STARTING THE COUNTDOWN.......

Nothing helps out a new coach more
than championship-caliber talent.
Therefore Mike Brown ought to be
just fine. The core of Kobe Bryant,
Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum,
Derek Fisher and Ron Artest (AKA
Metta World Peace) remains from
the team that won the 2010 title.
Brown's pedigree is defense but his
arrival signals we think, the end
maybe of the vaunted triangle
offense in L.A. Yes, they do
really need a longer training
camp, for starters, as the new
system used to implement, or
perhaps some anti-aging cream?
Fisher is now 37 and the mileage
on Bryant's legs goes beyond
his 33 years. Folks have sort
of wondered if perhaps a deal
for Dwight Howard or Chris Paul
might average it all out some.
It is still championship-or-bust
here, so a slow start could spark
a few major changes. This then will
be a very different challenge for
Brown, who reared a teenage LeBron
James, but must now gain the con-
fidence of Bryant, who is as strong
headed as they come.
Lakers coach Mike Brown shared a
laugh with general manager Mitch
Kupchak last Friday at their news
conference. In fact, Brown just
might use elements of the triangle
offense that always used to be
employed. This happened during
the NBA winning title for the Lakers.
However, we will very likely be seeing
far more pick and roll which might
make it more difficult for Fisher
to be effective against some of the
league's speedsters, including Derrick
Rose of the Bulls on opening day
December 25th. At any rate, on that
Sunday, many of us will have our
eyes pealed on the T.V. set.
Feels so good to be almost ready
to once again root for our Lakers!
Babs Wells