While all the Lakers fans have gone (predictably) giddy and envision another parade down Figueroa in the summer, one man from a Western Conference rival is not convinced that the purple-and-gold are a lock to make the Finals in 2013. Mark Cuban, no stranger to controversial statements, says he’s not sure the Lakers squad is all on the same page, and pointed to Los Angeles’ failed 2004 team as an example.
“The Lakers have done this before. Gary Payton and Karl Malone and Kobe and Shaq were all together, and it didn’t work,” Cuban said Monday, referring to the 2003-04 Lakers, who lost in the Finals, when introducing his team’s acquisitions to the media and season-ticket holders. “It takes great chemistry. … It takes guys wanting to be there. I don’t know if all their guys want to be there.
“Look, they’re going to have a great team, but I remember when we made our run, we weren’t supposed to win any series. Remember the Lakers were the defending champs, and we swept them and they had everybody back.”
