Los Angeles, CA. It always seems like if there is a dominant big man in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers will find a way to make sure he ends up wearing the purple and gold. After literally months of rumors and gossip about where Dwight Howard would end up playing this fall, a deal was struck to make him teammates with Kobe, Nash, and Pau. Howard essentially forced his way out of Orlando, and is now part of the Lakers, who are title contenders once again. What does this deal do to the landscape of the NBA, and more specifically the Western Conference? One thing is for sure, it made everyone all over the country take notice and realize that L.A. is gonna be a serious factor this upcoming season. Does this make them the best team in the west, and a squad who can take down the Miami Heat next June? Potentially yes, but there is a team in Oklahoma City who will definitely have something to say about it.
Once this deal was finalized, seemingly every NBA fan realized that two teams will most likely end up in a head-on collision for Western Conference supremacy. A few months ago in the playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder disposed of the Los Angeles Lakers with ease, as it was obvious the much younger, hungrier Thunder were quite a bit better. This is not ok in La-La land, as every year it’s championship or bust for that organization. First, they found a way to make a deal with Phoenix to land 38-year-old Steve Nash, who still has a few years left to run “showtime” now. That was a nice move, and improves the Lakers point guard play considerably. But acquiring Dwight Howard is a game-changer. It is an enormous transaction that vaults L.A. into being one of true contenders for an NBA championship. It is bold, brash, and arrogant…so much of what L.A. is truly all about. It says to the rest of the league that they will not accept mediocrity, or second round playoff exits. But does it make them THE favorite and the best team in the west? Not so fast, my friend.
The starting lineup of Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, and Metta World Peace is some scary stuff. Envisioning Nash and Kobe work the pick and roll to perfection, or Howard and Gasol dominating the paint, will undoubtedly propel the Lakers to plenty of wins this upcoming season. The old guys staying healthy will be the key as well. Nash has had a bad back at times, Kobe is no spring chicken, Pau is in his thirties, and Howard is coming back from back surgery. The damage this quartet could do could be enough to win it all. However, I still give the slight edge to the Thunder. First of all, they are much younger, and healthier. They got a taste of what the NBA Finals are all about, and this added experience now will only aid them in their pursuit of a title. Their bench is also leaps and bounds better than L.A.’s. The reserves that the Thunder have is one of the best benches in the NBA, while on paper, the Lakers is one of the worst. One key factor that may not rear its ugly head until next spring is the fact that Dwight Howard is a very poor foul shooter. With this being said, we could see many situations where he won’t even be on the court in the final minutes of crucial playoff games because of his weak foul shooting percentage. Howard is a beast on the defensive end of the floor, but definitely has his challenges on the offensive end. The Thunder’s big men of Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins will not back down to Howard and Gasol. Those battles of the big men between OKC and L.A. is gonna be some great drama whenever they meet, regular season or the playoffs.
Who the class of the Western Conference will be still has to play out. There will be plenty of talk about who the favorite is, and if they can take down the Miami Heat. This deal with Dwight going to L.A. makes the Lakers another potential superpower on the NBA landscape. Do teams like the Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, or anyone else in the west have any sort of real shot? The odds are, no, as the NBA has proven to be a superstar driven league for decades now. But, as we all know, the games are played on the court and not on paper. A lot can happen between now and next spring, but the Lakers and Thunder appear to be on track to fight it out for a trip to the 2013 NBA Finals.
Denver Sports by J Simp
20 comments
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J Simp
October 1, 2012 at 1:17 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Well, however it plays out in the west, if anyone besides the Lakers and the Thunder meet in the conference finals, it will be a pretty major surprise. The only teams that may put in a scare in those two COULD be the Spurs, Clippers, or Nuggets…..it will take a monumental effort at that, plus one or both of those top two teams having a some major injuries strike them, or some other crazy chemistry issues, etc…..it’s a long year of course, as we are now only a month away from the start.
