A force being born...

[2Cleva]

I've been here a long time and don't toot the Lakers horn non-stop but what happen last night was the coming out party of a team that will be near the top of the West and everyone expects them out of the playoffs.

The Lakers have some players. So many focus on Kobe but until last night didn't see the talent and depth they have. 4 out of the top 10 in their ideal rotation was out (Kobe, Shammond, Kwame, and Mihm) and they still took it to Phoenix.

Yes, Phoenix doesn't play the best D but what you saw from Odom and Bynum - they can do against 90%+ of the teams in the league. And with Kobe coming back in a week or so playing the same style he did in the playoffs, they are just as likely to make the Finals as Dallas was the year before.

Should be a great season.

[Spurminator]

I'm hesitant to anoint Bynum based on one performance but he looked damn good last night.

[nkdlunch]

:lmao funniest post of the week. Suns gave the win away last night. Nash had probably the worst game of his career along with Diaw. Noone else showed up especially Amare. the Suns bandwagon crashed into a wall last night

[AFBlue]

:lmao funniest post of the week. Suns gave the win away last night. Nash had probably the worst game of his career along with Diaw. Noone else showed up especially Amare. the Suns bandwagon crashed into a wall last night

I don't know how you can call 15pts and 13 assists the worst night of someone's career.

Though Diaw was non-existent and Amare has no stamina, the Lakers played a solid game without Kobe and Odom was a monster.

Having said that, there's no way Odom or Bynum are that good....the Suns defense is just that bad.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

I disagree about Odom not being that good and I will stick with Spurm's words on Bynum. What I saw seemed like a good game for the Lakers to show what they can do when pressed into action.

Also, I loved watching Ronny Turiaf be so active on the floor, especially coming back from his surgery.

[Spurminator]

Odom is going to have a great year.

[AFBlue]

I disagree about Odom not being that good and I will stick with Spurm's words on Bynum. What I saw seemed like a good game for the Lakers to show what they can do when pressed into action.

Also, I loved watching Ronny Turiaf be so active on the floor, especially coming back from his surgery.

So you think Odom could put up 30/10/5 on a regular basis, or hang up those numbers against a better defensive team like the Spurs?

Don't get me wrong, I think Odom is a very talented player, but he just went off last night because the Suns are horrible on D and Kobe was not there to take shots away from him.

I think his production will remain the same as it has the past couple years, provided Kobe stays healthy.

[Sportcamper]

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/4879/turiafbraveheartclublakers9ja.jpg

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

So you think Odom could put up 30/10/5 on a regular basis, or hang up those numbers against a better defensive team like the Spurs?

Don't get me wrong, I think Odom is a very talented player, but he just went off last night because the Suns are horrible on D and Kobe was not there to take shots away from him.

I think his production will remain the same as it has the past couple years, provided Kobe stays healthy.

Stats-wise, no.

Could he lead the right team? Yes.

[Medvedenko]

The game was great....a little worried when the Sun's didn't miss any shots in the first q. Still, the boys stuck with it and ran the Tri to perfection. Odom and Bynum played great as well as Mo Evans, and Radman. Yes, only 1 game and they can't have a let down tonight vs GS.

[2Cleva]

Odom can't do that nightly. In fact, no one has ever did that nightly since Wilt. That said, I believe the 'edge' he had last night will be around for a while. A shame what it took for him to get that.

What Bynum did wasn't flukey. You could see the Kareem influence. He did the same thing last week against Denver's front line.

[Medvedenko]

A-bomb will be good, but let's not forget Chris Mihm's performance opening night 2 years ago...However, the future looks bright for the Lakers. Once they get some of their veterans healthy, they have a great chance to make some noise. I definitely like Vladrad's game, he seems to be doing more out there than launch jumpers. I know he's hurt, but he's seems to have high B-ball IQ.

[AFBlue]

Stats-wise, no.

Could he lead the right team? Yes.


I agree with you, but he's not on the right team...he's on the Lakers :lol .

Part of that response was directed at the second poster who said Odom was going to have a great year. I think he'll have a solid year, but it should be just on par with the two previous b/c their team didn't change much (kobe didn't leave).

[boutons_]

Hey, Slomo, how's that pull-down men item "Add so-in-so to your IGNORE list" coming?

