On the surface, it would appear that the Los Angeles Lakers got the bad end of the offseason deal that sent Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat. The Heat sit comfortably atop the Eastern Conference while the Lakers dropped to 32-37 on Sunday night.
While Kobe Bryant struggles, his former running mate could live life every night as if he were in a Will Smith music video. If he so desired. The two have seen completely opposite levels of success since parting ways. Shaq comes off looking great in the break-up. Since he is no longer in Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant is taking the heat for having pushed O'Neal away. Then the whole contrast of success between the two teams comes into play.
Kobe needs Shaq is a popular sentiment these days.
But, that is easy to say and ignores some outside factors. It's unfair to think of Kobe Bryant as less of a player because the Lakers are struggling this season while the Heat are tearing through the competition. Bryant is in a situation where he is the star and only has role players around him. O'Neal has moved to a situation where he is a star, but also has a budding star at his disposal.
Did O'Neal go to Miami because he believes that Dwayne Wade is the future of the game while Bryant should only be spoken about in the past tense? Doubtful.
Look at some of the teams that the Shaq and Kobe Lakers took down in their championship runs.
The Philadelphia 76ers, for starters. Mainly because they most mirror Bryant's current situation. The Sixers had one gunner in Allen Iverson and a bunch of players playing their roles to perfection when they made a championship run. It was a special season for Philadelphia because they got there on the back of one player. Bryant's Lakers might someday make a run with the team completely on his back. He can make it happen with himself as the lone superstar, but it is far from easy and everything needs to fall into place.
Then look at some of the Western Conference teams that have not done what the Lakers have done. First, the Portland Blazers and then the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks, two teams that have had a ton of talent, but no one on that top plateau.
The point is simple. O'Neal is not blind to this. O'Neal realizes a specific mold that can win championships. You take a player on the top plateau and you couple that player with someone on the next level below. That is what O'Neal has in Miami. That is what Bryant does not have in Los Angeles.
O'Neal has mentioned several times since his arrival in Miami that he saw something in Wade's play during Miami's postseason travels last season. What did O'Neal see? Obviously, he saw someone that he felt he could work with, that he felt he could succeed with.
Shaq is the superstar, Wade is the second-tier player. That's a formula for success in this league.
Bryant has a whole slew of third-tier, or lower, players by his side. Guys like Lamar Odom, Chris Mihm, Caron Butler, Devean George. Players that occasionally show a spark, but just aren't consistent enough. That is a formula for struggling in this league.
Wade, in one season, has shown the level of consistent play that a team that wants to win ball games needs. It was not hard to predict that Shaq and Wade would find success while Bryant found struggles. Everyone saw this coming, but yet the attacks on Bryant increase. Suddenly, he is viewed as less of a talent.
People say that the Lakers got taken on this trade. Sure, they aren't enjoying this season, but the Lakers still made a good trade.
The Lakers were going to lose one of their amazing duo. If they had lost Bryant, they would likely struggle as they are struggling now.
Why? Because when you take one piece away and don't replace it with a single part on that level that remaining part is going to receive an increased and sometimes unexpected level of attention.
When Bryant received one-on-one defensive coverage, he now faces a double-team. When Bryant once received a double-team, he now might face a triple-team. This is how teams can defend Bryant these days. It is first of all tougher and second of all new.
Now we get to find out what Bryant is made of. The writing was on the wall for the season to play out like this. Shaq is going to be in Miami for three seasons. After that? Probably not. Bryant is still going to be in Los Angeles when O'Neal is done. Because of that, O'Neal was the right superstar to get rid of. The only one you can get rid of.
The Lakers now need to find the right part to go with Bryant, as the Heat have the right part to go with O'Neal. Did they think Butler or Odom would have been that part? Probably not. But Butler and Odom are above-average pieces that will look better when the Lakers do find the right person to play alongside Bryant.
For Bryant and the Lakers, it's not about this season. It's about how you bounce back and move forward. This season is likely torture for fans of the storied franchise, but they aren't exactly dead in the water.
