Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh; this isn't a video game, but reality.
The Miami Heat are America's new bandwagon franchise, and everyone's jumping on. Well, everyone except the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers aren't impressed, not even a little. In fact, any NBA fan remembers the 2003 NBA season knows that Miami's Big Three pales in comparison to a group of four who settled in Hollywood that offseason.
Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant failed to continue their three-peat in 2002 as Tim Duncan and San Antonio Spurs ended the Lakers dominance and won the NBA Finals in six games over the Jason Kidd led New Jersey Nets.
The Lakers grew accustom to finishing the season with a parade, and they weren't about to take a two year vacation from the winner's circle.
That offseason, future Hall-of-Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton signed one year deals with the Lakers. Neither had ever won a ring and teaming up with Shaq and Kobe appeared to be the path of least resistance.
Fans may be quick to say Malone and Payton came to the Lakers well past their prime and were expected to be nothing more than role players playing side-kick to Shaq and Kobe.
Don't be fooled by the fact Malone prepared to enter his 19th season in the league while Payton readied for his 15th that summer.
Both of them averaged over 20 points a game the season before they wore purple and gold.
If the Miami Heat fans want to play the name game, beat this:
Adding up O'Neal, Bryant, Malone, and Payton's scoring numbers from the year before they joined forces, the total comes to 98.5 points per game.
Wade, James, Bosh, and the Heat's projected starter at point g...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
