Could there be any other player this year motivated enough to win another ring than Kobe Bryant? Yes, but that doesn’t mean the Lakers aren’t a legitimate threat to every team in the NBA, which is why they land in no. 3 on our top rankings.
After a disappointing defeat to the Thunder in 5 games during last year’s NBA Playoffs, many were wondering if Kobe Bryant would ever get help, after averaging 28 points a game in the playoffs, with Pau Gasol becoming a non-factor after dealing with early season trade talks as well as no help in the back court, but they struck gold (pun intended) landing two superstars with Dwight Howard and Steve Nash after the season ended.
Kobe Bryant finally has the point guard in the back court he’s wanted his entire career and gets the front court player he’s been wanting for 8 years after the original Superman departed for South Beach. With those two players added to the mix and Gasol in good spirits knowing his fate with Kobe assuring the world he’s a Laker as long as he’s playing, they’ve instantly become the favorites in the west (4 days ago in my opinion) and will have the best starting five in all of basketball.
Now, why aren’t the Lakers higher in the seedings? Easy, there’s no bench… at all, not to mention coaching lack thereof. When Dwight Howard gets into foul trouble, the back up big men are Jordan Hill and Antawn Jamison, which isn’t going to be enough if they come across injuries with the slew of big men in the west.
Speaking of which, Kobe’s been dealing with a foot injury and might miss a few games in the early part of the season as he’s already running low on fuel entering his 16th season with already 42,000 minutes played at only the age of 34. Kobe’s been on record to say he has two years left of elite level play in the NBA as I would look for him to give it his all these next two seasons in hopes for a 6th title to match the G.O.A.T.
The Lakers season is going to come down to how these talents gel together which I’m pretty sure they’ll have a some difficulty, but should pull through later in the season with time to build chemistry. Ron Artest is the dark house of the team as he’ll be called upon to guard the best 1-3 in the playoffs due to Nash being a liability on the defensive end.
With a defensive minded coach in Mike Brown and the best defensive player in the game Dwight Howard, the offensive-gifted legends in Kobe and Nash should keep this team together along with re-incorporating the most miss-used talent in all of basketball, Pau Gasol.
Good luck Lakers fans, but don’t get too cocky!