Good…no GREAT teams always have a knack for finding the missing piece to the chan’ship puzzle. The Los Angeles Lakers are no strangers to finding the missing piece.
Is Pau Gasol the 2008 version of the Laker chan’ship piece?
The ’80-’81 version of the Los Angeles Lakers was a talented group: Kareem, Jamal Wilkes, Norm Nixon, Michael Cooper, and rookie phenom, Magic Johnson. They bowed out in the first round of the playoffs to Moses Malone and the Houston Rockets.
In the off-season the Lakers acquired veteran Bob McAdoo. McAdoo only averaged 9.6PPG and 3.9RPG, but his presence was a big reason the Lakers won the ’81-’82 title.
The ’85-’86 Lakers were equally as talented: Magic and Kareem were now surrounded with James Worthy, Byron Scott, and A.C. Green. They lost, once again, to the Rockets in the conference finals.
That off-season the Lakers acquired Mychal Thompson. Thompson only averaged ten points and four rebounds per game, but the role he played was invaluable as the Lakers won their first of two consecutive titles.
When the Lakers traded for Pau Gasol they were just another combatant in the NBA’s Western Conference. Since then the Lakers have won eleven of twelve, now have the best record in the west, and appear ready for a run in the playoffs. Gasol has led the team in scoring for three of those wins. He doesn’t seem to be a guy that needs a lot of attention to make him happy. Rather he seems to do what his team needs to win.
Are the Lakers poised for another run at that title?
Only one of the recent teams that have made a major trade will be seen as “genious”. I think it is a big risk for general managers to make major trades because it does open themselves up for criticism if the trades don’t work, but from a fan’s perspective it is fun to watch and see which of the trades will work( I agree, Lakers looking good right now) and which ones will not(Suns?). The trades do make for a much more interesting end of the year and playoff season.
Speaking of the Lakers, we of the East Coast have not heard much from the mouth of Phil Jackson. I know it is a bit early but if the Lakers do go on to win this year, where does it leave him on the all-time great coaching list?
JD,
IF the Lakers win, Jackson is number 1 on the wins list, and to me he is tops. Many want to cut him down because he only won with supreme talent. The Bulls had that talent before he took over the head-coaching ranks. Jackson pushed them to greatness.
Does anyone remember Kobe before Phil went to LA? Kob’s idea of a post-entry pass was the rebound opportunity from jump shot.
Now without Shaq, Jackson has the Lakers poised for another run.
Auerbach was great – don’t get me wrong. But he too had supreme talent with which to win.
The Suns trade is looking worse and worse by the day. Between Shaq not being able to keep up with the offense and Chris Paul taking Steve Nash to task, the Suns might as well start singin ‘Middle of the Road’ because they sure do look like Pretenders.
Casey