L.A. Lakers: Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest Are Turning the Finesse Theory Upside Down

March 22nd, 2011 by Hadarii Jones Leave a reply »
The Los Angeles Lakers under Phil Jackson's tutelage have had some pretty good defenses, but they have always been defined by the precision and rhythm of the triangle offense.

Since 2008, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol have directed the Lakers offense from the perimeter and paint, respectively, and at times it has resembled poetry in motion.

Gasol and Bryant possess the skill and intelligence to bring Jackson's concept to life, but during this period the Lakers have also gained the reputation of being a team dependent on its finesse style of play.

Sometimes, to a fault.

In 2008, the Lakers were bombed in the Finals by a Boston Celtics team that physically overwhelmed them.

The Celtics' defenders ganged up on Bryant and pushed Gasol out of his comfort zone on the way to a surprisingly easy championship victory in six games.

The Lakers vowed to toughen up after their physical humiliation at the hands of the Celtics, and by all accounts they did. The truth of their improvement, however, is more than likely found in a player who was absent in 2008.

Lakers fans like to throw around the fact that since Gasol j ...

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