Los Angeles Lakers: NBA Teams which can become title favourites with Monta Ellis (Part-4)
Los Angeles Lakers:
The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the top sides in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the past decade. However after their humiliating exit at the hands of the eventual champions, the Dallas Mavericks, in the Western
Conference Semifinals last season, the Staples Centre will surely be looking to add some strength to their roster.
This is not only due to the fact that most of the elite teams in the league have sorted them out over the period of the last few years, it is also because teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies in the West and
Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference are quickly emerging as forces which can topple them from the top in the near future. The Lakers need some fresh blood and they also need to weed out the players, who consider themselves above the team.
When I say this, the names Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum immediately come to mind. They are guys with exceptional skills but huge egos.
Having said that, it is a fact that the Lakers just cannot afford to lose Kobe Bryant, the man who has been the architect of five championship rings in the last 10 years. Even at 33, he is still considered as one of the best players
in the league and can surely take the Lakers to glory once again. All he needs is someone to back him up, if Pau Gasol fails to deliver, point in case, the Western Conference Finals last season.
Late in the Lakers post season run, Bynum was very vocal about how he was not being given a decent role on the offense, but the fact is that great players make their own plays and do not rely on other to make it for them. Bynum
is nowhere near great, and yet he keeps on complaining about his role and the trust issues. The Lakers need to get rid of him and if they can get Monta Ellis in return from the Golden State Warriors in return, they will be in win-win situation.
Infact, both teams will have nothing to lose. For the Lakers, if Monta comes in, he can play at the point guard position, a place where the Lakers need enforcements especially after Mike Brown, their new head coach, has indicated
that he will scrap the triangle offense. The combination of Monta, Kobe, Gasol and Artest can send shivers down the spine of the very best defences in the league. This will also provide the opportunity for Monta Ellis to polish his game under the greatest
shooting guards of all time and when Kobe does hang his boots, the Lakers will be ready with a more than decent replacement.
The Warriors on the other hand, will get a big on their back court and a good one at that. While there are some question marks on Bynum’s offensive abilities, one thing is for sure, that the seven foot centre is a beast on the
D. He is a on court leader and once in the Oakland franchise, he will have a chance to prove his credentials more freely.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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