I had a creepy feeling about this series from the start. The only two games the Lakers won could have easily gone to Boston. In fact, the only game the Lakers even showed some Heart and Soul was the one where they nearly overcame a twenty-four point deficit. Otherwise, Boston owned them.
So what's next for the Lakers in the off-season? Here are my ideas.
- The first thing they need to do is get Pau Gasol on a weight program in the off season to build up some upper body strength. He was just overwhelmed by the stronger Boston Forwards and Centers. Otherwise, he is, and will be, a crucial part of the Lakers.
- Kobe, you need to stop with the hot dog shit, the over dribbling and learn how to pass more effectively. Seventeen steals in the final game ain't exactly a testimonial to your skills.
- Get a healthy Andrew Bynum back in shape. That's a number one priority.
- Sasha needs to realize the games aren't gonna be won by the three-point shot.
- Ditto for Vladimir Radmonovich.
- I have a feeling Vladimir is gonna be traded or released. I'm not sure about his status. A healthy Andrew Bynum and Chris Mimh frees up Pau Gasol for the Power or Small Forward position (while playing Center too) and that makes Radmonivich expendable. Business is business. This also leaves the Power Forward position to Lamar Odom.
- Leave Derek Fisher alone. He gives the Lakers stability.
- Keep working with Jordan Farmar. I see great potential with this young man. He definitely needs to be groomed for the future.
All in all it was a great season for the Lakers. They, like the Celtics, weren't picked to win anything and were a pleasant surprise going six games deep into the finals. They have the foundation of a great team and they're young so that's a plus. Whatever happens, I hope Jerry Buss and Mitch Kupchek don't panic and try a major overhaul on the Lakers. They'll be fine with a little off-season tuning. Thanks Lakers for a great 2007/2008 season.
Final thought: About the rivalry the sports reporters kept talking about - It may have just been renewed. Time will tell....
Final Score: Toast Wins In Six
2 comments:
Read my short post over at www.daveinboca.blogspot.com entitled LA LA Land ===LAzy LA LAkers, which echoes your comments on the importance of defense.
Plus the uselessness of Vlad & Sasha.
Also on the relative inferiority of Kobe compared to MJ, whom I followed closely while living in Chicago from '91-'00.
I do agree with you about Fisher, but Odom has got to become more reliable---go for Carmel Anthony whom the Nuggets are putting on the block. Oops, I bet Kobe would veto that choice---his ego is larger than his loyalty to the Lakers.
I'd love to see Carmelo become a Laker Dave. I don't know what the salary cap situation is right now on the Lakers but I bet they don't have a lot of wiggle room. Maybe getting rid of Sasha and Vlade would give the Lakers more room to manuver as far as the cap goes.
You're right about Kobe not being able to co-exist with another Franchise player. Look what happened with Shaq in 2004.
I've come to the conclusion the Lakers became a victim of their own press clippings and thought they were going to "mail this one in" and when they Celtics showed up to play the Lakers weren't prepared. The same damn thing happened in the 2003/2004 series against the Pistons. The Pistons exposed the lack of defense on the Lakers and then owned them. There's a lot of talent here but, as you say, there are some serious ego hang-ups too.
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