NBA Season to Start on Christmas Day

Folks wanting to see Kobe Byrant wearing a Los Angeles Lakers jersey this year instead of the exhibition threads will finally get their wish-- the NBA lockout is all but finished.

After five months of seeing no NBA, this is huge for the fans. I personally want to see how this season will play out after the Lakers were edged by the Dallas Mavericks in the last playoffs. Will Kobe get his sixth NBA championship? Will Pau Gasol erase the bad memories he planted on fans in the 2011 playoffs? Will Andrew Bynum be an All-Star? Will Mike Brown be a good replacement for Phil Jackson?

And then there's Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest). Is there anything cooler than seeing "World Peace" in a basketball jersey?

Whatever the answer to those questions, they will all unfold on Christmas Day 2011.


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Weak 4th Quarter Doomed Lakers in Game 1 vs. Mavs

The Los Angeles Lakers as chokers? Choking has not been a work associated with the Lakers and this is bad time to attract that label.

The Lakers lost against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of their second round match-up because the couldn't close. It's as simple as that.

Whether it's Kobe Bryant's missed three in the dying seconds, the careless fouls that led to Dirk Nowitzki shooting freebies, or the costly turnovers that let the door open for the Mavs in the final minute. These make a good study for closing games in a weak manner.

As a fan, I was expecting the Lakers to learn from their mistakes against the New Orleans Hornets in the previous series. The team did play well in the first thirty minutes of the game and were on their way to a comfy home win but the lead crumbled. By the time the fourth quarter started, momentum had shifted to the Mavs.

In the final quarter, the Lakers only managed 16 points on seven field goals. Seven! This output is the worst fourth quarter the Lakers have had in the 2011 NBA playoffs. Someone kick me in the shin right now.

But this is still a seven-game series. The Lakers have more opportunities to give Andrew Bynum more involvement in the offense, put Ron Artest back into the flow, and Pau Gasol to find his spine back.


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LA Lakers-Dallas Mavericks Match-up Preview

Image via Wikipedia

I'm very much looking forward to the second round match-up of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Playoffs. Why? Mainly because it the Mavs are a team that the Lakers haven't met in their previous championship runs.

But how do the teams stack up against each other? Here are my key points for the playoff series:

• Mavs must pick their poison in defending Kobe - Kobe Bryant has had success against the Mavs in the past and this series will continue that trend. In the perimeter defensive roles, Dallas can throw Jason Kidd, DeShawn Stevenson, and Shawn Marion to defend Kobe. The Matrix can probably make it hard for Kobe, but that means leaving Ron Artest against smaller defenders inside. In the Hornets series, Artest showed that he can produce in the paint.
• Dirk will prowl the perimeter - Did you see how Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol crowd the lane in the Hornets series? The same will happen in this round and this means that Mavs All-Star Dirk Nowitzki will dwell in the perimeter to get his baskets.
• Sixth Man battles - The series also features two of the last three winners of the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award: Lamar Odom of the Lakers and Jason Terry of the Mavericks. While both have different playing styles, each of them are expected to bring offensive spark off the bench. Which sixth man will help his team more?
• Euro Big Men - I'm also looking forward to the match-up of the two best European players in the league right now: Gasol and Nowtizki. I expect Pau to cover Dirk a few times in the game (I expect Odom to defend Dirk from the outside). Looking at the NBA Statscube, Dirk has struggled a bit when Pau Gasol is on the floor.
• Mark Cuban versus Phil Jackson - Apart from the battles that will be fought on the basketball court, I'm expecting some zinging happening outside. The outspoken owner of the Mavs has history against the Lakers coach and I'm sure we'll read a lot of quotables from the two.

If the Lakers continue to play solid defense and make it hard on the Dirk Nowitzki it will be a short series. As I've mentioned in my second round NBA Playoffs predictions, I'm expecting the Lakers to win in 6.


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The World is Right Again

The Los Angeles Lakers are winning and the "Superfriends" featuring the Miami Heat are losing.

Ah, the world is right again.

