Laker legend and current Time Warner Cable SportsNet analyst James Worthy talked this morning about the upcoming season and what he’s expecting from the Lakers. It’s been a busy off-season in Los Angeles, and the team seems reloaded and ready to make a run at the NBA Finals next season.
The acquisition of Dwight Howard was certainly the biggest story of the summer in the NBA, but Worthy thinks another Laker move will have the greater impact next season.
“I think my favorite move of the the summer was Professor Steve Nash. Yes, he’s 38 years-old, but we haven’t had a point guard like that since Magic (Johnson). He’s so vital at that position and he can make everyone better.”
There’s no question Nash brings a new dimension to the team that was previously nonexistent. Howard is certainly an upgrade over Andrew Bynum, but won’t have nearly as much of an impact as Nash will compared to the Ramon Sessions/Derek Fisher combination the team used last season.
But Worthy knows that a lot of the team’s success will come down to whether or not Kobe Bryant is willing to defer to Nash, especially with the game on the line.
“The key is going to be if Kobe can defer to Steve Nash and let Steve run the show. If he wants that sixth championship he’s going to have to let Steve Nash do his job.”
Nash and Howard will both play major roles on the Lakers next season, and their additions have fans in Los Angeles already talking about multiple championships. Whether these expectations are fair or not, Worthy knows it comes with the territory.
“They look really good on paper, but so does a counterfeit 100 dollar bill until you try to spend it.”
Indeed.
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