Lakers are not that talented, especially physically. Mike Brown has a good defensive scheme and that works most of the time. Clips were hot tonight, and barely scratched 100. IMO this team needs a semi alpha like JR Smith to win it all. Kobe will be fine, he knows his body and addresses it well- He'll be fine come playoffs. Gasol never had any balls, and now that the offensive scheme doesn't utilize his non-contact skills that much, he's lost and become quite the perimeter player. Rest of the team needs a good offensive system to function, since most can't create shots for themselves (JR would help that). I say if they get their acts together, this group can make it as far as the conf finals. IF they get Howard or a major improvement at the guard, my money's on them winning it all. You can never ever bet against a team Kobe's on
As much as I criticize Kobe's selfishness sometimes, the guy does want to win. His selfishness is the reason he's as great as he is. All great players have to have a level of selfishness in order to be great. He just has to tone it down when necessary, and he will. In the 2 years before they got Pau he averaged 23 shots a game. Since they got Pau, it's been 20. Now those are still a lot of shots, but only this year has he really gotten trigger happy. Kobe is a smart and competitive player. He'll know the Lakers won't beat the good teams with him playing this way, and he'll allow the offense to evolve and improve with his big men. Uh...The Clips shot 41% tonight. They scratched 100 pts b/c the pace was pretty quick, and they got 17 offensive boards. The Lakers played very good defense.
It has to do something with a coaching change. We all know what a type of person Phil was. He wouldn't have allowed that, not with Bynum and Pau and not at this stage of Kobe's career. What I mean by that, is Kobe knows Mike Brown won't go to the media and criticize him (about not passing the ball and being selfish) as Phil would have done. That's why he feels less pressure and more freedom to be 'trigger happy'
are you JR's agent or something. LOL if you think JR will put them over the top. And as long as Kobe is there, you think any other guard will get any significant minutes? All they need is a defensive PG who doesnt suck.
