The following post was contributed to FanSided.com from Matt Miller, editor of LA Sports Hub, your home for all things Los Angeles sports on the FanSided Network.
The Los Angeles Lakers do not have a ‘Big 3.’ On a related note, ‘Big 3’ is the most overused cliché in basketball. It is a byproduct of lazy analysis and front offices. The “Big 3’ epidemic trivializes all other elements of a successful team. The worst part about this epidemic is that pretty much whoever has the best ‘Big 3’ almost always wins the NBA championship.
But there are 3 big reasons why Craig Sager, looking like a box of 96 Crayolas got sick on his suit, will never mention the Los Angeles Lakers’ ‘Big 3’ this season:
- There is a big 1 in Los Angeles—Kobe Bryant.
- The Lakers are not a good team.
- The Lakers would-be ‘Big 3’ of Kobe (35) Pau Gasol (33) and Steve Nash (39), a combined age of 107 years old, are the ‘Old 3.’
Even in injury, Kobe Bryant is the Lakers. All discussions must begin with him. Many questions surround Kobe. When will Kobe return? What version of Kobe will return? How will his achilles perform? Answers: most likely soon. The same pre-injured Kobe. And great if he’s not playing 40 minutes a game.
We live in the post Adrian Peterson world. He is like leftover lasagna, he is miraculously better after a season ending injury. Everyone else, even superhumans like Kobe, are left to live in his unreasonable expectations. Before Kobe thinks he’s AD, remember the local anecdote of Matt Kemp, a contemporary cautionary tale. My biggest fear as a Lakers fan is Kobe coming back too soon. On one hand, I take a look at the roster and yell at Gary Vitti to rush Kobe back. But on the other, I look again and say ‘Take your time Kobe’ and ‘better luck next year.’ There is no current timetable for Kobe’s return.
Kobe-Filler
The self-proclaimed ‘Kobe-stopper’ Ruben Patterson never stopped him, but any combination of Lakers will try to fill in for Kobe this season. Kobe by committee looks like it will begin with Nick Young and Jodie Meeks. They will have part of the gig down pat—shooting the ball. Making the basket, especially in the clutch, is another story. And while they have some interest in other aspects of the game, like passing and defense, they will be needed to score points until and after Kobe returns. Training Camp invitee Xavier Henry looks like he will make the team as well, and could be an important Kobe-filler.
Hero Flight
Dwight Howard calls himself Superman, and he flew out of LA after 1 season given the opportunity. He fills up a stat sheet, but at the least left LA fans unimpressed. Also leaving the team in free agency but not the building is Antawn Jamison, while Earl Clark (Cleveland, FA), Devin Ebanks (Dallas, FA) Darius Morris (Philadelphia, FA) Metta World Peace (New York, Amnesty) and Chris Duhon (retirement) all left Los Angeles.
New Faces
Chris Kaman will make the biggest impact of the new faces so long as he can stay healthy. He played 66 games last season for Dallas, but in 11 seasons the longtime Clipper has only played over 70 games 3 times. Jordan Farmar returns to LA on a 1-year contract after a quasi-sabbatical. Former lottery pick out of Syracuse, Wesley Johnson, did not find a niche in Minnesota, but could be a big help if he sees the floor. Jordan Hill is a new face after sitting out all of last season. He brings some of the only youth and athleticism to the Lakers roster. Robert Sacre’s cheering, rookies Elias Harris from Gonzaga and Ryan Kelly from Duke, Xavier Henry, and veteran Shawne Williams round out the roster, but all could see time in the D League.
Coaching
Mike D’Antoni is back for his second season. He is the biggest X-Factor after Kobe. If you buy that they were talking about practice, the message at training camp from the veteran squad was the importance of having a full training camp with D’Antoni. The Lakers reincarnated themselves a few times last season to little successes, but D’Antoni showed a frustrating inability to adapt his coaching style to his personnel. Training Camp better make a difference or the Lakers will be out-jumped, ran, hustled, and coached on a nightly basis. The addition of Kurt Rambis to the staff should add important continuity to Lakers tradition, and if nothing else provide a very capable interim coach if Mike D’Antoni coaches his last game for the Lakers during the season.
Bottom Line
Building around your NBA Superstars your ‘Big 3’ (shudders) is more than an NBA plague. At least superficially, it is a prototype proven successful. And the cast around the sidelined Kobe is experienced. But they are slower, injury prone, and can’t complement young, star talent if there is none around to complement. If they can gain confidence and cohesion while Kobe rests, and stay healthy, that will be a tremendous boost to the organization that hasn’t developed any talent in a long time.
The Lakers will struggle in the Western Conference because even the teams projected to be in the bottom of the conference are talented teams. The Lakers have only missed the playoffs 5 times in Franchise history. The Lakers be in the running for the final playoff spot, but I estimate the 11th placed will miss the playoffs this year and be in the lottery for the first time since 2004-05. Get your tickets to the Wiggins sweepstakes.