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Well heres the question.
We already know Kobe and Shaq duo has won threepeat together, and after a season and a half the combo of Kobe/Pau have had two finals appearnce and one chip.

Take everything in consideration, both centers, their dominace, their Bball I.Q, their chemistry, their commitment to the game, efficency, everything you can think of.

As far as myself, I think so, I think Kobe will win at least 2 or 3 more titles with Pau. I see these two guys as one of the best dual combo we have seen in a while since MJ and Pippen, Malone and Stockton, Duncan and Parker etc even Shaq and Kobe. I see these two players getting better season after season. I think Pau is an ideal player to be teammates with. He isnt a selfish player and he is willing to sacrafice a lot for this teams as well as his own success, but on the other hand he is becoming a more dominating player at his position and is actually out performing players like Duncan, K.G etc.

True that these two players have aged, but they are still a huge part of their teams success, and at this rate I can see Pau making a much bigger impact as well as contribution than Bynum will.

Agreed. Kobe/Pau will not have the "issues" that kept Kobe/Shaq from winning more than 3 chips. However, I have to disagree with you saying Pau is out-playing guys like Duncan and KG. If either Duncan or KG are healthy, I actually don't think Pau is on their level. Thankfully though, Pau has Bynum next to him to help minimze/mitigate some of Pau's shortcomings.

In the end, I think the Kobe/Pau era has the potential to win 4-5 more titles, but will realistically win another 2-3.

Also, the league is arguably stronger now than during the Kobe/Shaq era. Certainly, this is true of the East.

Maybe, maybe not. Hows that?

It depends on if Artest meshes well with Kobe and Pau, it depends on Bynum and if he can continue to improve, it depends on if we find a PG for Derek Fisher, which means if Farmar can develop, it depends on little moves Mitch will make over the next few years, moves like free agents, moves like Ariza, Shannon Brown developing.

Kobe and Pau can't do it themselves, others will have to develop.

fareweatherfan wrote: However, I have to disagree with you saying Pau is out-playing guys like Duncan and KG. If either Duncan or KG are healthy, I actually don't think Pau is on their level.

Really I thought both this year and last year Pau has out played and out scored both Duncan and K.G, I think.
Can anyone pull up a comperison on their stats.... thanks in advance.

TonyMontana wrote:

fareweatherfan wrote: However, I have to disagree with you saying Pau is out-playing guys like Duncan and KG. If either Duncan or KG are healthy, I actually don't think Pau is on their level.

Really I thought both this year and last year Pau has out played and out scored both Duncan and K.G, I think.
Can anyone pull up a comperison on their stats.... thanks in advance.

Yeah, Tony. I don't know about their stats. I'm not a big stat guy. But I do know that 2 seasons ago KG was one of the best players in the game, IMHO. Last season he was just a tad less impressive pre injury, mainly b/c all of the C's seemed to be saving a little for the playoffs. And then of course, there was his injury, which so many folks are forgetting about when they say he is slipping.

Re Duncan, he has battled injuries each of the last two seasons and even in the playoffs. So he's a tough study for me. He's hands-down the best big in the game, when healthy, even at this age, IMHO.

All things being equal, IMO, Pau is just a level below these two guys.

I think he will probably get one more .. ,
I dont see it happening in the coming season because the elite teams have stacked up and then the league has to share the spoils for Lebron and Wade...

It would be harder because we don't have prime Shaq. ( Obviously) but we have overall more talent on this team then early 00's.

The other thing is there are more stacked teams in the league that we will have to go through, then before.

Can we? Yes.

If we are deliberate and stay focused. Keep the eye on the prize, stay healthy for the next 3-4 years with little distraction. ( tough to do with Ron, well, with the Lakers in general-- drama magnets)

Will we? I Frikin hope so!

