5 years, 4 Finals appearances, 3 rings–the Lakers are living a dream. But with every great dream there is a painful shot of reality. And the Lakers received their vaccination after their disappointing loss to the Pistons in the NBA Finals.
One head coach and one childish 300 lb. superstar later the Los Angeles Lakers are left with a disgruntled rising star on trial for rape and the Los Angeles fan base breathing down their necks. The Lakers for the past 5 years have been the team to beat in the NBA, but now that two of their key components have fled the coop, what is left for the Lakers to cling to?
I’ll analyze the trades, departures, and divorces made by the Lakers this off-season and what it means to the teams involved.
Lakers lose the Championship to Detroit:
This is where it all began. If the Lakers had won the NBA title, I’m not sitting here at my computer typing this article up to send to SC. Big changes were going to be made to the Lakers’ roster–someone’s job was on the line.
Phil leaves the Lakers:
As soon as Phil Jackson left the Lakers the sports world started to question the status of the Laker team. With Phil gone, would the door open for more Lakers superstars to punch their tickets out of Hollywood? You bet. Jackson leaving was the first step towards the dismantling of the Lakers’ roster.
Next Laker coach–Coach K?
The Lakers looked into acquiring Coach K from Duke. This would’ve been a great pickup for the Lakers to replace Jackson. If K had moved to Hollywood, Shaq may have been enticed to stay with the Lakers and not demand a trade. Though at that point it seemed highly unlikely.
Shaq wants out of Los Angeles:
The Diesel demands to the Lakers that he be traded. Several teams look into acquiring him. The frontrunner in the deal appeared to be the Dallas Mavericks. Think about it–Shaq, Dirk, Walker, and Nash. The only problem was that Mark Cuban was being a stubborn billionaire and vowed never to trade Dirk, the piece the Lakers wanted. And that Steve Nash would be traded soon thereafter. So much for that idea.
Coach K denies request from Lakers:
Kobe’s request for Coach K had been turned down, and the search for a new coach to head the Lakers continued–they thought they had found their perfect candidate. Coach K would’ve been an excellent and well needed pickup for the Lakers. They would have to settle for the next best thing.
Rudy T reportedly interested in coaching the Lakers:
Former NBA Champion Rudy T was the next big name on the Lakers’ list of coaching candidates. Rudy’s no Coach K, but he is decorated nicely with two NBA coaching rings. This would be the second best choice for the Lakers, why not take it?
Rudy signs with Lakers:
That’s exactly what they did. Rudy T coming over to coach the Lakers was a huge pickup–great coach though nobody could’ve replaced Phil Jackson.
The Diesel is dealt:
Shaq is traded to the Miami Heat for Hugh Grant, Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and a future pick. Nice pickup for both squads (sarcasm). The Lakers get a few young, healthy players to help build a team, and the Heat get the most dominating force in the game. Hardly a fair deal. Only problem is that the Lakers want to win now, not wait five years.
An interesting tid-bit for you to sink your teeth into: in games the Lakers played without Shaq and only Kobe Bryant they were a .500 team. Not bad if you’re the Boston Celtics. In games played without Kobe and only Shaq, the Lakers won four times as many games. So maybe deciding to build your team around Kobe wasn’t such a great idea after all Jerry Bus.
One thing I do know for sure is that Shaq makes the game easier for everyone on his team. When Shaq is on the floor, everyone is happy and scoring, when Shaq isn’t on the floor its back to reality. You wanted your own team Kobe, here’s your chance. Good luck.
Miami now a contender in the East:
With Shaq to the Lakers and Kenyon Martin on his way out of New Jersey, the Miami Heat are looking awfully dangerous in the East. Dwayne Wade paired next to Shaq could be the best one two punch in the NBA right now (if Wade performs well). Look out Detroit and Indiana, there’s a new favorite in the East. Shaq will have a jolly time playing the Eastern Conference. Nobody can pair up with Shaq. The West at least provided some challenge even though Shaq still dominated. Expect career numbers out of the Diesel–don’t expect the lackadaisical center that will sometimes show his face. Shaq’s a man on a mission and no one can stop him.
The revised Lakers lineup:
The new Lakers lineup heading into next season should look somewhat similar to the one that lost to the Pistons in the Finals. There will still be a Kobe, Malone will stay, and loud-mouthed Payton will stay. They put Grant at center and have backups of Butler and Odom. Sounds pretty good right? An aging Malone, a previously talented Payton, an accused rapist, and three mediocre players that fill the roster spots will all continue the Lakers onslaught of terror in the NBA. Oh, yeah, dare to dream.