LOS ANGELES LAKERS ROSTER (* PER = Player Efficiency Rating) |
POS |
PLAYER |
HT |
YEAR |
AGE |
PTS |
REB |
AST |
PER* |
G |
MAGIC JOHNSON |
6-8 |
1987 |
27 |
23.9 |
6.3 |
12.2 |
27.0 |
Comment: Regular-season and Finals MVP as Lakers beat Celtics for title; Magic will make sure everyone gets their shots
|
G |
JERRY WEST |
6-2 |
1965 |
26 |
31.0 |
6.0 |
4.9 |
25.0 |
Comment: Pick any of his 10 All-NBA seasons; we'll take '65, when he averaged 40 per game in playoffs; don't forget: he's Mr. Clutch
|
G |
KOBE BRYANT |
6-6 |
2006 |
27 |
35.4 |
5.3 |
4.5 |
28.1 |
Comment: Highest scoring average since MJ in '87, but he may have to come off the bench unless Lakers go with a 3-guard offense
|
G |
GAIL GOODRICH |
6-1 |
1974 |
30 |
25.3 |
3.0 |
5.2 |
18.5 |
Comment: Five-time All-Star with Lakers, was All-NBA 1st-team in '74
|
F |
JAMES WORTHY |
6-9 |
1989 |
27 |
20.5 |
6.0 |
3.6 |
19.0 |
Comment: Was there ever a prettier sight than Worthy taking a Magic pass on the break and gliding in for a dunk?
|
F |
ELGIN BAYLOR |
6-5 |
1963 |
28 |
34.0 |
14.3 |
4.6 |
26.6 |
Comment:
How great was he? Was first or second in PER five straight seasons, including second in '63
|
F |
HAPPY HAIRSTON |
6-7 |
1972 |
29 |
13.1 |
13.1 |
2.4 |
15.7 |
Comment: Never an All-Star, but adds some needed inside muscle and rebounding
|
F |
JAMAAL WILKES |
6-6 |
1981 |
27 |
22.6 |
5.4 |
2.9 |
18.0 |
Comment: They called him Silk because he was so smooth
|
C |
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL |
7-1 |
2000 |
27 |
29.7 |
13.6 |
3.8 |
30.6 |
Comment: His only MVP season was really one of the great individual seasons in history; even made 2nd-team all-D
|
C |
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR |
7-2 |
1977 |
29 |
26/2 |
13.3 |
3.9 |
27.8 |
Comment: People sometimes forget how dominating he was: Led NBA in PER eight different times; MVP in '77 (one of six)
|
SCOUTING REPORT: Four keys for the Lakers against the Bulls: (1) Use size advantage with Shaq and Kareem, trying to get Gilmore into foul trouble; (2) Run at every opportunity, as Bulls will try to play physical; (3) You can't stop Jordan, but at least contain him with different defenders -- West, Bryant, maybe even Baylor; (4) Make Bulls beat you with the 3-point shot.