Staples 24

I said basically the same thing as you did about the Lopez-Bynum match up in the "Caught in the Web" thread, but yours is much more succinct.

Oh, gotta add to my "life is good" post:

foot us up, lunch is served and "Return of the Dragon" is on G4

JR

Hey,

Back in December, lots of people were whining about how bad the Lakers were and how they lost the home court advantage and could never get it back and how there's no way they could win a championship this season and games in December are VERY important since they send a message and blah de blah de blah.

Granted, most of them were trolls, but a few regular bloggers were indulging in that stuff as well (and even mocking me for being overly optimistic).

So what's the sitch now?

1. Lakers, now with Bynum playing pretty much at full strength have started to look like a more substantial team.

2. Dallas had Nowitzski go out for a few games and slipped back below the Lakers in the standings.

3. Boston had KG go out for a few games and is now only a game ahead of the Lakers in the standings (and KG is still out)

4. Miami had LeBron go out for a few games and lost TO THE CLIPPERS and by 30 points to Denver. And now have the same number of losses as the Lakers.

5. San Antonio, even with Duncan healthy, lost back to back games to the Knicks and Celtics, and slipped back closer to the Lakers.

At this point in time, San Antonio looks like the most serious competitor, but
only if all three of their big 3 stay healthy. Drop Parker, Ginobili or Duncan
out of their lineup, and they're not a serious contender, as we've seen the last
couple of years.

The one game the Lakers faced San Antonio, Bynum was barely back and not really playing up to speed yet. They'll face them 3 more times during the regular season, but WITH Bynum. Should be a different story.

As for the sub-500 teams the Lakers have lost to, Phoenix looks like the worst. Indiana has beaten Miami and Dallas, Memphis has beaten Miami and Dallas, Houston has beaten Boston, and Milwaukee has beaten Orlando and Dallas twice, and they all have wins over lesser playoff teams like Oklahoma City or the Knicks or Charlotte or Atlanta.

And remember that Miami got beat by the Clippers.

Since Bynum has been healthy and starting, the Lakers are 8-1. Granted, only 3 of those wins are versus playoff teams, but they'll really get a chance to prove themselves over the next month. From now until February 14, the Lakers will play 16 games, 11 of which are against playoff teams (including all 3 teams with better records than them).

So, yes, those games in December didn't matter much, and NOW is when the real regular season starts for the Lakers.

Wouldn't surprise me at all to see them gain home court advantage back by the end of February, especially if KG &/or LeBron extends their stay on the injured reserve lists.

Great post LTLF!!!

And Luke will contribute baybee!!!

The Lakers now have a deep frontline of bigs... which was already their strength now everyone getting helathy just got deeper.

Bynum/Gasol/Theo Ratliff/Caracter
Gasol/Odom/Caracter/Joe Smith.

Orlando, Spurs and Miami are thin with their bigs.

Boston's bigs all have injury problems.

Who's going to stop the Lakers!

Only the Lakers chemistry issue themselves, when Kobe plays solo act it hurts his team, while when Kobe plays the facilitator role and killer role in the 4th, nobody can beat the Lakers right!

Kobe is that good, he can choose and test all waters.

LTLF... Excellent recap on the state of the Lakers now versus in December when the worry warts were dithering and blithering. And Plaschke’s opinion that the Lakers should trade Drew to the Nuggets for Melo shows how little he really understands the team dynamics and how valuable a true center is. Aside from breaking my heart, trading Drew for another power forward would be a mistake. All Drew has to do is stay healthy and the Lakers will rule.
...................................
@MAMBA24... Now we know all is right in Lakersville when Larry and Chris are in front doing their thing to make this Lakers blog the best point in the world to search for hungry Lakers fans.
...................................
TOM

@MAMBA24... Now we know all is right in Lakersville when Larry and Chris are in front doing their thing to make this Lakers blog the best point in the world to search for hungry Lakers fans.Posted by: LakerTom | January 14, 2011 at 03:12 PM
*
And now you people know why this man is my idol!!!!! Thank you sir but, quiet as it's kept, I hear some guy named Laker Tom is one of the reasons a lot of us came and remain at Lakers Blog. The most in depth analysis to be found anywhere is found in the writtings of LakerTom. Of course a second reason I remain is the Fabulous Justanothermambafan. But that...is another story! Lol! It's good to be back LakerTom and thanks for caring.

I missed the chat, but I hope people reminded Plaschke of what a jerk he's been.Posted by: Jon K. | January 14, 2011 at 03:26 PM
*
LOL! Jon K on the case as usual!!! Keep them honest my brother!!!!!!