Analysis on the 2010-2011 Los Angeles Lakers
I'm just in the mood to write about my favorite sports teams. Ever since I discovered the wonders of sports blogs, I've been avidly following some of the NBA teams that I like. For this season, I am still cheering for the back-to-back defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. So let me try doing my own version of a sports analysis for writing practice's sake. After winning the 2009-2010 season, the Los Angeles Lakers did not cease on trying to improve their roster. They let stubborn point guard Jordan Farmar go to New Jersey. Reserve big men Josh Powell and DJ Mbenga were also let go, with Powell going to Atlanta and Mbenga to New Orleans. Adam Morrison also had his contract expired, and so far he still does not have any team yet. The Lakers then re-signed clutchman Derek Fisher, and highlight dunker Shannon Brown. Using free agency, the Lakers were also able to acquire swinger Matt Barnes, veteran Theo Ratliff, and former Clipper guard Steve Blake. The 2010 NBA Draft was also utilized by the Lakers, grabbing some would say second-round draft steals in the athletic Devin Ebanks (43rd pick) and Derrick Caracter (58th pick).
As of press time, the Lakers are third in the Western Conference with a 17 win 7 loss mark, just behind the surprising leaders in San Antonio and Dallas. The Lakers had been lucky enough to play their early games against low-ranking teams. Kobe Bryant still posted up decent numbers, and had the luxury of logging in fewer minutes due to the emergence of Shannon Brown. Lamar Odom was still as versatile and as potent as ever. Fisher showed that he could still be the clutchman, having a highlight lay-up as a game winner this season. Ron Artest had been disappointing so far this tournament in terms of scoring and other stats. Luke Walton is back, but so far he still hasn't been a factor.
For twenty four games, the Lakers have been playing with a lack in post presence, having missing Andrew Bynum with his knee injury. Bynum chose to delay his surgery to watch the FIFA World Cup after his admirable willingness to play in the 2010 NBA Finals. As a result, Pau Gasol had to log in so much minutes, and was visibly tired in a lot of games and declined in his production despite his early MVP-caliber performances. Back-up center Theo Ratliff also went down with an injury, leaving the 58th round pick rookie Derrick Caracter to log-on minutes at the 5 spot, despite being undersized.
What was exceptional so far this season is the re-emergence of the Bench Mob for the defending champions. The 2007-2008 season had a good bench line-up, but this season has more potent and deadly back-ups in the monicker of “The Killer Bs”: Shannon Brown, Steve Blake, and Matt Barnes. Shannon Brown has been one of the most improved three-point shooters in the league right now, putting up huge shots from beyond the arc that got us fans not just wanting him to dunk but to shoot the lights out. He could be a solid candidate for the Most Improved Player award this year. Steve Blake has been a better version of Jordan Farmar, possessing excellent court vision and awareness, even putting highlight passes for alley-hoops early this season. Matt Barnes has been a solid back-up to Ron Artest, and you can sure of his hustle plays, his offensive rebounds, and his adequate defense. The Killer Bs have made life easier for Kobe Bryant so far.
The Lakers may have lost a surprising amount of games this start of the season due to the absence of Bynum and a lack of front court depth, but what could be a good thing for this team is the exposure that the two rookies Ebanks and Caracter had as relievers. Both did not expect to play this much minutes this season, but they had to be tapped by Phil Jackson in numerous situations. Caracter notably put up decent post minutes, and Ebanks did show a lot of atheliticism despite experiencing a logjam at the small forward position with Artest, Barnes, and Walton being in front of him.
With the amount of talent and the desire to win still burning in this team, the Laker fans can only look forward to better performances with the return of Bynum in the line-up, as he returned for today's game against Washington. Hopefully there would be no more injuries in the key men of the line-up.
Oh, and I just received news that the disappointing shooter Sasha Vujacic would be traded to New Jersey for another veteran big man in Joe Smith. Looks like the Lakers want to solidify their frontcourt depth, just as Boston and Miami had with their four-center lineups.