Black Beast
September 28, 2012 at 1:45 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
J SIMP, Your right… there are NO guarantees BUT the comparisons to the team that had Payton and Malone on it are not a good one in my opinion. They were both shells of the players they once were. Also Gary Payton never did buy into the triangle system and fought with Phil Jackson, for that reason the team did not flow as it should have. Payton was known as a defensive minded scoring point guard but Nash is a pure point gaurd that sets up his teammates and happens to be a excellent shooter as well. Malone was one of the all time greats but he was at the tail end of his legendary career. He played well and i believe if he had not of gotten hurt in the playoffs that we would have had a real shot at winning the series against the pistons. D. Howard is a MONSTER on the court! He has even more to prove since he has been down graded as a player over the pass year by most pundits and so called experts. In regard to Nash not being able to guard Westbook. I believe that NO point guard can stop him nor D. Rose, D. Williams, T. Parker, R. Rondo etc. I believe what S. Nash gives to the LAKERS on the offensive end is way more valuble than having some young fast defensive guard that can’t provide what Nash can offensively. Nash also won’t fold under the stress of the big stage as a young player. Also Westbrook can not leak out on fastbreaks because he has to respect Nash’s ability to score and assist. Nash is a great shooter and he can finish at the rim with the very high possibility of making an amazing assist any player on the court. If Nash can take a bunch of C and D rated players and make them C+ and B players ( Dudley, Barbosa, R. Bell, Gortat, B. Diaw, S. Marion to name a few)… I can’t wait to see what he does with (3) A+ PLAYERS! (KOBE, D. HOWARD, PAU GASOL)
J Simp
September 26, 2012 at 9:22 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I don’t think you can just assume this new Lakers team will DEFINITELY have great chemistry. Some teams never come together and mesh. Remember when Karl Malone and Gary Payton came to L.A.? It didn’t really work, although they got to the Finals. It just seemed to be a little off all year, and the Lakers nixed that plan the following year. Yes, Malone and Payton were past their primes, but they were brought in to win a championship. Nash is still very good, but a huge liability on the defensive end. Guys like Russell Westbrook will use him, so L.A. better put someone else on him, like Kobe for instance. Regardless, these L.A.-OKC games is gonna be fabulous TV, and may feel like NBA wars from the 80′s
Black Beast
September 25, 2012 at 12:48 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
To Hero: I agree with your assessment of the Lakers Organization and this up coming season.
LAKER LOFTLY
September 25, 2012 at 9:15 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
HEY FELLAS YOU DONT HAVE TO HATE. YOU CAN HOLD THE BANNER IN THE LAKERS PARADE WHEN THE LAKERS WIN IT AND KOBE SHOWS YOU WHO THE REAL KING IS.
Hero
September 25, 2012 at 5:14 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Other NBA fans are just making excuses to put this Laker team down. What makes this Laker organization so great, is that they are not complacent. This team is not there just to make a profit. They’re in it to win championships year after year after year. If 5 championships in the last decade isn’t enough for you to realize that, then I don’t know what will.
OKC is a great team and I really respect them. But now the Lakers are very much improved from the previous years. Chemistry issues? Really? It may be evident in the first 10 games, but with training camp coming along, this won’t be a problem in the latter part of the season, where everything matters. It’s safe to say that at this point, the Lakers are AT LEAST going to make the playoffs without encountering too many problems. OKC exploited LA’s weakness, and that is at the PG spot last playoffs. MItch made sure to overcome that weakness, and enhance it further by giving us the best center in the league. Dwight will definitely be a Dwightmare for many years to come for other NBA teams. The PnR of the Lakers will be hard to stop. Nash has so many options to distribute the ball. Plus, the bench has vastly improved and revamped.
I think it’s safe to say that the Lakers are going to make it to the Western Conference Finals, and even the Finals itself. And I’m looking forward to adding another championship banner to that already filled championship banner Staples center.
Black Beast
September 24, 2012 at 10:29 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
J SIMP, it was cool talking sports with you. your perspectives and insite on this subject and in sports in general was great. Thanks for the sports talk man.
