Some items, including an NBA forecast, to chew on
First, the latest installment of ESPN's preseason NBA forecasts. The latest topic? Who takes the crown come June 2009? The most prevalent answer? Your Lakers of Los Angeles. Of the 25 analysts polled, a dozen picked the Lakers, with New Orleans next closest at half a dozen picks and Boston inducing four folks into thinking "repeat." As one might expect, the common question marks cited are Andrew Bynum's health and ability to mesh with Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, plus the durability of Kobe's pinkie. But even taking those issues into account, September confidence in the Lakers is all swole up.
One potential stumbling block not cited by the ESPN crew would be Ronny Turiaf's defection to Golden State. But in the mind of Hoopsworld's Bill
Ingram, Martinque's Favorite Son will be greatly missed,
particularly because of a toughness void not filled by Josh Powell, whom Ingram doesn't see in the same
talent-sphere as Turiaf. While I
agree that Powell isn't as good
as the continually improving Turiaf (and if nothing else, unless he's put on some muscle,
would be WAY undersized filling in at center), I think Ronny's absence
will only really be felt in the locker room- dude is an original- and if the bigs struggle stay healthy. Mind you, the latter ain't out of the question, what with Bynum and Chris Mihm still in a "see to be believed" mode and Odom's injury history. But assuming everyone's in the pink, Bynum, Gasol and LO will get the
overwhelming majority of frontcourt minutes, with just scraps left for Turiaf. And yes, Gasol did get pushed around at times against Boston and the playoffs in general, but I also think Ingram isn't giving him enough credit for what was often very good defense against Carlos Boozer, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. And with Bynum back, El Spaniard will give up size and weight less often. All things being equal (or ideal), the Lakers should be fine, if perhaps less fun, without Turiaf.
Health update: Janis Carr of the O.C. Register caught up with Luke Walton, who's counting down the days before Wednesday's theoretical medical clearance to resume more strenuous post-ankle surgery work. For now, the ankle's weakness has limited him to stuff like running in the Lakers' space age treadmill, which certainly isn't the same as the five on five he's been enviously watched his teammates play. He's gunning to be ready come training camp and eventually rebound from a season deemed fairly lousy by the blogosphere, especially as the playoffs advanced. It's an assessment Walton won't dispute, and I imagine that he's aware that without some serious improvement, a burial behind Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom and- at times- Kobe Bryant at small forward may await. If nothing else, I'm aware of it. But he can't improve unless he's fully recovered, which he's working hard to make happen.
And finally, a quick heads up that the Lakers signed Brandon Heath,
he of SDSU fame. A few of y'all have asked me about him and I vaguely
remember his Aztec playing days, although not nearly well enough to
provide any insight. Nor do I consider these lack of details a detriment to our readership, because unless Ariza has enough front office pull to get a former high school teammate signed, I doubt
he's got any real chance of making the team.
AK
Pig,
Peace. It's been a long week for me which is partly why I was so defensive. No disrespect intended by the pig comments. Just another frustrated Obama fan.
We both want same thing. Lakers to rule and the Era of the Beast. I do admit that I can go overboard, especially if you don't realize that I am just trying to express my gut hunches about Sun Yue. I doubt he will actually become a star or superstar but he does have a chance because of his unique ball handling ability for a guy that tall and long.
I am the first to admit that he could easily be a bust but I also have confidence in the Lakers picks and think they have great potential in Sun. You went out on a limb same as I did for Drew when others questioned whether he would ever become a player. My sense of Sun Yue is very much like my sense of Drew was during his first year but at a different level. I think we will see some hints that will be very promising for Sun. Maybe I'll be right or maybe I'll be wrong. I have been both before. My prediction is that he could be a starter at point on the Lakers, not that he is going to be a star or superstar. Had he been in the draft after his performance in the Olympics, I think Sun would have been a mid-first round pick - much higher than early second round. And perhaps a marketing coup.
Go, Lakers.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | September 12, 2008 at 09:41 PM
Ex ...well hopefully Bynum realises tha.You're right but stranger things have happened.Heres to a drama free season and some chenistry!
Posted by: Kiwi | September 13, 2008 at 09:44 AM
thekobebryantblitz,
"Like you said, the Preseason is when we shall see how the backups peform."
That's all that matters to me, that you agree with my main point.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 13, 2008 at 09:58 AM
JustaLakerFan,
I don't want to get into yours and AK's argument, but I want to say this. If we were depending on the likes of Mbenga and Newble to swing the Finals in our favor think about how deep into the doo doo we must have been.
Mbenga and Newble! lol
Posted by: Xodus | September 11, 2008 at 05:23 PM
===================================
Xodus,
No problem. I think the blog is here so anybody can give an opinion.
But yes the fact remains we were deep into the doo doo and I belive Mbenga and Ira would have helped in spurts because the guys in front of them were injured and not 100%. That means in deep doo doo.
TA was just back and out of sinc and not fully healed and Luke was sucking the floor up probably do to his injuries, to give him the benefit of the doubt. Mihm before Mbenga. Please Mihm has not played basically for 2 years and probably still had mental reservations as to if the foot would hold up. Mbenga played and did contribute through out the end of season and playoff series against Denver.
But as AK and I agree to disagree and that is what we did. You can too or we can debate our views as you wish.
Thanks
JLF
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | September 14, 2008 at 09:07 PM
Let me get into inventories, as sales people we're fond of putting a T-Account weighing Assets and Liabilities:
Who are the players coming out from injuries?
Mihm
Bynum
Ariza
Who are the players who were injured, but continued playing in the playoffs?
Kobe
Walton
Who left the Lakers?
Turiaf
Newble
Who are the incoming Lakers who were not here at the start of the season?
