forget the rings, it took kobe and shaq several years of playing together and the inclusion of phil jackson to bring it all together so i'll just talk on paper so to speak...
Kobe
Shaq
Fisher
Fox
Horry
George
Shaw
Medvidenko
Sumaki
Hunter
Shaq was dominant because he was big and demanded doulble and triple teams, also was a factor on defense cause he clogged the paint. I do think offensivly Gasol is much more of a weapon skill wise, from what I have already seen Kobe and Gasol play together like they have for years. Wait until they actually do play for a while. Gasol can do so many things on offense pass,shoot from mid-range and drive to the hole. Oh wait and he can shoot from the line. The Lakers won 3 champipnships for a reason Shaq and Kobe and solid defense. With the addition of Gasol and the team as a whole 11-12 players deep are offense in my opinion is better than any of those 3 years. This team runs the triangle much more effecient than any of those teams and have deadly shooters from outside. They also bring it every night instead of taking nights off. They will definitley have to improve on D, with Bynum and Ariza coming back that should help alot. So Laker fans quit getting butt hurt with this comparison because this team hasn't won anything compared to the 3 chips Shaq and Kobe era. Gasol has had a great impact on this team with more to come. Pau will never have the dominant impact that Shaq had but when we do win a chip (which will be soon) it most likely would have not been done without Pau.
Respectfully, aside from some of the preliminary analysis and opinions here, I think it is too early to be speaking of Kobe/Gasol as an "era." Its only been 10 games.
Shaq and Kobe played together for many seasons and won several titles.
For me, I would like to wait a bit before I start speaking of eras with those two players. (although I am excited about the prospects)
Let's not do this now, let's talk about this in about 5 years. If we don't win a championship we'll be compared to the bust that T-Mac/Yao have become!!!!
In a way, it kinda is fair to do this now. I think the team now is deeper. Seriously guys, Rick Fox was a big part of those other championships. In his prime could he really be for nearly any team (besides Boston) right now? The team now is deeper. I don't know if they will be more dominant and win more championships, but they are better on paper.
31 year old Bryant, 22 year old Bynum, 29 year old Gasol...and a MUCH better supporting cast will be a greatert dynasty then we witnessed back with a prime Shaquille.
There I said it, and I definitely believe...it's a shame Drew got injured, he was putting a giant smile on my face...you have no idea how many arguments I've had with people regarding NEVER trading Bynum, I've said since day one kid is untouchable "You're stupid man, we should trade him for Kidd this instance."
What do those people have to say to me now? Not a damn thing. They wouldn't even trade Bynum for Kidd straight up let alone include Odom in the mix.
Can't wait till out big comes back, not only does our defense and rebouding improve...but our boy Pau Gasol will be a new Odom, he'll be so much more comfortable at the 4...it'll just make our team that much more dangerous.
It's a shame Ariza isn't coming back this season (possibly), I like him a lot more then Walton or Radmanovic...those guys are liabilities defensively.
But then again our defense will improve significantly at the 3 and 5 spots when Bynum comes back because our starting 5 will be Fisher, Bryant, Odom, Gasol and Bynum.
How quickly Laker fans forget. Until LA wins 3 rings in a row with Gasol, this shouldn't even be a discussion. No way this Lakers team becomes more so of a Dyanasty than the Shaq-led Lakers. I beleive LA may be able to sneak a ring, but not 3 or more. Much less a 3 peat. If that happens, then this discussion would be in question.
If Shaq and Kobe could have put aside their B.S. and played the game (like Magic said) - this team could have won 5 championships. Too large egos - one team - no luck.
Kobe and Pau have a chemistry brewing that could be special. It's nice to see Lamar play with those two and he looks to be settling in nicely. Add Bynum to the mix and that gives them a dangerous 4 some. Nothing like the Lakers have seen.
So - comparing REGULAR season - this current team has something that older teams didn't (at least since the Magic - Cooper - Scott - Worthy - Jabbar). Their bench is solid (the best in the league) and their starting five is friggin awesome combo. Attitudes/friendships and egos all mesh together. They are on a mission and you can see it in their eyes.
The overlooked acquisition? Fisher. He has provided stability and leadership at the point. And his prescence is evident in the success that Farmar is seeing this year.
How quickly Laker fans forget. Until LA wins 3 rings in a row with Gasol, this shouldn't even be a discussion. No way this Lakers team becomes more so of a Dyanasty than the Shaq-led Lakers. I beleive LA may be able to sneak a ring, but not 3 or more. Much less a 3 peat. If that happens, then this discussion would be in question.
this team is younger and deeper than than the shaq era lakers.. they get this dialed in we could be loking at several years of top level play from these guys
KOBEGASOL VS KOBESHAQ era
