Lakers Bench Mob All But Gone

The scrappy and energetic Bench Mob of the Los Angeles Lakers is all but gone.

A couple seasons ago, when the Lakers starters took a rest near the end of quarters, a young group of subs took the court. Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, Luke Walton, Josh Powell, and DJ Mbenga were all counted on to spell the starters and provide a spark of energy on the offense. The bench never lacked the drive but often was too eager for its own good.

For every high-flying Shannon Brown Dunk or Jordan Farmar fast break lay-up or Sasha Vujacic three-ball, there were ill-advised shots, turnovers, and poor shooting. Fans cheered and groaned at the inconsistency of the Lakers bench.

But in the upcoming season, the Lakers bench is no longer the Bench Mob. Of the players in the group, only Vujacic and Walton are under contract. And Luke Walton will likely be playing very limited minutes because of a sever back injury. Brown is still under contract negotiations, and the rest are going to play elsewhere.

The new bench now features veterans Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Theo Ratliff, plus in all likelihood, rookies Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter. The rookies might get limited tick, but the veterans will take a lion's share of the back-up minutes.

This new crew will not be as energetic as the previous bench teams, but will be tougher on the defensive end and hungry to win a championship of their own. We'll see less of the bonehead plays, but we probably will also see less of the hustle and speedy basketball.

So my hats off to the Lakers' Bench Mob. You had your moments in the regular season and playoffs, excited fans during garbage time, and provided a lot of off-court humor.



Photo: Jordan Farmar (1) splits the defense of Boston's Paul Pierce and Michael Finley (40) for a layup during Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times


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Lakers Bench to The World: Yeah, We're Still Here

Pop quiz: Which of the following statements about the Los Angeles Lakers-Dallas Mavericks game is fictional?

• The leading scorer for the  was somebody who came off the bench.
• Sasha Vujacic shot better behind the three-point arc than the Lakers' starters combined.
• Adam Morrison (yes, Adam Morrison) finished with the same number of points as Pau Gasol, while netting a 100% shooting clip.

If you answered any of the choices, then you're in for a surprise: all of them happened in the Lakers' drubbing of the Mavericks.

I've always been an advocate of inspired play from the Lakers' bench and the game was a beauty. After the starters built a solid lead in the first half, the usually lackadaisical bench protected the lead and even made it bigger. Jordan Farmar, who led the Lakers in scoring for the game, was superb offensively and D.J. Mbenga protected the paint en route to 3 blocks.

If the Lakers' bench played like this every game, there wouldn't be any need for Kobe Bryant heroics in the end game. Of course, a lot of fans won't be happy with that, but give me a dominating Lakers game any day.


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Lakers Frontline Out

Now the Los Angeles Lakers know what 90% of the other NBA teams feel like-- A smallish frontline with no good combo of 7-footers.

Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum will see extended absences due to their respective injuries and both still have no definite return dates as of this writing. Gasol has yet to play this season with a hamstring injury (feared to be torn) and Bynum has a strained elbow he sustained two games ago.

The absence of the two Lakers frontline stalwarts means that Lamar Odom will be seeing time at the center and power forward positions, and Ron Artest will be moonlighting in the 4 position. Of course, Josh Powell and DJ Mbenga will have to say goodbye to the pine for the meantime. While the bench frontline combined for 18 points (8 for 18 shooting), 17 rebounds, and 4 blocks against the Memphis Grizzlies, I'd still prefer to see less of them on a regular basis.

But despite the loss of the talented Gasol and Bynum, the Lakers are 2-0 on games with the two out. The reason? Kobe Bryant.

Kobe has been scoring like a monster and he is shooting a career best 48% from the field in the season so far. His 34.5 points per game is tops in the NBA and his points have come off being the primary offensive option for the Lakers.

The champs will be hard pressed in the next few games without Gasol anf Bynum, but I think they will still keep their winning ways with one weapon the rest of the league doesn't have-- Kobe.


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Lakers Look Good In Season Opener

The Los Angeles Lakers opened the 2009-2010 NBA season with two important things: their championship rings from last season and a win.

The Los Angeles Clippers provided little fight as the Lakers beat them 99-92 at the Staples Center. This cross-town match-up featured a fast start by Lakers, scoring 32 points in the first quarter and forcing the Clippers to 9 turnovers. But like bully toying with little kid, the Lakers let their opponents inch closer in the third quarter only to smother them in the fourth.

Kobe Bryant led the way with 33 points but the focus was on new Laker Ron Artest.Artest had a decent line (10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) but shot poorly at 30%. His game reminds me of a stronger, more aggressive version of Rick Fox as Ron-Ron hounded the Clippers front and back-courts well. His elaborate hairdo also reminds me of another former Laker-- Dennis Rodman.

The Lakers looked really sharp even with Pau Gasol out with an injury. Andrew Bynum (26 points, 13 rebounds) and Lamar Odom (16 points, 13 rebounds) stepped up big time. Take away DJ Mbenga's jump shots and the team's dismal third quarter, the Lakers proved their championship mettle.

Ah, it feels good to be a Laker fan this season opener. :D


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Lakers Survive Clippers Scare

Geez, the Los Angeles Lakers must be bored this time of the season.

The Lakers were up by 19 early in the fourth quarter, but they became listless the rest of the way. This let the Los Angeles Clippers go on a 18-0 burst to cut the lead to one point a couple of minutes left in the game. Thanks to free throws by Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant and a clutch layup by Pau Gasol in the final minute, the Lakers escaped with a 88-85 victory.

The game was supposed to be bench practice for the Lakers as the reserves got extended playing time in the first half. Heck, even DJ Mbenga took a 3-ball attempt! But the Clippers, led by Eric Gordon, Baron Davis, and Fred Jones made a game out of the match and breathed down the Lakers necks. It went down to the last possession and, in true Clippers fashion, Davis clanged an ill-advised off-balance 3 at the buzzer.


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Lakers Sweep Rockets for the Regular Season

The Los Angeles Lakers notched their 60th win of the season with a victory over the Houston Rockets, 93-81.

Reigning NBA MVP Kobe Bryant played facilitator for most of the game, scoring 20 points efficiently and dishing out 7 assists. Pau Gasol led the team with 23 points.

With the win, the Lakers have swept the Rockets for the regular reason in all of their four meetings of the season and have gained ground on the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the NBA (The Lakers now only trail the Cavs by one game). If the Lakers can get the best record, that will be huge for their title chase.

The growing concern for the Lakers now is the poor play of the bench. Only reserve center DJ Mbenga provided a spark off the bench. Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, and Josh Powell all combined for a measly 13 points and shot 18% as a unit. Seeing Luke Walton blow jumpers and Jordan Farmar make defensive lapses really irks me because I've seen these guys play at their best.


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