The L.A. Lakers are now the team I hoped they'd be last season. With the team sporting a win-loss record of 23-11 to date, their best since the Kobe-Shaq era, it seems that they have now tapped the full potential of the Triangle Offense. Now, there's no doubt that the Lakers are a major Championship contenders -if only they were in the Eastern Conference. It was on Sunday that they defeated the Dallas Mavericks, the reigning Western Conference Champions, with a 101-98 win thus ending the Mavericks' 13-game winning streak. I just wouldn't pass up an opportunity to write about this remarkable game, being Coach Phil Jackson's 900th victory, a feat that has been accomplished by only 8 other coaches and Phil was the fastest to reach the milestone. What makes this more special is that the Lakers have played without their key players- Lamar Odom is out with a knee sprain and Kwame Brown has a badly sprained ankle. Just think of the possibilities when they have all those players together with Kobe Bryant healthy and playing at the top of their games, an NBA Trophy would certainly be close at hand. So why are the Lakers surprisingly this good now?
Kobe Bryant. Kobe has really matured and has now become a remarkable leader of this team. Kobe can be a great scorer when he needs to (81 points? I'd say yes at any given night) but he is at his best when he gets his team mates involved. If he is able to keep the team within striking distance, his teammates would easily shut down any opposing team. Such was the case in the last game against the Sacramento Kings, Kobe mustered 9 assists and 8 rebounds, at least 6 Lakers scored in double figures and Kobe was still able to finish with 45 points of his own. It says a lot on how good of a player he is, but it also says a lot on how much faith he has in his team mates now. It's easy to say that he now has the qualities of a great leader more than able to guide this team to the Finals. Hand him the MVP trophy once and for all!
Lamar Odom. Before his injury Lamar was posting up career high averages in points, rebounds and assists. It's hard to fathom what this man has gone through; the death of his infant son and his dear grandmother, being mugged in his own neighborhood, all of which are more than humbling experiences. But somehow he has found refuge in the basketball court and is now more focused in the game. He has found a way to play along side Kobe (or vice-versa) and has flourished as an All-Star contender until he sprained his knee. It would really be nice to have him back ASAP. Kobe (#24) and Lamar (#7), the new 24/7!
Kwame Brown. This big guy continues to have lapses in his offensive game but all in all, his big frame (almost 300lbs and 6' 11") makes him a real defensive threat that the opposition has to deal with. With the Lakers, he also is having his career-best in Points, Rebounds and Assists (go ahead and include steals, blocks and FG%) and it seems that Phil Jackson has successfully tapped black gold with this Player. Just 7 more points and 4 more rebounds per game and Kwame will be able to meet goals of 15 points and 10 rebounds per game that Phil handed him on a piece of paper before the season started. So, get well soon big guy.
Luke Walton. Walton for me is easily the Most Improved Player of the Year. He now shoots 50% from the 3point line and is averaging 12.4 points per game. What makes Luke an invaluable player is that he passes very well for a guy of his size, he averages 4 assists per game, including the game winning assist to Sasha Vujajic's 3-pointer in yesterday's game.
Ronny Turiaf, Jordan Farmar. Players who constantly give the team energy. Turiaf keeps the guys smiling, Farmar keeps them running. Try watching a game and look out for these two guys and you'll get what I mean.
Andrew Bynum. The NBA's youngest draftee at 17 yrs. old is predictably the next best center after Shaquille O'Neal. This season, he's had double digit outbursts in points and rebounds and is a very decent shot blocker. Once Bynum graduates under the tutelage of all-time great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, it's easy to see that he would soon be part of the lineage of Great Laker Centers. Go master that sky-hook!
Now, all I'm trying to say is that with players like Maurice Evans, Vlade Radmanivic, Brian Cook, the Lakers are deep in talent. If Kobe Bryant continues to be successful in harnessing his team's capabilities and in working within Phil Jackson's system, then I say it again, the Lakers will live on with another championship dynasty. Kobe Bryant deserves the Larry O'Brien trophy, every player on the Lakers roster deserve to be Champions and Phil Jackson definitely needs that 10th ring to fill in his pinky, don't you think? Go LAKERS!
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