Los Angeles Lakers
Coach: Phil Jackson, 2nd Season (45-37)
General Manager: Mitch Kupchak
’05-’06 Record: 45-37, 3rd Pacific Division
Postseason: eliminated in Western Conference Quarterfinals; Lost to PHX (4-3)
Projected Starting Lineup (’05-’06 Stats)
PG – Smush Parker (11.5 ppg., 3.3 rpg., 3.7 apg.)
SG – Kobe Bryant (35.4 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 4.5 apg.)
SF – Vladimir Radmanovic (w/LAC: 10.7 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 2.1 apg.)
PF – Lamar Odom (14.8 ppg., 9.2 rpg., 5.5 apg.)
C – Kwame Brown (7.4 ppg., 6.6 rpg., 1.0 apg.)
Key Additions: PF Vladimir Radmanovic (UFA – LAC)
Key Subtractions: SF Devean George (UFA – DAL); SF Jim Jackson (UFA)
2006 NBA Draft
Round 1 – PG Jordan Farmar (26th overall), UCLA
Round 2 – SG Danilo Pinnock (58th overall), George Washington
Positional Breakdowns
Guards
There were times last season when the Laker fans all over the nation were finally able to exhale, slump their shoulders, and say “maybe Smush Parker is the answer at point guard.” Unfortunately, it didn’t happen as much as they probably wanted to. Don’t get me wrong, Parker probably gave the Lakers the best season from a point guard in quite some time. However, there is still room for improvement. Parker allowed himself to get lost sometimes, and with guys like Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom his assist numbers should go up. He’s not the strong personality that the Lakers need to control all of the offensive egos that can get big. With the precise offense that Phil Jackson likes to run, the Lakers need someone who can make smarter decisions when under pressure. Parker also got lost on defense often, something the Lakers cannot have when there is such little room for error. The point guards in the Western Conference, guys like Baron Davis, Tony Parker, and Steve Nash will destroy Parker and create havoc against the Lakers.
There may be no other player in the NBA who is more polarizing than Kobe Bryant. There are only two opinions about him around the league: either you love the guy or you hate the guy. There is no disputing the facts, and the fact is that Kobe Bryant is one of the best players in the history of the NBA. He can score from nearly anywhere inside the half-court line. He will shoot the 3-pointer or bring it inside. He can hit the mid-range shot or take it to the basket with amazing strength and an uncanny ability to make the play needed. He led the NBA with 35.4 points per game and probably could have managed to get that even higher. For all the talk about him being selfish, Bryant is a good fit with the triangle system that Phil Jackson has mastered in the NBA. Bryant will go inside and rebound the ball, and that is something you like to see from someone like Bryant because he has the ability to make a rebound and start a break without having to make an outlet pass. He’s a great defender when he wants to put the effort into it, but he’s been known to lose focus on that end when he’s in duel mode, which is when he wants to match the opposition point by point. He does try to take over the games at the wrong time, something he needs to get a better sense of. Bryant needs to know when his team needs him to be more assertive and aggressive and when to get everyone involved.
The bench is going to need time this year to develop because they are young and will benefit from more time on the court. This is no more evident than with Sasha Vujacic. He’s a good point guard and has the ability to make great plays, but they will be overshadowed by the lapses that he suffers on the court, which happens more often than not. Vujacic is a great shooter that needs to catch a stride in order to stay involved. He has the size and quickness to be a defensive stopper for the Lakers off the bench, something that will earn him more minutes with Phil Jackson. The Lakers also drafted Jordan Farmar from their own backyard at UCLA, but whether or not he’s the answer at point guard long-term is yet to be seen. This preseason has shown him as a timid point guard who is struggling with even the basic basketball decisions. Aaron McKie will give them veteran presence without sacrificing effectiveness on the basketball court.
Forwards
It appears as though Vladimir Radmanovic has the upper hand on Los Angeles’ fan favorite Luke Walton as the starter alongside Lamar Odom as a forward. With these two players, you can interchange their positions on the court. Odom can handle the ball and run the offense, so Radmanovic could play the power forward against teams where the opposing power forward won’t punish them too badly inside. With Radmanovic, the Lakers have a player who can score the basketball and stretch defenses. He will force defenses to guard him anywhere on the court, including following him out to the 3-point line and respecting his ability to play the shot. He’s agile enough to play defense against most small forwards adequately without needing too much help or giving up too much defensively. His rebounding ability isn’t talked about too often, but Radmanovic can mix it up inside and use his size to get some rebounds.
