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Kobe or Shaq? Phil decides

       To all of those who have crucified Kobe Bryant for thinking he can win a NBA title without Shaquille O’Neal, now is a good time to start planning for Bryant’s resurrection.         Through five games the Lakers guard is averaging nearly 35 points per game while shooting over 50% from the field.  Los Angeles has won three of those games and the well traveled playground legend Smush Parker is playing like an all-star alongside Bryant.  All of this should come as no surprise because the Lakers most important cog during its recent championship run returned after a one year absence.  No, of course O’Neal is not back in a Lakers uniform, but Phil Jackson is back on the sidelines.  The man who coached Michael Jordan to all of his titles is attempting to do the same with this Kobe led squad.  Remember back in January 2003 during one of O’Neal stints on the injured list, Bryant ripped off nine straight 40 point games.  The Lakers went 8-1 during that stretch. With Lamar Odom playing the role of Scottie Pippen and Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown providing athleticism in the paint, the Lakers can make a Bull like run this year.  Of course there will be highs and lows early on, but once Jackson builds their mental toughness watch out.  

       Really only the San Antonio Spurs truly stand in their way.   Phoenix will struggle until Amare Stoudemire returns and their playoff seeding will reflect this.  Besides they must prove they can play effectively in the half court in order to make it through the playoffs.  Dallas and Sacramento have changed personnel so much over the past several years that their players will spend much of the season trying to figure out where they fit in.  Minnesota?  The Lakers were recently were drilled there and they do have Kevin Garnett.  That is the good news.  The bad news is they have Kevin Garnett.  Seattle will prove to be a flash in the pan and Denver will prove to be too inexperienced.  

       The Western Conference will come down to the Lakers and Spurs.  Kobe Bryant’s vindication will come before a national audience.  If the Lakers get by the Spurs do not expect them to face O’Neal’s Heat in the NBA Finals.  The Heat have too many personalities, too many shooters, and not enough Phil.  O’Neal, like Kobe and Jordan, has not won anything without Phil either.  Last year he lost game seven of the eastern conference finals on his home court.  Just imagine the criticism Bryant would have received had his team squandered the opportunity Miami had last year.  O’Neal has never delivered in clutch situations and at this point in his career (this season he’s already hurt) he never will.  

       This off-season, in an effort to ensure that their team has enough firepower to get over the top, the Heat surrounded their stud center with as many weapons as they could afford.  Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, I just hope the organization has enough money left over to supply O’Neal with an unlimited supply of Bayer.  He thought he had to restrain himself from choking Bryant.  It may be best if he remains injured this year.  What everyone missed last year amidst all of the allegations and one-upsmanship between Bryant and O’Neal is that Jackson’s primary involvement in the matter dealt with the pen, not the whistle.  Now he is back with Bryant and so is Bryant’s game.  A year removed from all of the drama and the Kobe versus Shaq debate will produce an easy winner.  Which ever one is with Phil.  

2 replies on “Kobe or Shaq? Phil decides”

that is absurd If the prediction that the Lakers could reach the West finals wasn’t crazy enough, the thought of them winning it all is just over the top.  I can understand you being a fan of them and liking where they are going but to be insane enough to think they can win it make me chuckle.  Right now the Clippers seem to be the best team in Los Angeles.  I’m not saying they will be at the end of the season but I guess we can put an end to that debate on Friday night when they play.  But really Lakers winning it all?  Wow, they might have to fight for a playoff spot.  On the other hand they do look like they are slowly putting the pieces together, but by no means should they be considered on the top level of the NBA.  Thanks for the laugh.

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