Rome: Lakers r Kobe,Shaq,Horry, fox and a bunch of CBAers

Rome gets kudos...I posted the same thing here last summer and got flamed. There's no justice.

 

As a Laker non-hater, I'd have to agree with Rome's assessment. Regardless of how things turn out this year, the Lakers will simply have to rebuild their supporting cast. Rick Fox, and maybe Horry, are the only two keepers.

 

I don't see the Lakers needing to rebuild anything.

Maybe a draft pick or too, and we'll more than likely see another Mike Penberthy type player on the Laker's providing something new.

But what the lakers did accomplish (assuming they lose the series) is what 86% of the teams in the NBA couldn't do.
And that is: Get into the Conference Finals. With that much success so far, I don't see much change.

But with losing comes a change. That's just how it is regardless in our fast paced society.

If somethings not completely broken or shut down, why change the setting to try to get it to where it already is at.

New settings doesn't equal New changes.

 

It won't be easy. Here's the contracts for 2002-2003:

Shaquille O'Neal ----- $23,571,428
Kobe Bryant ---------- $12,375,000
Robert Horry ---------- $5,300,000
Rick Fox ------------------ $4,170,375
Derek Fisher ------------ $3,000,000
Lindsey Hunter --------- $3,000,000
Mark Madsen ------------ $813,000
Subtotal ----------------$ 52,229,803

Player option:
Samaki Walker --------- $1,540,000

That doesn't look to encouraging to me. Especially with Jerry West now in Memphis.

 

The problem is UNMKT4 is that the rest of the league is getting better, and already catching up with the Lakers talent wise. Granted the Lakers beat the Spurs in 5 games, but it easily could have gone 7 games, and that was with an unhealthy David Robinson. Get a healthy David Robinson and an extra scoring option and the Spurs could easily handle the Lakers similar to the way the Kings are doing. That's because the Lakers supporting cast and bench is weak or brutally underutilized. Getting to the Conference is nice. But if you keep the same team that got to the conference finals, while the rest of the league improves then that is where things get dicey. The Kings give the Lakers a ton of matchup problems. If the Mavs play defense they give the Lakers trouble. A healthy Spurs with a upgrade here and there give the Lakers trouble. A more mature Sonics team gives the Lakers trouble. The rest of the league is getting better, having enough talent to get to the conference finals this year won't help them next year.

 

Now, don't get me wrong, I hate the Lakers, but seriously, they're fine the way they are. Fox has mad defense, Horry does everything, and Fisher is just plain great, he's just having a bad series.

I think getting a third scorer could only screw with their chemistry (besides, Fisher is the third scorer anyway). They should keep getting good role players who are known more for their defensive games until one of the Big Two leaves.

 

I like Derek Fisher and Devean George..

 

Devean George is horrible.

Does this guy know that he can't shoot off the dribble? Yet, he still does it. Also, he shoots like 20% on layup attempts.

The Lakers as a whole are horrible, after Shaq and Kobe. I'm a semi-Lakers fan, and realize this. Without Shaq and Kobe, LA wins 5-10 games in an 82 game season. None of the other players can come close to creating their own shot.

 

Well granted Shaquille O'neal was injured and still played in all of the games against the spurs was a story in its own right.

With a healthy Robinson and a Healthy Shaq, Lakers still have the edge.

Talent may be getting better, but maybe what Phil needs to do is have the team run on all cylinders at all times and beat out the 95/96 Chicago Bulls outrageuos 72=10 record.

Now thats possible.

 

I HAAAAAAAAATE Devean George (pooor pooooooor mans Bonzi Wells) with a passion!!!!!!!!!!! He's ugly and his shot is fugly looking too And Lindsey Hunter is garbage too. I cheer when he comes into the game cause he blows. If I was Phil Jackson I would never play Hunter... the first thing he does whe he gets the ball is shoot and has a horrible shot selection and everytime he shoots it makes me cringe. He tries to aim the ball in the hoop.

 

Credit the overrated genius of Phil Jackson...

But seriously, the salary cap changes everything and since a team with 2 great players is easier to have chemistry than a team with a bunch of above average players, this might be the pattern.

Will the Kings and Mavs be exceptions? It took the Blazers and Knicks four or five years to implode...

 

Really its just that Shaq is 75-80% and Sac has probably the most talent in the league aside from Portland. When Shaq is really pushing himself, you get results like 40 and 20 or no less than 30 and 15 no matter how or how plays him. He is the big wheel on the tri cycle. When he's ordinary 23pt 11 rebs, they are not the same team in the playoffs.

 

Watch Malone go to the Lakers.

 

Interesting thought... too bad he would just lose again if he did.
It's not that losing follows Malone around, but the fact is that now he's a jump-shooter. Five years ago he was perfectly deserving of that MVP, now he's a great stats guy and doesn't win much. He's doing his Wilt Chamberlain impression: "Although I'm stronger than everyone, I want to be known as a skilled player. I'll shoot fadeaways."

Huh?

I think Malone could still dominate if he went inside consistently, but he just doesn't have the energy anymore. Malone has a choice: go inside and play 30 minutes a game, or play 40 and shoot jumpers (like now). Sad...
But I'm really missing the point... THE LAKERS WOULDN'T TAKE HIM. They don't need a 260 pound jump-shooter, and his salary is gigantic. Malone is now like Webber: very desirable, but totally unmovable.
I still think that all LA needs is to keep signing old throw-away power forwards who still have game. They're still going to have Horry off the bench. One more scoring guard coming in as a backup would put the cap on the whole deal; they would have a sweet 8-man rotation. The Lakers thought Richmond would fill that spot; he didn't, so they'll try another one. They should win another championship or two easily enough, because those gaps really aren't that hard to fill, especially since LA is very desirable.

 

Acually all the Lakers need is a jump shooter. I guy that can hit a mid range shot when he is open. This is the thing the Lakers are missing this year without Horace Grant. Right now the Lakers are the Shaq and Kobe show with three guys watching from the three point line. The only guy that should be watching from the three point line is Horry.