Despite watching a 27-point lead late in the game shrink down to freaking 2, the Lakers still managed to pull out of Houston with a win, last night. I credit this entirely to Tracy McGrady being out of the lineup, as his presences surely would've resulted in a successful Rockets comeback. Yao was hassled with foul trouble in the second half, anyway, so T-Mac was obviously the difference. Especially after
Lamar Odom sprained his knee in the second quarter and had to leave the game. They're saying he's out for roughly a month and it's going to be incredibly difficult for the Lakers to replace his production. Lamar was playing like a 1st-Team All NBAer, this season -- like the MVP for the first two weeks. So now, Luke Walton, who has stepped up his game significantly this season (especially over the last handful of games) will be expected to step into the #2 role behind Mamba while either someone or some combination of players (likely a Kwame/Bynum hybrid) needs to assert themselves offensively and on a consistent basis. I think taking advantage of our inside muscle is probably the best, most effective way to neutralize the absence of Odom over the next month. We'll see what Phillip does.
On the topic of Allen Iverson, there are a few things I have to get off my chest. Yes, Iverson's a HOFer, but A) he won't transform any team -- and I mean
any team into a winner and B) I could really care less about where he goes. And consider some of the potential destinations that have been put out there by the rumor mill. Golden State, Charlotte, Sacramento, Minnesota (who has
no one to offer in return!!!)... these teams would be mortgaging their future (Charlotte, Boston) or whatever prominent, team-leading stars they do have (Sacto and Bibby -- a guy who actually makes his teammates better) for what? The hope of finishing 10th in their conference? Iverson doesn't make his teammates better. He's a phenomenal talent, but not a leader of men and the revolving door of second bananas in Philly over the years are evidence to that, not to mention every fiasco he gets himself into with management over truly frivelous issues. But I want to address these insipid rumors and queries being purported by some Laker fans on LA talk radio about A.I. possibly joining the Purple and Gold. Seriously, these people are morons and here's why:
1. If anyone has been watching, this year, it's plain to see that something special is coming together with the Lakers. Walton has finally grasped the triangle offense and has stepped up his game as a result, Kwame is playing with more confidence after last season's strong showing in the playoffs, Bynum is showing flashes of greatness and could be a true centerpiece in about three years, Jordan Farmar is excelling in the triangle and is the first true and talented point guard the Lakers have had in ages, and there's depth with solid role players like Turiaf, Mo Evans, and Radmanovic. To wit, the Lakers have become more than just Kobe and the occassional contribution from Lamar. There's a real team, here.
2. Acquiring Iverson means parting with Odom, among a few other players. Given the circumstances, I wouldn't make that trade if my life depended on it. Odom rates amongst the most versatile players in the game and is very much an inclusive teammate, improving the performance of his teammates by constantly finding them on the court. What Jason Kidd is to triple-doubles, Lamar Odom is to near-triple-doubles. On top of Odom, you'd have to lose another backcourt player and if that player isn't named "Smush Parker," you can forget it.
3. Kobe is not going anywhere, that much is certain. Kupchek has invested too much of the franchise into the Black Mamba for him to be dealt somewhere else. Try to imagine, now, a backcourt featuring Kobe and Iverson. Before you start thinking, "Wow, that's the best backcourt in history," consider that these are the two biggest egos in the NBA, one of which has finally come around to reason with Phil Jackson through years of trial and error and the other being a headcase who is literally being kicked out of Philadelphia. You thought Shaq/Kobe was a power struggle? You ain't seen nothing yet.
What it really all comes down to is that no contenders are in the running for Iverson because they all plainly see that acquiring him won't improve their team. He's got a hefty price tage attached to him and I couldn't ever imagine Phoenix, the Lakers, Houston, Dallas, the Spurs, Miami, Detroit, or even Cleveland opting to break up their current rosters for the chance to be sucked down into the mire of mediocrity and team turmoil. That's what Iverson brings to the table. And thus, his imminent arrival at a peripheral club that has no chance of making the playoffs will have Iverson finding himself in a situation exactly the same as the one he just left. How happy is he going to be about that?
Labels: Allen Iverson, Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Lakers
