Los Angeles Lakers + Matt Barnes = NBA Dynasty
Somewhere deep down inside Kobe Bryant is smiling. Why? The Lakers just got tougher.
Matt Barnes has always been an underrated journeyman. However, each place he lands, he plays with grit and toughness, like a player vying for a new contract (which he often is). He usually defends the opposition’s toughest player. This is no easy task. Yet, he takes on the challenge with something that can only be described as zeal.
Yes, the Lakers have Ron Artest, but why not have two players who are amped about defending and can shoot the corner three? Barnes fortifies the Lakers' toughness, making things incredibly difficult for the Celts, Magic, Thunder, and Heat.
Chemistry issues?
Barnes is a wildcard to be sure. He has to be right? How else do you go through several teams in several years? Otis Smith, the Magic GM, didn’t even break a sweat to bring him back. And after a much publicized dust-up with Bryant and Lamar Odom, shouldn’t the Lakers be worried? Two words: Phil Jackson.
Not only has Jackson managed to get the best out of two world-class head cases in Dennis Rodman during his tenure with the Bulls and Artest this year, but even Kobe welcomed his former nemesis to the tune of his second consecutive championship. Artest > Barnes.
With an alpha dog like Kobe to keep him in check and the Zen Master working his special brand of magic, this hardly presents a challenge.
If nothing else, acquiring Barnes does two things: 1) keeps him away from a contender (i.e., the Celtics or the Heat), and 2) eliminates another tough-as-nails defender who always likes to beat up on Kobe. No ONE defender can stop Kobe, but taking him into the fold eliminates the issue altogether.
If Barnes signed with Toronto or Cleveland, it would have made him irrelevant. Had Barnes signed with one of the other so-called superteams , he would have presented a formidable challenge. Instead, he signed with the two-time defending champions.
What does this mean for the rest of the league?
It eliminates any trace of toughness from the Magic. By losing Barnes, the Magic lose the one thing they didn’t have against the Lakers in the '09 finals—toughness. Yes, Dwight Howard has those elbows, but they hardly qualify as tough. When facing teams such as the Celtics and Lakers, not to mention the newly improved Heat, the loss of Barnes eliminates the edge necessary for them to compete.
By losing out on Barnes, the Celtics are without a backup to harass Kobe. Tony Allen removed himself from the equation simply by going for the money and landing in Memphis. The Grizzlies are inconsequential—no harm there.
It leaves the Heat without any real defensive presence. Sure LeBron, Wade, and maybe even Joel Anthony will provide them with some defense, but without a real defensive stopper or a stellar scheme to help cover their weaknesses, teams will be carving up the Heat on the offensive end.
Simply put, the Lakers match up now more than ever against anyone—the Celtics, the Magic and yes, even the Superfriends.
Defense wins championships…
Artest needs a rest? Insert Barnes. Not much lost here. He can stick the likes of Kevin Durant, Melo, Paul Pierce, LeBron, etc. providing more than serviceable relief for Artest.
With Barnes, Phil’s options are virtually limitless.
Imagine a lineup of Kobe, (Fish or Blake), Artest, Barnes, and Andrew Bynum on the floor. I want to know what offense is going to get through that lineup. And this says nothing of how this lineup aids the Lakers offense…
When Kobe is on the floor, defenses have to tilt toward the side of the floor that he’s on. By virtue of his greatness and the triangle offense, each of these players who can shoot the three (sans Bynum or Gasol) will have a field day. Barnes is a career 40 percent three-point shooter in the playoffs. Pick your poison—literally .
By acquiring Barnes, the Lakers are serving notice that they mean business—superteams of the league be damned.
Somewhere deep down inside, Kobe is smiling…indeed.
