By Joe 10E

What will it take to beat the Lakers? The combined skills of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal have dominated the league since the 2000-2001 season. In the 1999-2000 season, they won, but did not dominate. But lets look at today.

To compete with the Lakers, you first need a good point guard. There are more people physically capable of playing point guard than any other position in the league (because there are more people just over 6 foot tall, then the heights necessary for any other position). Think of the list of great/good point guards playing today. Gary Payton, Stephen Marbury, Jason Kid, Andre Miller, Baron Davis, Mike Bibby, Steve Francis, Damon Stoudamire, Steve Nash, John Stockton and up-and-coming players Tony Parker, Jay Williams, and Jamaal Tinsley. It is easier to get a good point guard then any other position.

You need two, strong, guard/small forward defenders. They need to be able to keep up with Kobe. Kobe will still get his 20 or 25, but if you can keep him from getting 30 or 40, you will be as successful as you can be while guarding a player of this caliber. At least one of those players needs to be good on offense. Kobe is a good player, but if you can get him in foul trouble, you need to be able to take advantage of it. Two offensively-strong big men to take it to Shaq and get him in foul trouble. A Shaq on the bench is even less effective then a Shaq with a dysfunctional big toe. These guys also need to be able to hit foul shots. The points will be needed. At least one of these guys needs to be a good defender, but I think that trying to defend Shaq is less effective then making him defend you.

Very few teams have more than one good big guy. While there aren't many good centers around, there are plenty of power forwards that have game. Have them attack Shaq. It's their only hope.

Joe 10E is simply a young basketball fan from Indiana.