Post#48 » by Gomes3PC » Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:36 pm
I'd be shocked if the Kings trade Artest to LA. They hate the entire franchise, and even if they cannot compete with the Lakers right now, they will not be the facilitators to the dawn of a potential LA championship. IF Artest gets traded (I doubt he does), then it will be to a team in the East. Maybe some sort of S&T with the Wizards for Gilbert Arenas, or something perhaps with the Hawks if they lose Childress.
Honestly, the Lakers don't need an Artest or a Marion to get over the hump. They need a guy like James Posey. Someone with some toughness and an ability to hit open shots. They have enough scoring across the board with Kobe, Pau, Bynum, Fisher, Sasha, etc.
What they need more than anything is a change in attitude. Defense wins championships, whether it was the Shaq-led Lakers, the Spurs, the Heat, or the Pistons. All of those teams could play stifling defense in the playoffs, just like Boston. LA has the pieces, with Farmar, Kobe, and Bynum, to be a good defensive team. Add a defensive-minded player like Posey and you are that much closer. But the individual parts won't matter if they don't commit from the first practice of summer camp to defend. IF they do that, then they deserve to the favorites for the title.
Like it or not, the Celtics are at a plateau. Hopefully they stay here for 1-3 more years, but they aren't getting any better. LA took Boston to 6 games despite no defense and no Bynum. They have more opportunity for growth. What I think, more than D or Bynum, may slow them or stop them from this is, is that other teams have even more room for growth. A team like New Orleans or Portland have an opportunity for a dramatic improvement and are REALLY young (unlike LA, which is pseudo-young).