Two Words For The Laker's Problems
And it's not Kobe, Phil Jackson, Gasol, Odom or Bynum. It's not the bench or the defense.
It's Tex Winter. The man who made the Triangle Offense a household name. For the Shaq/Kobe Lakers (and the Jordan/Pippen Bulls before them) Winter not only made sure that the offense was run, but run effectively (see: Tim Floyd).
After the 2004 Finals, when the Detroit Pistons beat on the Lakers to win in what is now known as the first "Five-Game Sweep," the were grumbles that the Triangle was to blame: it was too hard for Karl Malone to learn; Jackson should have had Kobe and Gary Payton run up and down the court more; Shaq was too old and big to be effective in it.
What the critics forgot is that the TO is one of those sets that (again, used properly) can get you a basket in a crucial juncture of the game. Sure, MJ, Pippen, Shaq and Kobe were great players and closers in their own right, but having an offensive set that gets you a high-percentage shot made them even better.
Of course, back then Jackson and Winter had to tweak their roster to make things work: no small point guards, the forwards had to be able to defend, the center had to be big and able to score and everyone had to be a good passer. Also, multiple ball handlers were key. Well look at the Lakers current roster: two PG under 6'3"; forwards too small or too weak-minded to guard anyone consistently; big men who are centers-in-name-only; and passing that's adequate at best. And if anyone trusts Brown, Ariza or Vujacic to bring the ball up at least five possession each, more power to you. With the absence of Winter and his version of the Triangle Offense, the Lakers actually resemble the teams from the Dell Harris Era: talented but hollow.
It's Tex Winter. The man who made the Triangle Offense a household name. For the Shaq/Kobe Lakers (and the Jordan/Pippen Bulls before them) Winter not only made sure that the offense was run, but run effectively (see: Tim Floyd).
After the 2004 Finals, when the Detroit Pistons beat on the Lakers to win in what is now known as the first "Five-Game Sweep," the were grumbles that the Triangle was to blame: it was too hard for Karl Malone to learn; Jackson should have had Kobe and Gary Payton run up and down the court more; Shaq was too old and big to be effective in it.
What the critics forgot is that the TO is one of those sets that (again, used properly) can get you a basket in a crucial juncture of the game. Sure, MJ, Pippen, Shaq and Kobe were great players and closers in their own right, but having an offensive set that gets you a high-percentage shot made them even better.
Of course, back then Jackson and Winter had to tweak their roster to make things work: no small point guards, the forwards had to be able to defend, the center had to be big and able to score and everyone had to be a good passer. Also, multiple ball handlers were key. Well look at the Lakers current roster: two PG under 6'3"; forwards too small or too weak-minded to guard anyone consistently; big men who are centers-in-name-only; and passing that's adequate at best. And if anyone trusts Brown, Ariza or Vujacic to bring the ball up at least five possession each, more power to you. With the absence of Winter and his version of the Triangle Offense, the Lakers actually resemble the teams from the Dell Harris Era: talented but hollow.
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