The Los Angeles Lakers: If They Play "Magically," They Will Win

Back in the day, a point guard named Magic Johnson and a tall gangly dude name Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played a neat little two man game to beat back their opponents.

Kareem would set up nicely in the post, and Magic would throw the ball into the big man who had numerous options.

He could pass to a cutting Magic who would lay it in. He could spin left for his famous hook or right for a nifty left-handed layup. He could kick it back to Magic who would shoot it himself or swing it to a waiting jumpshooter.

The Lakers have this option today with Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum, and if they play it to the max, they will kick some Maverick butt.

Kobe, unlike Magic, is one of the top two finishers to ever play the game, behind only Michael Jordan in that department. Let him start with the ball and create.  In his case, he can slash to the basket (yes he still can!) or shoot one of his patented fade-aways. 

He can pass to an open Derek Fisher on the wing or even Ron Artest or shannon Brown.  These guys can shoot although they have been painfully woeful to date.

But, it is with the big man where the Lakers can really make an impact. Kareem would average close to 30 points a game, and that is what Bynum needs to do. 

His time has come.  It is time for him to assert himself in the paint offensively.  To slam it down. To hook it in. To take a set shot if it applies.

The Lakers of old had great shooters in Byron Scott and James Worthy and Michael Cooper and today's Lakers definitely lack that option. 

But with Kobe and Bynum working off of each other and with the a scorer like Lamar Odom working the wing, they actually may have a chance.

Let Dirk score his 30, shut down the other Mavericks—that is, actually play a little defense—and then have Kobe and Bynum work some Magic of their own.