This Laker squad was widely regarded as the deepest team in the NBA during the 1997-98 season, which featured Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, Rick Fox, Robert Horry and Shaquille O'Neal in the team's staring lineup while Kobe Bryant (then only 19 years old, who was a scorer off the benchbut not yet the super star he would become), Derek Fisher, Elden Campbell on the bench with Mario Bennett, Jon Barry (who as not in the playing rotation) and Sean Rooks as the seldom used reserves and coached by Del Harris. Late in the season, Derek Fisher was moved into the starting lineup and Nick Van Exel came off the bench. This team was indeed talented---as after it had beaten Portland in the first round and losing the first game of its series with Seattle, went on a roll by winning four streak and seemed to be on its way to a Finals match up with the Chicago Bulls-- but lacked strong team chemistry and did not always seem to know how to "win" like the Showtime Lakers of the 80's did and and was swept by the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference Finals. This time may be closer to a 4.5 but I will rate them as a 5 because of its talent.
