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I don't think motivation will be a problem. I don't think Ron Artest's head will be a problem. Bynum is the only real concern, but they won last year despite minimal production from him anyways.
Three Little Things That Can Throw off Lakers
Sean Deveney
SportingNews
—> —> In the NBA's annual survey of its general managers, it was little surprise which team was picked to win this year's trophy: the Lakers, with a whopping 60.7 percent of the vote, a monumental percentage-point bulge over Cleveland and Boston at 17.9 percent. Picking the Lakers these days is a bit like picking the weed whacker to beat the dandelion. But surely there's reason to think that maybe, just maybe, something can pop up that will throw L.A. off-kilter. There are only three such things that come to mind-all of which are far from sure bets.
Ron Artest's head. This is an understandable concern for most because Artest has a sullied past. But although many who have been around Artest concede that he is screwy, they say that he is not destructive to a team. Houston coach Rick Adelman said of Artest, "In practice and in games, you're not going to find a guy who works harder. I loved working with Ron."
Artest himself says he can't figure out what all the worry about him in L.A. is about. "Why would I come into a championship situation and try to make trouble or anything?" Artest told Sporting News. "That is not what I do. I am going to do what Kobe (Bryant) tells me. I am going to do what Phil (Jackson) tells me. That is all I am worried about."
Andrew Bynum's knees. Injuries to each of his knees have cost Bynum 79 games the last two years. It's not really the amount of time he has missed that's the problem, though. It's when he missed that time-in the midst of his third and fourth seasons, at crucial times in his development. Now, Bynum has said he is moving away from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's individual tutelage, and is also without coach Kurt Rambis (now in Minnesota), who worked with Bynum on a daily basis. Still, Bynum's potential remains so high that, Jackson said, "Every coach on my staff wants a piece of Andrew."
Bynum's knees were a concern when he was drafted, and the two major injuries in two years certainly count as a red flag. The Lakers need him to be a solid presence on defense and on the boards, but he can't comfortably get into that role unless his knees are 100 percent.
The motivation deficit. One of the difficult things about winning a championship is getting up and winning one again the next season. Last year, the Lakers were motivated by their disappointing loss to Boston in the 2008 Finals. Now that Kobe and Co. have a championship to their credit and have exorcised the Celtics demons, they will have to find a way to summon the same focus they had last year. Won't they?
"I don't think anybody here is worried about motivation," said forward Lamar Odom. "To me, winning a championship only makes you want to do it more."
I don't think motivation will be a problem. I don't think Ron Artest's head will be a problem. Bynum is the only real concern, but they won last year despite minimal production from him anyways.
The guy made an article out of THAT? Those three factors have been repeated ad nauseum. Must be nice to be a writer these days. Just copy/paste forum posters.
I think a plane crash or an earthquake are the only two things that can throw off the Lake Show, and in the latter case they can just shift the operation to Vegas and keep rolling.
Celtics or Spurs
I don't see the Lakers as being an improved team this year. Sure they added Artest but they lost Ariza. Their bench isn't great. They were able to stay healthy last year and were good enough to win it, I'll say that much. However the Spurs upgraded their roster, as did the Celtics, Cavs, and Orlando. A repeat won't be easy, it will be dam hard actually. I'll be suprised if they don't upgrade a spot or two before the new year.
I'm not so sure Orlando upgraded. Yeah, the Vince is probably a better pure player than Turk, but they're more conventional now than they were before. They no longer pose the unique matchup problem they did when they had Turk running things.
Of course, they will have Jameer back healthy, so all that could be moot.
They also got Brandon Bass too, he's a decent player.
Though Bynum did put the screws to Howard in the Finals.
You've pointed this out once or twice...or twelve times...
Motivation a factor on a Phil/Kobe team? He really was reaching on number 3.
Number 1 and 2 would be a real issue if both occurred.
[[[You've pointed this out once or twice...or twelve times...]]]
Ok, I'll give it a rest.
Well, Both Phil and Kobe likes Championships in 3's.
So the rest of the league might as well pack it up for a couple of years.
the lakers are invincible, ron ron isn't crazy he's just misunderstood and bynum's knees are 100% healthy it was all just a fake plot to fool everyone the lakers have already won the west for the next 15 years they're just waiting to see if the celtics are healthy
/lakerfan
Spurs upgraded..i agree...still doesnt make them par with the Lakers.
Ron's problem isn't that he's crazy (which he is). Ron's craziness has never really hurt his team...and yes, I think Ron going into the stands at the Palace was a perfectly normal human reaction.
Ron's problem is that he's been a ball-hog, ball-chucker and ball-pounder in the past. If he can get past this part of his game, he'll be a great fit. This is up to Phil, Kobe and Ron.
Injuries to Bynum or any other key Laker players can certainly derail a championship run, but that can happen to any team.
Kobe, Pau, Fisher are all very professional players, I doubt motivation is much of an issue for them. Odom generally cruises anyways but he has alot of heart and steps up when needed. TheMachine and Farmar all had sucky years, they'll be fired up this year. Shannon Brown is still a nobody that wants to be somebody. And Phil of 3x 3-peat fame is probably the best player motivator in the NBA.
Just make the Lakers play Portland, Memphis, and Charlotte for 82 games a year.
You got the injury, hax, and guaranteed loss all taken care of.
1) Artest can be dismissed by Jackson the second thinks he's causing a problem. He can do this because he's Phil Jackson.
2) They didnt need Bynum to do anything last year and they won pretty easily.
3) I doubt motivation is going to be a factor in the playoffs. Especially considering the talent gap between the Lakers and everyone else. Gasol and Odom up front with Kobe in the back is just too much to handle.
The Spurs would have to get KG to be on par with the Lakers. I give Spurs fans ten games before a small minority starts admitting that Jefferson was a mistake.Spurs upgraded..i agree...still doesnt make them par with the Lakers.
Finally, a Laker fan who understands that Ron can be a ball hog, and if he somehow becomes a team player, then Lakers repeat
Actually there are three BIG things that can throw off the Lakers. Roy, Aldridge, and Oden.
Richard Jefferson a mistake? Yes, because KT, Bowen and Oberto were so much better than him. The Spurs did risk a lot taking on a head case like RJ and letting go of proven talent.
no it's not perfectly normal human reaction. for two reasons.
1. if i get an empty cup thrown at me, i'm not going to slug anybody. the reaction isn't proportional to the offense, or even close to it. no need to fight. i think the normal reaction might be to shove the guy, or give him a heavy piece of your mind, and that's without the wieght of have to be suspended. with all that Ron had on the line, he overreacted BIG TIME. it was a crazy reaction by a crazy man, and anyone who disagrees with that is crazy, crazy.
2. he slugged who he wrongly thought was the guy that threw the cup. so not only did he overreact. he in subjected the wrong guy to his reaction.
conclusion: what Ron Artest did is not by any means normal.
Spurs bench > Lakers bench
How's Robin Lopez working out for you?
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