Los Angeles Lakers preview by Kurt From Forum Blue & Gold
1. What can the Lakers learn from the 2006-07 season to help them improve their 2007-08 campaign?
I'm not sure you can learn how not to get injured, so the one lesson from last year should be to play defense. Despite all the media attention on Kobe Bryant's status and how he and Lamar Odom haven't meshed, the fact of the matter is that by any measure, the Lakers scored plenty last season (they were fifth in points per game at 103.3 and seventh in the league in points scored per possession, 108.2 per 100 possessions).
The problem was they gave up as many points as they scored (Los Angeles was 24th in points per game allowed at 103.4 and 25th in the league in points allowed up per possession, 109 per 100 possessions). It's pretty simple, if you give up as many points as you score, you¹re a .500 team, no matter how many points you score. If the Lakers are to improve this season they will have to give up fewer points, meaning better defensive play at the point and in the paint.
2. What was the Lakers' best and/or worst move during the offseason, either by free agency, trade, or draft?
As if you didn't already notice this, the Lakers didn't make the big, splashy move that Kobe and fans wanted. But the one move they did make means the team will be better at the point this year.
The Lakers only real move was essentially swapping Smush Parker for Derek Fisher (although Fish fell into their laps). It's a case of addition by subtraction for the aforementioned defense as Smush struggled defending the pick-and-roll and on rotations, leading to countless moments of Laker fans' anguish the last two years. Jordan Farmar fought through picks and had better defensive recognition (which is why he stole the starting job by the playoffs). Fisher is not the defender he was, but he's a veteran who can get the key charge and hit the key shot at the end of the game. He and Farmar will likely be a tandem at the point, which is a considerable upgrade.
3. Who is the Most Important Player on Lakers? The MIP is not necessarily the most talented, but the one that makes the biggest difference in his Lakers doing well each game.
Um, could it be anyone other than Kobe? He is the team's best offensive weapon, best defender, hardest worker and driving force. It's really pretty simple.
But, if you¹re looking for a bellwether for how the Lakers will do, keep an eye at the center position. See if Kwame Brown can step up and be a consistent defensive force (he shows flashes, but Kwame has long shown flashes). See if Andrew Bynum being forced to play more than he should have last year pays off with a more mature and ready player this year. See if Chris Mihm can bounce back from injury. If one of these guys can step up and be a steady force on the defensive end (or if they can do it by committee), the Lakers become a much bigger threat.
4. What needs to go right for the Lakers to succeed this coming season?
First, the Lakers and Kobe will have to deal with the fallout from Kobe's :trade me" rants on the radio this summer. It will be the biggest story in training camp, every time the Lakers go on the road the questions will be asked in each new city, and every time an NBA columnist is lacking inspiration they have the easy Kobe column to fall back on. It will be an ongoing issue the Lakers need to put behind them in public and private.
Next, and I don't know if I've mentioned this yet, but the defense needs to get better. Oh, I have? Well, let's just say that defense, particularly in the paint, will be the key.
Third, the team needs to stay healthy. Last year Kobe was still slowed at the start of the season by his knee, Odom missed 26 games, Luke Walton missed 22 games, Kwame Brown played in just half the team's games and Chris Mihm played in zero. When the starting five is healthy, this is a pretty good team as constructed (not a contender, but pretty good) however last year the key players rarely played together.
Fourth, they need to stick with the offense. As the injuries mounted last season, the vaunted triangle offense took on all sorts of geometric shapes that made Tex Winter cringe. When the Lakers run the offense, and particularly when good passers like Walton and Odom are healthy, the team can get good, easy looks. Plus, some guy named Kobe should mean a lot of points.
If all of that breaks the Lakers' way, they are still a second tier team in the West (ala the Utah Jazz] last year). But there is no margin for error, pretty much everything needs to go right to reach that level. And if they want to reach the next level, well, we should talk trades.
5. Who are the contenders for the NBA Championship and who do you see taking the title?
While there are a couple of nice teams in the East (I like the Chicago Bulls to win the East, but the Detroit Pistons, New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers stand a chance), I think the four serious contenders for the title are in the West.
The Dallas Mavericks brings everybody, but Jackie Butler back from a team that won last year, so they are the favorites, I guess. The Phoenix Suns, in my mind, will be a little weaker in the interior defense without Kurt Thomas, but if Steve Nash's back is healthy come the playoffs they are contenders. Some write off the Dallas Mavericks after last year's first-round exit, but that was a bad match up for Dallas and while the blueprint for beating them may exist it's not that easy to pull off. Finally, if everyone stays healthy, I think the Houston Rockets is right in the mix with the big three. I think bringing in Rick Adelman to coach will be a boon for the Rockets.[/link]
If I have to pick one, give me Dallas over Chicago in the Finals, but this far out I think it¹s hard to see who will be the best in the west in May and June.
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