"Roy Hibbert is the ONLY LAKER to start and play in every game," would be something STILL ringing in our ears during every Laker broadcast.
Wasn't Roy Hibbert sort-of plan "D?" E? EFF?
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| Mitch Kupchak got straight Effed by Larry, unless the plan was to SUCK all along |
Kevin Love had already signed a contract with the CAVS, Greg Monroe went to the Bucks, LA to LA? Well, we ALL know what happened there. SO the Lakers looked to capture a player, off the scrap heap, with an expiring contract that might have added benefits resulting from the fact that Hibbert IS in a Contract Year after his agent, David Falk, landed him a multi-year deal (4 yr, 60M) in 2012.
Larry Bird wanted to dump him and he found a taker in a Laker, Mitch Kupchak. The cost? A second round pick. So, it was amusing to think that after the Lakers gave up their 2019 2nd rounder that writers and fans of all kinds actually BELIEVED that ROY might be traded to a Playoff Team this year? AND..for what?
If he is not playing anywhere near his best year or two in Indiana and the Lakers gave up a pick for ROY; what would any playoff team even want with Hibbert, let alone give up anything beyond a burger and fries.
This trade back-fired.
OR...
Did it?
Many fans and no doubt certain key pieces of the Lakers Brass have been eyeing and aiming for firmly resting in the bottom three for increased odds at landing pick 1, 2 OR 3 in the upcoming draft. They would not have a chance at the pick at all if they win too many games.
How could a better roster in 2015-16 with the addition of 2014-15 6th man Lou Williams, journeyman Brandon Bass, a healthy Julius Randle and Kobe Bryant, second year guard Jordan Clarkson and top pick D'Angelo Russell be worse than last year's record-worst 21-61?
ANSWER: ROY HIBBERT
The play of the TEAM with HIBBERT on the floor swings to the negative and here is why:
The Lakers somehow managed to WIN in spite of the BAD (Byron Scott) AND the UGLY (Roy Hibbert). It took a career high 39 points from D'Angelo Russell and Brook Lopez fouling out to escape with a dub.
Didn't Hibbert have 14 points? YES. Yes he did. IN the prior 10 games he was averaging THREE POINTS on 40% shooting. Every dog has his day and a broken watch is "right" twice a day.
This does NOT mean Roy Hibbert should play, let alone START.
If what Byron Scott is telling US is TRUE, which is that they are "trying to win games," and that he is all about playing the young guys...
WHY? WHY is it that Roy Hibbert (who will be LUCKY to have an NBA contract next year) STARTS and PLAYS in EVERY Laker game?
FROM the standpoint of "Entertainment" Watching a Zamboni go up and down the ice is not only MORE Entertaining, it MOVES faster as well..
BY playing this ONE player THIS gives the Lakers the BEST ODDS at LOSING every game.
Watch the games, the video footage and go check the stats yourself.
This has never been about "starting Tarik" over Roy, this is about NOT playing ROY.
Yet..
the Lakers keep ROLLING with ROY ...
The depth of the Tank starts at the top (JIM BUSS) and is sinking all the way down to depths never seen in LA LA Land
Karma, they say, is a REAL BITCH, Mitch_ the basketball gods
-chauncey
