Something tells me it will take quite a while for Kobe to actually do time if he is convicted, so he will most likely start the season, even if he is on bail. But to answer your question, I think it would really hurt the Lakers chances. Sure Shaq is the main man, but he can be lazy and out of shape at times, especially when unmotivated. Malone is a question mark at his age. Payton should be a nice addition, but losing Kobe takes away their first or second scoring option, and he will be impossible to replace.
wil.
wil.
Tell that to the Spurs. David Robinson was once a great player, but last year he played a subordinate role and actually shared playing tome with guys like Kevin Willis. The 5 spot is key no doubt, but teams can win with cnter by commitee, like the Bulls in the 90's.
wil.
PS. In my earlier post I did not mean to convey an opinion that Kobe could play if convicted, naturally the league will suspend him. What I mean is he can paly while all the pretrial bull takes place. This should give a good portion of the upcoming season free to play. IMO.
wil.
PS. In my earlier post I did not mean to convey an opinion that Kobe could play if convicted, naturally the league will suspend him. What I mean is he can paly while all the pretrial bull takes place. This should give a good portion of the upcoming season free to play. IMO.
There is ONLY ONE possible WAY that Kobe can be convicted. And that would be IF there is an "ear witness" to the girl calling for "help" or Pleading :"Stop" or some similiar wording.
Without that he WALKS. Don't matter about nuttin ELSE!!!! (Does the DA have such evidence as an "ear witness"? We shall see! And I told ya first!
Without that he WALKS. Don't matter about nuttin ELSE!!!! (Does the DA have such evidence as an "ear witness"? We shall see! And I told ya first!
Will
You ARE talking about the team that has the premiere 7 footer in the league playing for them, are you not? The 4 or 5 role of TD is merely academic. Just substitiute "5" with "inside presence". In the lakers the "5" is Shack, in SA the "5" is Duncan.
The only modern team to win without a classic big man "5" is Chicago, and they used a variation of the triangle that let MJ work off of the low post like a center. It is a compliment to the man that he could become an inside threat while being a traditional 2. In the Bulls' runs the center spot often played near the top of the key, the posistion reserved for either the 3 or the 4 in the classic triangle, the way LA plays it.
You ARE talking about the team that has the premiere 7 footer in the league playing for them, are you not? The 4 or 5 role of TD is merely academic. Just substitiute "5" with "inside presence". In the lakers the "5" is Shack, in SA the "5" is Duncan.
The only modern team to win without a classic big man "5" is Chicago, and they used a variation of the triangle that let MJ work off of the low post like a center. It is a compliment to the man that he could become an inside threat while being a traditional 2. In the Bulls' runs the center spot often played near the top of the key, the posistion reserved for either the 3 or the 4 in the classic triangle, the way LA plays it.
Name me one NBA team that would use Duncan in the classic 5 slot. Sure he is 7 foot, but that height no longer automatically makes you a 5. Guys like Garnett, Nowitzki, and Gasol, all very close to 7 feet are good examples. Granted the toughest player to come by these days is a top of the line center. It looks like they have dried up in the US. with the only true prospects coming from Europe and of course Ming Yao. The 5 spot is easily the weakest position, talent wise in the NBA (by miles).
wil.
wil.
WIL
You have a point. Good centers are harder to come by than brilliant, imaginative posts from JJ. Every other position merits argument as to who is the best player. The 5 doesn't, by a mile (I know I'm forgetting a few, you can add them in your head).
Best 4 in the NBA?
TD, Cweb, Dirk, Wallace, Jermaine O'neal (young whippersnapper)
Best 3?
TMac, KG
Best 2?
Kobe, AI (shoots more than he passes, undersized 2 but still a 2), Pierce
Best 1?
Kidd, Franchise, Marbury
Best 5?
Shack. Nobody comes close. If you think they do just picture them on a one on one matchup with the big guy. Who do you want to put your money on? Maybe in a few years when Yao gets into the rythm and Shack gets older things will change. For the past 4 years and at least for 2 more this is the way things are in the NBA at the center spot.
The Fact that Duncan is not a classic 5 (or a classic 4, when you think about it) does not violate my argument. He is a premiere inside scorer. Remember who guarded him for the Nets in the Finals during crunch time? Mutombo. In the past 20 years only the bulls won without an inside presence to dominate in the playoffs. As I said in my earlier post:
"The 4 or 5 role of TD is merely academic. Just substitiute "5" with "inside presence". In the lakers the "5" is Shack, in SA the "5" is Duncan."
The success of the lakers resides on the big guy, not Kobe.
You have a point. Good centers are harder to come by than brilliant, imaginative posts from JJ. Every other position merits argument as to who is the best player. The 5 doesn't, by a mile (I know I'm forgetting a few, you can add them in your head).
Best 4 in the NBA?
TD, Cweb, Dirk, Wallace, Jermaine O'neal (young whippersnapper)
Best 3?
TMac, KG
Best 2?
Kobe, AI (shoots more than he passes, undersized 2 but still a 2), Pierce
Best 1?
Kidd, Franchise, Marbury
Best 5?
Shack. Nobody comes close. If you think they do just picture them on a one on one matchup with the big guy. Who do you want to put your money on? Maybe in a few years when Yao gets into the rythm and Shack gets older things will change. For the past 4 years and at least for 2 more this is the way things are in the NBA at the center spot.
The Fact that Duncan is not a classic 5 (or a classic 4, when you think about it) does not violate my argument. He is a premiere inside scorer. Remember who guarded him for the Nets in the Finals during crunch time? Mutombo. In the past 20 years only the bulls won without an inside presence to dominate in the playoffs. As I said in my earlier post:
"The 4 or 5 role of TD is merely academic. Just substitiute "5" with "inside presence". In the lakers the "5" is Shack, in SA the "5" is Duncan."
The success of the lakers resides on the big guy, not Kobe.
You could add The Glove at the 1 spot, I like Gasol at 4, and Elton Brand has a chance to be very good in the right system. At 5 there is nothing but Shaq. Ilgauskas, and Wallace don't hurt their teams. As far Dikembe playing Duncan in last years final goes, to me it was a move of desparation by the Nets. The Lakers never used Shaq one on one against TD. Getting back to the original question, Kobe, I still feel the Lakers will be a lot weaker without him, no matter who they bring in. Should be interesting year with LaBron and Carmelo, to bad neither one will be in the playoffs.
wil.
wil.