After dominating the San Antonio Spurs in the Alamo, the Lakers are officially on a roll. The Lakers are the hottest team in the NBA right now (sorry Chicago Bulls), with a seven-game winning streak. This streak is the longest active streak in the league right now.

Have the Lakers flipped the switch? I think so. I've been seeing the inspired play from Andrew Bynum on the defensive end in the last seven games. He has averaged 11.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in that stretch, including a 17 rebound-6 blocks beauty of game against the Charlotte Bobcats. Another noteworthy improvement is Ron Artest, who upped his scoring average by 30% and his steals average by 50% in the winning streak

The Miami Heat is a different story. The self-proclaimed "Superfriends" team of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh has been on a four-game slide. But the team has gotten unwanted attention for "CryGate"-- the story where Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said that several Heat players were in tears after losing to the Chicago Bulls. While I understand the frustration of losing, but crying for a loss in the regular season? Come on!

We've seen the likes of Derek Fisher cry after a loss. But that happened in a playoff game, a stage where the stakes are obviously higher. The Heat come off as literal cry babies with this story. The Heat players must be dumbfounded by the amount of heat/hate their getting, but I guess should have expected that teams would want to kick their asses. Just ask the Lakers-- I've seen a lot of teams play bust out their "A" games when they play the Lakers.

Still, I have nothing to complain about. The Lakers are winning again and that's what important for a fan like me.


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Lakers Stood Pat: Now What?

The Los Angeles Lakers did not make any major trades before the trade deadline a few days ago. After rivals like the Boston Celtics shook up their roster, the Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak opted not to tweak the team that already made changes as the season started.

As a fan, I take this as a sign that the Lakers brass is confident that this season's team is good enough for a three-peat. This, even though the Thunder became bigger with Kendrick Perkins, even though the Celtics became younger with Jeff Green, even though the Portland Trailblazers added former All-Star Gerald Wallace into the mix.

This inactivity becomes better especially in the context of an absence of a deal that makes sense for the Lakers. Even with Carmelo Anthony available during the trade season, I saw that there were no assets the Lakers should move. Andrew Bynum? Let's give him time to gel with the team. In their last three games, Bynum has averaged 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 1.67 blocks a game. Not bad but it's an indication that he's still getting into the team's flow.

What about Ron Artest? I think his shot has improved in the last couple of games, but to deal him would have been premature. He can still be a disruptive force on the defensive end, but I want suspend my judgment till the playoffs.

Finally, Shannon Brown could have been a good player to move, especially with his value soaring this season. Maybe the could have gotten someone to play better defense, but Brown is the only one of few players who can give an offensive spark off the bench for the team.

What the team needs to do now is to focus on playing consistently and playing great team defense. As their opponents have upgraded, the Lakers need to play more inspired ball.


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L.A. Lakers Second Quarter Report

It seems I'm creating the habit of making analyses of the Los Angeles Lakers 2010-2011 season a few games late, but it's better late than never, right?

Anyways, the Lakers are sporting a 32-13 winning record (.711 winning percentage), and are second at teh suddenly tough Western Conference. Since my last report, the Lakers have gotten a 15-6 record. They follow their conference nemesis San Antonio Spurs by five and a half games, but lead the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder by three games.

Following my good-bad format in the first quarter season analysis, here's how the second quarter of the season looked for the team:

The Good

• Ron Artest - In the first twenty games of the season, Ron Artest looked like a slow-footed version of himself. He was able to turn around this January, with better long-range shooting and improved tough guy defense on opposing team's wing players.
• Lamar Odom - This guy should be an All-Star period.
• Andrew Bynum - The team has worked Andrew Bynum into the rotation gradually, and it has been paying dividends for the team. Bynum, while foul-prone, is able to alter opponent shots inside and get blocks himself. This month, Bynum has improved his numbers significantly across the board.
• Interior Play -  Even thoough Pau Gasol has slid a bit, the trio of Gasol, Bynum and Odom has been giving opposing team fits by sharp passing and good rebounding.