March 28, 2005
Michael Farm:
“Bryant is in a situation where he is the star and only has role players around him”….
Ridiculous.
Lamar Odom is not a role player. When used properly, he is easliy one of the least defendaable players in the league.
Bryant is Jason Richardson in Souther California. Period.
March 28, 2005
Rob Linn:
Doug, this is one of the most balanced and accurate portrayals of the Lakers/Shaq-Kobe situation that I have read in quite some time.
I am a native southern Californian and a life-long Lakers fan. This has been a tough season, but having watched every game I believe that much of the press has an agenda to ruin Kobe Bryant. They write what they want to write without any connection to the facts. It is all very ugly, but in time the Lakers, led by Kobe will compete for championships.
I appreciated your viewpoints.
March 28, 2005
Joe:
Even Eddie Jones led the LA Lakers to the playoffs and he was certainly never surrounded by a player of Lamar’s magnitude.
Kobe Bryant shot the la lakers out of a title last year. Shooting 38% of the field and hogging the ball all finals, Bryant not only didn’t help the Lakers, he destroyed them.
The trend continues this year.
Here’s a short story:
A long time ago, the Orlando Magic refused to pay Penny Hardaway less than Shaq. They felt Penny was as good or better than Shaq and without Shaq, the Magic would still have a major superstar.
Penny had endorsements, praise, respect, all-star appearances, but people forget- he also had Shaq.
Years later, who ever looks forward to the rematch between Shaq and Penny. The year after Shaq left, Penny’s FG% dropped to 44% and later dropped to as low as 38%. His turnovers went up. Coaches figured out he was no one to build a team around.
Here’s harsh facts: Look for Bryant’s name in the all-time lists of the playoffs. You won’t find him there among the greats. in fact, in the first finals, he shot 35% from the floor and averaged only 15 points.
When Shaq won his first championship, he had a supporting cast no better or worse than Bryant’s. Bryant was the Odom… and the host of nobody’s Shaq made better is long: Rick Fox, Derek Fisher, on and on… and they were all mentioned/great because of Shaq.
More harsh facts: Your team isn’t going to win when your leading shooter shoots 20+ times a game, only knocks down 42% of those shots, lets the ball fly out of his hands 5 times a game, and now can’t stop anybody on defense because Shaq isn’t there to clean up the mess.
As the LA coach points out, Bryant’s defense is one of the key problems on this team.
So it’s hard to believe that Penny Hardaway was once in Kobe’s condition. And it’s probably impossible for anyone to believe that in time some coach will sit Kobe’s butt on the bench where it belongs.
If Shaq can’t win with you, no one ever will.
March 28, 2005
Joe:
One more interesting fact:
Lamar Odom is ranked 20th in efficiency and 8th in rebounding. He’s not a monster but then again, you would think the best player in the NBA wouldn’t need someone better than himself to at least have a winning record.
Garnett really is surrounded by a group of duds. But LA has the supposed best player in basketball, someone ranked in the top 20 in efficiency to play with him (Something Tim Duncan and Garnett don’t have), three starters averaging as much as Malone and Payton did last year…
In fact, the Lakers have a line-up that should at the very least be above the Denver Nuggets. You talk about line-up troubles? Shaquille O’Neal never won less than 41 games in his career and won under 50 only once (That 41 year when he was a ROOKIE). Think about that. Few superstars pitted with another semi-star will ever miss the playoffs.
Even Scottie Pippen didn’t miss the playoffs without Jordan and the bulls roster was no better or worse than the lakers this year.
Consider this as well: Dwayne Wade, a rookie, went to round 2 with this same group last year.
I don’t think the problem is the line-up. This team’s record WITH Kobe is as bad as their record WITHOUT him. Taht says it all.
