With the Los Angeles Lakers reloading their roster by adding Steve Nash and Dwight Howard into the mix, the debate has developed about the team's chances of contending for a title next season and beyond.
Former Lakers forward Robert Horry knows a few things about winning a title. Before calling it a career in 2008, "Big Shot Rob" won a total of seven NBA titles during his time with the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonia Spurs.
Even though he left the Lakers and went on to play for the rival Spurs, Horry is considered one of the Lakers' key contributors during the three straight titles won with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant running the show.
Horry put his two cents about his former team's new additions according to Shreyas Sharma of IndiaToday.in:
"I don't think the Lakers are going to be in the NBA Finals, despite Howard and Nash. To go deep into the play-offs, you need a strong bench, not just a great starting line-up. I still believe (last year's runner-up) Oklahoma City Thunder are the favourites in the Western Conference, and (champions) Miami of course have just gotten stronger with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis.
You pick up history and you'll see the bench that outplays its opponents usually wins," Horry told Mail Today.
Horry is only one of many former players to voice their opinion about the new-look Lakers. Horry makes a valid point that the Lakers may struggle next season to build some chemistry and might find their bench to be weaker than anticipated.
The additions of Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks were definitely steps in the right direction for the Lakers this summer, and re-signing Jordan Hill was crucial as a backup for Howard and Pau Gasol in the frontcourt.
Leandro Barbosa remains a possibility for Los Angeles as the Brazilian recently mentioned that he's still in talks with the team, but it's uncertain whether or not the Lakers' front office is willing to bring in another player before next season.
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