The Bad

• The Bench - What the heck happened to the Killer B's? After raving about them at the start of the season, the bench players have faded away. The trade to acquire Joe Smith has yet to bolster the bench effort, especially with Matt Barnes out with an injury.
• Lack of Quality Wins - In the acid tests in the last twenty-something games, the Lakers have failed. The team lost to the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, and Dallas Mavericks.
• Defense - The Lakers have struggled mightily with quick teams because their transition defense is spotty. This 2010-2011 still can't shake the reputation of getting abused by quick players and teams.
• Shot Selection - The team is turning it around in the last ten games, but when the Lakers were losing, they were settling for outside jump shots. This affected the Lakers' offense and disrupted the play of the bigs.

Over-all, the Los Angeles Lakers look far from winning their third straight championship in the season's second quarter. From my perspective,the team has yet to display quality play against quality teams.


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L.A. Lakers First Quarter Report

After a quarter of the 2010-2011 season gone, how's the Los Angeles Lakers' chase for its historic three-peat?

If you ask me, it's not looking good.

A quarter into the season, the Lakers showed that its dream season will not go without the bumps and kinks.Yes, they are one of the top teams in the NBA in terms of offense, but over-all, their play is far from championship caliber.

But let's look at the bright spots first:

• The Killer B's - The Lakers have found a good consistent bench rotation in the Killer B's (Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, and Shannon Brown). Brown has been the offensive sparkplug off the bench, thanks to his much improved outside shooting. Barnes and Blake have done what is expected of them-- play good defense, make outside shots, and don't do too many mistakes. This group makes people forget about the Bench Mob of the past.
• Kobe's Minutes - Did you know that Kobe Bryant is playing five minutes less this season per game compared to the previous season? As of now, Kobe is playing 33.4 minutes per game, his lowest since the 1997-1998 season. Coach Phil Jackson knows that at age 32, Kobe Bryant needs close monitoring of minutes played. And it seems to have worked in the past: 32 is the age when Michael Jordan's minutes of the Chicago Bulls were reduced by Jackson.
• Lamar Odom - His tour of duty for the USA team at the World Championships may have improved Odom's offensive efficiency. Odom's scoring average is up by 50 percent and he is shooting less three balls for the season. Odom has emerged as a reliable third option for the Lakers for sure.
• Pau Gasol -  Not to take away anything from Kobe Bryant, but Pau Gasol has been the Lakers' MVP so far. In the absence of Andrew Bynum, Gasol has held the fort in the paint for the Lake Show, upping his rebounds and blocks numbers. There was a stretch at the start of the season where Gasol was a constant 20-10-5 threat. It's surprise that the Lakers went on an eight-game winning streak then.

Now for the bad:

• Big Man Woes - Outside of Gasol and Odom, the Lakers are thin in the middle. Andrew Bynum is still out, with Theo Ratliff joining him in sick bay. Derrick Caracter has been doing his best Ronny Turiaf impersonation as an undersized big, with no results.
• Team Defense - No doubt that the Lakers can out-shoot their opponents, but the team has shown little interest in the defensive end on a regular basis. The team did a pretty decent job in the first couple of weeks into the season, but struggled as of late.
• The Four Game Losing Streak- A first since the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol, the Lakers went from a unstoppable juggernaut to middle-of-the-pack contender during this swing. Yes, there were pretty bad breaks, but the team lost games it should have dominated over weaker opponents.
• Ron Artest - Can someone look for Artest's shrink? Ron-Ron has been an offensive disaster this season, with his shooting taking a huge dip. 36 percent shooting from the field and seven points for a starter are unacceptable numbers.
• Weak Schedule - Interesting thing about the Lakers's past 24 games: You will not find the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks, the Orlando Magic, the Boston Celtics, and the Miami Heat. If you ask me, the 17-7 record is a little inflated.

It's still early and the Lakers have shown they are capable of making a complete 180 when it matters. What I don't want to see is this becoming a trend going to the All-Star break.



