You know how it goes. A team acquires a player, and there is a rush to analyze the move and declare immediate winners and losers.
The L.A. Lakers were declared big winners this summer for their acquisitions of two marquee guys in Steve Nash and… oh… what's his name. It is yet another "super team" that's expected to become an instant contender.
But Mark Cuban is not overly impressed.
“It’s going to be interesting,” Cuban continued. “Look, they’re going to have a great team, but I remember when we made our run, we weren’t supposed to win any series. Remember the Lakers were the defending champs, and we swept them and they had everybody back.
“A lot of teams do a great job of winning the summer, but I never get so antsy about what happens over the summer. I just want to know what happens during the season. As long as we keep on getting better and we’re healthy going into the playoffs, then anything can happen.”
He is right. You cannot crown anyone right away. It took the Miami Heat, the league's ultimate super team right now, a full season to realize their championship potential. And then there is the jab at Dwight Howard.
“It takes great chemistry. … It takes guys wanting to be there. I don’t know if all their guys want to be there.”
This, really, is the key to the Lakers. Is Dwight Howard going to be fully invested in this team? Is he going to put all of his energy into fitting in to a team where he still will not be the first offensive option and where he might only call home for a year?
Let's not forget that Dwight has proven himself to be little more than a large child. Kobe Bryant, meanwhile, is the meanest S.O.B. this side of Mississippi if he does not feel like his team is doing everything it can to win. There is a real possibility that Dwight's personality might clash with Kobe's… and that never goes well.
The Lakers have other questions. There is the issue of Steve Nash's age and ability to defend. If point guards are getting into the paint against the Lakers, will they pull Dwight Howard out of position and, possibly, into foul trouble? There is also an issue with depth.
The Mavericks have their issues too. And I am betting, based on the tone of these comments, that their biggest issue is missing out on big-names like Deron Williams and Dwight Howard.. instead setting for O.J. Mayo, Chris Kaman and Elton Brand.
The Mavs salvaged a decent offseason, but they still lag behind the Lakers on paper. Still, Cuban, while bitter, is right about champions not being crowned in July or August. Too many who have, have had to settle for that as their only crowning of the season.