J Simp
September 20, 2012 at 8:49 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Real Deal and Black Beast….you guys are great fans and it’s obvious. I appreciate your input about L.A. and I can tell you both have been fans forever and will continue to be. The Lakers always seem to have a plan, and when their product dips a little (like in the last couple of years), they find a way to improve and they definitely arent afraid to spend money. They are the Lakers for crying out loud, and one of the premier franchises in all of sports. If they were ever in the draft lottery, people would be rioting. Yes, they will have money to spend in a couple years when Kobe is finally done, and as to who they end up going after at that point is anyones guess at this point. The point is, they found a way to vault themselves to the forefront once again and be a serious contender for the championship this year. Mitch Kupchak has done a great job, and sometimes doen’t get the credit he deserves. The unfortunate part, not for Lakers fans of course
, is that 80% of the NBA doesn’t have a realistic chance at an NBA title in this day and age. I remember, and I am sure you both do too, back 20-30 years ago when teams like Houston, Philly, Detroit, Atlanta, Utah, etc. had a real shot at winning championships. It’s just not like that now because of all the stars wanting to play together. That part is unfortunate, in my opinion. Honestly, if anyone outside of the Lakers, Thunder, Heat, Celtics, or maybe Bulls won it all this year, it would be a major surprise…….On to L.A. football fans…..I remember watching the Rams in L.A., with guys like Jim Everett, Wendell Tyler, Jack Youngblood, and even a young Kevin Greene and Jerome Bettis. The fact that L.A. still doesnt have an NFL team baffles me, but I understand that it always comes down to facilities, and they haven’t had good ones over the years. Never been to the Coliseum, but it looks terrible for football. If they ever get a team back, they will absolutely sell out for many years. Can you say L.A. Jaguars? Hopefully a name change would be in order! Back to hoops, how have the Clippers stayed in L.A. all these years? Horrible product! Now they are finally doing something, but good lord, one of the worst franchises in sports, thanks to Donald Sterling. L.A. fans definitely have a reputation for arriving to games late, and when the teams aren’t any good (Dodgers, Angels, Clippers, Kings) for long periods of time, they seem to have a lot of empty seats. Guess that could be said about most cities though as well…..Here’s to hoping you guys get an NFL team in the next 3-5 years, as it only makes sense! Thanks for the comments guys……
Black Beast
September 19, 2012 at 11:36 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Real Deal… I completely concur with your thoughts on LA sports fans holding the teams responsible for the product that they put on the field or court. I also agree with the sophisticaion and passion of the LA sports fans!
Black Beast
September 19, 2012 at 11:29 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Hey, J Simp, I do agree that i didn’t focus on any of the negitives. That is because i was making the points of why the LAKERS will be on top of the NBA in 2013. I do realize there are NO guarantees for a number of reasons… injuries being the biggest that i see for this team. I do not consider age to be a factor at all. There could be a lucky shot like the one that eliminated the Lakers in 1986 when Ralph Sampson hit a buzzer beater in a 5 game series to end our run at the title that year. Other than that, i see another dynasty on the harizon. I predict this Lakers team will win at least 2 championships as constructed. (NOW… this is where the brilliance of the LAKERS organization, ownership, management, forward thinking, expirence and the kind of chess moves that created LAKERS UNIVERSE is on full display). In two years ALL but two Lakers will be under contract! Kobe’s $30.4 million… Pau’s $19.2 million… Metta’s 7.7 million. Steve Nash will be the only player under contract, that is until D. Howard resigns with the Lakers. The Lakers will have an endless amount of options and will reaload again with D. Howard as the cornerstone. These are the reasons the Lakers have been in 31 out of 63 NBA Finals. There is NO escaping the LAKER UNIVERSE!!! Oh yeah… The Lakers won 3 titles with shaq and his inability to hit free throws. The Spurs won 4 titles with Tim Duncan and these free throw numbers 69% in “99″… 71% in “03″… 67% “05″ and 63% in “07″. I believe that D. Howard’s ablility far out ways his bad free throw shooting, like it did in those other cases. That is a good problem for us to have, lol! Thank you J Simp
Real Deal
September 19, 2012 at 5:29 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
