The NBA Champion Lakers are the expected foe for the Eastern Conference Champions by most every pundit out there.
Here are portions of the lowdown as seen by those who watch them often. Click in to read the whole preview…
Q2: What are the team’s biggest strengths?
A2: As mentioned, the post game has now become a huge weapon for the Lakers. For one, they’re simply bigger, longer, and stronger than you. I mean, Ron Artest is our Small Foward, okay? Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant — already perhaps the most skilled post player in the NBA, pound-for-pound — worked with Hakeen “The Dream” Olajuwon over the summer, and if the first game of the season is any indication, he is looking to his post game more than ever. Even Derek Fisher, fairly large and strong compared to many of the leagues smaller, quicker point guards, will get occasional post-up opportunities.
This means that the entire Lakers starting unit can be a post threat — and that’s with Lamar Odom coming off the bench. This should equate to high points in the paint totals and plenty of drawn fouls.
God, it is good to be hated again.
It’s an oddly comforting thing for Lakers fans when the entire world seems to be passionately wishing for your team to fail, hoping for an earthquake that will break off Los Angeles and dump it in the ocean so that they don’t have to hear about the Lakers again. When the Lakers are hated, you know they are good.
And they are good — very good. Not only did they win the NBA title, they brought back virtually every piece of that team, and made a move to bring in a unique talent (and personality) at another spot. On paper they should be a better team this year — Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant are back to lead, with a more mature supporting cast.
But they also will be a different team.
Two things change the Lakers dynamic this year, meaning they will play at a little slower pace and likely be better on defense.
- Bynum’s Health. As healthy as Bynum may say he is now, his health will always be in question. Can he maintain a full healthy year? If so, then bring it on, Drew. If not, then the Lakers are a little slim up front. That won’t be good enough to win the Larry O’Brien trophy.
- Stars have lots of mileage. Kobe and Pau have racked up tons of mileage over the last two years. Kobe had a summer to recover, which was much needed, but he’s still logged a ton of minutes and he’s 31. Pau played in Eurobasket with Spain this summer and played in the Olympics two summers ago, not to mention trips to the finals the last two seasons. A big part of Phil Jackson’s early season duties will be to make sure Kobe and Pau get their rest. Save them a bit for the playoffs.
- Not as many vets as Celtics. The Celtics have done a great job of assembling a group of experienced players. The Lakers are close to that level, but aren’t at that spot. Their talent levels are very comparable and the Lakers can still beat them, but the C’s are a deeper team overall.
