Both Phoenix Suns and Los Angels Lakers fans will awake to a new Era starting July 11th. For the Suns it’s the end of an era once two time MVP Steve Nash leaves Phoenix only to return in a different jersey alongside Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and a young Andrew Bynum. Slowly but surely the Suns will pick up the pieces to this major lost and begin to build again. They have already begun to do just that with the acquisitions of Goran Dragic and the drafting of Kendall Marshall two young point guards who combind may have the fortitude to provide a relief for the missing Steve Nash.
While the Suns are busy trying to rebuild and restructor their organization around youth and athleticism. The L.A. Lakers have added age and leadership in Steve Nash who can still be considered one of the top ten point guards in the NBA. What he lacks in youth he more than makes up for in the ability to running a team, a luxury the Lakers haven’t had the priviledge of since the retirement of Earvin "Magic" Johnson. While name recognition alone makes them a better team this move will take a great deal of getting use to.
The Lakers have made one transition from Phil Jackson and the triangle to Mike Brown and his stagnent offense. Which usually had Kobe Bryant with the ball in his hands late in the clock usually forcing a shot. Now there will be a new transition to become comfortable with. Nash pushes the ball and excels in an open court style of play the Lakers have two seven footers one of which who runs the floor well, but the other is nearly immobile which leaves the Lakers with only one real option to run on the break. That option being Kobe Bryant, who should be slowing down late in his career instead of speeding up to run with Nash. There are some pluses to Nash being in a half court set with Gasol and Bynum, namely their pick and roll ability. While Bynum may have trouble, Gasol and Nash should thrive in pick and roll as well as pick and pop situation. Adding Nash will give Gasol an opportunity to return to form.
With all the picking and rolling where will that leave Kobe Bryant? That will leave one of the best scorers in the last two decades to roam the three point line. Spot up shooter has never been the exciting part of Kobe’s resume, but he is capable. Taking the ball out of his hand may ruin his rhythm but this would be the best situation for the Lakers. Getting the bigs to work early and allowing Kobe to take over games late will make the Lakers the best team they can possibly be. But in order for this to work Kobe must be okay with scooting over in the front seat something he hasn’t done in his entire career. Kobe Bryant insist that players play off him, he has never been the type to be happy playing off someone else.
So as perfect as the trade seems on paper it will take time and a great deal of effort for this to be a perfect fit.
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