Kobe does not make them worse. This team had the Suns on the brink of elimination last year thanks to Kobe. If not for a miracle 3 by Tim Thomas in Game 6, that series was over. Nobody gave the Lakers any credit going in. Phil is a great coach, we all know that. Kobe is a closer. If he can learn to play within himself throughout the game and then close it at the end, the lakers will be a title contending team.
That Lakers frontcourt looks vastly improved compared to last year. Odom has been amazing so far. Walton, in their 3 games, is averaging 15 points on 62% shooting and he hasn’t missed a 3-pointer yet. Bynum looks like he’s worked on his game a lot this offseason. Radmonovic gives them a great shooter at the 3. Turiaf and Kwame Brown provide great defense and rebounding. Their 2 starting big men last year (Mihm and Cook) are probably going to be 3rd stringers this season. It’s amazing how much a team can improve when they draft well and develop their young players. I have to hand it to Phil, I didn’t think he was capable of developing young talent.
