Who will be the most important catalyst in the Lakers playoff push?
By Daniel Nicks
April 5, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) moves the ball up court against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Six games.
Prior to the start of the 2012-13 season, if you told us that a combination of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard wouldn’t win a championship, we’d likely have hesitated, taken a collective sigh and ultimately commended you for attempting to put the hype in perspective.
However if you told us that the team would be at the mercy of the Utah Jazz and in jeopardy of missing the playoffs, we – as well as just about every other notable analyst in the nation – would have thought you were either off your rocker or just a Celtics fan.
Yet here were are.
With that, as we cross our fingers until that final regular season tip off in Houston, we want to know who you think the most important player is for the Lakers over the next six games?
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Kobe Bryant and the simple fact he’s Kobe Bryant?
Dwight Howard, will he be able to anchor the defense and knock down free throws? Is he mentally strong enough to handle the pressure?
Steve Nash, with his creativity and ability to stretch the floor?
Pau Gasol, will he continue to find his role and thrive in it?
Mike D’Antoni, will he remember it’s a two-way game or that his star players are all either over thirty or coming off a back surgery?
Are there any role players you think need to step up in a huge way?
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Sound off in the comments and let us know.