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Originally Posted by Morpheus1
HA! I don't think they will win 70 games with or without Kobe, and the only way I see them winning the title is WITH Kobe. Don't have too much faith in your team's ability, because all they can do is dissapoint with such high expectations set up for them.
Just be warned
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Although I want Kobe in, I do believe they can win without him,
but I wouldn't like them to win without Kobe. Obviously I want them to win regardless of who's in, but I really hope Kobe plays, it won't "feel" good without him...
The Lakers starters this year are down right amazing. They have 4 all-stars and Devon George who has improved dramatically.
Also, let's take a look at the bench. We got Fisher (if Kobe plays), Kareem Rush, Jannero Pargo (2 awesome rookies of last year have improved a lot), Slava Medvedenko (underated awesome Russian Laker), and former injured starter Rick Fox who will be making a come back soon.
Those 5 can easily play a decent game while the starters are getting some time on the bench or if they're fouled out.
But other than those 10 Lakers, the third string sucks. That's why they lost to Golden State on the second pre-season game, they brought out the third string while Golden State still had some decent players in.
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Originally Posted by Morpheus1
Kobe is argueably the best all-around player in the NBA. Kobe makes every player on his team better, while at the same time dominating himself. Gary Payton could never fill his role on the team. You could ask any owner/coach in the NBA, if they had Kobe on thier team they would never trade him away for Karl and/or Payton because he is much more valuable. If Kobe doesn't play, that's what the Lakers did, trade Kobe for two older less talented players who don't even completly understand the triangle offence yet.
If Kobe doesn't play, they lost half the reason they made it to the western conference championship last year. Karl and GP are good players, but thier best years are behind them while Kobe seems to get better and better with each season. You could even put Shaq in the same category as Karl and GP, he's not young either, and he has been on a spiral down. (You may not think it can happen to Shaq, but a awful end to a great carreer happend to all the best centers in history[few exceptions])
If you want to admit it or not, Kobe is a huge factor next year, not some replaceable element. Without Kobe (in my opinion) they don't have a realistic chance at beating the Mavs, Kings, or Spurs in a 7 game series.
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Yeah, I can agree with that except your last opinion. Although it's an opinion, you never know. The NEW Lakers have only played 2 pre-season games with the same team. Until I see them play against the the Kings or the Spurs like a real season game, then I can tell if they have a chance or not... (But most probably, even without Kobe, I still think they have a chance).
Everything Morpheus said about Kobe is true, yeah, and I do agree with him, but if the Lakers lose him, may God have mercy on us. The real reason I want Kobe to be with the Lakers is obviously for them to win, but Kobe is my favorite basketball player, and I respect him as a ball player a lot. It's just really fun watching him play with his amazing skills. No offense to any Spurs fans, but watching Tim Duncan play last year bored me to death, but at least Kobe and Kevin Garnet had some "extra juice" in them while Duncan played like the dullest NBA all star out there. Just my opinion, but still, to get back on topic, I think they do need Kobe in there, but I think they still have a good chance of winning without him.