Sometimes I feel depressed a bit when I think about the Lakers in 2006-2007. Imagine if we got Gasol in 2006. I'm sure our Kobe/Gasol combo would easily beat the 06 Heat and the 07 Spurs, especially when considering Kobe was at his absolute best in these two years. Those two champs are IMO the weakest champions of the decade, and unfortunately we couldn't take advantage of that because all of Kobe's supporting cast in those years are terrible outside of Odom, not to mention THE worst starting point guard of all time in Smush. But all in all we still end up with a championship, so no complaints there

kevin_405 wrote:I think he will probably get one more .. ,
I dont see it happening in the coming season because the elite teams have stacked up and then the league has to share the spoils for Lebron and Wade...

Kev, Kev, Kev...did you say you don't see us winning the chip this coming season??? C'mon, bud...straight blasphemy.

Not sure. I hope we do. I think we can win at least 2 more. But nothing is guaranteed. Our overall starting line up is much better though. We have so much size which teams can't match up with on a consistent basis.

We won't have chemisty issues as everyone is pretty much gets along on the court.

TonyMontana wrote:

fareweatherfan wrote: However, I have to disagree with you saying Pau is out-playing guys like Duncan and KG. If either Duncan or KG are healthy, I actually don't think Pau is on their level.

Really I thought both this year and last year Pau has out played and out scored both Duncan and K.G, I think.
Can anyone pull up a comperison on their stats.... thanks in advance.

No need for stats T-Money, people need to start realizing that Duncan's numbers have fallen 3 of the last 4 seasons. That's all the proof you need. And he'll be 33 in May, usually the age bigs start to decline either slowly or rapidly.

As far as KG, he took an injury way too late in his career. He'll still be solid but once you take a blow to the knee past age 30, you're only fooling yourself if you think you can do what you did in your 20's. And it's not like KG has powered through Pau like a bulldozer. Pau has and can hold his own with him.

KG's numbers have dropped too, yeah he did only play in 57 games last season. But he was very well on pace to see another numbers drop anyway. KG will also be 33 in May.

I think Pau is underrated and can arguably be at par on impact with Kobe. The fact that we have Kobe makes it harder to double Pau which makes Pau extremely efficient. Keep in mind Pau has led the Grizzlies to some respectable records. Gasol has amazing endurance, and his efficiency and %s are disgusting. I bet you there's a statistic out there that shows if Gasol had more touches throughout the game, we'd have a better chance at coming out with a win. But the most important thing is that it's not Gasol that makes himself be this good, it's the 4 teammates surrounding him on the floor (as well as the bench giving him rest) that makes him so outstanding. He also has had a huge impact on Lamar Odom. Lamar Odom can play the power foward and abuse the mismatch by cutting more and posting less since Gasol is the main post presence. It's no secret to how much Lamar improved when Pau arrived, I remember the great assists they would give each other because of Lamar's cutting.

I'm kind of concerned about age, and hoping health will never be an issue. I'm especially concerned about Kobe's age because he has noticeably lost a step in athleticism. The good thing is that Artest is here so Kobe won't have to commit as much defensively. I want to see more of Kobe in the small foward position as well to see more post/fadeaways from him. I think that's a bit less consuming than playing a guard position.

The downside to the team is the amount of money commited in terms of contracts. Things get easier if we just win championships, but Pau's contract is no joke. It's also hard to keep good chemistry and good talent with little flexibility.

The competition is fierce, and I don't think this team is as strong or committed defensively to be like the 01 Lakers where they just tore apart teams in the 4th quarter, and went 15-1 in the playoffs.

There's also the case of Phil Jackson. I think if we lost Phil, it would greatly diminish our chances. I don't have much faith in anyone else.

To win 3 more is really tough. There are too many factors. Are the pieces there? Yes. Especially if Bynum blossoms into the great center we hope he will be and Kobe doesn't become ridiculously inefficient and ineffective (good thing about that is we know Kobe's attitude is to play forever, so he will find a way to make an impact).