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Los Angeles Lakers 2010-2011 Season Preview

The 2010-2011 NBA season is here and I'm also out of my off-season blogging break! :)

The Los Angeles Lakers are fresh off their second championship but they're far from fresh with the slew of issues they are facing this season. Here are the key factors that I think will be facing the Lakers in this new season, with the theme "Don't underestimate..."

• Don't underestimate Matt Barnes' short fuse - Is it me or Matt Barnes presents a bigger threat to derail the Lakers' chemistry this season compared to Ron Artest last year? Barnes is cut from the Rick Fox cloth of the 2000's but I think he could take the enforcer role a bit too far as the season wears on. I see him leading the league in technical fouls.
• Don't underestimate Kobe Bryant's knee rehab - One of the reasons most people think Kobe Bryant won't win this year's MVP plum is his bum right knee. We've seen how it can affect his play, especially in the moments he struggled against the Celtics in the 2010 Finals. I see him bouncing back, but don't hold your breath. I see him averaging 24 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal per game.
• Don't underestimate Steve Blake - New acquisition Steve Blake is the designated first point guard off the bench but I see him eating up a few starter moments from Derek Fisher in the games before the All-Star break. I think Phil Jackson will rest Fisher and keep him fresh for the late season and the deep playoff run.
• Don't underestimate the Western Conference - A lot of folks see the Lakers trampling over the Western Conference, but there are still some threats. Kevin Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder is the current up and coming team, while the Utah Jazz is a rejuvenated squad with Al Jefferson manning the middle and Deron Williams running the show. The dark horse is the aging San Antonio Spurs, who are banking on a healthier and more experienced team.
• Don't underestimate the heart of the champion - Las Vegas oddsmakers are tabbing the new look Miami Heat to win it all this season. With LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, this team is a virtual All-Star squad. This is the type of lineup you make up in NBA 2K11. But the Lakers have the rings and the resolve to get it done. Let's see if heart will trump pure talent.

On a final note, I do see the Lakers winning the Western Conference, with the following seedings:

1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Utah Jazz
3. Dallas Mavericks
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. San Antonio Spurs
6. Denver Nuggets
7. Houston Rockets
8. Memphis Grizzlies

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Ron Artest to Visit Manila on August

Los Angeles Lakers forward and resident defensive stopper Ron Artest will be in Manila this August!

Filipino fans should be thrilled that Artest will promote his rap single "Champions" and he will also be doing media appearances. According to a close friend of Artest:

"Ron’s manager Ji Lee confirmed the trip. He’s looking forward to making personal appearances in mall tours and on TV, conducting at least two basketball clinics and doing bar performances to promote his new rap song ‘Champions.’ He’s also open to do product endorsements on print, radio and TV. Most of all, Ron wants to visit the Philippines because he’s heard so much of our country through his Filipino friends."

Unknown to many,  Ron Artest has plenty of Filipino friends and he even has some inclination to the cuisine:

I'm definitely looking forward to seeing Ron Artest here in Manila next month. :D


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Lakers Show Toughness in the NBA Finals Game 1

The Los Angeles Lakers are making us forget that they were deemed "soft" two years ago.

From the take-down action between Ron Artest and Boston's Paul Pierce to Pau Gasol's dominance in the low blocks, the Lakers set the physical tone throughout their victory in Game 1 of the 2010 NBA Finals. The Lakers out-rebounded, out-hustled, and out-played their historic rivals in a game that showed how evolved the team has become.

Apologies to Kobe Bryant, but the MVP of Game 1 for me is Pau Gasol. Gasol scored 23 points on 57% shooting, but his game-high 14 rebounds and 3 blocks were more noteworthy. Moreover, his eight offensive rebounds matched that of the Celtics' offensive rebounds as a team. This clearly mirrors the Lakers' intensity in Game 1.

Another huge boost for the Lakers was their bench play. Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown made key plays when foul trouble plagued the starters. Sasha Vujacic was able to help the Lakers maintain the lead by not making a huge bonehead play. A huge game from Lamar Odom was not needed as Andrew Bynum was not in foul trouble the whole game (surprise!)

