Dave Smith

Everywhere I went today; the gym, the market, walking the dog and on the internet, I noticed a fascinating thing is going on: Almost everyone is telling me the Lkaers are better without Kobe Bryant and should get rid of him….

Yes, I’m impressed with the way the team has played in the three games without Kobe, but there is no way they win the championship without him….

It’s one thing to play unselfishly, move the ball beautifully and beat teams in the regular season. But when it comes to the playoffs and winning close games against good teams, you have to have a great closer like Bryant….

He’s the best clutch shooter in the NBA, gets to the free throw line in the closing minutes and plays lock down defense when properly motivated….

But there is no doubt the Lakers are playing their best basketball of the season without Kobe. They’re moving the ball, playing unselfishly and defending at championship levels. Hell, they’ve held three consecutive opponents under 90 points and two of them are championship contenders….

Pau Gasol looks like he has a new lease on life and playing as if a giant weight has been lifted off his shoulders. There’s a bounce in his step, a smile on his face and the past two games he’s averaged 21 points and 19 rebounds. He’s also not the soft guy who disappeared in the Finals against the Celtics….

He’s challenging shots, rebounding and become a real force in the post….

The big question is this: Is Gasol playing well because of Kobe’s abscence or Andrew Bynum?….

In my opinion, he’s playing much better because Kobe is not there….

With or without Bynum, Pau would get lots of touches. With Kobe playing, however, Gasol hardly touches the ball ….

The solution is simple: If Bryant shoots less and pass more, the Lakers are unbeatable. Can you imagine what a force this team would be if they were this unselfish with Kobe on the floor?….

His teammates are not Kwame Brown, Smush Parker or Chris Mihm, so there is no reason Kobe shouldn’t trust them and keep the ball moving….

Here’s another thing: I’ve said for years that Kobe is the most overrated defensive player in NBA history and I’ve seen nothing to change my opinion. He goes for low percentage steals, drifts, leaves his man open and gets beaten off the dribble consistently. Sure, he can lock his opponent down when he feels like it, but unfortunately he doesn’t feel like it often….

I had Steve Kerr on my show last year and asked him about what it was like to be guarded by Bryant. “I loved it when he guarded me,” he said. “He drifts, goes for steals and left me open all the time. Of course, if he wanted to he could lock me down and I wouldn’t be able to get a shot off. But fortunately for guys like me he doesn’t defend hard all the time.”….

This is why he’s not as good as Michael Jordan. As talented as Kobe is, he’s not the defender Michael was, isn’t physically as strong and doesn’t finish around the basket as well….

The evidence is MJ is a career 50% shooter while Bryant has never shot 50% for a season….

And here is a much bigger question: With Kobe’s contract expiring after next season, I’d be very careful about giving him a five-year extension at the maximum level. I know he keeps himself in great shape and has an unbelieveable tolerance to pain, but next season will be his 15th and he’s also been going deep into the playoffs and playing for the national team during the summer….

He’s approaching 40,000 minutes played, which is when players normallly begin to decline. He’ll be 32 next season, but he’s a very old 32 and there’s a lot of tread on the tires….

If you give him five years and around $130M, which is what it would take, the deal would expire in 2016, when Kobe would be 37….

My offer would be three years at the max, which would be around $80M. This would take him to age 35, when his skills would probably be in serious decline….

GM’s always have to think about the future and a five year extension through 2016 might just cripple any plans to rebuild. It could be a Tracy McGrady/Penny Hardaway/Allen Houston situation, where a once outstanding player is now destroying your salary cap and any chance of bringing in new players….

Maybe I’m wrong and Kobe will still be going strong at 37, but history and father time say otherwise. He’ll be in his 20th season and a shell of his former self….

A three-year extension at the max should make everyone happy….

Sure, it was nice to see Kobe Bryant break Jerry West’s franchise scoring record, but there’s a much more important development in Lakerland: Ignoring their post players and playing like they did in the Kwame Brown/Smush Parker days….

It’s just bad basketball to ignore Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum and not play inside/out….

Kobe shot a high percentage and played brilliantly, but you can’t win championships with one guy scoring all the points….

But Bryant is not to blame, because he’s giving maximum effort, putting the ball in the basket and expending every ounce of energy….

The blame lies with Derek Fisher and and Phil Jackson….

