Both the Lakers and Sixers badly need a shot in the arm. If the regular season ended today, Los Angeles wouldn’t make it to the playoffs despite winning their last five outings.
The Lakers are 10 1/2 games behind pacesetting Sacramento in the Pacific Division while the Sixers trail New Jersey by seven in the Atlantic. Neither club has much of a chance to top their divisions. The balance of power has clearly shifted in the league.
Philadelphia is running fifth in the Eastern Conference but Orlando, New Orleans, Washington and Milwaukee aren’t far behind in the race. The Sixers recently ended a six-game losing skid but the 108-107 win over New Jersey was far from convincing. Coach Larry Brown has shaken up his starting lineup to find a consistent combination but Iverson, struggling for form, isn’t doing his share.
The Sixers live and die with Iverson, their ultimate go-to guy. But at six-foot flat, Iverson just isn’t as potent when he’s doubled by players much taller and much bigger. Philadelphia’s lack of a post threat to invite the double makes it easier for defenders to clamp down on the scrawny Iverson. For Iverson to play to his full potential, he’s got to be paired with a dominant big man like a Shaquille O’Neal. Imagine a two-man strong side game anchored on Shaq and Iverson.
The Lakers tried to make do without O’Neal early this season and the result was disastrous. Los Angeles got off to a 3-9 start until O’Neal laced up his sneakers. The Lakers are still below .500 but they’re slowly working their way up. How far they’ll climb is anybody’s guess, considering that Western powers like Sacramento and Dallas don’t look like they’re ready to capitulate.
A wake-up call is what will rouse the Lakers and the Sixers from their stupor. And what could be more jolting than a deal involving the teams’ leading scorers?
Consider these 10 reasons why the deal is a matchmaker’s dream:
• Bryant and Iverson are averaging almost identical numbers, about 27 points a game. They’re neck-to-neck in the scoring ladder behind Tracy McGrady. They’re both natural offguards although the 6-7 Bryant has the ability to play the three and the six-foot Iverson could slide to the point. Together, they entered the league in 1996. Bryant is 24 and Iverson, 27. From stats alone, it looks like an even trade.
• Imagine a Finals rematch between the Lakers and the Sixers who squared off two years ago. If the teams swap leading scorers, the drama would be gripping. Iverson in L.A. purple and Bryant in Philly blue will light up the NBA like sparks from a rocket. The human angle of the confrontation will build emotions to a high. The Finals will recall the rivalry between Magic and Bird.
• Bryant is perfect for Philly. He’s a local boy and his father Jellybean Joe used to play for the Sixers. Joe wore No. 23 for Philly. Curiously, that’s also Michael Jordan’s number and you know whom Bryant idolizes. "Kobe’s game is all Philly," said Philadelphia Magazine (August 2002), "because he works his ass off." In his rookie year, Bryant brought former Sixers strength and conditioning coach Joe Carbone to L.A. so they could work out together. Kobe’s more a fit in the city of Brotherly Love because of his quiet ways than in glamorous La-La Land.
• Iverson is perfect for Los Angeles. The Answer is flamboyant and colorful. The tattoos all over his body are a welcome sight for Los Angeles’ glitzy finger-snappers. Besides, Iverson has grown to dislike Philadelphia. He felt he was maligned by the Philly press during his gun-toting, wife-searching adventure last year. With his wild ways, Iverson would be more acceptable by the tolerant L.A. fans. Iverson seems to have worn out his welcome at Philly. He’s openly waged war against Brown on practice procedures and he’s maturing backwards.
• Iverson needs a Shaq to survive. Without a dominant big man, Iverson will be an easy target for double and triple teams. He doesn’t have the height to see beyond outstretched arms and that’s why he has difficulty passing off pressure. With Shaq drawing the double, the Big Aristotle will look for Iverson to kick out to. And there’s no quicker player to escape the defense without the ball.
• At L.A., Bryant will never emerge as the Lakers top dog. The last three years, Shaq was voted MVP of the Finals even as it’s widely accepted L.A. couldn’t have won without Bryant. When Shaq sat out the first 12 games of the season, Bryant tried to carry the Lakers on his back and didn’t go far. If Bryant hopes to someday become a Finals MVP, he’s got to move to another home–Philadelphia is waiting.
• Philly is crying out for a big guard. The Sixers backcourt is woefully undersized. Eric Snow and Iverson are no match for the league’s big guards. Aaron McKie comes off the bench but he’s only 6-5. Reserve Kenny Satterfield is 6-2. John Salmons has size at 6-7 and unfortunately, nothing much more. With Bryant in the equation, the Sixers automatically get bigger.
• If Iverson plays for the Lakers, Jackson can use Derek Fisher as a sixth man and bring in either 6-6 Kareem Rush or 6-7 Rick Fox to play the other guard spot. With Iverson in the mix, Jackson has instant flexibility to rotate his role players. Brian Shaw could come off the bench for either Iverson or the other starting guard.
• The fans will love it. Bryant was booed by Philly fans at the NBA All-Star Game last year because he once swore to cut Iverson’s heart out before a faceoff. But that’s all forgotten. Iverson has a hot-and-cold relationship with the local fans who’d rather idolize homegrown Bryant. At L.A., there’s no doubt that fans will roll out the red carpet for Iverson and his cornrows.
• Bryant and O’Neal are on a collision course. Despite the denials, there’s bad blood brewing between the celebrated teammates. Bryant has publicly scored O’Neal for his lack of work ethic and O’Neal has privately lashed out at Bryant for trying to play hero with the game on the line. Sooner or later, the volcano will erupt. Jackson seems helpless in averting a blowup.
The Lakers and the Sixers can’t go on like they’re expecting an overnight turnaround. The opposition is tougher. The road to the top is rockier. Unless Jackson and Brown do something radical, don’t expect either Los Angeles or Philadelphia to be back in the Finals this June.