Game 1's are critical as the team that wins the first game of the Finals usually would go on to win the title. But for now, I'm not yet ready to proclaim the Lakers as the next champs. The Lakers have to defend their home court and beat the Celtics in their home floor for me to really feel better.


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The Lakers' Revenge Run

The Los Angeles Lakers have completed Phase One of their 2010 "Revenge Run": They have overcome the Phoenix Suns in six games to take the NBA's Western Conference crown.

Back in 2006 and 2007, the Suns eliminated the Lakers in the NBA Playoffs, including a remarkable series win after falling behind 3-1 in 2006. When the series started a few weeks back, Kobe Bryant indicate that the losses still stung him and the Lakers were our for vengeance.

And the Lakers got it.

They were dominant for three quarters, especially during the third where they build a seemingly insurmoutable 17 point lead. The Suns made a run early in the fourth and even slicing the lead to three points with a few minutes left in the game.

But Kobe Bryant, channeling the Kill Bill movies, made dagger after dagger in the closing moments to finally put the Suns on vacation and extending two-time MVP Steve Nash's streak of falining to make the NBA Finals.

The Lakers got a great follow-up from Ron Artest in Game 6, the hero of the previous game. His 25 points helped offset the poor performance by Pau Gasol. Lamar Odom had 12 boards for the Lakers, who out-rebounded the Suns 41-31 for the game.

The Lakers' Revenge Run is still in full swing this playoffs and up next is Phase Two: The Boston Celtics at the 2010 NBA Finals.




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Redemption: The Ron Artest Story

If you ask me, the 2010 NBA Playoffs should be renamed "Redemption: The Ron Artest Story"

In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, Ron Artest made an ugly-looking shot off the glass at the buzzer that won it for the Los Angeles Lakers. I believe nobody thought that the game would end that way, even Ron himself.

With 3.5 seconds to go, the Lakers were inbounding and a play for Kobe Bryant was drawn up. Kobe is the master of game-winning shots and this was looking like another game-winner to his resume. But as he shot the ball over two defenders, the shot was short, way short. But from the left side of the court, Ron Artest swooped in from the back, caught the tough rebound and launched an awkward-looking shot. It kissed the board and went down the net. Lakers win by two and Artest is a hero.

On the game level, it was a quick turnaround from the bonehead plays Artest made. He took two bad shots that enabled the Suns to claw back into the game with a few minutes left. In one minute, Artest went from burly villain to valiant hero. That's what winning does.

On the big picture, Ron Artest's journey to redemption has been a long one. Anyone still remember "The Malice at the Palace" incident of 2004? Or his failures in Sacramento and playoff defeats with the Houston Rockets? With the Game 5 game-winner, Ron Artest managed to make those stories smaller, less significant. If the Lakers win the championship, Ron Artest's journey would be complete.

For Ron Artest, the road to redemption will be paved in gold and purple.



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Lakers Go 0-3 in East Road Trip

In the last three games, the Los Angeles Lakers looked more like poodles than dobermans in their Eastern road swing.

Here's a rundown of what transpired in games in Miami, Charlotte, and Orlando:

• 111-114 OT loss to the Miami Heat - Poor third quarter set-up a comeback in the fourth to force overtime. The Lakers put up a good fight but fade away late in OT, with Kobe Bryant committing a charge against Jermaine O'Neal.
• 83-98 loss against the Charlotte Bobcats - With the great Michael Jordan in attendance, the game showed additional proof that the Bobcats have the Lakers' number. The second of a back-to-back, the Lakers looked flat offensively. Starters Ron Artest and Derek Fisher combined for 5 points and 14% shooting.
• 94-96 loss to the Orlando Magic -The Lakers turned up the grittiness a couple of notches higher, but the Magic out-muscled the Lakers in a rematch of the 2009 NBA Finals. Similar to the Heat game, the Lakers made a run in the fourth quarter and had good breaks with Orlando missing free throws in the final minutes, but the team lost with Kobe failing to convert a jumper at the buzzer.