March 28, 2005
Jennifer Bell:
What a bunch of hooey — except for the part about Kobe needing someone of equal talent. First, Kobe will not tolerate having someone of equal talent on the same team with him. Second, no marquee player wants to play with Bryant. Third, if Buss had called his bluff and not traded Shaq, Bryant would have probably stayed with the Lakers. Kobe got exactly what he wanted — and we have seen the result. The way things have transpired has shown that it was Kobe who couldn’t (and wouldn’t) share the spotlight, not Shaq. Finally, Iverson carried the Sixers on his back because he is not only a relentless and fearless competitor, but he wants the team to win. Kobe is both of these, but he doesn’t care if the team wins, as long as he is “in charge.” I hope he enjoys being the star player, head of player personnel, and de facto coach.
March 29, 2005
Gemma Aranquis:
Thank you for wrting this article about Kobe Bryant,Shaquille,and the new Lakers Team.Every thing you said is 100% true and your a guy that knows how to evaluate an NBA Game.Im a Lakers Fan and no matter what happens this year i will still be a laker fan for a loooooooooooooooooooooooooong Time.
March 29, 2005
LARRY-SEAN:
YES, THANK U.
I AM A GREAT KOBE AND LAKERS FAN, AND I PERFECTLY AGREE WITH U.
PEOPLE ARE JUST BEING HARD AT KOBE 4 NO REASON, I BET U THAT IF KOBE HAD BEEN TRADED INSTEAD OF SHAQ, THIS TEAM WOULD HAVE BEEN WORST OFF, FOR REAL.
KOBE IS A GREAT STAR, AND TRUST ME, HE IS THE GREATEST IN THE LEAGUE, GREATER THAN SHAQ, YUP U HEARD ME, AFTER-ALL, SHAQ NEVER WON A CHAMPIONSIP UNTIL HE TEAMED UP WITH WITH KOBE. IF SHAQ IS SO DOMINANT, WHY DIDNT HE WIN @ ORLANDO MAGIC WHEN HE WAS ALSO WITH A GOOD PLAYER LIKE HARDAWAY. U CAN SEE, HE ISNT AS DOMINANT AS PEOPLE SAY.
I THINK ALLEN IVERSON IS JUST JEALOUS OF KOBE, TRYING TO INSTIGATE SHAQ’S GREATNESS, AND BELLITTLE KOBE, BUT THAT LITTLE MAN (ALLEN IVERSON), IS SO FUNNY COS KOBE HAS 3 RINGS ALREADY, SO I REALLY DONT THINK HE’S ON THE SAME LEVEL WITH KOBE (NO WAY), NEVER.
ALSO I LIKE TO MAKE MY LAST COMMENT OR SUGGESTION, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME PASS IT TO THE LAKERS THAT THEY SHOULD PLEASE TRY TO GET BIG GUYS, THAT LINE-UP OF THEIRS IS TOO SHORT, AND WOULD TAKE A CENTURY TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP, THEY NEED TO GET BIG GUYS, U ARE ALSO ATHLETIC, ESPECIALLY A BIG GUY IN THE MIDDLE/ CENTER POSITION LIKE SHAQ.
I MEAN, CANMT PEOPLE SEE THAT ALL SHAQ BASICALLY DOES IS USE HIS BODY AND SIZE TO HELP THE TEAM, AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT KOBE IS PRETTY USED TO.
THEREFORE KOBE NEEDS A BIG GUY THERE IN THE CENTER, NOT NECESSESARILY SHAQ, BUT SOMEONE BIG ENOUGH TO COMMAND A DOUBLE TEAM AND PUNK OPPONENTS DEFENSE.
AND THIS TO KOBE AND U’LL START SEING WINNING WAYS L.A.
PLEASE HELP ME PASS THIS POINT ACROSS, COS IT HURTS ME TO SEE KOBE/LAKERS FAIL LIKE THIS.
I MEAN, KOBE IS BASICALLY CARRYING THIS TEAM ALONE ON HIS SHOULDERS, COS I REALLY DONT SEE NO ONE STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE.
