Once the Los Angeles Lakers had successfully acquired Steve Nash and Dwight Howard, there were plenty of different reactions from former and current NBA players. Most players admitted that the Lakers had put together a roster that was arguably the best on paper and without a doubt a perennial title contender if the Lakers’ front office can keep the roster intact after the upcoming season.
In an interview with Tim Kawakami of MercuryNews.com, Andrew Bogut of the division rival Golden State Warriors talked about the Lakers adding Nash and Howard:
“The rich get richer. That’s generally how it is in the NBA. Grown accustomed to it the last five-six years. The rich get richer and the poor have to kind of scrounge and find other role players to fill it in. That’s kind of the way it is.
“They’re obviously going to come out all guns a-blazin’. Obviously Dwight’s not going to be quite ready (at the start of the season), but just having Nash and Kobe together, and throwing Pau in there, that’s a pretty potent roster.”
It’s clear that Bogut is fairly bitter about the Lakers bringing in two more superstars to play alongside Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. The main reason for Bogut’s bitterness towards the Lakers is the fact that he’ll have to face Howard four times a year. Not only will Bogut have his work cut out for him when the Warriors go head-to-head against the Lakers next season and possibly for years to come if Howard re-signs, but Golden State will have little chance to compete for the Pacific division title.
The Warriors may have made some moves to improve the team with the addition of Bogut and promising young talent through the NBA Draft, but they will most likely continue to fall short within the division standings behind the revamped Lakers and an improved Los Angeles Clippers squad.
Golden State may fly under the radar next season with a talented roster including Klay Thompson, David Lee, Carl Landry, Richard Jefferson, Harrison Barnes, Stephen Curry and Bogut, but chances are the Warriors will finish in third place in the Pacific. There’s a chance Golden State can compete for a low seed in the Western Conference if the team is as good as it looks on paper.
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