Written by: Dustin Malcolm
Call me an arrogant fan, but the Lakers are going to repeat as Western Conference Champions when all is said and done after the 2010-2011 season. While many believe a young team like the Oklahoma City Thunder or a team with possibly resurgent players like the Houston Rockets could challenge the Lakers for their fourth straight Western Crown, they forgot one thing: the title runs through Los Angeles.
While Oklahoma City has great young talent in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the standout names end there. The team has an abundance of heart and hard work, as shown in the first round of last year’s playoffs, but the inexperience is likely to yield a similar exit so long as the Lakers are proactive.
With the also talented Rockets, their competitiveness seems to pivot on Yao Ming’s all too fragile feet. Other typical challengers like the Suns and the Mavericks seemed to fall by the wayside in terms of free agent signings, and teams like the Spurs just seemed to get a year older.
With the steals that the Lakers made this off-season, it seems all but inevitable that the Lakers will be back in defense of their title in the NBA Finals next year. The question remaining is, who will they see?
Next: Beasts of the East
The overwhelming majority of NBA fans and writers across the globe say that the Sideshow in South Beach will be seeing the Lakers next June, a sentiment with which I ultimately agree, though they have a tougher path to cross to get there. A resilient Celtics team coupled with the still talented Magic lurk in the shadows, ready to pounce on another shot to give Prince James and Company an untimely playoff exit.
Lets say Miami does in fact make it, and the trio finds a way to mix their talent cohesively to arrive at the NBA Finals. While some Laker fans are nervous at the possibility of such a collision, I’ve got five reasons fans instead should be foaming at that mouth for that match-up.
1. Sticking LeBron
While everyone here at Lakers Nation knows that only real kings wear rings, there’s no denying LeBron James is a great offensive player. He’s great defensively too, but let’s face it: no one is stopping the Mamba. While LeBron has torched offenses ever since his entry into the league, he shouldn’t expect the same this year with the Lake Show.
Ron Artest has quieted the doubters over the last year with huge playoff performances and stalwart defensive displays. In the Cavaliers showdown in Los Angeles this past Christmas, a game Laker fans would just as soon forget, Ron Ron played an excellent game on the other side of the ball in slowing James down. He forced LeBron to commit 7 turnovers and shoot 2 for 7 from behind the arc.
Viewing the game as one where the Lakers were not firing on all cylinders, it’s safe to say LeBron will face similar battles with Ron, especially since the ball will leave his hands more often in Miami than it did in Cleveland over the course of games. Artest proved to be a strong body that could defend the opposing team’s scorer, as noted by his playoff performances against the likes of Paul Pierce and Kevin Durant.
The Lakers also got a great deal better this offseason defensively with their addition of Matt Barnes. Infamous for his battle with Kobe during the Magic’s March battle with L.A., there is no doubt that Barnes will see valuable minutes guarding the NBA’s defending MVP.
Oddly enough, fans should find comfort that the Lakers’ craziest two players will be responsible for creating law & order on the court.
Next: Battle of the Bigs
2. Gasol vs. Bosh
Fans of the league throw around the word “superstar” all too often. There are very few in the league who hold up to the title with their on-court performances. There is a clear-cut difference between “all-star” and “superstar” status. We need to start realizing Bosh is the former instead of the latter.
Lakers Nation enemy Bill Simmons started this sentiment on his Twitter page shortly following the nationally televised “Decision.” While it’s a miracle in itself that we agree on something NBA related, he brings up some very important facts. Bosh has never seen an NBA First Team selection in any form, has only experienced 11 playoff games in which he is 3-8, and has a career win percentage under 0.400.
While you could blame a weak supporting cast over the years, a superstar should be able to fill seats and guarantee wins. Bosh, over the past 7 years, hasn’t exactly accomplished these things.
Meanwhile, Pau Gasol typifies the things that are necessary in a big man performing on the big stage. Even before he became a Laker, Pau had experience playing in games overseas so he was no newcomer to crucial moments. Many try to wash Gasol’s numbers in comparison with Bosh, but statistics don’t lie.
Last season Pau was a force on the boards, averaging 11.3 per game versus Bosh’s 10.8. He has also owned a better shooting percentage over the past few years, topping it off with this last season’s 0.536 against Bosh’s 0.518. Gasol is also the superior passing big man of the two, averaging over 3 assists for the majority of his career and 3.4 last year as opposed to 2.4 from Bosh.
While Pau has been considered “soft” during points of his career, there is no question he is the most skilled big man in the league. He fits right into a triangle offensive system, and can spread the floor with his 15 foot jumper from the wings.
Let’s also remember Pau is showing these superior numbers while playing second fiddle to one Kobe Bryant. Maybe we should rethink who represents the real superstar here.
