I’m not sure the Lakers will ever find the offensive rhythm they once had under Phil Jackson and the triangle. Some of it may have to do with the predictability of Brown’s sets, the slowed pace at which they’ll play or maybe just less talented complementary personnel, but I fully expect many more games like this past weekend against the Nuggets when they went 2-24 from three point land and still found a way to manufacture a win through post play and mental toughness.
Like the Spurs before them, the calling card of this team will be defense, and it will be defense alone that separates them from the pack if they expect to make another title run. But also like those Spurs this team will be prone to bouts of offensive inefficiencies or prolonged shooting slumps. In other words, don’t expect pretty, do expect gritty. Get used to seeing games scores in the 80s and 90s.
As long as they win, right?
Still, despite all the shared traits these two squads possess there is one very important difference between those Spurs and these Lakers.
San Antonio was a hungry bunch back then. They had always been a very good regular season team with Robinson as the mainstay but floundered in the playoffs year after year. It wasn’t until they hit the lottery (both literally and figuratively) with Duncan that the dynasty as we now know it was born. But for veterans who were a part of that first championship, Johnson, Sean Elliot, Robinson, et al, it was the hunger bred into them from so many bitter playoff defeats that helped build up their desire, that molded them together into a team.
I wonder, does the same fire burn within the Lakers right now? Most of the players on board have already had more than their share of success. Most have already reached the pinnacle of team play multiple times. Can they continue to want it as much as they need to in order to succeed?
I think that will be Mike Brown’s ultimate test as a coach. He has a blueprint for success, the model upon which to build and the players with which to build it. The question is, can he get them to buy in?
So far, the results may be mixed, but the future looks promising. Just stick to the plan.