Doug Pensinger/Getty Images In the coming days, the NBA playoffs will get under way and the Los Angeles Lakers will begin defending their title of World Champions. The team, initially thought to be a juggernaut and later disinterested, now has people thoroughly confused. The Lakers are, after all, the number one seed in a hypercompetitive Western Conference, but theyre backpedaling with an intensity not seen since Charles Barkley raced Dick Bevetta. There have been a variety of excuses made for the Lakers slide. Recipients of blame for the Reebok Pittsburg Steelers #83 Heath Miller Realtree camo Jersey
recent string of losses include Kobe Bryant shooting slump, Andrew Bynum Achilles, an imploding bench, and a lack of motivation. The last charge is the most unsettling. Presumably, Kobe will find his form, Bynum will return, and the bench will be bolstered by the return of Lamar Odom who is starting in place of Bynum. However, there is no reason to believe that anything is about to change regarding the malaise infecting the Lakers locker room. What the Lakers lack is an identity. And they need to find one quickly. Just about every other playoff team has had a consistent rallying cry throughout the season and they can draw on that for motivation. In the east there the he might stay if we win Cavs and the now is our time Hawks. In the West there the, were not dead yet Spurs, the too young to know any better Thunder, and the we don need no stinkin bench centers meniscus Trailblazers.The Lakers used to be the win one for Kobe (without Shaq) crowd, but, mission accomplished, they never found a new reason for urgency. There is no excuse for this. They have had one sitting right in their locker room the entire season, and he seven feet tall.Blasphemy, noun, irreverent behavior toward anything held sacred, priceless. In this case, the Hall of Fame.If the Lakers repeat and retain their title of NBA Champions Pau Gasol is a hall of famer. If this sounds outrageous, please take a second to examine the following stat lines before throwing your computer monitor out the window. Through the Arizona Cardinals jersey
first nine years of their careers, Pau Gasol and James Worthy have nearly identical numbers, and remember, James Worthy is not your standard issue hall of famer. He was named to the NBA fiftieth anniversary team. Additionally, Worthy only played until he was thirty two so Pau, who has already signed contracts to play with the Lakers until he turns thirty three, should be able to crush him in terms of career totals if he can stay healthy.The non statistical credentials of each man are similar as well. In their first seasons, both made all rookie first teams with Pau being Rookie of the Year. James Worthy made seven All Star teams in his career, while Pau has only made three, but playing in the Memphis market undoubtedly hurt Pau in this respect. If All-NBA teams are looked at instead, the numbers come together. James Worthy received third team honors twice and Pau who already has one on the mantle, should match him in that category this season.Outside of the NBA, the two Lakers forwards again have received accolades which can be seen as equal. Worthy was a standout for the North Carolina Tar Heels whom he led to the National Championship in 1982. For his efforts, he was awarded the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Award. Gasol international achievements mirror Worthy collegiate career resume. In 2006, Pau brought his home country of Spain the FIBA World Championship. Keeping pace with Worthy, he was named tournament MVP. Additionally, Gasol earned a silver medal in the Beijing Olympics where Spain kept the United States on the ropes until the closing minutes.The one area where the two men are not comparable is championships. Worthy has three and a finals MVP, Gasol has one and none, respectively. Of Atlanta Falcons jersey
course championships aren all telling, but they are worth something, just ask KC Jones. If the Lakers do win this year, Pau will have two championships and I wouldn be surprised if he picked up the NBA Finals MVP to go along with them.MVP or not, Pau is going to Springfield if the Lakers raise another banner next fall. That statement may be shocking to some people and laughable to others, but the numbers don lie. If you are a Lakers fan this is the identity your team has been looking for. The slant rhymed get Pau to the hall Lakers would be a force to be reckoned with. If you are a fan of any of the other fifteen playoff teams pray. Pray that the blasphemy goes unnoticed.
没有评论:
发表评论