James Worthy Says Miami Heat Have Edge Over the Los Angeles Lakers

Despite the fact that he draws a paycheck from the Lakers as a television analyst, James Worthy has never shied away from publicly criticizing the team. Worthy also doesn’t mind saying that he thinks another squad is better – the former Laker tells the LA Times that he would give the edge to the defending champion Miami Heat: “Do they have enough to beat Oklahoma City? ‘Oklahoma City is younger. But with Dwight in at the same time with Pau, with Steve Nash, that makes a big difference. Last year, Ramon Sessions was young. Before Howard, the Lakers were second or third in the West. But with getting a 38-year-old point guard that still has some left and bringing in a franchise player, that puts them right back at the top. I don’t think too many people will bet against the Lakers against anybody in the West, assuming they’re a healthy team. But they still have to make it happen.’ What about the Miami Heat? ‘I would have to say Miami still has a little edge simply because they won last year. It will be so much easier for them to win again because they know how to do it. With them adding Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, they have tremendous scorers and three-point shooters off the bench. Then they also have the greatest player in the game with LeBron James. I give them the edge because they’re defending champions.’”