Gasol
Ariza
Yue
Mitchell
Crawford
Powell
Heath
Who are the reserve last year still in the roster?
Karl
Mbenga
Who are the starters and possible 2nd stringers?
Fisher/Farmar
Kobe/Sasha
Lamar/Ariza
Gasol/Vladrad
Bynum/Mihm
Conclusion: Lakers are favored to win it all this year. My hunch is ambivalence. I say "not yet sure" until they gel as an effective working unit. They have to pass a series of tests in the preseason and at the start of the season with the top 5 contenders in the West. Perhaps, by December we have an idea where we will be in June. The other side, it is a "yes", based on the presence of the triumvirate namely: Kobe, Bynum and Gasol. By name recognition and the supporting cast, we won the Championship on paper or theoretically. Now let's apply theory and convert them into reality.
It is hard to predict a perfect chemistry or a perfect storm at category 5 b/c there are 7 players who were not w/ Lakers at the beginning of the season or preseason matching it with three players who are coming from injury or shall we say 2 b/c Ariza is part of the seven that were previously mentioned. Somehow, you want all these parts work together in unison just like the concept of how the wheel turns. It is propelled by ball joints, bearings, axle, electric/battery, fuel and they all function in unison to make the car run smoothly. Therefore, let the preseason begins and start the elimination who will be the permanent 12, the reserve 3 and the remaining inventory in the minor team Lakers. It would be great if Lakers will pay those who are in the minor line up so we don't have to pick up other players at the end of the season.
Now what happens to Turiaf loss. Well, we lost the energizer and camaraderie enhacer on the bench. As a player, he is full enthusiasm in blocking shots. However, he is not athletic enough to make good decisions in handling the ball, he blocked shot but never got the rebound. Sometimes, he relies on the starters and seldom did we see Ron made lay ups when Kobe or Gasol were double teamed. We will miss his defense but in point production, I believe the incoming Lakers can fill up that void.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | September 11, 2008 at 09:41 PM
===================================
Good post but now additional twist. Mbenga still not signed and his presence is still needed imho as I don't know if Mihm is back healthy and in his last year.
Also Lakers signed CJ Giles 6'11'' forward. I don't know much about him except what I read that he played for Oregan.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | September 14, 2008 at 09:27 PM
SHACK WILL LEAVE WITH 6 RINGS
Oh yes.
Posted by: BUTLER | September 11, 2008 at 10:59 PM
=============================
Laker Nation,
I have to agree with the troll on this one.
1) 4 championship rings
2) 1 wedding ringe saved by crawling back to Shauna.
3) 1 retirement ring when booted out of NBA
Total 6 rings.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | September 14, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Aloha Laker Tom,
You said basically what I have been saying since the finals, Andrew changes every match up. and with Pau, who will be able to guard him straight up? during the regular season, KG played a one man zone and doubled him, but with Pau, KG will have to stay at home. Not only will Andrew take another big step because of fewer double teams but Pau really could get an all star nod this year. He will finally be playing his natural position, against smaller guys. and if he does have a problem with an undersized PF like say David West, we have Lamar to step in, who played very well against West and players like him. I cant see a team that will have an answer for all of the match ups we can throw out there.
MH
Posted by: michael h | September 12, 2008 at 12:25 AM
==================================
MH
I agree completely with this.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | September 14, 2008 at 09:38 PM
Here's a videod of Drew's last game before his injury.
http://tinyurl.com/0
We have a lot to look forward to this summer.
Posted by: Xodus | September 12, 2008 at 07:27 AM
====================
Xodus,
This link did not work but I have seen it before. It was against Phx if I remember right and Drew was 8 for 8 at the time he slammed on Amare.
Thanks for the nice memory.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | September 14, 2008 at 09:43 PM
Lakers_sth,
you wrote: Last year, nobody knew that Farmar and Bynum would come out of the off-season so much better than they were the previous season. So let's see who really stepped up their work this off-season and comes into camp a level above where they were before. And let's pray everyone stays healthy.
my response: Didn't all the people who said "No" to Bynum
for J-Kidd know how good Bynum would be? What about
the people who argued that Farmar should start instead
of Smush two years ago?
Posted by: hobbitmage | September 12, 2008 at 07:32 AM
============================
I sure did see AB progressing as he did each year. No surprise for me.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | September 14, 2008 at 09:46 PM
S.I.
>>>Jordan just has too many individual accomplishments
>>>that seperate him from Kobe,
If Kobe were to retire today, that is entirely true. But you seem
to neglect the fact that Kobe is in his prime and still will be
for at least 3 or 4 more years. If he pulls off a couple more
championships, a couple more MVPs, a 100 point game,
a 73 win season, and other malarkey like that, then even
the staunchest Jordan worshipers will have to admit that
it would be worthy of discussion whether Kobe or Jordan
was better.
Honestly, I don't think Kobe can catch him, but I admit there
is still the possibility.
>>>the 5 mvp's,
Kobe probably won't equal that. I could see him getting
up to 2 or 3 though.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | September 12, 2008 at 08:47 AM
===============================
LTLF
I see the point you are making but have to disagree on its premise.
Because JF had more MVPs for instance is illogical.
Kobe was hands down the best plyer in the NBA the last 5-6 years and Nash got 2 MVPs over Kobe is a complete farce. So to say MJ got more MVPs thus is better is not a valid point.
I could go on but will rest my point on that.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | September 14, 2008 at 09:54 PM
The Big Homicidal screams, "PAY ME!!!!"
http://tinyurl.com/4r342p
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | September 12, 2008 at 02:30 PM
============================
Jon K
Ah memories. If I remember correctly Shaq was playing lousey in the preseason and then he dunked on a second or third stringer when he ran down the court yelling Pay Me.
Thanks for the laugh.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | September 14, 2008 at 10:14 PM