Magic Johnson Wants Kobe, Gasol and Bynum to Step-Up

The Los Angeles Lakers lost their first pre-season game to cross town rival Clippers, and some people are beginning to say that the throne to L.A. is changing positions. Nevertheless, last night’s game was an exhibition and until the Clippers get more playoff wins and titles than the Lakers, L.A. will still be a Laker city.

Laker great Magic Johnson still worries about the Lakers and wants the stars to carry the team this season. Johnson says Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum must have stellar seasons for the Lakers to go deep in the playoffs, writes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times.

“What Kobe has to look to now is look to get Bynum and Gasol going,” Johnson said Tuesday in a conference call with reporters. “He’s going to need help, especially this season more than any season for them to be really one of the best teams win a championship. Those two guys have got to have banner years.”

Kobe Bryant will always be ready for the season, but he needs help from his teammates if the Lakers want to win their 17th NBA championship in franchise history.

Gasol and Bynum did not perform well in the 2011 playoffs, and thus the Lakers were swept out of the second round by the Dallas Mavericks. Kobe cannot single handily win a title, a single player can win games, but never four playoff series.