Kobe Bryant: Why He Should Force Lakers Offense Through Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum

Lakers training camp has been cancelled this season, leaving little time for Mike Brown to install and implement a new offensive system for his new employer.

Given Brown's previous experience with LeBron James, it seems natural that Kobe Bryant will be the offensive focal point. Bryant's position at No. 6 on the NBA's all-time scoring list proves he's entirely capable of running the show and producing the points for the Lake Show.

But with a new coach and new season, presumably, on the horizon, it's time for a new approach.

Enter Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum—the Lakers' Twin Towers.

Here are seven reasons why Kobe Bryant should force the Lakers offense through the Lakers' seven-footers next season.

The Frontcourt Is an Overwhelming Strength

The LA Lakers frontcourt, led by Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, is a force nary a team can contend with.

When opposing coaches talk about the mismatches the Lakers present, you're bound to hear the words "size" and "length."

Is the Lakers frontcourt the best in the NBA? It's up for debate—and a healthy one at that.

There is no runaway favorite as to which is truly the best.

However, it's clear that the strength of Bynum combined with the finesse of Gasol gives opposing front lines matchup nightmares.

All told, the addition of Gasol to the frontcourt and the growth of Andrew Bynum were the missing pieces that finally propelled a Kobe Bryant-led Lakers team to two NBA championships in 2009 and 2010.

Mike Brown's Twin Tower Offense Was Effective in San Antonio

Based on the sound bytes coming out of LA, a Twin Tower offense seems inevitable.

As indicated in his introductory press conference as new Lakers head coach (video), Mike Brown will take the offensive philosophies from the San Antonio teams led by David Robinson and Tim Duncan and apply them to the Lakers.

These intentions were reiterated last week when Brown sat down with the Orange County Register's Lakers writer Kevin Ding:

"

This team is completely different from what I had in Cleveland. In Cleveland, I had a guy who liked to come off the top of the floor, liked to play in space and play pick-and-roll and make plays for others. Here, I've got two guys similar to what we had in San Antonio; you're able to throw them the ball on the block.

"

The Twin Tower offense led to a 2003 NBA championship for the Spurs. Always a strong idea to stick with what works.

The elements for success in a Twin Tower offense were wonderfully detailed in this oft-linked piece by NBAplaybook.com. Rather than recreate the analysis, I highly recommend reading this in-depth look at the intricacies of such a system.

Save Kobe for the Fourth Quarter

Games are won in the fourth quarter.

You don't win them in the first quarter, you don't win them in the second and you don't win them in the third; the fourth quarter is when it all matters.

Twelve minutes of crunch time.

Or as Laker fans have come to know it—"Kobe Time."

The best closer in the game should be well rested and poised to finish off a team by the time the fourth quarter rolls around.

Asking Bryant to shoulder the scoring for 36 minutes in addition to closing out a ballgame is simply asking too much of the 15-year veteran.

Kobe has proven he can carry the team for the entire 48, but why make it unnecessarily difficult on No. 24?

Bring out the Mamba scowl and the finger wave when it's time to close the curtains—not before.

Just Look at the Numbers

Do the Lakers play better basketball when Kobe monopolizes the scoring?

Or should the team ride with Mamba taking a back seat?

A look at the numbers can help us arrive at an answer.

The Huffington Post's Jordan Schultz wrote a great piece on this very issue and provided insightful statistics, which bear repeating.

The Lakers' record during the 2010-2011 NBA season was mapped against Kobe Bryant's shot attempts to reveal the following:

Lakers Win-Loss Record when Kobe took 25 or more shots: 9-9.

Lakers Win-Loss Record when Kobe took fewer than 15 shots: 15-0.

Statistics like these certainly warrant further consideration given the overwhelming success rate.

Why was this the case?

The Lakers Offense Runs Smoother When Kobe Is a Facilitator

As the primary defensive focus for any opposing team, Kobe Bryant has the ability to play a team like a puppet.

Score at will? Sure.

But it can be argued that Bryant is most effective as the primary facilitator.

Generating easy offense and open looks for your teammates has the added benefit of not only creating points but also building your teammates' confidence and establishing a genuine rhythm within the team's offense.

I can recall countless times, particularly last season, when players not named Kobe Bryant fell completely out of rhythm when No. 24 hounded the team's successive shot attempts.

Pass first, shoot second and build a foundation for the rest of the team, and the wins as a team will certainly follow.

As I highlighted in a prior piece on the science behind "Kobe Ball," a pass-first approach is scientifically proven to be the most effective game plan—footnoted, of course, that the ball needs to be in Kobe Bryant's hands to close the game.

Pau Gasol Is a World-Class Talent

Like Tim Duncan in San Antonio, Pau Gasol gives Mike Brown the opportunity to generate offense through a first-class, multi-talented seven-footer.

While Duncan appears to be on the decline, Pau is only getting better and better.

At 31 years of age, Pau is entering the prime of his career. His offensive mastery was on display during this year's Eurobasket tournament, showing range, versatility and scoring prowess that certify him among the NBA's elite.

Throughout his career, Pau has shown he can carry a team offensively, averaging 20.6 points per game in his final two full seasons for the Grizzlies and averaging a rock-solid 18.7 points per contest with the Purple and Gold as the No. 2 scoring option.

Whether it's a dazzling hook shot or an exquisite pass out of the post, good things happen when the offense is run through Pau. 

The 1b to Kobe's 1a is perfectly capable of running the show.

Andrew Bynum Is Ready for a Larger Offensive Role

It took six NBA seasons, but the time for Andrew Bynum has finally arrived.

Given Bynum's great improvement in his jump shot, post game and floor awareness last season, the Lakers should certainly have the confidence to give Drew a larger role in the offense.

Bynum has worked hard under the tutelage of the NBA's all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to earn his spot atop the team's depth chart.

After years working as a Lakers assistant coach, solely responsible for Bynum's development, Kareem effectively cemented Bynum's arrival last season, saying, "Drew can get it done on the court now. He just has to be consistent. If he's consistent doing the things he's been doing recently, I definitely see the Lakers playing for the championship."

A vote of confidence from the greatest scorer the game has ever seen.

Talk about high praise.

So Will a Shift to the Twin Towers Work?

Success in LA is measured by championships.

Should the Lakers play championship-caliber basketball upon the implementation of a seven-foot-centric offense, Kobe Bryant will support the move—not to mention the relief provided to Kobe's knees.

After retiring the triangle offense that has brought the Lakers so much success, it makes sense to explore different offensive game plans, including those where Kobe is not the centerpiece.

A back seat for the greatest Laker of all time seems a bit harsh.

Consider it riding shotgun.

So long as the Lakers end up at the right destination, I wouldn't think Kobe is too concerned with where he sits.