Uncertain Future

While we witnessed the shocking, unexpected, and embarrassing ending of the Lakers season, we should still keep things in perspective. Whether we agree or not, we should thank the team and coach Jackson for providing the joy of this 3-year run and particularly the last 2 championships. Now as we look into the future, there are multiple questions to be answered. To address all of them in detail is impossible in a single post. I will give my opinion and welcome all yours.

1. The coach. My question is shall we keep running the triangle offense? I am ambivalent about this. On one hand, all of our latest 5 championships come from such offense. However, it was clear that if our post players cannot be effective, this offense is easily neutralized. And I am not sure it's a good idea to put Kobe in the post all the time with the front court personnel we are having. I would like to have a coach who can run a system to make scoring easier for Kobe, because barring some unforeseeable trade, Kobe would still be the primary scoring option for us. However, to change offense requires a true point guard, which leads to the next point.

2. Derek Fisher cannot be our starting point guard again. As Dex so elegantly put, "if Derek Fisher isn't going to come through with postseason magic, what exactly is he good for?" And the answer is next to nothing. If we can't find a competent one next year, we could just try put Kobe at point guard until we get one. But make no mistake, we better find one soon. I don't think at this stage of Kobe's career, he can make this transformation, nor do I think it's best for the team.

3. Athleticism. Dallas made us look old in this series. But truthfully, is Dallas really more athletic than us? I don't think so. Unfortunately, our most athletic player, Shannon Brown, is confused and undisciplined. Watching him play, his movement strikes me as kind of mechanical, not fluid. Whenever Brown plays defense, it seems to me that he has to always keep some distance between himself and the offensive player. This makes him easier to get lost on pick and roll, or at least difficult for him to recover position or play tight. Brown needs to make some significant improvement pretty soon, otherwise he will not last long or have the career he wants in this league. Our front court is athletic enough to compete with any team in the league.

These are just some of the questions lingering on my mind right now. Let's hope our management can find some good answers to them. Again I welcome your thoughts.