i really hope this leads to some sort of explosion (a good kind) from the lakers, i hope it gets them off their lazy, unfocused butts and makes them start playing with some determination. confidence is a key to success and the Lakers dont seem to have any while their opponents, no matter how low on the totem pole, seem to have too much. people need to start fearing us again, so that when we get a lead, we build on it, and make the other team completely believe there’s no way they can catch up. we need to WAKE UP.

have said all the right things lately

yet still they play horribly

I’ll believe it when I see it.

Pau’s been talking for weeks, it still hasn’t gotten him anywhere

Lots of us here have been singling him out here since he started “talking” (I put this in parenthesis since as Friedman has stated, some of it is media spin) even when he’s actually not that bad. Sure he flubs lots of gimmes. He doesn’t dunk when we want him to. He probably even shies away from critical, pressure packed situations. But when you look at his overall production, it’s not as bad as the others, and I dare say even even better than the others with the exception of Kobe. But we continually single him out. Why? Because he had the gumption to speak up his mind? The reasoning that “because he singled out Kobe so he must prove that he is up to par with him” doesn’t wash, because Pau never said he wanted to be the number one option. He never said he wants to be the crunchtime man. That’s Kobe’s job, and even he knows it. If you notice the two out there, they’re on good terms. It’s us here who keep harping on Pau. So really, IMHO, if we would like to talk about the team, lets talk about the team and what they probably need to do. What each player could possibly do to improve. Not because of what Pau is saying. Oh yeah. Saurav, if you mean by “It’s not getting him anywhere” you mean because they’re not winning, then you’’re off the mark because it’s not his role to carry the team. It’s not even Kobe’s role to carry it. It’s the team’s role to carry itself. now if you mean it’s because his production is below expectation, then what can I say. He brought his game at the Orlando Magic loss, and he got the points at the Toronto Raptors win despite shooting badly.