Don MacLean was on the radio this afternoon and made a great point regarding the Lakers not playing winning basketball. “Hey Derek Fisher,” he said, “there’s a reason you’re wide open. It’s because teams want you to shoot and not give the ball to the big guys. You’re going to have to sacrifice your shots and make sure the ball goes inside.”….

I couldn’t have said it beter myself….

Every time Fisher, Jordan Farmar or Shannon Brown fires up a three-pointer early in the shot clock, I want to reach into the television and strangle them….

Run the offense, make sure the ball goes inside and make the defense exert energy. Get them to double team, rotate, move their feet and then take advantage. And once the ball goes into the post and the defense double teams, then it’s okay to take a three-point shot….

But only AFTER the ball goes insdie first….

As for the Zenmaster, I have no idea why he doesn’t insist his players pound the ball inside to Gasol and Bynum. Every time Fisher launches a three-pointer early in the shot clock or drives to the rim to miss a lay-up, I keep waiting for Phil to send a sub to the scorer’s table and then curse Derek as he heads to the bench….

Yet game after game Fisher and the other wing players take ill-advised shots and give the opponent chances for run outs….

Phil needs to strictly enforce a new rule: Only Kobe can pull up and shoot without going inside first. Anyone else who doesn’t play inside/out gets a comfy seat on the pine….

Ten shots combined between Bynum and Gasol is completely unacceptable….

There also seems to be a problem between Gasol, Jackson and Kobe….

After the game, when he was asked if he got enough touches, Gasol answered “No.”….

When asked about Bryant breaking the franchise scoring record, Pau said the following: “I’m proud of him; I congratulate him. Now we can focus on winning games again.”….

You have to love Pau. He speaks the truth and isn’t afraid to call out Phil and Kobe….

He is 100% correct and should continue to make an issue of this. He probably shouldn’t go public again, but needs to make regular appearances in Jackson’s office to get his point across….

But the point needs to be made that Kobe is not at fault for the big men not getting enough touches. The fault lies mainly with Derek Fisher….

I don’t know if the Zenmaster is playing one of his mind games or trying to teach lessons, but this needs to stop….

When I heard the news that Lamar Odom, I thought about two things: 1) The Lakers are now stronger than they were last season and now the odds-on favorite to repeat as world champions; despite the Celtics also getting stronger. 2) I never thought Odom would accept a mid-level exception, despite his love for Miami, Dwyane Wade and Pat Riley….

Despite the flirtation with the Heat, Odom is far too talented to play for the mid-level, especially since he’s only 29 years of age….

Lots of players claim it’s not about the money and more important to be happy and have a chance to win a championship, but in the end it’s all about the money….

Assuming Andrew Bynum is healthy and in good shape for training camp, Lamar figures to come off the bench and lead a strong Lakers second unit. I know he prefers to start and makes starters money, but a healthy Bynum is more productive starting….

So the opening night line-up figures to be Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Pao Gasol, Bynum and newly acquired Ron Artest. Not too shabby and a team that could eesily win 70 games….

Unless….

I’ve always been a huge fan of Artest and believe he’s one of the ten best players in the NBA when everything is right; but everything else that comes with him is always a concern….

Reports out of Houston are that Ron-Ron was his usual wacky self behind the scenes and the Rockets spent a great deal of time covering up the insanity. You can tell by looking into his eyes that he is not all there and, despite his immense talent, you never know what you’re going to get from this guy….

The good news is Phil Jackson’s track record of working with Dennis Rodman and other so-called head cases. Also, Artest has a great deal of respect for Kobe and grew up in New York with Odom. Hopefully, all of this will keep Artest on the straight and narrow and bring another championship banner to Los Angeles….

Is Artest a better player than Trevor Ariza? No question about it and the Lakers have certainly upgraded themselves at small forward. In fact, I believe Trevor is going to be a bust in Houston….

Not because Ariza isn’t a good player and class guy, but because he was more a product of the Lakers system than a star player. Surrounded by star players and a Hall-of-Fame coach, Travor blossomed into a very good player. But with Yao Ming and Artest gone, and Tracy McGrady recovering from a serious injury, Ariza is going to be expected to be a front line player and major contributor….

And that is not what he is….

With defenses ready for him, he’s going to have to make plays on his own. And in my opinion he is going to flop and hate the day his agent screwed up his new Lakers deal….