Editorial: A Superhero Approach to Figuring Out The Lakers
Between a new offense in the off-season, acquiring an aging Hall-of-Fame bound point guard, playing Russian Roulette with Pau Gasol, trading the second best center in the league and receiving the league's best center fresh off of back surgery, the Lakers have enough baggage to fill your old high school gymnasium.
This was only the off-season, bear with me..
The season starts with an 0-8 pre-season that had half the Laker fans scratching theirs heads, and the other half saying that the bad pre-season didn't matter and to wait for the regular season to start. Well it started, and it started at 1-5 with a string of losses that would make the Bobcats laugh like the dog used to in Duck Hunt on the Nintendo. After firing Mike Brown, passing on Phil Jackson (who 99.9% of Laker fans wanted to guide this team to its championship destiny), enter Mike D'antoni.
Dantoni was a hire strictly based on Jim Buss, and the hard sell to Laker fans after this hire, in my opinion, would be "We will be fun to watch, and maybe we can win it all", compared to bringing in a coach who has won a total of eleven titles - the last five of those for the Lakers franchise.
Now the injuries: Steve Nash broke his leg. D12, playing at 75%, tore his labrum. Jordan Hill suffered a season ending hip injury, and Pau Gasol tore his plantar on his foot putting him on the shelf for 6-8 weeks. On top of the losses and the injuries, the Lakers suffered the biggest blow when historic owner of the Lakers Jerry Buss passed away. For the Lakers to overcome all of these obstacles, it takes a special group of men to come together and truly become a team.
Being a comic book dork, or maybe just a dork period, I rented the Avengers and couldn't help but to notice the similarities of the movie and the Lakers season.
First I will give you the cast, and breakdown how the players relate to the heroes.
This was only the off-season, bear with me..
The season starts with an 0-8 pre-season that had half the Laker fans scratching theirs heads, and the other half saying that the bad pre-season didn't matter and to wait for the regular season to start. Well it started, and it started at 1-5 with a string of losses that would make the Bobcats laugh like the dog used to in Duck Hunt on the Nintendo. After firing Mike Brown, passing on Phil Jackson (who 99.9% of Laker fans wanted to guide this team to its championship destiny), enter Mike D'antoni.
Dantoni was a hire strictly based on Jim Buss, and the hard sell to Laker fans after this hire, in my opinion, would be "We will be fun to watch, and maybe we can win it all", compared to bringing in a coach who has won a total of eleven titles - the last five of those for the Lakers franchise.
Now the injuries: Steve Nash broke his leg. D12, playing at 75%, tore his labrum. Jordan Hill suffered a season ending hip injury, and Pau Gasol tore his plantar on his foot putting him on the shelf for 6-8 weeks. On top of the losses and the injuries, the Lakers suffered the biggest blow when historic owner of the Lakers Jerry Buss passed away. For the Lakers to overcome all of these obstacles, it takes a special group of men to come together and truly become a team.
Being a comic book dork, or maybe just a dork period, I rented the Avengers and couldn't help but to notice the similarities of the movie and the Lakers season.
First I will give you the cast, and breakdown how the players relate to the heroes.
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Kobe BryantIron Man |
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The similarities with Tony Stark and Kobe Bryant start with their unbreakable confidence. Stark is the hero who has the coolest quotes that sting you, and the smarts and skills to be the best in the world at what he does.
Have you seen Kobe on twitter?
He's dropping quotables almost on a daily basis, and his words carry weight.
When it comes to smarts and skills, Kobe Bryant is still that dude. Five rings, MVP trophies, All NBA Teams, All-Star selections, Gold Medals, and 30,000 points all speak volumes of the dedication and skill that Bryant has put in to his craft.
Have you seen Kobe on twitter?
He's dropping quotables almost on a daily basis, and his words carry weight.
When it comes to smarts and skills, Kobe Bryant is still that dude. Five rings, MVP trophies, All NBA Teams, All-Star selections, Gold Medals, and 30,000 points all speak volumes of the dedication and skill that Bryant has put in to his craft.
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Steve NashCaptain America |
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I know, I know.. I can't possibly call a Canadian "Captain America"... well hear me out.
