<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LOS ANGELES ? One of Kevin Garnett's recent complaints about his dead-end existence in Minnesota was that the Timberwolves have been unable to identify their core - the players who, with Garnett, are the team's foundation. For the Lakers, a look at the salary list shows that, besides Kobe Bryant, there are only two players with guaranteed contracts for two seasons beyond this one - and they are the highest-paid on the team this season after Bryant. The Lakers' core is Bryant, Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown, and if the team is to make a mark in the upcoming playoffs, Odom and Brown must continue to be consistent standouts. Brown has made a quantum leap since being thrust into the role of starting center, when Chris Mihm sprained his ankle March 12. That changed the scope of Brown's existence because Coach Phil Jackson did not have a plan for giving Brown such an opportunity at the center position, a spot where Jackson now acknowledges Brown is "much more comfortable" than at power forward. Brown said he viewed the opportunity more in terms of helping a team that had been getting a lot from Mihm than asserting himself individually. "I just tried to turn a negative into a positive by not having a letdown for the team," Brown said. Brown was given the security of the third year of his contract being guaranteed after the Lakers saw Yao Ming and Amare Stoudemire sign contract extensions to preclude becoming 2007 free agents. "It's something that I figured I had to earn by playing," Brown said of his contract guarantee. "But I guess it happened early because of the two guys getting signed. It just means I can lock in and be a little more focused."</div> Source
I really reall hope lamar and kwame can carry their great play into the playoffs so we can trade for garnett with whatever slim chance we might have. I have no faith in lamar continuing his good play for any considerable amount of time. He's another one of those players whose name goes hand in hand with "potential" and "consistency" and I believe it will go on like this till he retires. Lamar will forever be a player we wish we saw that last season with the heat. And he'l show up sometimes, but not enough. Kwame I also don't have much faith in. He has a bit more hope than lamar but he sure has shown up at a time he has no competition hasn't he? Mihm goes down so now he can play without worry about being pulled at the first mistake. Maybe this has built his confidence up enough so that he doesn't revert to his clumsy old self when mihm returns. Who knows. I'd rather get garnett who I know we can count on than hold on to all this wishful thinking.
Our playoff success is in Lamar and Kwame's hands. But, I think Luke has to move the ball effectively for us to have great success.
If Lamar can be more of a threat offensively and if Kwame can keep this high level of play that I've seen from him lately up, I think the Lakers could have a good run in the playoffs this year, and next year they should be even better.
