Season Preview: Los Angeles Lakers

Continuing on my season preview/predictions, we move across to the country to the other coast and take a look at the Los Angeles A team, the Lakers.

Los Angeles Lakers

Starting 5:
PG- Derek Fisher
SG- Kobe Bryant
SF- Vladamir Radmanovic
PF- Pau Gasol
C- Andrew Bynum

Off the bench
Guards: Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Coby Karl
Forwards: Lamar Odom, Trevor Ariza, Luke Walton
Centers: Chris Mihm, Josh Powell

I really don't know if Phil Jackson will use DJ Mbenga or rookie CJ Giles as backup centers after Chris Mihm, I can see him potentially running small ball sliding Pau Gasol over to C sometimes. Anyways, the Lakers finally get their ideal squad together, of course the biggest flaw in the roster remains at the SF position. I believe that Phil Jackson would start Vladamir Radmonovic or Trevor Ariza at the SF position over Lamar Odom, enabling Odom to spend more time where he is most effective, that is, at the PF position, where his rebounding abilities would be put to the best use. He'd be more of an energy 6th man off of the bench, the go to guy in the second squad. Some argue for starting Odom at the SF to have to super long frontcourt, but I don't see that working too well. The ideal player would be someone who can defend (Ariza) and someone who can shoot (Radmanovic), unfortunately Odom isn't really proficient at either (Luke Walton is not the solution), and his rebounding would be greatly wasted, since he'd be chasing slashers and shooters every which way. Additionally, they have something of a shortage of big men after losing Ronny Turiaf to a bloated contract from the Golden State Warriors. Personally, I actually am going to look for Sun Yue to step it up, if he can perform well, like at the Olympics, and perhaps show some defensive tenacity, I can see him being the solution. However until then, they have to live with this. I have always been of the mind to trade Odom for someone that does fit, however, I understand reasons not to. I don't buy into the arguments regarding his length and his talent, on a squad as good as the Lakers it's kind of redundant, however, I do buy that they'd want to wait until they are sure that first, Bynum is back 100%, second, that he's back to where he left off before his injury, and lastly, that the Bynum-Gasol frontcourt works. Until then, Odom is not on the trading block, I can see Odom on the block really soon thereafter though. Perhaps one of those last minute pre-deadline trades.

We can speculate all we want about who would fit, if you want All-Star or near All-Star caliber I could venture to propose Caron Butler, Shawn Marion, Richard Jefferson, Andrei Kirilenko, or Rashard Lewis, I'd even go as far as to say Gerald Wallace (realistically, LeBron or Melo would not work in the situation), however, Lakers don't have the money to throw at these candidates. The ideal candidate would be someone like Bruce Bowen, James Posey, Shane Battier, or Tayshaun Prince, none of which, I believe, would be available. It's true that they need someone to slow down the Paul Pierce's, because you can't really expect Kobe to guard him, be the number 1 scoring option, and not get in foul trouble, that's what Paul Pierce is good at, getting people in foul trouble and getting free throws. However, I think any sort of defensive effort somewhat better than what Radmanovic puts on the floor in a player that has a decent shot should work, something like a Martell Webster, James Jones, or even like a healthy Quentin Richardson would all work out (Al Harrington might be interesting to see but that'd never happen). However, until then, I'm going to put my money on Sun Yue stepping up.

Anyways as the roster is currently constructed, and with Kobe happy being back within striking distance of a championship, the Lakers are, I think, the favorites. I know, I know, the Celtics are the champions, and honestly, I think that the star level talent in Boston (Garnett, Pierce, Allen) are better than the star level talent in LA (Bryant, Gasol, maybe Odom, Bynum is yet to be seen), however, I think overall as a team, that the Lakers are harder to stop, and just overall better, kudos to Phil Jackson and his emphasis on team passing. That being said, the team is still a little soft defensively, and they don't really have a stopper since Kobe has to focus on offense. Don't get me wrong, they're a longshot from being run-and-gun Denver, Phoenix, or Golden State level defense, but they are by no means the team stopping, tempo controlling, offense stifling Boston or San Antonio either. However, if the team plays it all right, according to Phil Jackson's triangle offense then they are nigh unstoppable. There is I suppose the issue of Kobe's pinky, but Mamba says it's ok. This will either be the greatest let down mid-season (like Dwayne Wade's knee and shoulder last season) or Mamba is right, and it's ok. Fortunately for all you Laker fans, it's only his pinky, hopefully he doesn't aggravate it.

Another successful season, easily top seed in the West, but it'll be close. 60 win season, and like perhaps the top 6 seeds in the West, a good chance for the Finals.

EDIT: So I read somewhere that Sun Yue will be playing the D-League. So... yeah, maybe he's not the answer, but hey, here's hoping he gets called up and is a stud.