The three game losing streak is the Lakers' longest since the acquisition of Paul Gasol in 2008. Incidentally, Gasol played poorly against the Heat and Bobcats, but he came out of his stupor in the Magic game.

The way I see it, the Lakers were failing on two key areas: offensive execution and the defense. The Lakers averaged 14 turnovers and only 15 assists in the losing streak. A team assist/turnover ratio of 1.07 is a good indicator that the team is not executing properly. (To illustrate, the pitiful New Jersey Nets have an average 1.22 assists/turnover ratio).

For defense, in the last three games, the Lakers got out-rebounded on the defensive end by their opponents by an average of 7 more  rebounds per game. Moreover, their opponents averaged 3 more blocks. Finally, the Lakers' allowed their opponent better offensive opportunities as their opponents always had a better shooting percentage than them. (In the three games, the Lakers opponents averaged 48% from the field versus the Lakers' 41%)

Clearly, the Lakers are not playing up to par. This doesn't bode well as we are in the final quarter of the season.



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Mid-Season Look at the Lakers

Midway through the 2009-2010 season, the Los Angeles Lakers' title defense doesn't look all formidable.

The Lakers may be the #1 team in the Western conference and the league for a great portion of the season's first half, but for some reason, questions about the Lakers' toughness and hunger to win a back-to-back championship have been raised as of late.

But let's first look at what went right:

• The Lakers were almost unbeatable at home - The Lakers own the best home record in the league and it seems they are in their element in L.A.
  
• Kobe Bryant stepped up - When Pau Gasol was out early in the season, Kobe adjusted his game to be more dominant and willed the Lakers to wins. When Pau came back, Kobe toned down on the scoring and integrated Gasol into the Triangle. Kobe even saved the Lakers with his buzzer-beaters on multiple occasions. Kobe is my first half MVP.
• Andrew Bynum was healthy - Andrew Bynum may not be All-Star material yet but he did keep himself on the floor to be a defensive and occasional offensive presence in the game. After Kobe and Gasol, Bynum is the third most important player in the Lakers' roster because he's a match-up nightmare for 95% of teams in the NBA. His averages of nearly 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks indicate his continued development

Now, for the things that went wrong:

• Injuries took its toll as the season wore on - The Lakers' lineup was not decimated by injuries like Portland, but over-all roster health was a major concern for the first time in years: Kobe Bryant broke a finger in his shooting hand, Luke Walton was out with a bad back, Pau Gasol took time off early in the season because of hamstring injuries, and Ron Artest injured himself falling down the stairs.
  
• Level of play was down - Compared to standard set by the team last year, the Lakers' over-all play is down in the first half of the season. Offensive numbers suggest that the Lakers are scoring and execution have declined. Defensive stats like opponents' FG% and scoring, as well as team blocks and steals, are down. Could this be the effect of complacency?
  
• Bench play was ugly - Save for Lamar Odom and Shannon Brown, the Lakers bench in the first half was virtually non-existent. Teams beat the Lakers by making them a one-dimensional, top-heavy unit that failed to capitalize when the starters took a breather. The total bench only comprised 1/3 of the team's offensive output.
  
• Ron-Ron struggled - When Ron Artest was acquired, everyone was expecting a tough defender who will contain the likes of LeBron James. In the Lakers' games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, James averaged almost 32 points.
  

From my assessment, the Lakers are showing signs of what I'd like to call "The Boston Celtics Effect"-- where a championship team wins the ring one season and dials down in the next. The talent is there but the hunger seems to have declined. This is very dangerous considering the Cavs, Magic, Celtics, and Nuggets are more than happy to take advantage of the Lakers' missteps and steal the crown.


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Argh! The Lakers Lose Again to the Cavs!

I hate to say this but the Cleveland Cavaliers have the Los Angeles Lakers' number.

