The New York Times > Sports > Pro Basketball: "The triangle offense cannot be mastered in a matter of days. The heart necessary to hustle, box out and fight cannot be transplanted within 48 hours. Karl Malone's sprained right knee will not heal, Shaquille O'Neal will not become quicker to defend the pick-and-roll and Gary Payton's legs will not shake off 10 years of wear and tear before Tuesday's game against the Detroit Pistons.
The Lakers' insistence on going their own way seems to be a major reason they are facing a three-games-to-one deficit heading into Game 5 of the four-of-seven-game finals. O'Neal wants less innovation from Bryant and more basic entry passes to the post. Payton, frustrated by his performance, seems to be counting down the minutes to the end of his dreadful experience in Los Angeles. Even Magic Johnson, a vice president and part-owner of the Lakers, has chimed in, criticizing the team before Game 4, particularly Malone and Payton, for taking Detroit lightly and failing to compete.
I saw it with Houston when they got Barkley, Clyde, Scottie and all those guys," Ham said, referring to Houston's unsuccessful attempt to team Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1999. "Talent can't beat chemistry. I'm sorry. Chemistry will win all the time."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment