It very well was the defense.
Anytime you let their second best player average 25 on 49%(including a 37pt game) you're probably gonna lose.
Dwight is a godsend for their D, don't get me wrong. Still, he can't do everything. He aint superman. Him and Ron still have their hands full out west.
The best players never really struggle against him.
Call me crazy but the Lakers still are far from out of the woods in the West.
Well, you're arguing against most of the thread over two different players, even though multiple people have pointed out the problems in both of your arguments.
Again, LA has better players than Orlando, and Dwight alone made them Top 5 defensively.
LA has better players than Phoenix, Nash made them a top 10 offense.
They are being added to a team that finished 3rd in the west with our best player giving no fucks at 43%, and a top 10, but underutilized PF.
Nash will be the primary ball handler, Dwight will be a defensive anchor, ie the thing he's best in the league at doing. They'll be playing alongside Pau and Kobe, who anchored two teams to 2 rings by themselves before, and in Pau's case, had big fun shitting all over team USA's frontline this past summer.
Saying "oh man, I don't know about their offense", when the pg position has gone from complete liability to defensive sieve, offensive powerhouse, or wondering if D12 can really cover for 2 other guys, when he had to do it for 4 in Orlando is comedy.
Worrying if Kobe will actually dial down his shot selection and happily average 20-22? Sure, easily debatable.
Injuries? Sure, although that's a concern with every team.
Coach? Fuck yes. COTY Mike Brown is always a question mark.
But will Nash and Howard play like themselves? C'mon son.
