bulldog
July-11th-2003, 01:01 PM
The assumption up until a couple of weeks ago was that the Lakers would add a couple of significant free agents in search of rings and put them alongside Shaq and Kobe.
Now with Kobe's status unclear, the question becomes at least in some regard, can the Lakers win without Bryant?
Gary Payton at PG, Karl Malone at PF and Shaq at C isn't a bad way to start off a team :)
At least not if you are looking to make hay for a single season given the respective ages of the players. Shaq at 31 is the youngster in the new crowd.
With Kobe that's four starting positions manned by all-star caliber performers with Devean George the lone 'stretch' player.
Without him this is stilll a team that can score and defend. Depth is and would be a problem as the bench is now kids and developmental players.
But how many games could the Lakers win? 50 or 55? or less?
It may not come down to this, but it is interesting to think about it.
Especially considering the fact Jermaine O'Neal decided to stay in Indiana and will not be joining the Spurs or Kings.
Now with Kobe's status unclear, the question becomes at least in some regard, can the Lakers win without Bryant?
Gary Payton at PG, Karl Malone at PF and Shaq at C isn't a bad way to start off a team :)
At least not if you are looking to make hay for a single season given the respective ages of the players. Shaq at 31 is the youngster in the new crowd.
With Kobe that's four starting positions manned by all-star caliber performers with Devean George the lone 'stretch' player.
Without him this is stilll a team that can score and defend. Depth is and would be a problem as the bench is now kids and developmental players.
But how many games could the Lakers win? 50 or 55? or less?
It may not come down to this, but it is interesting to think about it.
Especially considering the fact Jermaine O'Neal decided to stay in Indiana and will not be joining the Spurs or Kings.