I feel the same way....and you are very right about their offense. Sometimes, Odom/Gasol look like they've been playing together for years, but when Kobe is assertive, they shrink. Odd team, but, they got this far.....
when they do put it together and run the offense and the break without caring who's taking the shots they are incredibly dangerous... and we've seen that at times in this sereis. but when they want to make sure kobe gets his shots, eventually everyone else just stands still and watches.
and pao needs to be next to someone even like a kendrick perkins... he's too soft to be the main big.
and now it's a 9 point game... and on LA's last posession kobe dribbled around a little at the top of the key as everyone stood still. pierce played good D so kobe ahd to give it up. vujavic acted like he really didn't know what to do, drove and turned it over as everyone else stood still.
right now they're running the triangle offense in name and formation only... yes, they're in a triple post alignment, but there ain't no offense being played.
i think the lakers problem is that they rely too much on kobe when they're behind. i remember a game when the bulls were winning championships... might have been their first one against LA, or maybe their second one against portland. Phil kept Jordan on the bench for a long time in the 4th quarter, and the bench guys were making the comeback. eventually he put jordan back in but jordan was just another piece, not THE piece, and they ended up winning the game and clinching the title. i think the zen master needs to remember that moment.
derek fisher seems to enjoy taking out baseline camera men. i like derek fisher.