NBA: Los Angeles Lakers need not to worry
While Los Angeles Lakers remain dominant in the Pacific, the Miami Heat sustains its position as the leaders in the South East after signing on the trifecta. Raising a question that has been on everyone’s mind, do the Los Angeles Lakers have to worry about anything?
The Lakers recently added Matt Barnes and Steve Blake to the roster, making the team swifter than ever. The two have just added more threat to the offense and defence side. Matt and Steve are two versatile players with a bad attitude. Lakers have just added more depth to their team with a plethora of young veteran players. Statically the Lakers have the best shooting guard the National Basketball Association has to offer and a rising star Pao Gasol, who is being called one of the best centers of the decade by experts.
The Los Angeles Lakers also consist of top veteran players like Derek Fisher, Ron Artest and an aspiring young guard Shannon Brown, the franchise is known to be a powerhouse. After winning back to back, championships the Lakers multi-talented players have gained a lot of experience and have become extremely confident, unquestionably making them one of the top contenders of the upcoming 2011 season.
However having the best shooting guard on the team does not mean, a win is guaranteed in the playoffs. Lakers was once a team who solely depended on Kobe Bryant, but all that changed over a couple of years when Bryant started showing immense leadership skills improving his assists and steals per game and now has a record that is off the charts. Bryant has become one of the most diverse players in the NBA history; he has learnt to bring the best of his teammates under massive pressure.
In the past decade, Kobe has developed amazing passing kills his astute observation on the court finding Ron Artest or Derek Fisher to take an open shot has proved the fact that he has certainly become a team player. Bryant was known to be a selfish player but now he not only shares his basketball but has made his team realize what they are worth by sharing his experience and mentoring them.
Pau Gasol might not be Tim Duncan, but his flexibility in the NBA has established that he is one of the best centers present. Gasol is one of the uncommon players in the NBA; critics say he needs to brush up his anatomy to at least look like a true center. His muscles are barely visible; even then, his versatility has shaken everyone in the NBA. He is not only good with his right hand but left and is relatively a good dribbler; Pau epitomizes flexibility for a center. The head coach of the Lakers Phil Jackson does not even mind on fouls made by Gasol, because he knows that he is reliable free-throw shooter.
Experts say Pau could have been an excellent swingman if he was only a few inches shorter, his ability to be a great passer, his good shooting average, and catching rebounds which is his forte, has certainly proved he is a rising star and has become a nightmare for other centers in the NBA.
Therefore, what will the scenario be when two of the most talked about teams in the NBA clash against each other?
The Miami Heat was able to reel in the two biggest fish in the free-agency this year, James LeBron and Chris Bosh to team up with their leader Dwyane Wade making them virtually the strongest team. The Heat wants to compete against the world champions the Los Angeles Lakers, which raises the question what will be the match-up?
Will Kobe Bryant go against Dwyane Wade like he did in previous years or will he take on last year’s MVP LeBron James? Will Chris Bosh go head on against Pau Gasol? Will Pau be able to handle a dynamic player like Chris? What roll would Ron Artest and Derrick Fisher play?
All the answers to those questions will be revealed by next year, basketball ball enthusiasts say watching two teams filled with All-Stars will be exhilarating to watch, the match will be brutal as the two titans collide.
However, the Los Angeles Lakers might have the momentum on their side but experts say it’s a fact in sports that it is never certain who will take the championship title.
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