J Simp thanks for your reply and I agree with most of it.. I must comment on the NFL city statement. we are a great football city also. I remember on Saturday we packed 90 thousand for USC and 80 thousand for UCLA. Sunday 70 thousand for the Raiders and 60 thousand for the Rams. That’s 300 thousand football fans numerous weekends a year. No other city could match that. We never had decent facilities like other cities where the fans sit on top of the field. The Coliseum and Rose bowl and Anaheim Stadium (for baseball) is all we ever had. Give us a state of art stadium and we will show the football world who we are. I will tell you why LA fans are the best, we don’t settle for a terrible product. The owners can’t sit back and get sellouts every game if they don’t do there job. where as people in other cities think its a badge of honor to show up no matter what we think its crazy. Look at Cleveland, Buffalo, even Denver cities like that.. Most of those die hard fans will never win because they don’t demand it. The owners have no incentive because there not feeling it in there wallet. Us LA fans are ahead of the curve. If owners put a scrappy product out the we won’t purchase it. Its like going to a burger stand with terrible burgers but you keep buying them the burger stand will never improve there food (no incentive). So we are very misunderstood around the country, but you have to admit it works. We love our teams and they are in the fabric of our community, but we demand that they give there heart soul and money to keep us satisfied. Fair exchange!! If not we will enjoy our lives with other entertainment that cares about there quality..
J Simp
September 19, 2012 at 1:20 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
To Real Deal……well if Howard happens to be on the court in the 4th quarter, teams may very well “hack-a-Howard” and send him to the line. I think the Lakers may be forced to sit him in tight games in the playoffs. Regardless, it will be an interesting situation to monitor. I hear ya about L.A. fans being great basketball fans, I totally agree, and the standard the Lakers have set is amazing. Here in about three-four years will be intriguing to see where they go once Kobe is done. It’s a fantastic hoops city, but as far as an NFL city…..eesh…….;)…..thanks for the comments…..
Patrick Floyd
September 18, 2012 at 9:24 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Nobody is stopping Lebron “Freight Train ” James and the rest of his Miami Heat renegades!
Patrick Floyd
September 18, 2012 at 9:18 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Miami Heat will take it again!
Real Deal
September 18, 2012 at 7:33 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
J Simp its me again, I just had an issue with you stereotyping Lakers fans by saying we ramble with no facts. It’s time the rest of the country stop hating on LA and actually talk to us real fans not Hollywood celebs. First of all we are the most loyal and die hard fans even tho we may not be able to afford Staples Center tickets. We have had the most successful NBA team in history (don’t give me Boston 1 chip since 86) and the most successful college Basketball ever UCLA. We are the mecca of basketball regardless of what the East Coast biased media says. Give us LA fans the respect we deserve. Oh and by the way Steve Nash is too smart to give Dwight ball in 4th quarter if its not a dunk. And with Kobe Nash Pau Dwight and Metta Okc will be in the penalty the first 5 minutes of every quarter trying to guard these guys. Just something to think about… Black Beast This is Real Deal another OG Lakers fan with FACTS!! See you at the Parade in June bro..
J Simp
September 18, 2012 at 5:38 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
To Black Beast….(interesting name BTW)…..I don’t think what you have to say about the Lakers is far fetched whatsoever. You know your team well, and have facts to back it up. This team could absolutely come together and if they do mesh well, they could lay waste to the rest of the west. But that is a big IF…..I think that may take a year to do, and if it does, then I do believe the chemistry that the Thunder have shown will give them the edge in a series next spring. Health is obviously unpredictable, but the Lakers age says that they may have some health issues, especially now that we are going back to an 82 game season. Howard should be ok after back surgery, but we will all have to see. I don’t know of any experts who have picked the Lakers behind the Spurs, but if they have, that is ridiculous at this point. Unless some other team shocks the NBA world, it will be down to the Thunder and Lakers, and I will stand behind my pick of OKC. Howard could also end up being a detriment in the 4th quarter of close games in the playoffs because of his poor foul shooting, or he may not be on the court at all. Nash’s defense is below average too. So make sure to look at some of the negatives about L.A., and not just all of the positives…..Thanks for the comment
Real Deal
September 18, 2012 at 4:36 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Wow J Simp that Black Beast sounds smarter than most if not all of you columnist and ESPN experts!!
