Could This Be A Championship Season? (A comparison to the 2001-2002 Lakers)

If the Rockets learn the style of JVG and put in the effort, could this be a championship season?



Consider the 2001-2002 championship Lakers, who beat the Nets 4-0 in the finals and went 58-24 in the season. In the playoffs, they came out on top of the West, whose playoffs contained Kings, Spurs, Mavericks, Blazers, T'wolves, Sonics, and Jazz. All 7 others were definite contenders, because that's just how it is in the West, guys. So who were the Lakers' main role players?

*Shaq: 27.2 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 2.04 bpg
---Comparison: Yao Ming. Has put in the work in the offseason to become easily the 2nd best center in the NBA, and is going to be the center of JVG's new inside-outside offense. And the best part: there will be no Hack-a-Yao, because his FT% is .811!!!
*Kobe: 25.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.5 apg, 1.48 spg
---Comparison: Steve Francis. Can shoot, drive to the basket, be a playmaker anytime you need him. Used to be the primary scorer on the team, has expressed that he will "sacrifice anything to win a championship," which we hope means listen to JVG and distribute the ball better. He can score, rebound, and if he puts in any effort, he can easily become a good(better) defender under the tutelage of JVG, a defensive specialist.
*Derek Fisher: 11.5 ppg, .413 3P%, not much else
---Comparison: Mobley, Piatkowski. Either of these guys could easily put up those numbers. And the entry pass to Shaq or Kobe? Come on, it's not THAT hard. Yes, Fisher can play defense, but Mobley and even Pike are better in other areas that more than make up for their marginal loss in defense to Fisher...and oh yeah, did I mention JVG is a defensive specialist?
*Rick Fox: 7.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.5 apg, .313 3P%
---Comparison: Jim Jackson. Jim Jackson is a seasoned veteran and a solid role player. If JVG calls his number, I'm confident he is equal to or better than Rick Fox. Hell, they're even about the same height/stature.
*Robert Horry: 6.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 bpg, .374 3P%, .398FG%
---Comparison: Eddie Griffin. And not just because of the sub-.400 FG%. This comparison has been sooo played out, I shouldn't even mention it. But he's a somewhat-lightweight PF with decent rebounding ability and an outside touch. Hmmm?
*Samaki Walker: 6.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.28 bpg
---Comparison: Mo Taylor. Come on guys, Samaki Walker??? MoT's better than *that*, and he's even in shape this year!!! His desire? Did you guys see him even working out w/ his shoulder all taped up??
*Lindsey Hunter, Medvedenko, Mitch Richmond, Brian Shaw, Mark Madsen, Mike Penberthy, Jelani McCoy.
---Comparison: Man, they're all just roster-filler. Just kidding. Take a look at the only non-NBDL mvp, Mark Madsen, who doesn't stand out except for his somewhat heralded defense. So then, might I mention Adrian Griffin, who doesn't stand out except for his somewhat heralded defense. Ahem.

Maybe I'm just a crazy ROX fan, maybe I'm delusional, or maybe I've had a little too much to drink tonight. I don't want to get everyone too title-hungry before the season has even started (and especially not in JVG's inaugural year), but I'm saying that if the ROX can execute JVG's philosophy of work, sacrifice, and building team chemistry, we could be in the books as the 2003-2004 NBA Champions.

 

Eddie Griffin: Approx 230 lbs
A solid PF weight: 250-270 lbs (Karl Malone: 260 lbs)
Therefore, Eddie Griffin is a somwhat lightweight PF
Robert Horry played at either SF or PF, frequently guards PF b/c of his height, but isn't bulky enough for the position and isn't versatile enough for the 3 spot. Man people have called him a lightweight PF.

Eddie Griffin: 3P% 2002-2003: .333 He has an outside touch.
Robert Horry career 3P%: .338 He has an outside touch.

Therefore, the reply you posted completely discredits your entire existence.

 

I didn't mean that Ming has Shaq's exact game or presence, and I didn't mean that Francis' game is just like Kobe's. I meant that both of them could make comparable impact on the game, and could put up comparable numbers. But mostly, have comparable impact on the game.

 

OOPS, I forgot Devean George. My bad. Umm...

Devean George doesn't count because he's too ugly. End of story.

Just kidding. If you prefer, compare Mobley's impact to Derek Fisher's, and Devean George's to Piatkowski's. Both Devean George and Pike like the outside shot, neither are needed as starters, and can't play worth sh*t in the post. Good enough?

 

So it's a Cinderella story. So sue me. I'm dreaming, and they can do it.