The Formula and the Future?

Is it just me or have the Lakers done a great job of re-stocking their talent pool with the type of defensive role players (at least on paper) that they need as cornerstones for future championships. Not this year but if one could simply compare this cast with that of the last dynasty the following comparisons are noted:

02 Team (Core)

Bryant, O’Neal, Fisher, Fox, Horry, Shaw, George, Harper

08 and deeper

Bryant, Bynum, Fisher, Turiaf, Ariza, Farmar, Walton, Vujacic

While Fisher and Bryant are aging. Think about the following before you go blaming Mitch for this team and/or getting desparate for a trade to cure the current injury bug:

1. The past championship teams did not win in the period of 1996-1999 when Shaq, Kobe and Fisher were first paired.

2. This roster has a much deeper bench and while arguably defensively weaker (and more fragile with foot of Ariza and age of Bryant and Fisher) when healthy the current team has the ability to be much more formidable than the threepeat teams.

Why?

Bynum (prior to injury) was quickly proving that he had the ability to fill the O’Neal role in the offense without commanding the ball as much (which led to stagnant offensive sets in O’Neal’s later years). Bynum’s youth and agility (assuming he fully recovers) will make him a force to be dealt with in a league with very few dominant centers much less 7 footers (including Oden). Lets not jump to saying that Bynum has the ability to be MDE (that remains to be seen and the skeptics currently have that battle in their win column).

Ariza (if returns from injury) is the piece the Lakers have missed since they let an aging Horry move back to his home in Texas. Long arms and athleticism and defense.

Rony is the heart of the team and provides much of the same inspiration that Fox did for the earlier group. His stock will continue to rise (if his turf toe doesn’t get the better of him).

The current roster is simply deeper than the championship teams. Enough bashing of LO. The man is simply siiick. Watch him work when he is focused. Lets remember what he is and what he is not. He is a 15-17 ppg. 8-10 rebound per game guy who is as much a threat as Rice, Pippen, or Fox were (in terms of being a second or third option in the tri) with the benefit of bolstering the front line for rebounds on both sides of the floor.

We haven’t even mentioned Crittendon yet. This guy has moves that are scary.

So. Let’s stop de-valuing the team (and trade potential) and look forward to when this team gets back on the floor and stays healthy which is the key to any team winning a championship. Disagree?

How about 1989 LA v. Det (Inj. Scott, Magic, Worthy)

How about 2004 LA v. Det (Inj. Karl Malone, O’Neal, Bryant)

How about 2007 PHX v. SA

2008? I think the record shows that the healthiest team with the most talent….wins the championship.

Out for now.