2007-08 LA Lakers
The Lakers will continue their search for the next Shaq into the coming season. In good news for Lakers fans, Kobe Bryant isn’t going anywhere – he comes at a very high price, and he just makes too much money for the Lakers in ticket buys and merchandise. 7 footer Andrew Bynum shows promise for 07-08, and at 55.8 shooting range, he is shaping up to be what the Lakers need in a center. Luke Walton also comes back with improving numbers as well. Fans are also excited to see Ronny Turiaf, who is back in good health after heart complications – never to be taken lightly in sports. He is an amazing power forward, and put in a brave effort in 06-07. The Lakers have a solid bench with improving numbers – and fans are ready for the season.
Previous Seasons
The man that returned championship basketball to the Los Angeles Lakers is back on the sideline of the Staples Center. Phil Jackson is ready to do it again in 2005. But he’ll have to figure out how to get the best out of Kobe Bryant, whom he said was “uncoachable” in his latest book. Despite his off-the-court problems, Bryant is one of the NBA’s premier players. He’s looking to prove his critics wrong by winning another NBA title without the help of Shaquille O’Neal. It won’t be easy, though, as the Western Conference once again boasts some of the NBA’s best teams, like the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and the high-scoring Phoenix Suns. But if history truly repeats itself, Kobe and Jackson might have something to celebrate by the end of the season.
The Los Angeles Lakers have put together one of the most incredible records in sports history. Lakers history includes 9 NBA Championships between 1972 and 2002, and the roster of NBA greats that have donned a Lakers uniform reads like an NBA Hall of Fame list. Few sports franchise can match the Lakers for their record of unprecedented success.
The Lakers came to Los Angeles in 1960 after beginning life as the Minneapolis Lakers. Arriving in LA, the Lakers kept their old name and spent their first season in California battling their way to a 36-43 record, reaching the Western Conference Finals. For the first few seasons in Los Angeles, the Lakers were consistent winners but failed to capture an NBA Crown. That changed in 1972.
Starting out with a new head coach in Bill Sharman, the Lakers put together a 33 game winning streak and a 69-13 overall record. After sweeping the Chicago Bulls in the first round, Los Angeles knocked off the defending NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks in a six game series to hit the NBA Finals. The franchise’s first NBA Championship in LA was earned with a five game NBA Finals series win over the New York Knicks.
