I'm just saying that both of those guys haven't shown anything in the past year, and in mckie's case it's two years now. They're just over the hill. JJ's defense has declining when he was still with us, so I can imagine that it hasn't gotten any better in the past year and a half since he left. As crazy as it sounds, Smush was their best option against Nash (or maybe vujacic). If you put Kobe on him, that'll wear him out for when you need him on offense. And JJ and Mckie have even less of a prayer of guarding Nash as Smush had.
If Tim Thomas doesn't hit that last second 3 in game 6, Kobe is one of the greatest players ever, carried his team, should be MVP, hit all the clutch shots, etc, etc... But since Tim Thomas hit that 3, Kobe is a quitter, will never win the big one, Nash was the clear cut MVP, etc, etc..... ONE shot can sway internet message board posters, and people who call into radio shows. ONE shot. Classic stuff.
just like paxson's shot against the suns in game 6 years ago...just like kerr versus the jazzholes...role players play a significant role in helping the superstars have a legacy.
It's a TEAM game, until basketball fans understand and fully embrace that FACT (not opinion), I think all this debate is pointless.
as i originally posted: there could've been a line-up of Smush at the 1 vs. Nash/Barbosa, Kobe at the 2 vs. Bell, JJ at the 3 vs. Tim Thomas, Walton at the 4 vs. Marion, and Odom at the 5 vs. Boris. the Lakers were basically playing either Smush, Kobe, George, Walton, and Odom or Smush, Kobe, Walton, Odom, and Kwame. all i'm saying is that it would've been a last resort (in the interest of offense) that should have been visited.
Jimmy Jackson is done. Earlier in the year when Barbosa was out for @ 25 games the Suns needed Jackson and tried to play him. Let's just say they were not JJ's finest hours. He ended up on the bench, even with Barbosa out, his shot seemed to have disappeared as well as his D. There was a reason he was cut from the Suns.
Don't tell that to the continual JVG & Les bashers. If it was a choice between the Lakers, Knicks and Rockets, we would have probably been 3rd on PJ's list. If he was coming back it was going to be the Lakers. Still, it somehow must be Les' fault PJ isn't the Rockets coach.