No thanks to a couple of late game breakdowns, the Lakers are now 0-2 against the surging Cavs. With the Lakers trailing by 2 points with 24 seconds left, Pau Gasol had a chance to tie the game with a couple of free throws off a Daniel Gibson foul. The result? Two bricks! Two freakin; bricks!

At the next possession, the Lakers send LeBron James to the free throw line. "King James" makes the first and misses the second. Instead of a defensive rebound, the Ron Artest was called for a loose ball foul! Anderson Varejao makes the two free throws and the Lakers are down five points with eleven seconds left.
Kobe Bryant and Artest miss wild-looking three pointers and the Cavs eventually come away with the win.

After leading by as much as 11 points in the first half, the Lakers just let the Cavs crawl back into the game and set themselves up for a massive choke job in the final minute. The champs are definitely not comfortable by the new found toughness the Cavs have been displaying in the last couple of months.

I really hate say this but the best team in the NBA won the game off of the defending champs' miscues.

Argh!



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The Lakers' Gift to the NBA: The Way to Beat Them

Prior to the Christmas game against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Lakers were pretty much the gold standard in the NBA. But after the Lakers lost, there was suddenly a collective warm, fuzzy feeling around the NBA-- there was hope for the teams and fans of the rest of the league.

The Lakers were transformed to a version of the team several years ago when Kobe Bryant contributed 50% of the team's offense and the rest of the team were just token players, like bungling henchmen to the cartoon villains. In the game, Kobe scored 35, but needed 32 shots. That 32 shots represented a third of the team's total attempts. Moreover, the rest of the starters (Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, and Pau Gasol) managed to produce 35 points together.

The Cavaliers reminded the league that this is how you beat the champs-- you make them a top-heavy, one man show and get tough with them on the defensive end. The Cavaliers sliced the uninspired Lakers defense en route to a 56% shooting bonanza. The Lakers? They had trouble putting the ball through the hoop, no thanks to pesky, long-armed defense from the Cavs.

If you ask me, the defeat created the same effect last year when the Lakers defeated the then defending champions Boston Celtics--  it showed that the Lakers can be stomped and crushed mercilessly. If you're players and fans of the contenders for the championship the year (Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets , Dallas Mavericks) you have your holiday gift wrapped in the Lakers' collective hides.


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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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Did the Lakers Make a Mistake on Letting Trevor Ariza Go?

Hindsight is 20-20 and what my hindsight is telling me is that the Los Angeles Lakers missed out on Trevor Ariza.

As of writing, Ariza has been flourishing with the Houston Rockets. His numbers? Oh, he's been averaging over 23 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, hitting 3 three-balls and getting almost 2 steals a game. By getting 14 extra minutes per game, Ariza as triples his scoring output and the three pointers he's hitting (and taking). At the rate he's going he could be an All-Star in a couple of years.

The Lakers on the other hand have found little success with Ron Artest.His numbers suggest he has yet to fins his stroke on the field (32% shooting) and on the stripe (a dismal 36%!). I think Artest is still surprised he's wearing purple and gold.

By looking at the numbers objectively, the virtual swap between the Artest and Ariza looks like a lemon for the Los Angeles Lakers.


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So Much for 82-0

So much for going 82-0.

The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Dallas Mavericks at home, 94-80, no thanks to a stagnant third quarter and a weak performance from the starters.

In the last game against the Clippers, Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum combined for 59 points. But in the Mavs game, the duo came up with only 34. This slip-off in the offense also affected the rest of the starters (Lamar Odom, Ron Artest, and Derek Fisher) shot 8 for 26 (30%). Artest was the worst offender as he only made one field goal for the game. If you're a starter for any team, that totally unacceptable.

Apart from the offensive failures, the Lakers' defense was bad. The team committed 29 fouls and did not protect the perimeter and low blocks effectively, as evidenced by the paltry blocks and steals of the team. The only saving grace was this beauty of  a putback from Shannon Brown:



Perhaps the Lakers were still high from their ring ceremonies that a better opponent than the Clippers brought them back to earth? The Lakers should definitely step-up against the rising Atlanta Hawks in the next game.


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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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