The Connect Four Tour: Los Angeles Lakers
by Brandon Moor
July 26, 2010
Peering into the crystal ball for the upcoming 2010-2011 NBA season, four teams have topped the list figuring into the Western and Eastern Conference Finals. Our first stop on the Connect Four Tour begins in Southern California where the Hollywood stars roam 24/7, 365 days a year.
The Los Angeles Lakers fought tooth and nail in a heated battle against their storied rival Boston Celtics. Possibly one of the most physical seven games anyone has seen in quite some time, Kobe Bryant refused to hand the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to Boston’s Big Three. Kobe won another title without the aid of the Big Diesel and Phil Jackson is now officially overstocked on championship rings.
Oh yeah, did I mention the supporting cast performed out of their minds throughout the Lakers’ playoff run?
Is that a bad thing? What kind of a question is that?
Under normal circumstances, pointing the Los Angeles Lakers back to the 2011 NBA Finals sounds premature and ludicrous. On the other hand, the Lakers are back to back champs and the team didn’t have to venture out far in a desperate search to find free agents to fill star-struck voids. Nope, instead the entire core is returning with the addition of defensive mastermind Matt Barnes acquired from the Orlando Magic.
Perhaps the main headline for the Lakers occurred shortly after the playoffs when guard Derek Fisher chartered a flight to Miami hoping to broker a short term deal to play with the Heat. In a flabbergasting turn of events, LeBron James’ personal greeting wasn’t enough to entice the beloved Lakers’ silent hero from leaving his home in Los Angeles. Loyalty to one team is a rare commodity in professional sports this day in age, and Derek Fisher redefines class.
The Lakers can dispatch their opponents in a variety of ways. Besides the intimidating purple and gold uniforms, LA draws upon their tremendous length averaging six feet, seven inches between the starting five spreading the offense out of rhythm and into uncomfortable positions.
Finishing 57-25 last season, the Lakers averaged almost 102 ppg while holding the opposition to 97 ppg. On any given night, future Hall-of-Famer Kobe Bryant will get his points regardless of who attempts to lock him down on defense, but between Gasol, Fisher and Artest, scoring is not a problem.
Shot blocking comes at a premium if and when the opponent manages to break the key and drive toward the bucket. Clogging up the painted area is a pair of skilled seven footers in Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Of course the Lakers have more help with lanky Lamar Odom and free-spirited wild man Ron Artest patrolling on backside help.
Since Kobe Bryant is the primary facilitator jumpstarting the offensive load, the Lakers’ Achilles heel rides too heavily on Bryant alone. Although Kobe can take a game over whenever he feels, there are rare times when the team gets too caught up watching Kobe rather than helping out.
Phil Jackson should be psyched on the upcoming season seeing as the possibility of chasing down that twelfth world championship ring looms larger day after day. Don’t bring the age factor to the discussion on winning it all because look at the last two NBA World Champions. Enough said.
Can the Los Angeles Lakers pull of the three-peat sending Zen Master Phil Jackson riding into the sunset in heroic fashion, or will a new group emerge claiming the Western Conference for themselves?
We still have a few months to find out which team wins it all, but for now, the Lakers are still NBA’s basketball royalty.