PEOPLE, INCLUDING LESS SUCESSFUL PLAYERS AND MEDIA ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BRING KOBE DOWN, AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY, BUT MIGHT I REMIND U THAT, THIS TEAMS ROSTER HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED, EVEN WITH THE COMPLETE, VETERAN + ALLSTAR + HALL OF FAME + GREATEST 50 PLAYERS EVER, PLAYERS ON THIS TEAM LAST YEAR, THEY COULDNT EVEN WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
IMAGINE, SHAQ, KOBE, GARY, MALONE, FISHER, RUSH, RICK FOX, DEVEAN GEORGE ,AND ETCETERA, ON A TEAM, AND THEY DIDNT EVEN WIN.
NOW ALL THOSE PLAYERS ARE GONE, EXCEPT FOR KOBE, I MEAN, THIS TEAM A A BASICALLY NEW FRESH TEAM, AND YALL EXPECT MAGIC, EVEN DEVEAN GEORGE, ONE OF THE ONLY 2 LEFT HAS BEEN INJURED ALL YEAR, EVEN VLADE DIVAC HAS BEEN INJURED ALL YEAR, EVEN KOBE WAS OUT FOR 14 GAMES, EVEN LAMAR ODOM HAS BEEN OUT FOR A COUPLE OF GAMES, DAMN!!!!!!!!, AND WE ALL EXPECT TO SEE WINS, MAN, ISNT IT RATHER UNBELIEVABLE THAT THE LAKERS HAVE WON 32!!!! GAMES, I MEAN LOOK @ MINNESOTA, WITH THE SAME LAST YEAR TEAM, THEY ARE WITHIN A SHADOW OF THE LAKERS, AND NOBODY IS SAYING NOTHING TO THEM.
LOOK AT THE WORST TEAMS, LIKE THAT HAD EVEN SAME PLAYERS FROM PAST YEARS( GOOD CHEMISTRY), THEY ARE EVEN FAR BELOW.
I MEAN, IMAGINE THAT.
EVEN WITH ALL THESE REASONS, I AINT TRYING TO DEFEND THE LAKERS BAD RUN, GOD KNOWS WE THE FANS ARE HURTING AND ANGRY AT THIS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT LAKERS WILL DEFINITELY BOUNCE BACK NEXT YEAR, OR EVEN START WINNING GAMES NOW IF A BIG GUY LIKE VLADE DIVAC IS PLAYING AND THAT ”SHORT” LINE-UP IS CHANGED FOR A BIGGER LINE-UP .I MEAN, WHEN U HAVE A BUNCH OF ”SHORT” PLAYERS, DEFINITELY THEY ARE LIABLE TO BEING PUNKED ON THE BALL-PLAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT FACT COS I AM ALSO A SKOOL BALL PLAYER. ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THIS TEAM IS THAT, AS IF BEING ”SHORT” IS NOT ENOUGH, THAY ARE ALL FORWARDS, WHICH MEANS NO ”D”.
THERE MAKE MY COMMENTS SHORTEN, I WOULD LIKE U TO PLEASE TELL THE L.A LAKERS THAT, THAY SHOULD PLEASE TRADE IN, OR DRAFT OR STEAL, BIG GUYS, ANYWAY THEY CAN GET IT, EITHER BY HOOK OR BY CROOK, COS THATS ALL THEY NEED.
I LIKEN KOBE TO THE WOMAN, ”A WOMAN NEEDS A BIG, STRONG, DEPENDABLE MAN TO BE THERE FOR HER, AND SHE TAKE CARE OF MOST OTHER FAMILY BUSINESS”
”KOBE NEEDS A BIG GUY ( NOT NECESSASIRILY SHAQ) TO PROTECT THE TEAM AND PUNK OPPONENTS FOR KOBE TO TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILY’S (TEAM’S) BUSINESS.
March 30, 2005
omar:
thank you thank you thank you. its about time we got a journalist who knows what hes talking about. i think every nba fan should read this article. Doug Graham, i’m bowing to your greatness…