So they had a team with players who had roles. These players on their own were just not that talented. This is my point. There is no way I could be convinced Kobe could take this same team and let people settle into a role. It would have to be set up for him. All of these players on other teams were just not the same (Rodman was already crazy after he left Detroit so Detroit got the benefit of a bit of sanity). They were a team with a clear leader (even though Pippen does not admit it) and played like a team. Kobe asked for that, and so far, it has been a failure because he is not a leader. This is my major point. He wants to so badly be viewed as a better player than Jordan and he has no concept of what it is like to be the leader of a real team. Time will tell. Give him a PG as I said, and we will see. I think this is the main thing the Lakers are lacking. Their talent is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Lamar Odom is extremely talented but there has yet to be any sort of connection between them. When Mim returns, and Bynum is given a chance to develop, they will have every bit as talented players as the old Bull "Centers". Smush Parker is a two guard and he has no room to flower. He is clearly talented but does not have a clue what his role is besides get out of Kobe's way. Luke Walton is a very bright player who could fit perfectly in the right role but he is stymied as well, he has a role one game, and its gone the next. Kobe is still a young Jordan that can score at will. He works hard on his game, very hard. But he clearly wanted to be the man and he is running out of time now.

Pillow likes me.

Parker is super fast. Ginobili is super funky. Outside of that we got a bunch of retreads that know how to the game since you already mentioned Duncan. The Spurs of 1999 would blow the current team out of the water. We are officially older and slower.

At least I am a realistic homer.

1986 Boston Celtics...that was the definition of a TEAM.

Man this is a good debate going on here....Kobe Bryant is as much to blame for the collapse of the Lakers as anything.....Now I believe Jerry Buss decided to make him the franchise player and asked him did he want to keep Shaq and he said no. Even LA wan't big enough for both of them. But, say what you want about the big fella, but all he did was go to Miami and win a title. Name the last time an NBA team won a title without a legit "man in the middle," as the Bulls pa announcer used to say. Even the Bulls although they weren't superstars, had legit centers that filled that role...they weren't 25 or 30 feet away from the bucket looking to drain a 3 pointer. Cartwright, Longley, Wennington, Perdue....on their own, they were mediocre at best, but they understood their role....take up space, get a couple of rebounds a game, use all your fouls up, and let Dennis Rodman do all the work under the basket....before Rodman it was Grant. So where does that leave the Lakers? They need a big man....and as talented as I think he is, I don't think KG is the answer. Kobe's ego won't allow another player to float along the perimeter. They need a guy that can give them 20 and 10 night in and night out and do it from 5 to 8 feet away....

Oh WOW...my man Sam bringing the name Bill Wennington into the picture...

talk about doing a "what ever happened to"

lmao....here's what happened to him...

he played 5 min a night, committed 6 fouls, got 2 maybe 3 rebounds on a good night, averaged 1 point a game and collected 3 rings....all he had to do was listen to what MJ told Phil to tell him...

Who was that guy that played for the Bulls that never ever got into the game...white guy (go figure) dark hair, he was put on the team to keep Rodman in check...damn I can't remember his name....yeah well, he got rings too.....

Jack Haley.

that's it!! Wonder if he's on Rodman's payroll still....:D

Luc Longley? Aala Abdeldnaby?

Chris Dudley!!

So basically you are saying Mihm and Bynum cant fill the roll of a Will Perdue and Luke Longley type player? Who is kidding whom here. Farmar... thats a joke. All he does is run around and try to get out of Kobe's way. Yeps, he will run that team... for sure. Jason Kidd would be one of the only PG I think Kobe could play with. Imagine what would happen if D. Wade and Kobe were on the same team. Kobe could not handle that. A player that will be his equal.

That would be therapist and fellow party animal, Jack Haley.

They play the same position. Everyone is apparantly forgetting that Kobe HAS rings and that Shaq is not the only player that left. The Lakers would not be much better off with Shaq because heis always hurt and cant dominate anymore. Kobe is a great player. Watch the olympics. Then we will see how well he fits in with other great players.

Actually you are correct. The both play the 1 and the 2. And both convert to the 1 at the end of games.
Kobe has rings. And now for his "own" rings. His "own" team. The rings with Shaq really dont count for him.

1. I have no idea what this means
2. Then Kobe is stupid.

How the heck is Farmar going to be allowed to be a PG when he is always running away from Kobe trying to get out of his way? I seriously dont think Kobe can let any PG develop. This is one of my main points. Thats why I personally believe you have to bring in someone he trusts. Who would he trust to get the ball to him... Oh maybe Nash and Kidd. Thats about it. If a guy like Chris Paul had come on the Lakers, he would have experienced misery. A guy like Williams on Utah, he would not be on the floor enough or have the ball enough to gain confidence. I would never put a young promising PG with Kobe, ever.

True story from yesterday. My friend and I are roaming around and run into Kwame Brown and Jordan Farmer, at different times. Here are parts of both conversations. Hope the language doesn't get edited here.

W/Kwame Brown
My friend: Kwame, what happened this season with u guys?

Kwame: It was just crazy. Nobody really got along all year.

Me: So all the rumors are true and there is no chemistry on this team?

Kwame: Well, there is some but mostly with the scrubs like Rony, Sasha and those guys. They get along great but not the main players.

Me: What about Kobe? He's always talking all that "my guys" **** but then we always hear about him going off on people.

Kwame: Man **** Kobe. I want to kick his ass. Like one time, we were in the huddle at halftime in the hallway right outside the locker room. Everyone is in the huddle getting amped up for the second half. Kobe's punk ass wouldn't join in. Then somebody said "come get in Kobe". Kobe said "I'm not getting in there with ya'll punk bitches." Then Lamar was like "man, come on". Kobe said it again "I told ya'll I'm not getting in there with ya'll punk bitches." So we were just like "**** it, he's bitchin up again" and we kept on going. Then at the end we were like "1-2-3 defense" then when we broke and started running on the court, Kobe jumped right in the middle like he was right with us.

My friend: Are u serious?

Kwame: Yeah man. I wanted to beat the **** out of him but I know if I do that, my career is over.

So we talk about a bunch of other things then we have to leave. About 30 minutes later, we run into Jordan Farmar. Now I've talked with Jordan a few times cause he's my friend's godson. So I know I can joke with him a little.

Me: Damn, I thought Kenny Smith said ya'll were gone fishing.

Jordan: **** u.

Me: Nah. If I'm gonna **** a dude, it's not gonna be one that was in the D-League a month ago.

Jordan: In the D and still pulling more women than u.

Me: Is the whole team gonna be up here today?

Jordan: What u mean?

My friend: We just saw your boy Kwame a while ago.

Jordan: Man, that's not my boy. That's a weak ass bitch.

My friend: Damn, why u call him that?

Jordan: Dude is always hurt. He can't even make it through practices without complaining about something. Always. Stomach aches, toothaches, ankle, foot, shoulder. Always something. During games, we sit on the bench and take bets on when he's gonna get hurt. I always take the second quarter.

Me: I guess that's why Phil was saying that at some point Kwame has to suck it up and decide how much he really wants to play.

Jordan: Kwame doesn't want to play at all. He just wants to get money and get women.

Me: So u don't like him?

Jordan: I mean, dude is alright. I don't hate him but damn, get some heart.

My friend: He said that ya'll can't stand Kobe.

Jordan: U know what? Kwame is a weak ass bitch but he's telling the truth about Kobe. Don't nobody like that dude.

I doubt Kwame could whip Kobe's ass, but that's just a guess on my part :D