Category: LA Lakers

When someone gets what he or she wants, they are usually satisfied.  In the case of Kobe Bryant, this theory may not be so true.  People for three things best know Bryant.  He was first known for being Shaq’s sidekick for seven years, and producing three championships.  Second, people who aren’t avid basketball fans know him for his incident in the infamous Colorado hotel room.  Lastly, people know Kobe Bryant for his decision to run two of the biggest names in the history of basketball out of Los Angeles.  All of things Kobe have brought on himself, and two of these Kobe probably wishes he could take back.

Why can’t we let Kobe play basketball?  I’m sick of this tired old “Can Kobe lead the Lakers” saga.  This same drama has been hashed re-hashed and re-re-hashed.  It’s like catching a rerun of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on TBS; it was pertinent once but Jesus…not this again.  It’s like every NBA writer in the country can’t leave this story alone.  It’s time to settle the score.  Here’s why Kobe can and IS leading the Lakers.

Begin playing any song off of Dizzee Rascal’s “Boy in the Corner” Album.

The Los Angeles Lakers rolled out the welcome mat for an old friend during the off-season when they signed former Sacramento Kings center,and free agent Vlade Divac to help replace the void left by Shaquille O’neal who was earlier traded to the Miami Heat.

All the talk surrounding the blockbuster deal between LA and Miami has been Shaq-centric, as well as the orbit of several planets. But what about the other side of the coin? LA may see the rebirth of some of its legendary rivalries, spark all-new ones, and once again become the most interesting story in sports. Not just the Lakers, but the entire town. For those of you who enjoyed LA becoming the drama capital of the world in sports, too, this next bout of speculation is for you.

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.

This morning Coach Mike Krzyzewski might have made the biggest decision of his life. Coach K turned down a 5 year, $41 million cotract to be head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.In his doing so, he also might have given the final blow to an already reeling Lakers organization.

This is one of the most improbable stories of the year, yet it seems that it just might come true.  LA has offered Mike Krzyzewski the head coaching job. (Rumors about it being a $40M deal.) Somehow I just don’t see Coach K being a good fit for Hollywood but that’s a lot of cash to turn down.

I love high profile jumps from college to the pros because more often than not, it shows the limitations of those coaches.  Rick Pitino anyone?  How about John Calipari? In a twisted way, I am hoping Coach K takes the job. Let me state for the record right now, and you guys can blast me for it later, Coach K will never win a championship with the LA Lakers.

The following is a plea to Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal, GM Mitch Kupchak, and owner Dr. Jerry Buss to please work out their differences.  The Lakers are considering the unfathomable option of trading Shaq and altering the destined path of the storied franchise.

After overcoming injuries to everyone except Payton, the ominous presence of the Kobe trial, Phil Jackson’s wait-and-see approach to the season, constant bickering between their two biggest stars, and a tougher Western Conference than they had ever gone up against, Los Angeles was still alive.

That miraculous shot by Fisher was indicative of how the Lakers overcame obstacles all year long. Were they overconfident heading into the Finals?

Of course they were! And because of that smug arrogance and cockiness, the Laker experiment failed miserably.

Is that being too harsh?

Can a team that reached the Finals be considered a total failure?