teams that are averaging more points a game then the Lakers, and 4 of them are in the western conference. Thunder, Spurs, Jazz and Rockets. Those 4 teams will have no problem matching us point for point when Lakers are killing it offensively and the Lakers lack of defense will kill their hopes again.
Here is my second NBA Classic Rap Album art. This one featuring D Rose.
Just remade one of my favorite albums with one of my favorite Laker line-ups
With all the bandwagon as well as real fans FINALLY coming out of the woodwork representing their team since the CP3 trade last summer, they have really hyped themselves up promoting Los Angeles as now ClipperTown… but their hearts are beyond delusional. Although the Clippers share the same court as the Lakers, they’re not even slightly close in comparison. Here is a look, from the bottom up of each franchise.
1. Top 10 Draft Picks
Since the Clippers have moved to Los Angeles they have had 20 TOP TEN DRAFT PICKS in the past 27 seasons.. in that time, Lakers only had 2.
We all know why your team gets a shot at a top ten draft pick.. your record the previous season was so low that its only fair your budget team gets a chance at a promising rookie. But how bad do you have to be time and time again to get 20 top 10 draft picks out of 27 seasons? Point #2 will give a better idea.
2. Their .500+ Seasons
Since they became the Los Angeles Clippers in 1984 they have won AT LEAST half of their games during a season only 4 times out of their 27 seasons! As a franchise the Clippers (including their records as the Buffalo Braves, San Diego Clippers and LA Clippers) have only had a season with a .500 winning percentage or higher 8 TIMES.
The Lakers have had .500+ seasons 24 times since Clippers moved to LA, and 37 out of 42 seasons since Clippers became a team in 1970.
3. Division Titles
As you can already expect with those kinds of season records the Clippers probably haven’t had many chances at the Pacific Division Title as the Lakers. Clippers own 0 Division titles, to be exact. While Lakers were crowned for 23 of them.
4. Playoffs
To almost mirror their .500+ seasons, the Clippers have made the playoffs only 8 times as a franchise in 42 years. In Los Angeles the Clippers have only made the playoffs 5 times while the Lakers went 26 times.
The furthest the Clippers have gone in the playoffs was to the 2nd round, 2 times. The Lakers on the other hand have won the playoffs, 16 times.
5. Head To Head
What about forgetting the rest of the NBA, season records, playoff appearances and championships.. can the Clippers at least brag about how many times they have beaten the Lakers?
In the 192 times Clippers have played against the Lakers, Lakers have won 143 times. In 42 years the Clippers have beaten the Lakers less than 50 times.
In fact, the Clippers cant brag about beating ANYONE in the NBA except for the Charlotte Bobcats. The Bobcats are the ONLY team in the NBA that the Clippers have won against more times than lost. And it doesn’t help that the 2011-12 Bobcats just set the NBA record for worst season in history.
When I looked into the head to head statistics I think we can say not only are the Clippers not the kings of LA.. but they are also the WORST franchise in NBA history. Like we’re talking about a legacy of being a horrible franchise. The Clippers are the ONLY team in the NBA that has lost more times then won against every single team except for 1 (Bobcats). No one else has anything close to that bad of a record. Also.. The Lakers have the best win/loss record going head to head with other franchises, with only having 2 teams that have bet them more than lost.
These are the facts, without needing to go into further detail, it is beyond any doubt Los Angeles is LakersTown.. always has been, always will be. And its not even close.
And for those Clipper fans still looking forward to their franchise future trying to become Los Angeles’ top team all there needs to be said is this:
With the Lakers newly acquired players this offseason I wondered where the 2012-13 Starting 5 consisting of Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Metta World-Peace would match up against the All-Time best starting fives in Lakers history. After a little research I think they actually have the potential to be possibly one of the best, if not thee best. That is if they can learn how to bring out the best in each other.
Below I have three of the best Lakers past starting lineups and the 4th being next seasons, with a breakdown of the averages per game for each player and the starting line combined. Next seasons starting stats are from the 11-12 season.
And heres a graph of those teams starting five averages per game combined and compared.
Now I’m not claiming this is THE best Laker team in Lakers history. Theres a lot more to do with that obviously…I’m just talking about the strength that just their starting five has.
This team is already performing better then the team Kobe won a three-peat with. They also look ready to go 7 games with the 87-88 Lakeshow. But Jerry West’s 1970-71 gang seems to have the 5 on 5 contest on lock. Tho, these 2012 Lakers haven’t even played a game together yet. 2012’s team would need to average only 5 more FG a game to catch West’s lineup and with reports of Nash being the best player last year with setting a pick and roll with the help of B and C list players..and Howard being the most efficient last year on receiving the pick and roll teamed with a bunch of budget players, how many more points per game will Lakers possibly average a game now? How many more assists a game with such strength of Dwight and Pau shoulder to shoulder in the block and a Black Mamba assassin silently waiting on the perimeter at all times when Nash brings it down the court? If Nash, Howard and Bryant can learn to maximize each others skills, seeing that those three have spent most their career succeeding along side mediocre players, the Lakers have the potential this year to become the strongest Lakers starting five in the history of their franchise.
He ain’t lion. (used SlowShutter+ for iphone)
LISTEN TO MY WISDOM
The 2012-13 Lakers season is looking to make Kobe Bryant the 4th all-time scoring leader passing Wilt Chamberlain, and Steve Nash the 3rd all-time assist leader passing both Magic Johnson and Mark Jackson:
Here is something else I put together to show the upgrade in the Lakers starting 5 this year compared to last year. The only thing they have lost is championship experience with Fishers 5 and Bynums 2, but come out unbelievably heavier with defense and scoring power.
I will leave you with this. If you can find a way to get someone like this to mature you will have unlocked endless potential that sleeps inside the 7 footer. Photo below..Andrew Bynum double parking in handicapped spaces while there’s at least 20 empty spots just behind him. Yeah…2 handicapped spaces.
If you were to add up next seasons top 6 NBA teams starting lineup’s accolades it would look like this. Take from it what you will. It is just interesting to see how some teams starting 5 stack against the others success. Here are your Bulls, Thunder, Celtics, Heat, Spurs and Lakers.
