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| Thursday, August 23 Users: Split vote on Kings vs. Lakers ESPN.com |
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We proclaimed the Kings the second-best team in the NBA, and we got many strong opinions from our users in discussing whether Chis Webber and the gang can make it to the top. Some said yes, others said no.
In discussing the Summer Spotlight on the Kings, we posed this question: Does this team have what it takes to beat the Lakers in a playoff series? Here are some of your responses:
Your Kings Feedback While the jury is still out on beating the Lakers in the '02 playoffs, you can bet that everyone in the Lakers organization is looking upstate when contemplating their future. Mike Bibby elevates the Kings to one of the elite starting fives in the league. And he doesn't just bring his already admirable Grizzlies numbers. Mike will improve both his production and that of the players around him. Scary when you think of who he's playing with now!
Randy Ott
I believe they do. Let me explain. First of all, anyone who knows anything about basketball must understand there is no answer for stopping Shaq, the most dominant player in the game. However, the Kings have C-Webb, who is equally dominant at his position. Also, the Kings have an advantage at the point position with Mike Bibby being a more consistent point guard than anyone on the Lakers' roster. Also, Stojakovic and Doug Christie are a better combination than Rick Fox and Kobe. Bibby makes this a totally different team. Watch out LA.
James Stephens
If you compare the Kings to the rest of the league, they are the best team by far. When you put the Lakers in the equation they are a distant second. The Kings don't have anyone who can stop Shaq or Kobe. Predrag Stojakovic had a great season last year, but showed that he can be controlled if someone plays in your face defense against him (like Rick Fox). Vlade Divac has proven that he is not committed enough to get himself into good enough shape to defend Shaq for 48 minutes. With the departure of J-Dub and the addition of Bibby it will make the Kings harder to defend. However, Phil Jackson always seems to find away to shut down second and third scorers. So the answer is yes. The Kings do have what it takes to be contenders. But they do not have enough to beat the Lakers. (Unless they get MJ).
Jason Whitfield
The Kings are by far a better team with Bibby, but I don't feel that will be enough to get past the Lakers. I think the Lakers' pickup of ex-King Mitch Richmond, just made the Lakers that much better. Richmond made the Kings winners and for him to play on a team as stacked as the Lakers, I feel you'll see him shine like he did in Sacramento: Leaving the Kings with another bitter taste of defeat handed to them by the Lakers.
Todd S.
When you look at the talent of Shaq and Kobe, it seems that the Lakers should be unbeatable; they have one of the greatest coaches ever, and other players who should be able to step up and help out. The Kings organization has what few or no other team has, and that's heart, and a love affair between everyone that has anything to do with the Kings. Start with the players, who are some of the most talented in the NBA, then you have a GM (Geoff Petrie) who has been NBA executive of the year two out of the last three years. The fans who have been labeled the loudest fans in the NBA. Finally you have a family of owners (The Maloofs) who have the competitive nature that you want in your players, but here you also have it in your owners. Put all this together, and I see the Kings being the 2001-2002 NBA champs.
Rey Espinoza
Puh-leeeease. This team does NOT have what it takes to beat the Lakers in a postseason series. Webber is not a champion. Never mind the fact that he doesn't really want to be there. It's an awfully nice team and probably the second best in the entire league but so were the Spurs last year. Vlade will flop all night against Shaq, who will average 40 against them and Christie will prove his D is no match for Kobe. Not to mention Foxy up in Peja's grill. Put it in the fridge!
Ray Martinez
This team has no chance against the Lakers. Physically, yes they match up well. Mentally, no way. How many times have we seen Webber walking down court, head down, Kings down by 12 or 15, and there's still 10 minutes on the clock. They're a bunch of quitters. They need to learn to play for 48 minutes before they have a chance at anything.
Derek McClintick
The Kings can certainly beat the Lakers in the playoffs. The Lakers got on a tremendous roll towards the end of last season and were able to keep that momentum going through the playoffs. Regardless of the hype, the odds of them being able to do that again are slim. The other teams in the West looked scared of the Lakers during last year's playoffs. The Kings are just as good a team, with a great player and four very good players as opposed to two great players and a gaggle of standard players. The only thing the Lakers have that the Kings don't is the absurd hype that whirls around Shaq and Kobe. The Kings will not be afraid of the Lakers this year, and they will give them a run for the West.
Kevin Burg
Quite simply, no! The Lakers are too good and they know how to win in the big playoff games. The way it took the Pistons a few years to get past the Celtics, and the Bulls to get past the Pistons -- it will take the Kings a few years of losing to the Lakers to build them up. Then the question will be less about the Kings and more about the potential of a Lakers dynasty.
Willy Ray
Yes. The Kings have a lot of talent and experience with each other. The core of this team has been around for the past three seasons. If C-Webb can stay healthy the entire season, the Kings have a real good chance to dethrone the Lakers. With the new rule changes, the Lakers are going to have to find someone besides Shaq and Kobe to win. This rule is in favor of the Kings' run and gun style of play. These guys can knock down the open jump shot at 18 to 20 feet. Lakers vs. Kings in conference finals.
Ronald Richards
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