They're 24th in league in defense. That's with Dwight roaming the middle. We all know Nash is non-existent on the defensive end, but has Kobe and Ron Ron slipped so much that they can't stop anyone?
Hey Rock, Simply put in one word.. KOBE.... As good as Kobe is, his ego will always hold him back.. Kobe can't get along with any aggressive big men, he wants the spot light to be the man. So until he adjust his attitude and ego, that chemistry will never work. T_Man
Kobe is fine. I think he is even more dangerous than before because he is willing to pass. And for Ops question. Lakers is bad because they put together of a bunch of individual stats and think they are add up. Unfortunate team require teamwork and in basketball, also requires chemistry, which they have none.
Agreed, until he fixes that attitude of his and gets his team to play together, he's never going to win a championsh...oh wait. I root against Kobe at every possible opportunity, but he's won 5 rings with that ego of his. I'm pretty sure the issues lie elsewhere.
It doesn't matter if it's Dwight, Mutombo, Hakeem or Russel is patrolling the middle. If the defense doesn't funnel the player to where your center is expecting him, it makes him less effective. I hear a lot of talk about how the defense of the Hakeem championship teams was good because he prevented a lot of penetration. Although this was true, those were designed defensive stands and he knew exactly where the offensive player will end up. I don't feel that Dwight has that luxury with the way the Lakers front court are defending the drive.
Kobe is the hardly the reason for this. He brings it every night, and is having one of his best seasons ever. He can turn into a chucker, but overall, there's no denying that he, himself, is having a great season. The problem is simply they have no chemistry. Nash has no place on that team because Kobe is a ball dominant player, like Nash, but obviously Kobe is the preferred option. Dwight is just inconsistent as hell this year and can't get in a rhythm. And lastly, they have zero depth. The only quality bench player they have is maybe Jamison? They'll make playoffs though. Jazz are about to tank.
Kobe and Artest are shells of their formers selfs on defense. I saw this stat last night Durant is averaging 29ppg against the league but 38ppg against the Lakers. I assume for the most part Kobe and Artest are defending him.
Durvasa and I agree on this, Its the worst possible system for an old team like the lakers...Imagine if they had Phil and were running the Triangle with Dwight/kobe/nash and pau off the bench? Coaching is the problem-->Dwights Drama-->Kobe getting mad at everyone and tries to go hero ball.
Chemistry is very important to win at a high level in the NBA. They have top heavy talent, but not enough good surrounding pieces to really make it work unless they had the team game play around their best player.... Dwight Howard. They dont do that, and he ends up looking like a glorified Kostas Koufas. Perimeter shooting can only get you so far. You need to be able to get to the rim, and score in the paint if you are an offensive team like the Rockets do. If you are going to be a big defensive minded team, you punish opposing teams inside the paint, and slow the game down. The Lakers aren't allowing themselves to be that team, and their mix of players are like oil and water... with no ingredients in the mix to bring the two together. They still have enough talent to make the playoffs this year, and who knows maybe it clicks then. They still have enough talent to be dangerous either way. If they dont make the playoffs, they will need to re-shuffle the deck quite a bit in the Summer to put a team together that fits their style they want to play, or change the style of play to suit the best player on the team.
IB4TM Kobe is absolutely the reason they suck. Because he doesn't have croonies that will bow down or subdue to his every wish the way Gasol, Artest, and Bynum did he's clashing with his teammates. He scores and that's about it. You have to practically beg him to become a willing passer and involve his fellow teammates, which is stupid because even at the age of 34 he still hasn't learned that with all his guys involved he could score at will when they double down on someone like Dwight the way the would do with Shaq. Kobe is one of the best scorers in the history of the game. Best player? Far from it.
The team chemistry is not there, what is there is gargantuan egos. I'm loving it! .............. .............. ..............
There is no I in team. Yeah there is no I in Kobe either but the real truth you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Kobe is 183 in dog years. Funny thing Dog years and NBA years are almost equal.
I think its their coach .... His 7 seconds on less , chuck and duck philosophy just doesnt work at the NBA level. He's got the best post player in the game today and doesnt utilize him in conjunction with his perimeter players .... rather runs a guard oriented offense with a 38 year old point guard who cant defend.
Eh I dont think the rockets are a bad team. Oh wait youre talking about the Lakers? I forgot this was a lakers forum......