:lol

[whottt]

The game was great....a little worried when the Sun's didn't miss any shots in the first q. Still, the boys stuck with it and ran the Tri to perfection. Odom and Bynum played great as well as Mo Evans, and Radman. Yes, only 1 game and they can't have a let down tonight vs GS.


Vlad Rad is too much of a screwoff...

Get his ass out of the starting lineup and put Cook in there.

Start Cook...and Bynum.

[Spurminator]

I agree with you, but he's not on the right team...he's on the Lakers :lol .

Part of that response was directed at the second poster who said Odom was going to have a great year. I think he'll have a solid year, but it should be just on par with the two previous b/c their team didn't change much (kobe didn't leave).


I think it will be less about how the team has changed or not changed around him, and more about how he has matured as a person in the offseason.

No real way to quantify that, I admit... just a gut feeling. I'm certainly rooting for him.

[Bob Lanier]

Vlad Rad is too much of a screwoff...

Get his ass out of the starting lineup and put Cook in there.

Start Cook...and Bynum.
Agreed about Vladrad but Brian Cook is one of the worst defensive players in the NBA. Jackson won't start him.

[whottt]

Bynum is going to be good because he has the athletic ability and he wants it. Simple as that...a rare combo in a big man these days.


Odom has always had the talent to be a lot more than he was(he has Dirk, KG, Webber type talent IMO)...but he's doesn't always seem to want it, and I'm not convinced the change is permanent.


But the bottom line is that Phil Jackson is a great coach...and he tends to get the most out of his players. His teams never lack confidence or beat themselves....

Lakers will be tough this year...but Kobe isn't quite Jordan(look at the shooting PCT), and Odom isn't Pippen(agressiveness)...so I'm not quite sure we are looking at the Bulls part deux yet...

Also, I don't think Phil's quite as good of a coach as he used to be...he's softened a bit and when that happens is usually about the same time the game starts passing a coach by.


But there's no doubt the Lakers will be much better than anyone expects them to be this year...I think they will be a top 4 team this year.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Odom has always had the talent to be a lot more than he was(he has Dirk, KG, Webber type talent IMO)...but he's doesn't always seem to want it, and I'm not convinced the change is permanent.


I agree here, but what I'd most like to watch this season from the Lakers is if Lamar Odom is finally maturing.

He turns 27 in a few days, but it's easy to forget this is the start of his eighth NBA season.

He seemed to show it last season. Plus, he's always been one to enjoy praise heaped upon him, and I think he might enjoy the specific types of praise coming his way now. Plus, and I hate to do it this way, but what happened to him this offseason might be one of those life-changing events that you use to find some way to better yourself with.

Odom's always had game and I'm confident that not only will this be a breakout season for Lamar the player, but Lamar the person.

[ducks]

Stats-wise, no.

Could he lead the right team? Yes.


if odom takes shots and agressive lakers will be much tougher then last year

[jman3000]

i love me some opening night over reacting.

i remember last year when smush parker was averaging like 20 points a game for about a week after opening night and i remember reading predictions from laker fans saying that he would average 19/6.

lakers are going to be better than last year... but be reasonable about bynum... he's still a year or two from giving you anything resembling consistency.

[whottt]

i
but be reasonable about bynum... he's still a year or two from giving you anything resembling consistency.


And that makes him different from 99% of the other Centers in the NBA exactly how?


Rasho and Nazr much?

[jman3000]

And that makes him different from 99% of the other Centers in the NBA exactly how?


Rasho and Nazr much?
he's like 12 years old that's why. it's obvious the potential is abundant, but people are expecting too much imo.

[whottt]

There are like 3 good true C's in the NBA...

I already like Bynum better than all of them in the WC other than Yao and Camby ....

Brad Miller? Completely disappears in the post season...Completely.

Diaw? He's too small. I'd definitely trade Bynym to get Diaw...but not to start Diaw at C.

Diop? Bynum's already probably beaten Diop's career high in scoring.

Dampier? Maybe...but he's probably the most inconsistent of them all.

I mean there aren't very many good C's in the NBA, and consistency is their biggest problem...won't be hard for Bynum to win his share of battles at that position, he cares and is aggressive....consistently, most of them aren't.

[Bob Lanier]

(cough) Duncan
(cough) Gasol

[2Cleva]

I take it this Bulls fan doesn't know what a true center is since its been so long since one has wore a Chicago uniform.

whott - you nailed it.

