I guess that's one way to look at the situation since Bryant has assumed the role as the Lakers' primary facilitator, but a more conclusive view would include the Lakers record over that five game span.
Since Bryant decided it was better to give than receive the Lakers have gone 4-1, and the team has looked more balanced and cohesive than at any other point this season.
Nash has been relegated to the role of a spot up shooter, but is that so horrible considering he is the only other player in the NBA besides Kevin Durant to shoot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three point range and 90 percent from the free throw line?
Freeman insinuates that the Lakers may be suffering since Nash has been deprived of probing opposing defenses with his dribble and creating scoring opportunities with his court vision, but Freeman fails to mention that the Lakers tried that approach and it wasn't working.
Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni had full faith that the Lakers offense would improve and his system would be vindicated once Nash returned from a leg injury that sidelined him earlier in the season, but he was wrong.
Nash could never seem to find a rhythm with big men Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard, and while Bryant was certainly benefiting on offense from Nash's presence it was to the detriment of the team.
Scrapping D'Antoni's flawed system may have been the best thing the Lakers have done so far this season, but putting the ball in Bryant's hands for the majority of the time is a close second.
One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the Lakers in the preseason was how Bryant and Nash would coexist since it was widely assumed that both players needed to dominate the ball in order to b...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
