I really think this Laker team might even be better than the 2001-02 version that went 15-1 through the playoffs and so many said was one of the great teams in league history. At least that team had holes, in the sense of two forwards who couldn't create anything offensively and you could always foul the star big man (Shaq) down the stretch because he couldn't make free throws. I have absolutely no clue how you slow down this offense. They can play big, they can play small. They have interior strength and athleticism at all points. Kobe is playing at the highest level of any player I've ever seen. I've got nothing.
Okay, this idiot broadcaster that just thought Jordan's game winner against Utah in '98 was over Craig Ehlo has to go...
I don't get how Sasha Vujacic calls himself "The Machine" when he's bricking every single shot, open or not. And looking back at his career splits he has only shot one season above 40%. Oh, and Kobe is just out of his mind at the moment.
Maybe it's in the sense that he can do the same thing over and over with mechanical precision. In this case, I'd say he's right.
In competitive games the Lakers still ride or die with Kobe. And we have two of the best in the game at potentially slowing him down with good team defense, but as I have stated many times in the past, he is very close to prime Jordan in terms of consistent greatness and maybe better in terms of finishing out games. This Laker team could be challenged by a Rocket team with a much higher bball IQ and an efficient triangle offense, which we are no where near close to. Gasol is the icing on the cake, he really does fit like a glove in that offense and thrives as the #2 option who steps up when he needs to. Terrible matchup for us. If Houston makes it to the second round, the best case scenario is taking the Lakers to 6... the likely scenario would be the Lakers taking the series at home in game 5.
I have to say Kobe Bryant isn't a great teammate when he's in his "must score 40+ points) mode he's demanding the ball every possession and stops trying when he doesn't get it
With the Lakers likely employing Portland's tactics in neutralizing Yao, I can't think of a single match-up we would win against them.
umm, he jacked it up too many times in game 3 when he struggled. he wasn't a great teammate in game 3