Whether he’s going to be a power forward or a small forward, Lamar Odom has a number of skills all over the court. He can score, he can handle the ball and run the offense, he’ll rebound and play defense; basically, there isn’t anything he can’t do on the court. The main concern you would have with someone like Odom is his drive and his ability to stay consistent in all of these aspects of the game. Sometimes, he disappears in one phase. For instance, he’ll be scoring from all over the court, but he will be having trouble running the offense. Very rarely was he able to get it all together during the season, and it only got worse when the playoffs started. In order for the Lakers to really see some improvement and to be more consistent against the tough division and conference opponents, Odom will need to put it all together for an entire season.
The bench is loaded with roleplayers who can come in and give them specific, measurable contributions when they are on the floor. Take Luke Walton, who’s just a smart basketball player. He knows exactly how to run the offense, how to operate as a piece of the offense, and how to read defensive weaknesses and take what the defenses are giving him. Walton is also an incredible passer who will work to get his teammates great looks at the basket. Brian Cook is a big man who has strength and size, but has a soft shot that can fall from just inside the 3-point line consistently. Cook will also play great defense for them. Ronnie Turiaf, who played sparingly in his rookie season, is pure energy for the Lakers. He will come in and get the crowd going and lift his teammates when they need a spark.
Centers
This will be an interesting position to call for the Lakers. They could go with Chris Mihm, who was playing well before an injury ended his season prematurely, or they could go with Kwame Brown, who took the reins and begun to settle into the top role and had good games in the playoffs. Mihm will probably start the season only because Brown is out with an injury and isn’t available at the open. Brown will most likely be the starter because he’s got more ability and fits the system better. He is an athletic center who can score when he’s feeling it and give you some of the little things that you want: rebounding and a big presence. However, Brown is still maligned by some because of his status as a former first-round pick who hasn’t performed to his expectations. A full season where the Lakers won’t give up on him as the starter will do him good.
Of course, Mihm is still there, so the Lakers won’t be in too much trouble should Brown not come back right away or just not progress any further. Mihm was a solid center for them last season before his injury and is solid no matter if he’s the starter or coming off the bench. Mihm is a good shooter, maybe a bit better than Brown from mid-range, and works harder consistently. You never have to question whether or not he’s giving his all. Don’t forget about 2005 first-round pick Andrew Bynum, who is still working hard to crack the lineup. He’ll have to show more improvement to even sniff some significant time in games, but if the Lakers all do their job he could get some garbage time.
Team Overview
Honestly, I didn’t believe the Lakers would make the playoffs last season. They just don’t have the talent some of the other teams in the conference have. That goes to show you how much the Lakers over-achieved last season, and how much they can improve this season. The playoffs are supposed to be a given for Phil Jackson, but I just don’t know. The teams around them are most likely going to fight for 1 or 2 playoff spots at the most. The top of the conference is mostly set, with the top teams staying put or even getting better.
In the end, the Lakers haven’t really addressed the problems that were plaguing them last season in their mediocre effort in the regular season and the playoff collapse they suffered against the Suns. They still don’t have a point guard that they could be 100% comfortable with, and they really don’t know what to expect from guys like Odom and Brown. If these guys can put it together and maintain that level, then they could be up to match or improve slightly. They just don’t have the talent of the top six or seven teams in the West. They aren’t even the best team in their own town, something that most Laker fans cannot stand to begin with. If Bryant can lead this team, something that seemed to finally show itself until the collapse against the Suns when he disappeared when his team needed him the most, then the Lakers could make a run deep into the playoffs. I just don’t know if the talent is there, and in the end talent has to be present, no matter how hard you are willing to work.
Predictions
Record: 41-41
Leading Scorer: Kobe Bryant
MVP: Kobe Bryant
Postseason: eliminated in Western Conference Quarterfinals
