Are the Lakers contenders without Kobe?

[nba_55]

They made Warriors look like a lottery team tonight.

[Heisenberg]

[Relinquish]

I would say 45 wins. Very unselfish team.

[TheMilkyBarKid]

7 double digit scorers!

[Killbot]

As a player, yes.

But they will win a title if they replace Scott with Coachbe. He doesn't even have to be in the bench to have a positive effect on how to motivate his players.

[9erempiree]

No team can beat the Lakers in a 7 game series.

[Mr. Jabbar]

No team can beat the Lakers in a 7 game series.

this.

boozer
lin
sacre
ellington
price
young
wes
davis

pick your poison

[DMV2]

Not just contenders but this team can become a 3-peat dynasty.

[bluechox2]

even with kobe, they would have won tonight

[nba_55]

even with kobe, they would have won tonight

joke of the night!

[jstern]

No. Imagine if you had a team playing with 30 pound weights on their backs. Night in and night out it's an uninspired grind, where you want to display your talents, but everything has to revolved around 36 year old Kobe getting his shots. Trying your hardest to be involved in the offense, wide open, only to see Kobe take another contested shot. Take those elements out for one game, and as a whole group, each Laker is going to have that extra step, that extra mental stamina and will to play.

If Kobe went down permanently, then playing without those obstacles would be the norm, and eventually that extra motivation, mental stamina and will, will go down to normal. Though they would probably still have a better record.

[CelticBaller]

even with kobe, they would have won tonight

Wesley Johnson wouldn't even be able to touch the ball

[Shih508]

No. Imagine if you had a team playing with 30 pound weights on their backs. Night in and night out it's an uninspired grind, where you want to display your talents, but everything has to revolved around 36 year old Kobe getting his shots. Trying your hardest to be involved in the offense, wide open, only to see Kobe take another contested shot. Take those elements out for one game, and as a whole group, each Laker is going to have that extra step, that extra mental stamina and will to play.

If Kobe went down permanently, then playing without those obstacles would be the norm, and eventually that extra motivation, mental stamina and will, will go down to normal. Though they would probably still have a better record.

Great One