[whottt]

(cough) Duncan
Considered a PF...

I mean we could also throw Garnett and Nowitzki out there as C...but they are considered PF's and have other players called C's starting next to them. Like Duncan.



(cough) Gasol


Also pretty much considered a F...

But thanks for bringing Gasol up...a guy who started making an impact at a very young age in the modern NBA....and he didn't have Bynum's size...in fact he still doesn't have Bynum's size.

Bynum looks to be about 7'1 and 280-290lbs with really long arms and a feisty streak...saying he can't be consistent against what passes for a C on a lot of teams is like saying a young brick wall can't be consistent if you smash your hand into it.

[objective]

Bynum is legit. Regardless of the Suns defense, he showed he has great touch around the basket, good hands, a credible passer already, and a hard worker. He works to get good position (not just this game but the pre-season as well), shown himself to be at least a competant rebounder and doesn't give up on plays.

To draw a comparison to another young bigman people here are familiar with, he's younger, taller, longer, faster and all around better than someone like Jackie Butler, which he should be considering he was a lotto pick and Butler was undrafted.

[AFBlue]

Odom has always had the talent to be a lot more than he was(he has Dirk, KG, Webber type talent IMO

Webber is the odd man out in that comparison, but he's the only one I would confuse Odom's talent for. KG and Dirk are considered by some, despite their team results, to be the best players in the league...I wouldn't put Odom near those two even when judging solely on talent.

He's Al Harrington in purple and gold.

[z0sa]

Lamar Odom has the ability to be way better than pippen was. If odom can run the triangle like Pippen did, and stays aggressive instead of just giving it to Kobe every time down the floor, then the Lakers could definitely hurt some people in the playoffs.

[AFBlue]

Bynum is legit. Regardless of the Suns defense, he showed he has great touch around the basket, good hands, a credible passer already, and a hard worker. He works to get good position (not just this game but the pre-season as well), shown himself to be at least a competant rebounder and doesn't give up on plays.

To draw a comparison to another young bigman people here are familiar with, he's younger, taller, longer, faster and all around better than someone like Jackie Butler, which he should be considering he was a lotto pick and Butler was undrafted.

He's Dasagana Diop, except he came into a program with Phil Jackson and Diop took a 4yr hiatus in Cleveland while gaining weight instead of losing it.

I'll admit that Bynum has a better shot at developing his offensive game though.

[whottt]

Webber is the odd man out in that comparison, but he's the only one I would confuse Odom's talent for. KG and Dirk are considered by some, despite their team results, to be the best players in the league...I wouldn't put Odom near those two even when judging solely on talent.

He's Al Harrington in purple and gold.


Not sure...the primary criteria for lumping KG, Dirk and Webber together is that they are all bigmen that can play like a guard...they are all guys that can pass, shoot, average over a block and a steal per game...


Or to put it another way...they all have the traditional SF skill set but play pretty much PF(although Dirk and KG have spent seasons as SFs).

Webber gets a bad rap because he is completely devoid of heart, balls and crumbles under pressure like the gutless bitch that he is...I don't think it's fair to take that out on his game though...he's got sick game, sick as anyone whoever played PF in this league.


They are all bigmen that can do it all...Webber probably is the least guard like of them all when it comes to scoring style...but he's a better passer than Dirk, that's for sure.


Odom has that same skill set...and Odom did run the point for the Clippers on occassion...he's done it for the Lakers.


I think Odom is the most PG like of them all...and he's turning into be the best inside bruiser of that group as well.

Odom has sick talent...he just lacks the want too's and would probably rather be out lighting up a blunt moreso than even Webber.

Talent? I don't know if I would describe Dirk and Webber as 5 position talents...but I would definitely describe Odom as a 5 position talent...I mean legitimately can play all 5 well.

[Medvedenko]

The bottom line is how Kobe will integrate himself into this team. That's simply the core of the situation. I truly don't believe it's the guys figuring out how to deal with Kobe, it's the other way around. As a leader, he needs to find the strengths in his teammates and minimize their deficencies with his overal talent. That's what a great leader does, now can Kobe do this day in day out, is up for review. I've seen it in some games, some I've seen him instill his will to the detriment of the team. It's all on his shoulders.