I wonder if this means that Magic Johnson et al are going to try to bring back Detroit Pistons style basketball to slow down the Warriors the way MJ was slowed down by the Bad Boys. Anyone else read that here?
They, and James, are ready to try something new.
"He wanted this team to be built very differently than the past ones that he played with," Pelinka said. "We did not want to go out and sign specialists, like 'oh, this guy can just shoot.' We wanted tough, two-way players that could defend with a level of toughness and also make shots.
"The road to the NBA championship has to go through the team that won last year. We all know the guys up north have a special group, but one of the ways to attack what they have is with defensive toughness. I think we saw that in the Houston series with some of the players that Houston has," Pelinka continued, and he thinks the Lakers have such players now as well.
"KCP is a tough defender and shooter. Josh Hart has proven to be a pitbull of a defender, and a guy that can make shots. Rondo historically has been a tenacious tough guy. We wanted that mentality, and we identified it. Lance Stephenson, he'll agitate you, he'll get under you, he'll cause you to get out of your game. And he can play in the open court and score at the rim."
Prepare to see hard fouls, I say.
Magic, old school. And not going down without a fight.
We'll see if the league allows. Likely.
They, and James, are ready to try something new.
"He wanted this team to be built very differently than the past ones that he played with," Pelinka said. "We did not want to go out and sign specialists, like 'oh, this guy can just shoot.' We wanted tough, two-way players that could defend with a level of toughness and also make shots.
"The road to the NBA championship has to go through the team that won last year. We all know the guys up north have a special group, but one of the ways to attack what they have is with defensive toughness. I think we saw that in the Houston series with some of the players that Houston has," Pelinka continued, and he thinks the Lakers have such players now as well.
"KCP is a tough defender and shooter. Josh Hart has proven to be a pitbull of a defender, and a guy that can make shots. Rondo historically has been a tenacious tough guy. We wanted that mentality, and we identified it. Lance Stephenson, he'll agitate you, he'll get under you, he'll cause you to get out of your game. And he can play in the open court and score at the rim."
Prepare to see hard fouls, I say.
Magic, old school. And not going down without a fight.
We'll see if the league allows. Likely.