Back to back Repeats are getting harder and harder.. we just got lucky we had Shaq and Kobe in their prime whom nobody could matchup with, Bulls had MJ.. Does this league have anyone in that class anymore, My answer is no.. Kobe is not the same as he was in 2001-2006 . He is making up by playing a lot smarter and has a lot better help.

2009-2010 season will be the hardest for us for a repeat.. I suspect the year after some of elite teams will giveup/trade away some of the stacked up talent due to lack of success (at winning it all) and make things easier of us..

fareweatherfan wrote:

kevin_405 wrote:I think he will probably get one more .. ,
I dont see it happening in the coming season because the elite teams have stacked up and then the league has to share the spoils for Lebron and Wade...

Kev, Kev, Kev...did you say you don't see us winning the chip this coming season??? C'mon, bud...straight blasphemy.

^Great point in your second paragraph. I was only half serious with my comment, I understand your reasoning but at the same time we Laker fans must never say we don't see them winning!!!

fareweatherfan wrote:^Great point in your second paragraph. I was only half serious with my comment, I understand your reasoning but at the same time we Laker fans must never say we don't see them winning !!!

Kobe and Gasol I do believe are and will be a top 5 best 1-2 combo off alltime. Kobe/Shaq Jordan/Pippen Magic/Kareem Stockton/Malone and Kobe/Gasol is right there.

I have to say if everything is perfect we could win 4 but that would have to mean everybody is 100% healthy and we add a player in 2 years or something but stuff happens so I am gonna have to say realistically 2 more titles is about real but at the same time if you look at the competition we really could win 3 more 4 total

And I know alot will change or can change in 3-4 years but our competition looks like right now

Competition for forseable future.

Magic-Carter is 32 (even though with his athletism he might have a 35+ inch vertical forever)
C's-will not be a threat after this year due to age imo
Lebron (were ever he is he is a threat but he might not have a good team)
Spurs-Getting older
Nuggs-Billups is what 33? Without him they are not a threat.
Blazers-the only future competition in the future I can think of.
Thunder-This could be our 2011-2012 comp but way to premmature and for those that laugh at this one Westbrook-Durant-Green maybe no laughing matter in the future of course, not a threat for at least 3 years.

As for our own guys I think Kobe-Odom-Gasol-Artest can all still be at the top or close to the top of there games in 3 years at around ages 32-34. Bynum will also be young and if they add somebody else that is just bonus.

Dexmor wrote:Kobe and Gasol I do believe are and will be a top 5 best 1-2 combo off alltime. Kobe/Shaq Jordan/Pippen Magic/Kareem Stockton/Malone and Kobe/Gasol is right there.

Why are all the best duo's post-70s era? There were some AMAZING 1-2 punches back in the 70s, 60s and hell even in the Mikan era!

People SLEEP on how much help Kobe and Shaq had.
They had Mitch Richmond, Glen Rice, Horce Grant, Brian Shaw, Ron Harper, Samaki Walker and a whole lot of other ring chasers along with Fox, Horry and Fish.

This team though is even deeper. If the Lakers can maneuver a deal (EVEN IF IT BREAKS THE BANK FOR future PICKS and costs us depth) to get a PG of the future then I think this team wins 3 more titles.

That is crazy thinking but the Lakers are built to compete for 6 more years where the Celtics and Spurs are a bit older and the up and coming teams haven't arrived yet. 50% its a stretch but I believe in my team.

If you believe in the front office and the Lakers can trade two 1st round picks, a slew of 2nds, an expiring and a prospect (Brown maybe if he breaks out some) for a team looking to unload salary like the Bulls then the Lakers can be all-time greats. I think Shaq comes back if the Lakers win it all this year for the min and publicity.

And givin the history of P.J and his threepeats, its a very good sign.

Why are all the best duo's post-70s era? There were some AMAZING 1-2 punches back in the 70s, 60s and hell even in the Mikan era!

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Maybe most poeple who are old enough to have watched them aren't here. Before my time.