Pop Quiz: NBA Postseason Recap (Part II)

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

The pieces of the puzzle just fit in Lakerland. They had a Hall of Fame coach in Phil Jackson, in quest of a record 10th NBA championship as a head coach, calmly providing instructions from his comfy chair.

They had Kobe Bryant, one of the best guards in the history of the game, determined to win one without the big fella. They had an enormously talented and skilled (and suddenly tough) big man in Pau Gasol, and they had Lamar Odom coming off the bench.

The Lakers also discovered a premiere stopper in Trevor Ariza, and who can forget about old reliable, Derek Fisher, always coming up clutch in the postseason. They had all the pieces necessary to win the championship this particular NBA season, and they put those pieces together.

They put their egos aside and just went out and did their respective jobs.

When the most talented team is able to do this, they usually come out on top, and that's exactly what happened. 

However, it’s impossible for any team to head into the next season without questions to be answered.

But first, a short-essay tribute question for Derek Fisher, a player I greatly respect and appreciate as a fan.

8. Like Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher won his fourth title as a Laker. Briefly summarize the importance of Fisher.

Derek Fisher is the ultimate professional. He’s a stabilizing force in the backcourt for Kobe that is willing to do whatever it takes to win. Fisher thrives in pressure situations and is an extremely clutch shooter.

When there’s a big shot to be taken, we expect Fisher to take and make that shot. He may be 34, but he remains an important piece of this Lakers championship team heading into next season.

OK. Time for some more serious questions the Lakers must answer.

Here’s the toughest question on the test:

9. Which of the players below should be the Lakers' top priority this offseason?

            A. Trevor Ariza

            B. Lamar Odom

You can make a very strong case for either of the two Lakers.

I would have to say the correct answer is A, Trevor Ariza.

Look, Lamar Odom’s a great player that can do a lot things very well on the basketball court. I recognize that having a player of Odom’s talents as your sixthman is a ridiculous luxury that few teams in this league have.

The problem is, Odom’s been the definition of inconsistency throughout his career. You just never know what you’re going to get from Odom. He can dominate for stretches, but he can just as easily disappear for stretches. He’s basically the less-tumultuous, championship version of JR Smith, and that’s still scary. The point is, Odom’s a wild-card.

That being said, with Trevor Ariza, you can count on him to do one thing night in and night out, and that’s defend the hell out of the opponent’s best offensive player.

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