Gentry: Lakers Are Not Vulnerable

Shapecity · Mar 13, 2010

PHOENIX - Struggles? What struggles?

OK, so maybe the Lakers haven't been as crisp in their play this month as they were in February or January, but really, what's not to like? They're still the team to beat in the Western Conference, according to Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry.

The Lakers are not as vulnerable as some might think, Gentry insisted Friday.

"I don't know if there's any team out there playing that can beat them four out of seven games (in a playoff series)," he said. "I don't know if that's possible. They've got a completely different agenda than what we have. We're trying to get ourselves into the playoffs. They're trying to get themselves ready for a championship run.

"I don't know if vulnerable is the word I would use."
To be sure, the Lakers recently had their share of troubles on the road, including a three-game losing streak going into Friday's game against the Suns. They were swept on a three-game trip to Miami, Charlotte and Orlando earlier this month.

"They haven't closed out a few games," Gentry said, referring to their losses to the Heat in overtime and the Magic in the closing seconds after Kobe Bryant missed a potential tying jump shot.

Charlotte played great against them.

"Even the Toronto game, they struggled in that and once again (Bryant) rescued them (with a last-second jump shot to help the Lakers win Tuesday's game)," Gentry said.

The former Clippers coach, in his second season with the Suns after several years as an assistant, put the Lakers at the top of the heap in the West with everyone else chasing them for conference supremacy.
"At the end of the day, whatever happens in the West is going to go through L.A.," he said. "I mean, Dallas is playing real good right now and they feel good about themselves. Utah's playing great and Oklahoma City is playing real good.

"Denver, I think they have to have K-Mart (Kenyon Martin) back (from an injury) to make a run at (the Lakers). They've played great against (the Lakers). It's a good matchup. For some reason, they match up great against the Lakers.

"I still say whatever happens, you're going to have to win some games in L.A. to get to where you want to go."

In praise of Bryant

Gentry recalled seeing Bryant's first professional game, a summer-league contest between the Lakers and Detroit Pistons at Long Beach State in 1996. Gentry was a member of the Pistons' coaching staff at the time.

"I mean, you could see he was going to be somebody special," Gentry said.

"First of all, he's probably the most intelligent player in the league from the standpoint of knowing all the angles and the game and stuff like that," he added. "He's also a heck of an athlete. He's a great shooter and he can take the ball to the basket."

Pause.

"Other than that, I don't think he's that good," he added.

There were more laughs when a late-arriving reporter jokingly asked: "So, you're talking about Sasha Vujacic, right?"
Click to expand...

Source: Daily News

Mamba · Mar 13, 2010

We're not. We're bored.

Lost One · Mar 13, 2010

This guy is on our nuts. lol

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Gentry: Lakers Are Not Vulnerable

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