Sports. Know the score? Contact the editor at sports@theotherpress.ca Too many eggs in one basket Miami Heat formula goes wrong in LA By Josh Martin, Sports Editor hat exactly makes a strong team, and how do you go about getting one? In the world of sports, the chemistry inside the locker room between the players is a complicated matter. Every player has to be on the same page, working together in order to achieve a common goal and win games. If there are too many hotheads that want to take charge then it throws the whole balance off kilter. It divides the team with players listening to one leader rather than the other. Just take a look at the LA Lakers, who are a perfect example of what can go wrong when there are one too many all- stars on the team. This past off- season they acquired superstars Steve Nash and Dwight Howard to join Kobe Bryant in an attempt to throw all these shiny eggs in one basket and be a competitive team that can win championships. It was a similar move to what the Miami Heat did a couple of seasons ago with reeling in LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade down south. The move was an instant success with the Heat advancing to the NBA Finals that very year, losing, and then advancing to the NBA Finals once again in 2012 and taking home the championship—a feat that made General Manager Pat Riley look like a genius and take home the NBA Executive of the Year award in 2011. However with a 25-29 record and a 0.463 winning percentage while sitting in tenth position in the Western Conference through 54 games this season, it’s safe to say that the Lakers haven't had the same luck as the Heat. They had high hopes going into the season with expectations of being a championship contender this year, but instead find themselves in the bottom half of the Western Conference. Perhaps the Lakers’ success is hindered by the lack of chemistry between butting stars Howard and Bryant. During an interview back in January, Howard told reporters, “[Chemistry] is something we have to do to get better. We have to play like we like each other. Even if we don’t want to be friends off the court, whatever that may be, when we step in- between the lines or we step in the locker room or the gym, we have to respect each other and what we bring to the table.” When Howard was out with a shoulder injury, Bryant increased tensions when he publicly stated that the Lakers simply didn’t have time to North by northwest The worst division in the NHL By Elliot Chan, Staff Writer ince the inauguration in 1998, the Northwest Division has only produced one Stanley Cup champion and three Presidents’ Trophy winners. From the glory days of the Colorado Avalanche to the current dominance of the Vancouver Canucks, the great Northwest has always been a one-horse race. Minnesota, Calgary, and Edmonton sneak into the playoffs on several occasions and have been memorable contenders, but the success was temporary. The failures of the division however 20 seem permanent. It is hard to stay optimistic watching each team struggling despite improvements. Edmonton has collected first-round draft picks and has developed a team with a youthful core, but still no notable growth can be seen. Meanwhile, Minnesota went 6G through some dramatic changes adding more of an offensive touch with players like Zach Parise, Dany Heatley, and Devin Setoguchi, but positive results haven't been immediate. For Calgary and Colorado, wait for Howard's shoulder to heal. With this negative comment publicly being said in a basketball-crazed city, it puts Howard in an awkward position with himself and his teammates. It just adds to the drama between the two egos which creates even more of a divide— something that the Miami Heat were lucky to not experience with their three stars. There have even been trade rumours that Howard will be leaving the Lakers to join the Boston Celtics in exchange for Rajon Rondo because of the level of success, or rather the lack of, that he has endeared in LA. Looking at this situation, would it be possible for this to all work out if each player put away their pride? If the players played the game instead of letting their stardom and ego get in the way. Chemistry is what makes the team. Perhaps the Miami Heat just got lucky and the Lakers were on the other side of the looking glass. Regardless, it all comes down to the players, the level of their maturity, and how much passion they have for the game. both are struggling through a period of transition as prominent players like Jarome Iginla and Milan Hejduk are taking on lesser roles in their waning days. There's really no surprise that Vancouver is waltzing through the shortened year with their eyes set on another division title, their sixth in seven seasons. For the fans of Northwest Division teams, patience is a virtue. It is a shame that some of the most passionate supporters of the sport have to suffer with subpar teams. Perhaps there Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, and Pau Gasol | Photo courtesy Matt York/ AP Photo is a greater expectation from proud hockey fans, but the truth of the matter is that the teams just aren’t that good. The way it looks at the moment, Vancouver might be the only team in the division entering the playoffs. There is a slim chance that Edmonton or Minnesota may upset another and sneak in, but It is a shame that some of the most passionate supporters of the sport have to suffer with subpar teams. with the stiff competition in the Western Conference’s bottom eight seeds, the odds are not in their favour. As of the moment, this is good news for Vancouver fans. With the majority of the games against weaker opposition, the Canucks may have the easiest route to the playoffs. Then again, the spoils of having incompetent opponents may hinder their chances come do- or-die games. Teams that often do well in the playoffs are those that feel the pressure of making the post-season. Last year the Los Angeles Kings won the championship as an eighth-seed underdog, so it goes to show that no team cruises to glory. As weak and pathetic as the division looks at the moment, the Northwest have made the Stanley Cup Finals three times in the last 10 years, no better or worse than any of the other divisions in the Western Conference.