Could the Lakers Contend Without Kobe?

December 12—Lakers at Utah

If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that I thought the outcome of the Utah game was predictable.  I won’t dwell on that.  But I will ask a question that I’ve often wondered about, and that we got somewhat of an answer to in Salt Lake City.

Would the Lakers be a title contender without Kobe?

In Utah, Kobe was both injured and sick.  He was one day removed from fracturing his right index finger, and then came down with the stomach flu.  He tried to play—but that might as well have been me out there.  He wasn’t close to himself, making just seven of 24 shots, including one of nine from behind the three-point line.  It was only the fourth time all season he was held under 20 points, and the Lakers now stand 1-3 in those games.

So let’s consider the question.  Without Kobe. the Lakers would still have Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher and Ron Artest.  That’s a great team.  On the bench, you’d have Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic, Josh Powell, DJ Mbenga, and Adam Morrison.  Not a great bench, but not the worst either.

Gasol would be the leading scorer, with Bynum a close second.  Odom would have to score more than he does now, but that probably wouldn’t be a problem.  Artest would move up to the third or fourth option, which he’s been his whole career anyway.  Fisher is a stabilizing influence, and in many ways, a coach on the floor.  You wouldn’t play most of the bench guys, although Brown, Farmar and Mbenga would probably have to play every game.

On paper, that’s probably a 50 win team.  Remember that in the first year after Phil Jackson lost Michael Jordan to baseball in the 90’s, he led the Bulls to 55 wins without him.   If the “no  Kobe” Lakers win 50, they’re in the playoffs, probably as a four or five seed.

In the West, that means they would have teams like Denver, San Antonio, Portland and maybe Utah or Dallas standing in the way.  Again, on paper, that looks like no big deal.

But I would argue that they’d never get out the West because they wouldn’t have the guy.

Every great championship team has that one guy who puts the team on his back when the game is on the line.  Normally a first-team all-star or hall of fame caliber player that just delivers.   Look at that list of teams again.  Denver has Carmelo, San Antonio has Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, Portland has Brandon Roy and Dallas has Dirk.   You might find one team over the past twenty years (I’m thinking the ’04 Pistons) that does it by committee, but I would argue that you need Superman when the game needs to be saved.

Kobe is that guy.  As good as the rest of the Lakers look on paper, I’ve seen too many games to believe that Kobe can be replaced.  He sets the tone on defense, is arguably the most clutch player in the league today, and most of all, he’s a leader. 

As the famous proverb says:  “You know what they call a leader with no followers?  A guy taking a walk.”

Without Kobe, I don’t think the Lakers get out of the second round.  With him, they are the absolute favorite to win the title again.  As good as the rest of the team looks, he’s the difference between a great season, and a championship one.

Next up:  game two of the road trip in Chicago on Tuesday night.

Comments

[Trung]

what about Fisher? he's clutch enough to take the last shot too, isnt he?

[Junior J]

When I was watching last night's game I was wondering if Kobe should've been playing at all. I know he's currently going two and a half years without missing a game but did he really accomplish anything by playing? He took 24 shots (made 7) and those shots could've been passed around to guys like Gasol/Bynum/Odom/Artest etc. Despite the fact Utah was favored in this game, the Lakers were in it and I wonder if a healthy Kobe or no Kobe at all (at least for this game) would've beaten Utah.

[Mike - Fat Loss Tips]

Definitely agree...

You need a player who is able to close games and I don't see any on the Lakers roster outside of Kobe of course, that can be that go to guy.

I'm really surprised he played against Utah? And at the very least I was surprised to see him take that many shots? I would've expected him to be more of a facilitator given the circumstances.

[Steve]

Couldn't disagree more. The Lakers would definitely contend without Kobe. In fact I think it would bring the best out of the triangle. Kobe often dominates the ball way too much thus when he does have an off game it impacts the team worse than it would most. It would force the Lakers to use their strength (inside game, Gasol and Bynum) that much more. No one can hang with the Lakers inside. Odom would be more aggressive and be able to utilize his talents that much more. If that were more of the focus instead of 'getting Kobe his shots' the Lakers would run away with it all this year. They still might but I think the absence of Kobe wouldn't hurt them.

[Ryan]

Steve- Exactly! The 25-30 shots that wouldn't be taken by Kobe would be spread around much higher % more efficient options!!!

Obviously, in closing seconds, Kobe can get off shots and our other current wing players probably couldn't.

[marinalin]

In 1960,Los Angeles Lakers moved to Los Angeles. This is a dynasty team, since joined the NBA has been from 1948.At that time the team's biggest name is George - Mikan. 1951-1954 years, the Lakers won a third consecutive on NBA history. In 1979,Los Angeles Lakersselect the "Magic" Johnson, the Lakers'"show time" began to come, Johnson's rookie season won the championship for the Lakers. 1981 Pat - Riley became head coach of the Lakers, he was the next nine years as the Lakers won four championships. 1999-2002 season, Phil - Jackson joined the Lakers, The Lakers success of three consecutive Albert. Since O'Neal's departure, the Lakers are going down, the team began to become the edge playoff team . In the 2007-2008 season, the Lakers traded for Pau Gasol , he assistant Kobe Bryant, then re-entered the Finals . Although the final match could not won the Celtic . But in the 08-09 season, the Lakers finally playoffs walks of the pack, the ultimate victory. Bryant has won the firstchampionship without Shaquille O'Neal participation trophy.