Next: Two Above-average Shooting Guards
3. Mamba or Flash?
Many could say here that statistics don’t count, seeing as how Kobe has played twice the years and more than double the games than Dwayne Wade. But looking over the past two or three seasons, Kobe has statistically been better in scoring, 3 point shooting, rebounding, turnover ratio and is more clutch when he steps to the line. Speaking of clutch, Dwayne shouldn’t soon forget who is king: httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-3s90fR1ak
Many would also say that Kobe might not be able to keep up with Wade, but let’s not forget that Wade has also seen his fair share of injuries in his 7 years as a Pro. Various shoulder and knee injuries for Wade have hindered his ability to start more than 80 games in a season for his career while Kobe has had 5 such seasons.
We also must not forget that Kobe has always been one of the game’s most prolific defenders as an 8 time selection for the NBA All-Defensive Team. When quick guards like Westbrook have exploited his high mileage, Kobe adapts his defense and uses his basketball knowledge to get the job done.
He still demands the task of guarding the opponents’ hottest player during crucial stretches of games, and his reputation as a tough defender is a byproduct of his tenacity and hard work.
While no one is denying that Dwayne Wade is one of the best players in the game, Kobe Bryant is and has always been on a whole other level. Writers and fans across the globe are worried about his age, but Kobe has stretched the prime of his career better than anyone of recent memory.
Kobe has finished ahead of Wade in MVP voting the past five seasons, and for a reason. No one player changes the other team’s game-plan quite like the Mamba, and his basketball IQ is unparalleled in the game today. The biggest question for the Heat this year is how the ball will be shared between those 3 players, let alone the entire team.
The Lakers however, have kept their core intact and will watch the benefits that come with having the league’s best player come forth.
Next: Raucous Reserves
4. Bench Mob
As if the first three reasons weren’t good enough, the differences between the benches could be where the Lakers have the biggest advantage. Spending so much money on three marquee players left the Heat scrambling for players to fill the bench. Miami’s bench looks like someone took the pieces to five different 500 piece puzzles and jammed pieces together when they couldn’t get one completed.
They have experienced shooters in Eddie House and Mike Miller who will undoubtedly spread the floor with a skilled passer like LeBron, but outside of those two there are no big standouts. Instead, there are basically roster “filler,” with players who have never been able to produce at a high level or players who are too close to being over the hill to be of any promise.
On the west coast, the Lakers have bolstered what was a frustrating bench to watch in 2009-2010 by signing promising Triangle point guard Steve Blake and defensive standout Matt Barnes. They also have one of the more promising rookies of the latest class in Devin Ebanks, who has reminded fans of Trevor Ariza in his looks and style of play.
Shortly following the debacle that LeBron had aired on television, an interesting assessment was made by our friends over at ESPN 710: The Heat may have a golden one through three, but the Lakers are golden from one through six. This means that while Miami may have gone out and sold the farm for the opportunity to have a talented trio, the Lakers still have the best starting lineup in the NBA, and even have a bench full of potential starters such as current USA stud Lamar Odom.
Next: The Intangibles
5. Experience
Aside from Eddie House, who did win a title with Boston in 2008, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas who experienced mild playoff experience with LeBron James, the bench in South Beach have combined to play only 177 playoff games. Kobe has played 22 more games than that by himself. Adding in House and Ilgauskas brings that total to 304, while the Lakers Bench Mob have a total of 372 games under their belt.
There’s no question the Lakers current roster members have experienced the ultimate highs and terrible lows that come with the post-season. Wade and James are the only Heat starters who have experienced more than their share of playoff games while the Lakers have a storied duo in Fisher and Bryant, who have experienced all five titles with each other. Adding in Bynum, Gasol and Artest and you have a confident formula for playoff success.
When you begin to examine the coaches on each side, you start to see how much of a landslide the battle is. But in Erik Spoelstra’s defense, Coach Phil Jackson dwarfs all NBA coaches in both accomplishments and physical stature. In what he said is his last hurrah, there is no doubt that Phil will pull out all the stops and utilize his players in the Triangle to the maximum. There is a reason the man accounts for more NBA titles than any other head coach.
It is hard for any brand new team like the Heat to pull everything together and find themselves winning a title after their first year together. There is no doubt this is one of the more talented teams in NBA history, but for three egos to come together and expect to mesh together right away is somewhat far-fetched.
The Lakers have a veteran club with experienced pieces and abundant talent. Mitch Kupchack heard the cries of fans all over and got the exact pieces the Lakers needed to reform the bench and fill the necessary holes that will allow the Lakers to re-emerge as title favorites.
There should be no doubt in Laker fans’ heads that we will be playing clear into June like we have during the past four years. Even if it does come against the Heat: sleep well knowing that the Lakers are the ones with the upper hand. This union in Miami may have been one for the history books, but when all is said and done there is no doubt that the Lake Show will leave Dwayne and Company as nothing more than that: history.