Let us be realistic people. The Lakers are not going 72-10, and they are not going over 60 (+/- 1) and here's why
Yes, they have three legit 7 foot big men. Yes they have Kobe "Effing" Bryant. Yes they have the same coach who "coached" the bulls to 72-10. Yes, they are dangerously deep. Yes, their defense and toughness have picked up. Yes, their second squad is capable of playing like the old Phoenix Suns. Oh crap, uhhh.... maybe they are going to win 65 games!
Oh yeah, on paper this team looks delicious. But we are forgetting one key problem. Youngsters + lack of minutes + expiring contracts = problem. The bottom line is, this team is not like the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls had a pecking order, and everyone followed and filled their respective roles - regardless of how many minutes or shots they did or didn't get.
For this year's Lakers, I'm sorry to say I can't say the same thing. Sasha, Jordan, Trevor, Walton, Lamar, Radman, and even Powell are all fighting for limited minutes. Lately, we have seen bad shots and selfish play by some of these players because they are all fighting for the same minutes. Luke, Rad, Trevor, and Lamar all play the 3. That's too many. Someone has to go! No one wants to go. Sasha coming off his injury has not shot well. Jordan has played fairly well, but he still takes numerous shots early in the shot clock. You almost sense that these youngsters all feel like they have something to prove individually, and are not cohesive as a unit. They do not feel like the Spurs of old. Do you really feel these players are selfless? Do you think you could see Jordan Farmar go a game where he only shoots 2 baskets but has 10 assists? Or Sasha only shooting one shot and getting assists and steals?
Ultimately, until the Lakers either make a trade or the pecking order is established - this is a 60 max win team. Thoughts?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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2 comments:
I agree that the Lakers are a different team from that 72-10 Bulls team. This Laker team is full of young athletes who have aspirations to be all-stars and get paid. The bulls team had 30+ year-old role players, so there wasn't as much competition among players.
That said, the Lakers are better equipped to handle injuries this year with this roster. Also, they have valuable, young trading chips so that if they wanted to go after some veterans (and dump some salary in the process...walton, vlad), then they have that option through this year.
Even if the Lakers don't make any moves at all, I still believe this team is at least four wins better than last year's team, which would push them over 60 wins. Now 70+? You're asking for some luck there...
i think this team actually does have a stratified system in place where they all know what's expected from them. so they take some bad shots here and there? in the grand scheme of things, this team is talented enough to overcome those types of things. they have more depth than anyone in the league, and i agree with amit, if someone were to get hurt, there's pretty much someone at each position to step in and fill the role.
i don't know if this team can win 72. i don't know if that'll ever happen again. but i don't think it's a stretch to say that this team can win 67 like the first lakers championship team in 99-00. even with a letdown here and there throughout the season, this team can overcome that and has shown to be very very good in back to back situations, which was not the case in past years.
defense will be the key, and if the lakers keep holding teams to an avg in the low 90s, there really should be no reason to think that the lakers can't win 65+. i can honestly say i'd be surprised if this team doesn't win at least 63. i think that's the low end of the spectrum, barring injuries or mitch reverting to his old self and making some stupid trade
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