The Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant: The Sequel

Flashback to 2004. The Lakers were disheveled after losing in the NBA Finals in five games to the Detroit Pistons, Shaq was packing his bags for Miami and Phil Jackson opted to write a book about Kobe Bryant instead of coaching him.

What was to come in seasons 2004-2007 was a confused-looking team that had the potential to go nowhere every June. Some could even argue that the Lakers are looking that way right now; the only difference is, Kobe Bryant was entering and establishing the prime of his career in 2004, and in 2011-12, he is 33. What the triangle offense did for the mediocre players on the three-peat Laker squads is exactly what a college degree does for people who get C’s in school, who look to one day make six figures and/or run for president.

The triangle offense is designed to help average players achieve above-average stats for the simple fact that the idea of this offense lies in the defenders' faults and not the ball handlers'. Yes, it may be a tough system to learn for the average NBA player, but once close to mastery, its effectiveness is unmatched.

The problem, though, is once average players have become accustomed to it, it’s not so easy to translate into a new system, let alone achieve the highest success in winning an NBA championship.

Remember how the Lakers looked on the court the first time they were without the Zen Master’s key plan? I do. Besides the Black Mamba, the Lakers looked lost, the weak players were weeded out very quickly and people outside of LA remembered how great of player Kobe Bryant actually was and is. Sound familiar yet?

Flash forward to 2010-2011. The Lakers get swept in an utter disappointment of a series versus the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks (who definitely were the better team), Phil is out, minus the book, and the only real talent off the bench is sent packing because no one in management can sit him down and say man to man, they are looking to make a transaction with him involved.

It’s hard for me to believe that had Brian Shaw taken over as head coach, he wouldn’t have been able to settle Lamar Odom down enough to keep him in purple and gold (more on that in my next article).

To me, the triangle is easily summed up as a college degree. We all know people who skated through college and ended up with degrees, and we all know people who are geniuses without college degrees. To win multiple championships in a row, you need more than just superstar talent and some decent bench players, and to get a job worth six figures, you need more than just a genius brain, unless you're Mark Zuckerberg.

Kobe proves his superstar status with every coach change outside of the Zen Master. Kobe Bryant is the triangle's exception, but unlike Jordan—and this isn’t a knock on MJ at all—Kobe is at his best outside the triangle. To have the ability to lead the league in scoring this late in his career after another system change and head coaching change is what fans should really marvel at; the rest is just a “Mickey Mouse Elective.”

If were taught the subject of history in school, to make sure we never repeat our failed mistakes, maybe someone should have told Jim Buss to stay awake in class.