Captain America, possibly more than any other hero in existence, excels from heart and leadership. He isn't the biggest, or strongest, but he is a leader of men.
Nash, has the selfless attitude that made this process of coming to the Lakers work squarely on his professionalism.
Can you name any other two-time MVP who wouldn't cause a stink if they were asked to dramatically change their game for the betterment of the team?
Kobe Bryant may get the big headlines, but Nash is the one who high fives, back pats, and gives the positive reinforcement necessary to help the team gel together.
Captain America, possibly more than any other hero in existence, excels from heart and leadership. He isn't the biggest, or strongest, but he is a leader of men.
Nash, has the selfless attitude that made this process of coming to the Lakers work squarely on his professionalism.
Can you name any other two-time MVP who wouldn't cause a stink if they were asked to dramatically change their game for the betterment of the team?
Kobe Bryant may get the big headlines, but Nash is the one who high fives, back pats, and gives the positive reinforcement necessary to help the team gel together.
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Pau GasolThor |
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Thor, in just about any other planet than Earth, would be the hands down go-to-guy if not 1A.
He is the one who is under appreciated because he may not be as flashy as the Iron Mans and Spider-Mans of the world, but he gets the job done.
Other than Nash, Pau has been asked to sacrifice the most in his game to make this version of the Lakers work. When Pau got the ball on the block, the Lakers went to three straight NBA Finals and won two of them. Last year he was used to set up a developing Andrew Bynum, to this year being pushed out the paint so D12 can operate when Gasol is clearly is the best front-court option on the offensive end of the floor.
Don't think he is the best?
Ask the Redeem Team if he isn't the most skilled big man in the game.
He is the one who is under appreciated because he may not be as flashy as the Iron Mans and Spider-Mans of the world, but he gets the job done.
Other than Nash, Pau has been asked to sacrifice the most in his game to make this version of the Lakers work. When Pau got the ball on the block, the Lakers went to three straight NBA Finals and won two of them. Last year he was used to set up a developing Andrew Bynum, to this year being pushed out the paint so D12 can operate when Gasol is clearly is the best front-court option on the offensive end of the floor.
Don't think he is the best?
Ask the Redeem Team if he isn't the most skilled big man in the game.
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Dwight HowardThe Incredible Hulk |
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Let's face it.
Hulk is the game changer when it comes to the Avengers. When he is against you, it's going to be Hell to pay, but when his mind is right and he focused on the right goal the only thing that can stop him is himself. Hulk smashes until there is nothing to smash, he physically dominates until the opponent is grounded into submission.
When D12 isn't happy it shows. His bread and butter, which is defense, falls short of expectations and he wanders around the court like a man without a country.
When he is at his best, he dominates the game on the defensive end of the floor, and gives his teammates the confidence to look for him on offense.
Hulk is the game changer when it comes to the Avengers. When he is against you, it's going to be Hell to pay, but when his mind is right and he focused on the right goal the only thing that can stop him is himself. Hulk smashes until there is nothing to smash, he physically dominates until the opponent is grounded into submission.
When D12 isn't happy it shows. His bread and butter, which is defense, falls short of expectations and he wanders around the court like a man without a country.
When he is at his best, he dominates the game on the defensive end of the floor, and gives his teammates the confidence to look for him on offense.
Much like The Avengers, these four players all had incredible success as the hands down cornerstones of their respected franchises. The Avengers movie did a great job of showing how they butted heads with each other, and had to be willing to sacrifice a part of their individual success to contribute to the big picture of saving the world.
The Lakers have had to do the exact same thing.
They beefed with each other, and it resulted in losses. Players wanted more shots, bigger roles, and to do it on their own terms in order to be successful Like any team, there is always a moment that the team clicks, and the smaller things don't matter as much as the big picture does. Maybe the passing of Jerry Buss, and what he stood for as a person, helped solidify the tone of the Lakers locker-room. Even the game against the Hornets can be looked at as a moment when they realized that they need to stay together to have a chance to achieve their championship dreams. With 16 games remaining in the season, will the Lakers continue to build on their recently found success on the floor, or will they go down as a group of individuals who could't figure it out?
- RJ