Black Beast
September 18, 2012 at 3:34 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
I have been a LAKERS fan for 36 years and i am completely AMAZED that anyone with have a basketball brain would not pick the LAKERS to win it all in 2013. Everone is so caught up with youth in the NBA. A majority of all NBA Championships have been won by seasoned vets…not young guns. Although okc won the series as well as game 1 of the series. In game 2 the LAKERS were up by 7 points with 2:08 left in game. Do to the LAKERS not having a true expirenced point gaurd they weren’t able to get the ball across half court and we lost the game by just 2 points. Not to mention our starting point guard (Ramon Sessions) was on the bench because he was ineffective. Steve Nash will fix that problem! He will keep the offense flowing. Also Westbrook will have to respect Nash as a shooter and a passer. That element will result in Westbrook NOT being able to leak out because there is no threat of our point gaurd scoring or setting up teammates to score. The LAKERS won game 3. At this point in the series the LAKERS could have easily been up 2-1. In game 4 the LAKERS were up by 10 points most of the game until late in the fourth quarter. Even with okc making a great comeback in the fourth, the game was still tied at 98 with a 1:04 left in the game. Okc won again but… it could have easily been a lost for them as well. the series could have been 3-1 LAKERS and maybe a different out come to the Western Conference Finals. My point is… okc had a tough time winning the series with a LAKER team who had NO legitimate point gaurd, NO bench scoring and Pau didn’t play his best in that series. Now with the additions of HOWARD and NASH… bench players JAMISON, MEEKS and possibly BARBOSA to go along with J. Hill. The LAKERS will have a top 5 point guard in NASH with his 10.7 asst. and shooting ablitiy… the best defensive center in the leauge in HOWARD not to mention his 20 pts. and 14.5 rbs. 2.1 blks a game… the leagues best 2 guard in KOBE… the best skilled big man in the game in PAU… and one of the best man on ball defenders in the league in METTA! The none believers are talking about age, injuries (which could happen to any team) and chemistry being a problem for the LAKERS. Here’s my view on chemistry being an issue for this team… okc as well as the heat both have teams that has two shooting gaurds and scraps to fill the rest of the rosters (with the exception on Ibka, perkins/ ray allen) and there chemistry problems come from them deciding on who will dominate the ball. The LAKERS have filled all 5 position. Now KOBE does not have to dominate the ball do the the lack of productivity from the point gaurd. If NASH and HOWARD would have both gone to the Bobcats, they would have been picked as a favorite in the east. D. HOWARD and S. NASH were two of the biggest free agents out there and everyone wanted them on their teams. If the knicks would have gotten NASH they would have been a favorite and the same if HOWARD would have gone to brooklyn. NASH comes to the LAKERS and it’s an all out assult on his birth cirtificate. HOWARD comes to LA and he will no longer be dominte. It is so funny to me that they came to LA and with KOBE, PAU, and METTA and the LAKERS are still listed to finished behind okc and the spurs. I am truly AMAZED!!! I have been watching the NBA for 36 years and i know a championship team when i see one. oh yeah… us LAKER fans have a lot of experience at that! this Laker fan is full of facts, J Simp
J Simp
September 18, 2012 at 8:18 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Explain to me how this bench is significantly improved…..Capn Kirk, say hey to Spock while you are up in outer space gathering your thoughts……..and if you do give me your argument, don’t be a typical Laker fan and just ramble at the mouth with little or no facts to support it. Thanks Capn.
Capn Kirk
September 18, 2012 at 6:21 AM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
One of the worst benches??? You been living in a Tibetan monestary….the Laker bench is significantly improved….I hope you didn’t get paid for that article…